“Is that a promise?” I slipped my hands under the front of his long sleeved shirt. His skin was warm as always.

“Yes.” He moved his hands under my legs, warming me up.

“Don’t you need your hands to persuade me?”

“Are you doubting I can do it without them?”

“Yes.” Challenging Levi was only a good idea when it came to kissing and sex. He thrived under that kind of pressure.

“Challenge accepted.” He leaned forward and kissed me. I pulled him closer, moving his hands further up my skirt in the process. He broke the kiss. “That’s not using my hands. That’s all you.”

“Fine. Just get back to kissing me.”

He did as I asked, but his lips didn’t stay on my lips long before they moved to my earlobe and then my neck.

I pulled his shirt over his head and started unzipping his pants.

“Am I allowed to use my hands yet?”

“Not quite yet.” I pushed down his khakis and slipped my hand just underneath the band of his boxers. “Aren’t you glad I didn’t promise to keep my hands to myself?”

He grinned. “Very.”

I moved my hand so I could pull my sweater over my head before returning it to Levi and pushing his boxers out of the way. He stepped out of his pants and boxers, kicking them away. Using his mouth, he pulled one of my bra straps down and kissed my shoulder before moving to the other and doing the same thing.

“Would you like some help with that?” I whispered into his ear.

“Yes,” he grunted.

I used my free hand to reach around and unclasp my bra. He didn’t waste a second before his mouth claimed one of my br**sts.

I moaned. “You passed the challenge. You can use your hands now.”

Before I could process it, he had me off the counter and on our bed. “I’m more than happy to accept any challenge you throw at me, babe.” He yanked down my skirt and pulled off my panties. “On top or under the covers?”

“Under. I want to see how soft the sheets are.”

“I don’t think you’ll be worrying about the sheets.” As he said it, he pulled back the quilt and top sheet, laying me down.

I reached my arms up and around his neck. “You are entirely too far away.”

“Am I?” he said softly, teasingly.

“Yes.”

“I’ll have to change that.” He positioned himself over me, transforming instantly.

“Are you going to transform every time?”

He didn’t answer, and seconds later I didn’t care.

***

“Are the sheets up to specification?” Levi ran a hand down my stomach.

“They’re fantastic.” I snuggled into them contentedly. Being with Levi was always amazing. “But you never answered my question.”

“What question?”

“Are you going to transform every time now? I’m not complaining, but you don’t even warn me anymore—and it’s pretty intense.”

“Oh. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until after. I think it just happens naturally now.”

“Is that what’s supposed to happen?”

“I actually don’t know…I wouldn’t think so, but the only one I can really ask is my dad.”

“No. Don’t ask.”

Levi laughed. “Do you mind it?”

“No. It just takes me a lot longer to recover. It’s so powerful. My body feels like it’s transforming somehow.”

“Is that your way of telling me I need to give you a break?”

“Maybe just a little.”

He kissed my forehead. “I’ll stick to cuddling the rest of the night.”

He lay on his back, and I rested my head on his chest. “I think I could get used to this house.”

“Me too, as long as I get to go to sleep every night with you right where you are.”

Chapter Six

“Where are you?” Hailey asked when I finally answered my phone.

“Good morning to you too.” I propped up my pillow, still trying to wake up.

“I’m at the guys’ place, and Owen says you and Levi never came home last night. Did you go down to the hotel or something?”

Levi chuckled. “Glad to know you’re worried about us, Hailey.”

It was still weird how well he could hear. He was lying on his back with his hands behind his head. Waking up with Levi was becoming one of my favorite parts of the day.

I smiled, loving the answer I was about to give. “We’re actually at our house.”

“Your house?”

“Yeah. The Laurents bought us a house. It’s over on Audubon. It’s pretty spectacular.”

“I’d bet. I picked up bagels and coffee. Should I come over there?”

“Definitely.” Bagels and coffee? Hailey knew me well. “You can bring Jared and Owen too.”

“Gee, I’d love that.” Hailey may have complained about her brother and Jared, but I think she enjoyed their company more than she let on. I did too.

“It’s the large white house with the columns. See you in a few.”

I sat up, pulling the blanket around me. “We need to get dressed.”

Levi rolled over toward me. “You mean you don’t want to welcome our first guests while you’re naked?”

“Not exactly.” I pulled on my clothes from the day before. Unlike the safe room, Helen hadn’t stocked the room with clothes. I didn’t mind, the toiletries were plenty.

***

“Okay, so where’s my room?” Hailey’s reaction to the house was similar to mine. She couldn’t stop looking around at everything.

“You know, we didn’t even finish checking out all the rooms last night.” I finished the last bite of my cinnamon raisin bagel.

“I wonder what got you distracted?” Hailey nudged me with her shoulder.

I bit back a smile. “We looked into one other room.”

“Shall we explore?” Hailey stood up.

“Sounds good.” I turned to Levi. “See you later.”

He waved before returning to a conversation with his friends.

We headed up the stairs. I ran my hand over the wood railing; every detail about the house was beautiful. If Robert wanted to find a way to bribe me—he’d succeeded.

“When are you moving out?” Hailey said it calmly, but I could tell she was worried.

“I’m not.”

“Really?” Relief was clear on her face. “You’re picking the dorm over this?”