His Obsession (13 page)

“I need to get myself another drink.” He stood and went into his study
to gain control. After putting the glass down he sat on his couch and counted
to ten. When he opened his eyes, he saw the picture of his mother and father
together, taunting him.

In that split second, he hated his parents for leaving him, not only for
leaving him but leaving him without any knowledge of what to do about his
growing feelings.

There was no way Ursula could accept
him being part of a club who believed they were possessive towards their woman.
The little joke of them being the Owners would send her away.

“If I’m not possessive what the hell
is happening to me?”

****

“He’s in denial,”
Cadeon
said. Lucas watched his friend and boss disappear
into his study. Sean sat back while Tate and Kevin took long drinks of their
beer.

“What do you expect us to do? He’s
clearly denying any knowledge of how he feels.” Lucas ran a hand over his face,
glancing at the woman in question. She truly was a peach, a beautiful woman
who’d made his friend happy.

“The problem you have with Stephen
is he doesn’t believe. Where most of us have felt possessive towards all the
women in our lives, he hasn’t. He shared his women with men who weren’t
inclined our way. I know he’s never loved a woman enough to stay with her for
longer than a couple of months. They come and go. Ursula is the first woman
that I know of to live in the same house as him,”
Cadeon
said.

“Stephen doesn’t believe in any of
it?”

“Nope.
Up until I met Ursula I was
starting to think it wasn’t in him. The way he treated women would shock the
very foundations of what Possession and Ravage stand for. I think he needs a
wake-up call.”
Cadeon
sat forward. Lucas listened to
the other man, intrigued about what he was saying. He’d not known Stephen long,
but he liked the man even if he was moody at times. Who wouldn’t be? Lucas knew
the kind of stress Stephen was under.

“What do you suggest?” Sean asked.

“I think he needs to know what it
feels like when a man comes onto his girl. Lucas and Sean are the only two
unattached males here. I’d ask James if he were here, but he’s not.”

“You’re asking us to break the code
of the club? I’m already on a warning,
Cadeon
. I’m
not going to get my ass sent to hell just because Knox won’t admit to his own
male instincts,” Sean said.

“I’ll guarantee you won’t have a
problem with the club. Just do this, Sean. He needs to know what is going on
inside him.”

Lucas stared at Ursula. He didn’t
want to go through with it, but he understood
Cadeon’s
reasoning. After several moments, he stood and walked over to her. She looked
up at him with a smile.

“Hi, I’m Lucas Sanchez, one of Stephen’s
friends.” He held his hand out to her. She shook his hand. Sean joined him.

Chapter Eleven

Ursula shook the hands of both men. She recognised them from when they’d
been at Stephen house when she was still his employee.

“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Ursula Mills. Where is Stephen? Has he
hidden away being moody?” she asked. She thought she’d done a great job of the
get-together. When he’d asked her to organise and host it for him several
months ago she hadn’t thought how important it was to her for it to be perfect.

“He’s in his office. We wanted to talk to the woman who has taken her
place in his life.” Lucas leaned in close placing a hand at the back of the
wall. She frowned at his closeness but didn’t say anything.

“Yeah, tell us about yourself.”

She smiled at both men. They were clearly trying to get to know the
woman their friend was with.

“Okay, you want to know about me?”

They nodded. “I met Stephen during my interview. He’d lost his last
housekeeper, I think through an argument about his life or something. We met,
we hit off, and he hired me. I’ve been cleaning and cooking his house ever
since.”

“Is that all you are?
A cleaner?”
Lucas asked.
He reached out to stroke her hair. She pulled away from him. The only man who
could touch her was Stephen. She didn’t like the thought of another’s touch.

“I’m more than a cleaner. If you don’t like the fact I’m Stephen’s
girlfriend, then tell him you don’t like his choice.” She moved away from them
feeling hurt. Why was she hurt when she knew his friends wouldn’t like her?
They only saw a gold-digger. She walked into the kitchen in time to see two of
the male waiters kissing passionately.

A gasp escaped her, and they broke apart offering excuses.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to get some fresh air,” she said. The
passionate display by the two men in the kitchen reminded her of the way
Stephen took her in the same room. The frozen night gripped her. She liked
being cold as it would dampen her arousal for the older man currently sulking
in his study.

What had she gotten herself into?

Ursula stared out into the night thinking about her situation. All she
did was doubt herself with Stephen when he was not in her company. Should she
take it as a sign?

The thoughts and doubts were driving her crazy. She didn’t know what to
make of everything that was happening to her. Her parents wanted to meet the
man she’d moved in with. She knew they would be unhappy when they saw him. Most
people knew who Stephen Knox was even if they weren’t in the same social circles.

She fingered the pendant he’d given her. Why did he have to give her a
family heirloom? Every time she thought they were having fun then he’d give her
something that made her feel more and more like his girlfriend or wife than a
lover. She knew he hadn’t given this pendant to anyone else. His mother when
she was alive had worn the same pendant. She’d seen his family portraits and
recognised the gift he’d given her.

Taking a breath she tried to analyse everything about him within a few
moments. She knew her feelings for him were getting deeper. Part of her
accepted the fact she was in love with him while another still denied any such
feelings for him. The door behind her opened. Ursula turned to see
Cadeon
standing behind her. She stared back across the
darkened garden as she tried to stem the flow of tears. So much was happening
in her life, and she needed the world to stop for a few minutes for her to keep
up. Stephen had a way of inserting himself into her life without her having any
control over it. The worst part of all it was she liked him there. He dropped
her off at college, and she wanted to go with him. The desire to be with him at
all times scared her. For the last four years she’d been on her own with Paul.
She never needed him or wanted him as much as she wanted Stephen, and the
emotions were scaring her.

Cadeon
stood next to her near the railing.
He kept his distance from her, and for that she was thankful.

“I’ve never seen Stephen like this,” he said.

“Like what?” She bit her lip in an attempt to keep the tears inside.

“Happy. I know he’s got his moods, but I see a different inside him. He
has been more diligent in work.
Taking control of his
business.”
He kept talking to her about Stephen’s improvement.

“You’re talking about him as if he was a child.” She rubbed her arms.
Cadeon
draped his jacket over her arms to keep the cold
away. “Thank you.”

“I know Stephen wouldn’t want you to catch a cold. I imagine he would
love the excuse to keep you at home.”

She didn’t argue.

“He’s not a child. I know he’s older than I am, but since his parents
passed there has been a lack of caring inside him. Before his parents died,
he’d already taken over the reins of every company his father ran. The moment
they were gone, he didn’t even bother. Most of his days have been spent lurking
everywhere.”

She listened to what he had to say. Stephen clearly covered his pain
with his moods. “Do you know if he even cried over his parents’ passing?”

“I don’t think Stephen is capable of crying. I’ve never seen him show
any emotion besides anger.”

Ursula knew he got angry over the littlest thing. His anger had never
been directed at her. “I’m not here for his money,” she said.

“I know.”

She frowned then turned to stare at him. “Why?”

“Stephen is many things, but a fool with a gold-digger isn’t one of
them. If anything, I think you’re good for him.”

“His other friends don’t seem to think so.”

“Lucas and Sean were trying to make Stephen see something. I swear they
mean you no harm. You’re Stephen’s woman, and they wouldn’t hurt you. We’re
trying to get him to see something.”

“What are you trying to get him to see?” she asked.

Cadeon
chuckled. “Would you believe me
when I say I can’t tell you? I’m bound to keep the explanation to myself.”

“That is not fair. You’re asking me to be near two men I don’t know
without any reason as to why.”

“Stephen will tell you in his own good time. Trust me, and come inside.
You’ll catch your death in this cold.”

Ursula followed him inside, handing him his jacket. She saw Violet
sitting on the counter waiting for him. He went to her, sinking his fingers
into her hair, pulling her towards him for a deep kiss. Ursula watched them.
They were connected in a vibrant kind of way. Their love could be felt for
miles. She also saw how young she was compared to the other man.

“Are you all right?”
Cadeon
asked.

“I missed you,” Violet said.

“We’ll go soon.”

Ursula waved them away. She needed a few moments before going back into
the other room. With a hand on her hip she took a few deep calming breaths to
gain her composure.

When she went back into the main bulk of the party she noticed several
people had left. Stephen’s idea of a party baffled her. They were wealthy
businessmen, and she knew they did things differently.

Lucas and Sean approached her. They each wore a warming smile. When they
moved her into a corner they began to talk her about everything and anything.
She learnt a great deal about each man. Lucas was more playful while Sean was
more serious. Each man had lost someone. She didn’t know how she knew, but it
was clear in the way they were. They held themselves back as if they were
scared to get close to someone.
Cadeon
sat across
from them, and she saw him staring at the door to Stephen’s study.

She had no idea what was going on, but if it helped the man she cared
about then she would do anything.

You’re in love with him.

****
   

Stephen ran his fingers through his hair, put the empty glass down, and
walked out of the study. He noticed many of the directors had left, which made
him relieved. Dealing with men who worked with him was the last on his to-do
list. Next, his gaze sought out Ursula. He found her and watched as Lucas and
Sean crowded around Ursula. He knew they wouldn’t do anything to her, but he
couldn’t stop the anger building inside him. He slammed the door to his study
not caring the attention he caught. He walked over to where they stood.
Cadeon
tried to hold him back. Stephen pushed him away. No
one was moving in on his woman. This feeling felt so similar to that morning
when she spoke of going back to her apartment. He didn’t like it, either.

Grabbing Sean, he slammed him up against the wall. This was his home.
They weren’t in the club, and they were trying to take her. All he could think
about was getting the men away from her. He didn’t see Lucas and Sean. He saw
two men trying to take Ursula. The violence inside him startled him. Stephen
couldn’t stop himself. When he raised his fist, James stopped him holding him
back. They caught the attention of a few people, but they were able to pull him
into his study. Stephen saw Ursula was held back in the hall. Sean and Lucas,
Tate, Kevin, and
Cadeon
were already there. James was
still physically restraining him.

“Get your fucking hands off me,” Stephen said.

“Calm the fuck down,” James yelled. Tate and Kevin were at the door,
guarding it. “I’ll let you go when I know you won’t attack your friends.”

“I thought you weren’t coming. What’s wrong? Couldn’t resist taking my
woman either?” He snarled, cursed, and kicked out.

“Violet is with Ursula. They’re fine,”
Cadeon
said.

Sean and Lucas were seated on his couch. After several minutes he began
to calm down. He no longer saw the enemy. He saw two friends he’d attacked.
James let him go when his body went lax. Stephen went straight for his whiskey.
He needed the burn of the drink as it went down his throat.

The tension inside him began to ease. Stephen felt the eyes of the men
on him. He didn’t like to be closely observed.

“I don’t want your woman. I haven’t met her, Stephen. I came here
because I had news, and I saw you about to attack your friends. Are you really
too stupid to realise what is going on with you?” James asked. His voice was
rising with every word he spoke.