Work Text:
The hotel room smelled faintly of sweat and polish, that lingering mix of post-tennis musk and hotel detergent. Mari, Shauna, and Melissa were sitting in a loose circle on the floor, backs against the bed and wall, each holding a half-warm cans of beer. The party had burned out hours ago, leaving only this strange bubble of quiet energy in its wake.
Melissa cracked her can against the edge of her thigh, the hiss of carbonation loud in the otherwise still room. “God, this feels…different,” she slurred, voice low, almost a whisper.
Mari sat crossed-legged, finishing a warm beer and firmly setting it down on the hotel floor. “We’re out of beer.” She stated blankly.
Shauna shrugs, taking a swig of her own beer, looking at all of the beers around them. Melissa does too, though shes probably more drunk than the other two.
Mari rolls her eyes, standing up and walking over to the pushed together beds, sitting on the edge of the bed.
She shrugs, looking at them. “Well?”
Shauna and Melissa look at each other, then stumble to their feet, immediately sitting on either side of her.
Mari’s weight dipped the mattress; the springs creaked softly, like the room itself reacting to the shift. Shauna landed first, a little too hard, laughing under her breath as she steadied herself with a hand on Mari’s knee. Melissa followed, slower, clumsier, her shoulder knocking into Mari’s arm before she slumped against her side.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
The AC rattled. Somewhere down the hall, a door slammed and muffled laughter echoed, then faded. The room felt smaller now, tighter, the air warm with beer breath and skin and something else—anticipation, maybe.
Shauna broke the silence with a crooked grin. “So,” she said, drawing the word out. “Now what?”
Mari glanced from Shauna to Melissa, her expression unreadable, lips pressed together like she was holding something back. “I don’t know,” she said finally. “You’re the ones who looked at me like that.”
Melissa snorted softly, her head tipping back drunkly. “Like what?” she asked, eyes half-lidded, unfocused. “Like we’re bored?”
“Like you’re waiting for permission,” Mari replied.
That got Melissa’s attention. She tilted her head, squinting at Mari, then laughed—quiet, breathy. “Permission for what?”
Mari let out a sigh, crossing her legs. “Nevermind,”
The space suddenly felt tight and electric, the air thick with a tension that each of them could feel. Melissa was slightly sweaty, her body warm next to Mari's. Shauna was quieter than normal, the beer settling through her, making her feel more observant than usual.
The hotel room was quiet, the faint hum of the air conditioner mixing with the soft rustle of their movements. Mari leaned forward first, her hand brushing Melissa’s cheek, a slow, tender motion. Melissa responded immediately, lips parting, the kiss lingering with a warmth that made Mari’s pulse quicken. It was gentle at first, exploratory, a quiet promise in the stillness.
When Mari pulled back slightly, her gaze flicked to Shauna, whose eyes were wide but inviting. Without hesitation, Mari leaned in again, capturing Shauna’s lips with a more playful, teasing pressure. Shauna melted into it, hands threading into Mari’s hair, drawing her closer. The room seemed to shrink around them, each kiss amplifying the electricity in the air.
Soon, it was Shauna and Melissa’s turn. They pressed closer to Mari, hands and lips exploring, soft murmurs blending together. Shauna trailed kisses down Mari’s neck, Melissa following with gentle nips, and Mari’s head fell back in a mix of surprise and desire. The intimacy spiraled as they took turns and shared touches, mouths and hands mapping each other with careful, lingering attention.
Eventually, the focus shifted. Mari leaned back, making both turn toward each other obliviously, lips meeting in a kiss that was sweet, urgent, and unrestrained. She watched, leaning back, as Melissa and Shauna kissed, their connection deepening in the quiet, private glow of the hotel room. The world outside could wait—inside, there was only the warmth, the closeness, and Shauna and Melissa making out with each other without knowing.
A few seconds later, they pulled back, staring at each other confusedly, then at Mari, who was leaning back on her elbows.
She started to stand up, leaving them on the pushed together beds. “Wha—“ Melissa said, but she was quickly interrupted by Mari, who was pulling her shoes on.
“I don’t do this stuff for free.” Mari stated, standing in front of them, hands behind her back. “Okay—listen,” she started. “Whoever wins the next match i’ll give my number to. Deal?”
Melissa and Shauna looked at each other, then back at Mari, nodding. “Deal.” They both said at the same time.
Mari smiled, then she turned around, heading to the door. “Don’t fuck it up, okay?” She said before leaving the hotel room, leaving the two of them.