Quinn
has a secret, Jack has a stalking problem, and Alex has a plan that
doesn’t include signing divorce papers. In the last nine months
Monica has embraced the spectacular devastation of an unpredictable
lust and unexpected love. She’s made one terrible decision after
another in the wake of meeting Quinn Matthews and spiraled into
someone she doesn’t even recognize. But the fog is lifting, and
she’s becoming the only one able to see things clearly. Monica
finally knows what she wants, where she’s heading, and in who’s
arms she’ll be in when she gets there.
Through
a provocative affair and devastating separation Monica Waters has
tried to grasp her desire and love for two men. This spring, her love
will be tested once more in the finale of this emotionally charged
and sexually explosive series.
Friday, January 6th -
“Take
off your clothes,” he says in a deep gravelly voice.
Yes
Sir. She
doesn’t hesitate to lift her sweater, but clings to the ball of
warmth when the cold air scrapes her soft skin.
“All
of them,” he adds.
She
drops it to the floor and unbuttons her jeans, tugging hard on their
elastic grip to her legs. Her socks get sucked off with them in the
final pull. Her fingers are icy as she slides her panties to the
floor. He stands perfectly still with his hands to his sides, giving
away nothing as she unhooks the clasps on her bra. She holds the cups
as cover a moment longer, searching his stoic face before dropping it
to the side. His eyes study the way the light accents the right side
of her body. She feels his gaze glide across her flesh, leaving a
burning trail behind.
“On
your knees, close your eyes and don’t move.”
She
does as told, deaf to anything above the sound of her own pounding
heart until the crack of his knuckle. It was the sign of his tension
building, which was the most exciting part of these games. She knows
she has just as much control over him. He steps towards her and each
vibration through the floor shoots chills up her exposed thighs.
When
he doesn’t stop she turns her head slightly to follow his spicy
scent, but soon he’s ascending the stairs and gone. She hears him
continue towards their room, so she waits, eyes closed, branding
every sound to memory. An electric city bus passes, and then then a
distant foghorn blows before a Moped buzzes down the quieting street.
Things stand still and she no longer hears anything in the house.
Minutes
seem like hours when you’re naked and alone in a cold room. Still
no sounds other than the occasional creak of the old Victorian house.
Monica opens her eyes and scans the darkness to orient her focus. She
looks down admiring the way the blue light highlights her nipples.
How
long is he going to be? Do I really just stay here like this?
Shivering? It’s freezing in here. She
looks out as the Christmas lights still on the house across the
street go dark. Did he leave me here? Is this
his punishment? Or is he testing me? She
sits back on her heels and exhales with frustration.
It’s
gotta be nearly twenty minutes already. This is crazy. Just
as she starts to get to her feet, she hears a squeak a few feet
behind her. Judging by his sharp look she drops back down and faces
the empty fireplace.
“I
didn’t tell you to get up.”
A.
L. Goulden has a BFA in Film Production from the Academy of
Art University in San Francisco. Her love of a good story came
way before college, but when numerous instructors and peers
praised her dialogue she realized her creative writing hobby was
a skill worth honing. Her 18 year career in interior
design, production design and art direction for film and
television have spun a unique perspective on visually emotional
tales of relationships and the thread that ties all
things together.
(1) ebook copy of April Snow.
Open internationally.
Open internationally.
Contest Ends
April 25th
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