Why do I always say stupid things when I’m being intimate with Adam?

The thing is, I say those things in the heat of the moment and now, in the harsh light of day, all those things I said last night seem so bizarre and ridiculous.

And the problem is, Adam remembers. He absolutely does.

I said the same thing in The Succubus all those years ago, and he still brought it up when he showed up at dinner, out of the blue.

So, seeing as I just told him I was his last night, it’s probably safe to assume that he still remembers.

I gaze at his sleeping face. Without his brilliant-green eyes to steal the show, I notice how long and dark Adam’s lashes are and how thick his eyebrows are.

If he wants me to belong to him, does that mean he’s mine, as well?

Or, I wonder if the rules are different when he’s the Dom in this relationship.

Whoa.

Okay. No need to get ahead of myself. Nobody’s talking about any relationship.

This was just a . . .

Well, I can’t call it a one-night stand because he’s obviously not just going to take off just like that.

Also, we have a child together. That’s kind of a big deal.

Adam’s spent a lot of time and effort finding me and making sure he gets to see William, too. I don’t really see him just driving off into the sunset in his shiny, black sedan after all that.

Adam’s chest rises and falls with his deep, peaceful breaths. He grinds his teeth, making me wince.

Well, at least it’s not as loud as snoring, I guess. I can live with that. Not that I’m making long-term plans or anything.

Okay, obviously, it’s time to get up and start living in the real world again.

I take one last glance at Adam’s gorgeous sleeping face—oh, Adam, I envy you; you have no idea how awkward it’s going to be when you wake up—then I let out a big sigh and push myself up until I’m sitting on the couch

But just as I pull the blanket off my thighs, Adam grabs my hand. Is he awake?

“Where are you going?” he asks in a raspy, sleepy, heart-shatteringly sexy voice.

“I need to get ready for work then get William ready for daycare,” I whisper.

“It’s too early,” he says, pulling me back into his warm, comfortable arms. “You must’ve read the time wrong.”

This feels good. It’s like I’m in a soft, protective cocoon, with Adam’s chin on my head and his leg over mine.

“Adam, I’m going to be late,” I say reluctantly.

“Call in sick,” he says. “We’ll take William somewhere. We’ll have a day trip. How about the wine country? The leaves must look great this time of the year.”

Damn it, that does sound good. A mental picture flashes in my mind, of Adam and me walking on a dirt path while William runs onto a pile of colorful leaves . . .

“I can’t. I can’t just not show up at work.” As I wiggle out of Adam’s arms, I remind myself to return to the real world.

“Maybe some other time?” Adam’s green eyes are slightly dulled by sleep, but I can still see the same passionate embers I witnessed last night. “I just said the first thing that came to mind. But now, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all. There’s plenty of hiking trails we can explore in the area. How does William feel about jumping into a pile of dry leaves?”

“I have to go.” I sit up, realizing how abrupt I’m being, but I just . . . I can’t.

I can’t just keep lying there in his arms, listening to him talk about the three of us like we’re an actual family, and not get carried away.

A storm’s already raging in my chest. If I’m not careful, I’m going to drown. And if that happens, if I can’t even take care of myself, then what chance do I have of taking good care of William?

“Stay another five minutes?” Adam asks in a husky, lazy voice.

“I can’t.” I clamber over Adam’s body and hop off the couch. I can’t stand another minute pressed up against him, breathing in his musky scent.

Blood rushes in my ears as I rush away into the bathroom to take a shower. I think Adam may be saying something—something about pumpkins and Halloween?—but I can’t hear it over the commotion in my brain.

* * *

“What are you doing here?” I ask Adam when I open the door, my heart racing. I didn’t expect to see him, otherwise I wouldn’t be opening the door with pumpkin seeds stuck all over me.

The video tutorial I’m following online makes it look so easy to carve a pumpkin, but it’s all a lie.

I don’t know why I haven’t learned anything from my previous attempts. I’ve always ended up with a clown face when I tried contouring my face or doing smoky eye shadow like the make-up bloggers do.

At the same time, I found out today that I got the promotion at work. So I’m going to have some extra free time anyway that I can use to fail at following how-to videos.

“What, did you think I was an early trick-or-treater?” Adam grins. Stretching his neck to look behind me, he says, “I told you I was coming back on Halloween. Maybe we could go trick-or-treating with William.”

“William’s too young to be trick-or-treating. He’s too young for candy.”

“Oh.” Adam’s face falls, and for a moment, I want to throw my arms around him and tell him it’s going to be okay.

I sigh and swing the door open. Might as well, at this point. “So, are you coming in?”

Adam lights up and grins so wide I can almost swear he’s also pricking up his ears and wagging his tail, like a dog about to be taken for a walk. “Of course. Thank you.”

I step aside to let him through. But when he steps forward, he stalks toward me and grabs me by the waist. Shutting the door with his free hand, he corners me against the wall.

This man’s no dog. He’s a wolf; a hungry, hungry wolf staring straight into the eyes of his prey: me.

“Trick or treat?” he asks as he cages me in, planting his palms on both sides of me.

“You’re too old to be trick-or-treating,” I say nervously. “Have you heard about that one Canadian town that bans anyone over sixteen from trick-or-treating?”

“No, and I don’t care,” he says. “Let me ask you one more time. Trick or treat?”

“I have candy just over there if you want.” I point at the narrow table along the hallway, on which there’s a big, colorful glass bowl full of treats.

“That’s not what I want,” he says darkly. He slowly runs one hand down my collar bone, breasts, and stomach, making my heart pound. He gazes at me and smirks. “You look somewhat flushed.”

“Must be your imagination.”

“Possible.” Adam’s hand travels south to rest between my legs. He chuckles at my reaction. “Was that gasp my imagination, too?”

I bite my bottom lip and shake my head as Adam rubs my pussy over my jeans. The heat of his touch makes me tingle all over. I wish I’d worn something thinner, like yoga pants; I’d be able to feel every little movement made by every one of his fingers.

“This is the treat I want,” Adam says, licking his lips, leaving no doubt as to what he means.

I swallow my nervousness and try to ignore the fog of passion that’s closing in. “Adam, I can’t. William’s in the kitchen with Sawyer, and they’re waiting for me to come back.”

“Okay, he’s with Sawyer. That’s great, right? It won’t take long for me to make you come,” he whispers in my ear. His breath is minty. “I’ll make you lose control, kitten. Just a few minutes. After that, we’ll join them in the kitchen.”

That’s a really good offer. I grow slick at the thought of having Adam’s mouth between my legs again. The man’s not making false promises. He knows exactly what to do.

“Adam, I really can’t,” I say.

“Okay. Trick it is.” He smirks.

Before I can ask him what that means, Adam walks down the hall and into the kitchen.

I hear Sawyer and William welcoming Adam enthusiastically, and I wonder, when did this place turn into such a boys’ club? I’m surrounded.

Still, as I watch the three of them staring with concentration at a big, orange pumpkin on the table, I find the whole scene hilarious and endearing at the same time.

As the afternoon progresses, we manage to carve two of the pumpkins before the real trick-or-treaters arrive. William loves toddling out to the door in his skeleton costume and giving out candy to other kids in costumes.

As for me, I love seeing William happy, and Sawyer, too. What I don’t expect is this warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart when I catch a glimpse of Adam’s smile, especially when he’s doing something with William, like picking him up or ruffling his hair.

I don’t know. Maybe it won’t be such a bad idea after all, to try to make it with Adam. I mean, plenty of couples stay together for the kids, even when they hate each other.

I can’t deny this connection I feel to Adam. I’ve never felt this way about anyone else before.

Maybe . . . Maybe it’s okay to let things happen and see where they take me, instead of worrying over things that may not happen.

It’s possible for things to go well, right? It’s possible Adam won’t break my heart and William’s, too.

Because the way things are going right now, I don’t know if I can hold myself back. It scares me.

He could be the forbidden fruit that’s bound to ruin me once I take a bite, but right now there’s nothing I want more. I’m afraid it’s too late for me to just walk away from whatever we have.