Page 58 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
“I’ve got you.” Mia brushed her tears away, her fingers warm and soft on Lauren’s skin. “No matter what happens.”
And maybe Lauren fell in love with her right then and there, but she couldn’t think about that yet. “I’ve got your back too,” she managed to whisper.
“I know.” Mia’s smile said shedidknow. She knew Lauren, and Lauren knew Mia, and how had they ever thought they wouldn’t end up here, tumbling over the line from friends to lovers?
“So we’re doing this, then?”
“Yes, but I think we need to take it slow,” Mia said, “for the sake of our friendship and because we both have some pretty serious baggage.”
Lauren nodded. Her head was in full agreement with Mia, but when she slid her gaze over that slinky black dress, it was all she could do not to run her hands over it, to haul Mia into her lap and indulge all the delicious chemistry that had been building between them. Right now, she was all too aware of just how long it had been since she’d had sex, and perhaps even more importantly, how long she’d been lusting after Mia.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Mia whispered. “That look is the opposite of taking things slow.”
Lauren gave her a wicked grin. She felt slightly dizzy, like she’d blinked and entered an alternate reality where she and Mia kissed and flirted and confessed their feelings. “You can’t wear a dress like that and not expect me to appreciate it, not now that you’ve kissed me.”
Mia sucked in a breath, and the look on her face wasn’t very innocent either. She looked like she wanted to press Lauren into the couch and fuck her senseless.
Lauren reached out and traced her fingers over the neckline of Mia’s dress. It was made of a soft, stretchy material, probably very comfortable to wear, but right now, Lauren was more interested in how it felt beneath her fingers. “For the record, I’m in full agreement on taking things slow.”
“Your fingers are not in agreement with your words.” Mia’s chest heaved beneath Lauren’s roaming touch, and her nipples were hard beneath the shell of her bra.
“My fingers really want to get better acquainted with this dress. I’m not going to take it off you.” She traced a line down the front of the dress, loving the warmth of Mia’s skin beneath it, and then cupped Mia’s breast over the fabric.
“Killing me,” Mia breathed, arching her back to press herself more firmly into Lauren’s touch.
“Remember how the dating site matched us?” Lauren asked as she circled Mia’s nipple with her fingertips.
Mia nodded as her eyes slid shut. “I was frustrated by it at the time, when I was trying so hard not to be attracted to you. And you’re outside the age range I’d selected.”
“I told it I prefer older women,” Lauren said. “Might be why.”
“Might be,” Mia agreed. “That site knew me better than I knew myself.” She reached down and gripped Lauren’s wandering hand. Before Lauren could protest, Mia tugged, pulling Lauren into her lap. “That’s better,” she murmured, sliding her hands around Lauren’s waist.
“Much better.” Lauren dipped her head and kissed her, spending several luxurious minutes in the pleasure of Mia’s mouth before she pulled back. “I was secretly thrilled when it matched us, because I was already pretty smitten with you.”
Mia smiled against her lips. “You hid it well.”
“So did you. I really wasn’t sure for the longest time.”
“Until the night I got drunk at Dragonfly?” Mia cocked her head.
“You really don’t remember, do you?”
Mia closed her eyes and drew in a slow breath. “I remember your lips and how much I wanted to kiss them, and I remember your breasts pressed against mine in the doorway. I was so afraid I’d done something inappropriate or made you feel uncomfortable.”
Lauren traced Mia’s lips as her own curved in a smile. “Oh, you did try to kiss me, but it didn’t make me uncomfortable.”
Mia frowned. “I’m still sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s fine. You leaned in like you were going to kiss me, and when I interrupted you, you stopped. For the record, I only stopped you because you were drunk.”
“I’m glad you did. It would have been a disaster if I’d kissed you that night, but speaking of the dating site, what do you say if we try to play this like we met on the site?”
“How so?” Lauren asked.
“Well, for starters, I’d like to take you on a date.”
“Yes,” Lauren whispered, leaning in for another kiss.
