"Nice digs you have here Mitchell." Aubrey leaned against the breakfast bar, daintily sipping on her red wine. "I'm beginning to think I'm paying you a bit much." The blonde motioned around her employee's apartment. Beca rolled her eyes as she grabbed herself a beer.
Chloe had immediately begun to plan an island party when she and Beca returned from vacation. In addition to the apartment being fully decorated, she had spent the morning making traditional foods from Guam. Amista had been kind enough to provide some family recipes which were simple enough to recreate on the mainland without island specific ingredients.
All six women were lounging about various locations in Beca's home. Stacie had worn her 'Got Kelaguen' t-shirt. She got a kick out of sharing about the hot military chick that had been in one of her classes that got all excited about Stacie's shirt. They had made plans to go out until Stacie found out the chick wanted to find a place that served kelaguen.
Chloe spread out platters of food across the breakfast bar, and their friends served themselves family style. Ashley and Jessica raved about the kadon pika, a spicy stew, which they ladled over red rice. Stacie was working on her second serving of a chicken and onions dish which seemed to be marinated in lemon juice.
"Try the other bowl Stace. It's fish and shrimp." Beca grinned over at Chloe as the redhead pushed the bowl towards the long-legged brunette.
As Stacie dug in to the other dish, both Chloe and Beca started giggling. "What is this Chlo? Both these are the best foods here."
"Kelaguen."
Stacie glared at her best friend but didn't stop eating.
After dinner, Beca connected her iPad to the television. In addition to Instagram, which the girls followed religiously from the states, so many pictures and videos existed that hadn't made it onto social media. "I'm so excited to see the 'rest of the story'." Ashley made quotation marks with her fingers. "I can't believe you got certified to dive Chloe; that's so cool."
"The trip wouldn't have been the same without the dives. And none of this would have been possible without you guys." Chloe flashed a smile at her friends. "The clothes and swimsuits you picked were perfect. Amazing combinations for beach days and dive days."
"And the other…?" Jessica gave her a wink.
Beca immediately blushed and started the picture/video presentation that Chloe had put together effectively shutting down any conversation about the lingerie. They had certainly put the naughty items to good use when they had visited Palau "where nobody we know can hear us," but Beca wasn't the type of woman to share her escapades.
After a few hours of vacation memories and gift opening, Chloe and Beca's guests had said their goodbyes and the couple sat on the couch exhausted. "That was tiring." Chloe gave a tremendous yawn, stretching her arms out to either side. She curled up, putting her head in Beca's lap.
"Your idea," Beca chortled. Secretly she had been glad to have Stacie and all of Chloe's friends over. She was really beginning to feel a part of the group which was special, more than she'd ever had before. "Seriously Chlo, why don't you go get ready for bed? I'll finish up in here and be right behind you."
When Beca finally made it to the bedroom, Chloe was snuggled deep under the covers. The project manager quietly shut the door to the bathroom before flipping on the light to change clothes and brush her teeth. She eased into bed and crept quietly in behind the redhead who was curled up on her side. Chloe shifted and murmured, "Mmmm forgot to pee."
The tiny brunette laughed at the random eccentricities of her girlfriend. Normally once she landed in bed, Chloe was not leaving until the next morning. And even then, she sometimes had to be seriously coaxed to get out the warm bed. Beca put her hands behind her head and watched the bathroom door as she waited for the redhead to come back out.
Beca took a double-take when she saw Chloe exit. "I thought you were exhausted Chlo." Beca ran her tongue over her own lips as she looked Chloe up and down. "Not that I'm complaining." Chloe had changed into one of the lingerie sets from vacation – it was a simple dark blue lace bra coupled with a tiny matching pair of thong panties and a sheer cover up that, well, frankly didn't cover anything.
Chloe's devilish smile broadened as her girlfriend continued to leer at her body with a growing look of hunger on her face. She approached the bed and slid between the covers again, kissing Beca's shoulders and running her tongue down her arm.
"Mmmm," Beca murmured, "that feels good." She hadn't been expecting this and wasn't quite prepared for Chloe to have come out of the bathroom looking like a goddess in blue.
"It's meant to babe." Chloe ran her fingertips from Beca's neck to shoulders then back to her arms and to her back. "You feel a bit tense. Do you need some attention baby?" The redhead's voice was teasing, taunting almost. Since silence was her answer, she began to gently rub Beca's shoulders. She leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "What do you want, sweetie?"
"Kiss my neck." Beca's voice was barely audible.
The redhead moved around to lightly graze Beca's lips with her own then covered her neck and shoulders with kisses and went back to focus on her neck and throat. The smaller woman gave a hum of satisfaction as Chloe licked across her throat with a firm tongue and captured her lips to engulf Beca's soul in a deep kiss.
"I seriously thought you were tired babe. But again, I'm not complaining." Beca tilted her head and flashed her sideways grin that she knew her girlfriend adored. Chloe leaned forward, coaxing the brunette's tongue into her mouth and sucked. She tenderly touched Beca's chin to urge her mouth open as they kissed… deeply… erotically.
Unconsciously, Beca moved her hands to Chloe's breasts, meticulously kneading each one in turn, catching her nipples through the thin lace fabric of the bra. Chloe's breath hitched as she took over Beca's mouth and her mind as they each seemed to be in their own world yet very much connected.
When the kiss ended, Chloe rested her head on Beca's chest to be quietly held and cradled as only Beca could do. After a lengthy silence, she looked up the brunette oh so sweetly who couldn't resist another soft kiss. Beca's voice was but a wisp of moist heat in Chloe's mouth. "I think I could show you a new meaning of relaxation, with my lips, my tongue, my mouth, my fingers."
Chloe's moan was low, guttural. "You haven't any idea how much I would enjoy that right about now."
"Somehow I think I have a pretty good idea."
"Mmmm, you do, eh? Tell me why you think that." Chloe climbed over to straddle Beca as two pair of blue eyes locked causing the brunette to take a deep gulp of air. The redhead leaned down, auburn hair cascading over Beca and began kissing all about her shoulders, throat, ears, … all places sensitive.
"Fuck. The way you respond to me… is … exciting. Your sounds, your movements." Beca had finally found her voice, albeit quiet. She moved her hands across Chloe's back to remind her just how close their bodies were.
"I do indeed enjoy your touch. This is true." Chloe reached up and slid her delicate cover-up from her shoulders to the crook of her elbows. "I'm also turned on by your mind and your passion." She leaned back slightly and let the sheer piece of cloth slip to the bed. "In fact, I think I have become to thrive on it, on you."
Beca reached behind Chloe and released the clasps on her bra. Chloe tossed the cover-up and bra to the chair. "Do you remember our first kiss?" The expression on Beca's face was sly, almost cocky. "When our eyes locked, each of us watching the other, my tongue slipped in between your lips. We watched each other. I believe our eyes mirrored the fire burning within our souls."
Chloe made quick work of removing Beca's shirt then lay down a top her, skin to skin, as Beca's eyes drifted closed at the warmth of the other woman's body. She reached for Chloe's hand, raising it to her lips. She kissed the back of the hand before turning it over to kiss the palm. Running her tongue up Chloe's fingers, Beca gently sucked them one by one then guided the moistened fingers to her own breast. Chloe began to squeeze Beca's nipple earning a gasp from Beca.
The project manager wrapped her legs around Chloe's waist, pulling her in tightly and encouraging her to stay close. "Chlo… kiss me." Beca's voice was barely audible yet Chloe conceded to her request and pressed their lips together. She felt nearly frail on top of Beca as this kiss was different, not as erotic as before. More relaxing as a jumble of two people molding into one. Yet the longer the kiss continued, the more passionate it became.
Chloe began shifting her crotch against Beca's body. Slow but achingly rhythmic. "Fuck Chlo. I want you. Please." The project manager wasn't sure how much of the stimulation she could take as Chloe dipped her head down and took one of Beca's nipples in her teeth, toying with it. Fire was consuming Beca, a fire that soon needed to be quenched.
The smaller woman made a command decision and flipped her girlfriend to her back and pushed the thin, lacy thong down Chloe's legs. She scooted down the mattress and buried her head between the redhead's thighs. Without warning, she plunged her tongue into Chloe, finding her clit with her tongue. While she couldn't see Chloe's reaction in the dark, the redhead's heavy breathing and shivers of delight told her that she didn't mind the change of plans.
Chloe must have been as worked up as Beca because after only a few deep tongue thrusts Chloe's walls began to tighten. She wrapped her fingers in Beca's hair and guided her to her clit. Beca latched on and began to suck. The moment she slid her fingers into Chloe and began to thrust in and out, Chloe released a guttural cry as her body went into full spasm. Her back arched as she convulsed over and over.
Once everything stilled around the couple, Beca eased her fingers from the redhead and made her way back up her body. This time, Chloe was the one to wrap an arm around Beca who put her head on Chloe's shoulder. No words were spoken as the brunette gave her girlfriend a final kiss and they fell asleep.
A few days after the island party, Chloe asked Beca out for a weekend lunch before she had to get back to work. Now that their relationship had been established, Beca wanted to talk about the next few weeks before Chloe's possible residency began. She didn't know how any of that worked really, so she was happy they would have an afternoon to have the opportunity to chat.
When Beca got to Chloe's studio apartment, the redhead was about to get in the shower. "Wanna join me?" She slipped a finger beneath Beca's collar and teasingly pulled the woman towards her.
"We'd never get food, and I'm hungry." Beca smiled at her girlfriend and kissed her softly. "Go." Using Chloe's hips, she turned the woman towards the bathroom and gave a small push. "I have a few e-mails to finish up."
"I know where to find you." Chloe's voice was sing-songy.
"Your apartment is like one room Chloe," Beca chuckled. "Take your shower."
As the bathroom door closed and she heard the water start, the project manager sat her laptop on the small coffee table in Chloe's studio apartment. As she shifted it around to make sure the device wasn't wobbly, a manila folder accidently got pushed off the table and a few sheets of paper fell out. Beca reached down to pick up the items.
As she went to slide the documents back inside the file, a heading caught her eye. She had skimmed the top two pages before she realized that she was invading Chloe's privacy, but she had seen enough.
Chloe came out of the bathroom with a terry-cloth wrap tucked in around her torso, towel drying her hair. "Babe, what kind of food do you want for lunch?" When no response came, she called out, "Beca?" The apartment was indeed small, and one quick glance around the room told her she was alone which confused her. Then she looked to the couch where Beca had gone to sit as she went to shower. As her eyes landed on the folder containing her residency letters, her heart plummeted.
The redhead immediately panicked and grabbed her phone off the night stand hoping to see a text from Beca that explained something other than what she knew was the truth as to why her girlfriend wasn't there. There wasn't as much as a single text from the project manager. She sent a message to Aubrey.
From Chloe: I think Beca found out about my residency
From Aubrey: I take it you didn't bother telling her
From Chloe: Today was the day
From Chloe: Can I come over?
From Aubrey: You should have told her in Guam. I told you this Chlo
From Aubrey: I'm about to meet Stacie. We have plans
From Chloe: Oh
From Aubrey: I can cancel
From Chloe: No. Don't. No reason why my mistake should mess up your day
From Aubrey: Are you sure?
From Chloe: I'm sure.
Chloe thumbed a message to Beca then erased it. After some more thinking, she felt she needed to at least try something otherwise the project manager would think she didn't care she'd left. She chose something short to test the waters.
To Tiny Project Manager: Beca?
To Chloe: DON'T EVEN
Chloe sat for a few moments. Then she typed out a longer message.
To Tiny Project Manager: Beca. I was going to talk to you about things today. I promise. Please, call me. Please?
Chloe watched the screen. After a few minutes of non-delivery, the iMessage resent as a text message but she had a sneaking suspicion Beca didn't receive it. She took the plunge and called. After one ring, Beca's phone went directly to voice mail. Chloe realized her number had been blocked so she didn't bother to leave a message. Dejected, she flopped down on the couch and started thinking about what to do to clean up this screw up.
With her sketch book balanced on her bent knees, Beca propped her bare feet on the balcony railing. Her apartment was high enough to escape the vehicle fumes while still allowing her to hear the hustle and bustle of the busy streets beneath her. The start-up of the pounding on her front door caused a groan to escape her throat. Realizing the knocking wasn't going to stop, she powered up her phone and ignored the messages that blew up her inbox and voicemails.
To Legs: If that's you, use your key. I haven't double locked the door.
To Legs: Don't try pulling the 'sending someone else to have dinner with me' trick again.
She heard a key slip into the lock and her door creep open a few inches. A slender stick with a white bandana on the end came through and bounced up and down a few times. "Very funny Stacie. Come on in." Beca's concentration was still on her drawings. She closed her pad and put her pencils away before coming inside. She looked up to greet her friend. "Fuck. Stacie, why did you bring her?"
Aubrey had told Stacie coming along wasn't a good idea, but Stacie insisted. "She needs to hear from … well from someone other than just me. I'm her best friend and will always be on her side. You can bring objectivity."
"But I'm Chloe's best friend, not exactly objective." Despite her discomfort, Aubrey finally agreed to go. "One word from Beca, and I'm out."
Beca grabbed two beers from the fridge and handed one to Stacie, keeping the other for herself. The taller brunette rolled her eyes and handed Aubrey the beer and got a third out. "Come on pipsqueak. I haven't seen or heard from you in a week. You are my best friend."
"Doesn't explain why she's here." Beca scoffed as she motioned to the blonde.
"You haven't shown up to work in a week Becs. You didn't even call in. She's your boss. Moreover, I'd like to think over recent months, you come to think of her as your friend." Stacie cautiously approached Beca. She knew a hug would probably end up with her getting punched, so Stacie went with a soft hand on Beca's forearm. "You haven't responded to either of our texts or voice mails. Dare I say you haven't talked to Chloe either." Beca rolled her eyes at Stacie's last comment.
"Sorry I didn't call in Bree. That was a dick move on my part, especially since you've always been so supportive of me." Beca didn't look at Aubrey, instead studied the label on her beer bottle. "I appreciate you, I do. But right now… can I just talk to Stace?"
The pain that was etched across Beca's face made Aubrey's heart hurt for her employee. "I understand Beca. Take whatever time you need. I know you've been handling the crucial work things from home." She put a gentle finger beneath Beca's chin and raised her head so they could look at each other. "But Stacie's right. I do consider you my friend, and I've been concerned." Aubrey leaned up and kissed Stacie's cheek. "I'm going to head home. Lunch tomorrow?"
After her boss had left, Beca asked how the two were getting along. "Great," Stacie responded. "She's been talking to me about my future – getting my certification as a fitness and nutrition coach or even back to college to finish my degree. Aubrey's been a good influence, not to mention…" She wriggled her eyebrows suggestively at her friend to try to get at least a smile from her. Stacie reached over and grabbed Beca's sketchbook knowing that she'd been outside drawing. "May I?" Beca nodded.
Stacie flipped to the back and looked at the last of the drawings. One in particular caught her eye. It depicted two pair of feet entangled at the end of a bed, one with a lacy blue thong dangling around the ankle. There was a chair which had a matching bra hanging from the back and a coverlet tossed on the seat. Stacie chuckled. "Sexy. There must be a pretty racy story behind this one bud. You haven't even titled it yet."
Beca selected a pencil from her pouch and took the book. She scribbled something at the bottom of the page and turned it back around for her friend.
"Deceit?" Stacie was floored. "Woah. How do you get from this," she motioned to the picture, "to deceit?"
"Seriously? We went on an incredible vacation, gone over two weeks. Stacie, we had the best time, you know we did. I even asked her to make things with us official… Shit." Beca drained her beer and got another. "And then I find out that not only has she been accepted to a residency program over two hours away, she's accepted the position."
"Oh." Stacie wasn't sure of words that could make things better, so she chose to not say anything.
"The letter was dated before we left. So…," she waved her hand over the drawing, "deceit."
"Maybe she didn't decide until after you got back."
Beca shook her head. "Nope. The acceptance letter was signed and dated the day we left. Again … deceit. Stacie, we had over two weeks alone. We could have discussed it, or hell she could have even just told me about it. But she didn't. They say 'fool me once, shame on you and fool me twice, shame on me'. So tell me Stacie, what do they say when you fool me three times?"
She motioned for Stacie to flip to the next and final drawing. A ceramic heart was half shattered by a claw hammer which was laying amongst the splintered pieces. She tapped the artwork several times. Its caption read Heart Hammer. "This… is how I feel. Aarrgghh." Beca flipped several pages back to drawings she made while on vacation. She found one of herself and Chloe. She ripped it from the journal and stared at it. Then she systematically tore it in half, separating the brunette from the redhead. "It hurts Stace. I hurt. So… I'm done."
Over the next week, Beca spent part of her time at home. She also went to the library she had taken Chloe when they were trying to get to know each other after having one of their initial misunderstandings. She wasn't trying to be nostalgic about that visit, she just loved the library. The peace and quiet she found in the stacks provided some solace from her thoughts and let her draw without distraction.
On Sunday, Beca decided that a week alone was enough moping. She needed to buck up and get back with being an adult. She texted Aubrey and let her know she'd be in first thing Monday. She had yet to unblock Chloe's number and couldn't help to wonder how often Chloe had tried to contact her or if she'd tried at all.
The first thing that caught Beca's eye when she walked into her office on Monday was the sad shape her plants were in. Without Chloe to care for them, they were dying a very rapid and painful death. She was tempted to just throw them down the trash shoot but decided that'd be rude and disrespectful.
She went down the hall to Jessica's desk. "What do you know about plants?"
The secretary squinted her eyes together in confusion. "Ummm is this a trick question?"
"Nope, somebody bought me some plants and had been helping me take care of them. That person doesn't work here anymore, and they are dying. I don't think it's the plants fault. I kinda like them and don't want them to die. Can you help?"
"I'll see what I can do." Jessica smiled brightly, making a mental note to get in touch with Chloe to see exactly what was needed to save the plants.
Tuesday afternoon, Beca felt someone staring at her. She glanced up from her desk and saw a mop of fuzzy red hair watching from the door. Beca rolled her eyes and kept working. Chloe went into the office and shut the door. A pissed off Beca threw her pen down and glared at the unwelcome intruder. "What?" Chloe didn't say anything. "Damn it Chloe, I am working. What the hell do you want?"
"I came by to see if I still have a girlfriend." Chloe's voice was soft, calm. She didn't look down nor look away but kept her gaze locked onto Beca who scoffed at her statement.
"Seriously Chlo? You can by to see if you still have a girlfriend. WhatEVER makes you think you might?"
The redhead twisted her lips then answered. "For one, we didn't break up. You didn't break up with me."
"For Christ's sake."
"Well you asked me to be your girlfriend. To reverse that, technically you have to break up with me. I came by to see if I still have a girlfriend."
Beca motioned to the door. "Leave. Just get out." Chloe didn't budge. Beca let out a sigh. "Please?" Her voice was softer this time.
"When can we talk?"
"Why do you do this to me? You cause all this drama." Beca waved her hands around. "Then you want to talk and make everything better. I let you. And boom, I get gut punched again." Beca made an exploding motion with both her hands and the matching noise with her mouth. "We can't talk. I'm done. I'm done with this. I'm done with you." She immediately knew her words were harsh as they came out of her mouth and instantly regretted them but tried to hold her ground as Chloe stood in front of her desk trying her best to not burst out in tears.
"Did you go to the library last week Becs?" Chloe was reaching for the project manager's sentimental side. Beca nodded. "Do you remember what we talked about there? Beca again nodded and closed her eyes to be transported back.
Chloe reached up to pull Beca's hand off the couch arm and held it. "What's your greatest fear?"
Beca's eyes widened in shock. "Wow you just went for it, eh? My greatest fear?" Beca thought for a moment. "Failure, I suppose. I tend to be a perfectionist." She moved her arm off the back of the couch and wrapped a few scarlet locks of hair around her finger. "What about you?"
The redhead closed her eyes. "Not being good enough, I suppose. My family has always been super supportive, so I'm not sure where that fear comes from. I have a need to please everyone – my family, my friends, my instructors. I don't want to disappoint anyone by not being good enough."
Gazing down at Chloe, Beca softly replied. "Sounds like you are looking out for everyone else. What about Chloe? Who's looking out for her?"
Beca covered her face with her hands, trying to maintain her composure. "You are good enough Chlo. You always have been. Maybe you just need to stop trying so hard to please others. Yes, I'm disappointed. But not because you weren't good enough."
"Then why Beca? Why did I disappoint you? This time?" Chloe spit out the last two words with venom as the built-up stress began to leak through her composure.
"BECAUSE I FUCKING LOVE YOU CHLOE. That's why." Beca felt a dagger go through her heart as she realized what she had just screamed at Chloe. Never would have she dreamed the first time Chloe to hear those words from her to be in such a manner. She hadn't returned the words on vacation because she was still processing her feelings.
She spun her chair around to face the window so she could cry in shame without Chloe staring at her. A few moments later, she heard the soft click of her door closing. Chloe was gone.
A/N: All the #fluff had to come with a price. #sorrynotsorry