CHAPTER 12

Jessica's POV

I rushed home, my heart pounding wildly in my chest, goosebumps still prickling my skin from Parrish’s touch. His words echoed in my head, pulling me into a state I’d promised myself I’d never return to.

*“Then don’t.”*

Those words played on repeat, looping endlessly.

*“You belong to me, Jessica.”*

I screamed inwardly, begging his voice to leave my mind and let me breathe. It was so hard—impossibly hard—not with the history between us hanging over my head like a storm cloud. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t. I still wanted him, even though it terrified me. But I had to run. I had to stay far, far away from him. If I didn’t, I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist, and I couldn’t afford to let him pull me back into his dangerous orbit.

*“You belong to me, Jessica.”*

No, I don’t! I screamed internally. Parrish Holmes didn’t own me. I had to banish him from my thoughts.

When I got home, I found Nathan sitting at his desk, bent over his laptop. He glanced up wh