Don't Tell My Husband

's

His hands seemed to have every right, as though I had voluntarily handed him the keys to my soul. They wand

rds that would calm the tempest bla

at evening, the kiss was strong and demanding. At once a promise and a menace. I attempted to ma

ly, panting for br

"What is it?," asked Still gruff, his voice now held an air of concern. He cupped

le. " I... I need a moment." My remarks seemed weak and nearly false. Since the

closed and his hand dropped a

have authority, he constantly found a way to intrude on my ideas. "Don't,

on. He backed off, hands sliding over his black hair.

could I possibly articulate the jumble of shame, want, and remorse stifl

. "Wasn't you?" His breath hot against my ear, he closed the space

" I sensed his strain and his need for my entire choice of him. But

ou decided to let him run your life, to continue playing the ideal little wife while su

have no idea what you want from me!" Tears welling u

omething!" he cried. Emotion drove his chest to heaving. "Anything but t

ty caused by clenching my teeth. "I'm not

t. I could feel his ragged, heated breath. Unspoken but unquestionably, the

nk into it and silence every idea. Still, the emptiness persisted like a sh

sisted. "Why are you here if you

on blasting through me, I whispered, "Because I'm t

haniel spoke in a softer, almost begging tone.

e, my shoulders trembling. Not one

nce more. "You are correct. Not is it. He retreated; the space between us now seemed to be a gulf

inside me. "Natha

door. "I'm done playing second to a man like Charles," he added, his voice la

weight of my decisions. Gasping for air, I dropped to the groun

I cleaned my tears and grabbed for it. You thought I wouldn't f

yet finished. No

back. Past had claws, a

e conclusion of something I knew I cannot rescue. With my legs giving way under the

one? My acti

ee table, shattering the quiet. I hesitated, fear crawling at the rear of my neck. When I did at last grab it, t

yet finished. No

aning was obvious, the words were confusing. P

at the margins of my view. Was Charles here? Wa

or a single second, I hoped-hoped-it was Nathaniel, coming back to prove me incorrect

hat hard line I had come to know too much. He seemed unconcerned even though rain fell

hani

mpossible to leave." His voice broke, the unadulterated passion slic

ery uncertainty, every last reluctance, burnt away in the fury raging between us. For a minute, it was just u

t giving up on you, Ava. I cannot. His breath combined with mine,

purposes. "It's dangerous," I replied, my v

without you." His thumb pointed at my jawline, his

of everything once

niel and he did too. The tension zipped between us, electrifying. As we b

aid. Cold, deliberate, and very defin

s was

times I saw terror reflected in them. But it then became re

andle swir

o inhale before eve