Page 8 of Sweet Possession
Pulling over to the curb next to her, I park and hop out of the vehicle. She glances around her, no doubt looking for someone to come and help. I laugh. No one can stop me from having her.
“Where are you going?” I ask, my voice calm. I already know the answer, but I ask anyway.
Her shock transforms into anger. She straightens her shoulders, ready to lay into me. It’s when she’s like this that my cock goes from hard to steel. I love her vulnerability and her strength equally.
“Are you following me again? Jesus, Asher, I’ll be filing a restraining order against you if you don’t stop this.”
I grin, stepping closer. She can threaten me with that all she likes. Restraining order or not, it won’t stop me. “I am taking you for food. Imagine my surprise when I find you leaving your apartment an hour before I said I would pick you up.”
She sighs in exasperation. Jesus, she’s adorable. “You really don’t understand the meaning of boundaries or the word no, do you?”
I slip my hands into my pockets and shrug. “Not when it comes to something I want.”
Her lips twitch, and I know she is biting back a smile. She can deny she doesn’t want to go out with me, but I know better. She rolls her eyes and blows out a breath. “I will come for food,” she holds up a hand when I smile triumphantly, “but only because I am hungry and need to eat before work.”
I nod. She can think again if she is still planning on going into that place and letting all those men see her body. Remi is mine. She is not for anyone else to look at.
* * *
“Why me?” Remi repeats the question she has asked me several times. I hate that she feels insecure and unworthy. If anything, I am not worthy of her.
“Why not?” I respond after swallowing a mouthful of my burger.
She stares at me for a long beat with those gorgeous chocolate eyes. Shaking her head, she pops a french fry into her mouth before taking a sip of her soda. “Look, I’m flattered, I really am. But I don’t need the complication of a man. I told you this already. I have enough to deal with right now, and I need to focus on getting through school.”
Ignoring the rest, I zone in on the last part. “Wait, you got into community college?”
Something flashes in her eyes before it disappears as quick as it came. “Yeah,” she mutters.
“That’s great. What are you studying?” I bite into my food again, waiting for her answer.
She nibbles her bottom lip; I see the turmoil in her eyes as she watches me. “Business Support and Administrative Services.”
I search her face. It’s not what she wants to do, but she feels it’s her only way out. “Ah, so you got accepted then, but it’s not what you want. I can tell just by looking at your face. What do you really want to do with your life, Remi?”
She scowls at me. “Why do you care so much? It doesn’t matter what I really want. What matters is making money and getting as far away from here as possible.”
Ignoring her outburst, I reach forward and grab her hand. She flinches but doesn’t remove it. I lace our fingers together, and nothing has ever felt as good as touching her. “What do you really want to do Remi?” I repeat the question because I want to know.
Her shoulders sag as she looks away. Her lip trembles and when she looks back at me, my chest constricts at her glossy eyes. She’s at odds with herself, debating whether or not to tell me. I’m beginning to think she won’t when she sucks in a breath and speaks. “I want to be an artist. Painting, to be exact. I spent years from a young age with a brush in my hand. Well, until my dad died. My mom turned to drugs and…” she trails off, her eyes widening with her confession. She pulls her hand out of my grip. My jaw clenches at the loss of her warmth, but I reel it in and take a breath so I don’t grab her again.
Pushing back in her chair, she looks around before her eyes come back to me. The vulnerability shining in those dark orbs makes my heartrate speed up, and this need to protect her takes over. “Let’s go for a walk. I know this nice park…” I’m cut off when she holds her hand up to stop me.
“I need to get to work.” Her voice leaves no room for argument.
I grit my teeth and nod even though I want to grab her, shove her in my car, take her home, and tie her to my bed so she never goes to that place again. The only reason I’m conceding tonight is because she opened up a little, and now she feels exposed. She needs to dance to feel some of the control she let slip. I will give her tonight… But tomorrow is a different story.
Pushing out of my chair, I hold my hand out for her to take. I’m shocked when she does, but I don’t show it, instead leading her out to my Audi. I open the passenger side door, buckling her in when she gets inside. I can feel she wants to say something at my babying her, but she holds it in. Once I know she is secure, I shut her door, round the car, and open my own before sliding in. Popping the key into the ignition, I start it and peel out of the lot. Silence engulfs the small space, and her scent tickles my nostrils, making me feel intoxicated by her.
We’re a couple of minutes out from her workplace when she speaks. “How old are you?” Her voice is soft, cautious.
I glance at her to find her eyes on me as she chews that full bottom lip. Jesus, I want to take that lip with mine, suck it into my mouth, and never let her go. It takes everything in me to not pull over and do just that.
“Twenty-six,” I grunt out as I shift to relieve my hardening dick.
She hums. “What do you do?” When I look at her in confusion, she elaborates. “For a job, I mean.”
I already told her the other night I am a teacher.