The way she sought out Kelly’s permission sent a jolt of desire coursing through Kelly’s body. Shaking off thoughts of Lucy begging for release, Kelly nodded. “Go ahead.”

Lucy set her glass on the coffee table and turned to Kelly.

For some reason, Kelly felt like Lucy needed comforting. She held out a hand. Lucy took it and scooted closer.

“Remember when you first started dating Paula.”

“Yes.” Kelly rubbed her thumb over the back of Lucy’s hand.

“What room did she have?”

Casting her mind back six months, Kelly pursed her lips. An image of the bedroom at the end of the hallway sprung to mind. “The last one.”

“And a few months ago, she moved to the middle one, right?”

“Correct,” Kelly replied unsure if she was following along.

“Did you ever move house as a kid?”

The change in conversation gave Kelly whiplash. She frowned. “No.”

“But you moved here.”

A snort burst out of Kelly. “Well done, Einstein. Your point?”

“Ever get lost on your way home?”

If Lucy was somehow implying Kelly got lost on her way to Paula’s bedroom, she was way off track. Humouring Lucy, Kelly tapped her lip in contemplation. Out of nowhere, a memory slammed into her. Kelly smiled, still able to hear her mother’s laughter.

“A few months after I moved into my first flat, I jumped on my motorbike, tore out of the parking lot at work, and gunned it for home. Next thing I knew, I was outside Mum’s place. Out of habit I just headed in that direction. I caught myself doing it a few more times after that and had to turn around.”

“Exactly, it’s called muscle memory. And, like I said, you didn’t go into the wrong room.”

The look of despair in Lucy’s eyes undid Kelly. She leaned the side of their heads together, so Lucy wouldn’t have to look her in the eye if she was struggling to go on.

“It’s okay,” Kelly said softly.

“After having a few drinks, I wasn’t thinking straight.”

They both chuckled. Nothing about what happened had been straight or thought-out.

“Buzzed and tired, after using the bathroom, my feet took me to the bedroom I originally moved into. At first, when you walked into the room, I thought you knew what you were doing, that perhaps you’d taken my comments in the kitchen as a come on, or a challenge. As awareness took hold, I realized you thought I was Paula.” Lucy’s voice trailed off.

Needing to hear the rest, Kelly put a finger under Lucy’s chin and forced her to meet her gaze.

A blush crept up Lucy’s long, elegant neck. “By that time, I was too embarrassed, then too aroused, to put a stop to things. Please don’t hate me.” The anguished tone of Lucy’s voice was gut wrenching.