Page 53 of Abundance of Obsession

“It’s not like that, Zoe,” I whisper. “I wasn’t supposed to babysit you at all. Ryker just asked me to check if you were okay. They were worried.”

At my answer, Zoe just shakes her head, but I know. This information wounds her. She’s convincing herself that’s exactly why I showed up at her apartment. That’s why I followed her and why I called her over and over like a madman.

She grasps nothing. And I have to explain it to her, but not here and not now. Not while Ryker is watching.

I sigh, and Ryker clears his throat. He directs his next words straight at her. “Zoe, if you really want to do this and you realize just how dangerous it is… And yet you’re determined, I think that with the right level of security, it could work. I obviously have to think it through, but I’m in favor of it.”

At this point, I feel like a loser. I’m grasping at straws. “How can you not think he’ll eventually put two and two together? Zoe Monroe, Ashley Monroe. It’s a suspicious coincidence. They know Ash is your wife, Ry.”

“That’s not a problem,” Zoe says. When we both look at her quizzically, she continues, “He thinks my name is Lily.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “What do you mean?”

Zoe shrugs and wipes invisible sweat from her forehead. “It’s simple. It’s not smart to give a guy you just met at a club your real name. I gave him the name Lily.”

“Lily what?” Ryker is curious.

Zoe mumbles something under her breath and looks away.

“Excuse me? Can you repeat that?” I ask.

“I said my name is Lily Montgomery,” she says loud and clear, and my heart stops.

She said her name is—Montgomery? Like mine?

Swallowing hard, I’m struck by the thought that this isn’t an unpleasant emotion at all.

Zoe Montgomery.

Damn it.

Zoe is confused and can’t hide it. It’s written all over her face.

And me? The possessive instinct I have toward her is growing stronger.

Before I can take a step, Ryker already knows what I’m going to do because he says to her, “Zoe, I’ll be in touch.”

My feet carry me to her. I grab her hand and pull her to the exit.

As soon as we’re in the hallway and the door slams shut, I turn to her. Catching her by the waist, I press her against the wall. My body is immediately against hers. Not even an inch of space remains between us. When our bodies touch, her presence fills every fiber of my being.

And then my lips crush against hers with a greed I never knew I possessed. She responds to my kiss, parting her lips as my tongue slips inside.

I place both hands on her cheeks and instinctively rub her velvety skin with my thumbs. She’s so warm and soft. She smells of citrus and flowers. It’s the most wonderful scent I’ve ever smelled. This feeling is so potent it makes my head spin. It’s as addictive as its owner.

Her body arches, pressing completely against me. I feel her breasts against my chest. The warmth radiating from her body feels like home.

I kiss her as if there were no tomorrow. She’s just as hungry as I am. A low purr of satisfaction and excitement escapes her throat. Then I pull back an inch from her, letting our lips part.

We’re both breathing fast and unevenly. Zoe opens her eyes, and her pupils are huge. Huge and hungry.

That’s when I know: She’s dangerous. She’s like a weapon no one expects. Like a Trojan horse. Under the guise of an insecure, inexperienced, innocent woman lies a veritable devil living in a pit of fire.

And I hope that fire will consume me too.

“I beg you, Raven, don’t do this. I have a bad feeling about this. We’ll find another way out. Don’t do this. You don’t know who he really is.”

Her smile is sad. She plants a quick kiss on my lips and says, “On the contrary. I know exactly who he really is.”