I can’t look you in the eyes because they make my heart race. It’s easier to put on a show of indifference. Because it’s easier for me to leave you before you leave me.
She couldn’t say any of that, not out loud, not anymore.
“It was a fling. You’ve heard of those, right? Two people get together for a short time and have fun,” the words burned as she said them, “then it ends and we go our separate ways. No harm, no foul.”
Zeph growled, his expression hardening with each word that came out of her mouth, and his hair went from amber to black in an instant. Janet gulped. When he moved to impede her space, faint memories resurfaced, her sense of deja vu returning.
She backed up into the wall of trophies, startling herself. “Tell me that’s what it was,” she said, her voice lowering. “Tell me you weren’t planning on leaving after a job well done? That was the intention all along, wasn’t it?”
His hands came up to rest against the wall on either side of her, trapping her just enough to know he wasn’t playing. She tore her gaze from him and sized up the gaps between them she could duck through in case she needed to make a quick escape.
“You won’t make it,” he rasped, stopping her thoughts.
Janet shook her head. “Tell me what your intention was.”
“My intention?” He leaned in closer to level his gaze with hers, sharing the same breathing space. “My intention was to get the job done so I could get the hell off a backwater planet and get back to my real life. My intention was to finish up the treaty with Quinten Montihan the same day I landed on your plot, get Nightheart off my ass, and drop Netto off at Ghost city.”
Her brow furrowed. “Why?”
“I planned to disappear.”
“I don’t understand…” Her fingers curled at her sides. She gripped the receiver like a lifeline. “Don’t you work for the EPED?”
“I work for that fucking cunt Nightheart. The EPED can go to hell.”
Her brow wrinkled further as she searched out his face, the fine lines, and those green eyes framed with midnight black hair that fell below his ears. He looked different when his hair changed. Janet sucked in her lower lip. Zeph inched closer and heat—heavy, stifling Cyborg heat—engulfed her body.
She remembered how he moved. The way his body slid over hers. Even though she’d had a few drinks, and it had been late at night, she remembered how badly she wanted to lose control. To lose herself in his embrace. To be wanted, really wanted, for something more than just her looks.
I have nothing but my looks.Janet felt her resolve disappear as frustration welled within her when she couldn’t grasp the same ideas Rylie did with ease. It was hard trying and failing, again and again, to live up to a standard that was beyond her.
“Zeph,” she whispered, lowering her eyes, “I can’t disappear with you.” Even as she denied him, the prospect sounded wonderful.
“Why?” His mouth was right above hers. “You trusted me once. You can trust me again.”
“The only thing I’m good at is taking care of my family. I need to take Lily home.Youneed to take Lily home. There is no way her disappearance hasn’t been reported yet.”
He raised his head just enough for her to breathe again.
“I’ll take her home.”
Janet stiffened, her eyes widening. She expected to fight him every step of the way. In the cabin, she’d spent hours brainstorming ways to convince him—to manipulate him—into doing her bidding.
“Really?” she asked, a tiny tendril of hope easing her tense muscles.
“Yes. I’ll take Lily home.” Zeph sighed and pulled back, running a hand through his hair. She wanted to kiss him at that moment— “But I can’t right now.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“For you, you mean?” Janet accused softly, her sudden hope wavering. “It’s dangerous for you. Let me guess, you have the government coming after you? You have my parents’ money and influence sitting like hot coals under your feet.” Janet grabbed his arm when he tried to turn away from her. “Is that it? What happens to a Cyborg who breaks the law? Do you go to prison? Does somebody have an off-switch for you?”
Zeph spun on her and slammed her back up against the wall, knocking the words out of her mouth and the air out of her lungs. Shock rippled through her as his body pressed into hers. She tried to move her face to the side but his hand came up to grip her chin. It hurt. It hurt like it hurt to look at him and imagine more.
He loosened his hand after a long moment before sliding it down to grasp her neck. Shivers coursed through her. He squeezed, and goosebumps prickled her flesh. His grip was just tight enough to make her swallow as uncertainty and desire clouded her mind because no matter how hard she fought it, her body still craved him.
Janet arched her back and stared up into his eyes. They glowed bright and menacing, reptilian and wrong. The skin below his hairline began to cloud over with green, drawing attention to the terrible differences in the man she’d come to know. His hand fell from her neck and grasped her jacket, spinning her around to tear it violently from her body.
