The felt is a kingdom of velvet and green,67Please respect copyright.PENANAMaDY7jRmas
Where he plays the monarch, the king of the scene.
Balls stood in waiting, polished and clean,67Please respect copyright.PENANAdHQD1UTkCH
Loyal subjects awaiting their king and queen.
As he built the perimeter, careful and slow,67Please respect copyright.PENANAqyYiqJwJls
Mistaking possession for something to know.67Please respect copyright.PENANAkWOaaqoE1r
"The game is like you," he purred, close to my ear,67Please respect copyright.PENANAnz0Q2WBEkB
"Beautifully complex, but I know how to make you submit, so do not fear."
He leans on the table, like a predator, a little off-balance,67Please respect copyright.PENANAkUi8YRTGAX
A flick of the wrist, marking something as a half practiced challenge.
The crack of the break echoed through the hall,67Please respect copyright.PENANALx6Vtw8b3k
And the balls scattered wide like a kingdom's fall.
He chalked his cue and studied the spread,67Please respect copyright.PENANA97rlWFIdC0
Mapping victories inside his head.
He caught my eye, his grin slow and venomously sweet:67Please respect copyright.PENANAtrhNsSrcMr
"Don't look so bored," he teased with a bite,67Please respect copyright.PENANA1GnYeyYE82
"I’m just clearing the path so you have nowhere left to hide tonight."
His knuckles grew tinted in blue; a sharp cobalt dye,67Please respect copyright.PENANAr9jRG4sa2D
A smudge of obsession in the corner of his eyes.
He builds a firm bridge with a hand cold as slate,67Please respect copyright.PENANA14YTh0NsA3
Dictating the collision, to decide my fate.
"The angles are perfect," he whispered, eyes keen,67Please respect copyright.PENANAA7dZbuP1O6
"Every path on this table leads home to me; can't you see what I mean?"
He believed control lived within the cue,67Please respect copyright.PENANAYOexHECwWJ
While fate hid itself in what I would do.
He aimed for the pockets in sight,67Please respect copyright.PENANAsxQDPYwAAs
I aimed for the man behind the strike.
Bank shot, side shot, his focus precise;67Please respect copyright.PENANAkT2Xd7avZ7
He fenced every angle and called it his right.
The cue ball danced at the mercy of his hand,67Please respect copyright.PENANAbdtC7q9ehu
Although desire obeys no single command.
He drew a breath and took his aim,67Please respect copyright.PENANADAyMdpD0pW
Certain this shot would seal his reign:67Please respect copyright.PENANAndwx5VMMDy
"Watch closely, sweetheart—this seals the night;67Please respect copyright.PENANAEs6b4s6a4M
Tell me you feel it, the way you're already mine?"
The pocket welcomed the final sphere;67Please respect copyright.PENANAmYm8vwUerN
Eight sunk — game clear.
He looked at me as champions do,67Please respect copyright.PENANAgk2GHeLKBy
Expecting ownership to follow through.
He asked who won between us two.67Please respect copyright.PENANAdAc1WJHtDN
I smiled and chalked another cue.
He called the play; I called his bluff.67Please respect copyright.PENANAMMIMOMOdy2
For wanting a crown is never enough.
I smiled.
For while he conquered every ball to prove me wrong,67Please respect copyright.PENANAd4okHheyQd
The table had been mine all along.
Trapped in illusions, blind as could be,67Please respect copyright.PENANAjxrRmjxtO5
Never noticed the game was me.
67Please respect copyright.PENANAE10xDAIgS8


