“What about the girls?” She was a little breathless as her hands landed on my chest.
“Just one kiss.”
I leaned in and captured her mouth, and she melted into it immediately. Her fingers curled into my shirt as I backed her against the counter, the kiss deepening, turning hungry. She tasted like maple syrup and something that was just her, and I couldn’t get enough. My other hand slid up to cup her jaw, angling her head so I could kiss her properly.
When I finally pulled back, my heart was hammering and she looked slightly dazed, her lips swollen.
Footsteps thundered down the hallway.
“We found them!” Alice burst into the kitchen, arms full of rocks. Audrey was right behind her, carrying a smaller collection with much more care.
Emily stepped away smoothly, reaching for her bag on the counter. “Great! I brought some of my paints to share.”
“Really?” Audrey’s eyes lit up. “Like real paints?”
“Real paints. Acrylics. They’ll work great on rocks.”
Outside, I spread the plastic tablecloth over the patio table while Emily unpacked her paints. The girls had already dumped out their rock collection, debating which ones were dragon-worthy and which were better suited for butterflies.
Once everything was set up, I stepped back, leaning against the veranda railing, ready to watch the show.
Emily handed Alice a brush, showing her how to hold it properly. “Not too much paint, or it’ll get goopy. Just a little at a time.”
Alice nodded seriously, dipping her brush with exaggerated care. The tip came back loaded with bright red paint.
“Like this?”
“Perfect.”
“Emily…”
Emily instantly turned her attention to Audrey. “What is it, sweetheart?”
Audrey stared at her rock, brush hovering uncertainly over the paint palette. Her forehead creased in concentration, that telltale sign she was overthinking things. “I don’t know what color to use.”
Emily leaned closer, studying the rock like it was a serious artistic decision. “What do you want your dragon to look like?”
“I don’t know.” Audrey’s voice went smaller, that frustration creeping in when she couldn’t make up her mind. “What if I pick the wrong one?”
“There’s no wrong color for a dragon,” Emily said gently. She reached over and touched Audrey’s shoulder, just a light reassuring contact. “Dragons can be any color you want. Purple dragons, green dragons, rainbow dragons. It’s your dragon, so you get to decide.”
Audrey bit her lip, considering. “What about blue? Like the sky?”
“Blue would be beautiful.” Emily picked up the blue paint, swirling the brush through it to demonstrate. “See? It’s a pretty color. And if you don’t like it once you start, we can always paint over it or try a different rock.”
That seemed to do the trick. Audrey’s shoulders relaxed, and she took the brush from Emily with renewed confidence. “Okay. Blue.”
Alice held up her rock, scrutinizing the blob of red she’d applied. “Does this look like a real dragon?”
Emily’s expression was serious as she surveyed the rock. “Absolutely. It’s very dragon-y.”
There was a break in the questions while the girls focused on painting. Emily took the opportunity to glance at me again and she smiled. That same soft private smile from earlier, before she turned back to Alice. My heart did a slow, painful roll in my chest, then squeezed so tight I could barely breathe.
Oh.
Oh, fuck.
This wasn’t just sex anymore. Wasn’t just easy conversation and convenient proximity and really good chemistry. This was something else entirely. Something with roots that had dug in deep while I wasn’t paying attention.
