If you’d asked me that Thursday morning how my day was going, I probably would’ve rolled my eyes and changed the subject. Nothing had gone right. I spilled coffee on my shirt before leaving for work. My boss dropped a last-minute project on my desk. Lunch ended up being a vending machine sandwich because I was too busy to leave the office. By five o’clock, I was tired, annoyed, and ready to get home as quickly as possible...

Morning came far too soon. The orange neon glow was gone, replaced by thin sunlight pushing through the curtains. The ache of sleeping in a strange bed brought me back to the world. Abby had already woken up and showered. I glanced around the quiet room and saw my tacky shirt still hanging from the nightstand. Beside it sat a steaming cup of coffee. Sitting up, I took a sip and wrinkled my nose at the bitterness of it, th...

I got a message the next morning from Abby. But sadly, there would be no stealthy meet-up. She just didn't have a feasible way to escape for any length of time. And I really understood. It's not as easy to slip away, like many stories say. I did, however, catch a brief glimpse of her from a distance. When she texted me about where they were going, I rushed into town, getting an iced coffee at one of those trendy coffee sp...

I was back to staring at my watch again. Twelve minutes had passed since the last time I checked. I looked down at my phone. The agency sent me a text earlier in the day, confirming all of the details. Then an hour ago, she called and told me she was on her way. That was the first time I’d heard her voice. She said she’d be here by 9. It was 8:37. I was still sweating, and I’d already showered twice. Once before I left ho...

Once the adrenaline and panic of nearly being discovered faded, a tinge of anger crept in. Not at Abby, but at the situation. We were so close, but I guess it's a good thing we didn't get started on round two. That would have been horrible, especially for Abby. I really should have tried to get her out. Get her to a more neutral location. But damn, I couldn't help myself when it came to her. This insatiable need to be wit...

It really was what we never had… At least, that’s what I kept feeling. In all our years as secret lovers, we’d never had an uninterrupted night together. It was intense and passionate… yet somehow, it felt completely natural. And it felt earned. During the four-hour drive home, I kept replaying the night… the morning… over and over. Especially the end. Me stepping into that steamy shower… taking her in for a second before...

Everyone turns to notice as you walk into the conference, energy alight. You are handsome with olive skin, dark hair and trimmed beard. Standing at the front in a group of people, I notice, as well. My core shifts and awakens. The facilitator calls us to take our seats, so we can begin. For the next three days we will explore immersive shadow work, and I will present for two hours each day. Exploring the shadow is gruelin...

I must have had a starry-eyed expression on my face, by the way Abby kept peering at me. I couldn't help it… It's what she does to me. It was really baffling how the day had unfolded. I wasn't even sure I'd see her during my trip. Instead, she gave me the most risky, exciting, and memorable moments of my life. We casually strolled down the less-traveled trail, holding hands, laughing about how we could have been caught li...

Chapter 3: Errands of Desire Weeks after that mesmerizing autumn evening, where Lindsey's sensual dance had lingered in Brandon's mind like a haunting refrain, replaying in his solitary nights amid the soft strum of his guitar, the crisp chill of early winter settled over Willow Creek. The neighborhood streets, now dusted with the first light snow, carried the faint scent of woodsmoke from chimneys, blending with the ever...