I laughed. “Sure, but I already know you’re fucked up in the head.”

“That’s the truth. Okay, so this X character you’re going on about sounds fuckable.” She grinned.

“Oh my God, you didn’t just say that.” I shook my head and took another sip of my red wine.

“Yes, honey, I did. Look, I know you’re not really into the hardcore stuff, but he sounds like he could put a serious fucking on a bitch.” She sat her glass down on the table in front of her with a clink. “All I’m saying is I’d like to be that bitch.”

Obviously, she’d had too much wine, but I couldn’t help but shake my head. I didn’t bother mentioning the fact I’d been thinking some of the same things before he went all crazy and tried to kill two of our COs.

“Just think, Lyla, he’s been locked up without pussy for ten years. Could you imagine what he’d do in the sack? Just thinking about what he’d do to my lovely lady makes her drool.”

Covering my face, I laughed. “Your lovely lady? Seriously, Di?”

“Yes. She’s lovely, and she likes it rough.”

Spending the night out with Diana was just what I needed. She was completely unhinged, but she knew how to let her hair down and have a good time. That was exactly what I needed after an extremely stressful four days in the infirmary.

WHEN I WENT back to work, X was still in the infirmary. It was the longest he’d had to stay since I started working at Fulton.

Tossing my jacket over the back of the chair, I went straight to work on the paperwork and kept my eyes away from the part of the room I knew he was. I didn’t want to look at him for two reasons. One was because of what he’d done to the two officers, and the other was because I knew every time I looked at him, I’d think about what Diana said. I knew I’d picture him on top of me, pumping like madman and growling like beast.

Feeling my nipples harden inside my bra, and I closed my eyes to shake my thoughts away. I was in the middle of my second deep breath when Dr. Giles came up to me and touched me on my shoulder. Gasping, I jumped since I wasn’t expecting him.

He laughed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay. I’m just jumpy today.”

“Ginger took care of most of the paperwork before she left for the day, but if you want, you can go check on X. He seems to be doing well, but some of his bruising is starting to worry me.”

My shoulders dropped in defeat, but I nodded and smiled. “Okay, will do.”

I went into his curtained space, sliding on a pair of latex gloves and readying myself for the conversation I’d have to smile through.

“Oh, God, not you again,” he growled.

He was obviously in a foul mood.

“Yep, I’m back. How are you feeling today, Mr. Jacobs?”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating with its usual rich tenor. “Oh, so it’s Mr. Jacobs now? What happened to Christopher?”

“Calling you Christopher was unprofessional of me. From now on, you’re Mr. Jacobs.”

“I’m not sure how that’s going to sound when you’re screaming my name, but whatever floats your boat, bad girl.”

I ignored his words and took his blood pressure. Once I was done with that, I shined my light in his eyes to check the dilation. The bruises on his face were turning color, but they still looked terrible.

“So what changed?”

Sighing, I asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what changed? Why am I suddenly Mr. Jacobs? You might as well call me X like the rest of them.”

“Maybe I should,” I snapped in a hiss. “Especially since it’s obvious you’re the guy they say you are.”

I knew my words made no sense to him. He had no way of knowing what my thoughts had been like over the weeks. He had no idea that I was slowly coming around to him—slowly thinking that maybe he wasn’t a terrible monster, but he’d proved me so wrong.

“I’ve never been more wrong,” I said.

His blue eyes moved over my face as he tried to figure me out. I could practically hear the wheels turning in his head.

“Wrong about what?” he asked.

I didn’t hesitate. “Wrong about you. I was starting to think that maybe…” I stopped. “Never mind what I was thinking. I was obviously wrong.”

I gasped when he reached out and pulled me close. His heated breath skimmed the side of my cheek, and I breathed him in instead of calling for help. He moved his face, his lips inches from mine, and I silently hoped that he would kiss me. It was wrong, so wrong, but I wanted to feel his lips on mine.