Dani nodded bravely as another tear escaped and Harper caught that one as well. Then she leaned closer, brushing her lips against Dani’s so softly, she barely felt them. It was enough, though, to make Dani suck in a quick breath, enough for Dani to reach out to her, drawing her back to her mouth. Incredibly soft lips met her own and Harper felt a tremor course through her body at the contact. It was only then that she thought of Jan—a twinge of guilt surfacing—but she pushed the ghost away, not wanting to spoil the moment. Dani needed her now. Jan did not.

Gentle hands brushed her skin as they parted her robe and Harper sucked in a breath at the contact. Dani wasn’t the only one who had been without love—intimacy. She had too. She deepened the kiss, pulling Dani closer to her, their opened robes no longer a barrier. Dani moaned against her mouth as their breasts touched, the sound causing Harper to utter her own quiet moan.

She didn’t hesitate any longer. She pushed Dani’s robe from her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. Dani’s chest rose and fell with each deep breath she took and Harper would have sworn that she saw her trembling under her stare. She wanted to say what was foremost in her mind—how utterly beautiful Dani was. But she kept the words inside. How often must Dani have heard them in the past? Yes, but how often had she heard them from a lover?

She touched Dani’s face, her fingertips gently grazing her skin. Dani’s eyes slipped closed, her face relaxing as Harper’s fingers traced her lips, then her chin, moving slowly down her neck. She paused only slightly before touching her breasts. Dani’s breath caught and her eyes fluttered open. Harper held her gaze as she brushed her nipples, seeing Dani’s blue eyes darken, hearing her own quickened breath. The words she’d wanted to keep in slipped out.

“You’re so beautiful.” Dani’s expression didn’t change, and Harper wished she had not spoken. She leaned closer, kissing gently on the bruise on Dani’s cheek. “I’m sorry.”

Dani took her hand and brought it back to her breast. “Make love to me.” Her voice was hoarse with unshed tears.

“Yes.”

The sheets were cool against her skin as she drew Dani down to her. Harper didn’t understand Dani’s tears, the tears that fell gently from her eyes. Harper rolled them over, kissing the tears away as they fell.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “Everything’s okay.”

* * *