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“I truly hope I’m not their hero the way Isabel Adler is mine.”

“What do you mean?” Mimi was about to come for me again, but she seems to have changed her mind.

“Nothing.” It’s my go-to reply when I’ve gone as far as I can go regarding a certain subject, or I don’t want to get into a conversation I know will be difficult to get out of due to my limited communication abilities. “Where were we?”

“I’m just curious, Nora.” Mimi takes my hand in hers. “Trying to figure out how your brain works.”

“Good luck with that.” I smile at her.

“I’m enjoying every single second of it.”

Once again, Mimi kisses away my doubts. If I had known it was this easy, I would not have stayed single for so long. But maybe it’s only Mimi’s kiss that has this power. That has me forgetting all about my hang-ups because her lips are so damn soft and she grabs the back of my head with just the right amount of firmness in her grasp.

“I’ve been thinking about you non-stop,” she whispers in my ear. “All very unchaste thoughts.”

“Like what?”

“I’d much rather show than tell.”

Didn’t we agree to take things slowly? My mind is so frazzled, so filled to the brim with desire for her, I don’t remember. Maybe I only had that conversation with myself in my head—not an uncommon occurrence, either. “You’d better come upstairs, then.”

Mimi’s nose tickles my neck, her breath is hot on my skin. “How about we take this outside instead?”

I swallow the immediate ‘no’ I have at the ready out of my throat. She also has that effect on me.

“I have a very specific scenario in mind,” Mimi says.

“Okay.” I’m more excited than reluctant—and also rather curious.

A few minutes later, Mimi’s dotting kisses along my collarbone while my back is pressed against the patio’s glass railing, the city lights blinking below me. But I can’t see any of that—nor can I actually see the point of doing this here, but I’ve learned to play along with other people’s whims to a certain extent.

For this to work, I have to say yes once in a while. That’s how relationships thrive. Not that I’m objecting, because Mimi has a way with me. There’s something in her touch that I respond to, in how she looks at me that makes me want to say yes more often than before.

Her hands slide under my top and go straight for my bra clasp. Before I know it, Mimi’s cupping my breasts, her fingertips stroking my nipples, and I start losing my mind to her a little more still. If I’ve lost it so much already that I’m okay with this, where on earth will it end?

She gazes into my eyes. Her glance is full of desire, full of the lust I feel inside myself as well. When I look at her, I forget the parts of myself I prefer to ignore. When she looks at me like that, I simultaneously feel more like myself and like a complete stranger. It’s disconcerting, but thrilling. And fuck, I just really want her and, for once, I’m okay with that. For now, I can banish all the reasons why this might end badly—and there are many—to a corner of my brain where my consciousness can’t reach.

One hand remains on my breast, while her other travels lower. She unbuttons my jeans and her fingertips skate along my panties. She kisses me and I open myself up to her again. Her finger dips lower and—we’re interrupted by the loud ring of a phone. It’s not mine.

Mimi stiffens. “Sorry.” Both her hands retreat instantly. “It’s probably one of the kids. I’m sorry, Nora. I really have to get this. You never know.”

“It’s okay.” I take a breath and center myself.

“Hi, darling,” Mimi says into her phone. “No, don’t stop by. I’m not home.” A pause. “Late. No. Lauren, I’m sorry. I’m the middle of something. Can I call you back?” Clearly Lauren is not having any of that, because the call’s not ending. Maybe I should take the opportunity to run up to my bedroom and fetch some supplies, if Mimi’s planning on spending a lot more time outside.

It takes a few more minutes before she hangs up.

“Sorry.” She sends me an apologetic smile. But there’s nothing to pull you out of a moment like the one we were just having than a call from your lover’s kids—like reality calling and ruining the magic of the moment. “My weekends are usually pretty taken up with kids and grandkids. It’s always something with a family that big.”

“Hm.” I stand against the railing with my bra hanging off my shoulders and my jeans flipped open. “I wouldn’t want to keep you from anything.”

“Let’s talk about it later.” Mimi puts her phone away. “Where were we?”

“Can you put your phone on silent?”

“I’d rather not.”

“Oh.” Is she serious?