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He steps closer, and I fight the urge to back away. "Has anyone ever told you how exquisite you look when angered?" he asks, the amusement evident in his tone.

I grit my teeth, knowing he's enjoying seeing my composure crack. "You can't just follow people around and spy on them!" I force as much authority into my voice as I can muster when I ask him again, “Who. Are. You?”

“Someone who’s been watching you,” he replies, his tone dark and enigmatic.

“No shit.” A shudder courses down my spine. “Why?”

“Because something is different about you, Dani,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. “Something… intriguing.”

I'm caught between anger and perilous fascination. With immense effort, I keep my face impassive, trying to deny my body's treacherous response to his nearness. But internally, I'm in turmoil at this alarming, thrilling predicament I find myself in.

“Hey, I’m not sure what you’re after, but let me assure you that I’m just a plain Jane,” I say, my fingers twitching as I grip the garbage bags tighter. “Nothing special or intriguing about me.”

“Plain?” He chuckles, a sinister sound that sends chills through my body. “I think we both know that’s not true.”

I swallow hard, the lump forming in my throat, struggling to maintain my composure under his intense gaze. I'm still unable to see his face since it's cloaked in the shadows and the hoodie he wears. As much as I want to deny it, I can’t ignore the strange connection I feel with him—a magnetic pull that draws me closer despite the danger.

“Stay away from me,” I whisper, my voice shaking with fear and something else—desire.

“Is that really what you want, Angel?” he asks, his head tilting slightly as he continues to close the distance between us.

He leans in close, his breath hot against my ear. “If we keep meeting like this in dark alleys, I might have to do something about it,” he murmurs, his voice seductive.

I shiver involuntarily, my pulse racing as I search for the right words.

“What do you mean?” I manage to whisper, trying to ignore how his closeness affects me.

My resolution melts away like ice in the sun as he approaches me. I feel powerless, and my heart races as if his presence siphons away all my strength. I can’t explain why this guy leaves me so weak.

“Maybe I should find a more… suitable place for us to continue our little encounters,” he suggests with a hint of playfulness in his tone.

I have to stay strong and not let his sexy, deep timbre, hard, hot body, and intensity affect me.

“Us?” I snicker. “If by us, you mean ‘you and me,’ then there isn’t one. You’re just some weird stranger with a death wish.”

My voice wavers as a chill runs through me despite the warmth of his body.

“Am I a stranger, though?” He tilts his head again. “Or am I someone you’ve secretly longed to see again?”

“Longing?” I snort, my laughter trembling with apprehension. “You must be mistaken. I’m not the type of girl who longs for anything.”

“Am I mistaken?” His voice is quiet yet purposeful, and he moves even closer until our bodies are just a whisper away.

“Are you merely an echo of me, or do you actually have a purpose?” I quip.

The heat from his gaze radiates through me, and my breathing becomes shallow as I fight to maintain control. His exotic scent of sandalwood, something sweet, and a hint of the sea wrapped around my senses like an exquisite blanket. His words are like a silken touch on my skin, and his face is so close I can feel the caress of his breath within inches of me. My lungs seize, and suddenly, I can’t get enough air.

“Oh, I have a purpose. And your body says otherwise.”

“Oh yeah?” I snicker, trying to hide the slight tremble in my voice. “You don’t know anything about me, buddy!”

“Oh, but I do,” he growls low and deep. His oppressive words snake around me like a physical embrace. “You ache for the rush of adrenaline and the hunger for forbidden pleasure that comes with it, don’t you? Don’t even try to deny it.”

My cheeks burn with embarrassment, but I refuse to let him see how much his words affect me.

“I don’t think so,” I huff, my voice wavering. “This isn’t for me.”

“Is that so?” His heavy gaze burns into me as his head tilts lower. “Why haven’t you taken off running yet, Angel? Why do you let me keep getting closer and closer, even though I’m the one chasing you?” he counters with infuriating calm. "I cannot resist trying to solve the mystery of you."