Melissa’s POV

Even after Joem left and the door closed behind him, and the faint echo of his voice faded down the hall, I remained seated on the floor. My heart still raced as if it hadn’t caught up to the fact that he was gone. The suppressant vial glimmered faintly on the floor beside me.

I didn’t touch it, I told myself I didn’t need it, that my pulse would slow on its own, that the warmth he had left in my skin would fade. But every time I closed my eyes, I could still feel the ghost of his hand against my jaw… still hear the way he...