Chapter 20
(Aubrey & Emily)
Monday morning saw Emily poking at her eggs and bacon as Aubrey watched across the table. “Em, you have to eat something. Do you want me to make something else?”
“No, no. This is good.” She took a bite. “Sorry, just distracted.”
Aubrey knew Emily hadn’t had a chance to talk to Beca about work yet, and assumed that was the distraction. “You’ll talk to Becs today?” she asked gently.
Emily nodded. “Yeah. I need to figure this stuff out before it drives me nuts. I just didn’t want to deal with it over the weekend.”
“That’s understandable, Em. I’m not trying to push; I just want you to be happy at work.” Aubrey took her plate to the counter, then moved to kiss the top of Emily’s head. “Go get ready. I’ll throw some snacks together for you to bring in case you’re hungry before lunch.”
***
Emily sat in her car starting at the building. She really hoped Beca would understand her point of view and not feel like a favor was being thrown back in her face. She didn’t want to find out what Beca being mad at her felt like.
With a deep breath, she headed inside to her new office. The guitar she used at work had been moved in for her, and she took it up to play a few random chords to steady her nerves. After a few minutes, she traded the guitar for her phone and texted Beca. “Got some time today for work talk?”
“Sure, come on up.”
After a moment’s hesitation, she headed upstairs, waving at Theo as she passed his office. Beca’s door was partially open, and the older woman waved her in despite being on a call.
“You don’t seem to understand my words. I. Don’t. Travel. Alone. She is coming with me, one way or another.” She hung up on whoever it was and ran a hand roughly through her hair. “Sorry, Em. Just trying to sort out a trip. What’s up?”
Emily sat in a chair in front of the desk. “I need to talk to you. About what I’m doing here at the label.”
“Sure thing. I’ll help however I can.”
The songwriter sighed. “I really hope you don’t take this the wrong way. I came here to write and have my music recorded. But most of my time is taken up with playing for others. I… I want to stop playing backup, except for you. I want to spend my days writing my music.” The look in her eyes pleaded for understanding.
Beca nodded. “We can fix that. Playing backup was only intended to be a starting place, a foot in the door. Hold on one second.” She picked up the phone and dialed an extension. “Hey, Theo. Can you come in here? We need some help.” When he came in, Beca explained what Emily wanted.
Theo nodded. “I can make that happen. Do you have anything scheduled today?” he asked Emily, who shook her head. “Then I’ll get coverage for the rest of the week. Starting today, you can concentrate on writing.”
“Thank you,” she said earnestly, shaking his hand with both of hers. He assured her it was his pleasure, and returned to his office. Emily turned back to Beca. “Now, let’s figure out your travel troubles.” Beca explained the upcoming Vegas trip and how the label wanted her to go alone.
“Chloe hasn’t breathed a word of complaint, but I know it’s bothering her. I can’t just up and leave her alone for a week. She’d be miserable, and I won’t be a part of that.” Her face took on an expression of combined frustration and determination.
“Can you just buy her a ticket for the same flight and take her with you? Why do you have to go through the label?”
Beca blinked. “Now, why the hell didn’t I think of that. Screw management, no one can tell me what to do with my own money. Emily, you’re a genius.”
Emily grinned and stood. “Glad I could help. And thanks for understanding about work.”
“Wait, why were you so worried about talking to me about it? You know I’m dying to record something you wrote.”
Emily dropped her eyes and shifted her weight a bit. “You got me into the label, and I didn’t want you to think I was ungrateful for the work.”
Beca moved around the desk to put a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “You’ll have to try harder to offend me, Em. Writing was always the goal. Backup was a perk to get you on some recordings. Now we can concentrate on why you’re really here.”
The songwriter glanced up with a smile. “Thanks again. You’re an amazing friend, Becs.” She gave her a quick hug. “I’ll be in my office if you want to work on anything. I’ll see you soon.” Feeling like a weight had been lifted, she returned to her office with a spring in her step.
***
Aubrey was happy to see a smile when Emily got home. She’d been worried all day, not that Beca would get angry, but that Emily might have avoided the conversation. “You look much happier,” she observed as Emily claimed a kiss in the kitchen.
Emily went over her conversation with Beca and Theo, grinning the whole time. “She wasn’t upset in the slightest. That made the rest of the day easier.”
Aubrey hugged her tight. “Now my songwriter can go back to writing. That is excellent news.”
As Aubrey returned to cooking dinner, Emily stood nearby with a beer, explaining Beca’s work trip troubles and the solution she had suggested.
“I hope it works out,” Aubrey said as she carried plates of pot roast, potatoes, and carrots to the table. “Chloe would be nearly inconsolable with Beca gone for a week. Even the cats can’t make up for being that alone.” They continued talking while they ate, agreeing that if Chloe went with Beca, they would take care of Lyric and Melody for the week.
They had finished eating and were sitting back with wine and beer when Emily’s phone went off. She smiled at the text from Beca and read it aloud for Aubrey’s benefit. “Plane ticket bought. Different flight, but still better. Thanks again.” Aubrey grinned and leaned over to kiss her cheek.
Before she could pull away, Emily put a hand in her hair and pulled her into a hungry, fierce kiss. “Come to bed with me, Bree,” she murmured in a voice husky with desire. The blonde willingly let her partner lead her into their bedroom, where Emily spun suddenly to grasp Aubrey against her for another desperate kiss. “I want you. I want to feel you, hear you, see you.”
“Take anything you want, love,” Aubrey whispered back before stripping her shirt off. Emily worked the zipper of Aubrey’s jeans quickly, pushing them down and off. With another kiss and several steps, she had Aubrey’s back against the wall.
Emily paused to remove her own shirt. “I want you to claw my back whenever the impulse strikes. Don’t hold back,” she murmured in her ear before dragging her teeth over her earlobe, making her breath hitch. The brunette’s hands roamed freely, teasing and stimulating as she tormented Aubrey’s neck and shoulder. Thumbs brushing over hardened buds, she felt Aubrey drag her nails as she bit down on her shoulder. Growling quietly, she reached down to stroke gently, earning her a loud moan and more scratches. “Yes, Bree, let me hear you,” she encouraged. Aubrey clung to her, whimpering as she felt her partner’s fingers inside her.
“Christ, you feel so good…” Aubrey panted between groans as Emily thrust at a strong, steady rhythm. She dug her nails in and drew them hard across Emily’s back, making her groan deep in her chest. The brunette bit her neck hard and Aubrey cried out as she came, clinging to Emily as her knees tried to give out.
Holding her tight against her, Emily led her to the bed, coaxing her to lie down. She leaned down for a slow, deep kiss, the urge to touch Aubrey still raging inside her. Slowly, deliberately, she kissed a trail down Aubrey’s body until her tongue reached its mark, the blonde arching and moaning at the contact. She gasped as she felt Emily’s fingers again, reaching down to grip her hair. “Jesus fuck… don’t stop…” she begged raggedly. Soon, she was writhing and whimpering as the world around her exploded.
Emily kissed her way back to Aubrey’s lips for another slow, deep kiss. Aubrey coasted her hands down Emily’s back, feeling a handful of thin welts coming in where she had scratched a bit harder. “Did I hurt you?” she asked quietly, still breathing hard.
“No, love, you didn’t hurt me. It feels delicious.” Emily kissed her forehead and gathered her into her arms. She was satisfied for the moment, but nowhere near done with her partner for the night.
***
Two week later, Aubrey went to see Chloe for their weekly hangout at the apartment. They were leaving for Vegas in a few days, so Aubrey had offered to make lunch and help pack. It also gave her some more time with Lyric and Melody so they would be used to her while Chloe and Beca were away.
“Chlo, how much are you packing for one week?” she asked, surveying the empty suitcases around the apartment and the bed full of clothes still on hangers. Melody meowed for pets, and Aubrey scooped her up.
“Well, Beca still needs to pick out what she wants, but we have no concrete plans except the daily meetings with the songwriter. So, I don’t know what to pack for. Fancy dinners or takeout or room service? Pack it all. Casino? A concert? Just sightseeing? Pack for all of it.” By the end she was talking with her hands as much as her voice, and Aubrey stepped up in front of her.
“Chlo, calm down. Talk to Beca and narrow it down. I highly doubt this will be your last trip to Vegas. You don’t have to experience the whole city at once.” Melody swatted at a stray lock of Chloe’s hair. “Here, pet your adorable void kitty and let her calm you down.” The cat in Aubrey’s arms purred when her ginger human scratched under her chin.
Chloe smiled at the sound, and Aubrey could see her visibly relax a bit. “I’m gonna miss these two,” Chloe said as Lyric wound himself around her ankles.
“They’ll miss you, too, but Aunt Bree and Aunt Em will take care of them. Now, why don’t you take a break and eat something?” Chloe conceded, and they deposited Melody on the floor and headed for the kitchen. Aubrey made sandwiches for both of them and they talked about the cats while they ate.
After lunch, the blonde helped her friend pack pajamas and every day street clothes. Chloe promised to talk to Beca about the rest that night. “Hey, why don’t you have Emily come here and we’ll all have dinner before we leave? I have a ton of beef stew that needs eaten before we leave.”
Aubrey grinned as she pulled out her phone. “Sounds great. When you come back, we’ll have you over and you can fill us in on the whole story.”
“Deal.” Chloe texted Beca so she would know the plan before starting to hang things back in the closet. When the clothes were away and the suitcases set aside, they settled in the living room with the cats until their partners arrived.
They got there about 5:30, laughing at a joke as they walked in. Following the sound of familiar voices, Beca led the way to the living room, where Lyric and Melody were each chasing a feather toy operated by Chloe and Aubrey. “Looks like they’re well-adjusted to Bree now,” Beca observed before sitting on the couch behind Chloe and kissing the top of her head.
“They seem to be, yeah,” Chloe agreed. She put the toy down and tilted her head all the way back for a kiss.
Emily sat next to Aubrey on the floor, and Aubrey handed off the toy so Emily could make Lyric jump and pounce. Soon enough, Chloe herded everyone into the kitchen for dinner, where Beca fed the cats while Chloe reheated the beef stew.