As if sensing the tension, Moxie chose that moment to stretch again, her tiny paws kneading into Nat's thigh. The spell was broken, and both women turned their attention back to the movie. Nat could still feel the lingering electricity between them, and this time, she was sure their chemistry wasn’t just one-sided. Whatever was happening between them, she wasn't ready for it to end, but she wasn’t ready to face the consequences either.
Chapter Twelve
As the credits rolled, a charged silence hung in the room. Nat's heart raced, her mind replaying every subtle touch and lingering glance they'd shared during the movie. The emotional intensity of the film left her feeling raw and vulnerable, hyper-aware of Sofia's presence beside her.
"It was good. Did you enjoy it?" she asked, her voice slightly hoarse from disuse.
"Yeah, I did. You're a terrible influence on me, you know. You'll have me binge-watching Netflix in no time if I'm not careful," Sofia joked, but her tone held a hint of something deeper.
Nat chuckled nervously, fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. "In that case, I should probably go to bed. I don’t want to lead you astray."
Sofia grinned. "Yeah, I should head upstairs too," she agreed, but neither woman made a move to leave.
The tension in the air was palpable, and Nat could feel her pulse quickening, her palms growing damp.
Sofia shifted slightly, her knee brushing against Nat's. The brief contact sent a jolt through Nat's body, and she inhaledsharply. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, unsure of what to say.
Sofia seemed to be battling with her own thoughts, her fingers drumming a silent rhythm on her thigh. She bit her lower lip, a crease forming between her brows as if she were wrestling with a decision.
Finally, she turned towards Nat, draping her arm over the back of the couch. The movement brought her face closer, and Nat could see the flecks of gold in her eyes.
"Are you sure you're adamant about not having affairs with guests?" she asked, her voice low and teasing, but with an undercurrent of vulnerability.
Nat's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Was this really happening? A part of her wondered if Sofia was just bored, cooped up for two days with only a kitten and a storm for company. Maybe she was simply looking for something to break the monotony? But then again, there was no denying the tension between them that had been building since that first shared glass of wine. This was more than boredom or cabin fever. It had to be.
She contemplated how to answer. Yes, she’d always been strict about relationships with clients. Not that she’d never been tempted, but it wasn’t worth losing her job over some meaningless fling. There was that. But then there was the other thing; the temptation was killing her, especially now that Sofia had so blatantly stated she wouldn’t mind having a bit of casual fun with her. All night, she’d been fantasizing about how it would feel to kiss Sofia, what she would look like naked, how she would taste… She’d find out soon enough if she wanted. "I'm not so sure of anything anymore," she admitted. "Not right now."
Sofia's eyes darkened, her gaze dropping to Nat's lips. "What would you do if I kissed you? That would be crossing a line, right?"
At that moment, all of Nat's reservations, all her concerns about professionalism and boundaries, melted away. She was tired of playing it safe, tired of denying herself something she wanted so desperately. Without a word, Nat leaned in and ran a hand through Sofia’s hair.
Sofia inhaled sharply, her eyes fluttering closed as Nat's fingers tangled in her hair. Her lips curved into a slow, sultry smile, and she leaned in closer, closing the small gap between them.
As soon as their lips met, Nat’s world narrowed to a single point: the soft, intoxicating warmth of Sofia’s mouth against hers. Her heart pounded so fiercely she was certain Sofia could hear it. The kiss began slow, almost hesitant, as if both were testing the boundaries they were about to cross. Nat's fingers tightened in Sofia’s hair, the silky strands slipping through her fingers like liquid silk. The subtle scent of Sofia’s skin—something floral, mixed with the lingering warmth of the wine they’d shared—wrapped around Nat, pulling her deeper into the embrace.
Her mind raced, a chaotic swirl of thoughts, but none of it seemed to matter as Sofia’s lips parted slightly, inviting her to explore further. The kiss quickly deepened, growing more urgent, as though all the unspoken tension between them had been released in this one, perfect moment. Nat’s insides fluttered wildly at the sensation of Sofia’s hand sliding up her back, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. She could feel the heat radiating off Sofia’s body, the subtle pressure of her fingers digging into her waist, the only thing grounding her in reality.
Sofia’s lips were soft but insistent, and Nat leaned in hungrily. Her skin prickled with awareness at every point of contact: the brush of Sofia’s thumb along her jawline, the way their knees bumped as they inched even closer. Every smallmovement felt magnified, and she could taste a hint of the wine on Sofia’s lips, mingled with something uniquely hers, something Nat already knew she’d never forget.
I shouldn’t be doing this, a voice in the back of her mind whispered, but it was distant, a faint echo of her former resolve. It was too late; she didn’t care about lines or professionalism or anything else. All she wanted was more—more of Sofia, more of this dizzying, breathtaking kiss that made everything else seem insignificant.
As their lips finally parted, Nat was left breathless, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to steady herself. For a beat, she couldn’t speak, lost in the lingering sensation of Sofia’s mouth on hers. When she opened her eyes, she saw Sofia grinning, her cheeks flushed, and Nat’s heart did a little flip. The sight of Sofia blushing—so confident, yet suddenly shy—was unexpectedly endearing.
Sofia let out a soft chuckle, breaking the silence between them. "You’re a great kisser," she murmured, her voice low and teasing, though the flush in her cheeks betrayed a hint of vulnerability.
Nat felt her own face warming as she smiled back. "So are you." Her hand lingered at Sofia’s waist, unwilling to let go just yet.
Sofia’s eyes sparkled with mischief, and she gave Nat a slow, flirty smile. "I’m good at a lot of things," she said, sending a new wave of heat rushing through Nat. There was a pause before Sofia tilted her head slightly and added, "Maybe… we should spend the night in my room instead of in separate ones?"
The suggestion sent a thrill through Nat, her pulse racing at the sheer boldness of it. She just stared at Sofia, searching her eyes for any sign of hesitation, but all she saw was the same desire she’d been feeling.
“Okay…” she whispered, knowing all too well this was a bad idea. “If we do that… no one can know, okay? I need this job.”
“I know.” Sofia stroked her cheek, her eyes lowering to Nat’s lips again. “No one will know, it will be our little secret. And I promise, it won’t be awkward tomorrow.”
Nat exhaled slowly, her breath shaky.It won't be awkward tomorrow.She knew that was unlikely but decided to ignore that though. All she could feel was the warmth of Sofia's hand on her cheek, the soft caress of her fingers that sent sparks dancing across her skin. She leaned into the touch, letting herself imagine what the rest of the night might bring. She’d already gone too far to care about the consequences.
"Okay," she whispered again, her voice barely audible. Sofia’s eyes gleamed in response, and before Nat could second-guess her decision, she reached for her, pulling her into another kiss—deeper this time, more certain. All the tension, the hesitation, melted away, leaving only the dizzying sensation of Sofia’s lips against hers, the heat of their bodies pressed together, and the thrilling certainty that tonight, there would be no turning back.
