jibbsfanatic93: thank you for the expression „french skunk" I'm borrowing it
9.
Miranda's hair was tousled, her lips were swollen and her nipples hard as a rock. She was so keyed up, the unmistakable smell of arousal hung in the air. If that woman hadn't interrupted them she would be still kissing her Andrea. She would be inside her, claiming her. She would be showing her how much she missed her. She would...What the hell was this woman doing here anyway? Miranda took a deep calming breath and not releasing the brunette, addressed the intruder.
"Jacqueline. What are you doing in my house? How did you get in?"
"Ma petite chérie. I saw you in the papers. They said something about you being in the hospital. I was so worried." Jacqueline reached out to touch Miranda, but changed her mind seeing the hostile facial expression.
"My well-being is not your concern. I'm asking again. How did you get in?"
"How can you say that, Miranda? After what happened between us? You're acting so cold. I don't understand." Jacqueline wiped an imaginary tear, held up a key and said with feigned hurt. "When you gave me your key, I thought it meant that I could come and go. And now you question me. I don't deserve this."
Andy narrowed her eyes at the sight of the key. There was a small blue Swarovski crystal attached to it. It was Andy who had made it when she was Miranda's assistant, because the color reminded her of her boss' eyes. The French woman was undoubtedly lying.
Miranda shook her head. A headache was forming in the back of her skull. That woman was telling lies and interfering with her time with Andrea. "I don't know what you're talking about. There is no us. Never has been. I don't quite understand the game you're playing but I'm warning you. You've overstepped your boundaries."
Miranda hung on to Andy, hoping the young brunette had faith in her and wouldn't believe the crazy French. To her utter fright, Andy withdrew from her arms and started to move toward the kitchen door.
"Andrea wait. Just remember what you said about unfounded accusations. Don't make the same mistake…Please." Miranda beseeched, reaching for the younger woman's hand.
Miranda heaved a sigh of relieve when her gesture wasn't rejected. Long strong fingers tangled with hers and she squeezed them thankfully.
Andy leaned closer and whispered into her ear, loud enough for Jacqueline to overhear, "It'd better be good, Priestly. If you want to make me jealous you must try harder. You should come up with something classier than this French skunk."
Miranda chuckled and caressed Andy's face with her fingertips. "Oh darling, you scared me for a moment. I thought you were leaving me. Again."
"How could I leave after your heartfelt, romantic love confession?" came the cheeky response. "I've just had enough of this woman and wanted to see her out."
Andy caught the wandering hand that was still mapping her face and breathed gentle kisses on the fingertips. Looking deeply to each other's eyes, they totally ignored Jacqueline.
The French woman puckered her brows, confused about the whole situation. What did this child call her? A skunk? It didn't sound like a compliment but no matter how hard she thought, her vocabulary failed her. And how dare they ignore her like that? This wasn't how it was supposed to be. When she'd seen the pictures a few hours ago on Page Six - Miranda hugging her old assistant in a hospital's parking lot - she knew she'd have to act quickly. She wasn't aware that she'd been deluding herself with false hopes since the night Miranda had felt lonely enough to accept her dinner invitation. Despite their rocky past, Miranda had been charming and Jacqueline had flattered herself into thinking that she might have a chance at winning the influential editor's heart, or at least her gorgeous body. She didn't get that it was a one-time deal that ended at the door of the townhouse, when she received polite air kisses from the editor. Jacqueline really believed that she still stood a chance, so she'd hurried to Runway just to find out that Miranda wouldn't be in for the rest of the week and that most likely she was at home. The second assistant was new enough to share information she was supposed to keep confidential and dumb enough to fall for the French woman's glamour. Her dumbness resulted in Jacqueline getting the key to the townhouse and her showing up there unannounced. What she found there was sobering. The deep connection between Miranda and that girl was obvious. The way they looked at each other, as if they were in their own world, the palpable passion, the possessive yet gentle embrace they held, all were clear signs of how impossible Jacqueline's mission was. Nonetheless, that didn't stop her from launching one last verbal attack.
"Miranda, you can't be serious. This girl is half your age. A no-name, ex-assistant. What can she possible offer you?"
"That's none of your business, Jacqueline. However, I'll do you a favor and explain it one last time. Slowly, so you can understand. There was not, is not, and will not be anything on personal level between you and me. Actually, considering your delusional behavior, I seriously doubt there will be any kind of relationship. Now leave." Seeing that the woman didn't move she added a frostily, "That's all."
"Yes, Mrs. Follet. That's all. Miranda and I have a very important matter to attend to and we don't need a kibitzer for that."
"Andrea. Kibitzer? Seriously." snickered Miranda.
"What. I'm a journalist. I know big words." grinned Andy and pulled the editor even closer. "And just for the record I'm good at other things too."
Miranda blushed and hid her face in the crack of Andy's neck. "You are impossible darling."
"That's sickening. The two of you." spat Jacqueline, venom coloring her voice. "I'm out of here."
Jacqueline, still didn't move waiting for a miracle, but no reaction other than a dismissing wave from Miranda came and the French woman finally understood that she'd not only lost the battle but the war as well. With one last disbelieving glance at the couple, she turned and left, utterly defeated.
Andy smiled gently at Miranda. The editor even though tired and wearing no make-up, looked as beautiful as ever. Andy's heart skipped a beat and she was overflown with love and tenderness.
"I love you." she pressed her lips to the editor's.
Their second kiss was so different from the first one. There was no anger, no possession just pure delicate emotions. They bared their souls through the kiss, leaving no questions, no doubts about where this was leading.
Before things could get too heated, Andy pulled back.
"Let's get you into bed sweetheart. We have to go back to the hospital soon."
Miranda nodded. The blood loss, the emotional rollercoaster they'd been riding for the past few hours had taken its toll. She was exhausted.
"All right darling. But don't forget that important matter you'd mentioned. I intend to collect...with interest."
Miranda headed upstairs tugging the laughing brunette behind her.
"Oh and remind me later that I have a stupid assistant to fire."
