Husband Away, Father-in-Law Stays - Chapter 17: Chapter 17
You are reading Husband Away, Father-in-Law Stays, Chapter 17: Chapter 17. Read more chapters of Husband Away, Father-in-Law Stays.
Richard Lowell stood behind me, his expression dark and unreadable as he watched me in silence.
"Dad!"
The word tore from my throat, raw with grief. All the pain I'd been holding back erupted in violent sobs that wracked my body.
Richard studied me with an odd look before sighing. "Victoria, it's freezing out here. Let's go home."
I trembled, biting my lip hard enough to taste blood, and shook my head.
His grip tightened around my arm, but I jerked backward with surprising force—sending him stumbling forward. He lost his footing and hit the ground face-first.
The sudden release sent me reeling backward—until my foot slipped over the edge.
Then I was falling.
The icy river swallowed me whole.
Just moments ago, I had wanted to die. But the second the water closed over my head, instinct screamed at me to fight.
The current was merciless. My thrashing did nothing. I gasped—only for freezing water to flood my mouth, my nose, my lungs.
Just as darkness crept into the edges of my vision, Richard plunged in after me.
When his arms locked around me, survival took over. I clung to him like a drowning woman, my legs wrapping around his waist, my fingers digging into his bare skin.
He dragged us both to shore, coughing violently. Our bodies pressed together, chest to chest, breath ragged and mingling in the cold night air.
We stayed like that for what felt like forever—until I felt it.
Something hot and hard pulsed against me.
Richard's face burned crimson, his skin searing against mine.
Realizing what was happening, I scrambled off him, smoothing my damp hair with shaky hands. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. "Dad... if you hadn't been there, I—"
"Don't," he rasped, his voice rough from coughing.
His fever had barely broken, and now he'd thrown himself into freezing water for me. Guilt twisted in my gut—until my gaze dropped.
The soaked fabric of his sleep pants clung to him, leaving nothing to the imagination.
He wasn't wearing anything underneath.
Richard quickly covered himself, clearing his throat. "We should get inside before we freeze."
His words were innocent. The way he said them wasn't.
Heat rushed to my cheeks. I nodded, following him back toward the apartment, my pulse hammering.
What my husband had failed to give me... maybe tonight, I'd take from his father.
Once inside, Richard headed straight for his room. But before he could disappear behind the door, I stopped him.
"Dad, the river was disgusting. You should shower first."
Whether he caught my meaning or not, he gave an awkward chuckle and stepped into the bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the apartment.
I paced, my body aching with need, until I couldn't take it anymore.
Shedding my soaked clothes, I stood naked before the bathroom door.
Then I pushed it open.
Richard froze under the spray, hastily covering himself. "Victoria, I'm not—"
I stepped inside, closing the distance between us.
At that moment, I wasn't a grieving widow.
I was a woman starving for him.
"Dad!"
The word tore from my throat, raw with grief. All the pain I'd been holding back erupted in violent sobs that wracked my body.
Richard studied me with an odd look before sighing. "Victoria, it's freezing out here. Let's go home."
I trembled, biting my lip hard enough to taste blood, and shook my head.
His grip tightened around my arm, but I jerked backward with surprising force—sending him stumbling forward. He lost his footing and hit the ground face-first.
The sudden release sent me reeling backward—until my foot slipped over the edge.
Then I was falling.
The icy river swallowed me whole.
Just moments ago, I had wanted to die. But the second the water closed over my head, instinct screamed at me to fight.
The current was merciless. My thrashing did nothing. I gasped—only for freezing water to flood my mouth, my nose, my lungs.
Just as darkness crept into the edges of my vision, Richard plunged in after me.
When his arms locked around me, survival took over. I clung to him like a drowning woman, my legs wrapping around his waist, my fingers digging into his bare skin.
He dragged us both to shore, coughing violently. Our bodies pressed together, chest to chest, breath ragged and mingling in the cold night air.
We stayed like that for what felt like forever—until I felt it.
Something hot and hard pulsed against me.
Richard's face burned crimson, his skin searing against mine.
Realizing what was happening, I scrambled off him, smoothing my damp hair with shaky hands. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. "Dad... if you hadn't been there, I—"
"Don't," he rasped, his voice rough from coughing.
His fever had barely broken, and now he'd thrown himself into freezing water for me. Guilt twisted in my gut—until my gaze dropped.
The soaked fabric of his sleep pants clung to him, leaving nothing to the imagination.
He wasn't wearing anything underneath.
Richard quickly covered himself, clearing his throat. "We should get inside before we freeze."
His words were innocent. The way he said them wasn't.
Heat rushed to my cheeks. I nodded, following him back toward the apartment, my pulse hammering.
What my husband had failed to give me... maybe tonight, I'd take from his father.
Once inside, Richard headed straight for his room. But before he could disappear behind the door, I stopped him.
"Dad, the river was disgusting. You should shower first."
Whether he caught my meaning or not, he gave an awkward chuckle and stepped into the bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the apartment.
I paced, my body aching with need, until I couldn't take it anymore.
Shedding my soaked clothes, I stood naked before the bathroom door.
Then I pushed it open.
Richard froze under the spray, hastily covering himself. "Victoria, I'm not—"
I stepped inside, closing the distance between us.
At that moment, I wasn't a grieving widow.
I was a woman starving for him.
End of Husband Away, Father-in-Law Stays Chapter 17. Continue reading Chapter 18 or return to Husband Away, Father-in-Law Stays book page.