Through sheer poor luck and the inability to make our schedules sync, it’s been a week and a half since my first date with Zach. Our texting hasn’t diminished, but I’m bummed we haven’t seen one another again.

I set my phone down and dive back into the open economics book in front of me.

I’m sufficiently lost in all the mumbo jumbo, so the deafening knock on the front door about scares the shit out of me.

I check the time on my phone, surprised to see that nearly an hour and a half has gone by. I also realize it’s already five PM and I haven’t eaten anything since seven this morning.

On cue, my stomach grumbles loudly.

“Shit.”

Another knock on the front door has me moving quickly to answer it.

Peering through the peephole, I squeal in delight.

“You are a godsend!” I tell him, swinging the door open and grabbing the food bags he’s holding. “I could kiss you right now but I’m really fucking hungry and I need to eat before I get hangry. We don’t want to see that.”

I hurry over to the couch and tear open the bag, finding fresh French fries and chicken nuggets inside.

“Oh my god. This is amazing,” I moan through a bite.

I devour another nugget before glancing up at the door, which is still wide open. Zach’s standing there, a huge smile across his face.

“Crap. I’m the worst host ever—though I am a surprise host.” I throw him a look as I set the bag of food down and cross the living room to properly greet him.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hi.” He rocks back on his heels. “I’m surprised you walked that far away from your food.”

“Thank you, for the food, I mean. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, Delia. Do me a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Hold this for me while I go grab a few things from my car.”

He hands me a leash, and at first, I don’t understand it.

Then it dawns on me who would need a leash.

“You brought Marshmallow!” I drop to my haunches and peek around the door frame.

It takes everything in me not to squeal and scare the sweet baby goat when I see him. I gingerly stick my hand out, trying to coax him closer to me.

He takes a few hesitant steps then eventually totters closer, placing the tip of his chin in my outstretched hand. He pushes his head deeper into my palm and tears spring to my eyes. I feel like a blubbering fool, but he’s so damn precious.

I gather him up and stand, holding him close to my chest.

“You have him?”

I nod. “And I’m never letting go.”

“I’ll go grab his cage and toys. Be right back.”

“What the hell happened?”

“This goat is the devil!” I point at the offending creature, holding Zach’s surprised gaze with a furious one of my own. “I let him down for two seconds—two seconds. I wanted barbecue sauce for my nuggets so I set him down, walked into the kitchen, grabbed the sauce, and returned to this!”

“How did he eat a cushion that fast?”

“I don’t know!” I wave my arms around in frustration. “I mean, I might have turned my back for more than two seconds because I put on a pot of coffee, but it wasn’t for more than two minutes, I swear!”

Zach laughs, and I have the urge to punch him.

“You’re seriously laughing right now? You’re the worst.”

“Best, and I’m only laughing because you’re kind of adorable when you’re all flustered. Do you literally pull at your hair? It’s a mess.”

He strides farther into the apartment, setting Marshmallow’s cage down and carefully placing a drink carrier full of coffee on the table.

Smiling, he reaches out and brushes a stray hair out of my face. “I’ll buy you a new couch.”

“You will not.”

“I will too. Don’t argue. I should have warned you not to leave him alone.”

“Zach.”

“Delia.”

Then he’s kissing me, and I’m letting him.

I want to fall into his touch, want to let myself go under his spell.

But there is a cute little goat currently running around my apartment, and I need to focus on that before he eats everything in sight.

Pulling away, I sigh. “I don’t want to stop kissing you, but I also don’t want you to have to refurnish my entire apartment.”

“Oh crap.” He hurriedly grabs Marshmallow and puts him in his cage before he can do any more damage. “Take a nap, little buddy. I know you’re tired from that car ride.”

I point down at the coffee. “For me?”

“Yes. I brought you your favorite.”

“You’re too good to me.”

I grab the coffee and take a sip before reaching for the food again. This time I’m patient enough to rifle through the bag and separate the two orders of nuggets and fries.

“Thank you again. You have no idea how much I needed this.”

“It’s no problem. Besides, I kind of missed you.”

“You did?”

He steals a fry from my carton. “Yes.”

My toes tingle at his confession. I love the way he makes me feel so special with such a simple declaration.

We eat in silence for a few minutes, watching Marshmallow fight sleep.

“I can’t believe you brought him.”

“He wanted to meet you.”

“He’s so cute—way cuter in person than the photos.” I bump his shoulder with mine. “You are too.”

“You’re not too bad yourself.” He finishes off his last nugget, chews, and swallows. “So, what are you studying?”

I huff and throw myself back on the couch, amping up the drama. “Economics. That shit is no joke. I don’t understand half of it.”

“I do.”

“You do not.”

He levels me with a stare. “Hi, owned my own business and sold it for way more than it was worth. I can help with economics.” He stands, extending his hand to me. “Come on, let’s get to work.”

With a heavy sigh, I allow him to pull me off the couch.

“What about Marshy?”

“He’s fine. He’ll make this weird noise when he wakes up, but he should be out for a couple hours.” Zach tugs on my hand. “Lead the way.”

I direct him down the hallway and to my room.

I do my best to push my dirty bras and random socks under the dresser and the bed, but I think he notices anyway.

His eyes roam over the small space. “This isn’t what I was expecting. It’s so…”

“White? I know, but we can’t paint. I mean, we can, but we only have like four shades of white to choose from. I guess since they have so many college kids coming through here, it’s easier to tell them they aren’t allowed to paint than deal with the hassle of it.”

“Smart on their part. I do like that you tried to dress it up with the teal.”

“Girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”

He takes a seat on my messy bed, pulling the open econ book onto his lap. “This what you’re working on?”

I nod and take a seat next to him. “Unfortunately. Anything familiar to you?”

“Oh yeah. I can breeze you through this. I have a trick to remember all these names for everything.”

We make ourselves more comfortable on the bed, lying on our stomachs with the book propped up between us.

It feels like hours later, but what Zach’s explaining is finally starting to click. I’ve already worked through two of the example problems in the book, plus one Zach created.

With his help, I think I could ace the upcoming tests.

“What’s with all the studying anyway?” he asks during a coffee break.

“Our professor enjoys pop quizzes, and I have a feeling there’s one coming next week since he assigned a bunch of reading everyone groaned about. I also hear he likes to do a round of testing around Thanksgiving and since it’s not that far off, I figured I’d need to do well on these quizzes before then.”

“I knew I kept you around for something. You’re a smart cookie.”

“Dude, cookies sound so delicious right now.”

“Food-whore,” he teases.

“Guilty.” I yawn. “I’m tired of studying. Let’s do something else.”

“We could have a naked pillow fight.”

“Something less pervy.”

“We could watch Hemlock Grove, you know, since you put it on a hiatus because you were getting creeped out.”

“Are you really even watching that shit? It’s weird!”

“So weird and so good.”

I nod. “So good.”

I clap my hands together and roll off my bed, getting to my feet in one swift movement. “Okay, let’s do this. I’ll grab the popcorn—”

“Food-whore.”

“—and you load Netflix and check on Marshy. Ready, break.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Are we allowed to snuggle during this Netflix marathon?”

“Hmm…I’ll allow it.”

“Naked snuggling?” he says, waggling his brows and stalking toward me.

I pat his chest. “Don’t push your luck, stud.”

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

The sudden flash of a bright light wakes me. Then the sudden loss of my pillow wakes me up even more.

Zach springs off the couch, ready for action.

“Shit, Zoe. I was about to karate chop your ass,” I hear him say.

I peel my eyes open to find Zoe standing in the doorway, hands on her hips and a devious grin across her lips. Zach stands still, shoulders tense, and he’s ready to pounce.

“Nice boner, Zach.”

He falls back on the couch, pulling a pillow into his lap. Glancing down at me, he says, “Your friend is the worst.”

“I told you so.”

“And what exactly were you two doing? Huh?” Zoe pesters.

“Sleeping, hence the embarrassing boner reveal,” Zach answers.

“I’m with him. We must have crashed out.” I check the clock hanging by the front door. “Oh crap, we’ve been asleep for three hours. It’s after eleven now. Don’t you—”

“So sorry to interrupt, but is that a baby goat?” Zoe throws her purse down in the middle of the floor and squats in front of Marshmallow’s cage.

“That’s Marshmallow. You scrolled through our texts about him.”

“She’s seen our texts?” Zach asks.

“Long story,” I say, waving him off and sitting up.

“He is so cute! Can I have him?”

“No!” Zach and I shout at the same time.

“I don’t even think we’re allowed to have pets here, but I want him so badly.” She sticks her fingers in the cage, giggling when Marshmallow licks them. “He’s like the greatest thing ever.”

“He’s probably hungry. I need to feed him.”

Zach goes to move off the couch, but I lay my hand on his arm, stopping him.

“It’s late…” I start.

“I know. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I’ll gather up Marshmallow and we’ll head home so you can rest before class tomorrow.”

I should let him leave…should let him gather his things, give him a lingering kiss, and allow him to walk right out that door.

But I can’t.

“Do you want to stay the night?”

His eyes widen, and I’m not sure if I’ve asked something I shouldn’t have.

I barely know the guy. Yeah, we’ve been talking for a month now, gone on a date, and have kissed a few times, but we haven’t known each other that long.

It’s too soon for sleepovers…right?

“Would it weird you out if I said yes? I’ll sleep on the couch, I’m just not sure I’m up to driving home right now.”

“It’s only as weird as we make it.”

“But we’re us…which means things could get weird. I mean, you did ask me about masturbating last week.”

“Hmm…fair point. Let’s shake on it. No making it weird.” I hold my hand out, waiting for him.

“Deal.” He clasps my hand in his and pulls me toward him until our noses are nearly touching.

“I bet you’ll smell different when you’re sleeping. That’s not weird, right?”

Zach’s lips twitch. “Not at all. I hope you don’t mind that I sleep naked.”

“I hope you don’t mind that I sleep in a mumu.”

“I bet you’re dead sexy in that mumu.”

“I bet your penis looks smaller out of those tight jeans than in them.” He cracks a full smile this time and I know I’ve won.

“Stop being freaks and come let this sweet angel out so I can feed him and go to bed,” Zoe demands, interrupting whatever it is we’re doing.

Zach pulls me closer until his lips are brushing my ear.

“I can prove otherwise,” he whispers before pulling way. There’s this expression in his eyes, like he’s holding himself back from saying more, from wanting more.

“I—”

“Come on already!” Zoe interrupts.

Zach stands, giving me one last glance full of desire.

My body thrums with want. It’s already not fair that his kisses set me on fire, that a simple touch from him drives me crazy—but his words too?

If Zoe wasn’t in the room, I’d waste no time pushing Zach back down on this couch and straddling his lap, kissing him until we were both burning for more, teetering on the edge of exploding. I’d march his sexy ass right back to my bedroom and have my way with him.

“D, look! How cute is he!”

But there’s Zoe and her loud, interrupting mouth. Tack on my own insecurities about rushing into whatever it is we have going on, and yeah, nothing is happening. I won’t be stripping down and having my way with him any time soon.

I heave a sigh and drag my body off the couch, busying myself with grabbing spare blankets and pillows from our tiny linen closet.

I feel so stupid making a bed on the couch for Zach. Why can’t I be brave enough to invite him into my bed? Why can’t I go for what I want?

Because you jumped the gun before and look how that turned out.

Oh yeah, that’s why.

“That for me?” Zach asks after securing Marshmallow inside his cage.

“Yep. I even gave you my favorite pillow.”

“Liar.”

“True.” I push my long brown hair back behind my ear and glance up at him before flitting my eyes away. “So…”

“So…”

“Right. I’ll leave so you two can bone or whatever it is you’re about to do. Night, kids.” Zoe gives us a finger wave before retreating down the hallway.

Neither one of us move until we hear the click of Zoe’s door.

Then it’s an awkward shuffle of feet, a stiff hug, and mumbled good nights.

What. The. Hell.

I make my way to my bedroom, confused as hell.

As I’m about to twist the knob, I’m spun around, hands encasing my face and lips crushing to mine.

Tongues tangle together. Breathing is secondary in this moment. All that matters is the feel of his lips on me, his hands tangling themselves in my hair, the way his body crushes against mine.

“Invite me into your room, Delia.”

I nod and push the door open.

He saunters inside, grabbing my hand and pulling me with him so fast I can barely get the door closed. Before I know it, he has me on the bed, hovering over me with a grin matched only by Casanova himself.

“I’m not here for sex, Delia, just so we’re clear, but I would like to sleep next to you tonight, if that’s okay. We can snuggle.” His dimple appears. “Naked.”

I giggle and push at his chest until he rolls off and onto the bed. “You keep telling yourself that. I’m wearing pajamas.”

I push myself off the bed and make my way to my dresser. I grab my sexiest set of pajamas—ultra-short shorts and a sweater that hangs invitingly off my shoulder—ready to take them down the hall and into the bathroom to change.

Then an idea hits me.

I might not be brave enough to sleep with Zach yet, but I sure as hell am brave enough to tease him.

Huh. Guess I am stripping for him after all.

Standing right there in front of my dresser, keeping my eyes focused on the blank wall, I slowly lift my shirt over my head.

At first Zach doesn’t say anything, not a peep.

I unhook my bra.

“Oh hell.” His voice is hoarse, and it sounds hot as hell.

Slowly, I pull the straps down my arms, dropping the garment to the floor at my feet. I hear a shuffle and know he’s on his feet now.

I slide my oversized nightshirt over my head, running my hands down my sides, settling them on my hips—just for a moment—before pushing my lounge pants to the floor. I’m standing there in nothing but a shirt hanging off one shoulder and my underwear that expose a whole lot of ass.

“Shit.”

Another shuffle of feet.

I can feel the heat radiating off him; I know he’s close, his stare making me sweat.

I take my time pulling my shorts off my dresser, waiting to see what Zach will do…if he does anything at all.

“Delia, please.”

I finally push my feet through the tiny shorts and pull them up over my calves, my thighs, until finally my white cheeky panties are covered.

Zach has me enveloped in no time, his front to my back, and I can feel every inch of him. His erection throbs as it sits almost perfectly between my cheeks. His hands ghost up my sides and I know there’s no way he missed the goose bumps that cover my skin.

He slides my thick curtain of hair to the side, exposing my neck so he can place his soft lips on my skin. Giving gentle kisses, he makes his way from my shoulder and up the side of my neck until his mouth is grazing my ear.

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me right now, Delia? Any idea how much I want to strip you of those clothes you just put on? Because I really fucking want to.”

He spins me, his face only an inch or so from mine.

My chest is heaving, and he’s so close that every time I take a breath, my breasts rub against him. My nipples are straining against the thin fabric, begging for attention.

“I can’t do any of that. We haven’t even officially defined what the hell it is we’re doing. I want to be the asshole right now. I want to fuck you until you’re limp with exhaustion, want to make you say my name over and over again, but I’m not the asshole. I’ve never been the asshole. We’re not ready for that step.”

He steps into me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me up on my tiptoes.

“But two can play the teasing game.”

Releasing me, he backs up and strips off his shirt then shucks his jeans.

I burst into laughter.

“If you think you’re going to Slytherin to my bed with those on, you’re wrong. I only allow full-fledged Hufflepuffs in there.”

Zach glances down at his underwear and hangs his head. “Why did I have to wear this pair today? Why?”

“What? I think they’re hot.”

“You think my Harry Potter underwear are hot?” I nod. “You are my dream girl.”

I grin and shake my head as I make my way to my bed. I do my best to straighten the covers before pulling back my side and climbing in.

“I think you were right earlier.”

“About?” he asks, standing on the other side.

“This bed isn’t big enough for two. I think we’ll have to snuggle.”

He smirks as he slides in, getting as close to me as possible. I don’t hesitate to match his movements—though I probably should. I should be weirded out that Zach’s in my bed. I shouldn’t gravitate toward him like I do.

But I can’t help it. Zach makes me feel…comfortable. Safe. Warm. Wanted.

We’re lying face to face in the middle of the bed, the blanket draped over our waists, grinning at each other like fools.

“What?” I whisper.

“I made it in.”

“What?” I ask again, confused.

“Your special Hufflepuff-only chamber of secrets.”

“Did you really just…” Laughter consumes me and I’m rolling to my back and covering my face in embarrassment…for him. “You are such a nerd, Zach.”

He peels my hands away from my face and I find that he’s resting his head on his hand, staring at me from above. “But you love that I’m a nerd.”

His eyes are sparkling, and I can’t help but be drawn in by his playfulness.

“That’s debatable.”

“Fact.”

“Debatable.”

He sighs. “You’re tiring.”

“You tell me that often.”

“Because it’s true.” He leans in closer. “But I secretly enjoy sparring with you.”

“Secretly?”

“Not so secretly.”

I grin. “I know. Now, shh. I need my beauty sleep.”

He kisses my forehead and turns back over on his back.

We lie there in silence. He’s still awake; I can feel it.

“Hey, Zach?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for not trying to bang me.”

His laughter shakes the bed. “You’re welcome.”

“I’m just saying, that’s a real non-asshole thing for you do. I appreciate it. Thanks for being so chill about me teasing you too. You’re a cool dude.”

“A cool dude, huh? That’s what you call your best friend, or a guy you’ve stuck in the friend zone, not someone you keep kissing. Are you trying to friend-zone me, Delia?”

I roll over to face him and he peers down at me, one eyebrow raised.

I reach up and smooth it down. “You look like you’re trying to smell what the Rock is cookin’ when you do that.”

“Exhausting.”

“Shh. I’m not trying to friend-zone you. That’s kind of why I want to wait. I rushed into my last relationship and we lost our spark quickly, settling into a routine and never feeling like we could walk away. I don’t want that with you. I want…”

“More?”

I nod. “More.”

“I want more with you too, Delia.”

“Good,” I say. “So no boning until at least our third date.”

“Are we counting this as a date?”

I lean in and place a kiss at the corner of his lips before rolling over until my back is to him. “We’ll see how horny I am after our next date.”

His laughter echoes through the room before he switches off the bedside lamp and wraps an arm around my waist, snuggling me just as he planned.