Page 14 of All She Wants

Neither of them moved. Claire waited for Erin to lift her arm, and for daylight to return them to store owner and customer. Instead, Erin held her a little closer, and the tightness in Claire’s throat returned.

“Did you get much sleep?” Erin’s voice was scratchy and deep from lack of sleep.

“Better than I had any right to, given the makeshift bed.”

A quiet laugh vibrated against her shoulder blade. “The wood floor underneath our bedding was deeply unforgiving. I’m going to feel that in my lower back for a week.”

“I should let you stretch.”

“Not yet.” Erin’s arm tightened gently around her waist. “I’m comfortable.”

“Your back may disagree.”

“My back can complain after Christmas.”

Claire smiled. “Speaking of which, Merry Christmas, Erin.”

“Merry Christmas to you too, Claire.”

Erin loosened her hold so Claire could roll onto her back, then settled on her side beside her. Her hair had flattened on one side and rebelled on the other. A crease from the cushion seam crossed her left cheek, and her brown eyes looked almost amber in the thin winter light. Despite every sign that the floor had not treated her kindly, Erin appeared entirely comfortable beside Claire.

Claire had expected daylight to bring a little embarrassment, perhaps an urge for Erin to straighten her clothes, create some distance, or pretend the kiss had meant less than it had.

None of that came.

Claire liked waking in Erin’s arms. She liked that Erin had not rushed to pull away. Most of all, she liked the quiet ease between them, as though they had agreed sometime during the night that honesty would serve them better than awkwardness.

“I don’t regret kissing you last night,” Claire whispered.

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Were you worried I was going to regret it?”

“No.” Erin brushed a strand of hair away from Claire’s cheek. “But I wanted you to say it before I did.”

Claire understood. Erin was still giving her room to decide what last night meant now that the champagne had worn off and morning had arrived. “I actually wanted to kiss you again as soon as I opened my eyes,” Claire said.

Erin’s mouth curved. “That is extremely useful information.”

“Do you plan to do anything with it?”

“Are you asking me to?”

“Yes. Yes, I am.”

Erin leaned over her and kissed her.

There was nothing hesitant about it this time. Her hand cupped Claire’s jaw, and her lips moved slowly against hers. Claire caught the front of Erin’s blouse and kept her close when the kiss might have ended. Erin stayed, her thumb stroking once beneath Claire’s ear as the kiss deepened.

Heat spread through Claire despite the cold pressing in around the blankets. She had spent years weighing every decision before she made it. Kissing Erin required no internal debate at all.

Erin finally drew back, although she did not go far.

“That was considerably less restrained,” Claire said.

“That was me answering a direct question.”

“Good. I may have several more.”