Ana felt the gaze of sea green eyes the moment she stepped out the door of her cottage-like home. Every weekend it was the same, always the tingling, unnatural feeling of being watched, but she never found her watcher. Sometimes the gaze felt downright predatory, and other times it felt curious and intrigued.
She shivered. The sensation was dark tonight, watchful, and possessive. She wasn’t the kind of woman to be possessed and didn’t care for the use of the adjective. Her fingers slid against satin when she put her hands in the pockets of her light jacket and then curled around her cell phone.

No sense in taking chances, she thought grimly.

Her black flats brushed lightly over the fallen leaves and a crosswind danced over her face, bringing a scent of sharp cologne that didn’t belong. Whatever watched her was near, and to her left. Ana shivered again. She fought the urge to speed up her pace, to run until her watcher was far behind but the rational part of her seemed to say, “Just how dumb are you? Because it’s not obvious you’re afraid if you start running,” in the most biting, sarcastic tone.

Ana growled mentally.
I’ve taken different routes to my job and to meet friends and relax for the past month now. This watcher knows where I’m going anyway.

The hip-high shrubs beside her swished and whispered as though something bigger than the breeze disturbed them.

Every muscle in Ana’s body went rigid.

“Scared, little kitten?” challenged a voice from the greenery.

Ana ran. She didn’t know where to go, but she knew home wasn’t safe. Work was out of the question. Her watcher knew her habits, her frequented places. She didn’t know how long she ran, or how far.  Gasping, she looked around, trying to make some sense of her surroundings while still keeping on high alert for whoever was chasing her.
The park was well lit in most places, and near enough to towers to provide cell phone service. A chuckle came from behind her and she whirled. Her heartbeat took off again as though trying to pound its way out of her body like a person buried alive trying to escape the coffin.

He lounged in the shadows beyond the outer lampposts, tall, hidden and well built. He was also entirely calm and not gasping the way she was.
Ana hoped that the well-built part was just due to clothing, and not because he actually was big and strong enough to carry her off.

“Who. T-t-he hell. Are you?” she demanded, vocally tripping over her words in rage and terror.

“Come on babe. You know me,” he rose from the bench to stand beneath the light.

“And you know how I love to play games,” he added in a voice like liquid seduction.

“Robert?” Ana’s heart slowed somewhat, but her muscles stayed tight and ready to flee.

“The one and only.” He pulled off the knit cap that covered his hair. “Miss me babe?”

“No.” Ana turned and began to walk away.

“Lies.” His voice purred in her ear as he slid his arms about her waist.

Ana narrowed her eyes. “Let me go. You left two years ago, come back and stalk me and I’m supposed to –“

Her words were cut off as Robert turned her in his arms and kissed her.

Ana’s brain felt like it’d been shut off and she found herself kissing him back.

“I knew you’d missed me,” he whispered against her lips.

Ana never got the chance to respond before he claimed her lips again