When Jamie went still, Erin pressed a kiss to her temple and brushed her hair back from her face. The sight of her—flushed, eyes closed and lips parted—made something in Erin twist. It felt too tender, too good, and she wasn’t sure she trusted it.
Jamie blinked up at her a moment later, dazed, and Erin had to look away before the warmth in those eyes could undo her completely.
Then Jamie caught her wrist.
“Wait,” she whispered, voice rough around the edges. “I want to make you feel good too.”
Erin hesitated. Instinct told her to say no, to tell Jamie it was fine, that she didn’t have to prove anything. She’d been here before, after all, and she knewhow easy it was for people to give out of obligation. But there was something in Jamie’s tone, a fragile certainty that cut through Erin’s doubt.
“You already do,” Erin murmured, offering a small, disbelieving smile. She leaned down to kiss her, slow and searching, before adding, “But if you want to, I’m not going to stop you.”
Jamie nodded and wiggled out from underneath Erin, though Erin could still feel the tremor in her touch as her hands came to rest on Erin’s hips. The gentleness of it made Erin’s throat tighten. She could see the hesitation, the nerves—but underneath all that, something real.
Jamie lowered her head toward the tip of the toy, pausing just long enough to glance back up at Erin.
“You’re sure this will be good?” she asked softly.
Erin smiled, her chest rising with a shaky breath. “Yes, J. I swear.”
The words had barely left her mouth before her hips twitched forward, her body more than ready for whatever Jamie was willing to give.
Jamie closed her mouth around the toy, a quiet sound slipping from her as she caught the taste of herself. She began to move slowly, letting instinct guide her as her hand found the base to steady her rhythm.
Erin’s breath hitched, a low sound catching in her throat when the pressure pushed just right against her clit. Jamie’s head lifted immediately, concern flashing across her face.
“Did I hurt you?” she asked, voice tight with worry.
Erin shook her head, a breathless laugh tumbling out between them. “No,” she managed, reaching down to touch Jamie’s cheek. “You didn’t. You’re doing perfect.”
Jamie’s shoulders relaxed a little, the tension easing from her posture. Erin brushed her thumb across her lower lip, her pulse still racing. The sight of Jamie like this—so earnest, so intent on getting it right—made something in her chest ache.
“Just keep doing what feels right,” Erin whispered. “You’re okay.”
Jamie nodded, taking a steadying breath before leaning back in. Erin’s hand stayed where it was, anchoring them both, as the room filled with the sound of their uneven breathing and the quiet rhythm of trust taking shapebetween them.
Erin hadn’t expected to feel so much. She’d always liked control, liked giving, guiding, keeping her reactions tucked neatly out of sight. But Jamie’s focus, her care, stripped that distance away one breath at a time.
The pressure built slowly, not sharp or overwhelming, but enough to steal her composure. She reached down, threading her fingers through Jamie’s hair, not to guide her but to keep herself grounded.
“Jamie,” she murmured, a warning and a plea all at once.
Jamie hummed in response, her movements surer now, finding a rhythm that made Erin’s breath catch. The sound that followed was quiet but unguarded, pulled from somewhere deep within her. She let herself feel it, just this once. When the tension finally eased, she stayed still, her hand still resting against Jamie’s head, chest rising and falling unevenly.
Jamie looked up at her, a quiet question in her eyes, and Erin smiled softly. “Come here,” she said, voice low and rough.
Jamie climbed back up beside her, confidence still flickering beneath the tenderness in her touch. Erin drew her in close, pressing a kiss to her temple. For a long while, neither of them spoke.
Erin stared at the ceiling, her heartbeat still settling. Letting go was not something she did, not with anyone. But lying there with Jamie curled against her, she knew she wouldn’t regret it.
* * *
Erin woke to the faint hum of traffic outside and the soft rhythm of Jamie’s breathing beside her. For a moment, she couldn’t place herself. The warmth pressed against her side was unfamiliar, disorienting, and sent her pulse racing.
Her body moved before her mind could catch up. She slipped out of bed carefully, one hand steadying the mattress so it wouldn’t shift. The air was cool against her skin, her pulse loud in her ears.
Leo lifted his head from his bed near the window, ears twitching at her movement. Erin gave a quiet click of her tongue in greeting. “Go back tosleep,” she whispered, but his nails clicked softly on the hardwood as he followed her to the bathroom anyway.
The light was dim and yellow against the tile. She shut the door halfway and leaned both hands on the sink, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her pupils were wide, her skin pale, breath uneven.
