Chapter 7 #3
Erin's apartment felt different this time, not like neutral territory for a professional meeting but like somewhere Lena was welcome. Erin was wearing a green sweater that matched her eyes over black leggings, and she'd set out actual plates instead of eating straight from the containers.
"So about those background checks," Lena said, settling onto the couch with Thai takeout balanced on her knees.
"Right." Erin pulled out her tablet, her fingers swiping across the screen. "Todd Varo's employment history is clean, but Nicole Hopson had some interesting connections."
But as Erin explained the database searches, Lena found herself watching the way Erin's hands moved when she talked and how her voice dropped slightly when she was concentrating.
The background checks were thorough and well-researched, but they weren't earth-shattering.
This could have been a phone call, email, or even text.
Lena stared at the tablet, saying nothing at first as she processed the new information. "This isn’t anything that changes our approach," Lena concluded after she'd done another once-over.
"No," Erin agreed, not quite meeting her eyes. "But I thought maybe we missed something."
Lena recognized the excuse for what it was. It was the same kind of rationalization she'd used when texting Erin back immediately instead of suggesting they meet at the station tomorrow to go through everything.
"We probably covered everything," Lena said, but made no move to pack up the files or head home.
Instead, they found themselves talking about other things.
Erin showed her photos from a hiking trip with friends in the Pacific Northwest last spring that were full of different trails and wildflowers.
Lena found herself mentioning how she secretly loved her neighbor's late-night music practice and the way Phoenix Ridge looked different when the autumn fog rolled in from the ocean.
"You grew up here?" Erin asked, refilling their wine glasses.
"Born and raised. My parents still live in the same house where I learned to ride a bike." Lena accepted the wine, fingers brushing Erin's briefly. "What about you?"
"I’m from Portland originally, but I moved here for the job about three years ago." Erin settled back onto the couch, closer than before. "My parents weren't thrilled about me moving so far away, but the fire department here is innovative and very progressive."
"Progressive is one way to put it," Lena said. "An all-female fire department isn't exactly traditional."
"That's what I liked about it. It’s a chance to prove that women could excel in emergency response without having to constantly justify our competence.
" Erin's voice carried passion, the same intensity Lena had heard during their professional arguments.
"Your police department too. It sends a message about what Phoenix Ridge values. "
"Visibility matters," Lena agreed, thinking of the LGBTQ+ community spaces the arsonist had targeted. "So does representation in authority positions."
They talked until the takeout containers were empty and the wine bottle was significantly lighter.
Somewhere between Erin's story about her first fire call and Lena's complaint about slogging through Phoenix Ridge's city council meetings, Lena noticed that the conversation had shifted from careful to comfortable.
She caught herself laughing at Erin's impression of a particularly pompous fire safety inspector, the sound surprising her with its genuine warmth.
“It’s getting late,” Erin said quietly, but it sounded more like an observation than a suggestion that Lena should leave.
“Yes, it is.” Lena’s voice was equally soft. Outside, Phoenix Ridge had settled into its familiar evening quietude, the streetlights casting halos of gold on empty sidewalks.
“You could…” Erin started, then stopped, as if the invitation was too presumptuous to voice.
But Lena understood what was in Erin’s pause. She’d been hoping for it, if she was being honest with herself.
“I could stay,” she supplied, the words coming out easier than she’d expected. “If, you know, that’s what you want.”
“Yes.” Erin’s response was immediate and certain. “I’ve wanted you to stay every time.”
The admission hung between them, more intimate than the physical encounters they’d shared before.
This wasn’t about convenience or avoiding the drive home.
This was about choosing to wake up together, about crossing yet another line into territory that felt dangerously close to a relationship rather than an arrangement.
Lena stood first, gathering the empty containers with movements that felt both nervous and inevitable. “We should probably clean up first, though.”
“Probably,” Erin said, but she was watching her with an expression that had nothing to do with dishes and everything to do with the way Lena was moving around her kitchen like she belonged there.
They cleaned up together in comfortable synchronization—Erin rinsing plates while Lena found spots in the fridge for leftovers, and Lena felt increasingly aware of the domestic intimacy of the routine.
When Erin’s hand brushed hers while reaching for the same glass, the contact sent pulses of electricity up Lena’s arm.
“Lena.” Erin’s voice was lower now, rougher.
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you’re staying.”
The words were simple, but the way Erin looked at her when she said them made Lena’s pulse quicken. They made her remember exactly why she kept finding excuses to be here, no matter how flimsy they were, and why leaving felt impossible, even when logic suggested it was the smart choice.
“Me too,” she admitted.
The kitchen fell quiet except for the soft drip of water from the faucet. They stood there, dishes forgotten, and Lena became aware of how close they were standing—close enough to see the way Erin's breathing had changed, close enough to catch the scent of wine on her breath.
Erin's eyes dropped to Lena's mouth, then back up. "Lena."
"Yeah." Lena's voice came out rougher than intended.
For a moment neither of them moved. Then Erin reached out, her fingers barely grazing Lena's wrist where her sleeves were pushed up. Lena looked down at Erin's hand, at the careful way she was touching her like Lena might bolt. The consideration in that small gesture undid something in her chest.
"I should probably..." Lena started, but the words died when Erin's thumb swept across her pulse point.
"Should what?"
Lena met her eyes. "I don't know anymore."
The admission that her usual certainty had completely abandoned her where Erin was concerned, that all her careful rules and boundaries felt meaningless when faced with this.
Erin stepped closer, close enough that Lena could feel warmth radiating from her body. "Then don't think about what you should do," she said quietly. "What do you want to do?"
That’s all Lena needed. She closed what little gap existed between them and crashed her lips against Erin’s, probing her tongue into Erin’s mouth and tasting the lingering spice from the Thai food.
Lena pulled Erin closer to her own until they were flush against each other, their lips still locked and all Lena’s thoughts melted away.
Erin walked her backwards into her bedroom, their lips never disconnecting, and Lena let herself fall to the bed when she felt the wooden frame bump her legs.
Erin was right behind her, and by time Erin had repositioned herself on the bed, Lena had already wriggled out of her pants and scooted under the teal-colored comforter.
Erin moved closer to her and got under the covers, her eyes darkened and fixed on Lena.
“Come here,” Lena said, her voice rough with desire.
Erin obliged and closed the distance, her soft lips pressing against hers. Lena threaded her hand beneath Erin’s sweater, feeling her soft and creamy skin, and cupped Erin’s breast over her bra before removing her hand.
“Let’s get this off you,” Lena said as she lifted Erin’s green sweater and lightly tossed it to the floor. “Let me get a good look at you, baby.”
Erin’s body was exquisite. Lena traced with her eyes the lines and curves of her waist and hips, marveled at how the black lace of her bra graced over her breasts, and she involuntarily licked her lips.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?” Lena said, her voice soft and low.
Erin blushed, her cheeks almost as red as her hair, and she ducked her head lower.
“No, keep your head held high,” Lena said. “You’re much too beautiful to hide your face.”
Erin lifted her gaze to meet Lena’s, whose sharp eyes had never left Erin’s face. “You’re gorgeous too. I think that’s why I’m so”—she waved her hands around—“around you.”
“It’s part of your charm.” Lena smiled as her fingers worked the hem of Erin’s leggings without fully pulling them down.
Erin shimmied out of her leggings and kicked them off.
They landed on the floor next to her sweater.
Lena ran her hand down Erin’s smooth, exposed skin from her shoulder, down her side, over her hip, then back up over her stomach and breasts.
She ran one finger delicately along Erin’s jawline then massaged her ear before planting a kiss on her lips. “Like I said, beautiful.”
Lena unclasped Erin’s bra and slid the straps off her shoulders before letting it fall on the bed.
She grabbed Erin’s left breast and ran her thumb over and around her nipple as she lowered her face and sucked on her right nipple.
When she nipped it gently, Erin let out a moan that made heat pool in Lena’s core.
Lena lifted her own shirt and bra off before lowering herself between Erin’s thighs, nuzzling her nose over the fabric of Erin’s panties. The heady scent made Lena’s heart race and her clit throb, and she continued to nuzzle Erin and blow warm breath on her.