Page 42 of Here in My Heart (Here Together #2)

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

“I fucked up, Isa.” Sylvie poured another glass of wine.

“If Ade’s stormed off over something like this, then maybe she does need to grow up. It’s not even about her.”

“It’s not her fault that one of the students had a mental health crisis. It happens all the time. You know that.” She dragged her spoon through her crème brulée. “She’d done everything I would have done.”

“She’ll come around, won’t she?” Isa asked.

“I hope so. I left her to it last night, thinking she needed to calm down. But she hasn’t been in contact today. Should I call her?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

The regret sat heavy on her heart as she recalled Ade’s expression. Sylvie had been frustrated at Paul, and a tiny part of her had wanted to show how much of the heavy lifting she’d been doing these past few months. But her explanation had framed Ade as lacking, when she was anything but.

“Call her, Sylvie. You’re used to being honest with people.” Isa huffed, obviously tired of her own bit-part in the saga. “How is the girl doing anyway? The one who hurt herself.”

“She’s doing okay. I called her last night, and she seemed much brighter. She starts therapy tomorrow.”

“They worry me, these young people. It’s all they do when things get too much.” Isa’s concern hung between them.

“People have always hurt themselves, Isa. It’s nothing new,” Sylvie said. “It’s a way of, I don’t know, feeling something other than what’s in front of them.”

“I know the psychology, but I wish they’d find another way.” Isa screwed her nose up.

“There are plenty of ways to numb the pain. I’m not sure any of them are preferable.

” Sylvie’s own coping mechanisms wouldn’t have landed her in the emergency room, but maybe she was one of the lucky ones.

Ade wasn’t so fortunate. She’d obviously been stewing on the whole thing, berating herself for what she did and didn’t do.

Sylvie had to make contact with her tonight.

She had to make Ade see how sorry she was for hurting her.

“I’ll get the check this time,” Isa said, as if she’d read Sylvie’s mind. “Why don’t you head off and see if you can find that handsome young thing and get her firmly back on speaking terms?”

“Thank you, I will.” Sylvie delivered three kisses on Isa’s cheek and made for the door.

Winter had gripped the city. The branches of the treelined promenade were barren, robbed of their twinkly lights and not yet ready for their first flush of blossom. It was the darkest, dampest month of the whole year, and Sylvie could feel it in her bones.

Even the familiar square that Ade’s apartment overlooked seemed empty and dull.

Piles of trash had gathered on the breeze, strewn across the place like no one cared.

A bulb had blown in one of the street lamps, and it was darker than usual.

She looked up at Ade’s window, where the light shone to signal she was home.

By the time she’d climbed the steps to the top, she fought for her breath. Ade waited by the open door, her expression neutral, like they were meeting for the first time back at class. “You didn’t call,” Sylvie said.

“I had to think.” Ade stared at her socks.

“And now?”

“I need someone in my life that I can count on, someone who isn’t going to say things behind my back,” Ade said, her arms folded. “I get enough of that from my dad when he holds me up to some standards he hasn’t explained yet and tells me I’m not good enough.”

Sylvie had seen the pressure that Nate had put on Ade. He wanted her to succeed, but that level of perfection came with a long way to fall. She reached for Ade’s hand. “I don’t need you to meet some unknown expectations. And I am someone you can count on.”

“It hurt. The casual way you spoke about me with Paul hurt me.”

“I know it did. I’m really sorry.” Sylvie dipped her head, wishing she could take it all back.

“Sorry you said it or sorry I heard you?”

“Both.” Sylvie rubbed her temples, pounding from the exertion of the stair climb.

“I’m sorry I hurt you. You mean more to me than…

” Could she say what she meant? The realization hadn’t been a sudden one.

Ade had crept into her heart and made a home for herself.

I won’t lose you because of one throwaway comment.

“You mean more to me than anyone I’ve ever had in my life.

Forgive me for being careless with my words and careless with your feelings. ”

Ade blinked, her face still blank. “That’s a nice thing to hear.”

Sylvie smiled. “Can I give you a birthday present?”

“Well, it’s kinda not my birthday anymore, but if you insist.”

She stepped into Ade’s space. “I really do insist.”

Sylvie had missed Ade’s body. She stroked the tiny hairs at the nape of her neck and leaned in to where Ade’s lips had just parted.

Sylvie rushed to seal their embrace, and their bodies melted together, a breathless meeting of heaving chests.

Did Sylvie crave Ade’s body or her forgiveness?

Either way, right now, Ade was the only woman in the world.

Sylvie’s body filled with want, and she needed her lips against Ade’s skin.

She’d never been one to give into her desire, always holding back, waiting for the attention. But now, she’d strip naked and show her everything to Ade just to win a second of her attention.

With her core on fire and evidence of her desire between her legs, Sylvie reached for Ade, hoping for a release to her aching center.

If only Ade would touch her, it would ease the guilt and pain and they’d be united again.

Ade seemed to sense her need as Sylvie’s body curved against her.

She touched Sylvie without a single word, holding her gaze.

Her fingers popped every button on Sylvie’s shirt to reveal her goose-bumped skin, shivering with anticipation.

“I need you.” Sylvie burned for Ade’s mouth on her.

She pushed up her hips to meet Ade’s hand, but she moved away, not giving in that easily.

A smile flickered across Ade’s lips.

“Are you going to make me wait?” Sylvie asked.

She would beg to rest in Ade’s arms if she had to.

An addict, yearning for her fix, she melted into Ade’s embrace and waited for the next move.

Transfixed, Sylvie looked up to Ade’s softened gaze and almost drowned in the whirlpool of her eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat. Is this what love feels like?

The pounding of her pulse was almost deafening.

Ade lightly skimmed Sylvie’s breasts, balancing her strength and her precision, her hands exactly where they needed to be to completely undo Sylvie.

This time around, Ade didn’t ask what Sylvie wanted; she knew it by heart.

Her amazing brain had it all mapped out.

She trailed her finger over Sylvie’s ribs to the edge of her underwear.

“Take these off,” Ade said.

Sylvie closed her eyes, needing to be taken there against the wall. “Please,” Sylvie said. “Touch me.”

Ade smiled with a glint in her eye, the promise of what was to come, and her touch landed with a gentle tenderness.

Ade met the thrust of Sylvie’s hips and caught the moan from her lips with a kiss.

Sylvie tensed in Ade’s arms. She’d give up everything for her, follow her to the ends of the earth… maybe even to California.

Ade broke away and looked into her eyes, almost into her soul. Is this it? Is this what people mean when they ache for another?

Ade laid Sylvie down and, still fully clothed, stood at the tip of her toes.

Sylvie widened her eyes, daring Ade to take her.

She knelt at her feet and took Sylvie’s ankle in her hand, kissing the length of her foot.

Her worship was almost enough to make Sylvie come, but Ade continued her quest, planting her lips along Sylvie’s calf, tracing a path with her fingers until she reached where Sylvie was more than ready for her.

Ade opened Sylvie’s legs. Ade’s lips parted, betraying her own desires.

“I can’t wait any longer,” Sylvie said, her body rising as she begged Ade to take her in her mouth.

Ade grinned. “I’m in charge today.”

Sylvie relented, a willing, aching plaything with no real thoughts except how Ade could satisfy her need for pressure.

With Sylvie on the brink of crying in frustration, Ade finally landed the barest of kisses right at the top of her thigh.

She followed it with the softest stroke and returned for a second and third time until Sylvie melted into her mouth.

Ade’s stream of kisses brought Sylvie to the peak of her desire. She looked down, her heart about to burst with affection, before Ade placed her tongue exactly where it was needed. Sylvie writhed against the warmth of her mouth, with every tender motion in sync with Ade.

“I want more,” Sylvie said, willing to beg for everything she needed right then. No one had ever read her body this way. She’d never willingly allowed herself to be unscripted and understood. “I love you,” she said as Ade carried her to the peak of her climax.

A flicker of uncertainty passed over Ade’s face. She inhaled and eased off holding Sylvie at the plateau of pleasure before she deepened her stroke and gripped tighter so Sylvie couldn’t back away from the intensity of her touch.

It was all too much, and then it wasn’t.

Sylvie was ready to crawl away until she craved more of everything Ade had to give.

Sylvie rode another wave of ecstasy, willing Ade to go faster and deeper inside, to touch parts of her that had never been reached.

If this was what the future had in store, Sylvie was there for it, no matter what tried to get in the way.