Eve then heard a soft rap on the bathroom door as she heard Clair enter. “I have a fresh, clean towel for you.” Eve could see Clair’s shadow through the shower curtain.

  Spurting water from her mouth, Eve replied, “Thanks so much, babe!”

  Clair’s silhouette continued to move until Eve noticed her figure approaching the tub. Clair pulled back the shower curtain so that only her face was visible. “Mind if I join you?”

  Eve beamed and smoothed the water from her face. “Oh my god, please do!” Clair then stepped into the shower, and Eve noticed that her body was supple and voluptuous; her curves were in perfect portion to her physique.

  Immediately, the wet bodies gravitated towards one another, feeling each other's wet, smooth skin. Eve kissed Clair hard, unable to control her urges. They molded their wet, naked bodies against one another, grinding in unison.

  Eve reached over to grab a bottle of shower gel and lathered it in her hands. She then took the foamy mass and washed Clair's chest, cupping her large breasts and running her hands around Clair's hips.

  Clair took her soapy body and rubbed it against Eve's.

  “We can share the suds!” They continued to press against one another until the water began to run cool.

  Eve was the first to remark, “Oh, it looks like we used up all of the hot water!” Clair seductively replied, “Let's rinse o and head to my bedroom.”

  The two women gingerly stepped out of the tub and toweled o . “Here, let me get your back,” Clair said. “Plus, I want to look at your gorgeous ass.” Grinning, Eve obliged as she felt Clair run the soft terry cloth material down her spine and over her bottom. Clair then removed the towel and playfully grabbed Eve's behind with both of her hands.

  “Wow, your ass is so tight and firm!

  Eve turned to face Clair and replied, “That's what walking around a hospital ward for twelve hours a day will do! There is no need for exercise; being a nurse gives me all of the cardio I need.”

  Feeling fresh and relaxed, the pair entered Clair's bedroom, which was across the hall from the bathroom. The room featured a Queen-sized bed, a small desk, a nightstand, and two matching drawers. The mirrored closet welcomed their naked reflections as they stood, admiring each other's beauty.

  Standing slightly behind Eve, Clair wrapped her hands around Eve's taut frame. Clair watched Eve's reflection in the mirror as her fingers cascaded over her body, caressing underneath the soft flesh of Eve's small breasts. Eve shivered with delight as Clair kissed her neck, and Eve saw goosebumps forming on the surface of her skin.

  Eve turned to look at Clair, and they pressed their lips together passionately. Clair then moved her body downwards, decorating Eve's torso with gentle kisses along the way. While Eve stood, Clair crouched in between Eve's legs as her warm tongue sought out Eve's clit. Eve gasped with pleasure as she gripped the nightstand. Maintaining her balance, Eve breathed heavily while Clair went to work, lapping and sucking Eve's sensitive clit.

  Waves of ecstasy washed over Eve as her arousal heightened. She began to moan loudly as she reached to grab Clair's head, entwining her fingers in Clair's thick hair.

  Clair looked up at Eve and smiled. “Do you like this?” Eve replied breathlessly, her voice thick with desire. “Oh, god, yes! Please, Clair, don't stop. You feel so good!” Eve bucked against Clair's face, feeling the sensation of a climax growing within her. Finally, in a flash of white-hot heat, Eve came hard as her body exploded. Her knees buckled, and Eve fell forward, laughing with bliss.

  Clair stood to face Eve and kissed her. Eve could taste her own juices on Clair's lips. “Mmmm, Clair! Fuck, you are amazing; I feel lightheaded!”

  Clair pulled at Eve, guiding her to the bed. “Come and relax with me.” Clair laid back on the bed's surface while Eve placed her naked body on top of Clair. Clair remarked,

  “Gosh, you are so light! I wish I could keep you here all of the time, like a blanket.”

  The two women lay together in a few moments of silence, while Eve's heartbeat returned to normal. Her face was pressed against Clair's neck, and Eve could smell the sweet scent of Clair's skin. Her arousal grew once again, and she knew that she needed to be inside of Clair; to taste her pussy and to feel the tight warmth of her.

  Clair lay still while Eve ran her fingers over Clair's body, parting her legs with her hands. Eve began to caress the soft flesh between Clair's legs. She moved her hand higher, so she could pet the soft pelt of hair that decorated Clair's pubic bone.

  Slowly, Eve began to stroke Clair's vulva, being careful to part Clair's lips with the tips of her fingers. Eve turned to look at Clair, as she sighed with pleasure. They kissed again as Eve moved to her side so that she could position her hand more e ectively against Clair's mound.

  Eve inched two fingers into Clair's pussy, and she was immediately overcome with a primal urge to fuck. As Clair continued to moan, Eve curled her fingers inside,

  penetrating deeper with every stroke. Eve looked up at Clair, who caught her eye. She slowly pulled out her index and middle finger and licked them clean.

  “Mmmm, you taste so good. Here, suck on my ring finger.” Eve put her hand close to Clair's mouth, and Clair obliged. With more of her digits now moist, Eve inserted all three fingers, thrusting faster and harder. Eve was in tune with Clair's response to her touch, and she could feel a climax starting to build within her.

  Clair's pussy became very tight and wet against Eve's fingers until suddenly, she cried out, “Oh god, Eve, oh god!

  I'm cumming! I'm cumming!” A rosy hue flushed through Clair's body as Eve felt her entire body tense up. Eve could not help but notice how beautiful Clair looked, with her eyes closed and her mouth open wide, lost in a moment of rapture.

  Immediately, Clair sat up and pulled Eve close, pressing her mouth hard against Eve's lips. “Oh my god, that was so hot, Eve. You made me cum so hard!” Clair flopped back down on the bed, breathing hard.

  Eve shimmed herself upwards so that she could lay beside Clair. The women held each other close, and Eve felt herself melting into Clair, the warmth from her body heat permeating into her own. To Eve, they felt as one entity; even the rhythm of their breath rose and fell in tandem.

  After a few moments of blissful silence, Clair turned to Eve. “I know that it's getting late. Did you want to sleep over here? The weather was looking pretty terrible outside earlier.”

  Eve considered the o er. There was no doubt that she desired to spend the night with Clair. But they both had work in the morning, with Eve's shift starting much earlier. Still, Clair had a good point. It probably wasn't safe to drive in this weather.

  Eve sighed and stretched, rolling on to her back. “If I do, would it be okay to set the alarm for 6:00 am? I'm sorry it's so early, but I need to be at the hospital by 7:00 am.” Eve suddenly remembered that tomorrow was Thursday. “Oh, Clair! Tomorrow is your hair appointment. Aren't you excited?”

  Clair shifted to lay on her stomach. “Yeah, I am, but ugh, Priya scheduled my evaluation for 7:00 pm tomorrow. I think it will be fine, but I am a bit stressed. I don't want to be late.

  I may not be out of Priya's o ce with much time to spare.”

  Eve gave Clair a tender kiss. “Don't worry, I am sure it will all work out, and by this time tomorrow, you are going to have a brand new look, just in time for Christmas.”

  Clair cuddled against Eve. “Yup, you are right. And sure, I can set the alarm for you. I will probably sleep in a little after you wake up. But help yourself to co ee and any toiletries that you find in the bathroom.”

  “Mmmm, thanks, Clair. You are the best.” They snuggled together under the blankets, settling for the night. As Eve pulled the flu y duvet over her body, Clair asked, “Babe, would you mind turning o the lamp on your side?”

  Eve rolled over to click the light switch when she accidentally knocked over a small container. “Oops, sorry. I think this fell.” Eve reached down towards the floor and picked up a bottle of pills. Out of habit, she examined the label.

  “Um, sorry. I didn't mean to pry, but are you taking Paxil?” Eve hesitantly asked.

  Clair snatched the bottle away from Eve in a hurry. “Yup, those are mine. I was prescribed it by my doctor.” Eve noted that Clair's tone was somewhat dismissive and rushed.

  Seeing the concerned look on Eve's face, Clair added lightly,

  “Oh, it's nothing, Eve. It's old medication, and in fact, I am going to wean myself o of them anyways.”

  Eve interjected, “But Clair, you know that you can't just stop taking Paxil cold turkey. It's a slow and lengthy process under a doctor's supervision. Come on; you know this already. You are a medical receptionist!”

  Clair became agitated. “Look, Eve. This is my personal business. I appreciate your concern, and don't worry; I’m on top of it. I had a bit of a history with depression back when I was with my husband, but I told you, I am fine now.” Clair sighed and fell back into her pillow. Staring up at the ceiling, she said softly, “Can we drop this, please? I had such a nice night with you, and I don't want to ruin the vibes with talk about my medical history, okay?”

  Eve immediately felt terrible. Clair was right; Eve had no business butting into Clair's medical issues. Clair was an adult, and she had a right to privacy and boundaries. Still, Eve knew from past patients going o meds that timing needed to be carefully considered, and she only wanted Clair to be safe.

  Eve conceded, “I'm sorry, you’re right. I'll drop it. I just care about you, and I like you a lot.” Eve leaned over and gently touched Clair's cheek, peering deep into her eyes. “I had a really nice time too, and I hope it's one of many to come! Good night, sweetheart.”

  Clair smiled. “Goodnight, Eve.”

  The women held each other tightly as Eve tried to relax her mind into a slumber, but she still felt uneasy. She tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. I'm sure she is fine. I'm just overly cautious. It's probably just my work brain in overload. After a few minutes, Eve felt herself dozing o , nestled in the comfort of Clair's warm embrace.

  10

  Clair awoke to an empty bed, the sheets beside her bunched up in a white heap. Groggily, she patted the side that Eve had occupied the night before. Clair could still feel the warmth of her body and the sweet, musky scent of Eve’s skin on the pillows. Clair curled her body around a mound of blankets, pretending for a moment that she was cuddling Eve.

  Mmmm, what an incredible night we had! God, she was so hot, and she tasted so good. I wish she were still here so that I could eat her for breakfast. I miss her already. Rolling over on to her side, Clair continued to fall in and out of sleep as her subconscious mind continued to pull her towards dreams laced with erotic fantasies.

  Clair had fallen back asleep when suddenly, she awoke to her phone ringing. Startled, she sat up straight and immediately felt ill. Ring, ring! The phone angrily buzzed, indi erent to Clair's state. Oh, my goddess! I have the worst headache. Why do I feel this way? Clair reached for her phone on the nightstand when she realized that she had slept through her alarm. Oh my god, it's 8:30 am; my shift starts in half an hour!

  In a panic, Clair answered the phone. “Hello? Hello?”

  Eve was on the other line, her voice bright and cheerful.

  “Hi, Clair! Is everything okay? I came by your desk with some co ee—don't worry! I also brought one for Diane so that it wouldn't be weird. But she said that you hadn't arrived yet, which was weird. So I wanted to check on you.”

  Clair's mind was frazzled. She felt as though she was trying to run in quicksand. Clair knew that she needed to leave her house immediately, but she also felt dizzy and confused. What is going on? Why do I feel like I have a massive hangover?

  Clair tried to gather her thoughts. “Um, Eve. I think I slept in. That never happens. And, gosh, I feel absolutely terrible right now. I can’t even think clearly.” As she spoke to Eve, she kept an eye on the time. Fuck! I need to get out of here right now and get to work!

  Eve replied, “Oh, no! Are you sick? That is so strange. You were fine last night.” Eve then added cheekily, “I mean; you were more than just fine if you get what I mean.” Eve punctuated her joke with a soft chuckle.

  Clair was becoming irritated. “Eve, it’s not funny. I’m sorry, but I need to get o the phone and race to work right away!” Suddenly, she felt bad. “Sorry, listen. Thank you for getting us co ee. I’m just…I just don’t feel right, but I can’t be late for work.”

  “Maybe you should call in sick, Clair?” Eve asked with concern. “With the winter weather and the holidays, there are so many germs and viruses going around, especially at the hospital.”

  “You think?!” Clair snapped back in a sarcastic tone.

  “Listen, I got to go. Do you still want to meet me at House of Hair at 8:00 tonight?”

  Clair heard a short pause on the phone, and she felt her heart drop in her chest. Great! Now, she doesn’t want to see

  me. After a few seconds, Eve replied, “Sure, yes, as long as you still feel like going.”

  Clair took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. She knew that Eve was concerned, and she didn’t want to give her any more reasons to worry. “Thank you, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I feel this way, but regardless, I do need to go. I really appreciate you checking in on me. If anyone asked, tell them that I got stuck in tra c but that I will be there as soon as possible.”

  Clair heard Eve sigh on the phone. “Okay, I will. Please drive safely. The roads are slippery today. I will see you later today, okay?”

  “Okay, babe. See you soon.” Clair hung up in a rush. She stood up and immediately felt dizzy. Jesus, I feel like I am going to throw up. For a moment, Clair thought that she might actually be sick with the flu. But the sensations in her head were di erent from anything she had ever experienced.

  With her head down and eyes focused on the ground, Clair went to the bathroom to freshen up, although she didn’t have time for a shower. She splashed some cold water on her face, trying to snap herself out of this peculiar feeling.

  Hurriedly, she began to dress, and for a few moments, it felt as though the symptoms had passed. Okay, maybe I just need some co ee, and I will be fine. She started to snap the buttons on her blouse when she felt a prickling sensation in her hands. The feeling began to travel up her arms, and her fingers began to feel numb. What the heck is this?

  She tried to fight past her dizziness and confusion as she gathered her purse and car keys. Clair attempted a mental checklist to make sure that she had all of her belongings, but she could not shake the feeling that she was missing something. She headed out to her car, which was covered in snow from the night before.

  “Godammit! I don’t need any delays right now,” she muttered under her breath. Clair was close to hysterics, frantically wiping the snow from the surface of her vehicle.

  As she struggled to remove the last bits of white powder from the windshield wipers, she began to feel a bit better.

  The cold morning air seemed to subdue her nausea.

  Feeling a bit more stable, Clair eased herself into her car.

  Her face was rosy from the cold, and her hands were chilly.

  Before starting her vehicle, Clair took a few moments to massage her temples, which seemed to provide some relief.

  As she pulled out of her driveway, Clair checked the time on her phone. It read 8:49 am. Okay, I have ten minutes. The rush hour tra c has probably died down by now, and my alibi could probably save me a little bit of time as well. I think this will all work out. Clair began to breathe normally as a relaxing calm washed over her. Even her symptoms were starting to ease up. Don’t worry, Clair; everything will be fine.

  The roads seemed to be in good condition, with giant mounds of snow piled high o to the sides. Clair was almost grateful to be driving at this time of the morning. The snow removal trucks had cleared a visible path, and there was only a sparse number of cars traveling at this point in the day.

  Feeling almost chipper, Clair decided to turn on the radio.

  Christmas pop tunes blared through the speakers, and Clair found herself bobbing her head along to the familiar melodies. I really do love this time of year. It’s so festive and colorful!

  Clair could see Forest Vale Hospital closely approaching from the view of her dashboard. She thought about how fun it would be to get her haircut with Eve by her side. She thought about what type of style she would choose and how delightful it would be to consult with her lover. Maybe we could even have another sexy sleepover!

  All of a sudden, a terrifying thought jolted Clair out of her daydreams. Shit! My evaluation with Priya is today! She is going to kill me for being late. Fuck! Her throat grew tight, and tears began to prick in her eyes. Clair choked back a sob, and she felt her heart begin to pound quickly in her chest. She gripped the steering wheel as anxiety surged her. The headache from this morning returned, and she was overcome with another wave of nausea.

  Wrought with panic, Clair could no longer hold back her tears. She began to cry uncontrollably while her temples screamed with agony. A car honked behind her, and Clair jumped in her seat. She tried to wipe away the ocean of tears that were spilling all over the steering wheel and blurring her vision. She steered the car towards the exit that would lead her to the hospital building. Her heart was beating fast as spots of color flashed through her eyesight. She continued to bawl with fury and confusion.

  Another car honked, and Clair looked back over her shoulder, and for a split second, she took her eyes o the road. When she looked around, she saw that her vehicle was approaching the road's concrete edge, but by then, it was too late. She tried to serve her car to the left, but in an instant, she had crashed her car into the Jersey barrier. Clair heard a loud thump as her body jerked forward over the steering wheel.

  CLAIR AWOKE on a hospital gurney as Eve's face swam in front of her. “Clair, Clair, are you awake? Can you hear me, Clair?”

  Eve's voice sounded far away, like she was speaking underwater.

  Clair blinked her eyes. Clearing her parched throat, she muttered, “Yeah, I can hear you, babe. What happened to