“Whenever you feel like tensing, just remember to relax,” he whispers low. His thumb rubs my throat like it does when he’s in my mouth. “You’re really good at that.”
He pulls away and closes himself in the bathroom. Today might be worse than last night. My stomach is fluttering.
Please don’t fall for your client, the serial killer.
15
SOPHIE
My family goes to the slopes and I convince Soren to sleep. When everyone’s gone, I meander back down to the basement. It’s spotless and I have no idea what he did with the body. Instead of playing a gorey Where’s Waldo I go back upstairs.
Soren’s right; we can’t have another repeat of last night. Almost having sex drove him to a chaotic, risky kill. Now that I have a minute to think, I realize just how bad that is. I’m not sure I’m helping him anymore. He’s the most fascinating person I’ll ever meet, and I don’t want to lose the opportunity to study him. But I can’t ruin his life in the process.
We might need to end our agreement. This hobby doesn’t define him. He has other things in his life—a job, kids. If we never met he might have never become this and now I’m making it worse.
After a couple hours, a text from my family comes in. They’re going out to lunch. Soren’s still asleep on his bed when I crack his door open. His blackout curtains keep the room dark, so it feels like a cave. I sneak into the room quietly. I left my AirPods in bed, but I need some music to work through my thoughts.
“Sophie?” His voice is thick with sleep.
“Sorry,” I mumble. His hand reaches out, wrapping around my wrist. A moment later, I’m pulled into bed and dragged underneath him. He’s not wearing a shirt. My fingers settled on his bare chest. His short golden waves hang as he looks down at me. This is too intimate for two people who can’t get too close.
“We need to talk,” he says. The sleepy rasp in his voice creates a craving inside me. I swallow thickly.
“You’re right. Why did you kill someone last night?”
“I’m not answering that,” he says. I blink up at him in surprise.
“Well, that’s a first. You usually answer all my questions with ease.” I look away quickly; his eyes are too heavy. “If I’m making you worse, then we need to discuss that. Some hard decisions need to be made.” Soren grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. There’s panic in his eyes.
“Are you trying to leave?” He asks. His reaction catches me off guard.
“It might be for the best.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t leave,” he whispers. His mouth is too close. I press harder against his chest. There’s not enough space between us. Why are we having this conversation in bed?
“Don’t I still interest you, Doctor Moore?” He asks.
“It’s not about that,” I whisper. He grabs my face, eyes darting to my lips.
“I need your help again,” he rasps, catching me off guard. His tone sends a shiver up my spine. I grab his biceps as he pulls my face closer to his.
“Do you feel like killing again already?” I whisper.
“Be a good therapist for me.” His lips settle against mine, and I melt into his hard body.
“Soren?” My voice breaks. He only reels me in closer, smashing my chest against his. His mouth trails up to my ear.
“Are you scared of me?” he asks.
“No.”
“Then why are you trying to leave?”
“I’m making you worse.”
“Oh, Sophie, you aren’t,” he sighs.
“Aren’t I? I crossed a line we both agreed to, and it drove you to kill.”
