Page 141 of Solanum

"Nothing in particular. Nora and I joined our first official scene with Samirah and Marley. Probably that. The freedom in it. She's always reveled in her sexual freedom." I drew in a slow breath and glanced down the hall to see if Nora was on her way back yet before continuing. "After Perkins, we didn't have sex for nearly a month. Did she tell you?"

Anita nodded. "That's a very long time for her. Not just sex, but you know…"

"Yeah. Orgasms in general. You can say it."

"It doesn't seem right to say it."

"Maybe you should take a deeper look why it doesn't feel right." I cocked a brow at her, and she shrugged.

Nora returned a few minutes later wearing a pair of my joggers and a floppy long-sleeve FBI T-shirt. She smiled at Anita and wiggled her fingers at her when she stopped in front of her. Anita chuckled and held her arms out in return. Nora caught her in an overzealous hug and Anita smiled, stroking her back in firm, almost maternal rotations. I smiled while watching them, and Nora settled on the sofa beside her. She kept her head on Anita's shoulder, tucking her knees to her chest while she leaned against her. Anita rested her chin on top of her head and rubbed the arm that Nora draped across her middle.

"Much better," said Anita.

"Much snugglier." Nora smiled and settled down then. "I'm glad you came over. You surprised me."

"I wanted to check on you when you didn't answer my texts." Anita squeezed her gently. "But it looks like you don't need checking on today."

"I always appreciate it when you check on me," Nora said, looking up at her with a soft smile.

"You two are pretty cute. I have to admit." I smirked while watching them, relaxing into the easy atmosphere of the moment.

"Other than you, Anita was my closest friend," said Nora, her tone softening some. "She was kind to me when we stopped talking."

"You deserve kindness, Nor," I told her, my brow narrowing with the intensity of my statement. "Always."

"She's right," Anita said, poking Nora's arm. "And you're my closest friend."

"What about Marita?" Nora's brows lifted, and I could tell she fought the grin that threatened to curve her pink lips.

"Marita is a close friend, too," Anita said, simply.

"But you don't see her anymore, do you?" asked Nora.

Anita shook her head, her expression tightening back to her calm, cool doctor face that I knew predominantly over the years. She held her friend's gaze while Nora toyed with the holster of Anita's sidearm, flicking the leather of the snap.

"You should see her more," said Nora.

"I don't think so." Anita smiled, though it wasn't one of amusement. "Tell me about your time last night. I hear you did something called a scene with three women."

Nora snickered, and her gaze flickered in my direction. "We did. It was so good."

"What does scene mean?"

"Sex but with BDSM rules and practices," she summed up rather nicely. "I'd never done anything official with Caroline, so we did. We watched Samirah and Marley." Nora visibly shivered at the mention of it. "But we didn't share."

"I think I understand better," said Anita, diplomatically. "Did you have a good time?"

"So good." Nora bit her lip and glanced at me.

I winked at her and she grinned.

"I'm very glad that you're happy today, Nora." Anita smiled at her and gave her the tiniest cheek kiss. "It's lovely to see you smile."

Nora just beamed at her, her brightness making it to her eyes. "Feels good, too."

"It should."

A knock at the door sounded at the same time that my phone buzzed. I hopped up to fetch our delivery, then toted everything back to the living room while they continued to chat.

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