“It’s fine.”

In the soft glow, their eyes met. With the windows open, the blinds fluttered.

Tilly licked her lips. “It smells like the sea,” she whispered.

Kate’s heart pounded. “Yeah.” Stopping at the end of the bed, a few feet between them, she reached behind herself and wrapped her fingers around the wrought iron rungs of the end frame. “We don’t have to do anything, Til,” she said slowly. “I know you’re…waiting until marriage. We can wait together,” she said breathily, her gaze dropping to her bare feet. “I’ll wait for you.”

As the levity of Kate’s proclamation settled upon the quietness of the cabin, Tilly’s eyes locked on hers. Tilly slid the ring off her finger and set it on the low table by the door. “I don’t want to wait,” she whispered.

Tilly set her eyes on her. Kate watched, enraptured, as Tilly touched a hand to the top button of her dress. Slowly, she flicked the buttons open until she reached the tie at her waist. As her hands fell to her sides, the top of the dress gaped, revealing a long strip of creamy skin between her breasts.

Kate’s pulse slowed as she set eyes on the hint of white lace between Tilly’s breasts. She gripped the base of the bed. “You need to tell me exactly what you want,” she husked. As much as she was desperate to have Tilly writhing beneath her now, control belonged to Tilly and only Tilly. If Tilly regretted this in the light of day, Kate wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

Tilly’s chest rose and fell with sharp breaths. Her eyes pleaded.

Feeling like her feet were made of lead, Kate pushed forward. With her index finger she brushed her knuckle lightly against Tilly’s sternum. She stopped the caress of her finger at Tilly’s diaphragm, her nail scratching ever-so lightly against hot, smooth skin she wanted to map with her mouth. Tilly shuddered, her muscles drawing back at the sensitive touch.

A ripple passed through the room. “What do you want?” Kate whispered.

“I want you to undress me.”

“And?”

“And I want you to touch me.”

Kate reached out and took Tilly’s face in her hands. “I’m going to take care of you, okay?” She pressed her forehead against Tilly’s. “I’m going to make you feel so good, I swear to you—”

Tilly captured her lips in a bruising kiss. In her arms, Tilly was like a woman possessed. Her lips grew eager, her kiss bold, and a bolt of need gripped Kate. She pulled Tilly against her, palmed her behind with a desperate grip. God, she was about to come out of her skin. Nothing would ever be as beautiful as this. Nothing would ever compare to the two of them together, their history clawing at the walls, their bodies finally, finally fusing. When Kate moaned into her mouth, Tilly took her hand from kneading her hip and brought it to the tie at the small of her back.