Aria froze, her back still turned, her hands covering her eyes as if that could erase what she had already seen but it didn't help.

If anything… It made it worse.

Because now her mind was replaying it vividly and clearly, how hard and veiny it was.

Her ears burned as she shook her head slightly. “I’m not getting used to anything,” she muttered, her voice flustered.

Behind her, Reed let out a low chuckle, the sound smooth and unhurried, like he had all the time in the world to watch her unravel.

“Is that so?” he asked.

She could hear the faint rustle of movement… feel it, even without...