She saw that final day at the safe house.
That Aisling was there with Maisie when she died.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”Tamsin whispered, barely able to force the words from her lips.
And also forcing herself not to climb up onto the counter with Aisling and into her arms.
Aisling looked somewhere between horrified and relieved.“I… I… I?—”
Tamsin stepped in close, reached out and grabbed Aisling by the shirt, stood on her tiptoes, and dragged Aisling in for a kiss.
A sweet, hot, soul-encompassing kiss that made every nerve ending in Tamsin’s body stand up and sing a brilliant, joyful chorus.
Aisling returned her kiss as she attempted to lean back, tried to talk between moans, wanting to give in even as she weakly struggled to pull away.
Not breaking their kiss, Tamsin wrapped her arms around Aisling’s neck and threw herself backward, pulling Aisling off the counter with her.They hit the floor, but Aisling turned so she took the brunt and cushioned the impact with a pained grunt, Tamsin landing on top of her, both of Aisling’s ear buds popping free and rolling somewhere on the kitchen floor.
“Yes!Please, yes, do it!”Tamsin silently begged through the quickly deepening bond winding through her soul.
“Ah, sod it!”Aisling muttered through their mate bond.She rolled on top of Tamsin, her teeth sinking into the juncture between Tamsin’s neck and left shoulder?—
Tamsin buried her face against Aisling’s shirt, biting down to stifle her scream of joy, of pleasure?—
—of climax, because yes, she was.She wrapped her legs around Aisling’s hips, grinding against her, tears flowing despite her eyes being tightly squeezed shut.
It was everything, infinity, new and strange, while at the same time so utterly,perfectlyfamiliar.
She softly sobbed as she clung to Aisling, beyond words and reason, and knowing deep in her soul this wasexactlywhat Maisie would want for her under these circumstances.
Because, were their situations reversed, it was what Tamsin would want for Maisie.
To feel love.
To feel…happy.
To not be alone.
“Mine!”Aisling rumbled through their rapidly strengthening mate bond.
Tamsin shuddered as another climax rocked her, making her squirm and whine.
“Yours!”
Tamsin was about to start ripping off her clothes when they heard a man clear his throat in the kitchen doorway.
They both looked to see Carl standing there wearing a smirk, a sleepy Bebe on his hip.“Ladies,” he drawled.“Sorry to interrupt what I’m hoping this is, but I’ll tuck this little one in for a nap on the couch with me, put her favorite show on the TV, and Brianna, Mateo, and I’ll take care of the babies if you two want tonapthis afternoon.Preferablyquietlyand behind alockedbedroom door.”
He punctuated that with an arched eyebrow that pulled a laugh from Tamsin.
The women looked at each other and in unison said, “Nap.Now.”
ChapterTwelve
Aisling
Aisling could barely forma coherent thought.
This wasn’t how she’d pictured any potential mating, but she damned sure wouldn’t complain about it.It was far from the worst-case scenario that had pecked at her brain—losing control and unable to stop herself from claiming Tamsin, whether the sweet little corgi was willing or not.
