Page 26

The wisdom in those words resonated unexpectedly. How much of Serena's life had been spent defining, categorizing, and analyzing? Perhaps here, in this midnight bubble separated from her normal existence, she could simply experience without needing to contextualize.

Water lapped gently against their bodies, the pool's surface reflecting stars above them like a mirror world where different rules applied. Serena felt the subtle current drawing them together, both literal and metaphorical.

Her hand rose to Lila's face, tracing the delicate line of her jaw with fingertips that usually manipulated keyboards and signed contracts. The textures she discovered—warm skin, droplets of water, the silken edge of hair—felt like revelations, simple yet profound.

Lila's eyes closed briefly at the contact, a small sigh escaping her lips. The sound triggered something primal in Serena, a desire that bubbled up from deep within her.

"I want to kiss you," Serena said, the directness surprising them both. In her corporate world, desire was something to be managed, not acknowledged. Yet here, suspended in water and moonlight, honesty felt like the only possible approach.

Lila's eyes opened, meeting Serena's gaze with equal directness. "I know."

The simple acknowledgment contained neither presumption nor false modesty, just quiet awareness of the current flowing between them. Lila didn't reach for her, didn't close the final distance; she left that decision to Serena, respecting her agency even in this moment of shared vulnerability.

Serena hesitated one final moment, years of careful control warring with the unfamiliar yet compelling pull of genuine desire. Then, with the decisiveness that had built her empire, she leaned forward and pressed her mouth to Lila's.

The first contact was gentle, almost tentative—a testing of boundaries both physical and metaphorical. Lila's lips were soft, warm, welcoming without demanding. She let Serena set the pace, responsive yet unassuming.

That initial restraint lasted approximately three seconds.

The moment their lips met, something shifted fundamentally in Serena's body. Heat bloomed everywhere, radiating outward from the point of contact. Her hand moved to the back of Lila's neck, fingers tangling in wet hair, drawing her closer with sudden urgency.

Lila responded in kind, her arms sliding around Serena's waist beneath the water, eliminating the space between them. The sensation of their bodies pressing together—warm skin against warm skin, curves fitting against curves—sent electricity through Serena's nerve endings.

The kiss deepened. Serena, who exercised control in all aspects of her life, found herself surrendering to sensation in a way she hadn't experienced in years, if ever.

Lila tasted of night air and possibility, her body both yielding and strong against Serena's. Their movements created ripples across the pool's surface, watery echoes of the desire building between them.

When they finally broke apart, breathless and wide-eyed, Serena felt disoriented in the most exquisite way. The careful compartments of her mind—work, strategy, analysis—had dissolved, leaving only this moment, this woman, this unfamiliar yet compelling hunger.

Serena couldn’t resist her body’s yearning and pawed at Lila again, her hand sluicing through the water and missing.

Lila laughed before she swam even closer, and when she was in arms’ reach, Serena guided her to the edge of the pool then backed her against the edge before leaning in for another kiss.

As their lips locked, Serena brought her hand up to cup Lila’s face and then moved down to slide her hands over the wet skin of Lila’s body enjoying the delicious feel of Lila’s breasts pressed against her own.

Serena slid her hand from Lila’s waist to the hem of Lila’s panties, then opened her eyes and put a few inches between them, severing the kiss, only momentarily.

She searched Lila’s face for any clues she wanted this, wanted her, and Lila gently nodded and smiled.

Satisfied, Serena closed the gap between them again and grabbed Lila around her waist with both hands as they locked lips.

Serena’s hand dropped down to Lila’s panties again and slid her hand underneath the fabric.

She traced the curve of Lila’s hips as warmth flooded her body.

She made small circles on Lila’s hips as they kissed, her other hand cradling the back of Lila’s neck.

The circles got closer and closer til she could feel Lila’s warmth, even through the fabric of the panties.

She cupped one hand between her legs, slowly massaging, and Lila let out a soft sigh that only spurred her on.

Lila bit Serena’s lip gently as she reached up and brushed her thumb over Serena’s taut nipple, eliciting a moan.

Serena grasped Lila’s full breast in her hand and massaged as her grip between Lila’s legs grew tighter as she pushed Lila against the pool wall more. She bent down to capture Lila’s hardened nipple in her mouth and swirled her tongue over it in rhythmic motions that matched her rhythm down below.

Serena slipped her hand underneath Lila’s panties and rested her hand on top, without going inside, for just a moment before she moved the edge of her palm to press against Lila’s clitoris.

Serena could feel Lila writhing with pleasure in the water and repositioned her hand so her thumb was against it, rubbing the swollen area back and forth with feather light touches.

Pleasure coursed down Serena seeing Lila’s body respond so strongly to her touch, and when it looked like Lila was about to burst, she slipped one finger inside, then another, curving them upward to reach that tender spot.

Lila leaned all the way back now, her head almost resting on the ground next to the pool, and Serena marveled at the woman who could allow herself to surrender so completely to the moment.

It drove her wild, and she inserted a third finger while she massaged Lila’s clit with her other thumb.

Lila draped an arm over her face, though Serena knew Lila wouldn’t be able to fully stifle her moans.

“Hey, come here,” Serena cooed as she continued her rhythm.

Lila lifted her head, but before she could reply, Serena kissed her, their tongues dancing together. As Serena kept curling her fingers, hitting all the right spots, Lila broke the kiss, her breaths coming ragged.

“Serena,” she moaned, her name barely perceptible.

Serena’s eyes darkened, and she increased her pace. It only took a few minutes before Serena felt Lila’s entire body tense as Lila’s walls tightened around her fingers and she cried in ecstasy as her orgasm crashed over her body.

After Lila’s body stopped shuddering, Serena took her fingers out of Lila and let the warm pool water cleanse them, though she wished more than anything she could have the feel of Lila on her longer.

But she knew that was a dangerous thought.

“That was…” Lila started but couldn’t breathe deeply enough to finish.

Yes , Serena thought. It was.