Chapter 21

Evelyn's eyes fluttered open, stretching lazily in her cozy bed as she glanced at the clock beside the bed. It was almost six o'clock, and the soft, rhythmic sounds of rain hitting her bedroom window filled the room. She didn't know what time they'd drifted off to sleep. Maybe sometime around one.

Propping herself up on one elbow, Evelyn gazed at Claire's sleeping form, her black hair splayed across the pillow, her freckled shoulders rising and falling with each breath. She leaned in, brushing her lips against Claire's warm skin.

Claire hummed contentedly, her eyelids heavy with sleep as she rolled over to face Evelyn. "Morning," she murmured, her voice husky.

"Morning," Evelyn whispered back, brushing a stray lock of hair from Claire's face. She traced the line of Claire's jaw with her fingertips.

Claire's eyes drifted shut as she leaned into the caress, a contented sigh escaping her parted lips.

Evelyn's gaze roamed over Claire's face, committing every detail to memory, still not believing that this was real, that Evelyn had woken up with Claire beside her for the third morning in a row.

Evelyn's hand drifted down Claire's arm, her fingers lacing with Claire's as she brought their joined hands to her lips. She placed a reverent kiss on each of Claire's knuckles, savoring this, because Arianna would be arriving in a little over an hour, and Evelyn wouldn't be waking up with Claire again until after Arianna had left.

"I wish we had a few more days like this," Evelyn whispered.

"Me too," Claire murmured as her eyes fluttered open. "But it's just a week. What time is it?" she asked, her voice still groggy.

"Six."

"Shit." Claire ran her hand over her face. "I have to go. I should already be gone."

Evelyn slid her hand out of Claire's. Dipping her head to place a few kisses along Claire's neck.

"If you don't stop," Claire said, her voice low, "I won't leave. And then your manager will be asking a lot of questions."

Evelyn sighed, her hand gliding over Claire's stomach, not ready to let go of her just yet. "She won't be here until seven at the earliest."

Claire laughed softly. "I'm not risking it. Plus the horses are waiting for me." She cupped Evelyn's cheek, leaning in to brush her lips over Evelyn's. "But I can't believe that you would." She smiled as she threw the sheets back and got out of bed, and Evelyn immediately missed her touch. "I think you might be a changed woman," Claire said as she picked up her clothes and got dressed.

"You have no idea," Evelyn said, her eyes moving over Claire's body as she stood at the foot of the bed in just her jeans, her slightly disheveled hair falling over her shoulders.

"Don't forget the rental car is being dropped off around two this afternoon."

"Hm. I'll walk down." Evelyn half sat up, fluffing up her pillow behind her so she could lean back against the headboard. "Show Arianna the stables if that's okay."

"Yeah. Of course."

"And I'll see you tomorrow?" Evelyn asked as Claire put her shirt on.

"Yes. I'll stop by with your delivery in the evening, but you might still be out sightseeing."

"Maybe leave it until later?"

Claire came around to Evelyn's side of the bed. "Already worried about missing me, huh?" she asked as she leaned in for a quick kiss. "You can always come down to the stables during the day or my place for a few minutes if Arianna's, I don't know, in the shower or something."

"We'd have more time if you came up on the quad," Evelyn heard herself say.

Claire smiled. "And sneak into your bedroom at night?"

Evelyn covered her face as she laughed. "I don't know what's gotten into me." She could feel the dip in the bed, and when she dropped her hand, Claire was swinging one leg over her, getting comfortable in her lap.

"I think I do," Claire said with a mischievous grin as she ran her hand over Evelyn's stomach and palmed Evelyn's breast, her thumb lazily swiping over her nipple.

A whimper escaped Evelyn's lips. Her hips rocked forward as she wrapped her arm around Claire. "You do?"

Claire's hand slid down, over her stomach and between her legs, a smile coming to her lips. "I think you might be addicted to this," she murmured as she bent to kiss her, her other hand on Evelyn's cheek.

And without warning, Claire's fingertips went from circling her clit slowly to pushing inside her with a long, smooth stroke, taking Evelyn's breath away, causing her to break the kiss, her head dropping to rest on Claire's chest as she found a rhythm.

Evelyn moaned, and she slid her hands up Claire's sides, tracing the outline of her ribcage before settling on her neck. She pulled Claire closer, their breaths mingling before Evelyn pulled her into a searing kiss.

Claire's fingers moved faster inside her, and Evelyn gasped at the intensity of the sensations coursing through her body, breaking the kiss before throwing her head back. Claire's lips found her neck, nipping at her skin.

"Oh fuck, Claire," she groaned, and her hips rocked faster against Claire's hand.

Evelyn could feel herself getting closer, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Claire's lips trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses along her neck, her tongue flicking out to tease her skin.

Evelyn cried out, her body shuddering as she came, clinging onto Claire as she struggled to catch her breath.

Claire withdrew her fingers slowly, moving off of Evelyn to sit beside her, her arm wrapping around Evelyn's shoulder. They stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other, until Claire spoke.

"I have to go," Claire said softly, placing a soft kiss on Evelyn's head. "I'll see you later?"

Evelyn nodded as she sat up, leaning in to kiss Claire. "See you later."

Evelyn watched her go, and as much as she wished she could go back to sleep, suddenly tired again after another intense orgasm, but she had to get in the shower. Arianna would be here before she knew it.