Her voice is quiet and commanding. “If I could have my daughter look up to anyone in our lives, I would choose you.” She blinks down at Caroline, the most earnest look in her eyes.

“And you aren’t allowed to brush this off.” Hannah presses her hand more firmly against Caroline. As if Caroline would possibly have the ability to step away or to remove Hannah’s touch from her body.

No, that hand is wreaking havoc on her and she wants it to stay that way, as her stomach flip flops and heat pools between her thighs.

“You’re strong and smart and gorgeous and good.” Hannah expounds, tapping her finger against Caroline with every word she says to make her point. And when she does, she curls her fingers a little so that Caroline can feel them stroke just that small bit against her chest.

She doesn’t think she’s ever felt more present in a moment than she does, right here, right now.

“You’re kind of my hero, too.” Hannah finishes, her voice barely above a whisper as she confides that bit of information to Caroline.

And when she will look back on this moment – because she will look back on it – she’ll think that this was inevitable.

From the second Hannah shot her a wink as she’d pulled out a bottle of wine after tucking Abbie in, that they’ve both gotten a bit of a buzz from. To the heat, to Hannah’s bare arms with lithe muscle that her tank top reveals. To the dip into her cleavage that Caroline has tried valiantly to avoid looking at.

The quiet music that plays in the background, with the most delicious smell around them.

But most of all, just Hannah. Her hand on her chest, unyielding and warm, despite the fact that she has to feel Caroline’s heart pounding. And the way she looks at Caroline, as if she thinks she can see the same things in Caroline that Caroline sees in her.

She can’t help it.

She leans in, as if magnetized, her eyes closing as soon as she can feel Hannah’s surprised exhale warm on her lips.

Hannah’s hand slides down Caroline’s chest to grip the top of her camisole in a tight fist, knuckles pressing against the tops of her breasts. Her skin tingles where Hannah’s hand touches and she breathes her own whimper into her mouth, heat spiking down her spine and landing firmly between her legs.

She pauses just before their mouths touch. So close and she’s holding herself back by the tiniest thread –

“Mom?”