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“I hated her, growing up.” Monti laughed. “She was always trying to boss me around, tell me what I could and couldn’t do. I was so happy when she was going to go to college, and then she decided to go to University of Puget Sound and commute. I was so mad.”

“You thought you had your getaway.”

“I did!” Monti laughed again. “God, she was a terror.”

“I can see how that might have happened.” Athena ran her fingers up and down Monti’s arm. “She commands my office, and most of my life that I’ll allow her—”

“Which I assume isn’t a lot,” Monti chimed in.

“My schedule primarily. But she’s very good at keeping everything orderly and on track.”

“Did she tell you that she lies to me about what time our appointments are so that I show up on time and you don’t know that I’m late?”

“What?” Athena’s eyes widened, shaking her head. “No, but I suppose that does make sense. She would think of something like that.”

“I can’t wait for the day she ends up in love with someone who’s perpetually late and flies by the seat of their pants. She’ll never hear the end of it.” Monti turned, facing Athena. She reached forward and cupped Athena’s cheek. “Thank you for bringing me on this trip. I needed a bit of an escape.”

“An escape from Fallon?”

“Some of it was that. Some of it is just someplace new to explore.” Monti moved in for a swift kiss.

“But you said you’d been to the Keys before.”

Monti narrowed her gaze. “There’s always somewhere new to find an adventure. Don’t you think so?”

“I suppose.” Athena hadn’t thought about that before. Ever since the event, she’d only ever gone to places she was familiar with, where she knew her surroundings and where the fastest exit was. She wasn’t ever comfortable elsewhere. She’d managed to calm her fear enough to function in society, but she’d become a recluse, when before she’d always been the first to hop on a plane and visit someplace new.

“We should go in. You’re shivering.”

“Yeah.” Athena led the way into the house through the patio doors.

She showed Monti around the first level before bringing her up the stairs to show her the bedrooms. She’d specifically chosen Monti’s room to be right next to hers. When she opened the door, she leaned against it and waited for Monti to walk inside to check it out.

“I didn’t want to assume anything.” Her cheeks were flushed, the memory of the plane ride coming back full force. She’d wanted to find some place in Dallas to sneak away, but the conversation they’d been having was so good that she didn’t manage to bring the idea up. And then they were here and driving.

Monti touched her shoulder. “I get it.”

“Right. My room is next door if you need something.” Athena kept her back plastered to the door, her hand on the knob. She had no idea what to say or do or how to even begin a seduction to the level that Monti had earlier that day.

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll need something at some point.” Monti stepped in closer, pressing Athena against the doorway. Their breasts touched through the fabric of their clothes.

Athena’s eyes fluttered shut, the ghosting memory of Monti’s caresses filling her mind. She drew in a shuddering breath, wanting that as much now as before. But surely Monti would expect her to touch in return at some point, wouldn’t she? Sex was hardly ever just one way, but more than that, Athena wanted to reciprocate.

Monti pressed a kiss to Athena’s cheek, then along her jawline to her ear. “I think I could use some help with this.” Monti put her hand against Athena’s jacket, the one she’d promptly put back on as soon as she’d returned to her seat from the bathroom. The buttons came undone in seconds, and Monti slid her hand around Athena’s side to her back. “Oh would you look at that, I didn’t need help.”

“Cocky,” Athena mumbled. She moved slightly, pressing her mouth to Monti’s cheek, then her neck. She scraped her teeth much like Monti had and settled into what teasing she could do in that moment, what she was comfortable with. Athena sucked, sliding her tongue against the skin at the base of Monti’s neck while she trailed her hands up and down Monti’s sides.

“I think you like me that way.” Monti moaned lightly. “That feels so good, by the way. Not just your mouth, but the way you’re touching me.”

The compliment spurred Athena on. Were they really going to pick up right where they left off?

“Monti?” Athena finally managed to ask.

“Yeah?” Monti pulled back to look Athena in the eye, the curiosity and timing precisely what Athena needed in that moment.

How did Monti always seem to know that? How did she always seem to follow the cues Athena wasn’t even sure she was giving? “I think I’d like to freshen up first. I always feel so dirty after flying.”

Monti chuckled. “I get it.” She leaned in and kissed Athena, tangling their tongues in a quick, heated kiss before she backed away with a few more touches of lips to lips. “Go, do whatever you need to do. I’ll be waiting for whatever you’re ready for.”