A/N: Thanks so much to the reviewers leaving positive and constructive feedback - especially Madeintheus (I love your 'It can happen in an Instant' fic- please update soon!), mintgreenclarity (I totally agree with you!), WB79 (your dedication is awesome!), Izzielg (always leaves a review) and there are a couple of Guests who leave great feedback - I wish I knew who you were as your comments really help motivate me!
I confess I read a review on my last chapter that made me think 'what's the point in giving up my limited free time to write stuff for this when people are so ready to kick you in the teeth'? I don't mind constructive criticism, but I'm not a writer. I thought I'd have a go because I so enjoy reading the fics that other people write on here and wanted to add another story to the mix so we all have updates to come back for. I wish I didn't take it so personally, but I wanted to punch someone in the chops this last week. Honestly, if you think it sucks and you can't help me make it better, just don't leave a review!
Anyhow, rant over and I'm back with a new chapter. It's a tasty one and I hope you guys like it.
Alex picked up their mugs to wash them up in the kitchen and opened Piper's fridge on her way there.
"I'm starving. Have you eaten anything today?"
"Um…no. There might be a can of soup in the cupboard but I think the bread might have grown legs and walked to the garbage already." Piper stood to look through the cupboards, sure there was something there to eat.
"Yeah, looks like he staged a mass walk out if your fridge shelves are anything to go by. Go get a shower and we'll get a burger at the place on the corner." Alex shooed Piper out of the kitchen as she washed up.
"OK, give me 10 minutes and I'll freshen up a bit."
Alex looked around the kitchen as she wiped the surfaces over, killing time. The cupboards hadn't been restocked properly for weeks and there was no fresh food in the house at all. She felt a bit guilty for not noticing that Piper wasn't taking proper care of herself sooner than this and thought about how little time and energy Piper probably had as she was recovering from her hospital stay and back to working full time.
"I'm ready if you are." Piper was back, wearing blue jeans and a red check shirt with sneakers, hair tied up in a loose bun.
"Great. I was starting to wonder if I could hunt down that mouldy bread." Alex grinned and picked up her jacket.
The burger place was close enough to walk, but Alex took the car anyway, saying she didn't want to risk fainting from starvation by using her muscles. After they ate large burgers and fries, they got back into the car and Alex headed in the opposite direction to where Piper lived.
"I assume you realise you're heading in the wrong direction to drop me home?"
"I do."
Piper waited for her to elaborate and the suspense was killing her when Alex simply concentrated on weaving through the streets. Finally, they pulled up outside of a Whole Foods store and Alex cut the engine.
"Is this our third date? In a grocery store? Polly was right, this is getting way too domesticated."
"What?" Alex knitted her eyebrows together.
"Nothing."
"We're filling your cupboards up and I have to do some shopping too. Two birds with one stone and all that." Alex shrugged and pulled a shopping cart out for them. She tried not to obviously watch what Piper was putting into the cart but found herself mentally putting the ingredients together to work out if there was going to be a few balanced meals in there and not just spaghetti hoops and microwave noodles. When they got to the fresh produce section, Alex loaded the cart up with bunches of green vegetables and fruit. Conscious of Piper's raised eyebrows at the veggie patch on wheels she was suddenly pushing, Alex turned to her and shrugged "Vitamins."
They got to the checkout and Alex automatically got her card out to pay.
"Alex, I can pay for my own food you know."
"I know. I want the loyalty points."
"No you don't. I'll get these."
"Piper, half of this is mine. More than half probably….I'll just…." Alex caught herself doing exactly what Piper was complaining about earlier and taking charge, so she shrugged her shoulders instead. "OK, I'll split it with you later then. Thanks."
Piper grinned at her victory and Alex couldn't help but smile that such a small gesture could give Piper a feeling of getting some control back as she turned to pay the cashier.
They got back to Piper's apartment and unloaded everything to sort out what belonged to Piper and what Alex was taking away with her. As Piper was looking for space in the fridge to put some yoghurt, Alex came behind her and snaked her arms around her waist, resting her chin in Piper's shoulder.
"Well I guess it's officially over then."
"Over? What's over?" Piper turned her head to look at what Alex was looking at.
"Your mouldy bread can't bring his crew back in now as you already rented out this vacuous space he was complaining about being so lonely in. Your new tenants look comfy in there though, don't you think?" Alex grinned as Piper elbowed her in the ribs.
"Hey, I don't hang around. I move on. Just you remember that." Piper winked.
"Oh really?" Alex kissed Piper's neck and moved her fingertips just far enough beneath Piper's shirt to touch the skin of her waist.
"Really." Piper's stomach muscles tensed a little at Alex's touch on her skin.
"Well I'm not sure how I feel about that. We have just had our third date after all." Alex moved her lips over the skin on Piper's pulse point, breathing lightly against her warm neck before sucking gently as she felt goosebumps rise on her neck.
"Well…..that means that we are in fact…..dating…." Piper was struggling to concentrate enough to make complete sentences now as Alex's fingertips moved a little higher on her torso, moving in small and slow circles as they reached the bottom of her ribs.
"I suppose it does….." Alex whispered against her ear before taking her lobe between her lips and tugging it softly. Piper moved her hands over the top of Alex's willing her to move her fingers higher under her shirt as she pressed herself back into Alex to feel more of her. The electricity shooting between them was heightening all of Piper's senses and she was fighting the urge to turn around and force the pace into something much more frantic. She wanted to take her time and savour the familiar feeling of Alex on her skin.
"Does that mean we…are official then?" Piper's breathing was shallow and she closed her eyes as she felt Alex's fingertips skim the underside of her breasts, stroking them unbearably softly.
"Mmmm, that depends…" Alex moved her hands higher still, grazing them over Piper's hardened nipples before squeezing both breasts firmly quickly and rubbing her palms over the top of the stiffened buds.
"Ffffffffuck…..on what?" Piper was prepared to give Alex whatever answer she wanted as she felt herself melting into her touch and her need to feel more running through her blood.
"On if it's this full fridge we're staring at that's making you horny or me." Alex pecked her on the cheek and chuckled as she continued to move her hands over the top of Piper's lace bra.
Piper turned around quickly, her eyes dark with lust and they stared at each other intently for a few seconds. Both of them were breathing heavily now and Piper couldn't stand the distance between them.
"Let's go to the bedroom and find out shall we?" Piper took Alex by the hand and they hurried to where the bed was still unmade. The blonde leaned down to pull off her shoes and socks while looking at Alex as though she was the last meal in town. Alex kicked off her own shoes before Piper pushed her back onto the bed and crawled over to straddle her before leaning down to press her lips against the brunettes with a fierce hunger. Alex smiled into the kiss and pushed Piper back a little to breathe.
"We've got all night babe. Unless you've got that fridge lined up after me?" Alex sat up and smiled, pulling Piper up off the bed with her as she stood up.
"OK, I thought we were gonna…." Piper was confused by Alex stopping their progress towards something she was very much looking forward to.
"C'mere." Alex pulled Piper into a soft kiss, moving her lips over the top of Piper's and cupping her cheek with one hand as she took Piper's lips between her own and sucked on them gently. Piper moaned into the kiss and moved her hands over Alex's hips, pulling them against hers. Reaching down to the check shirt, Alex began unfastening the buttons one by one until she reached the bottom and could push the shirt from Piper's shoulders, letting it fall behind them. Piper deepened the kiss by running her tongue along Alex's lips slowly, encouraging her to part them and let Piper inside her hot mouth as the brunette ran her hands up Piper's sides to cup her breasts and knead them with her palms. Alex moaned into Piper's mouth as she ran her thumbs over the top of Piper's bra and felt how hard and wanting her nipples were. She slipped her hands around the blonde's lithe frame and unfastened her bra swiftly, slipping the straps down her arms as she brought her hands back around and allowed the lingerie to drop to the floor between them. Alex dropped her eyes to look at Piper's naked upper body and felt her stomach flip with want, realising that this was the first time since they'd been together again that Piper had any of her clothes removed. She dropped her head lower to kiss a trail down from Piper's neck and across her collarbone, sucking the skin softly as she moved her wet lips further south as she hands moved lower down her torso to reach the waist of her jeans. Alex skipped over the waistband to move her hand over Piper's mound to cup her over the top of the material. Seeing Piper's eyes roll back in her head and drop her head back a little, Alex pressed a little harder and found Piper grinding a little against her fingers now. Moving her lips over the top of Piper's pert breasts, Alex stuck her tongue out a little and pressed it over the top and over the underside of each breast in turn and she continued to push her hand against Piper's hot centre. As Alex moved her hand back up and began to undo the button on Piper's jeans, Piper stilled a little and pulled back.
"Keep them on a while. I want to see you naked first." She kissed Alex again and moved her hands beneath her tee shirt to lift the hem up. Alex stopped their kiss to pull her top over her head quickly before resuming their kiss and moving her hands back to press against Piper's centre again over the top of her jeans. Piper brought her hands up to unfasten Alex's bra and pulled it from between their bodies before pressing their chests together to feel as much skin on skin contact as was possible at that moment. Alex pushed her tongue deep into Piper's mouth and sought to taste every part of her as their mouths clashed together and Piper continued to rub herself against Alex's hand. It was not nearly enough for either of them and Alex moved to Piper's jeans to unfasten the button again before Piper pulled her hips back.
"You first." The blonde smiled as she took her own hands down to undo Alex's jeans and knelt down to slowly drag them down her long porcelain legs, revealing her skin inch by delicious inch. Alex kicked off the jeans when they reached her ankles as she was standing in only her black panties now.
"Happy now?" Alex grinned as Piper was still on her knees before her.
"Not quite." Piper leaned into Alex's centre and kissed inside her thighs, parting her legs slightly with her hands as she kissed higher up until she was able to place an open mouthed kiss onto Alex's panties, sticking her tongue slightly beneath the edge of them and dragging it down towards her pussy lips.
"Fuck….Pipes." Alex gasped and moved her hand to the back of Piper's head.
"Mmmm, you smell so good Alex. It's making me so fucking hungry for you right now." Piper put her mouth over Alex's soaking centre and blew warm breath through the fabric as her fingertips played with the edges of the panties.
Alex put her own thumbs through the elastic of her panties and shimmied out of them, leaving her standing in front of Piper completely naked. "Let me help you with that request." Alex softly pulled Piper's head back towards her dripping centre and the blonde grinned up at her before sticking her tongue out while maintaining eye contact with Alex. Both women were pulsing with lust for each other and their eyes were so dark, they were practically the same colour. Piper plunged her tongue between the folds of Alex's soaked pussy and hummed in appreciation for the taste that flooded her tongue as she pushed further in.
"Ohhhh…fuck me…fuck me Pipes…fuck…" Alex rocked her pussy gently against Piper's tongue, which was probing between her lips with more force, as though tasting every part of her was a mission. Piper pushed Alex's legs further apart and moved her fingers up to open her girlfriend more and allow her tongue to go deeper. She ran her tongue along each fold in turn and sucked her lips into her mouth, nibbling them a tiny bit every once in a while, making Alex jump with surprise. Sensing Alex was getting close to her release, Piper put her hands on Alex's ass cheeks and pulled her closer so she could hold her firmly as she licked her with long and firm strokes from her soaking wet entrance up to her clit where she firmly flicked her tongue as though in a flourish at the end of every long stroke. She took her hardened nub into her mouth and sucked it softly before pinching it gently between her lips, repeating the motion until she felt Alex clutching the back of her hair and stilling briefly before she could feel the shudder of her orgasm vibrating through her body.
Piper continued to hold her by her quaking hips as she gently lapped at Alex's pussy, drinking in as much of her cum as she could before Alex couldn't stand any longer and pulled her towards the bed. Alex laid back on the bed and pulled Piper with her.
"Fuck….I needed that." Alex chuckled as she pulled Piper on top of her. Feeling her jeans against her sensitive clit, Alex looked down and then back up at Piper. "I think these have to go. Far too many clothes on you right now my hot and going steady girlfriend." Alex reached down to undo the jeans and Piper stood up quickly. "It's OK. I'll do it. It's easier." She pulled the jeans down her legs, revealing a pair of white panties before kicking the jeans off the rest of the way and resuming her position lying on top of Alex.
"Better. But still too many clothes…" Alex smiled as she kissed Piper slowly and put her hands on each of Piper's ass cheeks, massaging them slowly. Piper settled herself between Alex's legs as their kiss deepened and Alex pulled Piper against her centre again by pressing her ass rhythmically against her already sensitive pussy. Sensing Alex's arousal was increasing again, Piper began rotating her hips gently to grind into Alex's still wet pussy. She could feel the moisture pooling between her own legs still and Alex moved her hands to push down Piper's panties so they were underneath her ass cheeks now as their make out session got hotter. Piper pushed Alex's legs up so they were bent at the knee and spread wide, giving her access to thrust her own pussy more forcefully against Alex's.
"Fuck…this is hot babe…is this turning you on?" Alex murmured in a low and husky voice.
"Yes. You turn me on." Piper whispered as she stilled a little to press their pussies together and feel Alex's juices dampening the front of her panties still more.
"Take these off…I want to feel you. All of you." Alex kissed her and moved her fingers beneath Piper's waistband but the blonde grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
"No. I want to leave them on." Seeing Alex's confused eyes, Piper kissed her again. "It's kinda hot having this barrier between us."
"Hot because you're driving me crazy knowing your delicious pussy is hidden away from me?" Alex moved her hands up to pinch Piper's nipples between her thumb and forefinger as she waited for an answer.
"Mmmmmm, hot because I can feel you soaking my panties with your pussy juices."
"Well I'm all for a free market. Why can't we swap pussy juices without the middle man?" Alex reached down again to feel Piper's dripping pussy through her gusset. Piper froze and grabbed Alex's hand to pull her away.
"I said no Alex!" Piper sat up on Alex's hips, glaring at her. All of the lust in her eyes immediately gone as though it had never been there. The brunette immediately sensed something was wrong and held both of her hands up by her head.
"Sorry. I'm sorry. I just thought…." Alex looked into Piper's eyes to try and work out what she'd done wrong. The blonde's eyes were like a rabbit caught in the headlights, searching for a reason to offer the woman lying beneath her. Piper wasn't moving and she wasn't talking either. Alex didn't know whether to reach out to her to soothe her or whether that might make things worse, so she laid still and spoke softly.
"I'm sorry Pipes. I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to feel you is all…It's OK. I won't do that again…."
After a few moments, she felt Piper's body relax above her a little and the blonde closed her eyes. Alex waited, lying still, not sure of whether to let Piper speak first or pull her close to her and comfort her. Seeing silent tears moving down the blonde's cheek as she straddled her, Alex lifted her hand up to softly brush the tears away with one hand, holding herself up with her other elbow.
"Hey. It's OK….It's alright. I'm sorry Piper. I really didn't mean to hurt you. Whatever I did just then, just tell me and I won't do it ever again. I'm so sorry babe." Alex pulled herself up so that she could sit up, with Piper still stretched across her hips.
"Can I hold you? Is that OK? I just want to hold you close. I won't do anything to hurt you…" Piper opened her eyes, letting more tears flow and she nodded her head. Alex leaned in and pulled the blonde against her, Piper's body immediately wracking with sobs.
"I'm so, so sorry babe. I couldn't bear to hurt you. I didn't realise that would upset you." Alex rocked Piper in her arms gently as she stroked her naked back. Piper readjusted her body so that she was sitting between Alex's legs and could stretch her own legs out behind Alex's back. It was a very intimate embrace and the closeness was something that both of them needed at this time. Piper continued to cry, tears wetting Alex's shoulder so much they were running down Alex's body. The only sounds between them were when Piper gasped for breath to fuel another silent heave of emotion or Alex cooing and apologising into her ear every so often.
It got dark outside and Alex pulled the duvet up around Piper's body to keep her warm, but neither woman moved to break their embrace or to speak. Alex continued to stroke Piper's hair and rock her gently as the heart-wrenching sobs subsided and were replaced by more silent tears. They had been sat like that for what felt like hours when Piper eventually pulled her face back to look at Alex.
"I have to pee." Piper smiled as she wiped her face and sniffed. Alex smiled and run her hands over Piper's cheeks to clear her tears away before kissing her on the end of the nose. "OK. I might do the same if my hips aren't locked into this position for eternity." Piper smiled again before backing out of their lock hold and putting her bathrobe on from the back of the bedroom door.
Alex swivelled her hips around to sit on the edge of the bed, groaning slightly at being able to move them properly again. She had no idea what had just happened with Piper but wondered if it had anything to do with the attack. Maybe she had remembered more about that night than she was telling anyone and whatever Alex had just done to her had triggered something in her memory. Alex was pulling her tee shirt over her head when Piper came back into the room.
"You're leaving then. Can't blame you really." Piper put her robe on the back of the door and made her way towards the bed.
"What? No. Call me old fashioned, but I don't like walking around ground floor apartments naked when all of the blinds are open and I need the lights on. You only have one robe and it was occupied at the time." Alex crawled back onto the bed and kissed Piper on the cheek. "Do you want a glass of water when I come back?"
"Yes please. Sorry, I just figured you were running for the hills."
"Nope. We're dating remember? I've got girlfriend duties to perform now." Alex smiled as she backed off the bed and wandered to the bathroom.
Returning from the kitchen with two large glasses of iced water, Alex set them down and then went to check all of the doors were locked and lights out before sitting up against the pillows next to Piper and drinking some water.
"So, do you want to talk about what just happened?" Alex ventured, hoping that Piper wouldn't try to run out on her.
Piper picked up her drink and took a couple of big gulps before setting her glass back down and turning to look at Alex. The blind was still open and the moonlight was shining through the window, so she could make out her outline next to her, but it was dark enough that it wasn't as intense as seeing the whites of her eyes.
"I'm sorry Alex. I didn't mean for that to happen. It's not your fault. Really, it isn't anything you did."
"It was definitely something I did that caused you to react like that though. If you didn't want to have sex with me, you could just say you know. I would never-."
"I did want to Alex. Really I did. You're fucking gorgeous and amazing and I know you'd never push me to do something I didn't want to…..Well, in the bedroom anyway."
"OK, I'll give you that in the circumstances…..You seemed fine apart from me taking your clothes off. Is that what was bothering you? Is it a body image thing? Because you're totally hot, ripped in fact and you have nothing to worry about in that-."
"It's not that Alex. I just…I haven't let anyone touch me like that in a long time. It….freaked me out."
"Is it because of the attack?"
"No. Well, maybe a little. I guess that is part of it."
Alex took her hand and rubbed her thumb over Piper's knuckles as they sat in the moonlight.
"What happened to you Piper?"