Cass was a nightmare in white silk and pearls. She looked absolutely stunning in the golden glow of the lantern. There was little doubt in Cass’ mind that she could make most men’s hearts soar.

James knew that, despite how impressionable he could sometimes be, he couldn’t let himself slide down her rabbit hole. He, of all people, understood how easily she could, like the spider and the fly, lure men into her toxic web of deceit and destruction. He had to maintain some sort of separation between what he was seeing and what he was feeling.

And yet, despite realizing what would likely happen should he let her get under his skin, he, like the proverbial moth drawn to her flame, would, yet again, get consumed by her. He understood that it was his destiny to succumb to her irresistibility.

---

Written for today’s Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie First Line Friday prompt. Also for the following one-word prompts: Your Daily Word Prompt (lantern), Daily Addictions (soar), Word of the Day Challenge (impressionable), Ragtag Daily Prompt (slide), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (toxic), and Scotts Daily Prompt (separation).