“Between the two of us we’ve got it made then,” said Miranda. “My drawing skills are pretty basic, but I love sculptural art.”
“Do you have a studio or an Etsy page or something?” Mrs. Fox asked.
Miranda laughed. “I wish. My day job takes up too much of my life. I don’t have time to make art full time, unfortunately. I just do little projects here and there when I have time.”
“Isn’t that always the way?” Mrs. Fox said sympathetically.
“Do you want to get a drink?” Miranda asked.
Mrs. Fox cocked her head to the side and eyed Miranda. Her brown eyes fit the costume perfectly, as did her short, gingery red hair. Miranda wondered if she was a natural redhead or if, like Miranda, she’d decided to dye her hair. Though Miranda knew that, if Jenny were here, she’d say that no one else was crazy enough to dye their hair just for a Halloween costume.
“How about this,” Mrs. Fox proposed, “I’ll come have a drink with you if you agree to have a dance with me. We can’t have come to the same party dressed as each other’s other half for nothing. I get the feeling we were meant to meet up.”
Miranda giggled. “I’d love to, Mrs. Fox.” Standing up, she offered her arm to the other woman. Smiling up at Miranda impishly, the mysterious Mrs. Fox looped her arm through Miranda’s, pressing herself to Miranda’s side. Enjoying the feel of the other woman’s breasts against her arm, Miranda snuck a look behind her to admire the curve of the other lady’s bum in her form-fitting yellow dress. Looking back at Mrs. Fox’s wicked smile, Miranda felt the first flickers of desire.
“Do you like my tail?” the other woman asked, her smile making it clear what she meant.
Miranda smiled sheepishly at being caught out. “Yeah,” she replied. “You did a splendid job on it.”
“Thanks,” said Mrs. Fox, drawing herself even closer to Miranda. “I don’t know if it’s as nice as yours, though.”
Miranda laughed, leading them back towards the stage. “Oh, I dunno. I think it’s kind of cute.”
Mrs. Fox giggled. She had to skip to keep up with Miranda’s longer legs, and Miranda found it utterly adorable.
Jenny had no qualms about wearing a coat over her costume – especially not when it was raining cats and dogs. So, once she’d dropped off her coat and umbrella at the coat check, she made her way downstairs, scanning the crowd for Miranda. Predictably, Miranda wasn’t checking her text messages. Miranda always ignored her phone whenever she was wearing a costume, leaving it in a pocket unless it was part of her ensemble. Huffing, Jenny tucked her own phone back into her voluminous wizard’s robe and headed for the nearest bar.
However, when Jenny finally got the chairman of the line, her order got caught in her throat. The woman behind the bar was Kezia. And not just Kezia, but Kezia wearing a skin tight black dress with a swooping neckline and black velvet choker with a silver bell on it. When Jenny finally managed to tear her eyes away from Kezia’s beautiful cleavage, she noticed that the woman was also wearing little cat ears in her red hair and had whiskers painted on her cheeks with black eyeliner.
Jenny’s first thought was how appalled Miranda would be by the costume’s lack of originality. Her second was to wonder what the hell Kezia was doing at the party, and her third was the realization that she, Jenny, was currently dressed as ancient, bearded man wearing what amounted to a blue silk muumuu and a purple cape. Not the most flattering ensemble.
Hoping that Kezia wouldn’t recognize her behind the beard and half-moon glasses, Jenny cleared her throat and said, “The IPA, please.”
Kezia cocked her head to one side. “Jenny?” she asked, frowning. “Is that you under there?”
“Uhhh,” said Jenny.
“Oh my God, it is you!” Kezia reached across the bar to tug down Jenny’s glasses.
Jenny made a face. “Yup, it’s me. Bet you’re reconsidering giving me your number now, eh?”
“Are you kidding me? This costume is fantastic! You look just like Dumbledore! Wow, do I feel seriously underprepared or what? I didn’t realize you guys were going to take the whole costume thing so seriously. I mean, really, I guess I should have known. It is a theater after all.” Kezia smiled sheepishly.
“Some of us would like to get a drink!” Behind Jenny, an angry man wearing a paper maché mask shaped like a Toucan crossed his arms irritably.
Kezia looked past Jenny and frowned at him. “Have you seen this woman’s costume, sir? Do you have, like, no respect for the greatest literary classic of our time?”
“I don’t read children’s books,” the man sneered. “Some of us read actual literature.”
Kezia crossed her arms over her chest, pushing up her breasts in a way that made Jenny go weak in the knees. “Well, in that case, you can go wait in line at another bar. There’s a dozen of them, so I’m sure you’ll find one for that’s snobby enough for you.”
“Unbelievable!” Complaining loudly, the man grabbed his companion - a short man dressed as a flamingo - by the elbow and dragged him away.
‘The IPA, was it?” Kezia turned back to Jenny.
“Yeah,” said Jenny faintly. “Or, like, marriage. Either way, really. I’m cool.”
Kezia giggled. “Give me one second, okay?”
Jenny nodded as Kezia tapped the other bartender on the shoulder and whispered something in his ear. He raised an eyebrow at her then nodded, waving her away. Slipping out from behind the bar, Kezia joined Jenny on the other side. “I’m on break for the next 20 minutes,” she said, weaving her fingers through Jenny’s and smiling invitingly.
“I can do a lot in 20 minutes,” Jenny replied.
Kezia laughed, “I bet you can.”
“Come on.” Unable to believe her luck, Jenny tugged Kezia towards a Staff Only exit. “I know somewhere quiet where we can…talk.”
Giggling, Kezia followed Jenny’s lead. A few minutes later, as they making out in the stairwell that leads to the offices upstairs, Jenny silently reminded herself to buy Lily a thank-you present.
The party went on, and Miranda was having such a good time that she forgot to worry about finding Jenny. Mrs. Fox, whoever she was, not only looked to die for in her cute little dress but she was making Miranda cry with laughter. She had something snappy to say about everyone’s costume, and Miranda’s abs were starting to hurt from laughing so much.
“No, seriously,” Mrs. Fox waved her G&T around to emphasize her point. “What lesbian couple would come to a Hallowe’en party dressed as Ellen and Portia? That’s about as original as going as Crocodile Dundee if you’re Australian. I mean, come on. Have some imagination, people.”
“But they’re so cute,” Miranda said, leaning across Mrs. Fox to take a peek at the middle-aged couple dancing the foxtrot. “Not to mention they're kind of amazing dancers. Jesus, I can only just barely manage a waltz.”
“True,” said Mrs. Fox, sipping her drink. “Your ballroom dance education does leave something to be desired.”
Miranda pouted at her partner. “I really am sorry for stepping on your foot. God, that was so embarrassing. I can’t believe you kept dancing with me.”
“What can I say?” said Mrs. Fox. “I’m a sucker for a good costume. Besides, we make a way cuter couple than Elaine and Portia over there.”
Miranda bit her lip, “Yeah, we do.” She caught the other woman’s eye, and they smiled at each other. Without taking her eyes off the other woman, Miranda reached out to put her drink down on a nearby table and missed, spilling the martini all over herself instead.
“Oh shit!” she gasped as the chilly alcohol soaked into her costume, staining her white shirt pink and her beige pants an ugly brown.
Mrs. Fox giggled, carefully setting her own drink down on the table. “Let’s get you to the bathroom,” she said, slipping her hand under Miranda’s elbow.
“Oh God, I’m such a klutz,” Miranda moaned, following Mrs. Fox through the crowd.
“Nah, you were just distracted,” the othe
r woman winked, her thumb stroking Miranda’s inner arm.
Miranda smiled sheepishly. “You can say that again.” There was something about this stranger that made Miranda feel like, no matter what she did, the other woman would have her back.
The first bathroom they tried was crammed with the ladies all waiting for their turn in one of the over-worked toilet stalls.
“Come on,” said Mrs. Fox. “There’s a bathroom downstairs below the actor’s dressing rooms that no one ever uses.”
Miranda nodded, knowing the one she meant. She must be one of our regular actors, Miranda thought.
Quickly backing out of the over-heated bathroom, they made their way backstage and, ignoring a Staff Only sign, they headed down into the dark, concrete basement.
“This place didn’t need any decorations to be spooky,” said Mrs. Fox as they walked through the dark halls.
“Ugh, I know. It gives me the creeps,” said Miranda.
“Here we go,” Mrs. Fox pushed open the bathroom door and flicked on the light.
Miranda headed to the sink, hoping that the pipes were feeling cooperative. They weren’t. Groaning, she twisted them back and forth in both directions without any luck. “I swear, sometimes this place drives me crazy,” she sighed.
“Let me try,” said her companion, yanking hard on the cold water. There was an ominous gulping sound, a loud groan, and, suddenly, a freezing cold jet of water spurted from below the sink. The blocked pipe had been too worn to sustain the pressure and had peeled away from the wall, simultaneously dousing the women with its icy contents.
They both screamed in unison, instinctively turning towards each other, their arms coming up around one another for protection.
Then, as suddenly as it started, the water disappeared, leaving nothing but a trickle dripping out of the broken pipe.
“Oh my God,” gasped Mrs. Fox.
“Well,” said Miranda, looking down at her shirt, “at least the stain is gone.”
Mrs. Fox giggled. “Yeah, at least there’s that. But we can’t go back to the party like this,” she said, eyeing her own dripping costume.
Miranda shook her head. “Let’s go to my place. It’s only four blocks away. It’s raining outside but, I mean, it’s not like we can get any wetter.”
“Very true,” Mrs. Fox agreed. “You don’t mind?”
“Of course not,” said Miranda. “We can dry off and warm up a bit. I’ve got a million cozy sweaters you can borrow. Come on.” Taking the other woman by the hand, she led them back out of the basement and out into the rainy evening.
“Oh God, it’s freezing!” Mrs. Fox squealed as they stepped outside.
“I always did think that Hallowe’en should have been in the summer,” Miranda shouted over the noise of the street. “Come on! Let’s run!”
Chapter Five
A few minutes later, the women were slipping up the narrow stairs to Miranda’s apartment. She rented a studio apartment in the attic of an old character house that was squashed between two new apartment buildings. Despite her decent salary, real estate in Vancouver was worth its weight in gold and the attic was all she could afford.
Laughing through their chattering teeth, they hugged each other as Miranda fumbled with her keys. “Drinks, taps, keys. God, I have no manual dexterity whatsoever today!” she moaned as she leaned her shoulder against the door, trying to force it to open. Finally, the tumblers turned, and the door swung open, the two women stumbling in after it.
“Oh wow!” Mrs. Fox straightened up, looking around the small, colorful apartment. “This place is great!” Crossing to the glass-paned kitchen cabinets, she pointed to their handmade contents. “Did you make all these?” she asked.
Miranda nodded.
“What about this?” she asked again, pointing to a delicate felt-and-lace wall hanging that hung next to the door.
Miranda nodded. “Yeah, that too. I’m doing a lot of textile art at the moment. I’m working on a dress when I have time,” she said, gesturing to the far side of the room where a long, white dress that looked like it was made of cobwebs was standing tucked behind her bed.
“You’re so talented,” the other woman said. “God, you really need to quit your day job.”
Miranda laughed wryly. “I wish.”
“I mean it,” Mrs. Fox said, hesitantly touching the wall hanging with one a fingertip. “You know, I have a friend who has a gallery over on Granville Island. She would love this stuff. I could give her a call if you want.”
“Oh, I…thank you. Really. But, I don’t really have the time or...” Miranda trailed off, trying to think of an excuse that wasn’t ‘I’m afraid.'
The other woman looked at Miranda for a moment before crossing back to her. “You should have more confidence in yourself, Mr. Fox,” she said, taking Miranda’s face in her hands. “I’ve only just met you, and even I can see how fantastic you are.”
Miranda blushed behind her mask. “Thanks,” she whispered.
Mrs. Fox smiled and leaned forward, pressing a chaste kiss to Miranda’s lips. “Why don’t we get out of these wet clothes?” she suggested.
“Good idea,” said Miranda as she gently tugged the other woman’s mask off. Then she froze. “Lily?” she gasped.
Lily, Miranda’s least favorite co-worker, frowned and pulled off Miranda’s mask. “Oh my God,” she said. “Are you kidding?”
The two women stared at each other.
“But you were so funny,” said Miranda, her tone more surprised than accusatory.
“And you were so cute,” Lily replied, equally baffled.
“I…” Miranda looked down at the Mrs. Fox mask she was still holding. “I liked you,” she said.
Lily gave her a lop-sided smile. “Do you think you could still like me?” she asked.
Miranda looked up. “Did you dye your hair for the costume?” she asked.
Puzzled, Lily nodded.
“Yeah,” said Miranda, “I think I could still like you.” And, with that, she kissed her back.
The women tossed the masks onto the kitchen table, their hands busy with their sopping clothes. Her fingers slipping on the wet buttons, Lily undid Miranda’s shirt, letting it fall to the ground as she raised her arms, allowing Miranda to pull her dress over her head. When her arms were free again, Lily ran a finger down the pale skin of Miranda’s torso, from her collar bone to her waistband. “You’re the package deal, Miranda,” she murmured. “Beautiful and talented.”
Miranda bit her lip. “Takes one to know one,” she replied.
Lily smiled, reaching down to undo Miranda’s belt.
“I didn’t know you had a tattoo,” said Miranda as she stepped out of the slacks. Lightly, she traced the image of an orchid that was etched along the left side of Lily’s ribcage. “Isn’t that the wrong flower?”
Lily laughed. “My grandmother grew orchids,” she explained. “Used to have this huge old greenhouse full of them. I loved playing in there.”
Miranda smiled. “Nice,” she said, letting her hand rest on Lily’s tanned skin.
Lily took Miranda’s face in her hands again and drew her into a deep kiss. Her tongue traced Miranda’s lips, making the other woman moan. “I didn’t come home with you to talk about my grandparents,” said Lily when they’d separated.
Miranda grinned. “Fine with me,” she replied, leading Lily to her bed. Gently, she pushed the other woman onto the bed, going down onto to her knees, so that she could play with Lily’s breasts. Taking one in each hand.
Miranda kneaded the soft flesh between her fingers, bringing them together so that she could bury her face in them and litter Lily’s golden skin with soft, wet kisses.
Lily watched Miranda work, burying her fingers in Miranda’s long red hair with a groan as the other woman began to lick Lily’s hardening nipples with her tongue.
“Stand up,” whispered Lily throatily, gently pulling at the other woman. Her breasts were slick, and her clit ached with desire; she
wanted to return the favor. Miranda stood, running her fingers through Lily’s short hair as the Lily took hold of her hips and pulled her closer. Gently, she tugged down the elastic of Miranda’s panties, planting kisses as she went. Letting the panties slide to the floor, Lily stroked Miranda’s pussy with two fingers, kissing the sensitive skin where her mound joined her thighs. Little by little, Lily sank the same two fingers into Miranda’s silky entrance while, above her, Miranda moaned softly.
Slowly, Lily drew her fingers in and out, stimulating Miranda’s g-spot with her knuckles. Looking up, she saw that Miranda had her eyes closed, her rosebud mouth open as she panted. Lily smiled and bent down to take Miranda’s clit between her lips, licking it gently as her fingers explored. But she wanted to draw out Miranda’s pleasure, so, reluctantly, Lily let go of her clit and instead pulled Miranda into her lap.
Miranda looked down, pouting a little at the loss of Lily’s fingers. But the next second Lily had grabbed her ass with both hands, and Miranda forgot all about everything else. Gripping her ass tightly, Lily used it to pull their bodies together so that Miranda’s breasts were at just the right height for her play with. Drawing the flat of her tongue along them, Lily licked Miranda’s pink nipples until they hardened.
Looking up at Miranda again, Lily caught the other woman’s eye and held her gaze as she began to suck on her nipples, her tongue warm and rough on Miranda’s sensitive skin. Miranda’s body responded immediately and her hips ground against Lily’s. Moaning, Miranda arched her back, pressing herself against Lily as she dug her manicured nails into Lily’s shoulder blades.
Her mouth still busy with Miranda’s breasts, Lily traced one finger between the cheeks of Miranda’s ass until she found her pussy. Once more she began to stroke Miranda, enjoying the sound of Miranda’s answering whimpers. But, again, Lily was only teasing, and she smiled as Miranda helplessly tried to draw Lily’s fingers into her.
“Are you kidding me?” Miranda gasped as Lily softly stroked her clit. “Why won’t you just fuck me?”
“Good things come to those who wait,” Lily replied in a husky whisper. But she slid the tip of one finger into Miranda. The other woman’s pussy was soaking wet, and she whimpered as her walls immediately tried to clench around Lily’s fingertip, only to have her pull it right back out.
One Little Letter_A Bad Boy, Second Chance Romance Page 63
