Free BETWEEN CLOUDS AND STARS: A Sexy Standalone Romance by Sharlyn G. Branson Page A

“What are you trying to say? That you no longer feel anything for me?” Her thin lips curled down into a frown.
    Her husband caressed her face and she melted at his touch. “Of course not, dear. I love you more than ever.”
    For the rest of the night, Cecilia wouldn’t stop talking about their three kids. The subject of the conversation pained me, because the day before I’d been for a gynecological exam with John’s sister, who ran a private practice near our house. She’d told me I’d never be able to have my own children. The bad news had hit me like a massive rock. And now, hearing all those children-related stories, I felt crushed. I tried to soothe myself, that it was probably for the best. I couldn’t imagine letting my children suffer, but with a father like John Chan, that would be inevitable.
    We parted from Cecilia and Patrick, having arranged to meet up again in two weeks. One of their sons was having a birthday party and they’d invited us to come along.
    While driving back to our house, John didn’t say a single word. He’d retreated into himself, and that was always a bad omen. I wondered if he was mad at me about something, afraid he’d take his anger out on me. At such times, I wanted to leave him, run far away, but didn’t know where or whom to run to. My husband was rich and had contacts both in the police and the judiciary. No matter where I hid, someone would find me.
    On entering the house, John irritably slammed the front door behind him and went to pour himself a cognac. I approached him, wondering how to dissuade him from having a drink.
    “It’s already too late. Let’s go to bed,” I asked him. I didn’t want him to drink to excess, because whenever he did that, he’d become aggressive and take it out on me.
    He stared at me, menacingly narrowing his eyes. “You’re not letting your own husband have a drink to wind down, is that it? I’m not good enough for you, am I? You prefer Patrick, right? Admit it. That’s why you were smiling at him all night.”
    I put my hand on his chest to calm him. He wasn’t himself and was talking nonsense. Patrick was a charming man, but I’d never dare flirt with him. I wasn’t that kind of person and didn’t see him like that anyway. I simply enjoyed being in his company, because he made a lot of jokes and was very funny, unlike my husband, who was always too serious.
    “Please, John, you know I don’t feel anything for him,” I whispered, looking him in the eyes. I wanted him to understand that I was telling him the truth. For God’s sake, I’d never hit on a man in my life, not even once.
    He grabbed me hard by the wrist. His fingers were gripping me so tight I thought he’d break a bone.
    “It hurts. Don’t.”
    “You want him, bitch. Don’t think you can fool me. You want him to fuck you, right? I’m not enough for you, is that it?” John hadn’t finished saying his words when he slapped my face so hard I collapsed on the floor. My head hit a nearby chest of drawers on the way down. Stars flashed before my eyes and then darkness fell as I slipped out of consciousness.
    When I came to, I was lying on our bed, with John leaning over me. Pain penetrated deep into my skull, as if someone was sticking knives through my brain. But my fear of John was more powerful than anything else.
    “Forgive me, Estelle. I promise I’ll never do it again. But you also have to promise you won’t provoke me anymore.”
    I tried to sit up, but my head was as heavy as lead. I couldn’t move it even an inch. “I didn’t do anything to provoke you.” With every word I spoke, I felt a stabbing pain through my brain.
    “You let Patrick kiss you. You’re my wife, for fuck’s sake. I took your virginity. I’m your first and I’ll be your last.” He knitted his eyebrows. “Only over my dead body will another man be able to have you. Patrick’s jealous of me, can’t you see it? He envies me, because you’re young and his wife has grown