This wasn’t Stephanie she was touching and kissing. Lou had her fingers inside yet another stranger, and she knew, for sure this time, that this really wasn’t the way she wanted to live the rest of her life. She almost sighed out loud at this revelation, as all her desire for the body before her simply melted away. Everything she’d ever needed from this club was now irrevocably altered by this one moment.

It changed everything.

It was bad enough she’d used this woman as a surrogate; she couldn’t leave her unsatisfied on top of that. She went through the motions of bringing the woman to a quick orgasm and held her tight as she convulsed with her aftershocks. She politely refused the woman’s offer to reciprocate, knowing it wouldn’t do anything for her. She didn’t want a stranger. She wanted Stephanie. Lou needed to be braver, to step out from behind the safety curtain and put herself in the firing line.

* * *

“Are you okay today, Lou? You seem a little on edge—would you rather we went through this another time?” Stephanie stared at Lou in concern.

At least Lou hoped it was concern and not fear. She was acting odd, but she couldn’t seem to snap out of it. All she could think about was how gorgeous Stephanie was and how she wanted to get to know her more. A lot more.

“No, it’s fine. Sorry, something on my mind. Carry on.”

“Okay, if you’re sure. So, the figures from—”

“Would you like to go out sometime?”

Oh shit.

Oh fuck, fuck, fuck! Where had that come from? Lou blushed deep crimson, mortified at how her mouth had taken over with no direction from her brain. She dared to look at Stephanie and knew she had made a huge mistake. Her face showed shock, and to Lou’s perception, even a hint of disgust.

“No,” said Stephanie abruptly. “I don’t think so.” She looked everywhere but at Lou.

For her part, Lou just wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.

“Okay, well, um, sorry.” Lou looked away, fearful she would cry if the huge lump building in her throat was anything to go by.

“Let’s pick this up later, shall we?” said Stephanie, her voice sharp, and she stood and walked away before Lou could say anything else.

Lou lay her head on her desk and closed her eyes. Slowly and carefully, she pushed all her armour back into place, as tight as it would go.

* * *