Leaning forward she lightly touched her lips to Linda’s brow, her cheek, then her lips. Her fingers she trailed down the curve of Linda’s hips, grinning with joy as she felt Linda stir against her. The soft noise of waking mixed with wonder was the second most glorious thing Marissa had ever heard—the first, she realized with a shiver of delight, was Linda’s voice raised in pleasure. Laughing or climaxing, Marissa understood abruptly that there was little difference. She craved the sound of both.

“Morning,” Linda murmured.

“Good morning to you.” Marissa continued the light, easy touches of her lips against Linda’s face. “I tried hard not to wake you but I didn’t know which you’d like less—me waking you early or me watching you sleep.”

“I don’t mind early.” Linda’s eyes opened, the brown muted with drowsiness. “I’ve watched you sleep the last two mornings.”

“Oh.” Touched, Marissa let her fingers wander more firmly and Linda seemed to melt even closer. “That’s sweet, very sweet.”

“Make love to me,” Linda whispered. “Marissa, please.”

Wishing her arms had the endless strength that Linda’s did, Marissa slid on top of Linda, using her legs to spread Linda’s apart. “You don’t have to ask twice, believe me.”

Linda’s quiet chuckle was stifled by a quick groan as Marissa delved carefully into Linda’s slick heat. Her fingertips tingled as Linda melted underneath her. She nuzzled at Linda’s ear, listening carefully to the rising pace of Linda’s breathing. All that mattered was the awe she felt as she dipped inside Linda, awe that reflected back to her through Linda’s moan. Pulling back, she locked her gaze with Linda’s and lived each stroke of her fingers through the widening shimmer in the brown depths.

She nearly asked if it was okay, if it felt good but Linda suddenly wrapped her arms tight around Marissa’s shoulders and held on as a soft, broken groan escaped her. Marissa thought, for just a moment, that she might cry from the quiet strength of Linda’s taut body. Before tears could form, however, they were both melting into the cool sheets.

Linda laughed quietly as she sighed and for the next few minutes Marissa felt caught all over again in a moment of perfect happiness. But after those few minutes there were new needs and Linda, fully awake and eyes gleaming with intent, took care of every one.

“I suppose we should get up.” Linda ruffled the sheet on top of them and Marissa wrinkled her nose.

“We smell like sex.”

“Yeah,” Linda said, with obvious relish. “And I’m hungry now.”

“Let’s get some breakfast then.” Okay, Marissa thought, we won’t talk about what we have to do before one o’clock this afternoon.

The talk was light over breakfast and touched on nothing but the fun they’d had snorkeling, walking, swimming, sunbathing, wading and breaking open coconuts. By the time they walked back to their bungalow Marissa was thoroughly concerned that something was wrong but the door wasn’t even closed before Linda pulled her firmly into her arms and whispered, “Let’s go back to bed.”