Page 2 of Adam & Eve

against the white sheets and vastly different from mine, which was another problem on its own. In my

world, like married like. That meant she wouldn’t have been accepted in my circle. I couldn’t care

less about that now.

I wanted to savor the moment, but it wasn’t long before she realized today would not be like

other days. The panic on her face pulled at me. It took everything in me not to go to her, comfort her. I

forced myself to wait.

What would happen next?

Would she scream?

Cry?

Beg?

I drew in a deep breath then held it for a spell. After a few moments, my chest burned, and I

felt like I would suffocate. However, I didn’t dare breathe. I couldn’t ruin the moment. Wouldn’t.

Thirty-nine seconds… That was how long it took her to realize she couldn’t move. As a

precaution, I’d tied both her arms and legs to the bed. Frantically, she scanned the room, searching the

darkness for something. She couldn’t see me. I’d hidden in the shadows, as always.

Tilting her head, her eyes zeroed in on the spot where I stood. She’d sensed me in the

darkness, proving that she was just as in sync with me as I was with her. She tugged roughly against

the ropes. She was afraid, but she didn’t cry. I was proud of her for not crying.

Show yourself, my mind screamed.

I stepped into the light then put all my emotions behind my signature smile. Women usually

swooned at the sight of it. It was charming and disarming so I’d been told. Too bad it was a façade—

a veil I hid behind. Eve had been the only person to ever see through the disguise.

It was a shame more people in the world weren’t like her. They’d be safer if they were, but

most humans were so shallow that all it took was a nice suit and the flash of pearly white teeth for

them to trust someone. She knew better. That was what had drawn me to her. She’d seen the monster

inside me, and she wasn’t afraid. Cautious, but not afraid.

Her first scream startled me from my thoughts. Our eyes connected. In hers, I saw more anger

than fear. There was too much distance between us. I took two short strides toward her.

Violently, she shook her head. “Stay away from me.” Her voice was cold and alarming.

Her reaction bothered me. I stopped and dropped my shaking hands to my side. Stay away?