Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
She felt herself ease, felt that pleasurable calm and happiness settle over her. Smiling, she gave his hand a squeeze back. “I feel the same way.” There was just a flicker of surprise that covered his face, but it was soon replaced by a dark look, one that took her aback.
“I want to be honest with you,” he said.
She slowly nodded. “Okay.” She took her hand back and clasped it together with her other one.
“I beat Brian because he fucked with you.”
Gillian nodded. She really hoped they weren’t going to go down this road because talking about that asshole after what they’d just done was not what she wanted to do.
“And ever since then, my feelings for you have grown.” He was silent for a second. “They’ve grown into dark manifestations, Gillian. They’ve become abnormal to anyone looking in.”
She felt her eyebrows knit because of his words. “I don’t understand what that means.” He showed no emotion, and back in place was the David she’d known all these years.
His gaze was right on her, and she breathed in and out slowly.
“I was at the restaurant tonight because I followed you.”
For a second, all she could do was replay his words in her head. “You followed me?” she asked, confused. Had she heard him right?
“I’ve been following you.” Another second of time passed. “I have been following you for years, but it’s because I love you so much and am so fucking worried something will happen to you that I’ve gone to those lengths.”
Had he really just said what she thought he said? “You’ve been following me for years? Like…stalking me?” God, am I hearing this correctly? “When? How?” She shook her head. “I don’t understand any of this.”
He reached out and tried to take her hand, but she pulled it back, so fucking confused. David exhaled and rubbed his hand over the back of his head, his bicep muscles flexing from the act. “I follow you, Gillian.” His voice had hardened as he looked at her. “I know where you go, what time you’re home and at work. Hell, when you fucking go to the grocery store. I know all of this because I’ve become obsessed with you, and the very thought of you hurt, of another Brian incident happening, makes me insane.”
Her heart stopped as she processed what he said. David, the man she’d been in love with for so long, the man who saved her from being raped, and the man she’d just given herself to admitted to stalking her.
Shaking her head and trying to make sense of this, all she came up with was confusion and heartache. The fact he’d broken her trust by following her for all this time dug right into her heart like a rusty blade.
“I do what I do for you, Gillian. The very thought of you with another man sends me into a blind rage.”
She pictured the instance with Brian and now again with Gerald. “You hit Gerald because he kissed me, because you are—”
“Because I love you. Because you’re mine. Only mine.” His voice hard, his big body taut.
“This isn’t right, David,” she whispered, searching for her clothing now.
“Gillian,” he said her name and reached for her when she went to get off the bed, but she just kept shaking her head, not knowing what to think or do.
“I just…” What in the hell was she supposed to say? Was she overreacting? Should she be okay with the fact David admitted to stalking her, watching her every move? Her clothes were in the hallway, and as much as she just wanted to leave and get her head on straight, escaping during this screwed up situation seemed almost wrong.
But she turned and faced him, the sheet still wrapped around her. “Why did you wait until now to tell me this?” A horrible thought came into her mind, but she tried to push it back.
“I was afraid telling you would drive us apart. I was afraid admitting the fucked up things I do would leave you scared and running from me—like you are now.”
Was she afraid of him?
No, not afraid. Just shocked, confused, and everything else in between.
“I’m possessive of you, Gillian.” He stood, his big body still naked, and her own growing warm at that sight. “I won’t make any excuses or be apologetic because of it.” He wasn’t hard, but that didn’t make his shaft any less impressive. His cock hanging like a monster between his thighs. “I’d even go as far as to say I’m obsessed with you. I’m so in love with you, Gillian, I can’t even think straight.” He took a step closer, and she lifted her gaze to his face. “You’re the only thing that matters to me.”
“Why tell me now, after the fact?”
He stopped advancing. “After the fact.” He repeated it, but it wasn’t phrased like a question.