I can’t believe I’m doing this again.

I ease down the ladder of my fire escape as slowly as possible. First of all, it’s dark as fuck but this is the only way I can be sure that I’m getting out of here without Marcus noticing if he’s even watching me at all right now. Secondly, I’m a little tipsy and I don’t feel like dying tonight before I make it to Lance’s.

Behold, my fury.

Bad idea? Probably. But I’ll let Tomorrow Trix deal with that.

Tonight Trix wants to get laid.

I reach the bottom and rush out of the alleyway before my clothes start stinking of garbage. My phone chimes with a text message from my ride. Perfect timing. Things are already starting to look up.

The car stops in front of me and I climb in along with my handbag, stuffed with my half-full bottle of wine. See? Half-full. Optimism.

I got this.

Thirty minutes of Chicago evening traffic later and I’m standing on Lance’s porch.

The door opens before I get the chance to knock.

Lance locks eyes with me. “Hey,” he says.

“Hey.” My gaze drops downward, noting his T-shirt and jeans. “Wow.”

“What?” he asks.

I smile. “He even looks good in casual wear.”

He laughs and steps back to let me in. “I look good in everything.”

“Women’s panties?” I joke.

He bites his smirking lip as he closes the door behind me. “Why did I know you’d flip that on me?”

“Keep up, Lance.” I glance around the now-familiar living room on my way toward the kitchen. “Want some of this?” I ask, sliding the wine bottle out of my purse. “It’s... old and Italian.”

“Sure,” he answers. “Cabinet left of the sink.”

I set the bottle down on the counter and reach overhead to fetch two wine glasses out of the cabinet. A laugh teases my gut as I grab two and lay them on the counter between us.

Lance yanks the cork out of the bottle. “What?” he asks.

“Now I can’t stop picturing you in panties.”

He cringes as he pours an ample amount into each glass. “You know what? I can’t either. Cheers.”

We raise our glasses and take a sip.

I lick my smiling lips, tasting courage. “Where’s the kid tonight?” I ask.

“She’s studying at the library,” he answers. “Won’t be back until late.”

“How late?”

“Very late.”

“Like super late?”

He nods. “Like super late.”

I step around the counter to stand in front of him. “Hence the booty call.”

He sighs. “It wasn’t—”

“I know.” I kiss him and his lips slowly part with mine. “But can we pretend it was?”

He kisses me back, cupping my face with one hand. “Trix...”

“Yeah?”

His thumb grazes my bottom lip. “Are you really okay?” he asks.

I pause, my mouth tingling. “I just want to...” I chuckle. “What was that line from Juliet? Something about denying a father’s name?”

“Deny thy father and refuse thy name,” he quotes.

“Yes! God, you’re sexy right now.”

His eyes roll. “Haley discovered that movie at a slumber party when she was twelve. Came back and watched it over and over and over...”

I laugh. “Girl after my own heart.”

I kiss him again and he lays a hand on my back.

“Is that what this is, then?” he asks. “Are you denying Angelo?”

“I think I am,” I say, our lips grazing.

Lance kisses me full on the mouth, drawing me a little closer with that firm touch on my spine. Our bodies press together and my sex sparks as I feel his bulge against my hip.

“Are you sure the kid is gone?” I ask.

“Uh-huh,” he hums as his tongue massages mine.

“We should still probably...” I catch my breath. “Upstairs?”

“Ya.”

“Just in case she walks in again...”

Lance hoists me up, easily taking me with him. I let out a soft yelp, wrapping my arms and legs around him as he carries me toward the stairs. I kiss him the whole time, touching his arms and body and face while we stumble like idiots up the stairwell.

We reach the second floor and he leads me down the hall to his bedroom.

“Wait—”

Lance kicks off his shoes as we step inside and he slides off one of his socks. I watch in slight shock as he fits the sock on the doorknob outside and closes it behind him.

“Really?” I ask.

“It’s a father-daughter thing,” he says, pulling me against him. “You wouldn’t understand.”

We twist toward his bed and I shove him onto it.

I laugh. “Try me,” I say as I mount him.

He sits up and buries his face in my cleavage as I pull his shirt over his head. His fingers crawl behind me in search of the zipper on my dress. I tremble as he slides it down and runs his fingers along my bare spine. The dress hangs loosely on my arms and I pause as it exposes that damned tattoo on my shoulder.

Lance takes notice and shifts his kiss from my collarbone to my shoulder, purposefully leaving soft pecks on the ink. Maybe it’s his way of saying he doesn’t care what my name is. Or maybe he’s just giving my father the finger. Could go either way, I guess.

I touch his face, guiding him up to kiss my lips again. He pushes my dress down to my waist, exposing my breasts. I tremble as his palms knead at them, my nipples standing to attention as chills overwhelm me.

I step off onto the floor for a moment to let my dress fall to my feet. Lance leans back on his hands and watches with hungry eyes as I drop my panties along with it and kick them to the side.

“You’re a beautiful woman,” he says, smiling. “But you already know that, right?”

I chuckle as I lean over him. “I do... but I like it when you say it.”

I put pressure on his chest and he lays on his back while I drop to my knees. He flexes as I scratch down his chest and trembles the second my hands reach his belt. I lick my lips, teasing him as I unzip his jeans and tug them down. His erection stands up freely. Saliva builds beneath my twitching tongue but I’m in no hurry here. I want this to last.

I kiss up his body, ignoring his throbbing cock on my way back up to his lips. Lance pulls me in for a hard kiss, his fingers passionately digging into my scalp. His throat exhales a low growl and I chuckle with delight as I reach down to stroke him. He sucks on my tongue, telling me to use it on him as desire fills his eyes.

I slowly move down to kneel on the floor again, still softly stroking his thick cock. He settles beneath me, watching and waiting with quick, baited breaths. I kiss his thighs, inching closer and admiring his body. He props up onto his elbows to get a better view and I gaze up at him with soft, sexy eyes.

“Fuck,” he whispers, reaching down to brush my bangs to the side. “Beautiful.”

I smile and open my mouth to him.

His hips lurch as my tongue glides across his tip. I moan at the rush of sweetness on my taste buds, falling even deeper for him. Hungry and wild, I suck his dick, taking him inside a little more every few seconds until he’s groaning. He wraps my hair in his fist, his fingers flexing with need as I bob up and down on him.

Sweat builds on my brow. My heart pounds in my chest. Everything about this man turns me on. The sounds of pleasure he makes. His rough, welcoming touch as I give him what he likes. The sudden, happy chuckle he makes when I do something new, yet equally as pleasing.

He taps my shoulder. “You’re gonna make me come,” he whispers.

Damn. He’s polite, too.

I give him another hard suck as I slowly slide him out of my mouth. He makes that happy, laughing groan and flops back down on the bed.

“Goddamn,” he says, breathing hard.

I wipe the moisture from my lips as I stand up off the floor. He sits forward, his hands slowly climbing up my legs as he leaves kisses on my hip.

“On the bed,” he says. “Now.”

I smirk. “You gonna say please?”

Lance grabs me and I laugh as he tosses me down. He balances over me on his hands, his eyes quickly looking me over before he crushes his mouth on mine.

He grins. “Please.”

I melt beneath him, my skin turning to warm milk as his strong hands touch me all over. My pussy surges with warmth, begging for his kiss but he takes his time on me like I did. His hand slips between my thighs. I part my knees, feeling goosebumps along the path of his touch. His fingers trace along my outer lips, teasing and toying with me as he leaves hard kisses on my neck.

I tremble for him and he smiles.

“When we met...” he says, his mouth touching my cheek, “did you think we’d end up this way?”

I laugh hard. “No.”

We kiss as his hand drifts closer to my slit.

“I wanted you,” he admits.

“You did?”

“I listened to the tape of your interview just to hear your voice.” He kisses me again, his tongue parting my lips. “I knew it was wrong but I didn’t care.”

He rests a single finger against my clit. I bite down, flexing my jaw at the simple, teasing pleasure.

“I want you, Trix,” he says. “I haven’t thought this way about a woman in a long time.”

I run my hand through his thick hair, coaxing him to suck on my neck. The feel of his tongue on me almost breaks me — and if his finger so much as twitches, I surely will.

His words. If any other man had said them I would feel nothing. But Lance... hearing him speak this way about me makes my heart skip. I’ve been too distracted to admit that I feel the same way.

I want Lance. Even if I have to give up everything I have to do it.

“Lance,” I moan, “take me.”

He kisses me again, this time holding nothing back. His hand starts moving between my folds, firmly rubbing my clit. My thighs instantly jolt as pleasure rockets up my spine and I moan into his mouth. I’m so close already. My muscles tense. Everything aches for the moment when the tension finally snaps.

Lance moves his hand downward and slides two fingers inside of me. I arch my back, pleasuring rising. He pushes in deep, bouncing the heel of his hand against my clit with every smooth fuck.

“Oh, god...” I bite my lip, smiling. “Now you’re gonna make me come.”

He kisses me softly. “Ladies first.”

Straight-up fucking gentleman.

I come for him, gripping his strong arms to hold myself steady. He laughs against my cheek, enjoying the view as I mewl and twerk on his now-soaking hand.

He slides his fingers out of me and sticks them in his mouth to taste them before hopping off the bed and leaving me here. I watch as he opens the corner door and walks into a dark bathroom, his perfect ass disappearing into the shadows.

I lie back with closed eyes, taking deep breaths as electricity fires through my fingers and toes. Fuck, he’s amazing. And we’ve barely even started.

Lance returns with a roll of condoms in one hand and a tiny cup of water in the other.

I laugh to myself as he takes a quick sip from the cup and holds it out to me to finish.

“Why, thank you, kind sir,” I say.

He rips a condom off and tears open the wrapper. “You’re welcome,” he says. He rolls the condom onto his stiff cock. “Now spread your legs.”

I raise a brow.

“Please,” he adds.

I crush the empty cup in my palm before tossing it over my shoulder and beckoning him with a come-hither motion with one finger.