Page 22 of Abundance of Obsession

Eli

This girl is nothing but trouble.

God, I swear. If I could, I would wrap my hands around her beautiful neck right now. Her eyes would fill with tears, and she would choke on her breath. Flushed, whispering one word. Please…

My open palm slams against the steering wheel, and I press down on the gas pedal.

“Fuck,” I hiss through clenched teeth.

Focus. You’d better come up with a good excuse, or your head will roll until dawn.

Since when do I even care what some girl thinks? Are you kidding me? The last thing I’m going to do is justify my behavior to that feisty, sassy, wild mouse. Brilliantly smart, yet still a mouse.

My brothers would have a field day if they saw me now. Ryker’s gaze would say, “I told you so,” while Theo would stare at me as if I’d lost my mind. And he’d be partially correct.

My heart is pounding. Rage at her and at myself is coursing through my veins.

This is illogical. Ever since Ryker asked me to monitor her, something inside me has snapped. My focus shifted to Zoe the moment the spotlight found her.

For the second time, I dragged my lousy ass to her apartment door, and for the second time, no one answered. That’s why, with the maniacal persistence that defines me, I bombarded her phone. She eventually answered and had the audacity to dismiss me. Me!

The music was so intense that I struggled to make out her words. I needed to find out her location. I just had to.

For the past few days, whenever I called her, she ignored me.

And I didn’t like that, not one bit.

I reach Maximus in eight minutes. Never will I admit it’s because of my breakneck driving. I pull the Escalade right up to the curb, where a line of girls has formed. Two bouncers are keeping order at the entrance.

A girl with shoulder-length black hair and a leather jacket is talking to one of them. The red fabric of her skimpy dress hugs her hips and round bottom. They look like juicy apples I would love to cup in my hands. She has long, slender legs—perfect for wrapping around my waist.

The girl looks… Stunning.

My mouth waters, and I run my tongue over my dry lips. I’m acting like a starving predator that has just spotted its prey. Intrigued by this sight, my cock hardens.

I’m about to get out of the car and make my move when the girl, laughing at the bouncer’s words, shakes her black mane. Her hair sways as she does so. My heart skips a beat when she glances over her shoulder. Right at me.

No, this can’t be real. What the fuck have I done to deserve this?

My heart picks up its rhythmic beat again; a wave of heat washes over my body. For a second, I close my eyes. Opposing feelings wrestle within me.

The girl says something else to the bouncer and moves in my direction. It doesn’t escape my notice his gaze doesn’t leave her hips and ass.

Removing his eyes seems a fully justified and reasonable decision.

The Escalade’s door opens and Zoe jumps in. Her cheeks are flushed, eyes shining like two stars, and those red lips… Jesus. I have a clear idea of the place I want them.

In the only way I know how, I suppress my growing attraction. “What the fuck are you wearing?” I hiss.

Zoe looks confused. She isn’t smiling like she was a moment ago. She doesn’t fire back with her usual sharp retort, the words that typically fly out like a crack of thunder. Instead, a quiet stillness settles around her, and the air is thick with unspoken thoughts.

“It’s called a dress, asshole.” A flicker of irritation appears in those green eyes.

That’s good. I can work with that.

“It looks like you borrowed it from a fifteen-year-old friend, or they released a defective model. The bottom’s missing.”

“What?” Zoe lowers her gaze to her bare thighs. Her cheeks turn scarlet and her eyes narrow to slits as she looks back at me. “Fuck you, Eli.”