Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Steam swirled through the bathroom as Jessica spun around in alarm, reaching for the towel hanging on the hook.

Her damp hair clung to the porcelain curve of her neck, droplets at the ends trailing down along the delicate lines of her shoulder blades toward the small of her back.

Turning quickly, she pressed the towel to her collarbones with both hands, letting it fall just low enough to cover the tops of her thighs.

Her long legs seemed to glow in the warm golden light-pale, slender, almost luminous.

In that moment, an image flashed through Timothy's mind-those very legs wrapped tightly around his waist.

His stomach tensed involuntarily.

Jessica's wide eyes were misty, lashes beaded with water, their shadows trembling beneath her eyes. She clutched the towel so hard that her knuckles turned a flushed pink, wrinkles bunching along the edge.

The shower continued to rain softly over her, quickly soaking the towel until it clung to her frame, tracing the curve of her chest beneath.

Timothy's gaze swept coldly over the anxious flush in her eyes. His voice was husky, low. "What are you hiding for?"

Jessica's grip on the towel tightened. She had no words.

Timothy, already dressed in his pajamas, tossed his own towel into the laundry basket.

Without another word, he turned and strode out of the bathroom.

across the tiles, bare feet silent, and locked the door behind him. Timothy heard the click and furrowed

the thought, the

been over a month since they'd

heat coiled in his abdomen. Annoyed, he lit a cigarette and

smoked one. Then another. Then

ache in his gut refused to

in her robe, she revealed a glimpse of straight, delicate calf—soft,

The heat surged back.

pushed himself upright and moved behind her, slipping

her neck, feather-light,

faint, smoky

time she realized what was happening and tried to pull away, his kisses

shot to her core,

her around, giving her no chance to resist, and captured her lips

utter a muffled protest, Jessica could make no sound at

reactions in the quickening of her

muscles trembling, as if she

caught her hands in his, pinning them above her

Jessica's face burned scarlet.