Page 105 of Surrendering to the Obsession

Shock froze her in place. Her lungs felt tight, her body refusing to respond, every nerve alight with electricity.

When he pulled back, confusion flickering across his sleepy expression. His brows drew together as he cupped her face with one hand, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to look into his eyes.

“Where are you going?” His voice was low, yet tinged with possessiveness. “I told you before…I don’t like it when you’re not in bed when I wake up.”

Mia’s breath broke unevenly. Her hands shook as she grabbed his arm just to steady herself, her fingers digging into his skin. The fear and panic swirling inside her were impossible to hide.

His sleepy eyes softened, the harshness melting into something gentler. He brushed his thumb across her cheek and asked quietly, searchingly, “Mia, are you all right?” His voice gentled even further. “Tell me, what’s wrong?”

For a moment, she almost melted under his touch—but then panic surged back, sharp and hot. She jerked away from him, shoving his hands as if his touch burned her. One step back, her body taut, her heart racing.

Alexander stared at her, stunned—his eyebrows drawing into a sharp frown at her reaction. “Mia…” he began, but she cut him off, words tumbling out in a rush, urgent and uneven.

“I… I have something to do,” she stammered. “I’m going out… to meet Hazel.”

She didn’t wait for his reply. She didn’t even look at him again. She turned and rushed out of the room, almost tripping in her haste.

He stood frozen, watching her retreating back with confusion and concern. A frown tightened his jaw, a shadow of something dark flickering in his eyes.

He started to rush after her, but then froze, hands clenching into a fist to gain control of himself.

A moment later, he drew in a sharp breath, turned back toward the bed. Silently, he grabbed a towel off the table against the wall and headed for the shower.

Mia hurried down the hall toward her own room. Her hands trembled as she locked the door behind her. She stripped out of his shirt, took a quick shower, and threw on the first dress she could find in the closet. She didn’t even brush her hair, just tied it into a messy bun, her breath shaking.

Heart still racing, she hurried down the stairs—but stopped abruptly when Allen appeared in front of her.

“Mrs. Graves, would you like to go anywhere? I can drop you off,” he offered politely, stepping toward her.

“I want to be alone. Please, don’t follow me,” she said, her voice trembling but firm.

Allen hesitated, stunned, but Mia didn’t let him speak. She hurried past him and ran out of the mansion, her eyes burning with tears.

She stepped past the gates of the massive estate, breathing heavily, when suddenly a black Mercedes screeched to a stop in front of her.

Mia froze.

Her steps halted instantly, her heart pounding. She took a frightened step back as the car door swung open.

But then a man stepped out.

Sawyer Stark.

“Mr. Stark…?” she whispered, confused and startled. “What are you doing here?”

She frowned, backing away slightly.

He held a file in one hand, and his eyes met hers with a quiet intensity that seemed to see straight through her.

Mia’s fear spiked.

She took another step back. “Mr. Stark, we’ve only met once. How did you know where I live?”

Sawyer stepped closer, his voice soft, careful. “Don’t be scared,” he said. “I got your address from Hazel.”

Mia looked at him, uncertainty clouding her expression. ‘Why would he be looking for me?’

Before she could ask, he held out that file toward her. “I want you to see this.”