Kade laughed again like he’d followed my gaze and knew exactly what I was thinking. But I still looked at him. Messy hair gathered into a bun, rings in his ears, lip, and nose, beard that I wanted to feel the scratch of. He was scorchingly hot, just like the rest of them, and they were going to help me through the heat.

The thought got me moving. I grabbed clothes—though I didn’t imagine I would be needing many—and my toothbrush. The other basics. But I tried to listen to him and not overthink it.

“Okay,” I zipped the suitcase. “That’s all I need. Just let me change.”

Neither of them moved, and I flushed hot. I was going to be doing that more. Especially as my fever grew and heat settled.

Luke chuckled. “We’ll take the suitcase downstairs. But if you’re not down in five minutes, I’m coming to make sure you didn’t bolt out the window.”

“Trust me,” I smiled, “I’m not that coordinated.”

“We’ll see.”

They did go, and I changed. I just didn’t want to go outside in the ratty sweats I had on. They would probably fall apart completely when exposed to sunlight. I opted for jeans and one of my favorite t-shirts. It slouched off the shoulder, and given what Luke had just done in that general area, I felt like leaving it available.

My first heat actually fucking through it… good thing I didn’t have to worry about getting pregnant. I’d gotten the implant that locked shit down tight until I was ready. It was super-powered to make up for things like the heat.

Everyone was in the kitchen when I came downstairs, Eva laughing with them. The sight made me freeze for a second before I checked myself. They weren’t here for her, they were here for me.

Ben looked over at me and grinned before he looked back at Eva. “We’ll continue this later.”

I cleared my throat. “Continue what later?”

“Eva had an idea for a TV show about the studio,” Ben said, striding across the floor and lifting me off my feet enough to spin me around. “It could be interesting, so I told her we’d meet with her and her producers.”

Relief flowed through my chest. “Oh. That will be fun.”

Immediately shame came on the heels of the relief. Eva was happy with her pack, and she wouldn’t do that to me. The fact it was even a possibility in my mind was fucked up.

But I was fucked up. I was self-aware enough to know.

“I’m glad you said yes,” he whispered into my skin.

I was too, but I was still too nervous to say it.

Rylan stole me for a hug, and then Avery.

“I think I’m ready,” I said, before stopping and looking at Eva. “Did the paps follow you?”