Chapter 1: Introduction
Women were a mystery to John. Not the kind of mystery that was intriguing, like a coded message from an ancient civilization, but the easy kind, like a celebrity’s weight. There was always an answer, and sometimes it took a little manipulation. That’s not to say that John thought women were idiotic. Quite the contrary! He enjoyed watching their minds churn the gears, clicking through one answer after another till they arrived at the inevitable conclusion: they wanted John.
That in itself was an enjoyable experience.
The manipulation was like a puzzle, and John was its master. Sometimes it took sweet words, sometimes it took silence, and sometimes it took an intangible quality, something that had no name, but was palpable just the same. The power intoxicated him, and he relished in the art of entrancing women. But never had he met a woman who presented as much of a challenge as Sarah.
Sarah’s beauty was natural.
No foundation, no concealer, just the soft glow of her unblemished skin. Her full lips parted to release plumes of white smoke with every exhale, a perfect contrast to the dark bar. She would catch the gaze of any man who passed and not notice. And this is why John was hooked.
He first saw Sarah at the end of the bar. Her hair fell in long, chestnut waves that brushed against the bare skin at her back. A delicate gold chain shimmered around her neck, descending into the deep neckline of her black dress.
It was a haunting sight; the way she moved, the way she raised the glass to her lips, the way they quivered as she took a sip. She looked lost in her own world, a world popular music surrounded, erotic whispers filled, and the scent of expensive perfume infused.
Despite the hustle and bustle around her, Sarah seemed oblivious. John, observing her from across the room, could see the intricate web of thoughts succumbing to her senses; the music, the alcohol, the pheromones.
That’s when he struck.
He positioned himself in front of her and flashed a disarming smile, his green eyes piercing the dim light around her.
“Hello.”
There were countless ways he could phrase his introduction, but a casual greeting disarmed her and left Sarah to think of a suitable response.
“Erm, hi.” Her cheeks flushed under the dim bar lights, her eyelashes lowering and her lips curving slightly upward.
John thought of the countless ways he wanted to proceed.
He deliberated on his next lines, wanting to grab Sarah's attention without alerting her to his true intent. His eyes swept over her tenderly—the curve of her jaw, the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, and the delicate veins that outlined the inner part of her wrists. He imagined the feel of her skin against his own, the taste of her lips, and the deliberate way she'd move under him.
"You seem lost," he said, his voice smooth and sincere.
He leaned on the bar with one elbow, his eyes never leaving hers.
Sarah blinked, the enchantment broken. She held a surprised, almost cautious, but genuinely curious look. "I beg your pardon?"
"This place, it can be overwhelming," he said, letting his charisma ooze into his words. With calculated precision, he allowed the suggestion of empathy and honesty to seep through. He knew she would bite.
Sarah looked around the bar as if seeing it for the first time.