Abby looked at her, meeting her gaze, holding it. Then she reached out, moving Nic’s sweater down, revealing the necklace she’d given her for Christmas. She met Nic’s eyes again before gently cupping her cheek with her palm.

“Did you think of me?”

“Yes,” Nic whispered.

Abby nodded, then moved closer, touching her lips lightly. “I missed you,” she said again, echoing the words she’d told her while they’d danced. “Take me to bed. Please?”

Nic didn’t move, though. No, she reached out, shifting the collar of Abby’s blouse aside, revealing her own necklace—the Infinity heart.

“You wear it?” Nic asked quietly.

“Always. And yes, I think of you.”

Nic’s eyes darkened as she pulled her close, claiming her lips with a possessive passion that ignited her own. It was so familiar, yes, yet it seemed like it had been an eternity since she’d felt this way. Her arms went around Nic’s shoulders, holding her close as their mouths and tongues became reacquainted. Hands tugged at clothing as they shuffled toward Nic’s bedroom. By the time they reached it, they were both naked.

She realized it was relief she felt as Nic rested her weight on top of her. Relief in that she’d been so afraid she’d never have this again, never know the feelings that Nic’s touch brought her. The handful of sexual partners she’d had in her lifetime were but fuzzy images—Holly included. It was Nic—her mouth, her lips, her fingers, her very breath—who seemed forever etched in her mind now.

And as Nic parted her thighs, the relief turned to fear. Fear of rejection, fear that Nic didn’t want this as much as she did. Fear that nothing had changed at all. Was she simply a woman Nic had picked up at a bar?

Those thoughts faded too, however, when Nic’s fingers slipped into her wetness, filling her. Right then, she no longer cared what her fears were. She would confront them tomorrow. Because right now, as Nic’s mouth settled over her nipple and her fingers stroked her, she was in too blissful a state to worry about what it all meant. Nic brought out a side of her—a sexual, passionate side—that no one had before. And she simply wanted to embrace it.

“Yes,” she breathed.

Chapter Forty-five

The bedroom was dark, quiet, cold. Abby moved, snuggling closer to the warm body lying next to her. Nic pulled the covers up and tightened her arm around her. Oh, it was all so familiar, wasn’t it? The sex, the cuddling afterward. The utter contentment she felt.

“You know, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” Nic said quietly.

“No? I thought you said you might pop in at the courtyard someday,” she reminded her.