Page 90 of Igniting Her

“They had already. I confirmed only my own conduct.” Cassie held her gaze, leaving no ambiguity about the boundary.

Ellie rubbed her thumb over the softened crease in the request. “You told Teak?”

Cassie’s expression eased by a fraction. “She cried into the carnitas.”

A laugh broke through Ellie’s tears. She covered her mouth. “Of course she did.”

At the sound, hope broke through Cassie’s control before her smile could form.

Ellie set the transfer request on the small table by the door.

“I am not asking you to forgive me because I changed positions,” Cassie said. “I am not asking you to stay. I came because I love you, and because you deserved to hear it while you could answer.”

Ellie stepped close enough for their breath to meet. “I already answered.”

“I heard you.” Cassie’s voice stayed rough.

Ellie searched her face. “Every word?”

Cassie closed her eyes once. “Every word.”

Ellie lifted both hands to her face. Rain cooled Cassie’s cheeks beneath her palms. She had touched this woman in hunger, anger, surrender, and care. This was the first time no boundary waited beyond the contact to define what it could mean.

“May I kiss you?” Cassie asked.

Ellie’s throat tightened. “Please.”

Cassie kissed her.

There was no impact. No wall at Ellie’s back, no wrists caught, no urgency used to outrun what either woman felt. Cassie’s mouth settled over hers slowly and opened only when Ellie did. The first pass of her tongue tasted like rain. Ellie breathed against her and felt the sound Cassie made in answer move through both of them.

Ellie slid her hands into Cassie’s wet hair. Cassie put one palm at her waist and the other over her heart. The pressure was light enough to refuse every resemblance to restraint. Ellie covered that hand with her own and held it there.

“Say it again,” she whispered.

Cassie’s gray eyes opened.

“I love you.”

Ellie kissed her before the ache could become tears again. This kiss deepened without hurrying. Cassie’s fingers spread over her chest. Ellie felt her own heartbeat striking against the scarred palm through her T-shirt.

“You’re freezing,” Ellie said, rubbing warmth into the rain-cooled skin at Cassie’s waist.

“I am aware.” Cassie’s mouth stayed solemn, but its severity had already begun to loosen.

“Devastating situational assessment, Chief.” Ellie was smiling now, too relieved to contain it.

“Not yet.” The correction arrived from instinct rather than armor.

Ellie brushed her mouth over Cassie’s. “You came to my door in the rain to confess your love and correct my use of title.”

The corner of Cassie’s mouth moved. “Those conditions can coexist.”

The almost-smile undid the last of Ellie’s caution. She took Cassie’s hand and led her down the short hall.

In the bedroom, the lamp cast the same warm circle over the bed where Cassie had once spent a whole night apologizing without words. The duffel was gone from beside the closet. Ellie had unpacked it two days after Mo found her at the bar. The bare walls remained, but the academy photograph now hung beside the window in a frame secured by an actual nail.

Cassie noticed. Ellie watched her notice.