Page 8 of Reaper’s Wrath

I’m still not decided how I’m handling the marriage arrangement, but it’s enough to get my legs moving toward the building. I go in through the back. Fortunately, the stock room is connected to the dressing room area where I hear women’s voices drawing me onward. Isa and her friend, Terina. DiAngelo escorted them to the shop, but I saw him earlier settle into a sitting area through the front window, so he shouldn’t be an issue back here. As far as I can tell, it’s just the two women and a salesclerk.

When Terina excuses herself to the restroom, I know this is my chance.

I can hear fabric rustling through the curtained-off changing area. Isa is there, separated from me by nothing but a ream of velvet fabric and two decades of broken promises.

I have to see her.

The craving to be near her intensified exponentially after yesterday’s interaction, as though the sound of her voice and touch of her skin resuscitated a pulsing need inside me that I thought had died long ago.

She was mine, once. Why not now?

Just a glimpse.

I’ll take one quick little look.

I approach the slit in the curtains, keeping all but my face hidden, and devour the sight of her from behind, noting only her panties as she slides a dress up her body. It’s ridiculously long on her, but the rest fits like a glove. Her hair is clipped up in a twist, giving me a perfect view of the delicate indentation of her spine all the way down the curve of her back.

What I wouldn’t give to…

Shit, man. You’ve got to stop this insanity.

I never expected that seeing her would resurrect my feelings like it has. The intensity of them has me questioning whether I ever truly moved past her or if it was all a lie I told myself to avoid the heartbreak. Why else would I act so impulsively around her? This isn’t like me.

My need for her is putting me at risk.

Warping my judgment.

Before I can force myself to walk away, Isa twists to get a look at the back of the dress and catches sight of me in the mirror.

I know she sees me, but I’m lost in my appreciation of her, eyes glued to the one thing I want most in the world.

“Such a shame.” The words slip unbidden past my lips as my eyes take one last stroll down her body. When I finally lift my gaze to hers, I’d swear there’s longing in her eyes.

Fuck, I’m driving myself to the point of delusions.

Madness is consuming me, and I don’t know how to stop it. My control is fraying faster than an old flag in a heavy wind.

I need to get out of here before I do something I’ll regret.

Terina will be back any second.

That thought is enough to launch me into motion, so I do what I do best.

I disappear.

“Wait!” Her panicked exclamation chases me as I duck into the maze of hanging garments filling the back room.

CHAPTER 5

ISA

Shock has my muscles locked down for several breathless seconds before I recover and burst out of the dressing room. I spin around, looking for DiAngelo, but the room is empty.

He’s gone.

When Terina returns, I wonder if the two passed one another in transit. She had to have seen him. Judging by the smile on her lovely face, she isn’t at all concerned about what he might have been doing. I doubt it ever occurred to her that he might be peeking at her best friend through a dressing room curtain.

Or that her friend secretly hoped for more.