A/N: The title of the last chapter is a song by Muse. They don't only make good music, their lyrics are something else! The lyrics of 'Undisclosed desires' also kind of fits the story.
I noticed that the chapters are getting longer as we go. I do apologize, but I just have so much to tell you guys! Thank you for still sticking with this story.
Chapter 7: Where do we go from here?
Callie was frustrated. It was Friday, a week after her encounter with Arizona. That the woman had not called her was not the problem. She was frustrated because it bothered her that the blonde had not called her. She was not the sappy type or one to chase after people. She never had to. But this was different. Arizona had made a deep impact on her from the moment she first saw her before she even knew the woman's name. And now she had gotten closer to Arizona, she only wanted more. And that bothered her.
It was not just the way Arizona kept surprising her or the insanely hot sex. It had also been their conversation afterward. She had seen a very small part of Arizona's soul and most importantly, she had shared some of her own. Something she hardly ever, no never, did. Her inner secrets had come out of her mouth like she was citing a grocery list. She had shown herself to Arizona, physically and emotionally, and it had made her feel free.
Callie smirked at herself when a little voice in her head told her that it had given her wings. Even her thoughts could be hilarious sometimes. But the pun was intended, Arizona was an angel after all. Well, half angel, and she was so far from what Callie thought she wanted and liked. But still, she found herself here, in her office, thinking about the blonde constantly.
She had felt what it had been like to be with Arizona. With an angel. And all she could think about was returning the favor. Her mind kept unconsciously conjuring up things that could possibly happen to Arizona when she was in the throes of passion. And about how it would make her feel. It had gotten her all hot and bothered at the most inconvenient moments.
Calliope Torres did not think about people constantly. She did not pine for people.
She leaned back in her chair and swirled it around, looking out of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, letting out a deep sigh as she stared over the Seattle skyline. Callie was trying hard to calm herself down so she could get back to work and focus on the case at hand. Just as she felt her body relax into the lush leather of her office chair, her instinct kicked in. Her heart rate instantly picked up and she could feel her blood pumping through her veins.
There was only one thing that caused this.
She got up and poked her head into the hallway to see what was going on. And there she was. Standing at the reception desk. Callie unconsciously licked her lips and watched in amusement as the receptionist failed in trying to keep Arizona at bay.
The fun was completed when Cristina, her secretary, rolled her chair into the hallway to see what was causing the commotion. Her secretary was physically in the way of Arizona's path towards Callie's office. Callie crossed her arms in front of her chest and leaned against the doorway, ready to watch whatever scene was about to unfold in front of her.
Cristina looked at her and raised her eyebrow. Callie motioned for her to go ahead and do her thing. Her secretary was trained to stall people that did not have an appointment. "Got it, boss," the feisty woman said with a grin on her face before rolling back into her office. She loved drama and this was the kind of stuff she lived for.
Just like Callie had felt Arizona coming from a mile away, the blonde had known Callie was in the office as well. As soon as she turned around, her blue eyes zoomed in on Callie and she walked toward her with determination. Callie pursed her lips. There was no need to retreat into her office since Arizona had already seen her.
The blonde walked through the hallway looking like business. She was wearing a black pinstripe suit and a light blue blouse underneath it. It was pretty much standard police attire, but Arizona made it look very sexy.
Just before the blonde reached Callie's office, Cristina once again rolled her chair into the hallway. "Hello," she said. "What can I do for you?"
Arizona raised her eyebrow and looked at Callie, who was by now failing to hide her amusement. "I'm here to see Ms. Torres," she said, turning her attention back to Cristina.
"Do you have an appointment?" Cristina asked, her voice already giving away that she knew the answer to that question.
Instead of answering, Arizona reached into her pocket and showed her police badge. "I have an all-access pass," she said with a smile. She refused to let this silly teasing get to her and decided it was best to just ignore it completely.
The sound of a failed suppressed laugh from Callie made both Cristina and Arizona look up at her. She held up her hands in defense and retreated into her office, soft chuckles coming from her office.
Cristina pursed her lips. "It looks like you do." She graciously moved her arm towards the entrance to Callie's office while rolling her chair back out of the way. While she rolled her way back into her office, she mumbled something inaudible about police officers.
"Detective Robbins," Callie said with a bright smile. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" She motioned for Arizona to sit down while she did the same.
"I'm sorry to disturb you without notice," Arizona said while she sat down, completely ignoring the almost childish game Callie was playing. "I would have called ahead, but things were developing so fast, I didn't have the time."
This time, the surprise Callie felt was less pleasant. She understood Arizona was on the clock, but she had not expected complete animosity. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and leaned back into her chair. She took a moment before she responded, gathering her thoughts. "What can I do for you?" She asked flatly.
If Arizona had picked up on the change in demeanor, she was not reacting to it. She bit the inside of her cheek, something Callie had picked up on she did when she was slightly nervous. Callie just did not know whether it was her or the matter at hand that made Arizona nervous.
"I have a case….and I think you might be able to help me with it."
Well yeah, that was obvious. Callie hardly thought the pompous entrance Arizona made was to ask her out on a date. If only. "And what makes you think I'd help you?" She asked.
Arizona paused for a moment and just stared at Callie. There was something vulnerable in the blonde's look and it tugged at Callie's heartstrings. Even though she did not want to, she felt herself slowly warming up to the woman in front of her.
"Just hear me out," Arizona pleaded. "What I am about to tell you is part of an active investigation…"
The lawyer held up her hand to stop the blonde from talking. "…I am not to talk about it bla bla bla or you'll have my behind. Got it." A little voice in the back of her head told her that Arizona having her behind might not even be such a bad thing and for a few seconds, Callie's head was filled with very, very dirty thoughts about the woman in front of her. Her lips curled into a smirk as she let the feeling wash over her for a moment. Even though this was a work meeting, she was allowed to have a little fun. She was very tempted to ask Arizona if the blonde could feel her intentions now but refrained from it.
Arizona got a file folder from her bag and slid it over Callie's desk. "I'm working on this murder case. In the past week, we have found three bodies…."
Murder? What on earth could she help the blonde with when it came to murder? Callie had expected the other woman to ask her about some legal stuff, or maybe even things related to one or more of her clients. Her surprise quickly made way for intrigue and she managed to pull her full attention back from her dirty dreamland and focus on the conversation.
"All three bodies have been completely drained of blood and we found puncture wounds in all cases."
Callie almost did a double take. "Wait, what?" Her big brown eyes got even bigger as the surprise was evident on her face.
Arizona nodded towards the file folder. "Some of the images might be shocking," she warned.
The dark-haired woman raised her eyebrow and tentatively opened the folder. She quickly scanned the pages and stopped when she found the crime scene photos. A soft gasp left her throat and her mind went into fifth gear in a matter of seconds.
While Callie studied the contents of the manila folder, Arizona took the moment to sneakily study the woman in front of her. She had been thinking about the dark-haired woman all week, but she had been too afraid to call her. Too embarrassed. Even though the evening had ended well and she had felt good afterward, the guilt of what she had done had crept up on her when she was alone with her thoughts.
Even though Arizona knew Callie was far from innocent, she had been nothing but kind to her. She had even opened up to her, giving Arizona the courage to voice her thoughts and feelings. Arizona needed time to deal with her emotions and handle this new experience. At the same time, seeing Callie again also sparked excitement in her and gave her flashbacks to last week. While she let her eyes roam over Callie's body, vivid images of her naked body flashed before her eyes.
Callie was beautiful, there was no doubt about that. But the fact that she had been surprisingly understanding of Arizona's hesitation, made her even more appealing. Having seen Callie's softer side had Arizona reconsidering everything she thought she knew about the notorious lawyer. All of a sudden, Callie looked up and her eyes locked onto Arizona's. The slightly smug smirk on Callie's face told Arizona she was busted. She cleared her throat and drew in a deep breath.
"The ME thinks this might be a case of Renfield's Syndrome," she spoke, her voice hushed. "Clinical vampirism."
"Renfield's?" Callie said, scrunching up her nose. "I haven't heard that term in a very, very long time." Her brows furrowed and she eyed Arizona. "Your ME is quite adventurous," she continued. "Renfield's is not even formally recognized as a clinical diagnosis."
Arizona bit her lip. She was mulling about what she was about to say. "She's an older woman, I'm guessing that she has seen her fair share of weird things in this city," she started, hinting at the secret communities she had only recently found out about. "I…..I think this might be something else, seeing your….our…..situation."
A chuckle escaped Callie's throat at Arizona's last word. She would not know what to call angels and vampires living among humans in the real world, but 'situation' was an odd term. "You think…." She paused to think. It was quite plausible that Henry had tried reinstating the hunting laws. They might not have succeeded in passing the law, but she would certainly not put it passed him if his lackeys went ahead and enjoyed their privileges anyway.
The blonde nodded.
"Ah…" Callie paused and pursed her lips. "And you want me to help you with that?"
"I was just…wondering if you had heard something, you know.." Suddenly Arizona felt very uncomfortable and she started fidgeting in her seat. Callie's stare was almost touching her soul and she had to fight hard to stay focused.
"I haven't heard anything," Callie said with a shrug, secretly pleased that she did seem to be affecting the blonde in front of her. It was true though, she did not have any information. Since her father had returned, she had been busy with work and with helping her father prepare for the big trial against Henry Miller. Since he was the victim, he was not allowed to judge. Another elder would take over. But Carlos Torres would never show up anywhere unprepared.
She had been to The Basement once since her father had returned, but she had not picked up anything. And she was probably also not the person to find out first. Callie furrowed her brows and tilted her head.
"You know who better to ask for help, but still you came to me," she said after a short pause, her lips curling into a small smirk.
Arizona looked like a kid who got caught with its hand in the cookie jar. "I ah...I figured you had maybe picked up something from your ah…contacts?"
"Why are you really here?" Callie's earlier animosity had completely gone by now and it showed in her body language.
Arizona bit her lip and looked at the open door behind her before looking back at Callie. The taller woman got the hint and got up to close the door, giving them complete privacy. When she sat down again, she leaned forward resting her elbows on her desk and her head in her folded hands.
The blonde sighed and averted her gaze for a second before she spoke up. "I need your help, Calliope," she said. "I need to know what I'm up against. I don't want to find myself in the middle of a vampire den without knowing."
Callie nodded and pursed her lips. "And here I thought you just wanted to see me," she said with mock disappointment. "What exactly are you talking about?" She had an idea of what Arizona wanted, but she could not just give her any and all information.
"I'd like to know more about how it all works," Arizona started. "You and your father, you both saw me for...for what I really am," she looked at Callie and it was obvious they both knew exactly what Arizona was talking about. "Would it be dangerous for me to go back there, should the investigation lead me there? Will they recognize me? How can I recognize them?"
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there, Speedy Gonzales," Callie said, holding up her hands as if she was physically trying to put on the brakes. "I can't just give you all that information. And certainly not here."
"What can you tell me?"
Callie raised her eyebrow, slightly taken aback by Arizona's lack of patience. "I'll make you a deal."
"That's such a lawyer thing to say," Arizona said, referring to an earlier conversation they had with a wink.
"Says the cop trying to interrogate me," Callie replied with a chuckle.
The slight banter seemed to relax Arizona and she smirked at Callie's retort. "Alright, Ms. Torres, what's the deal?"
"Well, since you failed to wine and dine me before…well, you know," Callie said with a wink. "I guess I'll have to make the first move. How about I make you dinner at my house?" She asked. "I will check with my father to see if he knows anything and you can ask me anything you want in the privacy of my home."
Arizona did not know this was a unique moment. Callie never invited people over. Not even Addison or Lena had been to her house. And she certainly did not invite potential lovers over. Her house was her inner sanctum, her place to wind down and be herself completely. But since Arizona already knew more of Callie than some of her best friends did, she figured her house would give them the best privacy.
It was quiet for the longest time. Callie wondered if she had overstepped and if Arizona was going to bail. But to her surprise, the blonde's lips curled into a smile and the look in her eyes softened even more. "Tonight?"
Callie bit her lip and nodded. "Tonight is fine with me."
"Awesome, thank you," Arizona said while getting up. She took the file folder from Callie's desk and put it back in her bag.
She leaned back in her chair and observed the woman in front of her. When Arizona's eyes met hers, Callie flashed her a bright smile.
Without another word, Arizona took her leave. She stopped when she reached the door and turned around. "Just for the record, I was going to call you," she said. "Work just got the better of me this week."
Callie pursed her lips and raised her eyebrow. "Aren't you forgetting something?" She asked.
For a second, Arizona frowned and flashed Callie a quizzical look.
"Wouldn't it be nice to know where my house was?"
The blonde chuckled. "I'm a police officer, Calliope, I know where everyone's house is."
###
While Arizona directed her car towards Callie's house, she could almost feel her nerves spark on a cellular level. All week, she had been able to drown herself in work to avoid thinking about the enigmatic and sultry woman that had invaded her life. There had been moments during the day where images of their Friday night had invaded her thoughts, but she had managed to squash them before they affected her too much.
The nights had been the worst. Arizona was conflicted about what was happening and it had kept her mind working at light speed. Thoughts were fired so quickly, she could hardly keep up with her own mind, causing her to be staring at the ceiling for hours instead of catching up on much-needed sleep.
It was quite simple. Calliope Torres intrigued her. Whenever she was around the other woman, she felt alive, more alive than she had felt in…well, forever really. There was something about the dark-haired woman. Her eyes seemed to peer right into Arizona's soul and when Callie touched her, it almost felt like she was touching her through her skin and right into her core. It was exhilarating, but it was also the scariest thing. Callie made her want to lose control, made her want to forget about the rules, and just enjoy herself. Callie made her want to explore her darker side.
Even though she was an angel, Arizona Robbins was no saint. Angels had sex, unlike popular belief. Sex was a natural thing, something you did to express your love for someone. That deep connection you share with a loved one, where it's only the two of you and nothing else. It was where you bare your soul for your loved one to see.
And that was where the conflict was.
What she had done with Callie. Well, more like done to Callie had not been from a place of love. Yes, she liked the other woman and yes, she was most definitely attracted to her. But she did not love her. It was way too soon for something like that. But even though she did not love Callie, she loved what had happened between them. She had loved the feeling of control she had, the way she had the power to bring Callie to her knees. The way Callie had let Arizona see her at her most vulnerable was special.
But Arizona feared that it was different from Callie. The woman was a vampire, she had seen with her own eyes how she would leave the club with someone else every time. Man, woman, more than one person. It seemed that sex had a completely different meaning to Callie. She could not judge though, because what had happened last week would surely fall under that category. Arizona had let her desire dictate her actions. She had thrown caution and responsibility in the wind and had let her body take control.
As satisfying and cathartic as it had been on the night itself, it had also caused tremendous inner turmoil. Arizona's human side was hooked and wanted more. She wanted to see and feel if it would be just as exhilarating the next time. If she could bring Callie to her knees again. She also wanted Callie to bring her to her knees, as scary as that sounded in her head. She wanted the other woman to touch her, dote on her, and make her feel like the most beautiful woman on the planet. She wanted Callie to tip her over the edge before catching her safely.
Her angel side found all those feelings devilish. Control was safe, control was good, why would anyone want to lose it? Pleasure like that was only temporary and at what cost? There was no doubt Callie could tip her over the edge, it had been a while since she had been intimate with someone. But would the woman be there to catch her? Could she be trusted to get a peek behind the Alcatraz-like walls Arizona had built around the deepest parts of her soul? Probably not.
It was weird that deep down she felt she could trust Callie, but that feeling was based on nothing. She still could not read the woman's intentions, even though her beautiful brown eyes often told her everything she needed to know. The fact remained that Calliope was still half vampire and from what she knew, vampires were not to be trusted.
Her musings had taken up most of her attention and before she properly realized it, she drove onto Callie's driveway. The woman's huge house was situated in a gated community on Lake Washington and, not surprisingly, the outside looked as esthetically pleasing as Callie's outfits. The garden was meticulously tended to, probably by a gardener, and the house was in mint condition. As she drove through the gates towards the house, Arizona felt like she was driving into a real estate magazine.
She parked her car next to Callie's T-bird and checked herself in the rearview mirror before getting out. She smoothed out her dress one last time and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before making the trek towards the front door.
Callie was already there, casually leaning against the doorpost as she feasted her eyes on Arizona's form. Her lips curled into a warm smile, her eyes softening as they met Arizona's. "Hey."
Arizona could feel Callie's gaze in the pit of her stomach. "Hi," she replied sheepishly as she held up a bottle of red wine. "I hope you didn't opt for fish," she said with a shrug before handing Callie the bottle.
The taller woman smiled and motioned for Arizona to enter. "There is always room for red wine." She put the bottle on the side table and helped Arizona get out of her coat. Even though chivalry was not an alien concept to Callie, she really just did it to be able to touch the other woman. Her fingers were itching to get close to Arizona again.
"Thank you," Arizona spoke softly as she shrugged off her coat and turned to inspect the hallway. Even though everything she could see seemed to be perfect, no speck of dust out of place, the house still had personality, a soul. And that surprised her.
"Wow, Calliope, you have a beautiful home."
Callie beamed brightly. Her house was her pride and joy, her inner sanctum. She had taken great care when she decorated the place, each room serving a purpose. And each room had its own, authentic vibe. She guided Arizona towards the dining area, where she had already set the table.
A soft gasp escaped Arizona's lips. If she had had any doubts about the motive of tonight, they would have been taken away right this instant. The table was set meticulously, just like everything else in the house. The table, set for two, could have been taken right out of one of Seattle's most expensive restaurants. Candles were lit and the table was set for several courses.
For a moment, Callie stood stock still and gazed at Arizona. Had this been too much? Had Arizona really only taken her up on her offer because she needed more information? No, the blonde was wearing a killer dress, her hair and make-up were all done and she was wearing heels, making her almost as tall as Callie was. This was not a work outfit. Right?
"You did this for me?" Arizona asked, looking at the table and back into Callie's eyes.
Callie just nodded and nervously bit her lip.
Suddenly, a whiff of something delicious filled Arizona's nostrils and it made her sniff out loud. "Have you been cooking?" She asked, firing questions to avoid having to confront the slight awkwardness.
A small smile graced the dark-haired woman's lips. "Yes, it's a bit of a hobby of mine. I figured it couldn't hurt to mix business with pleasure." Her sentence ended with a mischievous glint in her eyes that did not go unnoticed by Arizona.
"So, this is a date?"
A soft chuckle left Callie's throat. "I don't do this for every person that comes over," she retorted, leaving it to Arizona to fill in the answer to the question as she pleased.
"Okay." Arizona knew very well what it had been, even before she asked. But she wanted to get some clarity since everything between them seemed to be up in the air. She knew she was to blame for it, but Callie was not exactly forthcoming either.
Callie decided to ignore the awkwardness for now. It seemed Arizona was settling in and slowly accepting the situation and that was all she could ask for right now. She did not want to risk scaring the blonde off again, so she would take it easy tonight. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"Yes, please," Arizona responded as she sat down at the table at Callie's direction.
She held up the bottle Arizona brought. "Wine?"
The blonde nodded and took a moment to take in the room. Alternating between scanning her surroundings and watching Callie work. The dark-haired woman knew Arizona was watching her, because there was an extra sway in her step. Arizona bit her lip and forced herself to stay in control, to focus. Callie was right, it was okay to mix business with pleasure, but business should come first. If they skipped to pleasure now, there would be no business to be done, Arizona was sure of that.
When she put the glass on the table in front of Arizona, Callie brushed her hand over the other woman's shoulder. She was hyper-aware of everything and smirked when she heard the blonde's soft intake of breath at the contact. She definitely still had the magic touch.
The initial awkwardness subsided quickly and as Callie brought out dish after dish, Arizona became more and more at ease. "Wow, Calliope, I had no idea you could cook like this," she said as she gently patted her belly. "I don't think I can eat another bite."
Callie smiled brightly, enjoying the compliment to the fullest. It was a breath of fresh air to be with someone who was interested in her and not just her body. Whereas knowing it was just for the sex was easy and uncomplicated, she somehow felt more at ease right now. Learning more about Arizona was satisfying a yearning she had felt all week.
"My mother died when she gave birth to me," Callie spoke. "My father was intent on instilling our culture in me. He cannot cook to save his life, but our help, Marta, taught me everything I know. When I was little, she would let me help her knead the dough and bake the cookies. Later on, she eased me into the more complicated things."
Arizona could only smile as she watched Callie. The woman's brown eyes lit up when she spoke about Marta and her father. It sounded like she had grown up in a very loving household, even though she had missed out on having a mother.
"It was delicious." Arizona could not sing praise enough. "My grandmother did not let me near the kitchen after I managed to almost burn down the place boiling eggs one morning," she admitted.
Callie could not help but laugh. "I can imagine how intimidating your grandmother can be. But I have to admit, messing up boiling eggs is an exceptional talent."
Arizona playfully poked out her tongue at Callie before taking another sip of her wine. "I'll have you know that only happened once. I know how to handle myself in a kitchen."
She pursed her lips and gazed at Arizona. "Prove it," she challenged.
"What? Now?"
Callie chortled. "No, not now, I already have dessert ready for us."
It suddenly dawned on Arizona what Callie meant, her lips mouthing 'oh'. "To be granted a next date, this one will have to go well first, Calliope. Patience is a virtue."
Callie almost spat out her wine. "What? Are you, Arizona Robbins, lecturing me on patience? I seem to recall I did not even make it into your house properly before you had your hands all over me. I think out of the two of us, I am the most patient."
Arizona's eyes went wide for a second and a pink blush crept up her cheeks. Callie was right and there was nothing she could say or do to prove her otherwise. Her mentioning of the events of last week made some flashbacks pop up in her head, spreading warmth all over her body.
The dark-haired woman chuckled and shook her head. "You are poking the bear, Arizona," she warned her gently.
Arizona pursed her lips. She kind of like poking the bear. She wanted to see how far she could go until Callie lost control. And what would happen if she did. Maybe it was the liquid courage or the thrill of the moment, but Arizona felt bold. Their conversation had flowed easily and it had once again proven that Callie was more than just a pretty face, she was a powerful woman who had built her life the way she wanted it.
"You said something about dessert?" She said innocently, the twinkle in her eyes giving away she was still playing along though.
Callie eyed her and nodded, without speaking she conveyed to Arizona that this was not over yet. She got up and collected their empty plates. The blonde looked around the room once more and noticed a few picture frames on the mantle of the fireplace. Of course, there were pictures of Callie and her father. The love between them was so obvious, it made Arizona smile. There was one picture of a pregnant woman, by the looks of it, it was Callie's mother. Even though Callie had similar features as her father, it was obvious that she was a carbon copy of her mother. The woman was beautiful and she radiated happiness in the picture, her hand lovingly cradling her protruding belly.
Arizona was stirred out of her reverie by Callie's presence. The taller woman stood behind her and slid a delicious-looking piece of chocolate cake in front of her. "This is Marta's secret recipe," Callie said proudly. "It melts on your tongue and should be forbidden," she added with a grin.
Once Callie sat down and got ready to dig into her own dessert, Arizona took her first bite. She had not intended it, but the chocolate cake was so good that a soft moan left her throat. She could see the change in Callie's eyes as their eyes met, causing Arizona to blush. "Oh my God," she said as she savored the bite fully. "This is the most delicious thing I ever ate."
Callie just stared at Arizona, her eyes had gone dark and her chest and neck seemed a little flushed. Arizona was well aware of the effect she had on the other woman, but she had not intended to tease her like that. The almost feral look in Callie's eyes did tickle her insides though, sending a shiver down her spine that settled between her legs. She was getting turned on by just one look. She had never been this easy. What was this woman doing?
It dawned on her that her remark could totally be perceived as sexual. And even though it truly was not, she could not resist letting Callie swim in the double entendre. The woman across the table from her was squirming and Arizona was loving it. She realized that Callie had a lot more self-control than she had initially thought. The more she got to know about her, the more she realized that the woman's promiscuity was more of an attempt to stay in control than to lose it completely. Callie was much more composed than she let on. The wild child, party girl façade was an act and Arizona felt like she was getting the chance to meet the real Calliope Torres.
Not wanting to torture the dark-haired woman anymore, Arizona decided to change the subject. "So…" she started. "About my case…"
There was a short flash of disappointment in Callie's eyes that did not go unnoticed by Arizona. But she quickly composed herself and took another bite before she started speaking. "All work and no play makes Arizona Robbins a dull girl," she teased with a wink as she put her fork down and leaned forward. "What do you want to know?"
Arizona chuckled. She was a lot of things, but she knew for a fact she was not dull. "All play and no work makes me an unemployed girl," she retorted with a wink. "Seriously though, thank you for taking the time to help me out."
"I can't promise anything," Callie replied, not wanting to let the other woman down. "There are some things I just cannot say."
"I get that. Doesn't change the fact that I appreciate this," her hand waved around to indicate she was also thanking Callie for the dinner and all the effort she had put into tonight.
Her words were met with a bright, beaming smile that immediately made Arizona feel a little more at ease. "So, can you tell me a little more about the history? Do you know why your father was taken? What was the ulterior motive for having him disappear?"
"Wow, right to the million-dollar question," Callie said. "What happened to patience is a virtue?" She winked before licking her lips and taking a breath. "I can't tell you that, but I can tell you what I think," she offered. The fact was that Henry Miller had yet to face the music and until a judgment was made, she officially did not know what his motives were.
Arizona leaned forward, practically hanging on Callie's lips.
"My father is a fair ruler," she started. "He saved our community from an early demise by instating laws that forbids vampires from hunting humans. He also made legislation for half-bloods, giving them the same rights as the full-blood and elite vampires. It made him popular with most people, but the elite…well, they liked things the way they were. It was not them who were being hunted by humans, they made sure to have servants or others do their dirty work. Plus, the thrill of biting a human, drinking their blood, it's a vice that is hard to give up on."
Callie paused for a moment and pursed her lips. "Allegedly," she added with a wink. Since she was half human, she had never bitten a human or drank their blood. She did not know what it was like, nor did she feel the need to find out.
"How do you…did you…?"
"No, I have never used my teeth for biting others," she said. When her own words dawned on her, she paused for a moment. "Apart from maybe the affectionate nibble here and there," she added with a mischievous look in her eyes. Business or not, this was still a date and she was intent on keeping the fun alive.
Arizona swallowed hard and quickly reached for her glass of wine to lubricate her dried up throat.
"Unlike what you see in the movies, or might have heard, vampires do not need human blood to survive. They eat food like everyone else does. Drinking blood is just a bonus, the vampire equivalent of doing a line of coke if you will. The only hunting and gathering we do, is standing in line at the supermarket, just like everybody else."
She took a sip of wine and carefully watched Arizona as the blonde took all the information in. Callie needed to know she was not scaring the blonde away, not after the nice meal they had just shared. "If…and I say if, this is what you think it is, it's a bunch of elites that think they need a new hobby. I know it sounds crude, but there has been talk about a coupe. People want to overthrow my father's reign because he is too nice to the little man."
Arizona fished in her purse and took out a small notepad and a pen and put it down next to her. She wanted to be able to write down useful information.
"Arizona," Callie said, her name rolling off the other woman's tongue sounding so much different. It was almost sexy and made Arizona flash the dark-haired woman a questioning look.
"This is confidential, Arizona," Callie repeated. "For your ears only."
"Oh." She put the notepad and pen back in her purse and held up her hand. "Sorry, the power of habit."
Callie shook her head and chuckled. "When the vampires stopped hunting, my father and a few of his trusted informants found a way to synthesize blood, giving vampires the opportunity to enjoy the high without…well, the low, I guess. It was quite revolutionary and it kept the streets safe at night. Lately, the young elites have been complaining that it's not the same, that they miss the thrill of the chase." Callie chuckled and shook her head. "If you ask me, they are just a bunch of airheads parroting their parents. But some of these assholes actually have quite the following. It's like the blind leading the even blinder." She could not help but roll her eyes as she thought of Oscar. The man revolted her.
"So…these murders…they are just for fun?"
"Like I said," Callie responded. "IF it's what you think it is, then yes. There is no need for anyone to hunt anyone else to survive. With all these TV Shows nowadays, making vampires sexy, it could actually be Renfield's or just an overzealous kid living out a fantasy."
"How…ah…Could you..ah.." Arizona suddenly could not formulate what she wanted to say. She wanted to ask if Callie could demonstrate how a vampire would bite, so maybe she could find a way to differentiate a real vampire bite from an imposter. But it made her think of having Callie's mouth on her neck again and that did something to her that was not even close to business-like.
Amused by the blonde's inability to form a sentence, Callie kept quiet, letting the other woman flounder for a moment.
Arizona recovered fairly quickly and licked her lips as she re-centered herself. "Do you think you could tell the difference between a real bite and something artificial? Are there any telltale signs or other marks I should look for?"
Callie bit her lip, letting it sit between her teeth slightly longer than necessary. Did Arizona really stop herself from asking what Callie thought she was going to ask? The last time she felt Arizona's pulse with the tip of her tongue was still etched in her memory. The power surge she felt was still fresh on her brain like ink that still needed to dry. "I think my father might be able to help you with that. I can't really think of anything that can be considered as a tell-tale sign of a vampire bite."
She paused for a moment and seemed to be contemplating something. "Although, I do think that the fact that there was no blood left at all is suspicious. A human has about 1.5 gallons of blood and will die if they lose about half a gallon of it. With all the blood gone, it means the victims were already deceased by the time they even got halfway. The thrill of the bite is feeling the pulse, feeling the other person's heartbeat, their life energy. I'd say drinking from a dead person is a lot less appealing, but that's just my opinion."
"Hmmm," Arizona was listening intently, her mind running a mile a minute to use this new information to try and solve the puzzle. "So, that would mean this leans more towards Renfield's or a zealous wannabe than a real vampire attack?"
Callie nodded. "But, as I said, that's just my opinion."
"It's certainly something I will look into," Arizona responded, taking mental notes for her research tomorrow. Suddenly, her question from earlier today popped up again. "And what about…what I am. Do all vampires see it?"
The other woman shook her head. "They can probably feel your power, but seeing auras is a gift that only runs in my family. They will not recognize you as anything other than a cop," Callie reassured the blonde.
"Ok. Good," Arizona replied quickly. She had been worried about it, but Callie's answer made sense. No one had noticed her in the district a couple of weeks ago. If like Callie, they could feel her from a mile away, she surely would have been caught.
"Would you like to move to the sofa?" Callie asked before getting up and taking their empty dessert plates. When she returned she motioned towards the living room that was adjacent to the dining area. "Another glass of wine?"
Arizona had truly enjoyed the dinner and the wine they had consumed with it, but if she was going to drive home, she should not be drinking. They had alternated the wine with sparkling water and the hefty meal would certainly help her body absorb some alcohol, but she knew her limit. "No more wine, thank you. Can I have some more water, please?"
"Of course," Callie said as she got the now empty carafe from the table and walked back to the kitchen to refill it. "Make yourself comfortable, I'll be right back."
Arizona sat down and let out a sigh. This evening had been great, it had been easy and natural. But now she was starting to feel jittery. Callie had flirted with her throughout the evening and she had enjoyed it. Maybe even a little too much. She had certainly given as good as she got, but she was not one hundred percent sure she was ready for what would happen if she continued poking the bear.
"Can I ask you something very personal?" Arizona asked when Callie sat down on the other side of the sofa. She was not sure how she felt about that, but for now, the slight distance was a good thing. She was not done talking just yet.
"Haven't you been asking me personal questions all night?"
She pursed her lips and nodded. "Touché. I was just wondering…when did you have to choose?" It was a huge question. It was something she had gone through herself and if someone asked her, she would not just answer that question. It was deeply personal and the answer gave away so much about her past and her life.
"When I turned sixteen," Callie responded simply. She looked at Arizona and hesitated for a moment. The answer was simple, but she could see the blonde wanted more. "It was just my father and I and he had been teaching me about both worlds. He always made sure I was well informed and I could fit in on both sides of the coin." As a child, she resented her father for it sometimes, but as an adult, she could not be more grateful for what her father had done for her. "Just before my birthday, he told me that…" she sighed softly and right there and then decided to just let it all out. "My mother died while giving birth to me. What I am….it literally killed her. She knew she was going to die giving birth to me, but she still decided to go ahead and give me life."
"Oh, Calliope," Arizona said softly. She scooted closer to the other woman and put her hand on Callie's leg.
"It's ok," Callie responded. The skin of her leg was burning where Arizona was touching her, but she forced herself to focus on her story and on Arizona's eyes. The look she was getting was incredibly soothing and somehow she felt safe enough to bare her soul in front of the other woman. "I was angry with my father for a long time, but in reality I was angry with myself. I killed my own mother, who does that? When it came to choosing, I chose both. My mother, my human mother, gave her life so I could have a life. The best thing I could do to honor her, was by living to the fullest myself. And that's what I've been doing. I worked hard, didn't accept my father's handouts and built my own life. I don't care about the money or the status, I care about living life to the fullest. Experiencing everything there is to experience and showing my mother every day that she did not die in vain."
As Callie spoke, Arizona started gently stroking her leg. It was a soothing gesture. All of a sudden, Arizona's palm was on her cheek, the woman's sleek thumb wiped away a few stray tears Callie had not even noticed had fallen. Her eyes met the most impossible blue and she could not help but lower her gaze to the blonde's lips. Callie bit her lip before slowly leaning forward.
Arizona had picked up on the move and instead of waiting, she gently met Callie halfway. Their lips met in a sweet, gentle kiss. The blonde held on to Callie's cheek as if she was trying to keep her close. The soft sigh escaping her throat made Callie's lips curl into a smile.
"Thank you," Callie said as they leaned back.
Arizona raised her eyebrow and chuckled. "Are you thanking me for kissing you? The pleasure was all mine, really."
"No, you goof," Callie replied. "Thank you for listening."
There was no response. Instead, Callie felt the blonde's lips against hers again. This time a little more forceful. When she gasped at the contact, Arizona used the momentum to slip out her tongue and deepen the kiss.
Arizona pushed Callie back a little, crawling half on top of the taller woman. The information Callie had just given her made her feel so special. It was obvious the woman did not share this with anyone and it made Arizona feel incredibly close to Callie. She did not know how else to convey that than by physically getting close as well.
Once again, Callie happily let Arizona take control. She had not expected a full-on make-out session, but she was not complaining. Her hands roamed over Arizona's back, coming to rest on the blonde's perfect ass, squeezing gently to pull her even closer.
The heat between them grew exponentially, almost creating a fog of want in the living room. There was nothing else in the world right now but Callie. Arizona reveled in the feel of the other woman's lips and tongue and the feel of her hands growing bolder as their kiss heated up.
"Arizona…"
She leaned back and gazed into Callie's eyes, searching for the reason why she broke the kiss. Arizona found the answer quickly. She nodded and made a point of poking her index finger into the soft skin of Callie's chest.
"What are you doing?" Callie asked, clearly confused.
The blonde grinned mischievously. "I'm poking the bear."
Callie shimmied out from under Arizona and got up from the sofa. The blonde was confused by her move and gazed up at her. Her hair was tousled, her lips slightly swollen from the kissing, and her eyes dark and completely focused on her. Arizona had never looked sexier. Without saying a word, Callie held out her hand. The first time she was going to have sex with Arizona would not be here on the sofa. She was going to take her to bed and lavish proper attention on every inch of Arizona.
Once she had caught up to the other woman's intention, Arizona bit her lip and got up. She slid her hand in Callie's and let the taller woman guide her upstairs. Her heart was pounding in her chest, a war raging in her head. She wanted this, she needed this, it had been building up from the moment they had met. There could not be a better moment to give herself to Callie than right now. The dark-haired woman had opened up completely, baring her soul, letting her into her house. There was no reason she should not trust Callie. And not to forget the fact that she was horny as hell. Pun totally intended. Calliope Torres was probably the sexiest and sultry woman to walk the earth and there was no way Arizona could just walk away tonight, no matter what the little voices in her head said.
When they reached the threshold to Callie's bedroom, the taller woman paused, again searching Arizona's eyes.
The blonde smiled at her, appreciative of what Callie was trying to do. But there was no time for doubt now. Arizona chose her human side tonight, she chose to be with Callie and nothing was going to stop her from devouring the other woman again. She all but jumped towards Callie and pushed the taller woman against the open door of her own bedroom, attacking her lips in a fierce, tell-all kiss.
"God, Arizona," Callie croaked out when the blonde moved from her lips to her neck. Arizona's sudden fierceness had once again surprised her. And once again she found herself being doted on instead of the other way around. This was her turn. As horny as she was right now, she wanted to get her hands on Arizona first.
With her heightened state or arousal, also came her instinct, making Callie stronger than she usually was. She easily turned the tables and changed their positions. Arizona was now pressed against the open door and it was Callie who had her lips on the pale skin of the blonde's neck. "My turn," she all but growled as she pulled the slightly smaller woman towards her. She reached behind Arizona's back and unzipped her dress, letting it pool on the floor. Callie stepped back and licked her lips as she let her eyes feast on Arizona's body. "You are miraculous, Arizona Robbins," she said before gently pushing the woman towards her bed.
Arizona was at her most vulnerable, but she felt safe here. Callie made her feel safe and whatever the woman was doing to her, made her feel so powerful. The high she had felt last week was slowly returning and it excited her even further. As she was being pushed towards Callie's bed, her eyes fell on the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Callie's backyard and lake Washington. It was dark outside, the full moon lit the sky and Callie's bedroom, giving it a pale glow. She swallowed hard, her whole body desperate for the other woman's attention. "I want you," she said quietly, her voice almost just a mere whimper.
She might as well have screamed the words at Callie. An unconscious groan left her throat and she gently pushed Arizona, making her fall onto the bed. She quickly stepped out of her own dress and crawled on top of her lover, like a tiger stalking its prey. She started by kissing the blonde, deep and hard, both of them moaning at the skin-on-skin contact.
Ever since their last encounter, Callie had thought, and fantasized about this exact moment. She had promised herself that given the chance, she would savor it, take her time. But now it was actually happening, her own excitement almost made her frantic. She simply did not know where to start, where to touch, kiss, or lick the other woman's body. She wanted all of her and she wanted it now.
Within no time, Arizona was completely naked, her bra and panties haphazardly discarded. "Fuck," Callie moaned out at the angelic sight in front of her. She started by kissing Arizona all over, her neck, her shoulders, the valley between her breasts, her stomach, everywhere but where Arizona wanted her to kiss. The pale skin of the blond tasted so good, she could happily spend all night doing just this. Although, who was she kidding? She wanted more.
"Calliope, please," Arizona whimpered, completely lost in what Callie was doing to her body. She needed the other woman to stop teasing though. The throbbing between her legs was starting to become unbearable. She needed release.
"Please what?" Callie asked in a teasing tone in between nips to Arizona's hip bone.
"Stop teasing me," the blonde managed to croak out.
Callie snickered and purposely skipped the area Arizona wanted her to play with and moved to the blonde's thighs, licking and nipping a trail up towards her core.
"Calliope…."
This time, Callie raised her head and looked at Arizona. She bit her lip as she took in the sight before her. The blonde's chest was flushed from arousal, expanding quickly and deflating again with the woman's erratic breathing.
"Please just…."
No more pleading was necessary. Arizona was not the only one that needed this. Callie had waited long enough, she had been teased and poked until her breaking point. And now she was going to take whatever she wanted from Arizona. And she would not stop until she was satisfied.
She completely lost herself in everything Arizona. The blonde's scent, the feel of her skin, the taste of her, it all heightened her senses. When her fingers entered Arizona, she let out a loud sigh of satisfaction. She had wanted to do this for a while, but what it brought her was something she could not even have fantasized about. The moment Arizona toppled over the edge, Callie could feel and taste the woman's pleasure. It came out as an energy surge like no other, overwhelming Callie with emotions and serenity at the same time. It was like she could feel Arizona's inner turmoil, mixed with her own, but at the same time, a wave of tranquility crashed over her, washing away all the negative. It brought tears to her eyes as she carefully watched the blonde enjoy her orgasm.
When Arizona's body stilled, Callie gently retreated her fingers and crawled on top of the blonde. She planted a languid kiss on the other woman's lips and smiled into it. "That was…"
"Wow," Arizona finished her sentence for her.
Callie chuckled and gazed into Arizona's eyes. "What just happened?" This was not just an orgasm. She had given plenty of people orgasms before, but it was never like this. It was never this intense. Right now, in this instant, Callie felt like she did not have a care in the world. All she could feel was peace and love and an immense connection to the woman lying beneath her. She felt powerful. It had seemed like Arizona's pleasure had fueled her life energy, giving her immense strength and power.
Arizona gazed deep into Callie's eyes and for a moment, all that was audible were both their labored breaths. The blonde broke the tender moment by chuckling, her lips curling into a mischievous smirk. "Humans call it an orgasm," she teased.
Callie shook her head and gently nipped at Arizona's collarbone to punish her for the teasing. It was not real punishment though, judging by the deep breath of air the blonde sucked in. "You know what I mean," she spoke while making a trail of kisses up to Arizona's face. "Did you use any of your powers on me?"
Arizona's eyes had closed as Callie doted even more on her, loving all the attention she was getting. Who would have thought Calliope Torres was such a considerate lover? She had pegged the woman to be more of a 'to the point' kind of person. Instead, the dark-haired woman had made Arizona feel like she was the only person in the world. Like a Goddess.
The question that was being posed, made her open her eyes again. She raised her eyebrow and shook her head. "Definitely not."
She moved her hand up to cup the dark-haired woman's cheek. Arizona had seen the look in Callie's eyes and she had noticed something had happened. She had definitely had orgasms before, but not like this. It had almost been like she had left earth for a moment and came back to being safely cradled in Callie's arms.
Callie smirked. "Ok, so you really are just that good in bed," repeating her remark from their last encounter.
The remark made both women chuckle and Arizona leaned up to press a kiss against the other woman's lips. She had made the right call. It had been okay to let go for a little while and it had been quite rewarding.
"I'll show you just how good," the blonde said when she found her second wind. Using the element of surprise, she easily flipped them over, grinding her hips against Callie's.
"Hmmm, I can hardly wait."
The first time she had let Arizona control her body had been exhilarating, something done in the heat of the moment. It had been quite a different experience because the blonde had made her feel power and energy like she had never felt before. Tonight, it went even deeper and Callie could almost literally feel the walls around her heart crumble with every kiss and touch from the blonde. Arizona had brought her to great heights and had made her feel things so powerful that she had ended up with tears in her eyes.
Once she came down from her orgasm, Callie started crying uncontrollably and she had no idea why. Arizona had wrapped her arms around the other woman and had consoled her, speaking soothing words to her while kissing her temple.
"Are you ok, Calliope?" Arizona asked when Callie's sobs had subsided.
The dark-haired woman just nodded, a bright red blush creeping up her cheeks. "I have no idea where that came from," she said earnestly, embarrassed about what had just happened.
"It's alright," Arizona whispered before planting a gentle kiss on Callie's still swollen lips. "Sometimes there is no reason."
They just lay there for a moment, entangled in each other, feeling the other's warmth. Callie had been quiet, but once she centered herself she gazed deep into Arizona's eyes before she spoke up. "Would you tell me something about your family?"
For a second, Arizona's body went rigid. But the warmth and comfort of Callie's body wrapped around her made her feel relaxed.
"I mean, you know pretty much all there is to know about mine. I ahh…I'm curious about yours." She pushed a strand of hair behind Arizona's ear and looked at the woman expectantly.
"It's just my grandmother and me," Arizona responded while she started fidgeting with the throw pillow that was lying next to her on the sofa. "My father…he was a Marine. He..he died while on a mission abroad."
"Oh, Arizona, I'm so sorry to hear that," Callie said quietly. Now it started to make sense why the blonde had not offered up this information so freely.
"My mother, she was not there to save him. She could not rescue him and she…" Arizona paused for a moment and Callie found herself wanting to pull Arizona even closer. "She could not handle it, she could not live with herself so she…ahh…she went home to be with him."
The way Arizona emphasized the word 'home' made Callie realize she did not mean that word in the literal sense. That just broke Callie's heart. She could somewhere understand the need Arizona's mother might have felt to be with her husband, but leaving a child behind? She would never understand that.
A million and one questions suddenly fired through her head. Could angels travel between worlds? Could Arizona's mother come to visit?
"I haven't seen her since she left," Arizona continued talking, her voice sounding monotonous as if she was reciting someone else's story.
"God, I'm so sorry," Callie responded again. She had intended to find out a little more about the blonde, but instead, she seemed to be opening a huge can of ugly worms. "Can she…Is it possible for her to…travel?"
"No," Arizona answered simply. "When she made the choice, she knew she would probably never see me again. Her guilt….it was eating her alive. She didn't want that negativity for me, so she left."
It was quiet on the line for a moment, Callie was digesting the information and Arizona seemed to be centering herself again. "So yeah, it's been my grandma and me ever since I was eight years old."
"Your grandma is a badass though," Callie said, trying to lighten the mood. "I wouldn't wanna be in her crosshairs."
Her words made Arizona giggle and Callie thought it was the cutest sound she had heard the blonde make. At this moment, she felt whole and it was a foreign feeling. There was no need to jump out of bed and search for the next conquest, there was no need to chase the next high. She was just content and most of all, she felt calm.
"You know what baffles me?" Arizona's index finger absentmindedly drew patterns on Callie's collarbone as she spoke.
"Hmm?" Callie had her eyes closed and was basking in the moment.
"That your father and my grandmother are friends."
The dark-haired woman's eyes shot open and a grin appeared on her face. "I know, right? But on the other hand, I can kinda see it." Callie licked her lips and pursed them before she continued. "So…what did you see that night your grandmother healed my father?"
"I saw his darkness," Arizona responded. "It was like all the light was sucked up and the life was being sucked out of my grandmother's body. Your father started getting more and more powerful like he was being charged with life energy or something. His teeth were out and his eyes had gone pitch black. The power he radiated was so strong it almost knocked me over. And then, all of a sudden, everything was back to normal."
Callie raised her eyebrow. "That's crazy."
"Yeah, it was. I never realized there were people walking this earth that have that much power." Arizona bit her lip and gazed at Callie. "I know something else that's quite powerful…." And with that, she latched onto Callie's neck, fueling the fire within her newfound lover to bring her to another high.
Right now, Arizona did not feel any remorse or doubt. She wanted to let go. Wanted to get out of her head and just feel. This connection she had with Callie, whatever it may be, felt good and it made her feel safe when she was with the other woman. She did not want to think about it too much and just experience whatever it was that Callie had to offer.