Read Swallowed (Devoured #2) for Free Online Page A

kind of ultimatum?”
    “Does it need to be for you to take it seriously?”
    Madeline pursed her lips.
    “Because I’m out of ideas,” he said. “It’s obvious
that, whatever you’re going through, I can’t help you.” He stood up and leaned
against the end of the bed. “No one can help you if you won’t help yourself.”
    “Can I think about it?”
    For fucks sake, Kirk thought. He clenched his jaw before he spoke. “Please. This isn’t just
about helping you anymore.” He walked to the door. “It’s about saving us.”
    Madeline nodded slowly.
    “I love you, Madeline.” His hand was on the door.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. You know that.”
    She nodded again and relaxed against the pillow.
    Kirk closed the door gently behind him and took a
deep breath. He went downstairs and threw a frozen dinner in the microwave.
    A few minutes later he thought he heard the timer go
off, but it wasn’t the timer. It was a text message from an unknown number
inviting him to meet the sender the next day. In music room 5b.

Julianna
     
     
    Julianna sat on the piano bench in music room 5b, checked
her watch, and frowned. Kirk was twenty minutes late for their big day, the day
she was going to try him on for size. If only he would show up.  
    The way he lost control in the office was the green
light she needed. He wanted her and she wanted him back. What else were two
consenting adults supposed to do? They were practically obligated to give it a
go.
    In honor of the special occasion, she wore a short
black dress that zipped up the back and her best underwear because she’d heard
that sexy underwear was a special treat for married men.
    Of course, Julianna had never had an affair with a
married man before. Not that she knew about anyway, but his relationship status
didn’t bother her. The passion between them was private. What went on when they
weren’t together was none of her concern.
    Finally, a flash of brown hair crossed the window
and stepped back into the frame. She could see his glasses as he peeked through
the glass. Then she heard his hand on the door.
    “Hi.” She crossed her legs as he entered the room
and angled her body towards him on the piano bench.
    Kirk looked around. Besides Julianna and the piano,
the beige padded room was empty. “What is this place?”
    “You’ve never been here?”
    He shook his head.
    “It’s one of the sound proof music rooms.”
    “Sound proof?”
    She nodded. “You can have complete privacy in here.”
She pointed at the door behind him. “All you have to do is pull that shade down
over the window and lock the door.”
    He pulled the square shade down and pushed the round
button in on the doorknob as if he were just checking to see if she was right.
Then he turned back to face her.
    “I was starting to worry you weren’t going to come.”
    “I almost didn’t.”
    “Why did you?” she asked.
    “I wanted to see you.” He ran a hand over his head.
“About the other day in my office.”
    She scooted over on the bench. “What about it?”
    He walked across the room and sat down beside her.
    She pursed her lips.
    He tentatively pushed her chestnut hair behind her
ear as if he were afraid she might have an electric charge.
    “I’m glad you came,” she said.
    He opened his mouth to speak and closed it again.
    She waited patiently for him to get his nerve, to
feel at ease. After all, now that he’d arrived, she wanted to take it slow. She
wanted it to last.
    “You look-” He dragged his fingers down the outside
of her arm. “You look beautiful.”
    “Thanks.”
    Kirk swallowed. He tried to speak again but no words
escaped. It was like he was under some kind of spell.
    “You don’t have to say anything,” she said. “I’m
just glad you’re here.”
    He looked her up and down like she was piece of rare
art. His nervousness was tangible and his silence only added to the increasing
tension in the small, still room.
    “Why did you invite