Swallowed (Devoured #2) by Hazel Kelly Read Free Book Online Page B

was the only way. He would make it special, he would
wish her well, and then he would throw his energy into fixing his marriage and beating
up his running shoes.
    Kirk pushed the door of the shop open and walked
back to the register. The gum chewer was still standing there, waiting with
dull eyes.
    “Will that be all?” she asked.
    “Actually,” Kirk said. “Make it two.”

Julianna
     
     
    Julianna poured two glasses of wine and walked
around the room at the Union Hotel turning lights on and off, trying to get the
perfect effect. She was going for romantically dim but not so dark they
couldn’t enjoy each other. After all, men were visual creatures. If Kirk meant
what he said about this being their last hurrah, she wanted to burn as much unforgettable
visual imagery into his mind as possible.
    Because the only thing Julianna could imagine that
was worse than being ignored, was being forgotten.
    After she corrected the overly strong smell of lemon
cleaner with a few sprays of her candy scented perfume, she finally felt
pleased with the set up. The room was a nice change from music room 5b which featured
nothing but hard surfaces and noisy fluorescent lighting. Julianna even removed
Kirk’s glasses most of the time because the light was so unforgiving even for
her… and of course, to help blur the lines he was crossing.
    After all, she knew he was a married man, and a good
man. It was obvious from the pride he took in his important work and how much
he struggled with his decision to enter into the affair in the first place. But
she thought they were over that hump.
    The text the other day was beyond inconsiderate as
far as she was concerned. It made her feel cheap which made her feel angry.
Tonight was all about changing his mind. Not necessarily getting verbal
confirmation that he wouldn’t be able to quit her per se, but about doing
enough that it would be virtually impossible for him to move on and forget
about her forever.
    And it wouldn’t take much. It’s not like she’d had
any difficulty keeping him keen since they started their foul play. If
anything, he was more enthusiastic each time. Julianna could tell he needed her
and what she could give him.
    It was obvious from the way his demeanor changed
after their liaisons. He always arrived so nervous and stressed, but by the
time she was done with him, he was confident and relaxed. It made her feel good
to give him his fix. And to get hers. At this point, she was convinced that sex
with anyone else wouldn’t be nearly as fulfilling.
    She started to unbutton her top and thought better
of it. Tonight was all about making him relish every moment with her. Button by
button, she would let him undress her, revealing her gold cross necklace, and
then she would bring him close to God… or at least get him to call his name a
few times. Of that she was certain.
    She heard a buzz at the door and went to let Kirk in.
He was wearing a sport coat that made her wet the second she laid eyes on it.
    “Hey handsome.”
    “Hi. Have you been waiting long?”
    “No.” She noticed he was carrying a wrapped box with
a bow on it. “What’s that?”
    He lifted it up for her to see. “It’s for you.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah.” He held the box out with both hands. “Since
this is the last time we can see each other like this, I wanted to make tonight
extra special.”
    She pursed her lips. They were covered in a lip
gloss he admired once before. Now she always wore it when she knew she would
see him. She suspected he liked it because it made her lips look wet.
    “What is it?”
    “Open it,” he said. “Even better, try it on.”
    She accepted the curious package and pulled the
ribbon on top until it fell loose around the box. Then she tore off the
wrapping paper and raised the lid.
    “Oh Kirk!” She lifted the red silk nightdress out of
the box by the straps. “It’s beautiful.”
    “You like it?”
    She held it up in front of her. “I love it.”
    He stepped