Page 21 of Abundance of Obsession

“I know that. I’ve been standing at your door for fifteen minutes. Do you know what time it is?”

“Are you kidding me? I have a curfew now or something?” Good intentions aren’t enough because my mood is dropping. “I’ve been an adult for a long time. Tell me what you want, or I’m hanging up.”

Eli stays silent for a moment. “Which club are you in?”

“Oh, God, Eli, give me a break. I went out dancing. What’s it to you?”

“I’m coming to get you. We need to talk,” he says, calmer now. Over the phone, I hear a door slam and an engine start.

“Can’t this wait until tomorrow? I’ll call you.”

“You won’t,” he snorts. “I’ve been calling you for the last few days, and you’re not calling back.”

My gaze wanders to Damien. He’s sprawled out on the sofa, watching me. A small smile plays on his lips.

“Listen, I’m busy right now,” I say to Eli, and annoyance creeps into my voice. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Muffled curses reach my ears. Eli growls his next words. “Listen to me. We need to talk. Either you tell me which club you’re at, or I’ll fire up my laptop and in five minutes, I’ll know your exact location based on your phone. Either way, I’ll be there soon. So what’s it going to be?”

My teeth grind, and I have the urge to punch something. How dare he?!

The one and only night I want to do something for myself, and he ruins everything.

I’ll kill him the moment I see him.

Trying to suppress my anger, I finally say through my teeth, “Better make this really important, or you’re a dead man, Eli. I’m at Maximus.”

“If it weren’t… I’ll be there in ten minutes, Zozo.”

Zozo? Are we going back to this again?

Apparently, the one punch to the face he got from me after he gagged me and held me at gunpoint wasn’t enough. Is it his hidden kink?

Anyway, Eli has hung up. And ruined my plans for tonight.

Before I reach Damien, he can tell from my face that something’s wrong. The fire in his brown eyes dims.

“I’m so sorry, but we’ll have to end our evening together now. Unfortunately, something unexpected came up. I have to go,” I say to him, an apology written all over my face.

He gets up and shrugs. He wants to play it this way. “That happens sometimes. I understand. Can I have your number?”

Unlocking my phone, I hand it to him so he can enter his number. Seconds later, his phone vibrates in his pants pocket.

“I’ll call you and we’ll make plans for dinner. If, of course, you’re up for it.” The note of hope in his voice.

“I’d like that.” I grab my purse. “Thanks for tonight, and thanks for the drink.”

“It’s no big deal. The pleasure was all mine.”

Damien leans in and plants a quick kiss on my cheek. Giving him one last grin, I make my way out.

Even after stepping out into the crisp night air, his lips on my skin linger.

Eli Montgomery…

You’ll pay for this.

Chapter 6