Six
Their Obsession
Liv
“ W here did I put them?” I muttered under my breath.
I moved magazines aside, peeked inside of trinkets, and turned my condo apartment upside down. My set of keys weren’t anywhere. The keys to my apartment and personal mailbox went missing last night.
I don’t understand where they could’ve gone. I could’ve sworn I put them in my clutch before I left for the party. But they had disappeared. Gone in the blink of an eye.
Strange.
I had to get Sebastian to use his key to open the door late last night. I had created a scene in front of a group he was in the middle of business with and convinced the small crowd I wasn’t feeling well. Despite Sebastian’s insistence on staying, the older couple believed he should accompany me home. He agreed and escorted me out, but secretly cursed me for ruining his precious party. And I earned a harsh slap on the limousine ride home.
The resulting mark was more noticeable this morning, and I had to use concealer to cover up the bruise. A slap to the face was much better than Sebastian Chamberlain discovering the truth of my infidelity. Another one he didn’t know about and a fresh one I had to conceal.
I gave up the search after leaving no inch of the condo unturned and cleaned everything up. I was frantic because I didn’t need another reason for my fiancé to become angry. He’d take his rage out on me. I’d have to get another set of keys made immediately, before Sebastian found out. I’d order a backup set for my utter stupidity.
He had left for work at the usual time and wouldn’t be back until late. I was happy when I woke up. The bed had long gone cold without his body heat, and I wished we never had to share one. But keeping me close was one of the many ways he controlled me.
My cell phone chimed with its normal sound, but it was far too early for a text from my cruel fiancé. I narrowed my eyebrows as I pondered who else would text me and placed the book I held back on the bookshelf. This place needed to be tidied up prior to Sebastian’s arrival. He didn’t agree with a cluttered home and as a stay-at-home bride-to-be, I needed to meet his standards. He provided for me, put food on the table, and gave me everything my heart could desire. Or at least he thought he did.
I picked up my cell and flipped it over to see the screen lit up with a text. It was an unknown contact; my heart stopped. Dread crept up inside of me as I read two words and knew nothing would ever be the same.
Unknown:
Miss me?
What the hell? Who was this? Why was this random freak texting me?
I shouldn’t text back. I knew this to be true. But my fingers were far too tempted to type.
This message could be from some crazed maniac ready to kill me. Murder me in cold blood and I’d cease to exist while he did whatever he wanted to my dead corpse. Gross. Brutal image, I know. But I knew exactly who this unknown person was.
It was Sin Cruz. My phantom from last night, ready to interact with his obsession—unfortunately, me.
Sin had somehow got my number. How? I’d never know. But the answer didn’t really matter because he was a stalker. A creep who lurked in the night and watched from the shadows. He haunted my dreams while I slept in a deep slumber and trapped me in his darkness. He was my pursuer, and he could be a serial killer ready to strike his next victim.
Me.
I was playing with fire, bound to get burned, but I was a stupid bitch. I’d play dumb and hope the cover fooled him enough to leave me alone.
Me:
Who is this?
The unknown number didn’t hesitate and responded before I could swallow. I gulped the large lump in my throat, expecting to kill my nerves. But it was no use.
Unknown:
The man who enjoyed watching you while you got your sweet pussy licked.
Bingo.
It was Sin. I knew it! But I hated how my cunt clenched at his words.
The foul text Sin had sent caused my breathing to escalate, and I ran my tongue over my lips to relieve the dryness, but I was speechless. My shadow had caught me right in his evil trap.
A second text came through.
Unknown:
I bet your cunt remembers me.
I let out a gasp. Heat flushed up my body, and my cheeks turned bright crimson. I reached up to hide them but I was dumb for doing it because I was all alone. I hated the reaction he pulled from me. He wasn’t even nearby, and it made me more flustered than ever before. And I only met him yesterday.
Damn him.
I still wondered what to type back. My stalker knew my dirty secret. He knew I met up with men I didn’t know and let them please me. I let them tease me and leave me melting like putty in their hands while Sebastian wouldn’t touch me. There was no intimacy between us. I only received sweet gestures from him for the press. He was only willing to entertain the public eye, and he loved to show off his bride-to-be as if we were a happy, engaged couple who couldn’t wait to be husband and wife. But behind closed doors, the sweet image was far from the truth.
I hated Sebastian Chamberlain. I loathed his touch, despised the touch of his lips on my body, and the sound of his voice made me want to scream.
He hit me to keep me in line. Used harsh words against me and made me obey. He used his fortune as a pawn he held over my head.
Sebastian wanted to be dominant. He wanted to be powerful. And what better way than to control his future wife? But my stalker was no better.
Sin Cruz made me play his wicked game. He preyed on me and led me right into his trap. Because he knew I had to conform. He played the cards, and I had to play along. Just like my fucking fiancé.
Me:
What do you want, Sin? A quick hop in the sack? Would that get you to move on and leave me alone?
Unknown:
I already told you what I want, Liv. Slow down, sweetheart. We just met.
I could imagine Sin with a sly smirk on his face. His sinful way of toying with me as his corrupt personality came through. Which I was sure he thought was impressive, but I took no liking to his amusement. His enjoyment of my torment was astonishing and his face was gorgeous when it shouldn’t be, since he was goddamn creepy.
I huffed as I typed, “You’re an arrogant asshole.”
Unknown:
I love it when you talk dirty, Liv. Which reminds me…
The silence grew thick while Sin left me hanging on his last words. He strung me along in his vile play. But I wanted nothing more than to reach through the phone and strangle him.
Unknown:
You’ve been a naughty little obsession, and you still require a punishment.
My eyes grew wide at his follow-up message, his reminder making my heart race. I had spit in his face. He had promised me discipline for my inappropriate behavior, but Sin Cruz wanted me all the same.
He wanted to watch me give into all my most intimate desires while someone else touched me, kissed me, feasted on me, and fucked me. The thought sent a shiver of temptation down my spine, and I hated myself for it. I’d never admit my body’s attraction to him. He’d never see me give into him, and I’d fight him with all I had.
Me:
No. Punishment and watching me is not an option. Now, leave me alone before I call the police and file a report for harassment.
I waited. Bided my time, peering at my phone while my heart thumped in my ears. The steady drum of the muscle was the only sound I heard, with seconds turning into minutes. I paced on the spot as the minutes turned into an hour, and I bit my lower lip. My body raced with anxiety and my mind reeled with scenarios.
Did I scare Sin off? Or worse. Did I piss him off ?
I couldn’t be sure because a response never came through, and I placed my cell phone in the pocket of my brown Prada dress. I left the button flap open out of nervous anticipation of an incoming text. But nothing came.
“Calm down, Liv. Everything is going to be okay.” I exhaled with a long, extended sigh.
My fingers fumbled with the gold belt on my dress, and I tried to distract myself, but it was no use. I went back to cleaning up the disaster I had created before Sin blew in at hurricane speed. He unleashed misery and caused utter chaos deep within the depths of my soul.
I was distraught. A mess. So fucking vulnerable.
I needed a drink.