It was different from the beach, different even from the alley. Tonight, Madeleine’s mouth opened eagerly, and her body surged forward. Her generous breasts pressed beneath Hæra’s smaller ones, their bodies coming together in a perfect fit.

They were both upright on their knees as they clung to each other. Hæra’s legs threatened not to support her. Her body melted before the flame, before Madeleine. Would it be better to lie down? To be on the cooler floor, where their bodies could be together from head to toe?

But Madeleine might not be ready. She hadn’t issued an intimate invitation.

Hæra’s hands shook where they clasped Madeleine’s back. She’d warned Madeleine about her nature so many times, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t fight it. She hadn’t been able to hurt Madeleine on the beach. She could not hurt her now.

I won’t hurt her, Hæra thought deliriously, as she tore her mouth from Madeleine’s and placed it on the soft curve of Madeleine’s neck.

I won’t. She bared her teeth against the skin.

I won’t. She began to suck.

“Lord!” Madeleine’s hands spasmed on Hæra’s shoulders. “Hæra!”

Hæra released her skin with a gasp. Had that been pain? What had she done? “I...”

Before she could finish, Madeleine’s hands swept up into her hair, carding through it. Nobody had ever stroked Hæra’s hair before. It tugged against her scalp, making it tingle, as if Madeleine were caressing the rest of her body too.

Then Madeleine tightened her grip in Hæra’s hair, and she pressed Hæra’s face more firmly to her neck. Holding her there. Madeleine’s body trembled, and she barely seemed to be breathing.

She wanted it.

Hæra panted against her wet skin. Opened her mouth. Bared her teeth. “On your back,” she said.

A little sob came from Madeleine’s mouth, but she was moving, doing as she was told. Hæra kept one arm around her shoulders, lowering her to the floor. The stone had to have been cold beneath the rug, but Madeleine didn’t protest. She kept her fingers in Hæra’s hair and opened her mouth as Hæra settled on top of her.

Like she’d done that first night, on the beach.

They seemed to realize it at the same time. Hæra and Madeleine stared into each other’s eyes when Hæra came to rest, her long body covering Madeleine’s completely, although she put her weight on her elbows in one last gasp of consideration.

“Oh my God.” Madeleine’s voice was barely audible. “It really was you.”

A growl rose from Hæra’s throat. “Did you ever doubt me?”