Brenda had only ever been in the other woman's bedroom once – when the blonde had offered Sharon some much ignored fashion advice – but back then, the fresh prospect of being friends with the stern Captain had caused her to solely focus on the brunette's wardrobe and not on the perks of the woman's bedroom scenery.
Apart from a rather large bed covered in cream coloured sheets and a door to what she remembered was a decadent walk-in closet, the center piece of the room was a vintage looking dressing table, graced by an outsized mirror. The blonde stared at her reflection for a while before sitting down on the small velvet tabouret that matched the table. Her fingers tenderly roam over the various perfume bottles and scraps of make-up she doesn't think the other woman really needs. Sharon is stunning by nature.
Brenda briefly studies the older woman's lipstick collection before dismissing it as not pink enough for her – although it always looks amazing on Sharon. Her hand lingers on a rather large shiny golden hairbrush that wouldn't look out of place at Marie Antoinette's dressing table. The brush itself is so soft that Brenda can't help but gasp when she lets the delicate hairs of the brush graze the palm of her hand. The blonde absentmindedly starts brushing her messy curls, still gazing at her own reflection, wondering if her unruly hair will somehow magically turn into Sharon's luxurious waves.
Brush motionless in one hand, she lets her other hand explore the rest of the table, taking a particular interest in a classical wooden box that was obviously weekly polished with great care. The hairbrush promptly loses all of her attention, as Brenda picks up the box with both hands, brown eyes shining as if she just discovered a little treasure chest that was hidden in the deep soils of a deserted island.
"You know how many times I had to tell my daughter to keep her hands off my things?" Sharon was standing in the doorway of her own bedroom. The other woman turned around in a sudden panic, that quickly disappears when she detects the warmth in those green eyes. "I see you've taken a special interest in my jewelry box. Do I have to worry about my grandmother's legacy?"Sharon teases Brenda, who is still clutching the unopened wooden box in her two hands, unabashed curiosity lingering in her eyes.
Sharon positions herself on the edge of her bed, patting down the space next to her, motioning for the blonde to sit down next to her. Without a single word, Brenda moves over to the bed, handing the older woman the vintage jewelry box. As she carefully lifts the delicate lock of the box, Sharon is aware of the blonde's eyes growing impossibly big. "I didn't take you for the jewelry type." Sharon remarks with a hint of genuine surprise in her voice. "Oh, I love everythin' that glimmers," Brenda smiles, "..but with the job.. you know, I don't wanna overdress.." The blonde gestures with her hands to her neckline, her eyes still focused on the box, causing her to miss Sharon nodding sympathetically.
When Sharon holds up a golden necklace braided with beautiful emerald stones, Brenda's breath gets stuck in her throat. "Pretty!" is all she manages to get out. The blonde's thoughts immediately wander to Sharon's elegant pale neck that would look ever so gorgeous if it was graced by that striking necklace. Without really realizing it, Brenda lifts her hand dangerously close to her friend's neckline, her fingertips burning with the need to touch that pale skin for the faintest of moments.
Her mind may be fogged by the Merlot she indulged in earlier, but somehow the sudden desire to be as close to Sharon as she could possibly get, doesn't come as a surprise to Brenda. There is something reassuring about being surrounded by the other woman. And she always smells so damn good. Yet instead of giving in to the desire to brush those dark brown silken strands aside to expose more of Sharon to her, Brenda finds her voice back. "How come I've never seen you wear that?"
Sharon chuckles, "Brenda Leigh, can you imagine the head of FID dressing like the Queen of England?" The blonde stares back at her with a sweet smile. "Well, you are the Queen of FID, aren't you, my captain Raydor?" Brenda is pleased to see a wide smile mirror her own. The enthusiasm of the younger woman doesn't miss its effect on Sharon, who hasn't felt better than this for months, sitting here on her big bed, hopelessly close to a dazzling Brenda Leigh – complete with her adorable dimples and sparkling eyes.
Oblivious to the effect she has on the other woman, Brenda is clumsily trying to make sense of her own utterly conflicting feelings towards the brunette. Afraid that her hands will start acting on a will of their own and caress Sharon's inviting features as if the world's about to end, the blonde awkwardly moves her hand towards the jewelry box, looking up at her friend to ask for permission. Brenda's questioning eyes are met by an encouraging smile and the blonde cautiously starts rummaging through the jewelry box until she holds up a golden ring with a pink stone. "Oh!"
Wide chocolate coloured eyes stare into Sharon's. The older woman is sure that she has only ever witnessed that look on the blonde once before, when she had her eyes on the shiny silver wrapping of a forgotten Ding-Dong after a particularly long day in the office. Carefully studying the blonde's mouth, Sharon almost expects her friend to start licking her lips, just like she had done when she was about to unwrap her delicious chocolate treat. But this time Brenda didn't.
Her eyes were searching Sharon's with curiosity. "What about this ring, Sharon? It's perfectly appropriate for work. I don't see why you wouldn't wear this pretty little thingie?" In an attempt to emphasize her question, Brenda gently takes one of Sharon's hands into her own, stroking the brunette's slender fingers, bringing the golden jewelry closer to its destination. The intimacy of the gesture is not lost on Sharon, who instantly wakes up from her passive reality, turning her hand around, thereby loosening Brenda's grip on her wrist as she opens her palm to quietly seize the ring from Brenda's fingers. Sharon releases a shaky breath before smiling. "Pink isn't really my colour."
Brenda quickly recovers from the subtle dismissal of her intended action. Was she really about to put a ring on Sharon's finger? Finding her smile again, she glances over at her friend in honest disbelief. "How can you not like pink?" Relieving the tension that neither woman was ready to recognize, Sharon's heartily laughter fills the room. Instinctively, Brenda pouts her lips in defense. "There certainly must be one shade of pink that appeals to you?"
An image of a sweet rosy blush covering Brenda Leigh's cheekbones involuntarily pops up in Sharon's head; the contemplation of the blonde's beautiful face so unexpected that it makes Sharon's own cheeks burn. Holding on to her friend's hand, Sharon pushes herself to look straight into those shimmering brown eyes. "Not everyone likes or wants the same things, Brenda Leigh."
The blonde quietly stares at their joined hands, reveling in the feeling of Sharon's gentle fingers lazily caressing the palm of her hand. For a reason she doesn't quite understand yet, Brenda feels warm tears sting behind her eyelids. Suddenly Sharon lets go of her hand, moving it towards her face to brush a rebellious strand of blonde hair behind Brenda's ear. "You're tired aren't you?"
The younger woman simply nods. "Come, let's get you to bed." Sharon stretches her long legs in an attempt to get up from the bed, when she feels Brenda's hand linger in her lap. "Can I just stay here?" The blonde's voice sounds uncharacteristically small and slightly cracked, the hopeful undertone shooting straight to Sharon's heart.
When her request is met with silence, Brenda looks up at Sharon with darkened glassy eyes – surely it was the alcohol - her lips parting carefully before pleading. "With you? Please?"
And not for the first time that evening, Sharon realizes that all her reasoning simply seems to give up where her heart is concerned. So she shyly whispers. "Yes, Brenda Leigh. You can stay with me tonight."
AN: You probably noticed the appearance of the story's third main character: the ring. Yes! It will have a glorious comeback later on. Oh and just don't expect any smut for the third chapter. Brenda & Sharon surely can sleep in the same bed without humping each other. Right?