Chapter 3 39 страница

Kylie cupped her cheek and let her thumb caress the soft skin. "And that makes you feel like you need to sleep in the guest room? Doesn't that seem a little silly?"

"Silly?" Blair sat up on one elbow and scowled. "Are you making fun of me?"

"No, not at all. But listen to what you're saying. I want you to make a commitment to me, but you need time to think. You have to be alone to do this because when you're with me, you're too happy to be properly pessimistic and see the dark side of being together.” She tilted her chin and narrowed her eyes. "Doesn't that seem a little silly?"

"No." Blair lay back down and put her arms around herself. "I have to think of the dark side. That's how I am."

Kylie put her hand on Blair's hip, then slowly lowered it until she could feel the baby. He was quiet, but after a few moments, he moved and she patted him tenderly. "You don't have to be that way," Kylie said. "You can let yourself look at the bright side. You can let that unnaturally optimistic way you see the world when we're together become natural, baby. I know this sounds childishly simplistic, but I believe it with all my heart. All that matters is that we love each other. I know there are a thousand things that could go wrong, but if we truly love each other, things will turn out all right."

Blair rolled onto her back and gazed into Kylie's eyes. They looked very dark in the lamplight, and she couldn't see the fleck of various colors that made them so vibrant in brighter light. But they still conveyed a boundless love that she knew she was completely powerless over. "That's all that matters? Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. Only our love matters."

Blair took in a massive breath and blew it out. She tossed her feet off the side of the bed and stood up. She walked around and stood by Kylie, then held out her hand. "Let's go to bed. We've got a lot to do tomorrow."

"Like what?"

"Go to the bank and open a joint account, find out how to add each other's names to our investment accounts. You know, stuff like that."

"Sounds like fun," Kylie said. She stood and put her arm around Blair's shoulders, and they walked down the hall together, heading to bed.

„G

The next morning, Kylie opened one eye, glared at the incipient sunrise, and closed it again. She put her hand out to reestablish contact with Blair and blinked when a wide-awake voice asked, "You awake?"

"Ahh … technically." Kylie's voice was low and thick with sleep, and her eyes closed again. She waited a moment, then opened her eyes a crack, hoping that Blair's would be closed. But the green eyes were staring at her, and her partner's face was somber. "What's wrong, honey?" The doctor rose up on one elbow and put her hand on Blair's cheek. "Everything all right?"

"Tell me what David said."

Her stare didn't waver, and Kylie resigned herself to the fact that they wouldn't be sleeping in. She rolled onto her back, then sat up and put a couple of pillows behind herself. "Why do you want to know?"

Blair's brows drew closer together. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't I want to know?"

"Because all it'll do is make you angry."

"Kylie, don't think for me. I'm giving up an awful lot of my autonomy to make this relationship work, but I can't go that far."

Kylie looked at the fatigue evident in her partner's eyes and saw that her lips were drawn together tightly. "Having second thoughts?" she asked, her voice gentle.

"Second thoughts about what?"

"About merging our finances," the doctor said. "You don't look like you slept well last night, and I thought our talk might have been on your mind."

"I asked a simple question about David, Kylie. You don't have to look for an ulterior motive."

"I'm not, I'm not." She reached out and put her arm around Blair, pulling the slightly reluctant woman close. After placing a few tender kisses on her brow and cheek, she said, "Are you a little grouchy this morning?"

"A little," Blair admitted, shocking Kylie by so readily acknowledging her mood.

"You look exhausted," the brunette said. She started to rub her lover's side, smiling to herself when Blair sighed and draped her leg over Kylie's thighs. Increasing the pressure, Kylie started to bear down on all of the usual sore spots, her actions met with pleasured purrs. When she could tell that Blair was starting to relax, she slipped out of bed and walked over to get behind her lover. Now she could reach her always-stiff lower back, and her touch was greeted with quiet appreciation. In a few minutes, Blair was still, and her breathing became heavy and regular. Kylie lay down behind her and molded their bodies together, sure that things would look brighter once her partner was a little more rested.

„G

It was nine o'clock before Blair stirred again, and she forced herself out of bed immediately, heading for the bathroom. When Kylie heard the sound of teeth being brushed, she got up and joined her lover, sharing a wry smile with her over their morning habit. As soon as they were finished, Kylie guided Blair back to bed and went to let the impatient dogs out. A few minutes later, she was back, bearing a glass of orange juice.

"I was lying here wishing for a glass of orange juice to appear," Blair said. "To have it delivered by a gorgeous, naked woman is quite a bonus."

Kylie handed her the juice and slid in next to her. "I was walking around with a glass of juice, looking for a gorgeous, naked woman to hand it to. Quite a coincidence, huh?"

Blair put her hand on her belly and laughed. "I know that's a defensive compliment, but I'll take it anyway."

"Defensive?"

"Yeah. You're not dumb enough to tell me I look like a beached whale, Doc."

"And you're not looking at the world through my eyes, poopsie, so don't tell me who's gorgeous."

"Kylie, I know you love me, but by now, even you have to admit the truth. I'm gonna have a baby in a month, and my stretch marks have stretch marks."

"You're a beautiful woman, Blair, and your poor self-image isn't gonna change my mind. So give it a rest." She took the half-empty glass and put it on the bedside table. "Now come cuddle with me a little while."

"Here we come," the blonde said, inching towards her partner, a half-smile on her face.

Once Kylie had her arms tucked around her, she kissed her golden hair a few times, loving how the scent of Blair's shampoo lingered. "Now that we're starting our day over, can I ask my question again?"

"Sure."

"Did last night's talk upset you?"

Blair managed to stop herself from automatically saying no, a habit she was trying hard to break. "It did upset me," she said, "and I was up all night thinking of … stuff."

"Stuff? What kinda stuff?"

"Things that I want," she said, her voice sounding small and unsure. "Things that'd make this easier for me."

"Tell me. What'll make this easier?"

"Are you willing to compromise?" Blair asked. "Last night I got the impression that I had to give in or lose you, and there's no way in hell I'm gonna let you go." She looked at her lover, and the doctor saw the fear in her eyes.

"Oh, baby, I never meant that." Kylie held her tight, stroking her back and kissing her head. "I didn't ever mean for it to sound like I was giving you an ultimatum. I wasn't!"

"Sure sounded like it. Sounded exactly like it."

"I was upset," Kylie said. "I told you what I wanted. No, no," she amended. "I told you what I needed, but I don't need it all at once."

"Huh?"

Kylie pulled back and looked her partner in the eyes. "I need for us to merge, but you don't have to dive in if it's too much for you right now. What I need to know is whether you want to merge with me. If you’ll agree to try to be closer than you've been before."

Blair gave her a suspicious look. "That's really all you want?"

"Yeah. I want to have our lives, including our finances, merged. That's what I need to feel that this is a permanent relationship. But I'm a very patient person, honey. All I need to know is that you're willing to take some steps. Whatever you’re comfortable with right now is enough."

The blonde lay on her back, and in a few moments, she started to cry, silent tears skittering down her temples into her hair.

"What's wrong?" Kylie asked, hovering over her. "Why are you crying?"

"I was afraid," Blair said. "I need you so much that I'd do anything to make you stay with me. Even stuff that scares the shit out of me."

"Oh, Blair." Kylie lay down and buried her face in her partner's hair, stroking and kissing and caressing her until the tears stopped. "I'd never let you go. If you can't give in a little on the finances, we'll look at it again when you’re ready. Last night I felt like you weren’t willing to even try to make me comfortable. That really hurt." She lifted her head and felt the ache in her heart from the sadness in her partner's eyes. "We hurt each other last night, and I’m sorry for that, but things had been building up and I had a meltdown.” Kylie kissed Blair tenderly, feeling the trembling of her partner’s lips. “I’ll never stop loving you. I promise you that. We're a family."

"Promise?"

Blair's whole body was shaking, and Kylie wished she could have a second chance to start the previous day all over again. "I swear," she said softly. "I swear."

The dogs ran back into the room, their feet a little wet and their breath smelling like fresh kibble. Seeing that Blair had been crying, they flanked her and licked at her eyes, furiously trying to erase the traces of her tears. The blonde began to laugh as the dogs’ soft tongues tickled her face. She pulled her knees up as much as she could and tried to fend them off, begging Kylie for help.

But the doctor merely watched the dogs for a moment, then scooted down and wedged in next to Nicky, swiping her warm, pink tongue across Blair's mouth, happy to hear her laughter again.

Finally, the captive pushed all three of her comforters away and sat up, gasping for breath. "I'm gonna have to start locking myself into the bathroom when I want to cry," she said, giving them an impotent scowl.

"We'll chew the door down, won't we, guys?" Kylie asked her compatriots, roughly tousling their coats while they panted their happiness.

Blair leaned over and kissed her lover, lingering for a long time. "I love you," she whispered. "I love you too much."

"Nah," Kylie said, full of confidence. "You love me exactly the right amount. You’re not used to it yet, but it’s the right amount. And we can skip our errands today. We'll think about this some more and see what we can agree on. The bank will still be there when we’re ready."

"No, no, I want to open a joint account," Blair said. "I can do that."

"Really? You sure?"

"Yeah. I'm sure." Blair looked at her partner for a minute and said, "I wanna give you what you want, and I know it'll be good for me to share. When I was thinking last night, I decided that I'm ready to share things from now on if we can keep the things we’ve accumulated separate."

Kylie cocked her head. "Why not the stuff we already have?"

"'Cause I need to have my own money, babe. I'll always need it. I want money for when I want to buy myself something silly or when I want to give you a present. I want money that only I'm responsible for. I've built my investments through the years, and I want to manage them my way — without compromise."

Kylie gave her a lazy grin and asked, "Sick of compromise already?"

"A little," Blair said, looking embarrassed. "Only kids don't have to share much, ya know."

"No, I don't know," Kylie said, laughing, "but I can imagine that's true."

"Are you okay with that?"

"Sure. I'm easy," Kylie said, giving her lover a racy grin.

Blair gave her nose a tweak. "Let's settle this, then we can see how easy you are."

"That's motivation to come to an agreement," Kylie said, wrapping both of her arms around her partner and nuzzling her face against her breasts. "Can we stay in bed all day?"

"I might be convinced, but we have to spend some of the day napping. I can't keep up with you anymore, love."

"I love a good nap, too," Kylie said. "What else do we have to settle?"

"Well, we'll have to talk to an attorney about how to do all of this, but I thought I could match your down payment on the house and use it to pay down your mortgage — that way we'd both have the same equity invested."

"You'd do that?" Kylie looked both pleased and surprised.

"Yeah, of course. It doesn't make sense to merge our finances if we don't equalize the equity."

"Can you afford that?"

"Yeah. With the market in trouble and interest rates so low, I'd rather have my money invested in a home. If we hadn't moved in together, I would have bought a condo. I've got money set aside for a house."

"Great! Do you have a good attorney we can talk to about doing all of this?"

"Of course. I could populate a small city with the names in my PDA."

Kylie gave her a smile filled with love. "Our business affairs are officially tabled until we talk to an attorney. But our love affair's going strong."

„G

After Kylie served breakfast in bed, she and Blair managed to spend the rest of the afternoon in a horizontal position. They napped and kissed and napped some more, the emotion of the night before having worn them out. Blair woke at one point and found Kylie wide awake and staring at the ceiling. "What's going on in that pretty head?" the blonde asked. She touched Kylie's face, slowly running her finger over her features.

"I was thinking about David. Wondering what's going on with him."

"I'm wondering when you're gonna tell me what happened yesterday. Now seems like a good time."

Kylie turned and looked at Blair for a long time, with the blonde completely unable to read the look in her eyes. "I don't think it's fair to tell you everything he said, but that's not because I'm trying to protect you."

"What other reason could you have?" Blair asked, her features clouding.

"Look." Kylie sat up and ran her hands through her hair, trying to keep the soft curls from falling into her face. "David was angry when he came to my office. I could see how angry he was, and I decided to make him angrier."

"What?"

"I intentionally tried to make him angrier," Kylie said. "It might sound crazy now, but at the time, it made sense. I'm not sure I did the right thing, but it seemed like I could make him so mad, he wouldn't want to have anything to do with the baby." She pursed her lips together and said, "I guess it worked, 'cause he said he wanted to have me killed."

"He what?"

"He was steaming," Kylie said, "and I kept making it worse. That's why it doesn't seem fair to talk about specifics."

"Okay," Blair said. "I guess it wouldn't help to give me any more ammunition to shoot back at him, anyway. So what's the bottom line?"

"He agreed to do the stepparent adoption. He was so mad, he would have agreed to move to a different planet to get away from me."

Blair blew out a breath while reaching out to touch her lover. She scratched her back for a moment, then said, "What a fucked-up day you had yesterday."

"It was pretty bad," Kylie said. "That's why I was so touchy last night."

"Makes sense. I would've been, too." She was quiet for a minute, then asked, "Do you think he'll really give up his rights to the baby? Or was he only reacting?"

Kylie lay down next to her and ran her hand through her partner's blonde hair while she thought. "I think he’ll give up his rights," she said thoughtfully. "I don't know him at all, so I could be reading him wrong, but he only seemed to care about how much money the baby was gonna cost him. He didn't seem to have any real interest in Mackenzie."

"Or me," Blair said quietly.

"Still hurts, doesn't it?" Kylie said, her voice heavy with empathy.

"Yeah. It still hurts." She turned and faced Kylie, finally giving her a smile. "As screwed up as this year has been, and as hurt as I've been, I'd do it all over again to get you in the bargain. You're my world, sweetheart; no one and nothing can keep us apart."

"C'mere and hug me," Kylie said, her voice choked with tears. "I wanna hold you until I have to go to work on Monday."

"It's a deal," Blair said. "But I wouldn't complain if you got up to make us a little dinner."

"Get out your PDA," Kylie said, smiling. "We're ordering in."

„G

That Sunday, Kylie went out to do some shopping, not returning until mid-afternoon. "Where've you been all day?" Blair asked. "I thought you’d be home in an hour. I almost called you on your cell."

"Oh, I went to the grocery store and the pet store, and I made a little stop at a place on Montana. Nothing major. Did you have lunch?"

"Oh, like I ever miss a meal. Can I make you something?"

"Sure. I'll have whatever's in the fridge. What did you do while I was gone?"

"Oh, I left another dozen messages for David on his answering machine. I know the little weasel won't call me back, but it's fun to know he jumps every time the phone rings."

"Honey, I think you should let it go. If we can get rid of him, I say good riddance."

"I know," she said, giving Kylie a half-lidded smile, "but it's fun to torture him."

"That's why I want to make sure we're together for life," the doctor said. "I don't wanna know how you'd torture me if we broke up."

"It wouldn't be pretty," Blair said, looking very smug.

„G

They went for their afternoon swim, and after rinsing off the chlorine together, Kylie put on a thick Turkish robe and went into the kitchen. She headed back to the bedroom with a chilled split of champagne. "I bought a little wine to celebrate our financial merger," she said. She hadn't brought a glass, and rather than walk back to the kitchen, she opened it and lifted the bottle to her lips. "To us," she said, smiling brightly.

Blair was lying on the bed, and she gazed at her partner for a moment. The taller woman was standing in the middle of the room, her robe open just enough to show a hint of cleavage. Her head was tossed back as she took a healthy swig of wine, and Blair decided that she looked like the very powerful executive of a major company, having an afternoon tryst in an elegant hotel while indulging all of her voracious appetites. “You’re so damned sexy,” Blair murmured.

Walking over to the bed, Kylie slid onto the surface, lying on her side and bracing her head on her hand. “Not trying to be,” she said.

Blair touched the tip of her nose with a manicured fingertip. “That’s why you’re sexy,” she said. “It doesn’t work for me when someone tries.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“You don’t have to. You’re naturally sexy — it oozes out of you.”

“You make lots of things ooze out of me,” Kylie said, leering.

“Doctor Mackenzie, you beast!” Blair laughed and slapped at her lover.

“Sip?” Kylie held the bottle out, and Blair nearly gasped.

“You, of all people, are offering me wine? I can hardly eat a cookie without getting a frown.”

“That’s not true and you know it,” Kylie said. “And a sip or two of wine at this point in your pregnancy won’t hurt you a bit.”

“Really?” Blair asked hesitantly.

“Honey, would I encourage you to do something that could hurt the baby? Get a grip.”

“Ahh … good point. Gimme the bottle.”

Blair took a small sip and let the wine roll around on her tongue for a few moments. “Ooo … I do love champagne.”

Kylie retrieved the bottle and took another drink, then handed it back to Blair. “Last sip for you, partner.”

Closing her eyes, she savored the tiny sip, then scooted next to Kylie and gave her a long kiss. “Mmm … I love the way champagne tastes on your lips.”

“I should have saved some,” Kylie murmured lazily. “We could have discovered if you liked it applied to any other spots.”

“Somebody sounds like she’s in the mood for love,” Blair said.

Before the words were out of her mouth, Kylie was hovering over her, resting on her hands and knees to allow for Blair’s girth, a wickedly sexy grin on her face. “Count on it. I’m gonna call the neighbors to tell them to ignore the moans and cries that they’ll surely hear.”

“Ooo … you know how to make my heart race,” Blair purred, drawing a hand along Kylie’s cheek. “Let me run to the bathroom, and you can make me moan all night long.”

Climbing off, Kylie got to her feet and extended a hand, pulling Blair upright. The smaller woman tucked her arms as far around Kylie’s waist as she could get them and said, “Sorry to break the mood. I promise that I’m much more spontaneous when I’m not pregnant.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Kylie said. “I’ll still be in the mood in a few minutes.” She patted her butt and sent her on her way.

Minutes later, Blair was industriously brushing her teeth when the door swung open, a rakishly grinning Kylie filling the doorway. “Hi.” She walked by Blair and set a glass of water down on the sink, then lowered the lid on the toilet and sat down. “Mind if I watch?”

Blair looked in the mirror and wrinkled her brow slightly. “You can watch me brush my teeth any old time you want to,” she said, then resumed brushing. When she was finished, she rinsed her mouth and started to turn around, but Kylie’s voice stopped her.

“Stay right there,” she said, her tone commanding.

“Stay … here?” Blair looked into the mirror again, trying to figure out what Kylie had in mind.

“Yes,” she said, her voice low and warm. “Stay right there. I like the view.”

Playfully, Blair twitched her butt. “That view?”

“That’s the one. Now take your boxers off so I can see a little more.”

“Really?" Blair asked tentatively. She started to turn around, but Kylie stopped her once again.

“Stay exactly where you are,” she said, a little more firmly this time. “I know what I want to see.”

Blair’s hands went to her waistband and paused there for a moment, then she slipped the boxers off and stepped out of them.

“Nice,” Kylie said. “Now put these on." She held out her hand and Blair grasped a pale peach G-string.

"You've got to be kidding," the blonde said. "You'll retch!"

"I know what I want. And I want you in that. Now."

Kylie had never sounded so confident or sure of herself, and Blair found herself complying with her wishes without further complaint. She stepped into the tiny garment and found that it was actually comfortable as long as she kept it under her belly.

"Nice. Very nice. They make your ass look so voluptuous."

Blair didn't say anything, waiting impatiently for what she knew would be another instruction.

Kylie handed her another piece — a lace push-up bra, the flimsiest she’d ever seen. Her eyes widened, but she set herself to the task. Thankfully, the closure was in the front, and she could exert all of her strength to wrangle her breasts into place and successfully hook the closure. It took her another few moments to adjust herself, but when she was finished, she glanced into the mirror and saw Kylie looking at her with an expression that could only be called feral.

"How does the bra feel?" the brunette asked in a lazy drawl. "Touch your breasts and tell me."

Waiting only a second to comply, Blair lightly ran her fingertips across the material, feeling her nipples start to harden almost immediately. A tiny smile tugged at her lips, and she looked into the mirror, meeting Kylie's eyes. "Feels nice. Soft and sexy."

"Show me how big and full your breasts are," Kylie said. "Put your hands under them and make 'em jiggle."

Her eyebrow twitched, but Blair forced herself to ignore the slight embarrassment she felt at fulfilling this request. She cupped her breasts and squeezed them in her hands, then shook each in turn, watching Kylie's eyes narrow at the sight. Feeling some of the power shift in her favor, Blair leaned over a little and put on a show, dropping her hands and shaking her shoulders, making her breasts dance before the doctor's dazzled eyes.

It was clear that Kylie wanted to regain the upper hand, and she gave a new instruction. "Reach back and caress your ass. Show me how nice all of that soft skin feels against your hands.”

Blair's hands were resting on the sides of the sink, and it took a few moments for her to make herself comply. She was used to taunting men with her breasts, but she'd never caressed her own ass on command. She felt totally exposed and vulnerable, but there was something so sexy about Kylie that she would have put her hand over a burning flame if she'd been asked to. She started to run her hands over her cheeks, occasionally glancing in the mirror to watch the doctor's eyes.

Дата добавления: 2015-09-04