CHAPTER THREE

JASMIN

Oh God.

Jason Knight was the most intense man I had ever met—and that’s saying a lot, considering the creeps I’ve had to dodge most of my life. But him? He was something else entirely. The moment our eyes locked, something inside me shifted. Those hazel eyes—smoldering, sharp, hungry—seemed to see right through me, peeling away the layers I’d fought so hard to protect.

I stood there like an idiot, unable to answer half his questions. My mouth had dried up, my brain short-circuited, and all I could do was blink and gawk like a clueless girl seeing candy for the first time. Candy with broad shoulders, a sculpted jawline, and the kind of arrogant smirk that made your heart skip and your thighs clench.

God help me, I wanted him. Even worse? I wanted him to want me too.

He stood there in his perfectly tailored suit, hands casually tucked in his pockets like he ruled the world—and maybe he did. He was tall and commanding, his presence thick like smoke. And every look he gave me screamed one thing: I want to fuck you right here.

My panties were soaked. Shameful. Ridiculous. But true.

I shouldn’t have been shocked. I’ve had men look at me like that before—hungry, intrusive, unwanted. But with Jason… it felt different. It wasn’t just carnal. It was something deeper, darker. As if he wasn’t just seeing me—he was claiming me.

And I hated that I wanted to be claimed.

Everything about him screamed danger. The kind of danger you don’t just flirt with—you get addicted to. And I was already trembling on the edge.

Those few minutes in the hallway felt like an eternity. There were two other people present, yet I swear, it felt like just the two of us. The way his eyes raked down my body, like he was already unwrapping me in his mind. My breathing grew shallow. My thighs pressed together. My heart thudded like a drum in my chest.

And then… he smirked.

That wicked, knowing smirk that told me he knew. He knew what he was doing to me. Knew how badly I was affected. And worse, he liked it.

I had to escape.

I asked for the rest of the day off, pretending I needed time to pack and get ready. Truth? I needed to breathe. Think. Regroup. Because the moment he told me I’d be living in his house, not just working there… I knew I was in trouble.

That wasn’t in the job description. No one mentioned me moving into his penthouse, for God’s sake. But when he dropped that bombshell, I didn’t protest. I should’ve. Instead, I panicked and nodded like a good little maid, too afraid to make things worse for Anne.

He’d threatened her job because of me. Anne had been nothing but kind to me since I started working here. I wasn’t about to be the reason she lost everything. So I agreed, pretending it was fine.

It wasn’t fine.

It was a horrible, messy, soul-igniting disaster waiting to happen. No woman in her right mind should live under the same roof as Jason Knight. Especially not a woman who’s practically melting every time he looks her way.

My body wanted him. My heart screamed no. My head? It was too busy swimming to pick a side.

I rushed out of the building, determined to put as much distance between me and those smoldering hazel eyes as possible.

“Jasmin!”

I turned to find Anne running toward me, wobbling dangerously in her five-inch heels. I didn’t even have it in me to ask how she managed to walk in those.

“Are you leaving too?” she asked, slightly breathless.

“Yeah.” I smiled at her, grateful for the distraction. “Thank you for earlier. You didn’t have to defend me, but… you did.”

She waved it off. “No. Thank you. You saved my ass back there, Jasmin. I owe you big.”

We walked side by side down the street until we reached a sleek black sedan. Her car, I assumed. It matched her: stylish, bold, unexpected.

“Sorry about Alex,” she muttered as we slowed to a stop. “I don’t know what crawled up his ass today. He’s usually the most composed one of the trio.”

I stiffened at the mention of Alex. His cutting words were still fresh in my mind. She doesn’t belong here. Like I needed the reminder. I was painfully aware of how out of place I was.

“It’s fine,” I murmured, forcing a small smile. “At least Mr. Knight was supportive.”

Anne paused, arching a brow. “Jason was… different today. I wonder why.”

I tried to act casual, but my curiosity flared. “Different how?”

Her lips curved into a mischievous smile. “Usually, he’s an asshole. And a total man-whore.”

I choked on air. “What?!”

She burst into laughter. “Relax. No one’s around to hear me. But seriously—he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t even look at women twice unless they’re supermodels or high society. But today… he looked at you.”

I froze. My heart pounded. “Maybe he was just being polite.”

Anne gave me a knowing look. “Girl, please. Jason doesn’t do polite. He does possessive. And today… you were the only thing he looked like he wanted to possess.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. My body was already betraying me. The heat. The longing. The deep ache in my belly.

“You won’t tell anyone I said that, right?” she asked suddenly, her voice tight.

“What? No! I’d never—”

She sighed in relief. “Sorry. Just… something like this happened to me before. Got too comfortable, said too much. Someone snitched. Almost cost me everything.”

Her eyes clouded with something painful. I didn’t press. I knew that look. Knew what it meant to carry wounds you don’t speak about.

“It’s okay,” I said softly. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

She smiled again—this time, genuinely. “You know, I think we’re going to be friends.”

“I’d like that,” I admitted.

The only real friend I had was Lisa. And lately… Lisa had been complicated. Moody. Guarded. Anne was a breath of fresh air.

“I’ll give you a ride,” she said, unlocking the car.

“You don’t have to—”

“Oh shut up and get in the damn car,” she cut me off.

I laughed, sliding into the passenger seat. “Thanks, Anne.”

“No thank yous in friendship. Got it?”

I gave her a playful salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

We both laughed, and for a moment, everything felt lighter.

When we pulled up to my neighborhood, I braced for the awkward silence. Most rich people looked at my street like it was beneath them. Dirty. Dangerous. But Anne just smiled and said, “Nice place. Real people live here.”

That warmed me more than she knew.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“You’re welcome. And remember—no more thank yous, okay?”

I nodded. “See you soon.”

She waved and pulled away, and I turned toward my apartment building… only to freeze in place.

Every ounce of warmth drained from my body.

He was there.

Leaning casually against the brick wall outside the building. As if he belonged there. As if this wasn’t the most terrifying moment of my life.

Max Cole.

My nightmare.

The man I had a restraining order against. The man I testified against in court. The man who went to jail for what he did to me. And now… he was out.

Watching me.

Smiling.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. My legs locked in place as fear curled its icy fingers around my throat. My lungs tightened. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it echoing in my ears.

Max was supposed to be gone. Far away. Not here. Not watching me. Not standing there with that same twisted smirk he wore the last time I saw him in court.

My mind screamed at me to run.

But my body—my traitorous, frozen body—refused to move.

He tilted his head, like he was amused by my fear. Like he fed on it.

I stumbled back a step, then another. My breath came in short gasps. I fumbled for my phone, fingers shaking so badly I almost dropped it.

I had to call someone. Anyone.

But who?

Jason. My Boss.

The name popped into my head unbidden. And I hated that it made me feel safe.

Jason Knight—the man who looked at me like I was his. The man whose eyes promised sin, power, and protection.

I didn’t want to rely on him. I didn’t want to need anyone.

But in this moment?

I needed him.

Because Max wasn’t just a memory.

He was back.

And I was no longer safe.