Malia snuggled into the warmth of Zephyr’s arms. She could get used to this. Are you kidding? You already are used to it. Zephyr snuggled her closer, kissing her neck. “I know your mind is going right now, but just for a minute, let it go. Right now, we’re just Zephyr and Malia, and I’m holding you and it was a good night, and if you’re a good girl, I can make it an even better morning. How is it I’ve gone through a full twelve hours without tasting you?”

She giggled. “I don’t know. We should probably remedy that.” Warmth spread through the center of her chest. She was happy. It was hard to trust the feeling. It worried her. But she couldn’t worry about it right now. In this moment, she was going to take what she could get before her world came tumbling down.

Zephyr kissed her back, nuzzling into that little nook behind her ear. And then he nipped gently, soothing the ache with his tongue. She giggled. He skimmed his hands along her ribs, first smoothing down then giving up and going back up to cup her breasts. He rolled her nipples gently. “What can I say? I couldn’t help myself. Do you know how amazing your breasts are?” The question was asked right before a muttered curse.

She laughed. “I’m not sure. You’ve already told me a number of times.”

“Well, I should definitely tell you more often. That’s hardly enough for you to understand the magnitude of how awesome they are.” He shifted lower and kissed her mole. “And this mole right here? I love everything about it.”

“Zephyr, we have to get out of bed. I gotta get ready to go to work.”

“Okay, okay. I’m getting out of bed. But not before I taste you. And then you can get up.”

As he was kissing her, something buzzed on the nightstand. “Don’t answer it. Tell them I’m busy.”

Malia giggled again. “I have to take it. It might be work.”

“You know full well it’s not work. You’re not supposed to be there for another hour and a half.”

“But it might be Eva.”

Zephyr nipped at her hip, sending a shudder through her. “Don’t answer it. Don’t break into the cocoon of us right now. I have the dirtiest things I want to do to you. They won’t understand. They’ll try and take you out of my bed.”

Malia giggled. “I’m sorry. You can do dirty things to me when I get back from work tonight.”

“Stay with me,” he whined.

And it was tempting. She did want to stay with him. Stay in bed and never leave. But the problem with that was—

Malia giggled. "Zephyr, I have to get this."

He bit into her thigh. "Are you sure about that?"

"No." She shook her head. What the hell was she doing? You're getting caught up. Don't be stupid. "Sorry. I have to get this." She rolled over and grabbed her phone from the charger. "Eva?" It was six in the morning. Why was her sister awake? "What's wrong?" She shifted away from Zephyr, clutching the sheet to her breasts as she sat up.

"Malia. I need … God, I don't know what to do."

Shit. "What's wrong?" Her tone probably signaled to Zephyr that something actually was wrong so he sat up too and was quick to tug on his boxers.

On the phone, Eva sobbed. "Aunt Mabel. She kicked me out. Said that you weren't sending enough money. She could—"

"That conniving, evil cow. I will kill her. When you say she kicked you out, are we talking for an hour or for good? "

"I'm on the front porch. I slept out here last night. She changed the lock. I had a study session and—"

"Okay. I hear you." She heard her all right. Malia had to battle the fury and rage bubbling just under her skin to try and give her sister a rational response for what to do. "Okay, remember your friend Teagan? Can you go over to her house this morning? Take your stuff with you. I'll come get you."

"I know you have to work and I just—"

"Working is not nearly as important as taking care of you. And if Aunt Mabel hasn't been giving you that money and has the nerve to kick you out, there's no point in working my ass off. Okay, go to Teagan's and text me when you're there. I'm coming to you."

Except how was she going to get her? She didn't have a car. She could probably get a train ticket.

"I'm so sorry, Malia. I know how hard—"

Malia cut her off. "Listen to me. Aunt Mabel is a bitch. I will deal with her when I get home. Go to Teagan's and don't worry."

She hung up the phone with her sister and jumped out of bed, but Zephyr tugged her down quickly. "What the hell?”

Zephyr shook his head. "Hey, hello it's me, the guy who had his head between your legs not five minutes ago. What's going on?"

"I have to get to my sister. That bitch of an aunt kicked her out. She has nowhere to go. And I've essentially been paying a small ransom for Mabel to look after her. And now—"

Zephyr's brows lifted. "She kicked her out?"

"Yeah. So I need to go get my sister now. I need to figure out a bus or train ticket. I don't know. And somewhere for her to stay. And—"

"Relax. I'll drive you."

She frowned. "No. You won't. Besides, don't you have work or something?"

He shook his head. "I just had to write a progress reports on the product that we’re working on, and that's it. Remember, it's Saturday. You're the only one who has to work today."

Oh yeah. Work. "Shit, I need to call and tell them I'm not coming."

"Okay. I'll call them and say you're not coming, be like your brother or something." He chuckled at his own joke. "I'll deal with them. You go shower. Grab whatever you need. I'll shower too and we'll both go."

She wanted to argue but knew better. "Okay. Thank you."

"Are you serious right now? Like I'm going to let you deal with this yourself. When you care about someone you rally. So get a shower. We'll try and leave in thirty.”

If she wasn't already halfway in love with him, that statement right there? That did it. She was so screwed.

* * *

"Is this the one?" Zephyr's voice was quiet as they pulled up to the brick townhouse.

She nodded. "Yeah. This is the one.” The house looked just like she remembered it. The last time she had a happy memory in this house was before her parents died.

Everything changed after that. Aunt Mabel had come to live with them and immediately taken over her parents’ room. Even though it was over a year ago, it still felt like yesterday. Mabel said that no one else was using it. So she made use of the room despite there being a guest room.

Logically, Malia had been able to see the practicality. But it still stung, considering she and Eva just lost their parents. “I don't know what to do,” she whispered. “Because if I walk into the house and see her smug face, I will kill her."

Zephyr was silent for a moment. "I understand. At the same time, your sister needs you. You going to prison would not be good for her. So, when we go find out what happened with your aunt, and we go to get your sister and get her settled, it’s not a good idea to kill your aunt. Even if you really want to."

She sighed. “I hate it when you're rational.”

He opened the driver's side door. “I will try to refrain from rationality in the future.”

On the one hand, she hated how rational he was. How calm, despite all the crazy, the hours on the road, and her terseness with him. He was he being so nice to her. "I bet you're regretting that faculty function now."

He grinned. "Not even for a second."

She led the way up the stairs to the porch and tried the door. Luckily it was open. She wasn't sure her aunt would let her in. They found Aunt Mabel at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of tea. "Malia? What the hell are you doing here?"

"This is my parents’ house, remember? Technically mine when I turn twenty-one."

Her aunt scowled at her. "You're going to throw that in my face? Let me remind you that I moved here to take care of you two."

"You had one job. Look after Eva. This house, it's paid for. All you had to do was make sure my sister was safe. Instead you kick her out of her own home?"

Mabel’s gaze shifted to Zephyr. "Who the fuck is this?"

Zephyr was smooth and calm. "Hello. I'm Zephyr. Malia's boyfriend.”

Boyfriend? Shit. But she didn’t have time to deal with that right now.

Her aunt scoffed. "You little slut. So much for working and studying all the time.”

At the use of the word slut, something snapped inside Malia. Before she knew what she was doing, she threw herself at her aunt, and then her hand was connecting. The satisfying sting on her palm letting her know that she found her target.

Mabel staggered back. "You ungrateful bitch."

Before she could get another blow in, Zephyr had his arm around her and lifted her easily. "Malia, that is enough. We're here for your sister. Why don't you go up to her room, get anything else she might need, and then we'll go to her friend’s house to see her."

There was no way in hell Malia was letting Mabel get away with this. "This isn't your house. You need to leave."

"Good luck with that. You signed over guardianship of Eva to me. You're welcome to move back and take care of her. She's ungrateful, doesn't clean up after herself. And the money you send is barely enough to take care of her."

"What is it you're using that money for anyway? I send nearly a thousand a month. I know the house is paid for, so what?"

"You have no idea what it costs to care for a child. So fucking irresponsible, just like my sister."

"You always did hate her, Aunt Mabel. And I don't know why because she loved you."

"What the hell do you know about love? She didn't love me. She always thought she was better than me. Mom and Dad spoiled her. And they all spoiled you. You got everything. You don’t even deserve it. "

"So you took it out on us?” Malia was tired. “This is about the house? You’re mad Grandma and Grandpa gave it to Mom? And that she gave it to me and Eva?” She was exhausted. How was she going to do this? This was the only house they'd ever known. "Get out of my parents’ house. Before I get back to Pittsburgh, I want you gone." Maybe she could rent it out. But then where would Eva stay?

"You mean to throw me out? You do realize that if no one can look after her, then she's going to go to foster care?"

"Over my dead body."

Mabel laughed. "Maybe I'll call CPS myself."

That's when Zephyr stepped in. This time his voice was cool, deadly. "You will do no such thing. You get your things.” When she stood silently, he added, “Malia, go get Eva's things. I'll watch your aunt to make sure she doesn't call CPS. Focus Malia. You sister is waiting for you."

"You're right. Aunt Mabel, it didn't have to be like this. It really didn't." Malia ran upstairs only to find there was really nothing left in Eva's room. She deliberately avoided looking at her parents’ old bedroom when she ran by the door.

Maybe it was time to just rent this house until she knew what to do with it. But for right now she couldn't come stay here. She’d made a promise to her mother, and she intended to keep it.

She took a couple of pictures from Eva's room, then ran downstairs. "There wasn't much left. She's tossed most of it onto the porch. I just got some pictures for her."

Zephyr nodded. "I sent your aunt to the master bedroom to pack her things."

"I don't even know what to say. I just—"

He shook his head. "Look, just nod and say thank you.”

“Thank you.”

Within thirty minutes, they were gone and parked in front of Eva's friend’s house. Before Malia was even out of the car, Eva was running down the steps. "Malia!"

Malia met her sister halfway and embraced her in a tight hug. "Thank God. You're okay?"

Eva nodded. "Teagan's mom is pretty cool and—" She stopped short and pointed at Zephyr. "Who is that?"

Malia fought to hide her smile. "That's Zephyr. He's a friend of mine."

"A very hot friend."

"Doesn't matter. What matters is you. I told Mabel to get the hell out of the house. It's not her house anyway.”

"Maybe I can move to Pittsburg with you. We can live in an awesome apartment, I'll enroll in school and—"

Malia’s stomach cramped, the fire burning through her belly, and then flowing out like lava in her veins. "Eva, I'm sorry, but that won't work."

Her sister frowned. "Why not, if I promise I won't get in your way? And you know I mostly study anyway and—"

Malia took her sister's hands. "Sweetie, I absolutely want you with me. But I don't have anywhere to live myself right now."

Eva frowned. "Excuse me?"

Shit. This was the hard part. Just rip off the Band-Aid.

"It’s a long story, but I haven't had anywhere steady to stay for the last three months. Since the last time I saw you. I have a temporary place I’m crashing, but there isn’t a room for you. You need that."

Her sister’s brow furrowed as she tried to process the information "Are you telling me you're homeless?"

That word. All the meaning and connotation behind it. "Yeah. I am. Zephyr found out and gave me a place to crash. So, as you can see, I'm not really in any position at all to have you come to me. Is Teagan's mom home? We can talk to her, see if you can stay here for a couple of weeks while I sort you out."

"She's still at work. And I don't want to stay here. I want to be with you."

God, she was so bad at this. How did she break her sister’s heart like this? "Eva, I know. Look, I need to find a solution that will carry you to September. Because after that, I've got the money for the admission fee. You'll have boarding then for next year."

Eva sagged. "Yeah, but that's still months away. What am I going to do?”

"I don't—" She was so unprepared for this. She had no answer to give her. No hope to give. Zero flipping answers.

Behind her she could feel Zephyr's heat as he moved closer. "Nice to meet you, Eva."

"You too. Thank you for driving Malia here to get me."

He nodded. "Happy to help. And I might have a friend who can help out. Just give me a second to make a call."

Malia's brow lifted. “Zephyr. Who—”

But he'd already stepped away to make a call,

"Seriously Malia, where did you find him? He's really cute and impossibly sweet."

Malia nodded. "Oh, I know it. He is.” She had no words to say the proper kinds of thank you for everything he'd done for her today. But worse yet, she couldn't help the twisting pang of jealousy in her belly as she heard him talking on the phone to someone named Taj. Who the hell was Taj? And why was he speaking to her so affectionately?

Malia was getting attached. Too attached. She was giving him the power to break her.

When he walked back over, he gave them a smile. "So, my friend Taj, she works in Philly a lot. She and my sister-in-law work for an ad agency that is opening an office in Philadelphia. She's here during the week, staying in hotels and corporate housing. She could just as easily stay in the townhouse and look out for Eva the next couple of months. I figured it was worth a shot. She's willing to if you need that as an option."

Eva's eyes went wide. "Seriously? You don't even know me. Why would you help?"

He cocked his head. "You're her sister. She loves you a lot. And it's the right thing to do. I’ve watched her work herself to the bone to send money to your aunt. If I can make this easy then let me." He turned his attention back to Malia and she could actually feel it, the sensation of falling into an abyss of warm and gooey light and love. No one ever mentioned it was an actual feeling of falling.

The urge to flee was strong. But if she stayed, maybe, just maybe she'd get a happy ending.

“So Eva, Taj is a handful, I know. Big mouth, not afraid to share her opinions of everybody. But she's awesome. And smart. And will show your parents’ house the respect it deserves.”

A flush of warmth floated over Malia’s skin. "I don't know what to say.”

"I mean, you're Eva's technical guardian, aren't you?"

She nodded. "Yeah, the lawyer worked out some deal. As long as there is an adult present in the home, she could stay there.”

"Okay, let's get you back to the house. I can have Taj meet us there.”

Before they could even go into the house to collect Eva's things, her sister took a running leap and launched herself at Zephyr. "Thank you. For everything.”

Malia shifted uncomfortably on her feet as she watched her sister continue to hold on to him spider monkey style.

“Most of all, thank you for helping Malia."

"Anytime. Once I laid eyes on her, I knew I'd pretty much give her anything."

Malia fell all the way in love.