CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ONE MONTH LATER

Clara hurried into the hotel lobby in downtown Rio, her ankle length dress swishing around her feet, a night bag slung over a shoulder.

"Hi, I have a reservation" she said to the receptionist. He looked up from his computer.

"Name?"

"The reservation will be under Marina Mereille."

Tap, tap, tap, the young man typed a few words. He pushed back on his chair, reaching for a swipe card in a draw and slapped it on the wooden counter, sliding it towards her. He eyed her with curiosity. Perhaps he recognised her from last time.

"Room 206. Ms Mereille has already arrived." he supplied.

"Thank-you." she said. She felt his eyes as she walked towards the elevator and was glad when they closed behind her. He should mind his own business. She used the glossy reflection of the walls to adjust her hair and check her make-up for smudges under her eyes. She sighed and tapped the hotel access card. When the doors pinged open, she hurried down the corridor and swiped to enter room 206, a plain, unexceptional room, new enough to not yet look tired but cheaply fitted out. It was clean, that was the main thing. A queen bed took up most of the space with side tables and a tea and coffee station squeezed in between the door to the bathroom and a closet by the door. Seated with her back to the door, Marina looked around from her laptop, a smile spreading across her face.

"My darling!" she said as she put the computer on the nightstand and came to greet her. Without a word Clara dropped her bag, her eyes raking lasciviously over Marina's body before pulling her around, pressing her up against the glass closet door and kissing her. Marina responded eagerly, their lips parting, tongues colliding. Clara groaned into it, tugging impatiently at the lacy black top, pulling it up and over Marina's head and discarding it. She smoothed her hands over her flat stomach, digging her fingers into flesh above the hip before her hands fumbled at the button of her jeans, unzipping and tugging it down, taking the panties with it. She stepped back long enough to drop her own dress, the material pooling at her feet, leaving her naked. She registered Marina's lip bite.

"I didn't feel like wearing underwear today," she said stepping in. She trailed her lips up the soft skin of her neck and made quick work of Marina's bra. Finally, skin on skin. Marina arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, breath shallow, hands threading into hair, their kisses bruising and electric. They tumbled onto the bed, a tangle of impatient limbs. It was not enough, not close enough, not fast enough. They moved in unison their bodies burning up, sweaty and hot, mouths on soft flesh, sucking, licking, biting. Clara traveled down Marina's body, her hand kneading the flesh of her thigh, pulling her legs open before lowering her head down, her tongue dipping between the folds to that slippery nub, setting a strong steady rhythm. She looked up the length of Marina's body those firm breasts quivering with each gasp, watching Marina's hand curl into the bed cover, an arm flung across her forehead. Eyes closed, lips parted, back arched.

"Oh God, Clarinha!" Marina cried out.

Clara lingered a moment, watching the tremors build and then she was inside her, working in tandem with her mouth, finding the angle she knew undid Marina, steady, steady. When a hand threaded into her hair she felt she was close, she increased the pace until Marina was scream out loud, her body pulsing, her thighs shaking. She fell limp on the bed. Clara pulled herself up to lie against her side, Marina peering at her through half closed eyes.

"Oh, Clarinha. I wasn't expecting that!" she said, catching her breath.

"You liked?"

"Mmmmm, I liked. A lot. You're getting bold, my love."

"I've been daydreaming about doing that to you for a while and then after last time..."

"What? Daydreaming about ravishing me without so much as a hello, or going down on me?"

Clara blushed.

"Both." she said.

Marina turned to face her.

"Did you like... going down on me?"

Clara's eyes drifting up as she thought about her answer.

"It was ... different, you know? I didn't know what I thought it would be like... I did, I liked it...there's something about having you like that - I felt powerful, you know? And, " she said smiling, "I rather liked the view."

Then Clara paused, biting her lip.

"Was it good for you? I mean, did I do it right...?" she asked.

"You were amazing. No, seriously, Clarinha, I can still feel that orgasm. Here." Marina took Clara's hand and held it to her heart. It beat fast. Clara smiled.

"Look at you, " Marina said rolling on top of Clara and pining her down, "My little thief, so pleased with herself, huh?"

"Well I have been paying attention, you know." Clara said wriggling until she managed to topple her. "It might take me time to get there, but when I do..."

She straddled Marina's hips and pulled her arms above her head, holding them as she playfully bit at her neck

"I see that!" Marina laughed, " I think I've created a monster!"

Marina raised her head to capture Clara's lips. It deepened and when Clara's hold loosen, she pulled her down with her arms, running her hands over the skin of her back. Clara sighed when her center came in contact with the leg Marina slipped between her thighs, hand moving to her hips, encouraging her to press down, her center slick. She felt Marina's mouth capture a hard nipples and she groaned, her head falling forward. She hesitated a moment before her hand clasped the fingers on her hips, pulled Marina's hand down, lifting her hips enough to press the fingers inside her, groaning as she pushed down on Marina's thigh again, rocking, moving faster as the heat began to spread throughout her body, until she came in an intense explosion of colour. She collapsed on top of Marina, breathing hard, feeling the waves recede gradually.

She heard Marina chuckle.

"You're full of suspires today, my love."

Clara laughed into Marina's neck, too shy to look up.

"There's no need to be embarrassed my love. I like it, a lot. There is nothing hotter than a woman who isn't afraid to show what she wants in bed."

"Shhhh, be quiet, Marina, you're going to make me die of embarrassment and then you'll have to deal with a dead body and I know you don't want that!"

"It's good my love. It's very sexy. I encourage it full heartedly."

"Aie, stop it! I'm blushing!"

"Well I encourage doing things that make each other blu-"

Her head still buried in Marina's neck, Clara's hand rose to mush against her lips.

"Stop it!" she said.

"Fine!" Marina sighed dramatically and they laughed.

xxx

"So tell me about your new job, Clara. How was your first week?"

"Well, it's not like working with you." Clara said with a slight grimace, "but it's perfect for now."

It was nine o'clock and they were in a Mexican restaurant not far from the hotel. It was an intimate setting with warm tones and mood lighting. Friday Kahlo stared down at them with her broken ribs and mono-brow and a little further down it was a bold floral skull. They were seated next to each other on a bench against the wall in the far corner.

"Well," Marina said flipping her hair, "I am an amazing boss."

She laughed.

"That you are, my love. I can't imagine Claudio letting me run off all the time to take care of Ivan. He likes his assistant to keep strict hours but it's a relief to have some money coming in. It means I don't have to rely on Cadu. And at least I'm still around art and I get to see all the exhibitions that pass through the gallery which is wonderful."

"I can't tell you how glad I am that you got that job, Clara."

"And I have you to thank for it, truly. Your letter of recommendation is what clinched the deal."

"You're welcome, my love!"

"So I've been thinking I need to start looking for a place close to Ivan. Bless Helena and it's been so convenient being in the same building but I can't keep living at my sister's."

"Really?"

"It feels like the logical next step, I guess."

"That sounds like a good idea..."

"That means that we won't have to meet in crappy hotels just to spend time together." Clara said and drew Marina's hand up to kiss it.

"That would be... amazing."

Marina paused wondering if Clara might say more, but then the waiter arrived with their food. The both attacked it with relish.

"So tell me, how was your meeting with the publishers today?" Clara asked and bit into a chicken quesadilla.

"It went well. They seem genuinely interested in publishing a book of my work which is wonderful. They like the general outline I gave them, asked me to gather together the photos I'd want to use. But I get the feeling it will be a lengthy process, so I'm glad for the classes at the Galpao in the meantime."

"Yes, tell me, how was class today?"

"Great. I really do love teaching, which is unexpected and wonderful. And I spoke with Veronica and she said that she would like to take me on for a couple more classes if I was willing, so that will help. Oh, Clara, how do you do it? How do you live off so little?"

"Years of practice, my love."

"I feel so miserish, so small. I have to count the dollars I spend, knowing that if I don't, I can't put petrol in the car to get to work... I hate the way not having money makes me feel."

"I guess it's hard when you've had it all your life and suddenly you don't."

"I should be taking you out to beautiful restaurants, whisking you away for romantic weekends!"

"Hey, none of this!" Clara said gently.

"Well, I'm trying to stick to the budget we worked out."

"Good, I'm glad."

"But, oh, let's not talk about money any more, it runs around my head all day and it makes me tired and uninspired." She flapped her hands around as if to dispel the conversation and took a sip of her spiced tomatoe juice.

Clara pushed Marina's hair back from her shoulder, her hand resting warmly there. "It'll get better, my love. You just need to book a exhibition again, sell some of your work and build your studio back up again."

"What studio? Vanessa was the studio, I don't know if I can do it without her."

"I believe in you, Marina. And I'm here. I will do whatever I can to help you."

"Thank-you, my love."

"Speaking of which, you'll see her tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, at the lawyer's meeting. I really hope they can give me good news about my investments. If I can just get my hands on some of it, not even all, then I could rent out a studio space, buy some new equipment and then I can start taking clients on again. That's where the money is for me. Then I could move out of Branca's place."

"How's that going?"

"Oh, Giselle is wonderful. And I am grateful, so grateful! But it's Branca's home...and it's the snide remarks, you know. Those little things she says. She seems to enjoy that I'm destitute. She also loves slipping in those little homophobic remarks and I swear, usually I'm fine, I can let it slide, but after a while...I just wish I could move out..."

She looked to Clara as she said it, hoping she might say something now but Clara was busy polishing off some refried beans and rice. She bit her lip and turned to her own half eaten food.

When they went to pay Clara was adamant about covering the bill. Marina stood back, wishing she could insist but all she had were a few of 20 real bills to last her until payday and the money she'd carefully tucked away for the hotel room. Knowing her wallet was full of frozen bank cards made her want to weep. As she looked at Clara's glossy hair falling down her back, handing over cash for their meal, she wondered how a creature so divine could possible want to be with her when she couldn't even offer her a meal in a cheap restaurant.

She inhaled sharply. That wasn't her! Those insecure thoughts were not hers! She was confident, self-assured. She shook her head to dispel the moment and when Clara turned around she held out her hand and smiled.

"Ready for your first lesbian clubbing experience?" she asked.