Chapter 2: His Obsession

KEIRA’S POV

THE NEXT MORNING

The soft click of the front door signaled my mother’s departure. “Take care, Mom,” I whispered, though she was already gone, leaving the house quieter than usual. I lingered for a moment, staring at the empty hallway, then shook my head and turned to get ready. Today felt… different. I couldn’t shake the lingering tension from last night—or the thought of Drake.

After showering and dressing in my simple black knit turtleneck and white skinny jeans, I was just about to leave my room when a knock on the front door made me freeze. My heart skipped a beat. Who could it be so early?

I approached cautiously, and when I opened it, my eyes widened. “Drake!” I exclaimed. “What are you doing here? And how did you—”

He stepped inside before I could finish, moving past me with an arrogant air that made my skin prickle. “So, this is your place?” he said, surveying the living room with a critical eye. “I think this house is barely as big as my bathroom.”

“Drake, you know what? I really don’t care,” I shot back, irritation rising. “Please leave. It’s obvious you’re not welcome here.”

“You know what? I don’t care either,” he said, mimicking my tone, his eyes never leaving mine as he slowly advanced toward my room. Panic fluttered in my chest, and I moved to block the door.

“Don’t—”

But he gently pushed the door open. My protest died on my lips as he stepped in, looking around with that infuriating smirk. “So, this is your room,” he said, nodding, then inhaled sharply. “Your scent lingers here.”

“Drake… please leave,” I said, trying to sound firm. But instead of advancing aggressively, he sat on the edge of my bed, calm, confident, and infuriating all at once.

I tried to pull him away from the bed, but he wouldn’t let me go—he pulled me back, and I ended up on his lap.

I took a cautious step back, my pulse hammering. The air between us felt impossibly thick. I could smell him—his perfume, that warmth radiating off his body. My skin prickled where his presence loomed closest.

My breath caught, and my eyes widened in shock. He didn’t force me roughly, but the closeness—the way our bodies pressed together—made my heart race uncontrollably.

“Do you know why I enjoy provoking you?” he whispered, his voice low, warm, brushing against my ear. “Because you always react like this.”

I shivered at his words, torn between anger and an undeniable pull toward him. He leaned closer, brushing my hair aside and tucking a strand behind my ear. “Remember this, Keira. The more you try to distance yourself from me, the harder you’ll fall.”

Before I could speak, he pressed a small, teasing kiss to my forehead, then my nose, and finally, my lips. My knees went weak, and I struggled to pull away, but he held me with a strength that was firm yet careful, making it impossible to resist.

My heart pounded in my ears. Each brush of his lips sent shivers across my skin, igniting a warmth I couldn’t deny. I tried to reason with myself—this is wrong, it’s too soon, it shouldn’t feel like this—but my body ignored me, responding to every touch, every whispered word.

He tilted my chin, capturing my lips in a deeper, more passionate kiss. I gasped softly, heart hammering, as his hands traced the curve of my face, then lingered at my shoulders. I felt a fire igniting inside me I hadn’t anticipated, a magnetic pull I couldn’t escape.

I tried to step back, to reclaim control, but he tightened his hold gently yet firmly. My back pressed against him as he shifted, making me move slightly, settling me more comfortably across his lap. The intimate closeness was maddening, and my cheeks burned as he held me there, calm and confident.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” I whispered, trying to sound stern, but my voice trembled.

“And yet I did,” he murmured, his lips brushing mine once more. “Because I can’t stay away.”

I wrenched myself free just enough to straighten my clothing, anger and embarrassment flooding me. “You can’t have everything your way, Drake! I’m not—”

“You enjoyed it, didn’t you?” he interrupted, that husky voice teasing, his thumb brushing along my jaw.

“No! Stop it!” I almost shouted, but my body betrayed me, still alive with the feel of him. I pulled myself away and managed to stand, putting some distance between us.

“I might not have gotten everything today, but you will be mine, Keira,” he said, rising slightly so that I had to look up at him. His eyes burned into mine, possessive and commanding, making it impossible to argue further.

“No matter what you do, it will never happen!” I replied, though my voice wavered, betraying the fluttering fear and thrill coiling inside me.

He leaned closer, cornering me with ease. “We shall see,” he whispered, sealing our lips in another kiss. Each kiss more intoxicating than the last, and despite my racing thoughts, I couldn’t stop responding. My body had betrayed my mind, and I could only blush in helpless embarrassment.

A sudden, sharp thought of self-preservation made me reach for something, anything, to reclaim some control. My hands landed on my makeup kit, and without hesitation, I hurled it at him.

“Aw!” he protested, but his grin remained, undeterred.

“Get out before I call the police!” I cried, stepping back to distance myself.

Instead, he leaned down, cupping my face, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my lips. “See you at school,” he whispered, before finally leaving the room, leaving me trembling, breathless, and completely undone.

I sank onto my bed, running a hand over my face. What have I allowed? I berated myself, though no matter how much I tried to deny it, the memory of his hands, his lips, the heat between us lingered, taunting me.

***

I don’t even know how I made it to school with him on my mind the whole time.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. I couldn’t focus on anything—my thoughts kept drifting back to Drake, to the way he held me, to the heat of his kisses. My best friends, Trisha and Earl, noticed immediately.

“Hey, Keira, are you even listening?” Trisha waved her hand in front of my face, frowning with genuine concern.

I shook my head quickly. “Huh? Oh… yeah, sorry,” I murmured, forcing a smile. My heart still thumped erratically. How could I explain what happened without sounding completely insane?

Trisha exchanged a glance with Earl. “You’ve been acting strange all day,” she said softly. “You’re not yourself. Is something wrong?”

I hesitated, staring at the pavement beneath my feet. “No… it’s nothing. I just didn’t sleep well,” I lied, hoping the explanation would suffice.

Earl’s brow furrowed, and he reached for my arm, gently turning me to face him. “Keira… are you sure? You feel off. Like something’s bothering you.”

Before I could respond, a familiar voice interrupted. “And just who’s bothering her, hm?”

I froze. Drake. He stepped from behind a tree, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning us like a hawk. My chest tightened. Even here, at school, he had found me.

“Drake… what are you doing here?” I whispered, trying to sound composed.

“You tell me,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. He moved closer, cutting off any escape. I instinctively stepped back, but he followed, his presence overwhelming.

Trisha looked startled. “Whoa… he just appeared out of nowhere,” she murmured.

Earl’s expression darkened. “Back off, Ashford. This doesn’t concern you,” he said firmly, stepping slightly forward.

Drake’s gaze snapped to Earl, and his jaw tightened. “It does concern me,” he growled. “She is my business. So don’t you ever touch her again.”

I swallowed hard, embarrassed by the possessiveness radiating from him, but part of me couldn’t help feeling a flutter in my chest. He wasn’t just teasing anymore; he was serious. Every fiber of his being demanded that I be his, and the heat of it made me nervous, scared, and oddly… excited.

Earl stepped closer, fists clenched. “I won’t let you bully her, Ashford,” he said, his voice steady but protective.

Drake tilted his head, his lips curling in that infuriatingly confident smirk. “I’m not bullying her,” he said smoothly. “I’m protecting what’s mine.”

I tried to pull away from the tension of their standoff, but Drake’s hand found mine, holding it firmly. The touch was electrifying, and I felt myself weakening despite my mind screaming to resist.

“See? You feel it too,” he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. “You belong with me, Keira. Deep down, you know it.”

I froze, my pulse racing. Trisha shot me a concerned glance, clearly realizing something was wrong, but I couldn’t speak. How could I explain the confusing, heated pull I felt toward him when I knew he was utterly inappropriate?

Drake’s grip tightened slightly, just enough to anchor me in place. “I’ll be watching you,” he said, releasing my hand but leaving a shiver in its wake. “Everywhere you go, every move you make—you’re mine. And no one else will ever have you.”

Then, with a final smirk, he turned and disappeared down the walkway, leaving me trembling, my heart still hammering, and a mixture of fear, frustration, and something far more dangerous simmering beneath my skin.

Trisha stepped closer, concern etched across her face. “Keira… what’s going on? He’s—he’s scaring you.”

“I… I don’t know,” I murmured, hugging myself. “I just… I can’t explain it.”

Earl placed a protective hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure it out. Don’t let him intimidate you. Not here, not ever.”

I nodded, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Drake—the way he had held me, the way he had kissed me, the possessiveness that made my pulse race and my body ache. I didn’t understand why it affected me so strongly, but I knew one thing: he was impossible to ignore, and he wouldn’t stop until he had me completely in his grasp.

I told myself I hated him. I wanted to believe it. But the way his eyes followed me—like I was already his—made it harder to remember why.