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“I don’t doubt it, kiddo. Now get some sleep.”

Dylan was out like a light before we even closed the door to his room.

In the hallway, I slumped against the wall and let out a long, shaky breath. I was crashing from the adrenaline now, almost high from the relief.

It finally happened. We’d made it through Dylan’s first shift.

Stephan stepped closer and brushed the hair off my face. He looked invigorated—he always did after a shift. “You all right?”

“I can’t believe it,” I murmured. “His first shift is over. It was almost… almost easy.”

“He was ready,” Stephan said.

“He had a good teacher.” I pressed my lips to his. It started out as a soft kiss, but quickly deepened into something more passionate.

Stephan pulled away enough to murmur against my mouth. “How are you feeling?”

“Wired.”

“Come on.” He took my hand and led me back into his bedroom, which was beginning to feel more likeourbedroom. After we changed into clean pajamas—shorts for him, and an oversized Cole’s Garage T-shirt for me—Stephan tugged me into bed. I’d expected him to kiss me again, but instead he cupped my face and gazed into my eyes. There was an unfamiliar emotion in his gold-flecked hazel eyes. We lay facing each other, like two parentheses.

“Brings back memories,” Stephan said.

“Of your first shift?”

He nodded, running his hand up and down the curve of my waist. The familiar motion sent a slow, comfortable heat through me. “A lot was going on with my clan when I started showing signs.”

“Like what?”

“Dad was in the middle of a territory war,” he said. “He dropped everything to be there for me. It was a dangerous time for him—for all of us—but he made time. He knew I’d remember it forever.”

“And you do,” I said softly.

He nodded, then leaned forward and kissed me gently. “Thank you for coming back. Thank you for bringing Dylan here.”

“He couldn’t have shifted so easily without you. I should be thanking you.”

“It’s more than that,” Stephan said. “Being here for Dylan’s shift… It’s like seeing the birth of his dragon. It’s an honorto witness and be part of. You didn’t have to come back to Lakeview, and you did. You allowed me to be a part of this.”

“Steph…” I whispered. I’d been so concerned about Dylan’s safety during his shift that I hadn’t even considered what it might mean to Stephan.

I’d never seen this open, emotional side of Stephan before. Not even when we were together all those years ago. I wondered ifanyonehad seen this side of him before.

I closed the distance between us and caught his lips in another passionate kiss. It filled me with an emotion I was too scared to name. I rolled onto my back, so he was hovering over me, and he pulled away to gaze down at me. After a moment, he kissed the corner of my mouth, then my jaw, then my neck. “You ever think about having another?”

I slid my hands over his shoulders. He couldn’t mean… “Another kid?”

“Mm-hmm.” I felt the shape of his smile against my neck. “Ever thought about it?”

“Oh.” Heat rolled through my body—a slow and intoxicating sensation. Another kid. Another kid withSteph.He’d be such a good, doting dad during my pregnancy—I’d get all those moments I never had with Dylan. He’d make me breakfast. Rub my feet when they were swollen. Build the crib. Coo at my pregnant belly and play the baby his favorite songs.

God, that sounded nice. Even if it was a fantasy.

“Well?” He kissed my neck again.

“Let’s talk about it when you’re not in a territory war of your own.” Miraculously, my voice remained steady.

“Fair enough.” He smirked at me. “Doesn’t mean we can’t get some good practice in, though.”