Darak opened the passenger door, and as she floated past him, she picked up the heady scent of citrus, oak, and clean sweat.

How could any man be this beautiful and at the same time so thoughtful? She didn’t care if he worshipped the aliens. She’d told him what she wanted, and—snap! —he’d made it happen. Merely thinking about how he’d driven a girl he hardly knew seventy-five miles, just to fulfill a wish made her chest flutter. Not one moan about falling to her death or inhaling a deadly fungus. He didn’t even ask if she had hand sanitizer.

Her face warmed, remembering how she’d cried on the first platform. All day he’d been sweet to her, but not like she was wounded. He’d teased her, made her laugh; he’d treated her like she mattered. The stolen kisses had made her knees weak, and she’d clung to him much longer than necessary, all memory of the morning’s argument forgotten.

Eden knew she’d be facing a mess when she got home, explaining to her parents why she’d tricked them. The tears, the recriminations—they might even ask her to move back into her old bedroom. She didn’t care. It’d been worth it. In a mere three days Darak had become important to her—no, not important: necessary.

“What else is on that list of yours? I think I’m going to have to see it.” Darak snapped his seat belt and turned over the ignition. “Wait. Better not. If I stay with you one more day, I may never go home.”

Her heart skipped, but she adopted a look of mock horror. “Run. If we do number ninety, you’ll never be free.”

“Number ninety, huh? Sounds kinky.” He flashed a devilish smile.

“You have no idea. I’m telling you, get out of town, quick.” Number ninety was parachuting, but she wanted him to be intrigued.

But all he did was rub his lips together, his expression thoughtful as he backed out of the parking spot and headed for the park entrance. He was silent after that.

Eden felt the hole where conversation should be. Why was he frowning? Was he already picturing a tomorrow without her in it? She scratched an imaginary itch on her arm. The quiet made her feel awkward, hollow even, and she switched the radio to a popular music station.

Absently tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, Darak wore a crease in his brow as he waited his turn to pull onto another road. She ached for him to touch her, hold her hand—anything, but he didn’t. She studied him out of the corner of her eye, but the set of his mouth told her nothing, and the pit in her stomach dissolved into acid. With a sigh, she sagged back against her seat.

Darak did a double take, as though he’d forgotten she was there. “Tired?” he asked.

“A little,” Eden admitted. She was always tired, though. Even after her recovery, exhaustion clung to her like a dark shadow. The doctors assured her this was a common thing among survivors, and she shouldn’t be concerned. She wasn’t; her parents worried enough that she didn’t need to. Anyway, she’d lost a couple pounds this month—not really meaning to, but it left her feeling a little weaker than usual.

The silence lingered like a bad rash, and Eden’s stomach twitched. Her thoughts grappled each other, jumbled and indistinct, and she couldn’t find words. What if she accidentally said something needy, like I’ll miss you?

So the miles stretched onward, and Eden gave up trying to sleep. She watched Darak out of the corner of her eye as he focused on the road. Her heart fluttered in gratitude when he flicked her a smile, but then his fingers tightened on the steering wheel and his frown returned.

What did that mean? Biting her lips, Eden stared out the passenger window, stealing herself not to chew her nails down to the cuticles. Analyzing his every movement was just plain pathetic. She hardly knew the guy. Last week she hadn’t even known Darak existed.

Maybe all this awkwardness was a sign. This thing with Darak had to end. The more time he spent with her, the more attached she’d become. That could never happen. He was leaving, and anyway, being tied down to another person—like she was at home—she’d never be able to follow her dreams. What she needed to do was rip off the bandage and let the sting subside.

Yawning, Eden let the gentle motion of the vehicle comfort her. She’d just nodded off when she felt the warmth of his hand on her leg.

“You were snoring,” Darak said with a hint of a smile.

She felt the flesh rise up her neck and into her cheeks. “You are such a liar. I do not snore.”

“It’s cute, like a little baby guerilla.”

“You’re so mean.” Eyes dancing, Eden brushed his hand away. “Stay on your own side of the car if you’re going to be that way.”

He deflated. “Damn. I was hoping you would let me drill you up the ass.”

“That’s disgusting!”

“Then can I go down on you?”

“No!” But her core heated at the thought. “You totally tricked me.”

“How is that?”

“Being all sweet today.” She crinkled her nose. “You’re such a poser.”

“I am not sweet. Sweet is for pussies.”

“Did I just hear a meow?”

Darak shook his head, but his eyes held a glint. He studied the road ahead of him, and when an opening in the trees revealed a dirt road, he slowed way down.

“What are you doing?”

“Being selfish,” he said, turning onto the gravel.

“What do you mean?” But her stomach leaped. The adventure wasn’t over.

“Please tell me you aren’t a serial killer.”

“What would you do if I was?”

“Cry. Scream. Scratch your eyes out.”

“That’s not much of a fight.”

“Yeah? Try driving this thing when you’re blind.”

“Relax. I promise. I just want to kiss you breathless.”

“Oh.” A stroke of heat licked between her thighs.

“Now,” he said, pulling over near some trees. “Want to see some magic?”

* * *

Opening her eyes, Eden ran her fingers through the thick softness of Darak’s hair. They’d just had sex, hot as rocket fuel, and she glowed. He’d seemed to hesitate when she produced the condom, and she’d nearly died of embarrassment. But he’d taken it from her without protest.

“I must have been drunk last time.” She traced her fingers up his cheek and dug into his scalp. “The floor didn’t seem as scratchy then.”

Purring, he leaned into her caress. “That feels good. Did I hit on number ninety?”

His hair. So thick. So soft. “Nope. Not even close.”

Shifting, he gazed down at her with a frown. “You’ve got to be kidding. Please tell me I at least hit something on your list.”

“Well, number eighty-six is finding the Loch Ness monster. Are you planning a trip to Scotland?”

“I don’t have to. Got a monster right here in my pants.”

“Ew. You’re such a guy. “ Eden continued tracing her finger down the side of his jaw, enjoying the soft bristles of his scruff. “I wish you didn’t have to leave. I’m having so much fun.”

“Me too.” Darak’s forehead wrinkled. “You know, I wish we had more time, but I have that meeting early tomorrow, and after that I’m taking off.”

“Like a lone wolf let loose on the plains.” Her chest felt tight, and the pressure in her eyes told her she could cry at any second. Even though her parents treated her like a child, she was not. She should have been finishing her junior year of college, drinking herself stupid, and screwing every guy on campus. After all she’d been through, there were times she felt like a middle-aged woman. Not with Darak, though. Darak made her feel like she could make a list five hundred items long and do every single one of them.

“I was wondering,” she said, a thrill of excitement tickling her core. It didn’t have to be over. Yet.

Darak grunted, darting her a questioning look before returning his attention to the road.

“I’ve never, you know, done anything except for…” She glanced around, again taking in the contents of the SUV. Maybe he’d had some kind of foam mat that night?

Suddenly intent, Darak sat up.

“What I mean is…you said before about…but not if you were joking.” Blushing like a burn victim, Eden buried her cheeks in her hands. She’d been about to ask him if he’d go down on her. She’d heard it was amazing, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. What the hell is wrong with me?

“Are you talking about anal sex?”

Ew! “No!”

“I can teach you a little thing called felatio.”

She blinked. “But I thought guys couldn’t come twice.”

“I’m not a guy.”

“So you’re a woman. I see.”

“No, little girl. Remember? I’m a wolf.”

He lay back against the center of the rough black carpeting and folded his hands behind his head.

Eden eyed his cock and swallowed. Having sex was easy. All she had to do was enjoy it. Darak lay there expectantly like he was waiting for her to get moving.

“What am I supposed to do? Blow on it?”

His eyes widened, and the look on his face was so comical she almost laughed. “I’m not that naive—I promise—but a little direction here?”

Darak’s eyes took on a dangerous glint as he tossed a small square pillow at her head. Eden deflected it back onto his chest. He tucked it behind his head and relaxed back. “Just touch me.”

The chill air against her flesh gave her goose bumps, making her acutely aware of her own nakedness. Shyly, she wrapped her fingers around his shaft, finding him already warm and turgid. Darak hissed a sharp intake of air as she tightened her grip on his thickness.

“Go slowly first,” he said, his voice low. “That’s it, cup my balls.”

The fact that he ordered her what to do should have made her want to punch him. If anything, it stoked the fire building inside her. She couldn’t imagine doing anything more intimate—taking his cock inside her mouth like this. It was kind of degrading, really, but it excited her. She slid her tongue along the underside of the head, and a sweet glow lit her as he groaned.

“Taste the head, yeah, oh, just your tongue.”

She caught a hint of salt and something else. Is that me? How strange it was to taste her own desire. She experimented with licking the entire length of him, then switched her position so that she could hold the base and redirect her attention to the tip, where he seemed to like it.

His breath quickened. “Kiss it.”

“Like this?”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Use your tongue more.”

She took him into her mouth, lightly sucking and swirling around the head.

His eyelids fluttered and he groaned something inarticulate. Encouraged, she worked up a rhythm, and the grip in her hair softened as he petted her in encouragement.

His cock filled her mouth, but the pleasure she gave him filled the ache in her chest. She wanted so badly to make him happy. Her whole being yearned for it. Darak felt so warm, his skin slicked in clean sweat, and that musky smell of him…she pulled him deeper, continuing to suck as she did so.

He dug his fists into the sheets as she worked him, using her hand and her mouth in tandem. He rewarded her with another moan. Driving his fingers into her hair, he held her in place as he pumped his hips. The savagery of his expression—it was almost like he hated her, and when he pushed particularly deep, she choked. This only seem to inflame him. Baring his teeth, he arched his neck. “Fuck, yeah. Take it!”

His need became hers, and she lost all sense of herself in her desire to please him.

“I’m going to come,” he panted. Swallowing, he added, “When I do, suck it. Swallow it all.” He screwed his face up as he cried out, and when he did, the first jet hit the back of her tongue. Salty, like him. She nursed his cock, drawing on him in soft pulls until every drop was taken.

“Oh man,” he said, ruffling his hair. “Whoa. That was…”

“Did I do okay?”

He pulled her forward and up his body until their gazes met.

“You are perfect.”