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.

staining her delicate features. The storm of anger and frustration left her expression cold, adding a new sharpness to her beauty-different from the woman

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

kill you just to

made Jessica burn with shame. She hated how her body responded to him, how

broke the agreement." Jessica's voice was steady,

Timothy's lips. "And? The contract never said what would happen if

eyes widened in

There are no penalties, so what's the big deal? I didn't mean to break the rules. Honestly, you just weren't behaving. Do

of her hair, the gesture as tender

was just a sign of

he was always traveling on business, barely home, too

She

only mattered if Timothy chose to

them-Timothy had always

they'd slipped into marriage with