Camila leans closer, hand brushing hers. “Me neither,” she murmurs.
Valeria feels the words settle in her chest like a pulse she never wants to end—slow, steady, and alive. Forthe first time, she doesn’t feel like she’s giving herself away. She feels ... like she belongs.
Dinner goes by in a blissful blur. More appetizers arrive, and they both grin as they pop bites into their mouth. When the mains arrive, they cut little pieces of their meal for each other to try. By the time dessert rolls around, they’re both stuffed, but neither can resist. Both of them are spooning bread pudding into each other’s mouths until it’s all gone.
“This has all been delicious,” Camila says, rubbing her belly with a satisfied sigh, “But I don’t know how I’m supposed to get out of this chair now.”
“You and me both.”
Eventually, they peel themselves out of their chairs and head out, laughing over something Valeria’s already forgotten, because all she can focus on is how perfect this night has been, how perfect Camila is.
Camila drives, Valeria’s hand resting on Camila’s thigh as the city lights blur past. Before she knows it, Camila is pulling into her complex, and Valeria can’t help but deflate a little. She knows this is what they’d agreed on. That Camila would drop her off and they’d see each other in the morning. Now, it feels like the silliest plan. Valeria isn’t ready for Camila to leave.
They both get out of the car, and Camila walks Valeria all the way to her door, hands interlaced.
“Goodnight,” Camila says, tucking a strand of hair behind Valeria’s ear.
“Goodnight,” Valeria says, hands fisting the front of Camila’s blazer, not ready to let go.
Camila doesn’t pull away. Instead, she leans in, her lipspressing against Valeria’s in a long, deep kiss. Valeria melts against her, surrendering to the desire.
Camila pulls back first before planting a quick peck on Valeria’s nose. “I?—”
“Want to come in for a minute?” Valeria asks, not letting Camila finish the sentence.
Camila looks away for a moment, clearly thinking it through, before a faint laugh slips out. “Only for a minute,” she says.
“Only for a minute,” Valeria echoes as she turns to unlock her door.
They kick off their shoes by the front door and sink onto the couch, close enough that their knees brush. Their bodies naturally lean toward each other, as if gravity itself is pulling them closer. Valeria sits facing Camila, while Camila sits with one leg tucked beneath her, a hand resting casually on the back of the couch.
“Did you have a good first date?” Camila asks, gently caressing Valeria’s cheek.
“So much so that I asked you to be my girlfriend.” Valeria smiles. “Did you?”
“The best, because of just that,” Camila answers, kissing Valeria. She pulls back slightly, resting her forehead against Valeria’s. “I can’t stop smiling,” she whispers, tracing lazy circles on Valeria’s hand.
“Me neither,” Valeria replies as a lightness in her limbs takes over.
Valeria tilts her head forward, closing the small space between them, and presses her lips to Camila’s. The kiss is slow and consuming, making Valeria’s world narrow to the taste of Camila.
Valeria can feel Camila melt into it for a moment beforepulling back slightly, resting her forehead against Valeria’s again. “I think I should go.”
“You ... don’t want to stay a little longer?” Valeria whispers, her voice warm and coaxing.
Camila brushes a strand of hair from Valeria’s face, her thumb lingering against her cheek. “Of course I do,” she admits, her lips brushing Valeria’s.
Valeria’s fingers trace the line of Camila’s jaw, her touch featherlight, and it makes Camila’s breath catch as she leans closer.
“I want you to stay,” Valeria whispers as she crawls into Camila’s lap, straddling her thighs.
Camila nods before Valeria closes the distance between them. The scent of her cologne and something uniquely Camila fills Valeria’s senses, a heady cocktail that steals her breath. Her mouth moves slowly against Camila’s, deepening with each passing second, enough to make the edges of Valeria’s mind go hazy, ignoring everything but this moment and Camila’s fingers tangled in Valeria’s hair, urging her closer.
A low moan vibrates from Camila’s chest, something Valeria feels more than hears, and a delicious heat blooms, spreading from her lips through every cell of her body—a thousand tiny sparks igniting beneath her skin. Overwhelmed by the taste of Camila, the press of her body, the urgent thrumming in the air between them, and that noise, Valeria wants that sound again and again until it’s the only thing either of them hears.
Valeria’s hands tighten in Camila’s hair, and she lets out another soft moan, and this one lands straight in Valeria’s core as it tightens painfully.
“Val,” Camila whispers, pulling back enough for herblown-out pupils to find Valeria’s. In that moment, all Valeria can think of is how achingly beautiful Camila is.
