“Come on.” Hannah guided Caroline towards her bed, slipping her heels off before she made herself comfortable. As she lay down, Caroline stared down at her. “What? I said no sex, not no bed.”
Caroline barked a laugh, shaking her head as she slid her own heels off. “Fair enough.” Caroline followed Hannah in her position, lying beside her as the room fell silent. While this hadn’t been the plan on the way here, Caroline couldn’t complain. Hannah was incredibly sweet in wanting to stay a while longer.
“How are you feeling about what happened at the club?”
Caroline turned her head slightly. “About the kiss or Naomi?”
“Both. I guess.” Hannah turned on her side, propping her head up in her hand.
“Bumping into Naomi was always going to happen at some point. We live in the same city and enjoy the same bars. I think it was the initial shock of seeing her for the first time in so long. But really, she’s not my concern. She hasn’t been since we divorced.”
“I heard the pain in your voice when she was saying those things to you. Nobody deserves that. I’d say you’re better off without her.”
Oh, Carolinewasbetter off without Naomi. If only she’d recognised what was happening sooner, she wouldn’t have put herself through so much of the pain her ex-wife had caused her. “Naomi will never change. I think I realised that quite some time ago. I don’t know why I was shocked by the things she said. Perhaps I just thought when the day came to see one another, it could have been different. That she’d see we were happier apart. But well, Naomi only cares about herself, and I know that.”
“Well, the things she said wereentirelyinaccurate…just so you know.”
“Thank you,” Caroline whispered, facing Hannah. “For having my back when it happened. You didn’t have to do that for me.”
“I did. You may think that the kiss only happened because of the situation you were in, but I don’t regret it. I regret how it made you feel afterwards, but I enjoyed it far more than I should have.”
“Yeah?” Caroline grinned, thrilled by the thought of someone as young and beautiful as Hannah enjoying being with her. “There really was no hint of Eva in it?”
“None whatsoever. There hasn’t been at any point tonight.”
“Wow.” Caroline was speechless. Not only had Hannah been incredibly honest this evening, she’d done something extremely kind for her. Nobody else would have gotten involved in the Naomi debacle, but Hannah had, and it meant a great deal to Caroline. “I find the perfect woman, and she’s off limits.”
“I…am?”
Caroline gave Hannah a knowing look. “You know you are, Hannah.”
“Because of my job,” Hannah said, taking Caroline’s hand that sat in the space between them. “I wish things were different. I want you to know that.” She lifted Caroline’s hand, kissing her skin. “But only you know what’s right for you. While I’d love to know you on a much deeper level, this is your life, Caz. If I’m lucky enough to be a part of it in any way, I’ll take what I can get.”
God, that was painful. Hannah was here, she was saying all the right things, but Caroline couldn’t move past the idea that this would be a monumental mistake down the line. While they were alone, like this, life felt significantly better for Caroline. But tomorrow was likely to be an entirely different story.
“I’m sorry.”
Hannah shifted closer to Caroline, taking her in her arms. “Don’t be sorry.Neverbe sorry for wanting the best for you.” And then silence enveloped them once again, just the sensation of Hannah’s breath against Caroline’s hair soothing her. “I couldn’t go through with tonight because it would only end up causing one or both of us pain. But if I’m ever lucky enough to find a job that means we can be together, you better believe I’m taking you on a date.”
Caroline swallowed, placing her hand on Hannah’s hip as she snuggled closer. “Hannah?”
“Yes?”
Caroline pulled back, staring at Hannah. As conflicted as she felt most of the time, she wasn’t sure this could be it for them. Caroline needed more. She needed to see where it went. Because as she lay here this evening, it was clear that Hannah meant something to her. “Do you think this could work?”
Hannah’s eyes lit up as she brought a hand to Caroline’s cheek. “I’d love to at least try…”
Caroline shifted, resting up on her elbow as she lowered Hannah down to the mattress. Every time she looked at Caroline, her heart stuttered. Every time she was close, Caroline felt as though she couldn’t breathe. Instead of thinking too much, Caroline leaned down and brushed her lips against Hannah’s. The way in which her body lit up, how her lips tingled at the very sensation of this woman against her…Caroline surely had to give it a chance. Hannah, if she didn’t think about her job, was one of the most compassionate women Caroline had ever met.
Hannah lowered a hand to the hem of Caroline’s dress, snaking her fingers just beneath the material. Caroline could only moan into her mouth, fighting back the urge to follow what her body craved. If she knew one thing, it was that Hannah was right to stop them from going further this evening. Slow and steady. Who knew where it could lead.
“Hannah?”
“Mm?” Hannah slowly traced her fingertips across Caroline’s bare thigh, helping Caroline to lose her train of thought in the process.
“Fuck, I want you.”
Hannah smiled against Caroline’s lips, inching her fingers higher. “All in good time. No need to rush this.”