nst the car seat, his

edan amplified his presence, h

he whispered, his lips against

s tracing my ribs. I flinched when he br

. "What'

lied, turning

s. He just continued his assault, a calcul

ould call it that, was

eaction from years of longing. But my mind wa

wed by a cold sweat. The cance

his chest weakly.

eyes dark. "Chang

er, his phone buzze

me flashed o

ous. The predator vanished, rep

oftening. "Yeah, just wrapping someth

e returning to me,

ave t

o concern. Ju

lothes, and walked towards the party, to

the phantom ache in my

w days later, she called again, insisting I m

spent the entire time talking about his stock portfolio a

," he said, a skeptical look on his face

ex-wife, who also had "artistic tenden

was a thick, c

s strolled into the cafe.

e." He swaggered over, oblivious

, not

are tough, you know." He winked at Arthur. "She' s got rich

llowed a lemon. He made his

ess I saved you fr

nted to d

father' s annual charity gala. Eth

es loaned art for these events, got me a staff pass

a diamond bracelet. A pre-enga

his expression tender. She beamed

as so public,

il into the coffin of any lingering

way, and he was moving furth