billy – Glad you're enjoying it :)

jaiden83 – Anytime you get dinner served up to you is a good time, I think! :)

mini – Those three are the key to happiness!

Willow stood at the top end of the gym, taking in all of the various machinery at her disposal.

She'd gone home after delivering her meals on wheels to change into a t-shirt and sweats, then walked the 10 blocks or so to the gym as a warm-up of sorts. She knew nothing of stretching or the technique involved, so headed straight for the elliptical trainer. It was the only machine she recognised apart from the treadmill and bike, and she'd done enough of the outside version of the both of those for one day.

She stepped onto the pedals and poked at the display until everything was set to zero. She closed her fists around the handles and pushed forwards with her feet until she was doing the right climbing motion.

She got into it and pumped her legs hard for a solid two minutes, before her heart really started to hammer from the unexpected cardio workout. It got uncomfortable quickly and she had to slink off in embarrassment to down the contents of her water bottle and refill it at the fountain.

She stood around for a minute and decided to go over to the weights instead and to build up her cardio another time. She picked up some one pound dumbbells and did a few experimental squats and bicep curls. When that didn't go disastrously, she sat into the leg press and tried to straighten out her legs to lift the weights.

She hadn't checked what weight they were slotted in at, however, and they slammed back down the moment she tried to lift them. A few ripped men glanced at her in annoyance, and a young woman in full spandex get-up stopped from where she was walking across the and came over to Willow.

Willow fought to try and pretend she didn't see her very apparent breasts.

"Have you been trained in weight-lifting?" the woman asked bluntly, continuing to motion a gentle jog on the spot.

"Um, no," Willow replied, bending her legs back so there was no risk of more mishap.

The woman gestured around.

"How about any of these machines?"

Willow shook her head.

"No."

The woman sighed.

"Have you ever been to a gym before?" she asked, and got an answer in the form of Willow's red cheeks, "A class might be better as a starting point. Aerobics and step are popular. I'm about to go teach a step class, do you want to join?"

She was impatient, but not unkind, so Willow decided there was little she could mess up just by stepping.

"Yeah, okay," she said, stepping out of the machine, "Thanks."

She followed the woman upstairs to a machine-free room with lots of mirrors and other women setting up the individual platforms. The instructor set the boom box she was carrying down, pressed play so that loud, energetic music began to play and wasted no time bringing her own platform to the front.

"Come on ladies, let's do this!"

The class started as it meant to go on; vigorous, intense and rhythmic. Willow didn't have that last one, nor the coordination required to learn it, but her brain was so wired to learn patterns from her hacking skills, that she could follow every second step in time without getting flustered.

She was starting to sweat, but she could just about breathe and there was a pleasure in watching the bouncing bosom of their enthusiastic leader. Her eyes closed and she imagined Tara's breasts heaving in her face for a moment, providing for a deeply pounding heart that she had to put out of her mind to keep up with the steps.

She kept her eyes down for the rest of the, thankfully only half-hour, class and backed into a corner to sit and catch her breath when she was finished. The instructor came over to her and advised her to get someone to show her how to use the machines before trying them again, which Willow acknowledged with a forced smile before rolling out when the next class started to mill in.

Willow decided she'd done her lot for the day and filled her water bottle up once more for the walk home.

By the time she got there, she was practically crawling and actually sat for a few minutes on the second flight of stairs to get enough energy to go the rest of the way. She finally arrived at the door, and realised to her horror that while her phone and wallet were in her small shoulder bag, her keys were nowhere to be found.

She cast her mind back and had visions of her taking them from the bowl on the breakfast bar, leaving them on the table to run to the bathroom, then just grabbing the bag and running out.

She banged her fist against the door.

"Damn it!"

Moments later, the door opposite opened and their creepy neighbour popped his slimy head out.

"Problem?" he asked, and Willow was able to hear the hocking in his throat as he spoke.

"No, no," Willow said, avoiding his greasy gaze, "Not a problem. Nothing. Nope. Fine. Finey McFine. Thank you."

He eyed her up for a moment, snarl-grinned, then closed his door again.

Willow quickly whipped out her phone and dialled Tara.

Tara waited at the small circular table of the wine bar she was in while Alice was ordering their glasses. A waitress was walking around collecting classes and Tara couldn't help but notice she had a very shapely butt. She gave it a quick glance, and in that time Alice returned with two glasses of red and apparently noticed.

"Forever 21."

Tara had to snap her attention away quickly and closed her hand around the stem of the wine glass, tipping it gratefully.

"I'm sorry?"

"The jeans," Alice explained, sitting up on the bar stool, "They're Forever 21. I have a pair too. Good price, if you're looking."

Tara sincerely hoped her cheeks weren't the colour she felt they were.

"Oh, right. Yes, the jeans. Thank you."

Alice just smiled cordially and Tara thought she was off the hook. She took a very long sip and cleared her throat as she left the glass on the table again.

They discussed the case they had been working together that day until half-way through their glasses, then Alice threw a hand up to stop herself mid-sentence.

"Look at us, the pair of workaholics. Enough shop talk," she said, readjusting herself in her seat to move towards recreational conversation "So, tell me about you. I know you're a great worker, what else are you?"

Tara looked down shyly.

"I'm nothing too exciting. I like to cook and read on the weekends and I'm getting a little bit too addicted to certain cop shows. And you?"

"I like nice food, spa days and my kitten," Alice answered pleasantly, "With the occasional man thrown in."

"Do you have a partner?" Tara enquired.

Alice shook her head.

"No, I broke up with my last boyfriend last year, and I vowed I wouldn't enter a relationship again until I could keep an animal alive for six months," she answered, then gestured with her hand, "Hence the cat. What about you?"

"I live with my partner Will–" Tara began to answer, then was cut off as her phone began to buzz beside her, "Oh. Speak of the devil."

She mouthed an apology and turned her head to the side as she answered.

"Hi Will."

She listened for a moment as Willow spoke.

"Where did you leave them?" she asked, then sighed when she got the answer, "Oh, for god's sake."

She brought a hand up to her temple and rubbed.

"Yes, okay, okay. Bye."

She hung up and looked at Alice regretfully.

"I'm really sorry," she said, waving her phone in place, "Forgot the keys. I have to go."

"No problem, I understand," Alice replied genuinely, "We'll do it again."

"Yes, I'd like that," Tara replied, taking the last long sip of her wine, "I'll see you at work."

Alice reached over and squeezed Tara's upper arm affectionately.

"See you tomorrow. Bye Tara."

Tara waved with her fingers as she threw her purse over her shoulder and headed out to catch the T home.

She was there twenty minutes later and Willow scrambled up to stand as she saw her round the corner.

"I'm sorry."

Tara had her key out, ready to put in the door.

"It's okay," she said, opening the door for them, "Are you alright?"

"Grossed out, worn out and hungry," Willow answered, grateful to step over the threshold, "Did I mention sore?"

Tara put her purse on the table, waved Willow's keys in her face, then tapped her back.

"Go sit down, I'll make dinner."

Willow leaned on Tara and kissed where her mouth fell, messily between Tara's neck and shoulder blade.

"Looovvveee you."

She floated over to collapse on the couch while Tara rolled her sleeves up and went to see what she could whip up quickly. Fifteen minutes later, she brought two plates out of spicy salmon with bok choy and rice.

Willow sat with her legs stretched out and took her plate, while Tara lifted Willow's legs and sat beneath with them in her lap. They were both hungry so ate in silence for a few minutes before slowing enough to talk halfway through to talk.

"Did you have a nice drink with your work friend?" Willow asked, feeling guilty for pulling her away.

Tara smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, she's very kind and friendly," she said, then considered her words for a moment as she flaked off a piece of salmon, "She almost caught me out though. I would have been so embarrassed if she realised."

"What were you doing?" Willow asked, curious.

Tara's nose scrunched.

"I was checking out the waitress's ass," she admitted.

She wasn't sure how Willow would react, but she just grinned.

"You should've seen the pair on my gym instructor."

"Ha," Tara replied with a laugh, "And I bet you saw plenty."

Willow blushed but didn't deny and finished off the last of her rice. Tara rested their empty plates on each other and left them on the coffee table to load into the dishwasher later. She took Willow's legs back over her lap and began to massage her calves.

Willow's toes curled with delight and she felt her muscles start to relax.

"That's nice. Everywhere hurts."

"Did you stretch?" Tara asked, then made a clucking sound when Willow shook her head, "You need to stretch, baby."

"I know, baby," Willow replied with a sigh mixed with a grin, enjoying the massage too much to be chastised.

"Do it next time," Tara advised, firmly pressing her thumbs into Willow's stiff muscles.

"If I go back," Willow said, lounging back with a deep sigh, "I wish I was naturally fit like you."

"I do walk a lot," Tara pointed out.

Willow nodded agreeably.

"Yeah, I know. And I know I'm lazy. That's what I'm trying to fix. You know, on the whole self-improvement kick and everything."

Tara gently tickled the sole of Willow's foot.

"I'm very proud of you for wanting to work on yourself."

Willow seemed very pleased with that.

"I'm gonna learn how to use the treadmill properly and the rowing machine," she vowed, "I need to strengthen my legs to keep going on that bike and wagon."

Tara rested her head on the back of the couch and smiled adoringly in Willow's direction.

"You're so lovely to do that every day. I bet the people really appreciate it. It might be the only human contact some of them get a day."

"The centre manager said that too," Willow recalled.

Tara lifted an eyebrow.

"The one who hit on you?"

Willow rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I wasn't so flattered after all. Turns out he just hits on everyone. I heard the nurses gossiping. He's not sleazy, he took no for an answer right away, but he just tries his luck all around. Guess he thinks it's a numbers game. Ask enough women and one is bound to say yes."

Tara shook her head.

"That doesn't sound like the best way to manage a facility or find love."

Willow shrugged one shoulder.

"He's nice, just a bit dorky. Been there. Can't blame him for trying."

Tara acquiesced and continued rubbing Willow's calves.

"Wanna watch some TV?"

Willow smiled, happy for Tara to get lost in a show, and in turn, lost in the massage.

"Sure."

Exercise was worth it when Tara was there to rub her down.

Tara arrived home and unusually, Willow wasn't there to greet her.

Tara hadn't realised how accustomed she'd become to a welcome home hug and felt Willow's lack of presence quite deeply. She shrugged her purse onto the table and went to change into jeans and a t-shirt. As she came back out of the bedroom, Willow walked through the door in shorts and a tank and holding a white box.

Tara wasn't sure whether Willow was just back from a jog around the neighbourhood, as she'd started to enjoy doing, or if she was just sweaty from the summer heat, but she very much appreciated the display of Willow's tight, toned and sheeny body.

Willow's calves were so defined she was almost afraid they'd cut her and her thighs were so strong and muscular that she was sure they could crush her head the next time she was lucky enough to be between them.

She licked her lips to get some moisture back and went over to plant a smooch on Willow's lips, but instead got the box thrust in her face.

"Look what I got!"

"What is it?" Tara asked, flustered.

Willow dropped the box on the table and started to tear into it.

"My new phone. Can you believe it? I was able negotiate one of the iPhones since I was only getting one upgrade instead of two. Thank you so much for not wanting a new phone!"

She ripped through the packaging and produced her shiny new gadget.

"Wow!"

She grabbed the charger and went to sit on the couch with the nearest outlet to plug it in and start to play.

Tara tried to compose herself, but watching Willow's ass walk away didn't help much. She followed Willow over to the couch and perched as close to her as possible.

"Do you want to eat?" she asked, breathily, then splayed out her hand just above Willow's thigh, "I could…eat."

Willow's eyes didn't leave her powering-up phone.

"I'll just make a sandwich or something later. Go ahead and eat."

Tara slid her hand up so her pinky finger brushed against the hem of Willow's shorts.

"It's nice to eat together," she said eagerly, tone throaty before adding on more bluntly, "Let's go to bed,"

Willow looked perplexed.

"It's barely six o' clock," she said, then squealed as the phone landed on the menu screen, "Oh my god, it's on, it's on!"

Tara sighed, removed her hand and went to make herself some pasta. She made enough for Willow to have later and had to entertain herself for the evening while Willow stayed glued to her phone, and at times syncing up her phone and computer.

Tara had been in bed twenty minutes when she heard some movement; the clacking of Willow putting a bowl in the dishwasher, the sound of her brushing her teeth, then saw her walk in, still with her thumb scrolling the screen.

Tara was lying on her side, reading a book, and had to stop herself from tensing her jaw.

"You've been on that thing all evening."

Willow popped the button on her shorts with one hand, shimmied out of them and got into bed in her tank and panties. Tara couldn't help the pang between her legs despite her annoyance.

"It's so cool," Willow gushed, "It can do everything, and there's these things called apps and they can do even more!"

"Great," Tara replied, half sarcastically, "Are you going to turn it off now?"

Willow shook her head.

"I'm still getting it put together just how I want it."

Tara sighed softly and turned back to her book.

She knew nothing could come between Willow and a new toy.

Tara buffed the coffee table with a cloth for the tenth time in a row that morning. A Saturday morning tidy had turned into deep, almost frantic cleaning but it wasn't doing for Tara what she hoped it would. Nothing seemed to expel the energy she had pent up.

Willow had gone for a jog an hour ago, and seeing her in those work-out shorts were Tara's new kryptonite. She was still thinking about them as she worked out her physical frustration and wondered if a cold shower was in order.

Her thoughts then drifted to the idea of a warmer shower and the detachable shower head. She was very close to making the decision to lock herself in the bathroom when Willow returned, smiling and sweaty.

Tara felt an ache and squeezed her legs together to try and contain it. Willow popped her earphones out of her ears and left them on the table with the cable connected to her phone, which she waved about.

"This thing is great, I can listen to all my music on it and–"

Tara watched Willow gush and thought she could literally feel herself snap. Willow had been in a relationship with that phone since the moment she got it and Tara hadn't had so much as a look in. Granted, it had only been a couple of days, but it was particularly hot and Willow looked particularly scrumptious in her lithe clothing and the frustration of both made Tara boil over.

She strode over in seconds, snatched the phone out of Willow's hand and slid it to the other side of the table.

"No more phone."

"Huh?" Willow asked, brow creasing.

"I am so sick of that goddamn phone," Tara said, squeezing her hands in annoyance, "I get it, it's cool, it's like a mini computer in your hand, but please just pay attention to me for five minutes or at least stop parading around in those shorts!"

Willow was slightly stunned but didn't have a chance to even think of a response before Tara was grabbing her by the waist and sitting her up on the table; the burst of anger quickly flip-flopping into passion.

Tara's mouth landed on Willow's neck and her hands fought to release the string on Willow's shorts.

Willow was totally taken back, but her eyes couldn't help fluttering closed to enjoy the proximity of Tara's body.

"Tara, I'm all sweaty," she said, her tone not conveying the apparent resistance she was putting up.

Tara's tongue fell out of her mouth and licked Willow's salty skin.

"I know. It's amazing."

Tara's hand yanked Willow's shorts down and off. She bent down on her hunches and lifted Willow's tank to kiss her abs.

Willow let out an unexpected moan and stalled Tara with her hand.

"Wait…I was just running…I probably stink."

Tara kneeled down a little more so her nose was pressed into the front of Willow's panties.

"You smell so good."

She pushed Willow's panties to one side and licked her wet lips.

When she kept going back for more, Willow didn't argue any longer and closed her hands around the edge of the table. Her head lolled back and her stronger-than-ever thighs clasped Tara's head between them.

Tara could feel Willow's muscles flexing against her ears and her knees gave way. She managed not to break contact as they spread out on the floor to take her weight. Willow's floating moans just encouraged her mouth to work even faster.

She had a lot of sexual frustration to let out and her hands were showing her eagerness; grabbing and stroking right from Willow's outer thighs, around to her ass and back to palm her thighs again.

She was on fire between her legs and could feel her clit throbbing all the way up to her ears. She needed to feel Willow deeper, so her knees snapped back up to standing and she pulled Willow off the table. She spun Willow around and bent her over.

Willow barely had a second to process it all before she felt her panties slide down to her knees and Tara's fingers entering her from behind.

"Fuck!"

She thrust her hips back and reached behind with one hand to grab Tara's ass. She pulled Tara forward to add to their momentum and put more weight into her thrusts.

Tara's movements were desperate and that extended to dropping her own pants and panties to her ankles so there was skin-on-skin contact against their thighs. She struggled to keep her trembling hands still enough to pop the button, but finally the material gave and she moaned as Willow's hand reached behind again with fingertips sinking into her bare cheek.

While she pumped her fingers in and out of Willow, her other hand fell under Willow's shirt and groped her breast, though the thick material of the sports bra was restrictive.

Willow felt it too and snatched the tank over her head and frantically reached behind to pull off her bra. Her panties had fallen to her ankles in their movements and a quick step found them skidding across the floor.

Finally everything was off but her socks and running shoes, which would have required a pause of precious seconds to remove that she wasn't willing to give. The coolness of the table against her skin mixed with the heat pouring from them both was driving her wild. Her nipples were stiff and grazing off the wood, just adding to her overall ecstasy.

"Jesus, Tara…"

A strained moan passed her lips and Tara felt it drift into her ears and pang between her legs. She rotated her wrist so her thumb could slip underneath and rub Willow's clit.

She felt Willow's heat start to engulf her fingers and used every trick she had to make her scream, and soon.

Willow did just that as she came moments later, her weak body only holding its position because of the close press of Tara's body.

Tara closed her other hand around Willow's butt cheek, slowly dragged her fingers out and used them to rub herself to orgasm in just seconds. She slumped forwards with her pussy pressed against Willow's ass and took in slow, deep breaths.

As her breath slowed, she saw Willow's hand creep up the table at what Tara thought was her phone.

"Can you be away from that thing for ten minutes for once?" she snapped, then had to be contrite when Willow's hand just closed around the water bottle instead, "…sorry. I'm sorry."

Willow slowly turned so she was half-standing/half-sitting on the table. She offered the water to Tara first, who took a slow glug, then handed it back. Willow downed some herself and left the water bottle off to the side. She pulled Tara's hips to hers, who was looking quite shy about being half naked in the living room and coyly hiding herself with two hands between her legs.

Willow wasn't as uncomfortable, though did do the cross-arm fold over her chest and her legs crossed over each other.

"Guess I've been a bit glued to that thing."

"A bit," Tara replied, still taking in laboured breaths, "Especially when I wanted my head glued somewhere else."

Willow's eyebrows shot up. Eating had become an absent-minded pastime and she hadn't kept up with her shows, but she was shocked that she would ever deny a Tara-craving.

"Did I blow you off?!"

Tara nodded uncomfortably.

"Yeah. A few times."

Willow smiled apologetically, but it quirked into a smirk.

"A few times, huh? It's only been a couple of days."

Tara blushed even more.

"Your muscles are very sexy."

Willow was pleased her efforts were being appreciated but gave herself a kick up the butt for snubbing Tara.

"You need to tell me when I'm being an asshole," she said, leaning in to brush their noses together, "You know me and new tech. I'll do better, I promise."

Their lips naturally found each other and Willow's hands migrated to hold Tara's face. They kissed softly several times, then Willow let one hand fall to link their fingers together.

She pushed herself off the table and lifted Tara's shirt over her head, then snapped her bra off. Tara's eyes flamed with new lust and her coy hands dropped, no longer embarrassed to be on show.

Their naked bodies pressed together and Tara stepped out of her pants and panties while Willow kicked her shoes and socks off. She pulled Tara in for another deep kiss, then gently pulled her hand to lead her into the bedroom, smiling sensually over her shoulder as she did so.

"Starting right now."