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.

silent, and locked the door behind

thought, the

had been over a month

abdomen. Annoyed, he lit a cigarette and stepped out

Then another. Then

ache in his gut refused to

a

The heat surged back.

and moved behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. His hands fit

brushed her

breath filled with the faint, smoky scent of his cologne and

pull away, his kisses had grown urgent and insistent, scattering across her

core, radiating out until every nerve

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

muffled protest, Jessica could make no sound

the quickening of her breath,

trembling, as if she wanted

hands in his, pinning them

Jessica's face burned scarlet.