“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

    Janine tried to push her way past, but the four guys in front of her were too strong and she couldn’t get anywhere. “Just let me through, damn it.”

    “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Joey repeated in a harsh tone. He was probably the one that despised Janine the most. He was Lance’s best friend, and he could never forgive her for causing the hurt that Lance still felt.

    Janine ignored his comment and tried once again with no success to maneuver around them. “Just let me go.” But Joey didn’t let go of her. He held her around the middle with his strong arms.

    “Not when we know what you’re going to do,” JC said. “You’re not going after him. He doesn’t want you around.”

    “He sure doesn’t belong with her,” Janine said bitterly. “He belongs with me, damn it!”

    JC came over to help Joey hold her up. She was fighting them both all the way. She was determined to go after Lance, even if she had to take on the guys that were doing their best to hold her back.

    Janine managed to get away long enough to open the door that led down to F deck. “Stay away from me,” she warned Justin, who was now coming after her. “I’m going down there, and I’m finding him. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

    “Wanna bet?” Justin stepped forward, preparing to grab her. But the fist that landed on his chest caused him to pull back. “Bitch,” he muttered in pain.

    “Asshole,” she retorted. Stopping long enough to put her hair up, she surveyed the men in front of her. “And don’t even think about following me. I’m going to get my man back.”

    “You can try all you want,” Chris said. “You’re not getting him back.”

    “He still loves me.” She sounded convinced. She sounded so damn sure of it. “He loves only me.”

    Joey laughed. “Right, okay. If you really believe that, you’re more stupid than I thought.”

    “Bastard,” Janine hissed and pulled open the door.

    “He’s just telling you like it is,” Chris said. “He doesn’t love you. I doubt he ever could even like you after what you’ve done to him.” He pulled the door shut with a loud yank.

    “I made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes,” she said.

    “You made a big one.” Joey cornered her. She could try and run, but not when he was around. He was a faster runner, and would catch up with her in no time. She would regret ever trying to get away from him. “No one hurts Lance and gets away with it.”

    Janine scowled. “You already blamed me for ruining his life. I think that’s enough.”

    “His life isn’t ruined,” JC said. “His life is finally getting back on track and you’re going to go and try and ruin it. Well forget it, honey. You’re not going to ruin the happiness that Lance has finally found. We won’t let you.”

    “I love him. I love him,” she repeated in a rasped voice. They were still on the boat deck, and it was getting chillier. She just wanted to get off this damn ship. But she wasn’t going anywhere without Lance.

    Justin laughed from behind her. “You don’t know what love is.”

    They were all around her now. There was no place to escape. Damn it.

    “Fuck you all.” Janine wrapped the scarf tighter around her neck. “You’d rather see him with that good for nothing bitch?” she said, referring to Hannah. “She has no money. She’s in third class, for God sakes.”

    Lisa, who had promised to stay out of the situation, could no longer just stand there and take what was being said about her friend. She pushed in front of JC, who immediately tried to push her back.

    “JC, damn it. Let go of me.” Lisa pushed his hands away. “I’m not going to stand here and listen to her talk about Hannah like that.”

    Janine challenged her with a short glare. She didn’t actually think Lisa would say anything to her. But the determined and angry look on Lisa’s face told Janine that she was wrong to assume that.

    “Listen to me, and you listen good.” Lisa shook her finger carelessly towards Janine’s face. “Just because we’re rich like you doesn’t mean we’re no good. In fact, Hannah is one of the most caring individuals I have ever met. She cares about people.” Lisa glanced back quickly at JC. “She’s the one that convinced me to stop running from my past. She wanted me to be happy, and she made sure that I would be. And she loves Lance. She may have denied it, but I know she does. So you better stay out of it, or else…”

    Realization hit JC. “She’s gone,” he said.

    Lisa looked through the door. She could hear a pair of feet going down the stairs. “Shit,” she muttered. “She’s gone after him.”

    “We better catch up to her,” Joey said. He was followed by the rest of them.

    They hoped it wasn’t too late. You never could tell just how dangerous a woman was.

    *********

    “That wasn’t fair, you know.”

    Lance pulled the covers over both their bodies, but not before catching a glimpse yet again of Hannah’s body. “What’s not fair?”

    She kissed his shoulder. “You brought me down here to have your way with me, didn’t you?”

    “No.” His grin was evident, even in the dark. “I just wanted to talk.”

    “Sure you did.”

    “It was your idea to let me have my way with you,” he said. “Not that I’m complaining.”

    Hannah slid her hand underneath the covers and covered him. “I would say not.”

    “You’re playing a dangerous game.” He held back a moan, but his eyes closed immediately. He had never expected her to set him off like this. He knew she effected him, but what he had learned from making love to her was that she could be very dominating when she wanted to be.

    Now she was certainly taking over the role.

    “But you like it.” She nibbled on his earlobe. “Admit it.”

    He took her mouth, demanding her to kiss him back. It had been so good. So different than all those other times with woman he barely knew. This was what making love to someone you love felt like.

    She was still touching him, and once again he was on fire. She must have known because she had a small grin on her face.

    “You’re so bad,” he whispered.

    She removed her hand and touched her lips to his. “You made my first time so special. I want to make you feel how you made me feel.”

    “You’ve already done that. You have no idea what you’ve done to me.”

    “I’m sorry?” She had no idea what he meant by that.

    He pulled her back against his chest. “I can honestly tell you that at first I was a little scared. But when you touched me that first time, I realized I was stupid for even thinking it wouldn’t be good. I guess I was just afraid that I would hurt you.”

    “You didn’t hurt me.”

    “I was a little rough on you.” He glanced at the mark on her neck where he had marked his territory. “I was a little selfish.”

    “I’m glad you were.”

    “You are?”

    “I guess I’ve always been a little insecure about my body. I don’t hate the way I look or anything, I just didn’t see myself ever being loved the way you loved me.”

    “I didn’t take the time that I wanted to,” he admitted. “It’ll be a lot better once we’re in our home and I can take my time.”

    “Our home?” She liked the sound of that.

    “I’ve been thinking about that,” he said. “We’ll be recording our first album the first few months we’re in New York. I’m not sure I like you staying home alone. I’m thinking about hiring a housekeeper.”

    “A housekeeper?” As much as she loved the idea of sharing a house and future with Lance, she hated the idea of him hiring a housekeeper. Didn’t he think she could take care of herself? She’d been doing that most of her life. “You are not hiring a housekeeper,” she said rather harshly.

    “Why not?” he asked. He was totally taken aback by her sudden outburst.

    “I’m not a child. I can take care of myself.” Hannah grabbed her sweater off the floor and put it on before reaching down and pulling on her pants. She got off the bed and wrapped the scarf around her neck. “I’m not going to sit here and be treated like a child.”

    “Wait.”

    His voice made her stop at the door. She turned around slowly. “What?”

    “I’m sorry,” he said softly. He had put on his pants and was making his way over to her. He looked genuinely sorry. “I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. Yes, I’ll admit, I’d feel better if someone was at the house with you.”

    “Lance, listen to me.” When she knew she had his full attention, she continued. “I’ve been alone most of my life. If I have to, I can spend the rest of my life that way. I don’t need anybody. I can take care of myself.”

    “I know you can.” It wasn’t that that was bothering him, anyway. “I would just feel better if you weren’t alone. Especially if we buy a big house.”

    “We’re not getting a big house,” Hannah said. “No way. I want a small little house with enough room for the two of us.”

    He eyed her suspiciously. “Are you kidding?” No way could he live in cramped quarters. He was used to having his space and being able to move around. Now was certainly no different. “We aren’t buying some small little cottage. I’m sorry but that ain’t happening.”

    As rage was building inside her, Hannah turned back towards the door. She was in no mood to argue right now. After their night of shared passion, they were almost at each other’s throats, fighting over something as stupid as houses.

    “Don’t walk away from me,” he said, just as she had her hand pressed on the doorknob.

    “If I continue to talk to you, it won’t do either of us any good.” She turned away from him again, really prepared and ready this time to just walk away.

    Lance sighed. “Us not talking won’t do us any good, either.”

    “You’re the one that’s making that difficult.”

    “Damn it, why are you acting like this?” he demanded. He cursed silently and ran fingers through his hair. He had to remember to fix his hair later. It was sticking up in all directions.

    “Why am I acting like this?” Outraged by the way he was speaking to her, Hannah pulled open the door, only to be faced with something that would only worsen her mood.

    Janine leaned against the doorjamb and eyed Hannah and Lance with a wry. “There you are,” she said to Lance, giving him her best smile. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

    “I’m sure,” Hannah muttered.

    Janine glanced towards Hannah. “Do you mind leaving us alone?” she asked as politely as she could.

    “I was just leaving anyway,” Hannah said. She didn’t glance back at Lance as she walked out the door.

    “Wait!” Lance yelled. But it was too late. He realized he wasn’t alone with Janine when he saw Joey behind him. He looked to Joey’s left, then realized that the rest of the guys were there, and Lisa. “What are you guys doing here?”

    “We were trying to stop Janine here from coming down after you,” JC explained. “But she wouldn’t listen.”

    “What just happened? Hannah looked pretty pissed at you,” Joey said.

    Though he could have noticed that too by just looking at her, he didn’t considerate anybody else’s business. “Forget it,” he snapped. “It’s nobody’s business. Can you all just get out of here?”

    “But Lance---” Janine began.

    “Especially you.” Lance’s voice let them all know he meant business. A side that they were used to seeing, but not in a while since coming on this ship. “I want everyone out, and now.”

    Joey knew from experience that if they didn’t leave now, they would regret it later. Lance was in one of his moods.

    “We’re going,” Joey said, pulling Janine’s arm, pulling her away from Lance.

    “But wait…” Janine tried to pull on the doorknob again when it was closed. “I wasn’t done talking to him yet!”

    She punched Joey in the chest. If she thought that Joey would loosen up on his grip on her, she was wrong. Joey was very strong and didn’t take lightly to people who tried to show their strength by using their fist.

    It didn’t matter what they had to do. If they didn’t keep Janine away from Lance, his once chance at happiness may just get swept away.   

---