Again. And there was nothing he could do about it. They were caught in this endless cycle of renewal to slow decay. He hated it – and still he yearn...d for her. Every time. He smoothed a hand over the soft length of her back, as she lay besides him, hovering in that insouciant peace between waking and sleep. It made him smile. She had not been this relaxed, this calm in a long time, the last few weeks a constant parade of violent reassertions of her power, followed by timid withdrawal. Now she. Skyler gave one more silent curse before looking up and seeing a shirtless Josh. Josh? What are you doing around here? she asked as she stood and moved the lose hairs from her face. I was out on my run and then saw you struggling with that, he pointed at the lawn mower and gave a soft laugh. Yeah, damn thing wont start, she sighed as she looked down at it, piece of junk. Do you want me to give it a try? he asked. Do you know anything about it? she asked as she stepped aside. He laughed low as. Who was I to argue. We drifted in contentment for a while until she sighed and whispered that she had to go to the bathroom. I gave her neck a kiss and let her breasts go so she could sneak off to answer the call of nature.“You looked very comfortable,” Jennifer whispered in my ear, making me start. I hadn’t known she was awake. That made her giggle a little and she wrapped her arms around me from behind. “I told you she’d move in here.”I smiled over my shoulder at her. “Any more predictions?”. ‘Joyce, I-‘ He started to speak, stepping forward, crossing the threshold, eyes wide. She slapped him then, her open hand across his cheek, his lips, cutting him off, stinging. He stumbled, tasted blood, raised a hand to his face, surprise and confusion on his face, anger slow to follow, muted by understanding. She bunched his shirtfront in her hands, pulling him to her. She kissed him, angry, crushing her lips to his, keeping him off balance, shirt threads tearing, popping as she pushed him.