"Yeah, sure." They exchanged phones and punched in their numbers. "I've got to get back. But I'm serious. He needs to hang around people who're fun and don't add to his load. Why do you think he spends his time with us?" She hurried back into the restaurant.

Ouch. Nicole stood there, letting her words sink in. She wasn't fun to him. He didn't like to watch meteor showers or bake cupcakes or dance to Drake in her tiny bedroom. He liked to party and hookup with his friends from town. She turned to James.

"No." He gave her a hard look. "Don't let her get to you. You don't seriously think he tells her his shit, do you? That dude's sealed up like a vault. And you're not trouble for him. He's into you. He wouldn't have howled at the moon like that last night if he weren't."

"He bolted."

"We don't know anything yet. If he ran-and we don't know that yet-"

"He ran."

His shoulders slumped. "Yeah, he probably ran. But it's not because you add to his load. If anything, it's because he thought his whole life had to be about taking care of his mom. He didn't think he could have something for himself. He'll come back to you, I swear. It might not be easy, but he'll work it out. I'm sure of it."

Nice words, but she knew better. Dylan might not work it out. He was incredibly strong. He'd had to be, to live through his childhood. And if he didn't think he could fit her into his life, he'd push her out.

His priority was his mom. She'd always come first for him. And, of course, she had to.

On his way back from the mountain, Dylan knew he'd made the right choice. It sucked that he hadn't told anyone where he'd gone. Bailed on classes, work, and on her. He hated thinking what he'd put Nicole through the last two days.

But he'd needed the time and the distance to get his head on right. He was relieved he'd come up with a solution that would allow him to be with her but not become consumed with her.

Because no matter what, he couldn't put her at risk. His mom ruined every relationship he'd ever had. Showing up drunk at his school, making scenes in public. He'd never forget Carol Mylon's expression, back in ninth grade, when the cops had busted into the apartment to arrest his mom and her drug-dealing boyfriend. Carol hadn't been too keen on dating him after that. Actually, she'd never talked to him again.

Thing was, his mom was already spiraling out of control. Somehow, he'd thought if he'd stayed vigilant with her, she could make it to the frequent school breaks when he could go back and be with her.

But it wasn't working. She'd lost her first job. She'd spent time with Jeff Blakely, her dealer. And now she worked in a pot shop.

So what was he doing spending every free moment with Nicole? It wouldn't work. History told him that. He needed to keep his focus on his mom. And the only way to do that and keep Nicole was to move out.

Shrugging his backpack higher onto his shoulder, he turned down the brick walkway of the house. But, as he stood on the porch, all his confidence, the absolute certainty, drained right out of him when he thought of Nicole in this house. In the kitchen, brow furrowed in concentration as she folded syrup into the frosting, her scent lingering in the bathroom, the feel of her soft, warm body under the covers. Because it wasn't some girl he lived with, some body he'd slept with. It was Nicole. His deep down.

He would miss living with her.

But it would be fine. He had a plan.

He turned, looking back at the road, the campus across the street. Until he found a place in town, he'd have to crash with Joe. Because he was already feeling it-the dread of leaving her. And the longer he lived with her, the harder it would be to leave. Limiting his time with her was the only solution to the problem.

He blew out a hard breath. Yeah, he needed to move out right away. Since it was unlikely anyone else was up yet, he'd talk to her now, let her know his plans.

Opening the door, he stepped into a living room filled with people.

"Oh, my God." Tatiana jumped out of a chair.

"He's here," Harry said.

"Dylan." Sydney flew at him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him hard. "Where have you been? Are you all right?" She released him, scanning his body, head to toe.

He looked around the room, everyone gathered as though in a meeting. And then his gaze landed on Nicole. Peering at him over the back of the couch, pillow cuddled in her arms.

He heard their voices.

We were going to call the police this morning.

The only reason we didn't is because Nicole said you'd taken your sleeping bag.

Where'd you go?

His entire being narrowed on her. He dropped his backpack, crossed the marble foyer, and made his way around the couch. His heart hurt just looking at her. She didn't seem angry. She didn't seem hysterical. She just watched him. With interest. Wondering.

He crouched in front of her, aware the room had gone quiet. Holy Christ, he melted just looking at her. His hands slid under her ass and he scooped her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his shoulders. She burrowed her face into his neck, as he carried her up the stairs.

"Holy shit," Sydney said.

"Fuck me." Terri's voice.

"You wish." Their laughter faded as he hiked up those stairs.

He couldn't get to her room fast enough. Kicking the bedroom door closed behind him, he set her down on the bed. It took all of five seconds to yank his long-sleeved T-shirt over his head, kick off his boots, and rip open his jeans.

Blood roared in his ears, and desire flashed hot across his skin. His body trembled with restraint.

She watched him, and he crawled on top of her, so fucking relieved to feel her, smell her. Jesus, he needed her hands on him. He kissed her, and thank God, she opened her mouth to him, let him inside.

Finally, her arms came around him, stroked down his back until she cupped his ass and drew him more firmly against her. Fuck, he wanted her. Had to have her. But he'd been in the mountains for two days. "I should shower."

She tucked her nose into his neck and inhaled. "You smell like pine and fresh air and you."

"Me, only ripe."

"Oh, Dylan," she breathed. "Don't you get it? I love everything about you. Just the way you are."

Holy mother of God, she made him wild for her. That soft voice, those hungry hands...and her words. Was she fucking kidding with what she said to him? Either she was crazy or he was in a dream he never wanted to end.

He captured her mouth, his tongue lacing with hers, as his hand slipped under her T-shirt and cupped her breast. But he couldn't stand the lace barrier, so he shoved the bra up. Holy fuck, the feel of her soft, round breast in his hand. He had to be inside her now.

"Get up." He helped her up so he could take off her shirt, unhook her bra, and pull down her sweats and panties. All that warm, soft skin. "Fuck."

He licked her nipple, then took a deep pull.

"Oh," she sighed, rising off the mattress. "Oh."

"I can't wait." He could barely speak, his words fractured, more air than sound. Just as his fingers reached between her legs, she drew them closed.

He froze, looking up at her.

"Have you been with anyone?"

"What?"

"You were gone two days. I don't know where you've been. I looked for you in town, but Brittany said no one had seen you."

He closed his eyes, hating the pain he caused her. "There's no one else, sunshine. You know there's no one else for me." He surged into her, his face burrowing into her neck. "It's you. Only you."

"Dylan." Her hands tangled in his hair, hips rising to meet his.

He slid inside her-oh, mother fucking hell she felt so good-and he tried so hard to take his time, show her how much she meant to him, but he couldn't. He was out of control. He hammered into her, mindless, consumed with her-her hands, her sweet fragrance, her slick heat.

It wasn't enough-he couldn't get deep enough, close enough. He lifted her legs, bent them back until her knees nearly hit her shoulders, and he pushed in even deeper. She cried out, her hands fisting the sheets.

"Oh, Jesus, Nicole, oh, fuck, I can't...I can't...oh, fuck." His climax hit him with explosive force, blasting through every molecule in his body. He bore down on her, holding her in place, as he came in a scalding, blinding gush of heat.

His hips slowed, as he glided in and out of her, enjoying every last rush of sensation. When he slumped to her side, he pressed his nose to her cheek. "I'm sorry." His hand stroked down her stomach to her slick heat, his finger finding her nub. He swirled around it, watching her features ride the wave of ecstasy that crashed over her. Tremors wracked her body, and she cried out his name as she lifted off the bed.

"You're the most beautiful girl in the world."

"And you're the most beautiful boy." When she settled down, she turned to him, stroking the damp hair off his face. "Where did you go?"

"Up the mountain."

"I didn't know what to do. The only reason we didn't call the police was because we saw you took your stuff. Was it me? I mean us? Being together."

He nodded. Not playing games.

"Why is this so hard? You obviously want to be with me, so I don't see the problem. You're here, Dylan. Two thousand miles from Colorado. Your friends, your mom, they're a world away. So why can't we be together?"

"Because I'm not good for you. Especially after you told me about your mom, what your childhood was like. I don't want to expose you to my..." Mother. But he didn't say that. "Life."

"Am I good for you? Do I make you happy? Do you want me? Because that's all that matters."

"Yes, yes, and fuck yes." He kissed her hard on the mouth. He was a weak man, but it was too late. His heart made the decision for him. "I have to go shower." He got up, but she grabbed his arm.

Leaning up on an elbow, beaming him with her sincerity, she said, "You are good for me, Dylan. No one has ever looked out for me the way you do."

He shook his head because she didn't understand what happened when he took his focus off his mom. Nicole's mom had been capable of living on her own. Not Dylan's. His mom had no life skills. She'd go off the rails without him.

He didn't want to hurt Nicole. But...fuck. He wanted her.

And she wanted him. With what little she did know about his life, she still wanted him.

Fuck moving out. He'd have her while he could.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

As Nicole poured batter into the cake pans, Sydney pulled the cupcakes out of the oven. "These smell so good."

"Look at your fine, fancy self, helping us in the kitchen and shit," James said.

Nicole's gaze shot to him, but Sydney laughed. "I know, right? If my mom could see me now." She set the pans down on trivets. "I love this. It's so much more fun than going to another frat party." She gave them a wistful look. "You know what's so sad? I wouldn't let anyone live here but Thetas and Sigma Phis."

"You let us in." James didn't look up from frosting the birthday cake.

She pulled off the oven mitts. "I only let you in because we went to the same high school. And well...Dylan."

"You wanted him, huh?" James said.

"Well, duh. Who doesn't?" Sydney smiled.

When Nicole scowled, Sydney's grin disappeared. "No. God. I don't look at him like that now. Not since you guys got together."

"Well, I'm just so grateful everything worked out the way it did." Nicole set the dirty bowl in the sink. "I love living here. If we lived in the Scholar House, we'd never have come up with Sweet Treats." She smiled at Sydney. "You've been so great, letting us use the kitchen like this."

"It's good to see it getting used. If it weren't for you guys, this house would totally be party central. With you guys working all the time, it forces everyone to go somewhere else to party. My dad's eternally grateful."

"We'll have to send him a cake," James said.

"Oh, God. You don't send my parents anything with sugar. Or butter. Or flour."

"Hm, what do you think?" James said to her. "A new line of lavender cakes that have no sugar, butter, or flour?"

Nicole made a face. "So, basically, we sprinkle lavender water on cardboard? Sounds awesome."

The front door opened. Dylan strode in. Good God, the man took up the whole foyer with his powerful body and bristling energy. His gaze found hers immediately and went from seeking to positively feral. A bolt of electricity shot through her. She took off running for him. A hint of a smile cracked that beautiful mouth, and she could see how hard he tried to remain cool and aloof. But the moment she went airborne, his eyes closed, and she caught a look of total bliss on those handsome features. His arms belted around her, as she slammed into his chest.

"You're so cold," she said, as she licked his chilled earlobe.

"Not for long." His hands slid down, cupping her ass and hoisting her higher. She wrapped her legs around him.

Bringing them to the couch, he perched on the arm. "Hey, sunshine."

She filled her lungs with his scent. "You smell like fresh air-"

"I smell like a man who wants his woman." He burrowed into her neck, kissing the sensitive skin.

She pulled back, covered his cold, rosy cheeks with her warm hands and kissed him. "Welcome home."

He tipped them onto the couch, then dragged them up until he could stretch out his long legs. Their bodies pressed together, legs entwined, as he held her chin and pressed his mouth over hers.

"How was work?" She scraped her fingers through his hair. "Did you get good tips?"