Chapter 58
Fifty-Eight
Cassie had kissed women before. But not like that. Not with her heart thudding wildly over one soft brush of lips.
As they walked on, the urge to hold her hand was increasing, but she still didn’t. She wanted to push her up against the nearest tree and kiss her properly, but she didn’t do that either.
They were back at the car now, and they climbed in, Cassie aware she’d missed about a million opportunities to take things further.
But she didn’t know the rules of this yet. Didn’t know how far Delilah wanted to go, or how much of tonight was real and how much was just the right time, the right place, the right collision of drama.
Delilah’s career was thundering towards her like an articulated lorry, while Cassie had never been more aware that hers was fading fast in the rear view. It was a strange, uncertain moment for them both. Was Delilah only swept up in the chaos? Was Cassie?
She glanced sideways as she started the car.
Delilah was calm. Or seemed it. Her mouth set in something that was neither a smile nor a frown. Cassie wished she could read her better.
***
They pulled into the car park back at Larchfield, and Cassie was acutely aware they were heading back to the cabin together. There was no ‘Your place or mine’ needed. Cassie didn’t know if that was good or bad.
The trouble was, she was getting too terrified for logical thought. And she could have done with some. That clear sense that the ball was coming and she was going to hit it. She had none of that.
They walked to the cabin at a quick pace. At the door, Cassie cleared her throat. ‘We’re here.’
Delilah looked at her. ‘Yep.’
There was a long pause.
‘You have the keys,’ Delilah pointed out.
‘Oh, right,’ Cassie said and unlocked the door noisily.
As she walked across the threshold, Cassie’s brain was struggling with the basics of putting one foot in front of the other.
‘It was a nice walk,’ she said, just to try and get some synapses firing.
Delilah stepped in and smiled. ‘Mmm.’
‘Food was nice too.’
‘You really like that word tonight,’ Delilah said, with a bemused half-smile. ‘Which is weird, because I don’t think I’ve ever heard you use it before.’
Cassie’s mouth opened, then shut again. Delilah was standing close now, too close.
‘You’re cute when you’re freaking out,’ Delilah said softly.
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.