A'S

light hit my face

bs felt like lead, completely pinned down by a deep-seated ache and my lips w

ision slowly piecing the room together. It

ast thought. Wher

the sheets tangled around my body. My hear

tly. And I was totally naked.

a throbbing ache remaine

me like a punch. N

ing as I swung them over the edge of the mattress. I had to press my

ened. Red marks shadowed m

blur, but I wa

ex with

h w

face into my head b

he regret what he did and co

ind. The memory of that deep,

ing my name on his tongue over

itely wasn't him. The stran

nother memory flashed th

d begging him. "Aren't you su

azed down at the marks o

y eyes. I had clearly b

anymore. I had to get out before he came back. I

huge loss and try to forge

ught of the stranger walki

or and began searching for my discarded clot

ned. The fabric had been ripped un-smoothly

h

gn, and effort, ruined by th

ind him because we have

coat left on the carpet and

ul that I was on the executive f

hrough the lobby, praying nobody

y from having a to

s doors, I burst out int

s not a small fit, but my baby blu

door using the keycard in the purse I ha

and pressed my forehead against th

anymore as I broke d

t started lining up in my head. J

roken that I drowned a drink for the

enty-one. As

y to me, right? Welco

rt dumping you on a public stage, you being completely b

agic ta

. It had been la

d into tight f

my gut, turning my grief int