Her eyes held Tilly’s as she pressed kisses to the inside of her knee. A flicker of apprehension glossed over Tilly’s expression, her legs drawing together self-consciously. No way. Kate smiled softly, and pinned Tilly’s legs apart. With exquisite gentleness, she linked her arms around Tilly’s thighs and flattened her hands on the subtle swell of Tilly’s hips.

At the first touch of Kate’s tongue, Tilly groaned, raked a trembling hand into her hair. The surprised exhalations that reached Kate’s ears sounded almost scandalised. Pride burned hot in Kate’s chest. Was Tilly even aware that her hand in Kate’s hair, gripping, pulling, was holding her there, keeping her against her?

Something locked into place in Kate’s heart. Even when she’d been with other women, even Elodie, this was all she’d ever wanted. Even when she’d tried to forget Tilly, tried to put her out of her mind, it had still been Tilly Tilly Tilly. She’d only ever been attracted to women with sweet smiles and kind eyes, dignified, feminine women who smiled timidly and touched carefully. Long ago, she’d guessed she’d never love anybody the way she’d loved Tilly, and now she was certain.

Tilly’s sighs twisted into moans. Kate could feel herself throbbing, clenching. Beyond the point of inhibition, she dragged her body against the bed, heart pounding as Tilly writhed against her. It was all building, fast and raw. The past few months had been the most agonising foreplay of Kate’s life—the moonlit walks around the island, the breakfasts. Tilly teaching and Tilly in elevators and Tilly in the doorway of a hotel bathroom. Tilly wide-eyed at Kate’s bureau, leather straps between her fingers.

Kate held back to draw out the moment. Slowly, she told herself. Slowly. Tilly had never been touched let alone experienced an orgasm—she was beyond sensitive. Kate didn’t want to overwhelm her, really she didn’t, but as Tilly’s fingers skated across Kate’s scalp, she decided there was no point in taking this slowly—they were already too far gone. They’d fallen fast and hard, given in to this thing with palms raised and eyes wide open and there was nothing that could be done to stop the onslaught of need. An overwhelming rush of excitement gripped her at the thought. She closed her lips around Tilly.

Crying out, Tilly shot up onto her elbows. Suddenly, her hand tightened in Kate’s hair and with a gasp, she tugged, hard. Kate raised her gaze. Looking like she was ready to splinter in two, Tilly’s lips were parted, her eyes wide as she stared down. Kate moaned against her and Tilly’s eyes slammed shut, legs twitching as Kate raised the tempo.

“Kate…” She whimpered. “Kate…stop that.”

Instantly, Kate pulled back. She wiped her face against the heat of Tilly’s thigh. “What’s wrong?”

“I think I need to go to the bathroom.”

Kate bit back a moan. “You don’t.” She breathed hard against Tilly’s core, trying to catch her breath. “I promise.” They’d been so close. So close.

Kate ducked her head and continued. Gasping Kate’s name, Tilly almost shot from the bed. Her eyes were alive with panic, black with arousal.