Page 61 of Perfect Harmony

You know that isn’t true, Addie. Heharps on you being a proper lady about everything. Hell, he won’t even -

She shut that thought down immediately. Itdidn’t matter that he didn’t dothat. Lots of guys didn’t, right? Shedidn’t need that to be part of their sex life. Hell, for all she knew, shecould hate it.

Yeah, well, Harrison won’t even give youthe chance to find out if you like it or not. That doesn’t seem fair. In fact,a lot of things he says and does, doesn’t seem fair. Are you sure he’s the onefor you? Really sure? Because you seem to be spending a lot of time latelyfantasizing about a certain tattoo artist.

Guilt made her stomach churn. She was a horriblefiancée. What kind of woman fantasized about someone other than her futurehusband? What kind of woman… masturbated to the thought of a man who wasn’ther fiancé? A horrible woman, that’s who.

She was awful and she was… hell, she was emotionallycheating on Harrison and he deserved to know the truth. She would tell himthis weekend, she decided. She would sit him down and confess that shesometimes had small fantasies about other men –

About Preacher, you mean. If you’regonna confess your sins, Addie, at least be honest about them.

She ignored her inner voice grimly. She wouldadmit to Harrison that she occasionally had some less than pure thoughts about noone in particular and ask him to forgive her. He would because he loved her.

What if he doesn’t forgive you? What ifhe’s hurt and upset and breaks off the engagement?

She jabbed her key into the lock. He wouldunderstand and if he didn’t – well, she would beg him for his forgiveness.Harrison was her soulmate. They were meant to be together and it was time shestopped her shameful lusting after Preacher and remembered who she was and whatshe wanted in life.

She stepped into the house and shut thedoor behind her. The house was dark, like she expected, but… she cocked her headand stared down the hallway at Harrison’s bedroom. The door was shut but lightshone out from the crack at the bottom and… she took a few steps forward… whatwas that noise?

Still holding the wine bottle and overnightbag, she walked slowly down the hallway. The sound was growing louder, analmost rhythmicthwackfollowed by a loud grunt of pain. Was that – wasthat Harrison?

The sound of her heartbeat in her ears suddenlydrowned out the rhythmicthwacksand painful grunts. She turned theknob, pushed the door open, and stepped into the bedroom. Her breath whooshedout of her in a painful rush and she was incapable of drawing in a new breath.

Harrison was naked, and on his hands andknees on top of the bed. A leather dog collar was buckled around his neck anda leather leash was attached to it. She stared in stunned silence at the nakedwoman standing next to the bed. She was holding the leash in one hand and aleather crop in the other. She was staring down at Harrison and hadn’t evennoticed Addison standing in the doorway.

“You’ve been a very bad boy, Harry,” she saidbefore smacking his bare ass with the crop. Harrison made another grunt ofpain as he lifted his head and stared directly at Addison. His entire bodyjerked, and his eyes bulged comically.

“Addison?”

“I’m not your sappy sweet fiancée!” thewoman shouted before whacking his ass again with the crop.

Harrison howled with pain and held up hishands. “Crystal! Stop! Goddammit, stop!”

“Quiet, bad boy!” The woman hit him a thirdtime.

“Potato! Potato, goddammit!” Harrisonshouted.

The woman immediately dropped the crop andtook a step back from the bed. “You’re safe wording? Harry, baby, what’swrong?”

“Addison,” Harrison scrambled off the bedand Addison stared at his rapidly wilting cock, “what are you doing here?”

“I – I wanted to surprise you,” she saidthrough numb lips. “I planned a…” she stared at the wine bottle and overnightbag in her hand, “a thing.”

“Addison, I’m so sorry,” the woman said.

“Crystal, shut up,” Harrison said.

Fresh horror infused Addison’s body. Itmade her legs tremble and her hands weak. The wine bottle slipped out of her gripand smashed onto the floor, spraying wine all over her legs and scattering glassacross the hardwood.

She knew the naked woman. She knew her.She’d seen her at Harrison’s work functions. She’d had coffee with her. She’d– she’d sent her flowers for her birthday.

Addie closed her eyes, took a few deepbreaths, and turned around before marching out the bedroom door.

“Addison, wait!”

She ignored Harrison’s shout, she ignoredhis yelp of pain, she ignored Crystal’s, “Harry, your foot is bleeding!” cry ofdismay.

She walked out the front door, slammed itshut behind her, and stared at the overnight bag in her hand before walking downthe driveway. She waved to Mrs. Garjein on her front porch as she walked by, thentossed the bag into the passenger seat of her car and slid behind the wheel.She turned the car on and drove away.

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