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The long, birch wood dresser had no obvious handles.

While Ari felt around for how to open it, the door to the guest house creaked behind her.

“Sorry! I wasn’t snooping,” Ari blurted before Sloane crossed the threshold dressed in a long white robe and carrying two mugs in one hand. Ari resisted the urge to cover herself. She wasn’t exactly ready to be naked in the light of day.

“I just wanted something to wear so I could go grab my stu . I didn’t mean to leave it out there,” she continued explaining even though Sloane didn’t appear at all interested.

“Good morning,” Sloane said before handing her a mug.

“I made yours extra sweet just like you like.”

Ari took the co ee but couldn’t quell the instinct to run.

“I didn’t intend to fall asleep last night. I’ll just grab my stu —”

“Babe, you’re running at a ten right now and I need you closer to a three until after lunch,” she interrupted before taking a sip of her co ee. “There’s no need for you to be so dramatic.” She smirked before setting her co ee on the dresser. “I wanted you to stay, obviously.”

Taking a sip of the truly cloying co ee, Ari relaxed. “I guess I should confess I don’t really like co ee with my sugar.”

Sloane chuckled, then feigned surprise. “You don’t say!”

Taking the mug from her, Sloane put it on the dresser next to hers before pushing Ari back onto the bed. She sat on the edge and looked up at Sloane, who towered over her.

“Your dress is hanging in the closet,” she explained.

As Ari stared into Sloane’s bright, hazel eyes, she couldn’t remember what she wanted clothes for anymore. She followed the plunging neckline of her robe until it stopped at the knot at her waist.

“Are you still sore?” Ari asked, tugging at the end of the thin fabric keeping her robe closed.

Sloane responded by running her fingernails along Ari’s scalp and creating a ripple of goosebumps down her back.

She took it as a no.

Yanking the tie a little harder, the knot unfastened and the robe fell open, exposing a very naked Sloane underneath.

Just the sight of her made Ari ache.

Sloane’s muscles tensed under her touch as Ari ran her open palms over her belly. With the barest touch, she traced the Mandala tattooed on her sternum, just below her breast.

Sliding her hands down to her hips, Ari parted the fabric and pressed her lips to Sloane’s navel.

A gasp followed by a tightening fist in her hair accompanied Ari as she ventured below Sloane’s bikini line.

Last night’s taste hadn’t been nearly enough.

Sloane pulled her back. “No.”

Ari glanced up at her in confusion. Sloane maintained unwavering eye contact as she pulled the tie o the loose loops on the robe and then let the garment fall to the floor.

Naked, Sloane was even more impressive than when she stood tall and impeccably dressed in tailored clothes. Her body was muscular and lean in the way only lifelong athletes could be. Desire snaked its way down Ari’s body and awoke her hunger in earnest.

When Sloane apparently had enough of her gawking, she tapped her shoulder, indicating she wanted her to lay back.

Ari resisted out of habit.

Sloane’s eyes shown like polished tourmaline, dark green and intense. Was everything going to be a stando ?

In response to her unwillingness to yield, Sloane straddled Ari’s hips. Her long legs hanging o the bed as she kneeled on the mattress. Ari couldn’t resist the instinct to run her hands over calves and up her thighs.