The Taste of Seduction

There was a distinct dissimilarity in her, setting her apart from the woman he once knew.

She is audacious.

"Are you deaf?!" she snapped, her fingers clicking impatiently, the sharp sound resonating within his ears.

And feisty too.

Unable to find his voice, Marcus could only gaze silently, transfixed by her presence, yearning for confirmation and struggling with the profound mystery unfolding before him.

"You bump into my car and stand there, not saying a word?!" Her voice rang out loudly, carrying a hint of frustration.

He couldn't discern whether her agitation stemmed from the events of her day or his unexpected encounter.

Lost in his own thoughts, he struggled to grasp the reality that unfolded.

He observed as she walked back to her vehicle, meticulously inspecting the bumper for any signs of damage.

Finding none, she turned her attention back to him, only to be halted in her tracks by the sight of him still standing there, staring. Instead of feeling unnerved, she appeared more exasperated, allowing her to remain unfazed beneath his intense scrutiny.

"It can't be," he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude. However, his revelation went unnoticed by her, evident from the clueless expression that settled upon her face as she met his gaze with intensity.

"You must be completely insane!" She jabbed two fingers forcefully into his chest, causing him to stagger backward ever so slightly.

Oblivious to his slight loss of balance, she paid it no mind as she stormed back to her car, slid into the driver's seat, and forcefully slammed the door shut, the sound echoing with expressed anger.

It was only when she reversed her vehicle and passed beside his that Marcus snapped out of his daze.

He couldn't bear to lose her. Losing her was not an option. Forgetting himself entirely, he instinctively reached out his hand, intending to wave her down.

But as the sun's rays filtered through the dark clouds, a searing heat reminded him of his true nature. In that moment, he realized he had momentarily lost himself in her presence.

Letting out a frustrated hiss, he swiftly withdrew his hand, realizing the futility of trying to stop her now. Helplessly, he watched as her car disappeared into the distance, turning a corner to the left.

Regret flooded his senses as he realized he had let this chance encounter slip through his fingers. The swelling feeling he'd felt earlier in his chest began to subside, replaced by a deep sense of loss.

Turning back to where her car had been moments ago, he noticed something lying on the ground – a discarded pamphlet. Curiosity piqued, he stooped down and picked it up, flipping it over to reveal its contents.

There, staring back at him from the page, were the mesmerizing marine blue eyes of the woman he had just encountered, albeit enhanced with photo edits. The image captured her in a captivating smile that left him convinced he had just witnessed the ghost of his lost lover.

How is this possible? He thought to himself as he continued to scan the rest of the content.

"ABS Properties…" He whispered to himself as his gaze dropped to the contact section of the pamphlet.

She's a realtor.

A smile of satisfaction crept across his face as he realized he now had a lead, a way to reconnect with her.

Thoughts of devising a plan to cross paths with her once more flooded his mind, contemplating the idea of visiting her office, perhaps inquiring about an apartment as a cover for his true intentions.

It was a simple plan, yet he believed it held promise. After all, Cassandra was much more than a mere encounter.

With renewed determination, he swiftly turned on his heels and made his way back to his car. Lightness relayed in his steps as he settled into the driver's seat, his hands finding their place on the steering wheel.

In that moment, however, a sudden realization struck him. He had neglected the protection of his skin from the sun's damaging rays, forgetting to wear his gloves – the essential accessory that shielded his vampire nature.

With concern etched on his features, he examined his exposed skin, pondering the oversight that could potentially reveal his true identity.

Thank goodness there's no one else around. Over here, it was just him. There was no safety in the form of bustling crowds.

He was drawn to the solitude of his destination, but he was determined in his decision to protect his true nature from prying eyes, even if it meant restraining himself from revealing his identity to someone who resembled his lost love. Alas, he yearned for a simpler solution to his predicament.

With a mixture of frustration and resignation, he released a heavy sigh, his exasperation directed at the complexities of earthly relationships.

"Oh, women of Earth," he muttered under his breath.

Despite his inner turmoil, he got back to the task on ground, diligently entering the address into the map application on his phone. As the digital display illuminated with the designated route, he turned the steering wheel in the direction it indicated.

*******

The bustling streets of New York City greeted Marcus. As he arrived, the towering skyscrapers and blaring car horns signaled his location. Compared to the tranquility he had left behind, this vibrant metropolis was a stark contrast.

His heightened senses made the cacophony unbearable, but he had to learn to cope with this inherent flaw. This environment was far from ideal for one who possessed powers – in this case, flaws like his.

As he pressed harder on the accelerator, his focus began to waver. At this rate, it seemed like his plan would take an eternity to unfold.

The things we do for love.

"Pathetic." He muttered under his breath, grimacing at the melodramatic notion that had crossed his mind. It felt distasteful, as if the words left a bitter aftertaste.

Such sentiments did not suit his persona, or so he believed. Driving through this raucous city in search of a woman who merely resembled Cassandra seemed absurd, even to him.

She clearly wasn't her, but he'd gone out of his way to locate where she worked, and all for what? The inevitable disappointment of her rejection.