See? I promised I'd start labeling my chapters.
Chapter 10 – The Return of the Levi's
Sunlight hit Bianca full in the face and she squinted her eyes from the glare, groggily coming awake. Instinctively, she reached for Maggie, but the sheets beside her were cold. Maggie must have already left for her morning run. As it was, the blonde was getting up earlier and earlier to vacate the premises, making sure she slipped out before Bianca was awake. One corner of Bianca's mouth tipped upwards in a ghost of a smile, unabashedly pleased that Maggie was getting more and more frustrated as the days passed. Good, Bianca thought, Because I am not about to suffer alone.
Since the night after their trip to Chartres, and Bianca's little stunt to get back at Maggie, the tension in the house had increased ten-fold. Every time they touched, sparks flew and Maggie jumped about 3 feet in the air. One night while watching a movie, Bianca had gone to get a couple sodas from the kitchen. When she returned, she touched Maggie on the shoulder and popcorn went flying. They were still digging kernels out of the sofa.
One morning while Bianca was readying to brush her teeth, Maggie stepped into the bathroom and touched Bianca on the small of the back as she reached around her for a band-aid. The touch was so electrifying to Bianca that she involuntarily squeezed nearly all of the toothpaste out of the tube. That very same morning, Maggie had lost part of a croissant off the side of the balcony when Bianca brushed against her arm and the electric jolt made her jump in surprise.
To make matters worse, Bianca had suddenly found it nearly impossible to keep her hands to herself, and Maggie seemed to be suffering from the same affliction. The air around them always seemed to be supercharged with the intensity of their attraction, despite the fact they had yet to act on it. Or maybe it became more intense because they had yet to act on it.
If it weren't for Miranda Bianca was absolutely certain that, "no pressure" promises be damned, they would have christened the living room, den, kitchen and probably the balcony by now, as well as three of the five bedrooms (of course they would never use Erica's room, what with the "Eww" factor being way too high, and the nursery was off-limits). The baby was actually quite a blessing, seeing as how she kept Bianca from doing something really stupid. Because, in spite of that promise to not pressure Maggie into anything she wasn't ready for, Bianca was positive Maggie was closer to ready than she would admit and that all she really needed was a gentle nudge in the right direction.
Bianca, for her part, was well past the nudging stage, she was ready to give Maggie a two-handed shove right off that cliff.
"Momma!" came a tiny call from the nursery, urging Bianca out of bed. Eighteen-month-old Miranda seemed to be the only voice of reason in the house anymore.
Well, that run seemed to work, Maggie thought testily to herself as she entered the apartment. She went into the kitchen to start the coffee and practically threw the pastries she'd bought across the room. Good idea, Mags, let's run practically to the Bastille and back. Might as well run to Disneyland Paris for all the good it's doing you. She shook her hands, trying to work out some of the tension still racing through her veins. Man, I think I'm gonna explode…
The urge to attack Bianca was becoming overwhelming. An all-consuming desire to lock her in the bedroom for a good four or five days and just… just… just…
No, that's not how she wanted things to go, not how she wanted this to happen. And it would happen, it just had to be done right.
Maggie opened to freezer door and stuck her head inside.
Eventually getting the coffee brewing, she hurried up to the bedroom, taking the stairs two at a time. When she checked on Miranda and saw the crib was empty she figured the baby was already up and in bed with her momma. Maggie stepped into the bedroom, pulling off her windbreaker as she did so. Her eyes met Bianca's and for a moment and the air practically crackled with the intensity.
"Hey," Maggie called to Bianca and the baby as she headed for the bathroom.
"Hi," Bianca replied.
Great, Maggie thought. Scintillating conversation, there, Stone. How about going for two syllables next time?
Wow, Bianca thought holding Miranda in her arms. We almost had a conversation. What'll we do for an encore?
After contemplating the benefits of a cold shower, Maggie decided to just pull on a dry t-shirt and join her girls on the bed. She enjoyed- and needed- to be close to Bianca and the baby or she really would lose her mind. Kicking off her sneakers, she crawled onto the bed beside Bianca. Miranda immediately reached for Maggie so she took the little girl into her lap.
"Hey, there, Munchkin," Maggie cooed to the baby. "How are you today? Want to go to the park and play before lunch?" Miranda chortled in her now familiar way and patted Maggie on the cheek. "That looks like a yes." She smiled at Bianca. "What shall we do, huh, sweetie? Watch the horsies? Feed the ducks?" Miranda shrieked with joy. "Okay, feeding the ducks it is."
Bianca watched their interaction with a smile on her face. "I can't believe how good she is when she's with you," she said softly. "She's so calm when you're around."
"I'm a calming influence," Maggie informed her.
"Oh, yeah," Bianca laughed. "You're just like Xanax."
That made Maggie laugh and, for just a second, tensions eased. Maggie's eyes caught and held Bianca's for a long moment then she leaned over and captured the brunette's lips with hers.
After a long, wonderful kiss, Maggie pulled back then quickly kissed Bianca again. "I love you, B."
"I love you, too, Maggie."
Then Bianca reached over to touch a finger to Miranda's cheek and accidentally brushed her hand against Maggie's. The electrical jolt that raced through both women could have been measured in how many city blocks it would have lit up. This time, it was Bianca who leapt off the bed.
"I think I'll- I'm going to- I'll go get cleaned up…" she muttered. Completely forgetting about the extended height of the mattress, Bianca stumbled when the floor wasn't where she expected it to be. "Shit," she muttered, catching herself before she landed on her backside then scurrying off toward the bathroom. "Um, by the way," she said, turning back to Maggie but not meeting her eyes. "You stink."
"Thanks," Maggie laughed. She watched the brunette go, a thoughtful look on her face. "Hmm," she whispered. She looked down at Miranda. "What do you think, Shorty? May I call you that?" The little girl laughed. "Good. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah, what do you think, Shorty? Is your mom as frustrated as I am? She's cussing a lot more these day, have you noticed that?" Suddenly, the thought occurred to Maggie that maybe this was a two-way street and Bianca was just as nervous about the eventual consummation of their relationship as she was. "Yes, that's an interesting thought. What should I do about it?" Miranda, watching Maggie closely, just giggled. "What was that? A test, you say? Hmm, that's a good idea. I think I can come up with something." Miranda gurgled and patted Maggie's hand. "Yes, I know, sweetie, I just have to make sure it doesn't come back to bite me in the butt, too."
After breakfast, they loaded Miranda into her stroller and headed down the street toward the Bois de Boulogne park that sprawled out at the point where Avenue Foch came to an end. The heavily wooded park contained two horse courses, several lakes, walking paths, hiking trails, waterfalls and meandering streams. It was a favorite destination of walkers, cyclists and horse lovers. Stade Roland Garros, where the French Open took place every May, sat at one end of the vast park, along with several other sports stadiums.
As they strolled along one of the many pathways toward a picturesque lake, Maggie seemed to bend over to check on Miranda frequently, cooing and laughing with the baby. She always seemed to do it when she knew Bianca had fallen a few paces behind and Bianca found her gaze wandering back to Maggie time and time again, certainly enjoying the view.
Dammit, Bianca thought, giving herself a mental headslap, she wearing those freakin' Levi's again. She knows the way she looks in those jeans drive me crazy. See? I'm already starting to sweat. Bianca couldn't take her eyes off Maggie's ass, so lovingly hugged by soft stonewashed denim. Never have I wanted to be a pair of jeans so badly in my life... Mr. Strauss, where ever you are, I salute you. And she threw a salute to the heavens.
Maggie sensed Bianca's gaze on her, or rather on her backside, and smiled to herself. Okay, she thought, initial test complete, 100 success rate. Her brow furrowed for a second. Not sure what that salute thing was, though...
They found a spot near a lake, spread out a blanket and settled Miranda down so she could watch the ducks nearby. Maggie sat down next to Bianca, hugging her arms around her knees and letting her head fall back, her eyes drifting shut as she lifted her face to the day. The air smelled of fresh-cut grass and wildflowers, the breeze was gentle and cool, the sounds were of people laughing and talking, ducks quacking and water lapping against the rocks. And Bianca couldn't take her eyes off Maggie.
"You're wearing those jeans on purpose, aren't you?" she finally asked, giving Maggie a sideways look.
Maggie smiled, never opening her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah, my ass you don't know what I'm talking about."
"Actually, I think it's my ass..." Grinning, Maggie got up, dusted off that denim clad rear-end and went to pick up Miranda. "Come on, Munchkin," she said, feeling Bianca's eyes on her. She bent over to pick up the baby. "Let's go see if the duckies need something to eat."
Bianca sat and watched the two best things in her life as they cavorted with the ducks, tossing them stale baguette crumbs. Miranda was giggling and chortling with joy, holding tight to Maggie's hand as the ducks got closer and quacked louder, her feet in constant motion as she sat in Maggie's lap. Maggie whispered in Miranda's ear, causing her to giggle more.
"Aflac," Maggie quacked to the baby. Even Bianca chuckled at that as Miranda shrieked with laughter.
She's so good for our little girl, Bianca thought with a smile. The smile became a smirk. And she's in soo much trouble for wearing those jeans…
"Hard to believe that beautiful place is the red-light district once the sun goes down," Maggie said later.
They had returned home not long ago and were fixing lunch after Bianca had put Miranda down for a short nap. Bianca sat at a stool at the counter and watched Maggie as she moved around the kitchen and fixed a salad. Those jeans, in combination with that form fitting little tank, were really doing a number on Bianca's self-control.
"Really?" she asked after wrestling her wayward thoughts back under restraint.
Maggie nodded. "Apparently, the prostitutes hang out there at night. Want to get hooked up? Try Bois de Boulogne after dark."
"How do you find out all this stuff?" Bianca asked in amazement. Maggie opened her mouth to speak, but Bianca held up a hand. "I realize the Internet, but exactly where on the Internet does one go to find out that Bois de Boulogne is a beautiful tree-filled park with gardens, walking trails, lakes, waterfalls and, oh, yeah, hookers after sunset?"
Maggie laughed. "I think it's actually in one of the tourist books I got after you first asked me to come with you to Paris. I wanted to find out about parks and stuff, places where we could take Miranda so she could have fun. She's going to grow up in this city, you know." A cherry tomato hit the floor and Maggie bent down to pick it up. She quickly ran it under water then threw it in the salad bowl. "Five second rule," she said sheepishly, giving Bianca a shrug.
Bianca didn't hear her. All she heard was a loud 'SNAP', which she knew was the breaking of the last shred of her current amount of control. She slid off the stool, went to Maggie's side and turned the blonde around, pinning her up against the counter.
"The next time you wear these jeans," she said in warning, "or that damn Rangers hockey jersey, I will take them off of you. You got that?"
Maggie just grinned and slid her arms around Bianca's waist. "Why, Ms. Montgomery, is that a threat or a promise?"
Bianca covered Maggie's lips with hers, taking her sweet time with the kiss. She pressed her body into the blonde's and felt Maggie respond by a tightening of arms, a sliding of hands up Bianca's back, a mouth opening beneath her own. Her hands tightened on the edge of the counter on either side of Maggie until she was sure the Italian tile would snap right off in her fingers. If she put her hands on Maggie right now...
The world disappeared, reduced to two people, four lips, one heart, one soul.
Suddenly, there was a high pitched cry and they quickly pulled apart, both breathing heavily. Maggie put her forehead to Bianca's shoulder, then nuzzled her nose into Bianca's neck.
"Was that you or me?" she asked, breathless, her heart pounding in her chest.
A laugh burst out of Bianca. "Honey, I think it was Miranda," she replied, motioning to the baby monitor on the counter. They both chuckled. "She must be awake."
They hadn't moved a centimeter apart, each could feel the beating of the other's heart, the rise and fall of their chests as they tried to catch their breath. Finally, Bianca kissed Maggie on the forehead.
"I'm gonna-." Bianca whispered.
"Why don't you-." Maggie said at the same time.
"I'll get Miranda."
"Okay."
"Yeah..."
It took all her willpower, but Bianca turned to leave the kitchen. Maggie stopped her. "Hey, B, you never answered me," she reminded the brunette. "Threat or promise?"
Bianca gave Maggie a smile. "Wear them again and find out," she replied, then slipped out the door.
Once she was sure Bianca was gone, Maggie opened the freezer door and stuck her head inside. "Oh, yeah," she said to the carton of Dulce de Leche ice cream, "that's what's called getting bit on the butt."
Bianca's knees nearly gave out on her as she went up the stairs to check on Miranda. No one, no one, had ever affected her like this before. The thought ricocheted through her head, No one else has ever had this affect on me in my life! It was quite an exhilarating feeling. Before entering the baby's room, she brushed back her hair and took a deep breath, trying to regain just a fraction of her composure.
Miranda was laughing when Bianca entered the room and the young mother could have sworn that the baby knew exactly what was going on.
The following weekend, they decided to take a trip out to Fontainebleau, 60 kilometers southeast of Paris. The castle there, built from 1528 to 1550, was once the royal residence, a hunting lodge of massive proportions. It was on the famous horseshoe-shaped exterior staircase at the Chateau de Fontainebleau that Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated his throne before being exiled to the island of Elba. The city of Fontainebleau itself sat in the midst of the Foret de Fontainebleau, a 100 square-mile forest that featured hiking trails, horse-back riding trails, the Seine River and some of the best boulder-climbing in the world.
As opposed to the spectacular opulence of Versailles, Chateau de Fontainebleau actually looked like a place a king would live.
As they stood at the large carp pond so Miranda could watch the fish, swans and ducks, Bianca looked back at the Cour de la Fontaine and the people enjoying the sights around the large courtyard.
"I had a teacher," she told Maggie, "back in Seattle who had relatives here in France. They actually lived here in Fontainebleau- well, Avon."
"Really?"
Bianca smiled. "Yeah. She used to tell us stories about how she spent her summers here with her folks. She hated this place."
Maggie gave her a look. "What?!"
"Not France, she hated this castle. Every summer in France, for two full months, and this was the only place they ever visited. Here and the forest. She never saw Versailles, never went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. When she got older and she stopped coming with her parents, her mother always sent her postcards. They were always of that horseshoe staircase out front. She really hated that staircase." The thought made Bianca laugh a little. "We watched The Count of Monte Cristo in English class and half the movie was shot here at this castle. She had to leave the room."
As they strolled the grounds, Miranda was fascinated by the peacocks that seemingly roamed freely. Occasionally a male would plume his tail feathers, trying to entice a hen, and Miranda would giggle and clap her hands at the beautiful colors the peacock displayed. When one particular male got a little too frisky with a hen, though, they decided it was time to go.
After a wonderful meal at a lively little restaurant in the city of Fontainebleau, they bundled Miranda into the car and drove back to Paris. Seeing the Eiffel Tower all lit up as they neared their apartment always filled them both with awe. Here they were, living in one of the most romantic and fascinating cities in the world. Both still found it a little hard to believe.
Later that evening, Miranda was in bed asleep, the TV was on and the DVD in the player was Ocean's 11.Bianca was sitting on the sofa, her feet on the coffee table in front of her. Maggie lay on her back next to Bianca, her head on a pillow in Bianca's lap. Their clasped hands lay on Maggie's stomach and, with her free hand, Bianca played with Maggie's hair. Other than the television, the only light in the den was thrown off by flickering candlelight.
"Okay," Bianca said softly, "Even I have to admit that Brad Pitt is really pretty hot."
Maggie looked up at the brunette. "Oh, no, he's not turning you, is he?" That made Bianca laugh. "Because I'd hate to think that I finally got my shit together and you suddenly changed your mind."
"While I'll admit that I obviously have a thing for blondes, Brad is not, and never will be, my type."
"Whew, good to know." Maggie placed her free hand on Bianca's arm, her fingertips gently brushing back and forth, raising goose bumps in their wake. "Hey, B?"
"Yeah?"
"Wanna make out?"
"Subtle, Stone. Real subtle."
"What, not romantic enough?"
Bianca laughed. "Uh, not romantic at all." She flexed her fingers on Maggie's stomach, grazing the skin exposed when her t-shirt had ridden up when Maggie had slid further down on the sofa.
Maggie's breath caught in her throat. "Hmm, I'll have to work on that," she managed to joke, feeling Bianca move her fingers along her belly again. "Um..."
"What?" Bianca asked, oblivious to Maggie's reaction. Her hand moved again and she suddenly felt the quiver beneath her touch. "Maggie, are you okay?"
"You touch me like that one more time, Bianca, and I swear I will spontaneously combust right here. I mean it."
Bianca pulled her hand back as if she'd been burned. "Oh, jeez, Mags, I'm sorry." She put her hands to her head, then brushed her hair back in frustration. "My fault, I'm sorry."
Maggie sat up and turned to face the brunette. "Stop apologizing" she admonished. Then she took a deep breath. She couldn't keep going on this way, she was really going to explode. "Maybe we should talk."
"About?"
"Okay, here's the thing," Maggie said, getting up and pacing around the den. Okay, straight to the point, Stone. "Jeez, Bianca, how frustrated are you? Because, let me tell you, I am sooo frustrated, I could freakin' chew nails." Oh, yeah, that was good. Way to keep calm, Maggie.
Bianca gave her a smile. "I've taken a few cold showers," she admitted. Was this talk the nudge that was so desperately needed? Oh, please, oh, please, oh, please...
"Oh, my God. How can you be so calm?! I'm about to jump out of my skin half the time!" Maggie looked at Bianca. "Don't give me that Mona Lisa smile thing that you do!" she exclaimed, shaking a finger at the brunette. "Be mad! Hit me! Yell! Ask me what the hell I'm doing!!"
"Maggie, what the hell are you doing?" Bianca deadpanned..
Maggie went back and sat down next to Bianca, leaning close. "Now, say it like you actually mean it."
"Okay, Stone, what is the problem?" Maggie gave her an 'are you kidding me?' look. "Okay, other than that, what's the problem? Do you not want to make love?" Bianca held her breath for a moment, not really sure she wanted the answer to that question.
"No, Bianca, no, are you kidding? It's just the opposite. No, I have this feeling that once we cross that particular bridge it'll be like the floodgates have opened and I'll never want to stop."
"Well, I don't think you'll hear me complaining when that does happen," Bianca teased.
"B, I'm serious. If making love to you is anything near like making out with you, I'll never get enough."
"And I say again, you won't hear me complaining." Bianca reached out and took Maggie's hand in both of hers. "What's got you so freaked, Mags?
Suddenly, Maggie pulled back and dropped her head into her hands. "Performance anxiety," she mumbled in a barely audible voice.
"What?" Bianca asked. "I think I got whiplash from the change of direction this conversation just took."
"Performance. Anxiety," Maggie reiterated, biting off each word into its own sentence.
"Are you kidding me?" Suddenly, Bianca was getting into the spirit of this, her frustration finally bubbling over. She'd been the calm, rational one for too long. "At least you've had sex recently! Do you know how long it's been for me?"
"Exactly! I've had sex. You haven't been with anyone in who knows how long!"
"Hey!"
"Well, you said it yourself!"
"Trust me, I know how long it's been! You don't need to say it like that!"
They were both on their feet now, barely inches apart as they argued over who had it worse. Bianca, for not having been intimate with anyone since before her pregnancy, or Maggie, who's last sexual encounter was with Jonathan.
"Aw, crap," Bianca growled, lowering her head and taking Maggie's mouth with her own. She felt Maggie grab hold of her waist and suddenly, they were kissing each other hungrily.
They stumbled backwards and fell onto the sofa, never breaking the kiss. Finally Bianca pulled away to look into Maggie's eyes.
"What is it, Maggie? Is it the whole girl-on-girl thing?"
Maggie actually laughed at that. "No, Bianca, that has nothing to do with it. As long as you shave your legs, I'm good to go." That made Bianca chuckle and Maggie enjoyed the sound.
"Then you're not feeling pressured about that part of it?" Bianca wanted to know.
"No, B, it's you and me and that's all that really matters there. I've thought about that a lot- I mean I've thought about it constantly- and, honestly, that part doesn't scare me at all."
"Good, because if I say 'I don't want to put any pressure on you' one more time, I swear, my head's going to pop off." They both laughed and Bianca gave Maggie a reassuring smile. "Come on, Maggie, talk to me."
"You said it earlier, Bianca. You haven't been with anyone in a long time. And I've had sex. I don't want our first time to be about sex. I want it to be about love. About making love. And since I'm pretty positive I've never made love before, I don't want to mess it up. I want to make love. I want us to make love."
Bianca swept a lock of hair behind her ear, then took Maggie's hand in hers. "I think that's probably the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me." She watched as Maggie's eyes lit up at her words, then she dipped her head and gave the blonde a gentle kiss on the lips. "It's okay, you know. I'll be waiting whenever you're ready."
"I know. I'm getting there, B, I'm getting there."
Five long and still very frustrating days later:
Bianca unlocked the front door and entered the apartment, tossing her keys on the table and dropping her briefcase on the floor. Man, what a day. First the board meeting went straight to hell in a handbag, then the stock markets in both the US and France fell dramatically. Damn that moron in the White House, she thought to herself. She kicked off her heels and left them where they fell, which was completely uncharacteristic of Bianca Montgomery, but she was totally beyond caring.
There was no sound coming from the den, where Maggie and Miranda were usually at this time of day. As a matter of fact, nothing was stirring on the first floor of the apartment at all. That seemed unusual.
I think I need a glass of wine, Bianca thought to herself with a sigh. After what that jackass Bertrand did in the meeting, I think I need a whole bottle.
"Maggie!" she called out, wondering what was going on. There was no noise in the place at all and it was starting to creep her out a bit. "Where are you?"
"Up here," Maggie's voice called back. "In the bedroom."
"What...?" Bianca headed upstairs, wondering just what in the hell was going on. "Maggie," she whined. "I'm really not in the mood-."
"Hey," Maggie said softly.
"-for games..." Bianca gulped.
"How was your day?"
Bianca's breath had jammed up in her lungs so fast that spots swam before her eyes. She was sure she had to be dreaming because things like this just didn't happen to her, no matter how much she wished for it. Dreamt of it. Prayed for it. Awestruck, dumbstruck, speechless, breathless... Bianca felt her knees go weak.
Standing before her, leaning against the doorjamb with an angelic/devilish smile stood Maggie Stone.
Wearing her New York Rangers jersey.
And nothing else...