107
Ericka twisted the faucet, letting the water run until it was just the right temperature. The gentle roar of the shower filled the room, a cocoon of sound that shut out the rest of the world.
Amanda lingered by the doorway, watching her with a quiet smile. There was something about Ericka here, in these unguarded moments, hair falling loosely around her face, bare feet on the cool tile, that felt almost sacred.
"Are you coming in, or just going to stand there staring at me all night?" Ericka teased without looking back.
Amanda chuckled, stepping in and sliding the glass door shut behind them. The steam immediately kissed her skin, dampening the air between them until even breathing felt shared.
Ericka stepped under the stream first, sighing as the hot water cascaded over her shoulders, tracing down her spine. Amanda moved in behind her, letting her palms rest lightly at Ericka's hips before gliding upward to her waist.
"I could get used to this," Amanda murmured against the curve of her ear, her voice low, warm.
Ericka smirked, tilting her head slightly to glance back. "You say that like we don't already do this every chance we get."
Amanda grinned. "Yeah... but tonight feels different."
She reached for the body wash, the faint scent of lavender filling the small space.
Working it into a soft lather between her hands, she began smoothing it over Ericka's shoulders, her thumbs pressing just enough to loosen the knots from the day.
Ericka's head dropped forward, eyes closed, a quiet hum slipping past her lips at the relief.
Amanda's hands traveled slowly—down her arms, over the curve of her back—pausing at her waist before drawing gentle circles there. The water beaded over Ericka's skin, catching the warm light as if it were holding onto her.
When Amanda's hands stilled, Ericka turned slightly, water dripping from her hair, and caught Amanda's gaze. "You're staring."
"I'm memorizing," Amanda said softly, her expression unshakably sincere. "Every look, every smile, every moment before... everything changes."
Ericka's chest tightened, and she closed the small gap between them until their foreheads touched. The heat from the water seemed to pale compared to the warmth of Amanda's breath against her lips. "We'll handle it together," Ericka promised.
Amanda's lips curved faintly, her thumb brushing along Ericka's jaw before she leaned in and kissed her—slow, lingering, and deep enough to make the steam feel heavier around them.
They stayed under the spray, exchanging quiet touches and soft laughter. Amanda rinsed away the last of the soap, letting her fingers trace idle patterns along Ericka's side, just because she could.
Finally, Ericka reached over to shut off the water. Amanda grabbed a towel and wrapped it snugly around her, kissing the top of her damp hair.
"Come on," Amanda murmured with a playful gleam in her eyes. "Let's get into bed before I decide I don't care about the sheets getting soaked."
Ericka laughed, lacing their fingers together as they stepped out of the bathroom. The steam followed them into the bedroom like a shadow, carrying the memory of the closeness they'd just shared.
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They padded into the bedroom, feet sinking into the plush rug as the cool air met their warm, damp skin. Amanda tossed the towels into the hamper and climbed into bed first, scooting toward the center so Ericka could slide in beside her.
Ericka slipped under the covers, the faint lavender scent from the shower still clinging to her. Amanda immediately pulled her close, one arm wrapping protectively around her waist, her other hand tracing light circles over Ericka's side.
For a while, they didn't speak—just listened to the slow rhythm of each other's breathing. The quiet felt safe, the kind that didn't demand words.
Amanda finally broke it, her voice low and warm against Ericka's hair. "You okay?"
Ericka tilted her head up slightly, meeting Amanda's gaze in the dim light. "Yeah... better than okay."
Amanda smiled and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Good. Because I plan on keeping you this close all night."
Ericka smirked faintly, settling her head on Amanda's chest so she could listen to her heartbeat. "Not complaining."
They lay like that for a few minutes, Amanda's hand sliding up to tangle gently in Ericka's hair while her thumb stroked along her scalp in slow, soothing motions.
"You know," Amanda murmured, "this is my favorite part. Right here. After everything else... just us. No distractions."
Ericka's eyes softened. "It's my favorite too."
Amanda leaned down and kissed her—softly at first, then again, a little longer, as if memorizing the taste of the moment. Ericka's fingers brushed along Amanda's jaw, her touch feather-light, before she curled closer into her.
They exchanged quiet kisses between bits of conversation, sometimes just smiling against each other's lips. Every so often, Amanda's hand would find Ericka's, their fingers interlacing beneath the blanket, a silent promise in every squeeze.
Eventually, the drowsiness settled in, and Amanda whispered, "Sleep, baby. I've got you."
Ericka closed her eyes, breathing in the steady, familiar scent of her, and let the warmth of Amanda's arms be the last thing she felt before drifting off.