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Tori kissed the arches of her feet, then the tops, all the while humming. “You will go anywhere you want, do anything you want, because you so effortlessly push aside your doubts when you need to.”

Miranda clenched her jaw, tingles swimming through her and pooling between her legs. She just wanted to open her eyes, to see Tori, to know what she was thinking. But she already knew. Tori was telling her. Miranda raised her hands above her head, grasping anything she could find.

Working her way back up Miranda’s body, Tori stopped at her hips. Her tongue moved against Miranda’s hip bone, tantalizing her. This was torture. It had to be some form of torture that Miranda had never been privy to.

“Tori.” She breathed out her name. “I need…” What did she need? She couldn’t even find words anymore. Miranda swallowed hard, her eyes fluttering before she realized it and clenched them shut again. “I need you.”

Tori’s hair tickled her thighs, and finally, she was right where Miranda wanted her. The touch of her tongue was firm and everything Miranda wanted. She was already so close. It was something she’d never experienced before. It usually took ages for her to be worked up this much, but Tori had managed it in a few short minutes. That’s all it had been, right?

She spread her legs, digging her fingers into the pillow she managed to grab. Every swipe of Tori’s tongue was slow and steady, as if she planned to make this the longest orgasm on the planet. Miranda keened, her voice careening through the room as it ripped from her lungs. She arched her back, clenching her eyes as she held on to the last few moments before pleasure consumed her.

“Tori,” she said as her body jerked sharply, and she tumbled.

Holding onto her, Tori pulled her through, keeping her hands on her body to steady her and root her to the bed. Miranda lost track of time, not sure how long it took for her to come to and remember what exactly they were doing there. Tori was still down by her legs, running her hands smoothly up and down Miranda’s thighs.

“Come up here.” Miranda held her hand out for Tori to take. She climbed up and lay down next to Miranda, the length of their bodies pressed together. Miranda gave in and kissed her, the tension from the entire week—and months—washing away in an instant. Tori couldn’t have been right, could she? No, this was only about sex, nothing more. But damn, it felt so good. “I’m so glad you came over tonight.”

Tori giggled lightly. “Me too.”

Another kiss.

One more.

Miranda relaxed entirely. “Don’t go.”

“Wasn’t planning on it.” Tori brushed her fingers through Miranda’s hair. “Want me to hold you?”

“Yes.” Miranda buried her face in Tori’s neck, breathing her in. Sex. That’s all it was. She just had to keep reminding herself of that.

fifteen

“Fancy meeting you here.” Tori kept her tone bright and bubbly, at least as much as she could. She was nervous approaching Miranda in the parking lot. They hadn’t really talked about what happened earlier that week, and Miranda’s texts had been fairly clipped and short. Not that she wasn’t always straight to the point. Maybe Tori was reading something into it that wasn’t there.

“Yes, indeed.” Miranda straightened her back, Rebel on her hip as they stepped out of Rebel’s classroom.

Harley tightened her grip on Tori’s hand, as if sensing how uneasy her mother was. They walked side by side, Tori moving Harley to walk in front of them. Miranda was dressed perfectly again, this time in dark black slacks and jacket with a maroon V-neck blouse with long sashes on the front.

“How’s work been?” Tori bit her tongue. Why was this so awkward? They’d had sex, an amazing night of wonderful sex, some of the best she’d ever had. It shouldn’t be this weird between them. They were adults. Surely they could navigate this.

“Busy,” Miranda responded, tightening her hold when Rebel tried to wiggle free.

“Down!” Rebel shouted loudly.

Miranda jerked her head back in surprise, stopping in her tracks.

Tori grinned broadly. “Seems she’s getting better at words.”

“Seems so.” Miranda pursed her lips, lines forming around the corners of her mouth and her eyes. “If I put you down, you have to hold my hand.”

“’Arley.” Rebel reached toward Harley, hands outstretched.

Tori loved it. The two of them had become so close in the short time they had known each other, and she loved watching Harley interact with a younger kid. It really did give her hope that maybe she’d make a good big sister. That was if she ever found her soulmate to have another kid with. The nerves were back.

“You want to hold Harley’s hand?” Miranda asked.

Rebel grinned, nodding enthusiastically.

With a deep breath, Miranda set Rebel on the floor. She stood silently next to Harley, hand in hand, and looked back up at Miranda as if judging what was to happen next. Tori gave Miranda a pointed look before moving her hands and sending the girls forward down the hall so they could leave.