This story is a follow-on to the story "The Ninth Step" by thecelt. I recommend you read it first or this story will make no sense. It is with his kind permission that this story is being posted. The original story explored the idea of keeping a secret rather than hurt a spouse with the telling. I respect thecelt's opinion but, as we all know, circumstances...
Perti regales Cassie with stories of Lochlyn's childhood while he looks puckishly red faced at the memories. Cassie grabs a hold of Lochlyn's arm in a fit of laughter. "Perti I don't remember that at all." He denies after she tells a particularly embarrassing story about a failed attempt to sneak out of the house. The result had him hanging from the roof by...
Author's Note: I wrote this story with the intent of starting from a commonplace setting, a cafe, to ending with an unexpected climax. Thank you to kholix22, the muse for this story, for your encouragement and narrative advice. This story would be no where near as compelling without your input. ********** I sit down in the busy coffee shop and set my cup...
"How are they deciding where to go?" Marcos inquired. He was sitting at his usual place near the top of the hill taking furtive looks around from time to time. At his feet, were two small deep fire holes only a little bigger than his fist. They connected underground and allowed him to hide the flame and add animal droppings for smokeless fuel. Several small...
Note: This is an alternate version of XtinaSmith2017's story Behind Closed Doors, posted with the author's permission. ***** Jenna groaned into the silence filling her office as she put down her cup of coffee. Its increasingly lukewarm temperature was a reminder that another hour or so had passed since the muted sounds of activity in the office space behin...
Kerry was NOT a happy woman. She knew that her husband's job as a site superintendent for a construction company required out of town travel, but Tony's latest assignment was by far the longest one she had ever had to deal with; a full six months of his being away all week, only being home from Friday night to Sunday night. He told her they could talk or s...
Chapter 10 "So, what is it to be done with the prisoners? These aren't situations envisioned very well by the Hague or Geneva Conventions, neither of which have been ratified by the Commandant on our side or the Imperial Wizard on his. Not, mind you, that there is any quarter given much of late. Or asked, for that matter. Kluckers are only surrendering when...
Seneca wasn't going to meet Godwin at the park by her work at 8 pm for dinner, and that was that. So, obviously, it didn't matter that there was a 20 minute bus ride each way, and a ten minute walk from the stop to plan for if she was going to be on time. And she most definitely didn't need to stress about what to wear, since she was going to stay home tonig...
I met Jack at a management training convention in Chicago. I was seated at the same table with him and about seven other people. His presence was strong and everyone at the table seemed to be drawn to him or at least certainly aware of his presence. More so the ladies. But maybe at least equally so the men. Unlike myself, I could have probably left the table...
Chapter 1 I sat at the desk in my home office, still watching the video clip that had arrived anonymously, as an attachment to an unexpected email earlier that morning. I had almost ignored the message, but the subject got my attention. It said: "Urgent: Your Wife is Cheating on You. This is not spam! Read this email!" I ran my virus checker against it and...