Chapter 3

Kate weaved her way through the crowd of women gathered around the pool and beside the DJ's booth, trying to get to Lexi who was waiting at the bar.

"Hey," Kate said with a smile, tapping her on the shoulder.

"Hi." The two of them were grinning like complete idiots. "You just can't stay away from older women, can you?" Lexi teased

Kate shook her head, still smiling. "Apparently not. How's your night going?"

"Already unforgettable," Lexi said, pulling her into a hug. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks. I just wanted to check on you and say goodnight."

Lexi arched an eyebrow. "I'm even happier for you than I already was. Maybe I'll see you at breakfast?"

"Yeah. See you tomorrow," Kate said, giving her best friend's arm a squeeze as she made her way back to the hotel lobby, her heart already beating a little faster.

None of this felt real. When Hollis had stood up, Kate thought that was going to be it. That Hollis was either regretting the fact that she'd kissed her or that she was drawing a line that she wasn't willing to cross on her first night here. Both would be understandable. Hollis had seemed calm, but she must be at least a little overwhelmed.

But Hollis had said that she was going to go back to her room with a bottle of wine and to join her, that she just needed a minute to freshen up.

‘Room five seventeen.'

Whatever was going through Hollis's mind, she still appeared confident.

Kate stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor. When she met Hollis at the bar earlier, she never could have guessed that all of this was new to her. And that Kate would be her first kiss?

And what a kiss it had been. She'd been uncharacteristically nervous, considering what Hollis had told her, but when their lips met, she lost herself in it. Kate leaned her head back against the cool, metal wall, closing her eyes as she relived that kiss. It had been slow at first. And the soft sigh that had left Hollis's lips? It made Kate ache for more.

And when they both gave in, when their tongues met, when the warmth of Hollis's hand on her thigh sent a shiver of desire through her, Kate was on fire.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Kate stepped out into the hallway, the nerves that had been fluttering in her stomach earlier were back, making her legs feel like jelly as she walked down the corridor until she reached Room 517.

She took a deep breath, trying to gather herself before she lifted her hand to knock softly on the door, her heart thumping in her chest. As she waited, she reminded herself that she shouldn't be nervous. Not really. Hollis must be. Kate needed to be the one to make sure that Hollis was comfortable with whatever happened between them.

Part of her thought she was getting worked up over nothing. They could just end up talking for the rest of the night and hopefully spend some more time kissing. That might be it, and that would be perfectly fine with her.

But another part of her tried to imagine what this must be like for Hollis. Years. Decades of unfulfilled desires.

If that was Kate, she would be jumping on this situation and the woman sitting across from her. Without a doubt.

"Fuck," Kate muttered as she heard movement on the other side of the door.