“Hey, I charge extra for the rough stuff.”

“Now get me some pretzels and a soda.”

He gave an exaggerated bow. “I live to serve.”

God, she wanted him. But every nerve ending was raw and agitated, her skin ultra sensitive. Even the playful slap had sent ripples of sharp pain up her arms. She could try to have sex with him, but she’d be in tears in no time. The last thing she wanted to do was get him excited and let him down. It was better she live with the frustration. She’d become a world-class expert at sexual repression.

He covered the bed with bowls of junk food, got her a soda and a beer for himself, and then went into the bedroom to put on boxer shorts and a sleeveless shirt.

“Kiss me,” she said as he settled in next to her.

“You have any movies in particular you want to watch?” he said, putting his arm around her.

She handed him her tablet. “You pick. I bequeath control to you.”

He chuckled. “Get ready for some brainless entertainment.”

“I expect nothing less.”

They munched (well, mostly Andrew) and watched a trio of action movies, each more outlandish and brash than the last. She hadn’t even realized he’d fallen asleep during the third movie until it was almost over.

By then, night had crept over the lake, and Kate’s pain pills lulled her to a numb nothing, her home away from home.

* * *

The view from the top of the swaying evergreen tree was dizzying.

Kate looked down at the roof of the cottage. The chimney remained cold and empty. She would have loved the sweet smell of woodsmoke up here.

Day turned preternaturally fast into night, the chirping of the birds on the branches beneath her fading into stillness. From this height, Kate thought she could touch the moon, but she didn’t dare take her hand off the crown of the tree for fear of falling.

The night air caressed her body, kissed her face, melded into hungry hands that probed her most tender parts. She leaned into the wind, nerves shuddering with each whispery touch.

A crash from below pulled her from her ecstasies.

Dark shapes had surrounded the cabin.

Andrew!

She screamed to get his attention but no sound escaped from her constricted throat.

They’re going to get him! Dear God, they’re going to get him.

Kate tried to climb down the tree. Her hands were coated with thick sap, sticking her to the narrow trunk like flypaper.

The shadows ran round and round the cottage until they were a solid gray blur.

When the door opened, light spilling onto the front porch, she nearly wept.

Her husband stood in the doorway, staring at the spinning shadows.

He stepped onto the porch.

No, Andrew! Go back inside!

The top porch step creaked under his weight.

The second silently supported his advance.