door opening startled m

quiet. He saw me sitting on th

red me. What ar

concern. He tried to pull me into

eep," I said,

his arm around my shoulders. "Poo

heek. I could smell it then. A faint, sweet perfume. It wasn't mine.

sharp, coiled

ce my stiffness. He ju

aning his head back. "These new investors ar

alm. "What were you all celebrating s

st. A small

on of a second. It was almos

. Mark closed a big deal of his own. We were jus

ed without a single st

king directly into his eyes. "To

e that used to make my heart m

wished I was with

collar of his shirt. "David," I whispere

anished. His eyes widened in shock and hurt.

with disbelief and pain. "What did I do to make you think t

a wounded animal. "My God, Sarah

l tears. He was an incredible ac

he thought of another woman... it's disgus

, taking my hands in his. His tears fell

to you? Is it because I was out late? I'll never do it again

an I had loved with all my heart

othing. I'm sorry. I'm just exhausted from

tear from his cheek. "I'

relief. The storm pass

didn't resist. I just stood there, a block of ice in his arms. "

gh. You already

repeated. "I think I

om. The room I had painstakingl

y for bed. I just stood by the wind

the bed, his voice soft and i

u go ahead. I'm goin

, as hot as I could stand it. I scrubbed my skin raw, tryi

asleep, or pretending to be. H

the bed, as far away from him

rm reaching for me in his sleep. He

.. love

at him, was overwhelming. But I didn't move. I

was just a sign of my fatigue. He thought

The handsome features that I us

it real? The last ten years

no answers. There was only the cold, hard certainty of h