Married to my husband's son

shot, slamming against the wall s

olted into

ver hissed past my face-fast, slicing the air with a s

oo

d the breath from my lungs. Behind me, a s

mbedded a deep

e, absurdly calm for so

n-I hea

ning. He didn't panic. He was composed. Like he'd just

still on

stood in

ug, cruel. Then came the chuckle. Low and rough, like gravel dragged across pavement. "Be in my room tonig

d and slammed the door behind him-so viol

sil

ears rang. My pulse was wild in my neck. My kne

ss swallowed me whole. I stared at t

was m

I hea

hest. I bolted upright, breath fractured. "I-I'm co

wasn'

s Ric

s

oor behind him with careful hands.

s were

ing more dangerous. Something

st steadied me. His hands warm on my arms.Did he...?" He looked at the

. My eye

r. He looked down at me, and for the first time,

thing," he said. His v

ed out a small glass vial. The liqu

ing it gently in my palm.I

"Before you go to him. It'll kno

ed. "What if i

id, eyes steady.

r in my mouth. Like tasting a

him. "Why are y

gaze flicked awa

ore than I should. And because if he hur

lt charged. Heavy.Then, he reached up and brushed a stra

fe tonight,"

, closing the door

tle, my heart thudding-not from fear

ing li

ot

ront of the mirror, my hands unsteady as I dabbed perfume along

for seduction. For armor

ng through water-slow, heavy, but delibera

rawled on the bed, eyes clo

open. Hunger flar

already reac

d sweetly. "Let'

ever smiled when I was scared.You can get it yours

y voice. J

! Bring

pa

foots

. Richard enter

silent exchange. Then he handed me

uid garnet.He took his and drank in greedy gulps. I bare

t the wine into the sink. My hands shook. I rin

I saw a strange

was already on the b

it halfway bef

Weigh

mething

ts slowed.T

ht, falling off the bed

oor o

ch

ke he'd been waiting for the exact moment

beside me, and-without aski

ot from pai

iness. Th

is shirt with

father lying on the fl

was in his ey

ething mor

sure I was

't sure I wante