Brutal Obsession (100)

Why would she go there?

Is she trying to find her stalker? Lure him out?

I stow my phone and clench my teeth. I’m so fucking pissed, I can’t even see straight. What I should be doing is keeping calm, focusing on the game tonight. We’re getting closer and closer to the finals. We can’t afford to lose a single game.

Spring break starts today, technically, as well.

We’ll have a week with no class.

My phone buzzes.

Vi



Party?





If you want to go to one, I’d gladly get you drunk.





Apparently you don’t have a choice.





There’s one happening at your house tonight.





I sigh. “Erik?”

He comes around the corner, grinning like an asshole. “Yeah?”

“How many people did you invite over?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I told Maddie and Paris to handle it.”

Great. So, a fuck ton. I make a mental note to lock my door—and give Violet a key. People at parties can be weirdly invasive. They think it’s okay to go into any room, touch people’s stuff, fuck on their beds… no thanks.

“You’ve never minded,” he says.

I lift one shoulder. I didn’t, back when a party was a guaranteed way to get laid. Now, I don’t need it to get Violet naked. It’s a good excuse for it, though. And it might salvage my mood once I actually confront my father about her.

“You good?” he asks.

I nod sharply. “Never better.”

“You know, no one asked me if your girlfriend could move in.” He sticks his hands in his pockets. “And her roommate, too. I would’ve appreciated a heads-up.”

Girlfriend, huh? I like the sound of that… although I’d like to call her something more permanent. I’ll have to think on that.

Part of me wants to flip him off and be done with it—but he’s right. It’s his house, too. And we’ve gotten along amicably for most of the year. It really would be a shame to piss it away in the final semester.

“Yeah,” I finally say. “Sorry. It’s not forever.”

He nods. “Yeah, man, I know.”

I watch him retreat, then finish getting changed. I’ve got one class, then a paper that I need to work on. But I’m also itching to blow it off and make sure Violet’s safe.

Me



I just heard. You good?





Vi



Yeah, just got out of a meeting with Mia. She wanted my clean bill of health from Dr. Michaels. Just had to sign a release, then got chatting with her.





I frown.

Her typing bubble pops up, then disappears. I clench my phone tightly, watching it come up again. My heart is going crazy—this stalker has my blood pressure rising.

It’s stupid how much I want Violet all to myself. And maybe that’s something akin to caring about her. I want her so badly, it hurts when I’m not near her. But is that possessiveness or something else? Do I want her because of everything we’ve been through, and everything she means, or because of her?

I’ve never loved anyone.

I don’t know what it feels like or if I’m feeling it right. All I know is what my father has taught me. And my mother… she tried, but she taught me that sometimes even love isn’t enough. She left us, and then she died.

It takes dedication on top of the love. It takes a willingness to fight to stay together.

And that’s exactly what I want. I want to get so close to Violet, I inhabit her skin. I want to wear her scent on my clothes. I want to lock her away so no man ever fucking looks at her again.

Vi



Want to make a bet?





You’ve got me intrigued, Reece.





You ever score a hat trick?





Look at her, learning all these fancy hockey terms. Have I personally scored a hat trick? Well, it was definitely easier when I was younger, up against less experienced teams. Nowadays, it’s few and far between. And in the tournament? Up against a well-known team?

A few times…





Do that tonight, and I’ll do whatever you want… until midnight.





My cock stirs.

Fuck.

And if I don’t?





Well, I guess we could try celibacy…





I laugh. Loudly. I’m pretty sure I’m the last one lingering in the locker room, because no one bothers me. I shake my head at my phone.

You’ll pay for that.





Will I?





Saucy thing.

Yes. When I win this bet, I’ll fuck you on the table in front of the team.





I say it because I know she likes the thrill of being watched. Well, I don’t know, but it’s a good fucking hunch. Sure enough, she types and erases twice more. Poor Violet is flustered, and now I can’t get the thought of her spread open for me out of my head.

You wouldn’t…