pte

ac

the bite of the chilly night air. At least it's n

thinking abou

Every time I talked to another nurse, or a doctor, or even a patient, I

nk I was going

that probably wouldn't be their first guess. I don't even have the money to join

ey think I

competition is stiff and vacancies are few and far between. Someo

uaranteed a six-figure income in a few years. God, t

. Unless, like a handful of nurses who h

in a three-piece suit, looking handsome at

ell is wro

nd. That doesn't mean we're going to get ma

should hate him, but

scending. He's arro

nd, it's like everything else within my field of vision blurs

en touched li

was after prom. His tongue was spreading slobber all over my fa

but it was just so painfully awkward. I pried

on my face and his breath on my neck, he made me ache between my legs. Even before then

nking about his lips kissing me, and his skillful fi

m, when he leaned in. I was more than a little disapp

a bad idea to let him ta

ow to do the job the right way, the way I've al

an twice my annual take-home pay. It can solve all my problems at once

be honest. I'm ready for l

nt a relationship anyway. It would just be like a regular hook-up, except longer and

t. What does being his "pet" mean anyw

I can't just leave h

nd, but I don't think she can take care of my brother the way

an hear the leaves of the trees around me tremble and crash noisily agains

up the stairs leading to the ma

me alone at night," says

estanding by the open back door of the black sedan. An older man inside

n it. The loan shark obviously has so much money there's extra t

while," Felix says as he

ish I had more layers of clothes. He can clearly see e

and I wish he'd leave soon. I can't just tell him to leave

stair step below me and sneers. "Th

ave. As soon as I get my next

ks at me menacingly. "At this rate, y

said it was $40,000. And I've alrea

sweetheart.

He's never going to let this debt go. I'm going to be stuck with him for the

u're welcome to make a lump sum payment for the entire b

ys alternatives, for girls as pretty as you." Felix looks me up and down, his gaz

ore money as soo

nues to gawk at me,

to say. But I keep quiet. Getting him al

promise you I'll keep t

oes tha

his threat sound more potent. I've heard stories about what Felix h

ix Murray, but I was desperate at the time. I didn't know wh

y voice sounds shaky despit

two of us. It's more intimate this way, don't you think? Y

hands are tied. I can't just let you off the hook. My other clients would st

distance, trying to quell my tears. I can't cry in front of Felix .

" Felix reaches up and touches my cheek with his

, exposing his uneven teeth, stained y

time won't be this ple