Page 54 of Pretty Cruel Love

Her gaze snaps to mine, blush blooming in her cheeks.

“Then you’re only three moves away,” she replies, her eyes beckoning me closer.

I approach the tub and sit on its edge.

“Can I ask you something personal, Dr. Weiss?”

“Only if you say my name…”

“Okay…” She pauses for several heavy seconds. “Can I ask you something personal, Ethan?”

“You may, Sadie.”

“If you knew you wouldn’t get in trouble, would you ever consider doing a favor for me?”

“Depends on the favor…” I slip a hand under the suds, pretending to search for the loofah. “I suppose I’d ‘consider’ doing anything for you.”

“Because you’re hoping to fuck me before the guards take me away forever?”

I roll my eyes and retrieve the loofah, then slide down so her back is facing me.

“That’s exactly why I haven’t.” I drag the sponge slowly over her shoulders, brushing the bristles along her rose’s winding stem. “You’ve got some warped wiring when it comes to sex.”

“So the stuff we’ve done so far means nothing to you?”

“Stop.” I tap her back gently. “Don’t twist this.”

“Sorry… It’s just—it’s been a long time since someone touched me, and I always assume…”

“That someone has an ulterior motive?”

She nods.

“Well, I don’t,” I say. “I have more to lose than I could ever gain by crossing that line with you.”

Silence.

I press the loofah against her arms, then squeeze shampoo into my palm and begin massaging her hair.

Her head tips slightly toward me, a sigh slipping from her lips—barely audible over the water.

“The thing is,” she murmurs, “doctors get a lot of respect in prison.”

“Good to know,” I say. “I’ll ask for more survival tips before you go.”

“Can I ask you something else personal?”

No.“Yes.”

“If I do manage to get released, would you come see me?”

“I’d do better than that,” I lean in and kiss the back of her neck. “I’d come pick you up.”

“What about?—”

“Shhh.” I hush her before she can finish.

“It was just aboutDateline,” she whispers. “Will you let me watch the new episode they’re doing on me?”

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