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“What?” Arwyn furrowed her brow. “What shit?”

“We kissed and you said we shouldn’t complicate things, and I agreed because I didn’t want to look all needy, but it’s bullshit.” Sloane crept forward, hooking her finger on the garish pearl monstrosity around Arwyn’s neck.

“What are you saying?” Arwyn’s voice was so thin and light it was barely there. The fear that flashed in her face blunted Sloane’s sharpest edge.

“I’m saying I like you, obviously, and I want to see where this goes,” Sloane admitted quietly, inching closer to Arwyn’s lips, praying she felt the same way. “What’s life without a little risk, right? So . . . go out with me.”

Arwyn’s laugh was nervous, but her arms circling Sloane’s waist were sure. “Sloane Medina, number five in our class, former bane of my existence, are you asking me out on a date?”

Sloane’s nerves manifested in a chuckle. “First of my name, breaker of souls, yes, yes, all that.” She slipped her fingers through the damp hair sticking to the back of Arwyn’s neck. “So, is that a yes or what?”

“Man, is this how pushy you are when you’re being sweet?” Arwyn pulled her in closer until her knee slipped between her legs.

Sloane kicked o her heels, cutting their height di erence to an inch. “How about that for sweetness. I’m considerate of your neck.”

“My neck? You’re not that tall,” Arwyn countered, her eyes fixed on Sloane’s lips.

“It can be a lot when we’re kissing, short stack,” Sloane joked before making a fist in Arwyn’s hair and pulling her in.

Arwyn’s lips were sweet and tasted faintly of pomegranates, a berry she was suddenly very fond of. The moment she flicked her tongue lightly against Arwyn’s lips, they parted for her like they’d been made for no other purpose.

A light moan rumbled in Arwyn’s chest and Sloane was o like a dog on the hunt. Turning her, she pressed Arwyn back into the column supporting the balcony and kissed her more deeply.

Sloane wanted more. Cupping her jaw before sliding her hand down the side of her body, she loved the curve of her hip and yearned to feel more. She continued the path downward, heading for the hem of her dress, when Arwyn clasped her hand over hers and stopped her.

Brushing against her hungry lips, Arwyn smiled. “Do I really have to remind you that we’re at a party with hundreds of other lawyers who probably know that exposing yourself in public is a crime.”

“Technically, I was exposing you,” Sloane replied in a voice made husky by desire. “Don’t worry, I’m a better lawyer than most of them. I’ll get you o .”

Arwyn laughed before circling her arms around Sloane’s neck and kissing her again. “You’re a trash person and entirely too arrogant.”

Sloane gripped her waist with both hands. “You love it.”

The word hung between them for a second until Arwyn laughed again. “Are you asking me out on a real date or are you just trying to get in my pants?”

“Is there a di erence?” Sloane kissed a line from her jaw to her clavicle, eliciting another tiny moan. She made a mental note of that spot for later.

“Yes,” she groaned before clearing her throat and breaking free of Sloane’s kiss. “There’s a di erence.”

Sloane straightened but maintained her hold on Arwyn’s hips. “You get some kind of special joy by sucking the fun

out of things, don’t you? Ugh, yes. A real date. How much more can I spell this out for you? I like you. I want to date you. Jesus.”

“It’s Arwyn,” she snapped with a smirk, “and don’t be blasphemous.”

“You just like to hear it,” Sloane guessed. “Are you going to write about this in your diary?”

Arwyn pretended to think about it and Sloane pretended not to be amused.

“Accuracy is very important,” she replied, feigning a serious tone. “How can I quote you if I don’t get it exactly right? Plus, I’m pretty sure we have HR forms to fill out.”

Sloane shook her head, playing along. “We’re on the same level. It’s not against the rules and we don’t have to disclose unless one of us is in a direct supervisory role over the other.”

Arwyn’s eyes widened with unabashed shock. “Holy shit.

Were you actually listening during some part of our training?”

Sloan