FivebyFive89 – I don't have much self-control but I do try to hold out when cooking…it doesn't always work ;)
gg – that she does!
billy – Thanks!
Tara was on her knees, looking through cabinets with slightly glassy eyes, searching for something intently.
Willow spotted her butt wiggling in the air and wandered over. She bent down and tried to peer into the cabinet too.
"What are we looking for?"
"Wine," Tara replied gruffly.
Willow knew she had put all the bottles out on the table, so a quick look around told her they'd all been used up.
"It's all gone."
Tara looked at Willow incredulously.
"How can we possibly be out of wine already?"
"All our friends are alcos?" Willow suggested, tipsy enough to giggle at her own joke.
Tara fell back to sit on her butt and giggled too.
"What tastes good?"
"Let's go find out!" Willow suggested, taking Tara's hand and pulling her over to the refreshments table, "Hmm…Becky!"
Becky had herself draped across the couch, clearly flirting with Anderson, Mabel's grandson from the senior centre.
She dragged herself over, light on her feet.
"What?"
"The wine is gone," Willow replied, making a gesture all around the table, "Help us mix a drink. NO Long Island Ticed Eees!"
Becky took her role seriously and pondered the options before finally mixing some drinks; handing Willow a rum and coke and Tara a vodka cranberry. She put an arm around either of them and made a smoking motion with two fingers against her mouth.
"Are we partaking tonight? I have some ready to roll…"
Tara slapped down Becky's arm quickly.
"Becky, my boss is here."
"And that was a onetime thing," Willow added, then smiled as she hiccupped when she tried to drink.
Becky pulled a face.
"She's your boss? You invited your boss?"
Tara fixed Becky with a look as sternly as she could muster with the wine flowing through her veins.
"We work for the government. Nuttting," she attempted and cleared her throat, "Nothing illegal."
Becky threw her hands back.
"Fine. I'm on to a sure thing anyway. I'll be getting my own kind of nutting."
Tara hooked her finger around Becky's collar and pulled her ear close to whisper.
"He's gay."
Becky all but stamped her foot.
"Dammit. Not again."
She went back over to her spot, less enthused, while Tara sipped her drink through a straw. It was very easy to drink and somehow seemed to make the music seem even more melodious.
Willow was shoving a s'more into her mouth and Tara picked up one of the last lettuce cups. She used one of the little plastic forks to eat out of and collapsed into a chair.
Both she and Willow had worn themselves out a bit as the party got going; mingling, making introductions, fetching drinks and just generally being good hosts. Then as everyone arrived and things settled down, they had too.
Tara pulled Willow onto her lap.
"Are you having fun?" she asked, nuzzling herself into Willow's neck, unusually showy.
"I'm having lots of fun," Willow replied, her speech languid, "Who knew we threw a good party?"
She made a not-so-subtle gesture towards a particular couple.
"Genius idea to invite the neighbours – no noise complaints!"
Tara's back hunched with laughter and she slurped the end of her glass.
"That went fast!"
She made Willow get up so she could pour another and Willow spun dizzily around, trying to stay on her spot. As she settled, she noticed something, or rather someone, across the room.
"Ahhhh, that guy is wearing a Star Trek t-shirt!" she exclaimed as she ran off, "Meet you for the countdown!"
Tara made a non-committal noise and refilled her drink. She wandered over and sat near Alice, who clinked their similarly-coloured glasses together.
"Twins," she said, taking a sip of her own vodka cranberry, "Going down easy tonight?"
Tara's eyes bugged slightly and it took her longer than it should to realise she meant the drink.
"Oh," she said, mouth forming a very firm 'o' shape, "Y-yes. I never had one before."
She looked away but Alice quickly changed the subject, eating a cracker from a paper plate in her lap.
"So, you're the phantom chutney maker. Why didn't you speak up?"
"Oh, yeah," Tara replied, embarrassed, "I had enough attention at the Christmas party. Didn't need more."
"They're delicious," she complimented but saw Tara's discomfiture, "Hey, know any single bachelors I can snag at midnight?"
Tara cast a cursory glance around the room. She didn't know everyone all that well.
"Oh um…I think him…and maybe him," she said, discreetly pointing, then grinning, "But go quick, Becky will probably get there first."
Alice laughed and stood up to get another drink. She offered to make one for Tara too, who was surprised to find she'd downed another one. She shrugged and handed her glass over.
"In for a dollar, in for a dime," she said, then her face bunched up, confused, "Wait…"
Alice thought she was being humorous and laughed again.
"I never knew you were so funny, Tara. Great music choices too."
Tara took the compliment silently, afraid to ruin it. She checked the CD player to make sure none of Willow's old Backstreet Boys CDs were in rotation, then found herself wandering into a bit of a bitter discussion between some animal enthusiasts on whether cats or dogs were better. She unintentionally diffused the situation by saying fish were best and enjoyed the laughter it brought.
She figured vodka was some kind of magical elixir that made her funnier than she thought she was and continued refilling her red solo cup, the ratio of alcohol to cranberry rising higher and higher each time she poured fresh.
During a refill, Willow jumped at her from behind.
"Baby!"
Tara hit out but narrowly avoided hitting her. Willow's eyes went wide.
"You know Kung Fu!" she said, stunned, then shook her head into focus, "It's the countdown!"
Tara blinked through her hazy vision and realised the TV had been turned on and was showing a channel with big, cheering crowds and a countdown timer. There was less than 60 seconds, so Willow pulled Tara over to watch it with her and everyone else seemed to gather around too.
Willow swung Tara's arms and twirled around, excited and started to jump up and down on the spot when the numbers finally closed in.
There were cheers and shouts while the fireworks exploded on the screen, and more could be heard outside.
Tara grabbed Willow's hips and rested their foreheads together. She kissed her soundly on the spot.
"Happy New Year," she whispered, pressing more kisses onto Willow's jaw.
Willow threw her arms around Tara's neck and swung out of her.
"Happppppy Birth-day!"
They both looked at each other at the same time and ended up in a giggling heap, pulling at each other to stay standing. They hugged on the spot and started to dance badly to the 80's pop playing.
As the night went on, some people left for after-parties and others just left for bed. As the wee hours dawned, only Willow, Tara, Becky and Alice were left.
Both Willow and Tara were well and truly hammered; Becky was drunk but always held her liquor well so the only indicators were glassy eyes and an even blunter attitude than normal, and Alice didn't seem inebriated at all, just laid-back and relaxed.
Becky seemed slightly grumpy as she made her way into the kitchen to get a cool beer. She had to push through Willow and Tara, who were swaying very softly together to the music playing.
"Hey, we get it, you're gay. You can turn off the Ani DiFranco," Becky grumbled.
Willow rested her head on Tara's chest and her brow creased in Becky's direction.
"Were you making out with Anderson earlier? I thought he was gay."
"He's bisexual," Becky answered with a sigh as she slammed the fridge door, "He also just broke up with his boyfriend and 'isn't there yet' so no New Year nookie for me. I had to settle for a kiss at midnight."
Willow lifted her head, chin-up, to Tara and smiled.
"They're the best."
They met for a kiss, which lingered…
…and lingered…
…and lingered…
Becky tried to resist, but she couldn't, and smiled.
"I hate you two for making me believe in love," she called back to them as she collapsed into the couch and lifted her glass, "Well, that's that. Another year."
Alice was sitting directly opposite Becky on the other couch, which had its back to the kitchen. She returned the toast. They each sipped their drink and Becky put her feet up, while Alice curled her legs under her; both getting comfortable now they each had a couch each to themselves.
"So have you known Willow and Tara long?" Alice ventured, resting her cheek on an upturned palm.
"As long as they've known each other, and Willow a little longer," Becky answered, before clarifying, "We were roommates in college."
Alice nodded, a little too swiftly.
"Oh. Were you…?"
Becky barked out a laugh.
"No. Hell no."
Alice blushed.
"Sorry. It's all out of left field a little for me. I thought 'Willow' was 'William' until recently."
"Yeah, they told me the story," Becky replied, grinning.
"I was a little surprised, to be honest," Alice admitted, then twisted her wrist around in a vague gesture, "Tara doesn't look…"
Becky doubled down with her blinking at Alice.
"What, gay?"
"Well…" Alice replied with a one shoulder shrug, "Anyway, it's nice to have companionship."
One of Becky's eyebrows shot up in a pronounced arch.
"…do you think they're just friends?"
"No, of course not," Alice replied in a tone that tried to sound more comfortable than it was, "I know they're…lovers."
"But…?" Becky prompted, eyes boring into Alice.
Alice just flicked her fingers backwards and settled her hand again.
"Well, it's not exactly the same."
Becky crossed her arms across her middle, looking mildly amused.
"Oh, it's not, is it?"
Alice returned a look across the room.
"You know what I mean."
"I don't, actually," Becky replied sincerely, shaking her head.
"I'm sure they have a very deep bond," Alice reasoned moderately.
Becky laughed again, really deep from her belly.
"Oh, wow. You think lesbians don't screw?"
"It's just…different," Alice replied with zero malice but also zero clue.
"No penis, no passion, eh?" Becky quipped, still staring Alice down with those intense, beady eyes, "No dick, no desire? No cock, no com–"
Alice held up a hand.
"I get it."
"I don't think you do," Becky replied frankly, then smirked, "Especially since you don't have the view I do right now."
Alice's brow furrowed in confusion and she turned her head behind her towards the kitchen. Her eyebrows shot right back up again when she saw Tara pressing Willow up against the fridge, blindly fondling and groping her while their mouths played a very visible game of tonsil hockey.
Alice turned back in her seat, clearly shocked. She blinked rapidly.
"Gay, straight, we're all the same," Becky reasoned wisely, taking a slow sip from her long neck, "We all just want a good fuck."
Alice shook her head to herself.
"Okay. I clearly had some misguided notions," she admitted, genuinely surprised and genuinely embarrassed at her misconceptions, "The only lesbians I ever knew were two old ladies who lived by my mom. Not exactly the poster children for lust. I hold my hands up."
Becky admired her admitting it and lifted her beer in acknowledgement.
"If you're going to be friends with them, you should get used to that," she said, throwing her eyes towards what was essentially just becoming a maul, "Maybe not quite so much tongue. I've never seen Tara this drunk. But kissing and touching and general schmaltziness. They're all over each other, all the time."
Alice didn't need to be convinced of that anymore. She sipped on her drink in thought, while Becky leaned forward conspiringly.
"And besides, I know for a fact that Tara has skills that would make a whore blush," she said in a stage whisper, then held one hand up to block one side of her mouth, "And she's loud."
"But she's so quiet," Alice replied, shocked, "She doesn't even speak in work unless she's spoken to."
"You know what they say about the quiet ones…" Becky said, holding that same hand up, then settling it over her beer.
A moment later, Willow and Tara came rushing past, clothing already in slight disarray. Willow jabbed her finger towards their bedroom.
"We gotta go…we heard a sound. Been hearing it for weeks but we can't figure out what it is. It might be the… the murrurnufur."
"The what?" Becky asked, watching in delight as Willow's cheeks grew even more flushed.
"The murrurnufur!" Willow repeated, frustrated and not even able to mumble without slurring, "We'll, uh, go check it out and uh, we'll give you a call when we find out!"
"Yeah, this could blow the whole thing wide open," Tara replied, then continued calling back to them as Willow dragged her into the bedroom, "You can sleep on the couch if you want, you know where the blankets are!"
The bedroom door slammed and over the next minute or two there were various crashing and bumping sounds, followed by a very audible collapse onto the bed and a shriek that definitely came from Tara.
Becky tipped her beer pointedly.
"Told ya."
Inside the bedroom, Tara was straddling Willow, sitting on her fingers and leaning forward with her palms pressed flat against the wall. She was riding Willow's hand completely uninhibited, taking everything she needed.
Tara's hot core was making Willow sizzle and her wanton display added a new haze of lust to the haze of booze already swimming in her mind. She threw her arm up and around Tara's neck to pull her down, meeting her halfway so she was sitting up and had Tara in her lap.
She kissed her girlfriend's neck sloppily as her hand groped Tara's breasts. Her teeth nipped while she sucked on the tender skin. She met Tara's lips again and moved their mouths together passionately.
Tara was practically screaming into her mouth, making Willow giggle loudly.
Willow's hand kept slipping off and Tara was giving frustrated groans. Willow was coherent enough to get it, so she rolled Tara on her back to give herself more control. Tara's arms were thrown over her head as her hips thrust and thrust, grasping onto each jolt of pleasure.
She didn't need long as inebriation was its own relaxant and she had no reticence to worry about. Her neck arched back into the pillows as she moaned through an earth-shattering release.
Willow buried her fingers deep to feel it all and took Tara's lips in a kiss to feel that sensual energy quivering through her.
They would never know who passed out first, but their mouths were still pressed together, Willow was still inside and they didn't move a single inch for the rest of the night.
Tara woke up stiffly, with the worst headache she'd ever had.
She groaned and tried to move, but found everything else hurt too.
Finally she managed to lift her head enough to gauge she was in her own bedroom and that she had neglected to close the blinds, letting in that horrible sun which was hurting her eyes so badly.
She finally realised there was something on top of her and was relieved to see it was Willow. The relief only lasted moments though, then became irritation.
"Willow, get off me," she said gruffly, weakly trying to push her off.
Willow woke up in much the same way Tara had, though with much more dramatic groans and moans.
"Eurgh…everything hurts…" she groaned, "My ears hurt. My toes hurt. My hair hurts."
Tara tried to pull away, but they were stuck together. She glanced down and noticed they were naked. She remembered very little after kissing to ring in the New Year the night before.
"Did we have sex?"
"Probably," Willow mumbled, then grimaced as she realised where her hand was, "Make that definitely."
She started to pull out, but Tara had thoroughly dried up and it was far from pleasant.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow."
"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Willow replied genuinely, though it made her head throb to speak.
She used every ounce of energy she had to roll off and pull the blanket over her head. Tara stared, half-lidded at the ceiling for a long time until her eyes finally adjusted to the light. She sat up slowly, but when she moved her legs off the bed, she felt a deep pang between her legs.
"Jesus."
"What is it?" Willow grumbled.
Tara grabbed her crotch with both hands and looked down.
"I think you…did me really hard."
Willow's head poked out from under the blanket.
"Are you okay?"
Tara nodded.
"Yeah," she replied, shifting her hips a bit and liking the clench in her belly the ache gave her, "It's kinda nice actually. Like a reminder."
Willow mumbled something and went back to her cocoon. Tara stood, carrying herself gently. She swiped her hand through the dresser and found her old college t-shirt, then slipped it on. It fell past mid-thigh so she didn't bother with panties and just walked straight into the living space.
She planned to march straight into the kitchen to get some very strong coffee on but was startled to see Alice, packing some things into her purse, looking fresh as a daisy with neatly brushed hair and unrumpled clothing.
"A-Alice," she said, immediately trying to pull the hem of her t-shirt down even further.
"You, um, said we could crash on the couch," Alice said, pointing to the furniture in question, "I didn't fancy my chances with New Year's taxis."
"Of course, i-it's no problem," Tara replied, swallowing repeatedly, nervously.
Alice dropped a pen into her purse and hung it over her shoulder.
"I was going to write a note but I'm glad I got to say goodbye. I need to get home to my kitty. I had a lovely time, thank you for inviting me."
"H-Happy to have you," Tara replied, staying a distance since she had no idea what her breath was like.
Alice reached out and squeezed Tara's upper arm. She felt she'd learned a lot about her co-worker over the course of the evening and she liked what she saw.
"Let's have dinner sometime. Bring Willow," she offered, then nodded to the sleeping body on the other couch, "Bring Becky. You surround yourself with good people. I admire that."
Tara was surprised, but even more so when Alice rooted in her purse for a moment, then produced a tube of concealer, which she handed over.
"I needed to get a new one anyway," she continued with a wink, "Happy Birthday, Tara. See you in work."
"See you in…work," Tara replied, staring at the concealer, befuddled, until the bang of the door startled her again and she had to make another grab for her crotch when she jumped.
She went into the bathroom to check for the huge zit she assumed she must have, but instead her eyes widened in horror when she saw her neck.
"Willow!"
There was a massive groan from the living room and then Becky's voice.
"What is this, the international house of noisiness?"
Tara ignored it and marched straight into the bedroom, where she pulled the blanket away from Willow.
"Look what you did to me!"
"What, what is it?" Willow barked, cracking an eye open to see what Tara was complaining about, "So?"
Tara gestured around at the multitude of love bites.
"They're everywhere!"
"Can you please yell at me later?" Willow begged, pulling the blanket back over her again.
"Can you please yell at her later?" Becky shouted, pained.
Tara grabbed another long t-shirt and started shoving it over Willow's head.
"Put this on."
Willow just followed where she was pulled, barely conscious, then dropped back to sleep in the clothing. Tara went into the living room, grabbed Becky's arm and dragged her from the couch into the bedroom, depositing her on the other side of the bed.
Becky just curled around the pillow and Tara went to finally make her coffee and drink it in silence.
A little while passed until Willow started to rouse for real and rolled over in bed. Used to Tara being the other body, she reached out and started to pat it, but soon realised it didn't feel right.
She opened her eyes and screamed.
"Ah!" she said, looking all around the room in panic, "What are you doing?"
"Tara put me in here," Becky mumbled, "Shush."
Willow grabbed Becky's arm and marched her out to the living room.
"Why do people keep pulling me?!" Becky asked petulantly.
"Did you put her in bed with me?" Willow demanded.
"I needed some coffee in peace," Tara replied, massaging her temples.
"I told you," Becky sneered, snatching her arm back and continuing on sleepily into the kitchen, "Is that coffee still going?"
Tara nodded sullenly and Willow approached her gingerly.
"Baby?"
Tara blew out a slow breath.
"My boss saw me looking like this. And god knows what I did last night."
"That Alice chick?" Becky asked from the kitchen, amidst scraping noises, "She was cool. We talked. You're not in any shit house."
"See?" Willow said, rubbing Tara's upper arm.
"She did say we should all go to dinner," Tara reasoned, feeling her worry ease a bit, "Becky too."
Becky returned and forced her way in between them, munching on some toast.
"Everybody loves a little Becky."
Willow shot daggers in Becky's direction.
"You better not be eating my last slice of toast."
"Oops," Becky replied, shoving the last bit into her gob.
"You have your own home with your own food, you know," Willow retorted, and moved around to sit on Tara's other side in annoyance, "You can go there and eat."
"Did you drive last night, Becky?" Tara asked and got a nod in return, "You should wait until after lunch. You might still be over the limit."
"Yes, I should stay and eat lunch," Becky replied with a serious nod of her head, "What is it?"
Willow scoffed.
"I'm not making you anything and Tara sure as hell isn't cooking on her birthday."
"Can you two stop bickering," Tara said firmly, "No one is cooking. I'm going to the burger joint across the street and getting us burgers and fries. After I replace my bloodstream with coffee."
Everyone seemed to agree to that and they sat together in relative silence until Becky started poking Tara's neck.
"You have a lot of hickies."
"I know," Tara replied, too hungover to be any more embarrassed, "I have concealer."
Willow felt a little guilty, so kissed Tara's cheek and gave her a sidelong hug.
"Happy Birthday, baby."
Becky offered a hug on the other side, appreciating a Tara-hug as much as any sane person did.
"Happy Birthday, Tara."
Willow shoved Becky's shoulder, annoyed again that she'd stepped in on their moment.
"Get off her."
"You get her every other day, give me a chance!" Becky returned, shoving back.
Tara just smiled, not even trying to get them to stop. They'd argue anyway and she'd just be wasting her breath.
Instead she just sat back and let the Tylenol and caffeine work its magic to make her feel normal again. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander.
She knew the past few years had given her the best birthdays she'd ever had, and that was because of the 'people she surrounded herself with'.
It was the greatest, truest compliment she'd ever received. She planned to take advantage and revel in every moment with them.
Annoying as they sometimes may be.
Tara came out of her evening shower, feeling normal again for the first time all day. The hot water had eased away the last of her hangover-induced aches and pains and the junk food she'd been indulging in all day seemed to have soaked the rest of it away.
She wrapped a towel around her, a towel she'd begged Willow to run through the tumble dryer for her because the thoughts of a scratchy towel sent a wave of nausea to her stomach. The fluffy fibres brushed against her skin luxuriously as she tucked it in.
She squeezed some lotion into her hands and rubbed it along her arms, letting the cool cream rub absorb into her skin and give her a fresh feeling. She brushed her teeth thoroughly, wiping out the grease and sugar she'd filled herself with that day and slapped some moisturiser on her cheeks to really renew her skin.
She stepped out of the steamy bathroom and into the bathroom, where Willow was lying on her side on the bed, in a short red and black kimono.
"Becky gone?" Tara asked as she walked over to the closet to find some very comfortable pyjamas.
"I thought she'd never leave," Willow replied with a roll of her eyes, "But we're alone now…"
"You're both so needy when you're hungover," Tara replied, shaking her head to herself, then looked back over her shoulder at Willow, "Is that new?"
Willow pulled the tie loose and flashed some thigh. It had been a super cheap eBay import but also a perfect substitute for the lingerie she couldn't afford to buy.
"I was waiting for you to notice…"
Unfortunately Tara had turned back before the exposure so missed it.
"It's pretty."
Willow frowned but didn't give up.
"It's for you…"
Tara finally picked up on Willow's tone.
She smirked.
"Oh."
She turned around and caught Willow's bared thigh, feeling an ache between her legs quite different to the one she woke up with.
"Did I say pretty? I meant sensationally sexy."
Willow grinned and patted the spot on the bed beside her. Tara approached the bed, flicked the tuck of the towel free so it pooled on the floor and climbed into bed. She reached in and palmed Willow's thigh.
"It's so soft."
"It's satin…" Willow replied, eyes falling to Tara's full breasts.
Tara leaned in and whispered in Willow's ear.
"I wasn't talking about the robe."
She felt the clench of Willow's muscles as her thigh twitched under her hand. She pressed a kiss under Willow's ear and poked her tongue out to taste her girlfriend's skin.
She flicked the fabric off Willow's hip, then slowly pushed Willow onto her back so the material fell off either side and exposed her nude body. She kissed each of Willow's pert nipples and continued licking them until they could harden no more. She bit the sensitive peaks and could practically hear the gush between Willow's legs.
She lowered herself and pulled Willow's thighs apart, feeling herself ignite as her girlfriend's pink, glistening flesh came into view. She eyed Willow's clit, swollen and throbbing as it peaked out. She needed to feel its pulse and had it in her mouth in moments, dragging her lips over near the tip and down again, making her head bob on the spot.
Willow had her legs spread wide and her hand on Tara's head, moaning loudly as her clit was bathed. She pumped her hips towards Tara's mouth and moaned into the pillow until she just felt a rush of air. Her eyes opened to see what happened, but closed again as Tara's mouth landed on hers, letting her taste herself on the sweetness that was Tara's lips.
She felt Tara's legs slide up against hers and reached down to rub her clit. Tara panted into Willow's mouth and moved her hand between them too, catching Willow's wrist on the way to pull her down so they entered each other at the same time. It was mutually deep; both equally seeking the other's inner depths and to be enveloped in heat.
They thrust into each other quite energetically after being sedate for most of the day; their lips resting on each other even while they were moaning too loudly to kiss.
Tara's other hand clutched at the sheet above Willow's shoulders, clasping it in her grasp to release some of the tension until it finally broke in her belly. Her neck arched back and a low groan passed her lips.
Willow lifted her head and kissed Tara's bared neck at the moment she came, getting her fill of Tara from all angles.
They fell into each other and shared a last kiss before Tara rolled off and took a sip of water from the bottle on her nightstand.
Willow noticed Tara's thighs grating off each other.
"Are you still sore?" she asked with concern.
"No, I'm okay now," Tara replied, offering the water.
"I'm sorry," Willow responded, gratefully taking a sip.
Tara twisted the cap back on and snuggled up to Willow's side.
"I don't quite remember, but I'm sure I was a very willing participant," she replied with a grin, "God, I hope I wasn't loud."
Willow rolled her hand over her hair, remembering the night before.
"Man, we got so wasted."
"I'm never having a vodka cranberry again," Tara vowed.
Willow playfully flapped her hand against Tara's chest.
"Oh, you had fun."
Tara nodded, her chin on Willow's shoulder.
"Yes, I did."
She turned Willow's cheek in so she could kiss her lips.
"Thank you for throwing me a party," she said sweetly, "Any New Year's resolutions?"
"Get a job!" Willow replied insistently, "You?"
"After today I feel like I should give up alcohol," Tara joked, then shrugged her outside shoulder, "I dunno. It's hard to think of any when you're so happy."
She leaned in and nuzzled her nose to Willow's, gently bumping into her.
"And you make me so, so happy…" she said, pecking Willow's lips again, "I stupid love you."
Willow closed her eyes, taking in the joy of getting to start another year with her love.
"I stupid love you too."