A/N: FYI, I did a double update last weekend. Make sure you go back and catch Chapter 9 before continuing with this one.
0-0-0-0-0-0 represents Alex's point of view.
"Not enough," he said, letting her hair slip through his fingers. "If I kiss you all day, everyday, for the rest of my life, it won't be enough." ― Cassandra Clare, City of Lost Souls
Piper slept well, Alex's body heat providing her comfort through the chilly fall night. She awoke to tangled limbs and Alex's lanky body draped heavily over hers. Alex's rhythmic breathing told Piper that Alex was still sound asleep. Not knowing if Alex was a light sleeper and to avoid disturbing her, Piper stayed in the position in which she awoke, thinking about her thoughts of the previous night. With her eyes closed, Piper still felt Alex's hands roaming her body as their mouths pressed together in wanton desire and lust.
After an indeterminate amount of time, as Piper's mind worked over time processing her reality shift of the night before, Piper could no longer resist the yearning she had for Alex's conscious company. Piper quietly squirmed around to face Alex and rolled a slightly grumbling Alex gently onto her back. Lifting Alex's t-shirt, Piper began to kiss and gently suck Alex's stomach, making her way slowly upwards. As she licked one of Alex's nipples, she blew on it slightly to make the nipple harden and the skin to pucker. Alex released a quiet moan and arched her back slightly. Piper's smile widened as she knew that Alex was trapped in that state of dreaming and awake.
Piper then dragged her body up Alex's to lightly kiss and suck on Alex's neck and ear. At the same time, she used her fingers to keep Alex's nipple taut. Slowly Alex fought her way out of her dreams, smiling as she realized Piper's body was on top of hers. She reached her arms around Piper's waist and pulled her closer yet. "Mmm good morning,' Alex found her voice. "Kiss me, please."
"On one condition," Piper teased. Alex lifted a questioning eyebrow. "What I said last night, I meant it. Let me show you how much I meant it." Momentary confusion crossed Alex's face then realization as Piper went to move her hand to Alex's crotch.
"I only want to make sure you know the implications of your desire Piper. I don't do conditional kisses though." Alex was brazen yet coy at the same time. Besides, I'm almost enjoying teasing you. Many things went through Alex's mind that she just couldn't say – at least not yet.
Piper unexpectedly pressed her lips against Alex's, hard, sucking Alex's lower lip into her mouth. "Fair enough," Piper whispered. Eventually the women made it out of bed with Piper's honor still intact, much to Piper's dismay.
Alex sat on Piper's couch with Piper's feet in her lap, sipping on scorching hot coffee. "I hate when work gets in the way of life Pipes." She absently began rubbing Piper's feet with her other hand. "I've got to go in pretty soon though. Taystee is opening for me, but I can't leave her at the bar all day by herself. But at least I don't work late. Am I going to see you today?"
Piper stared her comically, looking at herself up and down. "Umm Alex, I'm right here," she laughed.
"Seriously Pipes, I love having something to look forward to. If you can't, I understand. I've been taking up so much of your time. I often forget you have a life that doesn't revolve around me."
It could though. Piper's thoughts were more telling than she allowed her face to show. "I have a lot to do in setting up the space for Popi. But I'm sure I'll manage to drop by." Alex didn't need to know yet exactly how close Piper was going to be all day.
"Hey – what are your plans for tomorrow – late afternoon, early evening?" Please say nothing; please say nothing.
"Nothing much, what's up?" I'd love nothing more than to spend it with you.
I missed my weekly mom-visit last week, so I have to make sure I don't bail on her this week. I'd really like it if you joined me." Please say yes; please say yes.
Meet her mom? This soon? Piper gulped in a deep breath of air. "Sure, I'd like that." Piper smiled softly. Alex was beaming.
Piper danced around Popi's space, listening to her music. She felt so productive now that she was out of Polly's space. Perhaps the best part was that she could work without Polly up her ass all the time. Piper clicked off her music, pulled her earbuds out, and flopped into the softer of the two threadbare over-stuffed chairs she and Polly had picked up at the flea market the day before. They may not be the nicest looking, but they sure are comfortable. I bet I can convince Polly to recover them.
Piper had been working at Popi the entire day. Shockingly enough, everything was now completely organized. Cases of packed samples were shelved in one area, by flavor (to hell with what Polly says, soaps have flavors!), supplies and raw materials were in another area. The vessels and molds themselves had been stored in the kitchen. Piper's next mission was to get one of those label makers and color coded tape to mark where everything went. She had spent too much time organizing for Polly to come in and muck things up.
"Piper, I do believe this fine feat on this fine day deserves a drink." Piper spoke out loud, obviously to nobody in particular. "I do believe so Piper. I know just the place." Piper locked up the space and headed down the street towards her apartment. When she was about a block away, she crossed the street then headed back to the bar.
After walking in and her eyes having a moment to adjust to the darkness, she saw that Alex was working the near end of the bar while Taystee was at the far end. This in itself made Piper smile that she wouldn't have to immediately deal with the loony staff. Slipping onto an empty bar stool, she waited patiently for Alex to notice her.
Alex reached into the cooler to pull out two beers for a man seated down a little further and called over her shoulder, "What can I get you?" Realizing that Alex had not seen her, Piper giggled and remained silent. After delivering the bottles and ringing up the sale, Alex came back to her end and said, "What will it… Piper! How long have you been sitting here?"
"Not long, just long enough to watch you like a silent ninja watches her prey."
Alex scoffed. "Do they even let women train to become ninjas?" Alex popped open a bottle of Piper's favorite beer and placed it in front of her. "So how did the organization battle at Polly's Prison go?"
Piper puffed her chest. "It is no longer Polly's Prison. We are now fully installed and organized at Popi's Place. I do need to get a label maker to make sure things stay in their place though."
Alex rolled her eyes. "Anal much? Just kidding. When do I get to see this Popi's Place? And what kind of name is that? Popi's Place? Cheesy!"
Piper squinted teasingly, acting like she was offended. "It's just Popi's actually. Besides, it's not cheesy. Look at this place – Alley's? I mean, who the hell is Alley and why didn't you spell it A.L.I., like a real woman's name? What – is it named after your ex or something?"
Alex shook a finger at Piper. "Oh no, this place is very much not named after an ex."
"Well then, I'm waiting." Piper drummed her fingers on the bar top.
"Maybe, just maybe I'll tell you the story later. If I feel you deserve to know. And don't bother trying to drag it out of my crew. They don't know either! It is a true secret known only by two people in this world."
Alex eventually had to meander off to take care of other customers. Piper drained the remainder of her beer, stood, and waved towards Alex. "Hang on Pipes." Alex came jogging back down to where Piper was standing. "Don't I at least get a kiss?"
The next afternoon, Piper met Alex at the bar for the drive across town to meet her mother. Piper kept wiping the imagined sweat from her palms. Alex reached across the short distance between them and grasped Piper's hand. "It's okay Pipes. You'll really like my mom. She's looking forward to meeting you." Soon Alex was pulling into a parking space for the unit in which her mother lived. "Come on, let's rip that Bandaid right off." Piper found comfort in Alex's constant touch, her silent reassurance that this was indeed going to be okay.
As Alex and Piper approached the door, Alex raised her closed fist to knock on the door. Before she could rap even once, the door flew open. There stood the spitting image of Alex Vause but several years older. Diane had aged well. Had she not known otherwise, Piper would have never guessed they were mother and daughter rather than sisters. Diane wrapped her arms around her tall daughter expressing her delight that they were finally there. Alex obliged for a short time then broke the hug. Turning to Piper, she introduced them. "Piper, this is my mom, Diane. Mom, this is Piper."
Diane made a beeline for Piper, ignoring her timid, outstretched hand. "Hon, we don't shake hands around here, we hug." While caught off-guard by the suddenness of a stranger's contact, Piper found herself immediately relaxing into Diane's gentle touch. "I'm so glad to finally meet you Piper. My daughter here has told me some interesting stories."
"Ummm Mom, can we come in now?" Alex reached for Piper's hand once more as they gently pushed passed Diane into the interior of the apartment and settled on the couch. Alex and Diane immediately became engrossed in an animated conversation about a weird man who kept coming into the diner where Diane works. Piper took this time to take an unobtrusive, non-judgmental look around the room. While sparsely furnished, the living area and kitchen were sparkling clean. Pictures of a younger Alex and of Alex and her mother adorned the walls. This very much painted the picture of a true family whose love knows no bounds. "Piper?"
Piper realized both Vause's were looking at her. "Oh, I'm sorry, you were saying?"
Diane laughed. "It's okay. I'll let you off this time if you will tell us what you were thinking?"
Piper's sly grin got the best of her. "I was thinking… I sure would like to take a closer look at the young Alex Vause."
Alex pulled Piper into her side. "No way Piper. In fact, I'm taking all these pictures down right now. And mom – no digging out the albums either." Piper's eyes grew wide but when Alex did not move, she realized that Alex was only joking.
"I thought you might be interested in something like that Piper." Diane pulled a piece of paper from here pocket, handing it to Alex. "Here Alex."
Alex quickly scanned the paper. "Seriously Mom? A shopping list? I come all the way across town to visit and you send me shopping."
"Of course dear. How else am I going to truly get to know this lovely lady unless I get you out of the apartment for a bit?" Alex grumbled for a short period of time then relented, leaving the two women to their own conversation.
As soon as Alex closed the door, Diane motioned to Piper. "Go on, take a look at those pictures." Piper stood up and went to examine Alex in various stages of her growing up. "You know you are special, right Piper?"
"Special? How so?" Piper turned to Diane with a puzzled look on her face.
"Alex never brings anyone here to my apartment. If there is a rare woman she wants me to meet, she takes us all out to dinner. Her bringing you here… and leaving you here with me alone… tells me that you are special. You may not know it now, but soon I think you will."
Piper turned her attention back to the pictures, considering what Diane had told her. She could feel something unique growing within her, within her heart where Alex was concerned. "She's special to me, too, Diane."
"Just don't break her heart Piper. I know she puts on a big façade, like she can't be touched, but she can. If she lets you in, then it doesn't work out, it will indeed crush her."
"I respect that Diane. I sincerely do. I'll do my best to make her happy."
"That's all I can ask. So – what do you want to know about my daughter? She'll be gone for about fifteen to twenty more minutes, so I suggest you take advantage of that time. I can always learn more about you when she's here, but this is your chance to learn what my daughter won't tell you."
"You know Diane, I'm actually enjoying getting to know Alex on my own time. I know black is her favorite color, she abhors lizards (remind me to give you a picture to add to your walls), she hires some weird ass people at her bar, and she loves rock music. I have plenty of time in the world to get to know Alex Vause. But I'll definitely keep your offer in mind." Comfortable silence surrounded the women as Piper finished up examining The Young Life of Alex Vause memorials. "Hmmm maybe there is one thing. I don't think she'll tell me anytime soon but I'm dying to know. Her bar, Alley's. Is Alley an ex of hers? Why did she choose that name?"
Diane clasped her hand against her chest. "Oh my Piper. Straight for the jugular."
"If it's too personal, forget I asked. I'm sure she'll tell me some day."
"I wouldn't count on it. Hang on." Diane excused herself to the bedroom. When she emerged, she was holding an old, worn-out, thread-bare stuffed animal. She gently placed the animal in Piper's hands. "This, Piper, is Alley. Alley, meet Piper."
The door slammed shut, scaring both Diane and Piper. "MOM! NO YOU DIDN'T." Alex dropped the grocery bags on the kitchen counter, and tenderly plucked the stuffed animal from Piper's hands, holding it closely to her face. "Mom, I can't believe this."
Diane shrugged. Piper's concern was mounting. "Alex, I am the one who asked Diane about the bar name. I'm certain she meant to harm. She only brought out the stuffed animal." Piper waited for a response. When none was forth-coming, Piper spoke again. "Umm Alex, no offense babe. But what is that thing?"
Alex frowned. "It's not a thing! It's Alley, and she's a fierce tiger. I've had her for as long as I can remember. Other than my mom, she's been the one thing that's been consistent in my life, making every move and being there when I needed a friend that would agree with everything I said."
Piper was struggling to not laugh at how adorable Alex looked at that moment in time. "But seriously – Alley? Why Alley?"
"Piper I officially named her when I was three. Alley – as in alley cat. How was I supposed to know that tigers were exactly roaming up and down the alleys? I used to see plenty of striped cats. Maybe I associated the two. Who knows? And now, you are only the third person in the world that knows how my bar got its name. Can we please keep it that way?" Alex sent a mock glare towards her mother.
Piper leaned over to give Alex a chaste kiss. "Of course Alex. Your secret is safe with me."
"That's what you said about the lizard, too! But I'll trust you – this time."
The rest of the evening was spent with the three women sharing in cooking duties, eating and exchanging stories which had the sole purpose of embarrassing each other. Fortunately neither woman knew Piper well, so Diane and Alex bore the brunt of the teasing. Piper felt more at home at the Vause household in one evening that she ever had at her own house in all of her years combined.
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After dinner, I decided to drive Piper back to my apartment. Since I had tomorrow off and Piper had worked at Popi most of the weekend, she agreed to stay at my place so we could enjoy a little extra time enjoying each other's company.
As Piper undressed, I couldn't help but to watch her, examining her perfect body as her clothes dropped to the floor of my bedroom. I wasn't about to let her put on the clothes I had stupidly laid out for her to sleep in. I walked to her, exposing my near naked body to her, watching her quiver. I reach over, grasp her face in my hands and softly kiss her trembling lips.
"What was that for?" Piper asks, her eyes widening with surprise.
"Just because," I answer. Gazing at her soft, glowing skin, I ache for her. I want to touch her, to feel her, to kiss her all night long. I think of her words from the night before. I want you. I want her, too, and I'm not sure how much longer I can wait.
"I thought about you today, your kisses, your touch. I was certain your mother could see right though me. I ache for you," Piper whispers so softly I can barely hear her words.
I slide my hands down the crooks of her elbow, breathe into her ear, "Do you ache? Do you still want me?" The shivers from my heated breath excite her. I know her answer.
I run my tongue down her neck, to her throat, gently biting her skin. I feel her fingers grasp my back. From her elbows, I slide my hands beneath her arms, to the small of her back. I press her into my while I suck firmly on her collar bone, marking what I am about to make mine.
Without releasing, I draw my mouth firmly up her taut neck and find her mouth with my tongue. Her body melts beneath me as I kiss her, deeply, a long, lasting kiss.
"I love to kiss you," I whisper into her mouth.
"I love for you to kiss me," Piper replies. "I adore our long, soul-inflicting kisses, kisses that last for eternity."
I rake my tongue against hers, sucking on her lip. Pulling her closer, I brush my breasts against her chest. I can feel that she aches to touch them. But I also know that she won't, to preserve the kiss.
I slide my hands up to hold her face, pulling her close to me. My fingers slide to the back of her head, pulling at her hair. My hands run down her arms, against her tingled skin, grasping her wrists.
I suck her tongue into my mouth, raise her arms, locking them against the wall ... away from me. Kissing her has made me so very wet.
"Yes, I want you," she gasps, "badly."
"I know," I answer, kissing her more deeply still. "But all you can do is kiss me, all night long."
Piper's voice suddenly grows impatient. "I want to fuck you. ... all night long!"
Grabbing her lip with my teeth, I stare into her eyes. "No."
I can feel her begin to strain at my hold on her upraised arms. "Why not?" Her eyes bore the weight of a woman pleading.
"Because."
"WHY?" She struggles for more power, to get me to relent.
"I want to make love. Sweet... long... passionate love. All night long." I feel her body instantly yield to my touch. I knew I had won this battle.
I swiftly tighten my grip on her wrists, turning them, spinning her body away from me. I cross her arms in front of her and pull her against me. Dropping my hands to her thighs, I kiss her neck, feeling the chill bumps rise on her body. Sliding my hands up her sides, I swiftly remove her shirt. My hands drop, a breast in each hand.
She cranes her head around, wanting my tongue to find hers.
I move my lips across her neck, gently nibbling her skin. The silence is broken by her moan as I roll her hardened nipple between my left finger tips. My right hand wanders down her side to her stomach, her thigh, slipping my hand between her legs. I hear her gasp the instant I touch the folds of her skin to gather her wetness upon my fingers.
Trailing her wetness up her body, I move my fingers to her mouth. She hungrily sucks at her own juices. Intertwining my tongue with my fingers and her lips, she twists around to face me, my left hand still playing with her nipple. I run my tongue along the wet trail left by my fingers. Tasting her. Licking down to her hips, sucking on her hip bone, pulling on her nipple.
I venture back up to her breasts, her throat, to her dry mouth. I know her mouth aches for mine. My fingers touch her body, lightly swirling, touching feeling. Her body begs me.
Biting her lip, I suddenly slip one finger inside her body, then back out to find her swollen clit. Gently releasing her lip from my teeth, I begin to suck her tongue, as she thrusts it down my throat. I can feel her body trembling. I slip my fingers inside her body again and out. I know she is aching.
"I want to come." Her voice is pleading.
"Not yet," I reply, grinning, knowing that the light touch is driving this beautiful woman insane. I want her first time with a woman to be beyond memorable.
"Harder!"
"No." I begin to make circular motions around her clit, resisting her begging. Soft gentle waves of trembling overtake her body. I begin to suck on her neck, biting softly as my fingers continue to flick the hardened clit beneath my fingertips. Swiftly yet gently.
I feel her leg as it wraps around my knee, pulling me into her. But I continue to resist.
"Nooooo." I could not have imagined that I would hear Piper beg as she begs right now. I know that I, too, am about to explode with pleasure.
"Relax baby. It doesn't have to be fast or hard; look at me, Alex. You can come with the gentleness. Relax and let your body take control." My finger trembles rapidly against her body as I whisper gently into her ear. I'm shaking against her, aching for release myself.
I again strain to hear her whispered words. "If I relax now, I will come all over you."
I cannot stop the groan from escaping my throat. "Mmmmmmm that's what I want." She collapses in my arms as I realize that we are still standing. Swiftly, catching her off guard, I slip my arm under her limp leg and lower her gently to the bed.
My tongue swiftly finds its place next to my fingers on her clit. I suck hard.
She screams, her body convulsing in a long, never ending orgasm.
I slip my fingers inside of her again, fighting the spasming muscles, pushing hard. Strong fluid motions. In, out, feeling her ache, hearing her pain, wanting her touch. Her body clamps onto my fingers, not letting go.
I know I have to kiss her. My eyes gaze up to see her eyes screwed shut, her sides heaving with labored breath. Slowly, her body releases my hand. I venture up her body, kissing her legs softly, her stomach, her chest, moving up to kiss her slowly. Her lips meet mine in a heart wrenching, deep, passionate kiss.
Knowing that she is still on edge, I began again the slow fluid motions that had brought her to her current state. Her kisses begin to get frantic, so I slow down even further until my hand rests on her body, still. Her kisses slow. My hand cups her body, feeling the pulsating reminders of her orgasm.
I move my hands to her face, both hands cupping her face. I kiss her softly. Slowly. Deeply. And then laying my head on her chest, I listen to her heart run wild. All I had wanted was a kiss.
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