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Lark smiled. She got this. It was in the bank, judging by Seren’s expression.
“I’m saying I have a list of pages that I’d like to explore with you. I did put many hours into this research. I want to do well, Seren. I want this to be an amazing experience for you.”
Seren bent down and stole a quick kiss.
“If this experience is any more amazing, you’ll kill me.”
Lark had to laugh.
“Oh, I haven’t actually done anything yet, you know.”
The answering smile was radiant, blinding. Lark wanted to bask in it like a cat in the sun. Seren lifted her hands, palms up.
“Lark…” Seren said her name and then just looked at her. Lark held her breath. “I’ll say this and I want you to hear me. No matter what happens here tonight, even if nothing happens at all… I will always cherish this. Us. Like this.” Long fingers gestured between and Lark felt like her chest might simply explode. But Seren was not done making her knees go weak. “I want you happy. I want you to enjoy yourself. I want you to feel safe to do and to feel anything and everything you want. So, to your point of not having done anything yet… By all means, be my guest.” She stood motionless, feet planted. Tall, beautiful. Perfect. And all hers. Lark felt her mouth water.
Gosh, this was… Romance books were never this good.
She touched the loose ends of Seren’s tie and pulled slowly, feeling the material obey her, sliding easily down the half-buttoned shirt. Seren stood perfectly still, but Lark noticed the eyes narrowing slightly, the breathing speeding up.
You’re the one doing this to her…
Lark laid her hands on Seren’s chest, feeling the heart thumping under her touch, feeling the cotton heat up under her fingertips.
“May I? The books said to always ask permission. Consent is paramount. So I will be asking a lot,” she said as she moved toward the small buttons.
“God, fuck, yeah, sorry, please!” Seren ducked her head a little, making Lark smile.
“I like it when you curse. You normally don’t. Your sisters do, but you don’t around me, so when you curse, it tells me I’m doing something right.”
Lark saw Seren’s cheeks turn pink.
“You always do everything right. If I cursed every time you did something right, I’d be only speaking in R-rated expletives.”
Lark allowed her hands to wander over Seren’s collarbone, undoing one button, then another. She placed a kiss over every inch of skin that she revealed.
“The book said to focus on sensitive parts of the body, and I noticed that you tend to play with your collarbone a lot, tugging on collars close to it, especially when you’re deep in thought. And I find it very sexy.”
Seren trembled under her touch.
“You drive me fucking crazy, Lark.”
“I really want to. Isn’t it a wonder? I thought I’d never want this. Never do this. Until you.”
Seren opened her eyes, curiosity and worry in them warring openly, but Lark popped another button and uncovered the tops of her breasts, allowing her mouth to kiss the tender swell of one, then the other, and Seren threw back her head with a low moan.
They’d have this conversation. There simply wasn’t any way to avoid it. But not now. Now Lark wanted to take and be taken. Lark wanted Seren more than anything she had ever wanted.
Another button, more skin, and Lark got dizzy. Seren was wearing a small sports bra, which she shucked off over her head in one fluid motion. And then, she stood in front of Lark, naked torso, all muscle and perfect skin gleaming in the moonlight filtering through the half-closed blinds.
“You’re beautiful, Seren. The advice in the book all pointed toward giving as many compliments as possible, but I find myself wanting to say so many things, even without the advice. Because you are absolutely gorgeous. Perfect. Beautiful everywhere, and I feel like if I don’t say it, don’t tell you about exactly how special and handsome you are, I will burst.”
Seren’s smile was tinged with apprehension. When she spoke, her voice confirmed it.
“I’ve never been called beautiful. I never wanted to be. It never mattered. But I want to be beautiful to you. Just to you.”
Lark kissed immediately above a tightly furled nipple.
“You are. So beautiful. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.”
