Consciousness returned slowly to Kathryn's mind. Swallowing to try and moisten her dry mouth, she turned over to stretch and came up against soft warm curves. Naked, soft warm curves. In fact, she was naked herself. Her head reared back and her eyes flew open as she took in a peaceful Anika slumbering next to her. What the hell? her mind tried to make sense of their two naked bodies in one bed and then bits and pieces of last night started coming back to her. Anika undressing. Anika licking her ear, her breasts, her.. Kathryn could feel her skin flushing. What in the world had come over her? She closed her eyes to try and block out the memories and felt herself being pulled against Anika's chest.
"Don't. Don't regret what happened last night. I don't."
Kathryn open her mouth to speak and had to clear her rusty throat. "You don't?"
"Are you kidding me?! Do you not know how I have lusted after you these last couple of months?" a playful Anika teased.
"Lusted? Months?"
"Yes. Months."
"Oh," Kathryn swallowed. Anika stifled a laugh.
It was becoming increasingly more difficult to ignore how it felt to be pressed against the soft curves of the blonde beauty. Just when had her feelings changed? When I first heard her sing, the answer came.
"So, eh, when did you realise you were attracted to me?" Kathryn had to ask.
"Pretty much that first week after I'd moved in." She smiled at the incredulous expression on the auburn haired woman's face. "Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Well, to start with, you hid it very well. Secondly I didn't think you were gay."
Anika started giggling. The sound was irresistible and Kathryn soon found herself grinning.
"What a pair we are! I thought you couldn't possibly be gay. I started having doubts though after that episode I interrupted with Jessica Johnson. It took talking with Mandy for me to be sure."
Kathryn gave Anika her best mock glare. "Just what did Mandy say to you?" The brilliant smile on Anika's face took her breath away for a second.
"Do you want the “PC” version?" and seeing Kathryn's bemused shaking of her head she continued. "He basically made it clear that I should make my move after the party ended, as he could see this would take way too long to go anywhere if it were left up to you. Apparently, if we were going to have 'eye sex', we may as well just go all the way. Oh, and that my best strategy was to be aggressive and keep you off balance."
When Kathryn threw her head back and laughed robustly, Anika shivered. This woman's' voice, her laugh... God it would be the death of her still. Tangling her fingers in the auburn tresses she pulled her down for a sensual kiss. She still couldn't believe last night had happened but now that Kathryn was completely sober she wanted to make love to her all over again.
Kathryn lost herself in the warm wet kisses and hands that possessively roamed her curvy compact body. Her breath hitched as Anika suckled her neck, moving ever lower until that same warm wet mouth covered one of her nipples. It felt so good and so sexy. Small whimpers escaped her throat. Back and forth the blonde woman paid homage to each breast until her nipples were impossibly hard, sensitive and swollen. Only then did she move lower, playing with a belly button, her hands lightly running over Kathryn's inner thighs. When she felt Anika's mouth on her, she could hold back her moans no longer, not knowing that it was hearing her that nearly sent Anika over the edge. Too soon she felt herself starting to slip over the edge and when two slender fingers entered her, thrusting in rhythm with that talented tongue, she came. Loudly.
A pleased-with-herself Anika slid up and took her ear between her teeth. "Gods, but your voice is sexy," she breathed.
Still trying to catch her breath, Kathryn could only lift an eyebrow. One of her hands started toying with Anika's full breasts. Sensing the need in the other woman she turned to face her. Looking deep into sky blue eyes she took both breasts in her hands, massaging, pulling, kneading, tweaking. Then she lowered her mouth. Anika felt the smirk against her body when she couldn't bite back a moan. Feeling those elegant artist hands sketch her body with caresses was better than anything she could ever have imagined. When she felt them trail lightly through her curls she grabbed the errant hand and pressed it into her.
"Kathryn, please!" she pleaded. "No more teasing. I need you," then bit her lip when her those hands slid into her folds, spreading her wetness. Two fingers entered her while a thumb stroked her swollen bundle of nerves. "More." A third finger slid inside and then she could no longer speak. Only feel. "Kathryn! Oh!" Then she was fluttering around Kathryn's fingers while Kathryn devoured her mouth in a soul shattering kiss.
* * *
Anika knocked on the studio door before pushing it open.
Trying her utmost to keep it strictly professional, Kathryn welcomed the blonde. "Oh, good, you're here! Please make yourself comfortable on the couch."
Eyes sweeping over Kathryn's appearance, Anika found herself drinking in the woman. She was once again in painting gear, this time it was a t-shirt underneath a dungaree. For all that it didn't show off her body, Anika found it the sexiest thing she'd ever seen. She felt her face flush and her took a few deep breaths as she settled on the couch. She'd come down prepared this time, already in her own robe.
Kathryn swallowed at the expanse of leg revealed by the silky blue garment. You have to get this commission finished, You have to get this commission finished, she chanted in her head, trying desperately to distract herself from the beautiful woman before her.
Looking over some of her sketches from the previous session, Kathryn put them away again. Those would not help. She had this idea for the painting and it couldn't easily be translated into a sketch. Taking a deep breath, she dipped a paintbrush in paint and made a few bold strokes on the page. Soon she was lost in the process of trying to capture a, well, a feeling.
"Kathryn. ... Kathryn!" she vaguely became aware of someone calling her name.
"Oh! Anika! Sorry. I get lost in the work sometimes," she sheepishly grinned.
"I realised that when you stopped answering my questions. My leg has started to cramp and I have to stand up." She tried hiding the grimace of pain.
A concerned Kathryn was there in a flash, pulling her up from the couch. "Are you okay? Can you stand on it?"
"Yes," she hissed and started limping around on the leg. The cramp slowly started to abate. She found herself in front of the easel. The painting, of course, was far from completed but she saw the outlines of the concept ..a female, draped cockily over a starry sky, while a spaceship flew past.
"Wow!"
"Hey, no peeking!" Kathryn ordered and maneuvered her back to the couch. Intending only to gently pose Anika again, she tripped and managed to pin her to the couch beneath her. Their faces only inches apart, she found she just could not resist those full lips, not when Anika was staring back at her that way.
"Ahem. I hope I'm not interrupting anything," an amused drawl came from the doorway.
"Roberto!"
His grin nearly split his face apart at the sight of Kathryn and Anika on the couch, all swollen lips and desire drugged expressions.
"Oh my God, Roberto," Kathryn groaned again as she scrambled off of Anika. The silver haired fox was not going to ever let her live this down.
* * *
"So would you believe I just tripped and fell?" Kathryn tried as she poured them all some coffee in the kitchen.
The big grey haired man started shaking with laughter, the unusual tattoo he had on his face crinkling in response.
"I may have, if Anika here didn't look like she wanted to devour you."
Anika hastily looked down at her mug of coffee when she received one of Kathryn's death glares.
Eyes darting between the two of them, Kathryn finally threw her hands up in the air.
"Okay, I give up. You saw what you saw. I was kissing Anika. Happy?"
Wisely deciding to give up on teasing Kathryn, Roberto agreed. He couldn't keep the grin off his face though at seeing his best friend so flustered. Anika had really gotten under her skin and it suited the older woman. She had been alone for too long.
"What brings you here, Roberto?"
"I actually wanted to check how your portrait was going for the Sten Johnson signing." Trying to word it politely he continued. "You'd mentioned having some problems with Jessica?"
The droll reply made him smile again "Oh you don't have to hide anything from Anika. She walked in on us that night when Jessica started kissing me. As to the portrait, I've just started on it today actually but I have a good idea of what I want to do so it's going well."
Realisation finally dawned for Roberto. Kathryn was using Anika as her model now.
"Is Anika not a little young for the heroine though? No offense Anika, but as I recall Sten's character, and that of the TV character they created from the book, is a bit, ah, older. She is the first female captain on television after all."
Anika watched as Kathryn waved her hands. "That's no problem. I plan to age her a littler and it IS science fiction. I'm sure the character has all these futuristic treatments that keep her looking young."
"Well, seems like you have it all under control then. I'll leave you two to continue..'painting'. Walk me to the door, Kathryn?"
Giving Roberto a hug goodbye, her warning glare told him to not try any more teasing. "See you soon, Roberto." She leaned against the closed door for a bit, remembering last night when Anika had practically stalked her here.
Returning to the kitchen she gave one look at the blonde woman's sparkling eyes and started laughing.
"Well, Kathryn, would you like to 'paint' a little more?" Anika asked, left eyebrow raised.
A shiver ran down Kathryn's back. Anika was truly one of the most attractive women she'd seen in her life, never mind having made love to. Her body was shouting yes to more kisses, but her self-discipline won out.
"Anika, we need to talk."
The blonde beauty felt a little apprehensive at those words.
"I'm listening, Kathryn."
Trying to gather her thoughts, Kathryn opened her mouth a few times to start saying something, only to change her mind.
"You keep that up and I'm going to kiss those lips of yours, Kathryn. Now spill it."
Blushing, knowing she was hopelessly attracted to Anika, Kathryn forged ahead.
"Look. I can't deny there is a very strong attraction flowing between us. So strong, in fact, that I've walked around all day with fantasies of making love to you again. Oh, stop smirking!... It's just that we know so little about each other. We only met a few months ago, then only recently really started to delve deeper into each other's lives... I'm just afraid this is going to blow up in our faces and that would be a real pity.. Anika! No! Stop! Not another step closer! .. Ani- umf!
She completely lost her train of thought as Anika closed the distance between them and swept her up in a searing kiss.
"I also don't want us to blow this, Kathryn." she whispered against Kathryn's wine red lips. "However, if you think we can slow this attraction down, you're sadly mistaken. Even now I can feel your heart beating just as fast as mine. I promise though that we will take the time to really get to know each other, and continue the friendship that we started before we gave in to this." Regretfully she let Kathryn go, when what she really wanted to do was slip the dungarees off her shoulders and reveal the sexy delicately curved body hidden underneath.
Anika's eyes caught the clock against the wall.
"I'm late for rehearsal at the club!"
Bemused, the older woman watched hurricane Anika whirling up the stairs to get dressed. Of course, the way the blue robe fluttered around her racing body, revealing tantalising glimpses of long leg and cute buttocks didn't have anything to do with the sexy smirk she now sported. Sighing wistfully, she turned to wash the coffee mugs and tried to talk herself into getting back to working on the painting.
A few short minutes later, Kathryn felt warm breath against her neck and deciding it was about time she turned the tables, spun and pinned Anika against the sink, overpowering her with warm, deep, kiss that went on and on.
"Enjoy rehearsal," she husked and then sauntered up the stairs to her studio. She knew she's left a stunned Anika behind and couldn't stop the smug smile from creeping back on to her face.
* * *
Kathryn wearily stepped away from the canvas, rubbing tired eyes and stretched. Hours had passed as she painted and it was already dark outside. What was the time? Seven at night already! What a long day! Anika should be back from rehearsal...
"Anika? " Getting no reponse and seeing the dark state of the house, she realised that the younger woman must not be home yet after all. Kathryn headed for her bathroom and started filling the bath. She was completely exhausted and needed to unwind stiff muscles. After a day of heavy painting like today, a hot bubble bath was the only solution to loosen up her muscles. The fact that she loved a good soak had nothing to do with it at all of course.
When she dozed off for the second time in the cooling bath water, Kathryn realised it was time to get out or risk drowning. Too tired now to do anything but get into bed, she was soon fast asleep.
* * *
Blue eyes wandered over a naked torso, reveling in the soft curves it exposed. Kathryn was sprawled on her bed, sheet and towel twisted around her lower body, revealing her perfectly formed breasts to Anika's hungry gaze. It was very hard to believe that sexy toned body belonged to someone 50 years old, but age had always been only a number to Anika.
Another pair of blue eyes opened and a sleepy Kathryn focused on the woman standing in her bedroom door.
"Anika?"
"Good morning, sexy."
Feeling Anika's heated gaze on her body she self-consciously pulled at the sheet. She ended up in a wrestling match with the sheet and her towel and before she knew what had happened she hit the floor with a thud. Minus the sheet and towel.
"Are you all right?"
Kathryn's eyes narrowed at the laughter she saw trying to break out on Anika's face. She sulkily took the proffered hand and allowed Anika to pull her up.
"I could get used to a naked you every morning," the blonde woman husked, her laughter forgotten as she sensuously rubbed the poor rump that had made contact with the floor.
Pulling herself away from temptation, Kathryn grabbed her robe.
"What time did you get in? I was so out of it I never heard a thing."
A curiously guilty expression crossed Anika's face. Putting the pieces of the puzzle together Kathryn realised that the other woman was still dressed in yesterday's clothes.
"You never came home."
"Yes. Bob and a few of the chorus girls wanted to go out on the town a bit and.."
She wasn't given the opportunity to finish. A suddenly stiff Kathryn lifted a hand to stall her.
"You don't have to report to me."
"But I .. Kathryn? What’s wrong?!"
" The lipstick on your neck. Did Bob start wearing make-up?" Kathryn bit out.
A shocked hand grabbed at the spot. "Leena. She .."
"I really don't want to hear the sordid details. Please get out of my bedroom and let me finish getting dressed." When the blonde woman didn't respond, she accentuated it as only she could. "Now."
Deciding that it would be better to try talking to Kathryn again when she had dressed, and had had her first cup of coffee, she turned to go down the stairs.
Leaning against her closed bedroom door, Kathryn tried to figure out why she felt so hurt underneath the fury. No promises or commitments had been made. Stalking to her closet she started ripping out some clothes. She'd figure out the hurt later, right now she'd settle for the anger.
* * *
Anika ran outside when she heard a car starting, just in time to see Kathryn drive off.
"Fuck!" she bit out. She didn't even let me finish explaining. Not sure if she should try and follow the woman, she saw another car pull into the driveway. Great! Just great. Roberto.
"Where was Kathryn going in such a hurry?" a puzzled Roberto got out of his car and asked as he approached the blonde. “She looked furious.”
Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to start explaining with agitated gestures.
"It's okay. Let's go inside and you can tell me what happened over a cup of coffee," Roberto soothed.
* * *
A hand rubbed over Roberto's face.
"Well, that is a whopper of a misunderstanding."
Anika got up for what seemed like the zillionth time to stare out of the window, then sat back down again. Roberto had long since given up on getting her to calm down.
"If she'd just come back and let me explain. She must be one of the most stubborn, head strong, infuriating, arrrrgggghhh!"
She froze when a familiar husky voice said, "Please, do continue."
"Kathryn?! How did you come back without either of us hearing your car?"
"Does it matter?" Kathryn asked drolly.”
"Kath, I hope your little...drive...calmed you down enough to listen to Anika?" her handsome friend interrupted. "Things really aren't as they seem."
“Really?” she bit out. “Roberto, how can you take her side?!”
Sighing, Roberto knew that look all too well. Kathryn was in full defensive mode and there was no talking to her in this state.
“Kathryn Janeway! You know I love you like my own sister, but you can be one of the most stubborn wenches! I wouldn’t tell you things aren’t as they seem if it wasn’t true. At least just listen to Anika’s explanation, okay?
Kathryn looked back at Anika, searching her eyes for the truth.
"And three's a crowd," Roberto mumbled. The chemistry between these two at the moment could set a building on fire.
Two pairs of blue eyes swiveled back to him. He gulped.
"Call me," he made Kathryn promise before letting himself out of the house.
Turning her gaze back to the blonde woman before her, Kathryn finally barked out, "So, Leena?"
“I couldn’t help it.”
“I’m sure. Leena must be one hell of a girl.” Kathryn snorted.
Feeling her anger rise at Kathryn’s belligerent attitude, she became short herself. “Look, are you going to give me a chance to explain?”
“Oh save it! Let’s chalk this one up to experience, shall we? One we shouldn’t repeat.”
So upset she found she was shaking and taking quick shallow breaths, Anika watched Kathryn stalk upstairs. Not able to be in the same house at this time, she grabbed her keys and purse and for the second time that day a car roared out of the driveway.