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This new mindset guided her fingers as she typed the title of Charlotte’s portrait across the keys. Because for the first time, the thought of leaving scared her more than staying. She wanted to stay.

The decision seemed like a good one right up until Diana pointed it out, drawing everyone’s attention. While she wanted Charlotte to know, the thought of her knowing Ali had gone and fallen in love with her remained terrifying. But the affection and warmth in Charlotte’s gaze didn’t dim a single lumen. She understood and it hadn’t scared her off. Instead, Charlotte stood in front of her, punching in the code to the front door.

The beeps and sliding of the locking mechanism seemed to almost welcome them in. Charlotte led them over the threshold, shutting the door behind them with finality.

Really, it seemed unavoidable they would wind up here, standing across from each other, just taking each other in. Her suit jacket hung open, white button down pristine, make up still perfectly in place, an elegant clip held half her dark hair up. But Ali knew her now. Underneath all glamor and status she was smart, intuitive, commanding, humorous, unbelievably kind and caring, and playful when she let go a little. All the ice and perfection existed as a shield to keep that bleeding heart safe and whole. Ali saw it. She understood. And she wanted her all the more for the understanding Charlotte offered in return.

“I realize now my invitation was quite presumptuous. I want to be clear there are no expectations of how we spend our night,” Charlotte said, ocean eyes gone sapphire in the lowlight. “We can make brownies. Or watch TV. Or you can tell me all about your night like I wasn’t there. Whatever you want.”

Ali hesitated for a fraction of a second, reminding herself destiny no longer dictated the direction her life took. She did.

“I want you.”

Her words hung heavy between them. All the flirting, longing looks, affectionate touches, and a million veiled confessions, all held behind a dam made of restraint and fear. But the wanting grew greater than fear and that dam finally broke.

It was impossible to discern who moved first.

Charlotte’s purse fell to the floor with a heavy thud just before her back met the wall behind her, picture frames rattling. Ali’s hands molded flush along the defined curve of Charlotte’s jaw. Their lips met again and again. Charlotte’s arms slid around her waist and Ali realized what sent a deep fissure all the way up and through that dam… safety. She never felt more safe than with Charlotte.

Part of her wanted to sob with relief because at last… at last!

But Charlotte took a step forward, pushing off the wall and guiding Ali step after step back toward the stairs. Ali fumbled with Charlotte’s suit jacket, tugging it down her arms, letting it drop to the floor.

Then she was falling, Charlotte easing her down onto the stairs, never breaking the kiss as she hovered over her, hand tangling through her hair, pulling her head to the side, breaking the kiss to trail molten lips along her jaw, nipping at her ear lobe. Ali grew more feverish with each passing second Charlotte mapped out the column of her neck with teeth and tongue and soft lips. Her hands moved to Charlotte’s belt, undoing the buckle and ripping it from the loops, sending it clattering against the hardwood.

A low hum of approval vibrated against her neck where Charlotte seemed hell-bent on driving her mad.

“Charlotte, bedroom.”

Her voice was raw and cracking with desperation.

Charlotte hummed again, hoisting her to her feet, eyes darker than ever before, breaths ragged, one second away from devouring her.

Ali kicked off her heels as she gathered her skirts, giving Charlotte a challenging smirk before turning to bolt up the stairs. She almost made it to the top when Charlotte caught her, pulling her flush against her, bodies melding together.

The sound of her zipper being pulled down.

Yes!

It snagged and Charlotte worked at it, growling in frustration. A sharp tug preceded ripping fabric as Charlotte tore and peeled her out of the dress.

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

She shivered. Heat rushed to her core, pooling between her thighs.

Charlotte took a step up, and another, forcing Ali up onto the landing. Charlotte gripped the back of her thighs, just below her ass and lifted. Ali’s nimble legs wrapped around Charlotte’s slender waist. Her fingers shot to the buttons of Charlotte’s shirt, popping them open one by one in quick succession.

“You have no idea how long I have wanted you like this.” Charlotte rounded the corner, heading straight toward the bed.

“Probably as long as I have.”

“And how long was that exactly?”

“The first time you walked into my coffee shop.”

Charlotte pressed a kiss to the underside of her jaw, lips hovering just over her ear. “So only a minute less than me.”

Ali never got the chance to respond as Charlotte all but tossed her into the center of the bed, hair bright against the white bedding. Fingers already hooking beneath the waistband of her underwear, dragging them down her legs and flinging them over her shoulder. Charlotte had lost her heels somewhere on the stairs as well as her trousers. Long nimble fingers undid the remaining buttons of her shirt, one at a time, ocean depths fixed on Ali’s face, drinking in her reaction as each new inch of smooth skin was revealed.