Archive of Our Own

Sam grinned as she strode into Catco and then into Andrea’s office. 

“I believe you owe me some money.”

Andrea looked up and sighed.

“Don’t be so smug,” Andrea muttered.

Sam scoffed and dropped into a chair watching as Andrea counted out the cash. She sighed and looked at Sam.

“I’m a hundred short. Will you accept dinner as compensation or is this a cash only situation?” she asked.

Sam thought about it. 

What the hell, she was feeling generous and Ruby finally made up with her friend so she was child free for the night.

“I’ll accept dinner.”

Andrea smiled at her. In a few short weeks Sam would learn to recognise that smile, and the intent behind it.

Sam wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened but she really wasn’t about to stop and examine it too closely. She was far more interested in undoing the line of pearl buttons on Andrea’s shirt to see a very nice red lace bra. Andrea threw her jacket in the direction of the lounge room and Sam pulled her closer for another kiss. Andrea bit at her lip with a small laugh and Sam grabbed her hands tightening her grip. Andrea shivered and Sam smiled.

“Well now that’s interesting,” she murmured. 

“I was cold,” Andrea protested. 

“Uh huh,” Sam spun her around and pressed her against the wall causing a moan to pour from Andrea’s throat. “And that was?”

“Stop playing and fuck me,” Andrea growled.

Sam smiled and kept Andrea pinned to the wall with one hand.

“Or I could just take my time…” Sam whispered.

She ghosted her lips down Andrea’s neck. Andrea shivered again.

“But if you want to play this game I’m gonna need some safewords from you,” Sam said letting go and stepping back. 

Andrea sighed turning around.

“Traffic lights red, yellow, green. Hard limits blood and other non sexual bodily fluids, permanent damage, taking my stuff, humiliation, the usual. Soft limits; restraints without easy exits, heat, photography, visible marks, name calling…” Andrea waved a hand for a moment thinking. “Telling Lena if I come in under a minute.”

Sam couldn’t help her laugh at that.

“She did it once and she won’t let me forget it,” Andrea muttered.

Sam was smiling as she nodded at Andrea.

“So uh… how are you about spanking?”

“Green all the way,” Andrea said with a smirk.

“And I’m guessing being bodily restrained, orgasm denial, and being a bit rough are all green too,” Sam said. 

Andrea smiled and ran a hand up her arm.

“Yes, so are we playing now or are you gonna keep me waiting?”

Sam nodded then roughly grabbed Andrea pressing her against the wall again.

“Hair pulling?”

“Green,” Andrea whispered.

Sam gave an experimental tug and Andrea bit her lip to prevent a whimper. Sam still heard though and dragged her away from the wall pulling her in for a kiss. Then Andrea found herself being bent over the kitchen table. 

“So eager,” she teased wriggling her arse at Sam. 

Sam spanked her, hard. Andrea moaned. Sam barely prevented herself from copying her. She was going to enjoy this. She sent one hand up Andrea’s skirt and she roughly pulled her underwear down. Andrea started panting and wriggled against her grip.

Sam’s hand drifted up higher. She smiled at Andrea’s needy whine in response. Then she easily slid first one then two fingers inside her. Andrea moaned loudly and seemed to melt onto the table. Sam smiled and drew her fingers out that little bit then back in delighting in the sound that escaped Andrea when she did. 

She thrust into Andrea with rapidly increasing speed her thumb rubbing against Andrea’s clit, enjoying the moans and whines that came from Andrea as she did.

“Such a good girl,” Sam said.

A shiver went through Andrea as she gasped then suddenly muscles were tightening around Sam’s fingers. Andrea cried out as she came. Sam’s eyes lit up at the discovery as she continued to fuck Andrea through her orgasm.

Andrea lay on her table after, breathing heavily. Sam was having a little trouble breathing herself. She knew she had definitely wrecked her underwear at this point. 

“Shall we take this upstairs?” she asked.

Andrea lifted her head and twisted a little to look at her.

“Fuck yes,” she said.

Sam grinned at her. 

Andrea was woken the next morning by a phone ringing. Not hers though. She groaned and lifted her head blinking at the unfamiliar room. She saw off white walls, a white bedspread, and… she turned her head and saw Sam picking up her phone.

Andrea smiled seeing the faint red lines down Sam’s back. Then she moved and hissed in pain as the marks on her own body made themselves known. She was going to spend a lot of time standing up today. Or maybe not. She smiled at the satisfying ache all over her body.

“Hey Rubes what- Your textbook? Oh, yeah sure I’m- I’ll try and find it. See you soon.”

Sam hung up then was scrambling out of the bed seeming vaguely panicked.

“Ruby’s on her way back,” Sam hissed.

It took a second but then Andrea was swearing as she dived for her things. She quickly got back into her dress and found her shoes and bra but her underwear was missing. 

She swore as she scrambled around on the floor looking for it.

“Kitchen,” Sam said having wrestled herself into a pair of pants and a shirt.

Andrea ran for the door and raced downstairs. She begun searching the kitchen. Her phone, purse and keys were there as well. She quickly gathered them and then Sam handed her underwear to her.

“Thanks for dessert,” Andrea said, wrapping her arms around Sam and giving her a deep kiss. She took a second to also get in a final feel of Sam’s arse. “We should do it again sometime,” she purred in Sam’s ear. 

Sam nodded seeming a little dazed. Andrea slipped out the door and quickly unlocked her car. She was out of the drive and heading out of the cul-de-sac when another car made the turn. She breathed a small sigh of relief. Then she shifted in her seat feeling the bruises Sam had left. Her smile grew a bit.

She really was going to have to find a way back into Sam’s bed again, the woman was honestly remarkable. She thought about her schedule and smiled. She could probably make it happen again soon.

— 

Sam collapsed on top of Andrea breathing heavily. She somehow found the strength to roll off her and turn off the vibrator.

“Fuck Sam,” Andrea muttered.

“Andrea, you’re hot but I think my legs have given out so if you want another round you’re gonna have to do it yourself.”

Andrea laughed and turned her head to look at her.

“Sam I can’t feel my legs right now so-”

Sam’s phone went off. She groaned and rolled over fumbling for the device. She saw a message from Ruby.

Movie is finished. Be home in ten.

Sam groaned and sent back a thumbs up. She gave Andrea a small shove. 

“She’s on her way back you’ve gotta go.”

Andrea scoffed.

“Sam you just railed me for three fucking hours. I’m not moving for a half hour at least.”

Sam sighed. 

“And what if Ruby sees you?” she asked. 

Andrea rolled her eyes. 

“Unlikely. I’m guessing she doesn’t usually come into your bedroom at eleven on a Tuesday night. I’ll slip out once she’s gone to bed.”

Sam seemed to think about it and then she nodded.

“She is a heavy sleeper.”

Andrea smiled and let herself relax into the mattress.

Andrea woke early the next morning and knew she would probably have some regrets.

Ruby had come back and gone straight to her room shouting goodnight to Sam who’d yelled one back. Then Andrea had just been contemplating getting up and sneaking out when Sam rolled over and wrapped an arm around her pulling her close. 

“Just stay the night,” she muttered.

Normally Andrea would argue but well… Well she hadn’t so now she was creeping through a suburban house at seven am, her shoes in one hand and her purse in the other, praying there wasn’t a teenager about to come stomping down the steps as she reached the door. 

There was a giggle behind her. 

Andrea froze and turned to see a very smug teenager with a bowl of cereal standing in the entrance to the dining room.

“Hi there,” Ruby said smirking at her. “And who might you be?”

Andrea decided to go on the offensive. She smirked back at Ruby.

“Ask your mother.”

Then she left. But not before she heard a snicker and “Oh I will.”

— 

Sam had no idea how this had happened. Well she did know how this happened but she couldn’t understand how it happened so quickly. Andrea had apparently been bored waiting around for some international investor meeting and sent a message to see what she was doing. Then like an idiot she had said she was finishing up and then gone to meet her at Catco. 

It had been nice. They’d eaten some pasta and were talking about some idiot politician in the news then Andrea had been touching her leg and moving closer to whisper in her ear. 

“I have an itch.”

Sam somehow ended up with one hand in Andrea’s hair as the other fumbled with her pants and growled about how Andrea wasn’t going to get to come until she showed her she had earned it. Then she’d shoved a moaning Andrea between her legs.

After an alarmingly good orgasm from Andrea on her knees behind the desk she was still in the chair her shirt open with Andrea in her lap riding her fingers her dress half off as Sam sucked hickies into her breasts listening to Andrea’s breathless moans and begging as she thrust her fingers faster into a deliciously wet Andrea.

Andrea moaned again her thighs trembling as she got closer. 

“Fuck Sam,” Andrea gasped.

Sam moaned back, sucking a nipple into her mouth and adding a little teeth. Andrea’s breath caught in a gasp as she came. Sam helped her ride it out for a minute before removing her fingers and teasing them in front of Andrea’s mouth.

Andrea whined and opened her mouth sucking them in quickly. 

“Itch all scratched?” Sam asked.

Andrea laughed softly and fell back onto the desk.

“Yes, thank you.”

“You’re always so polite after you come,” Sam teased.

Andrea smacked her automatically but she continued to lie on the desk and Sam found her attention caught on the expanse of untouched skin on her neck.

“I know what you’re thinking, and no. I have a meeting in-” Andrea checked her watch. “Five minutes. And I need to fix my hair.”

“Cutting it a bit close there aren’t you?” Sam asked.

“I thought you’d be better at this,” Andrea retorted.

Sam choked out a laugh as she moved back doing up her pants and tucking her shirt in as she watched Andrea return her clothing to the appropriate places.

Sam looked around blushing as she remembered how brazen they had been. She could smell Andrea all over her hands. Then suddenly Andrea was pulling her in for a kiss and she forgot to feel conflicted as talented hands ran over her body.

“See you around,” Andrea said. 

Sam rolled her eyes and grabbed her coat leaving the office and heading for a bathroom to scrub the smell of Andrea off her fingers before she went home. It had been hard enough to explain the last time, she certainly didn’t want to be caught out by Ruby again.

—

Sam knew she shouldn’t do this. It was a terrible idea. It would end poorly but oh did she want it. There was a small click as the call was picked up.

“Fancy hearing from you,” Andrea said.

Sam could practically hear the smirk. She sighed.

“So I have an itch…” she said. She heard the sharp intake of Andrea’s breath over the line. “And Ruby’s at a friend’s tonight.”

“So you called me?” Andrea said her voice almost teasing.

“Well I know you’re usually free, and easy,” Sam said smiling.

Andrea scoffed.

“I am not easy,” she protested.

“Yes, you are,” Sam said laughing.

“Well I’m sorry itchy but I have other plans. And those plans are bigger than you.”

Sam smiled.

“That’s a shame…” 

She let her voice trail off and waited, examining her fingernails.

“But if I hadn’t been busy?” Andrea asked.

Sam smiled wider. 

“Then I would have asked how you feel about helping me test a new strap on.”

She heard something heavy being dropped.

“I might be able to… reschedule my other plans,” Andrea said. “If I’m really your only option.”

“If you’re not here in half an hour I’ll start without you.”

“That is not-”

Sam hung up and set a timer.

Andrea made it in twenty six and she looked pissed about it.

“If I get a speeding fine-”

“Then you can explain to the judge how getting fucked by me was more important to you than road safety,” Sam said dragging Andrea inside and shoving her against the door.

Andrea nipped at her mouth as Sam went for a kiss, but Sam was already pulling Andrea’s pants zipper down and shoving her hand between her legs to find Andrea already wet and sans underwear.

“And you say you’re not easy,” Sam muttered.

Andrea growled something that was definitely Spanish, but not any Sam knew.

“You said there was a strap on,” Andrea said glaring at her.

“Only good girls get to go riding,” Sam said.

Andrea moaned a mix of frustration and arousal.

“What do I have to do?” she asked.

Sam smiled.

“A little birdie told me you like being tied up.”

Andrea felt her knees weaken. She had said that. She’d said a lot of things and she really hoped Sam was about to use them against her.

“If you can last five minutes tied up with a vibrator inside you then I’ll fuck you into the mattress for as long as you want.”

Andrea moaned and Sam laughed pulling her upstairs.

Andrea really liked Sam’s new strap on. She liked it so much that as they lay together after covered in sweat and smiling at each other she found herself reciting poetry.

“Tell me,

Was Venus more beautiful

Than you are,

When she topped

The crinkled waves,

Drifting shoreward

On her plaited shell?

Was Botticelli’s vision

Fairer than mine;

And were the painted rosebuds   

He tossed his lady

Of better worth

Than the words I blow about you

To cover your too great loveliness   

As with a gauze

Of misted silver?”

Sam turned her head giving Andrea a curious look. Andrea smiled back and found herself finishing the poem.

“For me,

You stand poised

In the blue and buoyant air,

Cinctured by bright winds,

Treading the sunlight.

And the waves which precede you   

Ripple and stir

The sands at my feet.”

Sam smiled at her.

“Did you just recite poetry to me?” Sam asked.

“Venus Transiens by Amy Lowell,” Andrea said with a small shrug. “Is that a problem?”

Sam laughed and rolled over pulling Andrea into her arms.

“No, but now I’m wondering if you know any others.”

Andrea hummed and thought for a moment. She smirked as one came to mind.

“Promise to give me a repeat of tonight and I might have another memorised,” she said.

“What’s it called?” Sam asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“For Willyce by Pat Parker,” Andrea said with a smile.

Sam leaned closer, her lips brushing against Andrea’s ear then lower. Andrea fought a shiver at the feel of Sam’s breath on her neck.

“I promise,” Sam whispered. “Now, be a good girl and recite poetry for me.”

Andrea swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry at the order. To hide her reaction she pulled Sam closer.

“When I make love to you, I try, with each stroke of my tongue, to say, I love you; to tease, I love you; to hammer, I love you; to melt, I love you,”

Sam hummed clearly pleased. Andrea’s lips brushed over Sam’s neck so she might whisper the rest into Sam’s ear.

“And your sounds drift down; oh god! oh Jesus! And I think-”

Andrea kissed Sam softly then deeper their bodies melting together again. She drew back with a smile.

“Here it is, some dude’s getting credit for what a woman has done, again.”

There was a second there was silence as Sam processed the words, then she was laughing. Andrea joined her and they kissed again before settling once more under the covers. Andrea happily curling into Sam’s arms, she’d just close her eyes for a minute or two. 

Andrea woke to Sam’s slightly panicked voice.

“Ruby! I uh, didn’t expect you back so… late.”

Andrea opened her eyes to see Sam looking at the clock beside her bed with a confused expression. It was 11:02.

“Yeah I’ve been home for an hour and a half,” Ruby said, clearly amused.

Andrea sighed and looked at Sam. She was sitting up, the sheet clutched to her naked chest. Andrea lifted her head a little and saw Ruby standing in the doorway looking very entertained.

Ruby turned slightly to smirk at her.

“Well if it isn’t the walk of shame.”

“Ruby!” Sam reprimanded. 

Andrea glared back at Ruby.

“Child,” she said, adding a sneer.

Ruby’s smile got that bit brighter.

“Ruby you should go get ready. We have lunch at Lena’s today,” Sam said.

“Sure thing Mum, Ms Rojas.”

Andrea glowered at the snickering teenager as she turned around and left closing the door behind her.

Sam collapsed on the bed with a groan her hands covering her face.

“Oh God, that was so embarrassing.”

Andrea hummed absently as she looked around.

“She’s been laughing at me all week it’s only fair she did it to you. Do you know where my bra is?”

“Far corner,” Sam said clearly not yet recovered from her wake up to do more than lie on the bed her hands over her face.

Andrea got up and went searching. Somehow she found all her clothes with minimal casualties. One of these days Sam was actually going to tear her underwear off her and she’d probably be too turned on to care. Then she turned her head and wrinkled her nose as she smelt herself. She stank of sweat, sex, and lube.

“Can I borrow your shower?” Andrea asked.

“Sure,” Sam said. 

Andrea looked over seeing Sam still lying on the bed, existential crisis ongoing. Andrea frowned, she couldn’t allow that. 

“Would you like to join me in this shower?” she asked.

Sam’s head jerked up.

“Are you serious? Ruby just-”

“She knows by now, and we’re not due at Lena’s until twelve thirty so…”

Andrea motioned towards the bathroom with a flirty smile. Sam looked at the closed bedroom door then at Andrea. Andrea dropped her clothes and walked towards the bathroom, an extra sway in her hips. Sam held out for three whole seconds.

Redressed and somewhat presentable after a long shower —and ten minutes in front of Sam’s mirror with concealer to hide the hickies Sam had left—  Andrea headed downstairs in time to see Ruby strut past her mother.

“Ruby where did you get that jacket?” Sam asked.

Andrea looked over and saw her black and gold Versace jacket being worn by Ruby. She’d wondered where that had gotten to.

“I thought it was yours,” Ruby said holding the jacket protectively.

“How long have you been wearing it?”

“All week.”

Andrea watched the jacket disagreement building and quickly started working out her best course of action.

“Why would you ever think it was mine?” Sam asked sounding exasperated. “Give it back Ruby. Sorry Andrea, I didn’t realise she had it,” Sam turned to give her an apologetic look before glaring at her daughter. “Otherwise I would have made her give it back earlier.”

Ruby was holding the jacket a little too tight to just be teenage attitude. It meant something to her. Andrea had to make a choice, the jacket or Ruby’s happiness. It wasn’t much of a choice really, even if it did hurt a bit. She’d loved that jacket.

“It’s fine she can keep it,” Andrea said, with a dismissive wave of her hand.

Ruby’s eyes lit up. Sam looked at her surprised.

“Seriously?” Sam asked.

Andrea shrugged.

“It’s just a jacket. I can order another one. Note, it’s dry clean only.”

Ruby gave her a smile.

“Thanks.”

Andrea shrugged again and tried to pretend it was nothing. Ruby’s evident happiness at getting to keep it made it easier. Along with the smile Sam gave her.

“Thank you,” Sam whispered.

Andrea gave her a look.

“She’ll love it more than I ever could.”

Andrea knew it was true but she still felt a tiny pang as she watched Ruby smiling as she checked herself, and the jacket, in the mirror.

“Uh, are you coming to Thanksgiving?” Sam asked.

“I did threaten to turn up,” Andrea said with a smile.

“Well uh, we were going to…” Sam seemed to be struggling.

“She’s inviting you to come with us,” Ruby said.

Sam turned to glare at Ruby again. Ruby smiled back and headed for the car. Sam sighed muttering something about teenagers. Andrea looked at Sam.

“Are you inviting me to go to Thanksgiving with you?”

Sam looked at her and after a moment nodded jerkily.

“Well… save you needing to take your car.”

Andrea smiled and then gave Sam a quick kiss.

“It would shock Lena for me to arrive with you, and you know how much I love surprising her.”

Sam sighed.

“Your antagonism with Lena is concerning at times.”

“It’s a boarding school thing,” Andrea said with a shrug. “Come on, I want to make an entrance.”

Sam sighed and followed her.  

— 

“Sam I-”

Lena froze as she looked at them. 

Andrea was spread out on Sam’s desk her dress pushed up around her waist, bright pink underwear stuffed in her mouth, and Sam’s belt around her wrists. Sam looked significantly disheveled her shirt partially undone, pants barely done up, hair down, and —perhaps more importantly— with three fingers buried inside Andrea and her thumb on her clit. There was a moment of silence as they all looked at each other then Andrea spat out her underwear and pointed at Sam.

“She started it.”

“Hey!” Sam protested, suddenly very aware of what she was doing and the potential for losing her job.

Lena just turned around shaking her head.

“Sam are you on your break?” Lena asked.

“Yes,” Sam said nervously.

Lena sighed and dropped a folder on the bookshelf by the door.

“Andrea lock the door next time you decide to seduce my CFO. Sam tell Jess to arrange fifteen minutes for you later today to talk about that file.”

The door closed behind her. Sam gulped and looked at Andrea.

“That’s going to seriously affect our working relationship,” she said. 

Andrea scoffed.

“Oh please, she’s seen me do so much worse.”

“Oh yeah, like what?” Sam asked.

Andrea gave her a look then checked her watch. 

“Keep fucking me and I’ll tell you. I’ve only got another twenty minutes before I need to be at my meeting.”

Sam quickly returned to her previous efforts. Andrea’s hands flexed in their binding as Sam’s fingers moved inside her again.

“One time she caught me giving a guy a blow job in a public bathroom. No, we weren’t in a stall.”

Sam snorted.

“Are you-”

“We were really drunk. And there was that time at school she saw me half naked screwing Veronica Sinclair in the chapel. She refused to join us, apparently Ronnie just seemed like she’d be a pillow princess, she was by the way and- Oh fuck that’s good.”

“That does oddly sound like something Lena would say,” Sam said moving her hand faster.

“And of course there was the time I had managed to sneak these two guys up to my room and she walked in at the worst possible mo- oh yes there!”

“Should I be concerned you’re about to come telling me all the times my boss has caught you doing various sex acts?” Sam asked shifting the position of her fingers slightly.

Andrea was shaking now her body on the edge of orgasm.

“Then there was this one time she walked in on me spread over- oh fuck Sam- over this woman’s desk as she- fuck fuck oh don’t stop, this hot accountant lady’s desk and I-” 

Andrea’s next words were cut off as she stifled her moan by her biting her arm as she came. Sam slowed and Andrea collapsed breathing heavily on her desk. 

“And she just walked in and I said it was the hot accountant lady’s fault and Lena left, then I got my brains fucked out,” Andrea mumbled.

Sam laughed and pulled Andrea up for a kiss.

“Some hot accountant lady?” she asked, undoing the belt.

Andrea smiled wrapping her arms around Sam’s neck and kissed her.

“Yeah, just some hot accountant lady.”

“Mhmm, and could this hot accountant lady take you to dinner on Wednesday?”

Andrea hummed pretending to think about it.

“Will she let me eat dessert off her?”

“Depends if she gets some dessert too.” Sam’s phone chimed and she sighed. “And if she can convince her daughter to cook something tonight that won’t potentially burn her house down,” she added reading the message.

— 

Andrea descended the stairs and found a smirking teenager at the breakfast table. She was about to do her usual routine of glaring and trying to look dignified as she made her exit when she had an idea. She thought about it then looked at Ruby. Ruby looked back putting down her cereal.

“Okay you-” Ruby gave her a look that she’d definitely gotten from Sam. “Ruby,” Andrea amended. 

Ruby gave her a nod. 

“I’ll buy you a pair of designer shoes if you organise a sleepover with your friends this Friday night.” 

Ruby smiled at her and Andrea got suspicious.

“I want Jimmy Choos,” Ruby said.

“Deal,” Andrea said pulling out her phone.

“And I want them on Friday before the sleepover,” Ruby added.

Andrea waved a hand in acknowledgement her attention already on her phone as she saw the latest incompetency of her staff. 

“Sure, fine, whatever. Here’s my card just text me your size.”

She dropped her business card on the table and left already calling her assistant about the latest incompetence she’d spotted.

Andrea arrived at Sam’s on Friday and had a bad feeling when she saw another car in the drive. Then she saw what looked like the blonde stereotype of a suburban mother enter the house following an equally blonde teenager. Andrea sighed and grabbed the shoes Ruby wanted and headed in. Ruby grinned jumping up from her place on the couch with two other girls. Andrea looked around and saw the suburban stereotype in the kitchen talking with Sam.

Sam gave her a somewhat confused smile. A throat was cleared beside her. Andrea turned to Ruby. She held out her hands and Andrea handed over the shoes. Ruby immediately opened the box with a gleeful smile and turned away.

“Thanks Andrea,” she said with a too bright smile. 

Andrea saw the sleeping bags and sighed as she put it together.

“Hi Andrea, what are you-”

Sam looked from Ruby with her new shoes to Andrea. Her eyes swept over Andrea in her tight black dress and heels with the matching onyx earrings and bracelet.

“Ruby!” Sam yelled.

Ruby’s head jerked up.

“Hey we had a deal and I’m fulfilling my part of it,” Ruby said. 

Sam looked at Andrea who was replaying her conversation with Ruby in her head. She found her mistake.

“I didn’t clarify someone else’s house,” Andrea said.

Ruby smirked at her then went back to trying on her new shoes.

“Rookie error,” Ruby said.

Sam looked at Ruby.

“Ruby Arias, you cannot have the shoes if-”

“No, this one’s on me,” Andrea said with a sigh. “I should have known she had some loophole. She agreed too quickly.”

Andrea turned to Sam and saw the other mother looking between them confused. 

“Who are you?” the other woman asked.

“Andrea Rojas,” she said automatically offering her hand.

The woman shook it with caution. Her eyes doing an assessment of Andrea and not coming up with an answer.

“Are you a… parent of one of the girls?”

Sam and Andrea exchanged a look.

“I’m uh…”

“She’s…”

They both hesitated. They hadn’t had that conversation yet not having anticipated anyone ever asking.

“She’s Mum’s girlfriend,” Ruby said from the lounge causing the two other girls to start giggling.

Sam and Andrea gave each other a mildly panicked look then they both nodded slowly.

“Yes,” Andrea said giving the blonde woman a bland smile. “I’m her… girlfriend.”

Sam was giving Ruby a look that quite plainly told her she was in big trouble. Ruby looked back with undiluted teenage snark and superiority.

“Mum it’s been two months it’s not casual after a dozen times.”

Sam looked pained but Andrea was considering Ruby carefully.

“One day you’re going to make a great lawyer,” she said.

Ruby grinned.

“Thanks,” she said brightly.

Andrea looked at Sam.

“You might want to get her a math tutor though, it’s been at least twenty at this point.” Sam’s eyes widened. Andrea ignored it. “Anyway I’m gonna get something from the car and cancel our reservation. You do whatever you need to do because if Ruby thinks we’re not having a date tonight she’s got another thing coming.”

Sam looked surprised for a second then nodded.

“Okay then.”

A half hour later food arrived. Sam handed the pizzas to the teenagers in the lounge room and Andrea unboxed their order from Lucrezia. Sam looked at the food then Andrea as she lit three candles on the kitchen table.

“Okay so this does feel more like a date,” Sam said.

Andrea smiled and poured them both a glass of wine. 

“Well if you come closer then it really will be.”

Sam took the invitation and came forward pulling Andrea in for a kiss.

“Hey Mum can we watch Saw- What are you eating?” 

“No, you can’t watch Saw,” Sam said with a sigh.

Ruby sniffed at the pasta. Sam quickly waved her off.

“Hey! I bought you pizza you can keep your hands off my dinner.”

“Not even a taste…” Ruby said smiling.

“It has pine nuts,” Andrea said.

Ruby made a face and left. Sam looked at Andrea impressed. 

“I do pay attention sometimes,” Andrea said.

Sam smiled and they started eating.

“You know you didn’t have to let her have the shoes,” she said.

Andrea shrugged.

“She kept her word, and well…” she smiled at Sam. “If that’s how she’s going to play it.”

Sam laughed softly.

“Good luck,” she said.

Andrea had finally convinced Sam that it was safe for them to sneak upstairs for fifteen minutes of aggressively making out. The girls had been fine every time they looked in on them and Andrea had been suitably charming and flirtatious over the meal that she was sure she could get at least one really good orgasm, even if Sam wouldn’t be tying her to the bed like she’d intended.

Sam finally agreed it was probably safe for them to head upstairs, giving her a look Andrea was starting to think might be able to act as foreplay all by itself. They were halfway up the stairs when the screaming started. 

They raced back downstairs to see the girls cowering on the couch as the murderer chased someone with a large knife. Sam sighed and turned on the lights.

“What did I say about Saw?” she demanded. 

“It’s not Saw,” Andrea said with a sigh.

“We got scared!” one of the girls said.

“He just jumped out and stabbed them!”

“Also we’re out of snacks,” Ruby added. 

Sam sighed heavily her hands on her hips, about to start what was probably a very measured and reasonable response. And as much as Andrea did love watching Sam be a badass mother she knew that would start a debate about whether they could watch any more horror movies, and that would wreck all her hopes for getting laid tonight. She decided to intervene and make it up to Sam later, preferably with her mouth.

“Okay deal for you all,” Andrea said stepping up beside Sam looking at the girls. “If we get you more trash to eat can you not watch something scary for an hour. Just one hour.”

They agreed surprisingly quickly and Andrea looked at Sam who sighed and grabbed her car keys.

“Alright everyone in the car,” Sam said.

Which was how Andrea found herself in a suburban supermarket at eleven at night in a Chanel dress and Louboutin heels walking beside Sam, who was decidedly more casually attired in jeans and a sweatshirt, carrying a basket full of ice cream and cookies. Sam stopped and picked up a plastic bottle. Andrea took the chance while the girls were finding chips to wrap her arms around Sam from behind, enjoying the feel of Sam in her arms. She glanced at the item Sam had picked up.

“Mmm fudge, what’s in-”

Sam laughed at Andrea’s horrified face as she read the label. Andrea quickly took the offending food product from Sam and put it back on the shelf with a disgusted noise.

“The girls will want that with their ice cream,” Sam said. 

Andrea gave her a look.

“Why don’t you just buy them some corn and smother it in raw sugar? It’s essentially the same thing and it’ll be less toxic.”

Sam started laughing as she added the fudge to her basket. Andrea eyed it warily.

“Here I was thinking you were a good mother but then you buy that,” she muttered.

Sam pulled Andrea closer and kissed her. Andrea sighed happily, her hands coming up to hold Sam’s face. Sam smiled as they slowly parted. She kissed Andrea again.

“Have I told you your hatred of most processed food is completely ridiculous and very classist?” she asked.

Andrea nodded.

“Rich bitch remember,” she said.

“Well would the rich bitch be willing to lick the awful toxic fudge off me sometime?” Sam murmured giving Andrea a look.

Andrea’s eyes widened slightly and she thought about it. Sam waited.

“Will you promise never to tell anyone I ate cheap supermarket fudge?” Andrea asked tilting her head towards Sam.

Sam smiled knowing she had her.

“I won’t tell a soul,” she promised.

Andrea smiled sliding her hands into Sam’s back pockets and pulling her closer.

“Well then…” She kissed Sam softly. “You could probably convince me depending on where you put it. You know how much I love your…” Andrea thought for a moment trying to think of an unsexy part of Sam’s body. “Elbow.”

“My elbow?” Sam said laughing.

“It’s just so sexy,” Andrea purred.

Sam shook her head laughing. She pulled Andrea in for another kiss.

“You are so weird,” she said against Andrea’s lips.

“You like it,” Andrea whispered kissing her again.

“Ew gross,” Ruby said.

They broke apart and looked over. Ruby and her friends had returned with four bags of chips and were looking at them with varying levels of teenage disgust.

“I’m not going to look at those labels it’ll just upset me,” Andrea muttered her eyes on the cheese flavoured balls Ruby was holding.

Sam made an amused sound and they broke apart.

Upon their return the girls made their way back to the lounge with their various food stuffs. Andrea set a timer for an hour and then opened the fridge taking out the box with the dessert she’d brought. She placed the cake on the table and gave Sam a fork.

“I was going to eat it off you but, well…”

Andrea indicated the teenagers who were giving themselves nightmares a couple of meters away. Sam smiled at her as she took a bite. 

“Next time,” she promised.

Andrea tried not to let on how much she was now looking forwards to next time. 

— 

“I don’t know how to explain it Lena, it’s like they’re fighting but each time one of them wins the other congratulates them,” Sam said.

Lena looked up from her noodles confused, but Sam had been waiting for an opportunity to talk to Lena about this for a week now, so she kept going.

“When I asked what Andrea knew about Hamlet she cancelled our reservation at Regalia and spent three hours teaching Ruby all about the play and helping her do her assignment. Which she then got an A for. But at the same time they don’t even call each other by name most of the time. Ruby refers to Andrea either as your girlfriend or the walk of shame.”

Lena started laughing. 

“Andrea is just as bad with saying Ruby is your child or the future lawyer if she’s done something clever. When speaking to each other they say you or Ruby will sometimes call Andrea Ms Rojas and Andrea calls Ruby child.”

Lena was giving her an amused look as she continued to chuckle in a way that finally broke through Sam’s strange rambling. She stopped and Lena smiled at her.

“What?” Sam asked.

“I think, I’m sorry Sam, but I think they might be friends.”

“Well it’s stressing me out,” Sam admitted.

“Why?” Lena asked.

Sam hesitated then looked back at her noodles chewing on her lip.

“Because I don’t want it to stop,” she admitted.

Lena gave her a sympathetic look and she reached out to hold her hand. 

“Then I suggest you don’t interfere. Believe it or not I think Andrea may be a bit enamored with you.”

Sam sighed.

“You know just because you now have domestic bliss doesn’t mean the rest of us will. What if they start hating each other or push the other too far or-”

“Sam,” Lena gently cut her off. “Ruby’s happy, you’re happy, Andrea’s happy. Just let yourselves enjoy it without overthinking it.”

Sam sighed and nodded.

“And if Andrea gets annoying just whisper thirty seconds in her ear to remind her of her place.”

Sam choked on her noodles.

— 

Andrea wanted to die. Everything felt awful. Her throat was scratchy, her nose was completely blocked, her head hurt, and her whole body was covered with an ache that seemed to be settling into her very bones. She just wanted to curl up with her face in Sam’s boobs and die.

Her phone rang.

“I hope this is important,” she said.

“Andrea?” Sam. Just the sound of her voice sent a mess of feelings rushing through Andrea. “You sound-”

“Horrible,” Andrea finished.

Sam made a soft sympathetic noise. Andrea sniffed and she heard Sam sigh.

“Well we were going to stop by and borrow that annotated copy of the Count of Monte Cristo you said you had. But if you’re feeling ill we can come another-”

“Sam, I look and feel disgusting right now,” Andrea said glancing over at the nearby mirror, she shuddered at the sight of her red nose and messy hair. “This is the least sexy I will probably ever be.” She took a deep breath. “But if you let me take a nap on your tits you can borrow anything you want from my apartment, including my cars.”

Sam’s immediate laugh made her smile.

“Okay. We’ll be there in ten.”

And she was. Ten minutes later Andrea was pressing the button to unlock the door without getting up from her bed. She had brushed her hair and teeth after the call, but that was all she’d managed to get through before the exhaustion caught up with her.

Sam came into her bedroom first and seeing Andrea in a singlet and flannel pants seemed to deem it safe to open the door enough to let Ruby in behind her. Andrea did her best to look pathetic and cute so Sam would come closer. Sam’s sympathetic coo told her she’d succeeded.

“Love the apartment,” Ruby said, checking out the view from Andrea’s window.

“Thank you,” Andrea mumbled.

Sam was giving her a very sympathetic look as she gently brushed a few stray hairs off Andrea’s face. Andrea sniffled and her eyes went to Sam’s tits. God she wanted to suffocate herself in them. It would be a good death.

“Is there a music room?” Ruby asked.

“Yes. But the secret room off the library isn’t it.”

Sam gave her a horrified look as Ruby ran off to go find the secret room.

“Please tell me it’s not a sex dungeon,” Sam said.

Andrea laughed.

“No, it’s my home office,” She hesitated then gave Sam a look. “But I wouldn’t be opposed to someone treating it like a sex dungeon sometime.”

Sam smiled at her and straightened up.

“How do you feel about soup and toast?”

“Good, tell the kitchen. They’re extension 4.”

“Seriously?” Sam muttered.

“Rich bitch remember, and tell them I want mine extra spicy so I can actually taste it.” 

Ruby came back after Sam had finished calling the kitchen.

“Okay where’s the music room? All I’ve found is the office.”

“How did you get past the passcode?” Andrea asked surprised.

Ruby scoffed.

“I just thought like you. Got in on the second try with fuck off.”

“Language,” Sam said with a sigh.

“Music room is off the lounge, snack foods are in the highest cupboard. No snacks in the music room though. I will not have Dorito dust on my Guild. That guitar deserves respect.”

Ruby ran off again.

“You have Doritos?” Sam asked in disbelief.

“No. But I do have actual tortilla chips.”

“She’s going to be disappointed when she finds out,” Sam said with a soft sigh.

“There’s also Swiss chocolates and some Argentinian snacks she won’t know are healthy.”

“You do know she is studying Spanish in school.”

“Well… she’s fourteen she won’t read the labels.”

Sam sighed and sat on the bed tugging Andrea closer. Andrea snuggled against her. She rested her head on Sam’s shoulder letting herself relax. With a small shift of her head her face was in Sam’s tits. She let out a long happy sigh and ignored Sam’s amused scoff as she nuzzled deeper.

“Why are the chips all made of kale?” Ruby yelled from the kitchen.

“I stand corrected,” Andrea muttered.

Sam laughed and Andrea wrapped her arms around her happily snuggling closer. She was feeling better already. Maybe if she was really good she’d be able to convince Sam to eat her out later.

—

Andrea was now used to coming down on certain mornings to see a teenager in the kitchen smirking at her. Andrea threw a haughty look back. She grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and bit into it.

“Walk of shame again Ms Rojas? That’s the third time this week,” Ruby said. “One would think you like us.”

Andrea considered her response as she made her way to the door. Opening it she turned around to smile at Ruby.

“You know I fucked your mother on that table last night.”

Ruby’s horrified face brightened her morning as she left heading for her car. The angry text she got from Sam five minutes later just made her laugh. Sometimes she liked to make Sam’s life difficult.

She smiled thinking of all the ways Sam might get her back for that. She hoped it involved her hands.

Sam called. Andrea made herself wait a few seconds before she answered spinning her chair around so her staff wouldn’t see her smile. 

“Well if it isn’t my favourite accountant,” she purred.

“Hello sweetheart.” Sam had started calling her that a week ago and Andrea was still pretending it didn’t make her ridiculously happy every time she heard it. “I’m really sorry but can I ask a favour?” 

“Of course,” Andrea said, picking up on the stressed note in Sam’s voice. “As long as it doesn’t involve a threesome. I swore off those after Lana Lang gave me a black eye.”

Sam chuckled and Andrea felt smug knowing she made Sam laugh when stressed.

“It’s not that. Can you-” Sam sighed. “Can you pick up Ruby from school today? There’s been an issue and I’m going to be here until late. You just need to take her home and I’ll- I’ll try and get someone to come-”

Andrea sighed. Four months and Sam thought she didn’t care. Maybe she should tell her she liked being called sweetheart. 

“Sam,” Andrea said cutting her off. “Focus on work. I’ll pick up Ruby and she can come join me at Catco. We’ll get dinner and I’ll take her home after.”

She heard Sam let out a relieved breath.

“Thank you Andrea. I owe you.”

Andrea scoffed.

“No, you don’t. I’m your girlfriend. Now, you get back to work being a hot accountant lady and I’ll take care of Ruby.”

There was a moment of silence then Sam sighed again.

“Have I told you lately how amazing you are?”

“Yes, but my head was between your legs so I don’t know if you’ll count it.”

Sam laughed again.

“Okay I’ve really got to go but I’ll call you later, and Andrea… thank you.”

Andrea smiled feeling a rush of pleased warmth fill her.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

Andrea hung up and sent a text to Ruby to let her know she’d be picking her up. 

Andrea sighed as she saw the mess of cars outside Ruby’s school. When she saw an empty space she aggressively took it, smirking as someone flipped her off. She got out and turned to see the guy who had been about to yell at her fall suddenly silent. She rolled her eyes as he gave her a quick smile. 

A bell sounded and then children started coming out a minute later. At first one or two at a time then in a torrent that was somewhat alarming.

Eventually Andrea saw Ruby; she also saw another girl sneering at her and Ruby putting on a brave face as she said something back. Andrea narrowed her eyes glaring at the blonde. A teacher came along and they quickly broke apart. Ruby’s eyes widened as she saw Andrea and then she was racing over looking excited. 

“You came to pick me up in a Porsche?” she asked excitedly.

“What was I supposed to drive to pick you up, an overpriced SUV like everyone else?” Andrea asked smiling.

Ruby contained her excitement and put on her usual teenage mask of disdain. 

“Well a Ferrari or a Lamborghini would have been more impressive.”

“I’ll keep that in mind when I pick you up next. Now come on, I need to head back to the office before my art director tries to escape.”

Ruby happily got into the passenger seat looking around at the car interior with a smile. Andrea looked over her shoulder and reversed out, cutting off a glaring blonde wearing some obnoxious Dior sunglasses.

Andrea sighed as a few minutes later they were stuck in heavy city traffic. Considering they were going to be trapped for a while she decided to try the whole being a supportive parental figure thing.

“So… you wanna tell me what was happening with the other girl?” she asked, as casually as she could.

Ruby glared at her crossing her arms and looking out the window.

“So that’s a no from the future lawyer,” she said giving Ruby a look.

Ruby sighed.

“She’s just a bitch.”

Andrea nodded drumming her fingers on the steering wheel as she waited. Ruby caved quickly. Teenagers. 

“She said just because my mum got me a Versace jacket doesn’t make me cool now.”

Andrea scoffed.

“She was just jealous, that was a limited edition,” Andrea said.

“I know,” Ruby said sighing again.

Andrea looked at Ruby her face serious.

“So if you know she was jealous why are you upset about it?”

“Because everyone thinks my Mum is boring because she’s the CFO and all their Dads are all the CEOs and heads of marketing and stuff and their Mum’s just go shopping all day.”

Andrea accelerated moving quickly through a brief gap in traffic.

“So they’re looking down on you because your Mum actually works and you don’t have a Dad?”

Ruby shrugged. Andrea looked over at her and replaying their conversation back sighed.

“They’re making fun of you for how you dress aren’t they?”

Ruby swallowed but nodded. Andrea smiled. This she could fix.

“Well that’s easy to change,” she said.

Ruby looked at her confused. Andrea gave her a look in return.

“Did you forget I am the CEO of Catco? There’s a reason we’re shifting to a more fashion focus.”

Ruby blinked and Andrea rolled her eyes. 

“Who do you think taught Lena how to dress?” she asked, giving Ruby an exasperated look.

A minute later she turned into her parking space at Catco and cut the engine.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to Nigel.”

Ruby followed her up to Catco and through the bullpen. Ruby gave Kara a smile and a wave as she passed which Kara returned. Andrea showed Ruby through to the design department and Nigel. 

“Ah just in time, I was just about to-”

Nigel stopped and looked at Ruby confused.

“Nigel meet Ruby,” Andrea said smiling at him. 

Nigel smiled at Ruby and held out his hand. She shook it smiling back. He gave Andrea a quizzical look.

“Ruby’s my girlfriend’s daughter and her uppity bitch classmates are picking on her for not dressing like them, or having a father.”

Nigel sighed and looked at Ruby again. 

“Well they sound delightful,” he said dryly. “How can I help?”

“Who can I trust to go buy her something?” Andrea asked moving forwards to check the layouts he’d been doing.

Nigel considered Ruby for a moment and smiled.

“I’ve had Serena looking into teen brands so she’ll know what’s in for her age group.” Nigel gave Ruby another smile and a gentle tap on the chin. “We need to get you some colour baby girl. You’re hiding in blues.”

Ruby grinned back. Andrea stuck her head out the door and summoned Serena with a wave of her hand. Serena entered then noticed Ruby. Andrea handed over one of her cards.

“You have one hour, take Ruby’s measurements, then go get her a new wardrobe, say enough for eight casual outfits, one formal one, and a leather jacket because they’re always cool.”

Serena grinned as she twirled the card in her hand. Andrea waved her and Ruby out with a wave of her hand. Then she turned to Nigel.

“Okay, so you gonna tell me why page 12 got completely redone?”

Nigel smiled and slid a photo towards her. Andrea’s eyebrows rose.

“Page eleven decided to cause a scandal.”

Andrea sighed heavily.

“I hate athletes.”

Andrea pulled her car up to the valet and got out handing over her keys with the ease of long practice before heading for the door. Ruby followed, practically skipping in a new red sundress. Andrea hadn’t missed how Ruby had chosen to change into the outfit that would best compliment her own. Maybe she could convince Sam to let her play with her wardrobe a bit too, help her show off a few of her best assets. 

As they arrived at the hostess stand the waiter was already ready with two menus to lead them right through, despite the small line that was gathering.

“How come you always get seated immediately?” Ruby asked.

“Because I’m one of the owners,” Andrea said throwing Ruby a smug look as they arrived at the table.

Ruby looked around surprised.

“How many restaurants do you own?” she asked.

“I have a stake in nine, three in National City six worldwide.” 

Ruby nodded seeming impressed as she looked around at the overly modern decor. Ten minutes later their entrees were served.

“So… how do you feel about my mum?” Ruby asked.

“It’s just casual,” Andrea said automatically. 

“Right,” Ruby muttered selecting a slice of garlic bread. “Which is why you did all of this for me today.”

Andrea looked up from her salad to point her fork at Ruby.

“That was just business. You like me you don’t start anything when I see you Mum. This is purely transactional-”

“So why did you help with my homework today and come to my game last week? You didn’t have sex with my mother then.”

Andrea froze. She thought about it.

“The key to winning your mother over is keeping you happy so-”

“I think you really like my mum,” Ruby said smirking at her.

Andrea smirked back.

“Your mum is hot that’s-”

“First ew. Second I’m not an idiot. When we were at your apartment I found the pile of poetry books with the pages you’d marked with my mother’s name. You don’t underline and write a person’s name next to a line about endless love if you don’t care about them. And you certainly don’t draw little hearts around their name on your calendar unless you really like-”

“That was only once,” Andrea said defensively. “And it wasn’t on my desk-”

Ruby’s amused giggle told her she’d been had. 

Andrea was stunned. Outwitted by a teenager. She hoped Lena never heard about this. Ruby managed to contain her amusement as the waiter reappeared to check they had everything they needed. Then Andrea got a call from Snapper. Glaring at her phone she answered. The call lasted long enough that their mains arrived. 

As Andrea started on her pasta Ruby gave her a smile.

“You know, I think my Mum really likes you too.”

Ruby had Andrea’s absolute and undivided attention.

“Go on,” she prompted.

Ruby smirked at Andrea. Her mouth firmly shut and a smile on her face. Andrea tried the waiting game again. Ruby didn’t cave this time, she just kept eating. Andrea ate too, hoping it would seem like she wasn’t highly invested in Ruby continuing.

“Are you gonna expand on that or not?” Andrea asked.

Ruby took a bite of her pizza and chewed thoughtfully before answering.

“You’re asking me to tell you my mother’s secrets that’s-”

Andrea opened her purse and held up a pair of fifties.

“She gets super excited whenever you text, she spends way longer on her hair, and I overheard her telling Lena that her relationship with you was the best she’s ever had, and she never wants it to stop.”

Andrea smiled and put the money into the bill for their food.

“Hey!” Ruby protested.

“Common mistake, you assumed it was for you. Get a verbal or written contract next time, implied action is not enough.”

Ruby sighed but didn’t argue. She picked up her next slice of pizza.

“So does this mean you’re coming to my game on Saturday?”

“You got into the semi finals of course I’m coming. I want to be there to see you crush those bitches,” Andrea said. 

Ruby smiled brightly and kept eating. 

Sam came home late and looked at the two of them sitting on the couch watching a horror movie. 

“I thought we said no horror after the last incident,” she said smiling.

“We’re doing immersion therapy,” Andrea said. “Monster’s gonna come from the left.”

The monster did indeed appear from the left but Ruby didn’t jump, instead she grinned.

“How do you know all these?” Ruby asked.

“When real life is scary fake terror is oddly comforting,” Andrea said. 

She smiled at Sam who came to sit on Ruby’s other side. Sam felt the tension slowly leaving her body as the movie continued.

When the credits rolled Ruby went off to brush her teeth and get changed for bed. Sam groaned as Andrea pulled her to her feet then up the stairs.

Ruby called goodnight from down the hall as Andrea guided Sam into her bedroom. Sam collapsed on the bed and Andrea immediately started taking off her shoes. 

“So I know you were probably hoping-”

“Sam, shut up and let me undress you so you don’t go to sleep in this.”

Sam sighed happily letting Andrea undress her. She frowned as she replayed the moment her daughter had gotten up at the end of the movie.

“What was Ruby wearing?” Sam asked.

“Some new clothes. Nigel, quite rightly, said she needs more colour,” Andrea said.

Sam thought about it.

“How many new clothes?” she asked, sounding very suspicious.

“They all fit in her existing storage space so don’t worry about it,” Andrea said, taking Sam’s shoes over to her closet.

Sam looked over at Andrea.

“How much did you spend on-”

“Far less than I’ve spent on Leo. Do you think he’d like a little leather jacket? Ruby now has a red one and I was thinking it might be cute to get him one too. Then they can match. Maybe I should get him one with rebel or something on the back. Lena will hate it.”

Sam sat up her exhaustion disappearing for a moment as Andrea’s words registered.

“You bought her a leather jacket!”

“Technically Serena did,” Andrea said dismissively.

“Who’s Serena?”

“One of my fashion writers,” Andrea said climbing into bed with her. “She knows the currently in teen fashions so I had her go buy Ruby some things. They’ll of course need to go to a tailor to properly fit but I can arrange that later.”

Andrea absently scrolled emails on her phone ignoring the look Sam was giving her.

“Why?” Sam asked softly.

“Her classmates were giving her shit for not dressing like them. I know it’s shallow but if you’re sending her to that school she needs the wardrobe to match.”

Andrea gave Sam a look then, seeing the continued disbelief, returned her eyes to her phone. 

“Or you can let her go somewhere else. There’s a high school four blocks from Catco that has a good sports program for half the price. They’d let you enroll her for next year.”

“They only let you in there if you live in the area,” Sam said with a sigh. “I’ve looked.”

Andrea rolled her eyes.

“I live in the area. Just use my apartment.”

“But she doesn’t live with you,” Sam said, her voice now teasing.

Andrea did her best to pretend her heart wasn’t beating wildly in her chest as she rolled her eyes and looked at Sam.

“Then why don’t you both just move in with me and sign her up for next year. She can spend the summer in the holiday sports program to make friends and then you won’t have to worry about making small talk with the PTA bitches.”

Sam had moved closer staring at her but Andrea was pretending not to notice. She’d spent a whole week gathering information and making sure she had a rebuttal for every possible argument.

“So you’re saying we should move in with you, so Ruby can go to a different school?” Sam asked, her tone still teasing.

“Yes,” Andrea glanced at Sam doing her best to feign indifference. “Sam it’s far more economical and I know you hate suburbia. It takes an hour for you to get from Ruby’s school to L Corp. My apartment is barely a ten minute commute.”

Sam was quiet for a minute then she kissed Andrea. It was soft and sweet. Andrea returned the kiss happily. Sam broke away.

“Have I told you that I love you?”

“Not yet,” Andrea said smiling. 

“Well I do. Even if you are a brat.”

Andrea smiled and kissed Sam back.

“I love you too,” she whispered. 

Sam’s smile grew.

“I wondered how long before you’d say that on purpose.”

“What?” Andrea asked pulling back.

Sam laughed.

“You’ve been moaning how much you love me for weeks. Also Lena told me you confessed during truth or dare.”

Andrea huffed. Damn Lena for always revealing her secrets. She looked at Sam doing her best not to let her hands twitch and betray her.

“So does that mean you’re moving in with me?” she asked her voice unusually nervous.

Sam smiled.

“If Ruby doesn’t have anything against it, then yes.”

Andrea scoffed. Ruby loved Andrea’s apartment, or more specifically she loved the library, music room, on call room service, and her view from the spare room. When she thought about it Andrea could have sped this whole thing up by just casually suggesting it to Ruby. She made a mental note to do so in the morning, there’s no way Sam would back out if she and Ruby were talking about the move. Combined they could probably convince Sam to move in that weekend.

“Shall I have movers booked for Saturday?” Andrea asked.

Sam laughed and kissed her.