His hand clasped mine. Icy heat raged through my nerves up my arm, puffing a small gasp from my lungs.
Pleasure. Pain.
Every emotion and sensation shredded me, my legs drooping under the electric shocks, so hot they burned cold. Images flickered through my head so fast I couldn’t grasp any one of them, leaving a sticky residue.
His hand jerked in mine, as if he were experiencing the same occurrence.
“Sweetheart.” Jessica wrenched his hand out of mine, wrapping her fingers over his fisted hand, bringing it up to her mouth. “You’ve been sick. Better not touch anyone,” she said as her lips brushed his knuckles, staring sensually up at him, a coy smile on her red lips before her gaze darted to me.
Possessive. A warning.
But my stomach and head still swirled with feelings I couldn’t even recognize, carving deep into my chest. My hand ached to be back in his hand again like I missed him, missed his touch.
“Daddy!” A little boy pushed through the crowd, taking my attention away from the bizarre moment. He grasped a decorated gingerbread cookie in his hands. The boy had to be only around five or six. Tiny, but was seriously one of the most beautiful children I had ever seen. A carbon copy of his father, same dark hair and olive skin, except his eyes were light tawny brown. He even wore all black with a red tie like his father. Adorable. “Look!” He wiggled between his parents, holding up the cookie like it was the best find he ever made.
“Looks delicious.” The man tore his hand from his wife and gently clasped his son’s shoulder, staring down at the boy like he was the most precious thing in this world.
Staring at the two felt like someone shoved a hot poker through my heart. I couldn’t explain it, but it felt wrong, as though this man wasn’t supposed to have a kid… a wife…
What is wrong with me? Who would think something like that?
“This is our little miracle.” Jessica’s hand landed on the kid’s other shoulder, her words feeling empty and hollow to me. “Timothy.”
“Tim.” The little boy frowned up at his mom, but a sensation ticked at the back of my throat. Strange as it sounded, the boy didn’t feel real.
Jessica’s icy blue eyes fluttered with annoyance. “He thinks himself such a grown-up.”
“He is.” Her husband smiled down at his son, his eyes almost watery with love. Lifting him up in his arms, he kissed the boy’s cheek. “He’s my big man.”
“He looks like you.” My mouth opened, spilling out the remark. “Except he has neither of your eyes.”
Jessica noticeably stiffened. I clearly hit a sensitive nerve, strangling the space within our group in tortured awkward silence. Leave it to me.
“I-I mean it happens… usually…” Shut up, Alice. Just stop.
“I’m sorry.” Dinah stepped forward toward the sexy man with a laugh, bumping me back. As usual, she swooped in and tried to clean up my mishaps. “I actually didn’t catch your name.”
“Right.” He cleared his throat, placing his son back down on the ground, looking back at the group, his eyes not meeting mine.
“I’m Matt Hatter.”
“Hatter.” The irony of it snorted through my lips, as if my creations upstairs had come to life, embodying this sexy man. “Seriously?”
His gaze met mine, the intensity dumping on me like a tsunami. Something snapped in me. I could no longer go along with the play I was forced to act in or pretend to be sane in this mad world.
I spurted out a pitched laugh, only followed by a crazed giggle. My laughter grew, my hand covering my mouth, bending me over, as humor took hold of me. Demented, manic laughter.
Everyone stared at me with shocked alarm.
I knew what they were thinking. Poor Alice.
It’s finally happened. She has fallen down the rabbit hole.
Descending into complete and utter madness.
TO BE CONTINUED SOON!
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Acknowledgments
Kiki & Colleen at Next Step P.R- Thank you for all your hard work! I love you ladies so much.
Jordan Rosenfeld at Write Livelihood - Every book is better because of you. I have your voice constantly in my head as I write.
Hollie “the editor”- Always wonderful, supportive, and a dream to work with.
Jay Aheer- So much beauty. I am in love with your work!
Mo- For being there from the beginning. Your encouragement and excitement over the novella is a big reason why it turned into a full series! Thank you!
Judi Funnel at Formatting4U- Always fast and always spot on!
To all the readers who have supported me: My gratitude is for all you do and how much you help indie authors out of the pure love of reading.
To all the indie/hybrid authors out there who inspire, challenge, support, and push me to be better: I love you!
And to anyone who has picked up an indie book and given an unknown author a chance. THANK YOU!
About the Author
Stacey Marie Brown is a lover of hot fictional bad boys and sarcastic heroines who kick butt. She also enjoys books, travel, TV shows, hiking, writing, design, and archery. Stacey swears she is part gypsy, being lucky enough to live and travel all over the world.
She grew up in Northern California, where she ran around on her family’s farm, raising animals, riding horses, playing flashlight tag, and turning hay bales into cool forts.
When she’s not writing she’s out hiking, spending time with friends, and traveling. She also volunteers helping animals and is eco-friendly. She feels all animals, people, and the environment should be treated kindly.
To learn more about Stacey or her books, visit her at:
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DESCENDING INTO MADNESS Page 27