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She wanted to say something back. She wanted to have Monti’s fingers between her legs, her mouth against her, anything. Athena jerked suddenly, gasping. What was she supposed to do with this? But Monti didn’t stop. She kept up the slow movements against Athena’s body, tenderly pushing her muscles, brushing fingers against skin.

No.

Athena cringed. Monti wasn’t doing that to her. That was her mind running away with fantasies that would never happen. She didn’t like Monti like that. All of this was because Monti was safe. She listened. She didn’t judge. She showed up when Athena needed her.

Pleasure stole over her in an instant. Athena reached up and clutched Monti’s arm, her nails digging into Monti’s skin, but she couldn’t stop herself. She’d completely lost control. But fuck, this felt so good. Athena clenched her eyes tightly, her breathing so ragged that she couldn’t keep up with it. Her head spun.

But Monti was right there.

Gentle fingers running through Athena’s hair and over her shoulders. Monti’s sweet voice as she spoke words that Athena couldn’t hear because the rushing in her ears was too much. Athena’s entire body was hot, oversaturated with pleasure.

“Ease your way through it,” Monti’s voice was a balm again. “Don’t worry about anything.”

Athena wasn’t. The embarrassment didn’t show up. The fear was gone. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she was actually relaxed. Athena sucked in a sharp breath, and she pulled Monti’s hand against her cheek. Monti’s fingers were cool against her clammy skin.

“Thank you,” Athena said. She held the quiet tension, but this time it was perfect. It was exactly what it should be. Athena looked up into Monti’s eyes. “I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Oh. Okay.” Monti’s face fell. She stayed still for another moment before shifting off the mattress. “I’ll clean up real quick and let you get dressed.”

Athena stayed put while Monti packed up her bag. As soon as Monti was gone, Athena did what she’d longed for since the massage had started. She slid her hand down her body and pressed her fingers between her legs.

Fuck.

This feels amazing.

seventeen

Monti didn’t want to go inside.

Whatever had happened during her last session with Athena had been so out of bounds. And yet, the entire weekend, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. About her. Athena had managed to weasel her way into Monti’s life, so that every other thought she had was about Athena and what they would discuss next.

Their visits were typically short, but their connection was so strong. And when they actually talked, not just about whatever Athena was avoiding, but about anything, Athena was flat-out brilliant. And she had a dry sense of humor that Monti was fairly certain most everyone missed. Especially Fallon. Because the one time Monti had made a comment about Athena’s humor, Fallon had stared at her like she’d completely lost it.

But she hadn’t.

At least not again. She very much had control of her faculties right now. Well, for the most part, because she was still sitting in her van, hiding out in front of Athena’s house. She was even early for their scheduled appointment time, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to go inside.

She should have booked that flight already.

Or she should have filled up her gas tank and left town.

She’d been there way too long, and the itchiness to leave and explore was eating away at her. But she still couldn’t decide where she wanted to go next. It wouldn’t be the first time she had left without knowing where she was headed, but for some reason, she was filled with a sense of unease when she thought about it this time.

Which was ridiculous.

She’d done this so many times before that she should just be able to pick up and leave. So why couldn’t she? And why couldn’t she stop thinking about Athena and the way her face pinched in pleasure, the beautiful flush that rose to her cheeks and chest, the way her body writhed against the mattress. Monti hadn’t intended for that to happen.

She’d honestly thought Athena would stop herself before it ever got to that point.

But she had been wrong.

So very fucking wrong.

Slapping down the lid on her computer, Monti heaved a breath of frustration. She really needed to go inside because staying out here wasn’t getting her anywhere. She’d broken the rules, and she needed to turn back now. She needed to escape and put boundaries back up between her and Athena.

Yet she found herself walking into the house with her bag in her hand. Rolling her shoulders, Monti stopped in front of the office suite her sister shared with Athena. Not for the first time, Monti was struck by the fact that she wasn’t there to see her sister, and she didn’t really want to see Fallon. All her thoughts had been on Athena.

“Hey,” Monti said in greeting as she stepped inside.