Chapter 16

Andy had decided to have lunch with the one person she knew she could count on. And it was time she broke the news of her new love conquest before it got splattered everywhere in the press. So, Andy found herself seated at an upscale, chic café across from her best friend, Lily.

"Where have you been hiding yourself, Andy? And you no longer have Miranda Priestly to blame, so you'd better have a really good excuse as to why we haven't had lunch in almost a month!"

Andy nearly choked on the water she had just sipped. She covered by laughing, but then realized that Miranda had quickly been brought up. What better time to spill the news. Though Andy was slightly nervous; she had no idea how Lily was going to react. "Well, actually…" Andy looked up, a huge, mischievous smile splashing across her face.

"What?" Lily frowned, not catching on.

"I kind of do have Miranda Priestly to blame." Andy laughed.

"Oh God, please tell me you are not working for her again." Lily cried.

"No, not working. More like…kissing?"

"Oh come on, Andy….wait what?" Lily clearly had heard something very different, and it took a moment for the word kissing to register.

"Miranda and I…"

"No, no, no…you did not break up with Nate for Miranda. Please tell me you did not break up with him for her." Andy wasn't sure how to interpret her friends pleading tone.

"No, our relationship ended several months before I happened upon Miranda. She was at a restaurant and we ended up talking…and then she invited me to Chicago."

"Oh, that weekend you went away and didn't call me…"

"Yes, that weekend. And well one thing led to another and…" Andy studied Lily's face. She looked absolutely scandalized. Her mouth hung open in disbelief. "Trust me; I was just as surprised as you are now. But it's so right. And we're taking it really, really slow. I mean we haven't even…you know."

"Okay, eww…but wow. You haven't even…"

"Nope." Andy shook her head and sipped her water again.

"She's quite a…well…she's quite a catch Andy." Lily found herself oddly all right with the relationship.

"Really? You mean that?"

"Well, she'll keep you busy." Lily raised her eyebrows, still in slight disbelief at the new development.

"So you're really okay with this?" Andy sat forward, surprised by her friends support.

Lily uncomfortably sipped her water and then nodded, shrugged her shoulders, and replied, "sure."

~*~

The office was hectic. FBI agents stormed about, collecting folders, in and out of Miranda's office all morning. She had hated their presence, but she felt unthreatened. She went about her day, whispering out orders to her second assistant, Brooke. No, Brittany. And she was quite upset when her coffee was cold, her Perrier was low, and the prints weren't on her desk in time. Belinda was a useless assistant, Miranda decided.

Perhaps it was time for a firing.

But there wasn't time for one now. The day had drawn to a quick close. Miranda had cleared her schedule so she could be out of the office by five. After rattling off a list of things that still needed to get done to Emily, Miranda took her leave, enjoying the quiet time she was given alone on the elevator.

Roy met her on the street and she was whisked away, arriving home almost too quickly for her liking. She wasn't overly excited to be home; to be having dinner with her daughter. She would much rather have stayed at the office and completed the articles she was editing. But she had promised her daughter, and so she was going to be there for dinner.

What Miranda really wanted more than anything at that moment was to take off her Blahniks and smoke her way through a pack of cigarettes. But the instant she stepped inside, she found the kitchen occupied by their cook, Lucy, and several lights on upstairs. She knew that Cassidy would be working on her homework, perhaps up in her room. And though she had wanted to remain absent for a moment longer, to perhaps steal away to her room and smoke a cigarette, Cassidy appeared on the upper story landing, staring directly down at her mother.

She had been caught.

"Mom!" Cassidy exclaimed, racing down the stairs, into her mother's arms, embracing her with a crushing hug.

Miranda hadn't seen her daughter this excited about her arrival home in years.

"How are you, darling?" Miranda inquired, once she was out of her daughter's grasp and capable of breathing once again.

"I have a ton of algebra homework." Cassidy sighed.

"Then you'd better get to it," Miranda found that by sending her daughter off to finish homework, she could steal a moment to herself.

"I will, but Caroline called. She said she's having a lousy time with dad."

"Well, I tried to warn your sister that it would not be fun, but she wouldn't listen." Miranda sighed, taking the stairs with her daughter, up to the third story landing where Cassidy had all of her homework spread out on the blue and white collage of couches and rugs and tables. "What is it you're working on here that has cluttered my living room?" Miranda quipped, surveying the cluttered room.

"I told you, algebra." Cassidy sighed, brushing away the long locks of red that had fallen into her eyes.

Miranda glanced down at the worksheet that Cassidy picked up. As she slipped out of her heels, she let her well manicured finger come to rest on one of the unanswered questions. "The answer is 2." She mumbled, turning away from her daughter, heading towards her bedroom.

After Cassidy quickly worked the problem she glanced up at her mother's retreating form. "How did you…"

Miranda glanced back and smiled at her daughter, only to find the girl wasn't finished with her.

"Wait, mom." Cassidy suddenly looked nervous.

"Yes," Miranda turned; waiting impatiently for whatever it was her daughter was going to say.

"Can Andrea maybe…" Cassidy stopped, not sure if she should, or could go on.

"Yes." Miranda tapped her barefoot on the cool wooden floor beneath her, waiting for her daughter to go on. Interested to see why it was that she had even brought up Andrea.

"Could she…come for dinner? Tonight?" Cassidy fidgeted with the pen and worksheet she was holding, feeling very insecure in asking and frightened by whatever it was Miranda's response might be.

Miranda was completely taken aback by the request. She raised an eyebrow and adverted her eyes away from her daughter. She, of course, wanted Andrea to come. She was overcome with joy that her one, accepting daughter would be kind enough to allow for Andrea to come over and share the dinner that had been meant for just the two of them. When her eyes returned to Cassidy, who was quite still and who looked rather unnerved, she smiled. "Of course she can."

And just like that, Andrea began to work her way even further into Miranda's world.

~*~

Andy had been incredulous on the phone, unable to believe that it had been Cassidy who had requested her presence at dinner. But after Miranda assured her over and over again that it would not be like the last time Andy had come to dine, Andy agreed.

She arrived on Miranda's doorstep, dressed to the nine's in signature black and white Chanel, just as a burst of lightening fluttered off in the distance and thunder pounded. A storm was fast in approaching, it seemed. For just as Miranda opened the door, a gust of wind nearly uprooted Andy from the ground and carried her away.

Miranda pulled her inside as the first drops of water began lightly peppering the cement outside. Andy hated storms, but as she shook off the childish feeling of fear, she realized she was inches from Miranda, whose arms had not yet left her body, and whose lips were inches away. She suddenly felt very relaxed and warm, cozy. "Good evening, Miranda." Andy smiled, her fingers finding their way to Miranda's taut waist line, her lips gently pressing against Miranda's in a much needed kiss.

Miranda gasped when their lips first came together, and she felt her heart flutter inside her chest when Andy allowed her lips to move rapidly against her own. Andy's tongue slipped from between her own slightly parted lips, licking gently at Miranda's open lips.

It was at that very moment that a shocked gasp was heard, seemingly coming from the stairwell. Andy pulled away, suddenly remembering that she and Miranda were not alone. She looked over Miranda's shoulders and found Cassidy standing, completely still, at the foot of the staircase. Miranda smiled at Andy and turned to look at her daughter.

"Um…dinner's….uh…" Cassidy swallowed, "Hi, Andy."

"Hi, Cassidy. How are you?" Andy pulled herself away from Miranda, fluffed her hair.

Miranda merely grinned smugly at Andy.

"I'm good. I'm going to go…wash my hands." Cassidy made a quick exit and Andy rounded on Miranda.

"I completely forgot…we shouldn't be…" Andy quickly conjured up all sorts of reasons why they shouldn't have been kissing like that.

"Oh, she'll get used to it. Honestly, Andy." Miranda laughed. She grabbed Andy's hand and led her towards the dining room, where they had had a very unsuccessful meal several nights prior. Andy couldn't help but sense that something was off about the Priestly household. One daughter was missing, and it showed in Miranda's sad expression, however brief it might have been, when she sat down at the table to find only one daughter and her current lover around her.

The dinner was very nice, however; Cassidy sat, intrigued by Andy and her presence at the table the entire time. While the last dinner had been more strained, conversation forced and dry, this dinner Cassidy was much more willing to speak, to talk to Andy, ask her questions.

Miranda began to feel embarrassed by her daughter's avid questioning, and made it known when her daughter happened to ask, "So you like my mom?"

Andy nearly choked on the piece of chicken she was eating, and had to take a sip of her Chianti before she could answer. And even before she could answer, Miranda had already cut in.

"Cassidy, that is none of your business. Please do not ask such personal ..."

"No, Miranda, it's all right." Andy shrugged. She felt that Cassidy was grown up enough to understand, to know that it was all right. It was perfectly fine for Andy to like her mother…in fact it was perfectly fine that Andy might love her mother, and she wanted her, and Miranda to know that. But love was not the word that would come out of her mouth. Not yet. "Yes, Cassidy. I like your mom very much."

"Even after you worked for her? And she made you do all those horrible things? Like get us those unpublished Harry Potter…"

"Cassidy!" Miranda chimed in, her tone much more chilling this time. She didn't want to be reminded of all the horrible things she had done to Andy during her tenure at Runway. She didn't want to be reminded of the days when she couldn't have her, so she'd send her away to do mindless tasks, just to keep her occupied and away from her. "That is enough."

Cassidy quickly looked down at her plate, mixing the uneaten food around in circles.

"Stop that." Miranda added, pointing at the plate.

Cassidy let her fork drop, it clanged against her dish, and she sat back in her chair, angrily crossing her arms over her chest.

Andy raised her eyes and looked back down at her own food, quite perturbed by Miranda's harsh mothering.

After several moments of strange silence, however, Andy looked up at Cassidy and caught the girl's eyes. "I like her even after all of that." And with that she winked and Cassidy let a grin grace her angry features.

Cassidy quite liked Andy. More so than she had liked any of the men her mother had dragged home in the past.

~*~

Once dinner was over, Cassidy retreated to her room to finish homework. Miranda smiled at Andy, suddenly realizing that they were alone. A nervous feeling overcame her and as she picked up her plate to take it to the kitchen, her hand shook. She knew it was a mix of needing nicotine and an uneasy sexual energy floating in the air between them. Realizing that Andy was right behind her, bringing her own plate to the sink, Miranda turned. She hadn't calculated exactly how close Andy was and as she turned Andy ran right in to her. Miranda shook her head and grinned. She took Andy's plate from her and placed both her own and Andy's by the sink. Turning back around, she found that she was dangerously close to Andy.

And Andy looked nervous as well. She fidgeted with her jacket, unable to look Miranda right in the eyes. But she also couldn't move away from the strong force that kept her inches from Miranda. And before either could stop what was happening, they were kissing. Deep, rough kisses.

"Upstairs." Miranda immediately gasped as their lips parted for the third or fourth time.

Andy nodded, realizing what was about to happen.

Miranda led the way up the backstairs. Andy had never been this deep into her townhouse before, so she quickly took in her surroundings. The back stairs led up to the wooden floored hallway on the second floor. Another flight of back stairs went up two more flights. The walls were a muted white, and colorful, modern works of art lined the walls. The blue and white sitting room, which Andy had first seen on her unwelcomed trip up the stairs her first time delivering "The Book", set off to the left and a large wooden door set off to the right. It had several doors on either side of the hallway, but it was clear that this was Miranda's bedroom. The same bedroom she had shared with Stephen, and probably her previous husband and the husband before that and perhaps several lovers before and in between those relationships.

Andy took a deep breath and watched, sated in anticipation, as Miranda opened her bedroom and ushered her in, making sure to close and lock the door behind them. Andy took several steps inside and froze. She was immediately surprised at how extremely large the master suite was. The bed looked warm and inviting. It sat in a black frame and its cream colored sheets matched well with the muted yellow of the bedroom walls.

Andy was completely glued to the spot, mesmerized by the room. Miranda smiled to herself and ran her shaking hand through her hair. She looked from Andy's admiring stare to the pounding rain outside. "I need a cigarette." She announced, and Andy just nodded. Miranda moved towards a sleek, black dresser and opened the top drawer, extracting a pack of cigarettes and lighter.

Andy's attention moved from the room to Miranda, watching as she lit a cigarette. Miranda looked up, her neck straightening as she inhaled, her eyes leveling with Andy's. "Cigarette?"

"Yes." Andy nodded, accepting one and leaning towards Miranda for a light. "I haven't smoked since I worked for you."

Miranda turned her head, processing the statement, and then laughed. She went to her bed, sitting down on the soft, cream sheets. She patted the spot beside her and Andy sat. Miranda leaned back and reached for her make-shift ashtray off the top of her nightstand. She tapped the ashes off her cigarette and then placed the ashtray between them.

Before either thought about it, Andy leaned forward and kissed Miranda, remnants of her exhale seeping between Miranda's lips. "I want you." Andy timidly whispered through kisses.

Miranda nodded, breaking away to tap off more ashes. Andy did the same. A loud clap of thunder rumbled so close that is shook the house. Andy whimpered, inhaling deeply before extinguishing her cigarette. She grabbed the ashtray and placed it on the other nightstand, turning to Miranda, feeling as if she needed to be close to her. The storm outside worried her, but being close to Miranda pacified her fears.

Miranda nervously exhaled, realizing that she hadn't done this in a long, long time.

Andy pressed her lips firmly against Miranda's, taking her cigarette from her. She inhaled and then pressed her lips once again to Miranda's, their tongues somehow colliding as Miranda inhaled and Andy slowly exhaled. Andy broke away for a moment, inhaling once again. Miranda took the cigarette back and inhaled, her hands beginning to steady.

Andy watched her, watched as uneasiness began to subside. She reached forward and ran her fingers through Miranda's hairspray heavy hair. The silver locks were stiff beneath Andy's fingers. "Are you alright?" Andy inquired, pressing her lips against Miranda's.

Miranda nodded, "I'm fine." Though she wasn't entirely fine. She was nervous, apprehensive about what was invariably about to happen.

"Hey, it's okay." Andy assured her, suddenly reading the worry in Miranda's smoky, blue eyes.

Miranda nodded, reached over Andy to put out her cigarette. Andy wrapped her arms around Miranda, kissing her gently across her neck to her lips. "I love you." Andy whispered as their lips parted.

"I love you, too." Miranda exhaled, surprised at how easily the words had left her mouth, and how, for the first time, they had felt completely right to say.

Andrea's smile was wide and beautiful as she reached down to let her fingers grab the bottom of Miranda's shirt, pulling it up until it was off of the beautiful older woman. She sat before Andy with only her bra on and she didn't think it was fair. But Andy's eyes on her bare skin made her feel self-conscious yet wonderful at the same time. Andy's fingers traced down from Miranda's flushed cheeks to the soft flesh above and below Miranda's bra. As her fingers moved further down, Miranda bit her lip to keep herself from whimpering.

But Andy knew what Miranda was masking, and so she grinned, pushing her back onto the bed. She had never done this before, not with a woman. She had absolutely no idea what to do, but she had masturbated enough times to have an inkling of what should be done. However, she wanted it to be perfect. After all, she was about to make love to Miranda Priestly.

Andy climbed on top of her new lover, finding that the woman was practically squirming below her. Miranda had her eyes closed, attempting to calm her frayed nerves. Andy leaned forward and kissed both of her closed eyelids, causing the woman to open her eyes, the piercing blue catching Andy, causing her to groan. They needed little more coaxing before Andy was taking her own shirt off. Miranda's hands freely roamed upwards, touching Andy's newly exposed, bare skin. Andy leaned forward, their hips unknowingly moving together, Andy's lips kissing Miranda. "I've never done this." Andy's words were a whisper that fell perfectly against Miranda's ear as their still clothed lower-halves automatically rode against one another.

Miranda's cheeks flushed a deeper pink, if it were possible for her to blush deeper, and she looked away before meeting Andy's eyes. "Well you're doing just fine." Her voice was breathless. "But…" Miranda let out a moan as their bodies continued to move in conjuncture, "more…"

Andy nodded, though she wasn't exactly sure what more entailed. Miranda readjusted herself, arching her body into Andy's, her hands going to her own trouser's buttons, undoing them. Andy got the idea and allowed their hips to part. Miranda cried out, not liking the lack of physical contact. "Hang on…" Andy muttered, fumbling as she pulled Miranda's pants down. Once they were off, Andy tried to, as fast as she could, get out of her own pants. It was quite an ordeal and Miranda took a large, frustrated inhale, exhaling sharply.

Once Andy was naked, except for her bra and underwear, she returned to Miranda, reconnecting their hips together. She moved up and down, the feeling of their almost naked bodies together oddly very natural. Miranda's skin was so soft, she noted as she allowed her fingers to move upwards, around her back to unclasp Miranda's bra, helping her to remove it.

And once it was thrown to the side, Andy undid her own. Miranda's hands immediately moved to cup Andy's small, taut breasts. And soon Miranda was pulling her forward, her tongue gliding over Andy's exposed skin, biting at the crock of her neck. "Fingers," she panted against Andy's ear.

Right, fingers…she could use her fingers. With a shaky hand, Andy trailed her fingers down Miranda's side, making the woman squirm further. She could feel the warmth being admitted from between Miranda's thighs long before her fingers began pushing down Miranda's silky underwear. It was nearly soaked, and Andy was amazed by Miranda's scent. She hadn't expected something so different from her own. Once Miranda's underwear was pushed down far enough to expose her hairless middle, Andy looked up at the woman.

Miranda nodded and Andy went for it. It was so easy, so natural. Their naked bodies still moved as Andy let her fingers slip deep into Miranda's wetness, causing the woman to arch into her, crying out, biting furiously at Andy's exposed skin as she tried not to call out too loudly.

Andy's fingers worked their way in and out, allowing her thumb to work over what she could only guess was Miranda's throbbing clit. Miranda moaned, shaking beneath her and Andy suddenly realized that Miranda was about to come.

And not only was Miranda about to orgasm, but Andy was very, very close to making it over her edge as well. "Hang on, Miranda…hold on…."

Miranda squirmed and panted, trying her hardest to resist coming against Andy's fingers. Her eyes looked up, locking with Andy's mocha colored eyes. Miranda was completely gone, lost to Andy and her sensual body. And it was then, as they tried their hardest to look at one another while still moving furiously together, that Miranda climaxed, followed closing by Andy, who hadn't even realized she could make herself come just by witnessing Miranda orgasming.

"Oh fuck!" Andy nearly screamed out as she allowed her release to overcome her.

Miranda was coming down from her own orgasm, still riding out Andy's fingers. And it took several moments for the sweaty, sticky, warm duo to calm down. Andy took deep breaths; she had never taken part in anything quite like this before in her life. And as she pulled her fingers tenderly out of her new lover's core, she felt the slick wetness linger on her fingers. She looked at it, spreading her fingers, observing the white, gooey substance. Miranda, also trying to regain her breath, observed Andy's reaction to their lovemaking.

Andy could hardly comprehend what had just occurred, and while she was sure that it was not the best sex that had ever happened, she knew, as soon as she looked into Miranda's eyes, that it had been perfect. Perfect for that moment, for their first time, for their new beginning as romantic partners. Andy quickly kissed Miranda, her messy hand forgotten, the kiss deepened.

"I love you." Miranda whispered, as Andy kissed her neck eagerly.

"I love you." Andy grinned against Miranda's snow white skin. "God, you're gorgeous." Andy exclaimed, allowing herself to sit up, still straddling Miranda. Miranda rolled her eyes and tilted her head to examine Andy.

Andy's hands could hardly keep from roaming all over Miranda, over her perfectly pert breasts, her soft, smooth skin, through her hair. Their kisses were languid, soft. She loved this. She loved this even more than just kissing Miranda.

To be naked with Miranda was wonderful, Andy decided. It was decidedly sinful, yet perfect and wonderfully, yet surprisingly, natural. This felt wonderful and this was what Andy wanted to do for the rest of her life.

Andy never wanted to stop making love to Miranda. Ever.