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in was. This could ruin everything. Talan wouldn’t accept me if he knew just how damaged I was. I needed him. He was my salvation.
    Evasion was my sole choice; it was what I was good at. There were no other choices but to manipulate him into giving me what I wanted, and in return, I’d let him fuck me.
    Slowly, I turned and closed the door, turned the lock, and faced my target.
    Lance eyed me with curiosity from his perch on my couch but made no move to get up. Didn’t move a single muscle as I edged closer, nor did he bat a lash when I raised the skimpy dress I wore last night over my head and bared my body to him.
    “I’m sure we can come to some sort of an understanding,” I cooed. “No need for threats.”
    “Sweetheart, cover up. I didn’t come here for a quick fuck or to have you blow me.” His lip curled up in disgust, and his fists clenched at his sides. The man played the unfazed role well, but no matter how immune he wanted to appear, I knew better. It was bullshit.
    “At one point, years ago, you wanted me. We could…” Swaying my hips from side to side, I sauntered toward him and stopped once our knees touched. There was no denying that the man was attractive.
    He was older. Distinguished. A tatted asshole with a dirty mouth.
    I’d fuck him. Take one for the team with a smile on my face if it got me one step closer to my ultimate goal. Talan was all I wanted, and I had no shame when it came down to just how far I’d go to attain him.
    Getting to fuck Lance would be a bonus, if I were to be honest.
    Placing one knee between his, I leaned forward using the edge of the couch for support. “What do you think, Lance?” I whispered into his ear. “Want to have some—” Fuck.
    Before I could finish my proposal, he’d flipped us over with me landing on my back. Lying back while he caged me in, his nostrils flared. Hard eyes bored into mine. This could be fun.
    “Is that a yes?”
    With a devilish smirk, Lance eyed my naked flesh before lifting up enough to separate our bodies. “No.”
    “Why the fuck not?” I asked, biting my lip coyly. Lifting my hips up, I rubbed against him, and what I found was disappointing. He was soft. Not aroused in the slightest.
    “You know,” he began with a chuckle and finished pushing himself away from me. Once up, he turned his back and took a few steps away and toward the only window in the room. “At first, I was attracted to you when we met. It was easy for me to see past the bullshit attitude you put up as a front and like what I saw behind it. For so long, I wanted to be the man you came to—the one you wanted, but you were as blind then as you are now.”
    Is he kidding me with this shit? Just fuck me already!
    “Lance, baby, let’s not talk about the past. We can focus on the—”
    “Don’t use me, Jan. It won’t work. There will never be an us . No fake future or promises. I love my girl and would never cheat on her with you, or any other piece of ass that thinks she can have me.”
    I love my girl.
    I love my girl.
    I love my girl.
    “Get out!” Rejection stung, made me feel like less than a woman. “I don’t need this shit…just leave.” Lance heard the sad plea in my tone and turned to face me. For a second, I saw my old friend behind those angry eyes. But then, just as quickly as it came, the compassion disappeared and I was faced once again with this stranger. With what seemed to be Maya’s biggest supporter.
    “I’ll leave,” he stated while turning to face me. “But before I do, I want you to listen closely. Are you paying attention, Janice?” I nodded. “Take my warning for what it motherfucking is…a threat. God help you, if you lay a single finger on her. Talan, I don’t worry about—he can very well take care of himself, but hurt her, and it won’t be his hands that find themselves bloodied.”
    “This is none of your business.” By this point, I’d dropped the false niceties and wrapped an old afghan around my naked