Chapter 44
e walked toward the
Herbert got out as well, slipping his hands into the pockets of his trench coat. He watched her go, his expression soft, his gaze lingering as she housed
She’d barely taken a few steps when his voice called out, quiet but clear “Little Mute
Jessica tumed back?
Herbert’s lips parted, as if he’d meant to say something else, but he simply said, “Goodnight.”
Jessica smiled and signed goodnight in sign language
Herbert stood there, motionless, watching until she disappeared inside.
Upstairs, Timothy pinched his cigarette between his fingers, snapping it in half. The glowing lip scattered sparks onto the floor. He turned off the lamp, plunging the
room into darkness.
Ding-
Jessica keyed in her code. The door swung open. She hadn’t even reached for the light switch when strong arms swept her inside, pinning her against the door as someone’s lips crashed onto hers
A faint scent of tobacco, edged with cedar, filled her senses.
It took only a moment for her to realize it was Timothy.
She tried to pull away, but he’d already trapped her wrists, his grip iron–strong, his body pressing her immobila
There was nowhere to run.
Her back was flat against the door, the cool wood biting through her clothes, chilling her to the bone.
Timothy’s kiss was fierce possessive, his heated breath mingling with her
wanted to consume her whole.
His hands slid along her waist, his touch hot against her skin. Jessica’s nerves sparked at his every movement her body trembling out of her control.
Panic welled up. Tears pricked at her eyes
She couldn’t speak Her resistance, feeble against his strength, was useless.
When she finally managed to cup Timothy’s face with both hands, he ademed to think shi was sumendering, leaning in for another kiss.
But then–crack
Her open palm landed hard against his check
His head snapped to the side, a few pale fingerprints blooming on his skin. Whatever desperate need had been burning inside him vanished in an instant, snuffed out by the sting.
He reached out and flicked on the lights.
Jessica instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, her breath coming in shaky gasps. Her tear–filled eyes glared at Timothy, raw and wounded.
She was a mess–clothes rumpled, buttons tom away, hair in disamay–while Timothy, save for some wrinkles in his suit jacket, looked every bit the composed man he pretended to be. But his eyes, dark and bottomless, brimmed with barely restrained Jury!
Jessica’s lashes trembled with unshed tears, her silent accusation hanging heavy in the alt
After a long moment. Timothy’s voice broke the silence, cold and flat. “What, I can’t even touch you now?“%
He’d spent the night with Sheila_I
Alone. Just the two of them Who knew what had happened?
And now Jessica was asking for a divorce. How could he expect her to stay close to him after that? Her shirt was already missing buttons, torn by his hands. She glared at him, battered and furious, her movements sharp as she signed angrily, I told you–l want a divorcell
Timothy’s eyes narrowed, a sneer curling his lips. “Don’t test my patience.
He didn’t raise his voice, but the threat was unmistakable
Jessica smiled, but it was a hollow, brittle thing
Timothy’s brow furrowed, tension building in the space between them.
Just then, Jessica’s phone rang. She pulled it out–Mabel’s name flashed on the screen
She didn’t answer
A moment later Timothy’s phone rang as well. Mabel again.
Hi picked up
“It’s Henry–he’s buming up with fever He keeps calling for his mom. I tried Mrs. Carter, but she didn’t pick up. Please come home right away.” “I’m on my way
He hung up and grabbed Jessica by the wrist.
“Let’s go–Henry’s sick ”
Jessica’s hean clenched. Before she could think, she was already hurrying out the door, following Timothy into the night
