Upon entering the attic, Trigger immediately whistled as he looked around at all the figurines crafted from all sorts of different materials. He went straight to the life-size papier-mâché Vampire Seduces the Virgin statue at the farthest corner of the attic.

Maddy fidgeted with her hair while Trigger had his back turned and cursed herself for a fool for losing her washcloth somewhere—probably in the kitchen—before she had finished with her face. She could now feel the dry clay on her skin and rubbed at it with her fingers.

“This is fucking awesome, Madison. I had no idea that you were into this kind of stuff.” He didn’t turn to her but moved from the papier-mâché section to the section of smaller wooden carvings.

“Thanks, but I’m not sure what you mean by this kind of stuff.”

“The creepy, old, dark subjects. You know, occult subjects.” He glanced her way and lowered his voice. “Not many people even know what half the stuff means—apparently you’re not one of them. You seem to know quite a bit about it.”

“Oh, you say that like it shocks you that I might have many and varied interests.” The jibe was intended in fun and she was delighted when Trigger took it as such.

“I wouldn’t say it’s shocking.” He eyed her, grinning devilishly as he twirled a replica of a magic wand in his hand. “More like disturbing.” He chuckled.

Madison was beginning to change her opinion about Trigger Daniels, former sexist asshole. She rather enjoyed his company. He was easy to be around, easy to joke with, and extremely easy to look at.

Letting him wander through the attic studio at his leisure, Maddy poured more coffee and stood by the open window, watching him. He didn’t seem out of place amongst her works of fantasy and darkness. Nor did he seem out of his element as he casually chatted about this piece or that to her.

As the sun dropped behind the ridge of the mountain and the red-amber cast to the world turned to gunmetal gray, the shadows in the attic grew long. An hour had passed and it had only seemed like minutes to Madison.

“Now, look what I’ve caused. You’ve lost all your light. I should be on my way so you can finish.” He sauntered towards her by the window, looking out over the mountainous scenery.

“It’s fine. I have two more days off. Besides, I have lights up here.” She reached for the switch on the other side of the window and Trigger caught her hand gently in his.

“I’m not afraid of the dark. Don’t turn them on because of me.” He didn’t offer to let her hand fall from his and she didn’t try to take it back.

“Oh. Well, it’s my house; of course the dark doesn’t bother me.” She set her coffee on the wide wooden windowsill. Unable to think what to say to him, she brought up the subject of her sculptures. “I told you my work wouldn’t be what you were thinking.” She stepped a half-step closer to keep from pulling her hand back.

Trigger had maneuvered his hand so that their palms touched and his thumb traced hot little circles near her wrist, causing her ability to think straight to disappear. All she could think about was his thumb caressing her wrist, his breath in the darkness, his silhouette beginning to blend in with the darkness of the attic, and how badly she wished he would just lean down and kiss her there in the darkness.

“No. It wasn’t what I thought I’d find here. I was certain that you would be crafting sunflowers and unicorns—all white and fluffy—girly things, dainty things; now you’ve gone and shattered all my illusions about you.” He took a half-step closer. “Was that too sexist of me?”

Trembling from his nearness, unsure if it was trepidation or only her lust making her quiver, Madison gave a breathy reply. “Nope. Not at all. If all your fluffy white illusions of me have been shattered, I’ve accomplished my goal.”

“Really? That was your ultimate goal when you invited me up here?” He moved closer still.

His thigh was touching hers. The heat from him was lovely and Madison had the sudden urge to press into him, open his shirt and press her body to his.

“I wouldn’t say that was my ultimate goal. What did you have in mind when you asked to come here?”

Trigger stepped closer and put a hand on either side of her, pinning her with the open window to her back. The chill air rushed against her over heated back as the night air cooled. His heat blazed her front. By the time he leaned down, she had grabbed his flannel in both hands and pulled against him, turning her face up.

He kissed her hard and long, as if she were sustenance and he had been starved.