Man, I feel like a woman – ch2
It had been two weeks since Connor had vanished and Connie Temple had taken his place in the world. Lester had somehow managed to organise for valid ID cards and the transfer of Connor's bank accounts over to Connie. Connie had no idea how he'd done it or how many favours he'd had to call in, but she was grateful to have some semblance of normality restored.
What Lester couldn't handle was the human element. Connie's parents had called at least six times, asking to speak to their son, yet Connie had no idea of what to tell them. It was hard enough for her colleagues at the ARC to understand and they dealt with the weird and wonderful every day. Her parents weren't going to even begin to comprehend this. So far, Danny had been intercepting all of their calls with various excuses as to why Connor couldn't come to the phone but that wasn't going to last forever. They were getting suspicious that something was wrong and eventually, they were going to decide to come and visit when they couldn't speak to him.
Which brought her to the next problem: Danny.
Connie sat in the staff room with Abby and Sarah, a mug of tea on the table in front of her. Since nothing was happening with the anomalies at present, they were taking the opportunity to have a break. The two of them had taken her under their wing during the past few weeks, helping her out with everything from clothes to more personal girl-stuff.
Sarah took a drink of her tea and asked conversationally, "So how is it going with Danny?"
"What's he done wrong?" Abby demanded, seeing Connie's face drop when his name was mentioned.
Connie shook her head. "Nothing, honestly. He's been brilliant about this, really he has," she insisted.
"But…?" Sarah asked. "I can hear it in your voice. Look, you know you can talk to us; whatever you say will never go further than the three of us, OK?"
Abby nodded in agreement. "Of course."
"I feel weird talking to you to you about this," Connie told them, but she had to talk to someone. She couldn't talk to any of her male friends any more- she'd had to cut ties with anyone from outside the ARC since there was no way to explain.
"It's just that since this happened, Danny hasn't… I mean, we haven't…" Connie broke off, avoiding looking at the two women.
"Oh, Conn," Abby leaned over and gave her a sympathetic hug. "It's a lot for him to deal with too," she said. "He's suddenly got a girlfriend; give him time."
Connie sighed miserably. "I told him this would happen. I knew he wouldn't want me like this."
Sarah patted her hand reassuringly. "You're wrong, honey. He still loves you; I've seen the way he looks at you."
"Well maybe it's time you showed him what he's missing out on," Abby suggested, a wide grin on her face.
She and Sarah had spent Saturday at Abby's flat, telling Danny that they'd meet him at the bar tonight. It was their regular get-together; every Saturday, the team and the soldiers went out for a few drinks. When she got to the pub that evening, however, she was beginning to regret letting Abby talk her into this.
Connie tugged self consciously at the tiny skirt that Abby had convinced her to wear, blushing as she caught one or two of the soldiers staring. She caught sight of her reflection in one of the glass panes of the door as she entered the pub and paused. It did work, she thought, but it was so different from what she usually wore; Abby had chosen a form fitting shirt that clung to every curve, with short sleeves and a low enough neck that Connie wouldn't be bending down in front of anyone. Not that the skirt would let her do that anyway. It was again chosen by Abby, a black and red checked miniskirt that was just long enough to be decent, rounded off with heeled, black, knee-high boots, laced up the front. The women had taught her how to walk properly in the heels, how not to flash people when she sat down in the skirt (since all she'd worn had been jeans so far).
"Hi there," a male voice said from behind her. "Are you here all on your own?"
Connie turned to see Luke, one of Becker's soldiers smiling at her. Of course, the man had been on leave for the past two weeks; he wouldn't recognise her.
"No, I'm meeting someone."
She walked past him but Luke was persistent, and with a couple of strides he caught her up. "Will you come and have a drink with me?" he continued, oblivious to the fact that she was ignoring him. "I'm Luke, by the way. And you are?"
"Not interested," Connie replied, again beginning to walk away.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"
Connie glanced up to see Danny storming across the from bar. Luke took one look at the furious expression on Danny's face and took a step back, just as Becker hurried over and positioned himself in between the two men.
"What's going on?" he demanded, glaring at each of them in turn.
Luke looked offended. "I don't know what Quinn's problem is! I was just talking-"
"He was hitting on Conn," Danny snapped, causing Luke's frown to deepen.
Becker sighed; now it made sense. "Luke, go. Now," he said. "I'll explain in a minute. You OK?" he asked Connie.
She nodded, feeling a little embarrassed at the attention they were drawing from the other customers. Becker shooed Luke away, talking in a low voice as they went, Luke eventually glancing back over his shoulder, looking startled.
"God, I hate this," she muttered. "I am so sick of all the staring."
Danny took her hand and led them to a quiet corner of the pub and turning to face Connie.
"I'm sorry," he began. "I've been a bit off with you recently. It's just that-"
"Abby and Sarah said I should give you some time," Connie interrupted, perching on the edge of the table behind her. "They said it was a lot for you to deal with as well and that's why you were avoiding me."
Danny frowned. "You've been talking to Abby and Sarah about me? No, never mind," he said, brushing it aside with a wave of his hand. "When I saw you with that idiot, I realised what a complete prat I was being."
Danny leaned his hands on the table on either side of Connie and leaned in close enough to press a light kiss to her lips.
"Connor or Connie, you're mine, got it?"
Connie couldn't have held back the huge grin if she'd wanted to. "Got it," she said, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him.
"Actually, I've got a bit of a confession to make," he said, glancing around to make sure that no one was listening. They weren't; Connie and Danny were the only two people in this end of the bar room. "You have to understand that I was fifteen when I started noticing blokes; my mates were chasing the girls and I noticed them too, but I was more interested in the boys."
"I don't get it."
"What I'm trying to say is that, one of the reasons I've been keeping my distance is that my experience pretty much ends with blokes. I might have looked, and even fooled around with the lasses a bit, but that's about it. I never meant to make you think I was avoiding you."
Connie grinned. "You mean to tell me that tough-guy super-stud Danny Quinn is a heterosexual virgin?"
Danny's cheeks reddened. "It's not funny," he mumbled.
"It is a bit," Connor said, kissing him. "Besides, do you think I have any clue what I'm doing?" She blushed slightly and Danny heard her mutter, "At least you've still got the right bits!"
Danny laughed as he leaned in to kiss Connie properly. After a moment, Danny stepped back and held out a hand to her.
"Come on, I'll buy you a drink."
They got ordered and took their drinks back to the table where their friends and colleagues sat, laughing at something Becker had said. Before they sat down, Luke approached them hesitantly.
"Connor? I- oh God, I'm sorry. Connie."
Connie smiled. "Don't worry about it."
Luke nodded gratefully. "I wanted to apologise for earlier," he said. "I was out of line."
A glance at Danny told Connie that he wasn't prepared to forgive and forget just yet, but she was.
"It's OK; you didn't know," she said. "Actually, I was kind of flattered."
"What?!"
She gave Danny's hand a squeeze before he could move. "Down, boy."
"All the same, I'm sorry." Luke offered a hand and she shook it, then offered the same to Danny. "No offence meant, mate."
By the time they arrived back home at Danny's flat, Connie was beginning to realise that along with her new body, she also had a new alcohol tolerance. Unfortunately, it wasn't an improvement on the old one; she had only drunk a couple of pints- which wouldn't have made a difference before- and she was definitely tipsy. Danny let them in and locked the door behind them, turning just in time to catch an armful of Connie as she launched herself at him and kissed him enthusiastically.
"Take me to bed," she said, batting her eyelashes at him.
How could he possibly refuse? Danny thought, looping his arms around her waist and kissing her back, hands sliding lower until they reached the bottom of the little skirt. When his fingers came into contact with bare flesh and not a lot else, he smiled.
"Have you actually got anything under that, Conn?"
Connie nodded her head, grinning. "Yes, but I'm not telling you what. There are some things a man should find out for himself," she teased, and took off in the direction of the bedroom.
Danny was pounced on again when he walked through the bedroom door as Connie began tugging his shirt off in between kisses. In the end, he took a step away and took it off himself.
"Who said you could stop?" Connie demanded, glancing pointedly at his jeans and then grinning happily as he continued to strip.
He stretched out the bed, propped against the pillows. "So, you going to show me?"
It took Connie a moment to get her brain to start working long enough to nod, eyes still roaming over Danny. She stripped until she stood before him in just a lacy black bra and tiny thong and her boots. Then she tossed the lingerie aside.
When Danny raised an eyebrow at that, she shot him a mischievous smile. "I like the boots."
"Well, well, my little Connie has a kinky side." Danny crooked his finger in a 'come here' motion and she strutted over to climb onto the bed and crawl up his body slowly. He pulled her down to him and rolled her beneath him. "Did I tell you how damned sexy you looked tonight?"
When she shook her head, Danny smiled. "How about I show you instead?"
Connie whimpered as Danny teased her, his mouth finding her nipples, hands roaming lower. She arched off the bed as Danny's hand worked its way between her legs, slipping one finger inside her.
"Oh God. Danny!"
Danny raised his head to look at her. "Like that, do you?"
"Bloody hell. Danny, please. Fuck me."
A tiny common-sense part of Danny's brain kicked in then and he grabbed the condom packet from where he'd left it earlier, slipping it on with unsteady hands. He wasn't sure if she could get pregnant but he didn't think they could cope with another shock at the moment. He eased into her, feeling the warmth of her body take him in. Damn, she felt so good. The cool leather of her boots pressed against his skin as Connie wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him in closer as he moved. It wasn't long before Connie was crying out below him, her body clenching around his cock and bringing forth his own climax.
"Mine," he whispered as he lay with her a short time later, arms around her, pulling her flush against his chest and dragging the covers over them. He pressed a kiss to the side of her throat. "Love you, Connie."
Connie cuddled further into his arms. "Yours," she said. "Love you too."
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