“No!” I bark, the word jumping out of my throat before I can stop it.

Mom freezes. Daniel tilts his head, his smirk widening.

“I’m not… I’m not ready for that, Mom,” I say, my breath coming in short gasps. The wetness between my legs is still there, but the thought of my mother joining in is a wall I can't climb yet.

Mom looks at me for a long beat, her expression unreadable. For a second, I think she’s going to get angry... but then she sighs, a small, disappointed smile touching her lips.

“I understand,” she says softly. “It’s a lot to take in at once. But you...