Shane slept peacefully, a smile playing across her lips from time to time. It was too much for Beth, who slowly let her fingertips drift across her lover’s taut belly before burying her lips into Shane’s pulse point.

“Do you never sleep woman?” Shane took Beth’s head into her hands and opened her eyes to what she knew was the most beautiful face she’d ever seen.

“I didn’t want to waste another minute sleeping,” Beth whispered. “We waited for this for so long.”

“We have all the time…”

“No we don’t,” Beth interrupted, accentuating each word with a kiss. “Sooner or later we have to leave this bed. And I don’t want to lose a minute between now and then. I need you to know just how much you mean to me.”

Shane sat up and pulled Beth with her. She chose each word carefully before speaking.

“I do know. For the first time in my life, I know what love really is.” Shane felt a tear slide down her cheek, but didn’t bother to wipe it away. “I’m so scared that I’m going to hurt you or that I’m going to get hurt. That’s a risk I’ve never been able to take before. Not even with Carmen.”

“Are you sure you want to now?” Beth braced herself for the answer.

“I already have,” Shane answered softly. “My heart belongs to you.”

“And mine to you,” replied Beth.

They kissed urgently, each hungry to let the other know just how sincere their words were. Shane eased Beth back and settled alongside, working her way from Beth’s collarbone to her navel and back up again. Their eyes locked on one another as Shane gently pushed into Beth’s warm, slick core and need overtook them. Beth bent her leg and moaned loudly when Shane stopped briefly, adjusting her position to get just the right amount of contact. Until now, Shane would have never given thought to her own pleasure. The mere fact that she wanted to share it, heightened Beth’s own arousal. She reached orgasm quickly, her throaty cries and rush of wetness pushing Shane to her peak, her body fully extended against Beth’s, a groan of satisfaction announcing her delight. In moments they were snuggled wordlessly in each other’s arms, blissfully sheltered from the outside world.