At first, I try to maintain a respectable distance, but Miles is insistent. He tightens his hold around my waist, bringing me closer against his firm chest. Like this, our faces are close. I don’t know where to look, so I turn my head away. This puts my ear very near his mouth. I can feel his warm
The accusation startles me. Jealous? There’s no way I could be jealous. Miles and I shared a night of passion, sure, but I have no claim over him. I never did. Even when he were together, I knew it was only for one night. I have no right to be possessive, and therefore physically cannot be jealo
I blink, startled. Remember him? I’m not likely to forget the night we shared together, but that can’t be what he means. That just happened not all that long ago. He has to be referring to something else. But… what? “I don’t know what you are talking about,” I say. “Have we met somewhere befor
Did Garnar go on some kind of rampage and destroy all my lingerie? I bought this specific pair a year ago, when I still had fantasies of making my marriage work. No matter how hard I tried, or how sexy I looked, Garnar always found reasons not to have sex with me. I stopped buying after a while.
I don’t know what kind of sick game Thea is playing, wanting me to tear into her with the rage of her betrayal, but I refuse to play into her childish demands. Despite how much Thea wants me to hate her, I see her only as a foolish child, young and ignorant. Too inexperienced to really know what s
Garnar stares me down for a long moment, his expression dire and intense. But then, his lip curls and he bursts out laughing instead. “You must be joking,” he guffaws. “I’m serious,” I say. “What about anything that is happening right now that would make you think I’m being funny?” He sobers h
Garnar, for the first time, hesitates. I open my eyes in time to see him glance at Thea, still hiding her face against his shoulder. “Is it Thea that has made you so bold?” I ask. Quickly, Garnar’s gaze snaps back to me. “Do not drag your poor sister into this. All of what’s happening now is you
Garnar’s shock and fury leaves him near breathless. His voice sounds like a gravelly growl as he demands, “Who?” “What does it matter?” I reply. “He’s young and handsome. Tall, fit, and no disappointment in the bedroom. Not with what he’s carrying, I can tell you that.” Garnar’s hands curl into
The next morning, the results are clear. Miles’s poll numbers are already starting to dive. Pundits debate back and forth, but the general consensus is that Edward won the debate. To many, Miles’s outburst was unwarranted and a sign of his youth and inexperience. The mood at campaign headquarters
Using his body to pin me down now, he doesn’t need to hold me down with his hand. He moves it down, over one of my own instead. We lace our fingers together and I hold on for dear life. It takes everything in me not to moan or scream or cry his name. He’s giving it to me so good, my whole body i
While everyone is in a state of shock, Miles turns away from Edward and storms off the stage. When he reaches me, he grabs my hand and drags me along behind him. We don’t slow, not to speak to the reporters waiting backstage. Not even to speak to the aides on our side, who are ready and waiting to h
Edward, however, doesn’t seem to have the same strategy, occasionally taking digs at Miles about his youth and perceived inexperience, ignoring that Miles has basically trained for this job since birth. Miles, in frustration, glances around as Edward gloats about his own successes running charitie
At once, the producer and his cameraman come closer. Out of nowhere, two other reporters join them, all with their own microphones, which they jam under my face. “Ms. Owens! What did you say to Mrs. Zimmer to start this fight?” “I… uh…” I don’t know how to respond. It’s still sinking in that thi
“Daphne… I tried… I told my parents everything, and they did their best. But there wasn’t enough proof at the time, just my word against his, and –” “Save your excuses,” Daphne says. Her face is perfectly done, with expensive, high quality makeup hiding every poor and wrinkle. Her brows are perf
The day of the debate, Miles stands in my bedroom, changing into the suit he’d left hanging on the door the night before, so it wouldn’t get wrinkles. I’ve already taken my daughters to my parents’ house. The kids were not thrilled about the arrangement. They think they’re grandparents are stuffy
Miles offers to let me go home early, but I refuse. I’ve had too many setbacks already, so many almost exclusively handed to me by Edward Zimmer. I’m not going to let him win by cowering any longer. It’s past time that I start advocating for myself. After righting myself in the chair, and assuring
They came closer to us, boxing us in, that uncomfortable hunger in their eyes, the kind I had grown horribly familiar with. Frightened, Daphne and I ran back into the orphanage. Edward was waiting for us in the hallway. “Never question me,” he said. “Don’t you see that I’m the only one keeping y