Bernie tried to breathe as she looked at her reflection in the full mirror that was on the back of Elinor's bedroom door. "I don't think I even recognize myself, Ellie. You made me look beautiful."
"No, you are beautiful, you're just in the proper setting to let that beauty shine," the young woman said as she finished tying the cords on the bodice. "Mum is going to eat you alive. Do you know what she's wearing?"
Bernie nodded as she reached for her mobile. Elinor handed it to her, and she opened her pictures, showing her the snap she'd had taken of the tuxedo before the tailor had it delivered to Serena. "I decided that we should switch roles. I'm always the one in more masculine attire, so I went with these looks for us."
"You have to make certain that someone takes pictures of you, and that you send them to me." Bernie nodded as she smoothed the front of the dress down a little before touching her scar lightly. "Don't worry about that, Mum loves your scar."
She turned to look at Elinor, trying not to frown. "She does?"
"Yeah. She said that it proves you're a fighter, that you'll always choose life, no matter what. She needs someone like that in her life. She hasn't always wanted to make that same choice."
This was new information, and Bernie filed it away in her memory bank to ask Serena about later. "That really does assure me, Elinor, thank you." The young woman nodded before giving her a quick hug.
"All right, the car should be here shortly and then I'm sending you on your way to my mother. Now, I know that you don't have a necklace on, but I think that you need something around your neck. This was my grandmother's, and I want you to wear it tonight. I'm not giving it to you, because it means too much to me, but I can let it go for a night."
Bernie teared up a little as Elinor fastened the rope of ivory pearls around her neck. And suddenly she knew exactly why the girl had placed pearl bobby pins in her hairdo, because she knew this moment was coming all along. "Do we have your blessing then?"
"You do. I'm done being stubborn, you make Mum happy, and that makes me happy."
A car honked, and they both smiled before Bernie picked up her skirt a few inches and followed Elinor out of the bedroom. "Oh, what about my car?" she asked as she picked up her clutch and checked to make certain the tickets were inside.
"I'm going to drive it over to Mum's place in a few hours, and have supper with Jason before catching a cab home. Don't worry about a thing!" Bernie nodded as Elinor opened the door and led her out to the waiting car. The driver hopped out of the black Mercedes and opened the back door for her, making Bernie feel like she was royalty. "And don't worry about getting home, either, since the driver knows the approximate time the gala ends, and will wait for you an hour past that time. Enjoy!"
"I'm going to try my hardest to," she replied as she got in the vehicle, making certain her dress was all the way in as the driver shut the door. He tried to make small talk with her on the way to Serena's, but she found she couldn't focus on his words, only hoping that her answers made sense to him. Finally, they were pulling in the drive, and Jason was opening the door, grinning wildly.
As the driver parked, Jason jogged over to her side and opened the door. "Auntie Serena wants to take some pictures before you leave, and I get to be the one who takes them," he said excitedly as he helped her out of the car.
Bernie gave him an indulgent smile as they went up the walk, only for her to stop halfway there when her partner showed up in the doorway. Behind them, she heard the driver give a low whistle of appreciation, and a quick bite of jealousy flared up in her mind as she tightened her jaw. Serena was blithely smiling at her and her alone, however, stepping forward and revealing just how well the tailor had fitted the outfit to her measurements.
"Oh, Serena," she said lowly as she reached out to stroke the black wool of the coat. "You, you, you…"
"I've left you speechless?" Bernie nodded. "Good. I was hoping that would be the case." Leaning in, Serena kissed her cheek delicately before wrapping an arm around her waist and turning her to face Jason. "I want to remember this night for years to come."
"So do I," she replied lowly, fishing her mobile out of her purse and handing it to Jason. "Elinor charged me with taking pictures," she said in response to Serena's quizzical look.
"I see. Wait. Are those my mother's pearls?" Bernie nodded. "I can't believe she let you wear them!"
"She said that we have her blessing." Serena gave her a jerky nod before plastering a brilliant smile on her lips as Jason took quite a few pictures of them. The driver finally had to clear his throat to get their attention, and Bernie nodded to him as she allowed Serena to take hold of her arm and lead her over to the car, her chest puffed out like a proud peacock.
Jason trailed after them, and as Bernie climbed in the car, he handed her the mobile. "Have a wonderful evening! And just remember, there are intermissions!"
Bernie laughed as Serena climbed in next to her. "I'll keep that in mind, Jason. We'll see you tomorrow." He waved to them as the driver took off, and Bernie couldn't help but melt against Serena as they went along. Pulling out her mobile, she took a few selfies of her and Serena before forwarding them to Elinor, hoping that those would be good enough for her. Somehow, she wanted to keep the other pictures to herself, at least for the time being.
"I didn't get a chance to say this, but you look amazing, too, Bernie. Elinor did your hair, didn't she?"
"Yes. The little extra length allowed her to put it up in chignon, and I feel a bit like a princess, truth be told." Serena nodded as she leaned over and kissed her softly. "What was that for?"
"For being you. For arranging this for me. I know you're not going to like this, but I love you all the more for being willing to do this. I can't believe I'm finally going to finish the Ring Cycle!"
"It means this much to you?" Serena nodded. "Then I guess that I will learn to like it, for you. Just don't ask me to go to Bayreuth, okay?"
Her lover laughed as she nodded. "Deal." They kissed once more before Bernie leaned against Serena's shoulder, her head coming to rest in the crook of her neck. "When did you decide on this dress?"
"The day that Jason got me your measurements. You know, I wasn't expecting full white tie, just black tie, when I called Andrew. But it looks damn good on you." Bernie's fingers began to stroke the edging on Serena's pants, relishing the feel of the cording beneath her fingers.
"Well, I like the neckline of your gown, even though I can't exactly touch you right now." Bernie laughed lowly. "So, to think about other things, where are our seats?"
Bernie pulled the tickets out of her purse and handed them to Serena. "We're in a loge box?"
Serena stiffened a little before plucking the tickets from her hand. "Oh, my god, Berenice. Who did you sell your soul to in order to get these?"
"I actually asked for a favor from Hanssen, I had no idea we would be getting seats that are good?"
"Good? These are the best seats in the house. When Henrik returns, you are going to owe him until eternity, and I do not want to know what he asks from you." Serena sighed happily as she snuggled Bernie close to her side. "I wonder if we'll have another couple in the box with us."
"Well, seeing as how this gala was sold out, I would assume yes. But you've probably been to this opera house, so you'd know better than I."
They chatted quietly for the rest of the drive, and then their driver was helping them out of the vehicle. Once more, Bernie lifted her skirt a little to walk into the venue, and she felt more at ease when she saw a number of women in even fancier dresses than her own. Still, she thought no one there looked better than her Serena, and she tried not to feel jealous at the looks her partner was getting.
"So, I've heard that there is a free bar tonight. Care to get me a glass of Shiraz?"
"I was thinking champagne, actually."
"Even better." Serena kissed her cheek softly before pushing her towards the throng of people congregating around a bartender. Somehow, she managed to wend her way to the front, and before she could make eye contact with the woman, she was at her side, giving her cleavage an appreciative look.
"What can I get for you?"
"Two flutes of champagne, please." The bartender nodded before turning and grabbing the requested glasses. "Thank you."
Heading back to Serena, she felt her mobile buzz in her bag, and wondered who was trying to contact her. She tried to hurry a little, but also didn't want to trip or spill on her dress, which made for an interesting gait. Finally, though, she was at Serena's side, and handed her one of the flutes. "Elinor just texted us both. She said that for tonight, we're going to talk with her this way, and that she loved our pictures."
"Oh?" Serena nodded as she took a sip of the champagne. "That, I have to see." Taking out her mobile, she swiped on the notification from Elinor, a large grin spreading across her lips as she read the kind words that she'd written. "This is so lovely."
"I know."
They finished up their drink, and Serena placed their glasses on a passing tray before possessively wrapping her arm around Bernie's waist and guiding them into the crowd. "Oh, look, there's Karen!"
"Who?"
"Our neighbor, from next door? You've waved to her countless times now as you've left my place." Bernie nodded as they approached the woman and her husband. Bernie was never very good at small talk, so she just smiled and nodded as they discussed the opera to come. Her ears only perked up when she heard the discussion turn towards the immolation scene, and how there was going to be actual fire on stage.
The lobby lights flashed, and somehow she knew that that was their cue to begin finding their seats. Grabbing the tickets, she took hold of Serena's hand and together they walked to a waiting usher. Bernie let Serena take the lead in this case, since she knew more about these type of things. And then, they were walking up a grand staircase, and Bernie again felt this weird sense of magic descend upon her as they reached the top. "Serena, stop. Do you think someone would take a picture of us here, at the top? Because this is so, so, perfect."
"Why don't you ask?"
Bernie nodded and stopped the next woman she saw. "Would you mind taking a picture of me and my partner?"
The woman nodded and took a few with her phone before letting them continue on their way. It didn't take long to find their box, and as they entered, she gasped a little. There were only two plush theatre chairs present, which meant that they would be alone for the performance. "Well, isn't this quite the fortuitous turn of Fate?" Serena purred in her ear as she closed the curtain behind them.
She swallowed thickly as she nodded, trying not to think about the things that normally followed that purr. They were among dignified people, after all, and there could be no possible moments of more carnal pursuits, like they had done at the musical. Serena, though, seemed to have other thoughts, since she deliberately pushed their chairs closer together before taking a seat. "Serena?"
"Oh, my dear, I need to have you as close to me as possible. Especially once the lights go down." Serena patted the seat of her chair as she gave Bernie a smoldering look. It was something that Bernie would hold in her memory for eternity, and she carefully took a seat, spreading her skirt out a little so that she wouldn't wrinkle it too much. The boning of the bodice gave her already good posture even more support, and Bernie cocked her head to one side as she looked down at the people seated closer to the stage. "Though I do wish I had thought to bring my opera glasses. I just thought that we'd have closer seats."
"Oh."
Serena turned to look at her, the smile on her lips utterly entrancing, as she shook her head. "Don't sound guilty! I'll just have to pay closer attention. And it helps that I know the basics of this opera, having listened to it multiple times. If I can tell you something, don't pay attention to the subtitles. You know enough German to get the general gist, and I'll fill you in on key details at the intermissions. Just, let it bleed into you."
The passion in Serena's gaze filled her with the same excitement, and she gave a small nod before leaning over and kissing her lover softly. "I'm going to try. For you."
"That's all I ask. And I promise, we can go to a few rugby matches next. You've been so nice to indulge me, after all."
"Ooh, does that mean I get to see you in jeans and a sweatshirt?"
Serena ticked up one eyebrow as she shook her head. "Jeans, maybe, but nothing so pedestrian as a sweatshirt. An oversized sweater, perhaps, with one of those shells that you like to see me in, making it all the easier to warm your hands, should they get cold."
Desire, pure and hot, shot through Bernie's body as she recognized the invitation there. "That sounds perfect, Serena." She shifted in her seat and tried to keep her mind thinking about other things. After all, it wouldn't do to get too excited here, of all places.
The lights came down and Serena leaned forward to watch the stage. Bernie followed suit, listening to the opening strains of the orchestra, smiling as she began to recognize the tune that Serena had hummed a few weeks ago. And despite all her worst intentions to not show any interest in the production, she found Serena's enthusiasm catching, and she reached out for her hand, clasping it tightly as the singing continued. The fact that she could find something lovely about the whole situation told her that she was becoming a little more open minded to the things that Serena loved.
And she was surprised that she found the time slipping by so quickly, as she got caught up in Serena's reactions and her own pleasure at her lover's enjoyment. "So, what do you think so far?" Serena asked as she turned to Bernie at the start of the first intermission.
"It's okay, I suppose," she replied, trying to sound thoroughly uninterested. Serena had the temerity to giggle at that response before standing and holding out her hand. "Where are we going?"
"We are standing up and moving around a little. The next part will be a bit longer than this one, and I don't want you to have your legs fall asleep, or your back seize up. And perhaps we could get another drink? We do have a driver, after all."
"I'm fine, honestly, Serena. I don't want to drink too much in this dress, after all." Serena nodded before leaning in and hugging her, running her hands up and down Bernie's back. "But if you really want another glass of champagne, don't let me hold you back."
"All right, I'll go and be back as quick as a wink." Serena gave her a knowing smirk before kissing her cheek softly and disappearing from the box.
The moment she was gone, Bernie pulled out her phone and texted Dom. We are at Code Blue here, Dom! I'm actually enjoying this bloody opera, and I can't very well tell her that! Pressing send, she hummed the same passage the Serena loved so, which meant that it had gotten under her skin, into her memory. Her phone buzzed her in hand, and she couldn't stop her loud laugh at Dom's reaction.
"Whatever is so funny, Berenice?" Serena purred as she came back into the room, two flutes of champagne in her hands.
"A text from Dom. Honestly, Serena, I thought I said I was fine."
"One more won't hurt either of us, darling. And if you have to use the powder room, I will go with you and hold your skirt up, so that it doesn't get dirty." Serena winked at her as she handed over a glass, and Bernie sighed as she took it, wondering how long of an appearance they would have to put in at the afterparty. Because as she watched Serena sip at her drink, all she could think about was kissing her senseless, about letting her whine and cry beneath her fingers and lips as Bernie drove them both towards their completion. "Oh, no, Bernie, no. You are not going to be in control tonight. That is going to be all me."
Bernie felt her eyes widen as she swallowed her current sip, and she fought not to cough as she licked her lips a little. "I, I'm sorry?"
"You heard me, darling. The last time, when I was in a skirt, you had your deliciously wicked way with me. I'm not going to let that go unanswered, especially since you were so sweet as to take me to this, so it only makes sense that I would be the one to fuck you tonight."
She groaned a little at the purely decadent way those words slipped from Serena's tongue. "And just what are you going to do to me?" she asked, her voice husky and thick with desire.
"Oh, that is for me to know and you to find out, dearest Berenice. But believe me, you are going to enjoy every single second of it." The wicked little glint was back in Serena's eye, and Bernie gasped a little as she clenched her core, wishing that they were closer to home. "But that's enough teasing for now, I think. I wouldn't want you to get too worked up, after all. Since we still have about five hours to go, and then a bit of dancing."
"Yes, Serena," she breathed out before draining the rest of her glass. There was just something so deliciously distracting about Serena, and she needed to focus on something other than the desire coursing through her veins at the looks her lover was giving her. She had almost managed to get to a more even place when she felt Serena come up behind her, the warmth of her breath blowing out against the bare skin of her shoulders. "Yes?"
"Oh, I just want to be near you, holding you," Serena whispered as she encircled Bernie in another embrace. "Your skin is like satin against mine, Bernie. So soft, so tantalizing. If we could truly be assured of our privacy, I would take you right here, in this opulent setting. I would try to see if I could make you scream during the crescendos of sound." Bernie's back stiffened as she let Serena's words wash over her, trying not to shiver at the visuals that were now running through her mind. "Instead, we have to wait for that particular pleasure. And if I have to be wound up tighter than a C-string, so do you."
Serena punctuated the last three words with an emphatic puff of air, causing Bernie to shiver before she sagged back against her lover, trusting her to catch her if she fell over. The move was enough to allow Serena to hook her chin over Bernie's shoulder, which was, in a way, worse than just having her at her back, since it allowed the woman access to one of her more sensitive erogenous zones. "I'm close to snapping, dear."
"Good," she murmured in reply as the lights flashed. "And that's our five minute warning. We had better take our seats once more." Serena kissed her pulse point before letting go of her and taking her seat once more, making certain to scoot the chair as close as possible to Bernie's.
Bernie moaned a little as she slumped forward, feeling like every bone in her body had turned to jelly at the words Serena had used. Somehow, she made it over to her chair and took a seat, reaching out for Serena's hand and clasping it warmly. She found her attention once more grabbed by the scene on stage, and as she listened to the music, letting it wash over her, she knew that this night had gone from Hell to Heaven.