Chapter 13:
"Mom, can we go to the bookstore before we return to pack? I really want to get this French book. Andy says it's good for all artists to have." Caroline asked her mother.
Andrea smiled and shook her head, "Carrie I told you, you can have mine. I've been finished with it for years now." she said wrapping her arm around Cassidy's shoulder as the young girl leaned into her.
"I want to go too, Mommy. I need more books. Your books have too many hard words and not enough pictures." Rory said from her position on Miranda's side.
Andrea met Miranda's eyes over the girls' heads and shrugged when she was greeted with a questioning raise eyebrow.
"Alright, let's go. Straight to the hotel after that. We have an early flight and you girls all need to pack." Miranda said looking around for a bookstore nearby.
Lexxi tugged on Caroline's hand and pointed across the street, "Carrie is that the bookstore?" she asked causing 5 pairs of eyes to follow her small pointing finger.
"That would be a bookstore, good eye Lexx!" Caroline said giving the younger girl a five.
The two women and 4 children made their way across the Parisian street and into the quaint little bookshop on the corner. It was quiet inside and not very busy. The walls were a pale yellow with little pictures of books splattered across them, the floors were tiled with beautiful area rugs covering them, chairs were strategically placed around the little shop, and bookshelves lined the walls and filled the floor leaving little aisles to walk between. The air smelled of lilac with a hint of cinnamon.
"Wow, it's so cute." Caroline said smiling and looking around, "The bookstores back home are not this cute!"
Andrea laughed and began walking through the aisles scanning the titles, "Well Carrie, if they have what we're looking for, it would be over there. Let's go look and I'll help you find a few others that may be helpful as well."
"We'll meet at the check-out in 15 minutes. Cassidy that is 15 minutes." Miranda said looking at her daughter. Cassidy laughed and nodded before taking off with Lexxi.
Andrea chuckled and led Caroline, Miranda, and Rory over to the section containing art related texts. There were three aisles full of art related books and another two that were specifically self-help drawing books. Caroline started on the first aisle scanning the titles and authors thoroughly while Andrea took Rory over to the drawing books.
"Miranda-girl?" a deep voice sounded from behind her. Andrea groaned inwardly and turned to see none other than Christian Thompson standing not 2-feet behind her.
"I do have a name you know." Andrea stated handing Rory one of the books she had just taken from the shelf.
"Still working for Miranda?" he asked flashing her an alluring smile.
"No actually. I work for myself." she stated matter-of-factly not volunteering much more than that.
His smile widened and Andrea's stomach churned, bile rising in her throat. She shook her head wondering what she ever saw in the man.
"So what are you doing here in Paris?" he asked moving to stand closer to her. Andrea took a step back and felt Rory shift next to her.
"Mommy, do you know him?" she asked shyly half hidden behind Andrea's body. Aurora's voice reminded Andy why since gaining her memories back she stopped regretting that drunken night in Paris. Even if she would forever hate the man that fathered her oldest child.
Christian's eyes dropped to the little girl and widened.
Sighing Andy nodded, "Yeah sweetie, Mr. Thompson is an old work acquaintance. Although," she said looking at him closely, "from what I heard he lost his job when Jacqueline did. What are you doing now?"
She watched as he shifted uncomfortably, clenching his teeth and fist before speaking, "After Miranda fu- messed up the plan to remove her from Runway I went to work with James Holt International along with Jacqueline. That lasted for about six months before that bit-" he stopped and his eyes dropping to Rory again and she moved further behind her mother.
Andrea growled and glared at him, "If you cannot get your anger under control this conversation is over. I will not have you upsetting my daughter, I don't care what issues you are having." she said her voice filled with anger.
He took a step back and stared at her in shock, "Wow... you've changed. Sorry, but after Miranda's stunt and working for James for six months Jacqueline was replaced by that bald man that worked at Runway. When she lost her position so did I. She hasn't spoken to me since then."
Andrea picked up her daughter soothingly rubbing her back and continued to glare at Christian, "You got what you deserved. Miranda Priestly is the best thing that happened to Runway and instead of being mature and professional; you and Jacqueline decided to be underhanded and childish with the entire thing. She had French Runway but it just wasn't enough for her. Greed only serves to destroy, you should remember that."
"Still so loyal to that insufferable, bi-"
"Think wisely before you finish that sentence Mr. Thompson, you may not like Miranda, you may even hate Miranda, however you respect her in my presence." Andrea said in a lethal voice.
She watched his eyes widen further and his face pale, "Still protective of her Andrea? You no longer work for her, why does it matter to you?"
"Just because she no longer works for me does not mean she's not still acquainted with me, now does it Christian?" Miranda's said walking up behind Christian, "Andrea, Cassidy and Lexxi have finished over there. Did Rory find anything she wanted?"
Andrea nodded and nuzzled her daughter's hair, "She's a little upset right now but she has a few books she'd like. Are we making purchases? Did Carrie find the book?" she said softly kissing her daughter's hair and letting her down.
Rory ran over to Miranda and wrapped her arms around her tightly. Miranda shot Andrea a questioning look.
Sighing Andy turned back to Christian, "That," she pointed to Rory who Miranda had picked up and was soothingly whispering to, "is why you should always speak respectfully about people Mr. Thompson. Lucky for you, my daughter is young enough not to know what word you were going to finish that sentence with. As for why I'm loyal to Miranda, it has nothing to do with work and everything to do with the woman herself. You should learn something about friendship and people Christian. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some purchases to make and then I'm taking my family away from here."
Andrea moved past him and walked out of the aisle. Caroline, Cassidy, and Lexxi were standing just out of hearing range waiting for them. She smiled at them and held out her hand for their books. She took them to the check-out counter and waited for Miranda and Rory, "I need those from her." she told Miranda pointing to the books her daughter still held.
When she turned back to the register a surprised sound left her as her eyes widened. Christian Thompson was behind the counter ringing up the books and placing them into a cloth bag with the bookstore's name on it, "My have the mighty have fallen." she stated pulling out her credit card and handing it to him.
"Y-you... DeMarzio? Oh my god. You're the DeMarzio. A. DeMarzio. Wow." he said handing her back her credit card and receipt.
She grunted in acknowledgement and grabbed the bags, "I would say it was nice to meet you, however I prefer not to lie and it would be hypocritical of me to do so seeing as I teach my children not to. Goodbye Mr. Thompson." she said taking Lexxi's hand and walking away. They left the bookstore then and returned to the hotel to pack for their trip home the next day.
Just as she was dropping off to sleep Andrea's cell sounded. Sitting up she grabbed it and answered, "Miranda? Everything alright?" she said looking at the clock.
"Why wouldn't it be Andrea? Can I not just call you to be calling?" Miranda said.
"If you were anyone else and it wasn't 2 in the morning, I would say yes, since it's you, no." Andrea said laughing softly, "What's up baby?" she asked laying back down rolling over on her side.
"Where you asleep?"
"Not yet, I was getting there, but that's alright." Andy said softly curling up around her pillow. "Why aren't you asleep, love?"
"Not tired. How's Rory? She was very quiet after we left the bookstore. He didn't upset her too much did he?" Miranda's voice was laced with concern and hearing it there made Andrea love the woman even more.
"She's fine baby, don't worry. We talked about it; she was worried about you and wanted to know why he was so angry. Once I explained it to her she was alright, in fact she was mad." Andrea laughed again, "She wanted to go back to the bookstore to yell at him. She said he needed to act like a man and not a little girl. In her opinion men are supposed to be strong and brave and not whine over things that happened years ago. I can't say I don't agree with her logic. It was the cutest thing Mira. Little Rory wanting to run off to defend your honor."
Miranda's soft laughter came through the line sending a shiver down Andrea's spine; she inhaled deeply and slowly let it out.
"She's a special little girl Andrea, and you've done a beautiful job raising both her and Lexxi."
"Thank you." Andy sighed, "It wasn't always easy, but I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. They've grown quite fond of your daughters, so much so that they have taking on some of their more... charming characteristics."
Miranda chuckled, "I'm sure it's just a phase. Cassidy when she was younger would imitate one of the girls from school. She grew out of it quickly."
"I don't think it will Mira. They look up to Caroline and Cassidy." Andy rolled over in bed to stare at the ceiling, "It's... like the way Doug looks at his sister. Do you remember them?"
"Yes I do. Strange friends you have Andrea, I like Douglas however. He is a very intelligent young man." They were both quiet for a moment, "Does it bother you... the way they look at the girls?"
Andrea thought about it for a second before she spoke, "Not really, no. It's not something I've ever had any experience with. I mean... for me, life was about surviving, I never had anyone to look up to, so to speak. I had to make my own way in life with little help from others. I love the fact that my children will never have to go through that. They have two wonderful young women they look up to and they have each other."
Miranda was quiet for so long Andrea had to glance at the phone to make sure they was still a connection. "Did you fall asleep on me?" she asked quietly
"No. I should go to sleep, so should you." Miranda finally said.
"I... yeah. Probably. Have to be up in a few hours." Andrea said on a soft sigh.
"What is it?"
Andrea shook her head. She should have known Miranda's keen hearing would have picked up on it. "Nothing, I... I just like hearing your voice. There is something about it." she admitted softly closing her eyes.
"Come up here." Miranda said softly after a long silence.
Andrea glanced at the clock then climbed from her bed grabbing a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, "I'll be up in 2 minutes." she hung up, pulled her jeans on over her boy shorts and jotted a note for Isabella.
Slipping into Isabella's room she laid the note on the nightstand where she was sure she would see it and left the room quietly. She threw the sweatshirt on and shoved her feet into her a pair of tennis shoes. Glancing around for her room key she grabbed it looked in on Kat and the girls and left the suite silently.
"Hi." she said softly when Miranda opened the door to her room to let her in. Miranda's smile made her heart flutter and she found herself returning it.
Miranda closed the door behind her then pulled her into a deep and passionate kiss. "I've been waiting to do that all night." she whispered into her hair.
Andrea smiled and wrapped her arms around Miranda's waist, "I know." she said kissing behind the older woman's ear earning a shiver for her effort.
Miranda's lips were on hers again the kiss hot and wanting. Andrea moaned and opened her mouth slightly to the questing tongue running over her lips. She felt herself being moved but couldn't really bother with figuring out why or how, she was lost in the woman kissing her as if she couldn't get enough of her. When she felt the bed against her legs she fell back onto the bed Miranda coming down on top of her causing another moan to escape her lips.
Andrea tilted her head back as Miranda's lips and tongue started moving down her jaw to her neck, her hands moving up to her head and tangling in her soft silver locks. She bit her bottom lip and then rolled them over straddling Miranda's hips. She smiled down at the older woman and kissed her softly before pulling her shirt off of her, "You have on way to many clothes for my liking Mira. I'm going to fix that." She winked at Miranda and then pulled off the woman's silk pants and panties.
Sitting up she shifted so that she was sitting on Miranda's legs and let her eyes roam freely over the older woman's body, "God... you're absolutely fucking beautiful." she whispered reverently. Miranda's soft moan was music to her ears and she smiled running her fingertips lightly over the soft pearly skin of her stomach loving the way the muscles twitched under them. Leaning over she began to kiss, lick and nibble on every inch of Miranda's soft silky skin avoiding the areas she knew Miranda wanted her the most. She moved back to Miranda's stomach and slowly licked a path from Miranda's navel to her breasts. Smiling at the tremble running through Miranda's body, she circled her left breast with her tongue avoiding her nipple. Miranda moaned and squirmed beneath her and she continued on to the right breast repeating the process.
"Andrea... please." Miranda moaned panting heavily.
Andrea chuckled and latched onto Miranda's right nipple causing the older to release a loud moan and arch off the bed her hand tangling in Andrea's hair. She sucked, licked, nipped and bit down on the pebbled nipple in her mouth moaning softly, loving the taste of Miranda's skin. She pulled away releasing it with a 'pop' before latching on to the other. Miranda was panting and moaning beneath her, her hips moving suggestively against her thigh silently begging for something more.
She moved back up to Miranda's lips kissing her hard, her tongue darting in and out of her mouth. She moaned and ran her hand up Miranda's thigh slowly chuckling when Miranda groaned and dug her nails into her ass. She dropped few more kisses on Miranda's lips and sat up again, running her fingers through the moisture gathered between Miranda's legs moaning at the amount she found, "God Mira... you're soaked." She lifted her fingers to her lips and sucked on them moaning again and looking down at her lover. "You taste so good."
Miranda's lips parted and Andrea smiled, "Do you want me baby?" she asked huskily.
Her only answer was a soft whimper and the shifting of Miranda's hips, smiling she ran her fingers through the hot slick folds again. She watched Miranda's face, loving the way her lover looked whenever she touched her like this. Andrea moved off the bed, "Turn over and get on your knees." She watched Miranda think about it before she moved, leaning over her she placed both of her lovers hands against the headboard, "Don't let go."
When Miranda nodded she shifted on the bed, pushed her legs further apart, and ran her tongue over Miranda's center slowly, moaning as the warm, sweet juices coated her tongue. Using her left hand she parted Miranda's center and continued running her tongue over her from clit to anus. The moans coming from her lover set her body on fire; she licked, sucked, and nibbled on her, burying herself in the hot wet flesh.
Miranda's body trembled slightly against her mouth and she groaned as the juices flowing out of her lover's body filled her mouth, making her hotter. She pushed her tongue into her, her fingers rubbing around her clit slowly adding more pressure. Moving away from Miranda, Andrea lay down on her back and pulled Miranda's hips down latching onto her clit her tongue moving rapidly against it. She loved this, couldn't get enough of Miranda's taste, or the feel of her hot, wet center against her mouth. Gripping Miranda's hips she held her tightly against her mouth and sucked her clit harder biting down on it earning a scream from the older woman. Andrea smiled against her and pushed her fingers into Miranda, pumping them fast, hard, and deep. Miranda's throaty moan sent a flash of heat through Andrea and she moaned.
The vibrations from her moan sent Miranda over the edge, her muscles clenching tightly on Andrea's fingers, coating them in her sweet nectar. Miranda's head thrown back, lips parted slightly, her skin flushed and covered in a light sheen of sweat was the most beautiful thing Andrea could remember witnessing. She watched her lover fall apart above her arms trembling against the strain of holding her up and away from the headboard and wall. When she felt the final waves of Miranda's release cease she pulled her lover down and held her tightly against her running her hand through her hair kissing her gently.
"Relax baby, I've got you." she whispered softly feeling Miranda tremble against her. Andrea shifted Miranda and pulled the blanket over them. She held Miranda against her chest, her fingers running soothingly in random patterns over her back as she listened to her lover's breathing slowly calm.
"I love you Andrea." Miranda whispered wrapping herself around Andrea, her body still trembling slightly.
Lightly kissing Miranda's forehead and pulling her tighter against her Andrea smiled and sighed happily, "I love you too Mira. Sleep now." she said. She closed her eyes and let the soft breathing of her lover lull her into a peaceful sleep.