By: Dreiser


Dana woke up to the feeling of kisses on her abdomen and hands caressing the length of her sides. In a fumbled and sleepy motion, she touched the messy blonde head responsible for the kisses that were already moving lower.

They pressed onto her skin, further intoxicating her jumbled senses. Tantalizing and soft, following an aimless path over tanned skin, kissing it as if it were a map to be memorized. A definite warmth spreading in her belly, Dana arched up off the bed. Releasing a low groan and indecipherable mumble as hands, firm in their desire and purpose, pushed her legs apart.

The blankets had long been removed because of late night tossing and turning, leaving a drowsy Dana with a clear view of Alice sliding down to settle in between her thighs. For what seemed like an eternity but was most likely seconds, Alice remained utterly motionless and the only thing touching Dana’s quickly overheated ***** was the tickle of the journalist’s breath.

But then expert hands gripped her hips and held the athlete’s quivering body steady as a tongue spread her open for the first long lick. A shuddering gasp escaped Dana and encouraged Alice on. Licking and kissing the outer folds with languid and detailed attention, making sure no part of Dana was ignored. Just as the tennis player didn’t know if she could withstand such exquisite torture, Alice’s tongue slid inside, pressing insistent and deep.

Thrusting in and out, varying tempo, pressure, and style. A simple push to a curling lick and a side to side motion, making Dana cry aloud from pleasure when combined with the nip of teeth.

When Dana’s body was flush with desire, trembling and lost to the sensations, became the moment Alice stopped. Tongue sliding out, leaving the brunette whimpering in protest, clumsy hands reaching to press against the journalist’s head and plead for her return. Another whimper sounded as Dana felt Alice smile against her ***** and blow a puff of air, causing the athlete’s hips to instinctively rise at the contact.

Carefully untangling Dana’s fingers from her hair, Alice lifted up to tenderly kiss the palm of each hand. Entwining her left hand with Dana’s, she stretched upwards to rest her length onto the tennis player. Fingertips of her right hand teasing and raking down the tan body to rest at the edge of Dana’s *****, toying with the folds. Until the brunette, made desperate for real contact, reached with her free hand to aid Alice’s entrance into her.

An amused chuckle vaguely resonated in Dana’s mind but that didn’t matter. No, what mattered was the fact that Alice was finally inside of her and she was thrusting deep, hard, and unmerciful. Not letting up in her pace, speed, and strength while her thumb played over the athlete’s *****. Rubbing and stroking the throbbing flesh as she continued to slide in and out.

Climax came like Alice’s fingers, hard and fast, overwhelming Dana and leaving her blissfully exhausted as she sank back onto the bed. Able only to groan quietly at the loss when talented fingers slipped out of her and she felt the press of traditional kisses on her tanned thighs.

Setting eyes on Alice’s face for the first time that morning, Dana smiled, tired but so incredibly happy, and cupped a pale cheek. Moving to kiss Dana lightly, the journalist revealed an impish expression and twinkling gaze.

“Good morning,” pronounced Alice with loving affection.

Absently rearranging blonde hair so it no longer obscured Alice’s perfect features, Dana returned the smile with luminescent beauty. “Good is an understatement,” she declared, her voice low and husky. Blue eyes glowed adoringly and she observed Alice, studying her carefully while busying herself with the attempt to tame unkempt locks she herself had helped to make so messy. “What brought that on?”

Lidded eyes closed in a languid motion and when they opened, Alice smiled sweetly. Reaching out to lightly trace a path over Dana’s bottom lip, she said in a simple reply, “I love you.”

Sucking the finger into her mouth to kiss it reverently upon exit, Dana watched Alice with attentive eyes. “That’s it?” she asked, a hint of skepticism being shown. She didn’t doubt the truth of Alice’s words but instead wanted to ensure nothing troubling caused the sudden and powerful display of devotion on the blonde’s part. “Are you sure?”

“Isn’t that enough?” teased Alice, moving to nuzzle Dana’s face. Murmuring against her lips for a kiss, “I love you and I wanted to show you.” They kissed, sensual and slow, taking time to savor the taste and feel of one another, parting with sighs. Alice settled into the crook of Dana’s neck, releasing a noise of contentment when the brunette pulled her close. Smiling into tanned skin, Alice added, “Plus I had a feeling you might like that kind of wake up call.”

“Oh, I liked it,” Dana chuckled in reassurance. “I thought for a few seconds I might die from how much I liked it but yes, I definitely liked it.”

“Good,” said Alice in satisfied tones, snuggling into Dana and sounding rather like a proud soldier who had just completed a successful mission.

Resting in Dana’s arms, hiding in her embrace, washed away in her love, Alice tried to fight against the guilt already taking hold. The guilt that led to her urgent need to show Dana in the most effective way she knew just how much she loved her.

Guilt caused from who she planned on seeing later that day.

—

If there was something that Alice didn’t understand it was the habit large and traditionally evil corporations had of building their headquarters out of shiny and reflexive glass materials. Didn’t they take any consideration into the idea that those who throw stones shouldn’t live in glass houses? Or in their case it would go something like: Those who throw stones at poor common people shouldn’t live in shiny and reflexive glass headquarters that could be easily smashed apart with baseball bats.

Not that Alice had a baseball bat.

Walking into the shiny and reflexive glass building, fast becoming annoyed with the click click sound her high heels made against the marble floor, Alice stared at the large circular reception kiosk in the middle of the lobby. Taking a calming breath that didn’t actually help calm her at all, Alice started a walk over to the kiosk positive that the click click of her heels would announce her presence before she herself could.

The turning of a dark head and the feeling of bright blue eyes, sharp and sparkling in their intelligence, burning their gaze onto her confirmed Alice’s suspicions. Deciding to try another not so calming breath, she formed a smile that was supposed to be confident but was more wavering and hesitant. She hated this, truly hated this. Why was it the case of nerves she always got around this woman never seemed to go away?

Years of knowing each other and thirteen break ups and countless arguments should have made her immune by now. But no, the nerves remained. God, did that suck.

Stopping in front of the kiosk, Alice looked around somewhat anxiously, staring at the passing business people and avoiding the gaze of the very person she had come to see. At least, she did that until an amused drawl said, “I’m sorry. Do you have an appointment? Because no one is allowed in the building without an appointment.” Jumping in slight panic at the formal wording, Alice settled her gaze on Gabby who smirked and lifted an eyebrow humorously. “Unless you’re here for a special reason, that is. Go on and tell me, Alice,” she slowly stood to lean across the counter, putting them face to face. “Are you here for a special reason?”

Nibbling on her bottom lip and wondering why she decided to come, Alice averted her eyes to focus on the opulent fountain in the lobby that for some reason had naked statues of cherubs. “I wanted to thank you for the other night,” she muttered, staring at the fountain.

“Did you know that your tennis player issued a warning to Lara about innocent little me? Apparently she’s none too fond of me due to our past incursions,” commented Gabby, tilting her head until her face was blocking the fountain and Alice had to look at her. When Alice ducked her head for a tiny nod and turned red, Gabby chuckled. “Well, aren’t you just the cutest thing? You’re smitten by her butch protectiveness and have gone all Chicken Soup for the ***** Soul over this girl, haven’t you?” The smirk fading away, Gabby said in sharp tones laced with impatience, “As cute as I do find that, do me a favor and tell her to butt the ***** out of my personal life. Especially since it doesn’t involve you who, unless her miniscule athlete brain has forgotten, is her current girlfriend. Not Lara. She does know that, right?”

“Yes, she knows that,” said Alice, through clenched teeth, glaring hard at Gabby and deciding to do away with any pretence of politeness. “Unlike you, Dana cares about people and their feelings. She doesn’t want to see Lara get fucked over by you like I went through I don’t know how many times during the endless joke that was our ‘relationship’. But I guess that won’t happen with Lara because now you’re Gabby Deveaux: In love,” Alice said the last part with the melodramatic tones of a voice over actor and formed air quotes.

There was a pause of silence and then a phone rang, making Gabby sit back down to answer it before routing it to the proper office. Once that was completed, she returned to her former position, leaning on the kiosk counter and peering into Alice’s eyes with an introspective expression. Then she formed a slow smile and declared, “Don’t be bitchy.” Laughing in delight as she said this, she flicked Alice lightly in between the eyes with her index finger. “You know I’ve always wanted to have a title. I will confess that the old of me would’ve far preferred to be Gabby Deveaux: Overpaid screenwriter.”

“The old you, huh?” Alice said skeptically. “Is that your veiled way of implying Lara has made you into a different woman?” Giving into her snarky instincts and slight desire to use more funny voices, she intoned dramatically with hand gestures, “The power of love has magically transformed you into someone who does all of the things she used to mock. Like having one on one dates and treating the person you’re ***** with a modicum of respect.” Pale blue eyes flashed at Alice in perhaps warning but she ignored it and went on, “Or do you not call it ***** anymore? Is it making love?”

Tilting her head in thoughtful consideration, Gabby replied in level tones, “You’re definitely being bitchy. Do you want to tell me why that is, Alice? You aren’t feeling jealous are you? Not when you have your butch Chicken Soup tennis player.”

“Don’t talk to me about soup,” muttered Alice peevishly under her breath. “You’re the one who’s dating the soup chef, not me.”

“Alice,” said Gabby her name in what seemed to be a combination of exasperation and perhaps, shockingly enough, concern. “What’s this about?” An entirely naughty expression formed on her features and she purred enticingly, “Don’t tell me that you’ve suddenly decided you want me now that you can’t have me.”

Having no idea Gabby was simply reiterating her own present state of mind, Alice blanched and waved her hands in a hurried motion. “No!” she declared strongly. “No, I love Dana.”

“Then do an emotional simpleton a favor and inform her just what this is all about,” said Gabby sardonically, studying Alice’s reaction closely.

“I don’t get it, all right?” Alice spat out, looking away from Gabby and once again staring at the naked cherub fountain. “I don’t get why you’ve suddenly changed. I mean, how many times have we dated over how many years? And not once did you change even a little bit despite your promises otherwise.” Trailing off into silence, Alice then added bitterly, “I guess I’m curious to know why Lara got you to change and not me. Because I tried enough.” Peeking up to meet Gabby’s solemn blue gaze, she murmured, “And maybe I never loved you like I love Dana but I did care, you know? And there’s no way you didn’t know that.”

“Alice,” Gabby said her name with such genuine feeling that the blonde couldn’t stop herself from looking at her. When she did, the brunette smiled softly and tugged Alice forward by the front pocket of her button up shirt. After she did this and there was hardly any space between them, Gabby rose up and whispered in Alice’s ear, “Because I wasn’t ready when I was with you. I always planned to change, to get serious and treat you right once I got my bullshit intimacy problems taken care of but by that time… well,” she chuckled and pulled back to arch an eyebrow significantly. “Who are you with?”

“Dana,” breathed Alice, a look of awareness taking hold.

“Any other questions?” questioned Gabby in dry amusement, tilting her head.

The phone rang before Alice could reply and while Gabby was busy answering it, the journalist seized the opportunity to exit the building. Simply because she wasn’t sure what else she could possibly say to Gabby as the brunette’s revelation had left her more than a little stunned.

When Gabby transferred the call and saw that she was alone, though she was disappointed she couldn’t help but also feel a twinge of pride. Her plan was working. If it wasn’t why would Alice come to see her and ask such things? Yes, the plan was indeed working.

And that was what really mattered. Not the fact she wasn’t sure if she wanted the plan to work because of her increasing closeness to Lara and her shifting emotions. No, that needed to be forgotten and shoved away. The plan mattered.

At least, that’s what Gabby told herself.

—

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRING!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRING!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRING!

“Shuddup,” Dana mumbled, partially asleep as she whapped her hand on the nightstand and fumbled about looking for her cordless phone. When she located the shrill ringing monstrosity she answered it with a bleary, “Dana Fairbanks.”

“Dana, it’s already four thirty a.m.,” Tonya’s voice, laced with what seemed to be annoyance, though Dana’s sleep addled brain could hardly tell, filled her ear. “Don’t tell me you’re not up yet? I’m coming by with the limo to pick you up at five and then we’re heading to the airport.”

“But the flight leaves at eight,” Dana managed to whine, groaning and rubbing her eyes. She looked to her left and saw Alice had pulled the covers over her head in an attempt to block out her phone conversation with Tonya and keep sleeping. “Why do we need to leave so early?”

“A number of reasons, Dana,” responded Tonya in utmost professional ease. “Traffic, airport security, fans slowing us down for autographs, that and several other options are why we need to leave early. You don’t want to miss your flight causing you to then miss the cruise, do you?”

“No,” grumbled Dana, sounding similar to a scolded child. She was beginning to wake up and that was why she remembered a few details she had forgotten to tell Tonya earlier. “We can’t go right to the airport from my house. I told Shane and them we’d pick them up at their place since they live next to Bette and she’s watching Marshmallow for us.”

There was a slight sigh then Tonya replied, “I guess it’s good I decided to call and check on you. That’s fine, Dana. I’ll be at your place with the limo at five on the dot. Please be ready?”

“Yeah, no problem,” Dana said in mumbled agreement. She hung up the phone and lay motionless for several moments, trying to work up the energy to get out of bed and change. Though it was very difficult. Especially when Alice poked her head out from under the covers and snuggled onto her body, resting her head on her chest. Playing with chaotic blonde locks thoroughly stuck in the throws of bed head, Dana groaned, “I don’t wanna get up.”

“What did Tonya want?” asked Alice in lethargic tones.

“She wanted to tell us she’s coming by in a half an hour to take us to the airport,” said Dana, absently pressing her hand down on Alice’s head to see if it would cause the locks of hair to lower. It wasn’t working because every time she would lift her hand the hair would spring back up like messy hair magic. “I told her we needed to pick up Shane and them plus drop off Marshmallow with Bette. I can’t be sure but I think maybe she was pissed at me.”

“Her perkiness throws me off,” Alice revealed, squirming around and peering up at Dana with lidded brown eyes. “I get her emotions, right? I can tell when she’s happy or sad and all that but she’s so ***** perky that’s all I end up noticing.” Resuming her former position, she said, “It’s wrong that someone can manage to be pissed off and perky at the same time.”

“Perky overpowers all other emotions,” said Dana solemnly, pressing her hand down on Alice’s hair and grinning as it sprang back up, thoroughly enjoying her new game.

Dana kept playing the game until Alice looked at her and noticed just what she was occupied with doing. “Stop messing with my hair,” she ordered in not at all threatening tones. Waving uselessly to try and stop Dana from pressing down on her gravity defying head of hair. “I don’t mess with you in the morning.”

“Oh yeah?” asked Dana skeptically. “Then what exactly do you call the specialized morning wake up you gave me the other day?”

“A present,” Alice mumbled, reaching down to grab the blanket and pull it over her head, blocking it from Dana’s touch. Muffled as she spoke, she added, “An I love you present.”

“Is that right?” Dana chuckled.

“That’s right,” came Alice’s blanket muffled reply.

Pausing to consider this, Dana smiled and slid down the bed and ducked underneath the covers to lock their eyes. “I want to give you a present,” she announced. Moving up to kiss the line of Alice’s neck, she murmured in her ear, “Do you want to get a present?”

Tender kisses on her neck accompanied by light sucking prevented Alice from giving any response other than a gasp of pleasure. In a smooth movement, Dana flipped her over to press her onto the soft mattress of the bed. Pushing the white tank top up and over Alice’s head, she shoved it aside with the blankets, allowing a cool rush of air to fall over them.

Warm hands, the exact opposite of the air, burned on Alice’s skin, tracing down her sides in a knowing caress. The rough and wet path of Dana’s tongue painted across pale skin, circling pink nipples before returning for a slight suck and attentive kisses. Shifting her attention from one breast to the other while warm hands rested at the apex of Alice’s thighs to slip under the hem of her blue boy cut panties.

Peering up at Alice and smiling slowly, Dana said in husky tones, “I didn’t hear you give an answer, Al.” When the blonde lifted her head in a confused motion to look at her, she drawled, “Do you want to get a present?”

Yanking Dana up by the collar of her shirt, Alice pulled her close for a searing kiss that soon had their tongues battling for dominance. When they parted with groans from them both, she replied, “What do you think?”

“I think we both should get presents,” said Dana, looking rather proud of her answer and making Alice roll her eyes humorously before meeting their lips for another kiss.

DING DING!

DING DING!

Frozen in midkiss, the couple moved together to look through the open doorway to Dana’s bedroom as if they could see downstairs and past the door to who was standing at it ringing what Alice declared to be a defective doorbell since it went ding ding and not ding dong.

“It can’t be five,” said Dana with a good deal of disbelief, whipping her gaze over to the alarm clock which, to her chagrin, flashed an electronic 5:00 a.m. at her.

Accepting that reality was making an ugly entrance into their ***** life and putting it on pause as of that moment, Alice decided to get ready for the airport by rolling off the bed with a thump. Sitting on the floor, she pulled the clothes she laid out for herself last night down to her and proceeded to put on her bra. Once she had the bra on, she stood to her feet, hastily pulled up her jeans and wandered out of the room while pulling a worn t-shirt over her head.

“I’ll go talk with the Ton Ton,” Alice called absently, waving backwards to Dana. “You get dressed and locate Poofy, okay?”

Flopping onto her back, resting her arm over her eyes in a gesture she had seen Alice do countless times herself, Dana grumbled, “But I wanted to give you a present.”

—

Upon arriving at Shane and Jenny’s, they were relieved to find all present had the same sleep afflicted condition plaguing them. Bleary eyed and cursed with massive bed head, they wore a mismatch of comfortable clothing that was startling to see just because normally they dressed fashionably. Well, fashionably according to their tastes, that is.

Dressed the most differently was Carmen who wore Shane’s gray Unabomber hoodie, matching oversized jogging pants, and a pair of pink flip flops. She had her head resting on Shane’s shoulder and watched those around her with a glazed half lidded stare.

Something that was a far cry from Jenny who, standing up perfectly straight, looked to be doing an impersonation of a statue she was so motionless. Except that she also appeared to be sleeping. And while statues do stand up they really don’t sleep.

In the meantime, Dana gave Bette detailed specifics on how to care for Marshmallow Kitty who slept in her arms. Bette, for the record, didn’t match her friends tired and unfashionable appearance. Mostly because she remained in her satin pajamas. In fact, the only person who was wide awake and dressed immaculately was Tonya who had long given up trying to hurry Dana along and was instead going through the tennis player’s itinerary on her palm pilot.

“Feed him three times a day, in these increments. I do half chicken wet then half turkey dry because he seems to like that best,” Dana rattled her instructions off, pointing at the various notes she had made on the list. “Don’t forget, all right? Marshmallow’s not like Mr. P, he won’t let you know when he’s hungry or if he doesn’t like the food. He’s too quiet for that, he just won’t eat at all and that really isn’t good. What else?” Dana’s brow furrowed and she flipped to the second page of her list. “Oh! His favorite toy is the rainbow squeaky mouse Al got him but he likes to hide it under the couch cushions and–

“Dana,” interrupted Bette in fond but weary affection for the athlete as she blinked her eyes to try and wake up fully. “I have your list, I have your cell phone number, I have the cruise ship number, and most importantly I have Tina’s promise to come check on me daily to monitor my care of the Marshmallow.” She formed a sweet smile and patted Dana’s cheek then leaned in to say in a mock whisper, “All will be well.”

Biting her bottom lip and looking apprehensive, Dana released a sigh and carefully handed Marshmallow Kitty over to Bette. “Okay,” she said quietly.

“I’ll take good care of him, I promise,” reassured Bette, smiling at the fluffy kitten who remained sleeping as she took him into her arms.

“I put his stuff on the kitchen table, Bette,” informed Alice through a yawn, wandering over to Dana and wrapping an arm around her waist. On hearing her voice, Marshmallow Kitty’s ears perked up and he opened his eyes to peer at Alice. Grinning at this, the blonde rubbed his head affectionately and said, “Behave for your Aunt Bette, Poofy.” For a response, the kitten licked her palm and laughing through another yawn, Alice looked to Bette and said, “Watch him. He’s a charmer.”

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t have any girlfriends over late,” Bette replied with somber humor.

“Be good,” Dana murmured into the kitten’s head, smiling sadly and moving backwards.

As if sensing that Dana was heading in the general direction of the limo, Tonya’s head whipped up from her palm pilot and she flashed a glittering smile. “Are we ready to go then, Dana? Because we do have a schedule to keep.” She stepped to one side and opened the door to the limo while she went on, “Don’t worry about your clothes. We have a layover and I’m sure I can wrangle the VIP Suite into being empty so you can change.”

“That’s cool,” Carmen noted groggily, not really noticing the comment was directed at Dana alone, dimly trailing after Shane who tugged her over to the limo. “I can’t believe I’m actually going to a public place wearing jogging pants and flip flops.”

“I think you look *****,” rumbled Shane, focusing her most charismatic smile in the other woman’s direction and kissing the top of her hand for good measure.

“Casanova,” said Carmen into a kiss as they climbed inside the limo.

Alice and Dana soon followed which left only Tonya and Jenny. The latter hadn’t moved the tiniest bit and the former was studying her with a veiled gaze of contemplation. There was just the sound of birds chirping and the four women inside the limo peered through the open door to watch Tonya approach the motionless Jenny. She stopped just a breath away from the skinny brunette and then lifted a hand to hold it in front of Jenny’s face. And then?

Then Tonya, with the utmost of ease and smooth practice, snapped her fingers loudly three times and in a zig zag motion. “Wake up!” she announced.

Like magic, or a bad joke, Jenny’s stormy eyes popped open and studying Tonya languidly, she asked, “Are we there yet?”

Staring at Jenny for a long moment, Tonya shook her head and hooked their arms to lead her over to the limo. “No,” she chuckled as she pulled the writer inside. “But I wish we were.”

—

Unusual as it might seem, the plane flight several hours long had helped liven the group of friends or at the very least, wake them up. Of course, it did help that Tonya was as good as her word and wrangled them the VIP Suite in the airport along with some much needed refreshing showers. Now they were settled in yet another limo, on route to the Olivia cruise listening with increasing admiration for Tonya’s managerial skills as she ran through Dana’s itinerary.

“Once we board, you have three hours to yourself and then at six o’clock you’ll have a meet and greet with the captain, just to say hi,” Tonya murmured, looking up at Dana who nodded at her. Looking back to her palm pilot and tapping on it, she continued, “You and Alice will be eating at his table, seating starts at seven so don’t be late…”

“Where will you be?” asked Dana, frowning.

Waving her right hand that held a stylus, Tonya replied, “Wining and dining the Olivia cruise reps, of course. By the time this cruise is over I plan on having a host of related promotions they’ll be begging for you to be a part of.” She tapped on the palm pilot and said absently, “Do me a favor and tell me if you’re not enjoying yourself, Dana. My job as your Manager is to make you money and ensure your professional success. I can hardly do that if I have you involved in events you loathe being a part of.”

“Tell Tonya if the cruise sucks, you guys,” Alice interpreted, chuckling and forming an innocent expression when Tonya stared at her with a deadpan expression.

“Exactly,” said Tonya as she pointed the stylus at Alice. Looking back to the palm pilot, she said, “That’s the only thing that will be going on tonight. Tomorrow morning, however, you’ll have the first of your five panels, Dana. This one is a general meet and greet which should be fairly tame. That’s happening at nine a.m. and then you’ll be free until one p.m. which is when I have you booked for an autograph session.”

“That’s a big gap of time,” noted Shane, arching an eyebrow.

“It’s on purpose,” Tonya answered rather carelessly, tapping at her palm pilot still. “I did it to give Dana time with Alice.” Before anyone could reply, Tonya went on, “I tried to give Dana gaps between all of her obligations so she would have free time for herself. I think I planned it well. The only problem,” she intoned these words darkly and her jaw clenched slightly. “Would be the fans. This isn’t like normal celebrity events, there’s constant intermingling which means they have countless opportunities to approach Dana. It is foreseeable that they could suck away whatever personal time I’ve allotted, no matter how well I’ve planned.”

“Oh come on,” said Carmen, laughing. “They can’t be that bad.”

Dragging her gaze away from her palm pilot, Tonya stared Carmen down and said in staid response, “They can. Trust me on that.” The limo came to a halt and instantly, Tonya’s mood shifted and smiling brightly, she declared, “We’ve arrived!”

The women moved together to peer out the limo windows at the large ship and Alice whistled appreciatively. “Wow,” she said, grinning as she looked to Dana. “That is one big boat.”

Staring at the ship and lost in her various nightmarish scenarios about it sinking due to paranoia ingrained from her father’s total lack of traveling adventure, Dana muttered, “The bigger the boat the faster it sinks.”

Following Tonya out of the limo and taking Dana’s hand in her own, Alice tugged the brunette to her so they were standing not a breath apart off to one side of the vehicle as to not block their friends exit. “Aren’t we morbid?” she drawled. Alice smiled mischievously then slid forward to sing softly in Dana’s ear, “Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you.” Nudging the athlete, she encouraged playfully, “Your turn.”

Unable to help being just a little amused, Dana rolled her eyes and pulled back to finish the lyric half heartedly, “That is how I know you go on.”

“Far across the distance and spaces between us,” Alice kept singing, grinning wide and swinging Dana’s hands in her own as she walked backwards to the ship. “You have come to show you go on. Near, far, wherever you are…” She waved her hands expressively about ala Celine Dion and gained the attention of several other boarding passengers.

Twelve of which were women dressed entirely in bad Hawaii print shorts who grinned at Alice and sang with her, “I believe that the heart does go on.”

Laughing in delight that strangers were willing to play her game, Alice spun to walk next to Dana, grinning happily when the tennis player slung an arm over her shoulders. “Once more you open the door,” she looked to her right at Shane who had on her ‘I’m way too cool for this kind of *****’ expression and poked her in the side. “Take it, Shane!”

“I refuse,” stated Shane, staring Alice down.

“You’re no fun,” said Alice, pouting then ducking around Shane to look at Carmen. “Then will you take it, Carmen?”

“I will,” laughed Carmen, ruffling Shane’s already haphazard locks then continuing with the song in husky tones, “And you’re here in my heart.” Finished singing, Carmen kissed Shane’s cheek who found herself blushing against her will and hating her fair skin.

Glancing around to see their sing along had attracted more ship goers, Alice waved her hands in a perfect Celine impersonation and declared, “Everybody!”

“And my heart will go on and on,” sang the amused voices of around thirty women who suddenly found the long wait to board the ship not quite so boring after all.

“Love can touch us one time,” Alice sang, letting Dana pull her closer yet while they slowly made their way to the ship. “And last for a lifetime. And never go till we’re gone.” Seeing Jenny jogging to catch up wearing that cute expression of utter glee she sometimes had, she called out to her, “Your turn, Jenny!”

Storm blue eyes going wide, Jenny froze and stared at Alice then said rather sheepishly, “I don’t know the next lyric.”

“I do,” offered a tall blonde with a glittering smile. She peered over at Alice and said, “Does the ringmaster care if I lend a hand?”

“This is a public singing session,” said Alice, waving at the blonde. “By all means, help my lyric ignorant friend. I’m sure she won’t mind. Right, Jenny?”

“No, not at all,” said Jenny, wearing a sweet smile.

“Good,” the blonde grinned and leaned in to murmur in Jenny’s ear. Once she pulled back, she said, “Ready then?”

“Ready,” Jenny nodded and they paused for a moment then sang together, “Love was when I loved you. One true time I hold to. In my life we’ll always go on.”

“Near, far, wherever you are,” Alice went back to singing the lead vocals and reveling in the fact she now had around fifty or more strangers invested in her random silliness. It was now up to fifty as the singing had grown louder and attracted more curious boarding passengers. “I believe that the heart does go on. Once more you open the door. And you’re here in my heart… everybody again!” she announced.

“And my heart will go on and on,” the boarding women sang loud and proud and perhaps more than a little off key at that.

“There is some love that will not go away,” offered up Dana shyly, ducking her head down to hide against Alice’s neck who grinned in happy surprise at her impromptu singing.

“You’re here, there’s nothing I fear,” sang Alice, turning around to face the crowd of women playing her game which might have been around sixty to seventy at this point. They were at the edge of finally boarding the ship which would bring their fun to an effective end. “And I know that my heart will go on. We’ll stay forever this way. You are safe in my heart. Andddd,” she drew the word out and gestured expressively. “Everybody all together now!”

“My heart will go on and on,” sixty or seventy complete strangers sang together all wearing almost the exact same expression of giddy enjoyment.

The final lyric sung, Alice clapped and cupping her hands over her mouth, she proclaimed, “Good job people! Now lets board this boat and pray it won’t sink!”

Appearing from out of nowhere amidst the hoots and laughter from the women involved with the sing along, Tonya smoothly moved past Alice to look at her in amusement. “Trips are never boring with you, are they, Alice?” she asked in droll tones.

“I do my best to entertain,” said Alice impishly.

“Like monkeys after a banana,” Tonya chuckled, disappearing into the ship and leaving Alice frowning thoughtfully behind.

Looking to Dana who wore a matching frown on her tanned features, Alice bumped their hips and drawled, “You think she meant–”

“No, Al,” Dana groaned loudly, grabbing the journalist’s hand and pulling her inside the ship to effectively end the conversation before it started. “Tonya did not mean SWAT monkeys.”

—

When Tonya was right, Tonya was right, thought Alice wearily, flopping down on the sadly underused bed in the suite she shared with Dana and staring at the ceiling. They were on the third day of the cruise and despite Tonya’s immaculate planning, her prediction about the fans sucking away what free time the tennis player had was entirely correct.

She had just left after waiting around futilely for more than an hour for Dana to escape the crowd of fans still waiting for her attention after an autograph session of all things. It wasn’t that she was jealous or anything like that. I mean, she was used to this sort of thing because of her mother but Alice did wish she could spend a little more time with Dana.

In fact…

Sitting up on the bed and doing some math in her head, a knock sounded on her door just as she muttered, “*****.” Looking towards it and trying not to work up the hope it was Dana sans her keys, Alice called, “It’s open!”

Big hair and big ***** were the first thing Alice saw and that meant it was certainly not Dana. No, instead it was the person she had been seeing the most of so far: Tonya. Who, strangely enough, wasn’t really getting on Alice’s nerves the slightest bit. Maybe that was because she was the only person trying to help her see Dana. Even if the fans foiled most of the attempts.

“Hey Ton,” said Alice absently.

“Your forehead is wrinkled and your mouth is frowned,” observed Tonya, studying Alice with knowing eyes. “Why is that? Do we have a problem?”

“Not really, unless you count me adding up the time that’s passed since I was alone with Dana and it being more than twenty four hours a problem,” drawled Alice sardonically.

“I hate fans,” Tonya hissed and sank down into a nearby chair. “I will acknowledge that I used to be among their numbers but at least I had a goal for my encounters, you know. I didn’t stalk people to ask inane questions like: boxers or briefs?”

“When’s her next panel?” asked Alice, flopping back on the bed and trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her time. Well, what she wanted to do with her time other than be alone with Dana because that apparently wasn’t happening.

“An hour,” said Tonya with a sigh. “Would you like me to scare them off? I can make a statement about her being tired and we can get her out of there as soon as it’s done.”

“No,” Alice groaned miserably. “I don’t want you to do that. I mean, this sucks, yeah, but it’s totally part of Dana’s job. If I go and do something like that… I don’t know. I have a feeling the fans would find out and resent me or whatever. Besides, I know Dana likes talking with them. Even if they’re kind of keeping her away from me at the moment. I dunno. I guess I’ll take Shane up on her offer to go swimming then stop by the panel with them. We can go back to that when it’s over if Dana’s swamped by people again.”

A long pause of silence caused Alice to look curiously at the other woman who wore an expression of subdued admiration as she murmured, “I couldn’t do that.”

“What?” asked Alice, blinking in confusion. “Go swimming?”

“Share her,” said Tonya, meeting Alice’s eyes for a steady gaze. “We don’t discuss my past with Dana and by all means, I wish that trend to continue. But I do want you to know that I could never do what you’re doing right now and I think that, more than anything, shows how good you are for her in the long term status of her life.”

“Thanks,” said Alice wryly, not quite sure where the complement was coming from but truly believing Tonya was honest in what she was saying. “The thing is though… I’m not really sharing her. They don’t know Dana, these fans of hers. Sure they might think they do by quizzing her and watching her and who knows what else but they don’t, not really.” A soft smile formed and Alice got lost in thinking about the things she found most endearing in the tennis player. “They don’t know the little stuff that ends up making that big picture. You know, like how she refuses to toast her bread and has to broil it or how she gets homesick on the second day of any tournament, even if it is just a different city in California.” Shrugging her shoulders, Alice finished, “It’s hard to get mad when I think on how I get to see a side to Dana they never will. And I guess it’s also like what you said, I’m there long term. What do they have? Just this cruise most likely. Let them have their time with her.” A naughty smile spreading on her face, Alice drawled, “I’ll trap her alone with me for a week once we hit dry land.”

“I’m sure she’ll like that,” Tonya chuckled, rising to her feet. “I guess I’ll see you at the panel in an hour.” She studied Alice closely and murmured, “Are you sure you don’t want me to scare them off?” A slightly evil smile formed and she clucked her tongue. “I am extremely talented at it, I’ll have you know.”

“Oh, I know,” laughed Alice, shaking a finger at Tonya. “And don’t you dare. They’ll just blame me for it and create little blonde Dana Fairbanks girlfriend effigies to burn.”

“God,” Tonya rolled her eyes. “I’m stuck on that woman who actually had the nerve to ask about my engagement to Dana ending and her ‘whirlwind’ romance with you beginning while both of us were clearly sitting in the audience.”

“I know,” said Alice irritably, her nose wrinkling in distaste. “I said I don’t mind the fans, okay? But her I mind. And not just because she was wearing a pink tank top three sizes too small with black and blue plaid shorts. Though that is good reason.”

“Plaid is evil,” declared Tonya as if it were an absolute truth. Heading out the door, she said, “I’ll see you at the panel in an hour then. If that woman is there, I should at least be allowed to scare her away from Dana. Give me that.”

“Scare away!” shouted Alice, grinning as Tonya gave her a backwards thumbs up.

—

A little red and white polka dotted bikini.

That was the only thing registering in Dana’s mind for entire length of what seemed to be her hundredth panel but she knew in reality was only her third. That and the little red and white polka dotted bikini was currently all Alice was wearing. That and the bikini was wet, clinging to the blonde’s body perfectly outlining her curves. That and also the fact she hadn’t been alone with girlfriend in who knows how long. That and she really, really, really wanted to kiss Alice along with doing some other more graphic things.

For Dana, it was the panel that never ends and people just kept asking questions and questions as if they were her friends. She wasn’t quite sure how she got through it because Alice and her wet bikini coupled with not being able to be alone with her girlfriend had frozen the athlete’s brain. Then there was the fact that despite the panels having different topics the same questions kept being asked over and over again.

Dana thought she might scream if another woman asked in a teasing way if they could either date/kiss/marry/have ***** with her before the cruise was over. In a strange way she was starting to understand what it was like to be Shane when the hair stylist was in the throws of her multiple dating frenzy and wanted certain girls to leave her alone but they just wouldn’t.

The problem for her was that she wasn’t nowhere as smooth as Shane and had no idea how to nicely blow someone off. Especially when they sort of paid to have their questions answered by you in the first place.

But who cared about that.

Alice in her bikini, smiling warmly at her, rising to her feet and weaving her way through the crowd. Now that Dana cared about. Particularly since it was currently going on.

“Dana,” the words were barely out of Alice’s mouth when the tennis player grabbed her by the hand and yanked her forward for a kiss. When they finally parted, she said in dim amazement, “Hello to you too.”

“I want to get out of here,” Dana murmured in Alice’s ear, her hands sliding down her body to rest at her hips. “Do you want to get out of here? Lets get out of here, Al.”

“But your fans,” Alice half protested, turning to look at the shell shocked women who seemed to be recovering from seeing Dana kiss her and were headed their way.

“Tonya will take care of them,” said Dana hastily, looking to her Manager with pleading and desperate eyes. “Won’t you?”

“I definitely will,” Tonya said with a wide smile, looking very pleased with finally being allow to scare some fans off.

“But–” Alice started to protest again but found herself cut short by Dana tugging her through the sea of women on a mad quest for privacy.

Thanks to the tennis player’s speed and natural athleticism, they easily disappeared into the crowd. They were soon dodging right and left like experts, running hand in hand through the ship. Happy in the way that a small child is when they do something they know they shouldn’t but go ahead and do anyway and it becomes that much more fun. Laughing and tumbling around a corner, Dana spotted an opening elevator and gripping Alice’s hand firmly, she decided to make a try for it.

Pushing through the slight crowd waiting to board the elevator, Dana pulled Alice inside with enough strength to propel her against the far wall then positioned herself at the entrance, to put each foot at the edge of the doors, thereby blocking any attempts to come inside. Pressing the close button at a rapid pace, Dana could mildly hear the requests for autographs and inappropriate questions about her personal life.

That was of little consequence. The only thing Dana was aware of was that this was the first time she would be alone with Alice in over twenty four hours. She couldn’t help but wonder how she’d get through the out of town tournaments if the writer couldn’t attend for some reason. Any worries she had vanished the second the elevator doors finally shut.

When they did, Dana slammed down on the emergency stop button and the elevator came to a jerky halt. Then Alice, her voice filled with confusion, said Dana’s name hesitantly.

There was silence then Dana turned to reveal an expression of pure need and eyes dark from desire. “Twenty six hours, seventeen minutes and,” she paused to glance at her watch. “Forty two seconds.” Looking back to Alice who remained pressed against the far wall of the elevator, Dana closed the distance between them. Their lips a tiny movement apart as she said in a low throaty utterance, “That’s how long since I’ve gotten to be alone with you.”

“I think you missed me, huh?” Alice laughed nervously because as turned on as she was by this new side to Dana she was also a little nervous about it too. Though it was a good kind of nervous. Similar to how she felt the first time they made love.

“Big understatement,” Dana chuckled and dipped her head down to capture Alice’s lips for a searing kiss. While she did, one arm wrapped around the blonde’s waist to pull them close as the other reached up, allowing a warm hand to cup a full breast through the damp material of her bikini top. When they parted, Dana cupped both ***** in her hands, gazing at them as she murmured, her words thick with passion, “Do you know I couldn’t think of anything but you during that whole panel? As soon as I saw you show up in this bikini…” Dana peered at Alice who swallowed visibly at the clear want she saw in dark blue eyes, making the tennis player smile at this reaction. Tracing a finger down between the valley of porcelain *****, effectively removing the bikini top along the way, Dana held Alice’s gaze in a powerful grasp. “I think you were trying to tease me by wearing this, weren’t you?”

Shivering at the sensation of the bikini top, still damp from her swim earlier, sliding down her body, Alice’s eyes fluttered shut. “Maybe,” she allowed, some part of her relishing and wanting the sweet torture of anticipation to go on.

“Maybe,” echoed Dana, a slow smile forming. Moving to put their lips millimeters apart, she murmured, “Bad Alice.” Then she pulled away to press a lingering kiss onto Alice’s collarbone. “Do you want me to show you what you did? What I was thinking of doing to you during that entire panel?” The athlete was crouching, lips on Alice’s left hip, her left hand gripping it while her right lay flat against her *****, resting on the bikini bottom wet from both water and lust. Peering up at Alice, her gaze ardent, she asked in a guttural demand, “Do you?”

Trembling and swept up in her desire, Alice caressed Dana’s tanned features and whispered in a fevered plea, “Yes. God, Dana,” she groaned, voice quivering. “Show me.”

The blonde watched a smile of satisfaction form and then with an efficient tug of a hand, she felt a rush of cool air against her skin as she was now fully naked. Alice gasped at the feeling and cried softly at the press of Dana’s lips, a hinting teasing lick at her *****, taking a small taste. And then the tennis player rose up, wrapping an confident arm around Alice’s waist, pulling her into Dana, away from the wall, leaving the athlete as her only means of support.

“I’ll show you,” said Dana in a fierce promise, her right hand sliding between them to toy outside Alice’s *****. Slipping in and parting the folds, rubbing her *****, then sliding out of her to trace over fine hairs that were barely present thanks to a very recent waxing. Alice cried out again and Dana whispered, breath tickling her skin, “I’ll show you everything.”

Dana kissed Alice hard and thorough, tongue seeking entrance, sucking on the journalist’s, tasting all she could and returning for more. As if nothing else mattered but pleasing the other woman and perhaps that was true. It felt like that during the panel. Though she had smiled and joked and answered often idiotic questions, Dana hadn’t been there for it. She had been here. Making love to Alice, kissing her deep and sliding inside of her, taking all the writer was for her own. Wanting everyone to know, to see, what Alice was to her. That she was Dana’s love, her life, her source of happiness, and, my god, the cause of overwhelming passion.

Feeding on Alice’s lips, tugging at them insistent and eager, Dana held the blonde’s *****, soaked with desire and excitement in her hands. Swallowing the entreaties for further contact into the next kiss, Dana sucked on a pink tongue, drawing Alice in deep before she gave in and slipped a single finger inside.

Her other fingers played at the folds, teasing and stroking, leaving light brushes over her ***** while Dana kissed Alice still. Kissed her slow and steady and endless. Then she slipped another finger inside, adding to the upstroke, her free arm holding Alice tighter against her body as they rose together.

Their lips parted with a gasp and Alice managed to say breathlessly, “More.”

“More what, Al?” asked Dana in a growl, just as breathless but sure and confident in the moment, in her own power.

“More of you,” Alice shuddered, head tipping back and moaning as Dana sucked on the now exposed line of her neck. “More fingers, Dana. Please.”

It was a request that Dana could hardly refuse. Especially when the word please was part of it. And so, all four fingers thrust into Alice, making her mouth open in a wide ‘o’ and release what Dana thought could possibly be a growled utterance of the word *****.

Arm holding firm, keeping Alice close against her, Dana thrust up into the blonde, who arched and moved with her. Both women rising with each motion upward, with each hard thrust, straining together, lifting up to reach the final goal that was Alice’s *****. The only sound in the elevator was their muted gasps and their bodies sliding together.

Tasting the sweat of Alice’s skin, tracing the line of her jaw, Dana said in a rough and desperate request, “Come for me. I want you to come for me.”

“Dana,” Alice could only whimper, lost in the sensations.

“Come for me, Al,” growled Dana insistently, seizing Alice’s mouth for a deep kiss. Murmuring against her lips when they parted, “Please baby.”

“Dana,” said Alice again, gasping and shivering and drowning in the other woman as the ***** finally seized her and swept her up in a dizzying moment of pure sexual release.

The froze together in the upstroke, pressed impossibly close, Alice’s head tipped back, her mouth open in a wordless cry, Dana resting against her face, kissing her cheek, tasting pale skin. Then Alice sank down into Dana’s arms, head buried in the crook of her neck, moaning and quivering when fingers slipped out from her body. The tennis player wrapped her up in a tender embrace, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.

“I love you,” murmured Dana through the kiss.

“I love you too,” was Alice’s faint reply. She remained in Dana’s arms, face in the crook of her tanned neck as she said in muffled tones, “No more panels for you and no more bikinis for me. I couldn’t survive it.”

Laughing happily, Dana said, “Now you know how I felt after your morning wake up call. You can consider this my revenge.”

“This was revenge?” remarked Alice, looking curiously at Dana.

“Oh yeah,” Dana drawled, smiling big.

“You’re tricky, Fairbanks,” said Alice with a scowl, grabbing Dana’s nose with her thumb and index finger. “Very tricky but I’ll have you know, I won’t let you get away with this.”

“Leb bo by bose,” Dana stated in nasal impatience.

“I don’t know,” said Alice, considering it thoughtfully. “Should I let go of your nose or should I hold it and formulate my revenge for your revenge? Both are appealing options.”

Dana opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by a buzzing mechanical voice saying in sporadic enunciation, “Elevator… all right… crew… maintenance coming…”

For a single endless moment they remained frozen and then they sprang apart, Alice scrambling for her bikini and Dana pressing the intercom button. “No, no! We’re fine, we think we hit a wrong button or something,” said Dana anxiously, glancing back at Alice who had her bikini bottoms on and was working on the top.

“Need… maintenance.. sending down… force open… doors…” Was the buzzy reply.

“No!” Dana practically shrieked, whirling around to face Alice who finished tying the bikini top.

When Alice gave her nod of consent, Dana whapped the emergency stop button again and immediately the elevator jerked to a start, heading to the deck that their suite was on. Walking over to Alice and leaning against the far wall, Dana closed her eyes and heaved a relieved sigh. Looking to the blonde, she smiled tenderly and pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes.

“Hey,” Dana murmured, her tones laced with love.

“Hey,” Alice echoed, smiling to then kiss Dana slow and sweet.

Leaning into Alice’s touch as the journalist cupped her cheek, Dana said, “I hope we don’t get in trouble for this.” She bit her bottom lip and stared at the floor before peering almost shyly up at Alice as she confessed, “I just missed you so much, you know? I missed touching you, hearing you, seeing you… I just needed that…” Dana muttered, her skin heating up in embarrassment as she went on in a whisper, “I needed you.”

Ducking her head down to meet Dana’s gaze, Alice looked into blue eyes and caressed the planes of her face in a gentle hold. “I’m glad,” she said, soft but heartfelt and strong, so very strong in the emotions her voice contained. “Because I needed you.”

The second their lips met for a simple but meaningful kiss was when the elevator doors opened to reveal a crowd consisting of a variety of people. Some of which were several rabid Dana Fairbanks fans from the last panel, Tonya with Phoebe Sparkle, the ship’s captain, a wrinkled gray haired maintenance man, and one highly amused Shane.

Of course, the last person ensured that they would never hear the end of this particular escapade. Though considering how enjoyable it was, the couple couldn’t seem to care.


To be continued…