It looks like I'm back in a groove, huh? :) To make up for the long wait last time, and the short chapter, here's a short(er) wait and a long chapter! Enjoy. :)

but my dreams
they aren't as empty
as my conscience seems to be
The Who, "Behind Blue Eyes"

"I need more sunscreen or I'm gonna turn into a lobster," Olivia said as she flipped onto her back.

Tara pawed at the tote bag for a minute before she gave up. "Sorry, kid. On your own. It's in there somewhere."

Olivia sighed and sat up to dig for it. She found it right on the top and glared at her friend. "Lazy."

"Nah," she said with a slow grin. "Just kinda drunk." She finished off her drink and waved the waiter down for another one. After he disappeared to get it she let out a long sigh. "I'm so glad you talked me into this, Ollie. It's exactly what I needed."

She grunted as she smeared sunscreen on her arms. "What we both needed. Charming was draggin' us down, babe. Sometimes you just gotta get outta Dodge."

"No shit. God, turn around. I'll do your back."

Olivia tossed Tara the bottle and twisted to face the other way. "You're a peach."

"I'm just tryin' to impress that guy over there. He's been drooling over us for the last twenty minutes; figured I'd give him a show."

She pulled her sunglasses down and scanned the beach. He wasn't hard to spot, and Olivia giggled at his expression. "Lesbian fantasies dance in his head."

Tara laughed, rubbing the lotion into Olivia's pale skin. It was already turning pink in the bright Florida sun, and Tara really didn't want to hear her whine about sunburn later. "Okay," she finally said. "I think you're good."

"Thanks."

"Mmhmm. Don't forget your ears."

"Yes, Mom."

Tara threw a cherry at her from her newly-delivered drink, but Olivia caught it and popped it in her mouth. She settled back in the lounge chair with a sigh. The girls' trip to the Keys had been Olivia's idea, and it was one born out of desperation. She'd been moping around Charming, missing Opie, confused about Juice, stymied on her work, worried about Tara and Kohn; a real basket case, in other words.

Islamorada was about as far from Charming as you could get and still be in the continental U.S. That suited them both perfectly, and despite the long flight they'd decided on it over the much closer Mexico or beaches in California.

"We should take a selfie," Tara said. "Send it to Ope. He sees you in that bathing suit he'll come crawlin' back."

Frowning, Olivia shook her head. "Selfie, sure. We look hot as hell. But…" She trailed off with a shrug and Tara eyed her.

"You don't want him crawling back," she said after a moment.

"I want him back. Of course I do. But—it has to be…right. I mean it can't be…because I talk him into it."

"He loves you."

"I know he does."

"God, Ollie, how does this keep happening to us? These men. This fucking MC. We were both out! We had lives! And now here we are."

"They say you can't go home again."

"Oh, don't pull out cliches at me, Olivia Jameson."

She giggled and waved down the same waiter. "I need another one too, Miguel. Por favor."

"We should go snorkeling tomorrow," Tara said.

"I was thinking massages at the spa. Maybe facials."

"Oh I like that idea. Snorkeling Wednesday?"

"Gimme my phone. I'll call and book it."

"Ugh," Tara said. "It's in the bag somewhere. We'll do it later."

"You fuckin' lush," Olivia said.

"Guilty."

Olivia offered Miguel a smile and a tip as he returned with her drink. "Sun and alcohol don't mix with me."

"You'll be fine. I'll carry you in if you pass out."

"My hero."

"Damn straight," Tara said.

A silence fell as they drank and absorbed the sun. The guy who'd been staring at them was slowly moving closer, like a circling shark, but they both ignored him.

"Jax told Hale about Kohn," she said, suddenly and apropos of nothing.

Olivia stared at her. "What? Why didn't you tell me?"

Tara shrugged and twirled the tiny pink and blue cocktail umbrella between her fingers. "I don't know. It happened a few days before we left, and I didn't want to distract from our trip planning. Anyway"—she waved a dismissive hand—"he; Hale, I mean; showed up at St. Thomas and asked why I hadn't said anything. He said he could protect me."

Olivia snorted. "Look at you. Men comin' out of the woodwork to protect you."

"Both of us," Tara said with a cynical curl of her mouth. "We're so goddamn helpless, Ollie! What would we do without these big strong men? Stabbing car radiators and enforcing restraining orders. Breaking up with us to keep us safe, because God knows we can't be trusted to make our own decisions."

"Thank goodness for their manly wisdom, Tara Grace. I'm kind of amazed we got all the way to Florida by ourselves. If we're not careful we'll step on a jellyfish and die."

"If you step on a jellyfish I promise I'll pee on you."

"Dr. Knowles, you know perfectly well peeing does nothing for a jellyfish sting. If it's water sports you're after, I'm sure Mr. Subtle over there would be happy to accommodate you."

"Unfortunately for him, the only water sports I'm interested in are snorkeling and kayaking."

"He looks heartbroken."

They shared a glance and burst out laughing. Olivia almost shot margarita out of her nose, which only made Tara laugh harder.

"Shut up, you bitch, that hurt!"

"You're such a fucking klutz," Tara said between giggles, nearly falling out of her chair as she tried to smack Olivia on the shoulder.

That set Olivia off again, and soon they were both holding their sides and gasping. "Oh God," Olivia said. "Gotta breathe!"

"I think maybe we've had enough," Tara said.

"Or else we need some food to soak up all the tequila."

"Back to the villa? Showers, then dinner?"

"Uh huh," Olivia said. "In a sec."

Tara cleared her throat and took a last sip of margarita. Licked salt off her lip and tossed their things in the tote bag. "Why didn't you tell Opie that Kohn's in Charming?"

Olivia swung her legs over the side of the chair and rolled her towel up. "I don't know. I guess—well, I hadn't cleared it with you first. I imagine he knows now. After the radiator-stabbing incident."

"Mmhmm." Tara tucked a twenty under their empty glasses—for Miguel—and slid her arm around Olivia's waist as they made their clumsy, staggering way back to their villa. Luckily it wasn't far from the beach.

"Maybe a nap, shower, then dinner," Olivia said.

"Lightweight."

"Lush."

"You said that already."

"Yup. Clearly I meant it." She unlocked the door and slid her sunglasses off. "Aw, look, they brought us champagne!" An ice-filled bucket held a big green bottle, and two champagne flutes waited on the kitchen counter next to it.

"Well we are on our honeymoon," Tara said with a grin.

Olivia made a low noise of agreement. The honeymoon package was cheaper than just booking a villa for the week, and they got perks like chocolate and roses, plus random free surprises like this champagne. They had to share a king size bed, but that wasn't a hardship. Especially considering it meant they got the honeymoon villa, which had a beach view and an enormous bathtub.

"We'll have to save this for after dinner," Olivia said. "Champagne on top of tequila and I'll be on the floor."

"Head in the toilet."

"Uh huh. Take me to bed, Dr. Knowles. I need to pass out for an hour."

"So romantic, Mrs. Knowles. You know how to treat your wife right."

"It's not too late to go find that guy from the beach," Olivia said as she stripped off her bathing suit. She tossed the pieces over the clothesline in the bathroom and pulled on panties and a t-shirt. "I'm sure he'd wine and dine you like you deserve."

"Plus water sports," Tara said, hanging her suit next to Olivia's.

"It's a hard bonus to resist."

Tara made a face. "Look, I'm open-minded. And kinky, to an extent. But pee? Really?"

"Yeah, I don't know. I can't see it." Olivia pulled back the sheets and crawled into the huge bed while Tara did the same on the other side. Olivia giggled. "Did I tell you how Opie likes it rough?"

"Yes. Bitch." Tara shivered and pulled the covers up. "He's so…calm. It's almost hard to picture."

"It's like he saves up all that energy, you know? And then—bam!"

Tara sighed. "Kinda wish I'd jumped on that train at some point."

"It's not too late. You're single and I don't mind sharing."

"You're such a goddamn slut."

"Once a slut always a slut."

Olivia went quiet, and it had a weight Tara didn't like. Tara waited.

Finally, "I miss him so much," she whispered.

"He'll be back, Oll," Tara said. She scooted closer and pulled her friend against her. "I bet he misses you too. Maybe even more than you miss him. After all, you've got me and margaritas. All he's got are sulky Jax and that stupid MC."

Olivia rested her head on Tara's shoulder and closed her eyes. She could smell clean sheets and coconut. Lime and tequila and sun. The sea, a bit.

"Maybe sulky Jax and that stupid MC are what he wants."

Tara hesitated. "They are, I think. But he wants you too, Ollie. I know he does."

"You think?" Olivia said, her voice small and quiet.

"Yeah, dummy. He's not stupid, and you're a catch."

"I do give really good head."

Tara laughed and poked her. "That's just a bonus. A much better one than water sports."

"True." She snuggled in closer and felt herself dozing. "Love you, Tara Grace."

"Love you too, Olivia Jameson. Lightweight."

"Lush."

"Slut."

"Bitch."

Olivia grinned and let the sound of the surf and wind and the warmth of her best friend lull her to sleep.

Opie swiped a six pack from the fridge and collapsed onto the couch next to Jax. He offered him a beer, and Jax accepted with a grimace of thanks. They sipped in silence. Opie flicked the radio on, and The Who's "Behind Blue Eyes" filled the space between them. Jax snorted and tossed his beer cap at the TV just to watch it bounce off the glass.

"That was some fucked up shit," Opie finally said.

"Yeah," Jax said, his voice grim.

"Is this what it's gonna be like? We killed ten people today, Jackson."

"You think I don't know that?" he said with a scowl. "You think I don't know—" He broke off and scraped a hand through his hair. "I got a kid, man. A tiny baby. I got a kid who's in the hospital fightin' with everything he's got just to live, and I'm spendin' my days blowin' up a bunch of rightwing nutjobs."

Opie grunted. "If you wanna be technical about it, I blew 'em up."

"Fuck, Ope," Jax said. "How the fuck did it come to this? How the fuck we'd get here? When we were kids dreamin' about bein' in this club, is this what we wanted?"

"We knew, Jax. It's a one-percenter MC. Ain't gonna be rainbows and puppy dogs."

Jax slumped in his seat and stared down at his shining white shoes. The beer bottle dangled from his hand, forgotten, and the radio switch from The Who to Led Zeppelin.

"I just don't know if I wanna bring my kid into this shit," Jax muttered. "And you and Ollie. She's good for you, brother. Real good. I see how happy she makes you. And you're fuckin' it all up with her. Because of the goddamn club."

Opie leaned forward and set his bottle on the table. He ran a hand down his face and tugged at his beard. "And Tara," he said after a moment. He didn't want to address the issue with Olivia. Whether he was fucking it up or not was subjective…though he feared Jax was right.

"Tara. She never wanted nothin' to do with this shit."

"Neither did Ollie."

Jax' head twisted toward him. "What the fuck are we doin', brother? Movin' guns. Blowin' people up. I feel like this club's gotten so far from JT's vision for it, and we get further and further every goddamn day."

"JT's vision?" Opie said, his brow creasing. "What was that, exactly?"

He shook his head and made a frustrated gesture. "Anarchy as freedom. And a balance." He recalled what JT had written in his manuscript. "An equal mix of might and right," he quoted. "Not this—outlaw thug shit. Shoot first ask questions later. And I'm pretty sure he didn't like the guns."

Opie studied him, his expression wary. Was that it, then? The whatever that'd been weighing on Jax ever since Abel's birth. Opie had thought it was just the kid, but it sounded like he had a lot more on his mind than that.

"You talk to Clay about this?"

Jax let out a caustic laugh. "Clay's got his own agenda. He wants more guns, more action, more money. Pretty sure he ain't interested in any kind of balance."

"So what're you gonna do?"

"Don't know," Jax said with a shrug. He finished off his beer and reached for another. "Take care of my kid." He paused. "Get my woman back."

"Might wanna downplay the outlaw thug shit if that's your plan. Respectable baby surgeons don't usually go for biker gangsters."

"Neither do famous artists with fancy gallery shows in New York City."

"Yeah," Opie said. "No shit."

"She knows who you are, Ope. She's always known it. She chose to stay in town. To get involved with you. She knows the club comes with you. Package deal."

"Yeah, but—"

"No buts, man. She made her choice. She chose you. Don't you think you should respect that? Not try to tell her what she wants or how to live? That's a sure way to piss her off. Come on: we both know that much about her."

Opie grunted and took a pull from his bottle. "Could say the same thing to you about Tara."

"Yeah," Jax said, echoing Opie. "No shit." He huffed a laugh. "How the fuck did we end up with these stubborn, pain in the ass women? Old ladies are supposed to be biddable, ain't they? Listen to their men?"

Opie gave him a funny look. "Have you met your mom?"

He conceded that with a brief tilt of his head. "Good point."

They drank, listening to Bob Seger, and as the song ended Jax frowned at Opie. "Why didn't you tell me the FBI agent was Tara's ex?"

"Didn't know till I saw him."

"Uh huh. And after that?"

He gave Jax a long look, his still face saying a thousand things. "I gave her my word."

"Tara."

"Yup. Ollie, too."

Jax clenched his teeth and tightened his hand around the bottle. "Why the fuck didn't she tell me?"

"Don't know. Guess she didn't want you involved."

"But she came back here. She left Chicago and came here, of all places."

Opie lifted his brows, and when he spoke his voice was careful and measured. "Her best friend is here. It's where she grew up. When your back's against the wall, sometimes home's the only place to go."

Jax grunted. The muscle in his jaw danced and his nostrils flared. "Hale said he was shippin' his ass home. He doesn't have any jurisdiction here. No case."

"Good," Opie said. Then, "Be careful, brother. Jurisdiction or not, he's still a Fed. And that bitch Stahl's lookin' for any excuse she can get to come down hard."

"I know it." He glowered a moment. "When're Oll and Tara home from Florida?"

"End of the week, I guess. Unless they decide to move there or somethin'."

"Don't even fuckin' joke, man. They would."

Opie grinned. "If they do, I'm runnin' off to Florida too. Blackin' out my ink and becomin' a beach bum."

Jax held up his bottle, and Opie knocked his against it. "To beach bums and hot women."

"Here here, brother."

Opie was sure Jax thought he was joking, but he wasn't. The past few weeks, ever since the night in Olivia's garage, Opie had been cursing his own stupidity. Yes, he wanted to protect Olivia. No, he didn't want to drag her into club bullshit.

But he loved her. He missed her like a lost limb. Every day he thought of things he wanted to tell her or laugh with her about. Today, after the thing with the militia, he needed her more than ever. He wanted to curl up in her bed and let her run her fingers through his hair. He wanted to hold her down and fuck her hard and deep until neither of them could think or speak, until the sound and smell of that explosion was wiped out of his head and the only thing left was her.

He needed the taste of her mouth and the smell of her hair and soft velvet of her skin. He would do anything, he'd realized, to keep her. He would leave the club. He would follow her to Florida.

Opie took a deep breath. He planned to talk to her about all of this when she got back. He wanted to ask her to marry him. He wanted, maybe, to try to have a kid. He'd get a job somewhere, maybe as a mechanic or selling the old bikes he fixed up, and between that and the income she made from her art they'd be fine. They could make a real life for themselves, either in Charming or away from it.

He didn't care. As long as he had her, he could live on the moon and he'd be happy.

Now he just had to figure out how to tell Jax all of this. Maybe Opie leaving would inspire him. He didn't need to be in the MC anymore. He had a kid now, like he said, and if he wanted a real shot at figuring things out with Tara he didn't need the club fucking it all up for them.

"Jax, listen," he said. No time like the present. "Grab another beer. There's somethin' we gotta talk about."

It was their last night in Florida, and neither of them wanted the trip to end. They were both tan and drowsy and a tiny bit waterlogged. Gold streaks had emerged in Olivia's copper hair, and her freckles had multiplied like well-fed tribbles. Tara had a slight sunburn across her nose and shoulders, but otherwise her skin had a sun-warmed glow.

"Do y'think," Tara said, "they rent this place by the year?"

Olivia laughed and sipped her champagne. "Don't you think it would be cheaper just to find an apartment in the village?"

"Hhmm. Probably. But I like this place, our honeymoon villa."

Olivia fell back against the arm of the sofa and stared up at the beamed ceiling. The fan moved in lazy circles, and a sea-scented breeze danced in from outside. The sound of the surf was loud and soothing, like a lullaby.

"I might take one last bath," she said. "I love that tub."

Tara, at the other end of the couch, kicked Olivia's foot. "I was thinking the same thing."

She finished off her champagne with a giggle. "We could share. Save water." She was joking, of course, but the silence from Tara's end made her lift her head. "I was kidding."

"I know," Tara said with a little smile. She set her flute on the table behind her and crawled down the couch toward Olivia. Olivia watched her with widening eyes until she was above her, her hands braced on either side of Olivia's body.

"Tara…?"

"Do you ever think we should give it another shot?"

Olivia blinked. Her wits felt muddled from alcohol, sun, and the teasing scent of Tara's subtle perfume. She was so close Olivia could see the gold flecks in her eyes. Count the tiny scatter of freckles across her red nose. "Give—what—another shot?"

Tara laughed and brushed her nose against Olivia's jaw. "Us. I don't mean a relationship. I love you, but not like that."

"Ohh," she said on a breath. She wiggled, and Tara shifted her weight so that her hips came to rest on Olivia's. Her leg somehow found its way between Olivia's thighs, and while she was still contemplating that, Tara started softly kissing her neck.

"Oh," Olivia whispered again. Then, "Tara Grace. Tara! What are you—Tara!" Her hand had worked its way under Olivia's t-shirt, and her long fingers tickled the soft skin on Olivia's tummy.

"Just for tonight," Tara murmured. She bit Olivia's jaw. Kissed her way to her mouth and hovered there. Olivia could taste the champagne on her breath. "What happens on our honeymoon stays on our honeymoon, right?"

"Uh huh," Olivia managed. She felt drugged, hazy and floating. "Are you sure, though? I thought you…weren't into it."

Tara shrugged and pushed Olivia's shirt a little higher. "I might have gotten into it. Over the course of the week. I've been thinking about it for a while. We're here. The boys are far away. We can do this, have some fun together, some comfort and company, and not have it get weird." She hesitated. "If you don't want to, though…"

"Nooo," Olivia said. "That's not it. At all. I just want to make sure this isn't the alcohol talking."

She laughed and kissed Olivia, long and slow and sweet. Olivia made a soft hum of pleasure and Tara deepened the kiss. Her free hand stroked Olivia's arm, and Olivia's fingers tangled themselves in Tara's dark hair.

"Yes?" Tara said as she pulled away. Her voice was breathy, and it made Olivia's pulse spike.

"Yes," Olivia said. "Yeah, yes."

"Good." Tara kissed her again, harder, fisting a hand in her hair and rocking against her. Olivia moaned, just a little, and Tara laughed. "Bedroom?"

"Yes," Olivia said again, this time with a fervent nod.

Tara slipped off the couch and offered Olivia her hand, and they stumbled toward the bedroom, laughing and kissing along the way. Tara stopped her by the bed and cupped her face in her hands. They stood for a long time pressed together from mouth to thigh.

"You taste so good," Tara whispered, drunkenly.

"So do you," Olivia said. She started to reach for her shirt, but Tara stopped her.

"Let me," she said. At Olivia's nod, Tara tugged at the hem and pulled the t-shirt over her head. She had on her bathing suit underneath, and Tara took a moment to kiss the swell of breast above each cup of Olivia's top. "So many freckles!"

"The damn sun."

"It's beautiful. You're beautiful, Ollie." She untied the top and it slid to the floor. Tara glanced up at her with a smile. "Can I?"

Olivia laughed, a brief, sweet, giddy sound. "Whatever you want, Tara. I trust you."

She smiled and ran her knuckles down Olivia's sternum, between her breasts. She shivered, and then gasped as Tara ducked to kiss a nipple. She flicked her tongue against it, back and forth, and Tara echoed Olivia's mew of pleasure with one of her own. Tara sucked the nipple into her mouth and rolled it between her lips as Olivia carded her fingers through Tara's hair.

"That's good, that's so good!" Olivia murmured.

Grinning, Tara kissed her way to Olivia's other breast. She licked over and around the nipple until Olivia wiggled with impatience, then she straightened. "Not yet, greedy. First—" She untied Olivia's sarong-style skirt and circled her, her fingertips trailing over Olivia's skin so that she shivered.

"So pretty," Tara said. She kissed Olivia's shoulders. Gave her ass a smack that made Olivia yelp. "You've been undressing in front of me all week. No big deal, just give Tara a show." She slid her hands around Olivia's middle and pressed against her back. "I bet you weren't expecting this to happen."

"Nope," Olivia said, gasping a little as Tara nipped her neck. "Just figured you could handle seein' my tits without flippin' out."

Tara laughed and ran her palms up to cup them. She squeezed and Olivia whimpered. "I can," she said. "Anyone else's, I totally could. But this is you. And me. And…"

"It's okay. You don't have to explain. I know. Believe me."

Tara concentrated on licking and kissing Olivia's neck, down to the curve of her shoulder, while she wiggled out of her bathing suit bottoms. Now Olivia's naked body was pressed against Tara's fully clothed one, and Olivia decided that wasn't exactly fair.

Olivia twisted to face her, a wicked smile curving her full mouth. "Your turn, Dr. Knowles." Olivia backed up until her thighs hit the bed, and she boosted herself onto it. "Strip, lovely. Let me see you."

Color flooded Tara's cheeks and her breath came in short, uneven puffs as she pulled her shirt over her head. Her sapphire blue bathing suit set off her skin and eyes perfectly, and Olivia bit her lip as her eyes heated.

"More," she said.

"Yes, ma'am," Tara whispered. She dropped her shorts and kicked them away, then unfastened her top. Quickly, before she could think about it, she slipped out of her bottoms, too, and stood naked and blushing. She resisted the urge to cross her arms over her chest, and when Olivia crooked a finger at her she shuffled closer.

"Think it's time I got my mouth on you," Olivia said. "You're gorgeous." She kissed the curve of Tara's breast. Between them, over her heart. The hollow of her throat where her pulse pounded. "Perfect."

She trailed her tongue over Tara's nipple and back again before she closed her lips around it. She sucked, gently, and Tara whimpered.

"Ollie! Like that!"

Olivia sat up and scooted back on the bed. "Come here, sweet girl. Let's get comfy."

Tara followed with a dizzy nod, and as they kissed she pressed tight against Olivia. They rolled so that Tara was on top, and when Olivia's thigh slotted between hers they both gasped.

"God you're so wet," Olivia whispered.

"I told you," she said between fervent kisses. "I've been thinking about this for a while."

Olivia giggled. "You tramp."

"Uh huh. I learn from the best." She pinched and tugged Olivia's nipple. Rolled it between her fingers while she sucked Olivia's lower lip.

"Tell me what you want, love," Olivia said. "My mouth?"

"Yes. God, yes, but first…" She took Olivia's hand and guided it between her thighs. "Make me come, Ollie. Make me come while I kiss you."

She let out a hard breath and stroked a fingertip over Tara's slick lips. "Yes, ma'am," she said.

Tara moaned and grabbed a handful of Olivia's hair. Kissed her hard, her tongue plunging in and out of her mouth as Olivia skimmed across Tara's clit. It was swollen and throbbing and Tara wiggled against Olivia's hand.

"Please," she breathed. "Please, I need it. Want it. Want you, Ollie sweetheart. Don't tease. Can't take teasing, not now."

With a smirk Olivia spread her fingers to stroke Tara's pussy. She plunged them inside and Tara's back arched. "Like that?"

"Fuck yes! Please, baby, please!"

Her free hand squeezed and kneaded Tara's hip. They swallowed each other's moans as they kissed. Olivia curled her fingers inside; the heel of her hand ground on Tara's clit, and she rocked her hips with a needy whine.

"So good," Tara panted. "So good, so good!" She was getting close already, the heat building in her thighs and belly, and she spared a brief moment to wonder what had been wrong with her in high school that she hadn't responded to Olivia's kisses. This time it had taken one, the first one on the couch, and she'd immediately felt that dizzying rush that meant more now.

"Come for me, Tara love," Olivia said. She bit Tara's earlobe and sucked. "You feel so good, so hot and wet. Come all over my hand, sweet girl."

"Fuck, Ollie, Ollie, that's it, just like that! Right there! Oh God keep—fuck—that—!"

Olivia worked her fingers against Tara's G-spot, and the muscles in Tara's thighs danced against Olivia's. "That's good, baby, that's so good." She kissed Tara's neck, sucking gently, and Tara bucked into her. Their sweat-slicked skin slipped and slid, and they rocked together in a desperate, hungry rhythm.

Tara clenched a handful of sheet and let out a long, high keen. "Ollie!" she cried. "Don't stop, don't stop, don't ever stop!" Her body went taut and her spine bowed and her face scrunched. Olivia worked her through it, whispering encouragement in her ear as she rubbed her G-spot with firm, steady strokes.

"Oh God!" Tara whimpered. "Oh God, oh fuck, oh goddamn!" It was overwhelming, brain-scrambling, and all Tara could do was hold on and ride it out. Finally, finally the orgasm started to taper off, and her forehead fell to land on Olivia's shoulder as she panted and whimpered.

"Good?" Olivia said, mouthing sweat from Tara's temple.

"Jesus Christ," she said. Another shudder rocked her and Olivia slowly withdrew her hand. "Is it always like that with girls?"

Olivia grinned. "Nah. Not always. But we know each other pretty well, so…"

"Right," Tara said. She moaned and rolled over onto her back. "God." She watched, wide-eyed, as Olivia sucked a slick finger into her mouth.

"Wanna taste?" she said.

Tara nodded and tugged Olivia's hand closer. She brushed her fingertip over Tara's lip, then leaned in for a hungry kiss. Tara sucked Olivia's finger into her mouth and they both groaned.

"Give me just a sec," she said. "Just a sec and I'll lick your pussy."

"You don't have to, love. If you don't want to."

Tara glared a moment before she tackled Olivia and pinned her to the bed. "I want to. I've never licked a pussy before, but I'm pretty familiar with mine, so hopefully I'll do okay."

Olivia laughed, breathlessly, and wiggled against her. "I'm sure you'll do great. You've always been a perfectionist."

Smirking, Tara dipped her head to kiss Olivia long and hot. "Damn straight, baby girl. Now look who's gonna benefit from it."

"Yes, please," she said. "I'm dripping for you, Tara Grace."

"Oh I know." She flashed an evil grin and dragged her tongue up the side of Olivia's neck. She blew a cool stream of air against the heated skin and Olivia squirmed. "But you're gonna have to wait, my greedy, impatient little Ollie. I plan to take my time." Tara bit the curve of her shoulder. "Tease." Lapped at her collarbones. "Savor."

Olivia let out a moan and fell back against the pillow. It was a long, long time before she finally came, and she enjoyed every agonizing, drawn-out second of it. When the orgasm finally hit it left her wrung out and spent, but Tara didn't let up.

She'd always known her best friend had a wicked streak, but until that night she hadn't realized just how wicked. Olivia got her revenge, though, and by the time they finally collapsed into a panting, sweating, boneless heap, they'd both lost track of their orgasms.

"Ready for that bath?" Tara said between gasps. "Or round…" She counted on her fingers until Olivia grabbed her hand and yanked her close again.

"Insatiable slut," she said, a husky, laughing murmur.

"God yes."

"Good, Dr. Knowles. That's exactly how I like you. At least for tonight."

O.O

I bet y'all didn't see THAT comin'! Like they said, it's just one night, but fuck it. I wanted to write it.

I've completely changed my original plans for this story's ending, so with that change I've found myself able to write more easily. Look forward to faster updates again, my loves!