Reunion Fire

Iris stood beside me in the hallway, phone in one hand already recording, her other palm pressed flat over the peephole to hide me completely. Her grin was pure mischief as she gave me a quick nod... go time.

I rapped three sharp knocks on the door and pitched my voice low and gravelly, nothing like my own. “Ma’am… room service.”

Emily’s footsteps padded closer from inside. “Coming! If this is about the music, I swear it’s the floor above me-”

Iris’s smile widened, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“-and I was actually hoping I could get some fresh tow-”

The door swung open, and she froze mid-sentence.

“…Joe?”

She was a vision straight out of my fantasies. Hair twisted up in a messy bun, a few loose strands framing her face. Reading glasses perched low on her nose. And the outfit; fuck; one of my old nerdy T-shirts, soft and worn, hanging just low enough to tease the tops of her thighs, paired with those tiny boy shorts that hugged the perfect curve of her ass like they were painted on. No bra. The outline of her breasts pressed faintly against the fabric. My cock twitched instantly.

Her eyes went wide, mouth falling open in stunned silence. Then the dam broke.

A long, high-pitched squeal erupted from deep in her chest as she launched herself at me. I caught her mid-air, her legs wrapping tight around my waist, arms locking around my neck. The squeal dissolved into breathless laughter, then into happy sobs as she buried her face in my shoulder, body trembling against mine.

“I know, baby,” I murmured, one hand splayed across her back, the other gripping the soft swell of her ass to hold her up. “I missed you too. So much.”

It had been almost a week since I’d felt her against me, and everything snapped back into place; like the world only made sense when she was in my arms.

Iris lowered her phone, discreetly wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

Emily finally pulled back, toes touching the floor, but she didn’t let go. She cupped my face and kissed me; soft at first, then deeper, hungrier, lips parting with a quiet moan that shot straight to my groin. I tasted strawberry gloss and pure Emily, and it took everything not to pin her against the wall right there in the hallway.

She broke the kiss, breathless, and only then noticed Iris standing a few feet away.

Another squeal; this one pure delight; as she bounced out of my arms and into Iris’s. “Oh my God, Iris! What the hell are you two doing here?!”

Iris laughed, hugging her tight. “Girl, get us inside before you flash this entire floor that perfect little ass.”

Emily glanced down at herself, cheeks flushing pink as she grabbed both our hands and yanked us into the room, the door clicking shut behind us.

The second it closed, she was back in my arms, molding herself against me, looking up with those big, shining eyes. “Seriously... what are you doing here? I thought you were buried in studio meetings all day.”

Iris leaned against the dresser, arms crossed, enjoying the show.

“I told you I needed help picking outfits,” Iris said with a wink.

“And,” I added, brushing a stray lock of hair behind Emily’s ear, “the studio wanted us to meet before the shoot. Kate, the models… everyone.”

Emily’s eyes flashed with that familiar heat—the same one that had sparked when she saw the sketches. “You’re going to meet the models?”

“Not just me,” Iris cut in, voice silky. “You too. They specifically asked to meet ‘the genius behind those drawings.’”

Emily’s mouth formed a perfect little O. “When?”

“Tonight,” I said, unable to keep the grin off my face. “Grand opening of Night Francescana.”

Her jaw dropped. Emily was as much a foodie as I was; my cooking was one of her favorite love languages, and Carlo Cracco’s new spot was the hottest ticket in town. Kate had somehow scored a private table for the whole group.

“I… I don’t have anything to wear,” Emily stammered, suddenly self-conscious in my oversized tee and tiny shorts. “I look ridiculous.”

Iris pushed off the dresser. “You think I flew down here unprepared? We’re heading to Kate’s suite in a couple hours; full wardrobe, hair, makeup, the works. New dresses, suits, everything.”

She paused at the bedroom door, eyes glinting with mischief. “But that’s later. Right now…” Her voice dropped to a purr. “You two lovebirds have some serious catching up to do. Make it count.”

The door clicked shut behind her.

Emily and I stood there for a beat, just staring, the air thick with want.

“A couple hours?” she whispered, stepping closer, fingers already curling into my shirt.

“I can make you come buckets in that time,” she promised, voice low and filthy, eyes burning.

I pulled her flush against me, hands sliding down to grip her ass, feeling her heat through the thin shorts.

“Challenge accepted,” I growled against her lips.

I was going to make damn sure she could barely walk straight on that red carpet tonight.