Secret Santa

Lauren didn’t mean to fall for her best friend. Eve had entered her life the way a warm room greets a freezing body: all brightness, sharp, and the kind of attention that made Lauren feel seen in a way she wasn’t used to. Over the years, they’d become inseparable: movie nights tangled in the same blanket, shared coffees and long, wholesome hikes where their shoulders brushed for a little too long to be accidental. Every time Eve laughed with that low, throaty laugh, it created a heat low in Lauren’s belly that made her think, God, I’m in trouble.

But crushes on best friends were dangerous. Too precious to risk it. Too terrifying to be honest. So Lauren tucked her feelings away, hiding them behind their local craft-group calls and handmade gifts…hiding behind the easy safety of friendship.

Which is exactly why she joined the community Secret Santa, something light and harmless to take her mind off her racing thoughts, something that absolutely wouldn’t complicate her life.

A few weeks later, a mysterious box arrived at her door. Inside sat a rose-gold clit stim: expensive, not hand-made and wrapped like a secret invitation. A handwritten card lay on top:

Every nice girl deserves a little pleasure.
Go slow.
- S.S.

Her cheeks flamed. Surely this wasn’t her craft secret Santa? She traced the toy’s smooth curve, her pulse throbbing in her throat. She tried to laugh it off and tell herself it was sent to the wrong woman.

That night, alone in bed, she turned it on. The first vibration kissed her skin. The second drew a soft and involuntary moan from her lips. By the third buzz, she was already arching her back: her world narrowing to the warm, pulsing pleasure of her new favourite toy.

She imagined who the mysterious secret Santa could be. Their hand guiding hers. A voice telling her to go slower. For a dizzy, breathless second…she imagined Eve. The second Eve entered her mind, her orgasm crashed over her like heat and moonlight, shaking loose something she’d held tight for far too long.

Two days later at the craft group’s Christmas Zoom call, Lauren tried to act normal while her heart ricocheted inside her. Everyone waved, laughed and opened their gifts - cookie cutters, rainbow yarn, cute stickers. Simple and safe craft-group presents. But she hadn’t had any more packages.

Then it was her turn. “And now,” the host chirped, “Lauren! Show us what your Secret Santa got you!” Lauren panicked. She couldn’t exactly hold up the toy like, Surprise! Someone gave me an orgasm in a box! So she grabbed the closest object to her. “Look at this adorable Christmas decoration!”

Everyone had something to say about the decoration except Eve. She watched Lauren with an unreadable expression - something soft, something intense, something that made Lauren’s stomach twist into knots.

Eve texted two minutes later after everyone had left the call: “Hey…Christmas drinks tomorrow? Our usual sleepover? x”

The next night, Lauren arrived at Eve’s flat with shaky hands and a bottle of wine she didn’t remember paying for. Eve opened the door wearing soft shorts and a tiny camisole, the kind that should’ve come with a warning.

Lauren’s knees weakened. “Hey.” Eve’s voice was soft. Too soft. “You look…wow.” Lauren stepped inside. The living room glowed warm with fairy lights, blankets and candles that smelled like cinnamon. A familiar sight, but this time charged. Every inch of air between them felt loaded.

“Rough day?” Eve teased, brushing a strand of hair from Lauren’s cheek with the gentlest touch. Lauren swallowed. “You could say that.” They curled up on the sofa, knees touching - barely, but enough to send sparks up Lauren’s thighs. Eve poured wine. Their fingers brushed around the glass, and the contact felt like electricity crawling up Lauren’s arm.

Then Eve leaned back, eyes darker than usual. “Can I ask you something?” Her voice dipped. Dangerous. Intentional. Lauren’s breath caught. “Yeah. Anything.”

Eve studied her for a long moment - like she was memorising her mouth, her neck, the little shiver she tried to hide. “Your secret Santa gift…” she said softly. “Did you use it?”

Lauren felt heat blooming under her skin, honey-warm and impossible to hide. This was every Christmas wish come true all at once. She knew that Eve knew a silly little decoration wasn’t her SS gift. “…yes,” she whispered. Eve exhale was slow. “Good.” The silence that followed was heavy, the room felt boiling.

Lauren’s heart hammered. “Was it you?” Eve didn’t answer.

Instead, she reached into the drawer of the coffee table and pulled out something small and familiar - the wrapping paper, the same paper the note had been written on. Damning proof.

Lauren’s stomach dropped. “You…” Her voice cracked. Eve nodded once, steady and confident in a way Lauren hadn’t seen before. “I meant every word I wrote,” Eve said quietly. “I’ve been in love with you forever.”

Lauren’s world tilted - desire, shock, relief, wanting - all crashing at once. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?” she whispered. Eve’s laugh was soft but brittle. “Because you’re…you. And I was scared. Her gaze dragged over Lauren’s body like a warm hand.

Lauren felt heat flush to her chest and her thighs. Eve shifted closer: slow and deliberate, until their knees bumped and neither pulled away. Then a hand slid over Lauren’s thigh, fingertips grazing the softest skin. “If I’m wrong,” Eve murmured, “tell me to stop.”

She didn’t. Lauren had never wanted someone so much. Her breath trembled, and her hand covered Eve’s, guiding it a little higher. “Don’t stop.”

Eve’s eyes flickered with hunger and relief: something feral and beautiful. “Good,” she whispered, leaning in until their noses brushed. “I’ve wanted you for so long.”

Lauren’s lips parted, dizzy with want. “How long?”

“Since the night we met,” Eve confessed. “Since your stupid craft tutorial went viral and you came to mine in those little shorts, and the way you say my name when you’re trying not to blush,” she added, voice dropping into something that could melt steel.

Lauren shivered. “You’re killing me.” Eve smiled - wicked, soft, entirely unrestrained. “Then let me make it better.” She cupped Lauren’s jaw, tilting her head gently, and Lauren felt her whole-body light up like a Christmas tree.

That first kiss was everything: it was slow, deep. So fucking good. Lauren grabbed the hem of Eve’s camisole like she’d been waiting years to touch her.

Eve pulled back just enough to murmur against her lips: “Come to bed with me?” Lauren moaned back, breathless. “I’d love to.”

Eve took her hand, threading their fingers together in a way that felt sacred. They walked toward the bedroom - every step humming with what was about to happen. The door closed with a soft click. The lights stayed low. Eve laid Lauren gently onto the bed.

They locked lips for what felt like hours, gentle and juvenile. Slowly, their kisses became hungrier, wetter…almost fiery. When Lauren couldn’t take any more, she climbed on top of Eve and nuzzled her mouth into her neck, lapping her tongue over her soft, delicious skin. From her neck, she made her way down to Eve’s nipples, lapping her tongue over them, keeping her eyes locked with Eve the whole time. She was ready to explode.

Eve grabbed Laurens hips and threw her down beside her, reaching for her bedside drawer, “Do you want your next Christmas present?” she panted. Lauren flashed a devilish smirk. Without much more hesitation, she pulled out an un-boxed strap on. “Merry Christmas, I want to make you see stars”.

Eve stepped into the harness and delivered endless strokes of euphoria, pounding Lauren with years of pent-up passion. They stayed up all night making each other come, over and over.

The next morning, Lauren woke with Eve’s hand splayed over her stomach. Eve shifted, pressing her nose to Lauren’s spine. “Stay,” she whispered. Lauren turned to face her, brushing her thumb across Eve’s flushed cheek. “I’m not leaving.”

“Good,” she breathed, pressing their foreheads together. “Because last night didn’t feel like a beginning.” “What did it feel like?” Lauren whispered. Eve smiled, kissing her softly “Like we finally stopped pretending.”