Obsession - Erotic love story

Chapter 6

Jasmine

Steam curled gently from the surface of the hot bath as Jasmine leaned back against the cool porcelain, her body soaking in the warmth. In her hand was a well-worn romance novel she'd pulled from her bookshelf—one of her favorites, with a story that made her heart flutter no matter how many times she read it. The bath was her refuge, the one place where she could shut out the world and lose herself in the pages of her books.

Tonight, she had reached one of the steamiest chapters. Her eyes widened as she read, the heat rising to her cheeks as the heroine found herself tangled in the arms of her love interest, their passion described in vivid detail. Jasmine swallowed hard, her mind wandering beyond the story. She had never experienced anything like that—never kissed anyone with such intensity, never felt the kind of electricity that seemed to pulse between the characters.

What does that feel like? She wondered, her heart beating faster as the scene unfolded. To be kissed like that, touched with such need and desire. She found herself imagining what it would be like—her skin tingling at the thought of being so close to someone, of letting her guard down and feeling the kind of love she only ever read about.

Embarrassed by her own thoughts, Jasmine closed the book with a soft thud, sinking deeper into the water to cool her face. She scolded herself for getting so wrapped up in fantasy. It's just a story, she reminded herself, though her thoughts lingered a little longer than she wanted them to. The idea of love and intimacy had always felt so distant to her, like something meant for others but not for someone like her.

With a sigh, she placed the book aside and drained the bath, the romance scene still playing in the back of her mind as she stepped out and dried off. She slipped into her favorite pajamas—soft, with a floral pattern—and ran a brush through her damp curls. The house was quiet as she moved through her evening routine, preparing for bed.

Just as she was about to settle in, a soft knock echoed from the door. Jasmine froze, glancing at the clock. It was late, and she wasn't expecting anyone. For a moment, her mind flashed to the strange feeling she'd had the other night—the sensation of being followed. She shook the thought away, telling herself not to be ridiculous.

Curiosity piqued, she padded quietly to the door and peered through the peephole. No one was there. Confused, she opened the door a crack and peeked outside. Her breath caught as her eyes landed on a familiar sight: a bouquet of roses, resting neatly on the doorstep.

Her heart fluttered as she bent down to pick them up, the soft petals brushing her fingertips. Tucked within the bouquet was a small note. Jasmine unfolded it carefully, a smile tugging at her lips as she read the sweet, simple message:

For someone who brightens every day, even without knowing it.

The note was unsigned, and she stared at it for a long moment, her smile growing softer. The mystery of the flowers deepened. Was someone secretly admiring her? Or was this meant for someone else entirely? She couldn't help but wonder if there had been a mistake. After all, why would anyone leave roses for her?

Still, the gesture warmed her heart, and she clutched the bouquet to her chest, inhaling their sweet fragrance before bringing them inside. As she set the roses on her bedside table, a small hope flickered in her chest. Maybe someone out there did see her as special, even if she couldn't imagine who.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ 🎕 ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains as Jasmine woke up, a lazy Saturday stretching out ahead of her. She had no work today, no pressing tasks to attend to. The thought of a carefree day was refreshing. She decided to spend the morning at the park, taking along a book to enjoy the fresh air.

After getting dressed in casual clothes—a light sweater and jeans—she grabbed the latest book she had picked up from the bookstore and set off. The park was a short walk from her apartment, and she loved how quiet and peaceful it was this early in the day. As she found a bench under a large oak tree, she settled in, opening her book and letting the world around her fade away.

The morning passed pleasantly, the warm sun on her face and the rustling leaves adding to the peacefulness of the moment. She was so absorbed in her book that she barely noticed the shadow approaching her until a voice broke through her thoughts.

"Jasmine?"

Her head snapped up, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Reece standing before her. He was wearing jogging clothes—black shorts and a fitted shirt that accentuated his strong, lean build. His hair was slightly tousled, a faint sheen of sweat on his brow as if he had just finished a long run. Jasmine felt her face grow warm again, remembering how handsome she had thought him the other day.

"Oh, hey!" She stammered, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "I didn't see you there."

"I didn't mean to interrupt," Reece said with an easy smile, his eyes warm. "I was just out for a jog and saw you sitting here. What are you reading?"

Jasmine held up the book, a shy smile on her lips. "Just something I picked up recently. A bit of romance, nothing too exciting."

Reece chuckled softly. "Romance, huh? I guess that's one genre I haven't read much of."

"Well," Jasmine said, "it's one of my favorites. There's just something nice about the idea of a happy ending, you know?"

Reece nodded, and for a moment, his eyes seemed to darken slightly, though the smile never left his face. "Yeah, I can see the appeal."

She couldn't help but glance at him again, admiring the way his shirt clung to his frame. He looked effortlessly strong, like someone who took care of themselves, and she found herself wondering what it would be like to touch his arm, to feel the warmth of his skin. She quickly averted her gaze, embarrassed by her thoughts.

"Do you come here often?" She asked, trying to shift the conversation.

"Most weekends," Reece replied, running a hand through his hair. "It's a good spot to clear my head after a long week. And I guess today's my day off too."

Jasmine smiled. "Lucky you. I don't always get weekends off."

"Well, you've got one now," Reece said, his voice light. "What do you say to making the most of it? I know a great spot for brunch tomorrow, if you're free."

Jasmine blinked, surprised by the invitation. "Brunch? Tomorrow?"

Reece shrugged, his smile easygoing. "Just thought it'd be nice to get to know each other a little better. No pressure."

She hesitated for a moment, her heart racing. This was Reece Scott, the man who had taken over her thoughts since they first met. The idea of spending more time with him sent a thrill through her, even though part of her still wondered why he was interested in her at all.

Finally, she nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. "Okay. Brunch sounds nice."

Reece's smile widened. "Great. I'll meet you here at 10 tomorrow, then."

As he jogged away, Jasmine watched him go, her eyes lingering a little longer on the way his muscles moved beneath his shirt. She couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring.