Chapter Twenty-Two

Colleen started her clothes dryer as she heard her BlackBerry go off from the kitchen table. She wiped her hands on her jeans and walked over to pick it up with great trepidation. Unsurprisingly, it was another request for an interview with the press.

She grumbled in disinterest and set the device back down on the counter. It had been only hours since she’d been languishing without e-mail access. She laughed as she realized how stupid she’d been then. She should have been enjoying the quiet information void she’d been nestled in. She’d now been back home for all of an hour, it was after one in the morning, and she couldn’t get the goddamn phone to stop beeping at her.

Of course, she had told the press a little bit ago that a married congressional representative had been busy playing grab-ass with an erotic dancer that he’d stupidly taken into a war zone on the taxpayer’s dime, accidentally getting her blown up for good measure. That little detail, she supposed, provided further justification for all this late-night pestering.

Sure, she could turn the phone off, but then she wouldn’t know if Bijal had tried to contact her—though good sense told her she’d be better off putting their liaison on hold. Colleen had seen upon reentry into friendly airspace that Bijal had sent her a couple of cautious and apologetic text messages. But Colleen still hadn’t made up her mind about the merits or the wisdom of replying, not to mention what she would possibly say to her.

It seemed hypocritical to shove a peer into media quicksand for having an inappropriate relationship when, admittedly, she was doing the same thing. Granted, she wasn’t cheating on anyone, and she hadn’t misappropriated government funds to facilitate her tryst. Technically, she and Bijal hadn’t had sex, though God knew that Washington, DC had spent enough time and money in the ’90s trying to define what “sex” actually was. It was nevertheless unlikely that anyone had thoroughly classified and cataloged all the various sexual acts and settled on their parameters with any great certainty or consensus.

Ultimately, however, the most important factor was the question of ethical impropriety that their friendship—more accurately, their budding romance—called into question. True, neither of them had revealed anything about the other’s campaign of any real value. There had been no quid pro quo for secrets or strategies—no blackmail, graft, or unscrupulousness of any kind. Well, unless you counted Bijal’s crawling-through-the-dirt-with-a-video-camera-that-wasn’t-filming-anything mission. And, honestly, that was an odd combination of cute and pathetic.

Colleen chuckled at the way Bijal had managed to simultaneously evoke both sympathy and arousal that evening. Sure, Bijal had been lounging in Colleen’s living room mostly naked while her clothes dried, so that invariably played a significant part in it. After all, Bijal was stacked in ways that Colleen couldn’t help but appreciate. Had anyone else from the Denton camp been spying on her, Colleen was fairly certain she’d have called the police, the media, and quite possibly the Super Friends to capture and expose the Denton campaign for the carnival of corruption that it was.

Somehow, with Bijal everything was different. And even though things had taken a rather nasty and personal turn within the election, she just couldn’t maintain her anger when it came to Bijal. As Colleen considered her feelings, she recognized it wasn’t simply that she hoped Bijal had nothing to do with the disreputable ads. Deep down, Colleen truly believed her and hadn’t even entertained the possibility that it could be otherwise.

The magnitude of that kind of trust stunned her. She let her index finger trail idly down the front of the BlackBerry as she again considered sending Bijal a message.

“You have no self-control at all,” she said, forcing herself to leave the room.

A sudden rumble of thunder made her thankful that she’d gotten home before this unexpected electrical storm. From the sound of it, the rain was due to start pouring any minute, which ultimately would make sleep even more elusive. She wished she’d gotten in early enough to pick up Callisto. As it was, the house seemed unsettlingly empty.

Another clap of thunder was followed by something that sounded like faint knocking. Was it possible that Mrs. Skelton was still awake and had brought Callisto by? Hurriedly, Colleen headed to the front door and opened it.

In her haste, she neglected to flip on the porch light, but it took only a moment to recognize Bijal’s silhouette when a flash of lightning in the distance illuminated her. Also momentarily evident was a hunger in Bijal’s eyes that caused Colleen’s stomach to lurch.

Though the logical thing was to speak—to greet Bijal in some way—neither of them uttered a sound. Another cluster of electricity lit up the sky, causing the hair on Colleen’s arms to stand on end as she exhaled steam into the cold night air.

A crack of thunder suddenly split the night and Bijal sprang forward, no longer suspended in time and space. Their mouths collided passionately as Colleen grasped Bijal by the waist and pulled her close. Their kiss was ravenous and they paused only long enough for her to pull Bijal inside and shut the door before pinning her against it and resuming her ardent exploration of Bijal’s lips.

Bijal’s hand moved up to Colleen’s cheek and through her hair as she pulled away and looked breathlessly at Colleen as though she meant to devour her. “I missed you.”

Colleen trailed her mouth down Bijal’s inviting neck, nipping lightly as she made her way to Bijal’s collarbone.

Bijal uttered a long murmur of approval. “I was petrified you weren’t coming back.”

“I’m sorry you worried,” Colleen said, lifting her head and staring into Bijal’s unfathomable sepia eyes. “I should have sent you a message as soon as I could.”

“I hope it’s all right that I came by.” Bijal punctuated her sentence with a masterful kiss. “I know it’s late and I should have called first, but I really wanted to see you.”

Colleen’s entire body was humming, and Bijal’s husky admission accelerated her roughly idling libido. “Come with me,” she whispered, entwining her fingers with Bijal’s and tugging her into the living room. After several strides, Colleen faced Bijal, struggling like hell to gather her thoughts through the fog brought on by Bijal’s striking features and lusty expression.

All those reservations she’d been poring over just minutes earlier…what the hell had they been again? God, Bijal was beautiful, and her inviting bee-stung lips had a gravitational pull that rivaled a supermassive black hole. “I’m glad you came. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

Okay, so that hadn’t exactly been the gentle refusal that Colleen had intended it to be. But she could still do this. It was only a matter of weeks before the election would be over and the two of them could freely embark on a romantic relationship without risking accusations of misconduct or fear of reprisal. It really was the only responsible thing to do.

“I want you so much,” Bijal purred provocatively.

Colleen, blindsided by a devastating surge of desire, wasn’t able to catch her breath long enough to utter even the most feeble argument for abstinence. Instead, she was only capable of a low growl. She pressed Bijal gently against the back of the sofa and encircled Bijal’s waist with her palms.

Bijal slowly caressed Colleen’s neck, the fingers of her left hand continuing upward to lightly brush Colleen’s jawline, her thumb running along Colleen’s lower lip reverently. “Do you want me?”

“God, yes.” Colleen eagerly met Bijal’s tantalizing mouth with her own, formally abandoning her previous fantasies of steadfast resolve. The feel of Bijal’s tongue as it stroked hers enflamed her ardor beyond its limits. Without hesitation, she grasped the back of Bijal’s thighs and lifted her so she was sitting on the back of the couch. Bijal wrapped her legs around Colleen’s waist as their kiss deepened.

In a desperate need to feel the silken heat of Bijal’s skin, Colleen grabbed the buttoned edges of Bijal’s blouse and impatiently ripped it open. She was rewarded with the phenomenal feel of Bijal’s pert nipples through the satin and lace of her navy blue demi-cup bra.

“Oh, fuck,” Bijal breathed, grinding against Colleen erotically. In an instant, her shirt and bra were both off and Bijal’s hands were frantically pulling Colleen’s shirt up over her head.

Colleen couldn’t decide which part of Bijal’s body she wanted to focus on. Her breasts were on extraordinary display before her like legendary spheres of wonder, and as much as she wanted to lavish upon them all the oral attention they so richly deserved, she couldn’t tear her mouth away from Bijal’s for more than a second or two. “Christ, I’m ready to explode.”

Bijal bit her lower lip seductively. “But I haven’t even touched you.”

“Keep kissing me like this and you won’t need to.” Colleen began fiddling with the fly of Bijal’s pants, but, thankfully, Bijal took over and had them undone in a flash before shifting her attention to Colleen’s jeans.

The feel of Bijal’s firm thighs and undulating ass were driving Colleen to the brink of hunger. Colleen pushed them both over the sofa until they landed squarely on the plush cushions below. Bijal was now sprawled on her back, and before she knew it, Colleen was braless on top of her.

Again, Colleen was conflicted. She wanted to spend countless hours becoming familiar with Bijal’s curves and valleys, but she couldn’t remember ever being this hot. If she didn’t come soon, she might shatter into a billion tiny pieces of magma-filled frustration.

Bijal slipped Colleen’s jeans down her hips and tossed them onto the floor before mercifully slipping her fingers inside Colleen’s panties. Her touch was sublimely evocative, and Colleen moved instinctively against her.

“God, you’re so wet,” Bijal whispered appreciatively.

Colleen shifted her weight to her hands and her mouth descended on Bijal’s. Her breathing became ragged as a familiar current began to gather throughout her body. “Mmm, harder,” she said desperately. She wanted Bijal to be assertive and primal with her and, thankfully, Bijal took direction well.

Not only did Bijal increase the force of her strokes, but she entered Colleen briefly with at least two fingers and then withdrew again.

“Please…don’t stop,” Colleen said.

“No chance of that,” Bijal replied, plunging inside her again.

“Fuck, you feel so good.” Bijal seemed to be everywhere Colleen needed her to be—filling her, yet never leaving her clit. The pressure was agonizing and blissful at the same time.

“I love how you move against me,” Bijal said. “But I really want you to come…all over me.”

Colleen rode the rush that Bijal’s words evoked. “I’m so close.”

“Good,” Bijal said, her fingers pumping like pistons. She nipped at Colleen’s lower lip boldly and ran her thumb in circles across Colleen’s nipple. “’Cause I need it, baby. Please.”

The sound of Bijal begging her to come was all the stimulation Colleen required to push her over the rapturous edge. Her body gave in to an exquisite ache that then ruptured into pleasure. She was vaguely aware of crying out as she shuddered, before resting her head on Bijal’s shoulder and marveling at the aftershocks coursing through her. “Oh, my…God,” she muttered.

“Okay?” Bijal asked, massaging Colleen’s back sensuously.

Colleen lifted her head. “That’s an understatement.”

“Did I wear you out already?”

Colleen pondered the question for less than a second before the sight of Bijal half naked beneath her enticed her into further exploration. She closed her mouth around a nipple as she lightly traced the side of Bijal’s breast with her fingers. After feeling the nipple harden beneath her tongue, she switched to the other, previously neglected one. Bijal’s hands wove through Colleen’s hair, wordlessly urging her to continue.

Though Colleen would have happily stayed like that until her jaw locked, Bijal was ardently rotating her hips against Colleen’s stomach. Feeling Bijal’s arousal and urgency, she traveled down farther, to Bijal’s unzipped pants. Methodically, Colleen peeled them off and draped them over the back of the couch, then did the same with Bijal’s damp panties.

Once Bijal was completely naked, Colleen stopped long enough to appreciate her magnificent bounty.

“What?” Bijal asked.

“You’re so beautiful,” Colleen replied, running her fingers slowly up Bijal’s thigh. “Let me taste you.”

“God, yes.”

Colleen needed no further coaxing. Kneeling on the floor, she positioned herself so she had unimpeded access. Bijal’s pelvis continued to rotate, perhaps unconsciously, seeking the rhythmic contact she craved.

As Colleen brought her mouth to the inside of Bijal’s thigh, then to her labia, she realized just how slick with want Bijal was. Colleen moved her mouth against the hot and hungry flesh that glided across her lips and could tell from Bijal’s countermovements that she wanted it rougher, faster. Colleen complied, even lightly using her teeth.

Bijal responded to Colleen’s increased force by jerking her hips harder. “Oh, yeah. Suck me.”

Colleen took Bijal’s clit into her mouth and worshipped it, alternating between long strokes with her stiffened tongue and small tight circles. Bijal’s hand found the back of Colleen’s neck and stroked it lovingly. Colleen slid her hands around the small of Bijal’s back as she continued to lick her with a deep, focused craving.

Bijal’s breathing became shallow and she begged for release. “Please, baby. I need to come. Yeah, like that.”

Suddenly, Bijal’s body began to tremble. She called out loudly before going completely rigid, then limp like a rag doll.

Colleen gathered Bijal to her as she settled back down onto the couch cushions and kissed her good and hard. “Are you all right?”

Bijal nodded and propped her head in her hand and stared down at Colleen. “That was amazing! Remind me exactly why we waited so long to do this?”

“I have no idea. I mean, I knew before you got here, but now a profound desire to fondle every part of you has replaced that space in my brain.” Colleen cupped Bijal’s ass appreciatively and squeezed it.

“You’re well on your way, I’d say.” Colleen captured Bijal’s left breast in her mouth and began tonguing it. “Oh, shit,” Bijal groaned, closing her eyes. “Your mouth is…mmm.”

Colleen released the nipple and moved back up Bijal’s body, studying her rapturous expression. “Can I make a confession?”

“As hesitant as I am to give you this kind of power, it’s safe to say that as long as you keep doing that thing with your tongue, you can pretty much do whatever the hell you want.”

“Do you know the first time I fantasized about your prodigious rack?”

Bijal looked amused now. “When it was smeared with mud in your front yard?”

“Well, yeah, then. But that wasn’t the first time.”

“Ooh, really? Tell me when, so I can make sure I wear whatever it was I had on again.”

“In the elevator, the first time we met.”

Bijal gasped. “You sneaky little bitch. I have to say, you hid it very well, because I still managed to walk away from that encounter feeling utterly ashamed and mortified.”

Colleen kissed her. “If you like, I can try to make you feel that way again.”

“Is it wrong if that threat turns me on a little?”

“Horrifically wrong, though, sadly, I don’t think that even cracks the top ten of the most troubling aspects of our relationship.”

“You sure know how to sweet-talk a girl.”

Colleen was utterly besotted by this gorgeous naked woman on her sofa. “Come to bed with me, Bijal,” she breathed into her ear.

“Christ, that’s the hottest fucking thing anybody’s said, ever. ”

Colleen stood, pulling Bijal into her embrace. “Not necessarily. Go ahead. Try and top it.”

“I’d rather top you and…ride you like a parade float.”

Colleen was unable to suppress her laughter. Bijal hadn’t exaggerated one bit about her metaphorical impairment. “And will you throw candy to onlookers?”

“If that’s what you want to call it, baby. Sure.”

Colleen took Bijal by the hand and led her to the bedroom. “God, I love how smutty you are.”

“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

Bijal shut the door as she entered her apartment, tossing her keys on the kitchen counter as she breezed by.

“Bijal?” Fran emerged from her bedroom, wearing yoga pants and a football jersey. “Where the hell have—” Fran froze in mid-sentence and mid-stride. “Jesus Christ on a cracker! You filthy whore.”

Bijal stood stunned. “What? Is it written all over my face?”

“Well, you do look mysteriously satisfied, but it’s actually written all over your boobs.”

Glancing down, Bijal realized that Fran was talking about the T-shirt Colleen had loaned her to wear home. It read I’VE JUST CUT OFF THE FLOW OF BLOOD TO YOUR BRAIN. YOU HAVE THIRTY SECONDS TO LIVE. “Oh, yeah. Well, I wouldn’t wear the one that said ‘Proud to be a Liberal.’”

“You wore a Xena T-shirt on the Metro?”

“This is from Xena?”

Fran rolled her eyes. “You’re an awful lesbian. What did you think it was from, pro wrestling? I’ll probably regret this, but dare I ask what happened to the blouse you were wearing when you left last night?”

Bijal held up the shopping bag she was holding. “Um, I lost a button.”

“That must be one massively critical button.”

“Or maybe it was six or seven,” Bijal added hastily, tossing the bag onto the floor. “But it turns out that riding the Metro without any buttons is largely frowned upon. The only ones who support it are the chronic masturbators and the pants-shitters.”

Fran crossed her arms and studied her for a moment. “If this was Law and Order: SVU, you know what I’d already know about you?”

“What?”

“That you went over to that woman’s house last night and fucked her until your bits were sore. Though, admittedly, if this were SVU, then you’d have killed her in a creepy way, like using a strap-on made of dynamite.”

None of this was making sense to Bijal. “Wouldn’t an exploding strap-on have killed me too?” She rubbed her eyes in fatigue.

“You think I didn’t think of that? It was a murder/suicide, you sick bitch. I told you to get help.” Fran walked into the kitchen and grabbed some bottled water out of the fridge.

“Sometimes I think you’re completely insane,” Bijal replied, sagging into the sofa.

“I’m right about that first part, though, aren’t I? Are your bits sore?”

“Maybe a little, but that’s not why I went over there, Fran.”

Fran took a long sip of water. “Of course not. I’m sure you just popped by to talk to her about why you two shouldn’t be talking.”

“Well…”

Fran sat beside Bijal and raised an eyebrow. “You jumped her, didn’t you?”

“Like she was a goddamn hurdle, yeah. It was incredible.”

“Did you get her out of your system?”

Bijal grinned wickedly. “No, but I sure tried like hell.”

Fran appeared unimpressed. “Uh-huh.”

“Over and over,” Bijal said. “And let me tell you, pretty speeches aren’t the only thing that mouth of hers is good for.”

“Jesus! You’ve finally snapped, Bij—like a dry piece of kindling. I knew you were stressed out and overworked, but I wasn’t prepared for your foray into the Congressional Penthouse Forum.”

“Sorry, I’m sleep-deprived.”

“Yeah, so I hear. Can I just ask a quick question?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Bijal sat back and got comfortable. For Fran, a twenty-minute rebuttal often accompanied her quick questions.

“What the fuck do you intend to do now?”

Bijal shook her head. “I’ve been thinking quite a bit about that, actually, and you know what? I can do this, Fran. I can totally do this.”

“Do what?”

“I can do my job well and date Colleen at the same time.”

Fran was clearly skeptical. “You think so?”

“Well…yeah, I do. I’ve been agonizing over this for weeks, and now I realize I don’t have to choose. I haven’t shared any proprietary secrets. I came out to Janet at work. She knows how I feel about that anti-gay ad, as well as a host of other things I disagree with.”

“Does she also know you’re riding her opponent like a merry-go-round?”

Bijal tapped her forehead lightly in frustration. “A merry-go-round! That’s so much better than a parade float!”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. Look, the point is that I took a stand with Janet and came clean with her. If she thinks I might compromise the campaign, then let her fire me.”

“Wow,” Fran said. “That must be some amazing pussy.”

“Oh, my God, it is. But it’s more than that. I mean, Colleen’s smart, principled, funny, and sexy. I think I…love her.”

“What?”

“I know! I haven’t even said those words out loud since the tenth grade—to Tim Crudup. Trust me when I say that the phrase ‘ended badly’ is a monumental understatement.”

“Was he the one who ditched you at lover’s lane and left you to walk home with only some of your clothes on?”

“Unfortunately. At any rate, this relationship feels right to me. I’m so—”

“Happy?” Fran suggested.

“Well, yeah.” Bijal marveled at how unexpected it felt.

“You know, I’ve given you a lot of shit over this, Bij, because I care about you and I worry. And maybe I was a tiny bit jealous that you selfishly nabbed the hottest piece of liberal ass in town, when you could have stayed on your own side and chosen someone from the pool of smokin’ conservatives…hmm, scratch that.”

Bijal laughed. “You’re such a partisan bitch.”

“Anyway, let me say that I’m really glad for you. I kinda like this new bright-eyed, blissful Bijal.”

“Aw, thanks,” Bijal cooed, giving Fran a hug.

Fran rubbed Bijal’s back before releasing her. “So, you’re gonna give some details about last night, right?”

“I have one word for you—multiorgasmic.”

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