“Beth, f-fuck,” she panted, hips jerking against Beth’s mouth, her hands still holding tightly to Sarah’s hips, keeping her pinned in place.
When her breathing finally slowed and her world turned right side up again, Beth placed a gentle kiss on the inside of her sweat-slicked thighs before standing. Sarah reached for her, looping an arm around her waist, pulling her close. When she kissed her, it was her own desire she tasted on Beth’s lips that made her growl with her need for Beth, out-weighed only by the overwhelming feeling of contentment coursing through her entire body.
“I love you,” Sarah whispered, their foreheads pressed together.
Beth’s hands were still on her hips, still holding her as she said, “I love you, too. Now let’s get you to bed.”
That night, Sarah had one of her best sleeps in recent memory, which she could only reasonably attribute to Beth’s presence.
When morning came, Sarah blinked awake, eyes adjusting to the pale gray light beginning to flood the room through the pair of skylights set into the vaulted ceiling. It was early still—a little after seven a.m., her body clearly not having received the memo that she had moved time zones. She shifted slightly, rolling onto her side so she was face-to-face with a still sleeping Beth.
She looked so peaceful, her breathing deep, accompanied by a gravely snore that was incredibly endearing—and also new. Sarah smiled, not wanting to wake her yet. She gently wiggled herself free from the tangle of linen sheets. Reaching for her phone, she slipped quietly out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
Heat rose in her cheeks as she entered the kitchen, her mind flashing back to the things Beth had made her feel the night before. The sticky bun she had flown halfway across the world sat abandoned on the counter, but for the best reason Sarah could come up with.
She busied herself with making coffee, familiar enough with the layout of Beth’s kitchen to find what she needed with ease. Her phone vibrated against the marble countertop, a message from Nate landing in the group chat she shared with him and Nell.
Nate to the StanGallaGrants 7:15 AM
Missing you at Disney. Hope your lady liked her sticky bun ;)
Sarah grinned. Attached to Nate’s message was a photo of him and Nell with the evil queen from Snow White—Nell, for once, looking like she was enjoying herself.
Nell to the StanGallaGrants 7:16 AM
Really, Nate? So mature. What he’s trying to say is we hope you made it home safe and that you and Beth had a good evening.
Nate to the StanGallaGrants 7:16 AM
A good evening fucking…
Nell to the StanGallaGrants 7:16 AM
I swear to God, Nathaniel, I will kick you out of this group chat.
Sarah to the StanGallaGrants 7:17 AM
Home safe and sound. Well, at Beth’s safe and sound, so Nate, you figure it out from there. ;) Sorry not sorry for missing Disney. I’ll catch the next trip.
She laughed to herself, setting the phone down and taking a sip from the mug in her hands as she looked around the living room. The weight of the fact that she was here—in Beth’s house the morning after—settled deep in her chest.
For years following their divorce—the messy years where they had never quite gotten the hang of extricating themselves from one another—the rule was simple: Hookups were allowed, but absolutely no sleepovers. Sleepovers had somehow felt like they made everything too real, too complicated. Sarah remembered her own naive confidence, how sure she had been in that boundary. Now, looking back, it was almost laughable how silly that thought process had been.
“Sar?” Beth’s tired voice floated down from the balcony overlooking the living room.
Sarah stepped forward to where Beth could see her. “Hey.” Her smile spread across her face at the sight of Beth with tousledhair and soft eyes, wearing the shortest sleep shorts she had ever seen.
The concern melted from Beth’s refined features, replaced by a look of delight. “I thought you snuck out and went home.”
“And leave you? No way.” Sarah winked. “Besides, you’re my ride home. I had a car drop me off here yesterday.”
Teasing Beth was a language Sarah had always been fluent in; it was second nature to her, and, if she were honest, she had always enjoyed the way Beth responded to it—feigning annoyance to cover up the reality that she secretly loved it.
Beth grinned, rolling her eyes as she turned and headed back into the bedroom. “When you’re done with the sass, come upstairs and join me in the shower,” came her muffled voice over her shoulder.
Sarah didn’t need telling twice. She took another swig of her coffee before hurrying to join Beth.
By the time she got to the bathroom, steam was rising from the shower, Beth’s naked body visible through the glass door. It only took her a moment to slide out of her clothes, leaving them crumpled in a pile on the floor.
