I watched the bathroom door shut behind Addison and waited until I heard the water running. The moment the shower kicked on, Aurora practically pounced, grabbing my collar and pulling me down to her level.

"I spent nine thousand credits on you today," she whispered against my lips. "That’s a lot of kisses you owe me."

"You’re collecting now?"

"Interest accumulates." She pressed her mouth to mine, hard and demanding. "That’s one."

She kissed me again, deeper this time, her tongue slipping past my lips like she was claiming territory.

"Two," she murmured.

By the time we hit five, I had backed her against the kitchen counter, my hands sliding beneath her robe. Her skin was still warm and slightly damp from the shower.

"How many more?" I asked between kisses.

"Eight thousand nine hundred and ninety-five." She bit my lower lip. "But I’m willing to accept payment in other forms."

I slid my hand higher up her thigh, discovering she wore nothing under the robe. "Such as?"

"Use your imagination. I know you have one." She tugged at my belt loops. "Just be quiet. Addison showers fast."

"Is that a challenge?"

Her eyes sparked with mischief. "Maybe."

I activated Euphoric Feedback at a low level, just enough to make my fingertips tingle against her skin. Aurora’s breath caught, her pupils dilating slightly.

"Not fair," she whispered.

"All’s fair in debt collection."

My fingers traced higher, finding her already wet and ready. I circled slowly, barely touching where she wanted me most.

"This counts as at least a thousand credits," she gasped.

"Inflation’s a bitch."

She laughed, the sound cutting off when I slipped a finger inside her. Her head fell back, exposing the elegant line of her throat. I leaned down to kiss it, tasting the clean scent of hotel soap on her skin.

The shower was still running in the other room. How long did we have? Two minutes? Five? The risk only added to the tension crackling between us.

"I want to try something," Aurora breathed. "Hold still."

Her fingers touched my face, feather-light. Suddenly, my lips tasted like salted caramel—rich, sweet, with a hint of salt. The sensation was so vivid I almost forgot what I was doing.

"That’s new," I murmured.

"I’m full of surprises." She rolled her hips against my hand. "Don’t stop."

I added another finger, curling them upward to find that spot that made her thighs tremble. With my thumb, I circled her clit, applying just enough pressure to drive her crazy.

"Can you make me taste something too?" she asked, her voice breathy.

I nodded, focusing on Sensory Hijack. I’d never tried it quite like this before, but the principle was the same. I concentrated on the taste of dark chocolate—rich, slightly bitter, complex—and projected it onto her taste buds.

Aurora’s eyes widened. "Oh fuck."

"Good?"

"So good." She pulled me down for another kiss, and our mouths melded chocolate and caramel together. The combination was almost overwhelmingly perfect.

Her hand slid down between us, palming me through my jeans. "We should continue this after dinner," she whispered. "Without the audience in the next room."

The water shut off in the bathroom. Aurora quickly adjusted her robe, tightening the belt just as I stepped back and tried to look casual. My body was not cooperating with the "casual" directive, but I leaned against the counter to hide the evidence.

"Clock’s ticking on those remaining credits," I said.

She winked. "I’ll collect with interest later."

Dinner at "The Prime Cut" was an exercise in anticipation. Aurora sat beside me in a booth, Addison across from us, while I tried to focus on my steak and not on Aurora’s hand occasionally brushing my thigh under the table.

"So," Addison twirled her lollipop—apparently the restaurant staff knew her well enough not to argue about her bringing her own candy. "How exactly did you two meet? Aurora’s been suspiciously vague."

Aurora sipped her wine. "Combat class."

"He looks like he could barely throw a punch a month ago," Addison said, her violet eyes scanning me. "No offense."

"Full offense taken," I replied.

Aurora laughed. "Jace has a unique ability. His progress has been... accelerated."

Addison leaned forward. "So we’re back to the mysterious power. You gonna demonstrate or what? I’ve been waiting all day."

Aurora shot her a warning look. "Addy."

"What? I’m curious." Addison pulled the cherry lollipop from her mouth with a pop. "If you won’t let me try it, at least tell me what it does."

I glanced at Aurora, who gave me a subtle nod.

"It enhances sensation," I explained, keeping it vague. "Pleasure, specifically."

"Like a sex thing?" Addison’s eyebrows rose.

"It can be."

"Is that why you keep him around?" she asked Aurora, smirking.

Aurora’s face remained perfectly composed. "Among other reasons."

"Hmm." Addison studied me with new interest. "And does this pleasure enhancement have limits? Or could you, theoretically, make someone—"

"This is not dinner conversation," Aurora interrupted.

Addison leaned back, looking amused. "Since when are you prudish? Remember that time with the twin brothers from Sapphire?"

Aurora’s cheeks colored slightly. "That was different."

"How?"

"You know how."

I looked between them. "Should I leave you two alone?"

"No," they said in unison.

Addison laughed. "Fine, I’ll behave." She took another bite of her steak, chewing thoughtfully. "For now."

The rest of dinner passed with less invasive questioning, though Addison’s eyes followed me with undisguised curiosity. By the time we finished dessert—a chocolate lava cake that Aurora insisted we share—the tension between us had built to an almost unbearable level.

Aurora’s leg pressed against mine under the table as she signed the check. "Ready to head back?"

"What about the club?" Addison asked.

Aurora glanced at me, then back to her friend. "I’m thinking we might skip it tonight."

Addison’s eyes widened in mock surprise. "Really? That’s not like you."

"I’m tired from shopping."

"Bullshit." Addison stood up, grabbing her purse. "You’re ditching me for hot lottery boy."

"I’m not ditching you," Aurora said, sliding out of the booth. "I’m just... prioritizing."

Addison rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I’ll find my own entertainment." She pointed her lollipop at me. "You better be worth it."

"I’ll try my best," I replied dryly.

"I like him," Addison told Aurora. "He’s got balls."

Aurora linked her arm through mine. "I’m aware."

We left Addison at the restaurant entrance, where she immediately struck up a conversation with a group of academy seniors heading to a nearby bar. She waved us off without a second glance.

"Will she be okay?" I asked as we walked toward the hotel.

Aurora laughed. "Addison can handle herself better than anyone I know. Trust me."

The night air was cool against my skin, carrying the salt scent of the ocean. Aurora pressed closer to my side, her warmth a stark contrast to the breeze.

"So," I said. "The twins from Sapphire?"

Aurora smacked my arm hard enough to make me wince.

"It’s not what you think," she said, laughing. "God, the way Addison tells it makes everything sound scandalous."

"So there weren’t twins?"

"Oh, there were twins." Aurora tucked a strand of orange hair behind her ear. "Aiden and Alex Johnston. First-year Sapphire students when we were first-years."

We crossed the street, headed toward the glimmering lights of the Pacific View Hotel in the distance. The night air carried the salt of the ocean mixed with fried food from the boardwalk.

"They had this ability—joint manifestation. Could only use their powers when touching each other. Created these amazing crystal formations." She smiled at the memory. "Addison and I had just been sorted into Obsidian, and we were desperate to prove ourselves."

"Let me guess, you challenged them?"

"Better. We convinced them to let us borrow their ability."

I raised an eyebrow. "How exactly does one borrow an ability?"

"That’s where Addison’s version gets colorful." Aurora rolled her eyes. "We organized this whole experiment. Had them touch each other while I touched Aiden and Addison touched Alex."

"And?"

"And nothing happened except we all looked ridiculous sitting in a circle holding hands like some weird seance." She laughed. "But everyone assumed we had this crazy four-way, and the story just stuck."

I tried picturing it—Aurora and Addison with identical blond boys, all of them confused when their powers didn’t transfer through touch.

"People still believe it?"

"Obsidian students love a good scandal. Nobody questioned it."

We reached the hotel lobby, the bright lights a stark contrast to the darkened street. Aurora pressed the elevator button, then turned to face me.

"For the record, it would have been a terrible idea anyway," she said. "The twins were cute but dumb as rocks. Literally couldn’t form complete sentences without each other."

The elevator doors opened. We stepped inside, and Aurora swiped her key card for the penthouse.

"So you’re saying I should be flattered that you can complete sentences around me?" I teased.

She pressed herself against me, her lips inches from mine. "You should be flattered for entirely different reasons."