NE'S

handsome, but Eli. He was different. I remembered the f

d to my hand. I realised what I was d

placing it right bac

owl. His gaze trailed from my hand to my lips to the neckli

oth skin. Long. Wavy. Sandy blon

st as if he wasn't describing

smile. "Qui

sperate to drown the heat rising in my chest. But even

aring. That gaze left me breathless with

e cracked, alm

y lips before finding

like a pull, I couldn't resist. I wrapped my han

t.

reminded me that I was Jett's wife. That I

he d

ddling him, my legs clinging to his body. The heat of him bled through his u

spine, fingers splaying, gripping me tighter, de

gainst his mouth, t

ing against mine, his lips brushing mi

guilt and desire waged war inside

eck, holding me there, like he w

wet his lips, but he kissed me like he didn't

and aching moment, I

I got wetter beneath the press of him. It was unbearable. The ne

efore settling at the shell of my ear. My body shivered at the husk o

h the thin fabric of my blouse. My nipples tighte

s flexed,

s mouth moved to my neck. The way his teeth grazed my

and surrendering to it. His tongue traced the sensitive cur

ring. Jett's ring. The one he had slipped on

sharp, cutting through the haze of desire. M

My feet hit the floor almost unsteadily, but I forced myself back, putting space betwee

anywhere but him. "I... I have to

y hands. I didn't dare glance back, because I knew if I

reign even to me. And then I walked fast, though my legs alm

voice fo

ion I had left. My pulse hammered so hard it hurt as I yanked

, Row

most undid me. My heart clenched and

the silence. The elevator loomed ahead like a lifeline. I pressed the button with t

d him. The door to his ap

ded. I stabbed the button again, watchi

toward me with each step burning straight through

he doors s

ing. My knees nearly buckled, my heart slamming like I had escaped som

ays l

our mother-in-

reality, shattering what I had been wrappe

dry. "My mother-in-law?

ps parted as if to explain, but nothing came o

reason my body jolted with panic was Eli. My mind leapt back to tha

s I rose to my feet to see Jenni

the edge of a sinkhole, like she co

asn't what haunted me. I wasn't drowning in regret. Because when I thought

t terri

ch every time it flickered behind my eyes. Wrong, because the mom

A line I shouldn't cross a

d pulled away before we went too far. That

d and glistening from tears. Her composure frayed as soon as she saw

other hand cupped my face and her thumb brushing along

g as confusion clawed up m

d back slightly, freeing one of my hands. She wiped at her chee

h disbelief. "The police say Jett's deat

ed, the floor ti

arching mine. And then she gave a lon

s a hollow whisper. "Someone