Ruthless Creatures

Nat and Kage—an art teacher and a brutal assassin—are an unlikely couple. They are bound primarily by their sexual chemistry, which transcends reason and overwhelms their better instincts. This dynamic is a frequent feature of romance writing, which often presents the fantasy of intense and preternatural sexual compatibility, in which partners can intuit and fulfill each other’s physical needs perfectly. 

The characters regularly point out that their relationship is beset with red flags, only to dismiss their doubts based on their sexual connection. Nat sees that staying with Kage puts her in mortal peril, and Kage confirms the danger he poses: “[I]f you have any sense, you should tell me to fuck off and never see me again” (245). When alone, Nat admits that she “wants to break away […] and tell him to go back to whatever hellhole he came from and leave” (229). However, after sex, she changes her mind: “The sheer pleasure of tasting him and feeling him against me suddenly takes priority over everything else” (229). The “pleasure” makes her unable to moderate her desire, which “takes priority” over other considerations. 

Kage also feels the irresistible pull of their chemistry. Even when he has an open gunshot wound, he insists on sex before stitches: “Right now, I need to fuck you.