“Thank you for bringing me here tonight.” Sophia took a more direct approach. “Thank you for trusting me with the people you trust.”

A new emotion spread through Vic’s chest, or maybe it was a deeper level of an emotion that had been building in her for a long time.

“I would say you’re a different person when you’re relaxed and open, but you’re not. You’re the same person I’ve been attracted to all along, only more so.”

“More so?”

She unzipped Vic’s remaining boot, pulling it and the sock off, but instead of rising to her feet, she rubbed one hand up each of Vic’s legs. “More than I thought possible, which is saying a lot. You’re very sexy in that total package kind of way.”

She reached the apex of Vic’s thighs, running her index finger along the inseam of her pants, before meeting her eyes. Vic could barely breathe, but that didn’t stop her from lowering her head to catch Sophia’s mouth with her own.

They kissed more fervently this time, and she caught hold of Sophia’s shirt, pulling up and toward her, but instead of coming with it, Sophia merely lifted her arms enough for Vic to pull it free. Then she settled back between her legs as the kiss broke.

Vic groaned. “Please. I need you against me.”

“Soon,” Sophia whispered.

Vic closed her eyes against the urge to slip onto the floor and smother Sophia’s body with her own. She did believe patience was a virtue. She’d spent her life waiting, and she liked to think herself better than most at such practices, but at the moment she couldn’t remember why.

“Look at me, Victoria.” Sophia gave the command softly but seriously. “Early on, I made you kneel before me.”

“I remember.” Her voice cracked, thick with desire and something weightier.

“It’s time for me to repay the favour.”

“I don’t need that.” She shook her head. “I’ve never asked that of you.”

“No.” Sophia smiled again. “I get the feeling you’ve never asked it of anyone, even when you had every right to, and that’s why you’ve earned it.”

“Sophia—”

She lifted her finger to her lips, and Vic heeded the unspoken instruction.

“You’re special, and not because of where you were born, or what you were born into. In fact, I couldn’t even see it fully until you got us away from all the trappings of your life.” Sophia flicked open the button atop Vic’s waistband and pulled down her zipper. Then urging her hips off the bed, she stripped her legs completely bare. “You’ve got so much pressing in on you, and you bear it all beautifully.”