***CHAPTER 2 IS HERE! Thanks so much for being patient with me. I'm currently working on the next update, so keep a lookout.***

poison

He wasn't John...and that was a good thing.

He was safe...which was also a good thing.

A safe thing. A boring thing. A normal thing.

That mantra replayed between her ears the whole night. Joss gave her all, mustering up the energy to look and act like she was into her date. And really there wasn't any reason why she shouldn't be into Jacob Prentiss. He was successful, educated and handsome and had perfect teeth. Their skin tones matched and she knew that underneath the expensive suit was a nice athletic build, that on any other day would have her sweating. She found out that little tidbit while jogging one morning – no shirt just gym shorts, nikes and a dazzling smile. That sight alone didn't cause any more beads of sweat to appear that day.

She chuckled dryly into her 3rd glass of pinot and asked herself- "Why am I not sweating?"

Sometimes she chose to play dumb.

The little devil on her right shoulder giggled in her ear with mischievous glee. "I know why silly, silly girl."

She quickly put down the half empty glass when the answer manifested in her thoughts and slowly turned its head to give her a grin that would make lions pass off as kittens. Slate blue eyes bored into her being with the intent of claiming.

Now, she was sweating.

This is why after a month of friendly phone calls and random lunch dates and a couple of evening suppers at some of the elite spots in the city there was that pesky something keeping her crossing over the invisible platonic line in the sand.

Him.

She also couldn't put her finger on why she suspected he was really more than an ex CIA goon. To her there was something dangerously primal about him. An almost otherwordly aura that should make her wary to even be in the same vicinity as him, but instead it took all of her willpower and training to not preen and purr whenever he was in touching distance of her. Joss hated to admit that she came real close a few times. It was almost embarrassing the lengths she has to go to mentally prepare herself everyday just in case she saw him.

Joss couldn't stop comparing the men she met to Him and she knew for a fact no realistic future come from the elusive and mysterious Man in the Suit. The detective preferred not to think about the many nights alone in her room she would cry out his name while giving herself pleasure. She needed stability in her life in order to function. Taylor depended on her being stable.

She felt trapped within a prison of her own design. All she wanted was just one touch, but she knew it would be like poison to her system...an addictive, slow killing poison. The detective sincerely believed that she really had no choice when it came to these desires. The Man in the Suit was best left as a fantasy whenever loneliness got too great, too much for her to bear.

Jacob's pleasant voice was now lulling off to muffled notes and groans as her thoughts begin to wander off to dangerous territory. Joss surprised herself that she was able to answer or smile when it was needed. The man seated across from her was blurring in front of her of two eyes and slowly morphing into...

"No." She said low to herself and finished the rest of her wine. She refused to let his invisible reach take over. It was time to say goodnight to her safe date and head home.

She gave Jacob a friendly peck on the cheek with some regret. He was a decent guy. Her date really wanted to prolonged it with a nightcap and possible coffee in the morning. She kept it neutral, played it safe. She felt a level of unease the whole night and it was quickly bothering her more and more as the night goes on. Jacob being the gentleman offered to drive her home, but she declined. Her walk wasn't far and the evening air would hopefully help clear her thoughts about Him.

***You will be seeing more of Jacob Prentiss***