“However did you notice?” Saskia blushed, and it was about the most adorable thing Kivi had ever seen.
“I notice a lot about you.”
“If wedohave this thing… you know I’m a bristly person, don’t you? And I’ve got baggage. You’ve alreadyseenthat baggage.”
“Don’t we all?” Kivi said. “You know about mine, and as of last night, I know about yours. Unless there’s any more?”
“None as profound as that,” Saskia sighed. “My… eating thing.”
“Disorder,” Kivi said, and took her hand. “I really do think it’s an eating disorder, Saskia.”
“Eating disorder, then,” Saskia said, and her eyes widened, as if it was the first time she’d ever used that phrase in connection with herself. From what Kivi had gleaned about her over the last twenty-four hours, she was willing to bet that it was. “Doesn’t that scare you off?”
“What? No, not in the slightest. It’s just a part of who you are.”
Saskia stared at Kivi, naked vulnerability painted on her face. Slowly, Kivi leaned forward, and brushed her lips over Saskia’s again.
“I think we could make it work,” she said. “Or at least try. It’s got to be worth the short-term happiness, at the very least. If you… if you want to try too?”
“I do,” Saskia admitted, and Kivi’s heart felt like a flurry of fluttering feathers.
“Want to give it a shot?” Kivi smiled. “Something more solid? A bit deeper? And just see how it goes up until you have to go home?”
“Okay,” Saskia said, and chuckled as Kivi peppered her face with more tiny kisses. “Am I in for a constant attack of Kivi kisses?”
“Yep,” Kivi managed. “Problem with that?”
“No,” Saskia gasped as Kivi moved down to attack her neck.
“Good,” Kivi said, continuing the onslaught. Then, after a moment, she pulled back. The last thing she wanted to do was push Saskia before she was ready.
“Want to take it further?” Saskia said, apparently surprising them both by the way her eyes widened again.
“Do… do you?” Kivi said, her voice disappointingly unsteady. Various parts of her body were clamouring for attention, but she pushed them away in order to focus on Saskia.
Saskia looked away, as if she couldn’t bear to make eye contact with Kivi. “Very much,” she whispered.
“I’m game if you are,” Kivi whispered. Then she winced.
“That sounds like you’re offering me a cup of tea!” Saskia said, a mirror of the words that had popped into Kivi’s head.
They stared at each other for a moment, before descending into giggles.
“Of all things to come out of my mouth,” Kivi groaned. “Maybe I’m the one with no brain-to-mouth filter.”
“I’ve certainly heard smoother come-ons,” Saskia chuckled.
“I know,” Kivi replied, covering her eyes with her hand for a second in embarrassment. “Did it put you off?”
Saskia shot her a look, and it nearly took Kivi’s breath away, it was so sharp and laser-focused.
“Not in the least,” Saskia murmured.
Kivi kissed her again. Her body, by now, was humming all over, and there was only so long she would be able to resist before she actually combusted.
“Come on. Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
