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“Grace.” She managed to extricate herself enough to create an inch of space between them.

Grace smiled at her, still a little drunk, but fully aware of what they were doing.

“Caroline…” she said with a little flirty wink.

“Don’t you ‘Caroline’ me.” Caz laughed, and wriggled until she could twist enough to drop Grace onto the couch and roll out, landing with a thump on the floor. “Door needs closing, and you need to get to bed…”

“Yes, with you.”

When Caz turned around, she found Grace kneeling on the sofa with her top off. It was a sight she had seen dozens of times before and yet, now, right here, it felt new. She stared and understood how much she enjoyed a naked collarbone, the curve of shoulder into neck, and watching shoulder muscles strain when arms reached behind, deft fingers loosening the bra.

“Uh, as much as I would really…and I mean really, like this to go further…you are not in any state to make proper decisions.” Caz slurred a little and swayed slightly before righting herself. “And neither am I…”

“Are you sure about that?” Grace mused, head tilting to the side as the flimsy material of her bra slid down her arms and revealed her breasts.

Caz closed her eyes and breathed deeply, uttering a silent prayer this moment would come again, before her eyes opened and locked onto Grace’s and she said, “Yes. I’m sure.”

Grace scrunched up her face. “Spoilsport.”

“I know…” Caz moved closer, touching Grace’s face tenderly. “And anyway, we can’t touch…” She glanced downwards. “You’re still bleeding and that’s… I’m never going to be so drunk I put my needs before your wellbeing,” she said, quickly followed by a hiccup.

“And that’s why I love you,” Grace whispered.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Forgetting to close the curtains the night before, Caz was woken by the stream of glorious sunshine that poured in through the window and rested on her face.

Bleary-eyed, she rolled away from it and into the back of Grace, who had already pulled the duvet up and over her head.

“Make it go away,” she said when Caz pressed up against her.

Yanking the duvet higher, Caz joined her under it and kissed the bare shoulder, reminded instantly of the previous night and how it had ended with Grace half-naked, as she still was now. The skirt had fallen into a material-shaped puddle, and Grace had quickly visited the bathroom before hurrying back and climbing into bed to become a human limpet around Caz.

Not that Caz had minded at all. She’d slept in her underwear, too.

“Do you want to get up or go back to sleep?” Caz asked.

“Tired,” Grace said, her hand shifting to move backwards and land on Caz’s hip. “Go sleep.”

Caz chuckled and tightened her hold on Grace. “Okay.”

They drifted back to sleep for what felt like minutes, but had, in fact, been several hours, when Grace groaned and crunched up.

“Grace?”

“I’m okay, just cramps. They said I might get some as everything settles.”

“Do you need me to do anything?”

“No. If it continues, I’ll take some painkillers. They shouldn’t last more than a few days. The bleeding could stop at any point, too.”

Grace turned to face Caz.

“Morning.”

“Hey…” Grace looked tired and sleepy as her eyes battled to open fully. “What do you want to do today?”

Caz shrugged. “I don’t mind. Happy to stay right here, or I can google for something to explore.”