“Don’t ever change,” Ashley whispers, eyes soft and surprisingly vulnerable, and Spencer resists the urge to press her lips to Ashley’s and sink into the kiss; let everyone who’s hurt them, everyone who won’t approve, disappear into the swirl of lips and tongue and nipping teeth.

“I won’t,” she replies, though she knows she will change at some point, knows change is as inevitable as being here with Ashley, like this.

Spencer holds down the curl of desire beginning to heat her lower belly by sliding her hand over Ashley’s, linking their fingers. And when Ashley smiles, Spencer does, too.