"Wait. So you...undressed me?"

Alex forked in a piece of her waffle, "Yeah. It's all good. I've done it before."

Piper cradled her head as she fought to clear it. She slumped over the wooden dinner table. "Undressed me before?"

"What?" Alex snickered. "No, you idiot. I've undressed women before. And they never complained, so don't be the first."

Piper pillowed her hammering head on her folded arms. She felt like someone was squeezing her skull with a clamp and wasn't going to stop until it busted open in a fountain of blood and tiny pieces of brain muscles. "If you ever see me pick up a glass of alcohol, shoot me. It'd be mercy."

Alex chuckled, pity and laughter warring inside her. She had a dull, gnawing ache at the back of her head, but all things considered, she was feeling fine. "I've read detoxifying massive amounts of tequila could take days. Weeks even."

She grinned as Piper whipped her head to throw her a death glare, then chuckled softly as the blonde winced at the sudden movement. "Perfect," she muttered. "Just what I wanted to hear."

Alex grinned, "That's why I told you. Here. This might help."

She stood and walked towards the window. Throwing a mischievous look behind her and thwarting any speck of guilt, she whipped open the curtains. Blinding sunlight scorched through the window, as if someone had just turned on their flamethrower and aimed it right into the dining room. Alex stepped to the side, allowing the searing blaze of the morning sun reach the currently cowering woman on her table. She might as well have dug Piper's grave and written her epitaph.

"Shit!" Piper screamed as she felt her headache increase tenfold. The clamp got even tighter, and she was sure there would be dent marks in her cranium. "Alex! Turn that off! Shit, shut it off! Do something. I'm burning. I can't see. You murdered me."

"It's a beautiful day outside, don't you think?"

"I've permanently lost my vision," Piper announced. "Fuck you, Alex.

Laughing, Alex deliberately left the window open and leaned her hip against the kitchen counter. "You are the definition of a lightweight, kid. I'm—"

"Fuck you, Alex."

Alex lifted her eyebrows, surprised at the sincere venom in her tone. "Wow. I was going to say I'm sorry I put you through that. Now I'm not sure if I am."

Piper flipped up the bird and snarled, "This is entirely your fault. You wanted me drunk so you could get in my pants. In your bed."

Alex swept her hand in a wide gesture, "Does it look like we're in my bed? And does it look like I need alcohol to get women in my bed?"

She smouldered. Alex never met anyone that actually smouldered. God, it was sexy.

Her face set in rigid tones, Piper slowly turned her head and peaked at the brunette with one eye. "Was it weird?" she murmured.

Alex frowned, "What?"

"Was undressing me weird?"

"Jesus," Alex huffed. This woman was a roller coaster. "No, princess, I politely averted my eyes as I took your dress off. You can rest easy."

"Did you wish you didn't?"

"Didn't take your dress off?"

"No. Did you wish you didn't turn away?"

Alex set her jaw and mulled over her response, "Yes," she said.

With her eyes closed, Piper straightened, stood and walked towards the window. She felt like a man braving a Saharan desert storm, enduring all manners of hell on earth. Blindly, she managed to grab the curtain and yanked it shut. Turning back around, she slowly faced Alex and gave her the sultriest look she could muster in her current condition. She felt stupid and totally unsexy in her oversized T-shirt and fluffy pants, but the look on the brunette's face made it worth the while.

"What are you doing?" Alex murmured as Piper began to slowly saunter towards her. Her heart hammered in her chest. Her mind was screaming Alert! Alert! but the reason was clouded by a grey, thick fog. It was like her limbs had a mind of their own. She couldn't stop her hands from reaching towards the blonde, furrowed her brows as she felt her arms tighten possessively around her waist.

Piper gave a small smile as she looked at Alex from under her lashes. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips. She smiled as she felt the brunette's arms tighten around her body. If she had been more sober, she would've noticed the slight hesitation in the movement.

She whispered her response. Softly. Dangerously. "What's it look like?"

Alex jerked her forward and up to her toes. The sound Piper made reverberated through her entire body. She plundered her mouth and used her teeth; one impatient nip that had the blonde's lips parting in surprise. Their tongues found each other, and the taste of Piper sizzled along her senses like a wire in the blood. Hot breaths mingled, tongues warred, moans were exchanged. The dance for dominance was exhilarating, and neither were keen on backing down anytime soon.

Alex tangled her hands in the wild glory of golden hair, tugging so Piper's head dipped back. She explored the new angle, moved her hand down to grab her ass, pulling her even closer.

"Alex," Piper gasped, her voice thick with need. "Bed. Please."

Clothes were tossed all over the hallway as they spun towards the bedroom. Piper had a moment to look around her as they made their way to the bed. With the blinds closed and the curtains drawn together, little light entered the room. Brick wall. Lots of books. She noticed her clothes from yesterday piled neatly on a red scoop chair by a cabinet near the door. The room smelled like lavender, the pleasant scent lazily wafting to her nose. She glanced at the grand masterpiece; a four post bed and the big headboard. She could already imagine herself lying in it as she was brutally taken to high heavens.

Then she couldn't imagine anything else as Alex's lips captured hers in a violent embrace. She gasped, tugging the brunette's shirt up and over her head. She was reaching for the zipper in Alex's pants when her hands were stopped and held together.

Alex gave her a sultry smile as she fought to slow down the pace. She wanted to see her–all of her. Slowly, she drew away and walked towards her bedside table, turning on the lamp. She noted that Piper didn't flinch at the sudden light, figuring the promise of sex obliterated any lingering effects of tequila overload. When she had both lamps on either side of the bed turned on, she walked back to the waiting blonde.

Piper smiled uneasily as she watched Alex. This was happening, she thought. She'll be having sex with a woman she barely knew. One side of her, the proper and WASPy side, was aghast and disgusted; but the other side, the one who longed for stupidity and adventure, bathed in the feeling of desire and lust.

Her lips tugged up in a smile as Alex kissed her again. So soft, she noted. So beautiful.

Then Alex threw her onto the bed like a rag doll, and ravished her until her mind went blank.


For what seemed like the fifth time in the day, Alex's head emerged from under the blankets. She wiped her wet lips on her arm, fought to hide a boastful grin as she watched Piper float down from her high. "Horrible, wasn't it?"

Piper sighed, her stomach in knots as she chalked up another one of the best orgasms she ever had. "The worst," she said.

Both women chuckled as their lips met again, a soft exchange. Piper tangled her fingers into Alex's hair as the kiss lingered, "You're really bad at that," she continued before kissing her again.

Alex smiled and let her head hang, just a little. God help her, she wanted more. She wanted more of this hot blonde. The taste of ripe peaches lingered on her tongue, and she wanted gulp after gulp of her deliciousness. She would've bet money that she essentially licked away the hangover.

Piper gently lifted the brunette's head up, "Can I do you?" she asked meekly.

Alex looked up, clear surprise shown on her face. Throughout the day, it had always been her going down the bed. Now...she slowly grinned and cocked her head, "You don't have to ask."

They kissed again. Alex brushed back her hair from her face, tucking them behind her ear. Her mind was already exploring different ways she could reach the impending ecstasy of an orgasm. How Piper's tongue would feel on her. How–

"I've never...really..." Piper trailed off, feeling the haze of lust slowly fade away.

Alex's eyebrows shot up as she shifted down to Piper's side. Piper kept her eyes on Alex as she moved with her.

"Gone down on a woman before?" Alex asked incredulously.

Defiance speared through the embarrassment, "I mean..."

Then she deflated, "No."

Alex chuckled and let her hand disappear underneath the blankets again, "What kind of a lesbian are you?"

"The boob-touching kind."

Alex laughed again, the sound low and sexy to Piper's ears. Somehow, it didn't sound mocking. It was genuine, but it didn't make her feel even any more uneasy than she already was.

"All right, well...are you ready to take the plunge?" Alex grinned, "So to speak."

Piper murmured, "Are you gonna coach me through it?"

"Yeah."

Both women laughed breathlessly as their lips met once more. Piper was already giving herself a pep talk in her head. She could do this, she told herself. All she had to do was go down there and lick and suck and kiss. She sucked dicks before, what could be so different about a pussy? It's soft instead of hard. It's a flower instead of a lollipop. It's like a universe apart, Piper. No, it isn't. Shit. Fuck.

Then her thoughts broke apart when a cellphone began to ring.

"Shit," Alex groaned, unwilling to part from Piper's lips. Neither was the blonde, as she tried to make the kiss linger as long as it could.

Alex drew away, smiled apologetically and reached for her phone.

Fahri.

"Shit," Alex cursed as she hurriedly slid her glasses on to double check the name. Trying to sort her thoughts, she blankly asked, "What time is it in Amsterdam?"

Piper was reaching up to pull Alex's head back down, "I have no idea."

"Okay, um. Give me a second," Alex leaned down and kissed Piper again, a mix of apology and regret poured into it. The phone kept ringing in her hand.

"I'm sorry," she continued as the blonde latched on to her, "It's business."

Both women groaned as Alex slid off the bed, "I'll be right back."

Slipping on a shirt, she made her way out of the room. She called back towards the bed, "Do you want a glass of water?"

She couldn't hear Piper's response as her finger already pressed accept. Facing the window of the dining room, she absently glanced at the dimming light of day as Fahri's voice came through the crackly speakers.

"Alex. Did you check in with the girls in the Netherlands?"

Alex ran her fingers through her hair, "No. No, not yet. I'm sorry, I got sidetracked. I'll check in as soon as I can."

"As soon as you can?" Alex felt the hairs on her arms tingle, "There is $500,000 on the line. That's half a fucking million, Vause. Kubra would decapitate your head and hang it up as a fucking trophy if you lose this."

She damn well knew that, "How long have I worked for you, huh? I'll deal with it, Fahri."

"You better," was all he said before he hung up.

She was about to call the mules when she heard rustling, followed by a loud thud. It was then she noticed that the main door was unlocked. Her heart dropped to the soles of her feet.

Fuck, she thought, and raced to the bedroom. When she saw the bed was vacant, she nearly doubled over as panic punctured her stomach. She flicked the light switch and saw two wrestling bodies on the floor. Both were grunting as the one on top fought to gouge the eyes of the other. "Jesus! What the fuck?"

She slammed the phone on the nearby cabinet and rushed towards the brawling bodies. "Stop! Sylvie!" She yanked the hooded figure, a small body that struggled like an aggressive dog on a leash. "Stop it, Sylvie! Shit!"

"Bitch!" Sylvie spat.

Alex winced at Piper's shocked expression as she pulled her up from the floor. "Jesus," she huffed.

"She...she attacked me," Piper gasped, trying to hide her naked body from the intruder. She nearly toppled over, but Alex's hands steadied her trembling figure.

"Are you fucking kidding?"

Alex had her arms out with her palms forward, "Stop," she told Sylvie, then turned to the blonde. "Piper–"

"She just broke in here," Piper interrupted.

Alex clenched her jaw as Sylvie roared, "I live here!"

Piper looked at Alex, expecting her to deny the claim. Instead, she watched as the brunette looked around the room. Looked at anything but her. No way, she gaped. No fucking way.

Alex was almost afraid to look at Piper in the eyes as she saw the blonde's sheer shock halt her movements. She felt the questioning eyes on hers, and couldn't say anything but, "She does."

"That's my girlfriend, you whore."

"No," Piper denied, pleaded almost. But as realisation sunk in, she was robbed of words. Instead of coherent responses, her mind began to bombard itself with questions. She was the other woman? What the hell? Where was she before? Where the hell was this Sylvie person all day when she and Alex were...

She cradled her throbbing cheekbone as the other two argued. Their words were white noise, and she fought to get her head out of the murky water.

"...out of here and then we're gonna talk."

"I said, get her out! Now!"

Piper watched as Alex fought to keep the feisty woman in the room. What the hell is going on?

"Your girlfriend?" she muttered.

Alex couldn't keep her head straight. She felt like Piper had given her the hangover, and she was being pulled in two directions by equally strong forces. "It's complicated, Piper."

All of a sudden, Piper felt her body move. She just wanted to leave. Just get out. Just fucking run until she was out of this house. She strode to the chair and began grabbing whatever she saw as hers. "This is so fucked up," she fumed.

"I'm sorry," Alex began. "I should've said something–"

"You think?" Piper snapped as she pulled her pants up.

Ignoring the spiteful tone, Alex tried to check Piper for injuries. There had been numerous times where she had been at the receiving end of her girlfriend's temper. She knew Sylvie packed a mean punch. "Are you hurt?" she asked, "Did she hurt you?"

Piper struggled away from Alex. She was to never touch her again. "She punched me in the face," she growled. "Yes, it hurts. Fuck."

Grabbing her bag, she blindly looked around for the rest of her clothes, "Where is my other shoe?" she muttered.

Alex stammered as she gathered the rest of Piper's clothes that were tossed at the foot of the bed, "I just...I-I–I kept seeing you around and...you know, I liked you. And then when you called–"

"Okay, stop it," Piper pleaded as she fought the rising hysteria. Her breaths came in short, raspy huffs, "Please don't. You're making it worse." She snatched her bra from Alex's hands as she tried to scrap together what dignity she had left.

"Did you find your other shoe?"

"Forget it," Still clutching Alex's bedsheets to her chest, Piper floundered towards the door.

Alex fought to keep her in sight for just another second. Damn all of this, she sighed. "What–you can't walk home without your shoes."

Stopping, Piper turned around with the look of someone who was about to do the disastrous walk of shame.

"They're nice...shoes."

Piper threw the other shoe to Alex's feet, seethed as it thudded across the wooden floor. "They're from Marshalls," she hissed as she reached for the doorknob and said "Fuck you," before slamming it shut.

Alex sat at the end of the bed, planted her elbows on her knees and held her head, which felt like a ticking time bomb. How did this even happen? she wondered. How the hell did everything begin to fuck up? She and Piper were having a blissfully wonderful time racking up orgasms throughout the day. Hell, she was sure she'd set a record for the most orgasms within an hour. All she really wanted to do now was slink back into bed and sleep. Maybe this was all a nightmare, she thought, and when she woke up, Piper would be asleep next to her and everything would be fine.

"What the fuck was that?"

No such luck, she thought as she opened her eyes to face her angry girlfriend. She kept quiet, trying to find the proper approach to the situation. She had her fair share of violent bouts before; that came with the job. She knew how to defuse bombs, and defuse it well. But whenever it came to sentimental things like relationships, she faltered like a virgin on her first date.

"What the fuck was that, Alex?" Sylvie repeated.

Not knowing what to do, Alex shrugged. "I'm sorry, Sylvie. I...I fucked up."

Sylvie scoffed and set her hands on her hips, "Fucked up, huh? That's the fucking understatement of the century. Who the hell is she?" she demanded. "Is she an associate? Is she a mule?"

"No. She's none of those things. She's not a part of the ring." Alex wasn't sure whether that offended or reassured Sylvie. But frankly, she didn't really give a damn.

"So you just...blatantly cheated on me."

Alex lifted her glasses to her head and pinched the bridge of her nose, "I fucked up, Sylvie."

"Yes, Alex!" Sylvie howled. "You fucked up! Now what're you gonna do? Are you going to just sit there and keep telling me you fucked up or are you actually going to do something about it?"

Alex saw her window. It was a very shallow, very manipulative window, but a window nevertheless. She pushed off the bed, strode straight to Sylvie and pinned her against the door. She attacked her neck with vigour, planting open-mouthed kisses as she made her way to her chest. As she heard Sylvie's gasp, as she felt her fingers on her head, she knew she narrowly escaped the fight.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. But she knew her heart wasn't in the apology. "I'm sorry."

It was only after the sex that Alex realised that during the entire time that they had been fucking, she pictured Sylvie as Piper.

Fuck me, she thought.