The Consuming Heart

There is beauty and love in everything, even in death. Susan Hill knew this, and it made her smile.

The adonis sitting across her in the Gold Lounge, a well-styled restaurant sure did mistake her smile as a reaction to what he said to her. But all she thought about was what would happen if she made love to him here and now. Could he manage it? Would he be able to please her?

A waiter arrived, distracting Susan's carnal thoughts, he took their order.

When the waiter left, the adonis said, "I was quite surprised when you agreed to my offer."

Susan sent him a charming smile. "Why is that?" she asked.

"You're, which I'm certain, the most beautiful lady I've ever come across in my life, and ladies like you are usually hard to find, and don't just say yes to any guy. I mean, clearly, you don't look like someone who can be driven by wealth. You look well to do on your part. It's just, I'm amazed, and I feel like the luckiest guy in this world tonight."

Susan kept on smiling. "Thanks," she said.

Without looking, Susan was aware of the glances coming her way from different tables occupied by men, women, and couples. They sure had seen a beautiful lady before as some of the ladies who were here, were, and for the men, they were with a few themselves tonight, but Susan's beauty was unrivalled, and she had a habit of attracting unwanted attention to herself.

The waiter arrived with their orders, and they ate their meal.

After their meal, Susan said with a smile, "Why do you keep looking at me that way?"

Her adonis grinned. "I'm sorry. I hope it doesn't make you uncomfortable?"

She slightly shook her head. "No," she said.

"It's just, I'm finding it hard to take my eyes off you."

"We've been seeing each other for two days. Surely, by now, you should have gotten used to it."

"And that's the thing. Not a beauty like yours. It looks so surreal, it feels like this is all a dream."

"If it were a dream, would you like to wake up?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No. Not ever."

"Maybe, you're dreaming."

"Are you real?"

Susan smiled. "Yes."

"Good. That's good to know. So if this is a dream, when I wake up, I'll find you."

Susan laughed.

"What's your name in the real world?" he asked.

"Susan Hill," she said.

"And I am—"

"I already know your name."

He asked her, and she told him, along with his surname.

He squinted his gaze at her. "This is odd. You seem to know quite a lot about me, and I barely know a thing about you. Why is that?" He feigned a gasp with a hand to his mouth. "Are you stalking me?"

Susan as usual simply smiled, and said, "You won't believe me if I told you."

He made a head gesture. "Try me," he said.