A tad..well more than a tad...NSFW.
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Andy hung up the phone after talking to Carl Hessle and returned to the study on the second floor where Miranda was working from home, while Caroline and Cassidy were at Daltons.

Poking her head in, Andy saw that Miranda was taking a break, having moved over to the couch with a glass of Pellegrino in her hand.

"I talked to Carl. He insists that since I managed to email him my story before the attack, I should get the rest of the week off. Longer if I need to." Andy wanted to push her hands into the pockets of the tracksuit pants she'd borrowed from Miranda, but her fingertips and nails were still sore. She opted to hide her hands behind her back.

"Come sit with me, darling," Miranda said quietly. "I poured you a glass." She pointed to the glass on the coffee table. Andy regarded it, thinking that it looked as lonely on the pristine surface as she did, hovering in the doorway.

Moving rigidly, Andy sat down on the couch. She had to be careful as her body ached all over. "I move like a perky ninety-year-old." She tried to smile.

"Should we take you to a doctor? Have you been examined at all after the incident? It's important, if nothing else if this becomes an insurance errand, or even worker's compensation." Miranda sipped her water.

"I didn't even think of that. Might be a good idea to document the scrapes and bruises. That's all it is—just minor stuff." Andy sighed. "And even so, it makes me feel ridiculous. I mean…I lived. I'm able to stand and walk, while others weren't so lucky." She shuddered as horrific images poked at her, even if she tried to keep them at bay.

"Which brings me to another question," Miranda said and slid closer. Her eyes narrowed when Andy grew rigid and leaned against the armrest. "Andrea?"

"What was your other question?" Andy asked, attempting to deflect.

"The Mirror needs to pay for a therapist. This can really become something that festers if you aren't allowed to deal with it in the presence of a licensed therapist with PTSD expertise. It should come out of their pocket—not yours." Miranda slowly extended her hand but pulled it back when Andy flinched. "Also, the Mirror's responsibility when it came to your safety needs to be explored—perhaps by your union rep."

Andy wanted Miranda to stop talking. She knew Miranda was right, but it was too much information to take in. Too many details. Andy wanted nothing more than to hide in Miranda's embrace all day but knew that wouldn't work—especially in the long run. She was a seasoned journalist and she'd been in tight spots abroad before. This was no different, even if it was…more. Disgustingly, horribly more. She had to find her bearings and couldn't expect Miranda to be her crutch, even if her support so far had been a godsend. Andy wanted to show Miranda that she could handle everything life threw at her, and right now, she was teetering on some damn knife's edge, trying to maintain her equilibrium.

"Can you share why you won't let me touch you, Andrea?" Miranda asked quietly. "Are you in so much pain physically, or is there something else going on? If so, please tell me and I promise I will understand, but right now, my mind is conjuring up all kinds of scenarios where I might have failed you again." Miranda attempted a smile. "I so want to be here for you. I wish you would let me, or at least talk to me."

Andy saw the pained tension around Miranda's eyes. She tried to consider what she might have felt if the roles were reversed. If Miranda had been hurt, and if she'd pushed Andy away when trying to hold her…and immediately found the pain of perceived rejection more than she could bear. What was she doing? Nothing she was going through was more important than her relationship with Miranda. Nothing.

Slowly, Andy moved a little closer to Miranda. "I've been trying to cope on my own this morning. I was in a strange mood when I woke up. Cold, angry, and, I suppose, resentful in a weird way. All that mixed with how I feel about you, how grateful I am how you were there when I needed you the most. And the girls…" Andy used the end of her sleeves to dab at her damp eyelashes. "Caro and Cass were there too, so concerned about me. I never meant to be the reason for all this upset in your family, Miranda." Drawing another shaky breath, Andy continued, "So—I hid in the bedroom and made all the calls I needed to make. My parents. Work. My friends Lily and Doug. I thought that would show you—and me—that I'm still strong. Still independent. Still able to cope."

Miranda relaxed marginally. "And now?"

"I feel completely drained. My family and friends had so many questions. I tried to answer them, but I found myself getting, well, annoyed, to be honest. I started snapping at my dad, something I never do. I hurt his feelings. He and mom wanted to fly to New York and bring me home for an extended visit. They're sweet, but I don't want that. I haven't lived in Cincinnati in almost eight years. It's not home in that sense anymore."

"I can understand that. Where do you want to be?" Miranda's grip on her glass was hard enough to make her knuckles white.

Andy managed to smile. "Here. I—I want to be here, with you. I don't want to overstay my welcome but—"

"Don't be ridiculous, Andrea. You can stay with me—us—for as long as you like." Miranda eased her fingers off the glass and set it down next to Andy's on the coffee table.

"Oh, Miranda." Andy felt her heart rate slow down. "I see now that all I did by hiding, was putting unnecessary strain on myself. That didn't accomplish anything, really. I didn't realize that I shut you out. I'm sorry." She shrugged helplessly. "I think, since I know how insanely busy and booked you are, I was trying to be considerate."

Miranda nodded slowly and then smiled. "Come here, darling. Please." She held out her arms and guided Andy to lie down with her head on Miranda's lap. With her back to the room, Andy's face was only an inch from Miranda's stomach. Miranda's scent permeated her entire being, and Andy hoped it was all right to remain like this. "I can't even think about everything I saw yet. I need to talk to a professional."

Miranda stroked Andy's hair back from her face. "We'll make that happen. And if you change your mind, I'm ready to listen."

"Thank you." Andy pressed her face against Miranda's soft stomach. "Can I stay like this for a bit?"

"For as long as you need." Miranda's voice shook, but Andy thought it might be because she was relieved. Considering how close she came to keeping her distance from Miranda, even if it was just for a few hours, it must have hurt her. She knew that Miranda feared having to go through Andy leaving again and abandoning her. Andy's scars from Paris were being manipulated and ostracized as if she didn't matter, which really was related to a similar beast. They had come far already, and their foundation was at least built from the ground up this time—not a strange sort of air castle, like in Paris, when they had jumped into a passionate, all-overshadowing—and she couldn't even call it a relationship. It had floated in midair, started up again in the evenings after their duties were done, and they were alone in Miranda's suite.

After the first night, when they had devoured each other, Andy thought Miranda might pull back and regret everything, but as soon as they closed the door and stood there in their respective cocktail dress, Miranda had walked her back against the wall, not even touching her at first.

"I saw you look at me the entire evening." Miranda curled her lips into a tempting smile. "Good thing that people around us only would think you were just doing your job."

"I was." Andy had to be honest, even if she risked annoying Miranda at some point.

"I suppose." Miranda stood close enough for Andy to feel the heat radiating from her body, but so far Miranda hadn't touched her. "And now that you're off the clock?"

"It depends." Andy licked her lips and Miranda seemed to automatically do the same.

"Oh? On what?" Miranda's pupils dilated.

"I'm big on consent. So that. What you will allow…" Andy tilted her head and felt her hair fall onto her left shoulder. This exposed the right side of her neck, and now Miranda swallowed visibly.

"I'm tempted to give you carte blanch, Andrea. I'm no doubt doomed." Miranda placed her hands flat against the wall on each side of Andrea's head. "What did you have in mind?"

"So many possibilities," Andy murmured as she let her eyes rake along Miranda's body. "I would start by removing your panties."

"God…" Miranda closed her eyes hard.

"Would you allow that?" Andy kept her voice low.

"Yes."

Before Miranda had a chance to react, Andy placed her hands around Miranda's hips and reversed their positions. She pressed her body to Miranda's and then kissed her. Teasing Miranda's mouth open, she slipped her tongue eagerly inside. She had truly watched Miranda all day, reliving their previous night in her mind, which meant that she'd had to change underwear twice. Now she held Miranda's head in place, at the perfect angle, and kissed her with all the passion she'd harnessed during the day.

When she let Miranda's mouth go, Andy dropped to her knees and pushed the hem of the cocktail dress up over Miranda's hips. Not hesitating for a moment, only thinking that she needed to get her mouth on Miranda, Andy tugged at the lace briefs and pulled them down those amazing legs. Miranda was already moaning and stepped out of them willingly.

"Spread your legs more." Andy nudged Miranda's knees gently. "Yes. Like that." She leaned in and began kissing and licking along Miranda's damp thighs. Andy wasn't the only one affected by those long stares and the memories of last night.

"Andrea…" Miranda moaned. "Oh, God…you…you can't…"

"Want me to stop?" Andy asked hoarsely with her lips against the neatly trimmed silver hair over Miranda's pubic bone.

"No!" Miranda's voice broke.

Andy waited until she noticed Miranda rolling her hips toward her, searching for the connection. "So. Like this?" Andy parted Miranda's labia with her thumbs and then licked her slowly, careful not to miss a spot.

Miranda slapped her hand over her mouth, but her scream was still loud. Andy could feel small muscular contraction against her lips and knew Miranda was close. So was she, and she wanted Miranda's fingers on her when she came.

She rose and pressed several fingers in between Miranda's legs and began rubbing her, faster and faster. "Touch me, Miranda. I need your fingers against me." Andy's legs were trembling. "I've been waiting for this, for holding you and taking you like this, all day."

Miranda didn't answer, but merely pulled Andy's skirt up, and then shoved her fingers into her panties, sliding along Andrea's folds. Impatiently, Miranda tugged at Andy's panties and managed to half rip them off her. When she found her clit, she began circling it, while she moaned in Andy's ear.

"There. Right there. That's what you want, isn't it? My hand between your legs. My fingers inside you?" Miranda's breath was hot against Andy's ear. Soon her words became illegible. She pressed her head back against the wall, drawing new breath in like a hiss between her teeth.

Andy was close to coming and changed her position a little to reach better. Her thighs trembled so hard, she nearly lost her footing, but then she was there. The pleasure spiked and she keened Miranda's name as she pressed harder against her. Miranda opened her eyes wide and stared into Andy's, her lips parting in a soundless cry.

"Inside…" Miranda whispered, and Andy obliged just as she came the first time. Miranda's inner muscles began contracting, nearly fluttering, Andy slid over the edge and felt her orgasm hit in wave after wave. Miranda thudded her head against the wall and then she wrapped her free arm around Andy's neck.

"I have you. I feel…you." Miranda arched off the wall. "Ah!" New convulsions had her look nearly panicked at Andy. "What are you…doing to me?" she wheezed. "Came twice."

"I could tell," Andy whispered as she tried to get her hearing back. She was trembling so fast, she knew her legs were going to give in soon.

Perhaps Miranda felt it too as she tugged Andrea closer. "Don't fall. Let's go into the bedroom." She bit her lower lip. "If you want."

Andy couldn't think of anything she wanted more. She tugged Miranda's dress down over her hips, and did the same with her own, before taking Miranda's hand in hers. She couldn't envision Miranda feeling comfortable walking through the massive suite with the skirt of her dress around her waist.

When they reached the bedroom, they undressed each other with a little more finesse, and Andy's heart pounded in her chest at the trust Miranda put in her. Soon they were naked again together, just like last night, and Miranda touched and caressed her so tenderly, flung her arms around her neck, and that made them lose balance. Falling onto the bed, on their sides, while facing each other, Miranda gave a quick, surprised 'oohh' sound. "My heart can't take this," she said with a scoff, but her tone was so tender, it nearly shattered Andy's heart. She had never heard that tone in Miranda's voice before.

"I could ask the same…" Andy pulled Miranda closer and kissed her with the same tenderness, first on the lips, but then along her jawline and down her neck.

"Are you trying to get me going again, Andrea?" Miranda murmured as she ran her hands along Andy's body. "If that's not your intention, you better stop kissing me like that."

"But it is my intention, Miranda. I seem to have all kinds of intentions when it comes to you. Making love to you until you're not able to move, let alone talk, is one." Surprised at her audacity, Andy continued with her lips down between Miranda's breasts.

"Jesus," Miranda whispered. "You are positively voracious. Insatiable."

"Are you stating a fact or complaining?" Andy asked as she took one of Miranda's nipples and sucked it into her mouth. "Mm."

"Facts. You know me well enough," Miranda managed to say. "I'm all about the facts."

"And here I thought you were all about the art of fashion. I fully expected you to judge my technique from an artistic point of view." Andy flicked the nipple with the tip of her tongue.

Miranda chuckled and even her laughter sounded surprised, or even shocked. "You're making jokes. In bed."

Andy crawled up Miranda's body and wrapped her arms and legs around her. "No need to be all serious or somber about lovemaking. I assure you, it can be a lot of fun."

Her eyes glittering, Miranda kissed her. "I will remind you of that one day."

"One day?" Leaning her head in her hand, while she studied Miranda closely, Andy's nerves reappeared again. "Are you saying that you, I mean, that we…eh…that I can hope to see you privately when we get back home to New York?" She bit into her lower lip again.

"If that's something you could see happening, Andrea. We'd have to finesse it as we're breaking all kinds of rules stipulated by HR. I'm not ready to let you go while waiting for bureaucracy to grind the coffee. Are you? I don't know everything about you yet, Andrea, and perhaps you're a stickler for protocol." Miranda caressed her shoulder while she waited for Andy's reply.

"Protocol and protocol. The rules are put in place to protect both of us. That said," Andy clung to Miranda, "I can't help but take that leap of faith with you. I don't think you'll ever take advantage of me, or deliberately hurt me. I don't know how I know that Miranda, but I do."

Remembering her words, four years later, Andy wondered if they had been foreboding. She had believed every single syllable that second night. They had turned to each other several times in the night, ordered up room service after midnight, and then made love again. As they parted ways early in the morning when Andy returned to her room on the same level to get ready for the day, she was already daydreaming of the upcoming night. That night was the last before Runway's biggest event in Paris. Runway was hosting a luncheon was a celebrity-dense endeavor, and would have all the movers and shakers in fashion present as it was the hottest ticket in Paris, not counting the fashion shows. It was an honor to be there as Miranda's assistant, and she looked forward to it, but not as much as she longed to be in Miranda's arms again the upcoming night.

Was it any wonder why she had suffered a pulverized heart, after three magical nights with all the closeness, of feeling seen and heard, and, most important of all, of being with the woman she finally could confess to herself that she loved with all her heart?

After resting a while, Andy pushed up, but not away, from where she rested her head on Miranda's lap. She instead straddled her legs and rested her sore hands against her shoulders. "I'm not about to seduce you. My body's too sore still. That said, I sure would like to kiss you." She looked into Miranda's even gaze.

"I'm not stopping you." Miranda tipped her head back to look up at her.

"Good." Andy brushed her lips gently against Miranda's and then it was as if they both finally fully relaxed. Deepening the kiss, Andy didn't escalate anything, but she needed to taste Miranda. To reconnect with her in a calm moment, not while in the throes of a nightmare. She hummed into the kiss, and then slowly ended it. "Am I too heavy?"

"Not yet." Miranda smiled.

"Good." Andy studied Miranda's face closely. There was still some tension around her eyes, but she was certain she wore a similar expression. Miranda's lips were fuller than usual after their kisses, and that made Andy kiss her again. "It just dawned on me that I'm truly home. I was in such a strange frame of mind last night…and I think again this morning. Like being in some weird, hazy labyrinth."

"You were in shock still, darling." Miranda cupped Andy's cheeks. "I think that phase can come and go. But I'm here. And as you can see yourself staying here with us…" Her voice caught. "I'm glad you want to be here. I just can't bear to imagine you waking up alone from nightmares. I need you here."

Andy took one of Miranda's hands in hers and kissed her palm. "If you sure?" She wasn't sure Miranda had thought this through. "Should you perhaps talk some more to the girls?"

"You're joking, right?" Miranda gave a genuine smile. "The last they said before leaving for school was 'Don't let her leave. Don't let her think she's in the way."

Andy gaped. "Those kids. They are something else. That was as if they put your way of reasoning, and mine, in one little nutshell."

"I had the same feeling." Miranda suddenly grimaced. "Now you are too heavy."

Andy slid off Miranda's legs. "Sorry."

"Doesn't matter." Miranda stood and reached for a blanket. "May I suggest you take a nap or at least rest some. I'll work for another hour and then we can have some lunch—and strategize."

"Sounds good," Andy said, suddenly realizing how tired she was.

Miranda covered her with the soft blanket and bent to kiss her. Andy looked up at her, wondering how she could be so lucky. She survived the attack in Colombia, and Miranda and the girls wanted her to stay.

It was hard not to think there might be a catch somewhere. Deciding that she would allow herself to lean on Miranda until she and hope there was no catch, Andy curled up on the couch, and for the second time in one week, she fell asleep listening to Miranda work.

Continued in part 22.