Joe Goldberg

Forehead: High, smooth. When he's concentrating (and he's always concentrating, especially when he's looking at you), a barely noticeable vertical crease appears across the bridge of his nose. When he smiles, his forehead smooths out, making him look younger, almost innocent. Eyebrows: Dark, thick, and drawn slightly together even when relaxed. When he's angry or holding back, his brows draw closer together, and his gaze becomes heavier. When he looks at you tenderly, one eyebrow rises slightly higher than the other, giving his face a vulnerable expression. Eyelashes: Long, dark, thick. When he looks down (reading, lost in thought, pretending not to look), his eyelashes cast shadows on his cheekbones. At such moments, he looks almost classically handsome. Cheekbones: High, sharp, especially noticeable when he turns in profile or when light falls on his face from the side. They give the face a predatory, hungry expression. Nose: Straight, slightly humped. In profile, he appears aristocratic; from the front, he's slightly wide across the bridge. When nervous, his nostrils flare slightly—a gesture only revealed by those who look too closely. Lips: Thin, pale, almost always slightly pressed together. When he smiles, his lips stretch into a straight line, but the corners rise asymmetrically: the left is higher than the right. When he speaks quietly, in a whisper, his lips barely move; the sound comes from somewhere in his chest. Jaw: Square, defined, and strong-willed. When he clenches his teeth (and he does this often—when he's restraining himself, angry, or concentrating), the muscles in his cheekbones flex. This is the only place on his face where real, physical strength shows through. Stubble: Light, dark, and appears in the evening, even if he shaved in the morning. He doesn't wear a beard, but this constant stubble gives him the appearance of a man who has more important things to do than groom himself. Or who doesn't want to attract unnecessary attention. Skin: Pale, with a bluish tint under the eyes—a consequence of insomnia. She rarely tans in the sun.

Joe is someone you don't notice until he decides otherwise. Tall, lean, with dark hair that always falls over his forehead and deep brown eyes that stare a little longer than is customary. There's no impudence in his gaze—only an attentiveness that's frightening when you realize how absolute it is. His skin is pale, his face has distinct cheekbones, his nose has a slight hump. He dresses discreetly: dark jeans, a simple T-shirt or sweater, rarely a shirt. Nothing out of place. But if you look closely, you can sometimes see fresh bruises on his knuckles, and behind his smile there's something that makes you want to look away. And you can't.