“Okay.”

Emory felt noticeable tension creep into Sarah’s body, prompting her to rub back and forth with her hands across her forearms in reassurance.

“Everything you just said is true. My life has been noticeably different since you’ve been a part of it, and it’s wonderful in a way I never could have imagined. What I need to tell you is that the more we’re together, the more I feel for you, and I don’t really see that pattern ending anytime soon, if ever, if we’re being perfectly honest. That’s a little overwhelming when I think about it. I look at you and Grace and I can see my possible future. And that’s a little overwhelming too.” She paused, as if looking for that best way to ask for what she needed to. These things didn’t come easy to her. “So, please, if you don’t see this as a very real possibility in your life, I need you to tell me.”

She finally loosened her arms and Sarah turned around in them. “Thank you for telling me that. Like you, I don’t take these kinds of things lightly. I think there are some things to work out between us still. I don’t know the people in your world and you don’t know the people in mine, but what I’ve found in you is so surprisingly good that I want to find a way to bring those worlds together. It may not happen overnight, but I do think it can happen.” She reached out and gently stroked Emory’s cheek, breaking into an adorable smile. “Let me amend that, I want it to happen and will do everything I can to make sure it does.”

It took a moment for the words to reach Emory’s heart, but when they did she heard a roaring in her ears that could not be attributed to the storm outside but to the soaring within her.

Sarah kissed her then, good and kissed her, moving in until she was straddling Emory’s lap where she continued to kiss her with slow and sexy determination. For several minutes, they did nothing but kiss while powerful gusts of wind rocked the darkened windows and the movement of the fire cast large shadows on the wall next to them.

Emory was amazed at how well they fit, as if their sole purpose on earth was to kiss each other. In one regard, that would have been enough and just fine with her, but in another she felt a fire within that more than rivaled the one just feet away. While loving the closeness of Sarah in her lap, she had to order her adventurous hands to obey and stay settled on Sarah’s waist. But she was craving more, and in just a few more moments, she wasn’t sure she would be in full control. Left with no choice, she pulled her mouth away from Sarah and somehow found her voice. It was higher than usual, but still there. “Scrabble?”

Sarah’s eyes, now dark with desire, met hers questioningly. “Is that what you want?”

Emory answered honestly. “No.”

“Me neither,” she whispered. She stroked Emory’s hair. “You may have to show me a few things.”

“Sarah, we can wait. I want you to—”

Emory’s answer was a kiss, a searing kiss that communicated everything she needed to know. She dipped her hands, now free and determined, beneath the sweatshirt Sarah wore and moved up the expanse of her back. She pulled her lips away and kissed up the column of Sarah’s neck, earning a soft moan of pleasure. Feeling herself moving entirely too fast but unable to help herself, Emory grasped at the hem of Sarah’s sweatshirt and pulled it quickly over Sarah’s head. The red bra that had so mercilessly tortured her earlier greeted her now, and she kissed all around its expanse. Sarah tossed her head back and squeezed Emory’s shoulders tightly in response. Emory traced the outline of the bra with her tongue, and scraped her fingernails on the material in its center.

Sarah was dying, absolutely dying. Her heart thudded in her chest as if she’d run a mile. The sensations flying through her body were entirely new and unexpected. The insistence of her arousal made itself known as her body ached and her hips automatically began to move against Emory’s stomach. She’d never considered her breasts sensitive before, but with skilled attention, Emory was eliciting a tidal wave of response without even fully undressing her. Sarah was staggered and she was in need.

As if reading her thoughts, Emory reached behind and unclasped Sarah’s bra, freeing her breasts and catching first one nipple and then the other in her mouth. “My God,” she murmured. At Sarah’s intake of breath, she raised her head, meeting her eyes. “Okay?”

Sarah nodded, moving her hands into Emory’s hair, pulling her back in, encouraging her, needing her not to stop.

In response, Emory aggressively surged forward from where they sat, carrying Sarah with her, and laid her down gently on the large flokati rug in front of the fireplace. As the rain pelted and splashed, she tenderly removed Sarah’s jeans, then looped her thumbs through the outside band of the red bikini underwear, the only thing left in her way. Sarah sat up and clasped her wrists.

“Wait a sec. Please.”

Emory sat back on her heels obediently and swallowed.

“I need to do this first.” Sarah reached out and slowly unbuttoned Emory’s short sleeve white shirt and removed it, moving on to each new piece of clothing. Emory began to help.

When she was finally devoid of all her clothes, Sarah sat back and marveled at Emory’s body. It was more beautiful than even she had imagined, and her mouth went dry at the exquisite site. She wrapped her arms around Emory’s neck and her gaze settled easily on her gentle, beautiful mouth. As she leaned in to capture it, she felt Emory’s bare skin on hers for the first time and her pulse accelerated at the wondrous sensation. And so she kissed Emory, and kissed her, and kissed her, almost undone as she felt Emory’s heart beating rapidly against her own. Emory pressed her forehead to hers and said her name in a jagged whisper. Sarah’d never felt more aroused or more wanted in her whole life. She was overcome with physical yearning, throbbing to the point of desperation. “Now,” she breathed, laying herself back down onto the rug, tugging Emory with her gently.

Hovering just above, Emory finished the task she’d started and slowly pulled the bikinis down Sarah’s bare legs. She then crawled forward and braced herself on her elbows and forearms, catching Sarah’s mouth and allowing their tongues to dance sensuously. She lowered her body fully onto Sarah’s as they kissed, savoring the feeling of total connection. So worth the wait. She boldly inserted a thigh between Sarah’s legs and held it firmly up against her, feeling for the first time just how aroused Sarah truly was. “God,” she moaned quietly. She closed her eyes at the revelation and steadied herself once again. Finally, her eyes found Sarah’s and she began to rock softly against her. She didn’t shudder at the next bolt of lightning, but instead rolled with the thunder outside. Sarah kissed her neck, stopping only when her accelerated breathing didn’t allow for it any longer. As Emory moved faster against Sarah, the pain of pressed fingernails on her back signaled her that Sarah was close. She moved downward, parting her thighs gently. She swiped at Sarah with her tongue once, twice, and on the third time, felt hands holding her head in place as Sarah called out loudly, throwing her head to the side. Emory continued to apply steady pressure until Sarah’s body relaxed and finally collapsed into a heap on the rug.

Sarah stared at the ceiling helplessly, grasping for a way to explain to herself what had just happened. Emory, she thought, Emory had happened. She’d been prepared for the desire she knew she’d feel when Emory touched her, but there had been no way to prepare, no frame of reference for the pleasure she’d just received. “Em?” she said softly, finding her voice.

“I’m right here,” Emory answered tenderly from alongside her. Sarah turned and moved into Emory’s arms, nestling herself in the crook of her shoulder. “I don’t know what to say.”