He took a step forward. “Leah, please…”
“No.” Her voice sharpened. Her eyes flashed. “Don’t say my name like that.”
“Leah…” he murmured again, barely able to breathe. “Don’t do this.”
Her hands balled into fists at her sides, and when he dared to step closer again, she stepped back like his presence was fire.
“You don’t understand,” she whispered.
“Then help me understand,” Roland pleaded, his voice shaking now. “Last night, you kissed me back. You held me. You…you let me touch you. Don’t tell me that meant nothing. Don’t tell me it was all a lie, because I know it wasn’t.”
Her eyes shined. Not with joy. With pain.
“I need it to be a lie,” she said. “Because if it’s real… then I’m weak. And I can’t afford to be weak. Not now. Not when I haven’t achieved my goal. Not when everything
