I realized then, what I couldn’t see before when I had been drowning under my own feelings. Nicholas had almost lost me. I had so very nearly died. If he had arrived a second later, if Jane had been quicker with the knife… There were so many what ifs. Being near Nicholas was affirming for me, but

Nicholas and I traded lazy kiss after lazy kiss until our backs ached and the sun crept above the tree line. We’d chased passion all night long, again and again. Despite my continuous begging, Nicholas never took me in the dirt. Though he’d given me pleasure in nearly every other way. My body was

My fierce blush gave me away, but still I hushed Susie. I leaned closer to her to admit, “We’ve fooled around but I wouldn’t say we’ve had sex…” “Oh?” “In the woods, I think was ready to, but he’s such a gentleman. He wanted to wait until we could do so more comfortably.” Susie nodded. “I’m no

Nicholas, for his part, only looked more concerned. He wasn’t alarmed. He wasn’t even startled. He just watched me closely. “Talk to me, Piper,” he said. “I can’t understand your growls yet.” I tried to bite back my growl, but I couldn’t manage. It erupted, curling around my words even as I atte

The next day, Elva and I spent some time with Veronica in the library. Veronica was nose deep in her books. Elva had begun their time together by flittering through the stacks pretending to be a dragon. Now, she was dozing on a big, comfortable, high-back chair. Watching her sleep so soundly helpe