Tonight, Seth was tireless, almost ruthless, leaving a trail of bite marks and bruises along her waist.
Noreen, not one to back down, responded in kind, marking his neck with her own passionate traces.
Hepletely lost control, restraint slipping further away with every passing moment.
All Noreen could do was clutch the sheets, her fingernails creasing them in chaotic lines.
By the end, she was utterly spent. She simply closed her eyes and let him have his way.
On Saturday morning, Noreen had to pick Rosalind up from the hospital, so she forced herself awake early.
The aftermath of a night of indulgence hit hard: when she stood up, her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
As she brushed her teeth, Seth wandered into the bathroom, and without hesitation, wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Come back to bed with me,” he murmured, voice thick with sleep.
Noreen ignored him, finishing her rinse, then met his eyes in the mirror and spoke, crisp and deliberate: “It was just breakup sex. No need to get so… sentimental about it.”
The drowsiness vanished from Seth’s face. He stared at her, eyes
narrowed, for several seconds before asking, “So you’re still mad at me?” So, all that effortst night–was it just to win her back?
Effort, sure, but clearly misdirected.
Noreen gently pulled away, extracting herself from his embrace. Her tone was calmer than ever. “There’s nothing to smooth over, Seth. We both got what we wanted.”
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His gaze turned dangerous. “We both got what we wanted?”
“That’s right.” Noreen turned to face him head–on. “We’re both adults, Mr. Harcourt. Surely you understand how this works.”
Whatever warmth was left on Seth’s face disappeared, reced by a cold. indifference.
They locked eyes for half a minute before he finally turned and left, mming the door so hard it rattled the walls.
As the echo faded, Noreen felt a wave of relief wash over her.
See? When you stop expecting anything from someone, even disappointment vanishes.
The weather was perfect that day, and Noreen’s spirits soared.
Even Rosalind noticed. “You look happy today. Something good happen?”
“You’re finallying home. That’s the best thing that could happen.”
Rosalind’s heart melted. Just like when Noreen was a little girl, she reached out and gently smoothed her daughter’s hair. “You’ve always looked after me, sweetheart.”
After leaving the hospital, Noreen was about to call a cab when she spotted a familiar figure up ahead. She immediately pulled Rosalind aside. “Mom, I need to use the restroom.”
“I’ll wait for you here.”
“Come with me?” Noreen insisted, tugging at her hand.
Rosalind gave her a look of mock exasperation. “You’re a grown woman. Still scared to go alone?”
“Apparently so. Come on, humor me.”
So Rosalind waited patiently outside the restroom door.
Noreen lingered inside longer than necessary, waiting until she was sure those two unwee people had left. Only then did she emerge, taking
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her time.
“Are you feeling alright?” Rosalind’s first instinct was concern.
“Just a little stomach trouble. Must’ve eaten something badst night.” Noreen offered the excuse easily.
“Well, we’re at the hospital anyway. Let’s have a doctor check you out.”
“I’m fine, really. Let’s go–the car’s here.”
Noreen reassured Rosalind several more times before her mother finally rxed and followed her outside.
“By the way, I thought I saw Seth just now,” Rosalind remarked offhandedly.
Noreen’s heart skipped a beat.
“But I’m not sure,” Rosalind continued. “Could’ve been someone else.”
Noreen forced a casual smile. “Must’ve been a mistake. He’s out of town
on business–not even in Rivercrest.”
“That’s a relief,” Rosalind said, sounding reassured.
After all, the man she’d glimpsed had been walking with a young woman, the two of them looking ufortably close.
She must have been mistaken. Or at least, she hoped so.