Hannah drives to Garrett’s house determined to go through with having sex, but she is intensely nervous despite trusting and wanting him. When she arrives, Garrett immediately sees her anxiety and deliberately slows the evening down by having her change into his T-shirt and watch Breaking Bad with him first. His choice calms Hannah and shows that Garrett’s priority is making her feel safe rather than rushing her.

As they lie together on the bed, Garrett gradually begins kissing and touching Hannah, checking that she is comfortable and telling her to say if he moves too fast. Hannah responds with real desire, and Garrett’s careful, teasing attention arouses her enough that she begins touching him too. Their playful joking about Garrett’s size briefly breaks the mood, but it also lets them laugh together, recover, and continue with less tension.

Once Garrett begins penetrating Hannah with his fingers and bringing her close to orgasm, the encounter shifts. Hannah can feel pleasure building, but each time she notices Garrett watching her, her body shuts down. Hannah admits this always happens, and when Garrett keeps trying to help, Hannah is pulled into vivid memories of Aaron raping her while she was conscious but unable to move or cry out. Because those memories make vulnerability feel dangerous, Hannah goes rigid and Garrett stops, recognizing that the problem is not lack of attraction but lack of trust at the most exposed moment.

Garrett gently explains that orgasm requires trust and that Hannah is still afraid to fully let go after what was done to her. After admitting he even researched how to help, Garrett suggests a different approach: instead of him making Hannah come, they should each pleasure themselves in front of the other as an exercise in shared vulnerability. To prove his seriousness, Garrett undresses first and lets Hannah see that his desire is open, affectionate, and nothing like Aaron’s violence. Reassured by that contrast and Garrett’s patience, Hannah finally begins to undress for him, ending the chapter with a tentative but meaningful step toward reclaiming control.