Restrained Recovery
By owelpost (drakkar@rogers.com) and windrider (chelm@netwalk.com)

All appropriate disclaimers apply.

Part Eleven

– x –

Susan led Dana to the middle of the dance floor, swept her eyes shut with a gentle touch of a warm hand. Listen, she breathed into her ear, and slid her tongue wetly down the earlobe to Danas neck. The synth began to thump out a staccato bass line. The low-register floor toms, overlaid with a hand drum, laid down a subdued but emphatic pulse beneath the reverbed electric guitar, which was quickly subsumed by the bright shimmer of Emmylou Harris acoustic guitar. Like a slant rhyme, feeling out of place and exactly right at the same time, she breathed into the opening verse a beat and a half early, her voice echoing across the room:

O the dragons are gonna fly tonight.
Theyre circling low and inside tonight.
Its another round in the losing fight
Out along the great divide tonight.

The totality of the music drenched Danas senses like summer rain. Susan took her into her arms, one hand on her back, trailing the other hand along her arm, whispering listen to it, feel it, move with it, move with me, and began to lead her slowly and deeply into the dance, eyes holding Danas eyes with a gaze as powerful as a fist. Dana found Susans rhythm, matched her breath to it, held it when, inevitably, Susans lips grazed her own as she moved her hand up Danas arm, to her neck, to the back of her head, tugging her hair lightly but with absolute control, while her other hand dropped lower on Danas back and pressed her hips to her own.

Gradually, the mix slid into a second song, slightly faster, the beat more insistent and urgent, carried by the acoustic guitar, the drums slapping a subtle, almost militant cadence beneath it. Susan slid her hand down Danas body to her right hip and with an expertly smooth motion, turned her around, placed her lips against her ear. Dana could feel Susans nipples harden against her back, and the sweet flip of her stomach nearly made her come right then and there.

The acoustic guitar thrummed out a single rhythmic chord, the bass slid languidly underneath, the drums kicked into an aggressive yet understated foundation. Feel that, Susan whispered. She put both hands on Danas hips, fingers digging slightly into her, and began to rock Danas pelvis back and forth until she picked up the rhythm of the drums and her own desire. Susan pressed herself against Danas back, thrusting her hips against her. She slid her hands up and back down Danas arms, lacing her fingers through Danas, and maneuvered their entwined hands down over her lower abdomen, resting just above her pubic bone and pressing down. Danas ***** twitched and hardened. Susans tongue flicked out, found just the right spot at the nape of her neck; she kissed and licked her wetly before nipping the flesh hard enough to make Dana suck her breath through clenched teeth.

Both women moaned and now began the most ancient of dances now, of power, seduction, desire, two women moving as one. Kits eyes widened. Shed never seen Dana move like that. She was paralyzed between a surprising surge of lust and alarm for what she was seeing. Marina leaned over her shoulder, set her water down beside the console. Do you see what Im seein? Kit asked. Marina gave a curt, one-word answer, and walked directly into her office and made a brief but urgent phone call: If you still care about her, you need to come get your woman because shes missing you something fierce.

Dana closed her eyes and imagined it was Lara at her back, moving her, moving with her, wanting her, needing her, sucking and biting her neck. The song was a seductive chant of fierce longing:

I dont wanna talk about it now
I dont wanna talk about it now
I wanna go down
I wanna go down
I wanna go down

Emmylous voice held that last trailing note, echoing into forever. Susan tightened her arms around Dana. I think Im ready for another drink. Are you? she whispered into that silent space as Kit switched CDs.

Yes, Dana answered hoarsely as she came out of her fantasy. I really need to pee though. She groaned inwardly. Well, THAT was just coolness personified.

Susan laughed brightly and gave Dana a gentle push in the direction of the bathroom. Ill go order fresh drinks then. Dont be too long. She gave Danas arm a squeeze.

Susan was not expecting the dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty that delivered the drinks and sat them down sharply. Hello, Susan, she said somewhat coldly in a thicker accent than usual. Francesca sends her greetings, and congratulations on your move to Paramount.

The smile fell off Susans lips. Its nice to know shes still following my career, Susan snarked and tilted her head. How do you know Francesca? For a moment, her confidence faltered.

Shes my lover, Marina said with a smile that didnt even come close to touching her smoldering eyes.

And how is she? Susan took a long sip of water.

Wonderful. As always. Theyre wrapping in Rome this week. Shell be home next Tuesday.

I dont believe I know you, Susan said a little less charmingly than she intended, stretched her hand out.

Marina Ferrer. She didnt take Susans hand. This is my place. She hesitated, making certain that Susan would read her intent. And the woman you were practically ***** on the dance floor is a friend of mine.

Really, Susan raised a brow. Her eyes went so dark that the indigo rim vanished. How friendly are you with Dana? Ive heard that Francesca lets her women run off leash when shes not around.

Marinas face hardened. All you need to know, Susan, is that this is not your playground, and my friends are not here for your amusement. Am I clear?

Crystal. Susan broke their gaze, took another sip of water. Are you asking me to leave?

Not necessarily. You can finish your drink first, Marina said. But when you do leave, Dana isnt leaving with you.

Even if she wants to?

*Especially* if she wants to. Marina was about to say something else, but Dana came back at that moment and slid into the booth next to Susan, looking first at Marina and then Susan. There was no mistaking the tension.

Do you two know each other? she asked, looking a little confused.

We do now, Marina said pointedly. Susan and Marina stared each other down for a few moments, before Marina turned on her heel and left.

– x –

Rae pulled away from Shane and looked into her friends eyes, still glazed from the effects of the heroin. Shane, you need to listen to me.

Shane blinked a few times, shook her head.

This is important.

Something in Raes tone got Shanes attention, and she shook off a layer of wooly drugginess to listen.

I owe you, Shane, for all you did for me.

Shane shook her head and started to argue.

Yes, I do. Unfortunately, I just cant repay you in any other way than to tell you straight out and true: dont get between Susan and Lara.

What?

I mean it, Shane. Stay out of this. You have no idea what Susan is capable of.

Laras a friend.

You have a lot of friends, Shane. You cant save them all, especially not if Susan breaks you down. And she will, if she can. Stay out of it. Stay away. Rae squeezed Shanes hand, kissed her cheek and walked back inside, nodding to Susan who stood up, slipped a card into Danas hand. There was only a phone number, no name.

Call me, Dana. I really do want to do a new photo shoot for you. I have some really interesting ideas for makeup, lighting, camera angles. She held Danas hand a moment longer, letting Dana feel the heat, before pulling away and walking out with Rae.

Dana slumped back hard against the back of the booth. Jeeeeeeeeee-sus. Dana felt the ache of pure hard lust surging through her. Susan had triggered a primitive hunger in her she didnt even know she could feel, but surprisingly, she didnt want it with Susan. She wanted Lara. She wanted her now. In every way possible. She picked up her cell phone to try her soup chef one more time, and noticed she had a voice mail. It was short, but said everything.

Im coming for you, babe. Please wait.

Dana sucked in a ragged breath as her nipples hardened. She grabbed her glass of water, went looking for Marina. Im going out for some air, she said. If Lara shows up before I get back, can you just steer her to my booth?

Sure, Marina nodded.

Thanks, Dana smiled and walked away, feeling wet and slick between her thighs as she headed for the door to the rear patio.

– x –

Dana wrinkled her nose against the smell of tobacco as she threaded her way through a group of smokers outside the door, and made her way past two girls determined to make it to home base before the next dance tune. She found a quiet spot by the privacy fence where she could stand, drink her water, and try to collect herself.

A soft slow breeze, with just a distant hint and salty tang of surf, moved through the courtyard, stirring the leaves of the trees and riffling through Danas slightly damp hair. She tried to recall the name of the woman whod just put such hard moves on her, but try as she might, the information seemed to have gone missing. And when she thought about her, it was Laras face that came to her: those beautiful blue eyes so open and loving and, in their own way, innocent; her lips, her hair, her skin, her everything. Dana closed her eyes and sighed into the night.

Babe?

A familiar hand brushed Danas serving hand. Lara leaned forward to kiss her, and was stunned with the ferocity with which her lover returned the kiss, pushing her tongue into Laras mouth in a slow, deep, wet kiss that stopped her breath. Danas hand was pressed to the back of her head, giving her more leverage, allowing her to kiss Lara deeper than ever before. She stroked Laras face with her other hand, fingers lingering for a moment at her neck, dropping to play around the edge of her tank top strap and toy with it, pushing it off and farther down her shoulder to reveal the top of Laras breast.

Whatever inhibitions Dana used to have about sexual touch in public had been completely stripped away. She had never been so aggressive with Lara, and the sous chef found herself incredibly turned on by the change. A bare hint of some fragrance on Danas skin stirred an ancient desire, long forgotten, almost remembered. She moaned.

An eternity later, Dana broke off the kiss, pulled her face back, and stared into Laras impossibly beautiful eyes, matched only by the intensity of her own. Lara. I dont know what that other girl has but … With a swift, almost instinctive move, Dana pivoted Lara and pressed her hard against the fence. whatever she has, I can do so much more for you, with you, to you, in you. Her hand slid up, up, up between the redheads thighs and thrust hard against her at the crotch of her jeans. Something between pain and pleasure flared in Laras eyes.

Da–, no, it wasnt it not li–, oh, oh god, oh plea– Lara could only exhale half words in a voice made husky by the sudden force of pure lust surging into her through Danas hand, the heat of her body pressing her hard against the fence, so hard that deep in the cross rails, small wood fibers creaked and groaned and snapped right in time with the urgent movements of the two lovers.

All her athletic conditioning couldnt quite still the trembling in Danas arms and legs when she pulled away with a gentle lingering kiss to let Lara move again. Tonight, she whispered hoarsely, tonight its everything. Whatever you want, everything youve ever wanted, whatever I can do, whatever I can take. She pressed her hands between Laras legs. Lets go home.

Lara could only nod speechlessly, as Dana took her hand, led her back inside, stopping at the booth to pick up her cellphone and jacket. Marina recognized the flushes of passion on the two womens faces and sighed deeply. Thank god, she whispered to herself, as Dana led Lara out the door.

The redhead let go of her lovers hand and headed toward her car. Ill follow you.

Dana grabbed Laras wrist. No! Come with me. We can pick up your car in the morning. Or later. Whenever were through, she leered, wrapped her arm around Laras waist, and steered her toward the Subaru.

As Dana walked around to her own car door, Lara took a deep shuddery breath. She needed to tell Dana what was going on. To reassure her that she didnt see what she thought she had seen with Letitia. But maybe not now, not tonight. Her heart was still thudding from the feelings Dana had aroused in her on the patio, from the wanting and longing she felt to the very core of her being.

Dana slid into her own seat, swiveled her head and looked at Lara, her eyes gleaming in the dim streetlight that shone through the windshield. I want you, Lara, she whispered. I want you like Ive never wanted anyone in my life.

Lara tried to suppress the thought that surfaced, so briefly. If you knew who Id been, what Id done? Would you, Dana, would you still want me? She silenced her own mind by giving Dana a hard deep kiss, sliding her hand up Danas leg, feeling the soft fabric slide against her skin. Take me home, babe, take me now.

– x –

End Part Eleven