"What the..." I stopped myself from cursing out loud.

"You need to go this Friday. I'm not hearing a no," Shirley crossed her arms defiantly.

"Certainly not. After so many failed dates, so much pain and heart break, do you really think I'm ready to put myself at the mercy of men again?" I snapped.

"I'm not actually interested in blind dates anymore. Is that clear?" I glared.

"I'm not going to let you spend your Friday alone while we all go out with our boyfriends," said Shirley adamant.

"Fine," I raised my hands in surrender, "It's just another date. Plan it and just be over with it. I'll go."

"You should really give another shot at love," said Monica.

"Huh!" was only what I could say.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

"Just look at you," Shirley squealed, "You look ravishing. How do you manage to pick these up?"

I was wearing a Western two-tone denim shirt in Disorder Blue Blocked and straight tapered high-rise striped jeans in Tango Red both by Calvin Klein, and Sawyer silver loafers. It was accentuated with baby reverse hoop earrings, white gold bar ring, white gold diamond circle ring, and a white gold diamond thin ring all by Jennifer Meyer.

I just smiled and never uttered a word. My wardrobe sense was a secret that I was proud of.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

"Hey, remove my blindfolds," I complained at every step.

My over enthusiastic friends had me blindfolded to increase the effect of the surprise.

Shirley and Monica practically dragged me out of the car, as I moved on straight, guided by them.

After a series of steps and turns and a lift- ride, finally they brought me to a standstill.

"He will come and open your eyes. He's got the keys," Monica mumbled, "Enjoy."

And I heard the sound of their retreating feet a I sat on a cushioned chair, waiting for my still unknown date. I absolutely hated the silk tying my eyes. I so wanted to look around and enjoy the place before he came.

Suddenly a smell hit my nose. A Calvin Klein perfume, with the rustle of expensive fabric and the shuffling of footsteps.

Someone wrapped me in an embrace from behind and ran a gentle trail of kisses down my neck.

I shivered. There was a jingle of keys and the blindfold fell down.

I blinked my eyes, trying to adjust to my surroundings.

It was an elegant, romantic atmosphere with dim lights emanating from some centerpiece of candles of different heights and shapes. The candles cast interesting, unique shadows that flattered my romantic evening.

Light candles in small glass votives on a table and around a room added an extra beauty. Rose was sprinkled all over the floor, making a soft red carpet.

There was a bed in the room, with canopy netting, draped in romantic shades of red, pink and white. Lights hung from the ceiling to drape over the canopy.

Finally I looked up at my date for the night. I was immediately struck by the gorgeous young man with emerald green eyes and an addictive smile. His hair was a mass of crisp, bronze curls and he actually looked kind of cute.

"Umm, hi, I'm Brittany," I introduced myself.

"Hey," he dropped to the floor on his knees, gently taking my hand, "I'm Flynn. And well, to be honest, I've dated a lot of girls before. Be sure before you want to continue with me."

His hands were cold and clammy.
I shivered unknowingly.

"I've dated many men too," I said, "Guess we're on the same page. But why did you leave those girls? My men actually cheated on me."

"Well, I didn't leave the girls. By some irony of fate, whoever I've loved till now, was killed and found murdered under mysterious circumstances. The police have never gotten a clue to the murders," he confessed, darkness flashing in his eyes.

I was speechless. Was I going to be the next one to die? But how is it possible? The death of the girls couldn't be a coincidence.

Suddenly I realized that I was in a hotel room, alone with this man. I had a bad feeling in my guts. There was something amiss about my new date. His charms seemed ethereal, almost like an incubus.

I pulled back my hand, saying my thoughts out loud, " I want to go out. Why did you arrange for a date here? We hardly know each other. Why couldn't we have gone to a restaurant?"

I got up from my seat moving towards the door.

Suddenly my hands were grasped in an iron grip as he forcefully dragged me back, flinging me on the couch.

The beautiful rose petals flew in the air, a few landing on the candles as they caught fire, burning into a black, shriveled mass.

Dazed from this sudden reaction, I squirmed in his grip.

"Oh, I'm sorry! " he left my hand, moving further away, his whole body shaking.

"Y...You're insane," I stammered, holding my bruised wrist.

"Please don't leave," he begged.

"I'm leaving," I retorted, "You're a freak."

His eyes smoldered dangerously.

"You aren't going anywhere," his voice, sharp as the edge of a sword, sent a chill down my spine.

I made a dash for the door. He reached a split second before me, slammed and bolted the door, grinning like a maniac.

Cursing my foolishness, I silently backed off to the bed.

He moved closer, a weird expression in his eyes.

I cringed, "Stay away from me please. Let me go. What did I ever do to you?"

"Oh," he stopped midway, "What am I doing? If you aren't comfortable, you can go. I'm sorry if I've hurt you."

I looked at him, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Was he a criminal? A psychopath? A masochist? A person suffering from psychosis?

He pointed towards the door. I wanted nothing more than to escape.

Eyeing him carefully, I edged to the door.

Just as my hands touched the bolt, there was a strangled cry and he swooped down on me, clutching my throat.

My eyes widened as he strangled me. I struggled, gasping for air. His face was close, and I could feel his hot breath on my cheeks.

"Let me go!" I choked.

I felt a cold edge on my hand and a sharp pain shearing through it.

I looked down to see a knife in his hand. The knife had already slashed through my skin as blood dropped on the red roses, drenching them.

I was beginning to wonder if that vile creature had something to do with the disappearance of all his girlfriends. He definitely seemed like the murdering type, cruel, senseless.

I tried to throw a punch, kick him and do whatever I could to make him let me go. My nails dug into his skin as he dragged me to the bed and threw me in.

And as I lay there helpless, pinned by his brute strength, I couldn't help admire his sculpted body, the muscles rippling with energy beneath his shirt.

I mentally kicked myself for imagining such things in that situation. I had to somehow get out of his grip and run. I won't go on a date ever.

Without warning, his lips crashed into mine, soft and hungry as he devoured me with his eyes.

Every fibre of my being screamed that it was wrong, but I just couldn't ignore the strong physical appeal. I responded to the kiss with the same fervor.

He knotted his hands through my hair, and I clutched his chest, drowning in that moment until I realized, something was horribly wrong with him. If he had had girlfriends, he wouldn't be so desperate.

As his lips traveled all over me, lighting up all my nerves, my mind screamed at my body.

Finally I could win over the cravings of my body and managed to push him off me.

He allowed me to do it, quite different from the fierce, violent form he had assumed before. I knew that this was the right moment to talk.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

I climbed up on his lap, burying myself in his chest. He suddenly seemed distant again.

"Flynn, we need to talk about things before we move on to a different stage. If you want to move on with me," I stopped letting the words sink in.

"I'll want you to trust me. I actually have never felt this thing with anyone except my first girlfriend. The others were just a fuel to the flames in my heart. A sacrifice to the altar of my vengeance," his eyes were fierce, as he grabbed my shoulders.

"It hurts," I whimpered.

"Let it hurt," he growled, " You need to know this. You need to know things about me before I could open up to you. I'm not a good man. I'm a liar, a cheater, a clinically diagnosed psychopath and well a murderer. I've murdered many, all to satisfy my thirst for revenge."

"Y...You mean your g...girlfriends?" I stammered, unsure.

"Yes,them," he grabbed my hairs, pulling them painfully back, "Do you hear that? I killed them. But not because I earned sadistic pleasure from it. Laura, my first love deceived me. She was jealous of me loving my mother and she came and killed my mother when I wasn't even 17. She escaped punishment being a minor and without evidence. I stalked her down and finished her off. I was broken, distressed and felt empty. Since that day, I promised myself, never to love a woman. Women would be just commodities to satisfy my lust and my cravings. And having served their purpose, I killed them, avenging my mother's death."

"I don't hate you for it. You suffered, you reacted. Being a mental health nurse, I know it is a normal coping mechanism. But why did you continue doing it?" I enquired, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

I was not in control of my emotions anymore.

"After every girl, I thought that this would be the last. But no, my craving for blood never decreased. Seeing you, I felt the same unknown attraction I had felt for Laura. I knew it was you who could break this spell. And you did. From today, I'd be a better person, with you or without you," he shook his head.

"If you want me, I'm there for you," I put a hand on his cheeks, gently kissing it.

He gave up his rigid posture and his hands were around me again. This time they were warm and cozy.

"Flynn, I'd still like you to undergo treatment," I mumbled.

"No, I won't go to an asylum. It was that place that made me the killer that I am. When I suffered from violence and depression after my mother's death, neighbors forcefully took me there. They tortured and electrocuted me with a taser each day," his eyes were frantic, like a frightened animal.

"No, you won't go back there. You'll go to a proper doctor who can treat you, " I soothed him, running my hands playfully through his hair.

Suddenly he stood up, lifting me in his arms. Then he kissed my forehead and said, "You shall be my savior Brittany."

"I will if I can," I smiled at him.

He immediately pulled me into another kiss, and I locked my lips with him as if my existence depended on him. I felt myself needing that man, who had threatened my life a few moments ago.

And all the revelations, the tensions and the fear of death, anxiety, mental depression, was lost on us as we delved into exploring and getting to know each other.

As his fingers traveled sensually across my skin, we both peeling apart each other's clothes, I couldn't help think about what life has done, has been for the best.

Our relationship, started with hate, progressing towards love, till we melted into one entity.

2000 words except for the divider hearts in between... So you like the characters?

A/N Thanks for reading. Written for the #romanceblinddate contest by Romance

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Dedicated to my romantic co writer KashishBelikov
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Hope you all like it... Thanks for your support MaryFahey Pipigrin teamhathaway lindajonesAuthor