do what she could to heal Claire. It might be laughable to think
she had any power to do any of that, but she knew how
powerful a single touch could be.
“I can come because you showed me how,” Haley
whispered. “I don’t want to hurt you, Claire. Not in any way.
Just let me touch you. Please. You’ve given me all this
pleasure, and you won’t let me do the same. Let me touch you.
Kiss you. Taste you. Skin to skin. Please.”
There was more of that war going on in Claire, but only her
eyes betrayed her this time. She’d shut the rest down. Haley
thought Claire was going to throw her off her lap at any given
moment, but she seemed to decide something then. It didn’t
look like a good decision. It looked like a goodbye, like a
physical separation was already happening, so Haley didn’t
quite understand her next words. She was so sure she’d heard
them wrong.
“Alright. Pull your dress down and go to my room. I’ll be
there in ten minutes.” There was a knot in Haley’s stomach
that she didn’t quite understand. She was so confused. How
could Claire’s expression scream one thing and her words so
clearly say another? Claire pulled her dress down, easing the
fabric past her hips and smoothing it out, so that she was fully
covered. She gave her bottom a gentle, almost playful pat.
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“Go.”
Haley didn’t want her to change her mind. She didn’t know
what she’d find in Claire’s room. She didn’t know what Claire
would do to her there, or allow her to do, but, like everything
else, she wanted to obey. She eased herself out of the chair,
smoothed her dress one more time, and left Claire’s office