Page 93 of Harbor Lights

Con cupped her hand on the back of Shiv’s head and pulled them together, crushing her lips with her need for contact. She groaned into her mouth when Shiv increased the pressure on her nipples. Then she slowly slid her hands down Con’s body, and into her waistband. She lifted her hip, allowing Shiv to push the underwear down. Then Shiv’s hands were on her, slipping between her legs and teasing the places she most wanted to be touched.

“Wait right there.” Shiv rolled away for a moment and retrieved a tube from the side of the bed. Wherever they were, Shiv came armed with lube. To make it more fun, she always said. But Con appreciated the effort to ensure her comfort.

When Shiv turned back to kiss her, her hands returned, too, spreading warm lubrication and need. Con had never been touched like Shiv touched her, with so much focus on her reactions. After a month, she understood more about what Con enjoyed than Majella had in twenty-five years.

She quickly banished her ex from her thoughts, instead sinking into Shiv’s expert caresses and burying her face in Shiv’s neck. Shiv made her feel like she would explode with feeling. She knew, when she’d driven her to a plateau of bliss, just when to run her thumb over Con’s thrumming clit and send her into oblivion.

She cried out and bit down on Shiv’s shoulder, vaguely aware of a rumbled groan. When Shiv slowed, Con gradually came down from her climax and rolled on top of Shiv, panting.

As soon as she could muster the strength to lift her head, she found Shiv watching her with a soft grin and dark eyes.

“I love making you come.”

Con let out a long breath and lifted her weight away, worried she was crushing Shiv’s much lighter frame.

Shiv pulled her closer. “I like you on top. It makes me feel… part of you?”

Con held back while she regained her senses. She ran a hand over the reddened mark on Shiv’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I hope I didn’t bruise you.”

Shiv placed a hand over Con’s and held it over the spot. “Just so you know, I almost came again when you did that, so please don’t hold back on my account.” Her grin was lazy, and her eyes were still half-lidded.

“Well, perhaps we need to see to that before we get some sleep.” Con pulled Shiv toward her and kissed her. She could live with nights like these for the rest of her life.

THIRTY

“Hey,sleepyhead, I need to get moving.”

Shiv blinked and gathered her bearings. She was in her own bed in the cabin with an empty space next to her. She grumbled and sat up, scratching her head.

“What time is it?”

Con sat at the foot of the bed, pulling on her boots, fully dressed if looking a little tousled. “Just after seven. I need to get the early ferry. Surgery at nine.”

Shiv leaned back on her hands and arched her body to stretch out the last of the tiredness.

“Can you not do that, please?” Con had frozen in her activity at the end of the bed and her eyes were wide. “Or at least cover yourself up. It was hard enough getting out of your bed as it was.”

Shiv grinned, but resisted the urge to tease. She already felt guilty Con was the one who had to rush back to the mainland for work.

She pulled a sheet up to her chin. “Better?”

“Marginally.” Con straightened her clothes, then leaned on the end of the bed. “This probably isn’t the time to start this conversation, but it’s not long until you’ll need to leave the cabin. I’d like you to consider moving in with me.”

Shiv didn’t hide her raised eyebrows. She’d been blissfully happy these last few weeks, but she hadn’t thought too much about what it would look like in the long term. More importantly, though, was Con really ready for this move?

“I know it’s early days,” Con said, as if she’d read Shiv’s mind. “And it’s not Inishderry. But Portrinn is very close. I could buy a small boat, so you wouldn’t have to rely on the ferry, or poor Joey…” The confidence had left Con’s tone as she trailed off. She fussed with her coat buttons while Shiv considered her response.

Finally, Shiv pushed off the bed. “Thank you.” She wrapped her arms tight around Con, slipping them inside her coat.

“I do need to think more about the future, and I want it to be with you. It would make it very official, though. With the community. Areyouready for that?”

Con kissed the top of her head. “For the first time in my life, I couldn’t care less what anyone thinks. I trust you with my heart and that’s what counts.”

She gently pushed away Shiv’s arms and held her back. “Now please remove your naked self from my body, or I’ll be late for Bridie Dwyer’s arthritic hip.”

Shiv laughed. “Away you go, then. Sounds unmissable.” She stood on tiptoes and placed a kiss on Con’s lips, but Con pulled her closer.

“Will I see you tonight?”

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