A/N: This one is going out with a massive shout out to Callie-G over on FFNet for providing the prompt.
Summary: Years after the events in Paris, Miranda finds one of her darling Bobbsey's remained in touch with the assistant that got away, Andréa (Call me Andy) Sachs. What will happen when the editor comes face to face with her past? Will she still see a lot of herself in the brunette?
Disclaimer: As always, I am just fooling around with these characters. I do not make any money them because Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox own them.
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Miranda could smell the now familiar scent of coconut which emanated from Andréa's luscious dark hair, and the scent of vanilla from her skin as she inhaled deeply.
Her hands ached to touch the younger woman's smooth, porcelain skin. Her mouth longed to snare her full lips in a heated kiss. She wanted to see those dark expressive eyes darken with lust and longing for her. Andréa was so full of life and she simply wished to bask in her presence, but she had returned home with Ethan after their weekend together. Lay in her large bed, she clutched the pillow where Andréa's head had laid just the night before and let herself remember.
They returned home from dropping Isabel at camp and their photograph was taken, but Andréa was seemingly unconcerned by it. She had professed her love, loud and clear for the whole world to hear.
Upon entering the house they had eventually settled in on the couch and Andréa had put some inane sitcom on as they ate leftover pizza and relaxed. She must have fallen into a deep sleep because when she woke up, her head was in Andréa's lap and warm fingers were running through her hair and massaging her scalp. It had felt so wonderful.
It was only a week since they reconnected and yet it seemed as if she and Andréa had not spent a single day apart, never mind the four years that had passed. Andréa was still able to read her better than anyone she had ever met, although sometimes she got it so vastly wrong.
The evening before, Andréa had surprised her with a romantic candlelit dinner of Boursin-Stuffed Chicken wrapped in prosciutto, sat on a bed of wild rice and steamed vegetables, and the most delicious chocolate mousse she had ever tasted. Wine and conversation flowed as they sat in candlelight, enjoying their meal, with soft music playing through the Bose.
Once they had finished eating, Andréa took hold of her hand and pulled her to her feet. She guided her into her arms and they swayed to the soft voice of Sara Bareilles. Her arms had rested on Andréa shoulders and she stroked her fingers through her silky hair as her lips trailed the strong line of her jawline before making her way to catch those beautifully full, tempting lips.
Every muscle in her body relaxed at the gentle touch of lips. The way their lips fit together left her wanting a lifetime of these kisses, unlimited and unconditional access to Andréa's perfectly soft, full lips. She couldn't stop herself from turning one kiss into another, and another, the gentle, sweet touches slowly becoming hotter. She finally pulled back, stroking a thumb over Andréa's cheek as her eyes opened to meet hers. Her own smile was uncontrollable before she leaned in and kissed Andréa again. Their kisses deepened and she had somehow coaxed Andréa's mouth open, their tongues meeting. It had been intoxicating.
Her hands weaved in her the brunette's silken locks as they traded kiss after kiss and Andréa's hands had swept up and down her back before caressing the roundness of her ass. They slowly moved to the front and her palms grazed her nipples, making them stiffen into hard pebbles. As a jolt of desire swept through her, Miranda had pulled back by the unexpected feelings the young woman coaxed in her. She spotted the sudden discomfort in Andréa's eyes as she turned and walked from the room, whispering an apology for overstepping as she brushed past her.
She took her time to clean up and when she had finally completed her chore and made her way to the bed they had been sharing, she found Andréa asleep, but there was a telling streak from her tears on her cheeks. That morning, she had attempted to talk to Andréa over coffee, but she had kept her eyes averted and remained monosyllabic. And then she'd rushed away with excuses she needed to get Ethan from Christian.
She found she had struggled to remain focussed all day, with her thoughts often fluttering to the beautiful brunette. But she had pushed through with her usual determination and compared with other days her team's incompetence was kept to a minimum. One highlight of the day had been upon finding the photograph of their kiss was gracing Page Six. Emily almost shrieked at the sight of it, before muttering 'bloody bollocks!'. The reaction had her lips twitching as she tried to hide her amusement.
Throwing Andréa's pillow to one side, she decided there was only one course of action. Sliding from her bed, she stepped into her closet and found some comfortable clothes. A pair of cashmere 'Palazzo' pants and a matching sweater that fell off one shoulder. She packed an overnight bag and picked up her cell. Looking around, she spotted the book and frowned. Picking it up, she set it under the arm holding her small Paul Smith Kaleidoscope bag and made her way through the large dark house. She grabbed her car keys on her way to the garage and smiled at the thought of what she planned.
The streets heading towards Andréa's were quiet due to the heavy showers caused by the sudden summer storm that day and she reached the apartment in just over ten minutes. There were one or two members of the press lurking but she ignored them. Luckily, she found parking right outside and as she stepped quickly towards the complex door, it opened and she slipped past the young couple and made her way to the second level.
She could hear the soft piano melody coming from Andréa's apartment and could hear her soft voice. She recognised it as a cover version of Like I'm Gonna Lose You. She stood, simply listening, stunned once again by the raw emotion in Andréa's voice. Shaking herself from her stupor as the song ended, she made a fist and knocked briskly on the door.
As the door was wrenched open, she saw the surprise in Andréa's eyes. She pushed her back and dropped her bag and the book as she kicked the door closed behind her. Unwilling to wait, she pushed herself forward into Andréa's arms and was unsurprised when they came around to hold her tight. "Do not run from me again," Miranda whispered.
"I...I...no! I thought...I...I fucked up, didn't I? I mean, I..." Andréa stuttered.
"Not at all," Miranda interrupted.
Andréa sucked in a large breath of air and her shoulders sagged in relief. "Oh, thank God." She breathed. "Ethan's with Christian. I punched someone and quit my job today." She admitted.
Miranda was astonished by the words. Pulling back, she saw the distress in Andréa's eyes. "Please, explain what happened." She asked softly. She turned and removed her jacket, folding it across the arm of the sofa.
"I saw The Post when Christian shoved it under my nose. He was fairly amused I was making the news rather than writing it. When I got to work, I ignored the pointed looks and how the conversation stalled when I entered the bullpen. The sports editor, Gillespie, made some shitty comments about the photos on Page Six. When I didn't rise to his baiting, he asserted, to all who would listen, that I kept my job and got to pick and choose the articles I write because I had been secretly fucking you since I worked for you. I continued to ignore him, apart from telling him to fuck off once. But it was when he brought Izzy into things that I lost it."
"The scholarship?" Miranda asked.
"No, not that." Andréa pulled away and led her to the sofa. "He mentioned her friendship with a certain 'Fashion Queen's' daughter in a rather disparaging way. Basically, he told me the apple didn't fall far from the tree and how could I expect her not to turn into a baby dyke when she was clearly surrounded by lesbians. He then said there was no doubt my E.J was going to grow up to be a 'fag'. Greg tried to intervene at that point but was too late. I knocked his front tooth out."
"Greg's?" Miranda was confused.
"Yeah, he was caught by my elbow as I punched Gillespie square in the nose," Andréa admitted. "He knows it was an accident, but it was decided it would be for the best if I quit. Greg spoke to HR and no legal action will be taken as long as I leave quietly."
"What will you do now?" Miranda pulled Andréa into her arms.
"I don't know. Good Morning America still wants me, they seem to believe any publicity is good publicity." Andréa scoffed. "They even improved upon the job offer."
"Don't take it," Miranda stated. "You want to write, Andréa. You once told me your dream was to write for the New Yorker. Do that. I will speak with David should you wish, and see what openings he has." She licked her lips. "Or you could freelance." She saw Andréa's eyes glisten with her impending tears and cupped her beautiful face in her hands and kissed her deeply. "Always do whatever sets your soul on fire, my darling." She whispered.
"I have bills and rent and..." Andréa swallowed her rising panic. "...Jesus, it took me all year to scratch the couple of thousand bucks for Izzy's camp and..."
"I will help in any way I can. I could arrange for Ethan to make use of the Elias Clarke playgroup for the next few months, or I'm sure Cara would be happy to take up his care, either would give you the time you need to work. You can eat with us at the house." She continued to list the things she believed would concern the younger woman. "Designers are always providing items for Cassidy and Caroline to wear, so Isabel will be okay for clothes and I'm sure once they realise Ethan is around, they will clamour to dress the little man too."
Miranda resolved to let Donatella know of the change in her circumstances, that way word was sure to spread around the industry quickly. "If paying rent becomes an issue, you could easily move in with the twins and I. The children have their own rooms and I would happily renovate the fourth floor leading up to the roof for you if you believe you require more space."
Pulling away from her, Andréa offered a watery smile." You would really turn your life upside down for us?"
"I will do anything to have you remain in my life, Andréa," Miranda stated. "I know this seems quick, but I just...I simply desire for you to be happy and comfortable. But more than that, I wish for you to continue to succeed. You have, in a small way, held your own career back in order to raise your children, and yet you have still garnered accolades and respect in this industry. But now you have the opportunity to set out to do what you wish. You can write for the Times, the New Yorker, Harpers, Ploughshare, Paris Review, Vanity Fair or even the Cincinnati Review. You will be published in Runway as often as you can come up with fresh, invigorating ideas." Miranda smiled softly at Andréa's look of disbelief. "And should you wish to take your knowledge of fashion to Vogue or even Allure, I shall support that too."
She delighted in the sound of Andréa's giggle at the mention of Allure. "You know Michelle Lee does not think much of my ideas or my taste in fashion." She waved a hand over herself airily and Miranda took in what she was wearing, a navy blue men's shirt that only just covered her ass. Her breath caught at the display of long toned legs.
"Well, she is a nincompoop and I had Emily advise her of such today when she called to arrange lunch." Miranda smiled. "But simply put, Allure's loss is Runway's gain. My magazine will reap the benefits from the talent and ambition you have and I shall personally benefit from having such a stunningly beautiful partner in my life, an intelligent, compassionate woman, who I find myself enraptured by. Someone I can nurture and support and who will offer me the same in return."
Miranda understood her words could be shocking to Andréa, her personality ensured people kept their distance. She was an introvert at heart, which came across as her being cold and uninterested. She struggled with small-talk unless she was comfortable enough with someone and the need to fake interest as she networked often set her teeth on edge. She often had to pretend to be someone she was not, but she did what she needed to succeed in her world. What made her the best though was her keen eye for detail. She somehow noticed things that others didn't.
Like sending Emily after Andréa all those years before. As the brunette spun on her heel and fired at her how hard she would work and even her knowledge that she wouldn't fit in, she saw the spark of ambition shining brightly and a healthy dose of chutzpah. It made her curious about the young woman. What would she actually do to succeed? Andréa was raw, but she could see her beauty, she radiated energy and life. Her dark unruly hair, large doe-like eyes and the smile that seemed to shoot sunbeams at whomever it was directed toward offered her a sense of peace and security she had never experienced before.
Andréa surprised her by flinging herself back into her arms and she felt the dampness of her tears against her neck. After a few moments, she spoke. "You brought a bag?" The whispered question had Miranda pulling back.
"I felt the loss of your presence beside me greatly, Andréa. The house seemed far too big and quiet for my taste." Miranda admitted honestly.
"You wanna stay?" Andréa asked softly.
"That would be acceptable." Miranda's lips quirked in the ghost of a smile. "And perhaps we could take up where we left off last night?" She queried breathlessly. "Regardless of what you thought, I would sincerely like to try for more."
Andréa's smile was almost blinding. Pulling back she took off and Miranda was at a loss as she watched her slender body move quickly down the hall towards her bedroom. Once she reached the door, Andréa turned and looked at her. She smiled one of those bright, megawatt smiles that left Miranda warm and her eyes twinkled playfully when crooked a finger, beckoning the editor to follow.
Miranda stood quickly and picked up the book and her bag. She placed one on the coffee table and almost jogged after the brunette. The bedroom was softly illuminated by a lamp, just enough so that when Miranda looked up, her heart seemed to skip a beat at the sight before her.
Andréa lay on the bed, her hair splayed across her pillows and her pale skin a stark contrast to the dark covers. The brunette stared at her, the playfulness in her eyes replaced by raw desire. She patted the bed beside her encouragingly.
Climbing onto the bed next to her, Miranda leaned down and placed a soft kiss against the waiting lips. She could hear the heavy rain pelting down onto the street as Andréa deepened their kisses. It felt like they were the only two people in the City. Andréa returned her kisses lovingly. It felt so natural. As if they had done this a thousand times before when in reality it had happened only a handful. Miranda eventually pulled away, needing air, and looked deeply into Andréa's eyes.
"You've seriously no idea how long I have dreamed of this," Andréa whispered. "I was so close to laying my heart at your feet in Paris, but I couldn't. What if you had rejected me? It would've been left with nothing."
Miranda trailed her fingertips down Andréa's neck and heard her breath hitch. "Mm, I feel the same," Miranda spoke quietly.
"Are you sure this is okay?" Andréa asked hesitantly.
"I have never been more certain." Miranda wanted this so much.
She kissed Andréa softly and they were returned with less skill, but more passion. Andréa hummed into her mouth as their tongues twined. She felt the jolt of desire land between her thighs and moved closer rather than away, pressing Andréa down into the mattress with her body. She placed a trail of kisses from her lips down her neck to the bare skin unhidden by the collar of the shirt. When her mouth reached Andréa 's collarbone, she raised her hands to the shirt and started unbuttoning, her mouth trailing across the bare skin she uncovered. She bent to tease her nipples, taking them into her mouth to briefly suck and drawing out little gasps. She watched as they stiffened under her gentle touch and ran her thumbs teasingly over them.
Her patience, never her strongest virtue, was wearing thin, and Andréa's hands in her hair, pushing her head lower was all she needed to blaze soft kisses over her breasts and ribs, to her toned stomach and finally to her covered mound. She inhaled deeply, delighting in the heady scent of the woman below. Shifting, her lips moved over the damp cotton and her tongue met the material in its first taste of Andréa's desire. She moaned softly against the radiating heat and pushed the material aside to allow her tongue to breach her moist lips, causing Andréa to cry out softly. She slowly licked her way up and ended the sensuous contact with the brunette with a flick of her sensitive clit.
With a coaxing touch, Andréa opened her legs wider, allowing her to settle between them as she initiated a searing kiss. Her fingers slipped under the band of Andréa's panties and between her thighs hesitantly, and the soft sigh showed the younger woman's acceptance. "May I taste you, my darling?" Miranda asked.
"God, yes." The hissed agreement had her moving down once more her free hand tugging thin black cotton down over slender hips as her other hand continued to move teasingly against her.
She pushed her fingers softly between the folds, sliding a single digit inside as her tongue provided slow, teasing licks as Andréa writhed, her heels digging into the mattress as her legs tensed. Miranda coaxed her clit from its hood and licked it. Andrea's throaty moan in response, had her encircling her clit and sucking it into her mouth.
Andréa's low moans filled her ears and she could feel her muscles tensing as her hips rocked against her. Miranda continued to lick and suck as her finger thrust insistently. Andréa's cries of impending release grew urgent and more intense as she thrust into her with a second finger and then a third in quick succession before her body trembled and she flooded her hand and chin with her essence. Miranda continued to lap at the fragrant nectar until Andréa let out a deep sigh and her movements stilled.
Miranda's own body thrummed with desire. Moving swiftly she rid herself of her clothes and settled beside the brunette in nothing but her panties. Andréa turned on her side and they faced each other. She felt suddenly shy under the expressive eyes of her, hopefully, soon-to-be-lover. Exquisitely soft, tender kisses were trailed down her jaw and neck as Andréa's hands wrapped around her, stroking her back soothingly.
"You're so Goddamned beautiful, Miranda," Andréa whispered. "And as I've said, although I would like to make love to you, there is, nor will there ever be, the need to rush."
Frustration gripped her insides. She desired Andréa so very much and if she was honest with herself, she always had. Her body's betrayal of that left her apoplectic with rage. Shaking her anger away, she thought about everything that had brought her to this moment, of laying in Andréa's bed, their bodies pressed close against one another.
Andréa initiated a soft kiss, humming against her lips as she tasted herself. In that kiss, it seemed like Andréa knew everything about her. As if she knew how badly she had wanted her lips on her. Miranda sensed the passion and love in them and it made her lightheaded. She stopped kissing Andréa and looked into her eyes, just wanting to take a moment to look at her, to reflect in her beauty. She gazed into the woman's beautiful hazel eyes and knew she would be able to see all the love and desire, and perhaps even the fear, within her. See all the want that had grown throughout the week. All the nights she had laid in her empty bed just wishing she was there...thinking of all the things she wished to do to her.
"Touch me, Andréa," Miranda whispered.
Andréa smiled. "With pleasure, love." She dipped her head and her tongue flicked out behind Miranda's ear.
She lay there for a long moment, savouring all the sensations that Andréa evoked in her as her lips and long hair trailed tantalisingly over her body. Her desire grew, and she could feel the excitement building in the deep ache between her thighs. Closing her eyes, she arched into the soft suckling and teasing at her breast. Andréa's hand slid along her smooth thigh, from her knee to the place where her legs met. She shifted her legs to give more access and was rewarded immediately when slender fingers breached the elastic of her panties and came to rest in the patch of neat curls just above her pussy.
Gently, those fingers began to probe and caress, seeking out the places where the folds parted and the lips gave way to the wetness within. Andréa shifted and positioned herself between her legs, dipping her head to join her mouth with her fingers. She pulled the panties free and removing her hand, held Miranda's hips as she licked her pussy in wide strokes, as she rocked slightly against her.
Miranda felt herself responding by spreading herself wider and moaned when that talented tongue pressed into her centre. "Oh, God." She moaned. She felt the orgasm building quite unexpectedly and felt herself quiver around the strong muscle as a low moan rent from her throat as her climax roared through her.
Andréa crawled up next to her draping a long leg over hers, her arm resting across her stomach and her head nuzzling into the crook of her neck. Miranda wrapped her up in her arms and held her tight, listening to her soft breathing, her eyes open in wonder at the truth of her words.
Andréa Sachs really could do anything.
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