Max groaned for what must have been the hundredth time at her screen. The software which was giving her hell for the past hour, popped yet another an error window, this time with a blinking effect. Max threw mental daggers at it as she read the message which felt like it was taunting her as it stated she needed to connect to the system in order to finalize the procedure.

“I am freaking connected! Look!” She passed her cursor over the “connected” sign as if that would solve the problem.

It was then she realised the sound of rushing water from the shower had ceased, and someone was gently knocking on her bedroom door.

“Program being mean to you love?” Rachel asked with an amused tone and a soft smile painting her face as she crossed the short distance to wrap her arm around Max’s shoulder, her long wet hair draping like curtain on the side and tickling her girlfriend’s cheek.

“Very mean.” The brunette pouted, crossing her arms like a scolded toddler.

“How about you take a break? You’ve been sitting here all day.” Rachel nuzzled Max’s neck with her nose.

“I don’t know. I should finish this.”

“You can later, come sit with me inside until I have to leave for the theatre, and you can go back to shouting at your screen as much as you want until Chloe returns from work.”

“But I don’t feel like watching anything Rach.” Max grumbled even though she was already off her chair and dragging her feet on the floor, following the blood to the living room.

“Who said anything about watching, my sweet grump?” The blonde smirked mischievously at her girlfriend’s frowning face upon hearing the endearment. “I was thinking we could play a game you like.” Rachel said and went to grab the two remotes from atop the console.

Max’s eyes widened before narrowing to a slit as she came to stand in front of the model and placed her hand on Rachel’s forehand.

“Your temperature seems normal, so the only other explanation is that you’re high.” Max spoke in a contemplative voice. Because what other explanation was there for Rachel to suggest something so nerdy?

“Or, and hear me out.” Rachel plopped on the couch and tapped the spot next to her. “I want to spend time with my nerdy girlfriend while she shows me something she likes.”

And okay, it’s not that Rachel ever had trouble convincing her partners to join her in activities, be it outside or inside the bedroom, but right now, in this particular moment when Rachel was looking up at her with those warm hazel eyes, dressed in grey leggings and a comfy hoodie looking all soft and nothing like the persona she showed to the outside world. Well, it was nearly impossible to refuse her.

“I like you.” Max replied, having made up her mind and smiling at Rachel’s laugh which made her stomach swoop like she was atop a roller coaster.

“Well look at you, smooth talker.” Rachel’s lips split into a wide grin.

“I learned from the best.”

“Mm you’re welcome.”

Max rolled her eyes while switching on the PS4, firing up JakX and taking a seat on the other end of the couch.

In retrospect, it dawned on Rachel that maybe she should take back some of the things she might have said about games requiring zero skill because as she drove into yet another wall, while taking a sharp turn, it became crystal clear that she was miles away before being considered even remotely decent.

Max made it look easy. Like it wasn’t a big deal to memorise all the buttons and which actions they carried out as she blasted her way past enemy cars. So, suffice to say when they raced against each other, Rachel wasn’t much of a challenge. A novel concept to her.

At some point during all the chaos, Rachel turned to look at Max and take her in. How her eyebrows stitched together in concentration, how she unconsciously tilted from side to side on every turn as if she were in the car herself or the little grin that turned into a full-blown smile whenever she won the race and cheered. It made Rachel’s heart constrict with love and an emotion akin to longing, although she couldn’t quite place the source of it. Maybe it was longing for time lost? For the time she wasted or wasn’t happy with anything in her life. Or that perpetual “what if”. What if she had done things differently. Could she have arrived at this moment sooner? Or taken a turn for the worse, like the other version of herself had…

“Rachel?” Max’s voice broke her free from her reverie. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, sorry. Your cuteness is distracting me.” Rachel smiled, casting the dark thought aside, not wanting to go down that rabbit hole.

“Who’s the smooth talker now? And I’m not.”

“You’re adorable.”

“No, stoooop” Max feigned annoyance, her cheeks burning red under the compliments.

“And smart.” Rachel ignored her scooting over closer. “And beautiful.” She leaned in to brush her lips against a sensitive spot on Max’s neck.

“R-rachel. We still have a couple more rounds to go.” Max shivered, trying to move away.

“I have an idea of some other rounds we could do.” The blonde’s lips curled into an alluring smile as her breath ghosted over freckled skin.

“You’re insatiable.”

“I’m not hearing a no.”

“Was this game so boring for you? Does this mean you forfeit?” Max tried to steer the subject away from her growing interest in Rachel’s proposition.

“I will admit, it’s more fun than I expected it.” Rachel conceded. “As for your second question; Never babe.” She grinned as her competitive side sprung back to life.

“So next round?” Max smirked, feeling confident in her skills.

“Next round.” Rachel winked, implying to more than just the game.

Her smugness however didn’t last long, when a few minutes in the race she was falling behind again or getting blown up. Admittedly, the game was fun but losing constantly wasn’t the greatest of feelings. Rachel knew she was out of her league here and if she wanted to get a chance at winning, she would have to turn to more…. unconventional methods.

And so, Rachel began planting soft kisses on the brunette’s neck whenever something exploded on screen, which was fairly often. Shortly after though, those kisses began to linger and Rachel could tell by her girlfriend’s tensed shoulders that she was actively trying to ignore her. So be it, Rachel thought to herself before bringing out the big guns.

Pausing to wait for the next round, and giving Max the impression that she had stopped, the blonde leaned forward once more when Max was in the lead to nip at her ear while digging blunt nails into Max’s thigh and stifling a laugh when her girlfriend fumbled with the controller, almost dropping it.

“H-hey, that’s cheating!” Max croaked, feeling heat begin to pool between her legs.

“You have your methods, I have mine.” Rachel said nonchalantly before fully pushing the brunette on the coach and climbing on top of her to capture their lips in an intense kiss.

“Rach-“ The brunette was cut off by Rachel’s tongue slipping past her lips to lick into her mouth all the while pressing her further into the soft seat.  With every ticking second, things began to get heated and when Rachel’s thigh found it’s place between the photographer’s legs, Max knew the game was over.

“You know.” Max broke the kiss to speak. “The purpose of the game was to get the car’s engines running, not mine.”

“Great, mechanic jokes.” Rachel sighed. “Save them for Chloe, babe.”

“Hey, you brought this on yourself!”

“Oh please, you jump on every opportunity you get.” Rachel said as she began a gradual roll of her hips.

Max bit her lip as her hands found purchase on the blonde’s waist, fingers skimming over exposed skin from where Rachel’s shirt had bunched up.

“Are you opportunity? Because yes.” The brunette couldn’t help but giggle upon hearing Rachel’s painful groan against her neck where she had nestled to place open mouthed kisses. But before Max could bask in her victory, Rachel surged forward, capturing her bottom lip between her teeth and running her tongue along it, effectively shutting Max up.

“Maybe we should take this inside.” Rachel suggested when she felt the brunette’s hands sneak under her hoodie as an idea had formulated in her mind and the coach wasn’t exactly the right setting for it.

Max simply nodded, allowing Rachel to pull her up and lead them into the bedroom.

Both lay there for a while, languidly kissing and simply enjoying each other’s presence. The little moans and gasps for air, the sifting of bodies and the feel of tender skin below fingertips.

With unhurried hands that trailed down Max’s slim figure, Rachel hooked her fingers and gradually removed the brunette’s pants and underwear, who had lifted her hips to make the processes easier but didn’t bother in removing any other piece of clothing of hers or Max’s.

Max eagerly watched the blonde settle between her legs, anticipation rising like the morning sun. Suddenly though, Max felt her heart jump as she sucked in air when Rachel’s cold damp hair made contact with her naked legs, causing a shiver to run up her spine.

“Everything okay?” Rachel asked.

“Y-yeah. Your hair is just a little cold.”

“Oh sor-“ Rachel paused and Max could practically see when the light bulb above the blonde went off. “Oh.” The model’s eyes gleamed as she leaned back down to place altering chaste kisses on Max’s thighs, inching closer to where the brunette needed her the most.

More cool droplets landed on her heated skin, making Max squirm and unconsciously try to close her legs but Rachel’s hands stopped her movement, keeping them open as her characteristic seductive smirk appeared on her face which only spelled trouble for Max.

Without wasting more time, Rachel placed a kiss atop Max’s clit before spreading her open and letting a few more drops fall on hot folds, closely watching their journey before blowing on them.

“F-fuck.” Max moaned at the chilled sensation and at having Rachel’s entire focus on her, her hands in fists around the bedsheets.

Rachel repeated the treatment a few more times, switching from blowing on the droplets to running her tongue along slick folds to collect them herself before dipping in molten heat but never passing over the sensitive bundle of nerve, leaving Max short of breath and writhing from unobtainable pleasure.

And just when the brunette finally believed that her girlfriend would show her mercy as the hot tongue that was currently inside her began to trail up, Rachel pushed away from her.

Max wanted to scream. Maybe she did because Rachel had a pleased grin plastered on her face as she move to sit and rest against the bedframe, leaving a perplexed Max to catch her breath.

“Come here.” Rachel motioned for Max to move up the bed and sit between the blonde’s legs and rest her back on Rachel’s chest.

Leaning to the side, Rachel opened her bedside drawer and fished out their light blue wireless wand, setting it on a medium vibration. “Tell me what you want to do for Christmas.” Rachel said as she brought the toy in front of Max.

“You want to have this discussion right now?!” The brunette turned to face her with an incredulous look on her face, hardly believing what she just heard.

“Think of it as punishment for that awful joke. Oh, and I want a detailed list.”

“We still haven’t even had Thanksgiving yet!” Max countered, shifting her hips in anticipation.

“Planning is key, love. And by the way, only once you’ve told me are you allowed to come.”

Before Max had even the slimmest chance to complain, Rachel gently applied the vibrating head of the wand on wet folds and began a slow circular motion that passed over Max’s most sensitive area with every upward stroke.

When a few seconds passed without a word from Max who had allowed her head to drop and rest on Rachel’s shoulder, Rachel true to her word, removed the wand, leaving the brunette to chase after it as she moaned at the loss.

“Start talking.” Rachel demanded.

“I guess we start by going to get a t-tree.” Max caved in, her growing desire to feel that sweet sensation again winning over her initial reluctance. “And we-oh fuck.”  She was interrupted by the toy being pressed directly to her pulsing clit.

“We can unpack our decorations and start putting up the lights.”

“Mmm you always did love those.” Rachel hummed in a loving voice as her eyes trail down Max’s throat, past her heaving chest, following a galaxy of freckles to where the head of the wand was pressed against pink folds.

“O-one of us can put on some- mmm-” Max’s blue eyes rolled at the back of her head when the vibrations bumped up a setting, propelling her hips to start subtly gyrating against the toy.

“Some what, babe?” Rach asked, stealing an amused look before gluing her eyes back at the glistening head of the toy that was getting wetter by the minute. Her free hand crept under the brunette’s sweater only to be met with an erect nipple which she started massaging between the web of her fingers.

“M-music and then start decorating th-the-ah.” Max grabbed onto the blonde’s knees for dear life as she willed her brain to remember how a sentence was formed. “The house a-and…Please.”

“Please? How do you decorate that?”

“Rachel!” Max tried to enforce a more commanding tone in her voice but knew she failed when her girlfriend chuckled.

Just when Max felt Rachel begin to retrieve the toy she rushed to continue. The thought of having those delicious vibrations stolen away, being downright offensive.

“Decorate the tree.” She hurried to finish in one breath.

“Good girl.” Rach pressed a kiss on Max’s temple.

By now, Max was canting her hips, following Rachel’s movement like a magnet all the while holding back with every fibre of her being. Not an easy task when Rachel knew how to pace her and Chloe until they either begged or broke.

“That sounds lovely, what else?”

“D-drink some hot chocolate, probably spiked for you and-” Max groaned as an acute jolt of pain shot through her clit from holding back her orgasm. It was a sweet kind of pain, one that made her blood roar to life.

“And Chlo-, Rachel, please I can’t-” The brunette almost wined as she heaved for air. At this point, Max could hear her own heartbeat, could feel it between her legs, throbbing with a dire need for release.

“You did so good baby.” The blonde whispered into Max’s ear before nibbling on the lobe and Max all but keened. “Let go.” Rachel gave permission, sealing the deal with a tender but no less passionate kiss and Max was flying, soaring up in the heavens and her orgasm shook her entire body to the core.

The moment Rachel felt Max wiggle with overstimulation and clamp down on her forearm in a vice grip, the blonde shuffled to the side and immediately shoved the wand past her leggings, placing the head of the toy, still slick with Max’s release on her own aching clit, unable to hold back any longer.

Within seconds, Rachel was trembling as she came with Max’s name spilling from her mouth like a mantra. And all Max could do was watch in amazement as Rachel Amber came undone with her name on her lips. Watch as the blonde’s hazy brown eyes focused and unfocused on her as a noticeable wet patch formed on her grey leggings.

“Fuck.” Rachel chuckled at hearing her girlfriend curse as she came down from her high.

“You can say that again.” She replied before instantly regretting it.

“Fuck.” Max repeated while coming to lie next to the blonde who had eased back down on the mattress.

“I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

“Yep.” Max smiled contently as she wrapped her arm around the other’s waist. “I think Chloe will love your new holiday planning method.”

Rachel’s laugh reverberated across the bedroom walls. All she wanted to do was stay in bed with Max who was lying half on her, but she really needed to get ready for rehearsals.

“I’m sorry love, I need to get dressed.” Rachel sounded apologetic as she slid under Max’s embrace and headed for the wardrobe.

“I really don’t want to move from here.” Max grumbled while putting her pants back on and stretching on the empty bed. “But I think I can at least now concentrate better.”

“See? Nothing a good orgasm can’t fix.” Rachel’s voice came muffled from where she had nearly stepped into the closet to search for an outfit.

“Wow, you just said that. So inspiring. You should print that.” Max laughed from where she had leaned on one forearm to watch her girlfriend dress.

“Maybe I will. Make T-shirts and sell them!”

“Oh my God. I am never going out with either of you if you do that, because I’m sure Chloe would be the first one to wear it.”

“Oh baby girl, you think you have a choice?” Rachel grinned as she zipped her blue jeans while Max was trying to figure out if her blood had rushed to her face or between her legs at the sound of the new pet name. Something Rachel seemed to have picked up. Because of course she would.

“Well, I’m off. Do tell Chloe about our brilliant little idea.” Rachel pressed a kiss on the photographer’s cheek before exiting the house, leaving behind a stunned Max with a foreboding feeling washing over her like a sheet of rain. This didn’t appear to be a situation she could easily escape from. Splendid.