Page 61 of Violet Moon
“It can be.”
Parisa took another step.Sera held her breath.
“So, what do we do now?”Parisa puffed out a soft laugh that Sera felt on her skin.
Sera steeled her nerves and took Parisa’s hands in her own.“We do what we always did, only now we can —” She couldn’t finish the thought.Her cheeks flushed with warmth.
Parisa leaned in closer.Sera’s eyes fluttered shut as she leaned in, too, ready for a kiss that was even better than the one earlier.But it never came.She opened her eyes and Parisa was inches away from her, her face scrunched up in frustration.
“Why is this so hard?I already kissed you once,” Parisa whined.
“Because now it means something.”
Parisa’s features softened.“Everything with you means a great deal to me.”
Sera closed her eyes again as the pull between them took over.Their lips brushed, soft breaths passing between them.Parisa gently held her face, guiding her closer and flooding her with feeling, the kiss much more intense than their first.
It was over before she wanted it to be, and she chased Parisa’s lips as they pulled away.
Parisa stroked her thumb along Sera’s face, grinning wider until it spilled over and Parisa burst with laughter.“I’m sorry.I’m sorry.”She tried to catch her breath as her laughter turned into high-pitched giggles.“I just can’t help it.”
It wasn’t the reaction Sera expected after their first proper kiss, but, like everything with Parisa, she loved it.Her own small smile broadened until she was swept up in her infectious laughter.
“I played this out in my head so many times,” Parisa said, trying to calm herself, “and never once did I start laughing.I have no idea where this is coming from.”
“Don’t worry.I like it.”
Parisa’s cheeks were rosy.“It’s so embarrassing.I’m just happy.That’s all.”
Sera’s heart warmed at the sight.She squeezed Parisa’s hands tighter.
Parisa wiped away a tear.“The pack is going to hear us,” she warned.“Though the second I showed up outside your door, I bet someone sensed me and already started wondering.”
“You think?”Worry began to slip in alongside Sera’s joy.
“I never come up here.”
“Have you really never —”
“Never.I had to avoid this space because it’s so filled with you.I couldn’t handle it and still keep you at arm’s length.”
Sera skimmed her hands up Parisa’s arms until they were hooked behind her neck.“You don’t have to anymore.”
“This isn’t going to be easy.”
Sera rested her forehead on Parisa’s.“I don’t know.Feels pretty easy to me right now.”
Parisa ran her hands up Sera’s back.“You’re sweet, but you know what I mean.”
“I know, but like everything we’ll find a way through all of this together.”
“I feel like I’m being selfish.”
“So what?You’re allowed to once in a while.You do so much for everyone.You deserve something for yourself.Hugh said love is all these wonderful things, but it’s selfish, too.It’s a good thing to want to cherish someone.”
“Hugh said love is selfish?”
Sera nodded.
