A gentle warmth spread through Sherry’s body. She was overwhelmed beyond words.

When their gazes met, Madison said with a trembling voice, “I love you, Sherry.”

Sherry couldn’t believe her ears. She hadn’t expected Madison to utter those words to her. Ever. She had never allowed herself to indulge in wishful thinking, but right now she wanted to—no, she had to—believe Madison’s words.

She pulled Madison closer until she was lying on top of her. With a shuddering breath, the truth escaped her lips: “I love you too.” Her eyes fell shut. It felt so damn good to finally admit it. At the same time, she couldn’t grasp how it had happened. She had fallen in love with Madison, a woman.

Madison buried her face between Sherry’s neck and her collarbone. “Really?” she asked quietly, her voice so insecure that Sherry couldn’t resist tenderly stroking her hair.

Her vocal chords refused to work; all she could do was nod.

They lay in silence, holding on to each other, and occasionally caressing the skin they could reach without moving. Eventually, their heartbeats and breathing slowed down, and Sherry totally relaxed into Maddison’s touch.

“I had no idea,” Sherry said after a while, her voice hoarse.

“Mm-hmm?”

“That it could be like that.”

Madison raised her head to look at her. “What do you mean?”

Sherry opened her mouth, but it took a few moments to say, “Unbelievable. Madison, that was…wow.”

Madison blushed and started giggling. “Tell me whenever you want more.”

Even though she was totally exhausted, she pushed Madison onto her back and leaned over her. “Now would be a good time. But this time it’s my turn.” Her face now serious, she added, “Let me love you.”

Madison tensed and closed her eyes. “Don’t you want me to touch you again instead?”

Sherry took Madison’s chin between her thumb and forefinger. “Madison, what’s wrong? Please look at me.”

Slowly, Madison opened her eyes. “I…I don’t do that.”

“What don’t you do?”

“I’ve never…” Madison bit her lip. “I’m the active one, you know?”

Sherry’s hand slid from her chin. “I’m not sure. Are you saying you don’t want me to touch you?” Surely Madison had enjoyed Sherry touching her breasts. When Madison remained silent, Sherry asked, “Why don’t you let anyone…you know?”

Madison shrugged. “The first women I slept with didn’t seem interested in touching me, and when one woman eventually wanted to, it seemed weird or…I don’t know, wrong.”

Sherry leaned her head on her hand. She didn’t like not being able to give Madison the same pleasure she had just experienced. “Maybe we could give it a try. Maybe you’d like it.”

Madison swallowed. She appeared so vulnerable that Sherry would have liked to hold her in her arms forever. “I don’t know.”