Stevie let the door close to, stealthily returning to the spare room, to hide and to recover rather than to return to her chores. Her breath suddenly ragged, one hand came up to cover her quivering lips. All alert systems were go. She had caught herself being oh so terrible, exploiting her own flesh and blood in her mind; the fruit of her loins deliciously debased in mind.

Fighting to control her breath, Stevie recalled the techniques her therapist taught her, and closed her eyes to fight off the intense thoughts and feelings swirling within and without. So stiff and sensitive had she become in response to her sleeping son's...