Charlotte stared at the lasagna, then at Marin. “Oh.”
So this was what had become of them ... constant awkwardness. Marin hated it. As much as she had enjoyed the kiss in the moment, she could see now that they would have been better off if it hadn’t happened. Marin would have eventually found chemistry with someonefrom the dating app, and she and Charlotte would still have their friendship.
Instead, Marin had to try to pretend she hadn’t experienced the most intense passion of her life with Charlotte, like that kiss hadn’t absolutely rocked her world. Charlotte clearly regretted it, and Marin was stuck in this awful purgatory with the woman who had been her best friend.
Ember dashed into the kitchen, cutting the tension between them. She had her favorite purple dragon in her mouth, and she dropped it at Charlotte’s feet, then bounced adorably, inviting her to play. Charlotte crouched to pet her, then squealed as Ember promptly launched at her face.
“Watch out,” Marin warned. “She’s been mouthy lately.”
“Ember, what’s up, girl? Why are you trying to bite my face?” Charlotte laughed as she scooped the puppy into her arms and stood. Ember took this opportunity to give toothy kisses all over Charlotte’s cheeks until Charlotte realized her error and put her down.
“It’s a phase,” Marin said. “Or at least I hope it is. We start puppy class in a few weeks, thank goodness, because I obviously need some help with her manners.”
“I think you’re doing great with her,” Charlotte said. “All puppies like to bite, especially while they’re teething.” She paused, looking down at her hands. “Marin ...”
“Yes?” Just like that, the tension in the room rose again. Marin’s chest grew so tight she could hardly breathe.
“I need to know ...” Charlotte took a hesitant step forward, and Marin’s pulse started to rush frantically through her veins.
“Yes?”
“I need to know how you felt about that kiss,” Charlotte said quietly.
Marin inhaled roughly, crossing her arms over her chest. “No. That’s not a fair thing to ask of me. You know better than anyonehow long I’d been anticipating that moment, not with you, but with someone. Ineverexpected it to be you.”
“But did youwantto kiss me?” Charlotte persisted, her eyes locked on Marin’s.
This felt like a trap. Marin had no idea how to answer, and suddenly her discomfort morphed into anger because how dare Charlotte put her on the spot like this? “You’re still not playing fair. You initiated that kiss, then refused to talk about it. Now everything’s weird between us, and I think ... whatever happens next, it has to come from you.”
“I started it, yes.” Charlotte nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “I just wondered if you wanted to kiss me, too, but I get what you’re saying. I just ...” She inhaled roughly, and then she flung her arms around Marin. “I need to fix things with you, and I don’t know how.”
“Just be honest with me.” Marin’s hands were on Charlotte’s hips, and everything about this moment felt too intimate. Their faces were only inches apart, and Marin was about to hyperventilate. She needed to either return some space between them, or—
“Honest?” Charlotte’s gaze dropped to Marin’s lips. “The honest truth is that ...” She searched Marin’s face, her blue eyes intense.
Marin had no idea what Charlotte was looking for, and although she tried to keep her expression neutral, Charlotte had to feel Marin’s pulse racing. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath, and there was no hiding that.
Charlotte licked her lips. “I want to kiss you again.”
Marin didn’t even recognize the sound that came from her throat. Her lips were parted, but she didn’t remember opening them. Her grip had tightened on Charlotte’s jeans-clad hips, and her breathing was even more out of control now. “Then kiss me,” she managed, her voice low and rough. “For the love of god,pleasekiss me.”
Charlotte pressed her lips to Marin’s, and it wasn’t a gentle kiss. It wasn’t tender or hesitant. This kiss was hunger and passion and desperation. Charlotte’s lips crushed against hers. Her body pressed into Marin’s until her back met the kitchen counter. Marin clutchedCharlotte against her as she savored the heat of her lips. She traced the shape of them with her tongue, and Charlotte moaned.
Then Charlotte’s tongue was in her mouth, and it was Marin’s turn to moan. She’d closed her eyes at some point, and while she wanted to see the look on Charlotte’s face, she couldn’t seem to focus long enough to open them. Charlotte’s tongue thrust against hers, and Marin felt something clench deep inside her body.
For now, she just needed tofeel. The warmth of Charlotte’s body, the softness of Charlotte’s fingers where they cupped Marin’s cheeks, the firm press of Charlotte’s breasts against hers. Where their hips met, she felt only the gentle slope of Charlotte’s stomach. No hard bulge like she’d become accustomed to in her marriage. This was what Marin had longed for, and it felt so right.
Tears filled her eyes. She was nearly overwhelmed with relief to feel a woman’s body pressed against hers, to finally have the validation that this was exactly what she’d been wanting all these years. And it was better ... so much better than she’d anticipated.
Charlotte’s fingers traced Marin’s jaw, then swept down to cup Marin’s breasts over her shirt. She arched her back, pressing her breasts more firmly into Charlotte’s hands as a guttural sound of pleasure tore from her throat.
Marin had been gripping Charlotte’s hips, but her hands had drifted upward without her knowledge, and now they rested against the bare skin above the waistband of Charlotte’s jeans. Marin traced the dip of her waist and the swell of her hips, enraptured by her feminine shape. It was perfect.Charlottewas perfect.
Charlotte’s lips were on hers again, kissing her like she couldn’t get enough. Neither could Marin. Charlotte nipped at her bottom lip, and Marin felt it in her clit. Her hips surged forward, pressing into Charlotte’s. She pulled Charlotte closer, instinctively seeking pressure where she ached for it, but their hips lined up too perfectly for her to get any friction.
Then Charlotte was sucking at the delicate skin below Marin’s ear, and her brain promptly short-circuited. Charlotte nipped and kissed that tender spot, and Marin’s awareness distilled to the sting of Charlotte’s teeth and the hot, wet trail of her tongue as it explored Marin’s skin.
Marin had read about this kind of pleasure. She’d read about it and thoughtyes, that’s what I want.She’d spent so long anticipating it, and yet she’d still underestimated just how aroused she would be once she finally experienced it, because this kiss waseverything.
