Past Obsessions

Chapter 12 - Alex

As I stirred, my back ached, and it took a moment for my mind to adjust. Something warm and comforting lay on my chest, making me smile. Alice was still fast asleep, nestled against me—it seemed we hadn't moved all night. Glancing out, I noticed the rain had finally stopped. I hoped the car wasn't stuck, but for now, it wasn't my immediate concern. Gently, I kissed her head, and she stirred.

"Mmm, five more minutes, Daddy," she murmured sleepily. Her words made my heart flutter, reminding me of how effortlessly we fell back into our rhythm.

"We should think about getting out of this field," I replied softly.

"Ugh, why?" she groaned, making me chuckle. I would stay here forever if I could, but that wasn't an option. We needed to take things slow, and rushing ahead blindly wasn't wise.

"Because I don’t want my car stuck in a field in the middle of nowhere. I'll buy breakfast," I offered. Her eyes opened wide, and she nodded with a smile.

"But um… I have no clothes. You left them out in the rain!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah, I'm aware," I replied with a smile, unlocking the car and stepping out. "Jesus f*****g Christ! It’s cold!" my brain screamed. I quickly gathered her soaked clothes from the roof of the car, stuffed them into a plastic bag, and tossed them back inside with a wet thud. Then, I retrieved a backpack from the car, which luckily contained a spare set of clothes, including some of hers.

"Wait… why do you… you planned this?" she stammered, looking perplexed. I enjoyed seeing her caught off guard, but truthfully, I had just kept the backpack packed and thrown it in the car long ago. I wasn't entirely sure what was inside.

"No, just leftover from when I moved. I still have some of your stuff, that's all," I explained. The look on her face made me wonder if she felt hurt or simply disappointed that I hadn't planned everything. Maybe I had, unknowingly. It was something I had fantasized about—picking her up and escaping for a while—but I had always respected her wish for space. It had been tough, but love often meant putting someone else's needs ahead of your own desires.

I quickly pulled on my jeans and shirt while she dressed herself. Climbing into the driver’s seat, I saw her giving me an annoyed look. I chuckled and motioned for her to join me. She grumbled but squeezed into the passenger seat, shooting me a glare when I playfully squeezed her ass as she passed.

Turning the key, the engine stuttered. "f**k," I grumbled, trying again. The engine groaned back. "Don't do this," I thought, attempting a third time. Finally, the engine caught and shuddered to life. Shifting into off-road mode, I reversed the car, the wheels spinning briefly before catching traction. With a string of curses, we made our way back along the dirt track.

Reaching the end of the track, I pulled up the GPS and entered her address. As we turned back onto the road, the car grumbled as it hit pavement. Switching back to driving mode, the car steadied as we continued our journey.

"I really enjoyed last night," she said suddenly, pulling me back to the present moment.

"Me too, princess," I replied softly. "I've missed you."

"I know," she replied. I sensed she wanted to apologize but didn't. Both of us knew it was time to leave the past in the past.

"So, does this mean...?" she began tentatively.

"That if you so much as touch another man, I'll kill you?" I interrupted, my voice tinged with jealousy and desire. I glanced at her to see a mixture of desire and confusion in her eyes. I loved that effect—when she wasn't quite sure if I was serious or not.

"What?" she stammered. She looked stunning, like a deer caught in headlights.

"You heard me," I repeated. The road ahead opened up, and I flicked my eyes to the GPS. Spotting a service station a couple of miles ahead, I decided it would do for breakfast. Turning onto the motorway, I pressed down on the accelerator, feeling the power of the car under my control.

She fell silent, and for a moment, I wondered if I had gone too far. Then, my own defiance kicked in, and I found myself not caring. She was mine, and I wouldn't tolerate anyone getting in our way again.

"Do you mean that?" she asked cautiously, biting her lip. The motorway was congested, forcing me to slow down. I scanned the traffic, searching for a way through, but it seemed futile.

"Don't even think about leaving, Alice. This time, the consequences will be far worse," I said darkly, surprising even myself with the intensity of my words. But I meant every word. I heard her swallow, sensing that her mind was reeling.

"I won't, I promise," she replied softly, her voice trembling slightly—not with fear, but with something else.

"Sorry, it's just... I hate the thought of you with anyone but me," I admitted, feeling a shift inside me—cold and possessive. I had let her slip away once; I wouldn't allow it to happen again. Gripping the wheel tighter, my eyes blazed with determination as I navigated through the traffic.