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“You don’t want kids?” Carmen’s brows furrowed in surprise.

Lola’s eyes widened. “It’s not that I don’t want them. I guess I never imagined them fitting into my life. I’m two years away from having a geriatric pregnancy,” she said with a wry smile. “I suppose I thought the ship sailed without me.”

Carmen laughed. “We’re the same age, you know.”

“Technically, I’m older than you. At least until your birthday next week.”

She rolled her eyes before pulling Lola closer, taking advantage of her non-smear lipstick and the fact that they were alone to kiss her.

“I don’t think I want kids either,” Carmen decided. “I always imagined opening a dog rescue, though.”

“Dog rescue. I’m all in for that.” Lola smiled, overwhelmed by the range of emotions she’d felt in a single night.

Carmen wrapped herself around her, hazel eyes darkening. “How about we get outta here and you see whether you can knock me up tonight?”

Lola pulled her in for another kiss. “What does biology know about babies, anyway?”

CHAPTER52

There wassomething different about Lola when she walked into Carmen’s house. Something light. She’d been different since she’d spoken with her mother, Carmen realized. Like Lola had really expected to be met with violent disapproval and was beyond relieved at the unpredictable turn of events.

Carmen knew that Lola and her mother would hit it off. She hated to admit that they were cut from the same kind of indestructible cloth. That one strong woman would recognize and respect another. Plus, there was no way her mother was nearly as terrifying as Lola’s boss. That woman could make dictators cry, and yet Lola had been able to impress her.

What she hadn’t been expecting was for Lola to ask if she could come over after the gala. For her to glide through her house in a dress that fit her form so well, only Carmen’s fingers had ever traced her shape closer.

Looking out at the pool again, Lola was lit by the full moon like the heavens themselves wanted to get a better look at her. Carmen couldn’t blame them. Lola was a stunning force of nature. She had her own center of gravity and nothing could resist its pull. Not even other cosmic forces.

Drifting toward her, Carmen gave in to the draw. She quenched her thirst on the nape of Lola’s exposed neck. Satisfied her hunger with the warmth of her skin.

When Carmen slid her hands around her, laying her palms flat against Lola’s abdomen, Lola covered her hands. She pressed Carmen to her, urging her closer.

“Do you want to get into the pool?” Lola asked, voice so soft it was more like the essence of sound than speech.

Instead of responding with afuck yes, Carmen slid her hands over the soft material of Lola’s dress and found the zipper hidden on the side. The fabric eased away from Lola’s body like it was spellbound to peel away at Carmen’s touch.

Standing in the doorway in a pool of red fabric, heels high and body nude, Lola’s dark eyes were on her like a pharaoh surveying a subject. All at once, Carmen understood why people ever believed in earthly deities.

Words failed Carmen. When her lips parted, all she could do was stifle a gasp. And then Lola was signaling for her to turn around. She was taking off her dress. Her careful touch was in stark contrast to the way she usually possessed her.

Outside, the night was unseasonably warm for early October, or maybe it was Carmen’s exposed skin that was too hot. She stopped at the edge of the stone deck, watching Lola walk barefoot to the far end of the pool.

Covered in moonlight painting the edges of her form with silver light, Lola kept her eyes fixed on Carmen while she pulled a hidden pin out of her hair. The single move sent Lola’s glossy raven waves cascading around her shoulders. Then she stepped slowly into the water, one agonizing step at a time. Each one disrupting the moon’s reflection, reshaping it the way she saw fit.

Taking the shortest path to Lola possible, Carmen took a few long strides to the deep end and dove in head first. The water was a cold shock for only the briefest moment. As she cut through the salt water to get to Lola, she felt rejuvenated, alive.

“Show off,” Lola said with a smirk when she reached her.

She’d dipped her head underwater, her wet hair slicked back so all Carmen could see was her face. But she hadn’t gone any deeper into the pool than her sternum.

“I can teach you,” Carmen said before tossing her own hair back and hoping her makeup really was waterproof.

Lola’s spectacular brows furrowed. “To swim?”

Carmen nodded, heart pounding when she rested her hand on Lola’s hip underwater. “Do you know how to float?”

Lola’s elegant throat bobbed when she swallowed. Then she replied with a quick shake of her head.

“Want me to show you?”