Dark Obsession (Whiskey Men: Wounded Heroes), page 1
DARK OBSESSION
HOPE FORD
CONTENTS
1. Jason
2. Olivia
3. Jason
4. Olivia
5. Jason
6. Olivia
7. Jason
8. Olivia
9. Jason
10. Olivia
11. Jason
12. Olivia
13. Jason
14. Olivia
15. Jason
16. Olivia
17. Jason
18. Olivia
19. Jason
20. Olivia
21. Jason
22. Olivia
23. Jason
24. Olivia
Epilogue
Also by Hope Ford
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Sweet Addiction © 2023 by Hope Ford
Editor: Kasi Alexander
Proofreader: Nicole Graf
Cover Design: Lori Jackson
Image Photographer: CJC Photography
Cover Model: Robbie Siclari
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CHAPTER 1
JASON
I’m completely on edge, and I hate this feeling. I was once the most confident man in the room, but I hate what I’ve become. My hands are fisting at my sides. I clench, feeling my nails digging into the skin of my palm and enjoying the pain of it for just a brief second, and then I unclench. I do it over and over until I have to force myself to stop. I never know if someone is looking at me, but it feels like I’m always under a microscope. That’s why every step I make is slow and calculated. I’m never spontaneous anymore, no sudden movements, and now every time I go out, it is planned and thought out before I even walk out my door.
“Relax, it’s a haircut,” Davis says. It’s probably the tenth time he’s tried to calm me since he and his fiancée, Abby, picked me up at my apartment. “It’s past time. Nobody would believe by looking at us that we were once part of Walker’s elite mercenary team.”
I run my hand through my hair, and it does feel longer than I ever remember it being. I know from hearing the guys at the compound talk that Davis needs a haircut too. I think after the guys gave him crap this week, he gave in and decided it was time to trim his hair. I wouldn’t mind keeping mine. I can give two shits what names the guys call me, but I really don’t have to worry about it. You’re a real asshole if you make fun of the blind guy, so they don’t give me too much shit.
I suck in a breath. Blind. It’s been two years, and I swear I’ve almost forgotten what the sunrise looks like. My mind plays tricks with me, and when I dream, I dream of everything—the good, the bad, and the things that I would give anything to forget. But as soon as I wake up, I realize that my life is worse than the nightmare I had the night before because once where there was light, all there is now is darkness.
“Shit… I mean shoot. I got it. It’s just a haircut.”
I feel Abby’s soft elbow hit me in the side before she threads her arm in mine. I know she’s doing it to help me avoid knocking into something. If it was one of the guys, I’d probably run my mouth, but there’s no way I’d risk hurting her feelings, so I zip my lips.
Abby giggles. “You’re lucky Alexis isn’t here today. She’d have you putting money in her swear jar.”
Davis chuckles. “I swear the girl is going to be able to buy that new bike she wants by the end of the month if she keeps it up.”
“You mean if you keep it up. You’re the one with the potty mouth who can’t stop swearing,” Abby admonishes him.
I walk down the sidewalk listening to Davis and Abby go back and forth. I have my mobility cane in one hand and Abby with her arm threaded through my other. I don’t have to see Davis’ face to know he doesn’t like it. He’s protective of Abby, and I can’t say I blame him. I don’t have to see her to know she’s something special.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter, expressing my opinion again.
Abby lets me go, and Davis grips my elbow. “Come on, dude. We are past time to get our hair cut. Walker told us both that we needed to tighten this up.”
Abby’s voice sounds in front of me. “I’m not going to lie. I’m going to miss the long hair.”
Davis responds huskily, “I can leave it if you prefer.”
I stop in my tracks. I’m not the only one having second thoughts here. Maybe I can talk them out of this nonsense. “Yeah, let’s skip it. Come on, let’s go to Red’s Diner. My treat. I’ll buy you each a piece of the apple cinnamon Blaze cake that everyone keeps going on about.”
Abby threads her arm through mine again and practically forces me another few steps. “Jason, my friend Olivia is the best in town. We can’t cancel now. Plus, Davis has already promised us dinner at Red’s, his treat.”
I grumble, but I follow right along beside her. There’s no arguing with Abby.
When we get inside, the noise of women talking and laughing automatically comes to a halt. Even though I can’t see it, I can feel all eyes on me. There’s a rush of heat that travels through my body, and I have to take a deep breath and let it out slowly. It’s either that or I’m going to run out of here, and with my luck lately, probably right into an oncoming car on the busy downtown street.
A voice I’ve never heard before rings out in the room and moves closer to us. “There she is. It’s been forever since I saw you. Heck, when was the last time? Oh yeah, the sex club.”
My head jerks. Did she just say sex club?
Abby gasps, and I feel her swaying beside me. “Seriously, Olivia? Why don’t you buy a billboard and put it up there that we went to a sex club, geez.”
I don’t hear the woman respond, but she must do something because Abby is giggling. I would love to know what’s going on, but instead I stand here like a clueless fool. “Anyway, you know Davis, my fiancé,” Abby singsongs, and then she pulls me closer to her side. “And this is our friend, Jason.”
The woman is silent, and I’m about to hold my hand out when I feel her grip my elbow while she holds on to my arm. With her hand on me, she asks, “Hey Jason, you want to go first?”
My tongue feels as if it’s swollen to twice its size in my mouth. Feeling her body pressed to my arm has me wanting to pull her in closer but at the same time run out the door. The reaction is instant, and when you haven’t felt anything in a very long time, it’s almost alarming. “Yea. Sure. Might as well get it over with,” I tell her more gruffly than I should.
She laughs and then threads her arm through mine. “Okay, so sexy and grumpy. My kind of man.” She walks me through the room, and finally the talking of the women around us continues.
Olivia guides me to the chair and then wraps her hand around mine that is holding on to the cane. “You mind if I take this? I promise to give it back.”
When I don’t let go right away, she giggles and leans in until her breasts are pressed against my arm once again. Her voice is low and like a whisper in my ear. “You can trust me. You don’t look happy to be here, and I don’t want you hitting me with that thing.”
Instantly I release my hold on the cane. “I would never hit a woman.”
As soon as I say it, I realize she meant it as a joke. She takes the cane from my hand but is back almost right away. “Okay, so you’re sexy and grumpy but no sense of humor.”
I clear my throat. Is she flirting with me? That’s twice she said I was sexy. Before the accident, I didn't have any doubts. I could practically have my pick of women, but since then, I’m not so sure. Maybe it’s a pity flirt, but regardless, already I feel the need to apologize. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
When my voice trails off, she squeezes her hand around my wrist. “It’s okay, really. I’m just playing with you.” She lets go of me, and I’m just missing her touch when her hands go to my head. I flinch with a jerk, and we’re both silent.
I let out a puff of air. “Shit. I’m sorry. I should go.”
I’m about to get up when both her hands go to my shoulders, holding me in place. “Stay. It’s fine. We’re just learning each other, that’s all.”
I grit my teeth. “Right…. Learning each other.”
She giggles like she knows I’m being obtuse. “Yes, learning each other. So we just met, but I already know to never joke about hitting a woman and that you don’t like to be touched—”
Oh shit. In the two minutes since I’ve been in here, I’ve found that Olivia likes to touch, and I don’t want her to stop. “No!” I say a little too loudly and then soften my voice. “It’s not that… it’s just sudden movements that catch me off guard. You can touch me all you want.” Fuck. Did I just say that? “I mean… you touching me doesn’t bother me.”
Heat flushes through my body. What the hell is wrong with me? The groan escapes before I can stop it. “Okay, so let’s start over. Olivia, I’m Jason, and I’ve been told I need a haircut. I’d appreciate it if you fix me up. Whatever you think would look good will be fine. I promise to sit here and keep my mouth shut.”
She’s back to touching me, and I hold my hand perfectly still so she doesn’t move away. “I don’t want you to keep your mouth shut. I actually l
I sit up a little straighter, and when she starts to talk again, her voice is low and she's right next to my ear. “I’m going to touch you now.”
It’s like a little kick to my chest when she says it. And even though she warned me, I’m not ready when she puts her hands through my hair and drags her nails along my scalp. I groan and then suck in a breath to stop myself. Fuck, that feels good.
“You have beautiful, thick hair. Can I wash it?”
“Yeah,” I murmur. Hell, at this point, she can ask for anything and I’d give it to her.
She starts talking, giving me a play-by-play of everything she’s doing. She puts a cape over me. “I’m going to spin you around. My wash bowl is right here so you can stay in your seat. I’m going to wash you up, give you a good condition, and then start with the cut.”
I feel the chair spin and the sound of water turning on. The back of my seat starts to descend and I don’t fight it; I lie back and let it take me until I’m lying flat on my back. Olivia is right beside me, and I feel the warmth of her body as she leans over me.
I completely clear my mind and focus on the feel of her hands on my head. She ignites something inside me, and my body readily reacts. When my manhood twitches in my jeans, my body jerks.
She puts a hand on my chest. “You okay?”
I nod my head because I don’t trust my voice. I move my arms from the armrest and let them slide down my body and grip my hands together, hoping to hide my ever-growing erection under the cape.
That’s all I need is to come off as some kind of pervert or something. Fuck, how is this my life? For two years, I thought that part of me was broken and now, here in the middle of town, surrounded by a roomful of women, I discover my cock still works. Fuck.
I’m not going to make it through this. She keeps talking as she washes my hair, and I can’t concentrate on anything except trying to keep my mind off how she’s making me feel.
I’m about to tell her I’m done when she turns the water off, thank fuck.
She towel-dries my hair and sits me up, and I feel the chair spin. She talks to me, telling me step by step what she’s doing. When I’m upright, I start to breathe a little easier.
“So, Jason, tell me about you.”
“I’m blind,” I tell her.
I swear she swats at me with the comb in her hand. “Right. I got that, but I want to know about you.”
I let out a shaky breath. “There’s not much to tell.”
She chuckles, and I don’t know if it’s just me, but her voice drops sexily. “I don’t believe that. I bet you have an exciting life.”
When I don’t answer her, she continues, “What do you like to do in your spare time?”
I don’t answer her because I feel like all my time is spent in therapy or doctor’s appointments, and I’m definitely not going to get into that.
“Oookay,” she draws out. “Well, it’s obvious you like to work out.” She squeezes my arm, and I flex automatically. She laughs, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “Okay, fine. You didn’t ask, but I’ll tell you. I like to cook, love to eat and learn new hairstyles, and people tell me that I talk too much.”
“You don’t.” I shake my head. “I mean, you don’t talk too much. I like hearing you talk.”
“Well….” she says as she massages her fingers into my head again.
I lean into it, and she pauses for a minute and then starts rubbing again. I feel like a damn cat as I nuzzle into her hand.
My cock is betraying me again, twitching in my pants, and I sit up, holding my body stiffly. Fuck, I’m like a freak or something.
The energy is buzzing all around me, and I can barely sit still, but I don’t dare move. I can hear the sound of the scissors against the side of my head as Olivia continues to cut my hair.
When she falls into a silence, I do the same. One thing since I've lost my vision that has been hard to deal with are my thoughts. I mean, yeah, not being able to see is the worst, but the thoughts in my head are somehow even easier to get lost in now. I can go from being fine one minute to feeling as if I’m about to lose my mind the next.
In the span of twenty minutes, the time it takes her to cut my hair, I’ve managed to work myself up until there’s no talking myself down.
She’s flirting with me because she wants a tip.
She’s not really interested in me.
My dick starts to work again and half the town is here to witness it.
Olivia is quiet now; I’ve offended her somehow.
Fuck, I’d give anything to see her face.
All of it whirls around in my head, and I can’t make sense of any of it. A pressure builds on my chest, and I know I need to get out of here. She announces we’re done and undoes the Velcro from around my neck. When the gown lifts off me, I reach into my pocket for my wallet. I have no idea how much money I take out, but I get up and drop bills on the seat I just vacated and hold my hand out. “Cane?”
“Uh….” she stutters before I feel the metal in my hand. “Here you go.”
“Thanks,” I grunt and then walk away, trying to recall the direction of the door.
“Want to sit outside?”
“Yeah,” I tell Davis, who has popped up beside me.
He gets me outside and directs me to a bench. “We’ll be out when I’m done.” He’s not happy with me, and I can’t blame him. I was an asshole to his fiancée’s friend, and she didn’t deserve it.
“Yeah,” I repeat, already kicking myself for my rude departure.
CHAPTER 2
OLIVIA
Do not follow him out that door, Olivia.
I repeat it to myself again, but it doesn’t stop me from looking at him longingly out the big front windows. I’m drawn to assholes. That’s sort of my thing, but I also know how to handle them. And even though Jason was rude to me, I don’t think he’s an asshole. At least not the typical one.
He came in here trying to keep his face void of all emotion, but I could tell he wasn’t comfortable. I saw how he felt when I touched him. I affected him, and damn if he didn’t affect me too. I watch him out the window. Davis is talking to him as he sits on the bench outside.
“What happened?” Abby asks me, and it’s then I realize she’s been standing in front of me, snapping her fingers in front of my face.
I shake my head, trying to figure out my thoughts, but I can’t even begin to think straight. He’s a man who is lost. That much is obvious. And I should forget about him, but already I know I can’t.
“Tell me about Jason.”
Abby scrunches up her face, and I figure she’s going to tell me her lips are sealed, but she leans forward. “He was there with Davis when he got hurt. He was one of the mercenaries. That’s when he lost his sight.” She holds her hands up. “That’s all I know, really. Well, except that Walker brought him and the others here.”
“For rehab?” I ask, wondering how long Jason will be around.
Abby nods. “Rehab… but Davis said Jason will have a job here too, if he wants it.”
I suck in a breath and bite my lip. So he may be staying in Whiskey Run… for a while at least. Before I can ask anything else, Davis is standing in front of us. “Sorry about that. You ready for me?”
I blink up at him. Shoot. “Uh, yeah, sorry about that. Let me clean up real quick and I’ll be ready.”
I grab the broom and make quick work of cleaning up my station. After wiping things down, I gesture to the chair. “Have a seat.”
He gets in, and Abby and I both laugh. I hit the knob that lowers it. “You really are a big guy, huh?”
Abby just smiles, and Davis looks at himself grimly in the mirror. After wrapping the cape around him, I ask, “All right. How would you like it cut?”
