Page 136 of Whirlwind

Carla walked around the small table, still holding her hand. “Let’s go over to the couch.”

Charlie rose automatically, following Carla in some confusing tangle of anxiety and anticipation.

The couch was small, just two cushions, and covered with a colorful throw and a riot of pillows. It was a very Carla space, warm and inviting.

She sat down gingerly on the edge, but Carla wrapped one arm around her and put a hand over hers. It felt… amazing. She’d hardly let herself imagine being this close, and now that she was, it was electrifying.

She kept waiting for the next move, for Carla to do something sexy and dazzling that would sweep everything away.

But instead, there was just the smooth brush of Carla’s thumb over her knuckles. His solid chest pressed to her arm. There were no words between them, but it was still exciting. Magical.

Would there be more kisses? She both wanted them and feared them.

Carla’s breath was soft on her forehead, and she knew that if she lifted her head that Carla would sweep her up into another breathless kiss. It was tempting. So very tempting.

And it would be so very easy to just turn and let Carla do everything that those sinful eyes had promised for so long.

If only she weren’t so worried about the part that came after the kisses.

Finally, Carla pulled her back until she was resting against him. It was heavenly.

There was something new and comforting about being held instead of being the one who was doing the holding. Like Carla was strong enough for both of them.

And, secretly, Charlie liked the way he positioned her where he wanted her. It probably wasn’t supposed to be sexual, but every inch of Charlie’s skin was so attuned to Carla that she couldn’t help but want more. More touch. More care. More feeling like she was the most important person in Carla’s world.

Carla rubbed one firm hand down her arm, pulling her in tighter. When he spoke, his voice was a low rumble, more felt than heard. “I’ve been dreaming of holding you like this, you know.”

“Really?” The idea sent a nervous shiver through her, even though he’d said it before. It just seemed unimaginable.

“For a very long time.”

Warmth filled her chest at the thought. Everyone else she’d been with had taken one look at her, noticed more or less that she was butch, and made a move. Or, rather, made the first move and then expected her to make all of the moves afterward.

With Carla it was different. Maybe it was just the knowledge that Carla was a Dom, which meant that she didn’t have to take control.

Or maybe it was the past five years. All of the times they’d laughed together. The hope that if Carla were going to get bored or annoyed with her, surely it should have happened already.

Instead, Carla had just kept coming back, with his easy smile and shining eyes, filling her world with color. Carla knew her and he wanted her.

Or at least he knew her as much as she had shared.

For the first time, she realized that she wanted to share. Maybe it was foolish, but she wanted to trust Carla enough to take a chance. She didn’t know what all of this was supposed to look like or how it would work, but his confidence buoyed her.

She closed her eyes and let herself sink into his shoulder. Maybe with her eyes closed, it would be easier.

Carla whispered against her temple. “I could hold you like this all night. If you want to talk, I want to listen. If you want more, I would enjoy that, too. And if you just want to be here with me, I would still feel honored.”

She wasn’t sure how he always knew what to say, but somehow that was what she’d needed to hear. She didn’t have to talk. She didn’t have to do anything. Which meant that maybe she could.

She knew that Carla was a therapist. That he worked with kids who were going through all sorts of shit every day. Shit way worse than whatever she’d had to deal with. But being held in his strong arms didn’t feel anything like the couple of times she’d tried out a therapy session.

There was something about Carla that was soothing. Something that made her want to open herself up and share all of the memories that were zipped and sewn and locked up inside her.

With her eyes closed, the world was dark and cozy. And by some miracle, the sexiest damn person she knew seemed to think he wanted her, too.

“Um, talk?” she finally asked. “Is that OK?”

“That’s perfect. I want to know everything about you, whenever you want to share.” He kissed her hair and it felt like a gift.