Juliana didn’t know why she was nervous. Meeting Blaze shouldn’t be such a big deal, but the kid had been through a lot and she wanted to make sure that he felt as comfortable as possible.

A car door closing jolted her attention.

“Was that him?” she asked. She rushed past Caran and looked over the staircase railing to the bottom floor.

“Probably, Ash said that he spied them coming into Greenslopes County about fifteen minutes ago.”

“Fifteen minutes ago?” Juliana looked at her friend. “You didn’t tell me.”

Caran gave her a crooked smile as she rushed past her and down the stairs. No, she shouldn’t run.

Juliana slowed to a walk, every part of her pricking with excitement.

At the entrance, Mac appeared. He grinned. Juliana looked past him. A small boy, no taller than Mac’s waist appeared behind him. He held on tight to Mac and peered around his body taking in the partly renovated building.

It hadn’t all been fixed. Construction on level two would take a few more weeks for completion, and Mac had commissioned an artist to create a new mural for the ceiling. But it was safe and comfortable.

Juliana rushed over and squeezed Mac to her. Even though he’d only been gone a week, she’d missed him like crazy. She kissed all over his face.

Then she bent down to Blaze’s level. “Hi.” She held out her hand for him to shake.

Blaze looked tentatively between Juliana’s hand and up at Mac. He nodded and Blaze slowly reached out.

Juliana shook it. “Very nice to meet you, Blaze.”

He didn’t say anything, just stared. She didn’t judge him for that. Everything was too new, too different to what he was used to. She’d let him come to her in his own time.

“Would you like to see your room?” she asked. He frowned. “It’s right next to Mac’s room, uh, you’re Daddy’s room.”

He looked up at Mac. “Okay,” he said quietly.

“You’re going to love it.”

Juliana raced ahead, eager to take Blaze up to his new room. He held tight to Mac’s hand as they walked forward to the stairs.

The doors to the private levels where Ash, Lyson, and Mac resided had been removed. Now there was just an archway which meant anyone could come and go as they pleased.

Mac had insisted, especially now that Blaze was coming to live with them. He wanted Blaze to go wherever he pleased. There would be no locking him away from anyone else and keeping him hidden. This made it as easy as possible for him.

“Come on,” Juliana waved her hands forward.

Mac and Blaze reached the top level. Blazed paused, gripping Mac’s hand before going into the room. “Is this where my mom died?”

Juliana turned, her heart breaking for him.

Mac bent down. “She fell from up high, but don’t worry, that won’t happen to you, we’ve fixed all those places.”

“I know.” He looked serious. “You won’t let me fall.”

Mac squeezed his shoulder. “No, we won’t.”

Blaze stepped forward and Juliana kept her excitement in check as she indicated the new room off the main living area to their left. “Mac’s bedroom is just over there,” she pointed to the other side of the room. “This is yours.”

He walked into the room and stood in the middle, taking in all of the furniture and decoration that Juliana had arranged.

Mac placed his arm around her shoulder. “This looks great.”

“Really? I hope he likes it.”

Blaze went to his bed and sat down on it, his hand gliding over the crocheted blanket on top. “This is soft.”

Juliana sat next to him. “It used to be mine, and before then my mother’s. It’s very old.”

He rubbed his hand over the top of it.

“I thought you might look after it for me. Would you like that?”

“Okay.”

Juliana wanted to hug him so much but she refrained. She’d wait until he came to her and was ready.

Mac came over and sat on the other side of him. “You hungry? I heard the kitchen was baking strawberry glazed donuts today.”

Blaze’s eyes lit up. “With sprinkles?”

“I’m sure it could be arranged. Shall we invite Juliana to come along with us?”

He looked up shyly and nodded. Then he held out his hand so she could hold it. Juliana melted as she slipped her hand in his. “Well let’s go then. Donut’s don’t eat themselves.”

Blaze looked thoughtful, as if he was imagining that very scenario, then a small smile tugged on the outer corner of his lips. It disappeared as quickly as it had emerged, but it was in there, and that made her feel like he could get through this.

That they could get through this together.

* * *

Juliana stood at the window, watching the stars twinkling in the sky. Mac came up behind her, his arm snaking around her waist. “He’s asleep.”

“Good.” She let out a breath. It felt like all the tension in her body was finally going away. “I hope bringing him here was the right thing.”

“I can’t stop thinking about it either.” His lips caressed her bare shoulder, leading up to her neck. “Although I could shut that out for a few minutes.”

“A few minutes?” She turned and placed her hands on her hips. “I would hope that you’d need longer than a few minutes.”

He laughed and growled into her neck. “A few hours maybe?”

She moaned as his strong lips sucked on her neck, his tongue flicking out to tease her skin. “Keep going.”

“All night it is.” He lifted her up and carried her away from the window to his bedroom. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight.

Mac let her fall to the bed pinning her down. She could smell the soap from the shower lingering on his slightly damp skin. He leaned down and kissed her passionately.

Desire danced through her body. Juliana’s breath quickened, matching her racing pulse. He pulled her close, his hand wrapping around the back of her neck.

He crushed his lips onto hers, consuming her with a raw need.

She ran her hand down his smooth chest. His skin slick as she slid her hand down over his muscled chest. Then around to his back when she held tight, her fingernails digging in sharp as she pulled him closer.

He yanked her clothes with desperate need. His hands exploring her exposed flesh.

“You’re hot,” he murmured, his lips humming against her neck.

“Not from fire.” She’d taken precautions.

“From me.” He sucked the flesh of her shoulder into his mouth.

“Mmmm.”

He let the towel fall away, not waiting to remove it, too busy feverishly raking his hands over her heated flesh.

He groaned, holding her arms as he kissed down.

Mac buried his mouth at against the curve her her hip, sucking down the side of her stomach.

Juliana gasped, her back arching as her body came alive.

He moved, responding to her soft moan, reaching the lower part of her body.

His head between her thighs, his mouth hovering close to her sex.

A gentle flick of his tongue.

She gasped.

But he moved back up. The tease, a taste of more to come.

He pinned her again. His strong body hovering over hers.

Their eyes locked. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Her voice barely a whisper.

She groaned as he kissed her again.

His tongue demanding and urgent, tasting and devouring her mouth.

He pulled back, his eyes full of primal want.

Juliana grabbed him, gripping his shoulders as he moved between her legs. His strong manhood ready to claim his prize.

Arching her back, she whimpered, ready for it. Desperate for it.

He thrust into her.

“Mac.” His name sweet on her lips.

Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. Closer again.

He moved forcefully. Wanting. Both needing.

Fire burned in her veins. Not her curse. Something smoother, something delicious. Something that surrounded her in utter pleasure as he moved deeper and deeper inside her.

Juliana threw her head back, exposing her neck.

Mac’s lips devoured it, tasting her flesh.

A low guttural moan escaped her lips and she wrapped her legs around his waist. His pace was now feverish, desperate, raw. Again and again, she wanted nothing but this.

She could feel her senses building. A hot pleasure spreading from her core. Pleasurable. Good. Safe.

Closer and closer she came with each thrust. Soon she would reach the crest and ...

“Oh. Oh. Oh.” She shook as orgasm engulfed her.

Mac called out as he throbbed and pressed his need deep. His body tensing. She could feel his power as he gripped her hips, exploding inside her.

Then he fell. Laying next to her. Kissing her hand, her arm, her neck.

Juliana’s breathing heavy and ragged. She turned to him, caressing his finger over his cheek. “That was …”

“Only the start.” He finished. “You did say all night.”

She smiled dreamily, raising a brow. “You really think you could do that again.”

“If you give me a minute.”

She laughed and rolled to face him. He traced a finger along the side of her face. “We have more than one night. We’ve got forever to wait for.”

“And like I said before. We can have a lot of fun waiting for forever.” He kept his gaze locked with hers as his hand snaked down, caressing the curves of her body. Reaching lower, lower, touching the still sensitive nub of her clitoris. “But this will do for now.”

Juliana murmured as hot pleasure began to build in her body again. She didn't mind waiting for forever. Not one little bit.