Page 60 of Courting Trouble
Cassie groaned. ‘Jesus, is it that obvious?’
‘Yes. But keep doing it. I like it.’ Delilah’s smile widened, warm and maddeningly unbothered.
Cassie felt something melt. Fear, control, whatever had been holding her back finally made way for a real move, Cassie style. ‘If you kiss me again, I’ll do better this time,’ she vowed.
Delilah cupped Cassie’s face in both hands and pressed her lips to hers. And Cassie kept her promise.
This time, there was nothing tentative about it. Weeks of restraint and denial burst free, pouring into a single, consuming kiss. Cassie let everything she’d been holding back surge forward, and Delilah answered with a soft sigh, melting against her with equal passion.
For the first time in years, Cassie wasn’t thinking about the past or the future. Just this. Delilah’s mouth on hers, and the impossible, intoxicating relief of finally letting herself have what she needed and wanted.
Fifty-Nine
Delilah didn’t expect the second kiss to undo her so completely.
Cassie kissed like she meant it this time, like she couldn’t do anything else. Delilah barely had time to shut the door behind them before Cassie’s hands were on her waist, pulling her in.
Delilah let out a soft sound of surprise that turned into something lower when Cassie’s mouth parted hers. She hadn’t been touched in a while, and her body responded instantly, ravenously.
They stumbled towards the bunks, never breaking contact. Cassie’s jacket hit the floor, then Delilah’s. Fingers found zips and hems and skin. Cassie’s strong hands were warm and careful on her hips, then sliding up under her top, knuckles grazing bare skin.
Soon, Cassie was on her back, Delilah astride her.
‘You OK?’ Cassie murmured.
Delilah pulled back just enough to look at her. Cassie’s lips were kiss-bruised, her eyes dark and questioning. ‘Do I look like I’m not?’
Cassie gave a breathless little laugh, and Delilah kissed her again, deeper, until Cassie tried to wrap around her and her knees hit the edge of the lower bunk.
‘Little cramped,’ Delilah managed between kisses, her head bumping the supporting rail.
‘Just a bit,’ Cassie muttered, one hand braced awkwardly against the wall.
Delilah shifted, trying to change positions to something sideways, but in the tiny, cramped space, the threat of falling overboard became real. She paused. ‘This is hopeless.’
‘Top bunk?’ Cassie suggested.
Delilah nodded, delighted. ‘Race you.’
They scrambled up like teenagers, breathless and laughing, and collapsed onto the top bunk together. This time, there was room to move, to stretch, to fit together. Delilah kissed her again, slower now, letting it deepen. Cassie’s hands curled around her hips.
‘Fuck,’ Cassie whispered. ‘You’re gorgeous.’
Delilah paused, oddly shocked, feeling those words for a moment, in the middle of laughter and heat and awkward wood frames. She let them land, then kissed her again, harder, ready to show her exactly how gorgeous she thought Cassie was, too.
Sixty
Cassie tried to remember how to breathe as Delilah moved down between her naked thighs, steady eyes dark with intent, and then her mouth was on her, and Cassie felt herself unravel further.
It wasn’t just pleasure, it wasfeeling, something she had been craving without even knowing. She wasn’t used to it like this. She wasn’t used to being seen so completely. Delilah’s focus made her feel as if, for a single moment, the world had narrowed to her alone.
She’d known that feeling before, but only on the courts, at the height of her success. Not in the bedroom. Certainly not with Petra. She was all sharp edges and hunger, cold but ravenous, like she was trying to consume Cassie rather than touch her. There had been no patience, no tenderness, no real care. Cassie hadn’t known it could be different, so she hadn’t known to want more.
But she was finding out now. Delilah was sincere and lovely andwarming,and it felt like she had all the time in the world just for Cassie. This was what it felt like when someone wanted to bewithyou, Cassie realised. Not justhaveyou.
Cassie’s head tipped back against the pillows, her pulse thundering in her ears. Her thighs trembled. It was too much. And not enough.
‘Delilah—’ she gasped.
