“I told her that I wasn’t interested in being anything more than friends with her,” Shane tells her, knowing she wanted to know more. “Because there’s already someone in my life I want to be with.” Carmen looks up at her, searching her eyes for truth. “Even though she doesn’t want to be with me…”

“Maybe she just wanted to make sure you wanted to be with her,” Carmen replies. “Maybe she wanted to see if you would give up?”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because the people that truly love you will never leave,” Shane answers, putting the cigarette back into her mouth. Carmen smiles and reaches her hand up, taking it from her mouth. Shane let’s the smoke escape her mouth as Carmen drops the cigarette to the ground and steps on it. She looks back up at Shane.

“You really shouldn’t smoke,” she says, slowly rising up on her toes and closer to Shane’s mouth. “Because there are a lot more fun things you can do with your lips.”

Shane smiles as she leans down into her, closing the gap completely. Her hand runs up Carmen’s side and into her hair as she pulls her closer. Her other hand reaches down around her back, slightly teasing the skin on her lower back as her tongue slips smoothly into her mouth, causing Carmen to moan. Her hands reach around Shane’s waist as she turns her against the railing and presses her body against her. She slips her hand up her shirt and temptingly runs it beside her breast. Shane smiles against her lips briefly before kissing her way down Carmen’s jaw and to the spot she knew would drive her crazy. She licks, nips, kisses and sucks the area, hearing Carmen’s breath cease and her body freeze with every moment of her mouth.

“Wow, that’s like soft-core-porn right there on the patio,” Alice says from the door. Shane and Carmen both look at her and Alice only laughs. “Instead of eating each other, why don’t you come join the rest of us at the dinner table?” Shane looks down and shakes her head as Alice closes the door behind her.

She looks up at Carmen and smiles. “Shall we?” she asks, holding out her arm for Carmen to take. Carmen smiles and pushes her along the way.