Dinner is a happy affair as little Jasmine recounts her triumph of besting her dad, yet again, in a game of martial arts and wrestling. The hyperactive little girl continues to demonstrate her technique until a stern look from her mother causes her to sit down and eat her food. The conversation ranges from what was going on at the local school and a field trip into the mountains later in the month for Jasmine's class to village gossip and other community related activities.
The image of the happy family and their friends having dinner is so surreal that I almost laugh out loud at the domesticity of everything. Here I am eating dinner with known gangsters and I don't even feel an ounce of fear. Partly because Santana's hand is leisurely placed atop my thigh and her thumb is rubbing small circles on my leg. If anyone asked me a year ago if I could see myself sitting and eating dinner with crime members I would've laughed in their face. Now I am quietly enjoying the banter between Mike and Santana and their constant need to fight for the last morsel of food on a plate.
"Santana, you are not getting that last piece of beef. You already took all the chicken!"
"You trying to say I'm fat, Chang? Besides, I'm a guest; you should totally just give me that last piece."
"Fight me for it!"
"You're on!"
The ensuing battle of chopsticks over plates had the whole room roaring with laughter and I squeeze Santana's hand in consolation as Mike finally wrangles the last piece away from her and eats it in triumph. His wife on the other hand isn't so amused and smacks him soundly on the head before returning to her own bowl. We eat in amicable silence afterwards, muttering a few thanks and compliments about the meal. When the last dish is finally cleared away and everyone is leaning back in their chairs with their stomachs out I flick my eyes over and catch a quick glance between Mike and Susan before the latter ushers the now sleepy little girl away to shower.
Feeling thoroughly bloated with good food and laughter I think nothing of the exchange until Mike clears his throat and begins to fidget in his seat. His back straightens up and he leans forward on his forearms before glancing between me and Santana. He sighs a little before addressing us both across the table.
"I have the chopper prepped and ready to take us back to my office building. So if there's anything you may need, please let me know. Santana?"
"Thanks, Mikey. I didn't mean to drag you into this. Time's running short so I apologize for dropping in and leaving so abruptly. Just do the usual and pack Britt's stuff along with mine and I'll pick it up when we land. I can't begin to thank you and your family enough."
"San, you know my policy on goodbyes."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just remind me next time not to piss Susan off so much. I definitely should know better than to make the lady with the needle angry."
"Truth. Now are you sure you don't need anything else before you guys go?"
"No, but thanks for everything. Let me just say bye to Jazzy and then we can go."
Knowing our time with the Changs' is coming to an end I feel a pang of regret for not enjoying my time more. Getting to know Susan, Mike and little Jazzy has been the highlight for me ever since I stepped off the helicopter and now that we have to say goodbye I am saddened by the fact that I have to leave such an amazing family and place.
Santana motions me towards Jasmine's room before telling me that she has to speak to Mike really quickly and that she will join me soon after. I knock on the door softly, afraid that I might wake the sleeping girl but I am relieved to find Susan reading to her daughter in bed. They both turn and smile at me before Susan beckons me over and pats on the bed for me to sit. I greet both mother and daughter before sitting down at the edge of the bed and smiling warmly at the duo. No words will ever explain how much gratitude I owe Susan for helping San and how much warmth Jazzy brings to my life in such a short amount of time.
"Are you and aunt Tana leaving now? Is aunt Tana going to get hurt again? Cause every time she leaves and comes back she gets hurt and I don't want her to get hurt. Can you make her stay, Britt? Please?"
"Jasmine Chang! We talked about this before. Brittany and your aunt have very important things to do."
"But…"
"No buts, young lady. I'm so sorry, Brittany, she gets a bit grouchy before bed and it gets worse every time Santana leaves."
I smile knowingly at the woman, sympathizing with the girl whenever a certain woman disappears for a while. Scooting closer to the girl I run my fingers through her hair and press a light kiss on her forehead before taking her hand and holding it within my own.
"Jazzy, I promise you as long as I'm with your aunt Tana; I'll try my hardest to protect her. I hate it as much as you do whenever she gets hurt but sometimes you can't stop that from happening. All you can do is make sure when they fall, you'll be there to take care of them. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"Yeah… that's what mommy says about daddy."
I reach a hand over and grip one of Susan's hands, silently thanking her for being such a strong woman in the midst of such dangerous affairs. Her eyes begin to tear and I smile at her trying to convey my understanding before a soft knock interrupts our moment. Santana's head pokes in to look at us before catching my eye and asking if everything's alright. I give her a nod before scooting back and making room for her in front of me. Susan stands up to announce that she has to speak to Mike but promises to see us off, before exiting the room and leaving us.
"Hey, baby girl. Britt and I have to leave now. You have to listen to your mom okay, do what she says. If you're good I'll show you another cool move next time."
"Okay…but you have to be careful too, aunt Tana. Britt promised to protect you so you guys better come back next time."
"Brittany said that?"
"Yup, and now you have to promise too."
"Okay, okay. I promise to come back safe and sound. Now get some sleep."
They giggle and whisper together for a time until a yawn escapes from the little girl's mouth and I watch as Santana tucks her in, making sure to slip a stuffed dinosaur under her arm before kissing her softly on the head. I get up to turn off the lights in the room and open the door to head out but not before catching Santana brushing aside some of Jazzy's hair and lightly rubbing a cheek with her knuckles. She begins humming a soft melody that floats around the room and wraps its inhabitants in a sleepy blanket and turning the atmosphere so melancholic that I hold still, fearing that any movement will break the serene atmosphere.
There is something so calming yet heartbreaking about the way that Santana looks at Jasmine, I can't tell if it alludes to something about the girl herself or perhaps something that happened to San in the past. Whatever the case may be, I wait silently by the door until she looks up at me and I smile back hoping that the sad and wistful look on her face isn't a precursor to things that may come.
We say our goodbyes at the door, with Susan wishing us luck and a safe journey to our next destination. I see Mrs. Lee standing in a corner beckoning me over so I walk to her side and something small and compact is thrust into my hands before I can even say thank you. She quickly shuffles around me to Santana and swiftly whacks her over the head, probably berating her about something and I take a quick peek into what appears to be a lunchbox full of sweets and finger foods.
Santana receives a smack on the head again but this time from Susan and I laugh loudly when I hear her lecture about the sorts of infections that come from poor medical help and festering wounds. Glad that a professional is giving Santana expert advice on various injuries, I catch Mike watching his wife lovingly, the endearing look on his face already answering the question niggling in the back of my head about his own departure. I drag a chastised Santana out the front door and into the cool night air hoping to give the married couple some space and privacy and have my own private moment before we leave.
"Why does everybody keep hitting me? God, don't they know hitting people on the head kills brain cells? You would think Susan would know at least some scientific facts, I mean she did go to med. school and another thing, why does Mrs. Lee always-"
"Santana."
"Yeah, Britt?"
"What are we?"
"What do you mean?"
"I just…I know this is obviously not the best time or place to have this discussion but it's really now or never, and I don't know when the next time we can have a conversation like this is, so... What are we? Am I your girlfriend? Your fuck buddy? Friends with benefits?"
"I don't understand where this is coming from, Britt."
"I just want a little certainty, I guess. I'm not trying to give you an ultimatum or anything and I am definitely not leaving you but I just wanted to know. What am I to you, Santana?"
The question must have caught her off guard because the look on her face is both shocked and confused. I watch as her thoughts swirl behind her eyes and I begin to fidget under her gaze when she still hasn't spoken. I almost inject another line about how I was joking, or to forget what I had said when I hear her pristine laugh ring out among the night sounds. Her laughter continues to burst forth and I frown when I don't see the humor in my question.
"If you think this is so funny then I hope you're preparing yourself to lose more than brain cells because I'm going to-"
"Britt, I'm sorry, wait. Just let me…oh jeez."
She walks over to me with her arms wide but I shrug off her hug as she chuckles and tries again to embrace me. I struggle a little just to show my annoyance but eventually surrender to her warm embrace as she hugs me tight and swings us back and forth.
"Aww, don't be like that, Britt Britt. I didn't mean to laugh, I promise. You just surprised me with that question is all."
"Well I'm sorry my question was such a joke to you, I'll be sure to keep it to myself next time."
"No, I didn't mean it like that."
"Then what?"
"What with everything that's going on and my life the way it is, I just didn't think you would want to label anything we have. I'm just happy we're together, Britt, and I count my blessings every day you don't just up and leave. So honestly, I'm just a little confused you would ask that question. Plus, I never really did take you on a date and I don't know the first thing about that really so I don't want to presume that I can call you my girlfriend or whatever and I-"
Figuring that now is a good time to shut that lovely mouth up, I cut her sentence short by latching onto her lips and kissing her as hard as I can. Her words are instantly garbled and a groan emits from her throat causing me to smirk and push my tongue into her mouth. I breathe in a lungful of air through my nose so I can continue making out with her until I pull away with a wet pop and a sultry smile. If the dazed smile and hooded eyes staring back at me means I've earned myself a naughty night in the sheets then I'd say mission accomplished.
"You talk too much, Santana."
"I certainly do, Britt. Please shut me up more often, as many times as you like, anywhere you like."
"You're so silly. You should know by now I wouldn't leave you and it doesn't matter that you don't take me out to the movies or a moonlit walk on the beach. I just want you to know that I'm yours and I want you to be mine. That's all."
"I am yours Britt, and I swear when we get the chance I'm going to take you on the best date of your life."
"Good, because I'm totally going to order shrimp."
"What?"
"Nothing. Let's just say we're tentative girlfriends for now and see how that goes, okay?"
"Okay…but if I keep talking about it, can you shut me up again?"
Smiling at her cheeky expression I pull her close and continue kissing her with the sounds of crickets chirping around us and the cool night breeze ruffling our clothes. I giggle into her mouth when I feel the tips of her fingers trail up from my sides and across my back before nibbling on her bottom lip in retaliation and kissing her soundly again. I drag my hands slowly down to her butt and give it a good hard squeeze before pulling her fully into me and rocking forward with my hips. Our actions are immediately halted however by a familiar voice near the front porch.
"Don't make me bring the hose out and shoot you guys. Damn horny kids these days. Now break it up and let's get a move on, the helicopter isn't going to wait for you both."
I keep hold of Santana before turning my head towards Mike and shooting him a glare while catching a glimpse of San's tongue sticking out at him. I turn to peck my girlfriend on the lips and pull her along towards the road, making sure our hands are intertwined while taking turns kicking little pebbles at Mike's back.
Unfortunately, I have to sit in the helicopter again with a blindfold on for safety measures and I grumble a little even as Santana ties the knot snugly behind my head and kisses my cheek. I feel Mike's hand pat me on the shoulder before being blanketed in sudden quiet as the huge headset erases all the noise around me and I am left in the dark again. The initial fear of being disoriented and feeling the helicopter move slides away as familiar fingers rub against my face to guide my head onto a strong shoulder.
The smell of Santana invades my senses as I hone in on the warmth of her body and focus on all the things I can remember about her without seeing or hearing. I angle my head further along her shoulder and I feel the tip of my nose brush up against a soft and sleek patch of skin, easily identifying one of my favorite areas on the woman's body. Making sure to rub along her neck with my nose until I can feel my lips touch her skin I decide to have my own little fun and place dozens of kisses in that area. I feel Santana's body shake and I take my hand and place it where I think her stomach is to better figure out if her body was reacting in laughter or something else.
Definitely not my fault that I missed by a long shot and my hand ends up somewhere else entirely, somewhere soft and oh so malleable where I can squeeze to my heart's content. Too bad a second later my hand is quickly captured and pressed firmly into her lap. Such a party pooper. Huffing out my disagreement to the entrapment of my hand, I lean a bit more into her neck to nip her gently but quickly kiss the same spot to show I meant no harm.
The ride continued on for a while and I must've fell asleep at one point because the next thing I know I am being shaken awake and I can hear and see again. I feel a little groggy from my nap but my senses quickly zero in on my girlfriend. We've landed on top of Mike's building again and the last lines of red and orange on the horizon are slowly fading away. Santana's hair is billowing out from behind her and my breath escapes me as once again her beauty stops everything within me. I know I'm not wearing the headset anymore but my hearing still seems to be muted as I watch her lips speak to me and all I can do is stare. The image of her with the Hong Kong metropolis as a backdrop seems so picturesque that for a second I think I'm dreaming until she pulls me forward and everything rushes back to me.
The blades of the helicopter beat wildly behind me and the wind pushes against us as Santana pulls me along to the door and into the safety of the building. Mike rushes up behind me and firmly locks the door, shutting out any more noise before moving past us and descending down the stairs from the roof to an elevator door. The line of black suited men stand at the ready with their arms out, each holding a separate piece of clothing draped over their forearms. Mike picks each one up and puts them on, all without missing a step and walking steadily into the lift. By the time he presses the button he is already wearing a sport blazer over a collared shirt with jeans and a pair of sleek black shoes. If I didn't know better he looked like any dashing young man on the street about to hit the clubs.
The quick transformation from family man to Mike the gangster is so smooth that I'm still staring at him as he waits for me and Santana to enter the elevator. The only sound now is the ding that the monitor makes as we pass each floor level. I make to ask a question but a quick tug and a glance at Santana shaking her head forces me to keep my mouth shut as I watch the same man I've had the pleasure of spending time with flick a piece of non-existent dust from his shoulder.
Everything just seemed so bizarre and I want to ask what is going on but the beeps continue as we near the ground level and I feel my ears pop as I acclimate to the pressure of our descent. The doors finally open and San pulls me out without a glance back and I turn around just in time to see Mike pull out a pair of black shades but not before winking at me and disappearing behind the large metal doors.
I let Santana pull me outside into the humid night air and try to readjust to the sudden amount of people and noise bombarding me. I am startled for a second only because I've spent so much time away from the city, but a second is all I have before I am pulled into a cab and whisked away into the city center. I don't have to ask where we're heading as I see the signs on the highway leading up to the airport come into view.
The silence is almost killing me but I hold it in as I take note of the way my girlfriend's face pleads with me not to say anything. We pull up to the terminal and I exit to find myself back at the airport where we landed only a couple of days ago; no worse for wear but definitely no better. I let Santana take the lead again as she easily maneuvers us through the throng of travelers and towards a door with a keypad. She punches in numbers and opens the door to a plush and cozy waiting area filled with leather seats, several large flat screens and a full bar. Definitely a VIP room from the looks of it. I'm not even surprised to see Santana head straight for the bar and pull out two matching black bags before rummaging through them.
"San, can I talk now?"
"Huh? Yeah sure, sorry about before. You know about Mike's issues, we can't really talk about it here or anywhere as a matter of fact. You understand right Britt?"
The memory of a child's laugh comes to mind and I immediately understand the importance of keeping some things to myself. I would never want anyone to ever find Jazzy, or her mom for that matter, just because I had a slip of the tongue. I nod my head in understanding before joining her at the bar and peeking over to see what she was looking for.
"What's in the bag?"
"Same stuff from before. Your knives for one, our passports and other necessities."
"How are you going to get that past security?"
"I'm not; it's going to be shipped to our next location."
"Are my clothes in there too, then? I didn't really get to change when we left and I don't know where you or Jazzy took my clothes but-"
"Don't worry, B. We can buy new clothes where we're going anyway."
"Wait, where are we going, San?"
The look on her face was a mix between confused and surprised as she blinks a few times and then focuses back on me before going back into her bags and pulling out a few papers instead. She mutters a few things under her breath and I wait patiently for her answer but I finally catch the sly smile on her face and I puff out my cheeks in annoyance.
"Santana!"
"Yes?"
"Where are we going?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"You're not being very funny, San."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Britt Britt."
"Are you going to tell me or am I going to have to wait until we reach the gate again?"
"Well what do I get if I tell you, hmm?"
"I think what you should be worrying about, Santana, is what I'm going to withhold from you if you don't."
"Aww, Britt, you're no fun."
"Tell me or no sweet lady kisses for you!"
"Fine. Party pooper. We're going to Italy, are you happy now?"
"Where?"
"I already told you, B. We're heading to-"
"Where in Italy, San? Italy has a lot of cities. Be specific."
"Totally ruining the surprise."
"Don't make me count to 10, Santana."
"We're going to Rome, okay? Spoil sport."
I pat her gently on the head before pressing a quick kiss to her pouting cheeks and giggling as she grumbles some more about me ruining surprises and using an unfair bargaining chip. I pour myself a glass of wine as I let Santana finish packing whatever she needs in the bag and head over to the curtained window, pulling the strings and smiling wide to see the familiar buzz of the airplane engines and the screech of tires on tarmac. Home sweet home.
The loud static of the speaker cuts out as the captain finishes his introduction and I buckle in out of habit before looking for the emergency exits. I sit back as I feel the familiar rumble of the plane picking up and the drop in my stomach as we begin to pick up altitude. The flight to Rome is about 12 hours so I try to get comfortable in my seat as I peer over to my companion and watch the way her eyes search around us. The way her head tilts ever so slightly to the side masks the sharpness to her autumn eyes as they scan the entire cabin looking for something.
Her posture continues to stiffen as we climb higher into the clouds and I wonder if Santana is afraid of flying until the idea of how preposterous that sounds in my head almost makes me laugh out loud. How could such a fearless woman be afraid of something as small as heights? I try to ease my partner by stroking her leg until the seatbelt light turns off and I immediately unbuckle before leaning over and whispering in her ear.
"San, I have to go to the bathroom. Do you mind?"
"Hmm? Yeah, no problem."
She hardly turns to me as she answers my question but she does shift her legs as far out as possible so that I can pass her when I head down the aisle. Not satisfied that I still don't have her attention I make sure to slide over her as slowly as possible, rubbing my bottom along the tops of her thighs. I let my hand drag across her chest as one of my legs linger to rub up against her calf and I maneuver myself across her and into the aisle.
A sharp intake of air is all I need for confirmation as I make sure to put that extra bit of sway in my hips as I head to the bathroom at the back of the plane. Choosing the one that looked like it had the most room I quickly push the door open only to have someone rush up against my back and pull the door back into place. The click of the lock turns the lavatory sign from vacant to occupied and I have to quell my impulse to slam Santana against the door for fear of breaking it.
"This really isn't a great idea, Brittany."
"No one told you to follow me."
She growls at my challenge and I defiantly stare right back at her as the seconds tick by and no one makes a move. Figuring that we only had a few minutes tops to pull this off I reach behind me and feel for the lid of the toilet, pulling it down and making to sit on top of it before I hear her stern voice say 'No.' With one hand pressed down on the toilet seat cover and the other stretched out before me I halt my actions and look up to Santana to try and understand her sudden disapproval.
Her hand stretches out instead and pulls me back up before pushing me back and motioning for me to step on top of the toilet cover. Skeptical, but willing to play along I hop up on top, mindful of my height as I just barely miss bumping my head on the ceiling. I feel hands pivot me into a corner and I back up into the space where the back of the bathroom connects with the side mirror. Santana's hand quickly reaches out and unfastens my pants before pulling them down roughly, only to return and trail her fingers over my underwear.
The feeling of her finger running up and down my panties almost makes me lose my balance and I stick my hands out to the walls to steady my body in case I fall. My body jolts when she surprises me by pressing a thumb over my clit and beginning a quick circular motion. She must have felt my body begin to tremble because she uses one hand to hold one of my legs firmly before easing my other one up and into the bowl of the sink. The position is definitely awkward and uncomfortable but all I can focus on now is the way her finger dips into the cotton, right where my opening is and I groan when she presses in and out.
So close and yet so far. Unable to wait and mindful of how much time we have I use one hand to pull down the rest of my panties and reach out to pull her close. I easily find purchase in her long silky hair as she nudges my shirt up and begins nipping at my bare stomach. Her fingers have yet to change pace, given the removal of my underwear, and I am growing increasingly frustrated so I grab the back of her head and pull her in closer so I can sink my teeth into her neck.
The loud hiss under me is easily replaced by a more feral growl as I feel the consequences of my actions in the form of two fingers finally pushing up into me. This time I definitely lose my grip on the walls and I begin to slip until Santana uses her body to pin me to the wall so that my leg is still extended and my other one automatically wraps around her. I try to muffle my moans into her neck but she pulls back to kiss me roughly instead now that we're face to face and I can see the way her russet eyes darken almost to black.
I let out a moan when she hits a particular spot inside me and I pull her tighter against me so I can easily bite or kiss every inch of bare skin I come in contact with. Her skin is intoxicating and I can't help how easy it is for me to lose all control as long as I am near her. She kisses me again and I open my mouth to feel the way her tongue pushes roughly against mine, all the while trying to hold off the impending explosion about to happen all over my body.
"San…I'm about to…"
"Not yet, Britt…not yet."
"Oh god…harder, San! Faster!"
The sound that erupts from my mouth is embarrassing but I can't stop myself when I feel her find that spot inside me again and deliberately avoid it by sliding back out. I almost slap her out of frustration but she catches me by surprise and slams back into me so quick I would have screamed out if she didn't cover my mouth with her own. I rock violently against her trying to reach my climax until I feel the firm press of her palm push up against my clit and I finally let go. I bite down hard on her neck again and she hisses loudly but continues to pump her fingers into me as I feel another orgasm blindside me and I swear I must've passed out for a few seconds.
When I come to, I still feel her slick fingers moving in and out of me but at a more leisurely pace and I shudder every now and again from the aftershocks. My entire body feels like jello and every time I try to move my limbs I can feel them wobble. Not caring in the least, I drop forward and just take a second to lean on the woman who has just inducted me into the mile high club. Spotting the two large and red bite marks on her neck, I lick at them apologetically before snuggling back into her. My body shivers when her fingers finally slip out and I'm about to congratulate her on her magnificent performance when I hear a loud knock on the door.
"Miss, is everything okay? Hello? Can you hear me? Do you need some assistance?"
Fuck. I guess I wasn't as quiet as I thought I was. Putting my finger to my lips for silence and gesturing for Santana to put me down, I quickly pull up my pants and wobble my way to the door. I swat at my girlfriend's hands when I feel them wrapping around me and tickle my stomach as I wait until I can clear my throat a few times before answering. My voice is still a little high and cracking at the end of my sentence but I think I got my message across to the person on the opposite side of the door.
"Um…no. I'm okay, thank you."
"You sure? I can help you if you don't mind opening this door first. I'm a flight attendant so please if you're in need of some assistance I can-"
"Actually, there is something you can help me with but it's a little embarrassing…"
"No need to be embarrassed, just open the door and I'm sure I can help."
I gently push Santana further behind me and I glare at her when she takes the opportunity to smack my butt really hard before I begin ripping the toilet paper from its cardboard roll and tossing the paper portion at her. I motion for her to be quiet and hold still again before slowly shifting the door open to only pop my head out. I keep my hand on the door lever just in case I need to slam it shut before addressing the flight attendant standing in front of me.
"Um…I ran out of toilet paper and I just…god, I'm so embarrassed."
"Oh! Of course! Here let me go find you a replacement, okay? I just heard so much noise before and I thought…you know what never mind. You shouldn't be embarrassed because honestly you'd be surprised the type of stuff we flight attendants have seen coming out of these bathrooms."
"I can only imagine…"
She smiles pleasantly at me before walking off to the back to get my item and I take that split second to grab ahold of Santana's shirt and pull her towards me before roughly kissing her and then shoving her out the door. I take a swipe at my lips with my thumb before throwing a wink at her and returning my face back into its embarrassed looking state. I nonchalantly thank the flight attendant for passing me a roll of toilet paper and smile back at her as if I just didn't have the best orgasm of my life. I catch Santana's watching eyes and make sure that she understands that when we land in Rome, she is in for a whole new ride.
A/N: So I've been having trouble thinking of things to write and motivation is lacking for me these days, thus the long hiatus but I've been trying and finally something that sounds decent enough to read came out. Thank you guys for sticking around so long and waiting forever with this story, I know I have a bad habit of updating but I've since tried to be better. I'm on vacation now so it gives me a better chance and time to just sit and brainstorm how I will write this story. I hope you all enjoyed it and please thank my beta for keeping tabs on me lol. Thanks for reading and reviewing again :)