I stared up at Damien’s high ceiling. The weight of what happened crushing my chest with every breath, every memory, inching closer and closer to caving in. Closer to rupturing my heart.
I just wanted out. Out of being good. Out of pretending like following all the rules was ever going to get me anywhere other than exhausted and broke. I wasn’t asking for much—just a shot at freedom. A life that didn’t hinge on how nicely I smiled at assholes like Chad or how invisible I could make myself in a room full of men who thought confidence was a threat.
I was meant to help stabilize the pheromones of a random defective demon. Not sleep with my boss.
“That’s it. I am ending this.”
Bolting upright as if the fat elephant crushing my chest finally decided to move, I fished my phone out of my pocket before loading up After Hours.
I opened our messages and…
My thumbs just hovered over the keys, dancing like they wanted to type while the rest of me froze.
What about Ambrose?
His pheromones were still a mess. Wild. Dangerous. Undeniably sexy.
No, shut that down.
Would he be exposed? Get caught?Fired?
Would that be my fault?
“Fuck.” I tossed the phone into the nearest blanket heap.
Okay. Breathe, Harper. You’re broke. Cheated on. Squatting on your best friend’s couch like a sad, horny raccoon. And to top it all off—
Goosebumps exploded across my skin.
—I liked it. His touch. His voice. The way he possessed me. I liked all of it.
God help me, it felt so damn good.
My phone buzzed, and I flinched so hard I nearly fell off the couch.
It was a pleasure to meet you, Flower. I am looking forward to seeing you again if you will have me.
I swallowed hard.
This was my chance to stop. To come clean. To walk away before things spiralled any further.
Instead, I typed back.
I look forward to seeing you again.
And just like that, I sealed my fate.
I had to help him just as much as I had to help myself escape this hell hole.
“Just five more sessions.”
Ambrose
Ihad never cared for the whispers—those small, frightened minds who think they know what demons were. Who we were. They looked at me and saw sin. And maybe they were right. Perhaps I was beyond redemption.
I exhaled slowly, the weight of restraint pressing into my chest like iron. The leather creaks beneath me as I leaned back in my chair, letting the stillness settle in around me.
My eyes found her instinctively, as they always do.
