"Thanks," I murmur softly.

He bites back his grin for my completely stupid move, and he follows me up to the porch as I nervously fumble for my keys.

"If this is making you uncomfortable, we can go back to my place. There will be plenty of people around."

Good idea. Say yes.

"No, I'm fine," I lie, forcing a smile.

What's wrong with me?!

I push open the door, and then I quickly flip on the light to show him my very girly decorated home.

"The diner must pay more than I thought," he murmurs as he looks at my furnishings.

I smile lightly while shaking my head. "Everything you see was a housewarming gift from my mother. I paid for the house out of my savings, which was also started by my mother."

"Well, nevertheless, I'm impressed. I'll wait here for you," he says while flipping on the television and sitting down on my couch.

Suddenly, the flashy sectional looks so much sexier with him on it. His long, perfectly sculpted body makes my body start to sweat as I gape openly at his marvelous physique.

"Yeah," I finally force out, and then I quickly disappear into my bedroom.

I start tossing clothes around, trying to find something that doesn't scream slut, while also looking for something that won't make me look undesirable. I suck at mediums.

I hear the shower turn on, and scowl at myself for letting my magic out. The room flies into place, cleaning up my accidental mess, and then I scowl again.

Great. Seeping magic in front of a human. Just what I need.

My phone rings just as I walk into the bathroom, and I roll my eyes when I see who it is.

"Hey, Mom," I murmur casually.

"What are you doing with a boy in your house, Alyssa?" she scolds.

She's lost her mind, and Frankie deserves an ass kicking now. Keeping my voice in a whisper too low to even be heard by an immortal not standing directly beside me, I answer with agitation.

"Tell Frankie thanks for ratting me out."

"It could be dangerous. After last night-"

"He's human. Besides, I'm sure you've got Frankie watching the house for any possible intruders."

"You're sure he's human?" she worries.

"Very. I've been around him at midnight. He's also been alone with me and hasn't tried anything"

She huffs out, not enjoying her total lack of control.

"Well, if something happens, just call for Frankie. He's tuned in."

He might want to tune out.

"Sure will."

"And be careful. Right now, you're less than a year away from your immortality. Your emotions, hormones... everything will be a little out of whack. Don't lose your innocence to some random guy simply because you don't have the control to stop."

"Not having this conversation," I grumble.

"If it gets too intense, just eat some of the carnations I left behind and a drop of honey."

I'm not eating flowers to keep from being horny.

"Got it."

I hang up quickly, and then I rush myself through the shower to cleanse away the burger and fries smell.

Staring at my drowned-rat imagery in the mirror, I sigh. Against all my better judgment, I use my magic to dry and style my hair while also making my makeup appear.

"Breaking my own damn rules so I can hurry up and be with a guy," I mumble under my breath, disgusted with my eagerness.

Deciding not to dwell on my pathetic excitement, I pull on tight pair of jeans and a shirt that drapes off the side of one of my shoulders. Feeling satisfied, I walk out to see Kane is no longer on the couch. A twinge of worry spreads as the thought of the night stalker making his way into my house crosses my mind.

"Kane?" I say a little too crackly.

"In here," he murmurs from the kitchen. "I hate burnt popcorn so I'm watching very closely. I thought you were getting ready."

I smirk as I walk into the kitchen, and he turns to face me with a smile until his eyes fall on my fully redone self. His smile falls, his eyes widen, and his mind becomes clogged with transparently scandalous thoughts.

"Something wrong?" I almost tease.

He swallows hard and then bites back a smile. "Not at all. I just wasn't expecting you to... well, you clean up fast."

"I learned to be quick, thanks to my mother. She's constantly bouncing around from one task to the next."

"Well, I'm impressed again."

I grin as I smell the hint of something familiar, and then my eyes point to the microwave.

"I thought you said you hate burnt popcorn."

"Huh?" he asks with a stupefied stare, and then he turns to follow my gaze. "Shit," he spews while jerking open the door. He frowns as he opens the bag, and then he shakes his head. "Sorry."

"I happen to like it that way," I say with a laugh while pulling down a bowl.

His body brushes up against mine as he pours it in, and I feel my heartbeat quickening from the accidental graze. He swallows hard, and I look up to see him staring at me.

"You look... really good," he murmurs softly.

"Thanks," I murmur while blushing again.

His thumb reaches up to stroke my blushing cheek, and my breath catches in my throat.

"Pink really is a good color on you."

Considering I'm wearing a red top and blue jeans, it's obvious he's now referring to my blushing hue.

"Movie," I strain out, my whole body suddenly aching to feel his hands somewhere else.

He smirks lightly, and takes the popcorn from the counter to start heading into the living area.

"I picked a zombie flick. I thought horror would be better than a chick flick, and those two were quite literally your only options."

I laugh a little and then nod. "Sounds good."

He sits down on the large sectional with the remote in his hand, and I sit down a safe distance away from him.

"You won't be able to reach the popcorn from there. I don't bite... unless you want me to," he jokes, his eyes sizzling through me.

I swallow hard and force a smile as I move in closer. Our legs graze each other's and I stiffen up a little. The smallest touch from him seems to be igniting fires all over my body, and unless he plans to extinguish them, I'll burn alive with too much contact.

"You okay?" he asks as the movie starts.

"Yeah," I shakily release while cramming some of the burnt popcorn into my mouth.

Bring on the blood and gore and kill this lust.

The movie is almost over, and despite the blood and guts, I'm starting to burn worse than the popcorn I almost single handedly demolished. My leg has pushed against his more, and he's slouched down with his hand resting on his leg, close to mine.

So close to my change, my hormones really are at an all time uncontrollable level. This was so stupid. I hate to admit this, but I should have listened to my mother.

"I'll be right back," I murmur uncomfortably while standing up.

He pauses the movie before tilting his head.

"Too much?" he asks, motioning toward the horror scene.

Not enough. I need something to completely kill my desire to rip his clothes off right now.

"Um, nah. I just need something to drink. You want something?"

"Do you have any wine or anything?" he asks curiously.

"Yeah. White or red?"

"White, please."

I smile and nod while diving into the kitchen. I grab the carnations that are resting in the window and bite through the petals while digging around the cabinets for my honey. As soon as I find it, I turn it up and let the slow-falling, sticky mess fall into my mouth.

I swallow hard, and then cringe as the two combine. I grab a cup of water to force it all down, and then I take in a deep breath.

Slowly, the intense feelings start to relieve, and I sigh almost happily.

"Need some help?" Kane asks as he walks in, making me squeal a little from the surprise.

"Sorry," he chuckles out. "I suppose I shouldn't subject you to zombies and then sneak up on you."

I laugh uneasily, and then I turn to start pulling down the wine glasses.

"It's fine. I'm always a little jumpy."

I turn back around to see him propped up, looking far too damn good, and all the relief the carnations and honey gave me dissipates. The look he's giving me is just as carnal and raw as the one I'm giving him.

My control doesn't merely waver, it snaps, and I launch myself at him. I grip him behind the neck to pull him down, and his hands curl around my ass to jerk my hips against him.

His perfect, soft lips collide with mine in the most incredible way, and then his tongue slips in with a commanding force, exploring my mouth. Everything south on me heats up, and then he jerks me up and spins me around to put me on the counter.

I moan into his mouth, making him pull me tighter to him as my legs wrap around his waist, locking him to me. His arousal digs into the center of my pants, making me all the hotter as my fingers slide up to tangle in his hair.

Before I know what's going on, his hand slides under my shirt, finding one of my breasts through my bra, making me moan all the harder.

"Damn, you taste good," he murmurs against my lips, and then suddenly my shirt is over my head and on the floor as his hands slip over my bra strap to unclasp it.

I should stop him. This can't be sane.

Instead, I jerk him tighter to me, bringing his lips back to mine as my chest becomes bare. I hear the clap of my bra slapping the floor, and then I feel him lifting me from the counter and carrying me toward the bedroom.

I gasp when my back hits the bed, and then his lips start trailing down my neck, heating me to my core. I suck in a breath when his hot, wet breath finds my nipple to send tingling shots of excitement shooting through me.

I grip his head, bringing him closer as he starts unbuttoning my pants.

"Alyssa, I can slow down," he murmurs while letting his lips travel to my other breast to give it some attention.

"Please don't."

His ravaging motions pick up, and I tug his shirt over his head to reveal a body I only thought I was prepared to see.

"Oh damn," I breathe, and he smiles salaciously as he finishes unclasping my pants.

"I should be the one saying that. You're fucking ridiculous," he murmurs while his lips find the hollow of my neck.

His hands push down the open pants, and his fingers slide down to find the slick telltale proof of my arousal.

A deep moan exudes from the back of his throat, and I keep my eyes closed to prevent him from seeing the rolodex of crazy shades my eyes are flooding through right now.

"Damn, you're so wet," he murmurs, only making me want him inside me all the more.

I start undoing his belt, and he rips my pants free while I struggle. I can't look. I know my eyes are in hyper-drive right now, and he'd freak the hell out if he saw them.