Page 304 of Every Almost

“No.” Charlie’s hand came up, urgent now, and settled over the rose above Reyna’s heart. “I mean you. Not Captain Solas, not Kaelari markings." She looked up at Reyna now. "You.” Her fingers spread against Reyna’s skin. “And I didn’t know seeing you would do this to me.”

The humor left Reyna. Charlie’s palm lay warm against her, and the markings flared beneath it. Reyna watched Charlie’s face change with the light.

Wonder moved through her, but it didn’t soften the desire. Somehow it made it more. Her gaze dropped back to the rose, her fingers spread over Reyna’s skin. She looked as though she couldn’t decide whether to touch every part of Reyna all at once, or spend the rest of her life exactly where she was.

Reyna covered Charlie’s hand with her own.

“You’re beautiful,” Charlie whispered, raising her gaze slowly to Reyna.

The words were simple, but they struck like something enormous.

Reyna kissed her before the feeling behind her eyes could become anything she’d have to explain.

Charlie met her immediately.

The kiss lost what remained of its patience.

Charlie’s hand stayed pressed against Reyna’s heart while the other gripped her waist, holding her close. Reyna’s hands moved up Charlie’s back, across her bare skin, learning her by touch now because looking had become not enough.

The rest of their clothing had to go, the need for it passing between them without discussion.

Charlie’s fingers found Reyna’s waistband at the same moment Reyna reached for hers. Their hands collided, but neither was deterred.

Then Charlie laughed, breathless and disbelieving, her forehead dropping against Reyna’s.

“This is ridiculous.”

“I’vealways been perfectly capable of managing a fastening,” Reyna said, her fingers drifting along the bare skin at Charlie’s waist as her mouth brushed the edge of her jaw.

“Not while you’re doing that,” Charlie grumbled.

Reyna’s mouth moved deliberately to the place beneath Charlie’s ear.

“This?” Reyna said, letting her lips graze against Charlie's neck.

Charlie’s fingers clenched against her.

“Exactly that,” Charlie gasped.

Reyna smiled against her skin.

They tried again.

It wasn’t graceful. A fastening slipped in Charlie's fingers. Charlie had to look down then immediately forgot what she was doing when Reyna kissed the base of her throat.

Reyna stepped out of one pant leg and nearly caught her foot in the other because Charlie’s hands had moved to the bare curve of her back.

Charlie caught her around the waist.

“Very graceful, Captain.”

“Don’t,” Reyna warned, though she was already smiling.

Charlie kissed her anyway.

They undressed each other in pieces. A waistband being eased down, a leg lifting free. Fabric pulled upward and over, then dropped wherever neither of them would have to think about again.

Every new stretch of skin changed the room.