No

“Not right now,” Mary said. “Maybe later?”

Riley narrowed her eyes tensed up. Mary braced herself for the fight she had been delicately avoiding since getting home.

However, Riley only nodded and walked back up the stairs, leaving a smoke trail as she went. Hannah flashed Mary a confused shrug and followed her friend out of view.

“Well that was easy enough,” Mary muttered to herself.

She held the book up to the light and inspected the intricate pattern of designs on the cover. Depending on the angle, she could pick out brilliant little flashes of iridescence of different colors.

“You aren’t as ugly as I thought,” she said. “Someone clearly put a lot of work into you. That’s for sure.”

When she touched the book’s smooth, almost fleshy cover, Mary could feel a tingly sensation in her fingers. Just being near the thing made her feel oddly excited.

Mary looked around her, making sure no one was watching. She suddenly wanted to open the book and read it a little, bit something about doing so seemed so naughty and forbidden. It was like undressing in public.

It seemed silly, but still Mary felt the need to climb the stairs and lock herself in her room. Once she was inside, she pulled down the shades, changed into her lounge clothes (a pair of ratty sweats and an old football Jersey her husband used to wear), and jumped into bed.

Amongst the cool blankets and sheets, Mary suddenly felt so free and refreshed. She set the book down in front of her and slipped the cover open.

The pages confused Mary immensely. The words were in a language she couldn’t hope to understand, yet she felt compelled to keep turning through the book.

As she progressed, Mary felt a heat slowly building between her legs. Since her husband’s ****, Mary had gotten creative in finding relief.

She looked up from the book and considered grabbing one of the toys under the bed. Still, the book called to Mary with its strangely compelling symbols and markings.