Page 41 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

Bea’s lips parted in surprise. It was her job to project Jo. It had always been her job. No one else had ever even tried to step into that role. Not any of their siblings. No one. So to have Bunny say it now was so odd. A calm washed through her in a way it never had before.

“Thank you, I think.”

“It’s not a problem.” Bunny raised her fingers to Bea’s chin, lifting it up so they could look into each other’s eyes. “You should have told me sooner.”

“I just found out.” Bea couldn’t stop looking into Bunny’s gaze. Who was this woman? One minute she was hot and sexy, the next she was all control and power as their non-chosen leader, so put together as if she could do anything. But right in this moment, she was soft, caring. Like she actually did want the best for them. “Bunny—”

Bunny shook her head. “It’s not a problem. I promise.”

“I wasn’t going to say that.” Bea clenched her jaw, still unable to find words to explain what was washing through her.

“Then what?” Bunny dropped her hand, putting space between them.

It was exactly what Bea had needed in order to find herself again. “I don’t get you.”

“I’m sorry?” Bunny jerked her head up, suddenly on the defensive.

“I just don’t. One minute you’re cold and aloof, the next you’re accusing me of having some kind of agenda. And now you want to be Jo’s savior?”

“I don’t want to be anyone’s savior.” Bunny narrowed her gaze. “I’m hardly a saint.”

“Well, that’s clear, isn’t it?” Bea clenched her jaw. “You make no sense.”

“Then I guess you know me pretty well.” Bunny stepped in closer, her voice dropping to dangerous levels, except this time, it was aimed at Bea instead of Mandy. “Because I’m absolutely not a saint. I’m no one to write home about.”

Bunny’s breath brushed along Bea’s shoulder and down her neck. If Bea closed her eyes, she could vividly imagine Bunny’s mouth on her skin. The press of those soft lips meant solely to incite pleasure. Bea pressed her thighs together, hating that her clit pulsed and her underwear was already damper than it had been.

“Fun fact,” Bea started, turning her chin to meet Bunny’s gaze. “Neither am I.”

Twisting on her toes, Bea walked back into the building. She didn’t stop until she reached the main rehearsal room. Piper and Jo were halfway through one of their duets, singing with grins on their faces as they spun around the room in the tango-esque dance that would be the choreography for that particular song.

Bea stayed on the edge, observing every move. If she hadn’t seen the texts, she never would have known that Jo was struggling. In fact, she couldn’t even bring herself to see it now that she was looking for it. Perhaps Mandy’s texts hadn’t been that bad. Maybe Mandy hadn’t wanted anything.

Who the hell was she kidding?

Mandy only ever wanted one thing—Jo. And she knew exactly how to get Jo in her clutches and rip her to shreds, again. Bea couldn’t watch that happen. It had taken months for Jo toeven smile after the last time, and Jo deserved to enjoy life. Like she was right now.

“They look good together,” Bunny said, her voice quiet so as not to disturb the rehearsal going on.

Bea pursed her lips, glancing from her sister and Piper to Bunny. “They do.”

“I wouldn’t mind encouraging that relationship to flourish. Would you?”

“With Piper? Absolutely not.”

“But I come attached to Piper.” Bunny looked directly at Bea. “And that’s your hesitation?”

“You’ve not exactly been warm and welcoming.” Bea bit the inside of her cheeks.

“Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.”

Bea snorted.

“I thought we agreed to civility.” Bunny crossed her arms, looking back at the couple in the center of the room. “For their sake.”

“That was before.” Bea’s body wanted so badly to turn into Bunny and push her against the wall. Just like they’d done in the piano room. Fall to her knees and have Bunny come all over her again. It had been stunning to watch that unraveling.

“And what’s now?”

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