Other times, when Chase returned at midnight, she’d come silently up the stairs to Lily’s room and through the door Lily’d left unlocked to lie down beside Lily and fold her in her arms. Sometimes, like the night before, Lily’s need for her would rise hard and fast, and she’d pull Chase into the whirlwind of her passion. That need grew stronger as the summer grew shorter. Feeling the ache fill her again, Lily pressed into Chase’s arms, seeking relief in her touch.

Chase kissed the curve of her shoulder and tightened her arm around Lily’s waist, snugging Lily more tightly into the curve of her body. “Morning.”

Lily curled her thigh over the curve of Chase’s hip, bringing her center closer to Chase’s body as her heart beat faster. “Good morning.”

“I think it is.” Chuckling softly, Chase stroked Lily’s back, around the curve of her hip, and slowly trailed up her thigh until she cupped Lily between her legs. “I missed you, Lily.”

Lily drew in a sharp breath.

“I should have let you sleep last night,” Lily whispered, the ache spiraling beneath Chase’s hand clouding her awareness of anything but the urgency of release.

“I always sleep well next to you.” Chase kissed her again, her strokes languid and knowing. “And I need you more than a extra hour.”

“You’ll need to get out of here soon before the lodge fills up.” Lily gasped. “Soon.”

“I don’t like to rush the important things,” Chase whispered against her throat.

“Mmm, keep doing that right there and it shouldn’t take very long.”

Chase kept stroking exactly where Lily liked it, and almost instantly Lily’s stomach clenched, her thighs tightened, and she gasped into the curve of Chase’s neck as the orgasm swept over her.

“See? Plenty of time,” Chase murmured, starting to draw away.

“No. Don’t go just yet.” Lily rolled onto her back and pulled Chase with her.

“Can’t now.” Chase groaned softly and straddled the length of Lily’s thigh. “Whatever you want.”

“This is exactly what I want.”

Lily clasped Chase’s hips and gently urged her to ride, and Chase did. A half dozen hard strokes, and she threw her head back on a sharp groan and came. The sight never failed to leave Lily breathless with wonder. God, she loved her.

How had that happened? How could she have let that happen? And how—given everything Chase had made her feel and everything Chase had opened up around and inside her—could she ever have thought it wouldn’t happen?

Chase settled down upon her, careful with her weight but breathing hard. “You know you destroy me, right?”

And this might destroy me. Lily stroked the damp hair at Chase’s neck and kissed her. “That’s my total intention.”