“Thanks for driving me home.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

While he hovered rather close, he didn’t try to hold her elbow or support her as they walked to the door. She struck him as someone who wouldn’t appreciate being condescended to, even when she was almost comatose on her feet.

Zed took the keys from Dani’s hand on her fourth try to get them out of her purse. “I’m glad you came tonight. It would have been boring without you.”

“I’m glad I didn’t stay home in my pajamas.” She admitted. She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him. He hesitated for a beat, his hands poised over her shoulders, before pulling her close. He tucked his nose into her hair and smelled lavender and clover. He inhaled deeply and felt himself melt against her.

“Next time, maybe you’ll let me drive the bike?” she mumbled into his shirt.

He burst out laughing, throwing his head back. “Nice try, cher.”

“It was worth a shot.” She snickered. “Good night.”

He stared down at her mouth, so soft and full and bent his head toward it. He brushed his lips against hers, gently and when she answered by swallowing his next breath, kissed her properly. He approached her with tentative nibbles, followed by bolder licks and swipes. His hand slid down the curve of her back, settling over her hip. He squeezed, reveling in the soft, supple shape of her.

She bit lightly at his lip, parting his mouth with her tongue. He groaned and pulled her tight against him. She tasted like home and his favorite pie.

“You had the blueberry?” he murmured against her mouth. Dani nodded and Zed leaned in for another kiss. “I fucking love the blueberry.”

Dani giggle-snorted into his mouth, but never stopped kissing him. She slid her hands into his mess of hair and he rolled the crown of his head against her touch. He pushed her gently against the door of the maison. She fumbled blindly for the handle and popped the door open. She pulled at Zed’s shirt, guiding him through the door, but he put his hands on either side of the frame, stopping himself.

“I think this is where I leave,” he said, not quite trusting himself not to throw her over his shoulder and run upstairs at a gallop. As much as he wanted to see what was going on under the llamas, he was half in love with this girl already, and if he had sex with her now, he’d give her the mating bite and they might not leave the house for the next week. And he had a small mountain of paperwork and half a dozen meetings to go to this week.

Though she looked vaguely disappointed, Dani nodded and gave him one last quick peck. “Thank you.”