Page 51

Miranda stilled suddenly. She reached up, brushing the backs of her fingers against Tori’s cheek. Tori leaned into the caress, so soft compared to anything they had done together before now. “I’m sorry I was angry.”

“Angry or hurt?” Tori locked their eyes together, needing to see the truth behind whatever Miranda said.

“Hurt.”

“I shouldn’t have hurt you,” she whispered. “And I’m so sorry that I ever did.”

Miranda’s thumb brushed her lips, then down her neck to her chest, barely touching her nipples. Tori sucked in a sharp breath, wanting to lean in and take her again.

“You did hurt me.” Miranda frowned. “Because I trusted you.”

It was so hard to see the hope through Miranda’s despair, but Tori took comfort in the fact that Miranda had trusted her. She had been open to whatever was between them, and she hadn’t shut it down. It nearly brought her to tears to see the pain behind Miranda’s gaze.

“I hope you can trust me again,” Tori whispered, taking Miranda’s hand and kissing her palm and then her wrist. “I know how hard it is to trust.”

Miranda hummed, her eyes heavy with emotion. “I’m beginning to wonder if you might be worth it.”

Was that…? Was that what Tori thought it was? Was that Miranda’s own hope shining through? Tori leaned in and kissed her, not sure what to say. She held the kiss, making it simple and pure, a true gift of what she was feeling in response to Miranda’s sharing. It took a moment, but Miranda reached up, fingers tangling in Tori’s hair as she pulled down to deepen the embrace.

Humming, Tori stayed right where she was, half-propped against Miranda’s naked and warming body. She let Miranda take whatever she needed, giving and giving as best as she could. Eventually Miranda pulled back and smiled up at her. “We’re not done for tonight, I hope.”

Tori’s lips pulled upward. “I can go all night.”

“Hmmm, I’m not sure if I can. My body is jelly.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Miranda smacked her lightly on the hip. “You’re cocky.”

“Only sometimes.” Tori stole another kiss.

“Tell me what you want.” Miranda started moving more, her strokes firmer and more sure. “Make it simple for my old body, will you?”

“Anything for you.” Tori laughed as she pulled away from a pouting Miranda. “I’m coming back, just give me a second.”

Miranda didn’t move as Tori got up on her knees. She saw the second it clicked in Miranda’s brain what was happening. Miranda settled flat on her back, pulling her hair under her shoulder so Tori wouldn’t kneel on it accidentally. Straddling Miranda’s face was something else entirely. Miranda didn’t hesitate before pressing her tongue firmly against Tori, licking her completely.

Tori hummed and then chuckled as tingles rushed through her. “I was not prepared for that.”

“Are you ever prepared for it?”

“With you? No. I think you like to surprise me.”

“Always. Are you sure this is what you want?” Miranda asked, making sure they could see each other.

Tori was having such a hard time staying still, but she smiled down. “Yeah. All I want is you.”

eighteen

Miranda’s skin tingled as she brushed her fingers lightly over one of the spots Tori had marked on her. The skin rose in small lumps, like braille impressions. They could only be seen from certain angles, but Miranda ran the tips of her fingers over the marks again and shivered, pressing her thighs together. Tori had branded her as though Miranda belonged to her. She had never truly felt like she belonged anywhere, and certainly not with anyone.

She knew she should be concentrating, focusing on the files she opened on her home computer. But everything ached just a little and in the most delicious and distracting of ways. Miranda took a deep breath, forcing her fingers away from the branded skin and settled her hands back on to her keyboard.

“Are you okay, Rebel?” Miranda turned her head to check on Rebel, who played happily in the corner of Miranda’s home office.

Rebel smiled up at Miranda, a small doll in each of her hands. She waved them around with a giggle.

“’Arley.”