Page 94 of Cat Sloan is Swirling

“Is that Lovers Landing?”

“Mmhmm, you can just see the restaurant up from the beach. The cabins are sprinkled through those trees.”

“Is that the beach you were walking on in your dream?” Elena could feel her heart thumping in her chest.

“You remember that?”

“Of course I do.” The way Cat’s voice sounded when she was telling Elena about the dream was still in her head. There was such longing and Elena wanted to hold her. She wanted to tell her everything would be all right.

“I was walking along the beach hand in hand with another woman and I felt such happiness. I knew it was all because of her.”

“But you couldn’t see her face.”

“Do you remember the first time Hattie walked into the bookstore and you walked over and kissed me?”

Elena nodded, scared to utter a word.

“When you kissed me, you put your hand in mine and interlaced our fingers. Just like this,” Cat said, holding their hands where they both gazed down at them.

“I remember. My hands were shaking and all I knew to do was grab yours to steady it.”

“When you kissed me and our hands came together, the dream flashed through my head.”

“It did?”

Cat nodded. “It was your face, Elena. You’re the woman in my dream.”

“I hoped,” Elena said so quietly she wasn’t sure she spoke aloud.

“None of our kisses have been fake for me,” Cat said.

“Me neither,” Elena whispered.

Cat let out a relieved breath.

Elena tilted her head. “What is it?”

“I wasn’t sure. I’ve been so confused and afraid to trust my heart, but today, after Hattie left the bookstore and you kissed me… I knew that was real.”

“Oh, Cat. They’ve all been real.”

Cat smiled and shook her head. “I guess we have to thank Hattie for making us do something we were both afraid to do, but wanted for a long time.”

Tara’s words from earlier rang through Elena’s head. “Maybe you had to go through that pain with Hattie to get to me.”

“Maybe I’m who you are without Dean,” Cat replied. “Maybe I’m your next chapter, your next life.”

“We’re missing the sunset,” Elena said.

“Nothing could be more beautiful than what my eyes see right in front of me,” Cat said.

Elena reached up with her other hand and cupped the side of Cat’s face. She stared into those bright blue eyes she’d come to love. Her eyelids fluttered closed and she pressed her lips to Cat’s. The softest moan escaped Cat’s throat and Elena parted her lips. Their tongues touched, softly at first, but now that Elena knew this was real for both of them she couldn’t hold back.

Her hand slid into Cat’s curls while she freed her other hand to wrap it around Cat’s back and pull her closer. The moan that came from deep inside Elena’s heart was one of complete bliss. It was as if her heart was saying: Finally, what took you so long!

They explored while their tongues did the dance of wonder and delight accompanied by the sweet music of their breaths mixed with moans and groans.

Elena remembered the soft lips of her library crush, but this kiss was so luxurious and Cat’s lips were so perfect she couldn’t think of anything except Cat. She never wanted this kiss to end and wondered if all their kisses would be like this. Because one thing she knew for sure was that she was going to be kissing Cat Sloan from now on.

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