Page 3 of Surrendering to the Obsession

Heat roared through him. His jaw tightened, fists clenching briefly at his sides before he forced himself to breathe. Every part of him betrayed the way she affected him, the same way she always had.

‘She still gets to me… just like when I was a foolish, love-struck teenager. Nothing’s changed.’

His chest tightened, a heat rising through him that he couldn’t control. Memories of his younger self—helpless, utterly captivated by her, completely undone by a crush too intense to name—flooded him in a rush. That naive obsession hadn’t faded with time; if anything, it had sharpened, grown hungrier.

The realization hit him so hard that his hands reacted before his mind could catch up.

His grip on her waist snapped open. He let go of her quickly, almost abruptly, guiding her up and off his lap with a swiftnessmeant to hide how rattled he was. Her balance faltered for half a second, and he steadied her, but then his hands retreated as if her touch burned. His ears were faintly red. He rose from the chair as well.

He forced his breathing to even out and adjusted his suit jacket, smoothing the front and shielding himself, hiding the evidence of his reaction, trying to drag back the composure she always shattered.

He cleared his throat once. Then again, deeper this time.

When he finally spoke, his voice had returned to that calm, controlled authority. “Remember,” he said, eyes locked on hers, “you are my wife. No one gets to hurt my wife.”

Mia nodded, her smile small and warm and something in his eyes softened instantly.

He stepped closer, the space between them shrinking until the heat of his presence pressed against her.

His fingers lifted, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear with unnerving gentleness, and his voice dropped low, rough around the edges. “Now that we’re clear…” His gaze flicked to her lips, dark and demanding. “…will you help me with this thing that was poking you earlier?”

He didn’t give her a chance to answer.

The moment the words left his mouth, his lips crashed onto hers with a force that made her inhale sharply. His hands slid down her arms in one slow sweep. Then—before she could even react—he caught both of her wrists.

A soft gasp escaped her as he drew them behind her back. He gathered her wrists into one of his hands, locking them there with effortless strength, holding her in place.

He pulled her into him—hard—until her chest pressed into his and her breath tangled with his.

His other hand moved up, threading into her hair, cupping the back of her head as he tilted her closer—deeper—into the kiss. His fingers tightened just enough to guide her, to keep her exactly where he wanted her, his breath mingling with hers, heat rolling off him in waves.

His kiss wasn’t gentle.

It was deep, hungry, claiming every inch of her mouth with hot, unfiltered want. He sucked on her lip, slow at first, then harder, dragging a soft gasp out of her. His heartbeat hammered against her stomach, wild and unrestrained, and she felt it with every kiss he stole from her.

She tried to breathe, but he kept kissing her—again and again—his tongue brushing against her lips, teasing, tasting, taking. Every time she parted her mouth for air, he captured it, pressing in deeper like he needed to drown in her.

Her knees trembled.

His breath hit her skin as he broke the kiss abruptly, not giving her a second before he was on her again—this time not her lips.

His nose skimmed down her cheek in one slow, heated glide.

She shivered instantly.

He didn’t stop.

His mouth followed the path of his nose—kissing the place just under her cheekbone, warm and lingering, like he knew exactly how fast it made her heart race. Then he trailed lower, his lips brushing the corner of her jaw.

One slow kiss. Then another. Then his tongue flicked lightly over her skin, sending a sharp jolt through her.

Her breath hitched.

His nose traced the line of her jaw to her neck—slow and intimate, like he was marking every inch with heat. She could feel the warmth of his breath before his lips touched her.

And when they finally did, it wasn’t soft.

He kissed her neck with a soft pressure that made her entire spine tighten. His hand at the back of her head held her exactly where he wanted her, guiding her neck toward him as his mouth opened against her skin.