“Different doesn’t have to be bad,” Ivy said softly, her gaze searching Celeste’s. “You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not here.”
For a moment, Celeste said nothing, her eyes locking with Ivy’s in the soft light. The air between them thickened, chargedwith an energy that neither of them had expected. It was Ivy who finally broke the silence, her voice catching in her throat as she asked, “Why did you come here tonight, Celeste?”
Celeste’s breath hitched, and Ivy watched as she hesitated, her carefully constructed walls trembling. “I don’t know,” Celeste whispered. “Maybe I just needed to be…somewhere.”
There was something raw in the admission, something that made Ivy’s heart ache in a way she hadn’t anticipated. She took a small, tentative step forward, her gaze never leaving Celeste’s. “You’re not alone, you know.”
The words were simple, but they seemed to unravel something in Celeste. She exhaled shakily, her eyes flickering with uncertainty and longing all at once. Ivy’s hand, almost without her realizing it, reached out, brushing against Celeste’s. The touch was light, barely there, but it was enough to send a shiver through both of them.
Celeste’s eyes darkened, and the distance between them seemed to shrink in an instant. Before Ivy could think better of it, her hand slipped into Celeste’s, their fingers intertwining. There was a brief moment of hesitation—just a heartbeat—before Celeste leaned in, her lips brushing against Ivy’s in a kiss that was both hesitant and urgent.
The world outside disappeared, the snow and cold forgotten as Ivy’s body responded instinctively, pulling Celeste closer, deepening the kiss. The heat from the fireplace wasn’t enough to match the fire that suddenly flared between them, and as they stumbled toward the Christmas tree, tangled in each other’s arms, Ivy realized with startling clarity that this—this connection, this desire—was what had been building between them all along.
As they sank onto the floor beneath the twinkling lights of the tree, Ivy felt the last of her reservations slip away, replacedby the undeniable pull of what they both wanted, what they both needed.
The Christmas tree lights cast rainbow shadows across Celeste’s face as they kissed, and each touch growing bolder, more urgent. Ivy’s fingers found the buttons of Celeste’s coat, and a slight tremor ran through her hands as she undid them one by one. The heavy wool fell away, leaving Celeste in her silk blouse, the fabric cool beneath Ivy’s palms.
“We should…” Ivy whispered against Celeste’s lips, glancing down the hallway toward her bedroom.
Celeste hummed against Ivy’s lips, applying more pressure before she broke contact. “Lead the way.”
The short walk to her bedroom felt like forever, every step charged with anticipation. Once inside, Ivy closed the door softly behind them, the click of the latch echoing in the quiet room. For a moment, they stood facing each other in the darkness until Ivy reached out and drew the curtains back, letting moonlight spill into the room.
Celeste pulled her close again, their lips meeting in a deep, searching kiss. Ivy’s hands found the buttons of Celeste’s silk blouse, undoing each one with trembling fingers. The fabric fell away, revealing smooth skin that seemed to glow in the moonlight. Celeste’s hands weren’t idle either, tugging at the hem of Ivy’s sweater until she lifted her arms, allowing Celeste to pull it over her head.
They took their time undressing each other, each new expanse of skin discovered with reverent touches and heated kisses. Ivy gasped as Celeste’s lips traced along her collarbone, down the curve of her breast. Her fingers tangled in Celeste’s hair, holding her close as sensation sparked through her body.
When they were finally skin to skin, Ivy walked them backward until her knees hit the bed. They fell together onto the soft sheets, hands exploring, learning each curve and hollow.Celeste’s kisses grew more urgent, and Ivy answered in kind, drawing her impossibly closer.
Moonlight painted silver shadows across Celeste’s skin as Ivy explored her with gentle fingers, tracing the elegant curve of her neck and soft swell of her breasts. Every touch drew a quiet gasp, every touch made Celeste arch closer.
“You’re beautiful,” Ivy whispered, watching the way Celeste’s eyes darkened at the compliment. She traced her fingers down Celeste’s stomach, feeling the muscles quiver beneath her touch. When she reached Celeste’s thighs, she paused, looking up to meet her eyes. “Is this okay?”
“Please,” Celeste breathed, her voice husky.
When Ivy’s fingers finally dipped between her thighs, she found Celeste’s center already slick with wanting. Celeste’s breath came in short gasps as Ivy stroked her slowly, learning the rhythm that made her tremble.
She slid two fingers inside Celeste, and Celeste moaned softly, her hips rising to meet each thrust. Ivy watched as the high-powered CEO came undone beneath her touch, all pretense forgotten.
Ivy’s fingers quickened their pace as she found Celeste’s lips and kissed her deeply. Celeste’s head sank in the pillow, her arm over her mouth, trying to muffle her moans as Ivy’s fingers curled to match Celeste’s hip thrusts.
“Please don’t stop, please don’t stop, please don’t stop,” Celeste moaned as she arched her back even more off the bed.
Ivy felt Celeste’s thighs tremble and redoubled her efforts, quickening her fingers as her palm pressed against her throbbing clit, and as Celeste’s climax edged ever closer, Celeste’s eyes fluttered open to meet Ivy’s.
Ivy saw only raw desire reflected back at her, and her mouth quirked into a soft smile as she pushed her fingers deeper andcurled them upward to find the spot that would make Celeste see stars.
A few moments later, Celeste cried out as her muscles tightened around Ivy’s fingers, but Ivy didn’t let up until Celeste pushed her hands away.
Ivy lay down next to Celeste, relishing the way Celeste’s breath came in ragged gasps from pleasure. After Celeste caught her breath, she leaned over to kiss Ivy’s lips and continued trailing kisses down her neck. Celeste playfully nipped her collarbone, eliciting a soft moan as Ivy leaned her head back.
“My turn,” Celeste whispered and caught one of Ivy’s nipples in her mouth, flicking the nub with her tongue.
Ivy gasped as jolts of pleasure crashed over her body as Celeste kneaded the other breast with her right hand.
Celeste traced down the curves of Ivy’s body—the dip of her waist and swell of her hips—then back up as she played with Ivy’s other nipple with her tongue.
Ivy moaned, careful to keep her voice low. She hadn’t felt this much pleasure in so long, and she tried to commit every second to memory, craving more. She bucked her hips against Ivy’s, and she felt Ivy smile while flicking her hardened nipple.
