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A low hum rumbled through her chest as she inhaled again, catching the way her products blended with Ali’s natural scent. “The idea of you using my things appeals to me.”

Ali made an amused sound as she dipped to press a kiss into the hollow beneath Charlotte’s ear, followed by a little nip to her lobe. “You’re not a jealous person, are you, Miss Davenport?”

Charlotte arched her neck, giving her better access. “Jealous? No.” A slow smirk wandered across her face. “Territorial, on the other hand? Absolutely.”

Ali preened, dragging her tongue along the shell of her ear, making want ripple and spread, her breath roughening. She let Ali tease her, content to feel this moment. And while she trusted Ali’s ability to make her soft, to let her surrender when she needed to be cared for… tonight wasn’t one of those nights.

“You like a touch of possessiveness, don’t you?” Charlotte rasped, feeling Ali melt against her.

Her answer came barely above a whisper. “It makes me feel wanted. Like I matter.”

Charlotte stilled.

Later, she would wish she’d admitted everything. But, she was coiled too tight, too aware of how they’d already agreed this night would go. Still, she cradled Ali’s jaw, thumb pressing over the deepest dimple.

“I want you,” she said quietly. “God, I want you.”

She kissed her, deep and unhurried, feeling the truth of it echo in her own soul.

“You matter. You matter to me.”

Ali’s eyes glistened, lower lip trembling. “You matter to me too.”

They kissed again, and Charlotte’s hands grew bold, sliding down Ali’s back to palm her ass through the robe. She gathered the fabric and lifted it, her hands meeting the smooth, perfect curves beneath. Every instinct urged her to lose herself between warm thighs, but she knew she needed to say something true first.

She drew back, taking Ali’s hands in her own. “Lina…”

“Charlotte?” Ali looked up at her, puzzled.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to discuss.”

“Oh,” Ali said, color draining away. “That sounds… serious.”

“It is. But it’s good,” Charlotte promised, running a hand through her hair. “It just feels strange bringing it up during my twin’s wedding. Even though no one has seen her since Sasha arrived.” She took a steadying breath. This was Ali, why was she anxious? “I want to wait for the full discussion until after. I just—” Her voice went soft. “I don’t want to go through this entire weekend with you wondering if I mean the things I say or if it’s pretend. It’s not...”

“Real?” Ali asked, and it killed Charlotte that was her first assumption.

“No.” Charlotte’s head tilted as she tried to read the emotions swimming in her gaze. “It’s not pretend. And it’s very real. At least… it is for me.”

Ali looked stunned. But then something luminous burst behind her eyes, like a star flaring to life. “I don’t think it was ever fake for me. You’re kinda my favorite person in the whole world.”

Charlotte smiled despite the way her heart swelled too tightly in her chest.

“Don’t tell my siblings,” she warned. “But you’re who I want to spend all my time with.”

Her blush deepened, eyes going glassy as relief left her in a quiet exhale. “We can leave the logistics for when we’re back in Boston. I just need to know one thing.”

“Oh?”

“We like each other. For real?”

Charlotte chuckled, looping her arm around Ali’s waist, pulling her in until their foreheads touched.

“Like is an understatement,” she murmured, brushing her lips over Ali’s brow.

Charlotte pulled the tie of Ali’s robe. The fabric parted, revealing freckled skin warmed by artificial candlelight. Ali shrugged the robe from her shoulders, letting it descend to the floor like a fallen constellation. She rose onto her toes, bringing their lips together.

Charlotte allowed her gaze to map the galaxy of freckles scattered across Ali’s skin, each one glowing softly in the candlelight like distant stars.