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“Yes. And this morning, you were behind me, kissing my neck to try to calm me down, and I wanted to take your hand and slide it–”

“Okay. Slow down,” Palmer said as Elizabeth’s hand met her belt buckle.

“When we were bowling, I got to hold your hips and press you up against me.” Elizabeth undid the belt buckle. “And when we came in here, and the lights went down, I couldn’t help myself; I had to touch you. Iwantto touch you, Palmer.”

“We can. We can do that,” Palmer replied nervously. “Maybe tomorrow or–”

Elizabeth pulled what she’d taken from the greenhouse out of her back pocket.

“Do you know what this one is?” she asked.

“No. What?”

“It’s not very pretty, but itiscoriander. Do you know what it means?”

“No,” Palmer replied again. “I don’t think my mom ever told me about that one.”

“Lust,” Elizabeth explained, unbuttoning Palmer’s jeans with her free hand and placing the sprig of coriander inside Palmer’s front pocket. “I want you, Palmer. And I’ll wait if you’re worried about it being about something else, but I can promise you it’s not. I love you.” She unzipped Palmer’s jeans. “I want to make love to you.”

God, it was the truth. She’d wanted it the night before, too, and probably would have, had Magnus not interrupted them with that news. She’d wanted it for longer than that, too. Today, being with Palmer, knowing that their future together could go one way or another and that Palmer was still there, that she loved Elizabeth enough to support her through this, was something Elizabeth hadn’t known she needed. Then, there was how beautiful Palmer was; how sexy the woman could be with those dark eyes darkening even more at times when she didn’t think Elizabeth was looking. Palmer’s skin was soft. Her lips were warm and so talented; Elizabeth wanted to be touched by her and to touch her so much she could no longer hold it in. When she’d noticed the coriander in the greenhouse, she’d thought it fate. And now, all she wanted was to be with Palmer in a way she had only ever been with one other woman, and in a way she hoped she’d never be with another woman after Palmer.

“Where’s the elevator?” Palmer asked as Elizabeth pulled on her shirt in an attempt to get it off Palmer’s body.

“Over there,” Elizabeth replied. “Keep the movie playing – I want people to think we’re still in here. No interruptions for this, my love.”

Elizabeth then pulled on Palmer’s undone belt until they ran into the wall. Palmer pressed her fully against it, placing her hands on either side of Elizabeth’s head.

“Press the up button,” Palmer told her, licking her lips.

“Yes, Miss Honeycutt,” Elizabeth replied, locating the hidden button with her finger, pressing it, and waiting.

CHAPTER 40

When Palmer had woken up that morning, the last thing she had expected was that they’d be making out in a tiny elevator on their way to Elizabeth’s bedroom to make love. She’d assumed her job today was to be a supportive girlfriend. But now, Elizabeth had her pressed against the side wall of that elevator, and her hands were cupping Palmer’s ass, pulling her in closer.

“There aren’t cameras in here, are there?” Palmer breathed out.

“No,” Elizabeth said. “Well, I don’t think so.”

“You don’tthinkso?” she asked as Elizabeth licked her neck.

“Can we not talk right now?” Elizabeth requested as she sucked on Palmer’s earlobe.

“Whatever you want,” Palmer agreed breathlessly.

When the elevator stopped, Palmer was pulled out of it and into Elizabeth’s sitting room. Thankfully, the room was empty, so Palmer allowed Elizabeth to drag her in the direction of the double doors leading to the bedroom. Then, she took over. She pressed Elizabeth against one of them, sliding her hands under Elizabeth’s blouse and lifting it off, revealing a pale pink bra with a tiny bow situated between Elizabeth’s breasts that were heaving. Palmer stared into Elizabeth’s now darkening blue eyes.

“You really want this?” she asked.

“Is that your non-clichéd way of asking if I’m sure?” Elizabeth teased.

“You’re extra sassy when you’re turned on,” Palmer teased back.

Elizabeth’s hand went behind Palmer’s head, and she pulled her lips to an inch between Palmer’s and her own.

“I love you. I want you. I am certain, my love,” Elizabeth said seriously.

Palmer closed the distance between their mouths. She pressed the door behind Elizabeth until it relented and opened. They practically fell into the bedroom, but Palmer had enough sense to ensure the door was closed behind them just in case. She walked Elizabeth back to the bed, kicking her jeans off along the way. When the back of Elizabeth’s legs hit the bed, Palmer just watched as she sat down on it, looking up at her with such want yet such vulnerability in her gaze.