Dark Obsession

The Shift

I barely slept that night.

Kael's kiss replayed in my mind over and over the heat of his lips, the roughness of his hands, the desperate hunger in his eyes. I had never been touched like that before. I had never wanted to be touched like that before.

But now, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

When morning came, I crept downstairs, hoping to avoid him. I wasn't ready to face him yet. I didn't know what to say.

But he was already there, sitting at the kitchen table with Liam, drinking coffee like nothing had happened.

My heart skipped a beat. Kael's dark eyes met mine, and I saw the flicker of desire in them before he looked away.

"Morning, Ari," Liam said, not looking up from his phone. "Sleep okay?"

"Fine," I lied, pouring myself a glass of juice. "Just tired."

I avoided Kael's gaze and fled back to my room as soon as possible.

But I couldn't avoid him forever.

Later that day, I was in the backyard, reading under my favorite tree. The sun was warm on my skin, and I had almost managed to forget the events of the night before.

Almost.

"Aria."

Kael's voice made me freeze. I looked up to find him walking toward me, his expression unreadable.

"We need to talk," he said.

"What about?" I asked, my voice too high.

He sat down beside me, closer than was appropriate. His scent of woods and musk and something darker surrounded me.

"About last night," he said quietly. "I shouldn't have kissed you. You're Liam's sister. You're younger than me. I'm supposed to protect you, not..."

"Not what?" I asked, hating how breathless my voice sounded.

He looked at me, his eyes burning with intensity. "I don't want you the way I do."

My heart hammered in my chest. "Kael..."

"I know you felt it too," he continued, leaning closer. "I could feel it. The way you melted into me. The way you kissed me back."

I swallowed hard. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"I want you to tell me the truth," he murmured. "Tell me you don't want me."

"I can't."

The words slipped out before I could stop them. Kael's eyes flared with triumph.

"That's what I thought," he said. "Liam is going out of town this weekend. We'll have the house to ourselves."

"Kael, I"

He pressed a finger to my lips, silencing me. "Think about it. If you don't want this, I'll never touch you again. But if you do..." He leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. "I'll show you exactly what you've been missing."

I spent the rest of the day in a daze.

I couldn't focus on anything. My mind kept drifting back to Kael's words, his touch, the promise in his eyes.

If you do, I'll show you exactly what you've been missing.

I had never been with anyone before. Not really. I had kissed a few boys at parties, but nothing serious. Nothing like what Kael was offering.

He was dangerous. He was forbidden.

And I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anything.

Liam left on Friday afternoon.

"Don't burn the house down," he said, laughing as he grabbed his keys. "And don't let anyone in the house."

I forced a smile. "Got it."

As soon as his car pulled out of the driveway, my heart started racing.

Kael.

He texted me a few minutes later.

Kael: Be there at 10.

I stared at the screen, my hands trembling. What was I doing? This was insane. Kael was my brother's best friend. He was five years older than me. This could ruin everything.

But as I heard his car pull into the driveway, I knew I wasn't going to stop him.

He let himself in with a key Liam had given him years ago.

"Kael," I said, my voice shaking.

He walked toward me, his eyes dark and intense. "Is this what you want, Aria? Because once I touch you, there's no going back."

I swallowed hard. "I know."

"That's not an answer."

I reached out, gripping the front of his shirt and pulling him toward me. "I want this. I want you."

Something snapped inside him.

He crushed me against the wall, his lips claiming mine with a hunger that stole my breath. His hands roamed my body, exploring every curve, every inch of skin.

"I've wanted this for so long," he growled against my throat. "You have no idea what you do to me."

"Show me," I whispered. "Show me everything."

What followed was a blur of sensation.

Kael touched me like I was something precious, something to be worshipped. He took his time, exploring my body until every inch of me was on fire with need.

"Please," I begged, my voice broken. "Please."

"Not yet," he murmured, his lips brushing my collarbone. "I want to make sure you remember this. Every. Single. Moment."

And I did. I remembered everything: the heat of his hands, the roughness of his voice, the way he made me feel alive.

Afterward, I lay in his arms, my body humming with satisfaction.

"That was..." I started.

"Amazing?" he finished, a smirk in his voice.

I laughed, burying my face in his chest. "Yeah. That."

He pressed a kiss to my hair. "You're amazing, Aria. I've wanted you for so long. I just didn't think I could have you."

"And now?"

He pulled back to look at me, his eyes serious. "Now, I'm never letting you go."