Obsession
Vivian Wood
(Addicted Duet, #2)
Publication date: October 9th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance

From Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author Vivian Wood
Secrets can kill.
Harper wanted Sean to dominate her, to degrade her… and she loved every second of it. Every hot, gasping-for-breath, clenching-the-sheets moment. She loved to have him looming over her, dictating her every move. She got off on it.
But now it’s too real. Their relationship has gotten complicated and dark, fast.
For Sean, Harper is more than just a good f*ck. She’s quickly becoming an obsession. When she pulls him from the fire yet again, he can’t pretend that she’s not the center of his world.
But Harper’s got secrets too, and hers are twice as deadly. When she finally starts to unravel, they will both have to find a way to save themselves — and each other — if they want to stay together.

Sean​ ​woke​ ​up​ ​late,​ ​aware​ ​from​ ​the​ ​way​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​poured​ ​through​ ​the​ ​window​ ​that​ ​it​ ​was close​ ​to​ ​mid-day.​ ​Sean​ ​groaned​ ​and​ ​checked​ ​his​ ​phone.​ ​Almost​ ​eleven.
He​ ​hadn’t​ ​heard​ ​Harper​ ​at​ ​all.​ ​Normally,​ ​he​ ​was​ ​woken​ ​up​ ​by​ ​her​ ​grinding​ ​of​ ​smoothies in​ ​the​ ​morning​ ​for​ ​her​ ​pre-gym​ ​protein.​ ​Sean​ ​pulled​ ​himself​ ​out​ ​of​ ​bed​ ​and​ ​adjusted​ ​his morning​ ​erection.​ ​Already,​ ​dreams​ ​of​ ​the​ ​previous​ ​night​ ​escaped​ ​him,​ ​but​ ​he​ ​knew​ ​they were​ ​all​ ​Harper.​ ​They​ ​always​ ​were.
“Hey,”​ ​he​ ​said​ ​as​ ​he​ ​opened​ ​his​ ​bedroom​ ​door.​ ​She​ ​was​ ​curled​ ​up​ ​on​ ​the​ ​couch.​ ​A​ ​book rested​ ​on​ ​her​ ​knees.
“Hi,”​ ​she​ ​said.​ ​For​ ​once,​ ​the​ ​smile​ ​that​ ​spread​ ​across​ ​her​ ​face​ ​was​ ​easy​ ​and​ ​natural.​ ​It was​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time​ ​since​ ​they’d​ ​moved​ ​in​ ​together.
“You​ ​haven’t​ ​eaten?”​ ​he​ ​asked.
She​ ​shook​ ​her​ ​head.​ ​“Not​ ​in​ ​the​ ​mood​ ​for​ ​a​ ​smoothie,”​ ​she​ ​said. “How​ ​about​ ​brunch?”
“Okay,”​ ​she​ ​said.
He​ ​made​ ​his​ ​way​ ​to​ ​the​ ​kitchen.​ ​Yesterday,​ ​when​ ​she​ ​asked​ ​him​ ​to​ ​cook​ ​for​ ​her,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a sign.​ ​That​ ​was​ ​his​ ​way​ ​back​ ​to​ ​her.​ ​Sean​ ​pulled​ ​out​ ​the​ ​half-dozen​ ​eggs​ ​from​ ​the​ ​fridge and​ ​the​ ​packet​ ​of​ ​English​ ​muffins.​ ​He​ ​cracked​ ​the​ ​shells​ ​and​ ​started​ ​to​ ​whisk​ ​egg​ ​yolks with​ ​lemon​ ​juice​ ​in​ ​a​ ​stainless​ ​steel​ ​bowl​ ​for​ ​the​ ​hollandaise​ ​sauce.
He​ ​heated​ ​a​ ​saucepan​ ​with​ ​a​ ​thin​ ​layer​ ​of​ ​water.​ ​As​ ​he​ ​drizzled​ ​in​ ​butter​ ​and​ ​watched the​ ​sauce​ ​thicken​ ​and​ ​double​ ​in​ ​size,​ ​he​ ​sensed​ ​Harper​ ​behind​ ​him.​ ​Afraid​ ​to​ ​say anything,​ ​worried​ ​that​ ​it​ ​might​ ​scare​ ​her​ ​away,​ ​he​ ​reached​ ​for​ ​the​ ​salt​ ​and​ ​cayenne. “Are​ ​you​ ​making​ ​eggs​ ​benedict?”​ ​she​ ​asked.
“Yeah.”
“I​ ​didn’t​ ​know​ ​people​ ​actually​ ​made​ ​that.”
He​ ​laughed​ ​as​ ​he​ ​started​ ​to​ ​brown​ ​the​ ​bacon​ ​in​ ​a​ ​skillet.​ ​“Did​ ​you​ ​think​ ​they​ ​just appeared?”
“I​ ​don’t​ ​know!”​ ​she​ ​said.​ ​He​ ​handed​ ​her​ ​two​ ​English​ ​muffins​ ​to​ ​toast.​ ​“I​ ​thought​ ​they were​ ​really​ ​hard.​ ​Like,​ ​only​ ​chefs​ ​made​ ​them.”
“They’re​ ​not​ ​hard,”​ ​he​ ​said.​ ​He​ ​broke​ ​another​ ​egg​ ​into​ ​the​ ​water​ ​and​ ​reduced​ ​the​ ​heat​ ​to a​ ​simmer.
“How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​know​ ​when​ ​they’re​ ​done?”​ ​she​ ​asked.​ ​Harper​ ​peered​ ​into​ ​the​ ​pan. “Practice,”​ ​he​ ​said.
“Thanks.”
“About​ ​three​ ​and​ ​a​ ​half​ ​minutes,”​ ​he​ ​said.​ ​“Watch​ ​for​ ​the​ ​egg​ ​white​ ​to​ ​set​ ​but​ ​the​ ​yolk should ​​still​​ be ​​soft.”​​He​​ removed​​ one​​ of ​​the ​​eggs ​w​ith​​ a ​​slotted​​ spoon​​ and ​​let ​​it ​​drain over​ ​a​ ​paper​ ​towel.​ ​As​ ​he​ ​carefully​ ​assembled​ ​the​ ​benedict​ ​and​ ​spooned​ ​the​ ​poached​ ​egg on​ ​top​ ​of​ ​the​ ​bacon,​ ​he​ ​seasoned​ ​both​ ​plates​ ​with​ ​salt​ ​and​ ​pepper.​ ​Finally,​ ​with​ ​the hollandaise​ ​poured​ ​over​ ​them​ ​and​ ​a​ ​garnish​ ​of​ ​chopped​ ​parsley,​ ​he​ ​handed​ ​Harper​ ​her place.
She​ ​looked​ ​at​ ​it​ ​like​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a​ ​science​ ​experiment.​ ​Sean​ ​could​ ​see​ ​numbers​ ​and calculations​ ​flying​ ​across​ ​her​ ​face.​ ​“Just​ ​try​ ​it,”​ ​he​ ​said​ ​gently.​ ​“It’s​ ​good​ ​for​ ​you.”
He​ ​ushered​ ​her​ ​towards​ ​a​ ​seat​ ​at​ ​the​ ​kitchen​ ​island​ ​and​ ​kept​ ​an​ ​eye​ ​on​ ​her​ ​while​ ​he​ ​put more​ ​bacon​ ​into​ ​the​ ​pan​ ​and​ ​pulled​ ​out​ ​the​ ​pancake​ ​mix.​ ​“You’re​ ​making​ ​more?”​ ​she asked,​ ​her​ ​eyes​ ​wide.
“You​ ​haven’t​ ​had​ ​breakfast​ ​or​ ​lunch,​ ​have​ ​you?”
She​ ​didn’t​ ​answer,​ ​but​ ​when​ ​he​ ​pushed​ ​the​ ​freshly​ ​cooked​ ​bacon​ ​onto​ ​her​ ​plate,​ ​she made​ ​a​ ​face​ ​and​ ​started​ ​blotting​ ​at​ ​them.​ ​“How​ ​many​ ​calories​ ​are​ ​in​ ​bacon?”​ ​she​ ​asked. “Does​ ​it​ ​really​ ​matter?​ ​Just​ ​enjoy​ ​it.”
She​ ​gave​ ​him​ ​a​ ​look​ ​like​ ​a​ ​surly​ ​teenager.​ ​He​ ​watched​ ​her​ ​as​ ​she​ ​nibbled​ ​on​ ​everything, going​ ​at​ ​the​ ​egg​ ​whites​ ​with​ ​more​ ​gusto​ ​than​ ​anything​ ​else.​ ​When​ ​the​ ​first​ ​batch​ ​of pancakes​ ​were​ ​done,​ ​he​ ​started​ ​to​ ​check​ ​on​ ​a​ ​dry​ ​piece​ ​with​ ​his​ ​hands​ ​and​ ​forked​ ​two onto​ ​her​ ​plate,​ ​but​ ​Harper​ ​shook​ ​her​ ​head​ ​vehemently.​ ​“No​ ​more,”​ ​she​ ​said.
He​ ​sighed​ ​and​ ​looked​ ​at​ ​her​ ​plate.​ ​For​ ​her,​ ​she’d​ ​ate​ ​a​ ​decent​ ​amount,​ ​though​ ​it​ ​still wasn’t​ ​nearly​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​count​ ​as​ ​sustenance.
“You​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​working​ ​out​ ​together​ ​again?”​ ​she​ ​asked.
“I​ ​don’t​ ​know.​ ​Maybe,”​ ​he​ ​said.​ ​“It’s​ ​Sunday.​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​maybe​ ​we​ ​could​ ​lounge​ ​on​ ​the couch​ ​and​ ​watch​ ​a​ ​movie​ ​first.​ ​We​ ​can​ ​decide​ ​if​ ​we​ ​want​ ​to​ ​work​ ​out​ ​later.”
“Okay,”​ ​she​ ​said​ ​reluctantly.
“Hey.​ ​How​ ​about​ ​you​ ​choose​ ​the​ ​movie?”
“Really?”​ ​she​ ​asked,​ ​brightening.
“Go​ ​on,​ ​I’ll​ ​clean​ ​up.”
Harper​ ​rushed​ ​to​ ​the​ ​living​ ​room​ ​while​ ​he​ ​rinsed​ ​the​ ​dishes​ ​and​ ​loaded​ ​the​ ​dishwasher. By​ ​the​ ​time​ ​he​ ​made​ ​it​ ​to​ ​the​ ​living​ ​room,​ ​she​ ​had​ ​​Mean​ ​Girls​ ​​queued​ ​up​ ​on​ ​Netflix. “Seriously?”​ ​he​ ​asked.
“You​ ​said​ ​I​ ​could​ ​choose.”​ ​She​ ​pulled​ ​a​ ​face​ ​that​ ​dared​ ​him​ ​to​ ​disagree.
They​ ​sat​ ​on​ ​opposite​ ​ends​ ​of​ ​the​ ​couch​ ​like​ ​armies​ ​readying​ ​for​ ​battle.​ ​Eventually, Harper​ ​propped​ ​her​ ​feet​ ​up​ ​on​ ​the​ ​couch,​ ​taking​ ​up​ ​two-thirds​ ​of​ ​it.​ ​“You​ ​want​ ​a​ ​foot rub?”​ ​Sean​ ​asked.
She​ ​looked​ ​startled,​ ​but​ ​bit​ ​her​ ​lip​ ​and​ ​nodded.
He​ ​started​ ​at​ ​her​ ​perfectly​ ​white​ ​feet,​ ​cold​ ​to​ ​the​ ​touch.​ ​Sean​ ​warmed​ ​them,​ ​surprised​ ​at the​ ​softness—especially​ ​with​ ​all​ ​the​ ​working​ ​out​ ​and​ ​those​ ​insanely​ ​high​ ​heels​ ​she​ ​wore. When​ ​he​ ​worked​ ​his​ ​way​ ​to​ ​her​ ​bare​ ​calves,​ ​she​ ​didn’t​ ​react.​ ​The​ ​rolled-up​ ​boxers​ ​she wore​ ​as​ ​pajama​ ​bottoms​ ​had​ ​hiked​ ​up​ ​so​ ​high​ ​that​ ​his​ ​hands​ ​had​ ​miles​ ​of​ ​flesh​ ​to explore.
Sean​ ​reached​ ​her​ ​thigh​ ​and​ ​she​ ​squirmed.​ ​When​ ​he​ ​raised​ ​his​ ​eyes​ ​to​ ​hers,​ ​there​ ​was​ ​a hunger​ ​in​ ​there​ ​he​ ​hadn’t​ ​seen​ ​in​ ​weeks.​ ​She​ ​lunged​ ​at​ ​him.​ ​Her​ ​lips​ ​met​ ​his​ ​as​ ​her​ ​arms snaked​ ​around​ ​his​ ​neck.
Without​ ​thinking,​ ​he​ ​kissed​ ​her​ ​back.​ ​Harper’s​ ​hand​ ​twisted​ ​around​ ​the​ ​front​ ​of​ ​his tee-shirt​ ​and​ ​she​ ​pulled​ ​him​ ​closer.​ ​That​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​desire,​ ​that​ dominance,​ ​was​ ​new​ ​in​ ​her. Any​ ​other​ ​time,​ ​he’d​ ​despise​ ​it,​ ​but​ ​something​ ​about​ ​it​ ​being​ ​her​ ​made​ ​him​ ​harden instantly.

Author Bio:
Vivian​ ​likes​ ​to​ ​write​ ​about​ ​troubled,​ ​deeply​ ​flawed​ ​alpha​ ​males​ ​and​ ​the​ ​fiery,​ ​kick-ass
women​ ​who​ ​bring​ ​them​ ​to​ ​their​ ​knees.
Vivian's​ ​lasting​ ​motto​ ​in​ ​romance​ ​is​ ​a​ ​quote​ ​from​ ​a​ ​favorite​ ​song:​ ​"Soulmates​ ​never​ ​die."
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