Page 57 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

“It is. Siena’s right. This will show the true extent of your vocal range. Far more than the rest of the night.”

“She said that?”

Bunny nodded. “She did. But are you sure you’re okay to sing this song?”

“Your changed lyrics definitely remove the issue of consent, so I’m okay with it. Plus, I like the jazz beat you’ve added into it.”

It was just a compliment. Bunny kept telling herself that repeatedly. Bea hadn’t meant anything more by it. There wasn’t anything more between them other than sex.

But she was wrong.

Bunny knew it deep within her soul.

Raising her gaze up, she met Bea’s eyes. All words caught in her throat. The music stopped. She couldn’t hold back anymore. Bunny leaned forward, brushing her lips against Bea’s.

The softness sent a bolt of fire into her chest. It wasn’t entirely bad, but fear filled her at the same time. She didn’t want the softness, or the sweet desire for Bea that lingered after they had woken in her bed that morning. She’d left for a long run because she couldn’t handle the desire to stay warm under the covers with Bea wrapped around her. She couldn’t stop dreaming about waking Bea up, mouth between her legs, and the desire to do that every morning.

She had to stop this before it continued. Bunny had to be the one to put her foot down, because she could see the path they were headed down. And it wasn’t the one she wanted for herself. It wasn’t the one she could live with.

Bunny pulled back, forcing the fear back as far as she could. But she saw the concern in Bea’s eyes. And she longed to lean in again and put that concern to rest. Bunny’s lips were still damp from Bea’s mouth. Her chest was still tight because it was hard to breathe. Arousal still coiled through her uncontrollably.

Clearing her throat, Bunny said, “I’ve got some work to do this evening, so I’m going to head out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sure,” Bea answered, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

Before Bunny could give in to the urge to explain or say anything else, she grabbed her things and walked out, refusing to look back.

“What the fuck is that?” Bunny’s voice boomed around the rehearsal room days later. The mock-up costume designs didn’t match the drawings nearly close enough.

Bea, Jo, and Piper all jerked with a start and stared at her, jaws dropped. Confusion and even a touch of fear lit up their faces.

The whole day had gone well up until this point. Now, Bunny was pretty damn sure this whole charity event was a disastrous idea. She shouldn’t have agreed to work with two out queer women. They were going to drag her down with them.

The first two costumes had been acceptable, with maybe just a little too much color for Bunny’s usual look. But the last costume was completely over the line.

“They’re the costumes,” Piper spoke softly, and a new rage built in Bunny’s chest at being treated like a wild animal.

She wasn’t being unreasonable. They were. “Am I really the only one professional enough here to know these costumes are anything but acceptable? Is this a joke?”

“Stop being such an asshole,” Bea snapped out, and the two of them faced off eye-to-eye and glared at each other. “The costumes look amazing, and they’ll be perfect for the finale. You got your way in keeping the song heterosexual. In fact, you’ve gotten your way this entire time. Collaboration means give and take, and it’s your turn to give the rest of us a chance to be genuine human beings.”

“We’re not going out on stage at a Christmas charity event wearingthoseoutfits.” Bunny pointed angrily at the outfit on the table. “Make it Christmas, Santa rip-offs, warm, cold, whatever you want. I’m not wearing a rainbow.”

“Those…” Bea snarled back “…are the costumes Siena and Allegra have agreed on.”

“What?” Bunny’s face grew cold as all blood rushed to her feet.

“I ran them by Siena this morning, and she sent photos to Allegra. They both gave them the thumbs up.” Bea’s face was hard, her eyes narrowed.

Betrayal snagged Bunny’s heart and gave it a tight squeeze. Bunny shoved herself back from the table, stood up, and turned away. She stalked toward the back wall, her hands pushing through her hair.

What was Siena doing? She couldn’t wearthat. None of them could. It was completely off-brand.

“What’s your actual problem with them?” Piper called out.

Bunny spun around instantly.

“Piper, don’t be dense. This is a Christmas event, not a rally. Those costumes will out all of us the moment we step on stage.”

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