“Um, yeah, okay.” Stevie took a deep breath. “Last time, it was after you took off your shirt. I just... freaked out at the idea of taking mine off too.”
“Okay, we can work with that. Do you want me to take off my shirt?”
Stevie’s laugh was shaky. “I mean, are you okay doing that?”
“I’m fully okay with that, but I also don’t want to come across as some weird creeper talking you into stuff. It’s your call.”
“You’re not a creeper. This was my idea.”
Iris nodded, then dropped her hands from Stevie’s waist and took a step back, tapping her chin. “I actually think it might help if you took control over this whole thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“I meanyoutake off my shirt. At your pace.”
At first, Iris could tell Stevie inwardly recoiled, her entire body tightening, but then she released a long breath.
“That actually makes sense,” she said. “If I’m in control, then... well, I’m in control.”
“Exactly.”
“And I have your consent?”
Iris smiled. “Enthusiastic consent.”
Stevie nodded, then just stood there for a few seconds, hands on her hips.
“Maybe start with an easier touch,” Iris said. “My arms or shoulders or something.”
“Yeah. Yeah, good idea.” Stevie took a step closer to Iris, closed her fingers around Iris’s wrists. She slowly trailed her hands up... up... all the way to Iris’s neck. Her touch was soft and... shit, really nice. Goose bumps erupted over Iris’s skin, but she didn’t call attention to them. She didn’t close her eyes or sigh like she wanted to—she didn’t want to freak Stevie out too much here—instead, she kept her face impassive, yet inviting. Open, but mostly expressionless.
Stevie’s eyes followed her own fingers, drifting down Iris’s neck, thumbs swiping over her collarbone, mouth open just a little. Iris could hear Stevie’s breathing go ragged. She had to clench her legs together because... fuck, she was getting turned on, that telltale thrum blooming between her thighs.
“Maybe you should kiss me,” she said, her own breathing a little jagged too. “Or not. Whatever you want.”
Stevie nodded, her eyes drifting to Iris’s mouth. She only hesitated a moment before she leaned in, taking Iris’s lower lip between hers in a way that made Iris want to groan.
She didn’t.
But it was a goddamn feat to hold it in, because lack of confidence or not, Stevie was a fucking amazing kisser.
Stevie turned her head, her tongue dipping into Iris’s mouth like a tease before retreating again, before her teeth tugged on Iris’s lip and then swept over Iris’s own tongue again.
Fucking hell.
“Can I touch you too?” Iris asked, because Jesus, she had to do something.
“Yeah,” Stevie said against her mouth, then kissed her again, awild but slow dance of tongue and teeth Iris was pretty sure she’d never experienced before.
Iris fisted her hands at Stevie’s hips, desperate to pull them closer. She didn’t though. She forced herself still as Stevie’s fingers drifted down her arms again, then played at the hem of her T-shirt.
“Whenever you’re ready,” Iris said, her voice raspy as Stevie’s mouth slid to her ear. “I’m good to go.”
A littletoogood, but whatever. Iris’s thoughts clouded, her hips undulating ever so slightly against Stevie’s. She needed to get a goddamn grip, but before she could, Stevie tugged on Iris’s shirt, lifting it so Iris had to let go of Stevie and raise her arms. The fabric slid over her skin, making her shiver as the cool air hit her stomach and chest.
Stevie dropped the shirt on the floor and stepped back a little. “I remember this,” she whispered.
“What?”
