Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law

For the first time since they had been together, Adam seemed almost unaware of how rough he was being with her. His hands gripped her with such force that she could feel the pressure biting into her skin, and his mouth pressed against hers with a demanding urgency that bordered on painful. Even as her body reacted instinctively to him leaving her pulse racing and her breath catching, somewhere deep inside, she knew his touch was too tight, too consuming.

If he kept holding her like this, she was certain his hands, his mouth, his very presence, would leave bruises on her. And while a part of her would have been excited for that, right now it bordered more on pain than pleasure.

That thought, more than anything, sent a chill through her. This wasn't the Adam she knew, not the man who usually tempered his intensity with restraint, who was always aware of her limits even when he pushed them. This was different. The way his arms closed around her felt less like a lover's embrace and more like a desperate claim. His entire demeanor told her something was terribly wrong.

And then, in a sudden flash of clarity, the realization struck her. He was jealous.

The thought made her breath hitch. It explained everything, the sharp edge in his touch, the unrelenting intensity, the way he seemed driven by something darker than desire.

Melanie pushed against his chest, trying to create some space. She turned her head aside and pulled in a shaky breath. But Adam didn't stop. He leaned in again, trying to capture her lips once more, holding her as if he couldn't let go.

This time, she refused to give in. As his mouth pressed down on hers, she bit his lower lip hard. The sharp taste of blood filled the air. Adam jerked back with a hiss, his eyes wide, a drop of red sliding down the corner of his mouth.

Adam stared at her, confusion clear in his eyes, as if he couldn't believe what had just happened.

Melanie didn't look away. She raised her hand and poked a finger hard into his shoulder, her gaze sharp and steady.

"Adam Collins," she said firmly, narrowing her eyes at him, "Restrain your jealousy."

For the first time that night, everything went still between them. The only sound was the faint drip of water spilling over the edge of the tub and pattering onto the tiles below. Adam's chest rose and fell quickly, his breath uneven, until at last he looked away from her. He closed his eyes tight and drew in a long, shuddering breath, as if forcing himself to calm down. When he opened them again, he simply looked at her, slowly and carefully.

Melanie held his gaze, and she knew the instant it happened. The exact moment remorse crept in. His eyes flicked down, stopping at her neck, and lingered there. Then they trailed lower, over her shoulders, and she could almost feel what he saw—the faint redness already beginning to form where his hands had gripped her too tightly. His jaw tightened, and he swallowed hard, but he said nothing. The guilt in his eyes was enough.

"I'll go now," Adam muttered finally, his voice low, rough, almost unsteady. "I… I'll call you later."

He didn't look at her again. Refusing to meet her eyes, he shifted, trying to move her off him, his body tense as though he could only escape if he put distance between them. He braced his hands against the side of the tub, ready to stand, ready to walk out without another word.

But Melanie wasn't about to let him go so easily. Before he could push her away, she caught his arm, her grip firm, refusing to let him slip out of her hold. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him, and with deliberate insistence she reached up, cupped his face in both her hands. She tilted his chin until his eyes were forced to meet hers, and then, let him see her glare for a moment before a smile came over her face.

"So," she murmured, her tone lighter, almost teasing, "you overturned a jar of vinegar and bathes in it before coming here?"

For a moment, the heaviness cracked. She caught the reluctant tug of a smile at the corner of his mouth, the brief flicker of humor breaking through his tension. But it didn't last. His gaze dropped from her face to her wrists, and when he saw the faint, finger-shaped marks already starting to color her skin, his smile faltered. The lines of his jaw tightened, his shoulders went rigid, and he drew in a sharp breath.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, his voice heavy with regret. "I don't know what came over me."

Melanie didn't answer right away. Instead, she let her smile linger as she leaned forward, closing the distance between them. She pressed her forehead against his shoulder, her hands sliding down to rest against his chest as she rubbed her cheek against his skin.

"You are jealous, what else?" She murmured and Adam held her carefully, probably worried that he would hurt her again.

"I am jealous," he sighed. " I don't like that Cadence and whatever this... friendship is there between you."

Melanie smiled," There is no friendship. If anything... I think I pity him."

"Hmm," was the reply she received, and she could not help but look up at him," You don't like me pitying him as well?"

"I don't like you even thinking of him..."

Melanie nodded and then leaned up and whispered in his ear," Don't worry. I have every intention of getting him bent soon..."

She watched as Adam frowned and asked," You mean you are going to straighten him out?"

Melanie gave him a secretive smile and then shook her head," Nope..." And then whispered the entire plan in his ears, causing him to look at her incredulously as she detailed the plan.

"Melanie, you do realize that this is almost impossible?"

"Ha! Even impossible says, I am possible. So, I am going to try."