CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Ronan
“Obsession in a man creates destruction.”
I give her that moment. I’m real with her, sentimental if she needs me to be because I know how it feels to have lost yourself. To fall into a dark abyss and stare at your own reflection until all you see is your flaws.
I’ll always wait.
“I think it’s best if we take showers and eat well before the last few hours. No telling what they’ll have us do after leaving this room.” I nod and let her go first.
These days have felt like a cycle, showering, fucking, riddle, eating, sleeping, and did I say fucking?
I grab a sandwich and water, consuming both in a few minutes.
My stomach is still growling because my last sandwich went to waste because of her.
Her and that damn mouth of hers. I know I’ll never rid her of it and truly I don't care nor do I want to. It’s funny to pick on her, make her squirm from a few words.
That pussy trembling underneath my shirt.
She steps out of the bathroom—grabs the sandwich and water I left on the bed. Her eyes fall on me before darting back to the floor but I ignore it. Knowing her, she has a million fucking questions I don’t want to answer right now.
I shower just as fast, letting the tepid water fall over my skin and not letting my mind drift to the last riddle.
When I’m done, she’s laid on the bed, her sandwich half eaten and on the floor. She must’ve been tired, exhausted considering she stayed awake to make sure I woke up.
Most people in a situation like this would’ve lost their minds already.
These rooms aren’t just about secrets being revealed.
It's to test your mental state and how long it takes before you crack. How much pressure you can be put under before you snap. But not her. She’s too damn stubborn and resilient to let any of this win.
I pick up her sandwich and throw it away. I situate the silk blanket over her and let her be while I find the last damn clue. The neon clock above ticks loudly, mercilessly leaving no room to think. Luckily I’m in no rush. Control is patience and I’m blessed with both.
I crouch closer to the floor, the slight shift of the wood catching my attention.
I place a hand on it and it moves again.
I dig my fingers underneath the wood's edges and it groans as it leaves the hinges. The wood is much softer than the rest of the floor, but possibly because it’s damp from the mini fridges leak.
I place the plank beside me and an old brown box sits in the small space.
As always the last clue is near the door you come in from—the beginning is always the end.
My lips curve into something that’s not quite a smile, but darker. What's inside of here isn’t really the problem, it's what's written on it. It could be the end of Ember or it could be the beginning of something more dangerous between us.
I pull the box from the spot and push the wood back in place. I glance over at her sleeping form. She’s still ignorant to the world. She’s been playing my game well and now lets see if she can live it too.
I turn the box in my hand, slowly as if I do it too fast the contents may shatter.
I lift the lid and a black paper is neatly folded inside.
I pull it out and place it in my palm. As I read it over, I realize they got each statement right.
Each one coursing into a much darker realization of what I had done.
I turn to her, she’s been asleep for five hours as I kept myself busy eating, watching her and looking for this clue. I wanted her to rest for what's to come so that she can think rationally.
I walk over to the bed and crouch over her, the truth in one hand as I brush my free hand over her cheek.
The soft skin is littered with faint freckles that you can only notice close up.
I’ve remembered each one. Her breathing is faint and her eyes flutter at the feel of my skin against hers.
Her eyes slowly peel open and her gaze lands on me, confused and exhausted.
This truth is mine and I'll decide how it kills her.
“I’ve found the last clue.” I whisper.
She looks at my hand that's holding the paper and her confusion settles deeper.
“That’s good.” Relief flashes in her eyes and I know it won’t be there long.
That grounding she’s thought she’s made for herself will disappear. I’m going to take it away with one sentence. The illusion of the man she thinks I am will be gone.
“That’s not all.” I let the words hang, creating a dangerous tension in the room. “I want you to read it.”
She stiffens and I place the note on her lap before giving her space again. “Why?”
Her hands shake as she picks up the clue and her eyes stay on me.
“Read. It.” I demand.
She breathes out and looks down at the old paper. Her eyes track the note first before furrowing.
“For Ronan, the truth is devastating and honestly pretty disturbing. You’ve rigged this room to be with a girl you’ve obsessed over for years. Now it’s time to confess your game.” She pauses after each sentence. Her eyes find mine and fear proudly stands between us, wafting off of her in waves.
“I don’t understand.” She shakes her head and places the note beside her.
I lean in close enough that our breaths combine into one.
“This room was made by me. This isn’t my first time meeting you, not even close.
” She flinches as if my words have hurt her but I continue.
“It was at a bar, right before you were kicked out of college. You were drunk, talking about this woman professor who gave you hell. You talked to me like you knew me, like you didn’t care that I looked unapproachable.
You cried. You laughed. Consumed the whole room and me.
Especially me. I walked you back to campus and ever since then you’ve haunted me. ”
She shakes her head and her throat works as if she may say something but doesn’t.
“You crawled under my skin. I thought about you when I went to sleep and when I opened my eyes the next morning. I tried to leave you alone but I couldn’t.
I stalked you for so long. Getting to know you and learning how you worked.
When you left college, I left that town too.
I followed you here and when I found out you were coming to Hallows Inn I knew it was my chance.
I asked a friend to do a room specifically made for you and I.
I already knew all your secrets before you told me them. ”
I stop talking so she can understand my words. Her eyes never leave mine and fear stiffens her body. I can see her pulse beating in her throat and the way her hands grip the sheets as if they’ll steady her racing heart.
“I don’t remember that, Ronan. When?” She croaks.
“You wouldn’t remember such a rough day, Little Devil. You had told me your professor broke it off, that she groomed you. That you didn’t know if you were going to the board or not. It was three years ago.”
“And you’ve been stalking me since then?” She whispers, afraid to ask the question.
“Yes.” I don’t soften my words because that's not who I am. I let them blow straight through her.
“T–that’s not…normal.”
“Ordinary rules don’t apply to me, Little Devil.
Ever since I was born I never considered myself normal but I’ve watched the way you let so many people hurt you.
I’ve watched you smile at those classic books you read.
I saw you cry yourself to sleep remembering that professor, who's dead by the way. I killed her the second she broke your heart.”
Her eyes widen and gloss over with tears. She brings a shaky hand up to cover her mouth to hide her trembling lips.
“But I’m not going to hurt you. I would never. I want you forever. I’d bleed before I ever let you feel pain.” My voice is strong with promise.
Curiosity flickers in her eyes along with something more carnal.
I’m surprised she hasn’t run or stumbled out of bed with disgust. I lift my hand and softly trace it across her jaw, a silent warning.
Her body naturally bends for me, leaning into my touch.
Her eyes flicker and I place a knee on the bed to lean closer.
“I–I know this isn’t right. Damn, I’m so fucked up.” She goes back and forth talking to herself before her eyes meet mine again. “Forever? That’s what you want?”
My spine crawls because I know what she’s going to say before she does.
“Yes.” I don’t hesitate because I’ll give her the world if she asks.
She drops the hand that's over her mouth onto mine that's holding my weight up and her nails dig into my fingers. Her chest rises and falls faster and I know she's trapped between what's right and what's wrong—instinct or temptation.
“If you mean that…you promise you won’t hurt me, then maybe.” A smirk lifts my lips and corrupt thoughts spread through me.
She’s mine. I got her.
“Being mine won’t scare you forever, Little Devil, it’ll save you.” She leans in and for a split second I’m confused until her lips touch mine.
Her lips are searing as they aggressively force mine apart.
Her tongue hits mine and my cock instantly swells.
I grab her throat in my hand, crushing the space below her ears to regain control.
My lips move on their own as I force her to submit.
I push her back until she’s laid below me.
My chest flush against hers, trying to remove any space between us.
She’s enough for me.
I kiss her like it's the first time, letting her feel every damn emotion I have.
Everything in me feels amplified, possession roars through me.
My mouth leaves hers and traces down her jaw to her shoulder.
I push my shirt off of her and lean up to stare at her body.
This will be mine, permanently, she laid down before me two days ago and became mine.
I warned her. I gave her a choice and now that choice is mine.