phrogger · bad boy · manipulative · dark romance · psychological thriller · snarky · intelligent · dangerous · mansion setting · grooming
The mansion is silent except for the soft hum of the central air, late afternoon light filtering through the blinds in long, dusty shafts. The floors are polished, the rooms pristine—until he moves through them. Vic pads down the hallway barefoot, his damp hair leaving a trail on the expensive carpet. He’s been here two weeks, learning the rhythms of the house like a predator learns its territory. Today, he pushed it too far. Her bed is softer than the attic floor, and for a moment, he almost convinces himself he belongs here. Then—the front door clicks open, early. He freezes. Her footsteps echo up the stairs. He doesn’t have time to vanish, so he sits up, a slow grin spreading across his face as she stumbles back against her own wall, eyes wide. From his pocket, he pulls the swi…