Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Steam swirled through the bathroom as Jessica spun around in alarm, reaching for the towel hanging on the hook.

Her damp hair clung to the porcelain curve of her neck, droplets at the ends trailing down along the delicate lines of her shoulder blades toward the small of her back.

Turning quickly, she pressed the towel to her collarbones with both hands, letting it fall just low enough to cover the tops of her thighs.

Her long legs seemed to glow in the warm golden light-pale, slender, almost luminous.

In that moment, an image flashed through Timothy's mind-those very legs wrapped tightly around his waist.

His stomach tensed involuntarily.

Jessica's wide eyes were misty, lashes beaded with water, their shadows trembling beneath her eyes. She clutched the towel so hard that her knuckles turned a flushed pink, wrinkles bunching along the edge.

The shower continued to rain softly over her, quickly soaking the towel until it clung to her frame, tracing the curve of her chest beneath.

Timothy's gaze swept coldly over the anxious flush in her eyes. His voice was husky, low. "What are you hiding for?"

Jessica's grip on the towel tightened. She had no words.

Timothy, already dressed in his pajamas, tossed his own towel into the laundry basket.

Without another word, he turned and strode out of the bathroom.

Jessica padded across the tiles, bare feet silent, and locked the door behind him. Timothy heard the click and furrowed his brow.

But even as he tried to shake the thought, the image of those pale, endless legs kept haunting him.

It had been over a month since they'd last touched.

A restless heat coiled in his abdomen. Annoyed, he lit a cigarette and stepped out onto the balcony.

He smoked one. Then another. Then a third.

Still, the ache in his gut refused to subside.

When Jessica finally emerged in her robe, she revealed a glimpse of straight, delicate calf—soft, fair, impossible to ignore.

The heat surged back.

Leaning against the balcony door, Timothy pushed himself upright and moved behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. His hands fit perfectly.

His lips brushed her neck, feather-light, barely there.noveldrama

Jessica froze, every breath filled with the faint, smoky scent of his cologne and cigarettes.

By the time she realized what was happening and tried to pull away, his kisses had grown urgent and insistent, scattering across her skin like sparks.

A jolt of electricity shot to her core, radiating out until every nerve felt aflame.

Timothy spun her around, giving her no chance to resist, and captured her lips with his.

Unlike someone who could at least utter a muffled protest, Jessica could make no sound at all.

Timothy had to read her reactions in the quickening of her breath, the way her body tensed beneath his hands.

She pushed against his chest, muscles trembling, as if she wanted him gone- and yet, her body melted against him.

He caught her hands in his, pinning them above her head against the wall.

Jessica's face burned scarlet.

Timothy hadn't felt this alive in a long time.

Moments ago in the bathroom, he'd played the gentleman, dropping off her things and walking away. She never expected him to lose control like this.

She tried to kick him, but he wedged himself between her legs, lifting her easily. Suddenly, she was off the ground, legs locked around his waist for fear of falling.

She couldn't even muster a single word of protest.

All she could do was weather his relentless advance.

But...

She didn't want this anymore. She didn't want to be captivated by him, or anything about him.

The moment his mouth left hers and moved to her collarbone, Jessica bit down- hard-on her own tongue.

Timothy's kisses trailed lower, landing right over the faint heart-shaped birthmark above her left breast.

Whenever she was aroused, that mark deepened in color-a detail he'd always found irresistible.

Suddenly, Timothy tasted blood. For a moment, he thought she was crying.

He pulled away, lifting his head.

A bright line of blood snaked from the corner of her mouth, down her chin, winding its way onto her chest.

She'd never refused him like this before.