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.

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

responded to his kiss; the anger in Timothy's

kill you just to behave?" His voice was low, thick

hated how her body responded to him, how

broke the agreement." Jessica's voice

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

eyes widened

be upset. 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 you want me? If you do, just say so. We can wait until

fingertips idly playing with a lock of

was just a

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

about that. Her mind was on the agreement. She

it only mattered if Timothy chose to honor it. If he didn't,

them-Timothy had always held all the

obstacles; they'd slipped into marriage with barely a