"Pipes."
Piper surfaced groggily, a protest at the tip of her tongue. She swallowed it back when she caught sight of Alex sitting upright on the bed, her hair all kinds of rumpled and sexy. A book in hand, she looked like Piper's personal Belle with glasses. The brunette was looking at her, an easy smile crossing her face. Beautiful, Piper thought, and all mine.
"Pipes, it's six," Alex nudged her with a soft hand. "You told me to wake you up for your run."
Piper sighed and turned her head away. She had work today, damn it. She didn't want to leave Alex's side. All she wanted to do was burrow herself in everything Alex Vause. Her bed, her pillow, her hair. But I guess this was the baby steps she had to take in preparation for the Bali trip, she mused.
A whole week without Alex sounded unbearable. Sluggishly, she pulled her legs out of the covers and onto the wooden floor. They had yet to talk about it, and both parties silently agreed on leaving it until the last minute. They both knew that Alex asking to cancel the trip would be useless, and Piper throwing a fit about it would do little to nothing. All they could really do was make the most of what time they had left together.
It wasn't like someone was dying, for Christ's sake.
Alex watched with a smile as Piper shuffled her way to the bathroom. Did she know how adorable she looked? she wondered. Could she possibly know? Setting down her book, she adjusted her glasses as she reached for her phone. She didn't have anything—
Fahri: Final briefing for Bali at lunch. Usual time and place.
Damn it, she seethed. She wanted to spend more time with Piper today. Not that they needed it; the week after their declarations of love was filled with nothing but Alex and Piper. For the first time, she actually dreaded work. Then again, she mused, Piper was her first on multiple accounts.
"Alex, do you remember that theory we tested?"
Alex looked up at the blonde, who was leaning on the doorway to the bathroom, "What?"
"The calories theory."
Alex chuckled, "Yeah?"
Piper sauntered over, keeping her eyes on Alex, "You know, if I remember correctly, a friend of mine told me that a theory must be repeated and proven several times to increase its reliability."
Alex slid off her glasses as a smirk began to appear. She figured that not many people would have girlfriends that matched their own libido and counted herself lucky, "Wouldn't want to have unreliable results," she said.
Piper pulled off her shirt. "Absolutely."
She straddled Alex, leaned forward and ravaged her girlfriend until both of them slipped back to sleep.
"Hey," she was saying, "I'm really sorry, but I have work—"
"No, no. It's fine. I have work today too."
It felt almost awkward for both women as they gathered up their clothes from the floor. It was a few hours after they first woke up, and both needed to head to work. Piper flushed, Alex cursed as they bumped heads when they reached for the same stray shirt.
"Sorry," she muttered.
"Pipes." Alex reached out to stop the woman from scurrying off. "Come on. Don't make this weird."
"I'm not," the blonde said defensively.
Alex simply raised an eyebrow.
"Okay," Piper sighed. "I just wanted to be with you as much as I could before you leave for Bali. But life comes into play, and it's not letting me do what I want."
"I'll be back before you know it," Alex smiled reassuringly. "It's just a week."
"Just a week," Piper repeated, more for self-reassurance than anything.
"How is Piper?"
Alex looked up. "Fine," she said carefully.
"What did you tell her?"
She decided she didn't want to eat the brownie. "Not much. She's fine with it."
Testy, Fahri thought. He nearly smiled; Alex had never been so protective and closed about a topic before. It was almost amusing to watch her leap forward with a sword and a shield. He would've continued poking at her, but he was here for business reasons.
"We need you in Bali for a month," he began, looking down at his phone. "There was a...miscommunication. We decided to put you in Bali until this deal goes through. We could delay your trip, but Kubra has other things he wanted you to deal with. He'll email you the details. The goods are still in the Philippines, but they should've been shipped off weeks ago. But don't worry, I'll handle the incompetence there. All you need to do is increase your luggage tenfold."
Alex, whose ears stopped working after the first sentence, blinked rapidly. She didn't even know her hands had curled into tight fists. "What? What? A month?! Fahri, wh—no fucking way Kubra authorised this."
"You think I'm lying?"
"I think this is pretty fucking stupid," she spat.
"Nobody cares about what you think, Vause," Fahri matched her tone with the same venom. "Just do the job."
The job is a bundle of bullshit, she seethed when Fahri left the cafe. She promised Piper. Damn it, how was this going to work now? She was becoming aware of the curious eyes that turned their way and pushed off the table. With blood in her eye, she stomped to the exit, eager to get run over by a speeding taxi.
"Miss? You still have to pay."
Alex swivelled around, sheer shock reverberating through her body. She was going to pay for the lunch, too? Her mouth gaping, she saw a quivering teenager that held her tray in front of her like a shield. Rashly, Alex shoved thirty bucks in the waitress' hands.
"That should cover it," she said. "Keep the change. Tip or whatever."
She shouldered her way out and let out one satisfying stream of curses that would've made a sailor weep in his shoes.
"Hey, Vause."
She looked up to see Fahri in a car, his window rolled down. There was little she wouldn't give to wipe that smug, patronising smile off his fucking face. He was wearing sunglasses now, but she knew that they sparkled with a boyish delight, as she knew how facetious he could be when it came to her and the business.
"Don't make her cry too much, okay?"
She flipped up her middle finger and turned away. She shoved her hands in her pockets and strode to her car. How was she going to break this to Piper? The woman was already counting down the seconds until she was back, and she hadn't even left yet.
The hustle and bustle of the city always made her feel small, like an insignificant ant in a colony. The smoke that came and went, the smell of old cigarettes littering the sidewalk, the loud cry of the baby in the stroller—he just wanted the tablet!—and the pounding of feet on hard cement. Her head down, Alex was walking almost blindly when she bumped into a rigid shoulder.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!"
"Fuck off," she hissed and kept walking.
Damn it. Damn this place. Fuck you, Fahri.
"I have a mind to whack you senseless, you tasteless, brainless, screw up of a toad. A fine rock you have for a brain. Lord knows why you have a skull that protects nothing but air. A waste of God's time if you ask me."
Piper listened cheerfully to Rosaleen, a quick Irish tongue, spit creative and vulgar insults at her brother, Eoghan, who manned the pots and the knives. The man rolled his eyes as he continued to knead the meat he'd yet to marinate.
"Don't you roll your—"
"Oh, shut it, Rosaleen." His voice hinted of rolling hills of green and butterflies. "I'll right your stew in a minute."
"Damn right you will! Man's got a brain of a pea," she muttered as she shoved her door open. It closed with a crack of a bullet, the blinds rattling in their place.
Piper kept an easy smile on her face as she stood near the bar, her station relatively empty of customers. The bistro was calming down off its dinner rush, and was a few minutes away from closing time. The banging and shouting in the kitchen lowered, the incessant chatter floated around the room like small specks of dusts. Her nose was filled of the different wine and cocktails that Carrick expertly concocted.
The man glanced her way as he wiped off the counter, "New here?"
Piper nodded, "Started a few weeks ago. I'm Piper. You were on vacation when I came."
"Aye, that I was. Was on a peaceful cruise across the Carribean. It's sorry I am about those two," he said, indicating to the kitchen. "Our Rosaleen has herself a tongue of a sailor's babe."
Piper smiled at the sweet Irish accent that flowed richly through his words. "It's totally fine. I've witnessed it before, but she seemed pretty mad today."
Carrick chuckled, reaching for his rag and an empty beer glass, "Eoghan has only to breathe to anger Rosaleen. They've bickered in the womb, our mother said."
Shr raised her eyebrows, "They're your siblings?"
"Fortunately, I wasn't with them in the womb. I was a couple years earlier."
Piper could appreciate the way the bistro operated. The kitchen was handled by Eoghan, the big brute with soft, gentle hands as he prepared an evening's meal. Staff were controlled by the witty Rosaleen, a woman of great hair and smile. The bar itself was ran by Carrick, big and burly like his brother. They were an epitome of a perfect trifecta, she mused. And it was extraordinary to see a successful bistro ran by three siblings.
It made her wish her own family lived just as close.
"I've saddened you," Carrick said.
"No," Piper turned as she reassured. "I was just thinking how lucky you guys are. You three being close and all."
Carrick moved over and leaned forward, shifting some of his weight on her forearms as he talked. "It's a family business. Gives a solid income. As long as we run it our way, then it'll continue to be as it is: flourishing. Passed on to us, this place was. Pa told us he wanted this place to work, as our Ma, bless her soul, passed away the year after they bought the property."
"I'm sorry," Piper said sincerely.
Carrick nodded, "Thank you, Piper. It was hard on all of us, but we wanted to make Pa happy. If you and I are to be friends, you'll get more of my life story, by and by. What about you? What's your tale?"
She flushed, since his tone went several knots deeper, "Well—"
"I can do that for you."
Her eyes bulged when she saw Alex approach them. She had a wicked smile, and licks of fire roared in her eyes as she stared down Carrick. Who, to his credit, didn't lose his smile.
"She graduated from Smith College," Alex continued as she leaned on the counter with a hand set on her hip. Her eyes on Piper's held steady, unwavering. "Her birthday is on June 7. She's read nearly all of the books I had on my bookshelf. She likes to eat...gross, healthy things. She likes to run. She prefers wine over beer. She probably played baseball when she was younger. She's a goddess in bed. She has this smile on her face when she comes, and you just feel so happy that you put that on her face. Because you love her."
Piper gaped as Alex kept talking. Her heart did somersaults in her chest. If she didn't love the woman already, this would've been the game changer. Her juices flowed strong, and she had to cross her legs to stop herself from just pulling Alex to the nearest bathroom.
"Oh, and she's my girlfriend." Alex shot a microphone-dropping smile at Carrick, who began to sweat bullets.
"Well," he cleared his throat. "I best be off." He nodded briskly, gathered his rag and went to stand on the opposite side of the bar.
Alex turned back to Piper and smiled confidently, "Hey."
She didn't trust her voice to be steady enough so she swallowed. Hard.
"Cat got your tongue?" Alex moved closer until their knees brushed together.
You have my tongue, Piper thought.
"When do you end?" Alex murmured, her voice laced with pumping, sexual desire.
Piper's eyes darted to the clock on the wall. Just after 10. "Now."
Since she was planning on breaking land speed records, Piper berated herself to slow down. She gripped the wheel, her knuckles turning white. She didn't dare look to her right, because she knew, she sensed, that Alex was doing all she can to make her drool in her seat.
"You're risking lives here."
Alex chuckled lowly, "Will it help to tell you that I want to fuck you against the door? The wall? Going to fucking baptise every room with your—"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up."
Alex laughed again and leaned back, arching her body against the car seat. She loved knowing her effect on Piper. It made her feel powerful, and in control. She let her hand roam up, to her breast, to her hair. She could feel Piper shivering, desperate to keep it together until they reached Alex's place. She was surprised the blonde didn't need directions on how to get there, but didn't question it.
Must be a love thing, she mused.
Piper whipped the car off the main road, and silently thanked Alex for a driveway. She parked, hit the release button for her seatbelt as she hit the brakes, pulling Alex towards her. She ravished her mouth, that devil's mouth, and ensured her lover was left breathless.
Good, she thought as she heard Alex breathing heavily. Now we're even.
They shoved out of opposite sides of the car and bolted for each other. Desperate moans, clothes rustling sounded in the darkness of the night. They circled up the walk like a pair of mad dancers, not caring if they had an audience. Hands moulded breasts, breaths mingled. When they reached the door, Alex took control of the dance steps, and shoved Piper against it. Their mouths battled, but tonight, Piper knew she was outmuscled.
"Hurry," she whispered frantically.
She bit Alex's lip, eliciting a moan. Her nails scraped flesh as she dragged the brunette's shirt up and over. She fumbled for the doorknob. As they lurched inside, she had a small feeling of deja vu as she was pushed against the door again, closing it shut.
Alex stormed Piper's insides with her hands, her mouth. Before tonight, she'd never felt the feeling of protectiveness. She never had anything overly important to protect. But when she saw the bartender brushing against her Piper, her system—almost instinctively—went berserk. It scared her.
So she drowned her fears in the only way she knew how: sex, sex and more sex.
"Softball."
Alex turned in the dark, wrapping her arm around her lover's waist. She burrowed her nose into the blonde's hair and breathed in her scent. "Hmm?"
"I played softball. Not baseball"
"Should've known you went for the sissy sports."
"Softball is not sissy. It's strategic and less violent. Somewhat. And I was an excellent pitcher."
The brunette chuckled, "You don't have to tell me that. I was on the receiving end."
"Oh, right." Piper remembered her tantrum during the party. "Sorry."
Alex chuckled again, knowing that they were thinking of totally different things.
"Who was the guy at the bar?" she asked.
"Carrick."
"Oh, you guys are on a first name basis, huh?"
"I just met him," Piper answered testily. "He runs the bar. Actually, he and his siblings run the whole thing."
"A family business?"
"Mm-hmm. Eoghan—that's spelt weirdly—deals with the kitchen. He makes this really amazing stew. Then there's the staff manager, Rosaleen. She's the one who hired me, so I know her more than the other two. They did good with the place. Feels very...homey and Irish."
"Those are very Irish names."
Piper made a sound of agreement as exhaustion began to set in.
"I'm sorry I intimidated Carrick. I just got..."
"Jealous?" Piper offered.
"Protective," Alex corrected, making her lover laugh.
The moon looked down on them from the sky, its light dimly spreading across the bed. The whirring of the fridge sounded distantly from the kitchen, lulling both women to sleep. The smell from last night's dinner lingered, since the plates have yet to be washed.
"I love you," Piper murmured, heavy with sleep.
Alex's love blossomed in her heart. She gathered Piper closer to her body, "I love you, too."
Oh. Mmm.
Piper stepped into the shower, the water warmed just right. She faced the shower and let her face be pelted. There was something relaxing about getting cleaned, like the water had the magic ability to wash away any worries, even just for a moment. She reached down, more than happy to have Alex's scent on her own body.
I know a place.
With the combination of pounding water and blaring music filling her ears, Alex decided to join her lover in the shower. She stripped herself of clothing and slowly tiptoed to the bathroom. Steam floated around the room and fogged the mirrors. She saw Piper's back, the long curve of it. The woman moved slowly, Alex thought, like an elegant dancer that used the water as her prop.
Ain't nobody cryin'.
Piper felt the shower curtain move, and smiled. She counted on this. She kept her eyes closed as she felt Alex's hand on her shoulder and leaned into the kiss when it came. So warm, she thought, so soft. The kiss deepened, but it wasn't a race this time. It was a long, slow stroll to pleasure, and she loved the pace. Heat flushed her body when she felt Alex's breasts pressed against hers. So good.
Ain't nobody worried. Ain't no smiling faces.
Alex's hands travelled down and moulded Piper's breasts in her palms. She wanted to taste her, but her control strained on the reigns, and she wanted things to go slow. She knew time was running out for both of them. She backed Piper against the cold, shower wall. She heard a gasp, and she swallowed it with another searing kiss. If the water had been cold, the heat between them would've been enough to create steam. Eagerly, she pushed back the gnawing feeling of impending despair.
Lying to the races.
A/N: Heyooo! Hope you guys enjoyed the last few chapters, because I had a really good time writing them. Also, I hope you guys don't mind, but I've decided to insert in minor, original characters. Tell me what you think of them! They won't change the plot of the whole Vauseman relationship by any means, and they won't show up in major abundance, but I figured if I want to flesh out their characters, it can't always revolve around the same people like Polly, the parents, Sylvie, etc.
You feel?
It also gives me a chance to shout out some of the readers that constantly leave reviews; such as using their name in some other minor characters (if possible). AND, we're nearing the one year travel period of their relationship, so wooo! I'll talk to you guys about that when we get to it. Also, how does the new summary look? Betterrrrriiiishh? Anyways, for now, thanks again for reading, for the reviews, favourites and follows! (internal screaming bc happiness) Hope to see you in a few chapters!
Anon: Thank you for reading! And yeah, I hope to do more of their relationship development as long as it doesn't sound too filler. xD
izzielg: Hey you again! I really appreciate all of the reviews you've given, and I hooope to fit your name in one of minor characters here and there. Thanks for being an avid reader! :)
turchina: That's a huge compliment! Thank you heaps for reading.
Librarybook: Another one of the best readers ever! And don't worry, Sylvie won't be showing for a loooong while. Thank you so much for reviewing and reading, and I hope I continue to develop your favourite characters :) Speaking of, who would you like to see more often?
Siaava: I hope June 7 was worth the (looong) wait! Thanks for reading :)
OITNBReader: I looooove anything Wicked, so I just had to reference it when my fingers started typing about the Hulk. Glad you loved it :D
RJVause: Thank you so much! I hope you continue enjoying the story :) And hopefully the chapters will continue long enough to fulfil you and everyone until season 4, lmao
Neptune: Thank you so much for reading! Hope it continues to be worth the wait ^.^
castlefic: Glad you liked it! Really appreciate the review, and thanks for reading :)
melroihag: Hope it was worth the wait! Thanks for the enthusiasm ^.^
Flor: Sorry for the long-ish wait. I wanted to flesh it out as much as possible :p Hope it was worth it!
Guests: Hey you not-so-silent readers! I appreciate each and every one of you :) Thank you so much for reading, and I hope the wait-s are always worth it. Don't forget to put a smol name so I can address you guys individually!