He didn’t mind that she was tracking in the outdoors into his sanctuary. He instead relished the little bits of imperfection, the small things he didn’t account for.

Over and over he’d fantasized over this scenario, and to see her deviating from what he'd imagined in subtle little ways sent thrills like he’d never known through his body. It was her. The imperfections defined the moment, he realized as he moved away, and it would have seemed fake if she acted too perfectly.

He went to his bureau, grabbing his camera from the top of it and walked back to the foot of his bed. She’d always dressed in such...