by Ann Roberts
Mazie took the seat next to her and kicked off her heels. She put her legs up over the railing on top of Addy’s loafers.
“You have cute feet,” Addy said, putting her arm around Mazie and pulling her as close as possible. “It’s hard to believe that just a few hours ago you were bringing the house down.”
Mazie laughed. “It was good, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” she managed. Addy hoped her gaze told the story of her heart. She’d never loved anyone the way she loved Mazie.
They gave up on words and their lips took over. Addy explored Mazie’s neck, nibbled her earlobe, and when she grew frustrated by the seat that separated them, she dropped to her knees and wiggled between Mazie’s legs. Her lips returned to Mazie’s cleavage. She only hesitated for a second, but then Mazie, her fingers burrowing in Addy’s hair, guided her to a nipple, which she sucked ferociously. Mazie moaned and sank deeper into the seat. Addy’s lips danced across her chest to the other breast.
“Don’t want this one to feel neglected,” Addy said.
“No,” Mazie moaned.
Laughter erupted as the doors to Theater One flew open and the sounds of the party floated in with the intruders. Addy jumped up and returned to her seat, while Mazie adjusted her “girls.”
“Well, well,” Addy said. “We’re not the only ones making out in the theater.”
They watched the couple, who looked more like one person than two, settle against a pillar in the shadows.
Mazie leaned over the balcony. “Who is it?”
“I can’t tell,” Addy said. “It’s too dark.”
“Ouch!” one of the pillar people exclaimed.
Addy chuckled. “I know that ouch. That’s Jackie and Nadine.”
Mazie leaned closer and whispered, “We should probably get back. I want to make sure the temps close out the concessions correctly, and frankly, I’ve lost the mood.” She rose and Addy followed.
“Do you think you could get back in the mood?” Addy couldn’t hide her disappointment as they crept down the winding stairs that led back to the lobby.
Mazie turned and pushed her against the staircase wall. She pressed herself against Addy and stroked her buttocks. They stared at each other and Mazie said, “To be clear. This has been a fantastic evening and I’m not ready to end it.”
“Me either,” Addy agreed.
“And,” Mazie said between kisses, “as much fun as it was to sing with Tarina, and despite the fact that it was clearly a turning point for me regarding my performance ability, it’s not going to be the only climactic moment I have tonight.”
“We don’t have to do this if you’re not ready,” Mazie said gently. They were sitting on the edge of her bed, holding hands. The Bijou was finally quiet and everyone had left, including Almondine and Tarina, who were taking advantage of the expensive hotel room.
Addy looked at her tentatively and Mazie smiled, but then Addy looked away, troubled. “I guess I’m not sure you’d still want to…after what you saw.” Her voice was thin as air and reflected her fragile state.
Mazie took Addy’s cheeks between her palms and stared into her eyes. “There is nothing that could turn me away from you. You’re all I want.”
Addy blinked several times, like a toy whirring to life. “I am? Really?”
Mazie gasped. “Why are you so surprised?” She bit her lip and took a deep breath. “Here goes. You’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met. I want to spend each day learning more about you, caring for you, letting you care for me, watching movies at the Bijou, eating popcorn, defending you, cussing out your mother if necessary, and…a whole lot of other stuff.” Addy’s face brightened, giving Mazie the courage to add, “I love you, Addy. I think this is as close to a movie ending as we’re gonna get.”
Addy jumped up. “I love you too!” she cried.
They both laughed and Mazie pulled her back on the bed. “Come here, silly.”
The pronouncement seemed to give them permission. Addy’s kisses were confident, and Mazie let her take the lead, still unsure how far Addy wanted to go. She was pleasantly surprised when Addy stroked her thighs.
“I have a confession to make,” Mazie whispered.
Addy looked up from her work. “What?”
“I’m not wearing any underwear.”
A sexy smile pulled at the corners of Addy’s mouth and she went in search of confirmation, which she found when she caressed Mazie’s buttocks, situating herself between Mazie’s legs. She shifted her hips until she was on top of Mazie, grinding their pelvises together. Mazie moaned at the contact. Addy bit down on Mazie’s lower lip and broke the kiss. She lifted herself up and drew circles on Mazie’s thigh, slowly inching up the fabric of Mazie’s dress, exposing more flesh.
“Your skin is so soft,” Addy whispered.
“And you’re so beautiful,” Mazie said, lost in the kindness and vulnerability of Addy’s eyes.
Mazie slid her leg between Addy’s thighs so she could straddle her. “I want you to have some fun too.”
Addy grinned. Two fingers entered Mazie at the exact same time Addy’s tongue returned to Mazie’s mouth. They found a slow, easy rhythm. Addy rode Mazie’s leg while she tantalized her center. Addy went deeper and Mazie moaned. The kiss eventually broke, each lost in her own pleasure. Mazie cried out first but Addy followed shortly after.
They held each other tightly, listening to their galloping heartbeats and the soft sounds of affection, satiation, and nearness. Addy had buried her head in Mazie’s shoulder and was humming. Mazie stroked Addy’s spiky black hair and kissed her temple, remembering that first day when she saw Addy sitting in the bus seat, her hat askew on the top of her head.
Somehow Addy had managed to unzip her dress and unclasp her bra, both of which now sat at ridiculous angles on her limbs. She wiggled free of her clothes with a little help from Addy—until she was completely naked. Addy wasted no time, stroking her shoulders, her breasts and her belly.
Mazie laid a hand on the buttons of Addy’s dress shirt, making her intent clear and asking permission without words. Addy nodded and Mazie pulled them together for another kiss while she parted the shirt. The pads of her fingers found scars everywhere she touched. She steeled herself. Now was not the time to pity Addy. Or become angry at her assaulter. Just love her. She pressed against her—hard. Addy moaned in pleasure as Mazie discarded each item of clothing—her shirt, her bra and her dress pants. They fell back on the bed, Addy’s boxers the only scrap of clothing between them.
Mazie broke the kiss and said, “Addy, open your eyes and look at me.” Addy obeyed. “I want to make absolutely sure you’re with me and not off somewhere else in your mind—in a frozen food aisle, a carnival, wherever. Are you here?”
“Yes.”
Mazie’s gaze drifted to the scars on Addy’s shoulders. She kissed each one, looked back at Addy and saw tears pooling in her eyes. “I love all of you. Every bit of you.” She didn’t wait for a reply as she dragged her lips southward, offering Addy’s nipples the same attention Addy had given to hers. They hardened immediately and Addy sighed.
Addy spread her arms out like a bird who’d been set free. With each kiss her anxiety seemed to decrease. When Mazie’s lips reached the waistband of Addy’s boxers she said, “Uh-oh. Look what I found.”
“Off,” Addy managed to say.
She lifted her hips and Mazie yanked the boxers down, masking her hesitation at what might be revealed. Fortunately, there were no scars. Addy’s limbs were like liquid, and when Mazie parted her thighs, Addy’s wetness glistened. Still, she had to ask.
“Are you ready? It’s okay to tell me to stop.”
“No!” Addy yelled. She pulled herself up on her elbows. “Don’t you dare.” She grinned. “But I want to watch.”
“Please do,” Mazie replied.
She lowered her head, inhaling Addy’s scent and fanning her desire. She flicked her tongue against the softest skin, carefully avoiding Addy’s throb
bing center. Mazie glanced up. Addy’s head was thrown back and her mouth was open. Mazie knew it wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge, but she wanted to make it last as long as possible. She slid one finger inside and Addy’s legs tensed.
“Oh,” she whimpered.
Her hips rocked in time to the rhythm of Mazie’s finger—then two fingers—sliding in and out. Addy groaned. Mazie knew she was close. She flicked her tongue against Addy’s center as she plunged deeper. Addy came in an instant. Her legs quaked, and when she cried out, Mazie plunged inside again. And again. Eventually Addy stilled and Mazie crawled into her arms.
“Will it always be like that?”
“I certainly hope so,” Mazie said.
“You know what?”
“What?”
“That was better than in the movies.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mazie arrived at Ivy’s office promptly at nine. She hoped she looked more awake than she felt. She and Addy had fallen asleep around two thirty, but when the alarm went off at five so Addy could get home and change for work, Mazie was grateful she could go back to sleep once she gave Addy a ride home. She yawned and tapped her cheek, trying to wake up, but it was futile.
“What you see is what you get,” she murmured and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
When Ivy looked up from her desk, she frowned. “Did you get any sleep last night?”
“I did,” Mazie said, sliding into a chair, “but I think the last few weeks came crashing down on top of me.” That was only a partial untruth. The premiere had been a huge success and Mazie’s stress level had decreased significantly. The Bijou received a much needed shot of publicity as magazines and social media were already calling about “the quaint little theater” in Central Oregon.
Ivy smiled. “It was a lovely evening.”
“Thank you.”
Ivy leaned back and crossed her legs. “The movie was good, the after-party was fun, and the mini talent show your friends planned was amazing.”
Mazie shook her head. “I had no idea they were doing that.”
“I could tell,” Ivy said.
She winced. “I hope I wasn’t off key?”
“Nope.”
“Out of time?”
“Not at all.”
“Poor stage presence?”
“Definitely not.” Ivy offered a knowing look. “That’s how you got stage fright. You psyched yourself out, didn’t you? Somebody you trusted told you that you weren’t any good.”
Mazie nodded. “My ex-lover.”
“Shame on her. She’s lucky I don’t hunt her down and smack her around.” When Mazie’s eyes widened, Ivy waved a hand.
Mazie nodded again. She folded her hands in her lap, wondering why she’d been called to Ivy’s office if it wasn’t to be dressed down for a poor performance. Ivy must have sensed her unease, because she reached into her desk, pulled out a folder and handed Mazie her Program of Study. “You need to sign this and file it with the Registrar’s Office.”
A storm brewed inside Mazie. “You’re ending my program? But after last night, I know I can—”
“Mazie, look at the bottom.”
Under the box that listed the requirements of the program was the place for signatures. On the left were Mazie’s and Ivy’s signatures from September, indicating what was agreed upon at the start of the semester. On the right were the spots for signatures upon completion of the program. Mazie’s spot was still blank—but Dr. Bertrand had signed.
Mazie looked up slowly. “What does this mean?”
“It means you’re done.”
“But the performance isn’t for another two weeks.”
“And what do you call last night?”
Mazie shrugged. “A surprise?”
Ivy waved a finger. “No, that was more of a performance than any other student will experience this semester. Of course it’s not easy standing on the Gallagher Hall stage, I’ll admit that, but to be pulled up from the audience to sing an impromptu duet with one of the most talented—and beautiful—actresses of our time, and sing in front of some of the top power brokers in Hollywood…That’s more pressure than we could’ve ever manufactured with our little performance at the end of each semester.”
“But the whole committee wasn’t present. Won’t they object?”
Ivy waved her phone. “You can thank technology. I sent them the video I recorded last night, and they all agreed you’ve fulfilled the requirement for your vocal performance seminar.” Ivy smiled. “Congratulations.”
Mazie was still troubled. “But the policy states that no outside performances can count toward the performance requirement for the Master of Music.”
Ivy’s smile evaporated. Apparently she hadn’t thought of that. Mazie, of course, had memorized every line of the course curriculum for vocal performance.
“Yes, that’s true,” Ivy conceded. “The policy does state that. Hmm, what to do?” The smile returned. She picked up her keys and headed for the door. “Follow me.”
Ivy walked briskly out of the music building and Mazie struggled to keep up with her. “Where are we going?”
“Well, if we want an exception to a policy, then we should probably ask the person who wrote it in the first place.”
Mazie was confused, and her complete exhaustion made it impossible to understand what Ivy Bertrand was saying or doing. Was this something she’d cooked up with their mutual friend, Maestro Lamond? Mazie tried to formulate coherent questions, but her synapses weren’t firing, and she struggled to keep pace with Ivy.
They crossed the street to Gallagher Hall, and once again Ivy pulled out her thick ring of keys. This time she quickly found the one she needed and led Mazie around to the other side of the lobby. They headed up a flight of stairs to a wing of administrative offices. Ivy waved to the receptionist and went down a long hallway. One door was open and Mazie peered inside. Each office had a marvelous view of the Cammon Commons.
The corridor ended in front of a large white door. A gold nameplate read Dr. Katherine Gallagher, Professor Emeritus.
“Why are we here?” Mazie asked.
“You’ll see,” Ivy said before she knocked softly.
“Come in,” a voice called.
Mazie blinked at the woman who leaned against a filing cabinet, smiling. She knew her, but she didn’t recognize her—until she spoke.
“Mazie, dear, it’s good to see you.”
“Kit?”
“Yes,” she said warmly, reaching for Mazie’s hand. “I don’t quite look like I do on bus day, do I?”
Mazie shook her head. Kit wore a herringbone suit, a white silk blouse and pumps—a far cry from the khakis and printed cotton shirts she modeled when she met Weather and the kids. “You’re Katherine Gallagher. Oh, my.”
“I am. And I’ve had the good fortune to hear you sing not once, but twice.”
Mazie’s eyes widened as she remembered the day on the bus with Addy and all of the passengers singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” She bit her lip. “Why didn’t you tell me who you were when we first met?”
Kit snorted. “I don’t put on airs, and I don’t like people who do.” She pointed at the chairs. “Please sit down.”
Kit went behind her desk, navigating stacks of files, sheet music and books. “Sorry for the mess. I don’t get up here every single day.” She plopped into the leather chair that seemed three times too large for her. She looked at Ivy. “Do you have something for me to sign?”
“I do. We’re asking you to make an exception to the rule that states all candidates must perform in the Gallagher Hall music night. The committee believes Mazie’s performance last night was far more rigorous and demanding than the music night ever could be.”
She handed Kit the folder containing Mazie’s precious Program of Study, the piece of paper that would indicate whether or not she received a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance. More importantly, it symbolized that Mazie Midnigh
t had achieved her dreams.
Kit read it and smiled. “I will gladly make an exception.” She stared at Mazie. “Your performance last night was incredibly inspiring.”
“I remember seeing you, but I didn’t see your name on the guest list.”
“I was actually the ‘plus one’ for my wife, who is the president of the university.”
Mazie’s jaw dropped. “Oh, my.” She blinked. “Sorry, I didn’t know that.”
“No need to apologize, dear. But thank you for such a wonderful performance. We both enjoyed it very much.”
Mazie was about to humbly tell Dr. Gallagher everything that had gone wrong in her estimation, but Ivy touched her arm and said, “Just say thank you.”
Mazie took a deep breath. “Thank you.”
“You are quite welcome.”
She opened her desk and withdrew a beautiful fountain pen that looked identical to the one Ivy possessed. With a grand swirl, she signed her name and handed Mazie the proof of her success. “Congratulations, dear.” They said goodbye and Kit waved as they left. “See you on the bus!”
Chapter Thirty
“I’m countin’ on y’all to tell me the truth. What did you think?”
Tarina’s commanding voice seemed to shake Mazie’s cell phone. She had the phone on speaker so Addy, Nadine, and Jackie could hear as well. It was late and all of the moviegoers had gone home long ago. The group had just finished previewing Tarina’s newest movie, Love at Last, and Addy thought the title and the plot were no accident. While the story was about a heterosexual couple, Addy knew Tarina’s motivation derived from her own love story with Almondine.
“I liked everything except the ending,” Jackie said.
“I liked the ending,” Mazie disagreed.
“Why, Jackie? What didn’t you like?” Tarina asked.
“It’s too pat. And sorry, but it’s too corny.”
Tarina didn’t respond and the group looked around with worried expressions. Maybe Jackie had been too honest. Tarina sighed and said, “I wasn’t sure about it myself, but Deenie said people like a Happily Ever After ending.”
