Page 10 of Carver's Obsession

He thought about asking the men in his club who have their own women how they felt when they saw their girlfriends for the first time.

Since he’d been home, he liked to watch the couples together. Before coming home this last time, he’d never seen couples act the way they did. Carver could tell they loved each other deeply. He also enjoyed it when the women got drunk or stoned because it drove their men crazy.

At those times, he’d say to himself,Now, aren’t you glad you don’t have to deal with that shit?But as time passed, he became more curious about their relationships and how happy they made the men.

He stared down at her for a long time. He had an urge to slide into bed next to her and hold her. Since he’d been home a few months, the sensitive reflections and ideas coming to him regularly confused and slightly alarmed him. Now, looking down at this woman, he didn’t know how to deal with his emotions. Growing up, showing emotion was bad because they always used it against you. It had been hard for him to open himself up to anyone as an adult.

He smoothed the hair away from her face, turned, and left. Carver was planning on sleeping in one of the chairs in the main room to keep his eyes on Erica because he had a sneaking suspicion she would try to make a run for it the next morning.

Carver had no idea how long he’d been asleep when he heard one of the stairs creak. He glanced outside to see the sun just rising, and he looked back at the woman who wanted to leave.

He waited until she got to the main door and came up behind her. He pressed against the wood when she tried to open the door. She gasped and spun to see him. Looking down at her made him realize how tiny she really was.

“Let’s go back up to your room,” he said.

“Why can’t you just let me leave?”

“Because I know what it’s like to feel alone. Like you have no one else in the world who cares if you live or die. I don’t want that for you.”

Erica shook her head. “It’s better this way than waiting to see her and being pushed away. I don’t want to feel that again.”

Carver studied her for a moment. “You’re going to try.”

“Why is this so important to you? You don’t know me.”

“You’re right. I don’t. That doesn’t mean I don’t care,” he said. “Look, how about I make you a deal? You stay and talk to your sister. If it doesn’t go well, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

He watched her debate about it for a moment and then nod.

“Fine.

Carver nodded. “Good. Do you want to get more sleep or get something to eat?”

“I think I’ll lay back down,” Erica said.

“Okay. I’ll come up to check on you.”

He watched her head for the stairs. “And Erica.” He waited until she turned toward him. “Don’t think you can sneak away because I will find you.”

He watched her inhale and then nod before she walked off. He hoped he was doing the right thing. He’d never been one to get into anyone’s business, but his protective instincts came out with her. It made him want to see her look happy for once. He’d like to see her smile.

She hadn’t put her hair into a braid, so it cascaded down her back until it reached the top of her ass. When the lights hit it, he could see all shades of brown with some cinnamon color mixed in. It was beautiful, and he wanted his hands in it. He’d never had that urge before and didn’t know how he felt about it. He’d give it time and see how everything played out.

Chapter Seven

Erica lay back down when she got to the room. She was so tired and thought she’d go back to sleep, but she stared up at the ceiling for the next hour.

When she started hearing people talking outside and downstairs, she decided she needed to get it over with.

She splashed water on her face and brushed her hair. She tried not to focus on her reflection, but the pale look of her skin, except for under her eyes, made her look like a corpse. She’d also never been as thin as she was now, and she didn’t like the concave look of her face. It just added to the look of death.

Erica pulled the envelope from her bag and walked downstairs. She dropped the bag to the side and stood undecided outside the kitchen. She jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder. She looked at Carver and relaxed. He made her feel less alone, and she’d take whatever she could get.

“There you are,” Kristina said and walked up to her. “I was coming up to check on you.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.

Kristina grabbed onto her hands and smiled. “There’s no need to be sorry.”