9.7

The loud metal screech of the subway barely made its way into Andrea's consciousness. She clutched her brown leather bag to her chest, guarding its contents with one hand. Her other hand held tight to the pole beside her, steadying herself in her seat. Her mind was racing. Her big brown eyes stared at a scuff pattern on the floor as she sat in the empty subway car.

The lights of a passing station flashed by as she thought of what had occurred in the closet before Miranda left for the evening. She remembered most vividly the sound of the door being opened, and realizing she had completely forgotten to lock it. Miranda was standing in the doorway, her gaze never falling from her eyes but a small smile flashed across her lips. Andrea tried to grab at her chest to cover herself.

Miranda merely stood there. Her posture was strong but her eyes were soft and warm, caressing every inch of her form. Andrea had turned her back to her boss to slip on her blouse, but she knew her every move was being watched in the mirror. She wanted to hide her face. Her insides writhed from the embarrassment and she felt it redden her cheeks. Miranda watched her fumbling inside of the room as she finished buttoning her blouse. She was amused by her nervousness.

"W-was there something you needed, Miranda?" Andrea finally said with a tremor. She somehow had the courage to look the devil in the eyes and she was surprised how their warmth melted any fear away.

"You will deliver the book tonight. That's all" the silver haired editor said as the shimmer in her eye began to disappear and Andrea had begun to wonder if it had ever been there in the first place. It was after all quite delusional to think a woman like Miranda Priestly would even consider her assistant, romantically or otherwise.

The truth was that Andrea had been infatuated with Miranda for quite sometime now. The feeling only ever got stronger. Even when Miranda would berated her on a daily basis for her lack of fashion sense, her 'heavy' frame, or the temperature of her damn coffee. She found that she was enduring these things not because she was committed to the job, but because she was committed to Miranda. The truth was that she lived for the moments when she could crack the devils facade and experience the sweetness that lies beneath.

A voice called out the next stop, shaking Andrea from of her thoughts. She stood waiting for the doors to open and slid out into station.

The tall apartment buildings towered over her as she made her way to Miranda's townhouse. The evening was pleasant and the sky was starless. Sometimes the stars made her miss Ohio, but not enough to leave the life she had built in the Miranda's townhome came into view she felt butterflies erupt inside of her.

It didn't matter that she had delivered the book for two months now; the woman had seen her naked just hours ago. She wished on the starless sky that she would not have to face her tonight. All she had to do was set the book on the table and leave.

She fumbled with the key in her pocket as she jogged up the steps of the town house. Out of the corner of her eye she saw curtains fall and a silhouette of a woman behind the third story window. She was almost sure it was Miranda waiting for her. Her heart began to race as she took a deep breath and went inside.

Andrea held her body close to the door in attempt to make as little noise as possible. She heard soft footsteps descending the stairs. Her heart pumped loudly against her chest. She reached inside her bag and pulled the heavy book out of its depths and sat the book on the table with a slap.

The first time she delivered the book she was told to get in and get the fuck out. The first time she delivered the book she was nearly fired. She never wanted to do that again. She contemplated fleeing, but the footsteps were getting closer. There was no time to flee.

Andrea could see the shadow grow on the wall as the person was almost in view. Miranda caught Andrea's eyes when she rounded the corner to the last flight of stairs and slowed her pace to a saunter. A cream cashmere dress clung to her hips and fell off of her at the shoulder.

"Oh, Andrea. There you are" Miranda said as she stepped off of the staircase.

She was barefoot and the dress revealed a generous amount of her thighs, she walked passed Andrea to her mini bar. Andrea couldn't help but admire the older woman's curves from behind, she had never seen her in anything so revealing. Andrea wondered if she had been with her a man this evening. She had been divorced for awhile now and she knew that Miranda was dating men here and there.

Miranda popped the cork on a bottle of red wine and began pouring two glasses. The way that dress clung to her body was enchanting in its perfection, she felt herself staring. When she noticed the second glass, though she thought it must be for the man that Miranda wore that dress for. She hates the man who gets to have her.

"Did you need something else, Miranda?" she inquired, averting her gaze to the shelves filled with an array of liquor in expensive crystal beakers.

Miranda turned around and held the glass to Andrea.

"A drink" She answered with a small smile. "How about you?"

She gently placed the glass of burgundy liquid into Andrea's hands and sauntered into her blue accented lounge area. This was so peculiar to the young brunette that she questioned her state of consciousness. This side of Miranda was one that she had never seen before. Miranda is a tough and determined business woman and has a talent for being incredibly cruel. She never spoke to Andrea longer than necessary and she never offered her anything. So this behavior was quite peculiar.

Andrea sat on a deep blue chase and to her surprise; Miranda sat down next to her and leaned back against the arm rest. Her perfume was faint, but it made Andrea's head spin. When Miranda crossed her legs, her thigh brushed against Andreas. The feeling was like silk. Neither reacted outwardly to the contact but Andrea clung to her wine like it was a lifeline.

"You thought that I didn't know" Miranda said quietly. Her light blue eyes were so knowing and Andrea could feel them burning into her. She wasn't sure how, but she knew exactly what she meant. Miranda searched her gaze and then sat her wine on the table beside her.

"Look at me, Andrea" Miranda ordered. Andrea felt her skin warm and redden as she met Miranda's light eyes. They pierced her gut and suddenly she realized how deep this womans grip on her was. She felt her eyes begin to water as Miranda ran her fingers threw her hair.

"Tell me" Miranda whispered only inches away from her face

"Say it"

The tightness in her scalp from Miranda's fist in her hair dizzied her mind, her eyes fluttered closed.

Andrea answered between heavy breaths. Their lips were excruciatingly close. It was all she could do not toburst with desire and maim this woman with the passion she was burning to release.

"I love you" Andrea said bravely as she tried to control her breathing.

Tears fell silently down her face. Her emotions were pouring out of her like a flood. She was overwhelmed by the the weight that was released just by saying those three words to this woman. Even if she could not feel the same way, she knew the truth.

Miranda nuzzled into her neck and her hot breath on her skin sent currents threw her body. She hated that her body began to tremble, rendering her limbs uncontrollable. Miranda pulled her closer and pressed her lips to her neck. Andrea struggled to catch her breath. She wrapped her arms around Miranda and pulled her closer.

"I love you too" Miranda whispered finally. When they finally admitted it, when the words were out there, that was all either of them needed. When their lips finally met it was like coming home.

If heaven was real they were both sure they had been invited to visit for the evening. Everything around them melted away. All they knew were each others arms, each others lips. They felt every brush of skin, heard every inhale and exhale of breath. Neither of them have experienced something so powerful. They allowed the comfort of its security carry them deeper together. They wanted nothing more than to go to bed. To make love to each other and express the depth of their emotion. Having confessed their love was enough for tonight, though. they knew they had a long time to explore this.

All though they were burning, they fell asleep clinging to each other on the small chase lounge, uncomfortable in their positioning but feeling at home in each other's arms.

9.8, 9.9, 9.10 & 9.11 coming soon!