She took a breath. "The doctor wouldn't let me have intercourse after the first trimester. " Her voice became softer. "I tried to be a good wife. I tried to make him happy w-with " She couldn't go on. She was too embarrassed to say it.
He searched her eyes. Saw her embarrassment. It finally dawned on him what she was trying to say.
"Are you telling me that you were still making the bastard come, even though you weren't supposed to be having sex, and he cheated on you anyway? " His voice was a roar. He all but yelled it.
She nodded. "The marriage deteriorated from there. We stayed together for the boys. And now it's over. "
"Yes, It's over. " His voice had an edge of finality and satisfaction.
He had found an angel by accident.
The drive back to her house that evening was accomplished in silence. Both were consumed by their own thoughts. The day that passed had been enjoyable.
After breakfast, they had cleaned the kitchen together. When it was finished, she had looked around and sighed. He had grabbed her and kissed her. They had ended up naked in each other's arms on the big pine table.
From there, he had been determined to treat her to whatever she wanted.
She wanted to see the newest chick flick at the cinema. He accommodated that wish. But he picked up her hand at the beginning of the movie, and never relinquished it.
It was like that the rest of the day. They went wherever she wanted. Ate whatever food she was hungry for.
But he was always there. Dominating her with his presence. Monopolizing her time as if it were his own.
And now, as he drove her home, she couldn't help wondering at his motives. What purpose did he have? She never expected anything more from him than the short, sexual affair she knew he wanted. But even now, as they pulled into her driveway, a thrill went through her.
He still held onto her hand.
"Let's get you inside, babe. " The night was dark as he came around and opened the door for her. She fumbled with her key and he took it from her and smoothly opened the front door.
"Stand here and let me check it out. " He strode past her.
"Check it out? "
"Make sure everything's okay. That it's safe for you to be here by yourself. " He walked off and Jenny stood there and waited.
She liked this compulsion of his to make sure she was safe. Earlier, he had locked the car doors when he went in a convenience store to get her a diet drink.
If their time together was over, she was going to miss this. She was going to miss him.
He came back to her. "All's good. Come here and kiss me bye. " He lifted her hand and dragged her to the door.
His arms encircled her waist and he rocked his pelvis against her in a smooth, teasing motion. "Do you have to go into the office tomorrow? " he asked.
Tomorrow was Monday. She did. "Yes, for several hours in the morning. "
"Okay. I have to be at the bar till about seven. I'll swing by and get you about eight. Pack a few things and we'll grab some take out on the way to my house. " He pulled her in for a kiss.
She pushed against his chest and broke the kiss. "But Richard, I thought you said three days. I mean three nights. You said we would have three nights. I thought- "
He cut her off by putting his hand over her mouth. Her eyes flared. He tempered the threatening movement with a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"I'm going to need more time than that. "
Chapter Seven
The next few days flew by for Jenny. She put in her hours for her job, both on-site and at home. She had time for a few personal things, as well. She spent some much needed time on bills and organizing her home office.
She refused to think about Richard when she was not with him. It wouldn't help the situation, and would only mire her in a deep, internal conflict between her desire to spend more time with him, and her need to protect herself from possible pain.
She decided to go with the flow. She wouldn't fight it, because she didn't think anything would come of it. After all, she truly wasn't looking for a relationship, anyway.
She did allow herself time to worry about Renee and Amy. She and Renee finally had the much-needed conversation about 'that' night.
They had a girlie hour on the phone exchanging sordid details and giving each other virtual high fives.
Jenny was relieved to find out that Renee's boss wasn't married anymore.
They still didn't have too many details about Amy. Something had definitely happened to her that night. They knew she was back at home, but she had been very vague about having been taken into custody by the sheriff's department.
That night had been alarming and astonishing for all three women.
But if Jenny's days were filled with the minutia of work and home, her nights were filled with Richard and enthralling sexual hunger.
Wednesday night followed the same set ritual as the previous two nights. He picked her up after work, grabbed some take out, and they went to his house.
After dinner, he slotted a DVD in the player, and she leaned back in his arms on the couch to watch the movie.
It soon became apparent that the film was not holding his attention. He crossed his arms around her and pulled her back into his chest. He nuzzled her neck. She felt her breasts swell. Her eyelids dropped to shut out the movie, and focus on the sensations running through her.
She loved the feel of his persuading lips on her ear. But she tried to concentrate because she knew she had something to tell him.
"Richard. "
"Hmm. " His hand slid around and encircled her breast.
"Stop for a second. " She put her hand over his. "I need to tell you something. "
His body stilled. "What? "
"Nothing really. It's just that I--I don't know if you have plans this weekend, but I'm going to Houston to see the boys. "
His jaw hardened. "I can't go to Houston this weekend. I've got business in Shreveport. Why do you need to go? "
"I've been going once a month since they moved. I just can't stand going very long without seeing them. I know it's silly, but I just can't. I'm not ready. Maybe the second year. "
"But nothing's going on there this weekend? I don't know, like family day or something?" he asked.
"No. Nothing like that. I'm just going to check into a hotel and pick the boys up. We'll visit and go out to eat and stuff. I just need to see them. "
"Well, just skip it this weekend, and I'll take you next weekend. " His voice was assertive, making a statement.
Jenny tensed. Her only purpose in telling him was because she was uncomfortable with letting Friday come, and not giving him fair warning of her plans. No way had she expected he might try to talk her out of going. She was disconcerted by his reaction. "Oh, it can't wait. They are expecting me. They've already worked my visit into their schedules. They are incredibly busy this first year. "
"It's not safe for you to be making that trip by yourself. That strip of the interstate isn't safe for a female travelling alone. Too many bridges, too much swamp land. You might stall out. Anything could happen. I don't like it. "
Jenny didn't know how to react to his demand. Obviously, she was going. Just as obviously, he wasn't going to like it. She stood and picked up their empty wine glasses. "I wasn't asking you. I'm telling you where
I'll be this weekend. I'll be home late Sunday afternoon. "
Richard watched her turn and walk toward the kitchen. Anger at himself and her pulsed through him. Goddamnit! He knew he had no right to tell her what to do. Just as upsetting was his reason for not wanting her to go alone. Why the hell did he care so much? It pissed him off that it mattered one way or the other. Displeasure at his motives and irritation with her consumed him. He stood and followed her into the kitchen.
She stood at the sink, washing the wine glasses.
He came up behind her and immediately dominated her with his size. He reached around her and turned off the water.
Jenny froze in his arms. His intense masculinity dazed her. She knew that he would follow her in here. He wasn't going to be able to just let it go. Her refusal to let him have his way had provoked this. He had to be the one in control. He wanted to control her. He would assert his domination. And she was learning that she craved it.
His large hand claimed her breast. He moved her hair aside and she could feel him sucking on her neck, branding her. He moved his other hand under her skirt. He ruthlessly pushed the silk aside and started rubbing her clit.
Her legs gave out and she sagged against the sink.
He took full advantage and lifted her up. She heard the fly on his pants give and the rustling of clothes. He grunted and slid a finger into her and began moving it, bringing her wetness out. She moaned. His hand left her and he lifted her higher and opened her thighs and moved between them.
He pushed into her from behind. Heat and need clawed through her and she started climaxing at once. Her orgasm provoked him and he hammered at her harder, faster.
She hung in his arms, locked between his chest and the sink. She held on as he pummeled into her. She felt him stiffen and groan and felt the warm liquid spew inside of her. Her mind was dazed. Her body boneless.
He grabbed a cup towel that was within reach on the counter. He slowly withdrew himself from her body and put the towel between her legs. He lowered her to the floor and turned her in his arms. His hand cupped her intimately with the towel between them. She could feel her body releasing his semen. She knew he could feel it, too. He lifted her face to his.