Billie lifted a hand and trailed her fingertip down Debra’s throat. “Then I guess I’ll just take your lead.”
Debra shifted and pinned Billie to the bed, straddling her thighs. “Am I hearing this right? You’re relinquishing control?”
“I mean…” Billie gazed up at Debra, tweaking a nipple and watching on with delight as her lips parted and a moan slippedout. “Not always. I still fully intend to make you wet at the most inappropriate moments.”
“Mm. My kind of woman.”
Billie wrapped a hand around the back of Debra’s neck and pulled her flush against her. “I want this.”
Debra smiled into a kiss. “I know.”
“No, I mean…I want mornings with you.” Billie locked eyes with Debra’s. “Like this. I-I want to come home to someone, when the time is right, and just be. I want to stop feeling like everything is just…survival.”
“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do.”
Billie blinked back tears, her bottom lip trembling.
Debra sighed as she swiped her thumb beneath Billie’s eye. “You’re going to be the death of me, Billie Brown.”
Billie snorted, choosing to look forward rather than dwell on the past. She couldn’t change any of it, but she could,finally, stop it from ruling her life. “That’s dramatic.”
Debra kissed her slowly, grinding down as she moaned, “Oh, shut up and make me forget my own name.”
Billie flipped them and braced her hands on either side of Debra’s head, then leaned down towards her ear. “I wish I could call in sick today.”
Debra chose notto rush her morning. She should have, she had a life waiting outside Billie’s apartment, a list of things to do…even a routine she was supposed to return to so she didn’t start to revolve around a woman she’d only just found her way back to, but Debra couldn’t do it. She couldn’t bring herself to pack up and go.
The shower had been scorching hot, the steam indulgent as she’d allowed it to envelop her, and now Billie was sprawled out on her bed. Seeing her so relaxed…that kind of thing did something to a person.
She stood in front of Billie’s mirror in nothing but one of her oversized T-shirts, towelling her hair with slow, lazy movements as she stared at her own reflection. She didn’t quite recognise herself. This version of Debra—the one with a light in her eyes that couldn’t be dimmed even when she tried—didnotlook like the woman who’d walked into Brown & Co. months ago, convinced she wasn’t worthy of starting over again. She looked…happy. She looked like she’d been taken care of thoroughly and properly. And God, shehad.
Debra shuddered when she felt Billie’s eyes on her. She had a particular way of occupying a space, even in bare feet and with her sleep-tousled hair. Like she belonged exactly where she was, even if she’d spent most of her adult life believing the opposite.
A moment later, Billie’s arms wrapped around Debra’s waist from behind. Strong and protective, a reminder of who she wasnow. Debra’s breath caught, her hands pausing mid-towel as Billie pressed her face into the side of Debra’s neck and breathed her in. It was so strange, the way Billie clung to her now. It felt as though Billie had finally stopped pretending she wasn’t the kind of woman who needed contact.
“I thought you were getting dressed,” Billie murmured against her skin.
“I am.” Debra snorted inwardly. She didn’t sound very convincing. “At least, I’m trying.”
Billie’s arms tightened around her waist. “Mm.”
Debra tilted her head, giving Billie a little more access, and Billie took it. A slow, lingering kiss just below Debra’s ear, then another along the side of her throat. Nothing excessive, nothing that crossed the line, but enough to make Debra’s pulse stumble.Enough to make her close her eyes and grip the towel a little tighter. “Billie,” she warned, but Billie just hummed. Debra could feel her smiling against her skin. “You’re doing that on purpose.”
“No.” Billie’s lips brushed her throat again. “You know I’dnever.”
“That’s a lie.”
Billie’s voice softened. “It’s not. I’m just…making the most of you.”
Debra swallowed. God, she wanted to make the most of Billie, too.
She lowered the towel to the bed, then turned slowly in Billie’s arms to face her. Billie had that look again. That careful hunger, tempered by restraint, hinting that she’d already worked hard this morning to behave, and she didn’t want to ruin it.
She took Billie in properly, searching her handsome face. Relaxed shoulders, that dark hair a mess, and those eyes… Fuck, those eyes were the worst of it.
They were still vulnerable around the edges, still cautiously bright. But Debra knew what this was. Billie wasn’t sure how long this version of her was allowed to exist for. She was waiting for the moment when Debra changed her mind.
As if that could ever happen now.
