His gaze grew heavy. He hadn't found satisfaction in the chamber earlier, and her involuntary pout seemed alluring to him.

Nicole winced from the pinch, her tolerance evident in her furrowed brow.

Observing her usual furrowed brow, Jarrod felt a twinge of compassion.

Yet, his sympathy waned as he recalled her repeated deceptions.

With a cold stare, Jarrod held Nicole's chin firmly.

“This is what you want. Can't you handle it now?" he taunted.

Disgust swept through Nicole.

He was audacious, caring little for the occasion and the surroundings.

Closing her eyes, Nicole exhibited a vulnerability seldom seen, whispering, “I can't... I'm in so much pain now..."

Jarrod's scoff was bitter.

"Then moan. If it pleases me, I might just release you."

Suddenly, Nicole's gaze lifted to the white hospital walls, her realization dawning.

Jarrod wanted Roscoe to overhear her moan. He wanted to degrade her and test their bond.

In a different time, Nicole would willingly share intimacy with Jarrod and avoided the sting of disgrace.

Yet, having been subjected to such degradation, her sense of dignity seemed worthless now.

A sharp ache in her abdomen served as a grim reminder of her possibly fleeting life, casting doubt on the necessity of maintaining her pride while enduring such agony.

With a deft movement, she caressed the coarse tips of Jarrod's fingers with her tongue. Her lips parted ever so slightly, releasing a sound that was both alluring and pitiful.

“Mmm... Mmm..."

After a minute of her charade, Jarrod commanded, "Enough."

Jarrod's lips were a firm line, his gaze icy with unfulfilled yearning.