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Nicola bent forward slightly, grabbing Abagail’s one breast that she could manage to reach and toying with her pebbled nipple, tugging on it and pinching it. Abagail began to shake,her entire body trembling as Nicola continued to tease her into oblivion.

“Come apart for me,” Nicola whispered. She wasn’t exactly sure why she said that, or where the words came from, but she wanted to see Abagail completely unraveled underneath her. The stoic woman who always seemed to have everything together and to know every answer just a mess of sensations, feelings, and at a loss for words. “Come on,” Nicola encouraged.

Abagail closed her eyes, concentrating.

Nicola kept the pattern of her fingers the same, kept the rhythm of her thrusts gentle and firm as she pushed upward and held for a second before pulling back out. Abagail gasped, her entire body vibrating as raw sensations filled her. Nicola’s lips pulled upward. This was exactly what she wanted, what she’d needed.

Bending down immediately, Nicola locked their mouths together in a simmering embrace. Abagail held onto her, keeping her in place even as Nicola slowed the kiss down and shifted Abagail’s leg down. She lay on her side, keeping the toy planted deep inside Abagail as she cradled her.

“Elia says I’m aromantic,” Abagail said, brushing her fingers across Nicola’s lips. “She had to explain what that one meant to me.”

Nicola hummed and nodded. “A lot of people associate it with asexual.”

Abagail nodded, again brushing the pads of her fingers across Nicola’s damp lips. “What do you think?”

“I think you are who you are, whether you want a label or not.” Nicola skimmed her hand down Abagail’s side to her hip and back up again. “What did the label do for you?”

“Gave me words for something I’ve never been able to explain before,” Abagail murmured.

“Then it seems like it did the trick for now.” Nicola moved in and kissed her quickly.

“I can’t love you.” Abagail looked deep into Nicola’s eyes. “And I don’t want that to hurt you.”

Nicola was about to tell her there was no way that wouldn’t happen, but she stopped herself. Because it might very well hurt at times. But that didn’t mean there wasn’t deep understanding and compassion that might come with it. Abagail was being as honest as she could, which was what they needed right now.

“I do love you,” Nicola whispered back, giving Abagail a small smile. “Despite my best efforts not to.”

“Best efforts?” Abagail teased.

“Yeah. Something about being in love with your ex-fiancé’s overbearing and financially controlling aunt sounds wrong even though it feels so right.” Nicola cupped Abagail’s breast and squeezed lightly before letting go.

“I wouldn’t have to be so financially controlling if he’d grow up.”

“Agreed,” Nicola said, cutting that part of the conversation short. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about Warren, especially when they were still naked and the strap was still planted firmly inside Abagail. “How do you envision our relationship?”

“Just like it is now,” Abagail answered. “You live your life, and I live mine, and we get to fuck whenever we want.”

“More partners? Open relationship?”’

Abagail shook her head slowly. “No. Just you and me.”

“That sounds like a relationship, you know.”

Humming, Abagail nodded. “I know it does. But that’s just what I see for it in this moment. Who knows what the future will hold? You might fall head over heels in love with some strapping young human and leave me in the dust.”

“Never,” Nicola whispered and kissed her again. “You’re too valuable for that.”

“I did something, and I don’t want you to be mad about it.” Abagail pulled away slightly, locking their gazes together. “I realized there was really only one advantage that I had growing up that you didn’t when your parents died.”

“What’s that?” Nicola furrowed her brow in confusion, her stomach swimming with nerves.

“Money.” Abagail frowned slightly. “I’m in the process of making a trust.”

“For me?”

“No. For Alanna.” Abagail’s lips thinned. “She’s going to need some sort of care for the rest of her life, and that care comes with great expense. She won’t be able to work or live on her own, ever. And you deserve to not have that burden on your shoulders.”

“Abs, you don’t have to?—”