Twenty Seven
Tilly hadn’t expected to see her.
They’d barely pulled the hoodie over their head when the knock came. Not a housekeeping knock. Not a drunk guy in the wrong hallway. A soft, uncertain knock that sank straight into their chest.
They opened the door without thinking.
Savannah stood there like she wasn’t sure how she’d gotten to this spot, like she’d walked on instinct and only realized at the last second that they were on the other side.
Her hands were tight at her sides. Her lips were parted like she’d been rehearsing something and forgot the words the moment the door opened.
“Hey,” she whispered.
“Hey,” Tilly said back, because their brain had emptied completely.
They expected her to say something casual. Something safe. Something like ‘I need the hotel Wi-Fi password’ or ‘Henry wants us up early’ or ‘did you get the live shot file transferred?’
Savannah hesitated, glancing down the hallway like she was suddenly aware of where they were.
“Can I come in?”
Tilly blinked, then stepped back automatically.
“Yeah.”
Tilly stepped back to give her room.
The door closed behind her, and she looked at them for one long, shaky breath.
And then she said it.
“Do you think I’d kiss someone I don’t want?”
The words hit like a fist to the sternum.
It felt like the air left the room. Like the carpet shifted under their feet. Like someone had pulled the floor out from under every cautious thing they’d tried to hold onto for days.
Savannah looked terrified and braver than they’d ever seen her, all at once.
She kept going, voice soft but steady.
“Because you keep acting like it was some mistake or a panic or something I didn’t mean.” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “And I meant it. I meant all of it.”
Tilly’s breath caught. They didn’t realize they’d stepped back until they ran out of space.
Savannah’s eyes flicked over their face like she was waiting for them to shut down. Or shut her out. Or tell her she’d crossed something unforgivable.
She took a small step forward.
“I’m tired of pretending I don’t want you.”
The words were quiet, but Tilly felt a crack run straight through them.
Their voice came out low. “Savannah.”
She flinched, just a little, like she expected anger under her name.
Tilly stepped forward, closing the distance and backing Savannah into the wall. Not rough—just certain. Final.
Their eyes met, and that was it.
“Kiss me already,” she said, low and rough.
Tilly’s mouth twitched. “You always have to get the last word.”
“Only when you make it this easy.”
It broke from there. No slow build, no thinking. Just the snap of something pulled tight for too long.
Savannah wasn’t hesitating anymore.
That changed everything.
Tilly felt the last of their hesitation give way.
The kiss hit hard, neither of them bothering to be gentle. It was clumsy, hungry, a collision that didn’t leave room for restraint.
Tilly caught Savannah’s wrist against the wall, fingers locking like she might disappear if they didn’t. Savannah leaned into it. She pushed back, hands finding the hem of Tilly’s hoodie.
She shoved it up, but the fabric snagged on the edge of the trans tape across their chest. Savannah paused just long enough to adjust her grip.
Tilly lifted their arms in a silent go on, and she peeled the hoodie off the rest of the way.
She tossed it aside before Tilly’s mouth crashed back to hers, teeth clicking with the rush of it.
Tilly’s breath hit her ear.
“Take yours off,” they said, low and steady.
Savannah did, pulse pounding. Brown hair spilled forward as she moved over her breasts, and Tilly brushed it aside with an almost careful touch.
“Sav,” they breathed. “You are unreal.”
She met their eyes. “Then do something about it.”
Tilly smirked. “Oh, I intend to.”
They tilted their head toward the two beds crowding the hotel room.
“Take your pick.”
Their voice came out rough, like holding back cost them something.
Savannah’s pulse kicked. She crossed to the nearer bed, unclasping her bra in one practiced motion. The soft click of it opening sounded too loud in the small room. The fabric slid to the floor.
She looked over her shoulder.
“Well? What are you waiting for?”
Tilly moved toward her slowly and deliberately, every step heavy with intent. They pressed a palm to her shoulder and guided her onto her back. Savannah went easily, a half laugh catching in her throat.
Tilly hovered over her.
“You shouldn’t be laughing,” they said, voice low.
Savannah grinned up at them. “Or what?”
Tilly’s eyes darkened. The corner of their mouth curved.
“Careful,” they said, more promise than warning.
“I’d like to see you try.”
Savannah’s gaze flicked over their face, something softer threading through the challenge.
“Since when do you do this?”
Tilly didn’t answer right away. Their hand tightened just slightly at her waist, grounding, steady.
“Since you stopped pretending you don’t want it.”
The words landed low between them.
Savannah’s breath caught — just for a second.
Then Tilly moved.
Their mouth found the curve of her neck, breath warm against her skin.
Their hand slid up Savannah’s waist, fingers tracing her ribs.
When Savannah’s hand drifted lower on instinct, Tilly shifted, subtle but clear.
Savannah caught it without needing the words and slid her hand back up their side.
Tilly’s breath hitched, the good kind, and they kissed her harder for it.
Their calloused fingers found Savannah’s nipple, and she gasped, hips rolling for friction that wasn’t there. Tilly brushed their thumb back and forth until their head dropped against the mattress with a quiet moan.
Tilly lowered their mouth to her chest, kissing a slow line downward, but they kept their own body angled just out of reach. Savannah seemed to understand the shift. Tilly was giving, not offering, and they were grateful that she didn’t push for anything more.
Their mouth closed around her other nipple, warm and sure, while their free hand slid back to her waist. They stopped at the waistband of her slacks, fingers curling there. They didn’t push. They waited.
Savannah nodded before they even asked.
Tilly flicked the clasp open, eyes locked on hers, then slipped a hand into her pants. They went exactly where they meant to, nothing more. They cupped her through her underwear, pressure gentle at first, searching.
“Oh, Sav. You’re soaked for me,” they teased.
Savannah whined, too breathless to answer.
“What was that, baby?” Tilly asked softly, the pet name slipping out.
“Please. Please stop teasing me.”
She helped shove the fabric out of the way, pushing her pants lower so nothing separated their hand from her.
Tilly smirked.
“No. I don’t think I will.”
Their hand pressed against Savannah’s wet underwear again, and Savannah groaned with need.
“Til!”
Tilly smirked at the abbreviation of their name and removed their hand to begin tugging on her slacks. Once they were off, Tilly dropped to their knees and hooked their arms around Savannah’s knees to pull her closer to them.
“Oh!”
Her head dropped back to the mattress as Tilly’s tongue played with the damp fabric, still teasing her. Wrapping an arm around each thigh, they pulled her in closer, their nose pressing against her clit.
“Fuck Til-” Savannah groaned.
Tilly hummed with satisfaction against her, causing another wave of heat to wash through her.
Savannah’s hands slid down and began pushing at the waistband of her panties.
“Please, I need to feel you on me,” she said softly, her eye contact suddenly unsure.
Tilly nodded and helped slide the ruined fabric from her body. Once free, Savannah shivered in anticipation.
“Antsy are you?” they asked with a teasing lilt.
Savannah shook her head vigorously, “Please, just-”
Tilly’s tongue found the sensitive flesh between her legs, effectively shutting Savannah up. She let out a moan as Tilly’s mouth began to work her into a heated frenzy.
“Oh fuck…” Tilly had added a hand to their touch, fingers playing with her clit.
Savannah choked on air when they gently slid a finger inside her. Slowly, they began to thrust with their hand, still keeping their rhythm with their mouth.
Tilly’s name rolled off Savannah’s lips, and her voice broke as she spoke.
“More- please.”
Tilly obliged, inserting a second finger. They sat back on their heels to give her what she asked for, putting more pressure behind their thrusts.
They felt her orgasm before they heard it, Savannah going silent and cutting off her own air supply.
“Breathe.” They said, their voice deep and raspy.
She still didn’t.
“Savannah, you need to breathe.”
She gasped for air, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. Tilly’s hand slowed as they removed their fingers.
They stood and lay down gently next to Savannah while she caught her breath.
She threw an arm over her face, but not before Tilly could see the blush creeping up her cheeks.
“You okay?” they asked.
Savannah nodded. “Just need a minute…”
Though she couldn’t see them, they nodded and waited for her to come down. Their fingers found the ends of her hair and twisted them around their fingertips.
Savannah peeked out from under her arm.
“What are you doing?”
Tilly’s hand froze. “Playing with your hair.”
Savannah smiled. “Okay.”
Savannah reached for their hand in the dark, lacing their fingers together without opening her eyes.
The gesture was sleepy.
Instinctive.
Dangerous.
Tilly felt their chest tighten.
People didn’t hold hands like that unless they meant something.
Unless they planned to stay.
They squeezed her hand gently before they could stop themselves.
And immediately knew they were in trouble.