Page 39 of Phoenix Rising

Becky, now dressed, pressed a kiss to her neck. "Good morning. You look good in my clothes."

Lucinda hummed a happy sound as she turned on the coffee maker.

"You making your sludge?" Becky joked as she pulled away to find some cups.

"I would be if you had any sugar," Lucinda teased.

Becky scoffed, pulling out a bag of granulated sugar from the top of the fridge. “Here, baby."

Lucinda loved it when she called her baby and sweet girl.

They worked quietly in the kitchen, listening to the easy jazz music Becky had started playing from the record player in the living room. It felt like a scene from a movie. Lucinda made coffee while Becky cooked breakfast for them. She wondered if this was what life could be like with Becky: quiet, blissful mornings. A quiet, blissfullife.

Lucinda glanced at her. Becky's hair was tied back, the gentle early morning light framing her face.

Beautiful.

Her own Greek goddess making her breakfast and serving her like Lucinda, too, was divine. Lucinda slipped her hand in Becky's. Becky glanced back from her scrambled eggs and smiled.

"What?"

Lucinda startled. What should she say? How could she put into words the feelings consuming her mind?

Lucinda smiled. "Nothing."

The front door swung open just as Becky kissed her mouth. A man with gray hair waltzed in carrying a box.

"Hey, Becks!" the man shouted, kicking the door behind him. "Your mother wanted me to bring a few things for Ember." He spotted the pair in the kitchen doorway.

Lucinda froze. Who was this man? Did he work for the firehouse or, worse, the city? And here she was, dressed in Becky's clothes, still smelling of sex.

Becky walked over to help him with the box. "Dad, I told you you need to call before you come over."

Lucinda's eyes widened.Dad?

How was she going to explain this? It was obvious, so humiliatingly obvious, that Lucinda had slept over after a lust-filled night. This was not how she would want Becky's parents to meet her. Hell, she didn't intend on meeting them at all!

"Hi, I'm Patrick." Becky's father grinned, wavingat Lucinda, who was hiding in the kitchen. "Becks, you didn't tell me you had a new girlfriend."

"We're not—" Becky started.

"I'm not her girlfriend," Lucinda squeaked.

Patrick's eyes bounced between the two of them, noting their clothes and mussed hair. "My apologies."

"Dad, how about I call you later? I'll make sure Ember gets these." Becky rubbed the back of her neck, something Lucinda realized Becky did whenever she was nervous.

Patrick nodded. "Well, it was nice to meet you..."

"Lucinda." Lucinda bobbed her head, crossing her arms over her chest because she realized she wasn't wearing a bra.

"Nice to meet you, Lucinda." The man smiled and went to let himself out, but not before whispering to Becky, "She's a pretty one. Make sure she doesn't get away."

"Bye, Dad!" Becky hissed, shutting the door. She leaned her forehead against the wood.

Lucinda was fighting a wave of nausea that had overtaken her.

"I'm sorry about that. My parents have a bad habit of using their keys whenever they want. Ishould've chained the door last night." Becky laughed. She turned to see Lucinda frozen in the doorway. "Hey, you okay?"

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