Chapter 18: Interchange
Warning: Some smut ahead.
"There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars."
Jack Kerouac, On the Road
Lexa's new kitchen sink was already filled to the brim. Two empty bottles of shiraz stood by the countertop ready for recycling. More than a dozen bottles of stout were neatly lined across the kitchen nook. The group has moved from Lexa's dining table down to the more comfortable Chesterfield sofa and armchairs around the coffee table. The apartment was dimly lit with faint warm light from the wall sconces and low jazz music played in the background. The room was filled with a rhythm of soft voices, clinking glassware and the occasional boisterous laughter. For the first time in a long time, Lexa felt like she was at Christmas dinner. She felt warm and relaxed, especially now that an amiable blonde was cackling hysterically beside her after Gustus has shared some of his on-the-job shenanigans.
"…and so I thought it was an avocado garnish, so I took the entire blob and stuffed it directly onto my mouth" Gustus went on with his anecdote.
"But little did he know that it was wasabi paste and soon enough he was running to the bathroom to rinse his mouth" Titus finished retelling the story for him with a chuckle.
Soon, the trio filled the room with boisterous laughter once more. Lexa having heard the story several times just sat there and smile, observing her friends interact.
"Oh dear, is that the time" Gustus suddenly checked his wristwatch.
Lexa looked at the wall clock and realized that it was already ten minutes past midnight.
"I have an early interview tomorrow, Lex. I think it's time to hit the road" Gustus downed the remaining contents of his beer and fumbled for his car keys.
"Are you sure you should be driving?" Clarke asked a little bit worried.
"Don't worry, I'll take him home. I just had a couple of glasses of wine" Titus interjected grabbing the car keys from Gustus. "I'll just pick up my car tomorrow, Lex".
Lexa loved the fact that Titus and Gustus were getting along once more. For whatever reason, they had for doing so, Lexa did push for it this evening, that is probably going to be a topic for another day. But she was glad that they were in amicable terms again.
"How about you Clarke? You shouldn't be driving in your condition as well" Gustus noted.
"Oh, I think I'll stay a bit and help Lexa clean up…and maybe take some coffee or tea?" Clarke looked at Lexa tentatively.
Lexa realized that she would suddenly be alone with Clarke once again. For most of the evening, Clarke has been spending the time getting to know Gustus and Titus. So, she and Lexa really never had the chance to address the awkwardness between them.
"Sure…you should sober up before you go" Lexa responded right away.
"Alright, we'll get going then. It was great to meet you, Clarke" Gustus hugged Lexa and Clarke individually and headed towards the door.
"I'll go take that plastered being home, 'till we meet again, Clarke" Titus moved to embrace Clarke. Then he slowly moved towards Lexa who stood by the door giving her a knowing look. "Don't do anything that I wouldn't do" Titus winked at Lexa after he kissed her goodbye on the cheek.
"See you tomorrow" He exclaimed as he faded towards the hallway following the heavy footsteps of Gustus.
Lexa took a deep breath that she didn't realize she was holding once she closed the door behind the couple. She was stunned by the scene that she saw when she re-entered the living area. Clarke was standing at the vestibule looking at the decoupaged wall enumerating most of Lexa's published works. Her blonde hair glistened under the illumination of the track lights, her eyebrows were furrowed in deep thought, her lower lip tucked beneath the upper. Lexa was so captivated by the scene, she reminded herself of how attracted she was to Clarke. It is in the most mundane moments that one realizes their genuine attraction to another person and this was it for Lexa.
"I always thought you were good but never thought you were that good" Clarke broke Lexa's trance.
"Hah, don't you find that wall a little bit narcissistic?" Lexa tried to calm herself with self-deprecating humor.
"Well, then, when you see my studio I might be Narcissus personified" Clarke joked.
"So, when do I get to see your studio?" Lexa asked as she moved closer to where Clarke stood.
Probably, it was during the moment that Clarke was suddenly reminded of their past predicament.
"So, this is how we are going to do it? We'll moved around in circles slowly until we get there?" Clarke suddenly felt the urge to address the elephant in the room.
"What do you mean?" Lexa was never straight to the point; she was always careful and she wanted to hear it from Clarke.
"This, Lexa" Clarke pointed at the space between them moving her arm back and forth. "This realm of uncertainty between us…"
Lexa didn't know what occurred to her or what prompted her but hearing something as profound as "the realm of uncertainty" from Clarke has deeply provoked her to do something. So, without any question or doubt, she moved to close the gap between them by grabbing Clarke by the waist and initiated a quick but lingering peck on Clarke's lips and she was still in the verge of saying something more.
"I usually don't interrupt people when they are talking but by far that was one of the sexiest things that I have ever heard" Lexa spoke gently as she maintained her grip on Clarke with their faces only about an inch apart. "So, does that answer your question?"
"For future reference, I don't like being interrupted but if it's going to be something like that then I suppose I should think of more semi-profound things to throw at you" Clarke replied as she eyed Lexa's lower lip.
With that being said, Clarke captured Lexa's lip with hers this time. The kiss was open-mouthed but ardent, slow but gratifying, and sensual but affectionate. It brought Lexa weak to her knees, she felt like she couldn't hold Clarke's weight on her any longer. Lexa slowly withdrew from the kiss and opened her eyes only to see a very stirred Clarke. They stared at each other's face for a while, searching for some assurance that they both gave and received.
"Been wanting to do that for quite a while now" Clarke finally broke the silence.
"The moment you "accidentally" groped me, I knew it all along" Lexa joked with air quotes.
"You will never let that pass, will you?" Clarke was giggling light-heartedly now.
"Never" Lexa chuckled into Clarke's shoulder.
"As much as I admire the work that you have done to this hallway, shouldn't we move somewhere more comfortable?" Clarke implied and with that the couple shared a knowing look.
The sole illumination in Lexa's room came from the radiance of a desk lamp on her bedside table. Clarke's heart was thumping fast; she has never felt this unreserved in such a long time. Articles of clothing were scattered all over the parquetry of Lexa's bedroom floor. The light drones of lounge jazz music played from the living room reached the bedroom. Clarke laid there quietly with her eyes closed as she felt Lexa explore every inch of her form. Lexa drifted over her skin like soft silk, smattering light kisses as she went along. Clarke felt like she was being sketched; dot by dot, line by line Lexa studied her. Lexa lingered over her breasts, sucking on each one until her nipples became hard. Clarke was aware of the softness of Lexa's fingertips, Lexa traced her with her breath; Clarke was dying with anticipation. Clarke felt again; this was unrushed, tentative but careful, and withdrawn but contemporaneous. This was how it felt to be with someone again.
Lexa moved towards Clarke's nether region and clutched on both her thighs to prompt her to spread her legs wider. Clarke made room for Lexa, she could feel her soft breathing hovering above her being. Clarke was dying inside with eagerness, she just wanted Lexa to ravage her until she pleads. But this was not the case, for the first time, she was in control, they were both in control. Soon, Lexa placed her right palm down on Clarke's glassy mound. Clarke gave out a small cry.
"Just tell me if you get uncomfortable" Lexa whispered beneath her. Clarke could only answer with a nod.
Slowly, Lexa nipped at her already sensitive bud. With two fingers, Lexa gently lingered around her lower lips, moving back and forth with two fingers forming a "v" positioned on the sides of her clit to her entrance. Clarke could only let out a long moan as she raised her hips upward towards Lexa. Then suddenly, Lexa moved to grab both her thighs and started to puff directly onto her now glistening folds. Without warning, Lexa darted her soft tongue from the bottom going up, then forming slow circles over Clarke's clit before finally fencing around her opening. Clarke almost came undone, coaxing Lexa to continue and to move further within her.
Before Clarke would reach her peak, Lexa suddenly moved to change their position. Lexa rolled over and got on top of her, she pulled Clarke knee bent as she rubbed herself against Clarke's thigh. Clarke felt Lexa's arousal coating her left thigh, her hardened nub stuck out as she rode her. Lexa grabbed Clarke by the hips, she held onto the cavities around her pelvic region, to bring them closer to each other.
"Together" Lexa murmured onto Clarke's ear.
Clarke positioned her right foot perpendicularly towards the wall where one side of the bed was flanked. Gaining more balance, Lexa positioned herself on top of Clarke, bringing their clits together. In low light, green eyes met blues, as they rubbed their wetness together. Clarke felt her orgasm building fast and due to Lexa's intensified pace, she could tell that she was experiencing the same thing. In a sudden jolt both women finally reached their peak. To Clarke, it was a sudden ringing noise, everything else was void, she was simply feeling Lexa. Panting and catching their breaths, they both rode out their first orgasm for the night as the lights flickered and their realms trembled.
The speckles of harsh light passed through the wooden blinds and Lexa slowly opened her eyes and observed her surroundings. It was not the first time wherein she would often find herself questioning where she was. As she slowly came to her senses, she realized that she was in her own bed, draped in her own sheets, in her own bedroom. She sprawled to grab her phone from the bedside table, the time read 8:45 in the morning. The sun was up and it was almost mid-morning. As Lexa roused she realized that a sea of blonde hair was once again spread over the pillow beside her. It was some case of déjà vu, the familiar minty hints of shampoo filled her senses. As Lexa, had read before, 'nothing is more memorable than a smell'. She would forever conjure Clarke with the scent of peppermint and the freshness of sunshine.
"I can hear your thoughts" Clarke suddenly blurted out with closed eyes as she rotated to face Lexa. "What are you thinking so early in the morning?"
"Well, I was thinking that I hope I'm not dreaming and that this is not momentary nor fleeting because your scent is already imbedded in my memory" Lexa replied in a hushed tone, staring at Clarke's profile.
"How can you be so eloquent this early in the morning?" Clarke mumbled as she eventually opened her eyes to look at Lexa.
"I write for a living, Ms. Griffin" Lexa kidded as she moved to wrap an arm over Clarke's reclined form.
"As romantic as you may seem, I'm not seeing a hearty breakfast next to my feet" Clarke eyed the foot of the bed.
"I am not your valet to present you with a levee, Ms. Griffin" Lexa replied faking her shock.
"But just last night you were worshipping me like a goddess" Clarke bantered back, hitting Lexa softly with a pillow.
"Big words from someone who used to talk about 'equality'. Instead, why don't you get your big bum up and I'll go treat you to breakfast instead. I just moved in, the pantry is not yet that stocked" Lexa prompted as playfully slapped Clarke from behind.
"Alright, alright, but is this the kind of treatment that you'll give to someone who had just given you the time of your life?" Clarke teased as she moved to get up.
"Who gave who what, Clarke?" Lexa was now upright in arms akimbo with one eyebrow raised as she dropped the blanket that covered her to reveal her nakedness in daylight.
"Hmm, let's just say the feeling was mutual" and with that Clarke suddenly grabbed Lexa as they both stumbled back into bed.
They went for brunch after another hour, just right before Titus texted that he would be picking up his car soon.
Note:
A levee is a traditional daily morning ritual for a monarch. Nobles would wait around the king until his valet and the other servants are finished servicing him like bathing, dressing and eating breakfast.