Nora nodded. “Right.”
“Thanks for hanging around to help tonight.” Quinn smiled at Nora as she tucked her keys into the pocket of her jeans, glad that she’d had the foresight to change out of her work clothes before she’d started cleaning up her booth. She was used to handling these events on her own, but the way Nora had stepped in and cheerfully engaged with anyone who stopped by the booth had allowed her to just concentrate on her art for a change. As for the seamless way they had worked alongside each other for hours—she couldn’t remember the last time she’d experienced that with anyone other than a few close friends. “It was fun chatting with you. And it was nice to be able to focus on the seahorse and not constantly have to shift gears to handle the merchandise side of things.” She nudged Nora lightly with her elbow. “You’re quite the salesperson. I honestly think you sold more ornaments than I would have.”
“I’m sure you would have done just fine on your own,” Nora demurred. “And, anyway, it was my pleasure—and a welcome break from what I usually do. It was really interesting to watch you work.”
Quinn was grateful for the darkness that hid her blush as she slapped her Santa hat back on her head. “Yeah? What’d you think was interesting about it?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Nora shrugged. “Everything. The steadiness of your hands as you worked, the way the shape and structure of the seahorse took on more definition with every pass. How you were able to transform the rough form that you carved with your chainsaw into a polished piece of dynamic art in only a few hours. By the end, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it took a breath and jumped into the ocean.” She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Your talent is remarkable.”
“You think I’m talented?”
Nora gave her a playfully unimpressed look. “Now who’s fishing for compliments?”
“Not me,” Quinn lied, and her heart swelled at the way Nora laughed in response. She gestured toward the market that was slowly winding down. “Not sure what’s still open, but can I buy you a drink before the parade starts?” The Christmas music that’d been playing at a perfect background level swelled, and she rolled her eyes as she amended, “Or while the parade starts? I noticed some people walking around with mulled wine that looked pretty good.”
“You’re not trying to get me drunk, are you?” Nora teased.
Quinn laughed. “No. I can promise you that’s not my intention.”
Nora held Quinn’s gaze as she reached up to give the bobble on her hat a little tug. “Mm, shame.”
It was honestly embarrassing how that playful little tug affected Quinn more than the suggestion in Nora’s words. She took a deep breath as she threw caution to the wind and looped her left arm over Nora’s shoulders to draw her into her side. Her stomach fluttered at the way Nora’s hand splayed over her abs as she leaned into her, and when she looked down into soft hazel eyes that shone with the magic of the fairy lights strung overhead, she forgot how to breathe. Her knees turned to water as slim, elegant fingers lifted to trace the line of her jaw, and it was the faint tremble of uncertainty leaking into the touch that was her undoing.
She yielded to the pull of Nora’s fingertips on her skin with a sigh, dipping her head until her nose brushed ever so lightly against Nora’s. Her heart skipped a beat at the feeling of Nora’s breath on her lips, ragged and wanting but also restrained, awaiting confirmation that they were on the same page.
Quinn nuzzled Nora’s cheek as she wrapped her right hand around the curve of Nora’s hip, the cool night air thick with anticipation as she lingered in this moment for a few heartbeats longer, savoring the warmth of Nora’s hand on her face and her breath on her lips.
The fingers on her jaw flexed, and Nora’s voice was thick with longing as she pleaded, “Vær så snill, Quinn.”
Quinn’s eyes rolled back in her head at how much desire was laced in that simple ‘please’, and a low moan caught in her throat as she dipped her head to capture the soft, full lips that waited for her. Her head spun as Nora melted into her with a whimper, and her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest when Nora’s free hand settled over it as she angled her head and opened her mouth to deepen the kiss.
Fireworks flashed behind Quinn’s eyes as Nora’s tongue stroked boldly against her own. She pulled her closer, meeting and matching the tenor of Nora’s kiss, surrendering to the heady thrill that came with wanting and being wanted in return. Time lost all meaning as they traded hot, lingering kisses, and she groaned when the blast of a boat horn brought the world crashing back in on them.
Nora whined as Quinn made to pull away, and curled her fingertips into the hinge of Quinn’s jaw as she chased after her lips.
Quinn smiled and kissed her softly. “The parade is starting.”
“It is,” Nora agreed in a hushed voice. “But I don’t particularly care.” She flicked the tip of her tongue over the point of Quinn’s upper lip. “Do you?”
Quinn swallowed thickly. She wanted to say that she couldn’t possibly care less about the fucking boat parade right now—her body was screaming at her to say it—but her better angels won out as she whispered, “I’m only here through the weekend.”
Nora pressed up onto the balls of her feet to brush a breathy, “I know,” against her lips. She stroked Quinn’s cheek with her thumb. “Come home with me.”
That was all Quinn needed to hear to send her better angels packing, and her heart leapt into her throat as she murmured, “Okay.”
Relief washed over Nora’s face as she stole one last kiss before pulling away and taking Quinn’s hand. She slipped her fingers neatly between Quinn’s and, with a breathtaking smile, inclined her head toward a path that ran along a line of towering palm trees. “This way.”
Quinn squeezed her hand as she allowed Nora to guide her toward a cluster of houses that framed the northwestern side of the park. The music faded as they turned toward the main thoroughfare, replaced by the quiet hum of tires on pavement, but she barely noticed as the weight of her attention was focused on the curve of Nora’s smile and the hunger that smoldered in her gaze whenever she glanced her way.
It wasn’t long before Nora stopped beside a small cluster of townhouses at the edge of the bay, and she held Quinn’s gaze as she pulled a key from her pocket to unlock the street door to the triplex.
The question in Nora’s eyes was clear, and Quinn leaned in to answer it with a kiss as she reached past her to take the door. She wasn’t at all convinced this was a good idea, but the alternative—walking away and not having Nora—was unthinkable. The air between them crackled with electricity when she finally summoned the strength to pull away, and her heart beat heavily into her throat when Nora led her inside.
Quinn barely had time to take stock of the wide, tiled hallway that was at once upscale and nondescript before Nora’s free hand was grabbing at her hoodie and hungry lips rose to capture her own. She traded her hold on Nora’s hand for her waist to pull her close as they staggered toward the elevator at the end of the hall, their halting steps just as messy and uncoordinated as the kisses they shared.
Nora blindly slapped at the call button when they reached the elevator, and she moaned a soft, “Oh, thank fuck,” into Quinn’s mouth when the doors opened with a cheerfulding.
Quinn wasn’t sure who Nora’s next, quiet, “Almost there,” was meant for as the elevator whisked them up into the air, but she kissed her all the harder for it.
