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As if Carmen were reading her mind, she leaned back. Just enough to see Lola’s face. Just enough to tuck her fingers under her chin and tilt her head toward her. Holding her in her gaze, Carmen looked at her like she was holding back her own tidal wave of things that were too soon to say.

Lola felt Carmen’s intentions in her skin, her muscles, her blood. Silently, they hacked into her nervous system, cracking the code and overriding the electrical charge so that Lola’s heart beat only for her.

Pulling Carmen down into a kiss, Lola accepted the change and begged for more. When Lola’s lips met Carmen’s, the circuit was complete. She filled her with crackling energy that erupted from her overloaded system.

Hands moving over Carmen’s back, Lola had to resist clawing at her to get more of her. “Tell me you’re mine,” Lola growled, the words slipping through her white-knuckled control.

Carmen moaned against her ear, wet body gliding in her lap and mouth moving over her neck. “I’m yours,” she moaned, breathy and pained against the shell of Lola’s ear. “I’m yours in every way you want me.”

The confession was devastating. Lola held back, resisting the instinctual urge to grip Carmen harder. To use her mouth and teeth and fingers. To leave marks.

Carmen’s grinding in her lap grew more intense. Digging her fingers into the soft skin of Lola’s shoulder blades, Carmen sent a rush of ravaging heat flying through Lola’s body.

“You don’t have to be gentle all of a sudden,” Carmen whispered, nails digging deeper as if to show Lola how far she could go. “I want you, Lola. Not a toned-down version of you.” She released the tortured skin of Lola’s back to reach behind her and pluck Lola’s hand off her waist. “I want everything you have to give… exactly how you want to give it.”

Lola’s head was already swimming, her body buzzing with desire. And then Carmen guided Lola’s hand between her thighs, pressed her fingertips into her, showing her just how wet she was.

Cursing, Lola found Carmen’s mouth again. She kissed her with the full force of her desire. Her affection. Her heart.

Carmen met her intensity. Kissed her back harder. Deeper. With each swipe of her tongue, every swing of her hips, she promised Lola that she really did want everything she had to give.

And Lola gave. Overwhelmed by permission to unleash everything she felt, Lola claimed Carmen’s mouth in a searing kiss. She poured all of her pent-up longing into the slide of her lips, the sweep of her tongue. Carmen matched her fervor, gasping into Lola’s mouth as their bodies rocked together.

Lola’s hand moved between Carmen’s thighs while the other roamed, worshipping every curve and plane of Carmen’s skin. She traced delicate lines down Carmen’s spine, over the swell of her hips. Teasing her, leading her to the edge and holding her there.

Carmen arched into her touch, breath coming in ragged pants against Lola’s neck. “Please,” she exhaled. “Take it. I’m yours.”

“Tell me again,” Lola demanded, teeth tugging on Carmen’s bottom lip.

“I’m yours, Lola. Fuck, I’m yours.”

When Lola finally slipped inside, Carmen cried out, nails biting into Lola’s shoulders. Carmen’s moans filled Lola’s mouth, their kisses messy and deep as her fingers set an unhurried rhythm designed to undo Carmen completely.

Carmen came apart above her — hair wild, lips swollen, eyes slammed shut. Lola had never seen anything so breathtaking. And she was hers. Hers in this moment and hers in the morning. And if Lola played her cards right, she’d stay hers. Carmen was a gift. One she would never take for granted.

CHAPTER54

The night wascool when they left the restaurant where Carmen’s mother insisted they have her birthday dinner. Carmen would think that since she was the one turning thirty-four, she’d get to pick, but alas, that had been a silly assumption. The Key Biscayne restaurant had always been a family favorite — overpriced but worth it for the view of the bay.

“Man, I knew my mom would love you, but I didn’t know you were going to charm the pants off my whole family. Even my grandpa was smitten,” Carmen said when Lola opened the car door for her, even though the valet had been primed to do it.

Lola, lips painted almost the same black as her fitted pantsuit, smirked. “I’ve been told I’m irresistible.”

“By who?” Carmen asked when they were both in the car. “Athlete’s foot?”

Lola laughed, the sound echoing off her car’s white leather interior. “That’s not what you were saying last night. Or this morning. Or this afternoon.” She leaned over the center console, offering her lips.

“That’s the last time I take the day off of work then,” Carmen replied, leaning over and holding her kiss just out of reach. “If you’re going to rub it in my face.”

Lola’s smile was unwavering. “That’s not what I did with your face.”

Carmen kissed her, teeth bumping together because neither of them had dropped their grins. “Take me home. I don’t think I’m finished with you, and it’s still my birthday for a few more hours. I’m still in charge.”

“Yes, boss,” Lola replied, stealing another kiss before putting the car in drive.

“So when do I get to meet your family?” Carmen asked when they were on the bridge connecting the barrier island to the mainland.

Lola pretended to think about it, eyes still trained on the traffic crawling ahead of them. “How about… the day after never?”