Forbidden Obsession (Obsession #1)

Chapter 1

Spinoff

Sara

Clarity. That’s what I found when my newest friend barely escaped her stalker.

It took a few weeks, but I found it. For years, I’ve waited for Wyatt Hawkins to give me the time of day, but I’m done waiting for him.

No, I’m not going to force his hand like I’ve tried dozens of times before. Fuck that.

I’ve got just the man in mind who can help me with the one tiny problem that remains.

But first, brunch. It’s ten o’clock on Saturday. An odd time for a first date, but Drew Young isn’t your typical guy. And we didn’t meet in the typical fashion. Meaning my mother didn’t set me up with him.

Nope, I chose Drew Young myself. He made me laugh. But mother would approve. He’s socially acceptable, having dated a much wealthier woman than me. He’s new money, which isn’t a problem with our family because so are we. Kind of.

Newer than most families, at least. My grandfather squirreled away a fortune and my father was a brilliant investor until he passed. My brother Tom, well... he did get a degree in accounting, so we’re hopeful.

“Sara.”

Turning, I smile at Drew as he strides toward me in front of the restaurant. His sparkling brown eyes capture mine. His light brown hair has some wave, but it’s styled nicely. He has on a blue buttoned shirt tucked into his dark jeans. His sleeves are rolled up, showing his muscled forearms.

I’ve seen him in a tux at events and even nice clothes at the restaurant, but I’ve never caught sight of his muscular forearms. Didn’t think that would do it for me, but damn.

When he reaches me, he pulls me into his arms and envelops me in a rich, spicy scent. “I’m so glad you called.”

I have to admit, the draw I feel for him isn’t as strong as the one I feel for my brother’s best friend, Wyatt, but it’s still there. There’s this buzz of attraction that makes me want to do naughty things with him.

“How could I not?” I step back and self-consciously try to tuck my hair behind my ear, but it’s in a bun. The dinner I met Drew at was an ambush on the two women he was fucking at the time. So he’s perfect for what I need. “You definitely kept me entertained.”

His eyes twinkle with mischief. “Just a warning. I only fake date women I fuck.”

I laugh as he opens the door to the restaurant. “I’m not looking for a fake date anymore.”

He takes hold of my elbow and leans in close to my ear. “So only a fuck then?”

“Maybe.” I try to be nonchalant while everything in me is wondering, What the fuck am I doing? I can be forward when I need to be, but I’m not typically this forward.

His heated smile makes my heart skip and my panties melt. He turns to the host. “Table for two.”

The woman is dressed all in black with her blond hair sleeked back in a high ponytail. Her flirty smile is all for Drew. “Right this way, Mr. Young.”

Drew leads me through the tables to a two-seater right next to the window. One of the best places to be seen. I almost ask for a dark corner, but the host is already returning to her station.

I won’t flat out proposition the man, but I’m definitely open to the possibilities.

He holds out my chair for me. I gather my skirt before sitting and allowing him to push me in. When he sits across from me, he doesn’t pick up the menu. Instead, he leans on his elbows and looks at me.

“So, is this a revenge fuck then?” He winks. “Getting back at an ex?”

My cheeks flush with heat. “No, not revenge.”

His eyes widen when I once again don’t deny the fuck part of his statement. I set the menu to the side. Both of us have obviously been here before. I don’t need to casually peruse the menu before getting what I always get.

I lean my elbows on the table and fold my hands together to rest my chin on them. “I’m curious about you. You made me laugh, and I have to admit, I felt a little spark even though you were fucking two of the women at the table.”

“Currently, fuck buddy free.” His brown eyes twinkle with mischief. “Are you applying for the position?”

I blow out a breath. I can do this. “Can I be honest with you?”

“Of course.”

“What can I get you today?” Our server stops beside us. She’s attractive. Her dark hair is pulled up to show off her face. She checks out Drew, but he doesn’t look at her, keeping his gaze steady on me. My pulse kicks up a notch.

Drew nods for me to go first.

“Belgian waffle with strawberries and extra whipped cream.” I’ve never had a guy give me this much attention. Granted, the last guy I went out with was in a secret relationship with my friend and we’d agreed to fake date to appease our matchmaking moms.

“Eggs benedict with a side of your sourdough toast.” Drew continues to look at me not the server.

“Coffee?” the server asks.

“Yes, please.” We answer at the same time. His attention is a little unnerving, especially for what I want to discuss with him.

“Be right back with that.” She walks away, leaving us relatively alone.

“You were about to be honest with me. Something I greatly admire.” When he smiles, butterflies flutter in my stomach. How fucking cliché. But they respond more to him than most guys.

Okay, being honest with myself here, they don’t take flight for anyone besides my brother’s best friends. Yes, all three of them. Not that they feel the same way. Drew fascinates me because, outside of those three, I’ve never felt like this about a guy.

“Right.” I exhale. “For years, I’ve had a massive crush on my brother’s best friend.”

“Dante Stone?” Drew relaxes in his chair as he searches my eyes.

My face heats. “Um, no.”

Does Dante stir up something desperate and needy inside me on certain occasions? Yes, but I wouldn’t call it a crush. But there have been moments. Breathtaking moments.

Drew nods. “Finn?”

Finn Lawson, my brother’s other best friend.

A certifiable flirt who makes me hot and achy when he’s close.

But I always figured, that’s just Finn. Most women drop their panties for him.

And while he’d be perfect for my current mission, I can’t do that to Wyatt, even if he doesn’t look twice at me. Or look at me ever.

“Also no. Wyatt.” I blush and fidget with putting my napkin on my lap. “He doesn’t see me that way though and I’m done waiting.”

“Sara.” He waits until I lift my gaze to his. “I’m open to whatever you want. You want someone to fuck Wyatt out of your system, I’m just the guy to do it. You need someone to go to events with and laugh at all the people, I’m down. If we’re being honest?”

The server comes and fills our coffee mugs before walking off again. If I didn’t have impeccable table manners, I’d release a frustrated breath. She has crap timing. And most days I hate having impeccable manners.

I take my cup and sip at the hot brew, waiting for him to continue.

“I noticed you that night at the restaurant. I’d noticed you before that too. It may have been a thing for redheads at first.” He flashes me a cocky smile.

I touch my red hair pulled up into a loose bun.

“Or the first time I saw your pale green eyes that look like a color out of a fairy tale. So honestly, I’m up for whatever you want because I want to spend time getting to know you. If that’s okay with you?”

“Oh.” My cheeks heat. I’m surprised I feel the same way. What if this could actually be ... something? I smile. “I’d like that.”

I knock on the door, then slap my hand against the solid wood. It’s almost noon, and you’d think one of the four guys who live here would be awake. I glance toward the elevator. There’s only one door on this floor and it belongs to my brother and his merry band of pricks.

My date with Drew got cut short because of Tom. Grrr, Tom is the biggest cockblock of my life. I blame him for Wyatt’s disinterest.

Drew was about to kiss me when I got bombarded by texts that made no fucking sense. My heart rate is elevated. If this is a prank, I’m going to rip Tom a new one.

I pound again and this time a voice comes through the door.

“Hold your fucking horses.” It’s muffled enough I’m not sure which guy it came from. I don’t care as long as someone lets me in, so if my brother isn’t being murdered, I can murder him.

The door swings open to a dripping-wet Viking of a man in a scrap of a towel that barely conceals anything. Damn. I bite my lip. His blond hair falls in curls to his shoulders. His chest is wide and cut, his waist narrow. Black ink starts on his pec and winds around his neck.

My mouth goes dry and my panties get wet. My attraction to him annoys the piss out of me because it most definitely isn’t mutual.

“What do you want, Sara?” His icy-blue eyes narrow on me. He never shows any emotion except irritation when it comes to me. Which is fine, because I’m done with all these guys. They should be relieved. I finally moved on from the nothing they’ve offered me for six years.

“Where’s Tom?” I brush past the giant of a man into the dim living room, shaking off the sparks my arm rubbing against his hard muscles triggers. “Tom! Tom, get your ass out here. I swear to God I will come into your room, and if I see boobs or dick, I’m telling Mom.”

I ignore Dante, who follows me as I move deeper into the apartment.

His presence makes my skin tingle with an awareness I wish I didn’t feel.

I’m still in the sundress I wore on my date.

My hair is still up and I can almost feel Dante’s breath on my neck.

Which would be difficult given how fucking tall he is.

I’m not really short, but no one would call me tall or even average.

Tom’s bedroom is toward the back. I don’t care if I wake the dead and whatever woman or women might still be here from last night. My brother has a lot of explaining to do.

“Tom!”