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"Especially then." Ivy's fingers traced the line of Julia's jaw. "Because even when you were hiding behind Detective Scott, I could see Julia. Wanting. Caring. Fighting herself every step of the way."

Outside, rain continued its steady percussion against the windows and roof, cocooning them. The storm that had rolled in was reaching its crescendo, thunder rumbling in a bass line beneath the rain's melody.

"I never thought I'd have this," Julia confessed, her voice touched with wonder. "Inever thought I'd want it. Never thought I'd choose someone over rules. Over the perfect Detective Scott image."

"And now?"

"Now I can't imagine choosing anything else." Julia's hands slid down to Ivy's waist, drawing her closer until their bodies aligned perfectly. "Not when the alternative is losing you."

Ivy felt the shift in Julia's touch—from comforting to something more heated, from reassurance to desire. Her own body responded instantly, memory and anticipation combining into sudden, overwhelming need.

"Julia," she breathed, her fingers curling into the soft fabric of Julia's shirt. "I want?—"

"I know." Julia's lips found the sensitive spot below Ivy's ear that she had discovered their first night together, then rediscovered in the brief, precious hours before Knox's men had invaded. "I want it too."

They moved toward the bed that had been violated and was now being reclaimed, each step deliberate. This wasn't the desperate passion of their first night at the Oceana Hotel, nor the frantic connection before Knox's attack. This was somethingdeeper, a choice being made with full awareness.

Julia's hands were gentle as they drew Ivy's shirt over her head, careful of healing ribs and fading bruises. Ivy returned the gesture, fingers tracing each newly revealed inch of skin with reverent attention. Their movements slowed, transforming necessity into ritual.

"Let me see you," Julia murmured, eyes drinking in Ivy's body with heated focus. "All of you."

The last barriers between them fell away as they shed their clothing. When they finally came together on the bed, skin against skin, it felt like coming home to a place neither had realized they were seeking.

"I won't break," Ivy assured her, recognizing the careful restraint in Julia's touch. "I'm right here."

Julia's hands moved with greater confidence then, mapping familiar territory with fresh appreciation. "I know," she whispered against Ivy's skin. "I just need to make sure."

Outside, the storm continued its cleansing rhythm, washing Phoenix Ridge clean of lingering summer heat. Inside,something equally powerful built between them—healing beginning where violence had intruded, connection strengthening where separation had been forced.

This time, there was no rush toward release, no desperate search for temporary escape. This was rebuilding, reclaiming, recreating something neither had believed possible until Knox had nearly taken it away.

"I love you," Julia whispered against Ivy's heated skin, the words no longer carefully contained. "I love you, Ivy. I love you."

Ivy pulled her up until they were face to face, hearts beating against each other through skin and bone. "Show me," she breathed, her need rising beyond words.

Julia lightly grazed her fingers over Ivy’s sides, tracing her outline, and Ivy leaned into the touch, feeling a wave of warmth run through her. Julia leaned down and kissed Ivy, letting her tongue roam in her mouth, before she trailed kisses down Ivy’s neck and chest and captured Ivy’s left nipple in her mouth.

Ivy squirmed from beneath her, and Julia looked up at her, making eye contact. “Too much?”

Ivy shook her head, softening her almond-shaped, light brown eyes as she soaked in Julia’s careful concern. “No, it’s perfect.”

Julia smiled as she lowered herself and teased Ivy’s nipple again. She flicked the pert nub and swirled her tongue around it as she gently squeezed Ivy’s other breast. When she moved downward and left a loving trail of soft kisses from her breasts down to her navel down to her trimmed pubic hair then kissed Ivy’s clitoris, Ivy gasped with pleasure, her breath hitching in her throat.

She took Ivy’s clit in her mouth, swirling her tongue around it, putting pressure then releasing it, building up Ivy’s pleasure. Julia flicked her tongue once, then twice against the wanting nub and let her tongue dip lower between Ivy’s already slick folds.

“Still hungry for me?” Julia teased, smiling before she lapped Ivy’s juices spilling between her thighs.

“Always,” Ivy whispered, her voice husky with desire.

Julia inserted a finger inside Ivy, intently watching her face for any sign of discomfort, but when Ivy smiled back up at her, shesmiled back, letting her gaze grow soft again as she inserted a second finger and leaned back down to taste Ivy.

Ivy threaded her fingers through Julia’s hair as Julia kept licking and sucking on her clit, giving Ivy soft nips on her inner thigh in between sucks. Ivy’s breathing pattern changed and her moans grew more insistent as her body stiffened and tightened around Julia’s fingers. Ivy pressed her body against Julia’s palm that pushed against Ivy as her fingers were deep inside her, and Julia deepened her fingers and curled them upward, coaxing Ivy’s orgasm from her until Ivy’s eyes fluttered and rolled back, her spine arched, and her head was thrown back as she cried out. Julia’s other hand rested on Ivy’s thigh as Ivy lost herself in her pleasure, softly caressing her skin as the waves of aftershocks pulsed through her body.

After Ivy’s breathing became less ragged, Julia pulled her fingers out of Ivy, licking them to keep the taste of Ivy on her tongue longer, and collapsed beside her.

They lay together in peaceful silence, the storm outside gradually receding as their breathing synchronized. Julia's arm curvedprotectively around Ivy's waist, her fingers tracing idle patterns along her bare skin.

"I never thought I'd have this," Ivy murmured, nestling her head into the curve of Julia's shoulder.