Beefcake

Erin woke up grinning the following morning. She couldn’t believe she’d had the balls to kiss Holtzmann. They’d made out for a while before going to bed separately and Erin’s whole body was thrumming just thinking about it. Her stomach was wriggling with giddiness, she was exhausted because she’d struggled to stop replaying the night in her mind so that she could fall asleep and her brain, well, it was going into overdrive. She was overwhelmed with data that needed to be analyzed. What was going to happen next? Would they kiss again? Would they do more than just kiss? Would the others find out? Would they go on an actual date? What if they broke up? Would Erin have to find a new career? Who would get to keep Abby and Patty and dear, sweet Kevin?

She shook these thoughts out of her head and decided that coffee was necessary if she were going to sort any of this out. Padding downstairs she found Abby eating bacon at the table.

“So, Erin, it seems like you’re making your way through the group. Was Kevin not enough for you?” Abby said, biting into a particularly crispy slice of bacon.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. You’ve been messing around with Holtz, haven’t you?” Erin had forgotten about Abby’s incredible sixth sense for these kinds of things. “I’m all for assertive women chasing tail, but do you think you could look outside of this firehouse?”

“I’m not chasing tail! We haven’t even...this is different, Abby.”

“How is it different, Erin?”

“Because...because I actually like her! A lot. I really respect her as a person and a scientist and...yeah. I’m not just messing around.”

“Why, Dr. Gilbert, I am flattered! I had no idea you felt that way.” Erin spun around to see Holtzmann standing on the threshold, a shit eating grin on her dimpled face.

“Well, I guess that clears things up,” Abby said with a laugh. She grabbed another strip of bacon and headed for the doorway, “She’s all yours, Holtz.”

Erin and Holtzmann were left standing in the kitchen, Erin internally panicking and Holtzmann loving every second of it. Erin had not finished figuring out what the hell was going on between them. She had no idea if Holtz was on the same page or not. It was looking like it might be time for another conversation, another confrontation. Erin’s communication skills were getting a workout.

“Ok, so, I didn’t mean for you to hear that,” she began.

“And whyever not?”

“Because, I’m not sure where this is going. I don’t know how you feel about things, I barely know how I feel about things. I don’t think I’ve thought this through enough…”

“Erin, please. It’s you. We both know you’ve analyzed the hell out of the entire situation.”

“Yes, but I haven’t drawn any conclusions yet!”

“Gilbert, I need you to stop for a minute and listen to me. Yes, we’re scientists. I fucking love science as much as you do. BUT. There is a time and a place for the scientific method. I mean, I am all about using it liberally and as often as possible, but that doesn’t mean it has a place in this relationship. In our relationship.”

“But-” Erin tried to interject.

“Nope. Not done.” Holtz put a finger to Erin’s lips and she wilted against the table. She wanted to have her say.

“I refuse to let you ruin what we’ve got going with your analysis paralysis and your avoidance tactics and such. That may have worked with Beefcake, but it’s not going to work with me. I am much cleverer and craftier than Kev. You are not going to think this to death.” Holtz was quiet for several moments and Erin felt it was safe to speak up.

“It’s not that I want to overthink things. I just don’t know how NOT to.”

“Just don’t think!”

“I DON’T KNOW HOW TO STOP THINKING!” Erin threw her hands up as she said this. She was frustrated with herself, with the whole situation.

“I know just what to do. Come.” Holtzmann grabbed her hand and dragged her through the kitchen, up the stairs, and to the roof. And there she pushed Erin up against the wall and started kissing her, hard.

“Holtzmann! I don’t think this-”

“Shhhhh! Now is not the time for thinking. It’s the time for feeling.” Holtz shoved her tongue into Erin’s mouth, taking her by surprise. Her fingernails dug into Erin’s hips as she thrusted herself against her. Suddenly her hands were fumbling with the button on Erin’s slacks. She pulled the zipper down and tugged everything, pants, underwear, down around Erin’s ankles. Her teeth bit into Erin’s lower lip as she pulled away and began kissing her neck.

She worked her way down to her collarbone where she nibbled, hands roaming- one cupping Erin’s breast, the other squeezing her ass. Holtz knelt between Erin’s legs, forcing them apart, and licked a trail from her belly button down all the way down, causing Erin to gasp and squirm as she began making slow circles with her tongue on the sensitive place.

Erin shivered from a combination of the cool breeze on her bare skin and what Holtz was doing to her. Holtz took her shivering as a suggestion to speed things up so she plunged one finger, then two, inside of Erin and began stroking her from the inside and she flicked her tongue back and forth with greater speed. It wasn’t long before Erin arched her back against the brick wall of the building and began panting, eyes squeezed shut tightly. Holtz made a final long, firm stroke with her tongue and Erin came undone, legs shaking, toes curling inside her practical shoes. A low moan escaped her lips and she opened her hands to find she’d been clenching fists so tightly she’d left marks in her palms.

Holtzmann pulled up Erin’s panties and slacks as she stood up and grinned, obviously pleased with what she had accomplished. Erin was speechless.

“See? I told you I could help you stop thinking," Erin blushed and Holtz continued, "Look, I know you want to use logic and science to make sense of the world, and I get that, I really do. But sometimes, you just need to let go and live a little, take some chances, dive into things without knowing how they're going to end. Some of the best things in life are surprises,” Holtzmann kissed her on the neck and Erin grabbed her face between her hands and stared into her eyes.

“I don’t know what this thing between us is, or where it is going but I think...sorry, I know, that I will never forgive myself if I don’t find out. So let’s do this. Whatever it is. Let's see where it goes.”

“Yeah?” Holtzmann asked with a smile.

“Yeah,” Erin smiled back and kissed her softly on the lips.