Page 48 of Echoes

“You’re a nomad?” Felicity asked.

“I have that rental. It’s a one-bedroom with this cute little nook that has a desk. I plan to finish the first draft of my book there, and if you’ll have me, I’d like to spend as much time with you as possible. I rented that place for two weeks, but the owner said I could always extend since it’s the off-season and they don’t have another booking yet.”

“So, you could be here… indefinitely?”

“Until my first ship, which doesn’t leave until May.” Rosie hovered her lips over Felicity’s bare neck. “And it’s twenty days. Then, I’m back for a month before the next one, which will be about the same.”

“Really?” Felicity laughed.

“Yeah. Why? What’s funny about that?”

“Where are you going?”

“Italy and Spain. Why?”

“I was planning on going to Greece and then Portugal. Same schedule.” Felicity laughed again. “We’ll be right next to each other at around the same time.”

“Just on different ships.”

“But with probably a decent internet connection with us both being in the same waters. And we could spend the in-between time together.”

“Together, huh?” she asked, running a hand under the lightsweater Felicity had on. “That’s months away.”

“I know,” Felicity replied. “And will you finally kiss me there, please? I can feel your lips, and you’re killing me.”

Rosie smiled and placed her lips on Felicity’s neck.

“Better?”

“Yes. But more, please.”

Rosie repeated the kiss and moved her lips to the spot just behind Felicity’s earlobe.

“I could stay out here all night, just holding you like this and talking to you.” She kissed that spot again. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too. God, you have no idea. I hated Portugal in the beginning because I was there, you were here, and I knew–”

“That I was with her,” she said, finishing for Felicity.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry I can’t go back.”

“Don’t be. Like I said, we don’t know what would’ve happened. And we’re here now. Wearehere now, right? You and me?”

“You and me, yes. Us,” Rosie replied. “And I’d like to stay here tonight, if that’s okay with you.”

“Stay?”

“Please don’t make me go back over that bridge tonight. I’ll know you’re here, so close, and it’ll kill me, being over there and unable to touch you.” She slid her hand up a little higher and left it between Felicity’s breasts. “I know we have a lot to discover about one another still, but I can’t help it, Felicity – I love you. I know that it’s real and that I’ll love you even more while and when we get to know one another again.”

Felicity shifted then, and Rosie had had to move her hand, too. She immediately missed the contact and the feel of Felicity’s heart beating against her hand, and she worried that she’d gone too far when she’d only had a few minutes with Felicity on their first date. Felicity turned around to her, though, and she bit her lower lip as her eyes met Rosie’s.

“I don’t want to get my heart broken.”

“Oh, baby… I don’t plan on ever breaking your heart.” She cupped Felicity’s cheek like the other Rosie had done all those years ago. “I know this is scary. We have a history, and we don’t at the same time, but I want this. I want you. Only you.”

Felicity smiled and said, “You called me ‘baby.’”

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