Scratch

Thirty

Some weeks went by in absolute bliss, each day fading in and out like soft light encapsulating a daydream. Freen and Becky barely spent any time apart, choosing to remain wrapped up in each other's arms whenever not at work. Even when at work, after Freen was allowed to return to her day job, they would find little moments to slip away together and remind themselves why they could barely keep their hands off of each other. And whenever Freen was working nights at the bar, Becky would spend those same nights waiting for Freen in bed until she returned exhausted and curled up in the smaller woman's arms. Free evenings were mostly spent on the couch with snacks and television, or otherwise out at interesting spots to try new food together. Regardless, it seemed that every step the one took, the other was remarkably in tune. They were truly inseparable and it only served to draw them closer, both in heart and mind. In body, however, they were yet to cement their budding romance, though the incredible drive to do so seemed to dissipate slightly. Their immense hunger for one another, though not gone, became easier to manage. It seemed to mainly come from a place of mutual regard and respect, both women with time realising the immensity of the effect that final act would have on both. So they decided to take their time and let time pass naturally, knowing that it, too, would happen naturally.

It was one particular rainy Sunday evening that the two found themselves in the kitchen, Freen busy cooking dinner while Becky was seated at the counter, scrolling through her phone.

"Here, taste this." Freen moved towards Becky with a spoon full of liquid, wanting to get Becky's opinion.

Becky quickly hid her screen from Freen's view and sipped at the spoon, making a sound that notified the older woman that it was good. As soon as Freen moved back to her cooking, Becky flipped her phone back into view and continued. There was a good reason she did not want Freen to observe what she was busy doing and it caused her to glance up at Freen nervously from time to time.

Becky was busy with research. To be more specific, she was busy researching ways in which to seduce your partner. Becky, as of late and with each passing day, was becoming more convinced that she might be ready to take the next step. Her desire, though under control, was growing to ridiculous proportions the more time she spent falling in love with Freen. She was also starting to fear more and more that, just perhaps, if she did not see to Freen's physical needs soon enough, she might end up losing the beauty.

"What's got you so fascinated?" Freen arched one brow as she glanced over at Becky and then at the phone in her hand. She had to swallow down an awkward lump that had shot up in her throat when she realised that Becky seemed to be hiding something from her. She trusted Becky, especially after their last misunderstanding regarding Nop, but that did not mean that Freen was immune to feelings of insecurity. As much as she would never admit it out loud, she knew that she was too far gone to turn back now. Becky had stormed into her life like the cutest raging bull Freen had ever seen, and with her kicking and bucking had dislodged Freen's heart and stolen it. Freen had gone and fallen head over heels in love with the other woman, against every bit of better judgement she possessed. Unfortunately, this also meant that there were cracks forming in Freen's previously prestine armour. Becky had the power to hurt her badly, even if it wasn't through something as extreme as messing around with someone else.

Thus far, and despite their closeness, they had not yet made their relationship completely official. They were still merely seeing where things would go and how they would progress without labelling it, and this was part of the problem for Freen moreso than Becky. Freen had been around the block with other women, but Becky had not, and that insane weight of being Becky's first was pressing down on Freen now more than ever. Over the past few days Freen had noticed a certain growing restlessness within the younger woman and it put her on edge, though she wouldn't show it to Becky. The truth was that Freen was afraid Becky was getting bored of spending so much platonic time with Freen without the insane passion that they had started off with. Not to say that there was no passion now, but it was much more subdued. Freen had been keeping it subdued on purpose in order to make sure that what she was feeling for Becky was real and not just an itch she needed to scratch. With time it became evident that it was not a mere itch, but with that realisation also came the revelation that, as Freen saw it, Becky was so pure that she really was just too good for Freen. Freen felt that this angel that somehow found her way into Freen's heart was just too good for the cold player that she was. She was terrified more than anything that she'd end up freaking out and abandoning Becky after taking her physically and Freen just couldn't bear the thought of breaking Becky like that.

Becky deserved the world and all Freen could do was hope that somehow she would be able to give it to her.

"Oh, uh, not much. Just reading random news articles." Becky replied timidly to Freen's initial question and swallowed down her nerves.

"Anything interesting happening?" Freen glanced back to observe the light blush that seemed to be settling in on Becky's features. It made Freen's ears burn hot from concern.

"Ah you know, same old." Becky quickly mumbled before adding, "It's supposed to rain for a few days." She tried her best to change the subject. Then, a thought... "We could always... Call in sick tomorrow?" Becky knew exactly why she wanted the extra time at home with Freen, and it made her gut burn hot and do somersaults at the same time at the thought of it.

Freen's stomach did the same, though for different reasons. She was afraid to spend a lazy rainy day alone with Becky at home, worried she might lose her resolve to treat Becky with the respect she deserved. "Oh yeah?" She chuckled awkwardly. "And you don't think our boss would find that suspicious?" Heng, of course, knew about Freen and Becky's relationship after the whole ordeal. He wasn't crazy about them working in such close proximity, but he promised Freen that he'd leave them be as long as they left their relationship at home.

"Okay, fair enough..." Becky trailed off as she put her phone down and slid from the chair she had been occupying to come to stand behind Freen, wrapping her arms around the taller woman. "How about me calling in sick and you calling in to say you have to take care of me? I could be very... very... ill." Becky accentuated each word with her hands sliding lower and lower on Freen's abdomen.

Freen's breath caught in her chest and once again she had to swallow it down. Her skin was tingling underneath Becky's hands but she knew she had to suppress it and suppress the urge to just turn around and take Becky on the kitchen counter. That itch still needed scratching, even if it was now coupled with a much deeper emotional bond. "Don't say that. Just now you'll actually get sick and I would feel horribly guilty." She chuckled again, but allowed Becky's roaming hands to continue while she herself continued preparing the food in front of her.

"If it means I can get some extra special attention from you..." Becky's one hand dipped below Freen's belt and pressed down lasciviously. "Then I won't mind."

Freen's hips bucked unwittingly into Becky's hand, but it also caused her to drop a utensil to the floor and nearly knock over a bowl. Scrambling to pull herself together, she untangled herself from Becky's embrace and dove down to pick up what she had dropped, meanwhile half unintentionally pushing Becky away. "We have to work, kid."

They both halted suddenly, the last word Freen uttered echoing through both minds. Freen looked up at Becky from where she was crouching on the floor with big eyes when she realised what she had called her. Becky's face fell visibly, before turning dark and obviously upset.

"You seriously still see me like that?" Becky uttered lowly as Freen slowly stood up, instantly knowing she had fucked up.

"Beck, no, come on... I just... You know..." She faltered and tripped over her words. It wasn't that she saw Becky as a kid, it was just that she was painfully aware of the impact she could have on the younger and inexperienced woman.

"Just what, Freen?" Becky spat. She was growing irreversibly upset at this point.

"Look, it was an accident." Freen reached out and tried quickly to calm Becky, but her actions and words only seemed to make it worse.

"You don't have an accident like that randomly after weeks of us spending time together." Becky scoffed and shook her head, starting to turn and walk away.

"Becky wait!" Freen jumped to follow the smaller woman as she headed towards the front door. "I swear I was... Wait! It's raining outside!" Freen tried to stop Becky from exiting, but short from getting handsy with her, she had no way to prevent her from leaving the condo.

"Becky!"