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“She would have been okay, either way. You don’t have to⁠—”

“You rushed to save her, Chloe. You did the best thing you could. I owe you a debt of gratitude for many things, but especially this. Chloe, it is impossible to be two parents at once all the time. I don’t usually need much help—or get it. But you have never complained about helping with the most important thing in my life. For that, I am grateful.”

Chloe looked down.

“You’re as bad as me at accepting a compliment,” I chuckled.

“It’s… I don’t expect you to see through the one-note everyone thinks I am hitting. Thanks for that.”

“What do you mean?”

She said. “People think I’m just some vapid rich girl who built an empire on being hot. Which, to some degree, I absolutely played into it and used my looks. I was fortunate to be living in a house that cost millions at the time, too. One that now has part of a tree on its roof. Thankfully, Mom and Dad are okay.”

“That’s good to hear, but I don’t think that about you, Chloe. You have a really big heart. I’m sorry that’s what many people think, but I can’t imagine a single person who knows you believes that.”

“I want to help people. I anger my mother with my political diatribes. I am sure I’ve given Cal grey hair. It’s just… I want to see people better off. I’m privileged as hell. Where I can help people, I will and I will always support people I care about. I’m not an ungrateful bitch. I’m happy to hear you don’t think that about me.”

I furrowed my brow, angry on her behalf. “Why would people think you’re mean?”

“When I announced my publishing deal, I had people come out and say I was a dumbass who couldn’t write a book. Even my mother was like, ‘You never went to college, why would you think you had a right to write a book?’ But, you know what? I wrote a damn good book. I’ll not deny it was my social media following that got me an agent, but it was my manuscript that got me the auction that landed me my deal. Publishing is hard. It humbles even me, but I earned that.”

I couldn’t help but brush the hair from her face, revealing beautiful cheekbones. Chloe fell silent, focused on me.

“You’re not,” I agreed. “And I’ve never thought you were talentless or undeserving or whatever.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve only ever been generous—with your space, your time, and your energy. Piper worships you. And, there are days I’d like to, too.”

I leaned in, my lips barely meeting hers. I shouldn’t kiss her. I shouldn’t do this here. It was risky. At the same time, all stress, then relief coursed through me. It was Chloe who stepped in again for Piper. I needed comfort and distraction, and found both in her kiss.

Chloe responded, her hands cupping my face. We kissed sweetly, in a way we hadn’t before. There was a longing here for connection—not one focused on lust. For the first time, something about this felt familiar, genuine, aching. It should have frightened me off. I shouldn’t want her—not like this—but I was helpless to resist. It had been half a decade since I felt anything this intimate drawing me to a woman.

“We… we shouldn’t,” Chloe whispered.

“But I want to,” I said, voice low. “I need this somehow.”

She paused, drawing back, then agreed. “I need it, too.”

* * *

CHLOE

Sweet, longing kisses gave way to hungry searching hands. Possessed by something—maybe the stress or a feeling that we were connected by more than frequent quickies—I straddled Cole, pulling his face towards mine again. He kissed me, his hands pulling at my t-shirt. I slipped out of it. At this point, I realized I’d taken my bra off while making dinner and was now topless on my couch. I didn’t care though. As he pulled away from my kiss, his lips found my breasts. I moaned as electricity raced down my spine.

My pussy grew wet and desperate for more as I ground against Cole. The way his mouth felt on my breasts drove me wild. He wanted to worship me. Had I ever been worshipped before? I wasn’t sure. I tried remaining quiet, but had to fight an urge to beg for him loudly.

“Are you going to come like this?” Cole whispered, now playing with my nipples.

“I… I don’t know,” I gasped. “But I want more. Can I have more?”

Cole gave me a long slow kiss. “Yes, baby. I can give you more.”

We did an awkward dance of disrobing, but I was all-too-happy climbing aboard, slowly taking his cock deep inside. I bit his lip as I took him in. I had to do something to fight the reaction I wanted to give—a growl now.

“Is this good?” I panted.

“You’re gorgeous,” Cole whispered. “And you feel so good. Come for me. Use me.”