Firstly, thank you so much for the response I received for the previous chapter. I'm overwhelmed! I am sorry for leaving it over two weeks to update. I've moved back to uni, and started a new job – so life's kinda crazy again. But hey, here it is…

Chapter 3 – Sacred Lesbian Circle

The crowd around them glittered in a frenzy of bright clothes and young people. The music thumped, and people moved and shook in sync to the disjointed melody. Alex and Piper had managed to shoulder their way to the bar, almost drowning in the sea of people and the humidity that they brought with them.

"You want another margarita, kid?" Alex asked the younger woman over the music.

Piper considered it. Did she? She was technically working right now - but with the amount she was drinking, it was feeling more like a night out.

Well, if a night out involved hearing two of her colleagues arguing through an ear-piece, that was.

To her immense surprise, she found that she was enjoying herself. She felt an excitement surge through her that she couldn't quite acknowledge the origin of. Whatever it was, she needed to quickly put a stop to it.

She had only just located Vause again, after – rather shamefully, locking herself in the women's toilets to avoid her. The reason to which she wasn't quite ready to acquaint herself with. She had found Alex outside, and the brunette had offered to buy her a drink.

She couldn't pass up the opportunity to drink. For one, she didn't want to – and also, she couldn't do anything to compromise this cover she was establishing. Despite the alcohol coursing through her veins, it was essential she kept a clear head.

"Take it easy, now Chapman." Bennett hissed.

"She can't break her cover – Bennett, if getting shitfaced is what is going to get her in with Vause, then so be it." Caputo insisted angrily.

Piper scratched her ear, she didn't need both of them arguing in her ear right now. It was like having a devil and an angel perched on either shoulder.

"Shut up." She said into her bracelet.

"What?" Alex said, frowning.

"Nothing. Sorry. I'll have whatever you're having." She had to go right up to Alex so that she could hear her.

"Oh, is that right?" She raised one eyebrow and a playful smirk warmed her features. Being in such close proximity to this this woman seemed to be sending her body into overdrive. Piper was annoyed to find that she had to berate herself constantly, continuously reminding herself that this was a woman involved in an evil organisation. She was bad. She was dangerous. She couldn't be trusted.

"Yeah." Piper feigned innocence.

Alex returned the smile, her eyes burning a fire down the younger woman's body.

"Up for some shots kid?"

Piper nodded, pushing away the anxiety that was forming in the pit of her stomach. The music pulsated around her, and her heart seemed to be jumping madly around in sync with the melody. She watched as the older woman ordered a selection of what could only be a lethal concoction - with the confidence of someone who did it regularly. Her eyes seemed to enchant everyone who looked into them, even the barman seemed to fall under her spell.

"Did someone say shots?" Piper heard a voice say from behind her. She turned to see three expectant faces looking at her, one of which she recognised. The lion-haired woman gave her a large grin, and behind her the small brunette blushed. The older, slightly rounder woman to their left smiled knowingly with her arms crossed, as though she was initiating a challenge.

"I swear you have supersonic hearing where alcohol is involved." Alex said wryly, turning her head slightly to the small crowd that had gathered behind her, before turning back to the bar and ordering more drinks.

"You know I do, Vause."

"Go get that table over there, quickly before it goes!" The brunette replied over her shoulder, flashing her eyes.

The bar had filled up so much that the fleeting sight of a table was enough to make the remaining other women shoot towards it.

"I'll stay and help you with the drinks." Piper said obligingly, her heart sinking oddly to the thought of not being alone in Alex's company.

"No, go sit, kid – Nichols here will help me." She grabbed her friend by the sleeve and pulled her back. "Go on. I'll be there in a sec. Be prepared to be well and truly drunk under the table."

"What is it about you and underneath tables?" Nichols quipped. "Bit of an exhibitionist this one." She winked at Piper.

Piper wanted to say something equally witty back, but found her mouth disappointingly dry, so she followed the others. She pushed passed the people, and to the mercy of her aching feet, managed to sit down.

She exhaled deeply before looking up to find the remaining two women watching her intently.

"I'm Lorna, but they call me Morello." The sweet-looking one announced. "This is Boo."

The older woman gave a small smile. "Big Boo."

"I'm Piper." The blonde said.

"Your hair's real pretty, Piper. I wish I could grow mine that long." Morello said, pulling on her own short brunette tendrils – despite what her locks lacked in length, made up for with a glossy shine.

"Yours is lovely." She replied, instantly taking a liking to the younger woman.

Piper watched the crowds around her, the place was quickly becoming very busy and she struggled to hear what Caputo was trying to say in her ear piece. She wanted to push the device further into her ear, in case it had slipped loose – but she didn't want to draw attention to herself.

.

.

.

Alex watched Nikki as she glared at her with narrowed eyes and a heavy brow.

"She doesn't really look like your usual type, Vause. Seems kind of, I don't know – educated." Nichols laughed to herself. "But seriously, what are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking – that maybe, I don't know, that it's none of your fucking business."

"Hey, cool it. What the fuck is up with you tonight?"

"Ugh, shit – Nik, I'm sorry. I just feel like really fucking pressured after my conversation with Kubra a few days ago." She paused as the barman placed the drinks down, and she looked down at them for a moment before turning back to her friend. "I can't mess this up. I have to choose someone wisely It's important."

"What and she's your idea of a good recruit?" The younger woman replied, gaze slightly softer than before. They both looked over at the blonde sitting at the table with Big Boo and Morello, she was seemingly smiling nervously at the two women, sipping the remnants of her margarita. Alex watched the way her eyes followed the conversation between her own friends, the blonde's lips parted in genuine interest – brows high, as though she was internally taking notes ready for a pop quiz later. She felt something expand in her chest and she frowned as she turned back to Nichols.

"She's golden. Look at her. Seriously. She's perfect for this." She gathered her hands around a few glasses, wedging the bigger ones beneath her crossed arms, pressing them into her chest. "Can I get a hand here please?"

Nichols curled her fingers around the remaining cocktail glasses. "Look – Vause, I don't want to be that person. It's just – be careful, you seem to be kind of into her."

"Into her? I've known her for like, ten minutes. She's a potential recruit. That's it."

"Hmm." The other replied, as Alex began to walk away from her and she followed.

Alex walked back over to the table and was surprised to find all of the women getting along. They were laughing, as though they had all known each other for years. Piper seemed to have relaxed much more in her absence. Her slender shoulders had visibly fallen, her expression was light – free.

All of a sudden Alex had a flash of placing her lips in the dip in her neck as it met the line of her heart-shaped jaw. Of tracing her fingers along the hollow of her back. Of making her blue eyes turning dark with want, to hear her whispering hot loaded breaths in her ear. She shook herself. What the fuck was she doing?

Maybe this was a terrible idea, she thought as she sat down. She had to admit it, she was insanely attracted to this woman. It was consuming – and she had only known her for a very short time. This woman – Piper, already seemed perfect for the job. She seemed naïve – and had an endearing innocence about her that Alex should take advantage of.

What was stopping her?

So what if she felt these things? Wasn't that the point? Kubra wanted her to make this girl fall in love with her. That was her job. Her goal. To recruit someone who would do absolutely anything that she asked. That was her objective. She had to stop applying so much pressure to herself. It was just another fucking job. She was just another girl.

"Hey." Piper said as she sat down, with bright eyes and a wide smile.

"Hey," the brunette mirrored, placing an identical drink in front of her, followed by several shots. "You sure you want to get into this? I have a famously high tolerance."

"Oh I'm sure." The way she said the last word made Alex cross her legs tightly. They held one another's gaze, it felt bewilderingly familiar. Alex felt something shimmer in the air between them, it radiated grew, and blossomed – something beautiful was flourishing, despite what she kept telling herself – she was very quickly losing her balance.

Alex finally broke the exchange between herself and the blonde to find her friends glaring at her intently.

"What?" She mouthed vehemently.

People blurred and filtered in and around them, though their circle felt warmly secluded. Sam Sparro's Black and Gold began playing, and Alex couldn't help but tap her finger against the wood of the table. She felt Piper's eyes on her – it was a delicious sensation.

"How about a good old-fashioned never have I ever?" Nikki announced, grinning.

"Sure." Morello said as Boo rolled her eyes.

"Are you serious? Jesus. Sorry I forgot that we were twelve year olds having a slumber party." Alex said, watching Piper.

"What the fuck kind of sleepovers did you go to Vause?" Big Boo said. "Experimental lesbian orgies?"

"Something like that, yeah." She relented. "Fine, why the fuck not?"

"Okay, I'll start." Nichol's said, sitting up straighter – stretching her arms out along the table, curling her fingers around the amber liquid knocking around in her glass. She pulled it closer, look a deep glug and folded herself back against the cushioned chair. "Never have I ever… right, now this may be an obvious one – fucked a dude."

Laughs echoed around the table. Piper and Morello's eyes connected, both reached for their drinks and hesitantly swallowed them – aware all eyes were on them.

"Why are you looking at me like I just killed a puppy?" Morello said, an unexpected fierceness falling across her neat features. "Is this like the Sacred Lesbian Circle where we pretend dicks don't exist?"

"Yes." Boo said.

"No." Alex said at the same time. "You can like dick – it's cool." She directed the last part towards the blonde. "No judgement here. Although… you should at least have a semi-appreciation for pussy, that's all I ask."

Piper blushed and looked down at her drink.

"Alright, my go." Boo said. "Never have I ever, let's see… um, squirted."

Alex watched Piper turn into an even deeper shade of crimson as she swallowed her drink once more. No one else drank – or spoke for that matter.

"What?" She said. "I… It was one time, and it took us both by surprise." She grinned sheepishly, and Alex felt herself gravitate towards her further. She leaned towards her, and found her teeth biting the inside of her lower lip. Her finger tips tingled. She wanted to touch her.

"Well aren't you just full of surprises, kid." She raised one solitary brow.

"I am indeed." She would have carried off the quip if it hadn't been for her reddening cheeks.

"So… do you like pussy Piper?" Nichols questioned, resting her chin on the palm of her hand. "I already know you like Pipe – as your name suggests."

"Uh, excuse me?" Piper retorted. "I-"

"Shut up, Nichols." Alex said. "Okay…" She tried not to let herself be distracted by the beat of the music. "Right, never have I ever…" she pondered the thought, "fucked a girl, her best friend – AND her sister all in one night." She looked directly at Nikki.

Nichols grinned and drank. "Well that was a bit specific wasn't it?"

"No… it could have happened to any one of us."

"How did that happen?" Morello said, frowning – expression unreadable.

"Well it was like a year ago. Alex had a party… and I stumbled upon a little trio. They were all wasted, all about nineteen – all crazy horny. So yeah, I fucked one in the bathroom –"

"My bathroom…"

"Yeah. Then the sister, and… then both of them at one point."

"What?" Piper exclaimed, itching her ear again.

"I was wasted. I took the best friend to mine next door, and woke up wearing her clothes – then found that she'd stolen my favourite fucking vibrator." She shook her head.

"You are sick." Morello said with a small grin on her face.

"I can't help it if I am the master."

.

.

.

Somehow, without Piper's knowledge, two hours had passed. Some terrifyingly wild secrets had been revealed – and she subconsciously acknowledged that she had told her boss, and her colleague that she had once squirted. Of course, she didn't only have the attention of the four women surrounding her, but the two men sitting in the van outside, following her every movement and listening to her every word.

She was having such a good time that she began to feel guilty. This was work. She was an undercover detective. However, she couldn't help but enjoy the company of the others enormously, she loved the humorous dynamic between them. Even if they were criminals.

Piper felt Alex's eyes on her constantly, it was like sitting right next to a raging furnace. She felt her face permanently blushing beneath her gaze. She knew that it was time to get the older woman alone. She had to get herself in – make it clear to this woman that she was interested. That she wanted in.

Although, she wasn't supposed to know anything about it – so she'd have to play it cool.

As much as she knew that she needed to get out of this intimate circle, she was also a little intimated to be alone in the brunette's company. She was afraid of what might happen, of her body taking on a life of its own. She was afraid that she would lose the control she was holding so fiercely on to.

They had all slowly lost interest in the game, and they had now fallen into their own conversations. Piper felt strangely distant, wrapped in the fuzzy blanket of drunkenness – she watched Alex's exchange with who she established to be her best friend, as well as her neighbour. She could tell that they had known each other for a long time. She wasn't quite sure what was happening between Nikki and Morello, but she was intrigued.

It was her job to figure thing out, to gage relationships and individuals – but she was having a difficult time with Vause. She watched her with her chin rested on the back of her hand, her effortless confidence radiating from her. She found herself warming to the undeniably attractive way that she laughed – and how, when she smiled it had a domino effect on everyone around her.

Piper was startled to find the brunette suddenly staring back at her, the emerald orbs holding hers – her lips curling up at the edges, they parted – she was saying something. Piper concentrated. "Do you want to get some air?" She was mouthing.

Piper nodded as they excused themselves from the enclosed circle. Alex stood and extended her arm towards Piper, her palm open and inviting. Hesitantly, her fingers closed around the older woman's – feeling her surprisingly warm fingers twine through hers. Instantly, her whole body felt lighter.

She realised just how drunk she was when she stood up, and the room danced around her, tilting on its axis.

"Chapman, hurry up and close this thing. Caputo has fallen asleep and I'm afraid I'm going to drown in his dribble, and I'm dangerously close to pissing myself." Piper jumped momentarily and waited a moment for the words to sink in.

"Okay." She spat into her bracelet, as the brunette led her through the crowds.

"You are doing great, though." Bennett reluctantly added. "She hasn't stopped looking at you."

Piper grinned, and found his last statement made her glow. She shrugged it off and continued to move in pursuit of her bounty.

.

.

.

She acknowledged how much the alcohol had affected her - when she stepped outside and the cold did not envelope her like it usually did on a cold September night. The music thumped in the background, but now it wasn't so deafening – she could actually hear herself think. Although thoughts were coming to her slower now – in that hazy, delicate way that they only did when you were intoxicated.

She saw her breath in front of her, and for a moment – it was almost suspended, and then it vanished. Piper steadied herself against the wall, holding her body upright. She watched as Alex lit up a cigarette, her eyes cast downwards – the cool breeze blowing her jet black hair behind her bare translucent shoulder.

She studied her as though she was a 5am sunrise, with the same mystery and beauty. Alex caught her eye again, her lashes falling against her cheek as she looked down Piper's body, and slowly – ever so slowly, came back up – lingering on her chest for longer than was strictly necessary, before meeting her eyes again. Her gaze was like flames licking at her, never quite burning her – like it was begging for her to reach out and touch it. She knew she would get burned, she knew it would leave a scar, but she couldn't stop.

"You okay there, kid? I told you I had a high tolerance. I think you're fucked." Alex said with a smile, raising the cigarette to her red-stained lips and inhaling.

"I'm fine." Piper said – lowering her eyes as Alex closed the gap between them. "Really."

"You sure about that? I'm pretty sure that wall is the only thing holding you up right now."

"What? No, well, maybe a little."

"Wanna sit?" Alex said, indicating towards the little step below them.

"Sure." Piper said, slowly lowering herself so that she was sitting. A small part of her realising she was doing her job exactly right. This was what they wanted – for Detective Chapman to finally be alone with Vause. They had been right to hire her for this, because it did in fact appear that this woman was drawn to her. Whether it was from sheer attraction, she very much doubted, but she knew that she seemed the perfect candidate for their next drop.

For some reason that thought hurt her.

"What do you do, Piper?" The blonde noticed the older woman had turned so that her entire body was angled towards hers, her knees were pressed together – with her elbows resting on top, and hands folded supporting her chin.

What was it that Piper Green did? Piper mentally stumbled. She was supposed to be someone who would appeal to Vause – her job had to be very minimal. It wasn't exactly like she could say, "I'm a police detective, by the way."

"I'm a waitress."

"Really?" Alex returned. "Fuck. I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend you it's just…" she leant closer, "I had you pegged for, I don't know a teacher. Or a lawyer – something smart, y'know?"

"I'll have you know adding up my tips is a pretty tricky job. All those numbers." She shrugged, her drunken brain trying to forge a story that was actually believable. "I guess I'm still kinda figuring stuff out." Piper felt the strangest urge to reach out and touch her, she was so close – it made her nipples harden and her centre burn. What was it about her that made her so completely irresistible?

"That's cool." The brunette replied.

"What about you? What do you do, Alex?" Piper said slowly with measured words.

"I work for an international drug cartel."

"Well fuck, doesn't beat around the bush does she?" Bennett guffawed in her ear.

Piper laughed inadvertently, and Alex swiftly followed suit.

"What? Are you serious?" She managed to say.

"Yeah, I mean, it pays the bills. I smuggle drugs through customs, I get to fly all around the world. I have a killer apartment – so yeah, I'm not ashamed. Although it's a little unorthodox." Her green eyes were wide and sincere. How could she seem so wholeheartedly good when what she was doing was so fucking wrong?

"You go around telling everyone that?"

"…No. But you're not a cop are you?" Alex laughed again.

Piper choked and then calmed herself. "No."

"So it's fine. I mean, you strike me as pretty trustworthy, kid. You've got an honest face."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Slowly Alex moved towards her, and parted Piper's legs with her own. She placed one of hers between Piper's, and the other outside. This allowed the brunette's face to come close to hers. She was so close that Piper felt herself tremble, her beautiful eyes closer now – her full lips just inches from her own. Her knee pressed up against her warm centre – and she Piper now very aware of the woman's hands slowly grazing up her bare legs, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. Wordlessly, they studied each other, and Piper couldn't resist curling a long stray hair back behind Alex's ear.

She felt the smooth skin of Alex's cheek against her knuckle – and she did it again, just because she wanted to. She couldn't bear to think, she hardly dared to breathe – scared that anything, a single action, a single movement – would frighten this moment away.

The intensity in Alex's eyes startled her, and she felt as though she was looking much deeper – and she felt something subtle, but significant shift within her. Her thoughts of this woman's criminal acts shifted away, and she was left with only the longing in her heart.

Finally Alex's lips captured hers, and she closed her eyes – no longer certain that the alcohol was creating this sensation. Alex held her lips between her own, and gently – she parted them with the permission of her tongue. Piper tilted her head slightly so that she could deepen the kiss.

The brunette grazed her fingertips through her hair, and then down her body – guiding them down her back and the curve of her waist. It was driving Piper wild, her kiss was unlocking parts of her she was never aware existed, her body grew hot and between them an energy rose and combusted. She was utterly lost beneath her touch, she was drowning in her embrace. Their movements grew frantic, delicate touches became insistent tugs – hot breaths between kisses became heavily laced with a deep desire.

To her dismay – and very distant relief, Alex broke the kiss.

"So, you want in?" She said.

Thanks for reading. I apologise for any errors, I literally skim-read this! The next update hopefully won't be too long, but my Lit and Creative Writing degree is pretty hefty with its reading and writing. So it'll be as soon as I can!

Thanks for reading. Please leave a review and let me know what you think… see you soon!