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“Is a coward using coercion and threats to get what he wants.”

We don’t get further in our conversation. My phone on the nightstand pings. I pick it up and glance at the screen, then set it back down.

“Speaking of Hunter, that was him. He apologized.”

“It doesn’t mean he’ll stay out of your business. Or Midnight’s. It wouldn’t surprise me to know he’s built a shrine to the Sterling hotshot. Probably has Midnight’s face inked on his ass too.”

I laugh. Roll my eyes at him. He grunts.

“There is such a thing as hero worship,” I point out.

“Or he has ulterior motives.”

I wouldn’t put it past Hunter.

“Do you go to parties with Midnight and Dare?”

“All the time,” I answer.

“Do they have rich and powerful friends?”

“Rich. No clue about powerful. I’ve never seen his friends leap over tall buildings. Or shoot lasers from their eyes.”

My snark gets me a resounding kiss on the mouth. Hmm, I’ll have to snark more.

“Here’s my theory, and you tell me if I’m dead wrong. Midnight, Dare, and Beau are loaded. They also have access to rich and powerful people. If you and Hunter couple up, he goes where you go. Where you go is with your friends. They are important to you.”

“Youare my important guy. The one who matters most.”

“That so?”

Soft murmur on my bare shoulder. My arm. On my breasts. Sifting my fingers in his hair, I pull him closer. Moan when he licks the little balls of nerves. Clamp my legs around his waist when he takes each little bud in his mouth, his mouth wet and warm.

“Taron?”

“Yes, baby?”

“I can’t give you up. I thought I could, but I can’t. Taron, about the PA position . . .”

“Hmm?” He unwinds my legs from around his waist and goes low. Drops kisses on my stomach. Along my bikini line.

Understanding what’s coming next, I let my legs fall to the sides and trench my fingers deeper in his hair, ready to guide him over my sex. To beg him to lick and suck on my clit until I cannot think straight. But for this part, I have to think straight.

His mouth covers my sex, and afraid I’ll lose it, I tell him what I want. What will make being with him okay.

“I quit.”

33

Taron

Ihave to hand it to Syn. She is brilliant, though broke.

“Syn, I’ve got this.”

We are sitting in front of her two computer screens, going over her calendar and her bills. She has a spreadsheet for everything, including a roster of the players on the team.

“I don’t need you paying my bills. I also can pay for my own groceries, thank you very much. No need for you to tag along.”