12.
"Have you ever heard of a small European country called Genovia?" Sam asked.
Knowing where she thought this discussion was headed, Lily raised a hand to halt Sam's next words.
"This is probably a good place for me to excuse myself from the rest of this conversation."
"I'll be filing briefs with the judge ahead of our initial hearing later today. Miranda, I'll be in touch," Lily said before standing to leave.
Andy got up and walked Lily to the door.
"I'm happy for you and Miranda," Lilly said conceding to the wisdom of Andy's instincts.
She placed a gentle kiss on her sister's cheek before saying, "I'll let Gramps know that his patient is doing much better."
Andy hugged her adopted sister and thanked her for everything.
By the time she returned to her study, Sam was well on the way to filling Miranda and Emily in on Genovia.
"The country is the perfect mixture of the old world and the new."
Lush valleys, beautiful mountain peaks and even a small coastline along the Adriatic.
While they provide a good deal of the food that feed's Europe, they also have a booming tech industry.
They're a constitutional Monarchy, which means that they have a King and Queen but, there are legal remedies if they decide to go against the will of the people. It's never been tested because the Renaldi family has always run the country with an eye towards what was best for the people."
"Anyway, we made a deal with the government to purchase ingredients for several of our top beverage lines. When things went well for both sides, they offered us land to build a new bottling facility. It eventually became our most efficient plant."
"What exactly are you suggesting?" Andy asked, wanting to get the conversation back on track.
"I'm suggesting that we use Genovia as the setting for Miranda's new back story," Sam offered.
Andy immediately liked the idea but had concerns.
"I feel uncomfortable putting the Genovian government in a position to have to lie to our government."
"Technically, the State Department is who the court will ask to confirm the story we tell in court. At worst the Genovians will need to deflect media inquires, and frankly, I don't see that happening," Sam pointed out.
Andy had to agree with Sam's wisdom on that subject. They both had enough experience with the sensationalist press to know that most of them were lazy, and as a result, were unlikely to travel to Europe to confirm the details of the story. At most, they would make a few phone calls, and when they hit a brick wall, they would drop it altogether.
"What about the State Department?" Emily asked.
Sam's smile was wide and quite devious as she said," I'll take care of the State Department."
"Ok, If we are going to do this, we need to get Queen Amelia's consent before we take any action," Andy insisted.
"Oh, Mia won't mind. She already offered to help," Sam said, then stopped herself from saying more.
"Mia," Miranda added with a raised eyebrow.
Andy watched as her friend's skin took on an abnormally reddish hue.
"Mia and Sam?" Andy thought as the penny dropped.
"Well, that explains a lot," Andy thought.
Sam, who was never shy in discussing her sex life, had been tight-lipped on the subject of late. There was also the fact that their intimate relations had abruptly ended a weeks ago.
Her suspicions were confirmed when a dreamy look briefly passed over Sam's pretty face.
Andy remembered when Sam used to look at her like that. She gave a wistfully look to her friend and now truly ex-lover.
"I meant Queen Amelia," Sam belatedly tried to correct.
Andy smiled to herself as it was clear that Miranda didn't buy Sam's change in direction either.
Deciding to allow her friend a little more time and space to come clean, Andy pushed on.
"Well if you will do me the favor of talking to the Queen before we do anything more to implement this plan, I would appreciate it."
"Now assuming that we get her approval, what do we do next?" Andy asked, looking towards Miranda's eldest daughter.
"We need to work out the details of a solid backstory then work out all the small details to make it bulletproof.
We already know the setting is Genovia and the basic timeframe in question, but we need to figure out why Miranda would choose to go there and what she's been doing all this time," Emily said.
"We'll have to give that some thought," Andy replied while looking at Miranda to get her concurrence.
When the silver-haired woman nodded her head, Andy continued, "Emily, If you're willing; I'd like you to work with Sam on fleshing out the details on for what we've already established.
I've got some thoughts about the rest," Andy said but did not elaborate.
"Sure, I've got the rest of the day off, and I want to help."
"Before you agree, you should know that what we are doing may not be without consequences," Miranda said.
"I trust Sam's abilities but, what we are doing is not strictly legal," the former editor continued.
"I understand," Emily said.
"Thank you," Miranda said.
The meeting broke up shortly after with Andy and Miranda walking the younger duo out to the garage where Sam had parked her motorcycle.
Emily gave the bike a weary look but took the offered helmet and climbed on behind Sam.
After the last of their guests were gone, the new couple sat in relative silence. Each time Miranda tried to engage Andy in conversation, the younger woman only gave distracted one-word answers. Miranda was concerned that she had upset Andy by her lack of candor regarding her eldest child. When she finally pulled Andy from her thoughts long enough to look at her, she could see no sign of anger in those lovely brown eyes.
Deciding to give Andy time to work our whatever was on her mind, Miranda announced that she was going to take a bath. She kissed the other woman on the cheek before heading up to their bedroom.
It still surprised her how, after only a few days Andy's home felt like her home.
"Or maybe Andy just feels like home," the silver-haired woman reconsidered.
She ran the bath using the scented bath oil that Andy seemed to prefer then slipped beneath the warm water. She leaned her head back and tried to puzzle out what was bothering her younger lover.
After a few minutes, she realized that Andy was not bothered; she had been thinking. Though their relationship was new, her old insights into human behavior were now returning to her. She'd blindly ignored her own intuitions when it came to the men she had chosen to marry.
Of course, in both cases, she hadn't married for love. She'd married for convenience. The first marriage was about creating the family that she'd never had as a child. The second marriage had been about creating the perfect image for herself. Stephen was the type of man that a woman of her age and status should marry. Well, neither of those had worked out in her favor.
This time was different. Andy was right; they had both felt the real pull of love at that first desperate moment they had caught each other's eyes. Andy had saved her in more ways than one, and in return, all that she asked was to be allowed to express the love that they both felt.
"Hardly a sacrifice," she thought.
She reached for her snifter and took another sip of the excellent single malt enjoying the strong scent and flavor as it passed down her throat.
Seen in this new light, she now thought that Andy had been contemplating the conversation they had just been having about the backstory.
Why would she have gone to Genovia and sequestered herself there for the last few years?
"Ah," she thought as she finally zeroed in on Andy's line of thinking.
Their relationship was too recent to think about taking such a step, and yet she could not outright reject the idea. Had it been six months or a year from now there next move would be perfectly logical.
"Fuck it," she thought.
She was done trying to use logic when it came to matters of the heart.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Andy cleared her throat, announcing her presence.
"Sorry about before. I had some things on my mind.
When you are done, I have something I'd like to talk to you about," Andy announced sounding more like herself again.
Miranda agreed then Andy slipped out of the bathroom leaving Miranda to further speculate on what was to come.
Miranda finished her drink then decided to wash her hair before getting out of the relaxing waters.
She slipped on one of Andy's silk robes then sat in front of the mirror to dry her hair. Next, she grabbed a brush and began to run it through her hair. She was thinking it was time for a new look just as Andy came back into the ensuite.
"May I," she asked, then extended her hand toward the brush.
Miranda handed it over, and Andy began to brush her hair out.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Emily before," she began but was stopped by her companion.
"Don't apologize, My love."
Miranda was surprised at how Andy's words and tone both calmed and assured her in equal measures. The effect the younger woman had on her was baffling, but she just could not bring herself to care. To be cared for and taken care of so completely was not a sensation she had ever experienced. Andy was the first person in her life that made her feel truly safe.
It scared her a little.
Not that Andy would abandon her. She recognized a stubborn determination in the woman that meant she would never take back her promises, nor would she ever give up on her.
No, what scared her was how much she liked it. How much she'd already come to depend on it.
Her upbringing, combined with the circumstances that led to her fall from grace, should have made it difficult for her to trust anyone. And yet, she trusted the woman standing behind completely.
The only reason she'd failed to tell Andy about Emily is that it had honestly not yet crossed her mind to do so.
"The day I met Charlie was at that time, the best day of my life. He was confident in his uniform, but there was a shyness behind those green eyes of his. He was my first love, but fate stepped in, and we only had a short time together.
I never forgot that shy boy from Hackney even after I transformed myself into the woman I became. Even when I finally took a husband and had my girls, I never forgot him or the baby we created.
The eyes are what has always drawn me to someone.
I ignored that along with my own instincts with both of the men I married. Especially with Stephen. His face was open and honest, but his eyes were cold and calculating even cruel at times.
She looked back at the woman behind her instantly locking on to Andy's warm brown orbs.
"Your eyes captured my heart with just a single look.
No one has ever looked at me the way that you do.
No one has ever seen me in the way that you see me, the real me.
So my answer to whatever question you want to ask, my answer is yes."
Andy cleared her throat as the emotions of the moment overwhelmed her. She had no idea how Miranda knew the question that was on the tip of her tongue.
She'd swallowed it down several times knowing that under normal circumstances, it was too soon to be having this conversation. Since these circumstances were anything but ordinary, she screwed her courage to the sticking-place and spoke.
"It was your eyes that drew me to you too. They are a microcosm of you, beautiful and fierce, but with a hint of sadness. You are the one that I've been waiting my whole life for, Miranda and nothing could make me happier than for you to become my wife."
There was a long pause where no words were spoken. Finally, unable to stop from rolling her eyes, Miranda filled the silence. "Darling I already said yes, do keep up."
Miranda dry tone and the sparkly blue in her eyes forced a bark of happy laughter to escape from Andy's mouth.
That laughter did not last as Miranda stood and let her robe fall to the floor. Andy took a moment to enjoy the nude body of the woman that would soon be her wife. She was pleased to see that in just a few days, Miranda's body had already started to fill out nicely, including breasts that sat high and proud on the older woman's chest. She let her eyes linger for a moment causing Miranda's nipples to respond appropriately. She resisted the urge to take one of the hardened peaks into her mouth. Instead, she let her eyes fall to Miranda's flat stomach. She was happy that the other woman did nothing to hide the evidence that she's born, three children. Miranda's imperfections where a part of her and Andy wanted her to know that she accepted all of her.
Finally, she allowed her eyes to lower to the triangle of hair at the apex of firm thighs. She took in a deep breath enjoying the scent of both hers and Miranda's arousal.
"I'm already wet for you," Andy said in a breathy whisper.
"And what do you intend to do about that state of affairs," Miranda said with a hint of impatience tinging her voice.
Andy smiled back at Miranda's boldness.
"Be careful what you wish for dear," Andy warned in a silky sweet tone.
Her smile only broadened as a visible shiver coursed through the other woman.
"Go wait for me on our bed.
You are not allowed to touch yourself," Andy said.
Another shiver ran down Miranda's spine upon hearing the commanding tone in Andy's voice.
Despite herself, she could not deny her overwhelming desire to comply with Andy's commands. She turned on bare feet, moving towards the door.
"Oh, Miranda," Andy said.
She stopped and looked over her shoulder.
"On your knees, dear."
This time the shiver Miranda felt came directly from her core. She was also happy that the familiar slickness she felt between her legs was not connected to the shame she associated with her most recent sexual encounters.
That shame had been a powerful turn-on at the time but had been followed by crushing guilt afterward. Now she could associate her feelings of arousal to the first healthy relationship in her life since she'd been with Charlie all those years ago.
She followed Andy's command to the letter, kneeling on the bed with her head down on a pillow. She positioned herself in such a way that she would present her wetness to the other woman the moment she stepped into the room.
As she waited for her lover, Miranda became keenly aware of the ache between her legs. Minutes passed, causing that ache to grow to the point that she began regretting she could not touch her swollen clit. Finally, she heard the door to the ensuite open then close. She resisted the desire to look back for the younger woman. She wanted whatever happened next to be a complete surprise. She closed her eyes so she could focus on her other senses. Now she could hear the other woman's steps as she approached. She could feel the walls of her pussy begin to involuntarily clench in anticipation of whatever her intended was about to do to her.
The next few moments stretched out torturously as Andy approached the bed at a maddeningly slow pace. Her clit began to throb with the sound of each of Andy's deliberate footfalls. Her body jerked as Andy's hand finally made glorious contact with her left hip. She soon learned that her torture was just beginning, as the younger woman's hands leisurely explored every dip and curve of her ass. She whimpered audibly when Andy's suddenly switched her focus to the tops of her thighs.
"Andy," Miranda practically begged.
"Shh, baby I know exactly what you need."
The younger woman spoke in that tone that left Miranda weak in the knees. She just barely managed to stay on her knees as she felt strong fingers spread her wide open. Never in her life had she felt this vulnerable. Not even when she'd been on her knees pleasuring a man, even then she'd felt some since that she had control of the situation. This was entirely out of her realm.
To give herself, mind, body, and soul, to a lover willingly and without reservation, was a something she had no experience with. And yet, right now she knew that she would do anything that Andy asked.
Anything.
The revelation, while frightening, was balanced by an unexplainable level of trust she felt towards the younger woman. She innately knew that Andy would always use this power, this control, with the care it was given.
All thoughts of her current dilemma were washed away by the sensation of a wet tongue probing her outer lips.
A quiet, "Oh, Fuck," escaped her lips without permission.
"I told you, I knew what you needed baby," Andy said in a voice so confident it bordered on cocky.
Andy's confidence was warranted, as Miranda let out a series of unintelligible moans as every inch of her labia was explored.
When Miranda tried to push herself back in a desperate attempt to impale herself on Andy's tongue, her progress was halted by the brunettes sudden withdrawal.
She fought the desire to open her eyes so she could see what Andy was doing. She had already given over complete control, so she would be patient.
Her wait was not a long one. The sudden presence of something at her entrance drew all of her attention to that single spot. If it were with a man behind her, she would have little doubt about what was teasing her opening. Any doubts she had disappeared as the object eased it's way past her threshold with little resistance.
"Ahh," came from deep within Miranda's throat.
When she felt both of Andy's hands on her hips, the mystery was solved. With newfound leverage, the other woman eased the phallus deeper into Miranda's body.
"Can you feel how deep I am baby," Andy said in a sultry whisper.
"God, yes," Miranda eagerly responded.
Miranda thought that Andy had chosen well when it came to both length and girth as she finally felt her lover's pelvis push against her ass.
Unable to hold back, she finally opened her eyes and looked back at her lover. While in the past she would expect to see the eyes of a savage barely in control of themselves, what she saw now was a look of such intense and pure focus that it forced the breath from her lungs. Never in all of her years had anyone looked at her with such ardor. The look was so intense she could barely stand it.
A loud moan escaped her lips as Andy ground herself into Miranda's ass. The older woman felt herself clench and unclench around the invading object convulsively as her passage stretched to accommodate Andy's cock.
"Are you ready baby," Andy asked in an unexpectedly gentle tone.
Not trusting her own voice, she gave her consent with a meer nod.
In the next moment, Andy pulled nearly all the way out. Before she could begin to miss that sensation of fullness, Andy pushed back in with a blindingly quick motion.
All Miranda could do was grunt at the sensation of pure pleasure emanating from her core.
It was more than just the physical but all of it. The release she felt from truly submitting to her lover was unexpectedly liberating. It allowed her body to become a pure vessel for all the pleasures Andy was willing to give.
The next thrust came even quicker than the last forcing another unladylike sound to bubble to the surface.
She braced herself for another fast in and out, but Andy kept her off balance with a long slow thrust that almost pushed Miranda over the top.
After that, it became a game.
With Miranda attempting to anticipate the timing and speed of the next thrust.
The game only really started once the couple achieved true synchronicity, accurately predicting the others next action.
"Oh fuck, Miranda," Andy gasped as a forceful thrust was met by the push of Miranda's ass.
She smiled sweetly at the brunette, making it clear she could give as good as she got.
The next few moments, the room filled with growing cries of pleasure as the couple moved as one.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god," the silver-haired woman gasped as a wave of pleasure like she'd never known quickly approached.
"Cum for me, Miranda," Andy said with one last powerful thrust.
Andy's words triggered an avalanche of feeling and emotions to crash over her in wave after wave. The intensity was like nothing she could have even imagined before.
"Oh shit, I think I'm going to."
Miranda opened her eyes, realizing that she'd lost consciousness for a moment. She was now on her back with Andy poised above her. The younger woman looked so beautiful with her short yet stylish hair, those deep brown eyes, and that brilliant joyful smile.
Andy reached out and stroked her face gently.
"My God," Miranda said as her voice finally came back to her.
Andy laughed then said, "No, I'm just a woman who finally found the love of her life."
Andy shifted Miranda so she could settle between her lover's legs.
"Now I'm going to make love to you," Andy whispered, causing a fresh round of shivers to run up Miranda's spine.
Miranda spread her legs then Andy was in her again.
"You're so wet for me, baby," Andy cooed into Miranda's ear.
"She's right," Miranda thought as the faux-cock passed easily into her folds. She closed her eyes again so she could focus on the sensations she was feeling — so much of their bodies were now in contact.
Andy's belly against hers.
The constant contact, as the other woman's pelvis, came into contact with hers with each thrust.
The passage of Andy's cock into her.
Her own bodies response as it clenched around the member.
How good the brunettes larger breasts felt as they pushed against hers.
A new sensation started as Andy's tongue slipped between her lips.
She opened her eyes to see the woman who now owned her heart was incredibly close now.
She wrapped her legs around Andy's ass, drawing her love in even further.
"I want you to come with me this time," Miranda begged.
"Yes, Baby," Andy groaned.
The couple maintained eye contact as they approached then crested together.
Miranda felt Andy slip out of her before sliding out of bed. She felt momentarily bereft, but moments later, her lover was back with her holding her tightly. She brushed the hair away from Miranda's eyes, then asked, "Penny for your thoughts?"
Miranda smiled wistfully before she said, "I was wondering why I couldn't have met you before I met Stephen."
Andy took Miranda's hand in hers, then said, "I wish that had happened too.
I wish that I had been there for you.
If I could take away all the hurt and bad things that happened to you, I would."
Miranda took in all of Andy's words knowing that the other woman meant every word.
The warmth she felt in chest let her know that this was it for her.
She'd finally found true love.
Ok, folks another update. Prepare for the pace to start picking up with the next chapter. For those who are curious, my version of Genovia steals a little bit of land from Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia. I hope you enjoy the dynamic. I've established between Andy and Miranda. It's not that Andy has all the power necessary but that Miranda had found the joy in submission. Expect her to question why she enjoys it so much and what it says about her at some point. I know that it is early for marriage for these two but if you've read some of my other works, then you know I don't spend a lot of time establishing them as a couple. I instead focus my efforts on how they interact as a couple and how they take on the challenges of life rather big or small. Finally, the phrase screw your courage to the sticking place was originally spoken by Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth. As always let me know what you think.