Page 52 of Sparks Like Ours

“I don’t know. Be who they want to be.”

“That’s some separatist clothes bullshit right there. Let themmingle.”

“No way. Not on my watch.” Elle’s eyes went wide. “Let me guess.You just toss your clothes in all together in a jumble and head for theairport?”

“Yep, literally an hour before I leave.”

“Were you raised by wolves?” Elle asked in outrage, unable toimagine such a fly-by-night existence. Elle moved to her dresser, pulled outthe remaining clothes she’d need for the Swatch Pro, and began rolling theminto neat little bundles for optimum space. “How do you live like that?”

“It’s easy. I get up and pull out what I need for the day.”

“That makes no sense to me. Do you even unpack once you’re there?”

“What’s the point?”

Elle stared at her, her heart rate escalating. “You’re killingme.”

Gia pointed at the suitcase in exasperation. “Same.”

That did it. Without thinking any further, Elle grabbed the fabricof the damn hoodie and pulled Gia’s lips to hers, where she kissed her with thepent-up tension brought on by their ferociously defended packing philosophies.Good Lord. How could one person be so frustrating and so sexy at the same time?And the kiss. Don’t get her started on the kiss that was more—way more—intensethan the first. Warm and shimmy-shake worthy. That kiss eased its way intoElle’s system, up her spine, carrying heat through her limbs with startlingintensity. She’d never responded to any other partner the way she responded toGia in just a matter of seconds. She was hot and bothered and without thecontrol she was so used to maintaining. Yep, those were her hands abandoningthe hoodie and sliding into Gia’s hair without her permission, and thetraitorous tiptoes she was up on for better access to Gia’s mouth, evening outthe slight height difference nicely.

Had it been Gia or Elle who’d guided them onto the bed alongsideher suitcase? Regardless, they’d landed there with a bounce before finding eachother again in a flurry of breathless gasps. Who really cared who’d taken themthere, because lying alongside Gia as they kissed opened up all kinds of accessElle was eager to put to use. She slid her hands inside the hoodie (which wasjust as soft as it looked) and slipped them up the back of Gia’s white T-shirtto the warm skin of her back, which was, oh God, so soft. Too soft to bebelieved. She heard herself groan and push her body firmly against Gia’s astheir mouths danced, their tongues tasted, and the room went up in flamesaround them.

Gia pulled her mouth from Elle’s and met her gaze. A check-in ofsorts in the midst of the search for air. “Is this okay? Should we—”

“Don’t stop,” Elle managed, silencing Gia with another kiss, hertongue pushing its way into Gia’s mouth, and pulling the most delicious soundfrom Gia. She could really get used to contented sounds like that. The thoughtwas silenced when Gia rolled on top of Elle, the weight of her body the mostwelcome sensation Elle could remember experiencing. She took the briefestmoment to steady herself, to revel in the full-on body-to-body connection. Thiswas exactly what she’d been missing her whole life. She instinctually partedher legs, allowing room for Gia’s thigh between them. “Sweet heaven,” shemurmured, as her desire quadrupled.

Gia laughed and looked down at her. “Sweet heaven?”

Elle nodded. “Sweet heaven.”

“I’ve never met anyone like you,” Gia said, and stole a quickkiss. “You pack weird and have catchphrases like that one.”

“Yeah, well. You brood and steal waves, so we’re even on thatcount.”

“Whatever you say.” Gia slowly made her way to Elle’s mouth, onceagain sending an urgent shot of arousal straight to Elle’s center. She movedher hips against Gia’s thigh because it gave her relief. Not enough, but some.She felt the pressure between her legs climb with each roll of her hips. Herhands were still underneath the back of Gia’s shirt, which was in her way. Ellepushed it up, feeling the back of Gia’s bra. The thought of taking it offentirely made her mind shift into overdrive, almost unable to handle the ideaof Gia’s breasts tumbling into her waiting hands. She’d likely explode.

Gia sucked in a ragged breath and fell to the side.

Elle blinked, summoning her brain but not finding it available.Every part of her body ached for more. Craved it. But the contact was gone.“What’s wrong?” she asked through her haze.

Gia touched her cheek softly. “Maybe we shouldn’t just yet.”

Elle nodded, understanding. It was too soon. She hated that sheagreed.Hated. It.ButGia was right. This was all very new and happening very fast, and she shouldprobably proceed at a slower pace. She wasn’t sure she’d have been able to stopthem just two minutes ago but felt grateful to Gia for making the call. “Howare we supposed to go back to business as usual now?” she asked quietly, facingGia on the bed.

“I’m not sure we could.”

Elle shook her head, tugging at the hem of Gia’s shirt absently.“I wouldn’t want to. When I’m around you I feel different, unlike myself, and Isuppose I haven’t figured out how to navigate that quite yet.”

“Different how?”

She studied Gia’s dark eyebrows, how perfectly formed they were.She’d be willing to bet a million dollars they were naturally shaped that way.“You have the ability to make me feel everything in…exponentials.”

Gia furrowed her brow and wrapped her arm around Elle’s waist.“Exponentials, huh?”

“Exponentially happy, or exponentially annoyed.” She paused andsmiled sheepishly up at the ceiling. “Exponentially turned on.”

Gia chuckled. “Now that’s a title I can live with. But I get it.You do the same to me. It’s turning into an addiction.”

---