Fragments of Desire: Marigold's Silent Departure novel Chapter 1

When Marigold Lancaster woke up, her body felt almost completely broken.

For a good while, she couldn’t muster the energy to rise from bed. The blanket slid off her, exposing a body covered in kiss marks.

The bathroom door opened.

A tall man stepped out.

He was wearing only a towel around his waist, his upper body lean and muscular, with a hint of his eight-pack abs, and Adonis belt underneath.

His short hair was still dripping water.

Marigold watched, slightly stunned, forgetting even to collect herself.

"What are you staring at? Want to go again?"

The man spoke, fishing for a cigarette from the nightstand, taking a drag, and glancing her.

His superior features and chiseled lines showed no sign of abstinence, even as he stood bare-chested.

Marigold hurriedly averted her gaze, not daring to look at him again.

His unrestrained behavior from the night before left her feeling as though every bone in her body had been crushed.

The first time had been on the couch, and the second in the bathtub.

The bathtub was hard and uncomfortable. It was an unpleasant experience and hurt like hell.

Marigold got out of bed awkwardly, picking her clothes off the floor and slipping them on—clothes she had taken off herself, doing so completely and neatly without a single tear.

Lennon Sterling just sat there smoking, watching her dress with deliberate indifference.

Feeling somewhat unwell, Marigold’s movements were a bit stiff and comical, exuding an air of awkwardness.

By the time Lennon finished half a cigarette, Marigold was fully dressed.

As she was about to leave, she suddenly stopped, turned her head to the man, and said,"You haven't paid me yet."

Lennon lifted his eyes, his voice still hoarse from smoking.

"How much do you want?" he asked.

Marigold had no clue about the price for such things; she blushed and mumbled, "Just give me the market rate."