The late afternoon sun slanted through the kitchen windows, painting golden stripes across the floor. You were perched on the counter in one of your favorite summer dresses — light, flowy, and soft against your skin. You were chatting with Bonnie on speakerphone, legs swinging slightly as you nibbled on a strawberry and tried not to laugh too hard at something she’d just said.

Across the room, Stefan leaned against the fridge, arms crossed, smirking like he had a secret. Which, technically, he did.

He sauntered over casually, that slow, dangerous walk he did when he was about to cause trouble — the kind of trouble that left your legs shaking.

“Uh-huh,” you mumbled into the phone, trying to focus on Bonnie’s story. “No, I told him he was insane for thinking I’d—”

Stefan’s hands slid onto your thighs, spreading them just enough to step between them. You gave him a silent look. Warning. Curious. Intrigued.

But then… his hands glided up your dress, fingertips ghosting over your skin with maddening slowness.

Bonnie was still talking, totally unaware. “And then, get this—Elena agreed with him! Like, have I entered an alternate dimension?”

You bit down on your bottom lip, nodding like you were agreeing with Bonnie, though you weren’t really hearing a word now. Because Stefan had found exactly what he was looking for.

“Mm-hmm,” you said, voice just slightly tighter.

“No panties?” Stefan mouthed with a wicked little grin. He knelt in front of you silently, hands holding your thighs apart. You tried to keep a straight face, pretending you were just really invested in the conversation.

Then he licked you — just once, slow and purposeful. Your hips flinched.

You reached behind you to grip the counter edge.

“Oh my God,” Bonnie laughed through the speaker. “You’re way too quiet — are you even listening to me?”