Quinn smiled. “Fort is very wise.”
“Woof!”
Quinn ducked her head to kiss Nora’s cheek. “Thank you.”
Nora’s cheek pulled into a smile under Quinn’s lips. “For what?”
“Your wisdom.” Quinn dragged her lips over to nuzzle Nora’s ear. “And letting me do this.”
“Oh, well,” Nora murmured, her smile widening, “for you, any time.”
“Woof!”
“And you, Fortissimo,” Nora drawled, winking at Quinn as she unlocked the street door to her building.
Fort took one last opportunity to water the planter set outside the door before following them inside, and Quinn shoved her hands into her pockets as they strolled toward the elevator. She smiled as she watched Fort study his reflection in the mirrors as they rode up to the second floor, and gave his ears a little ruffle as they exited the car and made their way down the corridor.
Her eyes dropped to the newest addition to Nora’s home as Nora unlocked the front door, and she chuckled at the perfectly beachy “May all your Christmases be Sandy and Bright” that was emblazoned on the doormat in a chic, cheery red script surrounded by strings of colorful Christmas lights. “Nice doormat. Very festive.”
Nora threw her a playfully annoyed look. “Shut up.”
Quinn laughed harder. “Just saying, you put that one in the cart all by yourself.”
“Yes, well,” Nora sighed. “You must be wearing off on me or something.” She unhooked Fort’s leash and shoved the front door open. “Now,” she continued as Fort scampered inside and took off up the stairs, undoubtedly in search of his new best friend Rudolph, “would you rather stand out here and gloat about a doormat, or would you like to come upstairs and watch the parade with me?”
Quinn grabbed Nora’s hand. “Like that’s even a question,” she said as she pulled her inside.
The boats that had been lined up in the water in front of Nora’s house when they’d first arrived had all headed out onto the parade route, taking their festive ethereal glow with them and leaving the balcony where Quinn sat with Nora cuddled against her side bathed in the softer hues of the holiday lights strung along the railings. After a whirlwind three days, a quiet night in had been just what she’d needed, and she smiled as her gaze drifted from the shadowed waters below to the Rudolph on the other side of the balcony that Fort had abandoned in favor of the comfort of the large sectional in the living room half an hour ago.
“Okay, so I know I fought you on the lights,” Nora murmured, her breath tickling the side of Quinn’s neck, “but this is pretty great.”
Quinn looked back at Nora, and her smile softened as her heart squeezed with wonder that she’d somehow managed to stumble into the arms of someone so incredible. “Oh yeah?”
“Mm.” Nora’s eyes shone with tenderness as she lifted her right hand to cradle Quinn’s jaw, and she licked her lips as she caressed the curve of Quinn’s cheek with her thumb. “You’re incredible—you know that?”
“I was just thinking the same thing about you.” Quinn dipped her head to brush the softest of kisses over Nora’s lips. Her pulse stuttered at the way Nora’s fingertips pressed that little bit harder to keep her from pulling away, and she sighed as soft lips slanted over her own. She stroked Nora’s shoulder as that first, sweet kiss blossomed into a second, and grabbed at her waist with her free hand as that one became a third, fourth, fifth, each longer and deeper and burning with so much desire that it made her head spin.
Nora whimpered as she twisted to straddle Quinn’s lap, her left hand lifting to frame Quinn’s face between her palms as she angled her head to deepen their kisses even further.
Quinn wrapped her arm around Nora’s waist and pulled her closer as she surrendered to the heavenly slide of Nora’s tongue against her own. A low moan bubbled in her throat as Nora’s tongue stroked against her own, delving deep before retreating with a playful, flirty swirl that stole the air from her lungs. Her hands began to wander as their kisses lengthened and slowed, caressing the planes of Nora’s back and the luscious curve of her behind, her touch mirroring the tenor of their kisses—gentling whenever Nora broke away to gasp for breath, and then grabbing, squeezing, pulling Nora closer, closer, closer whenever they crashed back together.
Hushed, beautifully debauched whimpers and mewls guided her hands beneath soft cotton to caress even softer skin. A plaintive edge crept into Nora’s cries as she traced the shape of her ribs with the backs of her fingers, and her clit twitched with the quiet, hitched gasp that escaped Nora when her fingers brushed against her breasts. The low, throaty moan that rumbled in Nora’s chest when she palmed her breasts was like a firm hand between her thighs, driving her desire even higher, and she licked her way deeper into Nora’s mouth as she pulled the cups down to get at her nipples.
“Quinn!”
Quinn’s eyes rolled back in her head, and her stomach clenched at the desperation in Nora’s voice. If Nora said her name like that again, she’d come on the spot. She gave the stiffening buds a sharp tweak and husked, “Good?”
Nora groaned and pressed her forehead to Quinn’s as she rasped, “Yes.” She rolled her hips forward pleadingly. “So good.”
“What do you need,kjære?” Quinn tugged at Nora’s nipples.
“You,” Nora panted against Quinn’s mouth as she arched into her hands. “Please, Quinn…”
Quinn gritted her teeth against the heat that bloomed low in her hips and slicked her inner thighs, and she kissed Nora hard before pulling back to lift her shirt and sweatshirt off over her head. She tossed the clothes toward the far side of the sofa, and licked her lips as she drank in the sight of Nora mostly bared before her, pale skin glowing in the moonlight and streaked with reds and blues and yellows. She pinched Nora’s bra open and tossed it toward the rest of her clothes, and lightly caressed her belly and breasts as she lifted her chin to brush a quiet, “Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” against her lips.
Quinn closed her eyes as Nora’s hands framed her face to pull her into a kiss that was deep and exquisitely messy. She trailed her hands over Nora’s back as they kissed, savoring the warmth of her skin under her fingertips, delighting in the way Nora would moan and rub against her whenever she let her touch drift inward to allow her thumbs to brush against the sides of Nora’s breasts.
Delicious. Just delicious.
