“Smokin’ hot, Sar.”

“That’s all I can ask for.” She grinned, switching gears. “Everything all right outside, Mama?”

“The kids are having a ball out there. Danny’s taught them his super slow roasting method and they’re transfixed.”

“How’s Grace?”

“Very energetic. I think her strength is back in full force.”

“Clearly,” Sarah said as Grace sped into the room and came to a stop in front of her.

“Can I have ice cream later?” Grace asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

“If you’re grandparents say it’s okay. But do me a favor and take it easy. Maybe don’t run everywhere you go. Let’s give that new pacemaker a chance to settle in.”

“The doctor said it’s fine to run now.”

Sarah sighed. “That he did.” She kissed the top of Grace’s head and watched her speed back into the yard to join her cousins. “She just seems so much lighter, carefree. It’s nice. The cardiologist says that with the new pacemaker, she shouldn’t see the inside of a hospital room until she delivers her first child.”

Her mother placed her hand on Sarah’s shoulder as she passed. “And now that Grace is back on track, it’s your turn.”

As if on cue, the doorbell rang and Sarah broke out into a smile. “I think that’s my date.”

*

The beach house was dark and quiet when they entered, but the moonlight reflecting off the water just yards away illuminated much of the room. Dinner with an adult had been just what the doctor ordered, and the fact that it was with Emory was delicious icing on the cake. Throughout dinner, Sarah had enjoyed the conversation, the laughs, the flirting, but she couldn’t help letting her mind drift to the promise of things to come. It didn’t help that Emory was looking both gorgeous and sophisticated in the pale blue dress she’d worn to dinner. Her favorite combination.

Now that they were alone, Sarah led the way in and wordlessly moved to the glass, staring out at the endless ocean. She wrapped her arms around herself and shook her head ever so slightly. “The water seems so calm tonight.”

Emory settled in behind her and gently kissed one shoulder. “It’s chilly out, but we could walk down to the beach, if you want.”

Sarah turned. “I don’t think so. I like it right here.” She studied Emory’s face, taking it in. “What are you feeling right now?”

Emory smiled. “You have no idea.”

“Trust me, I do.” She ran a finger gently across Emory’s bottom lip and moved in, unable to resist her another moment. She brushed her mouth with a featherlight kiss and ran her hands gently up Emory’s arms, the most tender of caresses. “You were there for me. When life couldn’t get any worse, when I was at my lowest and didn’t know where to turn, you were there and you got me through it somehow. I didn’t know what I needed, but you knew.”

“I didn’t do anything that you haven’t done for me. How is she today? Grace.”

“Feisty, just like always. Only she can stay feisty longer now, so we’re all in trouble.”

Emory laughed. “I can’t wait to see her.”

“Tomorrow. Tonight, I get you all to myself.”

Emory felt a shiver move through her body. She took Sarah’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Can I get you anything? Are you thirsty?”

Sarah shook her head slowly, her eyes never moving from Emory’s, communicating so much. Emory nodded wordlessly and they walked together up the stairs, hand in hand.

Once inside her bedroom, Emory moved to Sarah and pulled her close, her gaze unguarded, focused. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

Sarah reached out and brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. “We have all night, you know.”

Emory kissed her gently. “Best sentence ever.”

The kiss that began delicately, transformed rather quickly to a mechanism of need. Sarah moved her hands to Emory’s waist and up. As they grazed the outsides of her breasts, Emory hissed in a breath and increased the pressure of the kiss until the meeting of lips and tongues vibrated through her entire body.

As Sarah pulled off her sweater, Emory stepped back. “I got it.” She moved behind Sarah, pulling the zipper of her slacks slowly downward. Emory assisted the lightweight fabric to the floor, bringing her to her knees and refocusing her attention. She closed her eyes and placed a solitary kiss on the small of Sarah’s back, then moved her attention ever so slowly upward to her shoulders, the back of her neck, and around. Sarah’s eyes were closed, her lips parted slightly at the sensation in a breathtaking display that caused Emory only a minor pause to take in the image before needing to taste that mouth once again.

As their lips met, it was Sarah who took control at this point, kissing Emory hungrily and backing her up until the back of her knees bumped the bed. She slid the straps of Emory’s dress down her shoulders, and it fell effortlessly to the floor. She stopped and looked at her, really looked at her, as her heart filled with something so familiar, yet so exciting that she felt a shiver move through her.

She pushed Emory softly onto her back and took her time pulling off the rest of her clothing piece by piece. She willed herself to move slowly, to let the moonlight shift over Emory’s skin as she revealed more of it. She descended to Emory’s breast first, kissing it, taking time to linger, savor the taste, the moment, the sensation that was so all consuming. She moved to the other breast then, licking, tracing lazy circles with her tongue. As Sarah raised her head, her eyes slid to Emory’s and the yearning she saw there sent a staggering shot of arousal through her. “Em,” she whispered reverently in response, kissing up her neck, her chin, her forehead before finally settling back on her lips for another sensuous go-round. She settled herself more firmly on top this time, “Em, look at me.” Emory threaded her fingers through Sarah’s hair, pulling her face back just enough to lock onto her eyes. “I love you. So desperately, I do.”

Emory’s stomach fluttered as she heard the words again in such a vulnerable moment. She nodded as she looked up at Sarah and wanted to respond, to tell her of the strength of her own feelings, but her voice was strangled in her throat, the emotion too powerful. She opened her mouth to try again and closed it in defeat.

“I already know.” Sarah smiled as she tucked a strand of Emory’s hair behind her ear. “I know how you feel, and it’s everything good in this world. I’m so lucky.”

Unable to resist any longer, Emory pulled Sarah’s face back down and caught her lips for another feverish kiss. She tried to turn them for better access to Sarah, to her body, but the once quiet, reserved woman she’d met those several months before was not willing to relinquish control just yet, and it was tantalizing. Instead, she pushed her thigh firmly between Emory’s legs and began to move against her. Emory gasped and felt as if an electric current of yearning had just slammed her system. She arched in response and pushed back forcefully, grabbing Sarah by the hips and pulling her closer still, needing, wanting more of her.

“Not so fast there,” Sarah mumbled between kisses, shaking her hair back, grasping Emory’s wrists, and holding them in place above her head. She picked up the rhythm gradually, and Emory could hardly maintain a coherent thought against the onslaught of overwhelming sensation. With her breathing ragged and her body erupting, she turned her head into the pillow and moaned quietly. Taking the cue, Sarah increased her speed, the pins that held her hair in place loosening and eventually falling out entirely. Her hair cascaded wildly down around her shoulders and the sight alone sent Emory toppling over the edge in a rush of sharp pleasure. Her body stilled and she called out as the orgasm ripped through her. In that moment, she reached up and touched Sarah’s face, holding fast to the connection she felt so deeply until all she saw was her. All she felt was her.