Chapter 1

They arrived at the lake house in separate cars.

The air was still, thick with the scent of pine and lake water. The sun dipped low over the trees, casting long golden shadows across the veranda.

Mia was already out of her car, leaning against the wooden railing like she belonged there. Her golden hair was pulled into a high ponytail, catching the light like spun silk. She wore cut-off jean shorts that hugged her hips, and a thin white tank that barely clung to her curves. She looked like something out of a fever dream—effortless, sensual, and too beautiful to be real.

She lit a cigarette slowly, deliberately, inhaled, and exhaled with a soft sigh that curled smoke into the fading light. Her eyes shimmered—warm, distant, and full of something deeper. Tears welled but didn’t fall. Her beauty was painful.

Kurt stepped up onto the veranda, watching her quietly. “I thought you switched to vaping.”

Mia didn’t look at him at first. She flicked ash over the railing. “I did. A couple of years ago. My friend Ellie started me on vaping. I forgot to bring my vape, so...” She held up the cigarette. “I stopped and bought a pack on the way.”

Kurt raised an eyebrow. “Couldn’t you buy a vape instead?”

“I didn’t see a vape store on the way,” she said with a slight smile. “Gas stations don’t have good ones. I opted for cigarettes. Is that okay with you?”

He shrugged, lips twitching. “Yeah. I’m just thinking about your health.” A pause. “Otherwise ... you look really hot when you smoke. Just like Mom.”

Mia turned her head slowly, her eyes sparking with mischief and something darker. “You are such a perv.”

Kurt’s face flushed. “I ... I didn’t mean ... I mean—”

She cut him off with a smirk. “It’s okay. Never censor your emotions. You know I’m a perv too.”

Kurt looked at her and smiled, heart pounding. “Tell me more.”

“Oh, come on,” Mia said, laughing softly. “You know I live with Eva and Carl, right?”

“I kinda do ... Mom and Dad told me a little. I didn’t ask them much about it. I was too busy at college.”

“You were kind of a jerk,” she said, flicking ash again. “Forgot all about your big sister. I contacted you a couple of times, but you were busy playing with some hot little blonde.”

Kurt let out a dry laugh. “That’s a pretty oversimplified version of events, but okay. Fair enough.”

“I even invited you to come and stay with us for a week,” she added, teasing, “but oh no—little brother was too busy for his sister.”

Kurt laughed, shaking his head. “Okay, okay, big sis. You’re 22 and I’m 20. What does that make you—fifteen years older than me?”

Mia burst out laughing. “Yep. Ancient. But I do have much, much more experience ... if you know what I mean.”

He raised an eyebrow, still smiling. “I kinda want to know more.”

“You know you can ask me anything,” she said, her voice softening again. She tapped ash off the edge of the porch. “Always.”

Kurt hesitated, then asked quietly, “So how does it work?”

Mia looked out over the lake. “I guess like most relationships ... but there’s more people to have fun with. Especially when you find the right partners.” She paused. “I can’t really compare it to anything else. I only had one normal relationship before I met Carl and Eva. But oh God—let me tell you—the sex is fucking amazing.”

A small smile crossed her lips. “And them ... I fucking love both of them so much.”

Kurt watched her carefully, voice low. “You’re so passionate about this.”

“Exactly.” Mia turned toward him, her eyes bright and alive. “Passion. Lust. Love. Sex. Always playing. Never boring. No cheating. No jealousy when you share.”

Kurt swallowed hard. His pants suddenly felt too tight. Mia noticed the shift in his posture, glanced down—and smiled. But her voice stayed casual.

“Mom and Dad used to have fun too,” she said. “Not like Carl and Eva, but ... they met them a few times. At a party.”

Kurt blinked. “What? Your Carl and Eva? They fu—I mean ... with Mom and Dad?”

Mia chuckled. “Yeah. Only a handful of times, though. Carl and Eva are polyamorists. Mom and Dad were swingers ... I think.”

“I can’t even digest this information,” Kurt said, looking stunned.

Mia laughed, warm and easy. “I know. We’ll talk about it more later. Right now ... it looks like you’re going to explode in your pants.”

Kurt turned crimson. “Fuck ... I’m sorry.”