Color exploded throughout the living room and kitchen, at least ten Mason jars full of purple flowers covering the space.
“Purple bearded irises,” Iris said, picking up a jar and pressing her face into the flowers. “How did you know these are my favorite?”
Stevie shrugged. “Lucky guess? They’re all over your planners. Also, the name. I figured you’d love the name.”
Iris laughed, plucking a single blossom from the jar and twirling it in her fingers. “I do. Plus, they look like vulvas, which I’m all about.”
Stevie threw her head back and laughed. “You are a true romantic, Iris Kelly.”
“Look at them!” Iris thrust a flower toward her. “You can’t deny they look like puss—”
“Okay, flower girl,” Stevie said, taking the iris from her and holding it to her nose. Then she tucked it behind Iris’s ear and pulled her close. “Full disclosure, Claire might have let the florist in.”
Iris pressed her mouth flat, but Stevie could tell she was fighting a smile. “Claire.”
“She’s a romantic like me.”
Iris shook her head, but she pulled Stevie closer. “I love this surprise.” Her breath fluttered against Stevie’s mouth.
“You already said that.”
“Yeah, but now I really, really love it.”
Stevie smiled, her heart buoyant and strong under her ribs.
“What’s your favorite flower?” Iris asked.
Stevie gazed at all the irises. “Tulips. Yellow ones.”
“Why?”
Stevie shrugged. “I don’t know. They’re simple, but strong, you know? Like, their petals are really thick and sturdy. I like that, withstanding wind and weather.”
Iris smiled, then sighed as she looked around the room. “How did you afford all this? Flowers are expensive. And the hot-air balloon,and the winery—everything we’ve done over the last couple of weeks. It’s too much, Stevie.”
Stevie swallowed but shook her head. “Nothing is too much for you.”
Iris just stared at her for a few seconds, her chest moving up and down rapidly. Then she smoothed Stevie’s hair back, slipping her fingers into the curls and cradling Stevie’s head. “Take me to bed right now.”
“As you wish,” Stevie said, feeling both cheesy and romantic and wild with desire all at the same time. She decided to lean in to it, and promptly scooped Iris into her arms in a bridal carry.
Iris laughed as Stevie walked them down the hallway. “Oh my god, who are you, Wonder Woman?”
“I’m skinny but wiry,” Stevie said, angling them into Iris’s room.
“Hot as fuck,” Iris said as Stevie set her down near the foot of the bed.
Stevie expected them to go at each other then, the wildness from earlier in the night finally overtaking them, but they both just stood there, watching each other, breathing heavily. It was erotic and sweet all at once, the way Iris looked at her, and she never wanted it to end.
She stepped closer, then bent down, lifting Iris’s knee-length sundress to her hips. She had on a pair of plain sky-blue cotton bikinis, and Stevie had never seen anything so sexy.
“Hold this,” she said, taking Iris’s fingers and wrapping them around the hem of the dress. Then she sank to her knees, knocking Iris’s legs apart, hands sliding up her smooth thighs. She put her mouth on her, right over her underwear.
“Oh god,” Iris said, her head falling back. “Fuck, Stevie.”
Stevie kissed her, nipped with her teeth, tongue swirling over the wet spot at her center and tasting her through the cotton.
Iris’s free hand dived into Stevie’s hair, clenching tight around the locks as she gasped more obscenities. Stevie lapped at her, ready to make her come right there, but when she pulled Iris’s underwearaside, her tongue licking up her bare pussy, Iris’s grip tightened, and she pulled Stevie’s mouth free.
