Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Author: Kimberly21570
Fandom: Guiding Light
Pairing: Olivia and Natalia
Disclaimers and Other Assorted Ramblings: The characters of Olivia and Emma Spencer, Natalia and Rafe Rivera, Phillip Spaulding, Josh, Shayne, Billy, and Bill Lewis, Reva Shayne, Blake Marler, Doris Wolfe, Christina and Remy Boudreau, and Gus "Nicky" Aitoro are owned by Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The characters of Lena Kundera and Bianca Montgomery are owned by All My Children, ABC/Disney. The characters of Maxie Jones, Damian Spinelli and Franco are the property of General Hospital, ABC/Disney. The characters of Dr. Carly Manning, Bo Brady, Dr. Daniel Jonas, and Melanie Kiriakis are the joint property of Days of Our Lives, Corday Productions, and Sony Entertainment. When reading this update, please keep in mind that the section where mentions of GH and DAYS characters are made was written well over a year ago, and has been chilling in my laptop waiting patiently to become a part of this story. The respective storylines mentioned don't match up with the Guiding Light timeline at all—I just included it for fun. And yes, I did predict that Dr. Dan was the father of Carly's baby, long before it was revealed on DAYS. So typical of soaps to take the lame way out… Melanie should've been Bo's daughter—now that would've created some drama! But anyway, I digress…
Rights to the songs Gunpowder and Lead by Miranda Lambert, We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister, Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty (may he rest in peace), Single Ladies by Beyoncé, There's No Way by Alabama, Family Tradition by Hank Williams, Jr., Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett, Brown-Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, and Wonderful Surprise by Shawn Hlookoff from the soundtrack for Samurai Girl—an ABC Family Original Picture are owned by their respective writers, artists, production companies, and distributors. Mary Poppins is the property of Walt Disney Productions. No copyright infringement intended with regard to GL, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, AMC, GH, ABC/Disney, DAYS, Corday Productions, Sony Entertainment, Walt Disney Productions, or any other entity.
Chapter 7 is a chronology of Olivia and Natalia's first official date, as well as the events and conversations leading up to it. Some of these events and conversations are told via flashback. I have endeavored to make it clear when the story is shifting from present to past and back again, so I hope that aspect is easy to follow. I have taken creative license, especially with regard to Olivia, in order to create a touch of humor, as well as to add an element of surprise, not only for Natalia, but for the readers, as well. The chapter will be presented in four individual updates over the course of several weeks, which will allow me to provide you all with regular updates throughout the course of my semester. The dialogue in this chapter is original, with the exception of a few lines from the 6.26.2009 episode. I've no doubt y'all will recognize them, even in their altered form. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.
Finally, a special thanks once again to my fan fiction friend Double O Guest (guestOO) for the opening quote for this chapter. I love it, my friend. Thank you for sharing it with me! And, as always, thank you all for reading. I hope you continue to enjoy…
Rating: Chapter 7.3 is rated R for coarse language and strong sexual innuendo, but subsequent chapters will include NC-17 material.
Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Copyright May, 2009
"Need-love cries to God from our poverty; Gift-love longs to serve, or even to suffer for, God; Appreciative love says: "We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory." Need-love says of a woman "I cannot live without her"; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection—if possible, wealth; Appreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all."
C. S. Lewis; from The Four Loves
Chapter 7.3 – The Outing | Wonderful Surprise:
Dinner had been formal in its setting, gourmet Italian in content, yet amazingly casual in its manner; allowing them to enjoy simply being together. It was intimate and sensuous, replete with the most surprising culinary pleasures, including absolutely delectable chocolate cannolis for dessert. The sumptuous cuisine and romantic atmosphere were accentuated with subtle touches of hands and fingers, yearning glances that turned into smoldering gazes, softly whispered professions of love, desire, and intent; all of it capped with a slow, romantic dance while they waited for dessert, and long lavish kisses that left them feeling relaxed, yet wanting more.
More delightful than the cuisine was their conversation that flowed seamlessly with laughter and sharing, seasoned with the occasional weighty emotion, as Natalia talked of her family. Olivia was right there with her, showing her the same empathy and encouragement that Natalia had shown her the previous afternoon.
As they talked, they shared nibbles of one another's entrées—a morsel of steak or chicken, the sweetness of a perfectly ripened strawberry, proffered in exchange for a kiss that lingered far longer than the delightful flavors of the food.
It was a slow and sensual experience, enriching the savory aromas and robust flavors of the delectable cuisine, accenting the harmonizing essence of the wine, the taste of the other's mouths and tongues, and the innate sensuality of proffering sustenance to one another's bodies. Olivia had never experienced anything so decidedly erotic as feeding Natalia with her fingers—and Natalia didn't even have words to describe the sensual give and take of the experience. They both only knew they wanted more of this simple, yet sensual way of being together.
Four hours later, after having shared a toast with Giancarlo and Luciano, where they were wished the blessing of a long and happy life together, much like Giancarlo shared with his beloved wife, Isabella, they thanked the gentlemen for a memorable dining experience and bid them goodnight. And as they left Bella Mia's, walking hand-in-hand, they had never felt closer, more intimate, with one another.
While they waited for their car, Natalia gathered Olivia into her arms; sharing the warmth of her body. Nuzzling against Olivia's nose, the warmth of her breath as it drifted across Olivia's lips proved a stark contrast against the chill of the February night. "Y'know, a few hours ago, I would've said it would be impossible for you to top last night's dinner…"
"But…" A playfully seductive grin ghosted Olivia's lips as jade eyes twinkled in the moonlight, drawing those dimples out along with Natalia's smile.
"But I would've been wrong," Natalia quietly conceded. "This… what we shared tonight… was the most romantic dinner I've ever shared with anyone." Her voice was a low whisper, as her lips lingered against Olivia's mouth, barely brushing them with their soft warmth.
"It was for me, too, Natalia, and I'm glad I shared it with you." Olivia's voice was soft, almost demure, as she gazed at Natalia through thick lashes, before urging those full lips to meet more forcefully with her own.
Their intertwined hands nestled securely in Natalia's lap, Olivia eased back out onto Fifth Street, retracing her path to Jefferson where she would head West rather than East, making their way to the next destination on her agenda. She wouldn't tell Natalia where they were going; instead, distracting her with talk of her family once again.
"Thank you for sharing so much about your family with me tonight. It really meant a lot to me." Olivia's voice was affectionate and sincere, as she tightened her hold on Natalia's hand, then released. "It still doesn't feel right to me, the way they treated you, but I understand a little better, the gravity of your father's expectation of respect."
Natalia offered her a wobbly smile. She still hurt, thinking about it, but she knew nothing could change the past. "It means a lot to me that you're willing to suspend judgment, even though you don't agree," she said quietly. "Harboring bitterness about it, especially after all these years, would just make me miserable," she reasoned. "I don't wanna be miserable—I wanna be happy. I am happy—with you." Her smile perked up, and dimples bloomed.
They drove in companionable silence for a few minutes then. Miraculously, Olivia managed to skate through every light along Fifth Street, and quickly found West Jefferson. Navigating the left-hand turn with measured practice, she glanced at Natalia, and taking in the full-force of those dimples, her heart skipped a beat.
"It felt good to finally talk about my family, Olivia," Natalia confessed. "But I need you to promise me something…"
"Anything—"
"Promise me that you won't try to find them." Natalia's voice was quavering, but her words were resolute. "I don't think I could survive it if they came back into my life, only for me to lose them again."
"Why would you lose them again? You've done well for yourself, Natalia. You've more than prov—" Olivia's tone was confused, but the expression on Natalia's face quickly clarified the issue, and she changed thoughts mid-sentence. "Oh, you mean us." It wasn't a question.
Natalia nodded. "If my father couldn't forgive a teenage pregnancy, he would never accept our relationship."
"And yet you would still want to be with me." Olivia knew her supposition was true from the expression in Natalia's dark eyes, and her voice filled with disbelieving amazement.
"Without a doubt in my mind," Natalia adamantly declared. "Even if I knew I could have them back tomorrow, I would still choose you, Olivia. I hope you really know that," she said softly.
Olivia's heart swelled. I do…" she murmured. "And I promise, I won't try to find them," she assured, even as she silently acknowledged that Natalia knew her far too well—finding them was exactly what she would have done, had Natalia's request not been issued.
"Thank you for understanding," Natalia quietly intoned.
Olivia squeezed Natalia's hand again; an unspoken reassurance. "Your needs will always come first for me, Natalia," she said softly. And then a lilting chuckle escaped her lips, "You should probably mark that down in your calendar… February nineteenth, two thousand nine: the day Olivia Spencer finally learned to be selfless in a relationship."
"It should be declared a national holiday if you ask me," Natalia decreed. Her voice was teasing, mirth dancing in her dark eyes.
Natalia's teasing was greeted by jovial laughter, as Olivia wended her way onto North Rutledge Street, finally turning into a parking lot. "I thought I'd let you hustle me at a few games of pool," she grinned, pulling into an opening between a beat-up Ford pick-up and an equally aesthetically-challenged El Camino in the graveled lot at Farley's Bar.
"Let me," Natalia scoffed. Having had such a wonderful time playing with Olivia against Josh and Jeffrey, she was delighted at the chance to play pool again. "Olivia, please." Her tone was a mix of competitiveness and incredulity, as dark eyes rolled.
Olivia laughed heartily. "That competitive streak of yours is incredibly sexy," she husked. Jade eyes flashed with a mixture of desire and something else Natalia couldn't quite identify.
"Oh, is it now?" Natalia flirted. Releasing her seatbelt, she casually draped her arms around Olivia's neck.
"Uh-huh." Olivia's tone was playful, as she nuzzled Natalia's nose. "And so is your ass when you're bent over taking a shot."
Natalia laughed softly, her dimples emerging. "Is that why we're playing pool tonight? So you can ogle my ass?" She kissed the corner of Olivia's mouth.
"Huh-uh," Olivia denied, playfully nipping at Natalia's lips. "We're playing pool because I know you enjoy it. Witnessing a prime display of your sexy ass is just a delightful little perk," she grinned; earning a playful slap from Natalia. She exhaled a light laugh in response, her thoughts turning a bit more serious. "I was gonna take you bowling, because I know you like that, too, but we're doing your Cosmic Bowling thing with Emma on Saturday. And then I thought about taking you to play on the go-carts and mini-golfing, because you said you've never been. But then I remembered that you always wanted to take Rafe to do those things, so I thought we should wait until he comes home. We'll do the family thing. It'll be good for us. Y'know—give him an opportunity to see us as the family we've become—the family I want us to be, with him included."
Tears collected in Natalia's eyes. "Remember that thing I said you'd be hearing several more times before this night was over?"
A light blush colored Olivia's cheeks, and she nodded her head. "Am I hearing it again right now?"
"You bet you are," Natalia confirmed, her smile soft and warm, as their lips connected in a slow, sweet kiss.
Olivia's eyes scanned the parking lot then, taking inventory. The occasional mini-van or sedan peppered the sea of SUV's and pick-up trucks, some of which sported NRA stickers to match their proudly displayed gun racks, while others declaring "family values" challenged a neighboring HRC sticker. She noted a few sports cars amongst the menagerie, and a flicker of recognition registered as her eyes fell upon a vehicle here and there. "Looks like the whole damn town is here," she reported with a sigh. "Would you rather go someplace else?"
Natalia met Olivia's gaze. "No—" Her tone was resolute, as she shook her head once, very determinedly. "I wanna walk in there, with your hand in mine just like it is right now, and show the whole damn town how much I love you." Laughing, her grin was infectious.
"You're making a real habit out of saying exactly the right thing." Olivia's voice was soft, and she couldn't stop the smile that hijacked her lips. God, she wanted forever with this woman… But what if Natalia changed her mind? The thought pierced her heart, and she willfully shoved it aside, refusing to think about it. Not tonight. Tonight was about Natalia, and showing her in a thousand little ways, exactly how much she loved her.
"I'm just being honest about how I feel," Natalia said simply. "I don't ever wanna hide how much you mean to me—especially after the way you've acknowledged what I mean to you."
"You mean with Giancarlo?" Olivia asked, seeking clarification.
Natalia smiled softly. "Well, yes, there's Giancarlo, too, but… I was thinking more about last night," she expounded. "You basically told the entire staff that you're in love with me when you kissed me the way you did."
"And I don't regret it for a moment," Olivia resolutely declared.
"Despite the fact that Phillip is still a completely loose cannon?" Natalia pressed.
Olivia considered the question for a moment. "Perhaps more because of that very fact," she answered forthrightly.
"I'm not sure what you mean." Natalia's tone begged explanation.
"You were right the other day, when you insisted we not run from Phillip," Olivia admitted. "And I just… I realized that trying to hide the truth about what we mean to each other is just another way of running. It gives him power over us, and more than that, it makes us look like we're ashamed. I don't want that for us, Natalia. I don't want that for our children," she said insistently; drawing another smile and a not-so-chaste kiss from Natalia.
Olivia released a throaty groan as their lips parted, then grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Can you even imagine the surge of text messages that spread through town last night? I'm surprised the entire wireless network didn't crash."
Natalia laughed, and shoved Olivia playfully. "You're completely incorrigible."
Olivia just laughed, and kissed her again.
Thursday was clearly the new Friday. Farley's was cracking with energy, bursting at the seams, as they sauntered into the bar, Olivia's hand tucked firmly into Natalia's. The music pounded, rising just over the din of clinking glass and the animated bent of alcohol-fueled chatter, as Miranda Lambert's pissed-off battle cry—something about a dastardly man, shotguns, gunpowder, and lead—exploded from invisible speakers into the air that surrounded them. Sometimes country music sounded more like rock-n-roll, Natalia thought, causing her to ponder the distinction. But then Olivia's lips were at her ear, warming it with her words, and Natalia forgot all about the music.
Checking Natalia's coat at the door, Olivia slipped the claim ticket into the front pocket of her jeans. The denim was only slightly stretched from wear, and deliciously form-fitting in all the right places, leaving Natalia's breath hitching in her chest, as she watched the long, agile fingers skim beneath the fabric. Her own fingers were jealous.
Olivia caught sight of her, and offered her a roguish grin. "What?" she mouthed silently, an adorable blush coloring her cheeks. It made Natalia want to kiss her. But she took a second too long in fulfilling that desire, and Olivia caught her hand, weaving the fingers of their right hands together, as she stood behind her, slightly to the side.
Natalia liked the way that felt—her shoulder nestled between the soft warmth of Olivia's ample breasts; their fingers locked together. Turning her body slightly into Olivia's, their eyes met for a brief moment, before Natalia leaned close, seeking the softness of Olivia's mouth. Never before had she instigated such a brazen kiss in public, but nothing had ever felt so natural, so right. She found herself without even a tinge of regret for her forwardness as their lips parted, the warmth of Olivia's eyes meeting her own.
Offering her a soft smile, jade eyes adjusted to the low light, and scanned the room, surveying their surroundings, as a reassuring hand caressed Natalia's upper back.
A portly old man with three days' stubble on his weathered face gnawed on what looked like barbecue chicken wings at a table in the far corner, while a nearby table full of college kids laughed uproariously, as they munched on a shared platter of appetizers and guzzled draft beers like water. Clearly, it was quarter draft night. Oh, the joys of being a broke college student, Olivia silently lamented.
Two tables down, a group of middle-aged men sucked down beers as they watched a football game they couldn't hear, on the high-definition television that tantalized them from its perch on the wall. Olivia recalled those days of football, beer, and brawling with the Lewis men when she was married to Josh. She didn't miss those days at all, but she still held a fondness for the raucous brood, and she was glad of Billy's hard-won sobriety. He was a truly good man, like both his younger brother and his son.
The long, wooden bar was surrounded, pulsing with energy, impatient patrons eagerly waving the cash in their hands. The lone bartender swiped a stray lock of streaky blonde away from her eyes, and then her hands returned to their breakneck speed, uncapping beer bottles, chucking ice, shaking drinks, then pouring and serving, before handling the cash transaction. She looked harried, but the precision with which she moved told Olivia she was no stranger to keeping such pace.
Her eyes fell to others in the room—there were people in every nook and cranny, it seemed. A young couple nestled near the jukebox, kissing, as the man's hand boldly inched up the woman's outer thigh beneath the hem of her black and white polka dotted dress. With a few exceptions, like the college kids, the young couple by the jukebox, and a cute, dark-haired young man in khaki's and a button-down shirt twirling an adorable little blonde in a red dress around the dance floor, the other patrons were essentially nondescript—a veritable sea of Wranglers, boots, cowboy hats, and flannel, with a smattering of baseball caps and matching jerseys—mostly the Chicago Cubs—thrown in for good measure. And then there was the one brave soul, wearing a Cardinal's jersey. She wondered how he had managed to not get his ass kicked. She shook her head and smiled—Springfield, for all its political pompousness, sometimes really was just a small, Midwestern town.
Setting her assessment of attire aside, Olivia's mind quickly mapped the most prudent path through the crowd, and placing her left hand firmly against the small of Natalia's back, she gently guided her forward.
There was that hand again, warm and gentle against her back. It made Natalia feel safe and treasured. And with that kind of security surrounding her, it was easy to allow Olivia to propel her into the rowdy crowd of strangers.
Heads turned from every direction as they weaved their way toward the bar; their linked fingers seeming far less of a draw to other patrons than the fact that two beautiful women had just arrived on the scene.
Oblivious to the attention drawn to them, they focused only on one another; silent conversation carrying through the smoldering gazes and absorbing kisses they shared as they waited for their turn to order.
The looming threat of loaded shotguns gave way to staunch defiance against the establishment, as grating sounds of Twisted Sister began to screech through the speakers. Mouths parted as the raucous cacophony crashed through their little bubble, and Natalia sighed, frustrated. Country music baffled her, with its sometimes indistinct characteristics; but she had to admit, it was growing on her. And it was a damned sight better than this crap, she thought; wishing the DJ's equipment would break. Then they could listen to the jukebox—from her days of working at Farley's she knew there was a treasure-trove of great music to be found inside that old relic.
Her ponderings were instantaneously swept aside when they moved forward, and Olivia pressed against her body from behind. She could feel Olivia's breasts pressing into her upper back—the peaks were hard, and they made Natalia tingle in places she dared not acknowledge, as Olivia's hands on the bar trapped Natalia between the wooden ledge and the soft curves and maddening heat of that sinuous body. Mouth against Natalia's ear, Olivia was asking what she would like to drink. Her voice was loud—it had to be, to compensate for the raucous clamor—but to Natalia, it felt like a whisper. The warmth of Olivia's breath against her skin made her quiver in places she never knew had feeling; suffusing her body with impossible heat. She drew in a strangled breath, even as her body trembled from Olivia's touch, and answered as best she could.
Placing their order, Olivia grinned at Natalia's flustered state, and nipped playfully at her ear, as they waited for their drinks.
The salacious things Olivia murmured against her ear as they waited, caused Natalia's body to flush with heat yet again, and by the time the bartender returned with their bottles of beer, she was certain the entire bar knew what Olivia had been saying, just from the rising color in her cheeks.
While Gerry Rafferty was crooning about dreams of buyin' some land, giving up the booze, and the one-night-stands for life in a quiet little town, the bartender's eyes flickered knowingly, and she grinned at Olivia, as she passed the bottles across the bar and loudly announced the pending charge.
Olivia caught that knowing glance, and remembering their conversation on that ladies night that seemed so long ago, she offered her a smirk that told her she couldn't have been more wrong, as she claimed Natalia's mouth for a show-n-tell kiss. And then she arched an eyebrow at the bartender, as she dug down into her front pocket, fishing out the wad of cash she had shoved in there before locking her purse in the trunk of the Nissan.
Natalia watched the expedition, and thought it the sexiest thing in the world to witness the sophisticated hotelier digging around in the pocket of those form-fitting jeans, searching for elusive cash. It reminded her of a nervous teenaged boy on a first date—though Olivia was certainly no boy. Disarming in its teasing innocence, it made Natalia want to kiss her again. The image of kissing Olivia was anything but innocent, though, and it made Natalia blush yet again.
Slipping a bill from the rediscovered bundle of cash, Olivia handed it over, telling the bartender to keep the change. Receiving an appreciative smile and equally enthusiastic "thank you" in response, she hooked the beer bottles between her fingers. "You're welcome," she practically yelled above the cacophony, nodding her acknowledgment, as she reclaimed Natalia's hand, and led her away from the congestion at the bar.
They hit the dance floor with perfect timing, as Beyoncéstarted carrying on about singles ladies and putting a ring on it. Natalia's eyes lit up, and she turned to Olivia, dimples in full bloom. "Dance with me."
Olivia smiled. She couldn't deny the request—she couldn't deny this woman anything.
The dance floor quickly flooded with other dancers, and Olivia and Natalia blended in with the crowd. Expertly holding their beer bottles in the fingers of her left hand, Olivia used her right to hold Natalia close; their bodies shifting together, as they moved to the seductive beat of the music.
Olivia's body exuded self-assurance, almost an air of cockiness, as she danced in playful circles around Natalia, exaggeratingly acting out the words to the song; that seductive grin teasing at the corners of her mouth.
An arched eyebrow wrought challenge from Natalia, causing that grin to erupt into a full-blown smile, and then they were laughing together, as Olivia pulled Natalia close again; their bodies molding together as Olivia claimed her mouth, kissing her.
There were hoots and hollers, of course, from a few crass, drunken men, and the occasional judgmental stare, but neither of them noticed; nor did they care.
The laughter in their kiss was rich but fleeting, quickly fading into a slow caressing of soft mouths, as the pounding beat melted into the gentle stream of piano, and Alabama began crooning about the complete and utter impossibility of making it through even a day without the woman you love. Moving their bodies in time with the music, Olivia's heart pounded against Natalia's chest as the words seeped into her awareness. She nuzzled into Natalia's neck, silently acknowledging that nothing had ever felt so true—she wouldn't survive a day without Natalia, and she knew how lucky she was to hold a love so right and true. And the heat of her tears burned beneath tightly closed eyelids, as she silently willed them to stay at bay. She pulled Natalia impossibly closer, craving the nearness of her; and when she murmured a deeply emotional "I love you" against Natalia's ear, she found her sentiments reflected back to her in their kiss, as Natalia enveloped her in waiting arms.
A loud crack announced the collision of the cue ball against the ominous eight ball that held Olivia's fate within the exactitude of its velocity. Olivia held an anticipatory breath, though waiting wasn't necessary—the expert precision with which it struck, instantaneously told her that she'd lost yet another round of pool. The winning ball glided across the smooth green plane of the pool table as if floating on air, sinking with formidable ease into the right corner pocket, even as the cue ball finished its mocking backspin. Natalia was clearly a master at this game.
Flailing her arms in the air, Natalia let out an uncharacteristic whooping sound as she danced in celebration of her fourth victory in as many games. Olivia Freakin' Spencer was goin' down!
They had been lucky, in that the game room at Farley's hadn't been as crowded or as noisy as the bar area. They easily found an open table, deposited their beers, and sought out the perfect pool cues. Only one of the four pool tables had been in play when they arrived, allowing them to indulge in uninterrupted play for several consecutive games. The other active table was occupied by two couples, who looked to be about college age, playing doubles. Olivia had grinned to herself as she remembered playing doubles against Josh and Jeffrey—watching Natalia kick some serious ass, and walk away with an impressive stash of cold hard cash. And then Olivia remembered the brush of Natalia's fingers against her chest, as she had snatched that cash away from her, declaring that it was for their "cookie jar," and it made her heart skip a beat. Memories…
"Good thing there's no cash on the line, huh, Olivia?" Shawn, the scraggly-haired blond college guy who looked like he was wearing his pajama bottoms, ribbed Olivia good-humoredly. His buddy Stephan, who was dressed much more appropriately for a public appearance, chuckled along with him, as he took a shot at the blue-and-white striped ten ball; easily sinking it into the left side pocket. His girlfriend, Michelle, a cute blue-eyed blonde, squealed and hugged him.
Olivia and Natalia had garnered ogling stares and obvious groans of rapt interest from the Stephan and Shawn, and wary glances from the Michelle and Shawn's girlfriend Lisa, upon their entrance into the room. After the first time Natalia offered to "help" Olivia line up a shot, thus allowing her an opportunity to wrap her body around the hotelier, those groans turned to grunts of arousal—and the first time they shared a kiss, there was the distinct sound of a pool cue hitting the floor behind them, followed by an obvious backhand against flesh, and a corresponding exclamation of physical pain. They never did figure out who had done the yelping.
After that, a sort of unspoken camaraderie had been formed in the room—the guys were clearly in awe of the two of them, while Michelle and Lisa no longer found it necessary to view them as competition, and their glances had turned wholly curious, as they watched Olivia and Natalia together. From that point on, there had been an easy exchange of talk and teasing between the six of them, as they engaged in parallel play.
The smile on Olivia's face matched the glimmer in her eyes, as she watched Natalia, clearly impressed with her woman's mad skills. "Wouldn't be the first time she scammed someone outta their cash at this table," she replied proudly, receiving a collective laugh from the college group, as Natalia grinned at her and continued her impromptu celebration.
Olivia leaned against the bar stool at their high-top table, laughing with gusto at Natalia's animations. Even in the wake of defeat, this woman made her heart race with an amalgam of excitement, love, and desire. A wistful sigh escaped her lungs as she smiled and playfully bowed in deference to Natalia's superiority with a pool cue.
Laughing, Natalia took a drink of her beer, and set the empty bottle back on the table behind Olivia; her body pressing against the hotelier's. Smirking, she said, "Another round?"
Groaning at the teasing contact, Olivia fished four quarters out of her front pocket, and playfully slamming them down on the table, she said, "Rack 'em up."
Leaning deeply into Olivia's body, Natalia kissed her, not so chastely. "My pleasure," she said, grinning devilishly, as she slipped the coins off the table, and sauntered back toward the pool table.
Watching her walk away, Olivia couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips. But before Natalia could drop the quarters into the slots, an announcement from the DJ caught Olivia's attention. She jumped up from the barstool, skidding across the floor to grab Natalia's hand. "Come with me…" she implored excitedly; tugging Natalia's hand lightly.
"Where are we going?"
"Karaoke is about to start," Olivia explained hastily. "I wanna sing to you…" she smiled, turning into an excited teenager right before Natalia's eyes.
"Sing to me?" Natalia parroted; offering Olivia a skeptical expression.
"Yeah—Like Spinelli sang to Maximista, to express his courtly love…"
"What?" Natalia's face wore a confused expression. "Who are Spumoni and Mixmaster?"
Olivia sighed. "No, no, no… Spinelli and Maximista!" she reiterated; shaking her head as she rolled her eyes. "You know… SpinMax—from General Hospital…"
"General Hospital? Since when do you watch soap operas?" Natalia asked; furrowing her brow. "Olivia, are you feeling alright?" she asked; pressing her hand to the hotelier's forehead.
"I'm fine…" Olivia rebuffed; brushing off Natalia's unfounded concern. "And I've watched them ever since my heart surgery," she admitted. "I had a lot of time on my hands while I was recovering," she shrugged. "I mean, you wouldn't let me do anything, so… I was forced to resort to soap operas to keep from losing my mind while I was stuck in that damned suite… Before I knew it, I was hooked, and then those fucking Asshats at CBS cancelled Guiding Light on me! Can you believe that shit?" she exclaimed incredulously.
"N-no… I… I can't imagine w-why they would… do that…" Natalia stammered. She had never been one for such inane television.
"I know, right?" Olivia exclaimed; offering Natalia a disbelieving look, as she erratically flung her hands in the air. "I mean, the nerve of those rat bastards to cancel my favorite addiction—and just when my favorite lesbian couple was about to take the big plunge, and finally hold hands like a real couple—You know, like actually intertwine their fingers and shit, instead of just platonically holding hands, swinging their arms like giddy little schoolgirls as they skipped through the park." She huffed; obviously irritated by the narrow-minded discriminatory bullshit at that network. She sighed heavily. "So… then I had to find something else to watch at two in the afternoon, and I got sucked into General Hospital, because at the time, DAYS was just total crap. But now, I'm torn, because even though most of DAYS still totally sucks Ass, they have this smokin' hot brunette with smoldering green eyes, named Dr. Carly Manning—She stabbed her husband and killed him—But that's okay, because he was a crazy fucking rat bastard, and he totally deserved to die…" she reported; eyes widening as she relayed the tale of Carly's woe. "And we just found out she has this secret child, and we're waiting to see who the father is… I think it's Dr. Dan…"
"Are you drunk?" Natalia blurted; raising an eyebrow, as she interrupted Olivia's incessant rambling. "I am so driving home tonight."
Olivia stopped mid-ramble; looking at her as though she had three heads. "Well… the Goose and I may have bonded a little, but… I'm not drunk, Sweetheart." Her tone was reassuring, but the confession about hard liquor concerned Natalia.
"When did you drink Goose?" Natalia's eyebrows were furrowed.
"That's not important," Olivia said passively, brushing the question off with a wave of her hand. "I just want to express my courtly love to you, like…"
"I know—Like MaxSpumoni…" Natalia grinned.
"SpinMax!" Olivia corrected again. "Spinelli talks weird, but…"
"I really don't need to hear their whole story," Natalia announced; holding up a hand to halt the impending recitation.
"But… I just need you to know that I love you, Natalia—as much as Spinelli loves Maximista," Olivia declared. "And I know you would never cheat on me with some guy named Franco…"
"No… I would never cheat on you with anyone," Natalia affirmed; thinking it better to just go along for the ride. "Especially someone named Franco," she added; the irony of the character's name having not been lost on her. It made her shudder visibly. She smiled at Olivia then, "We should probably head up front if you're going to sing," she suggested; hoping to deter Olivia from any further ramblings.
A bright, excited smile spread across Olivia's lips. "You're really gonna let me sing?"
"If it'll get you to shut up about your soap opera obsession, then yeah," Natalia teased. "You can sing all night—loudly… and completely off key, if that'll make you happy," she grinned.
Olivia laughed. "Deal," she agreed; grinning at Natalia. "Shall we…" she said; inviting Natalia to walk in front of her with the offering of an outstretched hand.
Natalia smiled, and stepped in front of her. "I am so taking that television out of your office tomorrow," she mumbled, as they walked toward the game room door; Olivia's hand once again pressing firmly against the small of her back.
As they exited the game room, they ran into Shayne and Bill Lewis, who had just arrived for a few rounds of pool. Exchanging pleasantries, Bill noticed the strategic placement of Olivia's hand, and arched an eyebrow; begging the silent question. Olivia answered with a haughty smirk, and an equally decided arch of her eyebrow, causing Bill to grin widely enough that his dimples rose to a full bloom. They parted ways then, Shayne asking him what the hell that was all about, and Bill feigning ignorance, as Olivia and Natalia made their way toward the stage, with essentially the same conversation taking place—well, except that Olivia admitted to having essentially just told Bill about their relationship. That made Natalia smile. Two down, three to go…
When they reached the stage, Olivia leaned in, "By the way, you can have the television from my office," she whispered, "I can just record both shows on the DVR I have in my bedroom, and watch them at night." Her tone was smug, but teasing.
Natalia turned to her; meeting those teasing eyes. "You can do that for now…" she readily conceded, "But I can assure you, once you're sharing my bedroom, watching those ridiculous shows will be the last thing on your mind when we're in bed." The smirk on Natalia's face was priceless. She hoped the evocative display of false bravado was enough to mask her own insecurities. She had never feared sex with Nicky—not really; not the physical act, anyway. What she had feared then were the endless threats of hellfire and damnation for going against God's will. With Olivia, it was different—the idea of sex with Olivia scared her, for countless reasons; but only enough to make her want it more.
Olivia felt an amalgam of flushing heat and rushing wet course through her body at Natalia's insinuation. And for the first time in a very long while, Olivia Spencer found herself completely speechless; her jaw nearly hitting the hardwood floor at Farley's Bar.
"Now… I'm going to get another beer," Natalia announced decidedly. Her eyes never left Olivia's, as she pressed her body against her, and deftly eased her fingers into the depths of Olivia's front pocket, fishing out some cash.
Olivia's pupils dilated in response to Natalia's hand so near to her, umm… Gasping, she had to cut the thought off cold. Her pulse racing, she gulped nervously.
"Would you like one, Babe?" Natalia asked sweetly. She knew exactly what she was doing to the hotelier, and she couldn't have been more pleased.
When no response was received, Natalia arched an eyebrow. "I'll take that as a yes…" she said; grinning devilishly, as she turned away. "And by the way… you owe the swear jar a small fortune for that little… display… back there…"
And all Olivia could do was stand there, mouth dry, staring at Natalia's sweet little ass, wiggling in those perfectly form-fitting jeans, as she sauntered toward the bar. She was quite certain nothing and no one had ever left her so completely aroused in her entire life…
Olivia had submitted her song request on the same trip to the bar where she'd had her encounter with the shot of Goose—liquid courage, she told herself—and now she was waiting for her turn at the mike. It had been years since she had taken the stage for anything other than a business presentation or a speech, and she was decidedly nervous. She was fifth in the lineup; and fidgeting anxiously, she shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans, only to drag them back out again, seconds later. The pattern repeated several times, and still, Olivia felt no better.
When Natalia returned with their beer, she was only too happy to take a long draw from the proffered bottle. "Thank you," she said, once half the bottle had been consumed in what appeared to be a single gulp. It was a little easier to hear, now that the music had ceased in anticipation of the first karaoke number.
"Yeah, well, you'd better slow down there," Natalia cautioned, "'cause that's the last one you're getting tonight."
An eyebrow arched, and Olivia was grinning at her. "Y'know, it really turns me on when you get bossy."
"I'll keep that in mind," Natalia smirked.
Leaning against a nearby barstool, Olivia encircled her from behind, nuzzling against her ear. "I bet you will," she said flirtingly, as she kissed Natalia's earlobe, and squeezed her tight, playfully rocking their bodies side-to-side.
Natalia's body melted into her embrace, as they settled in for the show. God, it felt glorious to be in Olivia's arms this way.
After a rabble-rousing rendition of Hank Williams, Junior's Family Tradition, where, in true karaoke fashion, the crowd sang out in raucous unison about getting drunk, stoned, and laid, in direct response to the questions, "Why do ya drink?" "Why do you roll smoke?", and "Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?", the next train wreck on display was rather frightening attempt at Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline, by a drunken fool named Bart, with a bad toupee and Buddy Holly glasses. He really thought he was something. Olivia and Natalia ruefully thought otherwise.
Natalia wasn't certain she would survive any more serenading. She took a drink of her beer, in hopes that it would anesthetize her to future lyrical assault.
When a portly, gray-haired man dressed in a hideous Hawaiian shirt, seriously clashing Bermuda shorts, flip-flops, and a tattered straw-like cowboy hat started crooning an off-key rendition of Margaritaville like he was the next Jimmy Buffett, she gave Olivia a disbelieving glance, receiving a hearty chuckle in response. And by the time Van Morrison's Brown-Eyed Girl had been sufficiently butchered, Natalia's expression was silently pleading with her to make it stop. Olivia just laughed. Karaoke could be such an amusement.
Finally, it was Olivia's turn to take the stage. She offered Natalia a nervous, lopsided grin, kissed her on the cheek, and jumped onstage without use of the steps.
Natalia held her breath. Given the seriously questionable display of good taste and so-called talent she had just witnessed, she hadn't a clue as to what she should expect from the hotelier. Sober or not, she sincerely hoped Olivia wouldn't make too much of an ass out of herself.
Taking the microphone in her hand, Olivia's heart raced in her chest, as she smiled down at Natalia. And then the opening strains of Shawn Hlookoff's Wonderful Surprise began to play, and brushing her hands against her thighs one at a time, Olivia wiped the sweat from her palms. The steady stream of piano tapped out methodical eighth-notes that shifted a note lower in the third measure, being joined by percussion in the fifth. The familiar ruckus of the bar continued, unabated, as it often did during karaoke sets.
Natalia listened closely to the music. It wasn't anything even remotely familiar to her—the kiss of death in the world of karaoke. She held her breath again, waiting...
Olivia tapped her foot, systematically counting the measures, as she waited anxiously for the vocal opening at the beginning of the ninth. And then she began to sing. "I wasn't looking for it. I wasn't ready for the ride. I was stumbling…" Her voice flowed out in a rich contralto, smooth and mellow, the words cascading from her lips. Natalia stood there, staring at her, completely stunned. The entire bar stilled—all eyes were on Olivia.
"But you were knocking on my door…" Olivia closed her eyes, moving her wrist in a pantomimed knock; then grinned at Natalia, a knowing grin. "I tried but I could not ignore," she rolled her eyes, feigning exasperation, and a soft laugh fell from two pairs of lips, as they shared the memory of Olivia's not-so-hospitable welcomes when Natalia insisted upon checking up on her after the transplant. Then her voice turned soft and low, as she finished the line, "your soft eyes…" Closing her eyes, she moved to the music, counting the measures, as she waited for the next line. Then, finding Natalia's gaze, she sang, "You had me wrapped around a feeling…" she turned her finger in the air, accenting the image, "that just felt so right…" before gently tapping the tips of her fingers against her chest.
Olivia wasn't just singing—she possessed an absolutely enthralling stage presence. Natalia was mesmerized. She had always known Olivia had a presence about her—one that captivated others' attention; but she had no idea the woman possessed such a beautiful gift. The crowd cheered as Olivia burst into the chorus.
"You're such a wonderful surprise…" The light in those sparkling jade eyes was effervescent, clearly expressing what a truly wonderful surprise Natalia's love had been to her. "I couldn't plan it if I tried. You turn my darkest days to light. Like a morning sun, you're such a wonderful surprise…"
Swaying to the beat, Olivia counted measures again, feeling much more at ease.
Hopping on the downbeat, she began the second verse. "I don't think you can do any wrong." Natalia saw the sincerity in Olivia's eyes as she delivered that line. "You're like the hook," Olivia swept her arm in front of her, eyes firmly planted on Natalia, as her mimicked a hook with her finger, "in my favorite song—" Her voice was low and sultry, almost gravelly as she declared, "I wanna sing you. You're in my heart," she crooned, gently patting her chest, "you're on my mind—," she smiled at Natalia, as she tapped her temple. "You pick me up…" the lifting of her upturned palm emphasized the words, "at the lowest times… in my life…" Those last three words came out in a breathless whisper, as she gazed at Natalia, her eyes the liquidity of crushed jade.
Her hand fell to her chest, pressing firmly against the scar that marked their eternal connection. "Everything happens for a reason and now I see why…" And as she sang, she began a quick, repetitive hopping as the words and music worked into a crescendo, moving into the second refrain.
"You're such a wonderful surprise…" She belted out the words, smiling breathlessly at Natalia.
"I couldn't plan it if I tried. You turn my darkest days to light. Like a morning sun, you're such a wonderful surprise…"
Jumping down from the stage, she pulled Natalia into her arms, moving their bodies to the beat, as she continued singing to her. "You make everything right… You took me by surprise at the perfect time…"
The music slowed, and so did their movement; though their bodies remained in full contact, as Natalia nuzzled into Olivia's neck.
Olivia's voice turned low and sweet. "You're such a wonderful surprise. I couldn't plan it if I tried…" She shook her head, emphasizing the impossibility of planning something so perfect, so right. "You turn my darkest days to light… Like a morning sun, you're such a wonderful surprise…"
The tempo picked up again, and Olivia shifted, moving their bodies to the beat again. "I couldn't plan it if I tried… You turn my darkest days to light… Like a morning sun, you're such a wonderful surprise," she sang; then, repeating the refrain one more time, she slipped easily into the final line of the song, "Like a morning sun, you're such a wonderful surprise…" singing directly to the woman she loved, as she held her in her arms.
Without a word, their eyes never losing contact, Olivia passed the microphone off to the DJ; and as the crowd cheered noisily around them, Natalia's fingertips caressed Olivia's cheeks, and she claimed Olivia's mouth with her own, kissing her into breathlessness.
At some point during Olivia's performance, Josh and Reva had slipped into the bar, and both of them stood there, mouths agape, staring at the scene that unfolded before them. Doris Wolfe hadn't been far behind them, and her reaction was much the same. Well, except that she was jealous, because she was quite positive a certain green-eyed hotelier was well on her way to getting laid that night. The very thought of it made her curse under her breath—why couldn't she possess a talent that was so certain to get a woman into bed? With that signature smirk planted on her lips, she stepped away from Josh and Reva, and began working the room, as she made her way toward the bar. Damn, she needed a drink!
As Natalia continued to kiss Olivia, Josh couldn't help the smile that spread across his lips. He had been feeling so guilty about his part in what happened the night previous, and he was relieved to see they had managed to work things out.
Reva, on the other hand, was clearly in shock. She caught sight of the glimmer in Josh's clear blue eyes, and promptly backhanded him in the chest. "You knew all about this—didn't you?" Her tone was accusatory.
"Yes, Reva. Yes, I did," he answered proudly.
Miffed, she backhanded him again. "You could've said something."
"It wasn't my business to tell," he said flatly. "Besides, she only just confirmed it to me last night."
And then Natalia was smiling into their kiss. "I had no idea—," she murmured, her voice filled with awe, as Olivia somehow managed to maneuver her against the far wall.
Olivia blushed, and bit her bottom lip. "Promise not to laugh?"
Natalia nodded her agreement.
"I was in the glee club in high school," Olivia confessed; "And a soloist with the Oxford Belles in college."
Natalia's eyebrow arched before she could control it. "The Oxford Belles?" She tried hard to stifle the chuckle that tickled in her chest. "You can't be serious."
"You promised not to laugh," Olivia said wryly.
That was all the encouragement Natalia's faltering willpower needed. Flinging her arms around Olivia's neck, she hugged her close, as a hearty laugh billowed from her chest. "Oh, Honey, how could you expect me not to laugh at that?" she guffawed. "The image of you as a 'Belle' is just priceless…"
Olivia laughed with her. "It does make for a rather interesting picture, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does," Natalia chuckled, her eyes sparkling into Olivia's. "Did Lena sing with them, too?" She was curious to know any little thing about Olivia's college friend.
"Kundera? No—," Olivia laughed, shaking her head. "As her Mama would say, she couldn't carry a tune in a bucket."
Natalia laughed.
"Bianca can sing, though," Olivia reported. "Beautiful voice," she praised. "She even sang to Lena at their wedding reception. I saw the video the first time Emma and I visited them on the Vineyard."
"Oh, so you've been there before," Natalia said in a curious tone.
"Yeah—twice actually," Olivia confirmed, nodding her head. "The first time was when Phillip went nuts. Well, the second time he went nuts, anyway. He's been nuts at least three times that I can remember." She shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway, I took Emma, and spent a couple of weeks with Lena and Bianca; basically hiding from him. That was a few weeks after their wedding; and right before Phillip and I were divorced."
"That must've been a really painful time for you," Natalia said empathically.
"Y'know, I felt like crap over having yet another failed relationship, which is why I didn't tell Lena what was really going on," Olivia admitted, "but at that point, I was more concerned about protecting Emma. I knew he was dangerous, and it wasn't long after our divorce that he proved it by kidnapping all of his kids."
"You must've been terrified, Liv." Natalia tenderly brushed Olivia's cheek; her level of empathy raising another ten notches. "It's no wonder you were such a mess the other day."
Olivia nodded in confirmation. "But you know what? I'm not afraid anymore, Natalia," she declared. "Just knowing that you're with me gives me the strength to stand up to him."
"I'm glad to know that, Honey," Natalia said, "and I promise you, I'll be by your side through whatever comes our way, but I think we should still be a little cautious when it comes to Phillip," she reasoned.
Olivia brushed her fingertips across Natalia's cheek. "I can't believe how lucky I am to have you," she said in awe. She felt the heat of tears, and offered Natalia a wobbly smile.
"I hope those are happy tears." Natalia was smiling, but she was concerned. The change in Olivia's emotions seemed to come from out of nowhere.
"I just… I know I have a lot to make up for, Natalia," Olivia admitted, "especially after last night." Truth was, most of her energy that entire day had been focused on ways to make things right with Natalia. She knew she was forgiven. That's simply what Natalia did—she forgave. But still, she worried that Natalia wouldn't know how truly sorry she was, and that she really did understand the weight of her transgression, and the impact it had had on Natalia. "My behavior last night was inexcusable, and I want you to know that I really understand that now."
"You've already apologized for last night," Natalia recognized.
"I know, but… I had no right disrespecting you the way I did, and I'm sorry, Natalia. I truly am."
The sincerity in Olivia's eyes and in her tone told Natalia that she meant every word. But actions speak louder than words, and knowing that, she issued forth a challenge. "The best way that you can show me you're truly sorry, is to never do it again," she said forthrightly.
"I won't," Olivia adamantly vowed. "I swear, I won't."
Natalia tipped her head, her eyes indicating something behind Olivia. "Looks like you'll have a chance to prove it." She offered Josh a tight smile, letting him know she wasn't any too pleased with him, as he and Reva sauntered up to them.
The four of them greeted one another cordially, and Josh made mention of his surprise at Olivia's obvious choral talent.
Olivia thanked him politely for the compliment; and Natalia smiled and squeezed her tight, saying, "I didn't know I was in love with a rock star."
That comment brought a blush to Olivia's cheeks, and Natalia found it completely adorable. She was about to tell Olivia so, when Josh interrupted her thoughts, politely asking her for a moment. She nodded her agreement, and he gently took her arm; leaving Olivia and Reva to their own devices. As long as they weren't pulling each other's literal hair out, he knew better than to interfere anyway.
"I heard from Joshua that you'd developed a fondness for muffins…" Reva jabbed, as Josh stepped aside with Natalia. "I thought he was just being an ass, but… now I get the picture…"
"Seems you've developed a fondness for muffins yourself, Reva." Olivia's tone was cool, as she eyed her nemesis up and down. "The kind filled with carbohydrates."
"Yeah…" Reva sighed discontentedly, "Inside of me there's a skinny woman, just crying to get out," she said in her usual dramatic flair. "But I can usually shut the bitch up with cookies..."
"Looks like you've been shutting her up pretty well for quite some time now," Olivia snarked.
Reva ignored the repeated dig at her weight gain, and sought the upper hand. "Y'know, I'm really happy for you, Olivia. It's about time you found someone who can keep you in line," she said. Olivia could've sworn there was an air of fondness in her tone. "And since you can't have Joshua, well then… I suppose Natalia is the next best thing…"
As Olivia and Reva engaged in their usual biting banter, Josh took the opportunity to make things right with Natalia.
"Listen, Natalia, about last night—"
Natalia cut him off, mid-sentence, as she turned to face him squarely. "Would you have behaved that way in front of Reva?" she asked pointedly.
"Hell, no," he replied quickly. And then he apologized even more quickly for having cursed in front of her.
She ignored the apology—it so wasn't the point. "Then why was it okay to do it in front of me?" The question was rhetorical. "I know Olivia told you about us." She left no room for him to argue semantics.
"Yes, she did," Josh admitted ruefully. "And it wasn't okay, Natalia. My behavior was completely disrespectful toward you, and I owe you an apology," he said solemnly. "It won't happen again."
"It better not," Natalia said sternly.
He flinched at her directness, but appreciated her candor. "You have my word." Inwardly, he couldn't help but smile—Olivia Spencer had clearly met her match.
"I love her, Josh," she declared, her tone softening.
He offered her that disarming grin, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "I can see that."
It was no wonder Olivia was so drawn to him. She offered him a tentative smile. "Good," she said firmly, "Because I won't let anyone take her away from me." She felt more possessive of Olivia in that moment than she ever had of Gus. The knowledge of that spoke volumes to her.
"I wouldn't dare try," Josh assured. "She needs you—probably more than she even knows."
Natalia nodded her head. "I need her, too," she confessed.
He reached out, gently touching her arm. "I'm happy for the two of you," he said sincerely. "I'll even offer my services as a minister, if the two of you wanna get hitched someday," he grinned.
Remembering Olivia's earlier mention of marriage—someday, Natalia offered him a genuine smile. "We just might take you up on that."
"Good," he said resolutely, smiling at her with those gorgeous blue eyes. "So are we okay here?"
Showing off her dimples, Natalia nodded her head, saying, "We're better than okay." And with that, she allowed him to lead her back toward Olivia and Reva.
"Oh, but you don't understand, Reva—I could have your precious Joshua anytime I wanted him," Olivia taunted; arching an eyebrow in challenge. "But the thi—"
"Ohhh, them's fightin' words, Olivia Spencer!" Reva was vehemently protesting in her best Oklahoman drawl, as Natalia and Josh returned. Neither Olivia nor Reva noticed, as their exchange continued.
Josh's face wore an amused grin, as Natalia forced herself not to burst into laughter. She hadn't a clue as to what Olivia had said to garner such a response, but it certainly was funny how well Josh had pegged their similarities.
Olivia just smirked at her; remembering Josh's comment in the conference room the morning prior. "Oh, just shut up, and just let me finish, okay? 'Cause you see, the thing is… Natalia has never been, nor will she ever be, the next best thing to anyone—especially Josh. She's the only one, Reva," she passionately declared. "She's the love of my life, and there will never be anyone else for me."
"Damn," Reva said abruptly; staring at Olivia in disbelief.
"Speechless?" Olivia prodded; daring Reva to say anything more.
"I know I am," Natalia interjected, smiling proudly at Olivia as she sauntered toward her.
Olivia's stern expression effortlessly adopted a smile. "Hi, Sweetheart, I didn't see you standing there."
"So it would seem," Natalia replied noncommittally.
"You're not angry, are you?" Olivia hedged. She looked nervous. The last thing she wanted to do was to hurt Natalia again.
"No, of course not," Natalia said softly, wrapping her left arm around Olivia's waist, her right hand pressing firmly against Olivia's abdomen. The heat from her hand burned into Olivia's skin, and Natalia smiled to herself as she felt the muscles twitch and constrict beneath her palm.
It took only a second for Olivia's arm to encircle Natalia's body; pulling her closer. It felt good. "Reva and I were just setting a few things, uh… straight."
Reva snickered, and Olivia made a face at her.
"I gathered as much," Natalia said; grinning at the unintended pun. "Josh and I were doing the same."
"We're all good?" Olivia inquired, glancing from Natalia to Josh, and back again. She received two affirmative nods, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Reva looked at Olivia pointedly. She wasn't finished just yet. "So you're a real live carpet muncher, now, are ya, Olivia?" She couldn't stand not being the center of attention. "Or have you always been? 'Cause, I'm beginning to wonder…"
"Wonder what?" Olivia knew she shouldn't, but she bit anyway.
"Well, you were up my ass the whole time I lived on San Cristobel, and you certainly didn't let up once you found me again here in Springfield…"
"And just where, exactly, are you going with this, Reva?" Olivia sounded bored.
"I think you've been hot for me all these years," Reva accused, "and that your little tryst with Josh was just a way of getting my attention."
"Reva—," Josh said, uncomfortably. He shifted on his feet, glancing nervously at his ex-wives.
Olivia couldn't stop laughing. "In your dreams, Princess Catherine," she chortled. Her tone was decisively sarcastic.
Natalia looked confused, for more reasons than one.
"I'm not attracted to other women, Reva. Natalia is the only woman who's ever garnered more than a passing glance from me," Olivia was saying firmly. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have other plans for this evening." Her dismissal of Josh and Reva was solidified by a cordial nod of her head, as she spoke their names in succession.
Natalia smiled, and did likewise, and then Olivia was leading her away, as Natalia asked, "Who is Princess Catherine?"
"It's a long story," Olivia replied, her hand, once again, pressed against the warmth of Natalia's lower back. "I'll fill you in on the ride home if you'd like."
"Fair enough," Natalia shrugged, and slipped her hand into Olivia's. "Liv?" she said tentatively.
"Yeah?"
"What's a carpet muncher?" Natalia asked innocently, as they walked back into the game room.
¡OH, Dios mío!, Olivia thought, mentally thumping herself on the forehead. It was the one phrase she knew in Spanish, and it seemed quite apposite at the moment. Biting her bottom lip nervously, she turned to face Natalia.
Natalia noted the expression on her face. "That's one of those things I don't wanna know about, isn't it?" she surmised. "Like that squeeze thing…"
Olivia considered the merits of Natalia's supposition; then adopting the most diplomatic tone she could muster, she answered, "Well, now, I wouldn't exactly say that, but… perhaps there's a better time and place to discuss it."
"So I shouldn't Google it, then?" Natalia was playing with her, and they both knew it.
"No, you probably shouldn't Google either one of those things," Olivia laughed. She adored Natalia's innate curiosity. "The latter will likely scare the shit outta you, and the former, well… it'll ruin the element of surprise," she said, arching a mischievous eyebrow.
"Ooh, I love surprises." Dimples bloomed, as Natalia jumped up and down, clapping her hands excitedly.
Olivia slipped her fingers through the belt loops of Natalia's jeans, pulling her close, nuzzling against her ear. "I have a feeling you're really gonna love this one," she practically growled, causing a notable reaction in Natalia's body. Olivia felt the response, and again, the very thought of it left her mind and body in a state of flux. Perhaps she just needed to stop being so fucking cerebral about sex with Natalia, and just let go. Her head could've spun out of control with its racing thoughts about the issue, but Natalia was talking to her, and she couldn't resist the sweet draw of that voice in her ear.
"I'm sorry we were interrupted earlier," Natalia was saying. "I wanted to thank you for serenading me." She was smiling. Olivia took that as a positive. "No one has ever done anything so romantic for me."
"You really liked it?" Olivia breathed an audible sigh of relief.
"Of course I did… You have a gorgeous voice, Liv," Natalia crooned in her ear.
Olivia blushed. "Thank you," she said quietly. She kissed Natalia then, and smiled, "You ready to kick my ass in that fifth round of pool now?"
"Thought you'd never ask," Natalia grinned. "Where'd you put those quarters?"
"In my front pocket," Olivia smirked. "Care to go fishin' for 'em?" The suggestion in her tone was clear.
"With pleasure…" Natalia groaned; pressing her body against Olivia's again, as she slipped her fingers into the depths of that tight pocket. The extraction of those quarters was coupled with a deep kiss that extracted an equally deep groan from Olivia's lungs—as well as groans of obvious pleasure from Shayne and Bill, who just happened to be shooting pool two tables over.
Shayne missed his shot, and cursed; then nudged Bill. "Whoa, Dude, that just made like, at least half of my step-mommy fantasies come true."
"Put your tongue back in your mouth, Man," Bill chastised. "You look like a fool."
"You can't tell me you don't think that's hot," Shayne argued.
"No, I can't tell you that," Bill agreed. "It made a few of my ex-husband fantasies a reality, too," he admitted; those dimples in full force again. "But that doesn't mean we have the right to stand here ogling them. They deserve more respect than that."
Shayne regarded his cousin for a moment; then adjusted his Cub's cap, as he nodded his head. "You're right, Man," he said, slapping Bill firmly on the back. "Your shot." And with that, he tore his gaze away from Olivia and Natalia, and resumed his game with Bill.
Christina and Remy were there too, shooting darts and drinking beer. They heard the commotion, and turned just in time to see Olivia and Natalia's mouths part, as Natalia's hand slipped from Olivia's pocket. Slack-jawed, Remy dropped a dart on his right big toe, and yelped in pain, only to receive a chiding slap from Christina. "Hey, what gives?" he yelped again.
"Don't gawk," Christina reprimanded, turning her attention back to the electronic dartboard.
Remy bent over to soothe his aching toe, and retrieve the offending dart. "No wonder she wouldn't sleep with me," he smirked, referring to Natalia. He felt so much better now.
"What was that?" Christina demanded.
"Nothing—," Remy lied. He knew better than to admit the truth. "Just cursing the dart. These things are heavy!"
"Well, if you weren't being such a pig—" She let him fill in the blanks, while she figuratively patted herself on the back, and mused proudly to herself, I totally called this one…
Completely oblivious to the commotion going on around them, Natalia kissed Olivia one more time. And then, coins in hand, she went to set up their game, leaving Olivia casually leaning against her barstool.
Olivia watched her every move, mesmerized by the sheer essence of the woman. She was unbelievably beautiful, and Olivia truly couldn't fathom how she'd gotten so damned lucky.
She was startled from her reverie by the sound of that bawdy, yet familiar voice booming in her ear. "That little performance out there is sure to get you laid, Spencer."
Olivia regarded the Mayor, eyes scraping her up and down. "So you do own other jackets," she said offhandedly; turning her full attention back to Natalia.
"Hardy-har-har-har," Doris mocked, setting her martini on the table. "Would you just get off my ass about my taste in clothing." It wasn't a suggestion.
"Just tryin' to help you out, Madam Mayor," Olivia said indifferently. "It's up to you to decide what to do with my advice."
"Please!" Doris chided, "You're the one who needs to be taking advice."
Olivia rolled her head toward Doris. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"If you had any brains in your head, you'd use the points you just scored out there, to do some scoring in bed," Doris tutored; parking herself on the barstool across from Olivia. "I mean, seriously, Spencer, what the fuck are you still doing here?"
Olivia arched a pointed eyebrow at her. "Not that it's any of your business, Madam Mayor, but I'm not looking to get laid tonight," she informed.
"Why the fuck not?" Doris exclaimed, incredulity in her tone. Natalia bent over at precisely that moment, retrieving the balls to rack them. "Would you look at her! Shit, I'd tap that in a heartbeat."
"Don't be crass," Olivia admonished. She didn't bother mentioning the complete one-eighty in Doris's thinking from the previous afternoon—the whole Mary Poppins crack, and all. Clearly, the Mayor had come to her senses.
"Jesus, what's gotten into you?" Doris harrumphed. She gulped down half of her martini.
"Common sense," Olivia said simply.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Doris barked.
"I'm getting it right this time, Doris," Olivia answered confidently. "I'm doing the opposite of everything I've done in my past." She glanced at Natalia, who was smiling at her; and turning back to Doris, she grinned, saying, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go get my ass kicked in pool," as she hopped down from her barstool.
Doris rolled her eyes and laughed. "Off with you then," she said, almost fondly, as she dismissively shooed the hotelier away. "It's been nice sparring with you again."
"Same here," Olivia said warmly, as Natalia met her with a pool cue and a kiss. The scene would have made Doris barf, if it weren't so fucking sweet.
Natalia greeted Doris with a warm smile and a few pleasantries, for Olivia's sake; then she and Olivia made their way to the waiting pool table.
Lounging at the table, sipping her martini, Doris watched them take shots; taking rather hedonistic pleasure in the spectacular view of their asses as they did so. "Mm…mm…mm… Doesn't get any better than this," she sighed, almost contentedly. "At least not out of bed…"
"Doesn't get much better than what?" a sultry voice purred in the Mayor's ear.
Startled, Doris flinched, and turned her head, finding a striking redhead standing beside her. "Blake!" she shrieked.
"Madam Mayor," Blake greeted coolly. She perched herself on the barstool across the table. "What has you all worked up this evening?" she pressed. "From the expression on your face, I'd say you're half way to climax about now." The smirk on her face was priceless.
"How the fuck would you know what a woman looks like when she's about to climax?" Doris snapped.
"Ooh, testy!" Blake shot back. And then her curiosity was piqued by the tone in Doris's voice. "I wouldn't," she said, "but it sounds as though you do…"
Doris sputtered for a moment, and then gulped down the remainder of her martini. "I need another drink," she declared, sliding off the barstool.
"Oh, Nn-n-n-n-no…" Blake's finger was wagging as fast as her tongue. "Not so fast, Madam Mayor, I need answers here." No matter how much she had changed over the years, Blake Marler was still a snoop at heart, and she could smell a titillating story at twenty paces.
Thinking fast on her feet, Doris pointed toward Olivia and Natalia. "Perhaps you should ask the two of them," she offered up in suggestion.
Blake turned her head just in time to see Natalia planting a distracting kiss on Olivia's neck, causing the hotelier to miss her shot. Olivia feigned protest, calling Natalia a "little cheater," and promptly pulled her in for a proper kiss.
Blake's mouth dropped open, and she blinked several times; trying to clear her vision to be certain she was really seeing what she was seeing. And then, finally convinced that it was real, she fixed them with an intrigued stare. "Well, I'll be damned—Emma's two mommies really are a couple…"
And just that quickly, Doris Wolfe managed, once again, to escape the hot seat—for the time being, at least. Damn, she was good! She was so impressed with her bad self that she celebrated by treating Blake to a martini. Lucky for her, one of the waitresses breezed through the game room, saving her a trip to the bar. She ordered their drinks, then sat back and listened, as the redhead prattled on about the extreme juiciness of this new little morsel of gossip, all the while thinking what a hot little number Blake was—Oh, if only she would quit talking… And then her mind was off on a tangent, dreaming up all sorts of delightful ways she could shut her up…
Thirty minutes later, her ass once again thoroughly kicked, Olivia set her pool cue down on the table, and pulled Natalia into her arms. "You ready to get outta here?"
Natalia smiled, and nodded her head in agreement. She'd had a wonderful time thus far, Olivia having managed to surprise her yet again, and now she couldn't wait to see what was next.
Olivia grinned, and taking Natalia's hand, they said hello and goodbye to Blake, Christina, and Remy, receiving a round of elated congratulations from each of them. Then, they bid goodnight to Shayne, Bill, and Doris—the latter having whispered a rather salacious suggestion in Olivia's ear regarding what she might do to Natalia when they reached the car. The suggestion only succeeded in prompting Olivia to growl at her to "shut the fuck up."
"Perhaps you wouldn't be so bitchy if you'd just fuck her already," Doris tormented.
Thankful that Natalia was preoccupied with Shayne, chatting about God only knew what, Olivia told her to shut up again, and then informed her about their agreement to wait.
"You did what?" Doris couldn't hold back the uproarious laugh. "You're a fucking idiot," she declared, before she launched into a sermon about common sense versus sheer stupidity. And when she was finished, she just shook her head in disbelief. "I don't even know what else I could say to you," she sighed, clearly disappointed. Olivia was her chance at living vicariously. "You're on your own, Spencer," she said, and with that, she simply walked away.
With Doris having just taken her leave, after giving her a stern lecture on how a woman should never pass up an opportunity to get a good piece of ass, Olivia was left with nothing to do except contemplate the sheer idiocy of not sleeping with Natalia when she had the chance.
Natalia returned as Doris sauntered away, and brushing the self-chastisement aside, Olivia smiled warmly at her. They turned their attention then, to the foursome they had met while playing pool earlier in the evening. "I'm serious about that internship, Stephan," Olivia said in parting. They had gotten into a conversation regarding the requirements of his MBA program when Natalia stepped away to use the restroom during one of their rounds of pool, and she had hinted at the possibility of an internship at the Beacon. "Give Natalia a call early next week, and set up an appointment to come in and see me. We'll see what we can work out."
The corners of his mouth tipped into a smile. "Thank you, Olivia," he said sincerely, his green eyes shining. "I'll do that."
"Good," Olivia declared. "Well, it was nice meeting you all," she added cordially.
Natalia echoed the sentiment, receiving noises of agreement from the foursome, as handshakes were exchanged all around. And then Olivia's hand fell to the small of Natalia's back again, as they reentered the bar area.
Karaoke was still blaring—bad karaoke, that was, and Olivia received several compliments and slaps on the back for her contrastingly stellar performance, as she escorted Natalia through the crowd toward the front door. She smiled, and offered her humble thanks, all the while thinking that Natalia's opinion was the only one that truly mattered.
Retrieving Natalia's coat from the coat check, Olivia helped her on with it; pulling it tightly around her, while Natalia distracted her with playful kisses. And then, laughing together, Olivia held the door for her, as they ventured into the cold night air.
"Omigosh, Liv, that was fabulous," Natalia gushed, clinging to Olivia's arm, as they walked through the parking lot. "The karaoke was the best. Well, okay—it was awful, except for you," she laughed. "I just can't believe those people actually think they can sing."
"Yeah, it's usually a train wreck, but that's what makes it great entertainment," Olivia laughed.
"Well, you… were amazing," Natalia practically purred, grasping the lapels of Olivia's boyfriend jacket, pulling her in for a kiss.
"Thank you," Olivia blushed. She was thankful for the chill in the air that hid the crimson in her cheeks.
"Mmm… my very own Rock Star," Natalia was murmuring against Olivia's mouth as she kissed her again. "I'm gonna be your first groupie. Follow you everywhere…"
"Stop!" Olivia demurred. She couldn't help but laugh. "It's a good thing we're gonna tell Rafe about us on Sunday," she said, changing the subject to avoid further blushing.
"Why's that?" Natalia asked, searching Olivia's eyes by the light of the moon.
"Blake." That one word said it all.
Natalia's mouth formed a big "O"; and then she bit her bottom lip.
"Yeah, Sweetheart—it'll be on the eleven o'clock news."
Natalia laughed. "Too late for that—it's nearly two in the morning."
"Well then we're safe at least until Wake-Up Springfield airs. Maybe even until the morning edition of the Springfield Journal," Olivia grinned.
"If those were the only means of spreading information in this town, we'd be safe forever," Natalia reported. "Sadly, my son never watches anything that doesn't involve rap music or what he terms 'hot babes'," she said; a sense of chagrin in her tone. "And he's never read a newspaper in his life."
"Tell you what," Olivia set her bargain in motion, "when he gets home, I'll overdose him on CNN, and then when he's screaming for mercy, the two of us can have some real fun by talking to him about babes we find hot. It'll be a short list—consisting of just you and me, but I'm sure it'll make him squirm."
Laughing, Natalia shook her head. "You're terrible."
"Yeah," Olivia agreed, with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders, "but you love me anyway."
"Yes," Natalia murmured, "Yes, I do." And spinning Olivia around, Natalia pinned her against the car door as she kissed her thoroughly, leaving her panting for more. "Now, it's freezing, and we should get in the car, because you're still not wearing your coat."
"Uh-uh," Olivia refused, shaking her head back and forth. The mischievous grin on Olivia's face told Natalia they were in for some fun. "You can keep me warm," she said, pulling Natalia firmly against her body.
"Oh, I can, can I?" Natalia flirted.
"Uh-huh," Olivia confirmed, with a nod of her head, as she bit her bottom lip adorably. Looking like that, she was just begging to be kissed again. Natalia didn't resist.
TBC…
Next Up: Chapter 7.4 – The Outing—A Little Magic in the Moonlight
Author's Note: I wasn't certain how many of you would be familiar with Shawn Hlookoff's song Wonderful Surprise, so as a special treat, I created a fan video to go along with this update. It's posted on my YouTube page under Scribegirl21570, for your viewing pleasure. If you would like the direct link, e-mail me at Kimberly21570 on AOL. I've edited video for class presentations before, but have never undertaken anything even remotely like a fan video, so I hope y'all find it enjoyable. I know I had fun creating it for you…