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Carefully, Carmela started to move, hoping the circulation would return to the half of her body Rhiannon was laying on.

She hoped the movement wouldn’t wake her; Carmela wanted to enjoy the moment for as long as possible. It had been so long since she’d experienced the heart-stopping euphoria of waking up with a woman like this and she wanted to hold on to it.

What have you done to me? she wondered as she glanced down at the top of Rhiannon’s head resting on her chest. As she stared at her and replayed the best sex of her life in her mind, Carmela gave up on returning blood flow to her appendages and drifted back to sleep.

“Good morning,” Rhiannon muttered as she ran her fingertips over Carmela’s bare stomach, sending the best kind of chills racing over her skin. “Actually,” she said before pausing. “Good afternoon.”

Without opening her eyes, Carmela squeezed Rhiannon and reveled in her warm skin and her weight on top of her.

“Does that mean we missed the first breakfast for the married couple?”

Rhiannon chuckled, her voice husky. “Unfortunately.”

Carmela smiled. “Maybe we can order in?”

“God yes. I’m starving,” she replied before burying herself in Carmela’s chest, making her laugh. “What do you want?”

Carmela watched as she slid o the bed and padded out of the room, presumably to get the room service menu. The smile that bloomed on her lips was an unstoppable force.

“How about pancakes?” Rhiannon asked as she returned with a spiral bound book in her hand.

“Whatever you want is good with me,” she replied, still grinning as she stared at Rhiannon’s gorgeous form walking around the room to the phone on the nightstand.

A minute later, she’d ordered enough food for a family of four while Carmela caught up with some necessary work. For the first time in her life, Carmela resented not being able to go on a vacation and completely disconnect.

“So, not to sound like a total chump, but was last night okay?” Rhiannon asked, climbing back into bed and curling around her like a koala nestling in a tree.

“Okay?” Carmela echoed incredulously as she tossed her phone onto the nightstand. “It was far more than okay. Did you not like it—”

“No!” Rhiannon’s eyes widened as she sprang forward and took Carmela’s hands in hers as she straddled her. “I thought it was incredible. No contest for the best night of my life.”

Carmela unclenched her back muscles and rested her hands on Rhiannon’s hip bones. “So what’s making you feel doubtful? Was it not what you expected? Di erent than with other partners?”

When Rhiannon’s chest and face flushed deep crimson, Carmela pulled her down and kissed her sleep-swollen lips.

In a tangle of limbs, Rhiannon kissed her back as if she could bury whatever emotion was overwhelming her inside Carmela mouth. Whatever it was, she’d gladly take it on in her stead.

“I’ve never really done this before,” Rhiannon admitted while partially nestled in the nape of her neck.

Carmela’s eyes widened. She had no idea Rhiannon was a virgin. “Well, you could’ve fooled me. I sure as hell didn’t have that kind of confidence my first time.”

“No, no! I’ve done it,” she replied with a nervous chuckle.

“But not with anyone I really cared about. I think I was a little in my head.”

Carmela laughed as she hugged her tighter. “You were amazing. I promise.” After processing the new piece of information, she added. “You’ve never been in a serious relationship?”

Rhiannon’s body tensed before she replied. “Not exactly. I mean, I’ve dated, but no one really worth bringing home to Mami, you know?”

The revelation didn’t add up. Rhiannon was a beautiful girl, smart, outgoing and rather charming when she wanted to be.

Is it a red flag that she hasn’t had a serious relationship at twenty-three?

Before Carmela could find a way to articulate her concern in a non-rude way, Rhiannon volunteered more information.

“I guess I was always so preoccupied with getting ahead, you know? In high school, all I cared about was college. In college, all I cared about was getting the most out of my education so I could show my parents it was worth the expense.” She sat up and tucked one long leg underneath her body. “In all that time, I might have forgotten to really make

any friends or make anybody a priority. In my hyper focus, I guess I never found someone who could be an emotional cactus. You know. . . requiring minimal care to thrive?”