Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica yanked hard on the car door handle, but it was already locked.

Timothy leaned over, reaching to buckle her seatbelt. She slapped him across the face, her hand landing with a sharp crack.

His handsome features turned with the force of her blow.

Anger flashed across his eyes, breaking through the mask he usually wore. Without another word, he pinned Jessica against the passenger seat and kissed her fiercely.

No matter how desperately she struggled, she couldn't escape his hold or the forceful, unyielding press of his lips.

They'd been married for seven years now. She'd just turned twenty-eight, and after giving birth, her body seemed even more sensitive-completely defenseless against the seductive skill of his kiss.

Bit by bit, the rigidity in her body melted away.

Only then did Timothy release her lips.

Humiliation and self-loathing swept through her.

the afterglow of his touch staining her delicate features. The storm of anger and frustration left her expression cold, adding a new sharpness to

sensed she'd responded to his kiss; the anger in Timothy's

much, huh? Would it kill you just to behave?" His voice was low, thick with a

how her body responded to

agreement." Jessica's voice

lips. "And? The contract never said what would

widened in

so what's the big deal? I didn't mean to

a lock of her hair, the gesture as

Jessica's recent coldness was

was reaching her prime, while he was always traveling on business, barely home, too busy to give

on the agreement. She wasn't a lawyer, and she'd overestimated how much the contract could actually restrain

the agreement would protect her, but now she saw the truth: it only mattered if Timothy

everything between them-Timothy had

obstacles; they'd slipped into marriage