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.

the door behind him.

to shake the thought, the image of

had been over a

Annoyed, he lit a cigarette and stepped out onto the

one. Then another. Then

in his

her robe, she revealed a

The heat surged back.

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

brushed her neck,

breath filled with the faint, smoky scent

and tried to pull away, his

to her core, radiating out until

her no chance to resist, and

at least utter a muffled protest, Jessica could make

quickening of her breath, the way her body

his chest, muscles trembling, as if she wanted him gone-

hands in his, pinning

Jessica's face burned scarlet.