Page 57 of Igniting Her

“Don’t look away.”

Ellie didn’t.

Cassie watched her come. The first contraction caught her fingers deep. The second pulled Ellie’s hips against the steady brace of her arm. Cassie kept the exact rhythm until the last hard pulse had passed and Ellie’s hand went loose in her hair.

For several breaths, Ellie felt each aftershock separately, Cassie’s fingers still inside her and Cassie’s mouth warm against her thigh.

Cassie kissed the inside of her thigh. She eased her fingers out and climbed back over her. Ellie tasted herself when Cassie kissed her. Cassie had watched every second of her release and returned the taste of it to her mouth as if none of Ellie needed hiding.

Ellie put both hands on Cassie’s face. “I’m not finished being angry.”

“I know.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because I heard you.” Cassie’s voice caught low in her throat. It was as close as she could come.

Ellie kissed her. Forgiveness did not arrive as a decision. It moved through her hands, the opening of her mouth, the knee she bent around Cassie’s hip. Cassie shuddered once against her.

“May I touch you?” Ellie asked.

Cassie closed her eyes for half a second. “Not tonight.” Before the refusal could bruise, she pressed her forehead to Ellie’s. “Tonight, let me take care of you.”

Ellie understood what accepting would cost Cassie: no pleasure to hide behind, no exchange that could make the visit even. She would have to give and allow the giving to mean what it meant.

“All right,” Ellie whispered.

Cassie kissed her once. “Turn onto your side.”

“Yes, Captain.” The title had no station in it. Cassie’s eyes closed once.

Ellie obeyed. Cassie fitted herself along Ellie’s back, one arm beneath her neck and the other crossing her waist. Bare skin met from shoulder to ankle. Cassie drew Ellie’s upper leg over her own, opening her, and slid two wet fingers inside from behind.

The angle was deeper. Ellie gasped and caught Cassie’s forearm.

“Too much?”

“No. Green.”

Cassie held still until Ellie softened around her. Then she began to move. Slow, full strokes, fingers curling as they withdrew and pressing deep again. Her thumb found Ellie’s clit. Each touch arrived inside the circle of Cassie’s body, one arm supporting her head, one thigh beneath hers, Cassie’s mouth against the back of her neck.

“Breathe,” Cassie murmured.

Ellie breathed.

“Let me hold you.”

Ellie stopped bracing her own weight.

“That’s it.” Cassie kissed beneath her ear. “You don’t have to do anything.”

The instruction found the oldest part of Ellie, the one that believed usefulness was rent paid against removal. Her body resisted before she could. Cassie felt it. She slowed but did not withdraw.

“Nothing,” Cassie repeated. “Stay here and let me.”

Ellie’s eyes burned. She pressed the back of her head into Cassie’s shoulder. The arm around her tightened, carrying what Ellie finally let go.

Cassie worked her with patient strokes. There was no edge to chase, no test to pass. Her thumb moved over Ellie’s clit in time with the fingers inside her, and every time Ellie’s body tightened toward release, Cassie held her closer instead of asking for words.