“It’s incredible.”

Cora took a glance around. Her nose wrinkled slightly. “It’s nice, yeah.”

Maybe Cora hadn’t contributed much to the design?

Grabbing glasses, she said, “Take a seat on the couch. It’s to die for. I love it so much I almost branded my name on it.”

With a chuckle, Frazer wandered through, her fingers running over the smoothness of the dining table. The carpet in the lounge room was soft and deep. Her sodden brain finally looked around the space properly, eyes wide. It was like a library.

“Do you like to read? Because—” She spun around to ask the question. As she did she, naturally, collided with Cora. One glass in Cora’s hands fell to the ground while Frazer rescued the other.

Momentum carried Cora forward, and Frazer’s arms instinctively wrapped around her to steady them both. “Sorry” built up behind her tongue, yet Cora was already laughing, clutching Frazer’s shirt, pressing her forehead against her shoulder. Frazer was too drunk to care that she should probably let go. When Cora finally lifted her head, the laughter had faded to gentle curving lips. Suddenly, everything was them—the solidness of Cora in her arms, the flush in her cheeks, the warmth of her breath against Frazer’s lips. Her eyes were dark, and, this close, Frazer couldn’t help what slipped out as she took in each minute detail on Cora’s face.

“You have freckles on your nose.” Frazer didn’t recognise her own voice.

Meanwhile, Cora’s voice was husky and warm and laced with something Frazer hadn’t heard before. “You have a freckle in your eye.”

Swallowing, Frazer nodded.

Parts of her were becoming aware that Cora’s chest was pressed to hers. Dark eyes looked from Frazer’s lips back to her eyes, back to her lips, and then Cora’s head moved forward just the inch or two it needed.

Everything in her body tensed. Panic flared in Frazer’s stomach. She hadn’t reacted like this since the first time someone in her life had stepped forward, an intention to their mouth.

Cora’s eyes were almost closed, and warm breath mingled with Frazer’s own. If she moved, she thought, everything would shatter and Cora would disappear, as impossible to keep as water in a cupped hand.

“Is this okay?”

The words Cora whispered were barely audible, and Frazer risked moving. She nodded, barely, and then the gap was no more.

It was a simple kiss, a pressing of mouths. And Frazer, terrified of scaring her off, again didn’t move.

Though as Cora tentatively moved her lips, a soft sigh escaped her body, and Frazer realised she needn’t have worried. Cora’s lips parted, her tongue flicking Frazer’s lip. That was all it took, and Frazer dropped the glass, with a thud, to bury her hands in Cora’s hair.

It made no sense, the two of them doing this. There was no long history to tie them together, no buried love, no angst built over longing looks. But Frazer couldn’t stop herself if she tried. When she finally allowed her tongue to brush against Cora’s, the throaty groan she got in response made warmth pool in her belly.