“You are the most confounding person I’ve ever met,” Penelope said after a beat.
“I’m sorry. Did I upset you with something?”
A small groan bled from Penelope’s lips, and she closed her eyes, bowing her head as a low “God” spilled from her lips.
Lucia stiffened. “Please tell me what I did. How else can I avoid repeating it?”
Penelope’s gaze snapped up. With two hurried steps, she invaded Lucia’s personal space.
Lucia’s breathing hitched.
“You’re utterly disarming, and you don’t even realize it.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do with you—with what you make me feel despite…”
“Despite what?”
“Knowing I shouldn’t.”
“Oh.” Lucia’s brows furrowed. “Who says you shouldn’t?”
“My brain? Logic? Everything I’ve ever believed in.”
Lucia’s chest constricted and her stomach dropped as nausea coiled in her throat. Why did she even bother? Even when everything seemed right, this would collapse. People always ended up leaving her, one way or another.
“I see.” She took a step back.
“I highly doubt that.” Penelope sounded rough, as if speaking cost her.
“You think that because of what I do, I’m…morally corrupt. Defective. Not someone you should want to associate with, and I get it. I understand.”
Penelope sighed. “If only it were that easy.”
“Seems pretty simple to me.” Lucia clenched her hand, trying to anchor herself with the stone’s hardness.
“You’re breathtaking—kind, funny, and so thoughtful and tender, it almost hurts.” Penelope reached out and traced her fingertips over the back of Lucia’s hand still clinging to the balustrade.
“But I’m also a criminal.”
“Yes, and I still want you more than I—”
“Should. I know.” She withdrew her hand, shivering at the sudden cold. “Look, I’ll just keep my distance. We restrict our contact to professional interactions so you can move on. When this is over, we can just…go our separate ways.” Lucia cleared her throat. She needed to get out of here.
She needed to—
Lucia groaned when Penelope surged forward and claimed her lips in a hard, almost bruising kiss.
She threw her arms around Penelope, drawing her closer on instinct as she deepened the kiss.
Lucia lost herself in Penelope’s warmth, in her sweet taste, in the fierce dance of their tongues, in the press of Penelope’s body so close.
Penelope’s hands clutched at Lucia, digging into her. She pushed her until the stone railing bit into her back.
Penelope drew Lucia’s lower lip between her lips and rasped the flesh with her teeth before once more chasing Lucia, overwhelming her with her heady scent and delicious taste.
Lucia shivered, wanting more—she wanted to lose herself in Penelope and leave the world, their jobs, everyone and everything who’d ever demanded something of her behind.
Penelope’s hands trailed down Lucia’s torso before she pulled away, stumbling backward. Her hand flew to her kiss-swollen lips.
Lucia almost lost her balance and tumbled forward.
