Hannah Dalton - Paragon of Self-Control - 2

It's been a few months in the making... but I finally have the time to sit down with Caroline and Hannah again.

Is Hannah, really, all that well-disciplined after all?

I guess we shall see!

---------------------Hannah - paragon of self-control----------------------

Hannah Dalton would categorically say that she was not the jealous type.

Truthfully, she’d never really seen the point. Nor had she been in the position to feel that way in a relationship.

It was somewhat ironic, perhaps, because she’d been married to a man that had cheated on her, with god only knew how many people. And though Michael’s infidelity had bothered her once upon a time, she’d never felt jealous about it. She’d felt angry, resentful, embarrassed… a whole multitude of emotions, but jealousy hadn’t been among them. Mostly because – by the time she’d realized it – Hannah had been long checked-out of their relationship, romantically. She hadn’t wanted Michael’s attention on her.

And, truthfully, ever since she’d gotten together with Caroline, she felt very grateful about the fact that she wasn’t a jealous person.

Not because Caroline ever gave her any reason to question her or doubt her; Caroline’s devotion to Hannah emotionally and physically was undeniable.

But because Caroline was so… magnetic.

Sometimes, Hannah felt like any single queer woman in a five-mile radius of Caroline could just sense her presence.

The moment with Jess at hangout weekend had been a – a blip, she’d decided.

Yes, she’d felt jealous about the fact that Jess had been in love with Caroline and that they’d had sex. But she’d decided that she’d felt that way because – at the time – she hadn’t felt ready to pursue Caroline, herself. It was a reminder that Caroline was gorgeous and sexy and brilliant and decisive and sweet, and that she was single and ready for a deserving woman to scoop her up.

But other than that? She felt totally, completely in control.

And… okay. All right.

If Hannah had to be completely honest with herself, she’d have to admit that even Karla had made her feel a little jealous, too.

Not too much, she assured herself, but – a pinch. Yes, that felt accurate.

Because Karla had become somewhat infatuated with Caroline through Hannah’s stories about Caroline. And Karla’s comments hadn’t made Hannah feel any hint of jealousy, mostly she’d found them amusing. Occasionally, she’d latched onto Karla’s commentary to try to help herself suss out her feelings regarding Caroline.

Like, was it friendship? Was it more?

The only time she’d felt any twinge of the dreaded jealousy had been when Karla had laid eyes on Caroline for the first time, when Caroline had delivered her dinner in the library. Which, Hannah knew, was insane.

Because Caroline had brought her dinner, because Caroline was thinking about her, and Hannah… Hannah had never in her life been on the receiving end of that kind of thoughtful consideration.

She’d felt so swept up in it, in Caroline, that she’d simply had to follow Caroline out, to catch her before she left. Because Hannah… she’d been trying so desperately to hold onto her wits when it came to Caroline, to not let herself get too lost in her. But she’d needed to kiss Caroline in spite of it all. To have just a brief moment of giving in.

And when she’d returned to the library, composing herself as best she could, she’d spotted the look on Karla’s face a mile away.

Yes, Karla had joked all semester about “having a secondhand crush on Caroline,” but Hannah had been able to truly read her expression as she’d blinked up at Hannah when she’d sat back down at the table they’d been parked at for their project all evening.

“Okay, seriously, though, I didn’t know she looked like that,” Karla said as soon as Hannah had settled in, turning eagerly to face Hannah.

She felt her cheeks heat, even though she knew that Karla couldn’t possibly know that she’d followed Caroline out to kiss her.

She hadn’t yet told Karla about whatever she was doing with Caroline, because she didn’t know what she was doing with Caroline.

All she knew was that being with Caroline felt amazing and terrifying and electric and grounding, and she was walking a fine line. They hadn’t gone on an official date yet – at least, not anything Hannah would qualify as a date? Given that they hadn’t done anything without Abbie since the first time they’d kissed a few weeks ago.

So, no. She hadn’t said a thing about it to Karla yet. What would she say?

“I told you she was attractive,” Hannah murmured back, subconsciously licking her bottom lip, where she could still taste Caroline.

She could see out of her peripheral vision how hard Karla rolled her eyes. “Yes, you said she was attractive, but – but you didn’t say she was that attractive! Like. Come on!”

Karla leaned in eagerly, her eyes bright and intense. “Hannah.”

Rolling her lips, Hannah wasn’t sure if she was more exasperated or amused, as she turned to look at the younger woman. “Karla.”

“Be honest with me – do you think that I could possibly have a chance with her?”

For a few moments, Hannah blinked back at her. “Were you serious when you said you wanted Caroline’s number?”

Sure, Karla had said that before Hannah had chased after Caroline a few minutes ago. But she’d also said she thought Caroline would be a great sugar mama, so Hannah felt fairly valid in not giving Karla’s previous statements any true weight.

There wasn’t a hint of humor or irony in Karla’s expression, though, as she bit her lip. “I mean… I was kind of teasing. But only because I’m not sure she’d actually go for it. Do you think she’d go for it? For me, that is,” Karla clarified, her eyes wide and hopeful.

And, as Hannah stared back, she felt this… this heavy, slithering feeling wind through the pit of her stomach.

Jealousy, she realized, mystified even as she was baffled by it.

Caroline, only minutes ago, had laughed off the very idea of Karla’s interest, and Hannah was absolutely certain that would have been Caroline’s response even if she and Hannah weren’t... whatever they were to one another. That should have been all Hannah needed to easily brush away this heavy, churning feeling inside.

It wasn’t like Karla was Jess, Caroline’s friend that had been in love with Caroline. Who had slept with Caroline – ugh, thinking about that in this moment had clearly been a fucking mistake, as Hannah’s stomach clenched tightly.

“Um… I think you’re a little young for her,” Hannah hedged, thinking about Caroline’s comment about Karla’s age.

Karla frowned. “Damn. I mean. I’m in grad school,” she murmured, thoughtfully, tapping her fingers against her thighs. She shook her head. “All right, next question – even if she wouldn’t want to be in a relationship with me, do you think she’d be interested in… anything else?”

Hannah didn’t know why she was so utterly affronted by the question, but she was. She sucked in a sharp breath, leaning back in her chair, and told herself that she had no reason to feel so… angry by that question. To feel so territorial and sharp inside. Because she and Caroline weren’t actually in a relationship with one another technically, and regardless of that, Karla had no clue!

But she did feel that way.

Grimacing, she bit back any snappy comments that wanted to bubble up inside of her – unfamiliar sentiments, words she’d never before thought, let alone voiced to someone!

She was an adult; she was, in fact, nearly ten years Karla’s senior. It was her job to act like it.

“I haven’t really known what to say about this…” She pursed her lips, wracking her mind for the right words. For the right way to explain. Something she was trying to improve at, but often still found difficult. “You know that I’ve, obviously, had some complex thoughts about Caroline for the last few months.”

Karla nodded, looking stricken as she leaned back. “I really hope you don’t take any of my comments personally! You just haven’t mentioned any thoughts or feelings about Caroline in a while, so I didn’t think… I’d never want to make anything weird between us,” she was quick to assure Hannah. “Seriously.”

Taking a deep breath, Hannah was relieved to find that it helped loosen the knots in her stomach. “No, I know you wouldn’t want that. I… I haven’t discussed Caroline very much in the last month or so, because, uh. Well. Because we’re…”

What were they, exactly? Hannah had no idea.

She found that she wanted – very much – to say they were a couple, but the thought of being in a real, serious relationship was… discomforting. Not the idea of being with Caroline, but the idea of being, conceptually, with someone.

Luckily for Hannah, she didn’t need to find the exact words.

Because Karla’s hand landed on her arm, gripping tightly. “Shut the fuck up! Seriously?!”

The excitement in her tone was palpable, and Hannah found her lips curling into a small smile, as she nodded.

“Wow.” Karla heavily sat back, shaking her head in wonder. “Well, I guess it makes sense why you definitely wouldn’t want to give her my number, then.”

Hannah scoffed out a laugh, as she nodded in agreement. And the jealousy inside of her dissipated as if it had never existed in the first place.

***

It was a particularly frigid January day, but Hannah had a little pep in her step as she walked into Caroline’s law firm.

She took a deep breath as she walked to the elevator, tightening her grip on the paper bag in her hand, feeling both nervous and excited.

She and Caroline were together. They were in a relationship. They were in love.

All of these details had been established a couple of weeks ago, over Christmas. And Hannah felt good about it. She really, truly did.

She still felt undeniably nervous and a little daunted by the future. Sometimes, even, by the way Caroline looked at her, as if she hung the moon.

But the reality was that Hannah knew she looked at Caroline the same way, and she was in far too deep to deny that any more. Or to try to push it away, at all.

Because the truth was that the worst possible thing Hannah could imagine wasn’t losing her independence or losing herself in Caroline – though, those were still concerns she held. But the worst thing imaginable to her was the idea of losing Caroline.

Which had felt like a very real possibility, right before Christmas. When Caroline had left for her conference in New York, and they’d had several days without any contact with each other, Hannah had felt… abysmal. She’d felt lower than low.

Even though baring her soul – all of her drawings, the pieces of her that couldn’t hold back or be guarded – to Caroline had been petrifying, Hannah needed to do it. She’d needed to show Caroline that even if she wasn’t ready to jump in head-first, without any doubts, that she was in this.

Maybe she didn’t have a timeline and maybe she couldn’t make Caroline huge, life-altering promises right now, but she could tell Caroline the truth: that she loved her, with everything she had. That she trusted her, more than Hannah ever thought she’d trust another human being. She trusted Caroline with her daughter, with her body, with her heart.

And, in the weeks since Christmas, Hannah had been riding on that high.

At some point, she was sure that they would have to figure out logistics, the specifics and the timelines.

Right now, though, she was in love with Caroline Parker, and she was looking forward to turning the tables a bit: today, she was going to be the one to surprise Caroline with lunch while she worked.

It was a Friday afternoon, which was Hannah’s favorite part of the week. She’d had her internship this morning, but she had no classes for the rest of the day, nor was she scheduled to work at The Bean Dream.

She was going to see her girlfriend, before she’d pick Abbie up from school, and there was very little else Hannah could want from today.

She pressed the button to call the elevator to the lobby, rocking back and forth very slightly as she waited.

Caroline hadn’t had lunch today, Hannah knew, because Caroline had been in a long meeting with the other partners of her firm all morning, and she’d texted Hannah as soon as she’d returned back to her office.

Brain is mush. Devastated that I forgot the leftovers you left in my fridge for lunch

Hannah had just left her internship as she’d received the message, and frowned in concern as she’d responded, Do you have time to run out for something? Or send someone?

After all, she knew Caroline had office assistants at her disposal. But she also knew Caroline rarely liked to ask them for personal favors. It was something Hannah really respected about Caroline, even long before they’d gotten together.

No time, unfortunately. I have about ten free minutes this afternoon, and I’m going to use them wisely (shutting my brain off and staring into space, daydreaming about you)

As much as that had made her stomach flutter with butterflies, she very much didn’t like the idea of Caroline not having lunch. Especially because she also knew that Caroline very rarely ate a full, balanced breakfast, either.

And so, she was remedying it.

It, admittedly, made her feel a little… hesitant. Being this person – the woman bringing her busy partner lunch at the office – did, unfortunately, give her flashbacks to the early days with Michael. Before she was utterly miserable and unhappy, when she’d still tried to believe that she really was living some sort of fairytale. Definitely long before she’d known that she shouldn’t ever look any of Michael’s admin assistants in the eye, because the chances were higher than not that her husband had slept with them. Or tried to, at the very least.

But Caroline was not Michael. Not in any way, shape, or form, and Hannah knew that down to her bones. Caroline didn’t look at Hannah like she was a trophy she’d won or a milestone she’d accomplished. She didn’t expect Hannah to do something like bring her lunch at the office.

In fact, Caroline – that night with Karla in the library – had been the one to surprise Hannah with a meal during a long, busy day doing work. They were equals.

Hannah nodded to herself as the elevator dinged, alerting her of its arrival.

She stepped in, pressing the button for Caroline’s floor, as she rolled her shoulders back. No matter what her own hangups were, she wouldn’t let them prevent her from doing this. Especially because she wanted to see Caroline, plain and simple.

Before the elevator doors could close, two younger women hurried inside, and Hannah took a step back to give them room, meeting their polite, stranger-smiles with one of her own.

“Oh, we’re already going to the right place,” the brunette stated, dropping her hand away from the elevator buttons, as they were apparently also going to the 38th floor.

“Jana, you aren’t listening to me. I think I’m in love with her,” the younger of the women – Hannah thought, anyway – a cute redhead sighed, dreamily.

Jana rolled her eyes. “You say that literally all of the time, Lane.”

“But this time, Jana, it’s real!” The other woman – Lane, apparently – insisted.

Hannah rolled her lips to keep herself from smiling. Did it count as eavesdropping if they made no attempt to even lower their voices? She wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t aiming to appear rude to anyone.

Jana sighed with exasperation, even as she very obviously couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “Okay, I’ll bite. What makes this time different than you proclaiming you’d fallen in love with her last week?”

“First of all, she bought my coffee today,” Lane stated with a nod.

Jana barked out a laugh. “She bought everyone’s coffee! She told you to charge her account when you took everyone’s orders.”

The elevator stopped at the sixth floor, and Hannah dutifully stepped back to allow the three new people in. Lane and Jana also stepped back, remaining in close proximity with her.

“But she specifically told me to include my order,” Lane insisted, her voice a little lower, now, but Hannah could still easily hear her.

Jana shook her head. “Yep, you’re so right. She obviously meant something by that.”

Lane shoved her, gently. “I’m just saying – she’s so nice! None of the other partners ever address me like a real, actual person. She asked about how Fluffernutter was doing, too! She remembered that he had surgery last week.”

The elevator stopped on ten, and one of the men that had joined them stepped out.

“Lane, you literally have a picture on our desk of your cat. It’s the first thing everyone sees when they walk onto our floor,” Jana’s exasperation was obvious.

“And? Again, no one else asked about his surgery! She donated to the GoFundMe, too. I just… I think she’s so…” Lane smiled, wide and warm, and Hannah thought it was very sweet, admittedly.

“Yeah, Caroline is super nice; I’m not disagreeing with you.” Jana nailed Lane with a look. “I just think there has to come a point where you have to stop silently pining for her, and I think we have to be reaching that point. Right?”

Everything inside of Hannah froze, that “sweet” feeling melting away as her spine snapped up straight. Caroline? Going to the same floor that she was?

She couldn’t help but eye Lane even closer, now. Definitely younger than Hannah was; probably in her twenties. Cute as a button. She frowned.

The elevator stopped again on the seventeenth floor, letting another person step out.

“I don’t know!” Lane insisted. “She’s so sweet, and she’s so smart, and she’s so hot, and she’s a lesbian. Confirmed.” She listed off the bullet points that Hannah, herself, knew all too well.

“All true,” Jana agreed. “Though you neglected to list that she’s a partner and you’re one of the admin assistants that works for her; I don’t think that’s exactly her type.”

It very much was not, an inner-voice Hannah did not recognize vehemently insisted. It surprised her, this intensely heady, jealous feeling that snaked through her.

Which was – it was ludicrous.

“I’m not her assistant,” Lane shot back, rolling her eyes. “That would be super frowned on, for sure. But I’m an office assistant. I assist the office. She just happens to work in the office.”

“Sure,” Jana agreed, scoffing. “And… are you going to proclaim this love for her, then? So you can finally stop telling me about it?”

Hannah narrowed her eyes, staring intently at the side of Lane’s head.

What an incredibly inappropriate conversation! What an incredible inappropriate feeling for Lane to have! What the –

“I am, actually,” Lane insisted.

Jana gasped in surprised, and so did Hannah.

What?!

The elevator stopped on the thirtieth floor, and the final woman that had joined them exited, leaving them alone once more.

“I think it’ll be better out of office, obviously. I just… need to do some recon. See where she likes to hang out. Then, I can show up and arrange a surprise meet-cute. Boom.” Lane snapped her fingers.

Hannah’s grip was so tight on the bag in her hands, she was shocked her fingers didn’t rip right through the material and send the sandwich she’d picked up for Caroline right to the floor.

“How do you know she’s not already with someone?” Jana countered, shaking her head in undeniable amusement.

Lane lifted her own left hand, wiggling her fingers. “Hello, no ring. No ring means free game to hit on. Obviously.”

Hannah didn’t realize how tightly clenched her jaw was until she felt the muscle start to ache.

There was so much she wanted to say. So many words circled in her mind, but – unsurprisingly – none came out. Which was a good thing, probably. She couldn’t imagine Caroline would love Hannah acerbically telling off one of the young assistants in her office.

Honestly, Hannah herself didn’t love the idea of doing it!

But – but what the fuck!

Blessedly, the elevator finally opened to their floor, and she waited for several seconds after Jana and Lane exited to try and take deep breaths to calm herself. To try to push away this unfamiliar, dark, possessive feeling inside of her.

Without giving either young woman a second glance, Hannah held her head high and sailed past them. Mostly because she was worried she’d give Lane a dirty look as she made eye contact with her, and she knew – logically – that this girl didn’t deserve that. She hadn’t actually done anything wrong. Hannah knew this.

But, oh, logic didn’t have a grip on Hannah right in this moment, as she determinedly strode in the direction of Caroline’s office.

She shot a quick glance to the empty desk outside of Caroline’s office, determining that Noelle – Caroline’s admin – was likely on her own lunch break. Which was fortuitous for her, as she reached out… pausing before she pushed the door open, giving Caroline the courtesy of knocking first.

Only a second beat by before she heard, “Yes? You can come in.”

She didn’t waste any time opening the door and stepping in, quickly closing it behind her.

Caroline’s smile was immediate as she looked up and locked eyes with Hannah. There it was – that undeniable, clear-as-day look that Caroline wore for her, one that screamed how in love she was. Hannah had never in her life been looked at like that, before.

“Hannah! What are you doing here?” She asked, smoothly standing from her chair and walking to stand in front of her desk. “I thought you were Noelle.”

The sheer joy in Caroline’s expression was only muted slightly by her clear confusion.

Hannah stumbled in her intent stride just for a moment, as she remembered what she was actually doing here. She held up the bag in her hand. “Um… well, you didn’t have lunch. And I had the time and I wanted to see you, so…” She trailed off, offering a smile.

Caroline’s confusion melted away into that sweet, loving smile as she rounded her desk, settling herself on the other side. Waiting for Hannah to come to her, as she always did. “This is a very unexpected surprise, but one I’m very, very happy about,” she was quick to assure.

Just like Caroline always did, like she had a clear vision right into Hannah’s mind when it came to her insecurities and concerns.

It was just how she was with people. She saw them. It was part of what made Caroline so completely alluring. An allure that appealed to

Unerringly, Lane flashed into her mind’s eye. The dreamy sigh, the look in her eyes, the plan she’d formulated around trying to… to seduce Caroline!

Hannah did not consider herself to be a possessive person.

She did not consider herself to be an impulsive person.

And she most definitely did not consider herself to be someone driven forward by primal, possessive, sexual urges in the middle of the work day, in the work place.

None of that mattered in this moment, though, as she strode forward, reached behind Caroline to put her lunch on her desk, and used her free hand to cup Caroline’s jaw and tilt her face up to meet Hannah’s in one fell swoop.

She swallowed Caroline’s surprised, sharp inhale, craving even more.

God, she loved Caroline’s mouth. She’d been living with the privilege of being able to kiss Caroline regularly for two months, now, and it didn’t ever get old. Feeling Caroline’s full, soft lips on her own made Hannah shiver, tingles shuddering down her spine every single damn time.

Right now was no different.

It was only different in the way Hannah voraciously craved Caroline, driven forward by that curl of jealousy low in her stomach.

Oh, she’d craved Caroline plenty in the last six months. Even more in the last month, ever since they’d first had sex. Since Hannah had been able to really see what it was like to be with Caroline. To feel how hard Caroline could make her come, to be able to run her own fingers over all of Caroline’s curves and soft skin. To touch the body she’d feasted on with her eyes and drawn for months.

It was crazy, how demanding and hot and needy this want for Caroline could be, sometimes.

And this very moment? Was one of those times.

Her mouth was intent and wanting, not holding anything back as she drew Caroline’s bottom lip between her own, then nipped her teeth into it.

Caroline groaned, low in her throat, as her hands fell to Hannah’s hips. She gripped tightly as she matched Hannah’s kiss beat for beat.

The feeling of Caroline’s hands on her, that commanding, quietly strong hold, only served to ramp up Hannah’s desire even more.

Without letting herself overthink it – because Hannah knew that was where she got tripped up all too often, in the overthinking phase – she slid her hands to Caroline’s thin, designer belt, quickly unbuckling it.

She only paused when Caroline’s hands dropped down, resting on hers. Holding her still as she hummed low in her throat before leaning back a few inches to break their kiss.

“Wait – just – what?” Caroline breathed, gently squeezing Hannah’s wrists. Silently asking Hannah what was going on.

And that was – fine. Hannah understood that. Two minutes ago, Caroline hadn’t even expected Hannah to be here, and now… now, Hannah was vibrating with the possessive need to make Caroline come.

“I want to…” She paused, the words catching in her throat. But she shook her head, pushing through to finish, “I want to make you come in my mouth.” The words left her on a whisper, and she couldn’t even believe she was saying them.

Caroline’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide as her hold on Hannah’s wrists went slack. “You – what? Here? Now?”

Hannah nodded, biting her bottom lip as she dropped her gaze to Caroline’s mouth. “Yes.”

One of Caroline’s hands moved up, pushing through her hair as she looked utterly shocked. “I’m… I only have about eight minutes before I have a call that I can’t miss, and–”

Embarrassment started to break through that need to claim Caroline, and Hannah closed her eyes, wanting to ward it off. What had she been thinking? “I’m sorry, I–”

In a flash, she felt both of Caroline’s hands cup her jaw. “No, please don’t be sorry. Hannah, I…” She took in a trembling, rasping breath, searching Hannah’s gaze with her own. “I’ve never gone from 0-to-soaking wet faster in my entire life, than I have in the last couple of minutes. But I just – I won’t have time to reciprocate.”

Surprised and relieved, Hannah breathed out a laugh as the embarrassment dissipated. “That’s why you were pausing?”

Caroline nodded, looking breathless. Breathless, and Hannah hadn’t even started yet – that renewed this hunger inside of her.

“I don’t need you to reciprocate right now,” she murmured, sliding her hands down again to finish undoing Caroline’s belt, swiftly pulling it away and dropping it to the floor, before she made quick work of unzipping Caroline’s pants. “I want to taste you.”

She paused with her fingers tucked into the waist of both Caroline’s slacks and underwear, everything inside of her freezing in a precipice as she waited for Caroline’s permission.

Which she got in a quick nod. “I – jesus christ. Yes,” Caroline breathed.

Good.

Hannah dropped to her knees, taking Caroline’s pants and underwear down with her, and she didn’t let herself hesitate. Because she did want this.

Caroline Parker was hers, and it didn’t matter if she didn’t wear a fucking ring or not.

Hannah stroked her hands up Caroline’s thighs, feeling them quiver gently, as Caroline dropped a light, stroking hand to her head and spread her legs. Good thing she’d already braced herself on her desk.

“Fuck,” she heard Caroline whimper.

It was all she needed to urge her forward, licking a long, slow path up Caroline’s inner-thigh…

They both groaned – so softly – when Hannah’s tongue brushed Caroline’s core.

The hand Caroline had on her head tightened, before she heard Caroline take a deep, shuddering breath, and gentled, carding through Hannah’s hair. She wanted that hard grip, though, and she pushed forward, sliding her tongue inside of Caroline.

She fucked her that way, and it was the very first time she’d done this, but she already loved it. She loved the way she could tell Caroline was biting back any sounds – mindful of where they were – but how she could feel the tremble in Caroline’s hold in her hair.

She’d gone down on Caroline, she’d tasted her, a few times since they’d started having sex last month. At first, she’d been a little hesitant, a little nervous. Because she’d wanted to be as good for Caroline as Caroline was to her. And Hannah had never in her life felt as wanted, as devoured, as reckless as she did when Caroline was fucking her.

But Caroline always responded just like this at her touch –

Gasping and shaking, as if she couldn’t get enough of Hannah. As if Hannah’s touch and her mouth was all she wanted.

She scratched her nails down the outside of Caroline’s already trembling thighs, sliding her tongue up, up… until she brushed Caroline’s hard clit.

Immediately, she felt the way Caroline’s knees almost buckled, right as she felt her clit pulse against her tongue, and Hannah wasted no time in flicking her tongue against Caroline. Faster, firmer.

God, she felt like she was a starving woman, and this was what she needed to live, in this moment. Caroline was hers. She was the only one that could possibly do this to her.

Hannah – thus far – hadn’t been the one to initiate whenever they’d had sex. She felt clumsy, almost, at the idea. But right now, she felt like the most powerful woman on earth, on her knees in Caroline’s office.

“Hannah, Hannah,” Caroline breathed, sounding strained as she rolled her hips down against her mouth.

She hummed against Caroline, feeling the way Caroline’s hands tightened in her hair, before she felt Caroline’s clit pulse against her tongue.

Even though it was Caroline experiencing an orgasm, Hannah felt just as satisfied. As if she’d been the one to come, even though she was still aching and needy and wet. It was a different kind of pleasure – something far more raw.

She worked Caroline through her orgasm, every last pulse, before she finally pulled back. She looked up at Caroline from between her thighs, meeting Caroline’s gaze with her own.

“Holy shit,” Caroline breathed, and the shocked reverence on her face was everything to Hannah as she stood back up.

Yes, this satisfaction inside of her went bone-deep, she thought, slowly sliding her tongue over her bottom lip, tasting Caroline. Needing to be closer, still, she leaned in once more and pressed their lips together.

Caroline’s arms immediately wrapped around her, stroking up her back, as she ran her tongue over Hannah’s lips. “Fuck. Fuck. I can’t believe I still need to work.”

The regretful devastation in her tone was simply everything to Hannah in this moment. She smiled against Caroline’s lips, giving her another quick, pecking kiss, before she bent down and quickly, efficiently pulled Caroline’s pants back up for her.

“If you’re free tonight–”

“I’ll be there,” Caroline hurriedly agreed, even before Hannah could finish making her offer. She reached up and gently smoothed back Hannah’s hair, placing another kiss to her lips, sighing as she lingered there. “If this client wasn’t... well, who they are, then I’d call out and come home with you right now.”

“I know,” Hannah assured her, because she did know. She knew Caroline would always choose to be with her, to spend time with her. Sometimes – even though it amazed and pleased her – it scared her, too, just how much. “But this wasn’t about that.”

Caroline quickly bent down and grabbed her belt from the floor, as she shot Hannah a curious look. “So… what was this about?” She asked, slowly, ever astute.

Slightly embarrassed now, even though she absolutely did not regret it, Hannah felt her cheeks heat. “I… did you know that one of your office administrators has a big crush on you?”

She’d expected a hint of surprise on Caroline’s face. Instead, Caroline didn’t even pause as she finished buckling her belt, a look of immediate understanding flashing over her face. “Ah, Lane. How did you know?”

Hannah’s hands fell to her hips, her eyebrows knitting together. “We shared an elevator on the way up here, and I don’t believe she knows who I am, as she was openly discussing her feelings for you.”

God, what was wrong with her? Even after making Caroline come in her mouth – still being able to taste her, to feel her on her lips – Hannah felt it all over again, that possessiveness.

“Ahh,” was all Caroline said, nodding as she combed her fingers through her hair, then turned to comb her fingers gently through Hannah’s as well, smiling softly. “I see how we got here, then,” she lightly teased, before any semblance of teasing left her expression. Dark, earnest eyes locked onto Hannah’s. “You know that you have absolutely nothing to be worried about, right? Not with Lane or anyone else. Ever.”

Despite the damn jealousy that Hannah was trying very hard to push through, she nodded without hesitation. There wasn’t a single part of her that questioned Caroline’s feelings or her loyalty or fidelity. “I know. I know you’d never do anything with anyone else.”

Even some hot, young woman that was ostensibly throwing herself at Caroline. Even then, Hannah had no doubts.

Relief washed over Caroline’s face, and everything inside of Hannah loosened at knowing she caused it. “Okay. Good.”

“So… you already knew?” She asked, unable to hide her confusion, because, “And you didn’t tell me?”

An edge of humor worked up onto Caroline’s expression as she slid her hands down to take Hannah’s in her own, lacing their fingers together. “Hannah, sweetheart. You spent one elevator ride with Lane, and you learned everything. I see her every single day in the office, and she is not a very subtle person.”

A scoff of begrudging laughter escaped her, as she squeezed Caroline’s hands. “Fair.”

Still, she searched Caroline’s gaze, waiting for the answer to her other question.

Which was delivered in that same easy tone, “As for why I didn’t say anything – I really didn’t think it was a big deal?” There was raw honesty in Caroline’s gaze, Hannah couldn’t deny that.

Hannah dropped her mouth open as surprise rushed her. “You didn’t think it was a big deal?”

Lane was out there planning elaborate ways in which to track Caroline down and make a move on her! Admittedly, Caroline probably didn’t know that part, but still.

Caroline gave her a sweet half-smile. “I mean this in the most non-offensive way possible, so I hope you take it in that manner. But… you’re still new to this sapphic life, my love.”

“So?” She challenged, not grasping at all what Caroline was getting at. “What does that have to do with Lane?”

“How do I put this…” Caroline rolled her lips thoughtfully, as a few seconds beat by, and finally, she shrugged. “The truth is – Lane is not the first young, queer office assistant to have a crush on me. But, seriously, I am not tooting my own horn here, because it’s not necessarily about me.”

Hannah could only stare, amused even through her bafflement. “And how is someone having a crush on you not about you?”

“It’s the sapphic way,” Caroline explained, her tone playful but serious. She let go of one of Hannah’s hands, reaching up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s not about me as a person; it’s about the fact that I’m a lesbian that has reached partner level at the firm. I’m now in the position of the person I might have had a crush on, fifteen years ago.”

Hannah rolled her eyes, hard. “I think it’s a lot more about you than you think.”

After all, she already knew that Caroline didn’t have as clear a view of herself as she should. But Hannah knew better. After all, long before they’d been together – long before she’d ever dreamed of being with Caroline – she’d seen how much raw appeal Caroline exuded. Appeal that went far deeper than physical attraction and her career.

Caroline’s gentle smile told Hannah very clearly that she didn’t agree. Which was fine – they could agree to disagree on this.

A vibration from Caroline’s phone on her desk behind them surprised them both, and Caroline let go of one of Hannah’s hands to reach back and pick it up. “Two minute warning for my call,” she muttered, frowning at Hannah apologetically.

Hannah didn’t need any semblance of that apology. She smiled. “I knew you didn’t have a lot of time this afternoon,” she reminded Caroline. “I just wanted to bring you lunch.”

Caroline’s sigh – and the look in her eyes – was so… soft in Hannah’s direction. “Thank you. For the sandwich and everything else,” she added, a sharp gleam in her eyes that made heat rush through her.

Hannah shook her head gently. “All right; I should go.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Caroline immediately followed.

She flexed the fingers still holding Hannah’s as they slowly walked back across the floor, toward the elevators.

She couldn’t stop herself from throwing a look in Lane’s direction as they walked by her desk, pausing there as it was in front of the elevator. Caroline reached out and hit the down button for her, before using that hand to stroke softly over Hannah’s jaw.

“It was amazing to see you, even if it had to be short-lived. I can’t wait to see you later.”

Hannah smiled, the sincerity of Caroline’s words sliding through her, wrapping around her heart. “I’ll see you later. And please, eat the sandwich I brought you.”

“For you? Anything,” Caroline assured, and Hannah’s stomach fluttered at the intent in her words.

As the elevator dinged, alerting them to its arrival, Hannah finally turned her attention to land on Lane.

Who was staring at them with wide eyes, mouth open in utter shock.

Okay, yes. Hannah couldn’t help but feel this visceral satisfaction from creeping up all over again as they locked gazes.

So… perhaps she had a little less self-control than she thought.

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