Gypsy

She shot him a resentful glare, moving to the mirror to release her hair down her back, irritated that the smooth paleness of her face now lacked any make-up, feeling emotionally naked and exposed too. ‘I did intend telling all of you.’ She turned back to Lyon. ‘There just hasn’t been a suitable occasion,’ she dismissed.

‘You consider today was a suitable occasion?’ Lyon mocked disbelievingly.

‘I consider your wife’s harassment just another of the nightmares I’ve had to endure in this house!’ Shay snapped vehemently. ‘Marilyn certainly excelled herself today!’

‘Marilyn is no longer my wife,’ Lyon reminded softly.

‘You aren’t divorced yet,’ scorned Shay disbelievingly, sure there would be no divorce between this couple. ‘Whose idea was it for you to separate?’

‘Marilyn met Derrick and decided she would like to marry him,’ Lyon revealed stiffly. ‘He’s a lawyer, too.’

‘I didn’t think it was your decision.’ Her voice was bitter.

‘Shay—’

‘What do you want in here, Lyon?’ she asked wearily. ‘It’s been a traumatic day and I’d like to rest for a while now.’

‘I wanted to—I need—’ He came towards her blindly, his hands covering hers as they still rested on the tie of her belt. ‘Let me see, Shay,’ Lyon urged gruffly, his eyes pure gold.

Her shocked gaze clashed with his, paling before the heated colour flooded her gaunt cheeks. ‘No…!’ She groaned her protest, unable to move as his lean hands gently caressed hers.

‘Please,’ he encouraged throatily.

Shay stopped breathing completely as he moved her hands aside, holding them firmly at her sides before slowly releasing them and moving his own hands back to the belt at her waist. She wanted to stop him, her desperation evident in her panicked dark eyes, but she couldn’t seem to move or speak, gasping for air as Lyon pulled the belt apart, smoothing the silk material back on to her shoulders, Shay’s breathing becoming strangulated as the cool air brushed her hot flesh.