Page 20 of Surrendering to the Obsession

His thumb pressed into her hip, firm, desperate, pulling her tighter against him. His body trembled—actually trembled beneath her—as he lifted his head slowly.

Their eyes met.

Dark. Unsteady. Hungry in a way that stole her breath completely.

His voice came out rough, on the edge of losing control:

“Ride me.”

***

At the Graves manor, Camila was seated on the living room couch, a porcelain teacup resting lightly between her fingers. Her eyes were closed, face calm, enjoying the quiet moment in the morning.

The peace shattered the next second.

Harold burst into the room, practically skipping with excitement. He rushed behind the couch, placed both hands on her shoulders, and leaned down eagerly.

“Aunty!” he beamed. “Have you started planning Alexander’s wedding yet? It should be a huge celebration! What have you arranged so far?”

Camila opened her eyes, her lashes slow and graceful as she placed the teacup gently onto the table. A long, weary sigh escaped her.

“It’s up to the two of them,” she replied calmly. “They will decide what they want.”

Harold immediately let go of her shoulders, hurried around the couch, and plopped next to her. He caught her hand in both of his, eyes shining.

“And you,” Camila said, turning to him, “You returned from Canada after so many years. What are your plans now?”

Harold’s expression lit up like a child handed candy. “I’m going to pursue the girl I like.”

“Oh?” Camila’s brows raised in surprise. “And who is she?”

Harold’s expression softened into something almost dreamy. “A friend of a friend. I really like her. She’s beautiful and cute. And this time—” he paused, his face turning slightly red with embarrassment, “this time I’m sure she’s the one I want to marry.”

Camila’s brows pulled together. “This time? What do you meanthis time?”

Harold nearly choked on air, coughing like he’d been punched in the lungs. ‘I cannot tell Aunty that I liked Miss Emily first. Absolutely not. Over my dead body!’

His face twisted in silent agony. ‘Why is that memory still haunting me?! It was so cringe. So painfully cringe. I want to delete myself.’

He dragged a hand down his face, looking like he might cry right there at the table.

He waved his hand quickly, trying to look casual. “Ah— forget that part. What I mean is— I’ve found the girl I like. And I’m only going to marry her!”

Camila smiled and patted his hand. “Then bring her home someday. I would love to meet her. Since you like her, I’m sure she’s very special.”

Harold nodded immediately. “Soon.”

Just then, footsteps echoed lightly down the hallway, and Mia entered the living room.

She froze mid-step the moment she spotted Harold sitting there.

“Harold?” she blinked, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Harold looked up—his eyes widened, and then his entire face lit up with disbelief and excitement.

“Mia?!” He shot to his feet. “Aunty, this is the girl I was talking—”

But his sentence never finished.