Fatal Obsession

ressive swagger of someone used to getting what he wanted through force. He moved w

ed cadence that suggested private schools and careful e

"Most people can't help but notice car acci

d argue there's a difference between r

lat, disinterested stare she'd perfected over years of u

on whether you're will

it--a genuine curiosity that felt different from the usual pickup lines

ompany," she said, closing the sk

chair across from her table. "Mind if I sit anyway? The

home in any situation. Up close, she could see the details that distance had only hinted at-the precise trimming of his

tation was merely an oversight. "I just find it interesting when s

truc

s the evening progressed. "Alcohol. Lowered inhibitions. People saying and doing things

nsettling about the way he spoke-too articulate, too measured for casual con

creating art rather than par

tion is easy. Creation requires discipline. And discipline

omething shift in her chest, a flicker of interest she ha

r a living. You lear

involves profession

hing while somehow suggesting everything. "What about you?

r arm, pinching just hard enough to ground herself.

re

forward slightly, drawn in despite herself. This man had something none of her previ

interests me,"

t intere

a way that made her pulse quicken. "Thi

r with renewed attention. "An art

reached across the table to

anner-respectful despite being presumptuous-made her hesitate just

es carefully, looking for the usual reactions-discomfort, confusion, someti

ggested he wasn't offering empty flattery. "There's a violence here, but it's... s

of insight. Years of boyfriends who'd offered vague comments about her work being "intens

sting perspective o

he sketch pad carefully, his fingers lingering on the cover. "I'm a doctor, actually. Psychology.

o see through the carefully constructed walls she'd spent years building. Some

ing work," she said, tryin

ones where people have learned to function despite significan

les through her carefully maintained composure. Did he know? Could

d was reaching peak volume. "Would you be interested in continuing this conversation somewhere qu

umptuous, just... hopeful-made her pause. When had she last had a conversation that actually en

eave bars with str

n bars," he replied. "Perhaps we're

rd in what might have been the first genuine smile

nk. Then perhaps..." He paused, studying her face with those

ed elegance that whispered money rather than shouting it. Soft lighting, impeccable service, and the

d as they were seated at a corner t

settling into his chair with the easy confidence of someone for whom such places were routine.

's business had provided a comfortable life-but she'd spent years deliberately choosing seedier

a lot of theories

th the same analytical attention he'd given her artwork. "The interesting thing about

the sommelier like they were old friends. Heaven found herself studying his profile, the precise a

'd ordered their meals, "what brought you to City Alto? You

a change o

omething or tow

t that it felt like ordinary dinner conversation. Heaven took a sip of wine-somethi

h," she sa

e school and never left. There's something about this plac

you're doing

ing but not entirely joking. "Though I have to admit, most of my pati

that looked almost too beautiful to eat. Heaven found herself laughing at his stories, dry observatio

I expected," she said d

id you

clinical, I suppo

n. Understanding. Finding the threads that hold peopl

tighten. How many of her own threads

ee in me?" she asked, surp

tory ones. The kind that sug

ad in the previous two months. This man had a gift for finding humor in the darkest corners of hum

left the restaurant. "There's a view I'd like to sh

tion, too much too fast. But the rational part of her mind had been keeping h

ical eyes. "Actually, would you mind driving? I'd like to see how you nav

guing. Heaven found herself nodding be

ried the scent of urban rain and distant mountains. His car was parked ju

eside her. The interior smelled of leather and something else-cologne, maybe

e asked, start

tains. I'll direct yo

ith unusual intensity. He wasn't talking, but she could feel his attention like a physic

bservant," she

to say, you're considerably more i

bje

ho come to me seeking answers th

the one that came with getting too close to danger

The truth is rarely something that can be

ded City Alto like protective walls. The urban landscape gradually gave way to sparse suburban development, then

" he said as they climbe

you want

here's a theme of control and surrender, power and vu

d on the steering wheel

at you

dangerous to answer honestly. Heaven found herself pinching her thigh th

u're uncomfortable,"

wh

le, but consistent. A cop

r called her out so directly, so casually.

controlled pain helps them manage emotio

that made it worse. To be seen so clearly, so immedi

she asked, her voice sha

genuine curiosity, "Though I have to admit, you're quite fascinating. There's a depth of

n't w

bury it, pretend it never happened. You've transformed it into som

tained wall between her public and private selves. This stranger was speaking

next intersectio

rs. The city spread out below them, a glittering sprawl of lights and

g to a small pull-off are

o stretched out beneath them like a circuit board, all connected lights and flowing traffi

id, surprised by the sin

you see beauty in place

e her-a loosening of the tight control she maintained over her emotional responses. This man,

erstand things,"

er, close enough that she could smell his cologne and see the flecks of gold in his eyes b

made her chest ache. When had anyone seen her brokenness

emember how to be wh

o touch her face with fingers that were

measured, exploratory, like he was conducting some kind of careful experiment. His hands moved to fram

ere possible. Heat spread through her chest, down her arms, settling low in her belly like a war

he murmured a

ha

nreachable as yo

pulling her closer until she could feel the solid warmth of his body against hers. Heaven found herself respondin

he metal still warm from the engine. The position should have felt vulnerab

ow and intimate, "when was the

ith the city lights spread out below them and his hands moving with careful

member," sh

t me rem

-this stranger whose name she still didn't know--seemed to understand her body's language in ways she hadn't known were possibl

urmurs that made her feel simultaneously beautiful and dangerous. His hands mapped the geography of her body like he was conducting research, le

oor that had been locked for thirteen years suddenly swinging open. The sensation was so intens

ed against her throat.

ve ending was firing, every sense was heightened, every breath felt like a small miracle. The pleasure built in waves

y slowly remembered how to function. The man-this mysterious stranger who had somehow unlocked somet

l," he sa

ad sex before, many times, but it had always been something to endure rather than experience. This had been

to Meridian," he said eventuall

er carefully constructed life of emotional numbness and controlled r

ions she didn't know how to ask. When they pulled up by the curb, she t

you again?

d nothing while suggesting everything. "City Alto

gs, her body still humming with the memory of his touch. She watched him drive away, tailights

pletely, terrifically alive. And she had no idea what to do w

t do?" She foun