"He is hot," Miranda added.

Kylie tried not to think about her two roommates weak-kneed for Lucas.

"Then you don't believe that power really exists?" she asked instead.

"Yeah, it exists," Miranda said, and her brow pinched as if she were thinking. "I've heard something about it. Nothing specific, but just a few mumblings."

"What have you heard?" Della and Kylie asked at the same time. Kylie put Socks down, moved to the table, and dropped onto a kitchen chair. For some reason, the ghost had decided to move on, which didn't bother her at all. She could use some downtime.

Especially right now.

"I can't remember the details," Miranda said. "Just that it's a little dangerous to date a were. It has something to do with animal pheromones. They're basically animals, and all animals have a natural way of attracting the opposite sex."

"Attracting like how?" Kylie asked.

"Well," Miranda said, "lizards have a brightly colored balloony thing that they blow out from their throats and supposedly girl lizards find that all kinds of sexy."

Kylie shook her head. "Lucas doesn't have a balloon in his throat."

"Hey," Della added. "Have you ever seen those blackbirds-grackles, I think they're called-do the mating dance? They jump around on one foot and ruffle their feathers out. The females supposedly get horny just seeing the male birds do it. I mean, the guy with the better feathers always wins. Or is it the bigger feathers?"

Miranda snickered. "And I heard some male baboons have brightly colored buttocks and they go around mooning the females. Supposedly it's a huge turn-on."

While Kylie was serious about finding answers, she couldn't help but laugh. "I don't think Lucas has colored buttocks, either. Not that I've seen them." She laughed harder.

Before their conversation was over, Della was on the computer looking up strange mating behaviors that included everything from exploding testicles to slinging poop with a tail, and they laughed themselves silly until way past midnight. It was, Kylie decided as she finally slipped into bed, just the type of evening she needed.

Although she still didn't have the answer to her original question: Just what kind of power did Lucas really have?

And could she trust him not to misuse it? Her gut said she could. But was her gut being persuaded by outside influences?

* * *

The floating sensation filled Kylie's head several hours after she went to bed that night. Mental alarms went off. Was this Red again? Then she realized the difference: she was floating, which meant she was the one moving.

She considered trying to stop it, but she was too tired, so she just let herself go. Let herself float and zip through the air-moving through clouds of sleep.

The sense of freedom was exhilarating. She didn't have a clue where she was going, and she didn't care. Obviously, her subconscious had a plan. But what?

And then she saw him. He looked so good, lying in his bed, that her breath caught and she put on her flying brakes. He was shirtless, too. The covers came low on his waist, several inches past his belly button. Her gaze moved up and then down his bare torso. There was a lot of skin to appreciate.

Then she studied his face. So peaceful in his slumber. His eyelashes rested against his cheeks. His hair rested against his brow in a ruffled mess, as if he'd run his fingers through it too many times. Her heart spasmed and then she felt herself moving closer, into the room, into the bed, into his ... head.

No! She stopped herself at the last moment.

She'd vowed to get over Derek. To move past him. Unfortunately, her subconscious hadn't gotten that message. Then, as if gravity, or maybe her own will, started pulling her backward, she let herself sail through the clouds, back through the universe of sleep.

She woke up with a start, as if she'd been slammed back into her body. Catching her breath, she reached for her pillow and hugged it tightly to her chest. The vision of Derek asleep filled her head. No! No! Don't think about Derek. Think about Lucas.

Lucas, who'd danced with her in the moonlight. Lucas, who'd kissed her so sweetly. Lucas, whose blood raced every time she was with him.

Closing her eyes, she lost herself again in the oblivion of sleep. The sweet nothingness of slumber. The next thing she knew, she stood in a room of clouds, in front of Lucas. Thoughts of Red hit, but Lucas spoke. "It's me. Feel me. I'm hot." He reached out and took her hand in his. His touch sent warmth through her palm and her heart.

She remembered telling herself to think about Lucas, and she wondered if she was learning to control her dreamscapes. A little thrill ran through her as the sensation of accomplishment filled her chest. With so many unknowns and out-of-control issues happening, it felt great to think she'd mastered something.

He smiled up at her with his sleepy blue eyes. "I was beginning to think you would never visit me in my dreams again."

Suddenly, the clouds evaporated like unwanted fog and they were back outside where they'd danced earlier that evening. The moon and stars cast lovely shadows around them. Only this time, the night played the music. Crickets and an occasional bird harmonized with the sound of a light breeze stirring through the leaves of shrubbery and the rustle of live oak trees.

"Shall we dance?" He held out his hand.

She started to place her hand in his palm when she realized he didn't have on a shirt. Instead of jeans, he had on a long, loose-fitting pair of boxers. The kind boys slept in-if they didn't sleep nude. The kind the movie stars often wore in those sexy photos.