DORIS' BODY trembled as his hands found her waist, pulling her flush against him. His lips burned against hers, devouring her with a reckless abandon that made her head spin. She found herself melting into him, surrendering to the fire that raged between them. She was helpless to resist the surge of desire that overwhelmed her, like a wave crashing against the shore. She clung to him, lost in the moment, giving herself over to the intensity of the feelings that consumed her. She had never imagined she could feel this way again, with such overwhelming need and emotion. Her body was on fire, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her heart pounded, and her head spun with the dizzying rush of it all. He broke away from her only to immediately seize her lips again from a different angle as he moved the two of them inside the house, absently shutting the door. He slammed her against the wall, a little too hard as his hands memorized her every inch, caressing and stroking.
HE HAD DONE IT NOW. There was no turning back. No pondering if he should have or shouldn't have. No second-guessing. He'd taken the leap. For better or worse, he'd made love to her, and now he would have to deal with the consequences. The events of the past hour were still fresh in his mind. And yet, for some reason, he wasn't the least bit unhappy. He didn't even feel he'd made a mistake. On the contrary, he couldn't remember ever being so content, so satisfied and so looking forward to the future. He knew that even if it was a mistake, it was a mistake he was glad he'd made. He looked over at the woman sleeping next to him, a peaceful smile on her lips. Doris was so beautiful, so amazing and so much more than he'd remembered. She felt so right in his arms, she might have been designed with him in mind. He watched her as she slept. He wanted to snuggle next to her and watch her sleep till the break of dawn but he knew he had to get up and go home.
NORA BURST into the office, her eyes flashing with frustration. She stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, staring at her father with a mixture of disbelief and indignation. "Dad!" she exclaimed as she closed the distance to his table. "Are you really going to let Doris go on a date with that guy?" Her voice was high-pitched and trembling with emotion. "Aren't you even going to try to talk her out of it?" Brad looked up from his desk, taking in the sight of his upset daughter. She looked so frustrated that she was close to tears. He couldn't help but blame Doris and her elusive beau for his current predicament. Just a few days ago, he'd met the man in question and Doris had made the introductions with an irritating sense of ease. For the first time in many years, he'd been left speechless. Every time he thought about it, his mind would spin in circles. And the more he thought about it, the angrier he became He was still trying to make sense of why Daniel ha
BRAD WAS not okay. And the dark circles under his eyes told the story of his sleepless night. He'd pretended to be busy with work, but he'd really just been waiting for Doris to return home with her date. And they'd arrived a little too late. As if his anticipation wasn't bad enough, he had to witness the couple's goodnight kiss right in front of the house. And she didn't even try to stop it. Brad felt like his heart was being ripped out. It was a pain he'd never felt before. But he refused to show the pain, refused to give her the satisfaction of affecting him. Instead, he just clenched his jaw and turned away, closing the window he had been watching them through. He could hear them in the driveway, their muffled laughter taunting him. And even as he locked himself in the bedroom, he could still hear the echo of their voices, laughing and whispering sweet nothings to each other. Now, he needed no more proof that they were now together. Well, if that was the case. . . He
BRAD COULDN'T contain his joy when he read the headline splashed across the front page of the local newspaper. "Well-known Director of Pixel Studios Arrested for Fraud," the headline proclaimed, and beneath it, a photo of Daniel Vincent being escorted into a police station. He'd never forget the look of shock and horror on Daniel's face when he'd been led away in handcuffs. It was glorious. Brad had paid a small fortune to have this story run in every major newspaper and news website, and it was worth every penny. However, he hadn't seen Daniel around Doris for a while even before his arrest. He couldn't help but wonder if something had happened between them. Had they fought? Or had Doris figured out he was a sleazebag even before his crimes were exposed? He didn't know the answer, but he was glad that he wouldn't have to see Daniel's face again, regardless of the reason. It was a small victory, but it felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. However
BRAD WAS RIGHT! That was the last time he saw her. Doris had not disappeared from his life like the last time. She was still around, but she was avoiding him like the plague. It was as if she was determined to never lay eyes on him again. It seemed he'd underestimated her feelings for him, and now he was paying the price. The house was uncomfortably quiet without Doris' presence. It was as if the life and soul had been sucked out of the place. And It wasn't just him who noticed the difference, either. The whole family seemed to be affected by her absence. They all seemed to move through the days like zombies, going through the motions but with no real joy or enthusiasm. It was like a dark cloud had descended over the entire household. Mrs. Hopkins, who had once loved to watch her soaps with Doris by her side, now found them dull and uninteresting. Without Doris to gossip and speculate with, the shows just weren't the same. And the kids? They were hardly ever excited. They
HE KISSED her again, deeply, urgently, his arms holding her tight. As his tongue perforated past her parted lips, probing demanding, one hand slipped inside her nightdress to touch her bare flesh. Her head fell back in a gesture of abandonment, and she yielded herself up to him completely, without reservation. Warmth began to spread through her, a slow burn that made her fingers tingle and toes curl. She could feel the heat travel down her spine, to the tips of her fingers and toes. And without another thought, Doris leaned forward, her fingers eager to touch, to explore the expanse of skin stretched out before her. It was like a spark had been lit within her, and she couldn't help but let it burn. The heat intensified, becoming almost unbearable, a weightless feeling that left her floating somewhere between reality and a dream. As her hands wandered, her senses heightened. Every inch of skin felt like it was on fire, every breath drawn in was suffused with a heady scent that
Afterward, Doris slept soundly, a smile curving her lips as she dreamed of nothing but the most contented thoughts. The morning light gradually crept into the room, coaxing her from her slumber, and she blinked sleepily, her eyes slowly opening. The world seemed fresh and new, and for a moment, she simply lay still, enjoying the feeling of complete relaxation that washed over her. Brad, on the other hand, was still sleeping, his dark lashes fanning his cheeks, his breathing deep and even. The sheet had twisted around his waist, but he didn't seem to notice or mind. His face was turned towards her, his features relaxed in sleep, a hint of a smile lingering on his lips. He looked younger in repose, more carefree, and Doris couldn't help but fall over and over again for him. They were not quite touching, and as she watched the steady rise and fall of his shoulders she changed her position slightly, closing the distance between them, until the barest whisper of her skin met his. T