It’s like he’s daring me, as if he knows I won’t. He’s pushing me, testing me, and the worst part is—I don’t. I don’t call out, I don’t scream for help, even though I should.
He turns his head slightly and my eyes snap open just in time to catch his profile. I side-eye him but his hold on my jaw doesn’t loosen—it only clenches.
“You’re very lucky you met me confined inside this shitty place.” His bites, each word a dangerous promise. “Because this meeting between us might’ve been a very different experience if I had my freedom to say and do what I really wanted.”
His thumb slides back up my jawline, tracing the soft skin as if he’s memorizing the shape of me. When it brushes over my bottom lip, he pauses and his eyes follow the movement intently, dark lashes lowering as he watches the way my lip gives under the pressure of his thumb.
“So fucking beautiful,” he murmurs. “So pure and delicate,” he continues, his gaze flicking back to meet mine, holding eye contact. “So ready to be tainted and shattered by me.”
He looks at me like I’m something fragile—something he could break just for the satisfaction of seeing it destroyed. His thumb lingers on my bottom lip, pressing just enough to part it slightly, and I realize I’ve stopped breathing. Then, with a sudden movement, he releases me.
His heat dissipates from my body as I draw in a sharp breath, my chest tight as I lower my head, fiddling with my outfit. I steal one last glance at Ty, lowering my voice.
“You don’t know a thing about me, Ty. Don’t underestimate me. I may be a professional at work, but I’m still a normal independent woman outside of these walls that will fight any person if I have too. Don’t make me regret this.”
His brow lifts at my brazenness, “I won’t ever underestimate you, Kitten. I think you’ve got exactly what it takes.”
What the fuck does that even mean?
We have a silent moment of intensity, his dark eyes still burning with feral desire until I turn and leave without any more hesitations.
My heels echo sharply down the quiet hallway, each step too loud, too fast—desperate to put distance between me and that room, between me and him.I scan each door I pass, looking for a restroom until finally, I spot one opposite Dr Moss’s office and yank the door open, slipping inside.
The door clicks shut behind me, and I press my forehead against the cool wood, closing my eyes. One day. One fucking day. That’s all it’s been, and already, Ty has dragged me so far out of my depth I can barely think straight.
I turn, facing myself in the mirror, my glasses sitting perched on top of my head. I straighten my shoulders, then reach for the tap, twisting it open and cupping my hands under the cold water. When I splash it over my face, the chill bites into my skin, shocking me back to the present, back to reality.
Why the hell am I here? I stare at myself, water dripping from my chin, my thoughts spiraling. This was supposed to be a challenge—a chance to push myself, to grow, to help people. Maybe even help myself.
I grab a paper towel and pat my face dry, my eyes never leaving my reflection. The woman staring back at me looks fragile, but I can’t afford to be that. Not here. Not now. I came into this line of work for a reason, to find the strength I’ve always lacked.
I’m alone in this life. That’s my reality. I have no one to lean on, no one to save me but myself. It’s time to stop being that girl. I need to survive. Because in this place, hesitation means weakness, and weakness is something I can’t do. Not if I want to make it in this line of work. I straighten myself out one more time, but this time with purpose, my fingers tightening around the paper towel before tossing it in the bin.
Fuck this. I can do it.
After I’m done, I walk straight across the hall to Dr Moss’s office, pausing before gently knocking my knuckles against the wood. A moment later, I hear his calm voice from inside.
“Come on in.”
I push down the handle slowly, summoning a small, polite smile as I step inside. Dr Moss looks up from his paperwork, his brow lifting as he slips off his glasses.
“Is everything okay, Raven?” he asks.
I nod, careful not to let anything waver in my expression. “Yes, everything’s fine.”
His gaze remains on me for a beat longer before he gestures to the seat across from his desk. “How did you find your session with Ty?”
I let another small smile slip into place. “I believe we’re making progress, but it may take a few sessions,” I say smoothly with the well-rehearsed lie.Progress.The word echoes in my mind.Hollow.
Dr Moss’s face relaxes, and he nods approvingly. “Good to hear. Ty’s… a special case.”
He leans back, observing me carefully. “I know you’re new to this but trust your instincts. He’s the kind who’ll test every part of your will power if you let him. He’s extremely smart yet slightly closed off. But if you hold strong, he’ll eventually open up.”
I nod and Dr Moss gives me a reassuring smile, his gaze softening. “Good. It sounds like you’re handling it well.” He leans forward, gathering a stack of files. “Take a few minutes, then I’d like to introduce you to another patient. Today will be a long one, I’m afraid.”
“Of course,” I reply, but my mind is already wandering back to Ty—how he found out my real name, how easily he slipped beneath my skin. His subtle threats, his mocking smile, the way he touched me, tested my boundaries, my self-control… And the worst part? I let him. I could have shut it down, told Dr Moss about every remark, each line he’d crossed. But I didn’t.
Maybe because deep down, there’s this strange pull telling me he doesn’t have much time left here. Only days until he’s free. A part of me knows I should do everything by the book, keep things professional, give Dr Moss every warning sign so he canmake up his mind whether Ty should ever leave these walls. But then, what would that make me? Another name in the system that let him down, caged him when he was so close to living his life on the outside. He was only a child when he did what he did. What chance at life has he actually had? So I tell myself it’s fine to let the small things slide. Maybe that was just his bizarre way of flirting.