His to Possess (Obsession & Redemption Book 1) by India Kells

Author:India Kells [Kells, India]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2025-08-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Laurel

I woke up feeling like hell, so much that I pulled the covers over my head. My head pounded, and my sinuses felt stuffed. With a sigh, I turned myself into a ball, my body aching. It made me pay, and it felt like karma for lying to Rex the night before about exiting the vernissage without letting him know. I used the cover of having a bad headache and needing some fresh air. I hated lying, but I didn't know what else to do. I still didn't.

My throat itched, and a shiver ran down my spine. I sighed in defeat. These were the same symptoms I had when I returned to the States after Paris, just milder. This time, they hit me full force, which, if I was honest, was no surprise. Sleepless nights, money worries, career pressure, immense stress, Rex, August, and a demon from my past I had hoped never to see again.

I tried to swallow, but my throat felt like sandpaper. The ache in my muscles intensified as I shifted, trying to find a comfortable position. It was useless. Every movement sent a new wave of discomfort through my body.

I knew I should get up, face the day and Rex. But the thought of confronting him, of navigating the minefield of his control and my deception, made me burrow deeper under the covers. The soft darkness was a temporary refuge from the chaos that awaited me outside this cocoon.

I tried to relax and maybe fall into sleep again, but my mind conjured up the face I had hoped to never see again. Alain. Alain De Lamalle. My heart constricted at that name. During the vernissage, I enjoyed myself immensely until someone touched my wrist and a familiar voice sounded in my ear. I turned to see Alain, smiling down at me, and my world froze.

Stunned, I lost my voice for a moment, the two of us alone in the dense crowd of the exhibition. All the emotions I had felt in Paris jumped in my throat: affection, admiration, love, trust, betrayal, agony, and despair. All were drowned by a healthy dose of anger and hate.

"Laurel, ma chérie. What a delightful surprise," he said as if my nightmare had never existed. He looked exactly like I remembered. His blonde hair had been slicked back, giving a clear view of his sharp facial features. His clean-shaven face bore a wide smile with an undertone of danger, only further confirmed by the look in his cold, hazel eyes.

I yanked my wrist away, my skin crawling where he touched me. "Alain," I managed to choke out.

His smile widened, predatory and calculated. "It's been too long. I see you've landed on your feet after our misunderstanding in Paris."

Misunderstanding. The word hit me like a slap. "That's what you call ruining my career and reputation? A misunderstanding?"

Alain's eyes darted around the room, his smile never faltering. "Now, now, Laurel. Let's not make a scene. I'm simply here to admire the art, same as you.

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