The Deviant Underground (Time Bandit) by Elisabeth Roseland Page A

question she had asked, but she decided to pursue this line of conversation anyway.
    “What did you realize?”
    He stepped into her again, pressing his body gently up against hers. “This is probably going to sound crazy because we haven’t known each other that long.”
    “What?”
    “You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. I am attracted to everything about you—your beauty, your intelligence, your sense of humor, your body.” He placed one hand on her hip and pulled her even closer. Kathryn gasped quietly with pleasure. Charge laughed. “I’m even crazily attracted to the fact that you smoke, drink, and cuss like a sailor.” Kathryn couldn't help but to laugh herself. She knew what her faults were, and she had many.
    “So, I say all of that to say . . .” he paused. Kathryn searched his face for what might come next. He sighed. “Look, I don’t want to scare you, but . . .” His gaze darted around the kitchen before coming to rest again on her face. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”
    Kathryn was shocked. She didn’t know where Charge was going with the conversation, but this wasn’t it. “W-what?” she stammered.
    A smile spread across Charge’s face. He bent down and spoke slowly into her ear. “I. Am. Falling. In. Love. With. You.”
    Kathryn couldn’t speak. Her heart raced, partly with joy and partly with panic. She had never felt so intensely about anyone her entire life. She knew that she loved him. But, she was afraid. She was afraid to say it because it would make her vulnerable, and it would make her feel even closer to him, and it would make it even more unbearable when she would have to break up with him in a few months after she let her guard down, slipped up, and froze him. Or worse yet, if she disappeared in front of him. How could she ever explain that? At the rate this relationship was going, the end might be sooner than expected. She was already almost too comfortable. She hadn’t slipped up yet, but she knew that she would. And when that happened, he would know what she was and would run away screaming, probably telling Susan and anyone else who would listen. She would then lose her job, be declared a dangerous individual or worse, mentally ill, and would be locked up in an institution. Her life would be over.
    But yet, he was almost worth it. She looked at his flawless face. Her life had been full of so much loss and so much loneliness until a few weeks ago. Could she ever really go back to that? Perhaps she could risk being declared a menace to the public if only she could spend a few more weeks feeling the way she did right now. The next few seconds lasted an eternity, as Kathryn thought about the choice she was going to make. She then closed her eyes and made the bravest decision of her life. “I’m falling in love with you, too.”
    Charge tenderly looked down at her, kissed her passionately, swept her up in his strong arms, and carried her to the bedroom. For the first time, the sex was tender, heartbreaking, and soul-satisfying. As the strange, static sensation poured over her body as she neared orgasm, she knew that it was worth it. Her life might be over in a few months, but at least she could say that she truly lived.
    ***
    Susan arrived just as Kathryn was taking the lasagna out of the oven. They exchanged hugs and Kathryn took the Martha Stewart-style cake out of her hands.
    “My god, girl,” Kathryn teased. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”
    Susan shrugged. “What can I say? It’s just a little something I whipped up.”
    Kathryn felt high throughout the entire dinner. She was enjoying good food, good wine, and great conversation with the two most important people in her life. She felt intoxicated, and it wasn’t just from drinking too much wine; although, that did help.
    “So tell me again what happened?” Susan ate another forkful of cake. Kathryn had briefly told Susan over the phone about the incident with Derrick. She had left