Page 84 of Conquered

“You’re still playing with fire.”

“Yeah, don’t I know it. Call me.” The three of us had taken the last remaining six names on our infamous list of possible enemies. While I doubted Barker was stupid enough to outwardly threaten us, he could be working with a number of individuals to ensure we were on edge. I should get back to work but I just didn’t want to.

As aggravating as Sara could be, not only had she allowed me to smile more than I had in years, she also made me want to take a night off.

And eat chocolate.

I laughed before refreshing my drink. One thing I knew for certain. Whatever was swirling around us was about to explode. I felt it in my bones. But for tonight, maybe even tomorrow, I could let it go to a point. Then I’d pick up the crusade all over again.

Graduation. It was one of the college activities I couldn’t have cared less about. There’d been no one attending my college graduation, Styx the only one coming to my high school one and I’d somehow managed to become valedictorian, fooling everyone I had a normal family.

I took another sip of my drink, my eye catching her open laptop. Perhaps a present was in order for all her diligence and hard work. As I pressed my finger on the spacebar, it took a few seconds for the screen to come alive.

The story she’d mentioned was still up. Why not take a few moments to scan a page or so? I moved the computer to the kitchen table, refreshing my drink before sitting down to enjoy reading it.

Working together had been far more pleasurable than I would have admitted even a week ago. Sara was a hard worker, talented, and was especially good at creating vibrant scenes, including those I would have believed she’d shy away from. We hadn’t pulled any punches when it came to the way the killer handled his victims, but there was also a sensuality to the man that almost surprised me.

She’d almost begged me to let her write the first moment when the stalked heroine confronted the man lurking in the shadows. I was more than eager to get her take on what needed to be a crucial turning point of the story.

I settled in, leaning back in my chair and scrolling. Instead of doing my usual scanning every third word or so, within seconds, I was completely absorbed in the depiction, the passionate moment between the two not a romantic fairytale but an act of submission on one side, and an entirely different kind of surrender on the other. Both characters were damaged, so flawed they needed each other.

Several dark thoughts entered my mind and I closed my eyes briefly before reading the conclusion. We had been brought together, not by karma but by an earth-shattering moment of need that had threatened to consume us individually. But together we were solid. Alive.

And no longer facing our darkness alone.

How profound.

How romantic.

How…

Sighing, I almost tipped the glass over in my attempt to grab it. Beads of sweat had trickled down both sides of my face from the explosive nature of the desire I felt.

As if I couldn’t possibly live without her.

Maybe it was true there was really one person for each of us, a single person who could fill in the blanks, plug the holes, and keep us from going off the deep end. I wondered how many were lucky to find that person before they succumbed to their destructive ways or to death.

The scene was long, almost five thousand words but every sentence, every phrase used, every sight and sound in the setting was beautifully haunting. So much so by the time I was finished, my blood was pumping to the point I’d fisted the glass. My hands and arms were shaking from the intense rush of adrenaline.

What she’d written was provocative, passionate, and gritty and I closed my eyes, forced to rub my clenched and aching jaw before laughing.

Yes, everything about her was entirely perfect.

And the time was waiting was over.

While I would take what rightfully belonged to me, I would also indulge the woman who’d awakened my heart and soul with the other part of the equation she craved.

“Soon, my lovely fawn. There will be no turning back the hands of time.”

Sara

“Asshole,” I muttered.

How could anyone go to bed at what, ten at night?

Because he’s tired. You should be too.

Yeah, well, at this point I was wired.

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