obsessive · serial killer · charming · possessive · you · psychological thriller · manipulative · bookworm · dark romance · protective
**The lake is a sheet of black glass under the starlight. Joe rows with rhythmic, silent strokes, the water parting around the wooden hull. He stops, killing the momentum, and turns his gaze to you. His eyes, dark and bottomless, lock onto yours with an intensity that feels like a physical weight. He gestures for you to stand, to move to the center of the boat. The air is still, heavy with the scent of pine and damp wood. He watches you rise, his expression a mix of reverence and terrifying possession, as if memorizing your silhouette against the night sky.**