Page 66 of Dirty Husband

One down.

Three to go.

It should soothe me. It does, to an extent. But that fucking voice—

I can still hear that bastard.

I pull open the door. Move into the living room.

Jasmine is sitting at the long table, her red lips around a glass of water, her expression curious.

"How was your walk?" I try to make my voice calm. Even. Free of that bastard's influence.

"Warm." She motions to the coat rack against the wall. "I'm not sure you'll need it until the fall, but if you do."

"Are you comfortable in that dress?"

"More than you'd expect." Her eyes travel down my body. Stop on my pelvis. "Why do you ask?" She's daring me again.

But, this time, I'm out of patience. "Take it off."

Her eyes go wide. "I—"

"I said take it off. Don't make me ask twice."

Chapter Nineteen

Shepard

She stands. Reaches for her zipper. Pulls it down her back.

In one swift motion, the dress falls at her feet. "That's five thousand dollars of silk. Someone should hang it up."

She takes a step toward me.

Then another.

Not what I expected her to do.

"Are you going to remind me I'm supposed to beg?" Her voice is defiant. She wants to be punished for her insolence. Not what I usually enjoy, but when it's Jasmine—

My thoughts slip away. I should be more careful. Take more time to outline these terms. But I need this. Now. "Sit."

She does.

I move toward her. Drop to my knees to help her into her heels. The right. Then the left.

She shudders as my finger skims her ankle. I let my hand drift to the back of her calf.

I'm cheating, I know, but I'm too far gone to care about sportsmanship.

"Outside." I want to do this in the fresh air. Where someone might see.

I stand, move onto the balcony, motioncome here.

She does. She looks down at her feet, almost surprised they're moving. Then her eyes go to mine. She holds my gaze as she closes the distance between us.

It's a beautiful night. Warm, clear, with that classic New York City blue. Barely dark enough to qualify as night.