Regret Came Too Late

Ed seemed to understand what she was trying to say. His grip softened as he gently wiped her clean.

"I like being with you like this," he murmured.

Grace was completely drained of energy, but she could feel his kiss moving up from her foot. Terrified, she instinctively shifted backward.

"It's... It's dirty."

Who kissed that part after they were done?

But he wasn't listening. His head remained buried in her.

Grace turned her head away, the sound of his actions ringing clearly in her ears.

Just then, her phone rang. She didn't want to answer it and didn't have the energy to do so.

She tried to push him away, but he was too forceful.

The ringing continued, and before she knew it, she had accidentally pressed the answer button.

Yancey's voice came through the phone, "Grace, where are you? I've been ringing your doorbell outside for ages, but no one's answered. About that accident..."

Grace couldn't even hear him anymore. She had accidentally answered the call, and she wanted to hang up, but her fingers were limp and unresponsive.

Her toes curled, pressing against Ed's shoulder. In the dark, every sound seemed amplified.

of confusion—for a brief moment, she thought maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they

and took full advantage, his movements growing bolder, almost as though he

of light cut through her thoughts,

"Mm... stop."

as she lay in his arms, gasping for air. Her face was

the scent on him, something only he

more menacing. "Grace, what

cleared, she reached for the phone, which had somehow ended up

throat was

to make out Ed's face in the dim light, but he seemed to know what she was thinking. In an instant, he pulled her closer, his chin@esting on

"Don't look," he whispered.

the sounds and felt a jolt in his chest. The moment he'd heard those noises, something

voice of a man, he realized just how foolish he'd

flooded his body in

how dare you go after

"He's my boyfriend. I need to hang up

jealousy, couldn't hold back the cruel words he wanted to

Are you lying there, letting him have his way with

darkened, taking a deep breath. "Yes, but that has nothing