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.

red, the afterglow of his touch staining her delicate features. The storm of anger

sensed she'd responded to his kiss; the anger

you just

shame. She hated how her body responded to him, how little resistance she

the agreement." Jessica's voice was

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

widened

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 we

lock of her hair, the gesture

recent coldness was just a sign

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

the agreement. She

would protect her, but now she saw the truth: it only mattered if Timothy chose to honor it. If he didn't,

between them-Timothy had always held

there'd been no obstacles; they'd slipped