The caller hesitated, trying to name the voice.

“Oh my fucking God! Jesus!”

“No, it’s just me, Alice. Jesus is busy,” Helena said, rolling off Bette.

Bette hid her face in Helena’s neck. “Shit!”

Helena quickly kissed Bette’s cheek.

Bette grabbed Helena’s hand and put it between her legs.

“Bette needs to get a fucking job!” Alice said forcefully.

“She has one, Alice. And she’s quickly going to achieve a promotion,” Helena grinned.

“You two are awful!” Alice exclaimed.

“So we’re a little late, darling,” Helena replied, slowly stroking her fingers over Bette delicately.

“A little? I’ve been expecting you for half an hour!” Alice retorted. “Oh, God! This is shit! I thought you were gonna invite me?”

“Invite you to our love-making, darling? Never.” Helena held back her giggling.

“I didn’t think that!” Alice objected.

“Oh! You didn’t?” Helena teased, laughing. “You didn’t think perhaps the Mall was in order, with Victoria’s Secret as a libidinous pussy revealing stop?”

Quickly rolling over, astonished at the one-sided conversation she was hearing, Bette grabbed the phone away from Helena. She put her ear to the earpiece, her hand over the mouthpiece and a finger over Helena’s lips, then admonished, with a whisper, “Helena! Don’t encourage her.”

“Bette! “Bette? Is that you?” Alice cried into the phone. “Are you coming or not?”

“What’s she saying, Darling?” Helena asked, giggling.

“You’ve really done it now, Helena! She wants to know if we’re coming or not?” Bette whispered to Helena.

“Well, tell her we were going to, until she effing called and interrupted us.”

“I heard that!” Alice said loudly.

“Alice?”

“Yes, Bette?” Alice answered calmly.

“Alice, will you do me a favor and go get Angelica at her daycare? I’ll call them and tell them you’re coming. It’s my weekend anyway. Sweetie, you and Helena and I are going to the pet store to get Boo a kittycat today. That is, if you want to come with us,” Bette explained and requested.

“Oh,” Alice replied. “Duh. We’re doing that kind of pussy shopping. I knew that.”

“What’s she saying, Bette?” Helena asked very softly.

Bette again covered her mouthpiece with her palm.

“She said she knew it was that kind of pussy shopping.”

“Yeah, right!” Helena laughed.

“So, will you pick up Angelica for us?” Bette asked Alice sweetly.

“Of course I will. But, is the fur gonna be quit flyin’ by the time we get there? Or will Helena’s claws still be in you?”

“What’s she saying?” Helena whispered again.

“Uh…uhhh” Bette stammered.

Helena looked at Bette with complete comprehension and grinned.

Helena grabbed the receiver from Bette’s hand.

“Rawwwwr! Beware the lion’s den when they’re mating, Alice! Rawwwwwwwr!” Helena warned with a loud laugh.

Bette grabbed the phone from Helena.

“No more kitty jokes! None! They’re done! You hear!” Bette yelled.

“Done,” they said simultaneously.

“Good-bye, Alice! See you in a bit. And thank you,” Bette said, clicking the phone off.

“Way to talk, Darling,” Helena grinned.

“I wasn’t talking to you, beautiful. I think I distinctly remember confessing to you that I felt in a heap of danger?” Bette smiled into Helena’s eyes.

Helena grinned, opening her mouth and showing her teeth. “And why should you be?”

“Because you’re the Lion Queen, and I want you to devour me.”