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“Excuse me, miss, but I think you may have dropped this.”

Her blond hair spun around her shoulders like expensive silk when she turned to look at me. Her face immediately blushed; the red sprawling across the alabaster perfection of her cheeks in such a way that I could guess she had her share of hopeful admirers.

I held out the handkerchief that I previously pulled from her purse when she stood looking at a painting in the art gallery where I’d followed her. It took two days to track her and study her mannerisms in public. She always behaved like a woman at ease – one who believed a bright future was laid out so easily in front of her. She was the type that never suspected and never bothered to glance around at their surroundings – the type that made it so easy.

“Oh! I …” She huffed out a breath and took the handkerchief from my hand, my finger extended out to purposefully rub across hers. Her blush was enticing and I wondered if it spread across her entire body as deeply as it did her face.

“I must have left my purse open again. Thank you.” Her words tripped over themselves and I smiled kindly, completely aware of the attraction she felt towards me. It was instantaneous and it was all I needed to get what I wanted.

“This is an interesting exhibit they have this week. A bit erotic for my tastes, but I admire the artist’s ability to capture the emotion of her subjects,” I commented.

She blushed again, obviously embarrassed to have been caught so mesmerized by the painting that hung on the wall. It was a simple mix of black, white and red – the curved lines of a couple in the throes of passion. The brushstrokes themselves were made seductive by the subjects they captured.

“Um, yes, I liked the color scheme of this one. It’s a little risqué, somewhat darker than the others.”

“You’re drawn to the taboo?” I continued to tease and I purposefully moved to brush against her shoulder while waiting for her response. “Not … well, not normally. But I do admire this piece. I feel the artist was able to capture what some would consider taboo and paint it in such a way as to render it beautiful and true.”

My eyes flicked up at the painting and I admired the pose the woman had taken before the man she seduced. She knelt down before him as she presented her body for his dominance and use. She was glancing back at the point where his body was attached to hers and you could see that her face was turned to the side with a lace blindfold secured around her eyes. A blood red color was used to paint the sash that bound her hands above her head.

Looking back down at the blushing woman, I realized this would be easier than most of the other acquisitions I’d made. Extending my hand, I introduced myself.

“My name is Aiden.”

She took my hand, gentle in the way she squeezed my fingers in greeting. “Hello Aiden. My name is Rebecca. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Would you mind if I escorted you around to see the rest of the exhibit? I’m interested to know your thoughts on the other paintings. I’m not much of an art person, however, so you may well have more knowledge than me.”

She smiled shyly and I returned the gesture.

She quickly explained, “I’m in school studying art history, actually. That’s why I’m here. We need to select one piece to critique.”

“And I take it that you’ve chosen this one as your favorite?”

“It intrigues me.”

I smiled brighter.

“If you don’t mind partnering with a novice…” I extended out my arm to indicate the rest of the exhibit. “I’d love to hear your expertise. I’ll even buy you coffee afterwards for putting up with my lack of education in the art world.”

She didn’t hesitate to take my arm.

It was as simple as that - and it was the moment her bright future vanished before her unseeing eyes.