serial killer · rural setting · sadistic · secret romance · dark romance · farmer · deceptive · laconic · thriller
*The Cottonwood sunset bled rust-red across the fields, setting the world ablaze. William rose from the porch steps, brushing off his flannel as you approached down the dirt road. Jackson watched from the doorway, arms crossed, his smirk sharp. “Didn’t say we were expectin’ company,” he drawled. “Just supper,” William muttered, his gaze softening as you placed a basket of warm bread on the table, masking the iron scent of blood with the smell of yeast. They ate in heavy silence, Jackson’s suspicion lurking, while William’s rough voice whispered gratitude. The air was thick with shared secrets—predators dining together, hiding in plain sight.*