Desperately, she reached for the nearest door and pushed.
To her relief, it opened.
Tara didn’t hesitate. She slipped into the room and quickly shut the door behind her.
Just as the door clicked shut, she caught a glimpse of Nina walking toward room 88.
Nina pushed the door open, only to be yanked inside with a sharp scream.
Tara locked her door, bolting it and securing the chain.
The room was dark and silent. It was clearly empty. Relief flooded her, but almost immediately, the fiery heat in her body surged, overwhelming her.
She slid down against the wall, her strength giving out, and pulled off her T-shirt in an attempt to cool down.
Her breathing was heavy, and her pounding heartbeat echoed in her ears.
Her entire body felt as though it were being devoured by ants, the sensation unbearable. She couldn’t stop the soft, stifled moans that escaped her lips.
Suddenly, a sharp click pierced the air, and the lights flicked on.
Tara’s vision blurred, her consciousness slipping away. Through her hazy gaze, she saw a tall, striking man walking toward her.
He appeared to be in his early thirties, with sharp brows, deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and sculpted features that hinted at a mixed heritage.
To her, he was an oasis in the desert, a lifeline in her agony. Crawling toward him, she pleaded, “Help me… please…”
Even in her disheveled state, with her damp hair clinging to her face and her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her natural beauty and alluring figure were undeniable.
The man’s sapphire-blue eyes darkened slightly. “Miss, should I call the police or an ambulance for you?”
Tara shook her head weakly, desperate to communicate. “Water… cold water…”
Grasping his leg for support, she pulled herself to her knees.
The moment her body came into contact with his, her fragile hold on rationality snapped like a taut string breaking under pressure.
One thought consumed her. “I need him. I need this man!” she thought.
Like a starving person grasping for bread, she flung her arms around him, her voice trembling with desperation. “Help me… I’ll pay you!”
The man stiffened at her touch.
He pulled her upright and said in a deep, steady voice, “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
But Tara couldn’t hear him anymore. Her ears buzzed, drowning out all sound. Her body felt drenched in heat, feverish, as if her blood were boiling. Each passing second pushed her closer to the edge, her heart pounding as if it might explode.
She rose onto her toes, tilted her head back, and kissed him, her actions filled with desperation. Like a snake, she coiled herself around his tall, lean frame, her trembling hands sliding toward his waistband.
His sapphire-blue eyes darkened, deep and unreadable.
“You’re the one who begged for this,” he murmured.
