Chapter 133

Suzanne softly called his name, “Austin…”

Her voice, sweet and sultry without effort, sent a surge of heat through Austin’s chest. His Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze darkened. She was still trying to pull away, but he held her firmly, his voice hoarse as he mumbled, “Don’t move.”

Suzanne immediately froze, stiff in his arms, not daring to move. Swallowing nervously, she hesitated before asking softly, “Are… you… okay?” The moment the words left her lips, she regretted them. He clearly wasn’t.

Austin didn’t answer, only tightening his arms around her. A long silence stretched between them. Suzanne thought he had fallen asleep—until his deep voice suddenly broke the quiet. “You filmed with Jenson today?”

Suzanne blinked, instantly realizing what had been bothering him. So, that was it. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before replying, “I’m sorry, I should have told you. I’ll make sure to let you know next time.”

She knew she was in the wrong. Given her complicated history with Jenson, she should have warned Austin. But the moment she finished speaking, she felt a sharp nip at her earlobe.

Austin’s voice dropped lower, teasing yet unmistakably possessive. “Is it still going to happen again?”

A shiver ran down Suzanne’s spine. Realizing where this was going, she immediately backtracked. “No next time. Definitely no next time.”

Austin’s lips curled into a faint smirk, his gaze lingering on her flushed cheeks. He leaned in and pressed a light kiss to her cheek before pulling away just as quickly. His voice was low and satisfied. “Go to sleep.”

Suzanne lay there, her body still tense. The warmth of his lips lingered, like tiny embers spreading across her skin. She had no idea when she finally fell asleep that night.

The next few days flew by in a blur of work. Suzanne was busier than ever, juggling treatments for three patients—Alan, Yasmine, and Rodney. Fortunately, all three were cooperative this time, especially Rodney. After his last session, he had felt significant improvement, and his initial skepticism had vanished. Now, he was not only compliant but also far more respectful. That, at least, made things easier.

She was on her way home when her phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the screen, she was surprised by the caller ID. She picked up the call. “Cheryl?”

Cheryl Sutton—her high school deskmate. They had been assigned to sit together because their grades were similar, and over time, they had built a decent friendship. But after heading off to different universities, they hadn’t kept in close touch.

A soft, familiar voice came through the line. “Suzanne! What have you been up to lately?”

Suzanne smirked, teasing, “Oh, you know, just lazing around and living my best life. You?”

Cheryl let out a small laugh. “Me? I’m just living the same old life. Hey, are you busy? We haven’t seen each other in forever. I miss you!”

Now that she thought about it, it had indeed been a while. It had probably been a year since they last saw each other. She had been caught up with work, and Cheryl had always been hard to pin down—working multiple jobs since high school just to stay afloat.