“I’m sorry. That must have been hard.”
Sarah nodded but didn’t elaborate. Lizzie wanted to ask more, wanted to understand this piece of Sarah’s past but before she could, Sarah kissed her.
“Let’s not talk about sad things.” Sarah’s hands found the hem of Lizzie’s shirt. “I have a better idea.”
“Oh?”
“We both smell like stress and generator fuel. We should shower.”
“Separately?”
Sarah smiled. “I was thinking together might save water.”
They barely made it to the bathroom. Sarah turned on the shower and they stripped quickly, leaving clothes in a pile on the floor. The water was hot, steam already filling the small space.
Sarah stepped in first and pulled Lizzie after her. The water hit them both and Lizzie gasped. It felt amazing after two days of feeling grimy and stressed.
Sarah poured shampoo into her hands and worked it through Lizzie’s hair. Her fingers massaged Lizzie’s scalp and Lizzie’s eyes closed.
“That feels incredible.”
“Good. That’s what I want.”
Sarah tilted Lizzie’s head back under the spray to rinse. Water ran down Lizzie’s face, her neck, between her breasts. Sarah watched with dark eyes.
“You’re beautiful.”
Before Lizzie could respond, Sarah was kissing her. The water ran between them as they pressed together. Skin on wet skin. Sarah’s hands slid down Lizzie’s back, over her hips, pulling her closer.
“I want you,” Sarah murmured against her mouth.
“Then have me.”
Sarah pushed Lizzie gently against the tile wall. The surface was cool against her back, contrasting with the hot water and Sarah’s warm hands. Sarah kissed down her neck, her collarbone, lower.
She dropped to her knees on the shower floor and looked up at Lizzie. Water cascaded over them both.
“Okay?”
“Very okay.”
Sarah lifted one of Lizzie’s legs over her shoulder and Lizzie braced herself against the wall. The first touch of Sarah’s tongue made her gasp. The water, the steam, Sarah’s mouth on her—it was overwhelming.
Sarah knew exactly what she was doing. She’d learned Lizzie’s body thoroughly over the past few days. What made her gasp, what made her grip Sarah’s hair, what made her say her name like a prayer.
Lizzie’s head fell back against the tile. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”
Sarah didn’t. She used her tongue and her fingers together, building Lizzie up steadily. The water ran down Lizzie’s body. Sarah’s hands gripped her thighs, holding her steady.
Sarah stayed with her through it, gentling as the waves passed.
Lizzie pulled Sarah up and kissed her deeply. “Your turn.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I want to.”
Lizzie pushed Sarah against the opposite wall and dropped to her knees. The shower floor was hard but she didn’t care. She wanted Sarah to feel exactly what she’d just felt.
