Chapter Text
Tú, coleccionista de canciones
(You, song collector)
Dame razones para vivir
(Give me reasons to live)
Tú, la dueña de mis sueños
(You, owner of my dreams)
Quédate en ellos y hazme sentir
(Stay in them and make me feel)
Y así en tu misterio poder descubrir el sentimiento eterno
(And in your mystery let me discover my feelings eternally)
The street leading to Beatrice’s flat is silent apart from the echoes of their heels against the pavement. They walk side by side, hands intertwined, thumbs periodically stroking up and down. Not a word has been spoken between them aside from the exchange of ‘I love you’s’ in the train carriage.
The moon is large and luminous above them, a chill in the air as the coolness of the Autumn night begins to take hold. The street lights are few and spaced out, casting deep shadows of inky black where the light doesn’t reach. Their strides are sure and steady belying the anticipation that is burgeoning between them as they get closer and closer to Beatrice’s flat. Ava turns her head to catch the elegant side profile of Beatrice, the moon and streetlight casting her with an ethereal glow, heady thoughts forming faster than she can process them. Beatrice swings the gate open with a squeak of the hinges, holding it open for Ava to enter. She catches a glimpse of Beatrice’s eyes raking down her figure as she passes by.
In sync, the two hasten their pace as they walk through the garden towards the front door of the maisonette. As they approach, Beatrice is fumbling through her clutch to locate her keys, peering down with the aid of the moonlight at the keys to locate the right one.
The anticipation is palpable.
Beatrice’s hand is jittery, the keys jumping in her hold as she struggles to fit the key into the lock. With a jingle, the keys slip from Beatrice’s grasp to the ground.
An audible sigh escapes from both of them.
Tú con la luna en la cabeza
(You with the moon in your head)
El lugar en donde empieza
(The place where it starts)
El motivo y la ilusión de mi existir
(The reason and the illusion of my existence)
Tan solo tú
(Only you)
Ava leans down to scoop up the keys.
Hearing Beatrice swallow audibly behind her, she inserts the key into the lock and swings the door open. They both crowd into the stairway, Beatrice turning to lock the door behind them. Silently, with nothing but the thumping of her heartbeat to accompany them, they begin to climb the stairs towards Beatrice’s flat. Dimly, Ava registers that Beatrice has added a few new picture frames to line the walls.
Reaching the door atop the stairs, Beatrice reaches forward to swing it open, ushering Ava in with a warm palm on her waist.
Stepping into the flat, Ava takes in the familiar furnishings, slats of moonlight streaming in through the unshuttered windows. Everything exactly as she remembers it. Beatrice shifts past her to deposit the keys and her clutch with their phones into the bowl by the front door.
Solamente quiero que seas tú
(I only want it to be you)
Mi locura, mi tranquilidad y mi delirio
(My insanity, my tranquility, and my delirium)
Mi compás y mi camino
(My compass and my path)
With a rustle of her dress, Beatrice is sinking to her knees, reaching for Ava and gently pulling her towards her. Beatrice is looking up at her, eyes hooded and dark.
Time stills.
Solo tú
(Only you)
Solamente quiero que seas tú
(I only want it to be you)
Pongo en tus manos mi destino, porque vivo para estar, siempre, siempre, contigo, amor
(I put my destiny in your hands, because I live to stay eternally, eternally, with you, my love)
Beatrice’s left hand comes to the top of Ava’s exposed thigh. Her palm is warm and a bit clammy, but it glides downward, caressing the expanse of the leg down, past the calf, finishing at the buckle of Ava’s heel strap. As she unbuckles the heel, Beatrice places a kiss on her inner thigh, and Ava’s stomach swoops with how unexpected the move is. Beatrice gently pulls off the heel, slowly lowering Ava’s foot to the floor. Reaching over she repeats the motion for the other heel. With the task complete, Beatrice looks up at Ava, affection clear through her gaze. Internally, Ava swoons .
Beatrice stands quickly, kicking off her own heels towards the shoe shelf.
They’re staring at each other now. Waiting. Neither making the first move. Both feeling the air change around them. Beatrice is breathing raggedly, Ava can see it with just how fast her chest is rising and falling, and if she could see herself in a mirror she’d probably see herself in the same state.
Tú coleccionista de canciones
(You, song collector)
Mil emociones son para tí
(A thousand emotions are for you)
Tú lo que soñé en mi vida entera
(You, everything I've ever dreamt of)
Quédate en ella y hazme sentir
(Stay in my life and make me feel)
Y así ir transformando la magia de tí en un respiró del alma
(And I'll transform the magic within you into my breath)
“I’d like to take your dress off you now.” Beatrice says desperately, eyes caught somewhere around her chest.
“I would really like it if you did.”
From the moment the words leave her lips and after all the silence, the composition finally begins—two melodies once kept apart now weaving into a perfect harmony, as if the Universe had finally lifted the mute button on their love.
Beatrice surges forward, hand wrapping itself behind Ava’s neck, an action that is both assertive and tender. Their lips stop a fraction before meeting, both curving into smiles, expressions of unadulterated happiness at the moment.
They crash into each other. A muffled sigh at the contact works its way out from Ava’s mouth.
Finally .
The warmth of Beatrice’s plush lips giving way beneath hers. Beatrice digs her hand into the chignon, scraping her nails into her scalp, other hand at the waist. Ava takes the chance to wind her arms around Beatrice’s neck, drawing their bodies even closer together. A gasp escapes both of them at the sensation of their bodies coming together.
Bedroom. They need to get to the bedroom.
She drives the both of them towards the small hallway, guiding them along the length of the living room, as Beatrice’s mouth begins to roam down the length of her chest with wet open mouth kisses, teeth scraping down along the flesh. Tingles erupt across her body as Beatrice continues her relentless exploration of the sensitive skin. Ava’s hand runs downward, in search of the zipper of Beatrice’s dress, tugging it all the way down quickly, hand splayed across the small of Beatrice’s back.
“Ow!” Beatrice exclaims, body knocking into the right wall just before the hallway.
“Sorry! I can’t see.” In the darkness Ava brings her right hand to Beatrice’s cheek, a little lost on the way, not knowing where she’s touching at first. She strokes the cheek when she finds it. A wet warmth envelops her thumb, the sensation shooting straight downward adding to the tension already welling deep in her stomach. Beatrice licks and sucks, knowing full well what she’s doing to Ava.
Beatrice gently shoves Ava back, extending her hand for Ava to take, walking them backwards towards the bedroom. As they pass the door frame, Ava sinks her teeth into Beatrice’s bottom lip, not so gently nipping and pulling at it. Both hands coming up to Beatrice’s shoulder, pushing the dress straps down. Pulling her head back from Beatrice’s lips, Ava begins to pepper kisses along Beatrice’s cheek, jawline, down her neck and the valley of her breasts. Pausing to lick the flat of her tongue against the slightly salty skin she finds there, Beatrice heaves a pant above her.
Ava smiles against Beatrice’s skin, lips feeling the raised skin there as they lazily move in the only direction on her mind. She pulls Beatrice closer by the waist, turning her head to suckle a pebbled nipple into her mouth, while her other hand reaches up to cup the other breast, its weight resting snugly in her hand. Ava swirls her tongue around, drawing the breast further into her mouth, laving it. Beatrice groans loudly, reaching down to clutch at the back of Ava’s neck, pulling her closer. Ava pulls her lips back with a pop, teasingly nibbling at Beatrice’s nipple before turning her attention to the other. Beatrice’s groans become frenzied, yanking Ava upwards by the back of her neck, stopping her ministrations. Roughly tugging Ava’s mouth back to hers, Beatrice shoves her tongue into Ava’s mouth, licking deeply with a purpose.
Beatrice’s hands are roaming with single minded intention now, trying to locate the zipper at the base of her back. She huffs by Ava’s ear angrily in frustration. It tugs at her heart just how dorky and sexy Beatrice can be all at once. She doesn’t have time to let the thought linger because Beatrice aggressively spins her around in an attempt to pull the zipper down a few times, even jostling it to loosen it, but she can’t seem to. With another sigh she leans her head into Ava’s shoulder blade, puffs of air tickling the skin there.
“Rip it off.” Ava exhales, voice gravelly and after a few seconds she feels Beatrice nod in response.
Beatrice’s hands gather by the zipper and Ava feels her tendons flex with the fierce tug. Her dress splits at the seams. A strangled gasp comes from her mouth at the action. Beatrice’s hands smooth up the length of Ava’s back without hesitation, like the wanton desperation has finally caught up with her. She slides her fingertips underneath the shoulders of the dress before pushing it down Ava’s arms who hurriedly tugs her arms out of the dress and steps out of it, the dress pooling to the floor. Beatrice kicks it aside.
Turning back towards Beatrice, her eyes are intense in their gaze but there’s no time to figure out what emotion is going through her head. Surging forward, Ava bunches up the organza material of Beatrice’s dress in one smooth movement, raising it up and over her head and onto the floor.
Reaching out, Beatrice grabs Ava’s ass and hauls her towards her while lifting her upwards. As Ava’s legs wrap around Beatrice’s waist, Ava’s hands go to her chignon twist, pulling out the bobby pins and letting her hair spill down her back. It’s all happening so quickly that she will need to revisit the fact that Beatrice can carry her weight, and she knows, she knows Beatrice can, but this is different, this is Ryan Gosling in The Notebook levels of holy shit she can carry my weight during sex.
Supporting Ava, with an arm wrapped around her waist and the other cupping a butt cheek, Beatrice walks them to the bed, falling down with Ava on the bottom.
Panting, Beatrice hooks Ava’s leg around her waist, trailing her hand down to rest at the material of Ava’s thong. Pausing, and looking at Ava, Beatrice croaks out, “May I?”
Ava nods furiously, choking out a “Please.”
Beatrice sits back on her knees to ease the garment off Ava, throwing it behind her. Beatrice’s eyes drink her in, hair fanning out, flushed chest rising rapidly with the speed of her breaths. Beatrice is exploring, hands gently roaming along the expanse of Ava’s body, leaving a trail of goosebumps and the need to be touched there again, and again. The kisses start at her navel and slowly make their way upwards, all causing short inhales and exhales. Both of Beatrice’s hands come to her breasts then, kneading them for a few seconds before a mouth replaces a hand, sending fresh new signals to spread through her body, all culminating somewhere deep down in her gut. Beatrice is gentle as she spreads her attention between both breasts, lips eventually moving upwards, up her chest, collar, and finding the perfect spot on her neck to bite. And it feels amazing, but Ava can tell Beatrice is being gentle, too gentle with her. “You can do it harder.”
Beatrice stops, flushed warm cheek nuzzling against her own, “I–I don’t want to leave a mark.”
She wraps her arms around Beatrice, fingers and nails scratching up and down the expanse of her back, her mouth trails along Beatrice’s jaw, making its way towards her ear. “I want you to,” Ava murmurs. And it’s all the permission Beatrice needs to go back to the spot, sucking and biting hard until her skin feels numb under Beatrice’s lips.
Beatrice’s left hand comes to rest by the side of her head as lips find hers once again. Incessant with their need to tug deeper, faster. Ava’s hands have slipped inside Beatrice’s underwear, each cupping a butt cheek, tugging Beatrice closer. She feels a hand begin to slip downward, determined, like nothing is going to stop her. This is it. Ava opens her legs as best she can in anticipation, Beatrice’s legs straddling one of hers for support. The hand passes her stomach causing it to quiver and quake, brain a puddle. Hips jerk up automatically as Beatrice’s hand runs smoothly down, a finger lightly touching the flesh she finds there.
It’s tentative at first. Exploring. Teasing. Enough to drive Ava a little insane with the need for the touch to be stronger, more repetitive. One of her arms drapes around Beatrice’s neck pulling her down for a series of kisses which she hopes translates into how desperately she needs Beatrice’s fingers to stop fucking around.
“Darling,” Beatrice coos, pulling back from their kiss unbearably softly, nose nuzzling down Ava's neck to her pulse point. And honestly the revelation of the pet name alone is enough to push her over the edge at this point.
Ava forgets for a moment to answer, what comes out is a strange sort of noise along with a, “Mmm?”
“Do you want me to?” Beatrice asks, and Ava has no idea what she means and doesn’t really care at this point. So she nods repeatedly bringing Beatrice’s lips back to hers, both bruised by this point and extra plump. Beatrice too nods into the kiss, the finger that was once teasing is now very much strongly holding the spot hostage, circling around the clit so vigorously that Ava has to stop kissing. Has to stop everything and focus on those small rapid circles.
She feels Beatrice smile into the kiss as her hand slips away from Ava’s clit, Ava letting out a strangled whine at the loss that abruptly turns into a gasped babble as Beatrice strokes through her before entering her with two fingers. Beatrice thrusts gently before picking up speed and curling her fingers to hit that perfect spot inside her, palm pressing over her clit. Her left hand tangles itself into Beatrice’s locks while the right has a bruising hold on Beatrice’s bicep. And Beatrice must know it’s coming because the lips leave hers, she can’t physically open her eyes anymore, but she can feel Beatrice staring. Can feel the puffs of air on her lips as both their breaths intermingle, struggling to intake oxygen. She pulls Beatrice down by her hair where she fits herself in the crook of Ava’s neck, letting out a long strangled moan by Beatrice’s ear a few seconds later.
The orgasm washes over Ava. Chest contracting so quickly that she can barely get a breath in. Beatrice holds perfectly still, allowing her to finish, Ava’s body jerking in place for several long seconds as Beatrice’s fingers stay buried inside, palm keeping the pressure but not moving. When she can feel her hands again she finds that they’ve dug into Beatrice’s back, fingers clutching at her muscles for dear life. Ava soothes her hand along the expanse of Beatrice’s toned back for a few seconds as they both catch their breath.
Moments later, Beatrice props herself up on one elbow, draped across Ava’s body and peers down at her. Blowing out a deep breath, Ava pushes Beatrice’s sweaty hair off her forehead, stroking her hand down her cheek and cradling it. Beatrice turns her head and kisses the inside of her wrist, closing her eyes and leaning into Ava’s hand. They linger for a few minutes, Ava tracing her thumb across Beatrice’s eyebrows, down the patrician slope of her nose, across the apple of her cheek and smoothing across the bow of her lips.
Now trailing her hand down Beatrice’s back, Ava’s hand grips the all too available butt cheek, squeezing hard. “Take it off,” She commands, shoving the material of Beatrice’s underwear down as far she’s able to with her hand.
Beatrice nods wordlessly, using her leg to ease it off completely then drops her entire naked body onto Ava’s. They both gasp at the sensation of every contact point pressed warmly against each other. Ava can feel the slick heat of Beatrice’s center pressed against her. Tensing her stomach muscles, Ava gathers herself before sitting up in one fluid motion, clutching Beatrice tightly against her and encouraging her to straddle her legs.
Upon settling into position, Ava comes to the delightful realisation that her mouth is perfectly aligned with Beatrice’s breasts. Nosing at a nipple, Ava sticks out her tongue and licks it while looking up at Beatrice. Beatrice moans and tips her head back, exposing the long line of her throat. And everything is screaming at her to go for the throat, because it’ll be a religious experience to finally taste the skin there, to leave her mark, but she can only focus on one thing at a time and she has two very promising options in front of her already. All in good time. Ava sucks the nipple into her mouth and molds her hands around Beatrice’s butt cheeks, pulling her as close as possible.
Her hair along with her head is tugged back abruptly, lips immediately consumed by Beatrice’s eager ones as her right hand begins to graze further and further down in between Beatrice’s legs. She’s dripping wet when Ava confidently enters her, the other hand firmly grips and kneads at Beatrice’s butt encouraging her to ride her hand. Fingers thread through Ava’s hair, alternating between stroking and pulling hard as they kiss. As the pace increases, Beatrice wraps her arms around Ava’s neck and Beatrice must be close because there’s tiny little whines by Ava’s ear every time she moves her finger away from a certain spot, but she won’t tease too much though, that can be for another day.
Beatrice's grip around her shoulders becomes so strong that catching her breath is becoming laborious. Beatrice cries out loudly as she comes, shuddering, tucking her head down into Ava’s shoulder, still clutching her tightly in a vice grip and falling heavily into Ava. Ava gives herself a mental fist pump at eliciting such a delicious and loud noise. Ava loops her arms around her sweaty body, going with the motion as they fall back onto the bed.
It takes longer than expected but when Beatrice finally relaxes her grip she gets a chance to breathe and Ava’s brain adjusts to what has just happened. There’s a ringing in her ear and slight concern goes to Beatrice when she doesn’t feel her breathing on top of her. “What was that? Are you alright?” Ava asks between shallow breaths.
Beatrice’s stomach trembles as a strange, high pitched kind of giggle escapes her. “I have no idea. I’ve never done that before.”
Beatrice is breathing now, it hardly counts as breathing, but it’s enough that Ava can focus on everything else other than Beatrice’s immediate safety. There’s really only one thought in her head and she can’t stop it from slipping out, not that she wants to, not anymore that is. “I love you.”
Beatrice’s breathing stills again. She lifts herself slightly with the help of her hands, “Did you just post coitus ‘I love you’ me?” Beatrice says laughingly, looking into Ava’s eyes. The kiss that lands on her lips is feather-soft but filled with so much adoration, “I love you,” Beatrice states before going back for seconds and thirds, drawing out several giggles after each one.
“I wished for you with one of my grapes.”
She sees realisation spread across Beatrice’s features. Ducking her head shyly, Beatrice whispers “I wished for you with my grape.” They stare happily at each other for a long moment.
Unexpectedly, a devilish smile dances across Beatrice’s face. Leaning into Ava’s ear, Beatrice hums lowly, “ Mmm, hentai ,” as she begins to shift herself downwards.
Her hand shooting out to grab at her, she arrests Beatrice’s movement. “Please. Nope! No you won’t, no you won’t right now because if you do that, I will die.”
“Oh. Okay. Of course.” Beatrice starts to shift back up, gazing at her adoringly. As she passes by Ava’s heart, she presses a gentle kiss to it, “Sana, sana, colita de rana. Si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana.” The ñ sound is not quite there but Ava feels like her heart is about to burst out of her chest. Beatrice’s palm is resting on top of it, face contorting into several emotions, she doesn’t say anything though, she just reaches for Ava’s hand, bringing it close to her own heart instead. Beatrice’s heart is keeping in tandem with her own, it’s erratic and frenzied and before the moment passes she’s hauling Beatrice up to kiss her soundly, but it’s momentarily broken by Beatrice as she mumbles, “I will be better,” against her lips.
Eventually, Beatrice burrows her head into the warmth of her chest, Ava bringing her arms up to loosely cradle her. It’s not long before Beatrice breaks the peace that has engulfed them, “How long are you in London for? Do you have any schedules while you are here?”
“I leave the day after tomorrow but I don’t have anything planned while I’m here. Alice is headed home to visit her family… what about you?”
Beatrice lifts her head to look at Ava, “I have a meeting in the afternoon to discuss the concert logistics but it shouldn’t take too long. We’re in London for a while as we finalise the details of the tour.”
Hesitantly, Ava asks “Do you want to give me your schedule?”
Instantly, Beatrice is nodding in reply.
Clambering off the bed, Beatrice manages to swing a leg down before Ava grasps her around her wrist, “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to go grab our phones so I can give you my schedule.”
“Baby. We can do that in the morning. I’ll send you my updated schedule then too.” Beatrice’s head has jerked towards her in response, a crescent eyed smile spreading its way across her face, cheeks pinkening.
“Say that again, please.”
“Baby. Come back here please.” Ava pats at her chest, huffing out an ‘ooft’ as Beatrice burrows back down.
“Will you stay?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.” Beatrice’s back is erupting into goosebumps as Ava’s hands lazily dance around, mapping out several spots that cause any kind of reaction. There’s a big uptake of air before Beatrice’s voice vibrates against her chest, “Darling, while I can’t overstate how much I want to fall asleep next to you and wake up next to you, I’d very much like to taste you now if you’ll let me?” Beatrice’s voice lilts upwards at the end in question, seeking consent. She eagerly nods in reply, Beatrice barely feeling the motion before she’s on the move.
Kneeling between Ava’s open legs, Beatrice gently lifts each leg to hook over her shoulders before dropping downwards to position herself. Beatrice’s eyes meet hers, hovering right above where she needs her the most, Beatrice’s eyebrows dancing in response to her gaze and in her sheer glee.
“Ready?”
Without waiting for a response, Beatrice licks deeply into Ava’s folds. A moan rips its way out of Ava’s throat, her hips canting upwards involuntarily. Beatrice quickly grabs at a hipbone, applying an insistent pressure to keep her pressed into the mattress.
The sounds turn lewd fast as Beatrice laps at her, alternately sucking and licking at her clit. Ava’s hands can’t seem to rest, flitting between grabbing and yanking at Beatrice’s hair, palming at her own breasts, and slamming to the side to grasp at the bedsheets. As Beatrice continues her ministrations, Ava is all but sobbing out her cries, begging and babbling at Beatrice like she’s a deity, “Please, Please, oh, Beatrice, oh—” Beatrice also moaning out her response to Ava’s exclamations.
Abruptly, Beatrice seems to slow and gentle in her licks, teasingly nipping at Ava’s flesh. Her hands blindly search upwards, finding and cradling Ava’s breasts, thumbing and pulling at her nipples. Ava can feel the burn in her gut begin to slow in its growth but not lessen. She’s filled with irrational anger. Beatrice is teasing her .
Extending her hands downwards, Ava forcefully grabs at Beatrice’s hair, firmly tugging hard. “Don’t fucking tease,” Her voice is harsh in its demand and scratchy from her utterances. Aggravatingly, she feels a smile spread across Beatrice’s mouth before she resumes the previous vigour, sucking hard at Ava’s clit.
Finally, Ava can’t take it anymore, body pulling as taut as a string, hips straining into the air beneath Beatrice’s mouth, Ava comes with a strangled yell.
Body heaving like she’s just run a marathon, she bodily grabs Beatrice by the shoulders and hauls her upwards, depositing her on the mattress beside her. Even in her muddled state, she can’t help but admire the sheer magnificence of Beatrice’s nude body beside her, breasts moving as she too draws in her breaths, toned abdominal muscles covered in a glistening film of sweat from her exertions. Beatrice runs the back of her hands along the sides of her mouth, sending several spasms down to her already overworked libido.
She feels a sudden wave of exhaustion take over her. Beatrice has truly wrung every last drop from her body.
Rolling over onto her side and staring at her profile, Beatrice must also come to the same realisation. Tenderly, she reaches out her hand, brushing the back of her index finger down Ava’s face. “You can sleep, my love. We have time.”
Ava’s eyes begin to flutter shut in response.
Suddenly, Beatrice shoots upwards, leaning over Ava and blindly grabbing at something.
Beatrice brandishes a piece of tissue paper before her heavy eyes, “Contacts. Take out your contacts first. Then you can sleep.” Ava blearily nods, hands lifting up automatically in its nightly routine of taking out her contacts and depositing them into Beatrice’s waiting hand.
Beatrice does the same before leaning over Ava again and lobbing the tissue at the small bin.
Plopping back down, Beatrice pulls Ava into her arms, tugging at the duvet that has bunched close to the wall and covering them with it. With one last content sigh Ava tucks her face into the crook of Beatrice’s neck and together, they fall asleep.
—
Groggily Beatrice registers that Ava is wiggling about in her hold, an insistent palm gently easing her onto her back. Ava is shuffling around under the duvet. Cold air creeping inside their warmth. Her eyes shoot open in the dark, the fogginess of sleep instantly erased when she feels Ava lick at the skin by her belly button.
It’s still dark outside.
Ava’s resting her jaw by her pubic bone now. Waiting. Not patiently though. Ava’s hands are drumming by her sides, encouragingly.
“Hi,” Beatrice croaks out, lifting the duvet to look down, voice rough from sleep and their prior activities. Activities that Ava now seems to want to continue.
“Hi,” Ava breathes out, pressing a kiss into her skin crease. “I’m sorry for falling asleep earlier but now I’d like to make up for lost time.” Ava jiggles her shoulders up and down excitedly.
A bell-like laugh springs forth from her mouth, ringing out into the dark of the night. London is asleep and here Ava is, wide awake, alert, and joyously doing a small dance.
She didn’t think it was possible to fall further but of course Ava is proving her wrong .
Then the warmth of Ava’s mouth meets her and her mind becomes incapable of anything other than base thoughts.
Solo tú
(Only you)
Solamente quiero que seas tú
(I only want it to be you)
Pongo en tus manos mi destino, porque vivo para estar, siempre, siempre, contigo, amor
(I put my destiny in your hands, because I live to stay eternally, eternally, with you, my love)
—
Ava can sense Beatrice’s gaze even before she opens her eyes, she’s so close that she can feel Beatrice’s even breaths fanning across her face as she exhales, their legs entangled.
“Good morning, darling.”
Even with her face pressed against the mattress, an uncontrollable grin spreads at Beatrice’s words.
Beatrice is stroking along her back, fingertips caressing each ridge of her spinal column, and along the slope of her shoulders.
“Good morning, baby.” A squeal escapes out of her unbidden, startling the both of them. She feels the mattress begin to vibrate beneath the force of the two of them giggling. “You seem to have a fascination with my back. I’ve noticed you looking several times.”
Beatrice has scooted even closer now, nose burying into the side of Ava’s face and inhaling at her hair there before responding. “I’m just obsessed with you. All of you. You’re beautiful.”
Arms now loop around her, pulling her pliable body onto Beatrice’s own. She goes all too willingly.
Hands languidly brush up and down skin, stroking and mapping, as they trade kisses and nuzzles, welcoming the late morning sunshine streaming through the window, wrapped up in the blissful cocoon of finally being together.
Sometime later, their bodies’ natural urges make themselves known. The beast will not be denied further . With one final kiss, Ava eases her body off Beatrice and allows her to get up from the bed. Standing up into a stretch of sunlight, Beatrice stretches, fully nude. She looks like a goddess. Donatello and Michelangelo themselves couldn’t do this sight justice. Countless sonnets and songs have been dedicated to trying to capture sights like this.
I had a dream, or was it real?
We crossed the line and it was on
We crossed the line, it was on this time
Walking over to her closet, Beatrice pulls out a t-shirt and slips it on. Internally, Ava pouts a bit . Turning towards her, Beatrice is proffering a shirt to her and must see acceptance in her countenance because she drapes the folded shirt on the bed for her, quickly kissing her, before leaving the room. At least, Beatrice hasn’t put on underwear or shorts yet, her cute little pert butt bouncing along with Beatrice’s jaunty steps towards the bathroom and then the kitchen.
I've been denying how I feel, you've been denying what you want
You want from me, talk to me, baby
I want some satisfaction, take me to the stars
Just like ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ava is left alone to bask on the bed. She slips the shirt on before stretching out her arms above her head arching her back experimentally. A few muscle aches and twinges make themselves known deliciously. A byproduct of the night before.
A wide smile curves its way across her face. She can feel it welling up inside of her. The urge to maniacally laugh and shout the news from the nearest rooftop. There’s clattering coming from the kitchen, and something that sounds like humming or very soft singing. She bounces to her feet, shoving the duvet aside and standing up on the mattress in one move. She begins to jump up and down on the bed, chuckling and letting out small squeals of unbridled happiness as she continues to bounce.
I wanna cut through the clouds, break the ceiling
I wanna dance on the roof, you and me alone
I wanna cut to the feeling, oh yeah
I wanna cut to the feeling, oh yeah
I wanna play where you play with the angels
I wanna wake up with you all in tangles, oh
I wanna cut to the feeling, oh yeah
I wanna cut to the feeling, oh yeah
“Ava! Oh my God, be careful!” Beatrice has rushed back in, spatula in her hand, anxiety creasing her features. “The bookshelf Ava! Be careful please, I just got you back, I can’t lose you to book assassinations.”
Cancel your reservations, no more hesitations this is on
Can't make it stop, give me all you got
Bounding forward, Ava bounces off the bed towards Beatrice, Beatrice catching her mid-flight, spatula falling from her grasp. Laughing wildly, they fall forward onto the bed again.
I want it all or nothing, no more in between, now give your
Everything to me, let's get real, baby
Guffaws slowly subside into chortles. Beatrice is eyeing her, love shining through. She seems like she’s thinking about voicing something. “Will you be my girlfriend?” Beatrice looks nervous, teeth gnawing on her bottom lip as she waits for an answer.
Nodding furiously, Ava is blurting out a “Yes, yes. I’d love to be. Alice has been saying we are and we’re just fooling—anyways. Yes. YES!”
A chemical reaction, take me in your arms
And make me (hey) ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
The breath gets pushed out of her in the tightness of Beatrice’s hug. Finally .
Beatrice’s head pops up out of her spot by Ava’s cheek, sniffing the air. Scrambling, she untangles herself from their intertwined bodies. “I’ve got to get back to breakfast, I think something’s about to burn.” Pressing a kiss to Ava’s cheek, she reaches down and playfully smacks at Ava’s bare butt cheek. Bending down to scoop up the fallen spatula, she hurries out of the bedroom again.
Take me to emotion, I want to go all the way
Show me devotion and take me all the way
Take me to emotion, I want to go all the way
Show me devotion and take me all the way
Take me, take me, take me all the way, ah-ah-ah
—
When she arrives for their meeting the band members are all at different locations in the expanse that is their rented sound stage. A massive space housing what will be their concert stage, which is at various degrees of being built. There’s a half finished spiral staircase on the left, walls and windows to look like the inside of a home, and on the right a protruding triangular roof and front door.
Camila waves at her arrival, an action she returns, the smile already there extending to Camila. It’s impossible not to smile. She’s smiling so much that the taxi driver asked her how long her vacation was for. And honestly, forever, forever sounds great.
Camila is next to her in seconds, keeping pace, “Bea! Are you sure everything is alright?”
The meeting is about to start and she can see the other members heading in their direction.
“Everything is perfect,” She replies easily because it is.
Camila lifts an eyebrow though, eyeing her suspiciously. “Remember, I’m here for you if you want to share.”
“I know, Cam.”
They arrive at a table, it stretches long and houses a lot of their team members already. Suzanne and Levy are at one end surrounded by their lawyer, publicist, marketing team, booking agent, tour manager, production crew, sound/lighting leads, the hair/makeup team and their stylist, leaving only five chairs left at their end.
Camila puts the massive concert score on top of the table, and it thuds loudly catching everyone's attention but Suzanne’s. It carries within every notation for every instrument they’ll use during the concert, it has time signatures, it has music cues, it has lyrics, it has ad libs, it has prepared speeches, it has everything. She wants to scoff because she’s called pedantic and thorough but here’s Camila with a goddamn manifesto-esque monster.
“Does that have our bathroom breaks written somewhere?” She asks, jokingly.
Camila considers the question only for a second before turning seriously towards her, “It’s on page 76. You go after ‘ Stuck ’.” Beatrice blinks a couple of times, taken aback by the fact that Camila has planned their bathroom activity. “I’ll email you a copy tonight.”
She should have known better.
They sit and Camila begins to edit a few things from their previous rehearsal session, madly scribbling with a pencil along the edges of the page. And by some miracle tomorrow the same page will be replaced by a clean beautiful print out with all the new changes.
Mary and Lilith wave hello before sitting, leaving only Yasmine to take the last seat next to her.
Suzanne stands, drawing everyone’s attention to her. “Alright everyone, thanks for coming. As we all know our first date will be here in London so let’s start with an overview…”
Most of the meeting is spent reiterating things that are already concrete and approved. With Suzanne doing the fine balancing act of keeping all the teams from getting on each other's nerves. Levy has a three ring binder in front of him all colour coded and organised for the different aspects of the concert. Lighting, music, wardrobe, hair, makeup, even their dietary requirements.
They discuss the many venues they will be playing, the booking agent updating everyone on the progress of applications for every permit they need. The production crew go through stage lighting, sound checks, set designs…the list is endless. Even the merchandising manager comes in for a quick update mid-meeting.
Beatrice’s phone on top of the table lights up catching her attention as the tour manager talks about the logistics of city hopping and the movement of the set and equipment once the concert starts in Europe.
It’s Ava.
[Hi.]
Then several seconds later.
[Oh my God. WTF. Beatrice my—]
[It’s—]
[I can’t even type out a message.]
Ava has unblocked her. Which means…
[How many—]
[Did you seeeeeeend?]
[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Beatrice bites the bottom of her lip to keep from laughing. Ava is being bombarded by text messages.
One every day since the Met Gala.
[Okay, I think it’s over.]
[My phone actually stuttered for a few good minutes.]
[Hi!]
[Hi!]
[Hello!]
[Hiiiiiiiii!]
[I love you.]
[I love you.]
[I miss you.]
[I miss you. Come home to me.]
[Soon.]
[I’m counting down the minutes.]
[What are you up to?]
[Finding your deepest darkest secrets.]
[No! Not my Teletubbies costume!]
[Kinky. I can be into that.]
[Maybe you can put it on]
[-winky face-]
“Beatrice.” Yasmine is sliding a music sheet across to her. “Can you have a look at this later? I want you to approve the last edit for the beginning of ‘ Dynasty ’ like we said.”
Camila lifts her head at that, reaching to snatch at the sheet. “All final approvals go through me, I have the concert book, I do the approvals!” She leans forward to quickly grab the music sheet before Camila can take it. As she does, a wince crosses her face as a muscle twinges with pain.
Lilith snickers.
“Aren’t you too busy with our bathroom breaks?” Yasmine bites back, she means nothing by it though, just teasing Camila.
“I’ll have you know that bathroom breaks are important. You better not miss your cue after ‘ Phantom ’.”
“Ladies,” Suzanne projects her voice from across the table, “I’ll need a list of potential openers. We need to start contacting their management.”
They all nod. There’s a list already. They just need to all be in agreement.
[Can we get dinner from the Indian place I like?]
[Do you want butter chicken again?]
[Yes, please!]
“Are there any concerns?” Levy is speaking now, eyes searching through the table, “Anything we need to address today?”
The wardrobe lead holds out her hand to get his attention. “We need to do a few fittings for Beatrice. The sooner the better. Preferably today. We need to start replying to the designers.”
Eyes go to her.
“I apologise, but not today. I have plans that I cannot set aside.”
“It wouldn’t take too long, just a couple of outfits.”
“I’m happy to reschedule for tomorrow.”
“Right. Of course that’s fine too.”
Cam is narrowing her eyes at her, a curious tilt to her head.
Once the meeting concludes, the others are all sitting on the stage as they need to go through the names of potential openers. And Beatrice knows this is important. A decision like this can help an upcoming artist or band immensely, but it’s taking longer than expected. She has to suppress the impatience and frustration welling up inside of her lest it leak into her tone. Lilith and Mary have an idea of what they want and they’re not letting up.
She begins to lower herself gingerly to sit cross legged on the stage, her muscles are now screaming at her, on fire.
“I just think we should be more alternative.” Lilith states for the hundredth time.
Camila is shaking her head, an annoyed sort of sigh escaping. “You’re aware we do pop/rock right, that’s not exactly alternative.”
Yasmine nods and adds, “Also, we’re on the top 100 charts, there’s a certain expectation. Our fans are not going to sit through sludge metal, Lilith.”
“Fine. Whatever. It seems like you guys have made a decision anyways so what’s the point?”
Beatrice puts her initials next to a name on their list. “Mary.”
“Mmm?”
“I like your choice for the psychedelic soul one, for the Munich show.”
“What! How does that get the okay?” Lilith says petulantly, arms already crossed.
“It’s Germany! They have amazing taste in music.” Yasmine grabs the page, adding her initials next to a few names.
“I’m going home!”
Camila is falling forward trying to grab at the page. “Do you guys want to have an early dinner?” She asks, head down going through the list of names.
No.
Mary snatches the page from her. “Camila, it’s 4:37pm how early do you want dinner to be?”
“I just figured we would hang out!”
They all spring up. The pure horror of being wrapped up in whatever plans Camila has dreamt up.
“Oh, absolutely not!”
“You’re trippin’. I’m not spending more time with you than I need to.”
“I’m leaving.”
“Me too!”
“Bea?!”
“Bye, Camila!” The roadrunner has nothing on her. Meep meep .
—
Love, I do
Love, I do
Ooh-ooh-ooh
I blame it on your love
Love
Beatrice stops dead in her tracks as the sound of a harp being plucked resonates down the street. Then, a discordant autotuned voice joins twittering bird noises. Charli XCX. She squints at the windows of her flat as she breaks into a jog in the direction of the racket. Internally, Beatrice groans, knowing the culprit behind this noise. I’m going to get a noise complaint .
Every time you get too close, I run, I run away
And every time you say the words, I don't know what to say
Back, back to the beginnin', really wish that I could change
I do, I do, I do
As Beatrice unlocks the door and heads up the stairwell, the low synths begin to rattle the walls. She can feel the vibrations deep in her chest. Is this what I’ve signed up for?
I blame it on your love every time I fuck it up
I blame it on your love, I do
I blame it on your love, I can't help it, I can't stop
I blame it on your love, I do
Beatrice rushes up the flight of stairs, flinging open her door in her eagerness and pure panic. Upon walking through the doorway she is met with an excited Ava bounding towards her. She closes the door behind her, “Hi, I’m h—” Her words are cut off in her mouth as Ava reaches her, tugging her forcefully into a rough and spine tingling kiss.
Sorry, I'm a little scared
But no one ever really cared
I took you for granted
Just a big misunderstandin'
I just wanna spend the night
Fuckin' in your bed tonight
Watch a little TV
I love it when you need me
Ava backs her up hard into the closed door, Beatrice jolting forward at the contact. She feels Ava fumbling at the clasp of her pants, struggling to undo the button. Once the button is undone, Ava rips her mouth off Beatrice’s and leans up to whisper hotly in her ear, “I’m going to fuck you now.”
Beatrice nods so hard she slams the back of her head into the door.
Ava’s hand snakes inside Beatrice’s pants, bypassing her underwear before slipping her fingers into the waiting heat. Beatrice jerks in place, biting back a moan at the feeling of Ava filling her.
Ava’s lips find hers again, impatiently tugging and pulling, bruising the already tender skin there. Beatrice’s arms loop around Ava’s neck, doing away with the messy low bun.
Sorry I blame it on your love, yeah
(I blame it on your love every time I fuck it up)
Sorry I blame it on your love, yeah
(I blame it on your love, I do)
I'm gonna blame it on your love, yeah
(I blame it on your love, I can't help it, I can't stop)
Sorry I blame it on your love, yeah, I do
(I blame it on your love, I do)
Beatrice cannot believe that she’s about to have sex to this mess of a song, but admittedly it is adding to the overall experience. And honestly, what’s a little noise complaint.
She can’t help the way her hands travel down Ava’s body, bunching the T-shirt’s fabric as she seeks skin. Skin to trace, skin to scratch, skin to hold. It’s not surprising that Ava hasn’t managed to find underwear while she’s been away, and she can’t find it in herself to care as her hands scoop a butt cheek each, pulling Ava closer.
Ava’s fingers are moving quickly, running through and over, already knowledgeable to the spot that makes her truly squirm. And this isn’t fair because Ava is matching her pace along with the song and by this point the build up is so strong and her body is jerking strangely in the position they’re in. And it’s coming.
“Mmmm….mmmm,” Beatrice begins to moan into their kiss and Ava breaks it, no doubt wanting to hear every possible sound she makes. Ava’s hot mouth comes to her neck, sucking at the skin there waiting. Waiting. A few seconds later when the circles do away with the last bit of her composure, Beatrice groans long and lowly into Ava’s ear before the orgasm takes over her entire body.
Beatrice feels her knees buckling as she starts slipping down the door.
“No. No. No.” Ava props her back up with her arm, She nods dumbly in agreement. After ensuring Beatrice can remain propped upright, Ava sinks to her knees, pulls her pants down in one swift motion, kissing below Beatrice’s hipbone before sliding her underwear down. Beatrice can feel her muscles contract and quiver as each kiss lands. Ava continues her ravishments as small sighs escape her. The first suck is enough for Beatrice to grab the back of Ava’s hair, pushing her head closer, the second causes her to tug, and the third causes an involuntary thwack of her other hand against the door.
Beatrice is pretty sure her brain has turned to goo because she can’t think long enough to form a thought that isn’t about how hot Ava’s tongue is against her or how fervent every lap is. She’s trying to draw it out and that’s frustrating everything inside Beatrice. Hands have nowhere to be but in Ava’s hair, urging her, but Ava is relentless in her teasing and her body is squirming. The yearning for release overwhelms her all at once as Ava repeatedly flickers her tongue at her clit for several seconds and then with one final suck she’s pushed over the edge, body spasming, another offensive noise escaping her throat without inhibition.
Ava doesn’t stop though, she keeps going. The hands that were once holding to her hips have now slid behind to her ass gripping hard enough that if Beatrice checks later she may find marks there. Beatrice is mewling, pulsing, and Ava is unrelenting. She can’t breathe. The ringing in her ear is all-consuming from the lack of oxygen entering her body and brain. She doesn’t even realise she’s finished again until Ava pulls away to admire her from below.
Ava licks at the sweat beaded on the crease by Beatrice’s groin, humming happily as she wipes around her mouth then licks it off her hand. Sitting back onto her thighs proudly.
Shakily, Beatrice finally slides bonelessly to the floor, gasping for breath, Ava grinning in success and delight.
As their eyes meet Ava bends forward to unlace Beatrice’s shoes, setting them to one side and pulling her pants and underwear off her all in one go. A hand begins to run along her thigh. “Mercy. Please.” Beatrice says slightly strangled, still catching her breath.
Ava crawls her way up to her open arms, nuzzling against her cheek. “I missed you.” She excitedly wiggles herself under Beatrice’s chin as they lay on the floor by the entryway.
—
Ava pulls the shirt over her head, her hand gripping Beatrice’s own as she slowly puts one leg inside the bathtub and then the other. The water is the perfect temperature, the bubbles are bubbling and the door is shut to keep the warmth in.
They’re both sticky with sweat and smell like sex.
Ava is cheekily shimmying towards her in the water. She can see the little glint in her eyes. “Nope! No. You stay. Stay on your side. Hands off. Hands off!” Under the water Ava is making her way up her thighs.
“Awww come on!”
“Ava, I literally can’t feel anything down there. We have to rest.”
“Fine.” Ava’s bottom lip purses petulantly but she obediently stays across from her, legs slotting in between her own.
The bubbles are attaching themselves to the bottom of Ava’s curly locks. It’s hard to look away from her and the way her perfect eyebrows arch, how bruised her lips are—something in her own face must betray her because a hand is crawling up her thigh again. “You’re being very cute right now and I am fighting every urge not to kiss you so please just stay still for like five minutes or long enough for us to at least wash our hair.”
Ava’s hand reaches out to interlace their fingers. “Alright, alright! Tell me how the meeting went.”
“Good. Mainly just listening to people’s updates and confirming things. Cam scheduled our toilet breaks… and I have to look through a few openers.”
Ava nods solemnly in response. “Scheduled pee breaks are very important, Bea. You need to get the timing down pat, you don’t want to be missing your cue.” Ava grins widely at her, cheeks flushed from the heat of the water. “But isn’t it exciting? Discovering new artists. You get to hear new music and hope that it may end up being their break. I think it’s my favourite part of touring, other than interacting with the fans.” A twinkle enters Ava’s eye and a sense of apprehension tingles along her spine as she awaits whatever cheeky comment is about to spill forth. Ava continues, “After all Bea, maybe if you had taken up the offer of being my opener, we could have been doing this years ago.”
Oh, she went there.
Beatrice leans in closer and speaks huskily, “Could have been doing what? Taking a bath together in post-coital bliss?” A shiver visibly trembles through Ava’s form, her throat working to swallow. Oops. She might have gone a little too far in dropping her voice into that timbre as Ava is now shifting forward again, pupils dark. Throwing an arm out, she prevents Ava from advancing. “No, no. Stop! I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. Later, please?” Thankfully Ava settles back again onto her side of the bathtub, eyes still dark and silently regarding her. A distraction is needed . “Do you wanna do it together? Go through the openers on our shortlist?
Ava nods in reply. “That could be fun.”
“Um. Ava. Earlier at the meeting, when I saw the band…” She nervously chews at her lip as she contemplates how to continue, “I didn’t say anything. Not because I want to hide this! Us. From them,” hurriedly blurting out that part whilst wringing her hands in case Ava misunderstands. “It’s just so new and right now it’s us in our own little world and I just selfishly wanted to keep us there for a little longer. Although I don’t think I’m doing a very good job at not revealing anything. The taxi driver kept asking why I was so happy. He thought I was on vacation here because I couldn’t stop grinning. And then Cam kept looking at me strangely. And yes. Okay. I’ll stop word vomiting at you now.” She shakily inhales a long breath.
A smile is tugging at the upturn of Ava’s lips as she regards her following her monologue. “It’s okay. I understand, I also want to keep this just between us for a little…but um. About that. I already told Alice.” Ava is sheepishly smiling now. “I texted her back this morning and reported that I was indeed alive and not dead in a ditch. And asked her to get my stuff from the hotel before checking out tomorrow. She also needs to collect me before heading to the airport. I’m so sorry.”
Oh .
“That’s fine. Alice is Alice. She would’ve figured it out right away with her spidey senses anyways.” Beatrice ventures forward, “Since we are talking about this topic, I also know that we need to let Suzanne and Emilia know. But I also want to make sure I tell the band before I tell Suzanne. And possibly Levy, though I’m sure he and Alice are in cahoots.” She begins to fidget again. “And Ava? I don’t know if Emilia said anything to you but I saw her. That night of the Gala. I was knocking at your suite and she answered the door. I didn’t know how much she knew, if anything. I tried to be careful about what I said but I think she maybe sort of knows. I didn’t mean to overstep if I did.”
“It’s okay. Emilia did tell me about you showing up that night, thank you. You didn’t overstep. I ended up speaking to her and telling her a lot about us when I was trying to figure everything out. Whether or not I wanted to give us another chance. She actually seems to like you.”
“Really!? Because she sort of scares me. Although there were times that she seemed like she was laughing at me. But she’s so intimidating.”
Ava sighs. “She probably was poking fun at you. She’s actually quite a prankster.” Ava pauses for so long a moment that Beatrice doesn’t think she will say anything more on the topic.
“But, she can come across like that. Particularly when she’s putting on her Emilia the manager persona. It’s the only way we’ve managed to make this work. Emilia... is complicated. I don’t think she ever envisioned that she’d have to step up from being the fun aunt at 26 years old to take care of a 7 year old kid. She just had it thrust upon her and she’s done it the best way that she knows how. It’s been a lot of trial and error. We’ve learnt that we need to completely split apart our personal selves and our work selves so that she can continue to manage me. And I haven’t exactly made her job easy. So she worries and rages as an aunt and a manager. That’s why she can come across really abrasive at times.”
Beatrice clenches her fists. She knows she needs to bring it up but she’s apprehensive. Inhaling deeply, she expels it before looking at Ava dead on. “Darling. When we were apart, there were all these headlines and articles. I know that what we see in the media isn’t always true but…but I also know you like to drink a bit. And party a little. Are you okay? Was it exaggerated or should we be talking to someone? Is there anything I can do?”
Ava stills. It’s clear from her face that her natural inclination is to run from this topic of conversation but she seems to gather herself before answering. “It’s sort of true. I definitely had days where I drank too much and partied, people saw and the news seized upon it with sensationalist headlines. But I’ve tried to be better. I haven’t neglected my work, I’ve shown up. The tour dates weren’t delayed because of me, we had some logistics to sort out but social media pretended it was. Emilia and Alice have kept a close eye on me. I know it’s one of my weaknesses. A crutch. I don’t like to think about things that upset me, it just…. it helps. I’m doing my best not to fall back on bad habits. I know it worries you and I will be more conscious. For me. And for you. For everyone.”
Now it’s Beatrice’s turn to loosen a sigh. “I’m very relieved to hear that. I just want you to be safe and healthy. Unfortunately it’s probably all too common in our industry and it’s easy to fall into it but you can’t let it be your coping mechanism Ava. If something triggers you or if something is wrong, know that I’m here for you. You can talk to me. I promise I will do all I can to help.”
The frown on Ava’s face clears and she reaches out to hold Beatrice’s forearm. “This is also a two way street. We know this isn’t going to be easy. You need to talk to me. You need to communicate anything and everything. I need to know. I want to know if anything is bothering you or if you’re thinking about something. Not just me either. But Cam and the band. You have to let us in. You can’t just continue to bottle everything up. It’s not healthy. I am very grateful you have taken the step of starting therapy though. It’s obviously helping. And in your writing too. Phantom is amazing.”
She nods because it’s the truth. A truth she can no longer ignore. “We should probably talk about us as well… I’ve got a tour coming up and so do you. We can’t ignore the fact that we don’t have a lot of spare time on the horizon for the next year or so of our lives. And we’re just about to begin. What are your expectations for me? For us?” She feels it coming again, the need to word vomit her thoughts. They’ve been circling in her mind since the morning, left unattended for too long. If she’s honest with herself, this has been on her mind since the Winter storm. “Do we just compare our schedules and work out all the times that we can see each other? Do we fly back and forth? I’m still in London for most of this month and the next. How long are you in Madrid for?”
She can tell she’s overwhelming Ava because her eyes are downcast, focused on a spot in the water. She’s fidgeting with the water spout. “Yes, but I can try to shift things around as well. If something’s not urgent, I can ask Alice to see what can be moved.” Ava’s voice is hitching as she speaks, a wobble working its way out.
Beatrice reaches forward for the hand on the spout, firmly clutching the hand into her grasp and tugging Ava towards her into a backhug. Resting her chin atop Ava’s shoulder, she soothes the top of Ava’s hand, rubbing circles into the skin.
“I’m sorry, that was a lot. I shouldn’t have overloaded you with that. Ava, thank you for offering but I don’t want you to do that. That’s not fair to you and everyone else. Let’s just have a look at where we can find some time. After all, everyone but us seems to think we’ve already been dating and we figured it out then. We can talk and text every chance we get and just try our best to play it by ear. I know I can’t wait that long to see you again.” Beatrice presses a kiss into the skin of Ava’s shoulder. She speaks with emphasis now, projecting the words with a confidence that hopefully quells Ava’s nerves. “We will figure it out. I have faith in this. In us. I want you.” She concludes with a firm squeeze to Ava’s middle.
By now the bathwater has cooled significantly and they still haven’t even washed up. Pulling at the stopper Beatrice waits for some of the water to drain before filling it again with hot water. Grabbing the bottle to squirt some shampoo into her hand, she gathers Ava’s hair up to begin to lather it with the shampoo, working her fingers in to scratch at her scalp. Ava releases a puff of air in contentment. “Lean forward a bit please.” Ava complies, Beatrice keeps massaging at Ava’s forehead and down by her neck, peppering it with kisses.
Once Ava’s hair has been shampooed thoroughly and rinsed, Ava turns to shampoo Beatrice’s hair too, pressing kisses into the freckles on Beatrice’s face.
“Come on. We can’t get dinner if you shrivel up like a raisin,” She says in the hopes that Ava, who has laid comfortably against her again will stand so they can begin to dry up.
Ava turns to face her, a pitiful little pout beginning to form. “We didn’t even do anything naughty. How could we forgo such an opportunity?”
“I’ll let you grope me once.”
“Hell yeah!” Ava expresses before reaching over with both her hands, squeezing both boobs unsuspectingly.
Beatrice huffs. Of course . She’s standing before dinner can be delayed any further. A crisp smack reverberates through the bathroom as Ava’s hand makes contact with one of her buttocks. “Ava!”
“I couldn’t resist!”
She’s out of the tub now holding a towel up for Ava, who has stood but isn’t facing her. “Turn around.”
“ Every now and then I get a little bit lonely, and you’re never coming around. ”
“Oh my God! Turn around!”
“ Every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears! ”
Beatrice rolls her eyes.
“ Turn around, bright eyes! ”
“ Every now and then I fall apart! ”
“ Turn around, bright eyes! ”
“ Every now and then I fall apart! ”
“ AND I NEED YOU NOW TONIGHT! AND I NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER!
AND IF YOU ONLY HOLD ME TIGHT! WE’LL BE HOLDING ON FOREVER! ”
“ I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark! We're living in a powder keg an— ” The kiss stops Ava instantly and it’s enough of a distraction to towel her down. It doesn’t last long though because Ava breaks free and grips her hand, tugging them both into the bedroom. “ I REALLY NEED YOU TONIGHT! ”