The water shut off in the bathroom, and Stiles’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly smoothed her dress back down, wiping the counter where her juices had dripped, while Derek zipped up his pants with a smug grin. “Act natural, baby,” he whispered, pressing a quick kiss to her lips before slipping out of the kitchen and plopping down on the couch like he’d been lounging there the whole time.

Jackson emerged moments later, towel around his waist, hair damp. He spotted Derek first and grinned. “Yo, bro! You’re early. Ready to ring in the new year?”