When her alarm went off, at seven o'clock, Katie just stretched out her arm from under the duvet and swatted it off, then turned over and tried to doze off again. She could hear it was raining outside the window, it was mid-December and still dark, and her bed was cosy enough, even without a sexy woman to help keep it warm. She was more or less as comfortable as a girl could be, who was serially single and didn't like getting up. That was why, when she did force herself to get up twenty minutes later, she ended up rushing around in order to leave the flat on time at ten-to-eight, and how she came to forget her earrings.

She realised she hadn't put earrings in just after she sat down on the bus: her hand brushed her earlobe as she was gathering her hair into a ponytail. She felt mildly irritated, because a nice pair of earrings was one of the few ways she could express herself at work. The bank insisted on outfits that "reflected the corporate branding", which meant (for the women) navy blue trousers or skirts, a white or pale-yellow blouse and an office-issue cravat/scarf thing in light-blue and yellow, and a navy jacket or cardigan; a navy dress with the scarf thing was an acceptable variation, and that's what Katie was wearing that morning. Katie didn't really like her work dress, the cheap material irritated her and always caught awkwardly on her tights, and it didn't do an awful lot for her figure, but her trousers were in the wash and she only had one navy skirt of an appropriate length, which she hadn't been able to find as she'd been rushing around. She wasn't vain about looking nice at work, but she found the dress code irksome; wearing subtly attractive jewellery was her own little act of passive-aggressive rebellion.

She sighed and shifted in her seat to stare at the drizzle hitting the bus windows. At least, if it kept raining, town wouldn't be so busy at lunchtime, and she could get a bit more Christmas shopping done. She wondered idly what to have for her tea, and made a mental note to try and pop by the market for something nice and fresh, because it looked like it was going to be another Friday night in the flat by herself.

***

Halfway through the morning, just as she was seeing off her first appointment, she realised that her earrings were the least of the things she'd forgotten. Susan, the branch manager, poked her head round the door of Katie's office as she was returning to her desk to ask if she was all set for that evening, and there was a horrible moment or two as Katie realised that Susan meant the after-work Christmas drinks for the whole of the branch staff; and that she, Katie, had forgotten about them and was utterly unprepared. Not that Katie needed much prompting to go for a drink after work usually, but Susan had made it clear ages ago that these were very much pre-Christmas drinks, and some sort of seasonal effort should be made; turning up in a suitable jumper would be the very least.

Katie glanced down herself and felt her mild irritation grow just a little bit. She'd have to rush home and change straight after work, although at least it meant it wasn't a TV dinner for one again that night. She smiled briskly at Susan. "Looking forward to it."

"Good," said Susan brightly, making to move away from Katie's office doorway. "We're changing here and going straight on after locking up, so no dawdling."

Katie swore under her breath as Susan trotted off to the front of the branch. No time to go home and change, then. She'd have to see if she could find something to wear in town, on her lunchbreak. At least there was no Secret Santa or anything like that, like there had been in her previous branch – she found that kind of thing incredibly awkward. She decided that somewhere in town was bound to sell cheap festive jumpers – and it wasn't like it needed to be anything special because she probably wouldn't be wearing it again – and maybe she could find herself some cheap earrings while she was out and about, as well. At least one good thing about the rain was that it meant she'd decided to wear her calf-length black boots that morning, which would look OK for going out.

She went and made herself a mug of tea, then sat down to the paperwork from her appointment, although she'd barely filled in the basics before one of the front-counter staff knocked on the open door. "Sorry, Katie, you free? Only, there's a client here, wants to talk through what we can do for her business..."

Katie sighed. "Can't Carl take it, Stacey?"

The girl shook her head. "His half-ten showed up early and's gone straight in. Diary said you didn't have anyone booked in till eleven? Sorry."

"Oh, all right." Katie saved what she'd already inputted, and shuffled the rest of her notes. "Get her a coffee, and I'll be out in a sec." She stood up as Stacey hurried away, locked her computer and felt in her pocket for the key to her desk to put the paperwork away.

***

The branch was quiet out front, and Katie could only see one person sitting in the waiting area. The woman had an unruly crop of longish, curly light-brown hair, and was dressed in a plain woollen jumper and scruffy jeans under a duffel coat. She blew on the disposable cup of coffee in her hands and looked up when Katie approached. She was somewhere between 30 and 40, Katie estimated, quite thin under her formless clothes, and seemingly too tall for the bank's standard-issue tub chairs. She seemed relieved to have an excuse to stand up as Katie introduced herself, and smiled broadly. Something about her piqued Katie's interest, and she found it rather nice when the woman lingered over shaking hands.

Katie started leading her back to her office. "So, I gather you're interested in our business banking offer, Mrs, er..."

"Belling, Miss. Or Ms, I suppose, although that sounds even worse." The woman chuckled. "Not the marrying kind, me." She glanced at Katie as she brushed past into the office. "As they used to say," she added with an almost-wink, and a tiny spark of unconscious understanding passed between the two women.

Katie settled behind her desk and wiggled her mouse, glancing over the woman again, surreptitiously. She wasn't particularly striking-looking, but Katie found herself thinking that the two best words to describe the woman's face were 'happy' and 'comfortable', and she decided that was rather nice. They were the sort of qualities she usually deep-down wanted in her girlfriends, but ultimately seldom found in the sort she normally went for. "Um, I'm terribly sorry, but I've got an appointment at eleven." She glanced at the woman again and decided 'happy' and 'comfortable' was a good look on her.

The woman crossed her long, thin legs and blew hair away from her nice face while taking in Katie. "Oh, I probably won't bother you for that long. I'm just making initial enquiries, really." She was polite and amiable, but – as Katie often found with her clients – there was a confidence and determination not far below the surface. Katie supposed they had to have that, to succeed at being self-employed. In women, she often found it rather a sexy trait.

The woman's hair fell straight back across her face and she blew at it again. Katie realised her hair wasn't just light brown, but also had improbable hints of blonde or ginger, depending on the light falling across it. Yet it looked entirely natural (the woman didn't seem the type to worry enough about her appearance to dye her hair anyway) and Katie thought that hair like that was both striking and very attractive. It was untidy and had a mind of its own, rather like the woman herself, Katie suspected, and she thought that was appealing too. She unlocked her computer and mentally shook herself: she normally went for the kind of smart career women or conventionally pretty cashiers she bumped into at work, so it was a bit of a mystery why she should now suddenly find herself fancying this scruffy stranger sitting casually across the other side of her desk.

Fancy her she most certainly did though, Katie realised, as the woman caught her eye and smiled, holding Katie's gaze while she took another sip of coffee. The woman's eyes were deep and dark and difficult not to stare into. Katie pulled at her cravat thing unnecessarily while staring into them for a bit too long. "Um, so, Miss Belling...where are you...I mean, er..." She felt like she was probably gabbling.

The woman thrust some hair back roughly, the two bracelets on her wrist jangling together. "You mean, where am I with the business? Been doing it a while now, but things are beginning to take off. Getting a bit much for me to handle by myself, all the tax and stuff like that. I need to separate things out, the professional from the personal, you know?" She held Katie's gaze, and her expression was kindly, open, genuinely interested in Katie.

Katie nodded, unused to being looked at in such a nice but openly interested way, then took a gulp of tea. "What do you do?" She decided to just accept that she liked this woman, and chatting to her for a while before her next appointment would be a lot more fun than doing some work. Also, it was a rare pleasure to have forty minutes alone in her office, perfectly legitimately, with someone she fancied.

"I make jewellery. All handmade. Then try and flog it to people, obviously." The woman sat up a little, proudly. "I do the metalwork and the decoration, mostly painting but sometimes I try inlays...whatever..."

"Hmph," Katie said before she really realised it. Jewellery again! "Don't suppose you do earrings?"

"Of course." The woman put her head on one side. "Why?" Her eyes flicked over Katie's face. Katie tugged an earlobe half-unconsciously, and the woman smiled and raised an eyebrow.

Katie smiled, realising she was straying into personal chat. She touched her earlobe again, more deliberately. "Oh, I just forgot mine this morning. It's irritated me more than it probably should." She sighed. "And we're supposed to be going out for drinks straight after work, which I'd forgotten about, and so now I'm going to have to go out and waste my lunchbreak finding a change of clothes for later."

"And earrings?"

"And earrings," Katie agreed. "Maybe. They're not essential but, well..." She decided she should probably pretend to earn her salary, at least for some of the time the woman was there. She pushed back slightly from her desk and crossed her legs, luckily catching the woman drop a lingering glance over her as she adjusted her dress. She plucked a copy of the standard business banking information leaflet from the holder next to her computer, opening it across the desk, and tried not to let her hand rest too near the woman's as they both leant in. She noticed the woman's nails were chipped, and there were flecks of paint on her fingertips. Unaccountably, Katie thought that was actually, weirdly, more than a little bit sexy. "Anyway, Miss Belling..."

"Call me Louise..."

"Louise..." Katie shrugged. "We should probably get down to business for a while."

"If you say so." Louise grinned quickly.

Katie smiled back at her, uncertain whether she was being flirted with. "Shall I run through the options?"

***

They did try to discuss business banking for a while (Katie got the main points across), but found it was much more fun to just chat instead. Reluctantly, Katie had to let the woman go with only a few minutes to spare before her next appointment, and felt distinctly that she had indeed just spent the best part of the last forty minutes being flirted with. Quite enthusiastically. And flirting back, equally enthusiastically. She felt an irresistible tingle deep inside.

Louise's hand lingered in hers as they stood up and shook again, and she deliberately brushed close to Katie on her way out of the office. As Katie felt the woman's arm trail ever-so-lightly across her breast and the back of her hand almost imperceptibly brush her hip, there was a beat or two of mutual interest between them. It passed, but the woman looked back as she walked out and caught Katie's eye knowingly.

Katie had given Louise her card, and was hoping she'd get back in touch to make an appointment to see her again. She quite liked the idea of seeing Louise again. She also felt that Louise had been fairly  interested – in what the bank had to offer, as much as in her herself.

***

Katie managed to get rid of her second appointment slightly ahead of time, and gathered up her coat and bag before anyone or anything could stop her. She poked her head into Susan's office and said she was nipping out into town on a slightly early lunch.

***

Forty minutes later, she plonked herself back down at her desk, in a much happier frame of mind than earlier. A bit of casual flirting always made her feel good for hours afterwards, and if it was on work's time, so much the better. She didn't even mind having to munch a quickly-bought sandwich from Boots while she caught up on some work emails, because she had had a productive lunchbreak too. Not only had she managed to get the last of her proper Christmas shopping done – town hadn't been busy in the end, even though it had stopped raining – but she'd also found a reasonably decent blue jumper with a procession of red and white reindeer going across the middle, and sprigs of holly alternating with snowflakes above and below: festive without being too horrendously garish. In the same usefully inexpensive clothing store, she'd also happened upon a browny-beige corduroy skirt which she secretly rather liked as it was comfortable but short enough to look fun, and would also do very nicely for after-work drinks. She hoped the jumper would satisfy Susan's desire to see everyone getting into the festive spirit, because she'd run out of time to find any accessories. If it saved her having to wear a set of flashing antlers or a Santa hat, it was a few quid well spent, even if she still didn't have any earrings.

***

She was getting some good paperwork done when Stacey walked past on her way to the staffroom with a selection box of chocolates. The girl paused as she passed, leaning on the door frame. "Yet another Christmas freebie from a customer," she said, shaking the chocolates. "It's so difficult, this time of year." She grinned. "Talking of gifts, Katie, you know that woman from earlier, tall one with the hair?" She mimed Louise's tumble of curls. Stacey's hair was always immaculate, as were her nails, make-up and clothes. She tended to disapprove of scruffiness, and would never leave the house without something so fundamental as a nice pair of earrings.

"Louise Belling?" Katie felt her heart quicken for a beat or two for no good reason, although she knew full well why.

"Yeah well, she came back in while you were on lunch. Left something for you." The girl let a little smile flit across her face. "I'll just fetch it in for you, after I've put these in the staffroom." She indicated the chocolates and walked away, then eventually returned and stepped into the office to hand Katie a small brown paper bag folded tightly and sellotaped around something hard and square.

Katie smiled, recognising what it probably was at once. "Louise left this? For me?" Whispers of pleasure tickled her insides.

"Uh-uh." Stacey hovered, blatantly curious.

Katie slipped a nail under the sellotape and ripped the flimsy paper off to reveal a small, white cardboard box. She felt Stacey's interest as she lifted the lid, and let the girl lean in closer to see. Two small Christmas puddings were nestling in some cotton wool, and Katie chuckled, pushing at one gently with a fingertip to reveal the silver fitting.

"Oh wow," said Stacey. "They're so cute! How sweet."

"Mmm," replied Katie. She was feeling a strange, but very nice, mix of amusement and gratitude to Louise. She wondered what had prompted the woman to make this gesture. The earrings were like two delicate metal baubles, but painted with a surprising level of detail to look like Christmas puddings with icing on top, and a tiny sprig of holly near each fitting. They looked amusing, casual, a seasonal joke, but Katie could imagine the hours of work that had gone in to making them. She chuckled again at the incongruity of such silly things being quite so carefully beautiful. She also felt the pleasure flicker a little higher inside.

"You gonna to try them on?" Stacey asked. She looked at Katie, and Katie realised that she was really asking why a customer who'd only wandered in for the first time a few hours ago had come back with such a lovely personal present for her.

She flushed, not entirely unpleasantly. "This is what she does, we were talking about it. She makes jewellery." There was a business card in the lid of the box, and explaining out loud suddenly made Katie wonder if they were really meant for her to wear. Her initial reaction was that was exactly what Louise had in mind, but it was possible they'd just been sent as an example of her work. "She'll want these back, surely? I'm pretty sure she's just brought them into show me."

Stacey was clearly unconvinced, but didn't push the issue. "Just saying, I wouldn't judge you if you did try them on. I would." She raised an eyebrow at Katie.

Katie hesitated. "Well, maybe later." She put the box in her desk drawer. "I should get on."

***

Katie dithered about ringing Louise, fiddling with her mobile – wanting to, but nervous in the way she often was when she first met a nice woman. The thought of contacting her was nice, though – she would be stupid to let this perfect excuse slip by. It was only being polite, of course, to thank her but she could do that from her office landline, or via the email address on Louise's business card. Using her mobile was more personal, and much less professional, but she'd never really considered anything else. Eventually, she sent a text, thanking Louise and saying they were lovely.

Louise replied within ten minutes to say Katie was very welcome and she was pleased Katie liked them. The fact that Louise's reply had come quickly helped Katie to accept that unprofessionally using her mobile didn't, in this case, matter very much.

Nonetheless, Katie dithered some more about how to continue the text exchange, to keep in contact with Louise. This was the moment when the polite thanks could tip over into a more personal conversation. Katie wanted it to tip that way, the implications made her heart beat a little faster and the warm pleasure flicker higher up her insides.

She was distracted by her afternoon appointments, then messaged Louise that she would take good care of the earrings. Louise hadn't replied by the time she came back from a short meeting at half four, and she worried she'd messaged something stupid. She sent another, saying she'd assumed they were a loan, did Louise want to meet soon to get them back? She put a kiss on the end, testing Louise's reaction.

At ten-to-five, as Katie was finishing up her paperwork and thinking about changing for going out, her phone buzzed with a new message. From Louise: Haha, no, they're a gift. :) x

Katie's finger hovered over the reply button, to say thanks again, but a second message popped up: But we can meet soon anyway. Could be fun ;) xx

The pleasure licked higher inside. This had definitely tipped over into the personal now, and Katie liked it. Yeah, that would be nice xx

Louise didn't reply to that straight away, and for a while Katie was busy helping her colleagues shut the branch and cash up. Then they all split up to change for going out. Katie returned to her office and slipped out of her work dress, tugging the new jumper on over her head and wriggling into the skirt. Happily, the skirt fitted perfectly but the jumper was just slightly tight around her arms. She tugged at it to get it to lie slightly more comfortably, and decided it would do. She touched up her make-up, and took her hair out of its ponytail and brushed it out, then carefully put the earrings in.

To get a better idea of her appearance than was possible in her compact, she used to the selfie mode of her mobile as a mirror and decided she looked OK. Good enough for after-work drinks at five o'clock, anyway. Seeing herself in selfie mode gave her an idea. She flicked her hair out and took a quick but nice-looking snap showing off the earrings, then texted Louise: Want to see what they look like? Xx  Without waiting for a reply, she sent the selfie.

Louise responded almost immediately: Look great :) xx

Yeah, thanks again. They're lovely. X

Haha I meant you ;) xx

Oh, Katie thought. Smooth. Witty, surprising, quick off the mark, exactly what a girl about to go out for drinks wants to hear. Especially off someone she fancies. She felt the pleasure twist and tighten around her insides. She liked the no-nonsense way Louise was coming on to her – the unassuming confidence, both in bringing her the earrings and in making no secret of the fact that she fancied Katie, was sexy. Katie felt herself get turned on, and shifted in her chair, crossing her legs and settling her jumper and skirt in a flattering pose. She took another selfie, stretching her arm at an awkward angle to get as much of herself in as possible, and sent that too.

Very nice came the reply. Suit you xx

The earrings? xx

Yup and the rest of it ;) Glad you found something to wear in the end xx

Katie smiled and felt the arousal tighten further. Yeah productive lunchbreak. And now I have earrings too. :) So when do you fancy meeting?Xx

You all going out now? Xx

Yeah xx

What time do your drinks finish tonight? Catch you then? Xx

To meet? X

Or just text. Whatever xx

Don't know. Sorry xx

No problem. I go to bed late. Text me xx

God, thought Katie, this woman is keen. She liked it. I'll try and make my excuses early on xx She realised there was a certain ambiguity between them as to whether they were intending to just message later, or actually meet. She liked that too, the hint of possibly meeting up.

Susan called to her from the corridor. "Come on, Katie. Are you ready? Let's go!"

Katie got up and gathered her bag and coat. Her hands were trembling a little with the pace of the flirting, and her insides were churning with excitement. She decided to leave her work clothes in her office over the weekend. Louise replied as she was slipping her phone into her coat pocket: No rush, seriously. We've got all night ;) xx

Katie gasped to herself and desperately tried to think of something cool and witty in response. Lol, promises promises xx  She knew it was lame, but it reinforced the possibility of meeting later and her colleagues were fidgeting with impatience.

You bet, girl. Now, go and have a good time xx

***

Susan's plan had been to go around several pubs and bars, but it seemed a lot of other workers had chosen the same evening for after-work drinks, and town was busy. They managed to get a table in the second pub they went in, so they persuaded Susan it would be better to stay there, at least for the time being.

Several comments were made about Katie's earrings, and she had to pretend a friend had given them to her. Technically, she supposed, that was sort of true – she tried to avoid looking at Stacey, but whenever she did catch the girl's eye she grinned back knowingly.

In the general dynamics of their conversation and the movement of various colleagues to and from the bar, and to and from the smoking area outside, Katie managed to keep up something of a text exchange with Louise without anyone noticing.

At one point, however, she was almost found out. She was alone at the table for a few moments longer than she'd expected. She fumbled her phone out and texted Louise quickly, responding to some flirtatious witticism the woman had last sent about twenty minutes before. It took her longer than she'd intended, because by this stage half a bottle of prosecco and two large rum-and-cokes were making her fingers a bit clumsier than normal.

Stacey came back from the bar and slid into the seat next to Katie,  surprising her. "Who you texting? That woman?" She grinned.

Katie nodded, blushing slightly. "Yeah. Just to say about the nice comments about the earrings, you know?" She hoped the lie came over as believable. She flipped her phone shut, resting it on her knee. It buzzed almost immediately. She ran a finger along the edge, wanting to read Louise's message, knowing it would be something nice with a strong hint of naughty, but not wanting to do it in front of Stacey.

Stacey looked at the phone on Katie's knee for a moment, watching her finger going back and forth along the edge. She seemed about to say something when one of the others called to her, and the moment was broken.

***

A little while later, it was decided they would move on. They were all pretty tipsy by then, so there was some confusion over where they would move to. Katie needed to get money out and said she'd catch them up, heading off to the nearest cash machine. She paused a couple of times to keep up the flirty texting with Louise, so took longer than she'd intended and ended up with no idea where the others had gone.

She stood on a corner near the pub they'd left and thought for a moment, then texted the person she felt closest to that night: Louise. Have lost the others, they've moved on when I got money out, not sure where to lol xx

Her phone rang, and when she answered, Louise said. "Well now, this is no good, is it? It's only half eight."

It was nice to hear her voice, Katie thought. "I know. I just can't remember where they said they were going."

"Can't you ring or text one of them and ask?"

"Haven't got anyone's number."

"Hmm." Louise sounded like she was smiling. "So, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. Find someone else to have a drink with, I suppose." Katie hesitated, wondering if Louise would take the bait, or if the bait was too obvious. "What are you up to, by the way? I never asked earlier."

Louise chuckled. "I'm at my studio, working on some things. I was thinking of calling it a night, though. There's a bottle of wine back at my flat which I can't resist much longer." She paused, and Katie heard her clear her throat lightly. "As it happens, my studio is literally round the corner from the pub where you lot have just been."

"Oh, right?" Katie felt a tickle of excitement at what seemed to be opening up. "Um, so, Louise? Have you eaten?"

"No." Louise sounded like she was smiling again. "I bet you haven't either."

"No. I should."

"Mmm. So should I. We shouldn't drink that wine on an empty stomach." Louise paused, and Katie stayed still and quiet, hoping she'd say what she wanted next. "Soooo...Katie...does oven-ready pizza out of my freezer and that wine sound classy enough for you?"

The excitement tightened around Katie's insides. "Um, no," she said carefully. "It sounds good, though. Just what I need."

"I'll pick you up. All right if we go straight back, rather than have a drink first? I need to change."

Katie felt her pulse quicken. "That sounds good, too."

Louise chuckled. "Which? Going straight back? Me getting out of my clothes?"

Katie laughed. "Um...yeah?"

Louise laughed quietly too. "OK. I could take that as a 'both'...?"

"Yeah." Katie felt a hot squeeze of excitement between her legs.

"Stay there, Katie. I'll see you in five."

***

While Katie was waiting, she got a text from Stacey, who said she'd got her number off Amy. Amy was a cashier from another branch who'd sat next to Katie on a training course once at the regional office. The two had clicked immediately, had a drink together afterwards and swapped numbers, met again and slept together a few days later, then spent a year or so as friends with benefits. They hadn't seen each other for a while, and Katie was surprised Amy still had her number. She also hadn't known that Amy and Stacey were friends, and wondered vaguely how much Stacey knew.

She replied to Stacey to say it was fine, she was calling it a night anyway and was about to get a taxi. Stacey seemed to accept her white lies without a murmur, and wished her well for the rest of the evening.

***

A few minutes later, a car came round the corner and flashed its lights, pottering to a stop next to where Katie stood. The passenger door popped open, and Katie climbed in clumsily, slightly missing her footing on the kerb as she was undoing her coat. She realised she could have been more elegant, but she was tipsy.

Louise grinned at her and pushed a bit of her tumbly hair out of her face. "Oops. You OK?"

Katie grinned back. "Yeah. The boss paid for prosecco which was nice of her, but I've had like half a bottle. Then I've had a few rum and cokes, too." She pulled the seatbelt across but her coat was in the way of the socket. She fumbled for a minute, until Louise reached out and moved the flap of her coat off her hip so the belt could click home.

Louise's hand was warm through Katie's skirt and rested there after Katie was strapped in. "Well, well. That's where all our bank charges go, eh? Prosecco at the staff Christmas drinks." She moved her other hand up to the light switch above the rearview mirror. "Let's have a look at these earrings, then. See how they look in real life."

Katie angled her head and brushed her hair back so Louise could see them properly. Louise took a long moment or two to take in the sight, and after a moment, Katie saw a slight softening in her eyes. Louise was no longer looking at the earrings themselves, but at Katie wearing the earrings, and she plainly liked it. "Yeah," Louise whispered. "They work. Nice." 

Katie felt her heartbeat quicken.

Louise flicked the light off again and the two women looked at each other sideways in the dim car interior, even the streetlights just bright enough through the windscreen to show the contours of their faces and the shine of their eyes. Katie's hand moved back onto the seatbelt socket, ostensibly to check the belt was secure but really to rest against Louise's. The insides of their wrists touched, the skin there soft and warm, and Katie heard Louise catch her breath.

Katie enjoyed another hot squeeze of arousal between her legs and wriggled back in the seat, turning her head against the headrest to look at Louise properly. Her hair splayed out a little where random strands stuck to the material, but she didn't care much. Louise stared for a second then leant across suddenly and kissed her – gently, but with interest, testing Katie's reaction. Katie kissed back for a moment, then they broke it. It had only been quick, but it was enough. It promised much.

"So," said Louise hoarsely. "Pizza." She lifted her hand reluctantly from Katie's, brushing the backs of her fingers over Katie's thigh.

"And wine," replied Katie, equally hoarsely, feeling her nipples harden against her bra with anticipation. The feel of Louise's fingers through her tights caused the pleasure to prickle hotly between her legs. She also moved her hand, running a fingertip over Louise's wrist.

"And wine," Louise agreed, slowly, watching Katie's finger. "I have some catching up to do."

Katie chuckled. "Depends how drunk you want to be."

Louise chuckled as well, then turned her hand and found Katie's, linking their fingers. She squeezed lightly. "You're quite drunk."

"Yeah." Katie let their linked hands rest on the hem of her skirt. "So?"

Louise straightened one fingertip momentarily, stroking a small arc over the inside of Katie's thigh. "I could...what do they call it?...take advantage."

Katie laughed, feeling her whole body yearn for Louise's fingers to touch her properly. "Oooh. You mean...um...?"

Louise grunted, then cleared her throat lightly. "That's what's usually meant, I think, yes. That sort of thing."

Katie leant over, enjoying the way the movement pressed their linked hands harder against her thighs, slightly crumpling her skirt. She put her mouth close to Louise's ear and let her lips play over the curly hair, breathing its scent for a second, then said softly, "Go on, then. Sounds fun." Then she sat back and let go of Louise's hand."C'mon. I might sober up, at this rate."

***

The drive to Louise's flat wasn't long, and Katie put pizzas and onion rings in the oven and poured generous glasses of the wine while Louise went to change out of her work clothes – a loose woollen jumper covered in splashes of paint over an old t-shirt and scruffy jeans, all of which had definitely seen better days.

Katie was peering into the fridge when Louise returned. "You got any salad? We should make an effort."

Louise picked up one of the wine glasses. "If it's not in the drawer at the bottom, the one with a picture of lettuce and stuff on, then no." She sniffed into the glass, carefully avoiding dipping her nose in the liquid. "You sure you've put enough in here?"

Katie shut the fridge and turned to look at her. "They're quite small glasses." She waved at the bottle on the table. "And there's plenty left, anyway." She took in the fact that Louise was sporting a pair of loose-fitting grey bottoms covered with small white and black polka dots, and a grey vest top under a black woolly cardigan pulled loosely over her shoulders. She leant on the fridge and put a hand on her hip. "Are they pyjama bottoms?"

Louise shrugged. "What can I say? I live alone, I work alone. At the studio, I wear scruffy shit because it's messy work. Here, I like to be comfortable. I don't need to look smart very often. At work or at home."

Katie stepped towards her. It was exciting to think of the thin material against Louise's skin. "What about when you entertain?"

"Entertain?" Louise openly took in the way Katie's skirt moved over her thighs as she approached. She moved her eyes up quickly, over the shape of Katie's breasts in the tight Christmas jumper, up to the girl's face framed by the loose hair. She automatically noticed the earrings tangled in amongst the strands of hair – her own creations, on a cute girl who was practically coming on to her. It was surprisingly sexy, and she enjoyed the arousal flowing through her.

Katie brushed some hair back from her face, keeping her hand at her neck so one of the earrings dangled over the inside of her wrist. "Yeah, you know?" She moved close enough to Louise so that when she eventually brought her hand back down from her hair it brushed Louise's breast through the vest top, then came to rest on the waistband of the pyjama bottoms at Louise's hip. "When you pick up young women and take advantage of them?" Katie had been surprised by the feel of Louise's breast through her top – no bra, so just soft flesh and a hint of hard nipple – and she instinctively moved her hand back there. "Don't tell me I'm the first?"

Louise breathed heavily in and out a few times while the back of Katie's hand stroked her breast. She moved the hand that wasn't holding her wineglass to Katie's hair, gently running the earring there through her fingers and brushing the back of her hand over Katie's neck. Katie enjoyed the shivers of pleasure running through her and let her fingers part slightly around the shape of Louise's erect nipple in the vest top.

Louise blinked. "No. You're not the first." She leant in and buried her face in Katie's hair, pretending she was turned on by the pressure of Katie's fingers through her top. That was good, sexy, nice, arousing – but sexier by far was the knowledge that buried in the rich loveliness of Katie's hair was a pair of earrings she herself had made. "This is...good, though." She liked the way Katie seemed to be aroused by the pressure of her mouth on her neck.

Katie murmured her assent and they stood for a while, moving their bodies together gently while Katie caressed Louise's breast through her top and Louise kissed and nibbled Katie's neck. They only stopped when Katie sniffed and moved away abruptly. "Shit. I think the pizzas might be done."

***

After they'd eaten, Louise tidied up the used plates, and it didn't seem unnatural for Katie to bring other things like the wine glasses and join her at the sink. They automatically brushed close, and then suddenly they were kissing. The kiss opened up, became urgent, probing and then Katie was twisting to lean back against the worktop and pulling Louise onto her, pulling her body close.

They broke the kiss breathlessly and Louise nuzzled Katie's neck again. Katie groaned, the arousal twisting tight inside her, and ran her hands up and down Louise's back under her cardigan. "Louise?" Each brush of the woman's lips on her ear and neck made her throb between her legs. "I think it's time you took advantage of me."

Louise murmured her agreement into Katie's hair, then led her to the bedroom.

***

They undressed between long, hot kisses then Katie pushed herself back across the bed as Louise followed her, trailing kisses and touches up Katie's thighs and across her navel. Their naked bodies moved gently in rhythm, limbs entwined, their hands and mouths exploring each other's contours, getting used to one another.

Eventually Katie felt ready, felt a yearning inside that she needed Louise to answer, and she shifted onto her back, opening herself to Louise and guiding the woman on top of her. She reached up to take the earrings out, but Louise suddenly grunted, moving her head from where her tongue had been teasing Katie's navel. She pushed herself up with a hand on Katie's raised knee, so their faces were level. Her other hand gently closed around Katie's and stopped her removing the earrings. "Don't. Please."

"OK." Katie looked at her quizzically. Louise's face, so close just above her own, was flushed, Louise's eyes alight with lust. She moved her leg and liked the way Louise's hand slid off her knee, down the inside of her thigh.

Louise slid her hand between Katie's thigh and her own hip where she was pressed on top of the girl, and felt the wet heat of Katie's arousal. She kissed Katie, then murmured, "Sorry. It's just really sexy, seeing my earrings on you." She slid a finger along Katie's slit. "I never expected it to be, it sounds odd...I don't know why, but...it turns me on..."

Katie laughed softly and arched her back a little, desperately hoping Louise was about to enter her. "That's good." Her voice cracked, her breath coming quickly. "Turned on is good."

Louise nuzzled Katie's neck again, making Katie almost cry out with tense desire. Katie started moving her hips up and down against her, and moved her spare hand down Louise's back to squeeze her bum. Finally, Louise turned her hand, pressing her thumb onto Katie's clit, making her groan with pleasure while she slowly pushed a finger deep into Katie's wet heat.

***

The next day, after a long morning in bed, Katie showered before leaving, taking the earrings out to avoid damaging them. Unfortunately, she forgot to put them back in and left them on the bedside table.

The two women didn't get round to talking about what their night together had meant. Neither of them was the sort to second-guess a lover, and as it happened both had more experience of casual flings than serious relationships, so both imagined it had just been a nice night.

Louise found the earrings later, and wasn't sure whether it had been a deliberate gesture to leave them behind or not. She put them away carefully in a drawer, and put her slight disappointment that Katie hadn't kept them to the back of her mind. She had a few Christmas orders to fulfill, so was able to keep herself busy, even on a weekend.

***

At lunchtime, she saw she'd missed a call from Katie, and rang her back. Katie apologised for leaving the earrings behind, said she hadn't meant to. Could she come round and pick them up?

Louise suggested she come over in the early evening, and made sure she got back to her flat just in time to shower and change before Katie knocked.

Katie smiled when Louise answered the door, and didn't really try to hide her interest in the sight of Louise in just a vest top and pyjama shorts. Louise smiled and didn't hide her interest in the sight of Katie in a miniskirt and low-cut top.

Katie held up a bottle of wine. "Thought I'd repay the favour." She leant in and kissed Louise lingeringly.

Louise responded for a moment, pulling Louise closer across the threshold, then stood aside. "Best come in, then."

***

About two weeks later, a few days before Christmas, Katie lay in the early morning dark of her bedroom, enjoying the comfortable warmth of Louise's body next to her. Louise's hand was on the pillow between them, her fingers laced in strands of Katie's hair, the little finger lightly touching Katie's ear. Katie moved her hand where it rested against Louise's hip and was surprised when Louise caught her breath lightly. Louise's finger twitched, stroking Katie's ear quickly before she turned her head, then her hand stayed still, letting Katie's hair trail through her fingers.

Katie had thought Louise was asleep. Her fingers slid from the woman's hip onto her thigh, and Louise moved her legs a little to meet them. Katie felt her body tighten with arousal and pushed her hand between Louise's thighs, turning to lie on her side against her. Louise's hand lost itself in her hair as Katie closed her mouth around one of Louise's hard nipples.

Louise's thumb stroked Katie's earlobe. "I could get used to this," she groaned.

"Is that a problem?" Katie trailed her mouth across Louise's breasts to the other one. She swapped hands between Louise's thighs and pressed her wrist against Louise's wet heat.

Louise pushed her hips onto Katie's hand. "No...it's just...I'm not very good at long-term..."

Katie rolled Louise around her mouth for a moment or two. "Neither am I, much." She turned her hand and pushed Louise's thighs a bit further apart. "This is good, though."

Louise murmured in agreement. "This is excellent."

Katie coaxed Louise's clit with her thumb and enjoyed the feel of her hot, slick readiness. Louise arched her back and gave up on the conversation with a low groan as Katie entered her, carefully pushing as deep as she could.

*

Afterwards, in the warm embrace of their afterglow, Louise said, "We could take it slowly." She was stroking Katie's hair over her back as her breathing subsided.

Katie cuddled her closer. "We just did."

Louise chuckled. "Yeah. Thanks. I need more of that in my life." She kissed Katie.

Katie liked the way Louise – mostly such a confident person, in bed as much as in life – could sometimes be so innocently grateful for the way Katie made love to her. She wasn't doing anything different, particularly, but somehow with Louise it just felt so much better than with anyone else. And other things worked too, the way they talked and joked together, got on so well and always had. "We're good together, Louise."

"That we are." She brushed hair away from Katie's face and looked at her seriously. "Should we give this a go?" She smiled uncertainly. "I'm not used to feeling like this...not this strongly."

Katie liked the way Louise was looking at her. "Me neither, particularly. And I'm going away for Christmas, you know...back to my parents...?"

"Yeah yeah, me too. Afterwards, though? In the New Year?"

Katie smiled and kissed her, liking the prospect. "Why not? Let's give it a go?"

***

By prior arrangement, they face-timed briefly on Christmas Day morning. Louise was touched that Katie was wearing the earrings.

A few days later, Katie went round to Louise's flat to stay with her over the New Year. When Louise opened the door to her, she was touched that Katie was not only wearing her earrings, but the Christmas jumper and corduroy skirt she'd worn with them on their first night together. They kissed in a lingering embrace in the hallway.

Katie sniffed, as they headed into the flat. Louise had promised casserole. "Something smells good." She linked her fingers in Louise's, happy to be with her lover again. They paused at the point in the hallway where it was as easy to go to the bedroom as the kitchen.

"Yeah, hope you're hungry. And we can have the casserole afterwards."

Katie hit her playfully, and somehow the movement turned into a stroke of her hand down Louise's arm, then Louise turned and put her hand on Katie's hip to pull her closer, and it turned into another embrace. They kissed, more deeply and urgently than either of them expected, and Louise pushed Katie back against the wall. Katie pulled Louise onto her, and the kiss throbbed with the desire they'd kept bottled up while they'd been apart.

Katie pressed her hand on the tight denim of Louise's jeans, and found her other hand reaching up between them to begin undoing the buttons on Louise's shirt. Louise buried her face in Katie's neck, sliding a hand down Katie's side and hip, over the front of her miniskirt. Katie moved her hand off Louise's bum, their wrists brushing between them, then fumbled the button and zip of Louise's jeans open. Louise grunted with arousal and pushed at Katie's skirt, sliding her hand between her legs underneath the hem. Katie thrust her hand inside Louise's jeans.

Soon after, they took it into the bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes in the hall, and Louise made love to Katie, naked save for her earrings.