Chapter 4:

Private Release

I dressed in a daze after she left, replaying every word, every prolonged touch. The drive home already felt impossible. This was getting harder to ignore.

The city lights streaked past as I gripped the wheel, my thighs still pressed tightly together. Every bump in the road sent a fresh reminder of Hannah’s palms on me firm, warm, deliberate. By the time I parked and stepped into my apartment, my skin was buzzing. I dropped my bag by the door, kicked off my shoes, and stood in the middle of the living room for a moment, just breathing.

“Get a grip, Linda,” I muttered to myself,...