Chapter 15

When Evelyn left the house just before six with a bottle of red wine in her hand, she took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of rain. It hadn't stopped all day, until the sky started to clear about an hour ago, and it was actually a nice evening now as she got ready to leave for Claire's guesthouse. The sun appeared from behind the clouds, and she grabbed a jacket on her way out, just in case, putting it on over her black tank top.

She'd spent longer than she would have liked getting ready, torn between treating this like any other evening she spent with Claire rather than a date, but also knowing that more than likely, she was going to end up in Claire's bed. The thought had sent a shiver through her body, bringing back everything that had happened last night and how amazing it had felt to kiss Claire. In the end, she'd decided to keep things casual, wearing faded jeans and ankle boots, her long hair down in loose waves.

As she followed the path through the woods towards Claire's house, her mind easily drifted to last night. When those fireworks had lit up the sky, Evelyn had thought it couldn't get much better than that, but when Claire had told her that they were illegal, and Evelyn realized how much effort must have gone into arranging it, she'd forgotten to filter her thoughts or her actions.

The idea of kissing Claire had started to invade her thoughts ever since Claire had said that she was gay, but in that moment, sitting beside Claire on that blanket, kissing her was the only thing Evelyn could have done.

Years and years of pushing her own wants and desires aside for the sake of her career had made her reckless, and she couldn't keep those feelings locked away any longer. Thankfully, Claire seemed to feel the same way, and even if they had no future together, Evelyn couldn't stop herself from giving into this attraction.

Before she knew it, she'd left the woods, and Claire's home was in sight. She could already feel her heart rate increasing, and a flutter of excitement building in her stomach. Before she could knock, the door swung open, and Evelyn's breath caught in her throat as she took in Claire standing in her doorway dressed in black jeans and a white tank top, her black hair that she had pulled back in a ponytail more often than not tumbled over her shoulders in loose waves, her blue eyes almost sparking.

"Hey," Claire said with a smile, her eyes sweeping over Evelyn as she moved aside to let her enter. "Come in."

"Hi." Evelyn couldn't help but smile back as she stepped inside, almost taken aback by how much had changed since the last time she was here ten weeks ago. That day, she'd been so quick to ignore that initial spark she'd felt when Claire's hands had landed on her waist in the stable after she'd made a run for it to get out of the rain. When she'd come back to return Claire's clothes, she'd let her gaze linger on Claire, and she never could have imagined that a little over two months later, she'd have kissed her.

"Hope this is okay with whatever you're making," Evelyn said as she gave Claire the bottle of wine.

"Thanks. I'm sure it will be," Claire said, taking the few steps towards the kitchen to open it and let it breathe. "Let me hang up your jacket," Claire offered, and Evelyn shrugged it off her shoulders, handing it to her.

Evelyn watched Claire hang it on a row of hooks beside the front door. Before she knew what she was doing, she stepped into her space, and when Claire turned back to face her, Evelyn was there, hands on her waist, pushing her back against the door.

A hint of a smile ghosted Claire's lips as Evelyn leaned in, her eyes fluttering closed, and when their lips met, everything else faded away. Evelyn sighed into the kiss, loving the feeling of Claire's hands on her hips as they deepened the kiss.

Evelyn's fingers threaded through Claire's hair at the nape of her neck, holding her close as their tongues danced together. Claire's hands slid up her back, pulling her closer, and Evelyn pressed her body against Claire's. The feeling of Claire's breasts against her own sent rush of desire through her body.

"You're so beautiful," Evelyn whispered huskily as she pulled away, voicing out loud what had been on her mind ever since they'd met.

Claire's cheeks darkened at the compliment. "I've been thinking about this all day," she murmured, reaching up to delicately trail her fingers along Evelyn's collarbone, sparking off a shudder that coursed through her. Claire's hands slid up to cup Evelyn's face, her thumbs caressing her cheek. "But also trying not to get my hopes up incase you'd changed your mind."

Evelyn leaned in, capturing Claire's lips once more, this time with even more intensity. She couldn't believe how much she wanted this woman, and she hated the idea of Claire thinking otherwise.

Evelyn hadn't even known it could be like this. Last night had been amazing in its own right, but now that Evelyn knew what it felt like to kiss another woman, to kiss Claire, she couldn't seem to think of anything else. She tilted her head as she continued to kiss Claire, both of them moaning softly when their tongues met again.

Evelyn broke the kiss, out of breath with her forehead still touching Claire's. "I haven't changed my mind," she said as she took a deep breath. "Not for a second."

"I'm glad," Claire said, her fingers trailing along Evelyn's jaw as she pulled back enough to meet her eyes. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes," Evelyn said, and she was leaning in again before she even realized what she was doing. Claire kissed her back, her hand sliding into Evelyn's hair as she did.

Evelyn knew that Claire had asked her here for dinner, but right now, with her hands on Claire's hips, her fingers skirting under her top, skimming over her skin as they kissed, dinner was the last thing she wanted.

"But maybe dinner can wait," Evelyn murmured between kisses.

Claire pulled back, her blue eyes searching Evelyn's. "Are you sure?"

Evelyn nodded, her hand on Claire's hip underneath her top, her thumb lazily swiping over her soft skin. "Yes." Her heart might be racing, and her stomach was doing somersaults, but she was more than ready for this.