95
The smell of fresh coffee drifted through the apartment like a soft invitation. Somewhere in the kitchen, the faint clink of mugs and the low hum of Ava's humming filled the quiet.
Amanda stirred slowly in bed, stretching beneath the soft sheets. The space beside her was warm but empty. She blinked sleep from her eyes and slid out from under the covers, tugging on one of Ericka's shirts and padding out of the room, bare feet silent on the hardwood.
Down the hallway, soft voices carried from the kitchen.
In the doorway, she paused—hidden just out of sight—watching as Ava stepped closer to Ericka, voice low and bold.
"Can I do something?"
Ericka's response came soft but steady. "That depends."
"On what?"
"On what you're about to do."
Then, Ava leaned in and kissed her.
Amanda's breath caught.
Ava's hand slid gently along Ericka's jaw, her thumb brushing the corner of her mouth just before her lips pressed into Ericka's. It was a soft kiss, but full of intent—slow, deliberate, and warm. Her other hand moved to Ericka's waist, drawing her in subtly.
Ericka tensed, surprised, lips motionless for a moment. But Ava didn't rush. She tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss, lips parting just enough to test the edge of control.
And Ericka responded.
She kissed her back—first gently, then deeper—letting her hand drift to the small of Ava's back. Their mouths moved in perfect sync, breaths growing heavier as the air around them shifted from playful to charged.
But before it could go any further, a soft voice broke the silence.
"Ahem."
Both women jolted, pulling apart instantly.
Ava's lips were flushed and slightly parted. Ericka's eyes widened, coffee still in hand as Amanda stepped slowly into the kitchen.
"Amanda—" Ericka began, breath caught in her throat.
Amanda didn't say anything at first.
She moved toward them slowly, gaze unreadable but steady. The air buzzed with tension—but not anger. Something else.
Ericka opened her mouth to explain, but Amanda closed the distance between them... and kissed Ava.
It wasn't shy.
Amanda's hands slid into Ava's hair, tilting her head just right as her lips met hers—warm, hungry, and full of silent authority. Ava froze at first, startled, then melted into it with a soft gasp. Amanda's mouth moved over hers, deeper now—tongues brushing, breath hitching.
By the time Amanda pulled back, Ava looked dazed. Her lips parted, eyes fluttering open slowly.
Then Amanda turned to Ericka.
There was no hesitation.
She kissed her like she was reclaiming something already hers. Her fingers curled around the edge of Ericka's robe, pulling her close. Their mouths collided with heat and familiarity, tongues dancing slow and possessive, lips parting with soft, wet gasps between breaths.
Ericka moaned quietly, her hand tangling in Amanda's shirt, grounding herself.
The kiss stretched out—needy but not frantic, full of promises and permission and something deeper than lust.
When Amanda finally pulled away, her lips were slightly swollen, breath steady but controlled.
"You thought I'd be mad?" she asked, her voice like silk over steel.
Ericka swallowed hard. "I... I wasn't sure."
Amanda traced her thumb gently along Ericka's bottom lip. "I told you. If this is going to happen... I want to be a part of it. Not standing on the outside."
Ava, still catching her breath, murmured, "So... you're okay?"
Amanda nodded. "I'm more than okay."
Then her lips curled. "But next time... I want to be the one to start it."
Ericka exhaled with a crooked smile. "That can be arranged."
Ava laughed softly. "Glad I asked."
They stood there, the three of them—something unspoken now humming between them. Something new. Open.
Amanda took a sip of her coffee like nothing had happened. "So... breakfast?"
Ericka bit her bottom lip, voice teasing. "After a few more kisses, maybe."
Amanda raised an eyebrow, slow and sultry.
"If I wasn't hungry right now," she murmured, "both of you would be in the bedroom screaming my name."
Ava nearly dropped her mug, and Ericka let out a soft, stunned laugh.
Amanda just smirked, turning toward the stove.
"Be glad I want pancakes more than power this morning."
The skillet sizzled with butter as Amanda cracked an egg into the pan, hips swaying to the rhythm of an old-school RB track playing from her phone on the counter.
A second skillet beside it already had crispy strips of bacon curling and popping, while a mixing bowl on the counter waited for the next round of pancake batter.
She wore nothing but one of Ericka's oversized tees and a smug, post-kiss glow.
Behind her, Ava was perched on a stool, sipping orange juice like it was champagne, and watching every move like she was front row at a show.
"I'm just saying," Ava murmured, eyes trailing Amanda's bare legs, "if you cooked like this every morning, I'd never leave."
Amanda smirked over her shoulder. "Who said you were staying?"
Ava held up both hands, grinning. "I'm just a humble guest... who might be falling in love with your pancakes."
Amanda rolled her eyes, flipping a slice of bacon in the pan with a practiced hand before turning her attention back to the eggs.
That's when Ericka came up behind her—quiet, soft, and warm.
Without a word, Ericka slid her arms around Amanda's waist, pressing her body close until her chest molded against Amanda's back. Her lips brushed Amanda's neck as she murmured, "You look too damn good like this."
Amanda smiled, her hands never stopping. "And you're distracting me."
"Good," Ericka whispered, nuzzling into the crook of her neck. Her hands roamed slowly, fingers splaying across Amanda's stomach under the hem of the shirt. "Let me."
Amanda shivered slightly. Then she turned off the burner, set the spatula down slowly, and spun around in Ericka's arms.
"I think you want a different kind of breakfast," Amanda murmured.
Ericka didn't even have time to respond.
Amanda grabbed her by the hips and, with a fluid motion, lifted her onto the counter.
Ericka gasped softly, legs instinctively wrapping around Amanda's waist. Amanda leaned in, kissing her hard—slow, deep, and possessive.
Her fingers tangled in Ericka's curls, her tongue sweeping past Ericka's lips as a soft moan escaped between them.
The kiss deepened—mouths moving in rhythm, breath catching. Ericka clutched Amanda's shirt, her whole body pressing forward like she couldn't get close enough.
When Amanda finally pulled back, her lips just barely parted from Ericka's, she whispered, "You taste like coffee and trouble."
Ericka was breathless. "And you taste like a damn tease."
Amanda smirked and turned back to the stove like nothing had happened.
But Ava wasn't done watching.
She stood up from the stool and slowly walked over. "Okay... that's not fair."
Amanda glanced at her, now pouring pancake batter into the griddle pan with smooth, confident movements.
Ava slid behind her and wrapped her arms around Amanda's waist—her touch soft, but full of intent. She leaned in, her lips brushing Amanda's ear. "You gonna kiss me too or just make me jealous all morning?"
Amanda chuckled low, then turned around slowly in her arms. "You want a kiss?"
Ava nodded, eyes locked on hers. "I want whatever you're giving."
Amanda didn't hesitate. She gripped Ava's waist and kissed her—hot and demanding. Her mouth moved over Ava's like she owned it, one hand slipping up into her curls, the other gripping the back of her thigh. Ava melted instantly, lips parting with a soft gasp.
Without breaking the kiss, Amanda reached down, gripped her thighs, and effortlessly lifted her onto the counter—placing her right next to Ericka.
Ava laughed breathlessly when their lips parted. "Well, good morning."
Ericka smirked, eyes flicking between them. "She's on one today."
Amanda stepped back, voice low and commanding.
"Both of you—sit. Stay. Let me finish cooking."
Neither of them moved.
Ava bit her lip, grinning. "Yes, ma'am."
Ericka laughed softly. "Now that's hot."
Amanda turned back to the stove, completely in control, hips swaying again as she flipped the pancakes with ease.
The smell of bacon crisping, pancakes browning, and eggs softly steaming filled the space.
The kitchen island was covered in food and tension—stacks of pancakes drizzled in syrup, fluffy scrambled eggs with just the right amount of seasoning, and perfectly crisped bacon arranged in little spirals on the plates.
Everything smelled rich and warm, from the butter to the cinnamon Amanda had sprinkled into the pancake batter.
The three of them sat together—Amanda in the middle, her hair still tousled from sleep and kisses, a soft smile curving her lips as she cut into her food with measured ease. One leg crossed over the other, her bare thigh brushing lightly against Ericka's under the table.
Ericka sat to her left, her robe slightly parted where Amanda had gripped it earlier, lips still a little pink, eyes glazed in that way Amanda loved.
To her right was Ava, perched on her stool with one leg tucked under her, biting into her bacon like it was her first meal in weeks—and stealing glances every time Amanda so much as blinked.
"This might be the best breakfast I've ever had," Ava said, licking a dab of syrup off her thumb.
Amanda turned her head slightly. "Because of the food or the view?"
Ava didn't miss a beat. "You know it's the view."
Amanda smirked and took a bite of her eggs, chewing slow. "Well, I do like putting on a show."
"You do more than that," Ava said, leaning her elbow on the counter and resting her chin in her palm. "You command a stage."
Amanda chuckled and turned to Ericka. "What about you, baby? You doing okay over there?"
Ericka nodded slowly, swallowing a bite of pancake. "Everything tastes... incredible."
Amanda reached out and wiped a bit of syrup from the corner of Ericka's mouth with her thumb, then casually sucked it clean. Ericka's breath caught.
"You really did put love into this," Ericka said, eyes on Amanda's mouth again.
"I always do," Amanda said, her voice dropping just enough to make both women shift in their seats.
Under the table, Ericka's foot slid up Amanda's calf, slow and teasing.
Amanda didn't flinch—just smiled and turned back to Ava, slicing off another piece of pancake. "Open."
Ava blinked. "Excuse me?"
Amanda gave her a look. "You said you loved my pancakes. I'm just making sure."
Ava opened her mouth slowly, and Amanda fed her a bite off her fork. She leaned in just a little too close on purpose, the tension between them thick like honey. Ava chewed slow, staring at Amanda the whole time.
"Mmm," Ava moaned, letting the sound drag out. "Okay, yeah. I take it back. I might be in love with you, not just the pancakes."
Amanda licked a bit of syrup off her finger, tongue slow and deliberate. "Careful," she said. "You fall too deep, I might keep you."
"Threat or promise?" Ava asked.
"Both," Amanda said, sipping her coffee. "I don't do temporary."
Ericka leaned in toward Amanda, lips brushing her ear. "Neither do I. You know that."
Amanda's breath caught for just a second—then she turned her head and kissed Ericka on the cheek, right near the corner of her mouth. "I know. That's why I'm still here."
Her hand drifted under the table, resting on both of their thighs now—fingers drawing slow, soft circles. Ericka's lips parted just slightly. Ava reached over and casually slid her hand over Amanda's wrist, guiding her touch just a bit higher.
Amanda didn't stop her.
"Y'all are so handsy this morning," Amanda murmured. "Do I need to remind you who's in charge?"
Ericka smiled. "I think you already did... several times."
Amanda leaned back slightly and looked at them both. "You really want more already?"
Ava gave her a playful look. "You started it. We're just trying to keep up."
Amanda stood up slowly, taking her now-empty plate with her. "I don't think either of you can keep up."
She leaned over Ava first, brushing her hand through her curls as she whispered, "You've got a mouth that talks a lot of game." Then turned toward Ericka and bent close, pressing a kiss to her neck. "And you... you get this look in your eyes like you want to devour me."
Ericka let out a soft, needy sound.
Amanda pulled back and looked at both of them. "Too bad I'm more turned on by control than chaos."
She picked up their plates. "So sit. Be good. Let me finish cleaning up."
Neither of them moved.
"Y'all hear me?" Amanda teased, giving them each a look. "Behave."
Ava raised her hand. "Yes, ma'am."
Ericka sighed dramatically. "We'll try."
Amanda turned back to the sink, hips swaying as she rinsed off the dishes. Every move was deliberate—calm, graceful, and maddeningly slow.
Ava leaned over to Ericka and whispered, "I swear if she bends over again, I'm gonna lose it."
Ericka didn't look away from Amanda. "You're not the only one."
Amanda smiled without turning around. "I heard that."
Ava smirked. "Wasn't exactly a secret."
Amanda shot a glance over her shoulder, eyes smoldering. "Good. I like when you watch."