Page 4 of Blazing Hearts

Kara threw her head back, and Mallory watched as shocks and tremors wracked their way through her tall strong frame, all the while Kara never stopped what she was doing with her magical fingers, and it was almost no time at all before Mallory’s own climax swept over her, intense and amazing.

This was something she could certainly lose herself in for tonight.

Panting heavily, they lay side by side, Mallory drawing lazy circles on Kara’s skin.

“Again?”

“Again.”

* * *

The soft morning light filtered through the sheer curtains of Mallory’s apartment, casting long, golden streaks across the wooden floors. The city outside was just beginning to stir—a distant hum of cars and the faint call of birds carried on the cool breeze sneaking in through the cracked window.

Mallory stood in the kitchen, her hair loosely tied back, wearing a sweatshirt that hung long over her frame. She reached for the French press on the counter, pressing the plunger down with deliberate care, savoring the earthy aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Behind her, Kara emerged from the hallway, barefoot and at ease, her tousled hair and wrinkled shirt only adding to the casual charm that seemed to follow her effortlessly.

She might have been the most effortlessly sexy woman Mallory had ever met.

“Smells amazing,” Kara said, her voice still laced with the huskiness of sleep.

Mallory turned, offering a small smile as she lifted a mug. “I can’t promise it’s gourmet, but it’ll wake you up.”

Kara crossed the room, her bare feet padding against the cool floor, and accepted the mug with a grateful grin. She took a slow sip, closing her eyes for a moment as if savoring not just the coffee but the entire scene.

“You’ve got a knack for mornings,” Kara said, setting her mug down on the counter and leaning against it.

Mallory chuckled softly, her fingers curling around her own cup. “Not really. I just fake it well.”

Kara tilted her head, studying her for a moment, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, you know that?”

Mallory looked down at her coffee, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks. “You don’t even know me,” she said lightly, though her tone held no sharpness.

“Maybe,” Kara admitted, her eyes warm as they met Mallory’s. “But I feel like I’ve got a pretty good start.”

They stood there for a moment, the quiet between them comfortable and unhurried. Mallory leaned her hip against the counter, her mug cradled in both hands. She glanced at Kara, noticing the relaxed tilt of her shoulders, the way her eyes lingered as though committing every detail to memory. The chemistry between them was still there, humming softly beneath the surface, but it felt different now—less urgent, more grounded.

Kara broke the silence first, her voice playful but tinged with sincerity. “So, do you always invite strangers home and make them coffee in the morning? Or am I just special?”

Mallory laughed, shaking her head. “Definitely not a habit. You’re a first, actually.”

“Lucky me,” Kara said with a wink, lifting her mug in a mock toast.

Mallory rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her smile. She took another sip of her coffee, letting the warmth settle in her chest.

Kara set her mug down again and straightened, glancing around the room as though taking one last look. “I should probably get going,” she said, though there was no rush in her tone.

Mallory felt a pang of disappointment, though she knew the night—now morning—had to end at some point. She placed her mug on the counter and walked Kara to the door, the quiet of the apartment stretching between them like a thread not yet ready to break.

At the door, Kara hesitated, reaching into her back pocket and pulling out a slightly crumpled napkin. She grabbed a pen from the counter and quickly scrawled a number across it.

“In case you feel like being mysterious again,” Kara said with a grin, sliding the napkin across the counter to Mallory.

Mallory picked it up, her fingers brushing against the paper as she read the neat, looping digits. She looked up, her smile soft but genuine. “Thanks,” she said, folding the napkin carefully and tucking it into the pocket of her sweatshirt.

Kara leaned against the door frame, her expression lingering somewhere between teasing and earnest. “Last night was…” She paused, searching for the right word. “Unexpected. In the best way.”

Mallory nodded, her voice quieter now. “Yeah. It was.”

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