“You’re uncomfortable. Why?”
“Maybe it’s because I’m not used to chatting this much afterwards. This is usually the time when people turn over and pass out.”
“Is that what Kieran did?”
Harper swallowed. Then looked away. “Among other things.”
It was actually good that Harper was looking away right then. The fury burning through Maya’s chest was potent enough that it probably showed on her face, and that wouldn’t help this situation.
Kieran had already shown himself to be an abusive piece of shit, but he’d been an uncaring one, too. That Harper was unnerved by something as simple as aftercare made Maya want to find that pathetic excuse of a man just so she could make him swallow his own teeth.
But anger had no place in this room.
Moving slowly, Maya pulled Harper close to her again.
“He should have done this, too.” She kissed Harper’s temple, caressing her through the blanket. “He should have made sure you were okay. Should have treated you with care and respect.”
“Isn’t thelackof respect kind of the point?”
“Only as much as we agree on, and even then, it would only be pretend. If it ever goes further than either of us want, we say it, and everything stops. If this wasn’t fun for you, then it wasn’t fun for me either.”
Harper stayed quiet. Stayed still. But only for a moment before she set down the bottle and turned so they faced each other. Her smile, though humorous, was softer than was common for her.
“You look cute when you’re worried.” She hooked her arms around Maya’s neck, shrugging off the blanket. Leaving her naked in Maya’s lap. “I’m okay. In fact, I’m not even that tired.”
“You’re trying to distract me.”
“And I have a feeling it’s working,” Harper whispered. “If it wasn’t, your hands wouldn’t have moved.”
Maya’s handshadmoved, settling on Harper’s hips. Which shouldn’t have happened. Something was wrong here. Something Harper didn’t want to share. But did she have to?
There were plenty of things Maya didn’t want to talk about, and Harper hadn’t argued. Hadn’t asked any of the questions whose answers Maya still dreaded.
Besides, all the tension had left her body now. Flowing away as she brushed her lips over Maya’s, giving her a kiss made infinitely sweeter by how Harper hummed against her mouth.
Then she pinched the back of Maya’s neck.
“But I’m making a new rule. You can’t fuck me that well every time. People will ask questions if I suddenly lose the ability to walk.”
Maya couldn’t help but grin. Maybe she should have maintained her composure, but it was hard to do with Harper smirking like that. Though it briefly looked like a smile.
“Is that your way of telling me this wasn’t a one-off?” Maya asked. Harper pursed her lips, shrugging.
“I wouldn’t be opposed. And going by how you’re staring at me, you wouldn’t be, either.”
Mayahadbeen staring. But not how Harper was insinuating. The way she was sitting—hips pushed forward and shouldersslightly back—gave a perfect view of her body. Her small breasts, narrow waist, and fit physique. She danced for a living, and her body made that obvious.
But what caught Maya’s eye were things beyond the obvious. The sweat shining on her skin. The slow rhythm of her breathing. The tattoos scattered all over her body and which Maya hadn’t been able to inspect in this much detail until now.
They had to have stories. Reasons behind the flowers on her shoulder and the moth on her bicep. A deeper meaning to the butterfly on her ribs and the tally marks at the crook of her elbow.
She longed to hear them. If Maya had her way, she would sit in this exact position until the sun came up, listening to Harper talk.
“You didn’t take these off.” Harper lowered her hand, touching the hem of Maya’s boxers.
“Didn’t need to. Making you feel good was enough.”
“Really?” Harper’s finger eased under the waistband elastic. “I disagree. If you don’t want to be touched, I get it, but if you do… then I want to make you feel good, too.”
