Chapter Text
“Bernie?” Serena's voice drifted up from downstairs. “Tea's ready!”
“Be down in a minute! I just want to finish unpacking this box.” Bernie frowned down at the last few pairs of skinny jeans in her hands, unable to fit them in the bureau drawer Serena has emptied for her. She tugged open the next drawer down, finding it full of old t-shirts. Grabbing a stack from one side, she attempted to compress them enough to give her a little additional room.
As she fumbled with the shirts, a flash of bright color caught her eye. She glanced into the open side of the drawer and noticed that a piece of fabric, the corner of which had flipped back revealing something shiny and bright pink. Brows furrowing, she tugged on the corner, pulling the fabric back further.
It took her brain a moment to process what she was seeing. The bottom of the drawer was lined with a series of narrow, fabric-covered dividers. And in each slot was... Oh. OH!
Bernie was no stranger to sex toys. Her trusty blue vibrator had gotten her though years of long deployments and a less-than-fulfilling home life. She had feared she was going to wear the poor thing out while in Kiev. But this; this was a whole other level.
Arrayed before her was an assortment of toys the likes of which she had never imagined existing outside of a sex shop. A mass of different materials and textures, a veritable rainbow of colors – was that leopard print? - and the variety of shapes... Her head tilted to the side quizzically as she tried to suss out how a few of them were even supposed to be used. Does that one have a wall plug?! The ones she did recognize seemed to be arranged by size, from a fairly slender curved wand to... “Ding dong,” she muttered, eyes wide.
Bernie huffed out a chuckle, impressed despite her shock. She never would have suspected that Serena...
Her brain suddenly kicked into overdrive as is finally sunk in that these were Serena's. A flurry of images crowded her mind's eye. Images of her lover utilizing the collection. Serena, gloriously naked, splayed out on the bed, one hand working a vibrator between her legs, eyes locked on hers. Serena looming over her, hips encased in the straps of a harness, a wicked smile on her lips as she teased Bernie with the thick silicone shaft attached to her. One after another, each more vivid than the last. Bernie felt her breath quicken, a heavy throb between her thighs.
“Bernie?” The sound of Serena's voice broke Bernie out of her contemplation with a start.
“Y-yeah. Be right there,” she called back, voice hoarse as she stuffed the shirts back into the drawer. She stood, legs a little shaky, wiping her suddenly sweaty palms on her thighs.
...
It was a few weeks before Bernie managed to bring up the topic with Serena. Things were still hectic, what with their new living arrangement. While they worked together seamlessly in theater, cohabiting was an ongoing dance of negotiation and compromise as they each adjusted to one another's preferences, not to mention accommodating Jason's exacting schedule. Added to their already intense schedules on AAU, they had spent far less time alone than either of them would have liked. And this was hardly something Bernie was going to bring up casually over tea.
Tonight had been blessedly calm. They had both been able to leave the ward on-time, getting them home in plenty of time for fish and chips with Jason. Much to their surprise, after supper he had elected to go to his room to watch a much-anticipated documentary on South American birds, declaring that they would only disturb him with their chatter and he would much prefer to watch it with his headphones, in order to properly focus.
Bernie stepped out of the shower, snagging her towel from the heated rack in the corner. She dried off briskly before pulling on the deep blue silk dressing gown (a gift from Serena) that was hanging on the back of the door, then quickly ran a brush (another, more sarcastic, gift) through her damp hair, scrunching it back into curls with one hand as she exited the en suite.
Flicking the overhead light off as she crossed the room, she flipped back the duvet before slipping into bed beside Serena who was sitting up against the headboard, reading a copy of The Lancet in the lamplight. Bernie rolled onto her side, head propped up on one hand, eyes leisurely tracking over Serena's form: the rich color of her hair in the dim light, her smooth ivory skin, the smattering of freckles across her bare shoulders, the soft swell of her breasts just visible at the neckline of her champagne satin nightgown. Caught up as she was in the most excellent view, it took Bernie a few moments to realize that Serena was watching her back, a wry smile on her lips. She arched an eyebrow as their eyes met.
“See something you like?”
“Absolutely.” Bernie's smile turned feral as she moved her hand beneath the duvet, sliding it up along Serena's warm thigh.
Serena batted the hand away with a chuckle. “Lech.” Her laugh turned genuine as Bernie waggled her eyebrows. “Just let me finish this article.”
Bernie huffed, sliding up to mirror Serena's pose. As she did her eyes fell on the bureau, warmth blossoming low in her belly as she remembered what it contained. She was so focused on it, she didn't even notice Serena moving until she straddled Bernie's lap, the nightie riding high on her thighs. Bernie groaned and leaned forward to kiss her, hands automatically settling on Serena's hips, tugging her closer.
They broke apart long moments later, a little breathless. Serena threaded her fingers through Bernie's still-damp hair, studying her. “Everything alright? You seem a little distracted.”
“Yeah, of course.” While not very good at communication, even Bernie recognized an opening when she saw one. She cleared her throat, suddenly uncertain. “Actually, I, uh, I wanted to ask you about something.”
“Of course, anything, you know that.” Serena smiled down at her, eyes sparkling, and Bernie felt familiar warmth suffuse her chest.
“Well, when I was unpacking I ran out of space for my jeans. Oh, shush.” She lightly spanked Serena as she rolled her eyes, causing her to yelp in mock offense. “I was trying to find some more drawer space and instead found your, ah, collection.” She peered up at Serena through her fringe, nodding slightly towards the chest of drawers.
Serena's brow furrowed quizzically as she followed Bernie's eyes. Understanding dawned on her face, her cheeks flushing. “Ah. That.”
“That,” Bernie confirmed. “I wouldn't have expected you to be such an...aficionado.”
Serena sniffed primly. “I may not have had any sapphic experience before you came along, but I was hardly a blushing virgin, Berenice. I'd been single for the better part of 18 years, you'll recall.”
“Still, it is quite the collection for just one person.”
Serena shrugged a shoulder, eyes sliding away from Bernie's. “One does like a bit of variety, from time to time.”
“So, what, you went down the nearest sex shop and bought one of everything?” Bernie asked incredulously.
“Hardly.” Serena stared Bernie down for a long moment, before rolling her eyes with a huff. “Fine. If you must know, just after I divorced Edward, Sian dragged me to one of those Ann Summers parties. It was...quite the eye opener. After that things just...evolved.” She gestured weakly in the direction of the bureau. At Bernie's laugh she leaned back, crossing her arms with a frown.
“What? Are you telling me you don't have a battery-operated boyfriend? Well, girlfriend.”
“Of course. But, Serena, you have an entire harem!” Bernie pulled Serena's arms free, wrapping them back around her neck, smiling up at her softly. “Why haven't you mentioned it?”
Serena returned the smile, leaning her forehead against Bernie's. “It honestly didn't occur to me.” Her voiced dropped low, raising goosebumps on Bernie's arms. “It's not like we've needed any help in that arena.” She trailed her lips across Bernie's cheek, down to her jaw. “I can barely walk most days as it is.”
Bernie's lips pursed smugly as she tilted her head to the side, giving Serena better access to her neck. She forced herself to focus past the delicious distraction of Serena's mouth on her skin.
“But, if there's something you need, something I'm not...”
Serena pulled back to look Bernie in the eyes, hands cupping her face. “Bernie, you're perfect. And I am absolutely, incredibly, ecstatically satisfied.”
Bernie captured Serena's lips in a soft kiss. “Hmm, I'm glad to hear it. Still, it seems a shame not to take advantage of your investment.”
“Is that right?” Serena purred, shifting a little closer in Bernie's lap. “Anything in particular strike your fancy?”
“To be honest, I'm not even sure what half of it is for.” Bernie brushed her nose against Serena's cheek, pulling back to catch her eyes, their lips only millimeters apart. “Maybe you could teach me?”
This close she saw Serena's eyes immediately darken, pupils wide. Felt the hitch in her breath. The way her hips pressed forward, seeking Bernie's. Serena swallowed hard. When she finally spoke, her voice was lower than Bernie had ever heard, triggering an immediate flood of wetness between her thighs.
“That...can certainly be arranged.”