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you’re…you have—”

“It’s not real,” Kiera said darkly. “It’s just for show because people…

people closet to me, they don’t know. About me. It’s not a real

relationship.”

Romi’s head felt like it was going to explode. She tried to take a deep

breath, but it came out like a shuddery choking gulp. “You mean that

you…?”

Kiera slowly nodded. “Yes. I’ve wanted you from the minute I saw you.”

Something flashed in her eyes, something close to regret or even fear, and

Romi realized what it cost Kiera to admit her true feelings.

Had something happened to her? Something terrible? Romi was all too

familiar with what it felt like to be used. Or had Kiera spent a lifetime

denying herself because she thought those around her wouldn’t accept her

for who she really was? Romi’s stomach cramped hard. While there was

still heat growing between her legs and her pulse was hammering at her

neck and wrists, she was still in shock. She thought this could never be a

reality with Kiera. A woman who was both mystical and tantalizing. Romi

thought her fantasies and desires would always just be that. Fantasies.

Unfulfilled. That it could never be real. And now Kiera was asking her if

she felt something. If she wanted her too. She did. That was the truth.

But a fantasy was one thing. Reality was another. There were still so

many reasons they shouldn’t do this. That she shouldn’t admit to feeling

anything. Kiera was her boss. She was probably ten years older th

an her,

which meant she’d experienced more of life and might want different

things. Then there was whatever Kiera was going through by having the

need for a fake boyfriend. She was still hiding who she was from those who

loved her. Romi didn’t want to be used again. She didn’t want to just be a

few minutes of passing fancy. She didn’t want to be a diversion or a

distraction, or worst of all, an experiment.