Page 22 of Dark Therapy

And guess who that someone would be?

Thethrillof it, the sheer thrill ofher— it fucking gnawed at me, consuming every corner of my mind. She had no idea, of course, how much space she occupied in my head, how much of her I saw beyond the walls of that office. She was intoxicating,and the more I studied her, the more I could feel the pieces clicking into place. She was theperfectfit for me. Her cracks and scars mirrored my own in a way that felt almostpoetic.

When I watched her falter, trying to hide her fear, I felt my pulse quicken. That push and pull, her hesitance mixed with that dark, unspoken curiosity — it was a game neither of us could walk away from. Not now. Not ever.

She was my obsession, my carefully chosen prey, the one who stirred up something primal in me that no one else could.

Every time she bit her lip, her teeth pressing into that soft skin with anxious tension, it took every ounce of control I had to stay still. She had no damn idea how tightly wound my restraint was, how every small, nervous movement she made pulled at something deep and raw within me. That subtle, almost imperceptible tremor she tried to hide when my hand brushed against her — it was fuckingmaddening..

The tiniest details, those were what drove me wild. The way her pulse quickened ever so slightly if I leaned just a bit too close. Or the way her breath hitched when she knew I was watching her, eyes lingering just a moment longer thannecessary. Those moments weremine, secret fragments of her that she didn’t even realize she was giving away. And Isavoredthem, tucked each one away like a hunter cataloging every weakness, every vulnerability in his prey.

I had to keep my hands at my sides, had to remind myself not to cross the boundary just yet. Because if I let myself go, if I allowed myself to close that final distance, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stop. It was a delicate balance — feeding her curiosity, indulging that flicker of fear, without scaring her off completely.

But I couldn’t help it. Every glance, every tremble, every time she shuddered beneath my touch…shewasmine, even if she didn’t know it yet.

As I was savoring those last moments with her, that delicious hint of fear still glinting in her eyes, someone interrupted, calling her name from down the street.

Jake fucking Turner.

He came barreling over like a big, eager Saint Bernard, all broad shoulders and a goofy grin, bounding up to her side like he’d been waiting his whole fucking life for this exact moment.

From the second he looked at her, I knew. His gaze lingered a fraction too long, his smile a touch too wide — it was painfully obvious. Hewantedher. Maybe he’d been sniffing around for years, playing the ‘good friend,’ standing guard like some loyal mutt. But I could see the way the fucker looked at her, his eyes tracing over her like she was something fragile and precious. She was, but definitelynot to him.

Watching him act as if he had some claim on her was fucking laughable. I kept my face neutral, leaning back a bit, letting the sarcasm color my voice just enough to slip under his skin. “Oh, really? That must have been a fun time.” I flashed a thin smile that probably looked more like baring teeth.

That son of a bitch was looking at something that belonged tome. That much was clear, and he’d be wise to figure it out soon. Because this wasn’t a competition he was going to win, not by a long shot. I wasn’t about to let anyone get in my way — least of all, the friendly neighborhood Saint Bernard.

I turned away, letting them have their little reunion, and strolled back to where my car was parked, each step deliberate, my pulse thrumming with all the things I’d like to do to her — and him, if he dared cross me again. Sliding into the driver’sseat, I took a moment, gripping the steering wheel, imagining her face, that blend of defiance and vulnerability that I’d carved out in her. She was still blissfully unaware of how deep she’d already fallen, but I’d make sure she felt it soon enough.

Millie. Or should I say Dr. Harper? So controlled, so careful, all buttoned-up and professional in the daylight. But she had no idea what was coming, what I had planned. I’d seen her walls crumble in those late hours, watched her falter and stutter under my gaze. She’d start to unravel soon, piece by piece. I wanted her every shudder, every glance over her shoulder, every bit of thatfearshe tried so hard to hide.

And as I sped through the night, my mind wandered to those moments yet to come. She’d bemine, every thought and every breath. The more she tried to resist, the tighter I’d pull her in, until she hadnowhereelse to turn.

This wasn’t a game she’d win, but watching her try was going to be half the fun.

I pulled into the driveway, stepping out of the car with a slight smirk still lingering on my face. The night was cool, shadows stretching across the ground as I locked up and headedinside. Millie’s old friend Jake Turner, with his too-casual smile and familiar touch. He didn’t fool me. Men like him were easy to read, and something about his presence had already grated against me. He wasn’t theinnocenttype, not by a long shot. And I had a feeling his past would confirm that suspicion.

Sitting down at my desk, I pulled out my laptop and began to dig, methodical and precise. The traces of the bastard’s life unfolded in bits and pieces—his resume, his professional history, and the gaps he probably thought no one would notice. But when you’re looking for dirt, you know exactly where to dig. It wasn’t long before I found it.

Turner had been involved in some serious dealings during his time at the hospital. Shady connections with wealthy clients, money exchanged under the table for treatments that didn’t show up on any official record. Medical favors, private sessions off the books, bending the rules for patients with the right price tag. The deeper I went, the darker it got. He had a knack for keeping things clean on the surface, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t left behind loose threads.

So he wasn’t just the good-natured, harmless guy he pretended to be. No, Jake Turner had secrets, and the kind ofpast that could be exploited. I leaned back, smiling to myself. This was going to be easier than I thought.

I closed the laptop with a satisfying click, feeling the pulse of anticipation beneath the surface. My gaze shifted to the other screen on my desk, the one that gave me a direct line to Millie’s world. Setting up those cameras had been almost too easy; she never even noticed. Quiet, hidden, positioned in places she wouldn’t suspect. Each angle allowed me to see her every movement, every expression, every small vulnerability that she thought no one else could see.

As the feed came to life, the screen flickered before settling into a crystal-clear view of her living room. There she was, moving through her home, oblivious to the eyes on her. She was pacing, her brow furrowed, clearly agitated. Probably still shaken from our little encounter in the park. I leaned forward, watching her in that oversized sweater and bare feet, biting her lip as she ran a hand through her hair—small habits I had learned to recognize and savor.

A part of me almost wanted her tosenseit, to feel the chill of beingwatched, but she didn’t. She simply moved through her space, unguarded, vulnerable, andmine to observe. I could seeevery emotion play across her face—the lingering confusion, the frustration, the hints of fear she tried to suppress. It was intoxicating to know that, even if she didn’t realize it yet, I waseverywherearound her.

She finally settled on the couch, her fingers tracing aimless patterns on her knee as she stared blankly ahead, lost in thought. I could practically see the gears turning in her mind, her attempts to piece together what was happening. But she had no damn idea, did she?

The corner of my mouth lifted as I watched. There was a twisted satisfaction in knowing I was creating this constant, creeping presence in her life. She was beginning to unravel, thread by thread, and she didn’t even know who was pulling the strings.

Then her phone buzzed. She picked it up, a flicker of something crossing her face. Her brother, probably, orJake. My fingers tightened slightly as I thought of him, lingering in her life, thinking he had some claim to her.

But he wasnothing. Just a distraction, a remnant from her past. I had done my research, unearthed his connections andweaknesses. He had his own skeletons—things he likely thought he’d hidden well. I’d be more than happy to help him remember exactly who he was dealing with.

Millie shifted on the couch, rubbing her temples, looking exhausted. My fingers brushed over the trackpad, zooming in slightly. Every line of stress etched on her face, every weary sigh—I drank it all in.