Page 63
You’re in love, Lark.
It was that easy. That simple. Her courage. Her words. All of that had been easy for that one reason alone. Because she was in love. For the very first time in her life.
The realization made her a little giddy. She threw her head back and laughed, and Seren watched her, eyes full of adoration.
Maybe it was this emotion, always present in those depths, that made Lark feel so emboldened. Never had she questioned whether her feelings were unwelcome…
“Take me to bed, Seren Crowhart.”
Seren’s eyes widened, but the emotion in them never wavered. In fact, if Lark were to judge, it swelled just like her own heart when Seren’s hand found hers.
They walked through the house in silence—comforting, safe. Every corner they took, the Crowhart home welcomed her with soft carpets, small lamps that beamed at her with affection, and dark windows that promised privacy and safety. The house creaked slightly around them, the floorboards settling as they stepped off them, the doorways letting them in.
The bedroom was large, a queen-size bed dominating the wide space, and yet it felt… nothing like the palatial emptiness of her former home. It felt lived in. Cherished. Accents of color popped around her: a comforter, a window nook where a book lay upturned, pretty pillows, vibrant and cheerful.
Lark turned to Seren, who was standing in the doorway watching her.
“It’s… very you.” Lark finally settled on a description. And it was.
“I’m glad you like it.” Seren pushed away from the door and walked toward her. Lark felt her breath go shallow. Seren tugged on the undone tie that was still somehow around her neck, and Lark almost leaped.
“No—”
Seren lifted an eyebrow.
“No?”
Lark gulped.
“No, ah… ugh… let me? I actually have this thing…”
“This thing?” Seren lifted that eyebrow that drove Lark crazy. The pierced one. Lark grabbed two fistfuls of her shirt and looked up into earnest eyes.
“Prudence gave me this book. Well, Prudence gave me many books, but among them was this one book.”
“A book,” Seren said very carefully.
“Yes,” Lark hurried to explain, almost losing her nerve. “Lesbian Sex For Dummies.”
Seren’s mouth fell open.
“That’s the title of the actual book? And you read it?”
Lark felt heat tint her cheekbones.
“It is the title of the book. And yes, I’ve read it. Well, I studied it, actually. Highlighters and sticky notes and such.”
Seren’s face underwent a series of transformations before settling on something resembling pain.
“You studied Lesbian Sex For Dummies with a highlighter. And there were others?”
Lark nodded eagerly.
“Yes. Prudence has an entire shelf in her store about queer sex and intimacy. I think about twenty books total. I studied them all. I make money now, so I can afford to purchase all manner of books I want.”
Seren let out a sound that was more moan than growl.
“And what you’re saying is…”
