A/N: To everyone who is still with me, thank you and I am so sorry for taking so long getting this written. Your support for me and this new version of the girls has meant the world.
~A~
Aubrey set Stacie's clothing to the side and sat back on her heels, taking in the sight above her.
Stacie was leaning against her vanity, slender legs that seemed to touch the sky braced to keep her there, clad only in the open shirt and bra that Aubrey had been too impatient to remove. She felt bad about that, though not about ripping the shirt open in the first place. She'd wanted to take her time, had told herself to go slow when she was freshening up. Finally feeling the warmth of Stacie's skin had broken the last tether of control as desire stronger than she'd ever felt washed over her. Even now, as Stacie's chest rose and fell with her panting, the muscles of a subtly defined six-pack made Aubrey anticipate the moment she could trace them with her tongue. But for now…
"You're so beautiful, Stacie." Aubrey let her hands rest on her thighs, struck by how lucky she was that a chance encounter, one that had gone so wrong for so long, had led them to this moment. To this woman she had already begun to picture a future with.
Stacie's head lifted, her eyes opening to find Aubrey's unerringly, filled with need and, above all else, love. "Please." A whispered plea that pulled at Aubrey in a way she'd never felt before. "Please, Aubrey."
Having a woman like this begging for her touch pushed all of Aubrey's buttons and several she didn't know she had.
She reached out to run her hands up Stacie's shins lightly, curving to the inside of her knees to gently push, licking her lips as Stacie's legs parted at her urging. She slid the tips of her fingers up to Stacie's thighs before flatting her palms and pushing upward, feeling muscles flex under them. When her hands reached Stacie's waist, she spread her fingers wide, trying to touch as much of her as possible.
Still watching Stacie's face, she rose to her knees and gently slid her tongue through her center to brush across her clit. Stacie let out a moan and her right hand immediately wound into Aubrey's hair. Her left went back to brace her upright on the vanity when Aubrey nuzzled her again.
Stacie was absolutely soaked and Aubrey couldn't get enough of her. She learned every fold, every crease with her tongue and looked forward to learning it all a second time by touch. She ducked as low as she could when Stacie widened her stance but was unable to do more than tease her entrance. Her hands roamed up and down Stacie's torso and back, feeling the muscles move as the brunette rocked her hips to Aubrey's rhythm. She didn't let up until Stacie's legs began to tremble in earnest and even then only when Stacie's hand, still fisted in her hair, gently tugged backward instead of holding her in place.
"Aubrey." It was panted, strangled and ran like quicksilver through her veins. Stacie took another deep breath and said it again. "Aubrey… It's killing me to say this but if you don't stop now I'm going to come while plastered against your vanity, which is about to bruise my ass." She shuddered as Aubrey gave one more firm lick from entrance to clit before once again sitting back on her heels. "And there's a bed not more than five feet from us."
Aubrey licked her lips in satisfaction at the shake to Stacie's voice that matched the way her thighs twitched under Aubrey's hands. Slowly she rose to her feet using Stacie as an anchor, her tongue trailing from the curve of Stacie's hip and upward, avoiding her breasts, until she was standing. Behaving was hard but Stacie had a point about the bed.
Plus her clothes were pissing her off and they had to go.
Stacie's hand was still in her hair but the grip loosened and cupped the back of her head. Aubrey willingly let herself be drawn into a kiss, a softer one than she would have thought considering the way Stacie still trembled against her. Not breaking it, she slid her hands along Stacie's shoulders, snagging the bra straps as she went and finally removing the shirt she'd ripped open what felt like ages ago.
She wound her arms around Stacie's waist and pulled her close, keeping the slower pace to their kissing, and turned her gently until her back was to the bed. She guided her backward until Stacie's legs touched the bed but spent another minute kissing her thoroughly.
"Stacie?" Aubrey asked between kisses. "Would you take an IOU for a sexy strip tease?" Stacie laughed through the next kiss, making Aubrey smile against her lips and she pulled back to look at her. "I'm all too aware of our timetable tomorrow and while I would gladly ruin myself with no sleep tonight, I can't be responsible for doing the same to you."
"Baby, even fully dressed you're the sexiest woman I have ever laid eyes on." Stacie slipped away to sit down on the bed. "But I am never going to turn down an IOU for a sexy strip tease." She leaned back on her elbows, the embodiment of confidence. "Besides, I can't imagine watching you undress is ever going to be anything other than breathtaking."
But it was Aubrey who sucked in a breath, the compliment and utter honesty in it hitting her right in the heart. She took a step back and another, forcing herself out of reach of the other woman, not trusting herself to keep her hands away for the time it took to strip. "With the way you're looking at me-"
"You should always believe it." Stacie interrupted, standing up. Aubrey didn't move as she stepped forward and began to lift the hem of Aubrey's shirt. "And if you can't, I'll believe it enough for us both."
Aubrey didn't answer as her shirt was tugged, Stacie's fingers skating up her sides, and lifted off her head. The long sleeves took a second longer to free from her arms, but the second they were she reached for Stacie and pulled her in again. As they kissed, Stacie slowly stripped off her bra, hands warm and soft as they cupped her breasts and Aubrey gasped into her mouth at their touch.
"You're beautiful, Aubrey." Stacie rolled her thumbs over Aubrey's nipples and kissed the side of her jaw, making her shiver. "There was a reason I couldn't get you out of my mind after that first day." A kiss to her throat and Aubrey tilted her head back. "And it wasn't just because Chloe kept telling me we would make a good pair." She lingered for several heartbeats over Aubrey's pulse point and Aubrey's hands flexed where they rest on Stacie's sides. "Even if I didn't realize what it was." She stepped backward, drawing Aubrey with her until she sat on the bed and had Aubrey stand between her parted knees. "I'm stupid, not blind."
Aubrey shook her head. "After everything I've learned tonight, you're definitely not stupid." She threaded her fingers through Stacie's hair and smoothed it back from her face, loving the way it felt as it slid along her skin. But before she could say anything else, Stacie leaned forward and covered Aubrey's right nipple with her mouth, making her brain short circuit with the wet heat and electricity that radiated out from the flick of her tongue.
Clever fingers unbuttoned her jeans while she was distracted by Stacie moving from right to left and back again, making sure to spend equal attention on each breast. Before she knew it her pants and underwear were sliding down her legs to pool on the floor and Stacie was sliding backward on the bed, a very self-satisfied smile on her lips.
Drawn like a magnet Aubrey followed, climbing up onto the bed as Stacie came to a rest at the head. Aubrey straddled her waist and gazed down at her, wanting to remember this moment for the rest of their lives. Stacie smiled up at her, tender and hungry all at once, and Aubrey lowered herself until she lay fully on the brunette and was able to reach those curved lips.
Kissing Stacie was better than any rush Aubrey had ever chased in her life.
Kissing Stacie while naked and laying on her was nigh unto a religious experience.
She wasn't prepared for how well they fit together any more than she could have imagined how it felt to have Stacie's hands roaming at will while they tried to kiss each other senseless. The way their bodies felt as Aubrey slowly rocked against her. Aubrey kissed her way down Stacie's throat and chuckled when it caused the other woman to arch up against her.
"I just want to stay with you like this forever," Aubrey said just before nipping against her pulse point. "You feel so fucking good." Strong hangs gripped her ass and pulled her down and she moaned again. "We don't need jobs, right?"
"Beca and Chloe will look for us eventually." Stacie shrugged one shoulder, her hands massaging all the way up Aubrey's back. "They'd miss us."
"They'll just have to stay with us," Aubrey said as she leaned down to nuzzle Stacie's neck.
"In this bed?" Stacie's eyebrows went up. "Seems a bit small for four bodies."
Aubrey pulled back, eyeing her. "While I meant we'd all just have to get a house together and they could see us when we came out to get food - if you mean in bed with us…" She waited a heartbeat but Stacie only grinned at her like the Cheshire Cat. "Then we're definitely going to need something bigger. Beca sleeps like a damn starfish if she's not wrapped around someone. I don't know how but she takes up a lot of real estate for such a tiny body."
Stacie gave a wicked laugh and rolled them over, settling herself between Aubrey's legs like the space was tailor-made for her and immediately derailed Aubrey's ability to think of anything but the woman on top of her.
She was wrong before. This was heaven and she never wanted it to end.
"That I'll have to see." Stacie slid against her and Aubrey's mind gave up thinking of anything that didn't involve getting Stacie to do it again. And again.
"You will," she said absently, not really paying attention to what she was saying as she wondered if she had brought the strap-on with her in the move, a purchase from her semi-adventurous college years.
"Do you have any idea what you just suggested?" Stacie was smile was the same one she'd given Aubrey when she'd walked into the L&L earlier that night: slow and full of heat. It would have made her toes curl if the way Stacie was still moving against her hadn't done it already.
"What?" Aubrey blinked up at her.
Stacie very deliberately thrust against Aubrey with her whole body and the two of them moaned in unison. "I'll try and remember to tease you about this in the morning." She rocked again, lowering her head to bite at Aubrey's shoulder.
Arching her back, Aubrey drew her legs up and along Stacie's sides, giving her more room. Stacie kissed her way down Aubrey's neck, breathing ragged and hot against her skin, and further still until she was able to swirl her tongue around one achingly hard nipple. Aubrey gasped as she felt the bright edge of teeth tugging her upward and her back bowed further, chasing both the sting and pleasure until Stacie released her only to tease the other the same way. By the time Stacie worked her way lower, Aubrey was writhing beneath her, pleading as the ache between her legs grew almost maddeningly painful.
"Please," Aubrey begged. "Stacie, please…"
Stacie moved until she was kneeling, knees parted, with Aubrey's legs over hers. Her right hand ran down the inside of Aubrey's left thigh until she could caress her center, following with curve of her body with the pads of her fingers. It was heaven and hell all at once because while Stacie was finally touching her, it wasn't anywhere that would bring any sort of relief. Dimly she was wondering if this was payback for the vanity teasing when instead of retreating, Stacie continued that final curve and slid two fingers inside.
She let out a sharp keen as she was filled, her hands fisting in her sheets as she used Stacie's legs as leverage to bring her hips up, trying to pull her deeper. She whimpered as they withdrew completely, rubbing against the top of her inner walls before following the lines of her body back up to circle her clit. As she repeated the motion, Stacie leaned down as she pressed inside once more, balancing on her left arm to lean over Aubrey who rose to meet her lips in a sloppy, desperate kiss.
"You're so fucking wet, Aubrey," Stacie moaned into her mouth, taking advantage of Aubrey's gasp as talented fingers twisted inside her. "I can't wait to taste you." She partially withdrew and surged inward again, Aubrey crying out as Stacie made love with her whole body, thrusting her hips in time with her hands. They slid together, each of them rising and falling, finding a rhythm that was slowly burning Aubrey from the inside out.
Licking and biting her way down, Stacie finally stretched out with her shoulders under Aubrey's thighs. It seemed like Aubrey's whole body was tightening, pulling in on itself as it throbbed with her heartbeat in anticipation.
She didn't know which of them moaned louder at the first brush of her tongue but it was firm and everything Aubrey needed as Stacie used the broad flat of it to lick from her entrance to clit. She used the tip to trace back down again, teasing Aubrey's clit but not giving any of the pressure that she so desperately wanted. That same flat stroke ran back up the curve of her body, just the right amount of pressure to bring her desire up another notch and yet satisfy nothing before retreating.
Hands were suddenly running up the inside of her thighs until they reached her bent knees, pushing her legs up and back, spreading them further apart and opening her completely. She looked down and met Stacie's heated gaze and understood the command in them before Stacie's hands once more slid under her hips to grip them from underneath.
It felt wanton, decadent, to be open and on display in a way she never had before. But it thrilled her, made her feel desired… wanted… as Stacie watched her hungrily. She remembered how it had felt to have Stacie at her mercy and begging.
"Please."
Stacie used her grip to pull Aubrey closer and, eyes locked on her face, flicked across her clit with her tongue before wrapping her lips around and sucking lightly. By sheer force of will, Aubrey kept her eyes open, memorizing how Stacie looked in that moment. It was a battle soon lost and her eyes slammed shut as Stacie adjusted to slide back inside her, fingers twisting with every stroke. Aubrey let go of her sheets and both hands found Stacie's head where it bobbed between her thighs, running her fingers through the weight of her hair over and over again as she was slowly, methodically, pulled apart down to her very foundations.
When she was able to open her eyes again it was only for seconds at a time, catching flashes of Stacie either watching her or with her own eyes closed, brows knit in concentration and effort. Her left hand roamed up, using the long length of her arms to palm Aubrey's breast, rolling her fingers in the same rhythm as her tongue or rub her thumb across her nipple. Aubrey began to bead with sweat as she writhed under Stacie's sinfully talented mouth and hands; that coil low in her stomach tightening as she got closer and closer to the edge.
Aubrey had never been silent in bed, but she hadn't necessarily been someone who was overly vocal either. Sex with Stacie was a whole new world for her as she found herself continuing to beg, pleading for her to go harder and faster. Stacie's name either slipped from her in a purring moan or tripped across her lips, all words broken as her body quivered and twisted under the onslaught of sensations.
As she shuddered, she looked down again and Stacie must have been waiting for her; adding a third finger to fill her unexpectedly but so fucking wonderfully, and Aubrey's eyes widened in shock and pleasure. Stacie pushed deeper, scissoring them as much as she could while Aubrey clenched around her. A guttural grunt came from low in her throat, going higher and higher in pitch with each gasping breath, becoming a sharp cry as Stacie began to suck harder, flick her tongue faster.
Aubrey's world went white as a supernova exploded inside her. Her hands fisted in Stacie's hair, unconsciously holding her in place as her orgasm ripped through her, locking her body in place. The muscles in her legs flexed and tightened so much she would have to do extra stretches at class to try and ease their soreness. Stacie didn't let up as waves rolled through her, keeping Aubrey up and tumbling before finally letting her free fall back to earth.
"Come here," Aubrey choked out, letting go of Stacie's hair to grab the hand that had moved to her stomach. "Oh god, Stacie…" She tugged weakly, twitching as Stacie continued to nuzzle her. "Please." Stacie immediately crawled back up Aubrey's body, her weight warm and welcome and so very much needed as Aubrey gingerly unbent her legs and stretched them out again.
"Hey," Stacie whispered when Aubrey wrapped her arms and legs around her. "I'm here."
Desperately Aubrey pulled her down and kissed her, almost frantic with the need to feel her as a million emotions scattered throughout her body. It wasn't that she was upset or sad but the release of all the tension she had been feeling for the past three weeks had overwhelmed her and she needed to feel grounded. She didn't know if Stacie understood but she was doing all the right things as she gently stroked Aubrey's face and shoulders while they kissed. Eventually the pressure in her chest eased, their kisses slowed, and Stacie lifted her head to smile down at her.
"You okay?" A kiss to each corner of her mouth.
"Depends," Aubrey croaked, her throat scratchy from her cries and the emotions that had boiled over. "Is the top of my head still there?"
Chuckling gently, Stacie ran her fingers through Aubrey's hair and massaged her scalp. "Seems to be."
"Then I'm okay." Aubrey let the desperate clutch of her arms relax and ran her hands over Stacie's back. "God I love you."
"I hope so," Stacie kissed the underside of her jaw. "Because I am head over heels in love with you."
Aubrey closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling centered again though her emotions were still swirling through her. With gentle pressure she urged Stacie to roll them over until they were back in the same positions they had been when first getting into bed.
"Let me show you how much," Aubrey murmured against her skin as she kissed her way down Stacie's throat. "Now that you don't have my vanity bruising your ass." Stacie's surprised laugh was strangled by a moan when Aubrey cupped both her breasts and thumbed her nipples. "I love how you sound."
"Bree." Stacie arched her back and Aubrey took advantage of it, feeling pebbled velvet soft skin under her tongue as she swirled it around one hard peak to the other and back. "Please." Stacie's body trembled under her, hands gently urging Aubrey lower.
Willingly Aubrey went, mouth once more tracing muscles that flexed under her, Stacie's long legs already parting and bending to make room for her. Aware that she'd probably pushed Stacie well past the point of additional teasing, not to mention unwilling to make herself wait any longer, Aubrey immediately slid inside her with two fingers. At the same time she flicked across her clit, feeling Stacie jump and tighten around her.
Stacie was liquid heat and silken skin, trembling muscles and sharp cries. Aubrey reacquainted herself with the places that made Stacie twitch on the outside and learned what made her scream from the inside as she pushed and curled, withdrew and twisted. She found herself clenching as Stacie's moans and whimpers washed over her, reigniting her own desire as she brought Stacie closer to her own climax.
Suddenly Stacie's right hand landed on Aubrey's left wrist where she had been gripping Stacie's hip. There were several seconds of fumbling before Aubrey realized what she wanted and reached up to lock their fingers together. Stacie's cries were higher, reaching that desperate edge and Aubrey sealed her lips around her clit and sucked, flicking her tongue rapidly over it as she found that ridged spot on her upper walls with her middle finger.
Stacie's grip tightened painfully on hers as she came; filling the room with wordless cries that Aubrey made a life goal to hear as often as possible in all their variations. She felt Stacie clamp down on her fingers and thrust inside her, pushing as deep as she could and using her thumb to apply pressure from the outside as well. She still had Stacie's clit in her mouth, feeling it pulse beneath her tongue, but she had slowed to a gentle stroke that she didn't let up until Stacie's body settled back to the mattress.
Aubrey was moving before the tug on their joined hands, though reluctant to leave Stacie's warmth so soon. She settled in place and was immediately pulled into a deep, hungry kiss, Stacie's tongue pushing deep into her mouth to tangle with her own. Surprised by the hunger in it, Aubrey's hips ground down into Stacie's, groaning as their breasts slid together, over stimulating nerves that were still on fire from before.
She'd shifted during their kiss, tangling their legs together, but was still taken by surprise when Stacie's right thigh rose between hers. Instinctively her hips lifted higher and warm hands on them helped pull her down against the length of it.
"Come for me again, Aubrey," Stacie's voice was rough and ragged, still breathless from her own orgasm. "I need to feel you again." Helpless against the want and command, Aubrey half rose to her knees, giving her better control and more room to glide against the thigh that pressed harder against her.
It wasn't going to take long, that much was clear; she was already halfway up the peak. It wasn't even the delicious friction from Stacie's thigh, it was the love and hunger in her eyes that was shoving Aubrey helplessly toward the edge as much as the desire and claim she could feel in the tight grip Stacie had on her hips. A claim Aubrey accepted and returned, kissing Stacie hungrily before pushing up on her elbows and grinding down even harder.
"Touch me," Aubrey begged, putting all her weight on her left elbow. "Come with me." She slid her right back between Stacie's legs, feeling her hips surge upward at the touch and lifting Aubrey momentarily off her knees. "Fuck, I'm so fucking close." She didn't have the coordination to do more than massage her clit but that didn't seem to matter as Stacie's hips continued to rock against her.
"Me too," Stacie panted, her fingers already on Aubrey's clit and matching the rhythm of her increasingly faster grind.
She didn't think either of them expected it to be that fast but between one heartbeat and the next Aubrey pressed down into Stacie's leg and still moving fingers as her climax slammed into her. She thought her hips were still moving, but she wasn't sure because the 5% of her mind that wasn't screaming in pleasure was dedicated to keeping Stacie coming as her body bucked upward at the same time.
They were both too sensitive to keep it up for long, even the most light of touches turning painful. Wearily, on limbs that shook, Aubrey slowly lowered herself back to lie on Stacie's chest again. Underneath her own hammering heart, she could feel Stacie's pounding wildly underneath her and hummed in happiness.
"I agree," Stacie sighed, still trying to regain her breath. "I can't move my legs."
Aubrey turned to press her nose to Stacie's neck and hummed in agreement this time, still not quite able to form words.
"I like how that feels," Stacie said, wrapping her arms around Aubrey's back and hugging her. "Not my legs," she clarified before Aubrey could ask. "Your humming. I like how it feels against my chest."
"I think one of us should make a joke about that's not all that feels good against your chest, but I can't think of it." Aubrey took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Me either," Stacie rubbed her cheek against Aubrey's forehead. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Okay." Aubrey kissed the side of her neck. "I think my legs may kill me at yoga."
"Mine too," Stacie said ruefully. "Definitely going to have to have a longer warm up at the start."
"Sorry," Aubrey said with no sincerity at all as she lifted herself up so she could properly look at Stacie. A smug grin greeted her and she was drawn to those curved lips like a bee to honey.
After trading lazy kisses for several minutes, Aubrey felt her heart finally stop racing. "Jesus, I think I need to go back to spin-class and work on my cardio." As they kissed they shifted to lie side by side though still wrapped up in each other with tangled legs and soothing hands.
Stacie chuckled. "I'm going to take that as a compliment."
"You should." Aubrey reluctantly let go to lie on her back and arched in a stretch, loving the languor that made her muscles heavy. She gasped, surprised though she knew she shouldn't be, when Stacie quickly leaned over and teased her nipple with her tongue. She hissed out a breath, holding herself up until Stacie gave one last swirl that ended with a kiss that really only left Aubrey wanting more despite the fatigue in her body. She pouted as she let herself fall back to the bed. "Tease."
"Merely a promise." Stacie reached for Aubrey's hand where it lay between them and, moving it to Aubrey's stomach, laced their fingers together. "Since I don't think either of us would survive if we didn't take a nap first." She propped her head on her hand. "And to keep us focused on something other than sex, I'll put on my physical therapist hat: Now that I know where you live, I do think you could start riding your bike again, as long as you take it easy."
"So you're saying I do need to work on my cardio?" Aubrey forced her lips to keep from smiling and arched a brow.
"Baby, I need to work on my cardio to keep up with you," Stacie sighed happily. "A lot of cardio."
Aubrey felt a surge of smug satisfaction sweep through her and this time let herself grin. "I'm going to take that as a compliment."
"You definitely, definitely, should." Stacie kissed her shoulder. "But also I know what riding means to you and how much you've hated not being able to do it. No spin-class though, not for another week or so at least. Honestly I'd prefer a full month but I may be in over-protective mode even though you've taken really good care of it."
Aubrey started laughing. "Then I definitely shouldn't tell you about the night I forgot I couldn't put weight on it."
"Hit the floor, didn't you?" Stacie asked knowingly. "Been there, done that, so glad the bruise on my ass is long gone."
"So a bruise from my vanity isn't anything new in that area?" Aubrey started to laugh but then Stacie bit her own lip, hunger immediately filling her eyes at the memory. She had to take a slow breath of her own as her body reacted to it and banked embers threatened to flare. "Alright that statement backfired if the plan is to sleep before dawn."
Stacie licked her lips, nodding. "Yes. You could say that." Her grip on Aubrey's hand tightened. "We'll just call that another promise."
"Yes, please." Aubrey swallowed thickly, vividly remembering how it felt to kneel at Stacie's feet but be in complete control. "What was I talking about?"
Stacie closed her eyes and took a breath. "Not remembering your ankle." Her voice was normal but the same banked heat that Aubrey was trying to ignore filled her eyes. It was insane how much she wanted to make Stacie moan again.
"Right." Aubrey reached for that memory instead. "It was… Sunday, night two. I had to use the bathroom and when I got up I was still half asleep. So instead of reaching for my crutches I tried to walk. Put my foot down and the rest of me followed." She chuckled. "Scared the shit out of Beca because not only did I let out a scream but I tried to stop myself from falling into my dresser. I didn't hurt myself on it, but it also didn't keep me upright. I also used to have another lamp in the room."
Stacie had started laughing halfway through but winced at that. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh…"
"No, you should. But you haven't heard the best part." Aubrey felt her own laughter trying desperately to escape as she pictured Beca's reaction. "Beca had been dead asleep and by the time I hit the floor," the giggles started, hysterical all over again. "She was on her feet on the opposite side of the bed, hands up like she was going to karate chop someone." Aubrey snorted. "She wasn't even awake yet either."
"Did she yell at you?" Stacie grinned. "For not waking her to help you into the bathroom because you could've hurt yourself?"
"The entire time she helped get me off the floor and sit on the bed," Aubrey let the giggles fade away. "Most people would've assumed she would've yelled about being woken up, especially that way, even if it was a cover for worrying about me." It caught her off guard, how much it meant to her that Stacie understood Beca that well already. That she understood who Beca was in Aubrey's life and that Beca's stand-offish cover was just that. Though, she thought in the same breath, Stacie had her own version of that in Chloe.
"Then they're not watching how you two are together." Stacie stretched her left arm under Aubrey's pillow and snuggled close, her head resting on her own bicep. "She definitely thought of you first, second and third. She'd worry about her heart attack later."
"Seriously," Aubrey breathed, rolling over so they were face to face. "How are you even real?"
Having been forced to let go of Aubrey's hand when she moved, she brushed strands of hair back from Aubrey's face. "I've been wondering that about you all night." Green eyes so different than her own searched her face. "If you're not… well… then I don't ever want to wake up from you."
"If you make me cry," Aubrey said as she felt the threat loom large. "After some of the most amazing sex I have ever had." She sniffed and cleared her throat. "If I hadn't fallen for you before now, that would have finished me off."
"I love you, too." Stacie kissed her, just a soft press of lips before pulling back once more. "If we're doing secret confessions, I've got one. I don't think it's in the same category but… When I heard you guys at yoga? It was all I could do to not bounce over to the doorway like some excited overgrown puppy."
"You were?" Aubrey shook her head. "You didn't show it – or maybe I was just in shock at having you suddenly appear in front of us."
"Oh yeah." Stacie nodded. "I'd been having inappropriate dreams about you for two weeks and suddenly you were in the same room with me and all I wanted was to kiss you."
Aubrey blinked at her. "Oh." Seven different kinds of heat rushed through her, a very tumultuous mix of love and lust that left her body unsure which one to give in to. "Me too." Well, that wasn't the sexy or clever thing she had wanted to say even it was true.
"You had sex dreams or you wanted to kiss me?" Stacie wiggled closer even though they were already pressed together.
"Both," Aubrey said, giving in. Why on earth would she hold anything back now? "Well… for at least that first week after Truce Day." She reached out and cupped Stacie's cheek, knowing what she was about to say would sting but wanting to be truthful. "The second week, after you weren't at the L&L, I… didn't." Stacie's eyes darkened and Aubrey kissed her. "Sorry."
"That's what we get for not exchanging numbers," Stacie said softly. "I'd have texted you to let you know otherwise. But I… I also didn't think you'd miss me that much." She pursed her lips. "But you had dreams about me?"
"Yes, but it's still your turn. I want to hear more about yoga." Aubrey deflected, not sure if she was ready to blurt out the fact that Beca had been in bed with her when she had them. She already knew that'd end up coming out – either she or Beca would spill the beans with or without alcohol – but maybe they should save that for another day; she had the feeling that Stacie would want specific details and they definitely did not have time for that tonight. Plus she couldn't deny Beca the joy of embarrassing Aubrey with her side of the spooning story.
"There's not a lot to it. I was a bundle of nerves and hormones. I wanted to kiss you or hug you or both." Stacie covered Aubrey's hand and kept it pressed to her cheek. "Even when you kept your distance and wouldn't look at me."
"It hurt to see you," Aubrey admitted. "I'd been working to get you out of my mind and there you were, all yoga pants and tank top. Larger than life and too pretty for me to ever forget." Regret at causing pain was there as she knew it would be whenever they got around to discussing that particular morning.
"Beca gave me the key though." Stacie's voice was deliberately casual. "I owe her for that."
"We both do and she'll never let us forget, don't worry." Aubrey laughed, letting the sadness go before it settled in place.
"It was so hard to be professional the rest of class," Stacie continued. "I just wanted to be near you guys the entire time."
"Sorry we distracted you – that was the first one, wasn't it?" Aubrey winced. "Oops."
"Honestly? It was the best first class I could have ever hoped to have. Friendly faces, low key flirting, I made Beca giggle…"
"So you were low key flirting with Beca?" Aubrey grinned. "I knew it."
"These things happen," Stacie shrugged, finally letting go of Aubrey's hand to run her fingertips up her arm. "And I got asked out on a group date at the end. Only thing that would've made that day any better is if Chloe had her own private shower and I could've talked you into it."
Aubrey shivered as sparks flared along her spine and made her legs flex and tangle with Stacie's. "I don't know if you could've that day but I don't think there's anything you can't talk me into now." She paused as Stacie's eyes went wide. "Maybe I shouldn't have admitted that."
"Too late! You can't take it back!" Stacie wiggled in excitement, her grin wide. "Now I have to test that theory."
Aubrey closed one eye and squinted at her. "You won't get us arrested, will you?"
"Not if we don't get caught," was the way too casual reply as Stacie kissed her again. "You trust me, don't you?"
"With everything I am," Aubrey said softly then yawned. Mortified she covered her mouth. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that, I didn't know that was coming…"
Stacie laughed affectionately. "God I love you." She pulled Aubrey close and kissed her; warm, soft and already completely necessary for Aubrey's continued existence. "It's super late, we just had amazing sex and while I can't fucking wait until we can do it again…" She broke off and turned her head to yawn into her arm. "I am not ashamed to admit that I could really use at least a nap because you have worn me out."
Aubrey fully embraced the pride she felt at that as she leaned forward to kiss her. "You're welcome." But was then forced to admit, with her second yawn, that the feeling was mutual. "I am definitely down for a nap."
As Stacie shifted to her back and reached over to turn off the lamp, Aubrey reached for the bedding they'd kicked to the foot of the bed. Pulling them up she draped herself over Stacie's right side and exhaled in pure bliss as she went boneless, all tension in her body leaving the second Stacie's arms were around her.
"I think I figured out Dixie Chick Serious," Stacie said drowsily.
"Yeah?" Aubrey rubbed her cheek against Stacie's shoulder. "Will you be able to explain it to Beca?"
"Maybe," Stacie mused. "I'd just have to play her this song."
Confused, Aubrey roused enough to listen to the music she'd decided to leave on instead of getting up to turn it off. It was low but once she was able to concentrate enough to bring it into focus she could make out the song. It was "Lullaby" by The Dixie Chicks and before she'd had a chance to really realize what Stacie was getting at, she had started softly singing along with the chorus.
How long do you wanna be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you wanna be loved
Is forever enough
'Cause I'm never, never giving you up
Aubrey's voice was stuck in her throat as the tears she'd held back earlier broke free and ran across her cheek to drip on Stacie's chest. Stacie didn't stop singing, but her arms tightened comfortingly. Aubrey had managed to stop the tears by the time the song was over and was using her sheet to wipe them away.
"Yeah," she whispered. "That sounds perfect." Wordlessly Stacie kissed her forehead before tucking Aubrey under her chin.
Aubrey didn't need to explain that she meant far more than Beca's understanding any more than she needed to ask to know that Stacie meant every word of it.
To know that Stacie had just promised her forever.
~/~
When they walked into the lobby of Stretch, Aubrey was actually surprised that she didn't see Beca hanging out at the counter with Chloe and Emily.
"Damn, guess I have to put my nudes where my mouth is."
Stacie laughed. "I'd rather put my mouth where your nudes are."
Aubrey groaned. "You can't say that when I'm about to go talk to the girls." She held up a hand when Stacie drew breath. "I don't mean either of our boobs."
"Aw," Stacie sighed. "I'll behave."
"That is as much a lie as if Beca were to say it." Aubrey reached out and took her hand. "And if we're not going to have alone time tonight because of a sleep over, you can't put those thoughts in my head."
"I'll see what I can arrange." She gave Aubrey a sidelong look. "You're insatiable aren't you?" She kissed the back of Aubrey's hand. "I love it."
"I'm not the one who woke someone up after four hours of sleep to have morning sex." Aubrey closed her eyes as her body remembered waking to Stacie looking up at her from between her legs. "I am also never going to complain when that happens."
"Noted," Stacie laughed as they reached the desk.
"Morning!" Emily waved.
"And this is why I give you the morning shifts, Em." Chloe shook her head. "No one else I employ, including myself, is ever this chipper in the morning. And I consider myself a morning person."
"Unless it's a day you've designated for sleeping in," Stacie said as she leaned on the counter. She turned to Aubrey. "It's not pretty."
"Sounds like Beca, actually." Aubrey looked over at Chloe. "Couldn't convince her?"
"Oh she's totally crashed out on my couch in the office, but she's here." Chloe glanced down the hall. "I started at 9 and she followed me in her truck. Said she'd do yoga if I let her sleep on the couch for another hour or so."
"Really?" Aubrey whistled. "I'm very impressed by your powers of persuasion."
"It's how I got into a lot of trouble in high school," Stacie said. "But we had fun."
"Totes," Chloe beamed at her. "Aubrey, if you want to go wake her, the door isn't locked."
Stacie nudged her arm. "I've gotta go count towels and mats and make sure there's enough water anyway." She kissed Aubrey on the cheek, ignoring the twin cooing sighs from the women behind the desk.
"Sure. I've got to get our stuff from my locker too." She waved and followed Stacie toward the hall leading to both the classroom and Chloe's office. "See you guys in a bit."
"Hey," Stacie said as she stepped into the room. "C'mere." She tugged Aubrey in and to the side of the doorway. Grinning she gently backed Aubrey up until she was up against the wall where Beca had plastered herself the week before.
"Can I do something for you?" Aubrey grinned, sliding her hands up Stacie's arms and under the short sleeves of her shirt.
"Walking in here, I was reminded of what I wanted to do last week when I realized you guys were here." Stacie didn't wait for her to answer, just dipped her head and kissed her, slow and deep.
Aubrey went boneless, trusting the wall and Stacie's grip at her hips to keep her upright. Not that Stacie would've done it that day without asking, that wasn't her nature, but Aubrey knew she'd have responded after that first instant of shock. That past week of disappointment and feeling embarrassed would still have been there, but she didn't think she could fight how good it would've felt to give in to the attraction that had been brewing between them.
She pulled back, Stacie's lip firmly between her teeth until the last second. "Maybe then we wouldn't have made out in the hallway at the L&L." She traced the muscles in Stacie's arm. "Beca still would've watched though."
"I've accepted that about our life together," Stacie said with, Aubrey was delighted to see, a hint of breathlessness. "God you're good at that. Do I have to teach class?"
"Chloe's already seen you and will not let you leave just so I can ravage you." Aubrey made herself push lightly on Stacie's shoulders. "Which I am going to do the next time we're alone for longer than five minutes."
"After my second class," Stacie said as she stepped back to put space between them. "I'll meet you at your place and then we can head to mine."
Knowing she was playing with fire, Aubrey ran the tip of her finger under the waistband of Stacie's yoga pants. "That is a promise I expect you to keep." It would give her time to rip her house apart looking for a certain accessory. She licked her lips and swallowed thickly. "Several times."
Stacie's slow smile was pure sin and Aubrey's body responded to it without hesitation. "You better go wake Beca before I try to figure out how fast I can make you scream before class."
"Chloe would murder us both," Aubrey said, forcing herself to slide sideways along the wall toward the door. She jumped as Chloe poked her head in the door.
"I most certainly would." She jerked her head toward the lobby. "I see some of the regulars coming in and since I hadn't noticed Aubrey leave the room, I figured I should come in here and make sure everyone was still dressed."
"Aubrey, the front wall is nothing but windows facing the park. Of course we're still dressed." Stacie was the picture of innocence if you ignored the flush to her cheeks.
"Yeah and you guys almost stripped each other in a hallway last night." Chloe crossed her arms but her grin gave away her amusement. "Now go dunk your head under a cold shower and wake up my girl."
Since Chloe had a point about last night – not that Aubrey thought they would have really gone for it in the L&L – and she was so damn amused to hear her call Beca 'my girl' she only gave Stacie one last look that promised they would pick up where they left off before leaving the room.
By the time she reached Chloe's office she'd managed to cool herself down some. Opening the door and peeking in banked it even more when she saw Beca sprawled face down on the couch and her eagerness changed to affection. Beca's head was pillowed on her jacket and one arm was hanging off the couch. Closing the door quietly behind her, Aubrey walked over and sat on the floor in front of her.
"Beca."
A soft snort was all the response she got so she tried again, this time gently shaking her arm.
"Becaaaaa."
"Mmph." Beca rolled her head away to face the back of the couch. "Sleeping, Bossy."
"Yeah but it's time for yoga." Aubrey picked up her hand and started playing with her fingers. "It means a lot that you're here." Her best friend merely grunted. "I know it wasn't just for Chloe."
Beca turned back to face Aubrey, peeking out at her from under a mass of hair. "Are you sure? She was showing me her boobs when she asked me."
"Yes, I'm sure. Though I can definitely see how that would have swayed you." Aubrey smiled at her. "But it's also because you love me."
"Maybe," Beca yawned. "It was 50/50 though."
"That close?" Aubrey whistled. "Cause you were tired?"
"No, I wanted to know if you would go through with the nudes." Beca lifted her hand out of Aubrey's and pushed herself to a sitting position. "Ugh, now my hair is all fucked up."
"Beca," Aubrey laughed, reaching into her gym bag and handing over her brush. "You saw me naked three weeks ago, why do you need nudes?"
"Like I said, to see if you would go through with it." She paused mid-brush, giving an exaggerated dreamy sigh. "And the memories."
"Does that mean you went through with it?" Aubrey grinned. "We never set a time on repayment."
"No, I'm prepped and ready to pay up." Beca pulled her phone out of her jacket.
Aubrey sat up straight. "Wait. You are?" She grinned. "Did Chloe take them last night?"
"Why are you so interested?" Beca was scrolling through something on her phone. "You saw me naked three weeks ago."
Aubrey shrugged. "Someone infected me with their dirty mind and now I live in the gutter."
"Dirty bird," Beca said, holding out her phone.
More than a little curious and definitely with a side of anticipation that probably wasn't proper, Aubrey took the phone and looked at the screen.
On it was one of those classic naked baby pictures that nobody every admitted their parents had. There was the cheesy fake fire in the background and Baby Beca was sprawled on a pile of soft blankets, much like she had been on the couch. But her head was up and she was staring right into the camera.
"Wow, your eyes were always that shade?" Aubrey looked up to find Beca watching her with a fond smile. She compared the picture to real life. "They haven't really changed at all."
"Not much but the chicks dig 'em," Beca shrugged. "Swipe right." Aubrey obediently did as requested and this time her laughter was louder. "Mom loved taking pictures of me. She has a million of them in a baby book. I'd emailed her in the middle of the night – hydration break – when I agreed to class this morning and by the time I woke up she'd emailed me half a dozen that she'd used her phone to take pictures of." She made a face. "I think Chloe forwarded the email to herself." She pointed a finger. "Stay out of my inbox."
"I'll just get Chloe to send it to me," Aubrey shrugged and kept looking at the picture of naked toddler Beca in a small bubble bath. She had formed some sort of armor out of the bubbles, covering her arms and chest and had a pile on her head. "Is that a helmet?"
"Probably. Who knows what I was thinking." Beca laughed. "Not like I remember. Does this satisfy your bet?"
"Oh yeah." Aubrey said, having already texted them to herself. "And I am very impressed at finding the loophole."
"Does that mean you would've actually sent me naked pictures of you?" Beca whistled. "If I bail before class, does it still count as showing up?"
"It would, yes, and I guess you'll never know." Aubrey handed her back her phone and stood up. "I just didn't think you'd be sober enough to think of it."
Beca eyed her for a minute and held out her hand. As Aubrey pulled her up off the couch, she finally admitted. "I didn't drink enough to be hung over this morning, thank god, but when I brought the bet up to Chloe, she thought of it instantly."
"Clever girl." Aubrey opened the door and bowed. "After you."
"Weirdo." Beca smiled as they walked out. "So, are you and Stacie good? And I don't mean that in a sexual way. I'll save that for when it's not so close to sunrise. My gutter brain works better at night."
"Yeah." Aubrey took a deep breath and let it out. "I thought about what you said and… yeah. Sometimes you just know when the right person walks into your life. Fighting it or worrying about it only made me miserable. And I don't want to be miserable, I want to be sinfully happy and that's how she makes me feel."
Beca stopped her before they turned a corner to the main hallways. "I'm happy for you, Bree." She pulled her into a hug, something she seldom initiated. "I could tell last night that you two are going to be so good for each other."
"What about you and Chloe?" Aubrey finally let her go after another squeeze. "I'm not crazy am I, in the sparks that flew?"
"No," Beca said slowly. "I'm still having a hard time adjusting. You at least had months of repressed sexual tension and build up. This is like getting hit in the face by a tetherball – well okay, that's a terrible analogy. Chloe is amazing and I think my heart knows she's the one, but it's only been twelve hours for me. And I have to rearrange a lot of long held beliefs that I would either end up alone or… with someone different." She wouldn't look up at Aubrey when she said the last. "It won't take long but man; Chloe is definitely a shock to the system."
Aubrey didn't answer right away but studied Beca's profile. It went without saying who the 'someone different' would have been and the understanding filled the space comfortably between them. "Hey," she said softly and Beca finally looked up at her. "I don't know if this makes it better or worse, but… if things were different…" She trailed off and leaned down to kiss Beca gently on the lips. It lasted only a few seconds and she knew Stacie would understand when she told her about it. There would be no secrets between them.
"Sap," Beca said as they parted. "We can't make out now, the girls will be sad they missed it." She started down the hall but not before Aubrey noticed that she rubbed at her eyes.
"We'll just have to recreate it." Aubrey kept walking when Beca stopped behind her. "Stop picturing that." Fastest way to cheer Beca up was always to make her think of sex.
"You started it!" Beca caught up with her but it had done the trick and she was smiling again.
"I totally did," Aubrey agreed. "Hurry up and go stake out our space in the back, I have to go get our stuff from my locker."
Life was funny, she thought as she made the detour. She would have been deliriously happy if she and Beca had decided to see where things took them. She knew it would've worked between them and life would've been perfect. It was obvious Beca knew it too and Aubrey just hoped she wasn't sad about what could have been, even with Chloe suddenly in her life. She herself wasn't sad, exactly, though she was aware of that second branch of her life and may wonder what it would've been like – but never to the detriment of the one she was going to make with Stacie. Hell, she knew that Stacie and Chloe had their own version of 'what if' going on. But she wasn't worried for any of them. They were still in each other's lives and always would be.
When she got to the room she found Stacie being the perfect instructor, greeting people as they came in and making sure they had a mat or towel if they forgot their own. Beca was standing awkwardly in what Aubrey was already thinking of as their corner as the room slowly filled. Stacie gave her a smile and a wink when she came in but no more acknowledgement than that as she walked over and handed Beca her mat.
"Why is mine baby blue?" Beca said as she unrolled it and sat on it to flatten it out.
"Cause it's the closest I could find to Chloe's eyes." Aubrey rolled out her purple mat and sat down to stretch.
"You… are so dumb."
"Not as dumb as that response was." Aubrey tsk'd at her. "I have come to expect better from you after all these years. You should stretch before the class starts." With the way her legs complained she wondered if she should've moved quicker to start doing it sooner.
"I'll try again when my brain starts working." Beca eyed her. "That looks painful."
"Not as painful as it would be if you cramped up in the middle." Aubrey paused, considering. "Though, I'm sure since Stacie is a physical therapist, a masseuse AND the instructor, she might be able to help rub the cramp out… wherever it is."
"I don't know if that's supposed to get me to stretch or not." But she started copying Aubrey anyway.
"Me either, really, now that I've thought of it." She put the thought away; now was not the time to be thinking the same kinds of inappropriate thoughts that she'd had last night at the bar. The soreness in her legs was already giving her inappropriate body memories of the night before and watching Stacie bend herself into interesting poses was only going to make it worse. She took a breath and tried to will them away.
Beca had been watching her and snorted. "Now who's the dirty bird," she teased quietly as the rest of the space around them filled up. "You're totally trying not to picture Stacie helping me to rub it out, as you put it."
"Possibly," Aubrey said, sitting up as Stacie moved to the front of the room to start. "But that's why you love me."
~/~
The second class went better than the first, now that she knew what to expect and wasn't completely thrown by Stacie suddenly appearing in front of her. She felt that she was able to get the hang of the positions and was even giving Beca small bits of advice for some of them. The only thing that she missed from that first day was that Stacie didn't manage to make Beca fall over into helpless giggles when she came by their row. Maybe she'd have to give away some secrets to make it happen next week.
As the last of the others filed out, Chloe wandered in and sat down next to their mats.
"Well? How'd it go?"
"I think I'm dead," Beca groaned as she sprawled on her back trying to catch her breath. "Don't look at me, I'm a disgusting mess."
"Is that why you power walked out here last time?" Chloe stretched out on the floor next to her and propped her head on her hand. "I own a fitness studio. I'm not put off by messy hair and sweat, Beca." She leaned forward and not so subtly whispered. "Do you need any help showering?"
Beca stopped breathing for a second and looked at her, wide eyed, and Aubrey didn't bother hiding her laugh. "You allow that here?"
"No, but I could claim I had an emergency and had to leave." Crystal blue eyes sparkled with mirth.
"Emily would never let you get away with that," Stacie said as she walked over to them.
"Perks of being the boss." Chloe shrugged. "What good is the title if I never abuse it?"
"Well at this point you're either a good boss or a good girlfriend," Stacie pointed out. "You either take care of the business, or your girls business."
"Could take an early lunch and do both?" Aubrey leaned back on her hands. "That seems like a good compromise."
"What a great idea!" Chloe beamed at her. "An excellent balance of business and recreation."
Aubrey lay back on the mat and stretched her legs by pointing her toes. "Beca, breathe." There was a noisy inhale followed by a cough. "Thank you." She looked over at Chloe. "For her gutter brain, this kind of matter of fact discussion can spark her prudish side."
"Because daytime and it's a public space; anyone who overhears and then sees us leave together will know." Beca rubbed her face with her hands.
"Does that mean you don't want me to?" Chloe pouted when Beca looked at her.
"Of course I want you to come help me in the shower." Beca looked up at the ceiling. "I'm awkward, not stupid."
"Aw, it's cute when her face turns red." Stacie sat down beside Aubrey. "Now I have a new goal in life."
Aubrey took pity on her friend and changed the subject. "Are we still on for a pizza sleepover tonight?"
"Of course," Chloe answered. "Since we opened, Em and I aren't working late tonight, so we should be on for, what, 7 or 8?"
"I think Lilly is closing tonight, so that works." Beca groaned as she sat up and slowly crossed her legs. "Even if she's not, I won't be much later than that."
"I'll text you my address," Stacie said. "Since you slipped me your number last night and all."
"Oops," Beca shrugged. "Have you two exchanged numbers yet?"
"This morning." Aubrey stretched her arms out over her head. "Oh, hey. I told Stacie that I'd make French toast in the morning."
"That would maybe convince me to do this whole sleepover thing." Beca rubbed her stomach. "It's a weakness of mine."
"What's the matter, you don't like to have fun?" Stacie shook her head. "Sleepover dog piles are great."
"I generally dislike being around people," Beca said. "You guys are a very strange exception to a lifelong rule. And no, customers don't count. They don't hang around and bug me." She paused and Aubrey knew what was coming. "Until someone walked in and became my best friend. Maybe that was the beginning of the end."
"You are such a drama queen," Aubrey shook her head and let herself relax on the mat. "Your life would not be the same without me."
"I choose to not ever even imagine that scenario, thank you very much." Beca reached over and pushed on Aubrey's hip.
"Hey," Stacie said in a deliberately casual tone. "When are you guys free to go house hunting and mattress shopping?"
"I'm sorry, what now?" Beca's grin was audible.
"Aubrey wants us all to shack up together." Stacie grinned down at her irrepressibly when Aubrey tilted her head to look up. "In the same bed."
"That's not how I remember it," Aubrey said, trying to ignore the fact that some of the details were indeed fuzzy considering what they'd been doing at the time.
"You said you wanted to quit your job and stay in bed with me all day." Stacie turned to the other two who were watching with various stages of amusement and confusion. "I pointed out that you would miss us and her answer was that you would have to stay with us."
"Okay, but where does the mattress come in?" Chloe sat up and crossed her legs. "Color me intrigued."
"Because when I said you'd have to stay with us, I meant roommates so you'd be able to see us when we emerged for food. Miss Innocent over here thought I meant in my bed. Or ours, I suppose." Aubrey laced her fingers together over her stomach. "And pointed out that it was kind of small for four people."
"It's only a queen," Beca said. "So Bucky does have a point. Even a king wouldn't be comfortable long term."
"Which is when I said if that's what her plan was, we would definitely need a bigger bed because you sleep like a starfish." Aubrey grinned at Beca's indignant scoff.
"I can now attest to this fact," Chloe agreed solemnly. "Though it didn't last long because I spooned her."
"I do love a good spooning," Beca admitted easily. "I blame Aubrey for that."
"Another thing I'll keep in mind." Stacie ran her knuckles down Aubrey's cheek. "Do you remember the rest of it?"
"No, because you were distracting me by all the naked." She forced herself not to react to the memory of Stacie thrusting against her.
"I said that Beca the Starfish was something I'd have to see. And you said I will." Stacie shrugged. "Seemed pretty sure about it."
"Pardon me." Beca held up her hand. "But was I naked in this scenario?"
"And I was also to be present for this?" Chloe clasped her hands together and held them to her chest, all wide blue eyes and batting lashes. "I was, right? Definitely included in this amazing sounding fantasy you two share?" She wiggled from side to side in glee. "Also the naked question for me as well."
"You were." Aubrey pursed her lips, trying not to think about anything beyond a surface joke. "I don't think we said one way or the other if you guys were naked."
"We did not." Stacie said after a moment of thought. "Just that we would be naked and you would be in bed with us so you didn't miss us – for some reason."
"Do we get a vote if we're naked or not?" Beca grinned at them.
"Interesting." Chloe was nodding slowly at the same time. "It doesn't sound like either of you were opposed to the naked."
"We stopped talking about it at that point." Stacie held up her hands in a shrug. "Like Aubrey said, there was a lot of distracting going on."
"Still doesn't," Chloe pursed her lips. "Noted."
"It's an honor just to be nominated, really." Beca slowly stood up and stretched out her back.
"That's because you're a voyeur," Stacie pointed out. "Though, may I remind you, you walked away instead of watching last night?"
"I was unprepared." Beca took the hand Chloe held out and helped her to her feet. "There was no way I could've prepared for what it actually would look like when you guys really started making out." She took a deep breath. "It was a lot hotter than I'd pictured even though you almost made out at my truck. But!" She held up a finger. "I know what to expect now."
"We'll see, B." Stacie rose gracefully to her feet. "We'll see."
"You know she's going to take that as a promise," Aubrey said as she slipped her arms around Stacie's waist. "Or a challenge."
"I know." Stacie hugged her close. "I think that's what I like most about her."
"I think I like how much we get along with each other's best friend," Aubrey said, leaning up to kiss her.
"Me too," Stacie let her go when Aubrey knelt to help Beca wipe down and roll up their mats.
"Me three," Chloe said as she headed for the door, tugging Beca after her once they'd finished. "Imagine how much fun we'll have when we live together." She gave a flirtatious wink as she and Beca walked into the lobby.
Aubrey stood back up and tucked both mats under her arm. "You'll meet me at my place?" She bowed her head as Stacie looped her towel around her neck, squeaking when she was tugged forward into another kiss.
"Yup, after my class. I've got to stop at my place and pick up another set of clothes."
"That's silly," Aubrey shook her head and stole another kiss. "Text me when you're leaving and send me your address. I'll meet you there since we'd just go back to your place anyway for dinner."
"You going to help me with my shower?" Stacie grinned, backing away.
"I hope you have a good heater," Aubrey said as she followed. "Because I can be very thorough when I need to be."
Stacie shivered and closed her eyes. "Tell me again why I promised to teach two classes on Saturday?"
Aubrey laughed and nudged her toward the door. "Because Chloe needed you and you won't let her down."
"Both of those are true statements." Stacie sighed. "I'll text you when class is over. Let's go throw these in your locker and I'll walk you out."
Beca and Chloe were gone by the time they reached the lobby and waved to Emily as they walked out.
"I'll be back in a second, just walking Aubrey to her car." Stacie called out.
"You better. I've already had one of you ditch me this morning." But she grinned and waved. "See you tonight Aubrey."
"It'll be fun. I haven't had a girl's night in a while." As they walked past the racks, Aubrey couldn't help but smile at the empty space right up front with her name on it. "I still can't believe you did that."
Stacie shrugged. "Seemed like the right thing to do. It brought us together." They were silent as they walked through the parking lot and the beep of Aubrey's alarm turning off seemed loud. "I have a confession."
"Oh?" Aubrey opened her back door to throw in her bag. She leaned back against the door after she closed it. "What kind of confession."
"I'm so very much in love with you." She grinned when Aubrey rolled her eyes. "And I'm going to miss you."
"I feel the same. It's weird - we've actually spent more time apart than together," Aubrey mused.
"But yet it feels like we've been together for years?" Stacie finished and Aubrey nodded and pulled her down into a lingering kiss. "If you don't leave now I'm going to see how big the backseat of your car is and I still have to shower and eat something before my next class."
"The Beca part of my brain says that I don't care about your shower and you could totally eat me before your next class… but Emily would kill me if I made you late," Aubrey made herself turn away to open her car door.
"I can't believe you put that in my head when I don't have time to take you up on it." Stacie groaned.
"Don't even think about it," Aubrey laughed. "Can't have your cousin hating me."
"There isn't a hateful bone in her body." Stacie held the door open while Aubrey got in and pulled on her seatbelt. "Even if she gets mad enough to yell she apologizes immediately."
Aubrey started the car and rolled down the window. "She's good people."
"So are you." Stacie closed the door and leaned into the open frame for another kiss. "Even if I did think you were a crazy lady the day we met."
"Just because I chained your bike to the rack…" Aubrey shook her head, realizing they were both stalling. "Watch your toes."
Stacie squeezed her arm and moved to the front of her car so Aubrey could back out. They smiled softly at each other for another minute before Aubrey put her car in reverse and checked the area around her before pulling out and driving away.