Chapter 5

Kate brought her glass of red wine to her lips and took a slow sip, feeling herself start to relax. It turned out that they were both nervous, and now that it was out there, in the open, Kate felt a whole lot better about it. She couldn't be sure how tonight was going to go, but just knowing that they could be honest with one another was such a relief.

"I meant to ask you," Kate said as she leaned forward to put her glass on the coffee table, "How was your first kiss?"

Hollis's smile spread, the lines at the corners of her eyes fanning out. Her eyes were almost sparkling. "You know, I'm not really sure."

Kate was glad she wasn't in the middle of sipping her wine, because she might have spit it out. She wasn't sure? But then Hollis's smile was back with a hint of mischief this time.

"I think I might need to refresh my memory," Hollis said before she took another drink.

"Then it wouldn't be your first kiss anymore," Kate teased.

"Are you really going to stop me?" Hollis asked as she set her glass down beside Kate's.

"No." Kate knew she had a smirk on her face as she shook her head. She definitely wasn't.

Hollis leaned in, her hand slipping underneath Kate's hair, her palm warm against the base of her neck as she parted her lips against Kate's. When Hollis's lips met hers, Kate sighed as a warmth spread through her, reaching her fingertips with a light, tingling sensation. What was it about this woman? Kissing her just set Kate's body on fire.

A chill chased up Kate's spine as she moved closer, her hand on Hollis's neck, her thumb lazily stroking her jawline. Kate let Hollis have control of this kiss. As much as she wanted to deepen it, she let Hollis set the pace.

Hollis moaned softly as Kate's other hand rested on her hip, their tongues meeting in a slow dance, and for the second time tonight, time fell away. Kate was so lost in the slow exploration of Hollis's lips that she had no idea how much time had passed.

Kate had to shove down any thoughts about how she'd never had this kind of chemistry with someone, how she'd never experienced a first or second kiss like this. There was a perfect balance of want and respect and just letting the moment be without thinking ahead to what it meant or where this would lead them.

Kate broke the kiss, her forehead resting against Hollis's for a moment before she pulled back fully, letting her hand fall to Hollis's leg. Kate met her eyes as they fluttered open, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Well? Did that refresh your memory?"

Hollis was already leaning in. "Not quite."

Kate smiled into the kiss, but the playful energy was gone in a second when Hollis threaded her fingers through Kate's hair, kissing her with a new intensity. Kate moaned into the kiss, clutching at Hollis's tank top when their tongues met again. This was the first sign of Hollis letting herself lose control, and Kate wanted that for her so badly.

She didn't know how old Hollis was, but forty was probably a safe bet, and Kate couldn't fathom reaching that kind of age without kissing another woman. She was determined to make this a night that Hollis would always remember.