The Star and the Ocean (Book 1 in the Starborn Series)

Chapter Thirty-Three

[Content Warning: Strong language]

May fidgeted in front of the bedroom mirror.

"I'm having second thoughts about this dress," she yelled, frowning at her reflection.

"What do you mean?" Em shouted back from the bathroom where she was getting ready. "What's wrong with it?"

There wasn't time to respond; Em was already trotting up the stairs.

"It's kind of tight, don't you think?" she asked as Em's face peeped through the doorway.

Out of the corner of her eye she could see Em's face light up at the sight of her, shaking her head in earnest. "First of all, you were very excited about that dress ten minutes ago. Second of all, I definitely don't think it's too tight."

May groaned. "You know what I mean. I don't want to look trashy or anything."

"You do not look trashy," Em assured, stepping into the room. "It's a classy dress and you're a babe in it. Although if you insist on changing, I volunteer to help you undress."

"Pervert." May turned to shoot her a teasing look but fell short when she saw what Em wore. Given that there weren't many occasions to get dressed up in the backcountry, Em didn't have a dress of her own. Nothing in May's closet would have fit Em's hourglass figure. They reached out to Lenaia, who had been delighted by both the chance to play dress-up and at the fact both girls would be at the gala.

Lenaia's little black dress clung to Em's curves perfectly; its delicate straps and plunging neckline sent a blush racing across May's cheeks.

"I see you checking me out," Em grinned.

"You really fill that thing out," May replied, laughing weakly. "You look fantastic."

Em looked like a pinup. Her long hair was curled into starlet waves. A pair of blood-red lips smiled back at May.

"This dress does great things for my tits," Em agreed, looking down at herself and nodding in approval.

May pursed her lips, trying to hide her smile as Em stepped up behind her. She slid her hands around May's hips, locking eyes with her in the mirror.

"Don't be like that," she whispered into May's ear without breaking eye contact. "I know you like them too."

Em's hands slipped lower as she pressed herself into May's back, leaving a trail of slow kisses down her neck. It left May aching in all the right places.

"We've gotta go," May quavered.

Em hummed quietly. She nuzzled into May's hair, fingertips inching their way to the hem of her dress. "Would it really be the end of the world if we were a few minutes late?"

It took every ounce of willpower for May to turn and face her.

"Tell you what." She wrapped her arms around Em's neck. "We leave now, and I promise to take you up on your offer when we get back."

Em raised an eyebrow. "To help you out of that dress?"

May nodded. Em brought her face closer, lips close enough to kiss. She paused with barely a whisper of space between them.

"Deal," she purred before pulling away and sashaying toward the door.

"That wasn't very nice," May pouted.

Em tossed her hair over her shoulder and looked back. "You're not the only one who knows how to tease, darling."

Grinning broadly, May turned back to the mirror as Em slipped back downstairs. Looking at it again, she found the dress fit just fine.