Zion's POV
Physical closeness used to make my skin crawl. The idea of holding someone this way, allowing another person this close to my body, it always felt wrong.
After what happened to Jelly, after Apex destroyed everything, how could I ever consider letting someone breach my walls again? I convinced myself I didn't deserve this kind of connection. That if I allowed myself to feel warmth, I might forget the pain. And forgetting was never an option.
That's why I entered Apex's twisted game. The point system, the detached encounters. I thought I could fake my way through it all. Sleep with whoever they assigned.
Play their game while searching for answers.
But I could never follow through. Every time hands reached for me, something inside would shut down. Nausea would hit. My chest would tighten. It was all performance, no substance.
Everything changed with Windsor.
With her, points mean nothing.
I care about her in ways that terrify me.
