"First, you need a wax," Yoko said, nodding authoritatively. "I mean, how long has it been?"

"Not that long!" Penny said indignantly. "Just because I'm not seeing anyone, that doesn't mean I let things go down there, I'll have you know. Besides, I don't get waxed. I just neaten things up with a razor myself. I don't like strangers messing around in my nether regions."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I just did it a couple of days ago, as a matter of fact. I wouldn't be against a leg and arm pit waxing, though."

"Right," Yoko responded with a smile as they sat across from each other in the coffee shop. "Why don't we go together? I could use a little clean up myself."

"You could? Who are you cleaning up for?" Penny asked curiously.

"I don't have to be cleaning up for a man," Yoko answered. "I like to keep things tidy, just for myself. Besides, you never know when you might meet someone interesting, you know?"

"Really? And you'd just sleep with him, just like that?" Penny asked, fascinated. "Like, before you got to know him or anything?"

"Anyway, let's go together, what do you say?" Yoko asked, flipping her day planner open and ignoring her friend's question. Yoko was just about the last person Penny knew who still used a pen and paper calendar, refusing to upgrade to her phone's much more dependable iCalendar. "We can get a massage, facials, the whole body love thing, okay?" She found a flyer in her planner and made a happy noise. "In fact, I have this coupon for a friend's new place, just opened. I bet she'd take us today, lemme give her a call."

"Today?" Penny's voice was plaintive. "I thought we were going to get lunch and see that movie? This is my only day off for the next fifteen days, Yoko!"

"Exactly." Yoko was already dialing her phone. "If we don't do it today, when can we go?" She held up a finger as the person on the other end picked up. "Hello, Sheila? This is Yoko. Yeah, hi! You have time for me and a friend today? The works, please. Oh, except she doesn't want a bikini wax. Right. I could plug you on all my social media, mm hm." She listened for a moment. "Penelope Patrick? She doesn't really do the Instagram or Twitter, but she's in a play with a huge cast, and she could talk you up to everyone. Sure." She listened again. "Half an hour? No problem. Sounds great. Thanks! See you then." She hung up and grinned at Penny. "We're in, but we better hustle."

"Oh, all right." Penny was glum. "Do they at least have sandwiches there?"

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The place did not have sandwiches, but they had sushi and champagne, which was even better, and Yoko and Penny left four hours later, feeling amazing, and, truth be told, slightly tipsy.

"Okay, girlfriend, I'll see you next week for the 4th," Yoko said as she kissed her Penny goodbye.

"Don't get all excited, it's not a party or anything, just you, me, Cam, and his friend Simon," Penny cautioned. "We can see the fireworks from his terrace, so it will just be a nice, quiet evening."

"I'll be there. Toodles!"

Penny splurged and took a cab home, not wanting to ruin how good she felt by getting all hot and sweaty. All of her joints felt loose, as did her muscles. Her pores felt open, her skin felt fresh. and though she felt a little raw from the wax, it hadn't been too long between appointments, and she new that the toner the esthetician had applied would take care of any rash.

"Wow, look at you," Cam said when she walked in.

"What do you mean?"

"You just look like you feel really good," he clarified, leaning in to kiss her as she kicked her sandals off. "And you smell like a million dollars," he added.

"The phrase is 'a million bucks,'" Penny teased, shaking her head as she headed to the kitchen.

"I thought you were going to the movies with Yoko?" Cam asked, following her to the kitchen.

"Slight change of plans. We had a free spa day through a friend of hers," Penny explained, pouring herself a glass of wine. "All I have to do is talk up the place at the next rehearsal."

"Oh, nice deal," Cam commented. "What's this place called?"

"Oops, I forget," Penny answered, making a face. "Shit, I better find out from Yoko, huh?"

"I suppose you'd better," Cameron said with a laugh, putting his arms around her and kissing her neck so he get another whiff of the scent of Penny. "God, you smell marvelous, love."

"Careful, you're going to make me spill!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Cam backed up, giving her more room. "So, what do you want to do tonight?" He eyed her speculatively. "You want to go out? My friend just texted me about a new club that's opening in Soho, if you want to see what that's about?"

"Would you mind terribly if we stayed in?" Penny asked, setting her wine glass down. "I feel like I've spent the last three weeks in the company of hordes of people. Or you could go out, I don't mind."

"Are you crazy?" Cam stared at her, green eyes boring into her. "I, too, have been with these same hordes of people, remember? A night in with you sounds like a bit of heaven, if I'm honest."

Awww. "I just don't want you to feel like you're, you know, tethered to me," Penny explained earnestly, putting a hand on his arm. "You must miss your old life sometimes, right? You must want to hang out with the beautiful glitterati once in a while? So go ahead, go to the club opening, I don't mind. I totally understand why you wouldn't want me there."

"Whoa, whoa, hold on a second," Cameron said, grasping her hand. "I never said I wouldn't want you there, not one time!" He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I asked if you wanted to go, then you said you didn't, then you suggested I go alone; then, suddenly, I miss my old life and I must be dying to go without you."

Cam scooted close, eliminating all open space between them. "How did you make that amazing jump to irrationality, Penguin? Hm? How?" He tucked some hair behind her ear and kissed her soft and humble mouth, shaking his head. "There's no place I'd rather be than here with you, yeah?"

Penny looked down, then nodded without looking up.

"Wow, my feet are absolutely huge, aren't they?" she said.

"Stop trying to change the subject," Cam said with a small smile. "Now, we have decisions to make."

"We do?"

"Yeah. Thai or Chinese?"

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They were leaning comfortably against each other with Carol Channing snuggled up between them, watching the movie. The dream within a dream within a dream had just slowed down again, and Penny was really, really confused, but that could just have been the wine.

Penny was playing with Cameron's hair, which was just hanging loose tonight in all its blond glory, down past his shoulders, cascading behind the couch. Her fingers against his scalp were driving Cam to distraction, making him tingle all over, making him unable to concentrate on anything. He nearly reached up and grasped her hand to stop her numerous times, but then she'd do it again, and he'd give a tiny, pleasurable shiver and let her.

She also had a hand lying on his very sensitive abdomen, which was doing odd things to him. She would tense up her fingers when something exciting happened on the screen, and this would in turn make him clench up his muscles, catch his breath, and inhale the fresh scent of her hair.

Cameron was in such a state that he no longer knew or cared what was going on in the movie, which was actually a very good film.

He finally turned and slid his hand in the front of her shirt, up the smooth skin of her tummy, reveling in the abundance of soft flesh there. Unlike other women he'd been with, there were no hard bones protruding anywhere, no firm muscles wrapping around her frame. Penny was all give, just a fragrant yielding that made him crazy.

Cam sat up a little and leaned in to kiss her neck as he slid his hand higher to touch her breast. Again, it wasn't the small circle he was used to, with just enough to fill his palm. Penny's breasts were large and round, and sensitive everywhere, it seemed; she gasped as soon as he touched it, head tilting back to hit the arm of the couch, the movie forgotten.

Her grip on his hair tightened and she gave it a yank that in turn made him give an explosive exhalation of surprise and pleasure. He moaned and moved to find her mouth with his, lips parted and searching, capturing and leaning in hungrily.

"Oh god, Penelope," he murmured. "I really hope you don't mind watching the end of the movie later--"

"I have no fucking idea what's happening anyway, totally don't mind," she answered as she maneuvered herself to a lying down position on the couch and displacing C-Chan in the process.

"Smashing." He untangled his hands from the various parts of her body and began unbuttoning her shirt, making quick work with his deft fingers. He parted it, revealing her front in all its glory as she reclined on the sofa in the glow of the TV, and smiled as he sat back on his legs.

"Wow, Penguin, you're stunning. Look at all that beautiful skin, just look--" he leaned down and kissed her navel, tongue snaking out to lick into it.

Penny, who wasn't used to being admired in such a way, smiled at the novelty, then arched her body into Cam's mouth, putting her hands on his head.

He let his hands roam all over as he kissed her tummy, sliding his palms over her swollen, hot nipples, drawing more moans from her as she curved her chest upward toward his hands. He kissed along the elastic of her pajama bottoms, wanting to yank them off her, but controlling himself, just.

That could wait for a little while.

He moved slowly up her body, kissing the soft skin under her breasts which the sun never saw, then moved his mouth to her nipples, which were so sensitive it almost seemed like they'd never been touched before.

Penny cried out and grabbed his hair again, holding him at her breast, pressing him against her body.

"You like this." Cam didn't even make it a question, because the answer was so obvious. Penelope was writhing under him, moving her hips against him, acting like she was close to climax, just from this normal and common act of foreplay.

Penny's response was a keening whine, almost like a sound of pain. She gave a jerking nod, along with some explosive gasping sounds.

On a whim, Cam grasped the inside of her thigh, on top of the cloth of her pajama bottoms, and slid his hand slowly up until his hand was in the groove where her thigh met her body. He cupped her sex through her bottoms and her undies and gave a little squeeze, lifting his head to see her reaction.

Penny's face went slack, her eyes rolled up in her head a little, and again she gasped, while she let go of his hair and grasped the wrist of the hand that was in motion, very very tightly. She made a little sound that Cam didn't catch.

"What, love?"

"More," she murmured, rolling her hips into his hand.

It was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen.

Cam smiled and chuckled.

Penny's eyes flew open at the sound and she focused on Cameron, her blissed out expression falling off her face as if she'd been slapped.

Then, to his astonishment, her expression crumpled to one of shame and embarrassment and she began to cry.

She nearly bucked his body off her as she gathered her top closed with one hand and rose from the couch, running for the bathroom.

"Penguin?" Cam's voice was loud with confusion. "Penelope? What's wrong? What did I do?"

No response, only the sound of thudding feet as she ran through the loft.

"Oh my god, Penelope, what happened? Please don't run away, talk to me!"

Then the sound of the bathroom door slamming.

Cam reached it seconds later and turned the knob, but of course it was locked.

"Penelope? Penelope! Please! Open the door!"

What the fuck had happened?