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“I got lucky with the cancellation, I guess. A suite was all they had.” Hollis took another deep breath as she followed Kate into the living area, and she was glad that she thought to put on some music. The jazz was relaxing but also romantic, without being too much. “Will I pour you a glass?” Hollis asked as she sat down and reached for the bottle.
“Please.” Kate took a seat beside her, leaving the same amount of space between them as she had downstairs, and already Hollis couldn’t stop herself from thinking about kissing this woman again.
Hollis poured out two glasses and handed Kate one. “I’m glad you came up.”
“Thanks.” Kate’s fingertips lightly brushed against hers as she took the glass. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“I don’t know,” Hollis said with a tiny sigh. “It was always a possibility. To be completely honest, I’ve been second guessing myself a lot this evening. Even what to order at the bar.” She pressed her lips together. “Can you tell I’m nervous?”
“Would it help if I said I was too?” Kate asked with a smile tugging at her lips.
“No.” Hollis laughed softly. “What have you got to be nervous about?” She took a sip of wine, completely perplexed by Kate’s words.
Kate sucked in a breath. “Are you being serious?”
“Yes.” Hollis arched an eyebrow as she studied Kate.
“You’re absolutely stunning, Hollis. Of course, I’m nervous.”
Hollis knew she was blushing, but it had been a long time since someone had complimented her so directly, someone she desperately wanted to know better, someone who had kissed her so tenderly yet so passionately at the same time. “You really don’t need to be nervous,” Hollis said, still not quite believing that Kate had even said that. “You’re beautiful. And I’m still not really sure how I convinced you to come up here.”
Hollis hated that she was letting her doubts creep back in, but it did amaze her that Kate was here. There were so many young, attractive women downstairs, and yet, Kate was here. With her.
Kate was smiling at her. “You didn’t convince me. I wanted to come up here.” She held Hollis’s gaze. “From the moment I saw you in the bar, I was captivated.” Kate searched her eyes. “I’m the one who’s surprised to be here. I’m so glad you asked me, because I don’t think I would have had the courage to.”
Hollis once again felt a shiver run through her. She took another sip of wine, her heart skipping at the idea that this gorgeous woman had been just as interested in her as Hollis had been in Kate.
5
Kate brought her glass of red wine to her lips and took a slow sip, feeling herself start to relax. It turned out that they were both nervous, and now that it was out there, in the open, Kate felt a whole lot better about it. She couldn’t be sure how tonight was going to go, but just knowing that they could be honest with one another was such a relief.
“I meant to ask you,” Kate said as she leaned forward to put her glass on the coffee table, “How was your first kiss?”
Hollis’s smile spread, the lines at the corners of her eyes fanning out. Her eyes were almost sparkling. “You know, I’m not really sure.”
Kate was glad she wasn’t in the middle of sipping her wine, because she might have spit it out. She wasn’t sure? But then Hollis’s smile was back with a hint of mischief this time.
“I think I might need to refresh my memory,” Hollis said before she took another drink.
“Then it wouldn’t be your first kiss anymore,” Kate teased.
“Are you really going to stop me?” Hollis asked as she set her glass down beside Kate’s.
“No.” Kate knew she had a smirk on her face as she shook her head. She definitely wasn’t.
Hollis leaned in, her hand slipping underneath Kate’s hair, her palm warm against the base of her neck as she parted her lips against Kate’s. When Hollis’s lips met hers, Kate sighed as a warmth spread through her, reaching her fingertips with a light, tingling sensation. What was it about this woman? Kissing her just set Kate’s body on fire.
A chill chased up Kate’s spine as she moved closer, her hand on Hollis’s neck, her thumb lazily stroking her jawline. Kate let Hollis have control of this kiss. As much as she wanted to deepen it, she let Hollis set the pace.
Hollis moaned softly as Kate’s other hand rested on her hip, their tongues meeting in a slow dance, and for the second time tonight, time fell away. Kate was so lost in the slow exploration of Hollis’s lips that she had no idea how much time had passed.
Kate had to shove down any thoughts about how she’d never had this kind of chemistry with someone, how she’d never experienced a first or second kiss like this. There was a perfect balance of want and respect and just letting the moment be without thinking ahead to what it meant or where this would lead them.
Kate broke the kiss, her forehead resting against Hollis’s for a moment before she pulled back fully, letting her hand fall to Hollis’s leg. Kate met her eyes as they fluttered open, her cheeks slightly flushed. “Well? Did that refresh your memory?”
Hollis was already leaning in. “Not quite.”
Kate smiled into the kiss, but the playful energy was gone in a second when Hollis threaded her fingers through Kate’s hair, kissing her with a new intensity. Kate moaned into the kiss, clutching at Hollis’s tank top when their tongues met again. This was the first sign of Hollis letting herself lose control, and Kate wanted that for her so badly.
