Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica's face had turned pale, her gentle eyes frozen in a moment of shock.

Timothy's tenderness poured over her like a wash of moonlight-so overwhelming, she felt as if she might drown in it.

A deep, gnawing fear rose inside her.

She was terrified of falling for him again.

Hidden beneath the silk comforter, her hand clenched into a tight fist, fingernails

digging into her palm for a sharp sting that helped anchor her in reality.

She pressed her lips together and turned her delicate face slightly away.

She wanted nothing from him-not even his kindness.

Timothy, unusually patient tonight, spoke in a low, velvety voice. "Don't want me to feed you like this?"

She didn't quite understand what he meant.

No matter how much she hurt, she didn't want to accept his help—not even a cup of hot tea from his hands.

All she wanted was to draw a clear line between them, the sooner the better.

When she remained silent, Timothy's long, elegant fingers reached out and gently lifted her chin.

He raised the porcelain cup, took a sip of hot tea, then leaned in his strikingly handsome features filling her vision-pressed his lips to hers, and held her jaw, forcing her mouth open.

The warmth of the tea flooded Jessica's mouth.

She tried to push him away, her face twisting with surprise and confusion.

But Timothy didn't let go not until she'd swallowed every drop of tea he'd passed to her.

She coughed, her throat burning from the heat-or maybe from something else entirely.

Her almond eyes shimmered, wide and wet, as she stared up at the impossibly beautiful face before her.

Timothy's mood seemed to lift; her pure, vulnerable innocence delighted him. With a rough fingertip, he gently wiped the last trace of ginger tea from the corner of her lips.

"If you wanted me to feed you like this," he murmured, "you only had to ask."

Before she could react, he took another sip of tea and returned to kiss her again, catching Jessica off guard. She didn't even have time to close her lips before more hot tea slipped into her mouth.

The tea was sweet with a bitter edge-bitterness wrapped in sweetness.

Just like the happiness and heartbreak Timothy had given her over the last seven years.

She couldn't help but wonder: if he had always shown her this tenderness, would she have drowned in it long ago?

The warmth of the ginger tea spread through her, mingling with the heat of his hand, creating a rush of comfort that pushed away the pain and left her dizzy and dazed.

Timothy's voice dropped to a soft murmur. "Drink up, sweetheart. Henry wants to go to the amusement park tomorrow. If your cramps don't get better, it'll be a rough day for you."

If not for everything that had happened between them, this moment might have been picture-perfect—a happy little family.

But Jessica knew better. This was nothing but a beautiful illusion, as fleeting as dew in the morning sun.

Just as she began to collect herself, Timothy fed her another mouthful of ginger tea.

Every movement of his was both forceful and gentle.

He'd always been the one in control between them. She didn't have the strength to resist, nor the power to push him away.

Before she knew it, he'd fed her the entire bowl of tea in this intimate, almost shameless way.

Setting the cup aside, Timothy lifted the comforter and slipped into bed.noveldrama

He pulled Jessica into his arms, her back pressed firmly against his chest.

Under the covers, she was surrounded by his presence-his scent, intoxicating and addictive.

His strong hand slid under her silk nightgown, coming to rest on her cold stomach.

The warmth of the ginger tea in her belly and the heat of his palm on her skin intertwined, soothing the pain of her cramps in ways medicine never could.

Cancer, a broken home-Jessica had tried desperately to hide her weakness, but at her core, she was fragile.

Just as anyone wants company when they're sick, a part of her longed for someone by her side.

No matter how Timothy had neglected her in the past, in this moment, she felt a sliver of real comfort-something she hadn't realized she still craved.