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.

confusion—for a brief moment, she thought maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they just stayed like this, in

took full advantage, his

flash of light cut through her thoughts, and she shuddered in his

"Mm... stop."

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

the scent on him, something only he had a faint, elegant floral

colder, more menacing. "Grace, what

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

was hoarse,

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.

in his chest. The moment he'd heard those noises, something felt off. He

hearing the unfamiliar voice of a man,

his body in

man? Grace, how dare you go

brows furrowing. "He's my boyfriend. I need to hang up now. I'm

hold back the cruel words he

be doing? Are you lying there, letting him have his way

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