70
The meeting had just ended, but the hum of energy hadn't quite left the room.
Amanda was gathering up her notes, the subtle buzz of victory still warm in her chest. The pitch had landed. The room had listened. Ericka had owned every second. Everything had gone right.
And then Ava appeared.
Blocking the doorway with a casual, leaned-back posture and that signature smirk Amanda was learning to distrust.
"Well," Ava said, eyes flicking between Amanda and Ericka, "if that presentation didn't seal it, I don't know what will. You two were in sync."
Amanda offered a polite nod. "Teamwork."
"Mm." Ava stepped closer to Amanda, tilting her head. "You know, we still haven't had that drink. You free tonight?"
Before Amanda could answer, Ava shifted her gaze—this time directly at Ericka.
"You can come too," she added. "In fact, I think I'd prefer it."
Amanda blinked, caught completely off-guard.
Ericka didn't miss a beat. She stepped forward, composed, unreadable.
"If you're serious," Ericka said quietly, "you'd have to sign an NDA."
Ava arched a brow. "An NDA? Sounds serious."
Ericka's voice was smooth. "I take what's mine very seriously."
There was a long beat of silence. Amanda could feel the shift in the room, the unspoken current sparking between them like static.
Then Ava smiled—bold, unbothered. "As long as I get both of you," she said, "I'll sign whatever you want."
Amanda's heart thudded. "Ava..."
But Ericka only gave the faintest of smirks. "That won't be necessary."
Ava's smile faltered just a bit.
"I don't share," Ericka finished calmly. "Especially not at work."
Amanda exhaled slowly, grateful for the steel in Ericka's voice.
Ava backed off with a shrug, her confidence cracking ever so slightly. "Worth a shot."
She slipped out of the room, and the door closed behind her with a soft click.
Amanda turned to Ericka, eyes wide. "Did that actually just happen?"
"She's gutsy," Ericka said coolly, brushing imaginary lint off her sleeve. "I'll give her that."
Amanda stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You okay?"
Ericka finally let her expression crack into something softer—something possessive.
"I'm fine," she murmured. "But she's not the only one who wants both of us."
Amanda blinked. "What?"
Ericka leaned in, whispering against her ear.
"I would love to fuck you both" she said as she walked away. Leaving Amanda there in disbelief.
The office had emptied out by the time Amanda returned to Ericka's apartment that evening. The sun had dipped behind the skyline, casting long shadows over the hardwood floors and painting the walls with soft, golden remnants of daylight.
Ericka was already home — barefoot, hair down, robe tied loosely at her waist as she moved between the kitchen and the living room, lighting candles like she needed the stillness more than she was willing to admit.
Amanda stepped inside, setting her bag down by the door and toeing off her shoes. She watched Ericka quietly for a moment, letting the hush settle between them before speaking.
"You're nesting," Amanda said softly, with a half-smile.
Ericka turned, lips curving just slightly. "I like it when you call it that."
Amanda stepped closer, wrapping her arms loosely around Ericka's waist. "You okay?"
Ericka rested her forehead against Amanda's shoulder. "Yeah. Just... tired. But not bad tired. Just ready to not be in charge for a few hours."
Amanda kissed the side of her head. "Then don't be. Let me run the show."
Ericka looked up at her. "Tempting."
They settled into the couch with wine and silence, music humming low in the background — something instrumental, soft. Amanda curled her legs beneath her while Ericka laid back, her head resting gently against Amanda's thigh.
For a long time, neither of them said anything.
Then, quietly — too casually — Ericka spoke.
"Have you ever thought about having a threesome?"
Amanda's hand, which had been idly stroking Ericka's hair, paused mid-motion. "Wow. Okay. That's one way to shift gears."
Ericka let out a breathy laugh. "I didn't mean tonight. I just... after earlier. With Ava."
Amanda raised an eyebrow. "You've been thinking about that all day?"
"Not about her," Ericka clarified. "Just... the idea. The fantasy of it."
Amanda tilted her head. "So you've thought about it?"
Ericka sat up a little, turning to face her. Her expression wasn't teasing now. It was open. Curious. "I'm asking because I trust you. Because I want to know how your brain works. And because if you said you'd never even once imagined it... I might call you a liar."
Amanda laughed. "Okay, maybe once. Or twice."
Ericka's smile widened. "Thank you for your honesty."
Amanda looked at her, searching her face. "Is this something you want?"
Ericka didn't rush to answer. She leaned back, thinking. "I don't know. I like control. I like... clarity. But sometimes I wonder what it would feel like to let that go. To let something be a little reckless. Just once."
Amanda reached out, her fingers lacing with Ericka's. "I think fantasies are allowed to exist without being turned into real-life logistics."
"True," Ericka said. "But I also think they're a window."
"To what?"
"To how we want to be seen. Touched. Known."
Amanda squeezed her hand gently. "And how do you want to be known?"
Ericka's eyes met hers — quiet, steady, sure. "As yours."
Amanda leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't about fantasy.
It was a promise.
"I like having all of you to myself," Amanda whispered. "But I like that you asked. That you let me in."
Ericka nodded against her lips. "I trust you more than I trust myself sometimes."
Amanda smiled, brushing her nose gently against hers. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."