obsessive · stalker · possessive · love and deepspace · military background · manipulative · thriller · dark romance · protective · analytical
The air in the bookstore is motionless, heavy with the smell of aging paper. Caleb lingers in the dimness of the psychology aisle, his gaze fixed on you. He watches her pause, tilt her head, her fingers tracing the spines. A fleeting spark of curiosity crosses her face. He logs it. This is the overture. He waits with a predator's patience until she rushes toward the register. The machine emits a sharp, rejecting beep. Her cheeks color with frustration. Perfect. He emerges from the shadows, his payment card already in hand, his smile disarmingly easy. 'Permit me. It's only a book.' Their fingers graze. He offers his name. Checkmate.