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Nora's gaze darkened, but in a sultry manner this time. She walked slowly away from Anita, gripping her hand but moving into my outstretched arms.

The second my hands made it to her waist, she scuttled closer to me, gasping and heaving when the water rained down on us. She released Anita's hand, though her body threatened to crumble in front of me.

"I got you." I hoisted her up, urging her legs around me and she latched on like always.

"Car." She gasped, squeezing her eyes shut and holding her breath until I backed her out of the water for a moment, letting it still beat down over my shoulders though. She breathed when it stopped hitting her face.

Anita stood beside us, one hand on Nora's back the other on mine. "Slow, easy breaths, Nor."

Nora nodded, her eyes on Anita as she followed her guidance. Her fingers dug into my shoulders, but eventually she calmed down. The water hitting her hands and legs didn't seem to bother her very much at that point.

"It's just my face," she said, pointing out what I observed and most likely Anita as well.

"Yes," affirmed Anita. "It makes sense, right?"

Nora nodded, successfully avoiding the panic attack that time. She looked back at me and I nipped her chin. A sweet smile replaced her nervous expression, and she stroked my face as if memorizing it. Her eyes surveyed me, flickering here and there. I gave her rear a gentle squeeze, and she tightened her thighs around me.

"Leggings aren't nearly as heavy as sweatpants in showers, are they?" I teased and she laughed softly.

"Nope. These are Maggie's anyway."

We all laughed at that. With Anita now in the shower with us, the splattering water forced her hair to release its tension almost the same as mine. She kept her hand on Nora's back, as if grounding her somehow.

"Ready to try again?" she asked, and Nora nodded.

"How about like this?" I bumped my forehead against Nora's, brushing my nose to hers. "What do you think?"

Nora smiled, nodding while chewing on the inside of her cheek.

"Ready?" I asked, slowly walking backward into the stream of warm water again.

"Ready," she whispered, gripping my shoulders tight.

Anita grew quiet, allowing me to guide Nora this time. When we made it under with the water hitting my shoulders first, she didn't gasp as loudly, but she grabbed on to my face, anchoring me in front of her.

"Caroline—"

"I'm here, honey. Right here." I let my lips brush across hers. "Right here."

The moment the delicate skin of her pink lips met mine, her body began to relax in my arms. I repeated the gesture, her breath puffing against my mouth. Everything around us faded away, and I focused on the micro-movements she made with me. I nipped her lips, taking a small step back into the water so that it hit my head and splattered hers. With her eyes closed, her thumbs came to rest on either side of my mouth in her shaking hands.

I didn't care if Anita was there anymore. Only Nora existed to me in that moment. A wave of heat swelled up my body, rivaling the water raining on us. My cheeks heated under her palms as emotion pulsed in my heart, deepening the beats to heavy booms. I closed the space between us, catching her in a gentle kiss for the first time.

Nora's body melted in my arms, the tension leaving her when she moved her lips with mine. She grabbed handfuls of my hair and I cupped the back of her head, leaving one arm under her to support her weight. My insides surged, my heart pounded, and the flip-flop sensation in my gut tore me to bits. I never wanted anything more in my entire existence than to keep kissing her.

I took the final step back, allowing the water to fall over both of our heads now. Nora didn't flinch, didn't dare to break our connection despite any discomfort she might've felt. She didn't panic or recoil, only deepened the kiss. I poked my tongue against her lips, and her nails dug into my shoulders when our tongues met for the first time.

The emotions she stirred in me brought a wave of tears that I didn't need to contain at all. The shower provided enough subterfuge to derail any overt expression. I traced my fingers over her ear, down her neck, to thumb her chin when we parted.

She breathed heavily against me, her eyes still closed. I peppered her lips with soft kisses, and she nodded as if understanding my unspoken language.

Anita wasn't beside us anymore by the time Nora opened her eyes.

"I love you very very much, Nora," I whispered against her lips, the truth stealing any filter from me I attempted to place over it.

She choked on a soft sob, nodding while she held my face again in her shaky palms. "I love you, too. I've always loved you."

"I know. Know how?"