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A loud knocking at the door made Jarel stir.

He didn’t attempt to get up. And he wouldn’t - not while Quinn was sleeping on top of him.

Then he realized something unusual.

His arms were around her, like normal.

But her arms were wrapped around his arms, locking them in place.

Her grip was strong.

Even unconscious, she wasn’t letting him go.

Not that he minded.

The knocking came again - louder this time, more persistent - but he simply held her tighter, as if she were a stuffed animal and he could smother the sound away. Which didn’t make much sense, considering she was on his chest, not around his ears.

Then his heart began to pound.

Her grip tightened.

She was awake.

He swallowed and pushed the nerves aside. What exactly was there to be nervous about?

Instead, he hugged the - no, his - wolf-demon closer, as though she were a pair of earmuffs capable of silencing the outside world.

The knocking came one more time.

Silence followed.

He exhaled.

Then came the sound of the front door unlocking.

And opening.

“Come on, sleepyheads, we’re going shopping!”

Sayang.

Of course it was Sayang.

Quinn made no effort to move, so he didn’t either. His heart thudded as footsteps approached.

Another door opened - the bedroom.

“Anyone in there?”

He decided not to imagine what would’ve happened if they were.

A second voice called from the entrance.

“They’re on the couch, Grandmother.”

Jinxia.

He closed his eyes.

The footsteps came closer.

“So they are.”

He opened one eye.

Instead of outrage or scandal, Sayang stood over them smiling - almost… reverently.

“Oh, look at them. So comfortable together…”

Quinn’s grip tightened further. Any more and it would actually hurt.

“Way to say good morning, Auntie…” he muttered.

Her expression sharpened instantly.

“Well, we have places to be, so up you get. Don’t worry about breakfast. Just change and follow.”

He groaned and attempted to sit up.

Quinn refused to release him.

“Come on, Quinn.”

She shook her head against his chest.

Sayang crossed her arms.

“Do you want the recipe, dearie?”

That did it.

Quinn shot upright so fast she drove the air from Jarel’s lungs.

“Oof-!”

She stood, wobbling slightly as her bandaged feet hit the floor.

Jarel followed more slowly and turned toward Sayang, expecting her to leave and grant them some privacy.

She didn’t move.

She just stood there, staring.

“Well?” she prompted.

He frowned.

“What exactly are you expecting us to do?”

She pointed toward the bedroom.

“Go get changed.”

He considered arguing - briefly - then decided he valued his life.

Sayang circled around the couch toward them.

“You’re practically married, aren’t you? Sleeping on each other is a good start. Now prove to me you’re comfortable.”

Jarel stiffened.

But Quinn, surprisingly, didn’t hesitate.

She reached down, grabbed his hand, and pulled him toward the bedroom.

The door shut behind them.

She folded her arms beneath her chest and glared at him.

He stared back, exasperated.

“What?”

She nodded toward the wardrobe.

“You first.”

He blinked, then sighed and complied. He walked to the wardrobe, picked out a change of clothes, and turned back around.

She was still staring.

His heart rate ticked up.

“Are you just going to watch?”

She nodded.

“Sayang said to prove that we’re comfortable around each other.”

He rubbed a hand down his face.

“Can she see us right now?”

She shook her head.

And then it clicked.

“Oh.”

She turned around immediately.

“Sorry.”

He smiled despite himself.

“Don’t worry about it.”

He began changing, but she spoke again.

“What’s wrong with seeing each other naked, anyway?”

He paused. That was… not a simple question.

“Well,” he said carefully, “are you comfortable with that?”

“If it-”

“If the cookie recipe wasn’t a factor,” he interrupted gently. “Are you comfortable with that?”

Silence.

He continued dressing, though he glanced back once. She remained turned away, tail swaying lazily behind her.

When he finished, he opened his mouth to tell her-

“Yes, I’m comfortable with that,” she said. “So if you are-”

She turned around mid-sentence.

And froze.

He frowned.

“You were going to look before I said you could?”

She nodded.

“Is there something wrong?”

He sighed softly.

“I need to teach you about consent.”

She tilted her head.

“I know what consent is. But does that apply to this?”

“It applies to most things in romance that might make the other person uncomfortable.”

He hesitated.

“You’ll probably take this very literally, but… generally, you ask first.”

Her brow furrowed.

“But then I can’t talk to you without- oh.” She winced. “Sorry.”

He smiled.

“It’s okay.”

She smiled back - then stepped away from him.

“I want to show you something.”

He had absolutely no idea what that could possibly mean.

Her turtleneck suddenly shimmered.

It turned bright white, light rippling across the knit fabric as if it were liquid. The material murmured softly before collapsing inward, reforming around her neck.

When the glow faded, the sweater was gone.

In its place rested a thin silver chain, a small black heart dangling at its center.

And far, far more skin than he had been prepared for.

Thankfully, her underwear remained. That did little to reduce the shock of the transformation - especially in full daylight.

Instinct told him to look away.

Something else told him not to.

She wanted him to see.

So he kept his eyes firmly on her face - and on the necklace - while she avoided his gaze entirely, fingers fidgeting with the black heart charm.

“My sweater is magical,” she explained softly. “It can take whatever form I please.”

He blinked.

“Then… why not choose something that doesn’t leave your thighs so exposed?”

She smiled nervously.

“Because I saw that human males like to use thick thighs as pillows.”

He knew exactly where she’d gotten that information.

He chose not to ask.

Instead, he allowed himself a small, helpless smile.

“Normally I’d tell you to do more research before experimenting,” he said carefully. “But this time… I won’t.”

Her tail started wagging immediately.

“Really? Was I right?”

He chuckled.

“In this case, yes.”

Her smile widened, hips swaying slightly with the movement of her tail. He glanced downward for half a second - confirmed reality - and very quickly redirected his attention elsewhere.

“Can you put it back on now? Sayang’s waiting.”

She nodded.

Light flared again, briefly brightening the room before fading.

The knit turtleneck returned as though it had never left.

She was still beaming, tail refusing to calm down.

“Let’s go!”

He found himself smiling just as brightly.

They stepped out of the bedroom together.

Sayang gave them a long, assessing look - then nodded with satisfaction.

“Good. Off we go! First stop, breakfast!”

The day stretched ahead of them, bright and promising.

Jarel couldn’t wait.