Read EXONERATION (INTERFERENCE) for Free Online Page A

and I always will be. He left you alone…and pregnant. But I was there, by your side, and I haven’t left. Please, I’m your husband. It’s been three years since we’ve made love. I need you! I love you! Please, give me a chance to show you how much.” 
    The pain in his eyes was just as noticeable as the tears welling in them. Every fiber of my being told me to run, but as I looked into those tear-soaked eyes I found myself taking his hand and leading him upstairs. 
    I led him into his room and said, “I’ll be right back.” I walked into my bathroom and looked at the tired, drawn face in the mirror. You can do this. He’s your husband! Just…close your eyes and get through it!
    “I thought maybe you changed your mind,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
    “I just needed to freshen up.”
    This seemed to please him as the next thing I knew, he was pulling me to him and kissing me. I had to consciously force myself not to pull away. I closed my eyes and pretended it wasn’t happening. When he pulled back, he said, “Are you okay?” He looked hurt, like maybe I hadn’t participated as much in the kiss as I should have. After a few seconds, he sighed, and said, “You don’t have to do this. I know you’ve never loved me.”
    “Parker, that’s not true. It’s just…it’s been a while. I’m nervous,” I said, looking down. That was true, I was terrified that I wasn’t going to be able to go through with it and I knew that would crush him.
    “I’ll be right back, okay?  Don’t move,” he said before almost running out the door.
    I stood there wondering what he was doing, but he did come right back with a bottle of something. “Massage oil,” he grinned.
    “You don’t have to do that,” I said, not wanting to drag this out.
    “I want to. I want to make you happy.”
    I nodded and started to unbutton my blouse.
    “No, let me.” He reached out and with shaking hands he slowly unbuttoned my blouse. He kissed my neck softly and undid one button at a time as his fingers worked their way down my blouse. 
    I was starting to feel sick and as his lips met mine for the second time that night , I had to force myself not to vomit. I didn’t know what to do, I knew he needed this, but I was physically ill from his touch…his kiss. Oh God, think of something else!
    As his tongue invaded my mouth, I started to taste bile and I forced myself to think of something…anything else. Against my better judgment, I thought of the only thing I really wanted…Shane, and as his kiss deepened and visions of the man I still loved more than anything danced in my head, I suddenly found myself pulling Parker to me and before I knew it, a sigh escaped my lips, urging Parker on.
    Suddenly we were locked in an embrace and he was pulling me into bed. I pretended that every touch, kiss, taste was from Shane. I knew it was wrong, but I kept telling myself that I was doing it for Parker, and as our love-making reached the peak, I had to force myself not to scream Shane’s name.
    Breathless, I went limp in his arms and as I finally opened my eyes, I knew what I’d done was worse than kissing Shane. I’d led my husband to believe that I’d enjoyed his touch and that he’d brought me to orgasm, but all the while, it had been Shane. The tears wouldn’t stop then and Parker pulled me close.
    “It’s okay, now,” he said between gasping breaths. “We can start over. Leave the past behind. Oh, God, I love you. You were wonderful.”
    This only made me cry harder. Why did he have to be so understanding? Why couldn’t he have been cold and heartless? It would have made it so much easier.
    He brushed my hair back from my face and looked down into my eyes. “You don’t know how much I needed that. I think you needed it too.” He rolled to the side and pulled me tightly to him, spooning me. He was feeling elated, but all I felt was grief because once the fantasy ended, I felt like I’d lost Shane all over again.