She swept her hair into a messy bun and hooked on her favourite necklace.
“I’ve just got to find...” she projected as she wandered into the bedroom. “Oh.”
She’d automatically smiled knowing Olivia was there, then faltered seeing stress radiate from her partner. Hands clasped, eyes down, silky black hair falling in a curtain across her cheek.
Yes, there were things to talk about.
Goodness, Olivia looked beautiful though. Light brown arms bare in a sleeveless black dress, more toned and stronger than when they first met, with weight from pregnancy and strength from carrying Zoe constantly. Tall, with a slightly fuller figure now, which lent a curve to her elegant black dresses.
Kate wanted to luxuriate in appreciating her partner, but the flutter of anxiety in her belly wouldn't let her.
Olivia approached, eyes seeking the floor, then the lamp-lit garden in the night outside, and back again, thoughts preparing to come out.
That flutter inside Kate jumped higher.
Olivia paused within touching distance, eyebrows pinched in concern. Kate wanted to soothe their worry with a kiss. But she waited. Olivia clearly wanted to say something.
“I...”
The moment tightened.
Kate closed her eyes, not wanting to see what was coming. This might not be good.
Then a touch at her hand and softest fingertips slipped into her palm. It was like Kate had hardly noticed her own arm before, and now it seemed light and sensitive. It floated higher, and tender lips kissed between her fingers.
“Oh,” she gasped.
Another kiss thrilled the delicate dip between her knuckles. The intimate contact elicited a shiver through her body that swooped low, almost as intense as the relief that the kiss was delivered with loving care.
She opened her eyes to find Olivia cradling her hand to her lips, and when she looked at Kate, the longing in her eyes was painful to see.
“Hi,” Kate gasped, overcome with this one touch.
The lovely eyebrows raised in poignant distress, and eyes searched around her face, everywhere but meet Kate’s gaze for long.
“Hi,” Olivia whispered, clearly wanting to say something very different.
Olivia tentatively stroked a ribbon of Kate's hair that had escaped. The finger tickled around her ear and made a heavenly trail across her cheek. Olivia’s eyes locked on where she explored, the sensation heated, until touch and sight lingered on Kate's lips, and the glow spread everywhere.
Kate swallowed.
“I erm...”
Olivia stepped closer, stopping that sentence in another gulp.
“I’m sorry,” Kate wanted to say at her obvious stirring.
It was rare they had the house to themselves. There hadn’t been enough time for intimacy lately. And her cheeks flushed and lips swelled, her body aching for Olivia, and her heart needing her as much. She knew Olivia had to talk, but tension and abstinence had her succumbing quickly.
She heard, “I love you,” whispered, then it disappeared like a ghost with Olivia’s lips taking hers.
“Ohhh,” Kate groaned out loud.
Arousal shot down her neck, filling her chest and pinching her breasts into exquisite alertness.
“I love you,” Olivia said, louder this time, between deepening kisses.
Anxiety flared into urgency, and she pulled Olivia closer.
