Comfort

by Chace Verity

As a nineteen-year-old, Sorrel Jones had hooked up with the hottest, most unforgettable woman twenty years their senior, but she hadn’t been interested in a relationship with someone so young. Six years later, when they find Eileen Bowers’s online dating profile, they are quick to message her in an attempt to finally win her heart. The only thing that seems to be on Eileen’s mind is buying a new couch, but it doesn’t take long to figure out that shopping is foreplay for the older woman seeking fun and comfort—and Sorrel is more than happy to give her everything she wants.

—

“Comfort” is a standalone 7.5k erotic short between a nonbinary character and trans woman character.

Genres: Romance, Erotica, Short Stories, Queer, Transgender, LGBT, Contemporary

34 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2021

About the author

Chace Verity (she/they) is publishing queer as heck stories with a strong romantic focus, although queer friendships and found families are important too. Chace prefers to write fantasy but dabbles in contemporary and historical fiction as well. An American citizen & Canadian permanent resident, Chace will probably never be able to call a gallon of milk a "four-liter."

Reviews

[Victoria (Eve's Alexandria) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely lovely shot of heat and couch shopping. Six years after hooking up at a party, Sorrel, a 25 year old non-binary agricultural auctioneer (yes, really) and Eileen, a 45 year old trans woman editor of a free newspaper match on a dating app. They go couch shopping - as you do - and their connection unfurls over three successive sofa searching dates. It’s very hot and very sweet, and deeply rooted in the needs of each person. There’s a scene with a sex toy that blew my mind. Because it’s short (7.5k words) there’s not much of a resolution to the relationship, except that they’ve found a place to start from together.

I only dropped a star because there is some tense-hopping in parts from present to past that kept dragging me out of the moment. But otherwise, as always, Chace Verity delivers a great story.

[b.andherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a story perfect for me. Let's here it for sofa shopping dates, complete with some semi-public sexy times, and a second chance for romance between a young, nonbinary love interest who has learned to be comfortable in their skin and the older trans woman who they hooked up with years ago who helped them get there.

Loved it; despite being short, this was a perfect example of a fully created romance in short format. I loved it.

Story Notes: Sorrel Jones is 19 when they first hook up with Eileen Bowers (but is now 25 when the story is set) and is a white nonbinary person who loves to wear suits. Eillen Bowers is a 40 + year-old Black trans woman and writer.

[Kazen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is lovely, and it's exactly what it says on the tin - an erotic short. I love that we see them going couch shopping, and the sex is fun, but the 35 pages flew by before I knew it. Sigh. Luckily I still have some of Verity's backlist left to go - I'll have to read one of their longer books next.

[Felicia Davin]

This short story does such memorable character work. It’s wonderfully specific: Eileen edits an alternative paper; Sorrel works at an auction house for used farm equipment. She’s forty-five and they’re twenty-five. The two of them hooked up six years ago. Eileen was the first person who ever made Sorrel feel comfortable with their gender presentation, but it never became a relationship. Eileen told Sorrel they were too young for her. They find each other on an app and decide to try dating—by going shopping for a new couch for Eileen. Things heat up fast. I love that this remains sweet and silly even when it’s very sexy.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

The main sex scene felt a bit summarized. Especially the first half was like “oh we did this” rather than seeing them do that.

Contains: age gap (26 to 46 I think?), nb MC + trans heroine, both came out as adults but story boy about coming out second chance (hooked up 6 years earlier, when nb character still thought they were a cis woman), kept a souvenir all these years, interracial (white + Black), couch shopping, dating app, strap on, semi public sex, is it a hookup or is it more, basically no angst, HFN (no declarations, but intention to give it a go)

Steam: 1.5 scenes, maybe 30% of the short

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This erotic short story was such a tasty morsel! Furniture shopping as a date was brilliant, especially since Eileen had reservations about someone so much younger than her. If you can have fun doing that, anything is possible. I loved Eileen and Sorrel together. I just wanted much more! More about both of their jobs! More about them in general. What information we got made me want the rest of the story. Maybe the author will give us another installment someday, fingers crossed.

Character notes: Sorrel is a 25 year old white pansexual genderqueer farm equipment auctioneer’s assistant. Eileen is a 45 year old Black trans goth free newspaper editor. They had a one night stand six years ago. This is set in Alberta.

Content notes: alcohol, past inebriation, on-page sex, exhibitionism

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and fun and quick. Delightful quick read that made me smile throughout.

[thosemeddlingkids · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww, cute erotica! Age gap, second chance romance between nonbinary lead and trans heroine who fucked once 6 years ago and end up reconnecting. Couch shopping, some semi public sex, an awkward nonbinary lead, self assured heroine. Very cute, very cute.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This was really good. I loved the writing style and the overall coziness of the story. Sorrell and Eileen had such great chemistry and were both very likable people. The smut was really good as well and I liked the way this ended. Overall, just a fun and light read.

[Littlebookterror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming characters and great chemistry between them.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.75 stars

Verity crafts a tale that, even in its shortness, really conveys the depth of what these characters are going through. More than that, the author really manages to give readers an in-depth look at where the MCs are mentally and what has brought them to this point. Both characters are well developed and fully fleshed out and we see a lot of that in how they think about and react to one another. Yes, it’s short, but so much is on the page.

Part of that is, of course, the sexual encounters, and the chemistry between the MCs just leaps off the page. Part of the raw connection between them is their sexual attraction, to be sure, and just how well they fit together. But also, and perhaps the biggest draw for me, is how they made each other feel accepted and cared for, as they are, and that really made a difference.

Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.

[Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and snacky

*white non-binary 25 y.o. MC, and Black trans woman 45 y.o. MC*

Set in Alberta, Canada

A short high steam read, with a second chance meeting on a dating app after a one night stand at a music festival 6 years ago. They go furniture shopping together, and end up making out on every couch. For research!

I enjoyed this lil novella a lot. There's a couple of editing goofs with tenses changing suddenly, but the writing is otherwise clear. It did have a few awkwardly wordy phrases like 'vibrant visage' which sounds like a result of googling 'pretty face synonyms', that always takes me out of the scene but ymmv I prefer simpler straightforward language generally.

CW: public sex, use of sex toys (strap on, dildo) talk about gender expression, transition, and transphobia.

[A.E. Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super sweet and super sexy short. And who knew shopping for furniture could be so erotic? I'm a fan of Verity's and this fun tale certainly didn't disappoint. Sorrel and Eileen have intense chemistry and I certainly wouldn't mind reading another story about them, if the author is ever inclined. Definitely add this to your TBR!

[Nicole Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this so much! one of the main characters is non-binary and the other is a trans woman, and they are both wonderful. this book is a short story (around 35 pages) and it's equally steamy and sweet and soft. it was exactly the comforting read i needed.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Alcohol consumption

[Victoria Weyland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a delight of a story. So sweet and sexy and, frankly, comforting. My only complaint is that I wish there was more.

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Furniture shopping made sexy. 😂😂

[isa (queenofswordsandwords) · Rating 4 out of 5]

a younger white non-binary person and an older black trans woman go on couch shopping dates.

it was short and delightful. an excellent cozy read.

[Lisandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,6 estrelas

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance Short story
F/enby
Trans-F
Age gap
Səx toys! (Specifically strap-on)
Pretty hot

[Tai · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

[tysephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

very short, but lovely. Just a brief exploration of 2 people reconnecting years after a one night stand, seeing if they can make something work despite a large age gap.