Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows Chapter 6: The Dance Part V, a guiding light fanfic

Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

Author: Kimberly21570

Fandom: Guiding Light

Pairings: Olivia and Natalia

Author's Note: I do apologize for the delay in posting this update. It has been in the works for quite some time; however, midway through, my muse decided that the sequencing of the story should take a different turn. Thus, this update picks up four hours after Olivia reveals to Natalia that she had a son. It details, via flashbacks, some of what happened after the conversation ended; however, their actual conversation will be revealed in future chapters. Just thought I'd let y'all know, so that there's no concern that an update has been missed.

Disclaimers and Other Assorted Ramblings: The characters of Olivia and Emma Spencer, Natalia and Rafe Rivera, Gus/Nicky Aitoro, Doris Wolfe, Josh Lewis, and Matt Reardon are owned by Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. No copyright infringement intended with regard to GL, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, or any other entity.

The dialogue, props, etc. in these scenes are original. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.

Rating: Chapter 6.4b is rated R for sexual situations, strong innuendo and coarse language; but subsequent chapters will eventually reach NC-17.

I hope y'all enjoy …

Regards -

Kimberly

Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

"Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough. Not only have I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut they will give up their secrets, but I have found that when I silently commune with people they give up their secrets also, if you love them enough."

George Washington Carver[/center]

Chapter 6.4b – The Dance | Buried Secrets, Fabricated Truths, and Consequences:

Four Hours Later…

Regally perched on her favorite cushioned barstool at Watershed, her left leg casually draped over her right, Olivia Spencer was the picture of class, style, and grace in her perfectly tailored, gray pinstriped Armani suit and sleek, black Gucci pumps; her body language virtually exuding self-confidence, power, and control.

A partially-consumed vodka martini grew warm on the sleek black-marble bar in front of her, and Olivia chuckled to herself at the sheer irony of such an unlikely occurrence. Not so long ago, one of Diane's flawlessly-prepared martinis never would have survived long enough in her presence to even sully the glass, let alone actually grow warm; and given the amount of time the hotelier had been perched at the bar this evening, she likely would have indulged in several of the favored concoctions. Taking the moment in, she processed it, and marveled at the changes that had taken place within her in such a relatively short period of time – Changes that were wholly attributable to one Natalia Rivera. And feeling a swell of gratitude, she closed her eyes in uncharacteristic reverence, lifting a silent acknowledgement to Natalia's God for giving them both a chance for a new life.

Moments later, a stealthy grin played at the corners of her mouth, her thoughts shifting to Natalia, as she deftly smoothed a crease from the sleeve of her jacket, before reaching for her Blackberry to check the time: Seven o'clock. Natalia will be here soon … she thought; her heart racing in anticipation of seeing the beautiful Latina again, as she recalled their agreement to meet at seven-thirty, giving them an hour-and-a-half together, before drinks with Josh and Matt at nine. Christ! When did I become such a giddy schoolgirl? she wondered; rolling her eyes at the mere notion of such an uncharacteristic show of gaiety.

Thoughts of Natalia and the unexpected yet pleasant turn their afternoon had taken caused the corners of Olivia's perfect lips to twitch into that teasingly sensuous smile, and a surge of liquid fire coursed through her veins; culminating at her center, where it pulsated, tormenting her in the most exquisite way. And shifting on her seat, the smooth fabric of her Armani trousers rustled softly as Olivia stealthily crossed her right leg over her left, that sensuous smile morphing into a satisfied smirk, as she remembered the events of the previous four hours …

Their conversation had been long and difficult; excruciatingly painful in its darkest moments; blissfully cathartic at the most unexpected times – and in the end, it left them both deeply relieved and profoundly exhausted …

Spotting the telltale signs of fatigue in Olivia's body language – deepening creases in her furrowed brow, the onset of a headache, which led to difficulty concentrating, the intermittent pinching of the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger, and increased snappishness – Natalia knew them all intimately, and dragging Olivia into the master bedroom of her suite, she insisted, in her mother-hen way, upon the hotelier taking a much-needed nap.

"Just … lie down and take nap for me, Olivia …" Natalia insisted. "You know you're exhausted … I can see that you're exhausted … so just lie down, just … lie down and rest for awhile, and then, and then … you'll wake up and … and you'll … you'll feel refreshed," she said, her tone full of cheerful optimism, "so … please … Just lie down, Honey. Do it for me …"

Olivia offered her a roguish smile. God I love it when you ramble, she thought, as she reached out, her arms casually curling around Natalia's waist. Effortlessly, she pulled the Latina against her; silencing the endless rambling with the capturing of that overzealous mouth with her own.

The kiss was long, deep, and deliberate, as Olivia skillfully engaged Natalia's tongue in a much more pleasurable activity.

Slowly, she rolled her tongue around Natalia's, causing the younger woman's pulse to increase, her blood pressure to spike, as liquid heat pooled between her thighs – a physiological response which was mirrored within the hotelier's own body.

Natalia moaned softly, as Olivia's tongue lightly brushed against her own. "Olivia …" she breathed into that open mouth; as she stealthily slipped her hands beneath the fabric of the hotelier's jacket, gliding them through the valley between Olivia's breasts. She could feel the heat emanating from the skin beneath the silky blue camisole Olivia was wearing, as her hands brushed over it, climbing up to push the jacket from strong, sleek shoulders.

She tossed the jacket on the bed behind them, and receiving no protest from the hotelier, Natalia's hands dropped to the waist of Olivia's trousers, her lips and tongue still engaged in a sensual skirmish with the hotelier's, as she deftly unbuckled the belt, nimble fingers grasping a stubborn button.

A sharp gasp emitted from deep within Olivia's chest, and nipping at Natalia's lower lip, she gently tugged it, "W-what are you doing?" she husked, as she willfully slowed their kiss.

"What does it feel like I'm doing?" Natalia grinned, murmuring into their kiss. "I'm taking off your pants …"

Olivia gulped. "Umm … Why?" she said shakily, as her breath caught in her chest; leaving her with the distinct feeling that she might just hyperventilate.

"Well, not because we're gonna have sex, if that's what you're thinking," Natalia teased; smiling against Olivia's lips.

Olivia whimpered, causing Natalia to laugh.

"Sorry …" Natalia said; not so apologetically. "The only reason your pants are coming off today, is so they don't wrinkle when you take your nap …" she grinned.

Much to Olivia's chagrin, she found her self acquiescing – though not without garnering a little something for herself, in the bargain. She quickly formulated a plan, setting her course, and soothing Natalia's lip the light brushing of her tongue, she gently ended their kiss. Then, fully aware that Natalia's hands were still gripping the front of her trousers, Olivia moaned softly, and arched an eyebrow. "I never agreed to a nap …"

"Yet …" Natalia challenged; arching a deliberate eyebrow of her own.

"You sound awfully sure of yourself, Ms. Rivera …" Olivia grinned; a hint of flirtation in her voice.

"Oh, I am …" Natalia smirked; kissing the hotelier playfully.

"Oh, yeah?" Olivia bantered; arching that eyebrow again. "And just what am I gonna get in return, if I agree … Huh?"

Natalia shrugged her shoulders. "You won't fall asleep in your martini tonight …" she said decisively; swiftly extricating herself from the hotelier's arms, making her way across the room to the dresser.

"Not so fast …" Olivia halted; quickly catching up with the Latina, and wrapping her arms around from behind; burying her face in long raven tresses. She lingered for a moment, drawing in the scent of the woman she loved. "What do you think you're doing?" she teased; playfully assaulting Natalia's neck with kisses.

Natalia squealed, as she reached for the top drawer of the dresser. "Stop it!" she giggled; attempting to wriggle her way out of Olivia's arms. "I'm getting you something to sleep in …" she announced. "I don't have time to steam wrinkles out of your suit this afternoon …"

Olivia maintained her hold on Natalia, nuzzling her ear. "It isn't your job to worry about my wrinkled suit, ya know …" she smiled; her lips lightly brushing the other woman's earlobe. "That's what laundry service is for …"

A knowing smile crept across Natalia's lips, as a sarcastic response played on the tip of her tongue. She resisted the urge to mock the hotelier; instead choosing to remain in the moment, enjoying the closeness of the woman who held her. Turning her head to the side, she smiled softly. "I like taking care of you," she whispered; kissing Olivia's cheek, "which is why I'm insisting that you take a nap," she said firmly; but the slight grin on her lips belied the commanding tone in her voice.

Olivia laughed softly; effortlessly turning Natalia around in her arms. "I'll make you a deal …" she said temptingly.

An eyebrow arched in response; causing Olivia's grin to deepen. "I'll agree to your nap, but … only if you'll join me …"

"Olivia, I don't have time for a nap …" Natalia replied dismissively; rolling her eyes, as she attempted once again to extricate herself from the hotelier's arms.

Holding her ground, both physically and mentally, Olivia tightened her grip on Natalia's waist. "Uh-uh …" she grunted, insisting, "If I have the time, then so do you …"

"I'm serious, Babe," Natalia reiterated. "I have that staff meeting today, and …" she glanced at her watch and sighed, "crap, I'm already late …"

"You're not late …" Olivia stated forthrightly; shaking her head in emphasis, a slow grin forming on her lips. "The meeting can't start until you get there …"

Natalia made a face at her. "You know what I mean …" she fussed; causing Olivia to laugh, and kiss her.

"Postpone your meeting until tomorrow," Olivia instructed. "Hell, postpone it until next week, for all I care! I saw your agenda. It's nothing urgent …" she remarked; attempting to sell her point.

"I can't do that, Olivia," Natalia insisted. "I have people waiting on me …"

"You're the boss! You can do any damned thing ya want …" Olivia reasoned; playfully shrugging her shoulders. "And right now … you really wanna take a nap with your boss …" she winked; grinning at her executive assistant.

"I don't take naps …" Natalia pouted; realizing she was losing the battle. After all, how could she seriously refuse this woman? She couldn't. And she knew it.

"Well, ya do today … If you want me to agree, that is …" Olivia smirked; knowing, without a doubt, that she had won this skirmish.

Natalia mumbled something under her breath; causing Olivia to laugh. "What was that, Sweetheart?" she said teasingly.

"Nothing …" Natalia replied airily; unable to keep the grin from her lips.

"That's what I thought …" Olivia said playfully; pulling Natalia flush against her body, eliciting soft groans from two sets of lungs.

Natalia reached up, tenderly raking her fingers through those soft, chestnut locks. "You're gonna be the death of me, Olivia Spencer …" she said softly; and taking advantage of the equal height afforded them by the absence of the hotelier's trademark heels, she leaned in, kissing Olivia slowly.

Olivia smiled against Natalia's lips. "Not for at least the next fifty years …" she murmured; wrapping her arms firmly around the Latina's body, as she pressed her against the edge of the dresser.

"Deal …" Natalia whispered into Olivia's mouth; gently caressing the hotelier's cheek, as she deepened their kiss.

Relaxed in Olivia's office chair, her right leg casually crossed over her left, Natalia Rivera was the embodiment of competent professionalism, seasoned with a perfect serving of inner grace, as she skillfully managed the tasks at hand. After handing a pricing issue for an upcoming wedding reception with the Beacon's principal florist, while simultaneously reviewing the spreadsheets for Olivia's meeting with the finance department the following morning, she quickly perused and drafted e-mail responses to several of the hotelier's inquiries regarding the statuses of several projects that were currently in the works.

Then, it was on to the business of confirming drinks with Josh and Matt at nine, and checking with Jane to make sure Emma was covered for both that evening and the following one, when she and Olivia were to go on their first real date. Jane agreed to stay with Emma in Olivia's suite that evening until she and the hotelier had finished their business. Natalia instructed her to order dinner for the two of them on Olivia's account, and reminded her that homework was to be finished and checked before Emma was allowed to play in the arcade or go swimming. Bath time was seven-thirty, and Emma was to be in bed by eight o'clock. The following evening, Jane would meet them at the farmhouse, and stay with Emma there so that the young Miss Spencer might make it to bed in her own room at her regular time at least one of the two nights. Jane was familiar with the drill both at the Beacon and at the farmhouse, and quickly affirming Natalia's instructions, they terminated the call.

Pleased with all she had accomplished within the relatively short period of time since parting from Olivia, she kicked back, propping her feet up on the hotelier's desk. She didn't ordinarily use Olivia's office, having a perfectly comfortable office of her own, but something about this afternoon left her with a deep-burning need to stay connected with her partner, even if only by means of sitting in her desk chair, using her computer. In retrospect, it seemed a bit silly to her, but she didn't really care. All that mattered was that she felt close to Olivia, despite the lack of physical proximity.

Glancing around the desk, a soft smile tiptoed across her lips, as her eyes landed on a photo of herself and Rafe, taken at Company not long after Gus learned Rafe was his son. Natalia remembered the day fondly, because Gus had taken his son to Chicago for the Cubs versus Cardinals game – a dream come true for the boy, who had always longed to see the lifelong rivalry in action. But Cards/Cubs tickets were almost always a sellout at Wrigley Field, and even if they weren't, they came at a premium that Natalia simply couldn't afford. And so it had been Gus who made that dream a reality for their son, and Rafe had been so excited about the trip that he couldn't sleep the night before. Natalia smiled at the memory of her nearly-grown son acting like a five-year-old on Christmas Eve, anxiously waiting for Santa to come with his gifts. "Thank you for giving our son that memory, Nicky," she said softly; unshed tears collecting in mahogany eyes.

Forcing back the tears, she studied the photo then, noting that her son was wearing his favorite Cubs jersey, with his baseball cap on backwards; his face a little more tan than usual from having been in the sun all afternoon. She was wearing the dark blue Company t-shirt with the cropped sleeves, her hair tucked behind her right ear, flowing in loose curls around her shoulders, as she leaned in behind Rafe who was sitting on the bench on the front porch of the restaurant. Her arms were draped casually around her son's neck, as she pressed her left cheek against his right. She wondered for a moment just how, exactly, Olivia had come to be in possession of the picture, and how long it had been adorning the hotelier's desk without her ever noticing it; but she didn't question why. She already knew.

Next, her eyes fell on the photos of the two of them with Emma – one taken on their first Christmas together, the other on New Year's Eve. They were familiar photos of treasured memories, with each of them having several personal copies, in addition to the ones that were displayed in their farmhouse – the ones hanging casually on the refrigerator door, and framed copies on the end table in the living room, as well as in each of their bedrooms, Natalia's office next door, and Olivia's suite just upstairs.

The photo from Christmas evoked the precious memory of Olivia, and the unexpected gift she had received from her: The doorframe from her apartment in Chicago, where she had recorded her little boy's height as he grew into a tall, lean young man, much like his father. "That's when I knew, Olivia," she whispered softly; lending voice to the truth she had carried in her heart, waiting, praying, for the acknowledgment that had finally come on Valentine's Day.

She reached out, lifting the frame from the desk, lovingly wiping the glass with the sleeve of her jacket. It wasn't so much that it was dusty, because Natalia knew Rosalie had taken Olivia's office as part of her own routine; but rather, it was an act of reverence on her part, to lovingly attend to the photo of her family – the little girl who had tugged at her heart not so very long ago, and the woman who now owned it.

And then she felt the heat of unshed tears prickling her eyes again, as she raised both a prayer of thanksgiving for her many blessings, along with a petition to God, that Rafe would be sitting next to Emma in their next Christmas photo.

Wiping her tears, she placed the photo back in its place, as she yawned softly, blinking her eyes as if fighting sleep. And suddenly she felt very thankful for Olivia's insistence upon sharing a nap. Such indulgences were not commonplace for Natalia; having grown accustomed to working long hours on little, if any, sleep when Rafe was growing up, and she found it disconcerting that she could still feel so tired after having rested for the better part of two hours.

And then her thoughts carried her back to those moments shared with Olivia just prior to their impromptu naptime – Moments of laughter and enlightenment, moments of tender respite, and finally, moments of uninhibited sensuality, which still left the Latina's body smoldering, hours later. Her face flushed crimson, the corners of her mouth curling into a furtive smile, as her thoughts prompted a heated wave of renewed desire to flash through her body, culminating in her center, where it ached in the most feral of ways …

Turning her attention back to the dresser, Natalia glanced into the top drawer, and spotting an unexpected and humorous sight, a hearty laugh emanated from deep within her abdomen.

"What's so funny?" Olivia asked; peering over Natalia's shoulder.

"These …" Natalia chortled; pulling a pair of sky blue Spongebob pajamas from the drawer. They were speckled with little smiley-faced stars and sleepy crescent moons, which only made her chuckle more. She set the pajamas on the dresser, and turned in Olivia's arms, grinning at her. "Olivia … I had no idea …" she said; eyes wide, feigning shock, as if such a finding indicated some sort of naughty obsession.

Olivia arched an eyebrow. "Having fun?" she groused; but the playful lift at the corners of her mouth gave her underlying mirth away.

Natalia laughed. "Spongebob? Really?" she said; shaking her head at the hotelier, as she offered her a dimpled smile. "I learn something new about you every day …"

Rolling her eyes, Olivia grinned. "What?" she said innocently; a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "When Emma and I lived here, we sometimes had 'silly jammy night', where we wore matching jammies, and laid in bed watching cartoons all night," she defended; the fondness of those memories with her daughter evident in her tone. "It was fun …" she said softly, jade eyes suddenly shy, as she looked away from Natalia's steady gaze.

Natalia tipped Olivia's chin, tenderly taking the hotelier's face in her hands. "I love that about you, Olivia Spencer – the way you are with Emma," she whispered in confession, "It's one of the things I love most about you …"

She paused then, searching Olivia's face, her eyes. "You never cease to amaze me, you know …" she shared, her voice brimming with awe, as she gazed into those sparkling pools of jade. "Every time I think I've found the very essence of you, I realize there's another layer just waiting for me to discover …" she whispered; her voice low and husky with emotion, as she literally felt herself falling a little more deeply in love with the hotelier.

Olivia swallowed hard around the lump that was promptly forming in her throat, and shifted on her feet; her discomfort with the prospect of being so transparent evident, as she attempted to avert those probing eyes. But Natalia would have no part of it. Holding Olivia's gaze, she continued, "Thank you for sharing those parts of yourself with me, Olivia," she said quietly, soft mahogany eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I know that isn't easy for you …"

"They're just cartoon pajamas, Natalia," Olivia said dismissively; dropping the Latina's gaze, as she attempted to avert further exploration of her inner self. "It's not like I facilitated world peace …"

The corner of her mouth upturning in a disapproving bent, Natalia rolled her eyes. "Why do you do that?" she sighed; the faintness of that sigh exuding sadness, more so than frustration.

"Do what?" Olivia asked; feigning unawareness.

Natalia reached out; tipping Olivia's chin again. "Dismiss me, when I'm telling you how wonderful you are …" she said quietly; lightly brushing chestnut locks from the hotelier's face.

Olivia unconsciously bit her bottom lip. "I'm more accustomed to being reminded of what a coldhearted bitch I am …" she answered honestly.

Sighing softly; twinges of guilt grasping an abrasive hold on her, Natalia admitted, "I know I'm guilty of that, myself," her tone rife with remorse.

Olivia arched an eyebrow. "Let's not pretend I didn't deserve it," she said wryly; the corner of her mouth slightly upturned.

Natalia considered her for a moment, carefully observing the tentative woman who stood before her. Olivia was always so poised and certain of herself when it came to her business, but behind the smoke and mirrors of her bravado, she held such vulnerability within her that it nearly broke Natalia's heart. She had long ago made a silent promise to both the hotelier and herself, that she would care for this vulnerable part of Olivia; nurture it, until its owner was able to see her own worth, and value herself for the woman she was within.

After a long, introspective pause, Natalia met Olivia's gaze, her eyes brimming with clarity of purpose, "I would never taint our history, by pretending it was anything other than what it truly was," she said forthrightly.

The woman's unspoken resolve was not lost on Olivia, and she canted her head to one side, offering her an inquisitive expression. "And what, exactly, was it, Natalia?" she challenged; jade eyes piercing through her like steel, as she anticipated the answer.

Taking Olivia's face in her hands again, she leaned close, her lips barely a hairsbreadth away from the hotelier's. "It was the journey that led us here …" she whispered, the warmth of her breath ghosting across Olivia's lips.

Olivia's eyes snapped closed, as her breath hitched in her chest; soft, full lips literally trembling from the torturous nearness of Natalia's mouth. "Here …" she breathed, almost absentmindedly, so adrift was she in the presence of this intoxicating woman.

She wondered how it was that his woman could cause such a decisive shift within her, with merely the promise of a single touch; but before she could finish the thought, Natalia was kissing her again; dexterous hands snaking beneath the silky camisole she was wearing, gliding along the edges of her torso.

The tenderness and warmth of those hands on her skin felt overwhelming, and Olivia gasped against the mouth that held her captive. "Natalia, what are you doing?" she hitched, her body temperature escalating with every millimeter of skin the Latina touched.

"Being here … with you," Natalia murmured; breaking their kiss just long enough to slip the camisole over Olivia's head; leaving the hotelier with only the matching lace bra covering her upper body. Then, reclaiming those kiss-swollen lips, the backs of her fingers scraped along the smooth flesh of Olivia's abdomen, prompting taut muscles to involuntarily flex and quiver, as a soft whimper seeped from burning lungs, and Olivia's thoughts were lost to her once again.

Natalia smiled against Olivia's open mouth, breathing her in as she kissed her, slowly, sensually, her hands falling down to the button of the hotelier's trousers once again; and this time, that stubborn nemesis proved no match for the determined Latina.

Thoughts returning to the present, Natalia found her cheeks flushed to the point of actually feeling warm to the touch; which only served to cause a deeper blush to paint her skin. She drew in a deep breath, her body temperature rising from the mere remembrance of her hands and mouth exploring the warm, soft flesh of Olivia's body; and she seriously had to ponder what had come over her in that hotel suite just a few hours prior.

Olivia had long ago indulged in the olives that had once garnished her favorite alcoholic concoction, and was now absentmindedly twirling; then alternately sucking, a lone swizzle stick – arguably making it the most enviable object in all of Springfield, or as would be Natalia's estimation, the entire planet. She shifted in her seat, a furtive grin teasing the corners of her mouth, as she remembered the soft, tingly sensation of Natalia's hands on her body.

Always at the top of her game, Diane noted the abandoned cocktail, as well as the reflective demeanor of the women who held it. It was vastly unlike the hotelier to allow a good drink to go to waste; but beyond that, Diane observed, it was infinitely more unlike the woman to look so … serene … She might even go so far as to say… happy … And hoping to coax a tidbit of titillating scuttlebutt out of her boss, she set her course; sidling up to the hotelier. "Refresh your drink, Ms. Spencer?" she asked; approaching with an offer she thought the hotelier would be unable to refuse.

Startled from her thoughts, Olivia flinched slightly.

Then, quickly regaining her composure, "No, thanks …" she replied evenly; offering the gangly, blonde bartender a dismissive smile; the remnants of the neglected cocktail all but forgotten, as she lost herself once again in reflections of the events that had transpired earlier that very afternoon …

Natalia's hands made quick work of the button on Olivia's trousers, swiftly reaching for the zipper, as her mouth fell down the slope of the hotelier's neck. She kissed Olivia there, her mouth and tongue forging a slow exploration, as her hands caressed the hotelier's lower back, just above the waistline of her trousers.

Olivia's pulse raced under that tantalizing mouth, beating wildly against Natalia's tongue and, her head dropping back, a long, slow, desirous hiss released from the back of her throat, as her hands found their way to younger woman's waist, fingers clutching, holding her in place.

Natalia moaned softly at the amalgam of sensations caused by the hammering of Olivia's pulse and the vibrations emanating from her throat. Dropping down onto the hotelier's upper chest, she covered the soft, warm expanse of skin with slow, open-mouthed kisses, as her hands slipped beneath those gray pinstriped trousers, deftly slipping them over the hotelier's shapely hips, sending them careening to the floor around her feet.

Unwilling to remain a bystander in this game, Olivia kicked her trousers to the side, and grasped Natalia's face in her hands, claiming her mouth in a passion-infused kiss.

Natalia's lips parted, an open invitation, her body surging with heat and desire; and Olivia didn't hesitate to accept, slipping her tongue inside, as Natalia's fingers dug into the smooth flesh of her hips.

Olivia kissed her, long and slow, her own body reacting in similar fashion to Natalia's. Her hands finally slipping down to the buttons of Natalia's shirt, she slowly began to disrobe her.

One button … two … then three popped open … and finally, Natalia smiled against Olivia's lips. "What are you doing?" she murmured; tossing Olivia's earlier question back at her; hands rising to cover the hotelier's.

Olivia lips formed that mischievous smile against Natalia's mouth. "What does it feel like I'm doing?" she whispered, a roguish lilt to her tone.

Jade eyes gazed off into the distance, as that furtive grin returned to play at the corners of her mouth, and once again, Olivia's reflective demeanor left her easy prey for the gossip-minded.

"Somebody got laid …" a bawdy voice boomed in Olivia's ear; breaking into her trance, and tearing her away from thoughts of Natalia.

Dropping her feet from Olivia's desk, Natalia reached for the folder at the corner, slipping the final reports inside, and setting it back in place. And finally, with the drafting of an e-mail to her staff to reschedule their meeting, she logged off of Olivia's computer, confident that she had addressed all the pertinent issues of the day, and anticipated the hotelier's needs for their meeting the following morning. A deep sense of self-worth, one deeper than she had ever known, washed over her, and she smiled to herself, as once again, she issued forth a prayer of thanks for Olivia, and all the blessings the woman she loved had sown into her life.

Her thoughts turned back to that afternoon, and the memory of how Olivia had been with her – one moment hot and sultry, leaving her literally quaking in the hotelier's arms; the next sweet and tender, making her fall in love all over again …

"It feels … Umm … It feels like … you're … undressing me …" Natalia stuttered into Olivia's mouth.

Olivia smiled roguishly against that mouth, and slipped her hands inside Natalia's shirt, wrapping her arms around the younger woman's body; pulling her close, as she continued to kiss her. Slow, deep kisses that left them both nearly breathless.

Both women gasped, expelling soft exhalations of air into one another's mouths, as their abdomens came into contact, flesh upon flesh, for the first time; and Natalia shuddered in Olivia's arms, her legs nearly giving out.

Olivia caught her, holding her up; the sheer gravity of Natalia's reaction weighing heavier on the hotelier than the Latina's physical body ever could. She reveled in the contact, of the soft warmth of Natalia's skin against her own, as leisurely, she kissed her way to the woman's ear. "And does the Lady object?" she asked; her voice low and sultry, as deftly, she drew the lobe into the warmth of her mouth.

Natalia's breath hitched beneath her breasts, as Olivia's warm mouth caressed her ear. "No …" she breathed; lungs burning from the sharp exhalation of air, as she trembled in the hotelier's arms.

A burning surge of liquid desire shot through her body at the sheer want in Natalia's voice, and in that moment, Olivia Spencer was torn. She knew, without a doubt, that given their current state of physical and emotional arousal, if she pursued this path, Natalia would willingly allow her the pleasure of taking her to bed, of making love to her until they were both sated and spent, and then drifting off to sleep in one another's arms. And she wanted it. God, how she wanted it. Her want of Natalia was quickly becoming one of life's most essential needs – like food, and water, and the very air she breathed. But … she was also terrified of it; that desire, that need that grew steadily within her. More terrified than she had ever been of anything in her entire life. Such knowledge was sobering, to say the least, and Olivia waged an internal battle, until she found herself startled from her inner dialogue by the claiming of her mouth by insistent lips.

She moaned softly into Natalia's mouth, her body responding with unapologetic alacrity to the Latina's slow, thorough kisses, to the clutching of those fingers into the flesh of her hips, as Natalia pulled the hotelier firmly against her.

Olivia allowed her to continue, lingering in the moment with her until she could no longer handle the physical stimulation; and then, knowing this game of theirs needed to stop before it spun completely out of her control, she smiled into their kiss, as her hands dropped down, tugging at the button of Natalia's pants. "If I have to wear jammies, so do you …" she whispered mischievously; nipping playfully at Natalia's bottom lip.

Slowly bringing their kiss to an end, Natalia searched Olivia's face; the unspoken question asked and answered within the silent exchange that passed between their eyes. She smiled softly at the hotelier; an acknowledgment of her understanding. "But you only have one pair," she challenged; a simmering fusion of untamed desire and impish humor sparkling in those gorgeous dark eyes.

"I like to share – especially with You …" Olivia smiled; kissing her sweetly.

Natalia flashed her that dimpled smile, causing the hotelier's heart to skip a beat, and reached behind, grasping the abandoned pajamas from the dresser. "So … how are we gonna divvy these up?" she asked; a playful glint in her eyes.

Olivia arched an eyebrow at her. "Ya know … those dimples of yours should be illegal," she candidly contended, a cautionary tone about her voice; but the sparkling jade of her eyes gave her away. "They make my heart stop every time I see them …" she whispered, the corners of her mouth curling into a slow smile.

"So … my dimples are deadly, are they?" Natalia laughed; arching an eyebrow of her own.

Olivia nodded her head; a playful expression in her eyes. "Weapons of mass destruction, they are …" she grinned; taking the pajama bottoms from Natalia. "You wear that," she instructed, indicating the shirt that remained in the Latina's hand. "These are mine …" she declared, effortlessly slipping the bottoms on.

Natalia's eyes fell upon her then, and she couldn't draw her stare away from the splendor of the woman before her; those captivated eyes, for the first time, actually taking in the luscious curves and slopes of Olivia's nearly naked body. Something deep within her shifted and stirred, as her eyes wandered Olivia's body, and her heart rate accelerated in response. She found it frustrating that the matching bra and panties were there, blocking her view of that magnificent landscape, and a grunt of disappointment escaped her throat when the hotelier lifted the bottoms, gliding them over the curves of her hips, covering even more of the body she so desperately longed to explore.

Olivia glanced up at her knowingly in response to that sound, that roguish smile playing at the corners of her mouth; causing Natalia to blush profusely, and turn away.

Chuckling softly to herself, Olivia approached her, wrapping her arms around Natalia from behind; causing a sharp intake of air into the Latina's lungs, as she felt the hotelier's lace-covered breasts pressing against her upper back.

The response wasn't lost on Olivia, and her body responded in kind, as she hugged Natalia close, hands tenderly caressing the soft olive skin of her torso. She nuzzled into Natalia's neck, drawing in the essence of the woman in her arms, kissing her lightly. "It's okay, ya know … I react that way to your body, too …" she whispered against Natalia's ear.

"You do?" Natalia said tentatively; eyes downcast, to avoid any chance of catching Olivia's gaze in the mirror in front of them.

"God, Yes …" Olivia answered breathlessly; closing her eyes, as she lost herself in the sweet scent of the woman in her arms. "Every time I look at you, touch you, hear your voice …" she whispered; the longing she felt nearly dripping in her tone.

Every fiber of Natalia's being screamed for her to turn in Olivia's arms, and literally beg the older woman to show her; but she knew Olivia was holding back for a reason. Someday, she hoped that reason would be shared, but for now, she simply accepted it on faith; knowing that, above all else, this woman loved her completely.

Olivia looked up then, their eyes catching in the reflection of the mirror, and locking into place. Without a single word or sound, she stepped back and grasped the collar of Natalia's crisp, white shirt in her hands, slowly sliding it over tanned shoulders and toned biceps, down long, lithe arms until it was free of her body.

Keeping her eyes fixed on Natalia's, she set the shirt on the dresser, and reached around, taking the pajama top from the woman's hands. She smiled at her in the reflection then, forcing her eyes to remain on Natalia's, rather than allowing them to scan the smooth terrain of her body, as they so desperately ached to do. "You know … I want to, right?" she whispered; her eyes and voice pleading with Natalia to know it was true.

"I know …" Natalia said, the softness of her eyes and voice soothing the rawness in Olivia's soul. "But you can't, and … I understand …" she reassured.

"No … I can't …" Olivia sighed softly; the frustration she felt within her clearly evident. And brushing her lips against the bare skin of Natalia's right shoulder, she gingerly slipped the pajama top into place, covering the other woman's body.

She left Natalia to button the shirt, as she reached into another drawer of the dresser, retrieving a plain white tank top; slipping it over her head, and pulling it down, covering her ample breasts and well-toned abdomen.

Natalia glanced at her, a frustrated sigh escaping her lungs at the pilfering of more of that soft, smooth flesh from her line of sight. She had always regarded Olivia as a beautiful woman – far more beautiful than she. Truth be told, that's why she found her such a threat when it came to Nicky. After all, if Natalia herself were incapable of establishing immunity to the sheer essence of this woman, how could she expect Nicky not to succumb? It had always been there for Natalia, this inability to keep her eyes distracted from Olivia, but as the days turned to weeks, then months, she found herself more and more drawn to that inherent physical beauty, her own body responding to Olivia in ways she didn't quite understand. She didn't know when, exactly, it had happened, but she had to admit to herself that somewhere along the line, she had become obsessed with Olivia's body – with catching glimpses of her whenever, wherever, she could; for the lush, curvaceous terrain of that body evoked something primal, almost feral within her, and she ached to be near it, to touch and to taste it.

The subtle movement of Olivia's body so near to her, extricated her from her trance, and she cast a furtive smile toward the hotelier. "Will you hand me a pair of your running shorts?" she requested; knowing they were located in the same drawer as Olivia's tank tops. "I wanna change out of these pants …"

Olivia offered her a dubious smile. "You'll drown in them," she declared; feeling safe in allowing her eyes to slowly peruse Natalia's body up and down, now that it was cloaked in her baggy pajama top. Her heartbeat quickening, she promptly realized that there was no such thing as safe, when it came to the other woman's body, and she exhaled a slow, yearning sigh, as she looked at her.

Natalia shot her a look; one that nearly screamed Bitch, Please! with one corner of her mouth upturned, causing a deeply-defined dimple to make an appearance. She rolled her eyes at the hotelier then, insisting, "Believe me, they'll be fine," with a hint of self-recrimination in her tone. "I swear, I think I've gained ten pounds in the last month alone …" she sighed.

"What?" Olivia laughed softly; her eyes falling down Natalia's body once again. "Don't be ridiculous," she smiled, pulling the woman close, her hand sweeping through long, raven tresses. "You're beautiful," she whispered, kissing her softly. "Absolutely Perfect …"

Natalia blushed under Olivia's compliment. "Thank you," she said demurely; averting her eyes from the hotelier's intensive gaze. "Now where are those shorts …" she said, by way of distraction, as she moved from Olivia's arms.

Within the span of a few minutes, Natalia had retrieved and donned a pair of Olivia's shorts, and between the two of them, they had picked all of their discarded clothing up, hanging it neatly in the closet, so as to avoid those wrinkles that had so deeply concerned Natalia.

Startled back into the present, a stealthy grin splayed across Olivia's lips, as she arched an eyebrow at the intruder. "I never kiss and tell …" she said; that grin revealing the existence of a secret, while keeping its' details safely protected within the confines of her heart.

"Oh, Bullshit, Spencer," Doris cracked; pounding her fist on the bar. "Regardless, though, ya don't have to tell … You have that 'just fucked' look crawling all over you," she announced; barking out a laugh, as she dropped onto the barstool next to the hotelier. "It's kind of disturbing, actually …" she added flatly, before turning her attention to Diane. "I'll have what she's having," she said, tilting her head toward the hotelier to clarify her order.

"The martini … or the fuck?" Olivia smirked; toying with the Mayor.

"The martini, Smartass," Doris shot back. "Unless that was an invitation …" she cooed; her voice as smooth as velvet, as her eyes slowly raked over Olivia's body.

An eyebrow arched, as the corners of Olivia's mouth twitched, just aching for permission to unleash. "Hardly," she smirked. "Natalia is the only woman who's ever turned my head …"

Doris rolled her eyes. "Honest to God, Olivia, I don't know what you see in her. I mean, yeah, she's beautiful, but … I'm sorry, your little Mary Poppins just doesn't have what it takes to fuck me senseless," she declared, almost under her breath. "Frankly, I'm surprised she even manages to turn you on, let alone, fuck you into looking like … well, like … this …" she smirked; eyeing the hotelier up and down with that trademark Wolfish stare.

There was so much that Olivia could say, to counter the Mayor's erroneous assumptions, but truth be told, the intimacy of those moments shared with Natalia were sacred to the hotelier, and she didn't want to divulge them to anyone, especially this woman. So rather than launching a defense regarding what drew her to Natalia, what held her captivated, Olivia simply made a face at her, and chose the snarky route. "Ya know, you might have a better chance of scoring this 'just fucked' look for yourself, if you'd get rid of that gaudy jacket," she smirked; referring to garish garment that seemed to be a favorite of the fashion-challenged Mayor. "Perhaps then, you wouldn't be so bitchy …"

Doris gasped at the offensive comment. "What's wrong with my jacket?" she howled indignantly, as Diane placed the requested drink in front of her; lingering in hopes of picking up a tidbit from their conversation. It annoyed her beyond words to have been so easily dismissed earlier, and she returned now, more determined than ever, to acquire something juicy about the hotelier to pass along to the others.

Probing eyes surveyed the Mayor's ensemble. "Nothing … if you're tripping acid …" she tossed back effortlessly.

Diane forced herself to hold back a laugh at the hotelier's biting response, as she turned her attention to one of the wait staff who had come to place an order; one ear remaining decidedly tuned to the conversation between the hotelier and the Mayor.

"I take it back … you're far too caustic to have just gotten laid," Doris snarked; taking a sip of her martini. "Mmm … damn, that's good," she commented offhandedly, prompting a knowing smile from the hotelier.

Olivia arched an eyebrow. "You're absolutely correct, Madam Mayor," she said, her voice sounding almost regal. She leaned in then, her lips hovering near the Mayor's ear, "I didn't get laid …" she confessed; warm breath tormenting the other woman. "All she did was … strip my clothes off, piece by piece …" she moaned tantalizingly, "her hands touching me everywhere she could reach, as she kissed me senseless … and then …"

She paused for effect, grinning at the rapid intake of air into the Mayor's lungs.

Doris swallowed hard; her mouth drying out like a gulch in a drought. "And then, what?" she gasped; her pulse increasing from the images racing through her head.

"She took a nap with me …" Olivia exhaled, the corners of her mouth curling into a devilish grin, as she finished her confession with a rush of heated breath. "Best fuckin' nap I've ever had …" she declared; her voice low and wistful, and yet, the Mayor clearly knew she was being mocked. She backed away from the hyperventilating woman then, and smirked, "So just imagine how thoroughly 'fucked' I'll look when I finally do get laid …"

Doris glared at her; those piercing eyes boring a hole straight through her. "You're a bitch," she barked.

Olivia threw her head back, laughing heartily. "I know … Isn't that great?" she giddily concurred; jade eyes dancing in amusement, leaving the Mayor to wonder what the hell was so damned funny.

Leaving Olivia's office, Natalia gingerly closed the door and locked it; then quickly checked her watch: Seven-fifteen. Right on time to meet Olivia, she thought; her heart skipping a beat at the thought of seeing the hotelier again. She smiled to herself and shook her head in wonderment. I spend most of my waking hours with you, and yet, just the thought of seeing you after such a brief absence sends my heart into spasms, she silently recognized, as she made her way to the front desk for one final check before calling it a day.

Along the way, she remembered the feeling of utter completeness that came from being so close to Olivia that afternoon; of holding her, and kissing her, and falling asleep with her, their bodies intertwined …

Olivia bit her lower lip, shuffling her feet, as she watched Natalia turn down the bed. Perhaps this wasn't the greatest idea, she silently chastised; fidgeting nervously, as she considered, for the first time, the fact that this nap would involve the two of them being together … in a bed …

Taking in a deep breath, she slowly exhaled, her eyes filled with uncertainty; voice wavering, tentative, as Natalia's name trickled out along with the rush of air.

The vacillating cadence in that usually resolute voice caught Natalia's attention, and she turned to Olivia; capturing her eyes. "What's wrong with you?" she asked softly, her voice projecting concern rather than accusation, as she reached for her; gently grasping her forearms. "You act like we've never shared a bed before …"

"That was different," Olivia sighed; every nerve ending in her body responding to the hands that touched her so gently. "We were watching movies, and … Emma was there between us," she said; stating her case, even as she shifted restlessly on her feet.

The corner of Natalia's mouth quirked into a rascally smile. "Would you like me to put Emma's Disney Princesses video for you?" she offered; garnering a small laugh and an easing of the tension from Olivia, just as she had hoped.

But Olivia didn't answer.

Natalia arched an eyebrow, continuing the playful banter with the aberrantly silent woman. "No?" she said, shaking her head back and forth, as she answered on Olivia's behalf. "How about a little Shrek?" she grinned.

"Oh, Stop it!" Olivia laughed; a slight blush tinting her cheeks. She dragged her eyes away from Natalia's, hoping to hide the rising color, but she knew it was already too late.

"I love you," Natalia said directly; her voice strong and decisive. The forthrightness of her tone, of her words, drew Olivia's attention directly back to her, just as she had intended.

Olivia offered her a vulnerable smile.

Reaching up, Natalia tucked chestnut curls behind Olivia's ears; then took the hotelier's face in her hands, tenderly caressing those cheeks with her thumbs. "Whatever's going on inside that head of yours, it'll be alright," she said reassuringly; leaning in to kiss her softly.

"When you say things like that, I actually believe you," Olivia said quietly; her voice sounding surprised, yet somehow assured.

"Good," Natalia said definitely; smiling at the hotelier. "Now would you please get into bed," she said. It was neither a question nor a request, but rather, a directive, issued forth with a resolute tone and a serious expression on her face, and followed by a firm shove of the hotelier backward, onto the mattress behind her.

Olivia's face held an expression of pleasant surprise, as she smiled and laughed with the woman who clearly had the upper hand, not only in this moment, but, if truth be told, within the overall context of their relationship. It simply amazed her that, after a lifetime of vigilantly maintaining complete control over every aspect of her existence, she had allowed herself to be so easily commandeered – and more than that, she had not only done so willingly, but harbored not a single regret with regard to the loss of control.

Natalia smiled at her, and climbed onto the bed, straddling Olivia's hips, as she placed her hands on the mattress, alongside the hotelier's head. And in that moment, with Natalia hovering over her, Olivia realized that this would be the nature of their relationship: Natalia would issue a directive, always under the rationale of looking out for Olivia's best interests. Olivia would grouse outwardly, of course, to save face, even as she inwardly delighted in the loving care of this woman. And finally, unable to deny this woman anything, she would give in. Olivia Spencer was whipped, and she knew it. But she simply did not care.

She looked into the eyes that peered down at her, and offered up a crooked smile. "You're not gonna try to take advantage of me – are you?" she inquired; one eyebrow arched, as her eyes danced with amusement.

Dark eyes churned, as Natalia's breath hitched beneath her breasts. Oh, Honey, if I had Any inclination Whatsoever, as to what I might Do with you, I just might …, she thought; her cheeks blushing crimson at the very notion, as she silently reiterated her mental note to look into such matters. Surely, Olivia had a clue, and that fact both comforted her, and made her nervous, within the same fettered breath. She exhaled. "Hardly …" she sighed, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile. "Your virtue is safe with me. At least for today …"

"Damn," Olivia said dryly; that inner battle between fear and desire still being waged within her.

Natalia laughed, as she attempted to climb over Olivia's body; but quick hands snatched her, pulling her down against the taut body she so desperately ached to explore.

A sharp exhalation of air marked Natalia's impact against the hotelier's body. "Olivia …" she said softly, the cautionary bent to her voice matching the admonition in her eyes.

Olivia met those eyes with the softness in her own. "I just wanna kiss you, and be close to you for awhile, that's all …" she said quietly.

Unable to refuse this woman anything, Natalia smiled down at her, shifting her body so that they fell into perfect form against one another. The subtle change in positions caused both women to moan softly at the new intimacy that had been established, and Natalia reached up, brushing a lock of chestnut curls away from Olivia's forehead. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispered softly.

And with that promise, she covered Olivia's mouth with her own, kissing her; long, tender, languid kisses that left them with a feeling of deep connection, and the complete inability to distinguish where one of them ended, and the other began.

And when their kisses finally ceased, Natalia curled up against Olivia's side, their bodies instinctively intertwining, as they drifted off to sleep.

As Doris sat next to her, brooding in her drink, Olivia thanked God, albeit sardonically so, for the reprieve, and took advantage of the silence, losing herself in thoughts of Natalia, once again. God, I loved waking up with you next to me, she thought; remembering the pleasure of finding Natalia watching her when she roused from sleep that afternoon, and smiling at the banter that ensued …

Natalia lay, propped up on her left elbow; her body, flush up against Olivia's right side, with her right leg still draped over the hotelier's, under the Egyptian cotton sheet that covered them up to their waists. Mahogany eyes trained on Olivia's visage, she smiled softly to herself, as she soaked in the serene essence of the woman contentedly sleeping beside her. "You are so beautiful," she whispered; lending voice to that which she had always known. And reaching out with her right hand, she tenderly brushed a lock of chestnut curls away from the hotelier's forehead; then leaned in, lightly brushing her lips against Olivia's temple.

Olivia stirred slightly, and Natalia slowly trailed her fingers down an alabaster cheek, following along that chiseled jaw line; cupping her cheek, as she brushed her lips across Olivia's. Her heart swelled with joy at the realization that she was truly free to touch and kiss this woman without restraint. She took full advantage of this fact, reaching out, gliding her hand over the crest of a strong shoulder, and down along a toned bicep, before allowing her fingers to tenderly caress Olivia's forearm. And then, unable to resist, she leaned in again, "I can't believe you're really mine," she breathed, kissing her again, as her fingers met with Olivia's hand.

Moaning softly, the corners of Olivia's mouth twitched into a contented smile. "I'm completely yours," she whispered in response, intertwining their fingers, as her eyes fluttered open.

Natalia smiled at her. "How long have you been awake?" she asked; wondering just exactly how much Olivia had heard and felt this time.

"Since the moment you first touched me," Olivia admitted, offering Natalia that trademark roguish grin.

"You … are one Seriously Hot Mess, Olivia Spencer …" Natalia declared; rolling on top of the hotelier, slipping one leg between her thighs, as she leaned down, trying to kiss her again.

Arching an eyebrow, Olivia averted those lips, and grinned roguishly at her, "You think I'm Hot?"

"No … I think you're a Mess …" Natalia replied nonchalantly.

The corners of Olivia's lips twitched again; threatening that Cheshire grin. "Oh, just admit it … You think I'm Hot …"

Natalia groaned. "I am So gonna regret this …" she mumbled; prompting the fullness of that threatened grin to invade Olivia's lips.

Leaning closer, she nuzzled Olivia's nose, her mouth hovering mere millimeters above the hotelier's. "Baby, you're so hot, you're smokin' …" she growled; her body instinctively rocking against Olivia's, as she nipped at her lips, then pulled away playfully; teasing and tantalizing the woman beneath her, before allowing her the pleasure of a simmering kiss.

Olivia groaned, her body responding to Natalia's movement against her with unrestrained alacrity, as she kissed her. "Smoldering, is what I'm doin' here," she husked, several minutes later; as Natalia finally released her from their kiss. Drawing in a deep breath, she released it slowly, "So … we need to get up, before this goes any further," she said quietly, willfully tamping down the desire that burned within her.

Nodding her assent, Natalia kissed her lightly, and rolled off of her; claiming her place on the bed next to the hotelier. "This was nice …" she acknowledged; her voice low and soft, as she reached out, raking her fingers through chestnut locks.

Glancing up at her, Olivia met dark, searching eyes. "Yeah, it really was …" she quietly acquiesced; leaning in, kissing Natalia tenderly. "Ugh, I don't wanna leave …" she whined; wishing they could remain alone in their sanctuary forever.

"Me either," Natalia smiled, "But Emma and Jane will be bursting through that door before we know it …"

"I know …" Olivia sighed, disgruntled, "which is why we need to get up, and get changed," she said; grudgingly throwing the sheet aside, and climbing out of bed.

She offered a hand to Natalia, who willingly accepted, and effortlessly pulled the woman into her arms. "Just … don't get used to me pulling you out of bed, 'cause … I intend to spend way more time pulling you into bed …" she grinned, leaning in, kissing Natalia's cheek.

A soft moan slipped from Natalia's lungs, as Olivia's mouth slowly trekked across that perfectly tanned cheek; effortlessly claiming her lips. "Well, if there's any hope of that happening, we need to get to work on replacing your bed …" she announced against Olivia's mouth; her cheeks dimpling from the grin that splayed across her lips.

Olivia pulled back slightly; a quizzical expression on her face. "Hey, now! Why is my bed the one that needs to be replaced?" she exclaimed incredulously; but the playful grin on her lips gave her inner mood away. "Yours is older …"

"Maybe so, but … yours is a lot more … broken in …" Natalia teased; laughter dancing in her eyes.

Olivia made a face at her. "I seriously hope that's an innocuous remark about the fact that I sleep more than you, rather than a sarcastic dig at my … personal history …"

"Whatever works …" Natalia smirked; shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.

Olivia laughed. "Have we regressed to high school, Honey? 'Cause … you're about to Letter in Smartass …"

A slow grin teased its way across Natalia's lips. "I'll be lettering in something a whole lot more fun once we get that new bed …" she flirted seductively.

Surprised at Natalia's forthrightness regarding the issue of sex, Olivia arched an eyebrow. "Oh, really?" she replied; voice low and seductive, as a mixture of pleasure and astonishment danced in her deep jade eyes. She dipped her head then; flicking a seductive tongue against the Latina's lower lip before capturing her mouth in a deep kiss.

"Well, I guess we're adding bed shopping to the 'To-Do' List for this weekend," she grinned.

"Sounds like a plan …" Natalia wholeheartedly agreed; smiling against Olivia's lips before coaxing her into another slow kiss.

When their kiss ended, Natalia cleared her throat, "Speaking of beds, I need to make this one," she said; attempting to dispel the ever-present physical response to Olivia's touch, to her kisses. "Rosalie takes care of your suite, but …"

"No 'buts,' Natalia," Olivia interjected, "You're not a maid here anymore," she gently reminded. "You're my assistant, and … the woman I love …"

Natalia met jade eyes in challenge. "That doesn't make cleaning up after myself, beneath me," she contended; her voice gentle, but firm.

Olivia nodded her agreement, but continued with her own argument. "You know Rosalie will redo the bed, regardless, and if you make it up, it'll look like we're trying to hide something. If you leave it alone, she won't think anything of it …" she reasoned.

"So, what, now you're concerned about the rumors?" Natalia queried, confused. "Because Rosalie will be discreet, I can assure you. She'll never breathe a word …"

Olivia laughed heartily. "Oh, Sweetheart, I'm not concerned about rumors in the least," she said dismissively. "It's already all over the building that we spent the entire afternoon up here," she reported.

"How do you know that?" Natalia questioned; arching an eyebrow.

Olivia smirked at her. "Because … Greg was hiding behind the potted plants when we got on the elevator …"

Though she wasn't certain, Olivia could have sworn she heard Natalia mutter a curse word in Spanish, as she turned to make the bed. She just shook her head and smiled to herself, as she went to the closet to retrieve her unwrinkled suit; her heart thankful for the first of many afternoon naps with the woman she loved.

Doris finished her third martini in quick order, and set the glass down on the bar with a loud plunk; effectively yanking Olivia from her ruminations yet again. She turned slightly, studying the hotelier up and down with critical eye. "You really didn't sleep with her?" she said; more to confirm for herself, than to question the hotelier.

Olivia met those probing eyes. "No …" she said simply.

"And yet … you still look so … disgustingly Happy …" Doris grumbled; finding the prospect almost unbelievable. "What the fuck is up with that?" she groused.

The hint of a smile touched the outer edges of Olivia's lips, as her eyes sparkled in the soft lamplight that shown down upon her. She shrugged her shoulders, as if to say, I don't know what to tell you …

Doris blinked and shook her head. "Oh. My. God," she succinctly articulated, her voice filled with an air of cynicism, "You really are in love with her …" The former part of her comment was riddled with something akin to shock – as if that truth had never been expressed to her. Or perhaps she had simply dismissed the very notion of it as an utter impossibility. Regardless, the Mayor was stunned. "Jesus fucking Christ, Olivia, you're in love with the Virgin Mary …" she sighed incredulously. "How in the hell did that happen?"

The rolling of jade eyes commenced Olivia's response. "Don't make fun of her, Doris," she said softly, yet resolutely. "She deserves better than that … from both of us …"

"Wow …" Doris exhaled bewilderedly; appearing confused and perhaps even a bit unwell.

"What?" Olivia sighed.

"I … well, it's just that …" Doris stammered, as she stared at Olivia, analyzing her. "Oh, Jesus," she cursed, declaring, "I need another drink …" loudly enough to catch Diane's eavesdropping ear.

A single eyebrow lifted, along with Olivia's hands, as they flailed in the air. "Oh, for heaven's sake, would you please just spit it out?" she snapped.

Doris sighed. "When you barged into my office that day, and made that impassioned speech about Natalia, I … well, I knew you were in love with her …"

"And?" Olivia prodded; losing the hard-fought battle with the resolve that held her patience in check.

"And … it gave me hope …" Doris grudgingly confessed; averting her eyes from the hotelier.

"Well … hope is a good thing – isn't it?" Olivia questioned; confused by the Mayor's ramblings.

"Usually, yes …" Doris agreed, shrugging her shoulders, "And it was, at first … Hell, I figured, if Springfield's resident man-eater could find love with such a beautiful young woman, surely there was a woman out there for me …"

"Gee, thanks …" Olivia said dryly; rolling her eyes.

"Oh, shut up," Doris barked, "Believe it or not, this isn't about you …"

Her facial expression turned from a snarl to a grin, as Diane placed her fourth martini on the bar in front of her. "Thank you, Honey," she said sweetly; sap nearly oozing from her pores.

"Oh, puhleease!" Olivia groused; shaking her head at the Mayor.

Diane smiled at her; hoping to up the ante when it came to her tip. She knew the Mayor was a good tipper, especially when she was drunk, and thus, she made certain her drinks were potent. "You're welcome, Mayor Wolfe," she said politely. "Enjoy …"

Olivia rolled her eyes, and Doris pinned her with a look. "What, please?" she questioned. "I'm in public office. I have to be friendly with my constituents, or I'll never get re-elected."

"Yeah, well, you'll never get re-elected if you don't get rid of that God-awful jacket, either," Olivia snarked.

Pursing her lips in annoyance, Doris bickered, "Again, with the jacket, Olivia?"

"It's hideous, Doris," Olivia bit back. "You're never gonna get laid if you don't do something about your taste in clothing," she declared.

A defeatist sigh escaped Doris's lungs, and her shoulders sagged. "It's not like there was any chance of that, anyway," she glowered, in a rare moment of self-revelation.

"Oh, come on, don't be ridiculous," Olivia said, shoving the Mayor's arm in an attempt to lighten the gloom, "I was only giving ya shit …"

"Yeah, well … I had hope for a while that things might be different. But then you ruined it …" Doris blamed.

Olivia sighed heavily, as she pushed her abandoned drink glass toward the back edge of the bar. "And just how, exactly, am I responsible for your absconding sense of hope?" she queried.

"Well, you just kept denying your feelings for Natalia, so … I began to doubt my intuition, and thus, my own chances at finding love," Doris whined.

"Wait, wait, wait a minute!" Olivia exclaimed, waving her hands in front of her, as she shook her head back and forth. "I stopped denying my feelings for her a long time ago – At least where you were concerned, so that's a load of shit, and you know it, Doris," she bluntly asserted.

"Ya know, I really don't like you very much sometimes," Doris said, showcasing her irritation at the hotelier's incessant need to call her on her crap.

"Doesn't surprise me in the least," Olivia said dismissively. "And by the way … Nice try, but you're not gonna distract me. You should know better than that," she chastised, pinning the woman with an incisive stare.

"Alright, fine," Doris huffed; shooting Olivia a disgruntled glare. "I realized that I'm just washed up, closeted lesbian, with no real prospects for a lasting relationship, and …"

She sighed heavily, allowing the comment to hang.

"And what?" Olivia prodded; never one to leave well enough alone.

"And so … I broke things off with Jamanda, before she had a chance to dump me …" Doris blurted quickly; hoping Olivia would miss the real crux of the statement.

Olivia's eyebrow hiked of its' own accord. "Jamanda Weeks?" she questioned. "As in … the bartender at Towers, Jamanda Weeks?"

"One and the same," Doris confirmed, with a long sigh.

"Seriously, Doris?" Olivia said, staring at her in disbelief. "She's a fucking infant!" she said incredulously.

"Hey, she's legal," Doris howled defensively.

"Ugh. Barely!" Olivia retorted. "She's Ashlee's age for Christ's sake! What the hell were you thinking?"

Doris smirked. "I was thinking she was young and gorgeous, and she knows how to get her freak on in bed – That's what I was thinking!"

"You are unbelievable," Olivia stated bluntly; rolling her eyes at the Mayor.

A roguish grin spread across Doris's lips. "That's what Jamanda said …" she laughed; her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Olivia cringed at the mental image Doris had just pained, and shook her head, as if to wipe it away like the screen on an etch-a-sketch. And when her plan failed, she frantically motioned for Diane's attention, ordering another round of drinks.

Reaching the front desk, Natalia was surprised to find Tracy still there. "Hey," she greeted cheerily; smiling at the younger woman, as she rested her elbow on the counter, and propped her chin on her upturned palm.

Tracy looked up from the computer screen, immediately noticing the effervescent glow that emanated from Natalia. The older woman was always cheerful, even on her bad days, but something was decidedly different, and Tracy was drawn to it by impulse; yet, she gave nothing away. "Oh, hi, Ms. Rivera," she greeted, in her usual jovial tone. "You're here late," she observed casually.

"Just catching up after the snow days," Natalia shrugged; offering a modicum of explanation. "But never mind me. What are you still doing here? Where are Jen and the boys?" she asked; thinking nothing of asking Tracy about the whereabouts of the manager and her children.

Though rumors had flown for the better part of three years, it wasn't common knowledge amongst the staff that the two of them were a couple; and yet somehow, Natalia had instinctively known it was true. More than that, she had gravitated toward them, and despite Church's stand on such matters, she had been completely accepting of it from the very beginning. Now that she had finally acknowledged her love for Olivia, she completely understood the reasons why, and she was thankful for the sense of camaraderie; unspoken, though it may be.

Tracy, however, was still uncertain about the prospect of being open with her boss, and she was slightly taken aback by the inherent assumption within Natalia's inquiry regarding Jen and their children. She hesitated for a moment before answering, "Jen's in the office, and umm … the boys are at the pool with Emma and Jane. I … I hope that's alright," she said tentatively; feeling her boss out on the issue. "I would've asked beforehand, but I knew you were swamped today, and I didn't want to disturb you," she explained.

Natalia offered her a smile that nearly warmed her from the inside out. "It's perfectly alright, Tracy," she assured; reaching over, squeezing the younger woman's hand. "They're welcome to swim with Emma anytime …" she invited.

Tracy smiled at the sincerity that exuded from the gesture. "Thank you," she said; breathing a sigh of relief. "We're still trying to sort out last night's audit report," she sighed; punching in the command for a more detailed cross-referencing report to take to her supervisor. "Lots of interruptions today, ya know?"

"Believe me, I understand," Natalia said empathetically; a small frown on her face. "Anything I can do to help?" she offered.

"No, thanks," Tracy declined. "I'm just running another report for Jen," she explained; weighing her words carefully, before continuing, "and then I think we're gonna head out. I have … other things to attend to this evening," she informed, purposely leaving out the fact that those things included cooking dinner for her family, and putting the boys to bed. "Jen said she'll pick up again after dinner …"

Not batting an eyelash, Natalia reached out, touching Tracy's hand, as if to halt her actions. "No," she said, in gentle admonishment, "Family time is more important," she avowed with a quiet smile. "The report will still be here in the morning …"

Slightly flustered by the insinuation within that statement, Tracy regarded Natalia carefully. "True …" she conceded with the shrug of her shoulders, "but so will tomorrow's report …" she added, allowing Natalia to draw her own conclusions with regard to the ensuing consequences of allowing an error to spill over into the next morning's audit.

"I understand," Natalia assured. "But … I also know the two of you have been here since seven this morning," she acknowledged, motherly concern in her tone. She knew she shouldn't fuss over the girl, but found it difficult, given that she wasn't much older than Rafe. She cast the thought aside, and continued, "So leave a note for Jonathan, telling him to reconcile tonight's report, taking last's night error into account, and go home," she instructed, eyes widening in emphasis, as a smile played on her lips.

A mischievous glint shimmered in Tracy's dark eyes, as she grinned at her boss. "I'm certain you and Ms. Spencer have been here almost as long. Don't ya think you should take your own advice?" she wondered aloud.

Natalia pursed her lips, her eyebrows arching as she considered the comment. "Touché," she smiled, conceding the young woman's point.

Tracy laughed.

"Seriously, though … The two of you need to get outta here for the night," Natalia directed; offering her a concerned expression. "I'll sit down with Jen in the morning and sort things out …"

A slow smile flickered across Tracy's lips. "Yes, Ma'am," she finally relented.

"That's more like it," Natalia said, offering her a dazzlingly dimpled smile; one that spoke of joy that percolated within her. "And hey, before I go … Thank you for getting the word out about postponing our staff meeting. I appreciate you handling that for me," she said gratefully.

"You're welcome, Ms. Rivera," Tracy said politely. "Anytime …"

Then younger woman paused for a moment, analyzing her boss with a practiced eye, and Natalia shifted uncomfortably under the studious gaze. "What?" she blushed, a shy smile toying with her lips.

Tracy offered her an engaging smile in return. "I hope you don't mind me saying so, but … you look really … happy, Ms. Rivera," she declared, "It's almost like you're glowing …"

A quirky grin spread across Natalia's visage. "Yeah …" she sighed, "I should probably stay away from the Kryptonite …" she said drolly.

"What?" Tracy laughed; unaccustomed to this dry, quick-witted side of her boss.

"Haven't you heard? I'm a Freaking Superhero," she said facetiously; causing Tracy to laugh even harder.

Then, elbows resting on the counter, Natalia clasped her hands together, resting her chin upon the crest. "I am happy," she shared, those dimples making another appearance along with that sparkling smile. "Honestly, happier than I've ever been," she said sincerely.

Tracy bit her bottom lip, contemplating her words. "Anything … you'd care to share?" she asked tentatively.

"Not just yet," Natalia smiled, "but soon …"

"Gotcha," Tracy replied, acknowledging her understanding. "Well, whatever it is, I'm glad for you, Ms. Rivera. You deserve happiness more than anyone I know," she said sincerely.

"Thank you," Natalia said softly, a slight blush pinching her cheeks.

Tracy nodded her acknowledgement.

Natalia exhaled a deep breath then, and said, "I have to run for now. I have a meeting with Oliv…" She caught herself, and corrected, "Ms. Spencer … in a few minutes. And you, missy, need to take Jen and the boys home, and enjoy your evening. Okay?" she smiled.

"Yes, Ma'am," Tracy replied; feeling much less flustered by the insinuation in her boss's words than she had a few minutes earlier. "You and Ms. Spencer do the same …" she smiled knowingly.

"We will," Natalia replied. And with that, she excused herself, heading to Watershed to find Olivia.

TBC…