Marcus traced a small circle on her thigh. Beth marveled at his deliberation and patience. There was nothing urgent or needy about it. His touch was so light that she had to focus all her attention on it to appreciate it fully.

"They told me how to do this. What to say and what to do," Marcus said.

"They?"

"Lorena and her son Victor. At their house last week. I watched them. She coached me."

"You watched them?"

"Yeah. I watched as he put his hands on her like this."

Beth felt another hand, at her neck, two fingers pressed gently below her jawline, running up beneath her ear. His...