AN: You guys are amazing. I find your continued interest in this story a motivation! Keep reading, and I'll keep writing. This chapter is another one geared towards adults. Read at your own risk. Sorry for any mistakes.
"It's not that we didn't enjoy the stories Ms. Silva, but as a company we are looking for something else. You are very talented indeed, perhaps you can submit something else. We'd be happy to read it." Lexa sighed heavily, moving the smartphone away from her mouth to keep her crestfallen response private.
No wonder the Maunon Publishing Co. had yet to contact her; they were busy setting her stuff aside to make room for the next writer. It was frustrating and heartbreaking, and she found it difficult to keep her tone even and unaffected. "What is it exactly that you are looking for, if I may ask?"
There was a chorus of throats clearing, surely coming from a group of people sat gathered around a conference phone, and that made Lexa more upset. Great. They couldn't have one person reject her; they had to get the whole company in on it.
"Well, Ms. Silva, frankly we were looking for stuff more relatable." There was a pause. "We enjoy children's short stories, but we have never really published those kinds of works. Our contracts center on early adulthood to midlife stage pieces. Sexy, funny, and relatable to our demographic."
Lexa sighed again and shook her head incredulously. "Sex sells." Of course that's where they were headed with the conversation; she should have seen it coming a mile away.
"It does." Someone replied, and Lexa realized she had said that out loud. "Our readers like to read one of two types of novels, one where they see themselves in the characters, or one where they wish they could be one of the characters." The male voice paused. "We were all children once Ms. Silva, but I doubt any of us in this room would like to relive it all over again."
In theory, it made sense, but that did little to comfort Lexa. Besides, people were nostalgic by nature. Who didn't like to be reminded of happier simpler times?
"Like we said Ms. Silva, submit another work to us that better fits our model, and we will read it." The female voice came back on. "Take this as a challenge to expand your resume, not as failure. If you can claim to be a writer of several genres, then you will be more successful than the rest of the writers out there."
The brunette nodded in regretful concession, taking the words in and digesting them with her mind. "Thank you very much, Ms. Vie." She sighed yet again. "I will consider your suggestion. Mr. Wallace. You all have a lovely day." She concluded the call before swiping the end button rather solemnly.
There were a few things she had to think about. Especially given the obstacle now currently obstructing the path she had envisioned for herself.
Lexa stood proudly beside her girlfriend with a drink in hand.
It was hard not to smile as Clarke held effortless conversation with the group of artists and investors that currently surrounded them. Many had attended Mr. Harwood's gallery with the hopes of seeing pieces by renowned artists, but most had fallen prey to the unfamiliar ones that greeted them upon entry. They were captivated and curious about their creator, and his or her reputation in the world of art.
The fact that Clarke was, for all intents and purposes 'nobody' in their world, enthralled them more so. Soon, several of the attendees, artists themselves, wanted to know all about the self-taught girl from Virginia.
Because of that, the girls had yet to make their own way further into the building, stuck in place for the past hour or so.
The brunette sipped her whiskey and listened attentively to Clarke's responses and comments. Suddenly, it became apparent to her that her eyes had been glued to the blonde's lips the entire time. Subtly she moved her gaze down to her own feet, giving her time to collect herself before returning her undivided attention to her mesmerizing girlfriend.
"Surely you are pulling my leg when you tell me that you have never attended some prolific art school." A man shook his head before drinking out of his own tumbler of liquor.
Clarke shook her head slowly with a proud smile. "Frankie's institution is the only place where I have been able to really learn and dissect the wrong from the right." She paused. "Before that, my career path was filled with future tiny patients and sleepless nights."
"Ah, a doctor." A woman commented. "I'm sure you still suffer from sleepless nights." She smiled. "I know I do when I have my mind churning up 'the next one'."
The blonde nodded in understanding. In fact she was very familiar with that anxious feeling. It still puzzled her why some of the best and most inspiring ideas came to her at night, before sleep could claim her. It was then that her fingers itched to hold a brush or charcoal the most.
"Sometimes she makes up for it in class." Frankie laughed as she added that in jest and the group laughed. "I only kid, of course. Clarke quickly became one of the top students at The Ark." Her compliment was accepted with a wide smile and subtle nod from the blonde.
They conversed for a while longer before Mr. Harwood interrupted and asked that the guests make their way towards the section of the gallery that had been set up for dinner.
Clarke and Lexa walked hand in hand towards their seats, smiling from ear to ear at the occasion.
"I knew you'd have paintings hanging in a gallery sooner or later." The man's voice stopped both girls in their tracks. Their facial expressions blatant opposites with the feelings his compliment elicited.
"Anthony!" Clarke moved to hug the man in appreciation. His smile was wide as he was happy to see her. "I had no idea you'd be here." She added as she pulled back to stand beside Lexa.
He nodded at the brunette, knowing she was not likely to reciprocate a hug or a handshake.
Lexa's clear disdain for the man was not enough to keep her from being cordial in a place surrounded by so many future potential business connections of Clarke's. So, she extended her hand and shook his firmly while he lifted his eyebrows in surprise.
"Mr. Harwood and my parents go back. He liked your work for the Tassels show, and he can't stop talking about you. He mentioned he had acquired some of your work so I had to come and congratulate you."
"Thank you." Clarke responded. "This is really just to get my name out there. I don't expect Mr. Harwood to place any of my paintings up for auction just yet." The blonde shrugged nonchalantly.
"Someone will want one, Clarke. I'm sure." He replied. "Lexa how's your writing going? Any new plays?"
The brunette flashed him a feigned smile. "It's great, Anthony. Thanks for asking. But no, no new plays. The burlesque show is still doing great, no need to change it up just yet." She paused and Clarke knitted her brows in concern. "Should we go find our seats?" She looked over to Clarke.
Sensing her girlfriend was no longer comfortable with the direction of the discussion, the blonde nodded. "Where are you sitting, Anthony?" She looked back to her friend.
"Far back. Nowhere near where the cool talented people sit." He flashed her a grin.
Lexa fought hard against the urge to roll her eyes and puff in disbelief. "Come find us after. Maybe we can chat some more." She found the resolve deep, very deep inside, to feign interest in talking to him again.
He nodded, oblivious to the brunette's thoughts. "Oh and congrats." He looked to both of them and smiled as they looked at him confused. He simply pointed to their laced hands.
Clarke reddened instantly before she smiled. "Thanks." She replied. "See you." She moved quickly towards their table, towing her girlfriend behind her. "No matter what anyone says, when someone that asked you out and you rejected congratulates you on your current relationship, it gets awkward as hell." She chuckled before kissing Lexa's cheek and sitting down in the chair the girl pulled out for her.
"Well it works wonders for my libido." Lexa whispered in her ear as she pushed her closer to the table. "Of course it could be because I was the lucky one that you said yes to."
Clarke moaned out loud when she felt Lexa's tongue on her. The girl was talented as hell when it came to stimulating waves of pleasure with just one muscle. It was a mind-blowing experience each and every time the brunette went down on her.
She felt her toes curl as Lexa delved into her center and exhaled through her mouth. It was to keep from suffocating, but the inadvertent sensation of her warm breath on the soaked skin made the blonde twist in bliss. Her fingers curled automatically into the sheets as she tried to delay the inevitable.
There was no way she could succeed as Lexa made it her goal to have her orgasm one more time before she allowed her to touch her.
When she came, Lexa exhaled with an accomplished smirk before kissing her way back up the blonde's curvaceous body. "You weren't lying when you said you were turned on earlier." Clarke breathed hard and opened her arms up to her girlfriend so she could cover her fully.
Lexa looked down into those blue eyes she liked so much. The blonde's skin burned onto hers as she still recovered. "I wasn't." She smiled.
Letting a smile grace her features, she began to caress her face. "Allow me to show you what you do to my libido." Clarke whispered before she kissed the brunette deeply.
A sigh escaped them before Lexa spoke with their lips still moving over each other. "Correct me if I'm wrong Virginia, but I believe you just showed me…twice." She wanted to smile into the kiss, but Clarke kissed her harder before hooking her leg around to flip them. That left little room to gloat in victory.
Clarke moved down Lexa's toned body without haste, but her desire to counter the pleasure she felt earlier made her kisses turn from soft caresses to open mouth nips and wet licks down increasingly flushed skin.
"Then," She mouthed over a defined hipbone. "Allow me, to help you, show me, what you do to my libido." She smiled as Lexa writhed due to a nip on her sensitive contours.
Several seconds passed between Lexa's exhale and the next time she gasped for fresh air.
The blonde heard the sharp intake somewhere in the flurry of every other sound emanating from the brunette.
She observed the girl as she licked and nipped at sensitive skin. Carefully she took inventory of every twist of her body, every faint ripple of muscles, and even of the times her knuckles blanched from clenching her fists.
It came as a surprise to Lexa when the blonde covered her sensitive nerves with her mouth as she simultaneously entered her with one determined finger.
The overload of stimulating ministrations made it difficult for the writer to hold back the whimper in her mouth. Not even biting her lip and feeling the teeth sink in stopped a guttural moan of satisfaction.
Sounds escaped both of the girls then. Each one feeling the effect of the other's responses to the touches and explorations.
Clarke felt her center flush with heat at the deep sounds that Lexa allowed to escape her, and she nearly stopped what she was doing to her so she could demand the brunette touch her instead.
Admittedly, she was jealous that her girlfriend's fingers were not inside her, making her squirm in ecstasy like hers were. A brief moment of reasoning made her slow in embarrassment at her thoughts, but she quickly dismissed it-her frustration suddenly becoming the drive and motivation to make Lexa orgasm.
Anything to pleasure her so they could then pleasure each other. It was selfish, and she didn't care just then.
When Lexa yelled with her release, Clarke's body was on fire, but she could not decide whether she was drained or more driven with excitement to feel the brunette work her over the edge.
She had little to no time to decide before she felt Lexa pull her up like a ragdoll to kiss her hungrily.
Their lips and tongues made an ardent mess of their usually slow post-coital kisses.
They moaned into each other's mouths as their fingers made quick work of rustling locks of hair before trailing across slick flesh.
The desire to get closer, to become fused to the bone, consumed them as they heard their kisses become wetter and more desperate.
Lexa could hardly stand it anymore before she decided to sit up, forcing the blonde to abandon her lips as she backed up slowly, waiting for her next move. There was little time apart however, as the artist found herself in front of her girlfriend, their knees sinking in to the mattress as they straightened up and resumed their kissing.
Releasing a desperate moan, Clarke pulled Lexa closer.
The brunette allowed herself to fall into the girl as she slowed the kiss drastically, promising her silently that she was there with her. But Clarke needed more assurance, so she took the liberty to show her what she needed. Guiding her hand down from her waist, she sighed into their kiss when she felt Lexa's dexterous fingers begin their journey.
It took all of her willpower not to sit down on the hand and let Lexa do all of the work, but she finally succeeded in moving her own fingers back towards the heat between her girlfriend's legs.
Together they sighed and moaned in unison, searching for the spots they had since learned were the most satisfying. The pads of their fingers had learned to memorize the folds and flesh that opened up to fields of flowering nerves waiting to be brushed up against.
Neither girl fought the waves of overwhelming sensations as they continued to push each other higher. And when they were on the cliff's edge, they kissed deeper, they held tighter, and they moaned louder before letting go.
Spent and hazy they let go and fell onto their sides with heavy exhales.
No words were spoken as their breaths mingled before them instead.
Minutes later when their breathing had slowed and their hearts had returned to beating at a normal pace, Clarke moved to partially cover Lexa's exposed body.
The brunette opened her eyes and wrapped her arm around a now-clammy hip. She looked curiously up at the blonde.
"You lied when you told me your call with MPC had gone well." Clarke stated, but not as accusatory as she feared she would. Her fingers traced lightly over Lexa's breast to signal she was not upset and actually trying to provide comfort and support.
There was a long pause before the writer sighed softly and closed her eyes for a brief moment. Opening them again, she nodded. "They don't want to publish the short stories." She swallowed as she recalled the phone call. "Apparently, my style does not fit their demographic." Her eye brows arched as she shrugged.
"Fuck them." Clarke responded, her need to protect the brunette causing a sudden rush in adrenaline. "What the hell does that even mean?"
Lexa shook her head to dismiss the conversation, but when Clarke wouldn't move on, she replied. "They want trash novels not family friendly stories." Her voice hardly shook, but her insides felt the rejection all over again.
Clarke looked softly at the girl before smiling wide. "So give them sexy, babe." She pecked the girl's lips, gliding nonchalantly over the new term of endearment.
The word caught Lexa by surprise, but she couldn't find it in her to dislike it.
Sure, she had never used it in previous relationships or flings, mostly because she never felt it appropriate. And the term did hold a certain level of promiscuity that never seemed synonymous with sweet Costia. Yet the way it sounded coming from her blonde, and the way it made her feel, marked a clear stage in her life where she felt she had experienced enough, and seen enough, to be fully comfortable with it.
It no longer felt like a dirty word she shouldn't label herself or others as. It felt earned and just, and not in any inappropriate or 'loose' manner. It was a word; yes a sexy one, which she could now own alongside her gorgeous girlfriend.
It was an odd time to logically deduce that, she realized, but Lexa had no qualms about her conclusion once she smiled up at Clarke and found herself deep in a kiss. "You're smart, Lexa, and talented." The blonde spoke once they broke away. "You can give them sexy. You can give them touching. You can give them everything and anything they want." The brunette felt a surge of appreciation for her girlfriend. "Maybe this can be motivation to finish that story you can never complete."
Lexa shrugged. "That story is definitely not what they're looking for." She shook her head adamantly.
"Don't be so quick to dismiss it. I bet it's something good already." Clarke supported. "What if I read it for you, and give you a direction?" She offered.
Wide green eyes stared back at her. She sensed exactly what Lexa felt then. It was something like what she felt when she doubted her own talents. There were times she never wanted a painting to see the light of day. "I'm not ready to share it with anyone, yet." Lexa whispered.
There was no way that Clarke was going to push the issue then and ruin the moment, so she let it go. "Alright." She smiled. "At least think about it. I don't ever have to read it, but don't give up on it. This could be what you've been working towards."
Lexa nodded. She didn't know what direction she was headed in next. The rejection from Maunon had adversely impacted her self-confidence.
But one thing was certain, there was no way she was done trying to become the writer she swore she was going to be. Even if it meant evolving a little ahead of schedule.
She pulled Clarke down for a soft kiss before moving around to spoon her.
Together they fell asleep as they separately lived with the ups and downs of their personal ambitions.
TBC…
Bittersweet indeed. Can you guys imagine how Lexa feels- being happy for her girlfriend, but feeling like a failure because she can't get her hard work published? I feel for her. So, Anthony made a re-appearance. How did you guys do? Not too bad right? He just wanted to congratulate Clarke. I know he can be annoying, but it looks like Lexa came out OK. More than OK if you ask me. ;) Excited for the direction of this story. See you guys next week!
