ried to

llion one that last

r organize old donations for the charity auction. She answered

oment was a screa

circled her, the taste of his command in her mouth, the a

denying

e let

o full

rning, there wa

inned inside h

ad enoug

the gard

r r

t the note f

o tear it down, pret

low in her belly and kept her awake at ni

only one

college party she never attended. She had once felt ex

foot on the patio, ste

garden trickled softly, the sound masking her footsteps. Damien stood under the shade of the perg

her knees nea

sharp. Measur

he said. "T

didn'

coul

slow and deliberate,

razed the hem

suits

wed. "Than

d down. "Have you l

wavered. "

aven't. Bu

then gestured to th

Legs a

She hesitated but

her thighs spreading as instructed. The breeze caught her dress,

ont of her, arms c

he said. "Do

s,

ced s

s. Your mother is in the house, upstairs. If she l

th caught. "M

r w

ou

. You wait for me. You a

was low,

get to be tou

ushed his jeans. He leaned in not to kis

legs open

rned and w

utes cr

butterfly landed on the fountain's edge. Somewhere far off, a car door slammed. S

hile, her leg

it

obb

d nothing. He simply stood b

raced the edg

y, he pushed her dr

ga

't close

l," he sa

brushed her

sto

ta

eyed,

ur

tu

nough that she could feel the heat of h

ned somethin

t's

t asking. To ach

ead droppe

ow much it

"You can go upstairs, pretend nothing's

her thighs, barely grazing h

And I'll keep you

ricked

e... S

back, leavi

next instruction. Go

n the kitchen, pouring wine, talking about redecorating the foyer. Si

s a machine

n't touch her

ound something wa

a

blac

all steel plug, sleek and cold, with a jewele

as tied

, you'll wear

on't

on't

k me in th

y o

the box, hea

this

sed a line she coul

aking hands, and stood in front of the mirror.

owly and entered hi

was tor

airs was electric. Eve

y inch of her skin. Her dress clung too tightly. The air felt

sipped his wine. He asked her about her job search.

k

was doing. What s

ver looke

til de

fly he me

t o

green and hea

as e

came from th

self early, cla

t hear hi

knew h

bedroom door behind he

ocke

not

air gently and wh

u can s

she