A/N: Hey guys, loving reading your thoughts on the story so far, please continue to let me know what you think.
This chapter picks right up from the previous.
Have at it...
Chapter #9…
She was sick on and off for 45 minutes, slumped down at the side of the toilet, her pale face resting lethargically on the seat.
Alex had quickly rushed in upon realising what was happening, holding back the long, blonde hair, rubbing soothing circles on the younger woman's back as she coughed up what seemed like her entire nights alcohol.
Then Piper passed out. She was laid, white face on the toilet seat, beads of cold sweat on her forehead and arms hanging loosely at her sides. Alex carefully lifted her up, managing to place an old gun and roses t-shirt over her head before placing her in the huge bed, allowing the blonde to sleep it off. Alex then headed to the kitchen grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge and a packet of painkillers before gently crawling into bed at the side of the woman, placing the items on the bedside table. The brunette remained awake for some time, unable to sleep for fear of Piper being sick again or needing her. The feeling was unfamiliar to Alex. She was scared. If someone couldn't handle their liquor she had no time for holding back hair or taking the time to put people to bed but as with everything about Piper, this was different.
XxX
It was after 10 then next morning that Alex awoke, instantly looking to her left searching out Piper. She was still there, snoring quietly, looking serene and peaceful in her alcohol induced coma. Alex rolled over, propping her head on her arm, letting herself properly take in the sight before her. Allowing a stay over and watching someone sleep were another two firsts for the brunette already this morning, and with Piper Chapman she seemed to be racking up a long list of firsts, things that previously even the thought of repulsed her.
Piper stirred in her sleep, her face contorting and scrunching as her breathing rate increased. Alex reached out her hand, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Piper's ear and softly caressing the soft skin of her cheek. Blue eyes fluttered open taking a minute to focus on the new lighting of the room, the colour of the sheets, the face looking down at her.
Seeing the younger girl awake Alex went to quickly withdraw her hand yet was caught by Piper's hand around her wrist and returning it to its previous location, the blonde's hand also remaining firmly in place.
"Alex"
"How you feeling kid?" Alex genuinely wanted to know and hoped Piper wasn't feeling too rough. The fact that her name was the first words out of her mouth made Alex's stomach flip. She would never tire of waking up next to Piper Chapman, even if she was hungover and still wearing last night's make up.
"Like even the incessant pounding in my head can't drown out the embarrassment I feel right now." Piper pulled the duvet up over her face, messy blonde hair still visible above.
"Hey, you have nothing to be embarrassed about" Piper peeked her eyes out from behind the duvet, judging the sincerity and tone of Alex's statement.
"Honestly" Alex added, rolling over to pull the duvet completely from the blonde's face, bringing her lips to the younger woman's for a chaste kiss.
Piper reciprocated, pleased that Alex wasn't put off by her reckless drinking and the end product of it. She pulled the brunette closer by the back of the head trying to deepen the kiss.
Alex pulled back causing Piper to open her eyes and look up.
"Maybe you should brush your teeth first though" Alex smirked causing the blonde the blush as she reached out an arm to slap the other girl playfully.
XxX
Piper padded into the lounge after brushing her teeth and taking a shower.
Upon hearing of her entrance, Alex asked "How you feeling now kid?" from her seat at her breakfast bar, strong black coffee in her hand.
She looked up to see the blonde who was dressed only in the faded t-shirt Alex had put her in the night before and some sweat shorts the brunette had left out for her on the bed.
"Better to get rid of last night's make up, I mean how could you even look me in the face without laughing this morning?...Alex"
Alex was pulled out of her staring at the blonde's long, toned, tanned legs upon hearing her name called. She looked blankly at Piper clearly having missed the entire content of her earlier statement.
"It looked like a toddler had applied it" Piper confessed pulling her head into her hands.
"What can I say kid, you kinda pulled it off, sort of, not at all." Alex broke into a full belly laugh, now able to find the humour in the situation from this morning.
"Hey!" Piper called embarrassed once more as she moved over to the brunette to swot her playfully on the arm again.
Alex managed to dodge the slap, swiftly moving to the left and in turn pulling the shorter woman into her lap. She reached up to the face in front of her before tucking a strand of blonde hair behind the right ear and leaning in to place a kiss on Piper's lips. Piper reciprocated, happy to move her lips along to the burning sensation that was being kissed by Alex Vause. Alex swept her tongue along the bottom lip and into the open mouth hearing Piper moan into her own mouth spurring on her roaming hands. It was unrushed, slow, almost delicate, as Piper felt that dizziness from Alex's close proximity, the heady scent of the brunette filling her lungs deliciously. They kissed until both were breathless, only pulling away far enough to rest their foreheads together, gasping for oxygen.
"You taste very minty" Alex added, cursing the dumbness of her statement, a chink in the armour caused by the presence of this blonde.
"I borrowed your toothbrush" Piper added as she jumped swiftly up off the older woman's lap giggling like a schoolgirl.
Alex was left opened mouthed, managing to reach out and lightly slap the blonde's ass with her fingertips as she leapt to her feet and headed into the kitchen.
Piper poured herself a drink into the mug Alex had left for her at the side of the coffee machine, leaning with her back to the worktop in order to study the brunette.
She took a sip, looking over the brim of the mug at the background that framed Alex. It was for the first time then that Piper noticed the size and decoration of Alex's loft.
"Woah, Al, how did I not notice the size of this place last night?" Piper asked as she strolled out of the kitchen heading straight for the book case on the right hand wall.
"I think maybe you were a little distracted" Alex smirked, happy to sit and observe the blonde on her inspection of the books in front of her, and damn did Piper look absolutely adorable.
A baggy t-shirt and shorts the perfect chilled out look teamed with the bedraggled blonde hair and, without makeup, the fresh young face still highlighting the huge blue eyes. Her lips were plump and still slightly swollen.
Piper continued to pad around, coffee cup in one hand, the other tracing the spines of the most precious books Alex owned.
"You have first editions in here Al" Piper spoke in astonishment, more to herself than the watching brunette.
Next, she made her way over to the stereo system, leafing through the stacked CD's, before approaching the wall of glass patio window and balcony beyond.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Alex asked, looking down at the blonde she had made her way silently towards.
Upon hearing her voice so near Piper had turned finding Alex in such close proximity as the brunette placed a kiss on her cheek.
"You must be able see the entire city from here Al"
"I wasn't talking about that view"
Piper closed the small gap between them once more reaching behind Alex's head to pull the brunette's lips even closer and finally meeting them with her own.
Alex wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist, their bodies tight together, as she pulled away from the kiss to rest her head on Piper's shoulder who placed her own hands on tops of the taller woman's.
The pair stood like this for what seemed like an eternity, serine, contempt, both realising the feelings that were developing between them, interrupted by a knock at the door.
Piper jumped at the sound, lost in her own thoughts, trying to compartmentalise what she was feeling.
Alex smirked at the blonde's reaction, placing a kiss on her neck as she broke away towards the door.
"I ordered breakfast, take a seat outside and I'll bring it out."
XxX
They ate silently, their eyes never leaving the gaze of one another, speaking unsaid thoughts, wishes, promises.
Alex had ordered at least one of everything from the local diner's breakfast menu, ensuring the blonde would have something to eat.
"So, what are your plans for the rest of the day Pipes?"
Piper looked to Alex who had just finished eating and was taking a swill of her fresh coffee. Unsure of how to answer, Piper took a minute to figure out exactly what the brunette was asking, was it an offer to stay with her, or perhaps she wanted the blonde out of her apartment.
"Hmm, maybe it's time I went home, sleep of the rest of this hangover. Polly will go crazy if she gets back and realises I stopped out. Urgh, she'll think I spent the night with Barry."
Alex laughed at the look of disgust plastered across Piper's face.
"Or y'know, tell her you went home with the tall, dark, sexy, excellent in bed…"
"I get the idea" Piper cut in returning the smirk of the brunette.
"Maybe miss out the running out of bed to throw up part though" Alex winked at the blonde causing a blush to spread up her face. "Believe me though Pipes, I would love nothing more than to pick up exactly where we left off last night, right now…" Alex fixed Piper with a steely look, like a lion eying up its prey, "but unfortunately I have an important appointment to attend." The brunette faced Piper, her tone serious and a look of sadness in her eyes. "Come on, I'll give you a ride home."
XxX
Having collected all her belongings from last night, namely her shoes and dress, Piper stood at the front door waiting for the brunette.
Alex strode quickly to join the blonde at the door, Piper taking her time to ogle the older woman, who was dressed in her black bike leathers, her green eyes popping from the darkness of the outfit.
"Like what you see?" Alex smirked throwing a wink in the blonde's direction.
"Will I see you again Al?" Piper couldn't help but portray the inner anxiety she was feeling, wanting, no needing, to see Alex again.
"Of course, we have a project to work on together, and weekly lectures." Alex teased.
Piper huffed loudly, "you know what I mean"
"I'm definitely going to be needing to see you again Piper Chapman" Alex whispered into the shorter woman's ear, lips grazing the lobe. Piper's breath hitched in her throat, excitement shooting the length of her body. "That's my favourite t-shirt you're wearing and I'm gonna need it back."