arm around Grace too.
“God.” Grace panted and burrowed her head against Lauren’s neck. Heat came off her in waves. “That was…” She shook her head as if unable to find the right word and then lifted her face to kiss Lauren instead.
Lauren hummed into the kiss. She felt nearly intoxicated from directing Grace’s pleasure that way. “Yeah,” she whispered when their mouths drew apart, “it was. You are incredible.”
“Me?” Grace laughed. “You were the director of this scene. I’m just sorry we don’t have time for a reverse shot.” She played with the top button on Lauren’s blouse.
Lauren covered her hand with her own, stilling it against her heart, which was beating just as rapidly as Grace’s. “That’s okay,” she murmured. “I plan on doing a couple more takes later.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. Just to make sure we get the perfect shot, you know? That’s what directors do, isn’t it?”
Grace nodded. “Unless…”
Lauren arched an eyebrow. “Unless…?”
“Unless the actors take over the scene. It’s been known to happen.” Grace leaned up on her tiptoes, slung her arms more firmly around Lauren’s shoulders, and kissed her, teasing her with hot, slow circles of her tongue before withdrawing. “I need another shower. And you,” she playfully slapped Lauren’s ass, “need to get changed. Your blouse has more wrinkles than a ninety-year-old.”
Lauren looked down at herself. Grace was right. The blouse was wrinkled in several places where Grace had clutched at her in the throes of passion. “Well, if I’m getting undressed, I might as well join you in the shower.”
“Oh, no. We’re already late as it is, and if you join me, it’ll turn into the longest shower in the history of mankind.” Grace pushed her back with both hands flat against Lauren’s chest, but her palms lingered longer than necessary. “Later,” she promised, heat in her eyes.
“Later,” Lauren repeated.
One last look, then Grace turned and strode to the edge of the loft without bothering to pick up her towel first, confident in her nakedness.
Lauren followed her with her gaze, drinking her in.
When Grace reached the ladder, she turned and climbed down the first few rungs but then stopped with just her head visible. Her full lips curled up into a soft smile. “I love you.”
The words still made Lauren’s heart stutter. She wanted to rush to the ladder and pull Grace back up and into her arms, but she forced herself to stay where she was. “I love you too.”
When Grace climbed down, Lauren listened to her footsteps on the wood floor for a moment and then let herself sink onto the bed in her wrinkled blouse. She rubbed her face with both hands and groaned when she caught a whiff of Grace’s scent.
“Lauren,” Grace shouted from the bathroom. “I forgot my dress. Would you mind bringing it down?”
“On my way,” she called and then picked up the dress. She inspected the silk for wrinkles and stains. It looked none the worse for wear. Grinning, she placed it over her shoulder, climbed down the ladder, and headed toward the cottage’s small bathroom. God, she loved afternoons in the cottage—especially since she would now get to witness another dress-tease from Grace.
If you enjoyed this short story, you might want to read Jae’s Damage Control, the novel in which Grace and Lauren met.
The Cat Emergency
by Chris Zett
“I hate Christmas!” Liz sank onto the couch in the staff lounge and massaged her temples. “And the day after Christmas even more. Why does everyone need to come to the emergency department today?”
“Nah, you’re just cranky because we missed lunch.” With two mugs of coffee in one hand, a yogurt in the other, and a medical journal balanced on top, Diana sat down next to her. She placed both mugs on the table and nudged one over to Liz.
“Mm, maybe. Thanks for the coffee.” Liz unwrapped her sad excuse for a lunch and studied the greens in her sandwich. Not wilted, so that was a plus. But the cheese looked awfully boring. “Or maybe the people are up to more and more crazy stuff over the holidays each year. Mixing too much food, alcohol, and emotions is a recipe for trouble.”
“Oh yeah. I took Emily to the family Christmas dinner for the first time. All my nieces and nephews were on a sugar high.” Diana laughed. “What did you do?”
“Work.” Liz poured a package of sugar in her coffee and stirred longer than necessary. She couldn’t remember the last Christmas dinner she’d had with either of her parents. But