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“Yeah?” Megan sipped her wine, returning to elegance and grace.

“On this chicken,” Allison finished, which caused Megan to throw a piece of it at her. “Bonus,” she said, scooping it up off her plate and popping it in her mouth.

They finished their dinner, stealing glances at each other and enjoying the music, updating each other on the fourth grade andSoiree’s client load, including Missy, the chronic caller. She apparently phoned the office at least three times a day, earning herself a reputation.

“I guess I freed you up in that respect,” Allison said, handing over her plate to Megan at the sink. “For the difficult clients.”

“And tied up my brain in other ways.” A pause. Megan turned off the water and dried her hands. “So, how are you?”

Allison shrugged and accepted a refill on her wine. “I’m so many things. Scared. Sad about the state of the engagement, but also relieved. There was too much in here for such a big step.” She pointed at her head. “I’m excited, too.”

“About what?” Megan said, lingering close.

Allison swallowed. “Getting to know you better. Provided that’s what you want, too.”

“Really? There’s doubt?” Megan sighed. “I stalked you at your job today.”

“And I loved it,” she said softly. It was brief, but she could have sworn Megan’s gaze swept over her cleavage. Her breasts tingled, and she took a moment with that new feeling. “You have an effect on me that I’m still not used to. A very strong physical one.”

Megan’s gaze dropped again, but this time purposefully, lingering. “In what way?”

“You make me dizzy, for one.”

Megan dipped her head and met Allison’s eyes. “In a good way?”

She straightened and nodded, refusing to break eye contact. “We’re so different, but that’s part of what draws me to you, I think.”

“And women for you—”

“Are new. Admitted. But I’ve asked myself candidly, and I can honestly say that I’m not chasing a novelty. This feels…real. And I wish I could explain it better, but I don’t have anything to compare it to. But ever since I’ve discovered these feelings, the world is suddenly alive in a way it never has been before.”

“I believe you. Come here,” Megan said quietly and held out her hand. Allison took the two steps between them and pulled in a little extra air to adjust to being in Megan’s space, so very close to her.

“Hi,” she said in a near whisper, taking in Megan’s scent. Being this close to Megan had her skin tingling and her stomach flip-flopping and her legs a little shaky. At the same time, her breasts longed to betouched, and a small throbbing took up residence between her thighs. It was almost too much to handle, all of it at once, but at the same time, an experience she never wanted to end. She had no idea her body could react this way to another person without any prompting from her brain. Had she always had this capability and just didn’t know it? Megan slowly slid a strand of hair behind Allison’s ear. Her lips parted. It was one thing when she’d leaped in and kissed Megan without thinking, but this slow unravel was another experience entirely.

Megan’s gaze dropped to her mouth, then lifted to Ally’s in question. She was asking for permission, and in that moment, there was nothing Ally wanted more than to be good and kissed. She offered the smallest of nods and watched as Megan leaned in slowly, giving her every opportunity to back away. When her lips brushed Allison’s, the Earth shifted. She heard herself murmur—or was that a whimper?—against Megan’s mouth, absorbing the shockwaves of new sensations that hit her everywhere. Megan’s lips were as soft as she remembered. Her mouth was warm, and everything about Megan drew her in. She angled her head and melted against the feeling of their lips moving in slow tandem. She was drunk on it. Gone. Then, ambitious. Hunger took over, and she noticed herself moving closer and increasing the speed of the kiss, which Megan had no trouble accommodating. Her own skin went hot, and that throbbing between her legs had tripled as she melded her body against Megan’s, wrapping her arms around her neck. She longed for Megan to touch her, knowing innately it would be nothing like she’d ever experienced. As if reading her thoughts, Megan’s hands slipped under her shirt to the small of her back. She gasped at the contact, at the fingertips on her bare skin, and pressed in closer, acutely aware of Megan’s breasts pressed against hers.

“Should we stop?” Megan asked, after pulling her mouth away. Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing shallow. Allison took a moment to blink and watch, amazed that she had elicited that kind of response.

“Maybe a little more,” she answered, only to have Megan reach for her at the same exact time she reached for Megan. They were off. Kissing and walking, Megan steering her backward until her back hit the wall with a thud.Yes. Allison closed her eyes as Megan kissed her jaw and then her neck. She gripped the fabric of Megan’s shirt and heldon for the most delicious ride of her life. But then she had to participate. She had to touch, explore, and maybe even lead. Crazy. She pulled Megan’s mouth back to hers and took over, moving them to the couch. Megan took the cue and lay back, pulling Ally down with her. She saw stars when she settled on top of Megan, living out a number of recent fantasies.

“Oh, wow,” she said as she stared down at Megan, who reached up and touched her cheek tenderly.

“You’re so beautiful.” The earnest quality with which Megan looked at her was everything. She meant it.

Ally caught her mouth and settled in. Before she knew it, their legs were intertwined, and with Megan’s thigh between hers, they were going to be done before they got started. The pressure that steadily built was almost too much to bear or control. She pushed against Megan’s leg and felt herself too close to the edge. Her body was overwhelmed, and she couldn’t keep up. She tore her mouth from Megan’s and focused on the smooth leather of the couch to regain some semblance of control.

Megan covered her eyes briefly. “God. Okay. Maybe we should press pause.”

“Yes,” she said reluctantly. Her body raged against the decision, begging her to change her mind. But the one thing she didn’t want to do was rush full speed ahead before looking both ways. A difficult task, given the fire raging between them. They shared a small smile, her seated and Megan on her back, propped up on her elbows. “This is all new to me, so tell me this. Was it just me, or was that really, really…?”

“Definitely not just you.”

She exhaled in relief, and Megan laughed. “I think I should go, but know that it’s the responsible part of my brain speaking, and not the really insistent other part.”

“You don’t have to offer an explanation, but I happen to very much like the one you just gave.” She stood and offered her hand. “Let me walk you.”

They lingered at the door, neither wanting to say good night. Instead, they let their lips do it, clinging to each other a little longer in a slow, wonderful, toe-curling kiss. “I’ll see you soon,” Megan said.