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Biting back a groan, I slid my fingers over the sensitive, wet folds.

I rubbed my sensitive clit and built a slow, rhythmic pressure, matching the memory of Stephan’s deep, slow pace.

That always drove me crazy. He’d fuck me slow and deep, so I felt the drag of every inch, making pleasure roll through me in intense, slow waves.

The pressure of his body against mine, his hands on my skin, the heat of his lips against my mouth, my jaw, the sensitive skin of my neck.

Every memory sent another jolt of desire straight to my clit.

Stephan had been attuned to every breath I took, every shift of my muscles, every tiny sound.

He knew my body, knew how to make me feel good.

Pleasure rolled through me. I gasped as I approached my release.

My toes curled in the sheets, and my hips arched up, reaching for a man who wasn’t there.

I rubbed myself with more pressure, and my whole body felt warm, tight, intense, clouding out my thoughts, my worries.

It felt so good, and all I thought of was Stephan, his kiss, his smell, his perfect, perfect cock.

My orgasm crested, then I gasped loud—maybe too loud—and arched off the bed. I closed my eyes so tight that I saw fireworks behind my eyelids as I came harder than I had in years.

Smiling lazily, I slumped back onto the mattress. I felt sated, for once, sated and comfortable and safe— eased into this loose and loopy state by the mere memory of Stephan’s hands on me. Luckily, before I could work myself into a tizzy about that, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

I woke with a start and scrambled out of bed to the bathroom.

My hair was a tousled mess, and sweat had dried on my forehead.

Embarrassment surged through me. Stephan was a shifter.

What if he could smell it on me? What if he’d heard ?

I never could figure out the limits of his fancy, extra-sharp senses.

The thought that I had done that, right down the hall from him, made my entire face turn pink.

I splashed cold water on my face and took a few deep breaths. I heard the sounds of someone in the kitchen downstairs, but none of Dylan’s rambling. Still asleep, then. I didn’t know if that would make this easier or so much more difficult.

I tugged on a hoodie and a clean pair of leggings, then stepped out of the bedroom. Immediately, my mouth watered at the scent of sizzling sausage.

“Morning,” Stephan said as I entered the kitchen. “Sleep all right?”

My face felt hot again. Shit, had he heard me? “Um, yeah. Just fine.”

“Hungry?”

I nodded. Did he really have to be shirtless? Again? This was a new habit, and one I was going to have some serious trouble adjusting to.

“Fix a plate,” Stephan said with a smile. “There’s plenty. You’ll want to get what you want before Dylan wakes up and devours the rest, anyway.”

“Thanks,” I murmured.

I still felt antsy, and Stephan tracked my movements with those keen hazel eyes.

That didn’t make me any more relaxed, honestly.

My head was still buzzing with my memories, which had become my fantasies, which had become my dreams. I was hot all over.

I wanted him to push me against the counter and press his strong thigh between my legs and let me grind down on it.

No! I shook that thought from my head. I wanted a nice breakfast, a strong cup of coffee, and a regular work day.

I looked up. Stephan was still watching me as he poked the sausages in the pan with the spatula. And he was smirking, like he knew a secret. My secret.

Oh, shit.

“Everything all right?” he asked.

“Fine,” I said quickly. I hurried over to the cabinet where the mugs were and pulled the door open. The mugs were on the highest shelf, which I could reach when on my tip-toes.

“Let me grab that.” Stephan’s warm, broad chest pressed to my back as he reached up over me.

My heart pounded, and my world narrowed to his body against mine, his strong arm reaching up, the scent of him surrounding me. If I turned around, I could hook my arms around his neck and pull him down for a kiss. It felt safe. It felt like ten years ago. It felt completely, thrillingly dangerous.

He set the mug down on the counter with a thunk .

“Thanks,” I whispered.

Stephan stepped away. “No problem.” He went back to the stove, looking inordinately pleased with himself.

I fixed my coffee, then scurried out the kitchen without my breakfast. I needed to get my head on straight before I faced the rest of this day.

When I returned an hour later, showered and dressed in jeans and a tank top, I felt a lot more ready to handle being close to Stephan.

He’d put a shirt on, too, and he and Dylan were cleaning the kitchen.

Music blasted over the speakers. I could hardly believe Stephan had Dylan doing chores without complaint.

“Mom, there’s a plate for you in the oven,” Dylan said. “Dad said you ran off this morning.”

“Had a bit of a headache, but I feel a lot better now,” I said. “Thanks for saving me some breakfast.”

“Of course,” Stephan said.

Outside, tires crunched on the gravel driveway.

“Who’s that?” I asked.

“Mia’s stopping by,” Stephan said. Dylan perked up, and Stephen laughed. “Just Auntie Mia. Uncle Hawk’s coming by later.”

“I like Mia, too.”

Mia knocked on the front door, then stuck her head inside. Her blonde hair was tied back in a French braid, and she clutched a bag of groceries to her chest. “Morning, team.”

“Hi.” Dylan catapulted into the living room and gave Mia a hug so big it almost knocked her off balance.

“Oof! Hey, kiddo, why don’t you help me put these groceries away?”

Laughing, I grabbed my laptop and headed to my usual spot at the dining room table, where the morning sun streamed through the windows.

“Hey, before you get sucked into work stuff, can I ask you a question?” Stephen asked. He took a seat at the table next to me, while Dylan helped Mia put the groceries away.

As long as it’s not about this morning. “Sure, what’s up?”

“I want to introduce Dylan to my dragon,” he said. “Is that okay with you?”

I thought back to our first night here, when Dylan and I had seen the silhouette of Stephan’s dragon soaring high overhead.

“You think he’s ready for that?”

“More than,” Stephan said. “He’s got the partial shifting down. I think meeting my dragon will make his own dragon more comfortable and more willing to come out.”

“He won’t fully shift today, though, will he?”

“No. But I do want to take him flying.”

I propped my chin in my hand and gazed out the window. I remembered soaring over this same lake, banking over the edges of the mountains, laughing as the clouds broke across my face. It’d been both exhilarating and terrifying. “I don’t know…”

“Hawk agreed to ride with him. And we won’t go high, just over the lake a little. You know I wouldn’t do anything to endanger him, Harley.”

I turned back toward him. There was a small furrow in his brow. The teasing expression from earlier was gone, and now he looked serious and honest.

“Okay,” I said, before I even realized I was agreeing. He made it so easy to trust him.

Stephan’s expression brightened into a familiar, excited look I saw on Dylan’s face a lot. I’d never seen this particular resemblance before, and it made my heart warm. “He’ll love it.”

“I know he will,” I said. “I remember. There’s nothing like it.”

“I could take you for a ride too, Harley. Whenever you want. Just say the word.”

There was that damn low voice again. I pressed my thighs together and looked back out toward the window, but it was too late—he’d definitely seen me blush.

Laughing, Stephan went and joined Dylan in the kitchen. “Let’s empty the dishwasher, Dyl.”

I expected a groan and a huff, but to my surprise, Dylan emptied the dishwasher with way more zeal than he ever had in Atlanta.

Mia ambled over with a cup of coffee. She set it down at my elbow and raised an eyebrow. “Everything all right? Something going on?”

“Everything’s good.”

“You sure?”

I nodded. In the kitchen, Dylan was brandishing a dish over his head and ranting about something that made Stephan laugh wildly. My heart beat hard at the sight. He was so good with Dylan. And so kind to me.

I knew this was only a season, a moment—a fantasy, really. After the summer, we’d go back to Atlanta, and Stephan would go back to his dangerous life. But something about him kept drawing me in, and it was getting harder and harder to ignore it.