In Service of the Queen
by Davina Lee
An alternative future of women and their adventures
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Author's Note
As the conclusion of our last chapter, Adelaide found herself searching for an epic stash of cheese with friends Vivienne, Cosette, and the mysterious acrobat, Beatrice. She got to hang backstage with Tiara's band, Deus Contra Machina. And at the end of it all, Friend Tiara blew off the band's after party to go home with Adelaide instead. This chapter picks up the next morning.
* * *
Chapter 7: Breakfast in Bed
Vivienne and Adelaide's apartment, the next morning
"Friend Adelaide," whispered Tiara, from where she lay curled around behind Adelaide. "Are you awake?"
"What? Mmm. Mm-hmm. Good morning, friend. I enjoyed your sweet kisses last night."
"Um, yes..." said Tiara, pushing herself up onto one elbow. "Uh... Can I...?"
"Did you want to...?"
"Um..."
"Oh. Oh, did you need to...?"
Tiara nodded.
"Right," said Adelaide, scooting toward the edge of the bed. "Let me move so you can get out."
Tiara slipped out, swinging her legs to plant her feet on the floor. "Sorry," she said.
"You know where it is, right? Just down the hall. Though if you see Cosette..."
"I know about Cosette, friend," said Tiara. "We've shared a house for many months. I'll be fine."
Adelaide smirked. "Okay, well, if she's still sleeping, and you need somebody... I could watch while you--"
"We're not in that stage of our relationship yet." Tiara remarked as she hustled through the bedroom door and turned down the hall.
"Not in that stage of our relationship?" mumbled Adelaide as she ducked back under the covers. She pulled the comforter up over her head. "What stage are we in, I wonder?"
Adelaide rolled over, flopping onto her stomach.
"Tiara, Tiara, Tiara," Adelaide whispered into the pillow. "What stage are we in?"
In the dark, humid space under the covers, Adelaide balled her hands into fists and grinned. "Whatever it is, I think I like it." Adelaide giggled and kicked her feet, forcing the sheet free from where it was tucked in at the bed end, and sending it flying upward with the rest of the covers. "I like it a lot."
Adelaide rolled over onto her back and clutched her hands together over her heart. She let out a long sigh that was muffled by the comforter over her face.
* * *
Two minutes later
"What happened in here while I was gone?" Tiara's voice filtered through from above. Adelaide pulled the covers down to just under her chin.
"Um..." Adelaide blinked twice and then fixed her eyes to stare at Tiara's bare chest. Her face turned three shades of crimson. "You're hot."
"Whatever." Tiara rolled her eyes. "Let me back in. Your apartment is chilly this morning."
"I know," said Adelaide, still staring.
"Perv," said Tiara, cupping her breasts and hoisting them upward. "You want some of this? Scoot over so I can get back in. And share some of those covers. You look like a mummy all wrapped up like that."
Adelaide threw the covers aside and grinned. Tiara jumped in and yanked the covers back over the top of them. She shivered from head to toe.
"You're naked," whispered Adelaide, before giggling again.
Tiara grimaced as another shiver ran the length of her. "I know. It's cold."
"And you're in my bed," said Adelaide, giggling. "You're in my bed and you're naked."
"Are you okay, friend?"
Adelaide reached over to poke Tiara in the shoulder. "Still naked."
Tiara turned to stare.
"I'm going to go brush my teeth," said Adelaide.
"You sure you're alright, friend?"
Adelaide sprang to her feet and bolted to the doorway. After crashing into the door frame with her left shoulder, she turned down the hall.
* * *
Several minutes later
Adelaide sat on the toilet, hunched forward with her elbows resting on her knees and her head in her hands. She grimaced as she massaged her temples with her fingertips.
"Friend Adelaide?" inquired the muffled voice of Cosette from the other side of the door.
"I've already peed, honey," replied Adelaide. "Sorry, I thought you were asleep. I'll see if there's any left, but I don't think so."
"It is not about the peeing," replied Cosette.
A gentle tapping on the door followed. "Addie, it's Vivienne. Are you okay? You've been in there a while."
"My head hurts," grumbled Adelaide, massaging above her eyes with her thumbs. "And I whacked my shoulder on the door. I think I need some aspirin."
"Friend Adelaide?" This time it was Tiara's voice.
"For friend's sake," complained Adelaide, "is everyone standing out there waiting for me to pee? I told you, I already peed."
"Addie?" inquired Vivienne. "When's the last time you ate? Something besides beer or a pretzel?"
"I... I don't know... A while."
"Addie, can I come in?"
"I already told you, Viv. There's no more pee in me."
"Addie, I think your blood sugar's crashing. Can I come in so I can help you?"
"My what?"
"Addie." Vivienne tapped on the door. "I'm coming in."
* * *
Adelaide looked up from her perch on the toilet. She glanced at the faces of Tiara, then Cosette, and finally Vivienne, who was holding out her open hand. "You're naked," said Adelaide, and then squeezed her eyes shut. "All of you."
"Addie," said Vivienne. "Take my hand. I'll help you up."