Page 40 of The Beat of her Heart

They’d reached their room now. Giselle opened the door and they both walked in. Addie stepped in and leaned against the door. Giselle laughed, walked a step ahead of Addie, and then she stopped.

Thunder rumbled outside again. Addie tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips.

“You know, when I was little, I’d always end up in my moms’ bed during storms. Cuddling with them was the only thing that kept me from worrying about thunder.”

Giselle’s gaze flickered. “I don’t remember the last time I really…cuddled with anyone. Maybe with my ex. It’s been a while.”

Addie squinted momentarily, taken aback by the warmth in Giselle’s tone. She loved it. Giselle’s eyes glinted with a subtle need that seemed to match her own.

Still, it changed nothing. Addie wouldn’t let herself pay too much attention to stuff that shouldn’t even be in her head.

“Cuddles are nice, but not really…essential. I’ve managed this long without them,” Giselle said.

Addie shook her head, smiling. “That’s where you’re wrong. Cuddles are absolutely essential.”

Giselle raised an eyebrow. “Why do you think that?”

Addie’s smile grew. “Well, if you want the scientific explanation, cuddling releases oxytocin. It’s a natural mood booster. And then there’s serotonin, which is also good for stress. And dopamine helps with relaxation.”

Giselle rolled her eyes. “Cuddling also makes people grow attached and creates emotions that are sometimes too strong to be controlled.”

“Exactly.”

Addie’s heart raced as she watched Giselle’s reaction, the way she seemed drawn in despite herself.

“But it’s more than that. There’s comfort in it…something human that just makes everything else feel easier. Like a reminder that you’re not alone.”

Giselle’s gaze held hers, her expression softer now, her lips just barely curved. Shedidn’t look away, and neither did Addie, the space between them feeling smaller with every passing second.

“I never thought of it like that,” Giselle murmured.

Addie took a quiet breath, unable to resist the pull any longer. She let herself lean in slightly, her gaze dropping briefly to Giselle’s lips, her heart racing as the warmth between them seemed to grow.

Giselle’s eyes lingered on her for a moment, the distance between them closing slowly, and then, almost naturally, their lips met. The kiss was soft. Addie’s hands made their way to Giselle’s cheek, caressing her as their lips entwined.

Giselle’s body pressed softly against hers. Addie quaked with desire as the kiss deepened. Then, out of the blue, Giselle took a step back.

They just stood there, locked in each other’s gaze.

13

GISELLE

Giselle stood there, heart pounding, replaying the kiss in her mind. The warmth of it lingered on her lips. She hadn’t expected it to feel like that—so natural, so right.

Damn. She hadn’t expected to kiss Addie at all. The voice in her head, the same one that usually warned her not to get attached to anyone, was quiet.

Being close to Addie erased everything else. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to lean in and kiss Addie again.

Addie’s eyes searched hers as if trying to read the thoughts swirling in her mind.Giselle wanted to close the space between them and taste her soft lips again.

Her gaze darted to Addie’s eyes again. Addie backed up, still watching her, a quiet smile on her lips. It was almost invisible, but there was no denying that it was there.

Giselle watched Addie’s lips part. She’d no doubt enjoyed every bit of the kiss, too. Then Addie blinked and took a few steps past her.

“I need to shower,” she murmured.

Giselle nodded, the words barely registering as Addie turned and slipped into the bathroom. She was left standing there, the lingering warmth from the kiss pulsing through her.

---