A s soon as I saw her, I knew that something wasn’t right .

“Nora, baby.” I ran over to the bed, knowing that she wasn’t sleeping. She never slept on her back or with her arms extended out to the sides. Collapsing to the bed next to her, I pinched her cheeks. My eyes widened and I raised my voice. “Nora ?”

Her dull eyes were rolled to the back of her head and her muscles were loose. “Nora, wake up,” I pleaded, circling my fingers around her elbow. Smoothing them down her arm, I stopped to check the pulse at her wrist .

There was no response. No sign of life .

My brows drew together as worry grew to terror. My heartrate spiked along with my core temperature. Panic boiled in my chest as I gripped her shoulders and began shaking her .

Her body was limp and cold in my hands. “No, baby. No. What did you do? Dear God, not you, too .”

Dropping my ear over her heart, I listened with hope .

The rhythm of her soul was gone. There was nothing .

“Don’t you leave me,” I cried, snapping up and pulling the covers away from her lifeless body .

Tilting her head back, I clasped my hands and straightened my arms, beginning the compressions over her chest. Her ribs cracked under my weight, making me flinch. But I continued working, praying for her return .

“Please God, not you, too.” My arms pumped, the veins in my body straining as I counted off the compressions before breathing life into her lungs. “Breathe, Nora. Breathe .”

Her lips were frozen. She was still gone .

Again, I bounced back up and worked my hands over her heart. “C’mon, Nora! Don’t you leave me. I need you, dammit .”

With sweat dripping off my brow, I reached for my cell and dialed 911. As soon as the line clicked over to the operator I yelled, “Please hurry. My wife. I think she’s dead .”

Suddenly, my eyes popped open to find Kendra hovering over me with a wrinkled brow .

My heart slammed against my chest as my body shivered in sweat .

She lifted her hand and stroked my face .

I reached up and let my hand fall over her heart. Closing my eyes, I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the gentle pitter-patter of her life-giving organ. “You’re here .”

“I’m here, baby.” Kendra put her hand over my hot forehead. “I’m here,” she whispered .

My eyes fluttered closed as I caught my breath, wondering what time it was. With all that happened yesterday, it didn’t take long for me to find the deep sleep my body craved. Dreams came and went as Kendra curled her warm naked body up next to mine. It was comforting until the nightmare robbed me of all that kept me at peace .

“You said her name.” Kendra’s voice was soft and filled with concern. “Nora .”

I winced, worried about what else I may have let slip in my sleep .

“Is that who you were dreaming about?” Kendra draped her body over my side, bent her elbow and propped her head up on her hand .

With my head turned away, I rubbed my face inside my hand. All I could think about was how it seemed as if everyone was turning their backs on me—giving up hope in my ability to make things right. The stress was piling up, squeezing my lungs, making it hard to breathe .

Just like Nora continued to haunt my nights, now the DA who was out to get me. There was Madam playing her games, positioning herself to make her next move, bringing me along for the ride. And Nash, Sylvia, and Mario—problems that only seemed to be mounting. They were the reason for the nightmare, the distress and cry for help. I was sure of it .

“Kelly, you’re safe now .”

Kendra’s calm, reassuring voice was enough to get me to turn my neck and face her, head-on. I wanted to apologize to her for the way I’d lost my temper last night. We should have stayed at the party, stayed long enough to delay these feelings we were now forced to face. But I couldn’t without appearing weak .

Kendra’s silky-smooth hand moved over my chest. “Oh, baby, you’re sweating. Feel you.” Her face fell as her lips curved downward. “You’re burning up .”

Rooting my hands into the bed, I pushed myself up to sit. Wiping my face, I peeked out the window. The sun was just starting to rise over the horizon and I was glad to not have to face the demons of sleep for at least another sixteen hours .

Kendra scooted up next to me and draped her arms over my shoulders .

“It was just a bad dream,” I murmured .

Kissing my cheek, she said, “Kelly, you were thrashing in bed. You woke me up .”

Without looking at her, I recognized the sound of fear in her voice. I didn’t want her to know any more about Nora than what she already did. It was in the past, and nothing I wanted to revisit. It was best to not think about it, to move on so I could let go and concentrate on what was real .

Reaching across my chest, I picked my watch up off the nightstand, reading the time. “I’m running late .”

“Kelly,” Kendra pulled on my arm, “stay with me. Just a little while longer .”

Glancing over my shoulder, my gaze fell to her plump lips. They were so tender and sweet-looking, just like her firm bare breasts staring me down. The temptation was enticing. But I couldn’t escape the feelings of helpless terror still playing out inside my mind .

“I need to clear my head,” I mumbled as I peeled her fingers away from my wrist .

Slowly, I turned and padded to the master bath with heavy feet and an even heavier heart .

Kendra wanted to know more about Nora, I could understand that. But if she knew the reason why Nora killed herself, I feared that she would never look at me the same again. And that was the last thing I wanted .

Flipping on the hot water, I turned and stepped out of the shower only to find myself staring into the mirror. My eyes were red and had bags beneath them. The last remaining pellets of sweat dried on my brow just as I caught my own reflection. I reminded myself, “It’s not your fault. She made the decision to take her own life. Not you .”

My hardened eyes nodded back just as Kendra appeared, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe .

Her young and tight body was beautiful as she folded her arms below her breasts, crossing her legs at the ankles. There were her perky tits and tight waist begging me to get lost inside them, her thin strip of curls leading the way .

“Don’t blame yourself,” her comforting voice said .

Taking my eyes off of her, I turned back to stare at my own reflection. She didn’t know what she was saying or what it was I was thinking. And my past wasn’t her place. She was here to take me forward, not to take me back .

“I heard you mumbling about it not being your fault .”

Her voice echoed off the steam billowing up from the shower. I turned my back and strode to the glass door. Pulling it open, I stepped inside. But before I could close the shower door behind me, Kendra pushed her arm through and blocked it from clasping shut .

“Kelly, what happened with you and Nora ?”

Kendra’s hand curled over my shoulder but I shook it off, flinching at her touch. Drowning my face beneath the water’s stream, I wanted to wash away the dream, cleanse my mind and spirit free .

“Why can’t you tell me what happened ?”

Flipping around in a flash of rage, I clamped her wrists inside my hands and pushed her up against the wall. She gasped but held my gaze. Letting my eyes dart between hers, I breathed through nostrils flaring. Her nipples cut deep into my chest, and had me hard. “She killed herself. She’s dead. What else do you want to know ?”

“Kelly, you’re hurting.” She frowned under round eyes. “You don’t even recognize it. But look at you, you’re not yourself .”

Thrusting my solid arousal between her legs, I pulled her wrists above her head and pressed them harder into the tiled wall. Her breath labored but she didn’t back down .

“You can tell me,” she mewed .

Letting her go, I turned my back and dropped my chin to my chest knowing she was right. I was hurting. Even after all these years, the wound was fresh. And it wasn’t just because Nora made the selfish decision to leave me behind to deal with reality alone. There was more to it than that—more than Kendra would ever want to know, things I could never un-know .

Rooting my hands into my hips, I could blame all of this on Kaycee’s visit, or the anniversary of Nora’s passing. But even I knew that those were only excuses. The truth was, I hadn’t allowed myself to come to terms with all that had happened what felt like a lifetime ago .

Glancing over my shoulder, I asked, “What did I say ?”

Kendra took a step forward, closing the gap that kept her far enough away from being able to touch me. “You screamed her name.” Her voice was soft, caring, everything I needed and more. “You said to hurry up .”

I watched her arm lift, her fingers reaching out to fall on my back. There was hesitation in the tremble of her fingers, fearful of being rejected by me. But it was her touch that I craved—the same touch that I knew I would need to heal my aching heart .

“You said she needed help .”

And just when I thought her fingers were going to set my skin on fire she pulled away, bringing her hand flying over her mouth as she gasped .

Squeezing my eyes shut, I knew what she had just now realized. I didn’t have to turn and look to know that her eyes were now puffy with tears threatening to spill. I didn’t have to see her with my own eyes to know that her chin quivered with sadness. I could hear it in her voice when she said, “You found her dead, didn’t you ?”

Keeping my back turned, I began nodding .

“Oh, God. Kelly.” She leaped forward, wrapping her arms around my waist .

I gripped her hands and twisted around to face her. Hugging her tight, I got lost in the way her hands roamed over the ridges of my back as we stared into each other’s souls. Though I couldn’t say it, I needed her. Needed her now more than ever .

Her head fell to my chest and she squeezed her arms around me tighter as water splattered off my shoulders like the tear drops I refused to shed .

“I’m here for you, Kelly.” She pressed her heated lips against my skin. “You can tell me anything.” Her lips peppered their way over my chest, swelling my cock .

Without wanting to get on her about her not telling me her own emotions, I hooked my finger beneath her jaw and tipped her head back. “About last night — ”

“—I’ll go with you.” There was a glimmer of excitement in her eye and I knew she was referring to Mint .

Shaking my head, my hands smoothed down her slender arm. “Not that.” My hands cupped the soft flesh of her ass and pulled her against my hardness. “I lost control of my emotions .”

Flattening her hand over my heart, she said, “I don’t want you to have regrets about what you did to Timothy. I liked what you did .”

“I’d do it again, too, if I had to.” I pressed my lips to the center of her forehead .

“Good,” she said, hooking her leg around my thigh, beginning to stroke my shaft. “Let’s hope you won’t have to .”