from the windows. It cast the entire bedroom in a soft, pink glow. York was completely wrapped up in the safety, quiet, and bliss of waking up with his mate wrapped up in his arms. A very naked Josie had one leg over him, her head on his shoulder, with her arms curled under her chin. Her breasts moved to the easy rhythm of her sleeping. York didn’t want to move. He wanted to stay locked in that moment forever.
If he didn’t move, Josie would always stay by his side, naked and satiated.
We should burn all of her clothes. That way, she would be naked all the time.
His dragon’s idea was silly, but York found himself thinking there might be something to it. Josie’s body just did it for him. Though, if she did start prancing around naked in the brownstone all of the time, he knew he would never get to work. Shit, he would never get anything done.
And there was a lot to do.
“Shh,” Josie whispered, nuzzling into his side.
“What?” he asked, confused. He had thought she was still fast asleep.
“You’re thinking. A lot. Can we just get five more minutes?”
He chuckled, happy that his mate was echoing his own sentiment. “We can, love. We can take ten minutes if you like, but then we really need to get to work on our little problem.”
“Our little problem?” Josie repeated, sitting up on her forearm. She bit into her lip, her eyes looking down. “You must be really sad that I’m your mate, huh? I don’t just come with sass but a pretty terrible mess.”
“Hey, no. None of that,” he said, cupping her cheek in his hand. “I’m happy you’re my mate. This is just a bump in the road. I figure, if our start is chaotic and filled with danger, that only means that we get the rest of our lives to take it easy.” He gave her a bright, reassuring smile.
“We’re not mated yet,” she whispered. “You could totally back out if you’re having second thoughts. I’m putting your family in all kinds of danger.”
“Well, you’re my family now, Josie Essa. Whether we’re mated or not, whether we’re married not, you’re mine. That means your problems are mine. I’ll help you through them. Just like I will be there to celebrate your wins and successes.”
She nodded. “That’s very wise,” she conceded.
“I am an old man.” He grinned at her, echoing back the words she had used so many times to tease him.
Josie shook her head with a giggle. “I don’t think I can call you that anymore. You’re a badass out of the sheets, and you’re a beast in the sheets.”
York rolled her over, pressing her down into the mattress. He captured her lips in a kiss, silencing her squeal of surprise. She gripped his shoulders before gently letting her hands roam over his back.
“We need to get up,” he grumbled, kissing her again.
“I know,” she sighed. “I know, and I hate this.”
Josie pushed away from him and padded toward the en-suite bathroom, her hips swaying just enough to make her ass shake. York groaned and punched his pillow. They’d spent the entire night having sex in all kinds of positions, and he wanted her again.
Bad.
There was no time.
The sooner they dealt with the Steiner situation, the quicker they could start their lives together. York had plans for them. In about a week, it was Josie’s thirty-third birthday. He was going to make that day special in more ways than one, and for that to stand, they needed to make sure Steiner never bothered them again.
Josie had given him a fresh start, a second chance at life.
And he would do the same for her.
“You coming?” she shouted over the sound of the running shower. “We might as well shower together. You know, save the water. Conservation and all that.”
York smirked as he joined her in the bathroom. He leaned against the doorjamb, watching his mate rinse the shampoo out of her hair. How the sight was that erotic, he couldn’t know.
“Come here,” she cooed, when the suds had been cleaned out of her hair. “I’ll help you with that situation.” She pointed to his erection with a mischievous smile.
He wouldn’t be told twice.
If showering together had been done to lower their water consumption, the plan had failed thirty minutes later, when the spray turned cold above them. They wrapped themselves into thick terrycloth towels and quickly got ready for the day ahead.
They had a plan. A good