“Stop…please.” He tried to peel her arms away, but she held on tighter.

“Don’t tell me to stop,” she begged. “Make me. Do it.” Her hands moved to his shoulders, desperate, searching for an anchor.

Claus grasped her wrists, pulling her gently but firmly back. “This isn’t you. Not like this.”

Her voice cracked, raw and wounded. “So it’s because of Rick, isn’t it? Because I chose him once, I’m not worthy anymore? Oh, he chose another woman over me and now I’m not ...