2014

Annabelle…

"Si…beau…eak! Hap…baby…ise…bab…love…"

"Simo…pu…ready….too po…For m…beautif…sweet…Happy Val…presen…later, love yo…"

"Simone, they're beautiful!" Annabelle said softly, gazing at the perfect bouquet of roses with happiness. Watching Annabelle continue talking, Simone briefly lost track of what she was saying, gazing lovingly at her wife with a small smile on her lips.

(My wife. Even after 4 years, I still can't believe this brilliant, beautiful woman is mine. The whole world knows her, and she chose me. Me. How many times do you thank God for a gift that big?)

Simone was brought suddenly back to the present as Annabelle carefully placed the roses on their bureau and launched herself into Simone's arms. Startled, Simone dropped the recording device to the floor, and hugged Annabelle tightly to her. Gently swaying back and forth, holding her close, Simone said softly, "Belle, I don't know if you know the name of that rose, but I saw it and it seemed appropriate. For us." Growing shy, she stopped and kissed behind a nearby ear.

Leaning back, Annabelle gazed up at her lover, requesting with her eyes she finish.

Escaping Annabelle's gaze and concentrating on the floor, Simone caught hold of her deserting courage and whispered, "They just seemed perfect to me. They…they're called Fire and Ice, so different but a perfect mix. Just like us." Hearing nothing but silence, Simone's courage crumbled.

(God, I can run an entire surgical department, do 18 hour operations, but I can't get the right Valentine's Day present. Good job Bradley. Maybe next…)

A warm hand suddenly cupped her chin, demanding she look up. Hesitantly she obeyed, to be greeted by loving blue eyes and soft lips that immediately captured her own. Groaning, Simone deepened the kiss, lost in the touch and taste of Annabelle. Pressing her against the wall, Simone strove to get as close as possible.

(My Belle, my beautiful Annabelle)

"I love you so" she breathed into the small space between them, watching Annabelle's face blossom into a smile at the words. Recapturing her lover's lips, she stroked her hands under Annabelle's shirt, lightly grazing across the nipples held within. Feeling Annabelle's frustrated attempts to unbutton her shirt,

(Clothes, fucking things)

she quickly stepped back and with a quick jerk ripped it off, buttons spraying to the floor. Grinning back at Annabelle's laughing, "Impatient much?", she surprised her wife by treating her own shirt to the same, dropping the rags to the floor.

(My god she's so beautiful)

Dropping to her knees while keeping Annabelle pressed back against the wall, she traced the fine definition of stomach muscle flowing under her fingertips and tongue. Hearing Annabelle moan above her, and hands trace urgently through her hair she smiled

(not yet baby)

and began to lick her way down.

Coming to the first button of Annabelle's jeans, she grasped the worn denim with her teeth and jerked it free. Nibbling the soft skin emerging underneath, she continued down Annabelle's body. She was at the fourth button before hearing a strangled, "Simone". Looking up, she found her lover biting her bottom lip, the depths of her eyes swirling with lust and love. Stroking Simone's cheek, Annabelle begged, "Please."

Growling at the look in Annabelle's eyes, Simone jerked off her lover's jeans, and stood. With one smooth motion, she grabbed Annabelle by the hips, picked her up and pressed her against the wall. Quickly wrapping her legs around Simone's hips, Annabelle groaned as she rubbed against Simone's stomach. Reaching between them, Simone sank three fingers deeply into her lover, hearing Annabelle gasp and bear down in pleasure.

(so wet so ready love you)

With her arms wrapped around Simone's neck, Annabelle's hips rolled into a rhythm that Simone continued. Sliding in and out of her lover, Simone felt Annabelle begin to tighten around her. Knowing she was close, Simone sped up her pace, delicately curled inside her and pressed down with the heel of her hand. Annabelle came with a scream, eyes rolling back into her head as she collapsed against her wife.

As she leaned into her lover, Simone continued to kiss and nuzzle available skin within reach. Breathing hard and still holding a limp Annabelle wrapped around her, Simone walked them over to the nearby bed. She gently spilled Annabelle onto the sheets, undressed and turned off the lights before slipping in beside her. Stretching out on her back, Simone smiled as she felt Annabelle immediately shift back into her embrace. Pulling the covers over them both, she kissed Annabelle and said, "Happy Valentine's Day darling".

"Simone?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you think we'll ever actually make it to the bed?"

Laughing, they snuggled together into sleep.

"…Simone"

"…love you…Simone…"

(Annabelle?)

"Simone!"

"Annabelle?"

Jerking upright, Simone blinked blearily into the dim light of her office. Realizing that her brief shout had paused the audio loop, she wearily sat up. As she looked around at the remains of her trashed office, she saw that only an hour had passed. One measly hour. Slumping back into the couch, she rested her disheveled head in her hands.

(I can't do this. There is no way. How am I supposed to be a stranger to her? Deny everything that ever happened between us?)

Feeling a prickling run down her arms, Simone sighed.

(Academic anyway until I'm done with the backwash. Shit.)

Feeling a wave of tension drag down her body, she dug her hands between the cushions. Wrapping the first restraint over her shins, she secured the second over her thighs just as the first soft wave of pain wavered down her spine. Working faster now, she secured the straps over her hips and ribs. Working her shoulders through the built in loops, she tucked her forehead into its strap just as the first serious spasm hit.

Gritting her teeth, she said, "Play…Punk Kite…track Painkiller…key input stop only...volume 14…loop track!"

As the music blared throughout her office, Simone knew she had only seconds. Quickly inserting the padded mouth guard she locked her wrists into the sleeves prepared for them. Just as her lips closed over the guard, waves of agony overcame her as every muscle in her body began to spasm. As her head slammed back and her body began to bow in a rictus of pain, she began to scream.

(...Annabelle...)