Epilogue

Sage

S age looked around the empty room of their new apartment, as Stassi came in and placed a plant in the corner. “Imagine there’s a table, and this plant is on top of it.”

Sage laughed. “If I squint just right, I can nearly picture it.” She winked, and Stassi leaned against her. They looked around the living room until Stassi met Sage’s gaze. “I love you so much,” Sage whispered.

“I love you!” Stassi wrapped her arms around Sage, and they kissed until they were both on the floor and wildly taking each other’s clothes off. Stassi laughed. “I do believe this makes the final room we needed to christen.”

“And all in one week.” Sage winked and straddled Stassi. Stassi tossed back her head as Sage moved down and kissed her chin, Stassi’s bare breasts brushing against hers. When they moved in together, she was worried that they were taking things too fast, but Stassi assured her that six months was plenty of time. And now, Sage couldn’t picture waiting another day.

“We’re going to miss meeting the girls at the farmer’s market,” Stassi argued, closing her eyes as Sage kissed her earlobe and then slowly moved her lips down to her neck.

“If you keep talking, we’ll never finish,” Sage teased.

“Maybe that’s my evil plan,” Stassi replied.

That brought laughter from Sage. She pressed her hands down Stassi’s sides and held her hips as she stretched a line of kisses along Stassi’s sternum.

Trailing her hands down into Stassi’s pants, she dipped her finger into her folds. Sage felt how wet Stassi was, nearly as wet as she was. Nearly. She pressed her hands against the floor and moved downward, pulling Stassi’s clothes off with her. Sage’s inner core throbbing as she met Stassi’s opening. Sage released a breath, and Stassi shuddered underneath her. Perfect timing. Using her fingers, she pressed Stassi’s labia back, opening Stassi up further. Stassi waited patiently, keeping her body as still as possible. Sage then swiped her tongue out and captured a drop of Stassi’s moistness.

Stassi released a whimper, and Sage did it again. Sage swiped her tongue around the inner edge of Stassi, gathering up the drops in a circle. Stassi reached out and pressed her palms against the tile, pumping her hips up to meet Sage’s mouth. Sage pushed in further. They settled in this rhythmic groove. Sage’s opening was dripping as she tried to show Stassi the love she felt, continuing to swivel around her with expert care. As Sage dove in deeper, Stassi stopped, growing completely still.

Sage pulled out of her and kissed her way up her stomach and to Stassi’s lips. “Why’d you stop?” Stassi whimpered.

“Left you wanting more.” Sage grinned, holding onto Stassi’s waist as she kissed her.

“Fuck!” Stassi gasped, pressing Sage back from her. “I need you to continue.”

Sage shrugged. As if she didn’t mind one way or the other, she shifted herself down, so she was back at Stassi’s opening. She plunged back inside her three times before Stassi released a cry and withered beneath her. Sage sloppily kissed her way around Stassi’s insides, feeling her own core throbbing. She pressed her hands against the floor and licked her dry, then pulled out and flipped onto her back.

“You know what to do,” she moaned between clenched teeth. Stassi laughed as she changed positions and moved in, pressing her tongue inside of Sage and holding her still.

Sage’s mouth opened and she stared at the ceiling. Nothing would beat the sexual tension that had developed between them. As Stassi’s tongue plunged inside of her, Sage began to tremble with sensation.

A phone started bussing, and Sage groaned, parting from the kiss. “Yours or mine?” she asked.

“Who cares?” Stassi started to go back in for a kiss, when Sage laughed and pushed her way. Stassi pretended to pout as Sage went looking for the ringing phone. She finally found it in her coat.

“It’s Lena.” She checked her watch and cringed. “We’re already ten minutes late.”

“Are you sure?” Stassi sat up on her elbows and glanced at her watch. “I’m surprised Ariel hasn’t…” Just like that, her phone started to ring, cutting into the conversation.

“Hey, Lena.”

“Where are you? I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Haven’t seen Ariel or Natalia either.”

Sage tossed a look in Stassi’s direction, as she grabbed her phone. “Hey, Ariel.” She put the call on speakerphone.

“Where are you? You have to check out the adoption booth. The puppies are soooo cute,” Ariel cooed. “But I’ve looked everywhere, and we’re not finding you.”

“Um, well, we haven’t exactly left yet,” Stassi admitted. She shrugged when Sage laughed.

“Where are they?” Sage mouthed.

“Where are you?” Stassi asked.

“Corner of Beckett and Crater,” Ariel replied.

“They’re at the corner of Beckett and Crater. Something about cute puppies.”

“Tell them we’ll see them in a bit,” Lena replied. “Hopefully we’ll see you two.”

Sage snickered. “Um, yeah, we’ll be there.” She disconnected the call. “Lena and Maya will meet you there,” Sage yelled out.

“Sounds good. But you guys have got to check out these puppies. I could take them all.”

“See you soon, Ariel.” Stassi disconnected the phone. She looked around the room and grimaced.

“My feelings exactly. I'm not really wanting to leave,” Sage shrugged. “But we have friends to see...”

Sage was glad that they had all quickly become friends, when it felt like it would never happen. It was much easier to have a loving relationship when everyone supported it.

“We should get dressed,” Stassi replied. She then tilted her head. “What do you think about puppies?”

“Love them.” She grinned as she looked around the living room. They had just returned from a conference in Chicago last week, and they didn’t have any travel plans for the next few months. “Well, we have some time to get a puppy used to us, and I would say that this place could use some energy.”

They didn’t say anything else on the subject as they got dressed and then left the apartment and drove the two blocks to Crater Street, where a parking lot was available. They held hands as they hurried to the area where the other women would be waiting for them. As they drew nearer, they heard the barking of dogs.

“We’re getting closer.” Sage laughed and they approached the table. Lena, May, Ariel, and Natalia were all playing with the puppies, as were a few other people. Stassi went over to join them as Sage saw this dog sitting in a corner, all alone. She knelt down, and he walked over to her. He was older than any of the rest, but he immediately laid his head in her lap as Sage ruffled the fur behind his ears.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“It’s Rocks,” the woman stated, approaching her. “He’s older and, unfortunately, hasn’t had anyone that’s paid him much attention.”

“That is a shame,” Sage replied. She continued to pet him, and he looked cozy and comfortable with her.

“And who is this?” Stassi asked, kneeling beside them.

“His name is Rocks,” Sage replied. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He was a silver pitbull and seemed already emotionally attached. “He’s a great dog, don’t you think?”

Stassi stared at her. Sage grinned and then turned back to Rocks. “All pets, no matter what age, need a loving home.”

“Rocks’ human parents were just recently killed in a car accident. No one stepped up to care for him. It’s a sad story, but every sad story can still have a happy ending.”

“You sold me,” Stassi replied. And just like that, Stassi and Sage had their dog of choice. Rocks needed a loving home, but Sage didn’t realize how much she needed him. The three of them were destined to be a loving family forever.