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Haylee had lived her entire life flitting from one thing to the next, one relationship to the next. Febe was right. Passion wasn’t her forte. She wasn’t someone who stuck with anything, and even though she felt for veterans, she knew she wasn’t going to be around long enough to see the project through. It was an impossibility.

“Passion doesn’t always go both ways, you know.” Cherish slid off the chair and stood up, holding her hand out for Haylee to take.

Canting her head to the side, Haylee stared at Cherish’s hand for a second too long before taking it. As soon as she stood up, Cherish was pressed against her, mouth to mouth, chest to chest. Haylee wrapped arms around her, holding her like she was a precious jewel. Her heart thundered. Haylee had to figure out what they were doing together.

“Cherish?”

“Yes?” Cherish smiled over her shoulder as she started toward her bedroom, Haylee’s hand in hers.

Haylee didn’t speak again until they reached the hallway. “What are we doing together?”

“Exploring.” Cherish stopped, as if sensing Haylee’s hesitation. “I don’t… The other night was amazing, Haylee.” Her tone turned from flirtatious to somber. “I want to see where that might take us, but I come with my own issues. Just like you do. And we need to figure out if our baggage can work together.”

“That’s astute.”

Cherish shrugged slightly. “I’m not looking for love, so don’t worry about that.”

“Good.” Haylee bent her head to kiss Cherish quickly. “Because I don’t fall in love.”

“Then that’s a bonus for me.” Cherish pushed Haylee backward into the wall, covering her. Haylee slid her hands up and down Cherish’s back, finding her skin hot and soft. “Tonight’s for you, Haylee.”

Frowning, Haylee lifted Cherish’s shirt over her head and dropped it to the floor.

“I’m serious,” Cherish mumbled against Haylee’s neck. “Just for you.”

“I really do enjoy being between your legs, Cherry. Even if it takes a long time or it never happens.” Haylee brushed her fingers lightly over the tops of Cherish’s breasts.

“Why don’t we just see where this goes. Okay?”

“Fine.” Haylee pressed her shoulders into the wall, her hips jutting out. “But I still want to be between your legs.”

“Some other night,” Cherish stated again.

“Then what are we doing tonight?” Haylee wrinkled her nose.

“Everything else.”

What did that even mean?

Haylee was growing more and more frustrated by the second. She understood that Cherish hesitated to do anything physical because of her own issues, but hadn’t they at least started to work through that? Cherish slid her hand down the front of Haylee’s pants, drawing a moan from her. Within seconds, Haylee’s mind was only on Cherish’s fingers, playing her like a fine-tuned instrument.

“Jesus, Cherry.”

“That’s sexy.” Cherish wetted her fingers before inserting two of them.

Haylee closed her eyes, knocking her head back into the wall. She was going to be fucked senseless in two seconds flat, and Cherish wasn’t even going to let her touch, or taste. Haylee’s heart raced. It was unfair in her mind, but if this was what Cherish wanted, then that’s what she would go ahead with. She could wait. She could see if they could get beyond one more night and then be together like before.

Going deep into her memories, Haylee focused on Cherish’s taste and feel, of exactly what it was like to slide her tongue around Cherish’s clit in that slow steady circle. Her entire body jerked with a start, her nipples hardening. Fuck, why did they still have most of their clothes on?

“Passion isn’t just a two-way street,” Cherish whispered into her ear.

Why was every word such a turn on? It shouldn’t be. Cherish was holding back, yet again, refusing to let go and Haylee hated it. When would she ever just be herself?

“Do you feel me?” Cherish asked.

“Yes,” Haylee answered without thinking. All she could do was feel Cherish’s fingers, her thumb spinning slow and firm circles, just like Haylee had done to Cherish with her tongue.

Haylee rocked her hips slowly. Once. Twice. Three times. She grasped hold of the back of Cherish’s neck, pulling her in for a wet and messy kiss. She gasped for air. How could she be so close to the breaking point already?