Chapter 55

"Don't look at me like that," he pleaded, pulling me into the stream of water.

I closed my eyes as the water rolled down my face, opening them again when I felt Luca place the soap into my hand.

"You can do the rest," he said, backing away.

I watched as he left the shower, grabbing another towel that hung on a hook. He wrapped it around his waist and left the bathroom. I looked down at the soap, wishing he hadn't avoided the intimate areas on my body as he had helped me wash off.

After a few more minutes in the shower, I got out to dry off and wrap my own towel around me. Reaching out to wipe the steam from the mirror, I gasped as I

noticed the hand-shaped bruise on my neck. Raising my hand to touch it gingerly, I traced its outline.

I almost died.

I would likely have to stare at the bruise for several days, reminded each time I looked at it what a fool I was. How naive I was. How absolutely idiotic I was.

What was I thinking?

Why did I do that?

For the life of me, I couldn't remember