She couldn't believe herself. Couldn't believe she was driving out of Rosewood. Veronica took a deep breath as she thought about Siobhan Sadler. She had expected it to be a one-night thing. Sex with a random woman in a remote hotel on a lonely night. That's what they had intended, hadn't they? That's why S had said no kisses…but then she kissed her. What had it meant? She would be lying if she said she hadn't been thinking about the older woman. But the thoughts had been more recent after Siobhan's text. At first, Veronica was surprised because they hadn't exchanged phone numbers. But then she thought about the mysterious air that surrounded the woman and understood she must have her ways.

"Friday 8pm," the text said and there was an address to a bar right outside of Rosewood. Veronica had read the text repeatedly. Her eyes stopping at the black S that signed the message. Mysterious text, just as mysterious as the woman who had written it. She kept thinking, turning around in bed for four nights, whether she should go or not. "A one-night thing, Veronica," she said over and over again in her head. But something told her she had to go. After all, Siobhan Sadler had been the only thing in her mind for the last two weeks. Maybe it would remain a one-night thing…maybe not. But, what did she want?

S paced the floor, her steps were shaky and whoever saw her could tell she was nervous. She downed the shot of bourbon without thinking about it. Why was she nervous? How could she be nervous? She had sang many times before in many different bars. Tonight was no difference. Except tonight would be different because Veronica Hastings would be there. Why did she care so much? What was so special about this woman? She still hadn't figured out why but she knew she was trapped in the other woman's grasp. The moment she got home, she did everything to find her phone number. She had wanted to call her on multiple occasions. Instead, she had waited until her gig was set up and she just sent her a text. Veronica hadn't reply so maybe she wouldn't be there tonight.

Call me
why don't you just call me
so I can torture myself
I have a graph on my wall
I made a diagram of your calls

Veronica was startled the second she walked in. She immediately recognized the sweet Irish accent singing the lyrics to a song she had never heard before. She didn't know Siobhan could sing that way; her voice was smooth and melodic…she felt mesmerized by it. Veronica took a seat at the bar as she ordered a glass of wine. Her eyes never leaving the woman on stage who grabbed the microphone and walked the space around her.

Recovery
is where my friends say I should be
but I think I could talk to you without resorting to
Girl
eager to please
wanting to be well received

Siobhan felt her heart do a flip inside her chest when she saw Veronica walking through the backdoor. Part of her wanted to jump off stage and sit by the brunette at the bar. But no. This is what she had wanted. To be seen in her natural habitat, singing on stage at a random bar. Like she used to do when she was younger. Before her life became a constantly running away from danger protecting clones mess. For some unknown reason, she wanted Veronica Hastings to see the real Siobhan Sadler. But, why? Why did she so desperately wanted the other woman to like her? They had only been together one time. She couldn't keep thinking about it; that's why she grabbed the microphone and started walking the stage.

Behold not beholden
and the voices of angels

S's voice sounded like an angel's and Veronica closed her eyes taking it all in. She could feel the kisses Siobhan had planted on her neck that night. The way the soft touch of her hands had felt on her thighs. The smirk she had flashed her when they walked into the bedroom. The wink she did on her way out when she left that night. When she opened her eyes again, she caught Siobhan looking at her as she sang.

Call me
why don't you just call me
so I can look at myself
I really should be somewhere else
Recovery
is where I know that I should be
but I keep resorting to
the voices that are coming through
Girl
eager to please
wanting to be well received.

She knew she was singing. She could hear herself saying each word perfectly but she had no control. Her eyes and her thoughts were stuck on Veronica. Siobhan could see her sitting at the bar with a glass of red wine in her hands. Her eyes were closed and S could swear she was grinning. Where were her thoughts going? Was she enjoying herself? As Veronica fell back to reality, they made eye contact and Siobhan could only think about kissing her. The way she had done that night weeks ago.

Behold not beholden
and the voices of angels

Veronica held Siobhan's gaze for as long as the older woman looked her way. She felt fire burning within her as she watched S sing the last few words of the song pacing the stage. Her thoughts were on the way the other woman owned the stage. She looked so powerful, unbreakable…full of that mysterious aura that followed her everywhere. What was she hiding? What were her secrets? What did her past hold? What was her present like? Veronica was so intrigued and she kept coming up with a million different questions she wanted to ask. But there was a part of her that didn't want to talk. Part of her didn't want Siobhan Sadler's mysterious air to dissipate.

Call me
why don't you just call me
Call me

She felt the last two words leave her lips. Her feet walking down the steps off the sage. Her legs making their way towards the brunette at the bar. Her right arm wrapping gently around Veronica's waist. Her lips moving closer to her ear. Her voice slowly coming out of her throat as she whispered in the other woman's ear, "I'm glad you could make it".

Veronica was surprised by the firm hand on her hip but felt drawn to S as she whispered in her ear. "That was absolutely amazing. I didn't know you had that voice, Mrs. S," she teased as she lost herself in the gentle embrace.

"Oh, thank you, love. I thought you might enjoy it."

"I really did. But, I'm not going to lie, I was a bit surprised by your text."

"Was it because I didn't have your number?" Siobhan took a seat next to her as she ordered her another glass of wine and a shot of bourbon for herself.

"Yes, however did you get it?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," she smirked as she downed the bourbon.

"There it is."

"What?"

"That smirk," she took a sip of wine. "It is so mysterious."

"You make me sound like an enigma, love." Veronica felt herself melting every time she said love in that attractive Irish accent.

"To me you are."

"What would you like to know?"

"Who are you, Siobhan Sadler?"

"That is a complicated question." She turned around on her seat to face her and Veronica did the same. Their knees were touching as S put her hands on the brown-haired woman's thighs as she had done that night. "I'm an Irish woman meeting a small town politician in a remote bar. Can I just be that for tonight?"

"Yes, yes you can."

"How about you? Who are you, Veronica Hastings?"

"A small town politician."

"I can work with that."

"Good," Veronica said before she drank what was left of her wine. Siobhan couldn't stop looking at her. Why was she trapped in this game? But, what was the game? What were they doing? She knew she didn't want to end whatever it was. She also knew they couldn't keep meeting in random places in the darkness of the night and the solitude of empty glasses. They both deserved better than that.

"Could I ask you something else?"

"Go ahead, love."

"Is there someone waiting for you at home?"

"I am sure you don't mean my kids so the answer is no."

"So, no Mr. or Mrs. Sadler?"

She shook her head. "Is anyone waiting for you, Mrs. Hastings?"

"Mr. Hastings."

"Oh."

"My ex-husband. We are no longer married but we live under the same roof. Campaign manager had us pretend the marriage was still good."

"How long will you pretend for now that you've been elected?"

"I wish I knew."

"I guess a divorce wouldn't look good on your record now."

A divorce wouldn't but how would a lover look? How would an affair with a woman look like? She could imagine Paul –her campaign manager– running polls on it, checking how many voters they would lose. Veronica smiled to herself thinking he would say homosexual voters went up as well as those who wanted to maintain good foreign relations "since she is Irish," she could hear him say. But, was this an affair? They had only slept together once and now they were just two women having drinks, right? Who was she trying to fool? She wanted more than that. She craved Siobhan. She craved her touch. She craved her.

"Tonight I don't have to pretend." Veronica stood up taking her hand and leading her through the backdoor out into the alley. "Tonight I'm a divorce small town politician who really wants to be with you."

"Are you sure, love?"

She nodded. "No," she pushed Siobhan's hands away as she tried to unbutton her pants. "Tonight is my turn."

"Kisses."

"What?"

"No kisses."

"You broke your own rule last time."

"I know and it was wrong."

"Do you regret it?"

"I don't regret anything about that night."

"Then what is it?"

"I don't want to feel your lips on mine knowing it could be the last time. I can't keep falling for you, love."

"Why does it have to be the last time?"

"Our lives are so different."

"Not tonight. Tonight we are just two women who enjoy each other's company and want to have a good time. You are just an Irish woman, remember?"

"Veronica."

"Yes?"

"Shut up and kiss me already."

Veronica grinned before she pressed her lips hard against hers. Her right hand sliding into Siobhan's pants…caressing her through her underwear…teasing her. She could feel the other woman's heartrate increasing as she softly started kissing her neck. Pushing her up against the alley's wall, Veronica could feel the soft fabric of the underwear getting wetter with every touch. A small smirk was drawn on her face when she heard a moan escaping Siobhan's lips.

"Stop…teasing me…love."

As Siobhan said "love", Veronica slid two fingers in her making her moan. She pushed her fingers in deeper as the other woman arched her body against hers. S pressed her forehead against Veronica's shoulder and she took her chance to bite her ear as her fingers slid in and out. Siobhan's moans became louder as they turned into groans when the brunette woman's thumb started rubbing against her clit. She had never expected Veronica to be this way…so in control, but she loved every minute of it.

"I'm not going to last much longer," she said between groans.

"Not yet," Veronica said as she knelt down pulling the pants and black underwear down. She grabbed S's ass with both hands so she wouldn't touch the wall and slowly started kissing her thighs. Her lips slowly making her way up her leg before using her tongue to caress her clit. She heard Siobhan take a deep breath before a loud moan escaped her lips. How she loved making her moan. Her tongue did circles on the Irish woman and her legs started trembling. She was almost there. Veronica flipped her tongue to one side and then to the next hitting S's g-spot, making the orgasm hit her body in waves. She heard the Irish accent she loved so much saying "bloody hell" and a smile appeared on her face.

"I," Siobhan panted catching her breath as she pulled her pants up. "I can't believe this."

"Didn't think I had it in me, did you?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Not this way. That was much more than I could have imagined."

Veronica smiled. A smiled that disappeared the moment she heard S's phone going off in her jacket's pocket. "I guess that's our cue. Back to reality."

"Back to pretending."

"When will I see you again?"

"I'll text you, love." And with that, she was gone. She mysteriously came and mysteriously left.

The song belongs to Maria Doyle Kennedy. Reviews are always appreciated.