Too upset to paint, too upset to listen to music, too upset to do anything but pace up and down, Kathryn did just that. At this rate she’d have no bedroom carpet left.
She’d heard Anika drive away at top speed and now, not only was she angry, but she was worried as well.
“This is ridiculous!” she argued with herself. Going to her purse she rummaged around for her cell only to realise the battery was flat. Of course. Her cursing would make a sailor proud. She placed it on charge and grabbed the landline, only to realise she didn't know Anika's number by memory. Great. Just great. Deflated, she plopped down on the edge of her bed.
Snapping out of her reverie, she saw that the cell had charged enough to be switched on again. Finally, she found Anika's number and dialed it. Of course, she didn't answer, so Kathryn waited for the voice mail to go on.
"Anika, it's Kathryn. I'm worried. Please just let me know you're okay."
Pulling a hand through her hair, and she decided to go swim a few lengths to work off the excess energy. Then she realised she wouldn't hear the phone ring if Anika decided to call her back.
A few abstract paintings then.. just something besides sitting here!
* * *
Anika heard her cell ring, saw it was Kathryn and promptly stepped on the gas some more. That woman! How dare she assume the worst!! Then the voice mail text alert came through. Not able to stand not knowing what message she left, she dialed the voice mail service and promptly lost all anger.
"Anika, it's Kathryn. I'm worried. Please just let me know you're okay."
The uncertainty in her voice, the concern.. it melted the anger away. She took the next u-turn and headed home again. She was not going to call though. Let her worry some more and maybe then she'd give her a proper chance to explain.
* * *
Kathryn jumped when she felt a soft hand on her shoulder. Spinning around she smiled a relieved smile to see Anika back home, then tried to cover it up with her poker face.
"Well, that's certainly, different," Anika remarked as she gave the abstract work a once over. Big angry red brushstrokes, some black, some dark blue.
The artist shrugged. "I needed an outlet."
Searching Kathryn's eyes, the blonde woman finally asked, "Will let you let me explain now?"
An auburn head nodded, seeing Anika visibly relax now that she had been afforded the opportunity set the record straight
Taking Kathryn's hand and dragging her to the studio couch, she started.
"....so Bob had to finally disentangle the drunk girl from me and physically carry her to a cab. Then he and I drove to the beach and sat there in the car talking, trying to make sense of my feelings for you, until the sun come up."
"Your feelings..for me?" the older woman echoed weakly.
"Yes. My feelings for you." an amused Anika echoed back, knowing that now Kathryn was dying to ask her what those feelings were exactly. "Let's go pour a glass of wine and we'll take some more."
* * *
Settling comfortably in the living room, soft music playing in the background, Anika turned to Kathryn again.
"I hope that the misunderstanding has been cleared up now? I will never cheat on you, Kathryn Janeway. I'm just not that kind of woman and I care for and respect you too much to ever do that to you."
Care. Respect. Kathryn felt a small twinge of disappointment, then had to laugh at herself. They had just started seeing each other, why would she expect declarations of undying love.
"Kathryn?"
"Yes. Yes, Anika, I do believe you." Grabbing her lover's hand, she continued. " I want to apologise for reacting so strongly. It's just," she swallowed. "It felt like déjà vu. My previous lover cheated on me and then left me. For a singer. Ironic, isn't it?"
"Oh Kathryn, I'm so sorry," Anika breathed. Then leaned in to give her comforting kiss. "Just remember, I'm not her, okay?" When she received a nod, she leaned down for another chaste kiss. Then another. Then another. Until they were passionately kissing, soothing away the hurt and anger and reconnecting.
"Take me to bed," Kathryn commanded.
Together they stumbled up the stairs, reaching Anika's room first. The blonde started tugging at the red head's paint splattered clothing.
"Hey! I'm not the only one who needs to lose some clothes," came the accusatory statement.
Delicate hands grabbed Anika's Tee and she allowed Kathryn to lift it over her head and off her body. Then she shimmied out of her jeans. Seeing those full breasts encased in a lacy black bra made Kathryn's breath hitch, pupils dilating with desire. Reverently she squeezed a full soft globe only to be rudely interrupted when Anika swatted her hand away. "Where is the damn zipper," Anika muttered. Finally in frustration she turned the other woman around, caught the zipper and slid it down. Seeing that elegant back exposed, then realising Kathryn wasn't wearing a bra was almost too much. Soft hands cupped those beautiful breasts from behind and Kathryn moaned again. The hands roamed down and divested the older woman of her panties. Anika quickly took care of her own underwear, watching Kathryn's desire mounting. "Bed," was all she managed to rasp.
Sinking down onto the bed, they sat facing each other. Arms snaked out tangled around each other's necks, and they started kissing. Anika trailed her hands down to caress Kathryn's back, pressing her closer to her, then pulling her down on top of her.
Spying the offensive lipstick mark still on Anika's neck, Kathryn bent down and grazed her teeth against it in warning, growling. The sound of her voice sent a fresh burst moisture between Anika's legs. "No one could compare to you," she panted and was rewarded with a big sexy smile. Slithering down Anika left Kathryn gripping the headboard, her mouth forming a silent O, as the blonde woman's mouth descended upon slick folds. "Dear god, Anika!" the red head groaned. The pleasure building and building as a talented tongue swirled and dipped and suckled. Then she was there, free falling into her orgasm.
A smiling Anika joined a very out of breath Kathryn. "Just. wait. till I. catch my. breath," she warned.
"Am I supposed to be scared," the younger woman smirked, then almost passed out when an impossibly low and sexy "No, terrified" passed over her ear and skillful hands started roaming her body.
"Your breasts, Anika," Kathryn moaned deliriously. "They are so beautiful. So tempting. Anika heart stopped beating when a warm wet mouth covered a nipple. Then it resumed beating, but triple time. That hot wet mouth proceeded to make love to every inch of her torso and then it reached the core of her desire. When she felt fingers fill her while that mouth continued to tease and tantalise she couldn't stop the run away train.
Hearing the breathy moans, feeling her contract around her fingers, thrilled the artist. It was awe inspiring to think she was doing this to Anika. Finally, the tremors subsided and she slid up that gorgeous body to rest her head on Anika's chest, listening to her heartbeat slowly calming down. It felt heavenly lying here like this in the afterglow of their love making. Soon her eyelids fluttered close and she slipped into sleep.
Slowly becoming aware of her surroundings again, Kathryn found herself still cuddled against Anika. The blonde woman had dozed off too and was now fast asleep. Not surprising since she'd not slept all night. Careful not to disturb her, Kathryn slid out of her arms. She had to go work on the painting if she was going to make the deadline, no matter how tempting it was to remain in bed with the gorgeous subject.
* * *
"Sten? Hi. I see you left a message.... Yes, it's going quite well... Yes. No problem, I understand. Jessica did look quite ill, but I managed to find a replacement model and I'm making great progress. .. Okay then, see you Saturday. Bye."
Kathryn jumped when she heard Anika speak behind her, nearly dropping her mobile phone. "So Jessica excused herself by saying she was ill, did she?" Amused she watched the blush creep up on Kathryn's face again.
"Yes."
"I must be at the brink of death then if attraction to you is an illness," Anika continued teasing.
Making a face, Kathryn stuck out her tongue.
Snorting, Anika turned to look at the painting.
"Hey! I mean it, no peeking!" Kathryn growled and gently shoved Anika out of the studio.
"Meanie! It's my body you're painting there after all."
Hands on her hips, Kathryn stood in the doorway, completely unrepentant. "No."
"Well, then I'll just take this body to my singing lesson then."
Bemused, Kathryn watched the tall curvaceous blonde pirouette and walk away with an exaggerated swing to her hips.