She laughed but didn’t move for a long time. Eventually, she sat straight up and checked the clock.

“Oh, shit! Maddie, I think we’re missing one of our appointments. I know I had something in my calendar for today.”

“Nope. We’re good. I canceled everything else. I told Jai earlier this week that it was stupid to keep going to bakeries when Joan’s cakes are so good. He pouted a bit but agreed.”

Ryann knew she’d missed a couple of things on Tuesday and yesterday when she was in London and coming back—the photographer and some bakeries, she was pretty sure—but aside from the appointment today, she couldn’t remember what else was left.

“So, wait…does that mean we’re done?” she asked.

“We are. The wedding is planned.”

She sighed with relief and lay back down, pulling Maddie’s arm over her again. Maddie laughed and let her, eventually playing with a lock of her hair. It was soothing, and soon the two of them were dozing again. Ryann eventually fell asleep entirely.

She woke when Maddie attempted to wriggle her way out from under her.

“Sorry. I need the bathroom.”

“Fine,” she said. “You may go.”

“Thank you, almighty ruler.”

She laughed and flopped onto her back, deliciously sore and sated. She closed her eyes but realized once again that she was overwhelmingly hot. Despite the wintery day outside, this room was like midsummer. She kicked the sheets off her, still too lazy to sit up and do anything else, and when Maddie came back from the bathroom, she stopped entirely to stare at Ryann. Maddie had pulled on Ryann’s robe, which looked ridiculous on her, and Ryann almost laughed at the sight, but Maddie was so serious, so stern, almost, the teasing jibe died on her lips. They were silent for a long spell, Maddie staring, and Ryann let her. She was exhilarated, excited at the hungry look in Maddie’s eyes.

“Like something you see?” she finally asked, trying, but failing, to sound coy.

It took Maddie a moment to reply, and she just nodded.

Ryann stood up and walked to meet Maddie, holding out a hand.

“Then come on. Let’s take a shower.”

Maddie grasped her hand and followed her silently into the bathroom. They stayed in the water long enough for it to go cold, neither of them noticing, and then went back to bed, repeating this process several times throughout the day. Eventually, they gave up on the notion of leaving for that walk, both happy to stay inside in the warmth, together.

Chapter Twenty-One