Disclaimer One: All these folks belong to me. They are a product of my wild imagination.

Disclaimer Two: Let’s see there’s sex between women in love, humor, and a whole lot of other stuff that I’m sure you’re used to by now.

Dedications: Thanks to God for everything.

Summary: None just read. You’ll like it. Takes place a few days after STS.

Perceptions
(13th installment of Perspectives)

BY
Minerva
Copyright © December 2000

Chapter XLIV: Morning Surprises

The keys hung limply from Barb’s hand as she hoisted up the bag on her shoulder. The chirping birds saluted her as she forced the appropriate key into the lock. It opened with a click and she pushed the door open. The brunette inhaled deeply taking in the smell of the artificial air. She had actually missed it. She walked slowly passed the cubicles seeing each person that frequented them in her mind’s eye. I really have missed this place. Can’t wait to get my fingers back in the bowl.

Barb came to the last row of cubicles and stood between them, staring at the contents covering her blonde friend’s desk. She smiled at the Scooby Doo paraphernalia. At least she hasn’t changed everything about you, Kid. You’re gonna be in for a surprise this morning, and so is your friend.

Barb steered toward her own desk, swept the back of her skirt with a hand, and sat down in the swiveling chair. She deposited her bag on the desk and let out a sigh as she went for a spin on the faux leather just for the heck of it. We’re partners again, Cory. Time to go out and tackle the world. She looked up at the sound of the glass entrance door opening. Shelley headed down the path with a little bounce in her step. The older woman stopped when she got half way, and her eyes widened. "Well, didn’t know you would be back so soon." She paused. "Welcome."

Barb nodded. "I thought it was about time. Don’t you think?"

Shelley shrugged. "Don’t know. Depends on what you’re planning."

Barb’s eyes lit with amusement. "Just what is it you think I’m up to?"

The older woman smiled wanly. "I hear a lot, you know. Through walls, through mouths. Either way, I hear a lot."

The brunette crossed her arms over her chest. "Then you know about them being together?"

"Not for sure, but I suspected as much. I think they’re good for each other."

"If you heard so much, then you know that she hurt Cory. Bad."

"Yeah, but I know Taylor was hurting too. They made up and have been inseparable since."

"She’ll hurt her again."

"She’s a big girl. I think she can handle it."

"Well, as a friend I think I should make sure that doesn’t happen before they get too close."

"I think you maybe too late for that, Barb. She’s happy. Be happy for her."

Barb mentally disregarded the last part and whispered, "Then, I’ll do what I have to do."

Shelley shook her head in disbelief, turned, and walked slowly to her own office.

Cory spread her legs wide, almost falling within the gaping space in between Taylor’s longer ones, but she tightened her thighs and abs and held on. The blonde groaned into the open mouth that clung to hers as she lifted her hips, teetering over elegant fingertips. She lowered herself on to them with slow, torturous precision. Her grasp tightened on broad shoulders in reaction. "Oh yesss . . ." Inner muscles grappled the digits milking them before her lower body repeated the same languid thrust over and over again.

Cory was beyond flying, beyond floating. She was soaring like a bird with the largest of wing spans. Fire licked at her belly and scorched her insides, making her cry out with each undulation. The kisses they shared were open mouthed, sensual, complete with flicking tongues. They sat on the edge of the queen sized bed, bodies grinding and sweating reaching for the ultimate pinnacle.

With a large open faced palm on her sweaty back, Taylor guided her lover’s movements. The forearm of her other appendage flexed as she twisted and curled fingers that were deeply buried in unbelievable wet heat. With her thumb, she teased hardened flesh that was just as wet. It served to make her own sex throb in passionate empathy. Her hips surged along with her lover’s. The admin gave Cory what she wanted and took what she needed at the same time.

Their naked breasts and the pebble hardened middles scraped in tantalizing fashion, providing a jolt of electricity with each movement of their bodies. It was enough for Taylor---the wet heat, the naked skin, and the convulsing muscles, gave her the same wings that her lover possessed. They soared right next to each other.

The admin loved being inside, craved it. There was no feeling like being nestled in liquid fire. It simply felt like coming home, and she wanted to stay as long as humanly possible. Taylor figured Cory felt the same as she continued the slow thrusts despite the increase of wetness and quivering thighs. Close so close, but yet so far. The brunette caught every breathy moan from the blonde’s mouth and vice versa, of those there were many. "I love. . .you," the admin whispered brokenly, then groaned at the flood of wetness that bathed her hand.

Waking before the alarm, their morning had started innocent enough filled with small kisses, light touches and enough murmured words of love to make them the poster children for mushiness. But the admin had been right, once they made love everything intensified—the need, the want, the rawness. Insatiable. So they made it to the edge of the bed before the intensity wrapped around them and refused to let go.

Cory whimpered enjoying the rush of dangling over the cliff she was on, but she ached to be pushed over. "More. . ." she breathed into the brunette’s lips. Taylor complied, adding a third finger as she pulled out slowly. Cory sank on the digits and moaned loud, long at the feeling of being full, stretched. She gritted her teeth but couldn’t fight the urge to impale herself on them, causing her to whimper at the pleasurable explosion that resulted. The flesh of her buttocks hit the skin of the thighs under her with a resounding smack.

Suddenly, unable to control her movements any longer, Cory scattered all over the place, riding the admin like a bucking bronco. Every ragged breath was a whimper. "God, yess!" The words spilled into the brunette’s mouth.

Observing her lover’s inability to maintain control, made the admin lose hers. She groaned harshly at the abrupt change, catching the flames that lit the blonde from within. The thumb that had just been pressing against the caseworker’s erect nodule, began to circle it with fervor.

For Cory, oblivion didn’t seem that far away anymore. With each rough thrust, pleasure exploded between her legs in short bursts until it all ran together pooling in her belly and shooting all the way to her fingertips. Her body jerked, and she cried out as spasms worked their way through her body.

Hot juices splashed onto the admin’s hand and thighs, and her own hips jerked upward, harder than before. Emotion exploded inside her. Knowing she had caused this and feeling it was all that was needed. "Ungghh!" She let out a throaty cry and joined the blonde in oblivion.

They fell back on the bed, seemingly exhausted and sweaty. The alarm went off as their bodies continued to shiver and hips to jerk. The loud static filled music played for some minutes until a long groan filled the room.

Pushing sweaty blonde bangs away from her forehead, Cory climbed up her lover's body until they were face to face. She was still somewhat breathless but able to speak. "Mmm, way, way. . . up there on the whoa meter."

Under the blonde, Taylor stretched and chuckled. "I can agree with you there, sweetie." Cory leaned down and brushed the admin's lips with her own instead of commenting. The fair head ducked, and she buried her face in a damp neck.

After a minute, the caseworker popped up again with a crooked smirk plastered on her dreamy features. "You'd think. . ." She hummed as large hands caressed from the middle of her back to her behind. "You'd think this would take the edge off during the day, but it doesn't. I can't seem to stop wanting. . .this--" Cory spread her legs and captured a thigh between her own. Rubbing against it, they both moaned. One at the feel of residual wetness coating her thigh, and the other at the feel of soft flesh meshing with her swollen sex. The blonde gasped, "Every time I look at you, even in the office." God, I can't get enough of her. Am I sick? It's never been this way before.

"Mmm, I know the feeling." Taylor arched her leg a little and used large, elegant hands to guide hips slowly moving against her. Is she okay with this? Or did it just start because of what happened with that boy? "Is. . .this okay with you? I mean. . .the way we finally made love?"

Cory stiffened. She doesn't think I used her does she? She knows I love her. "It would have happened anyway, Taylor that night actually. I wanted it to. What happened with Robert was just mitigating circumstances. It doesn't change the fact that I love you and wanted to show you."

Blue gazed into green reading the truth in the depths. Taylor pushed a lock of fair hair behind the blonde's ear. "I love you too." They smiled tenderly at each other.I don't think I could even explain how much. Suddenly worried, the admin asked, "Are you doing okay? I mean, after you told me what you saw--I want you to know you can tell me if you feel a little funny in here. . ." She turned them over to the side and tapped the blonde on the chest. "It would be totally understandable."

Ah, always worried about me. "I would tell you if I wasn't. I wouldn't be human if it didn't get to me, but Dr. Zawid made me realize that not everything is my fault. It's just nice to be able to try to do something this time instead of always falling apart. I just wish the local government would say something already."

Taylor kissed the caseworker's forehead and chuckled derisively. "Oh, someone will. I'd give it till tomorrow. They just wanted to see if all this would die down. It hasn't. They've been talking about the case almost everyday on TV. They're gonna have to do something."

"Mmm. . ." The sound of the alarm began to filter back in. "You're probably right. You know more about that aspect than me." Cory untangled herself and sat up. She raised her hands high above her head and stretched complete with mewing noises.

Taylor watched with a smirk as breasts arched and thrust forward. Nice. She reached out a hand to touch, but it was smacked away as the petite caseworker leaned to the right to turn off the alarm. "Nuh-uh, that's our cue. Time to get ready for work." Looking over her shoulder, Cory gave her lover a teasing smirk and put an extra sway in naked hips as she sashayed to the bathroom.

The tall brunette didn't waste any time. Almost immediately, she jumped up and went after her. She leaned against the door of the bathroom and watched as the caseworker turned on the shower. Taylor grinned inwardly, suddenly feeling more than a little warm and moist. "Think we should shower together for the sake of time."

The blonde head turned toward her, and Cory appraised the admin with a raised brow. "Oh, you do. Do you?"

Taylor smiled. "Unh huh, I'll wash your back. You need to be relaxed for the big presentation today."

Stepping in the shower stall and sporting a knowledgeable smirk, the caseworker asked over the roar of the water, "You don't think I'm relaxed enough after what happened in there?"

Taylor sauntered over toward the shower and stood looking through the open door as water slicked her lover's skin. She licked her lips. A quickie. Just a quickie.

Yeah, right. LS was now awake.

"A little more never hurt anybody." Lifting one impossibly long leg, she stepped into the shower and closed the stall door with a snap.

A few minutes later, a breathy moaned filled the steam laden bathroom. "God. . .Taylor!"

Getting one more teasingly sexy smirk and gaze in, Taylor opened the door to agency, allowing the blonde to step through first. There had been a time when she came in early because she cherished the quiet, but the cubicles bustled with activity. Now, she cherished something or someone else. The admin was aware of eyes on them but dismissed them as insignificant. Screw ‘em. They don’t have the foggiest idea of what’s going on.

As they made their way to the back, Cory slowed as she got to Ray’s desk. She gave him wink and a smirk before going forward again. Damn, forgot my tea. Wonder if Shelley has some I could borrow? That stuff is like kryptonite to him. The blonde chuckled inwardly.

As they neared the back, Cory felt the breath whoosh from her body and heard the beginning of blood roaring in her ears. Green eyes widened and were riveted at the desk across from hers—the desk that had been empty. It was now taken by its original owner. Her heart thudded then stopped altogether. Trouble. It was her first thought. Despite part of her being happy to see the older woman, the majority of her screamed trouble. No, not now. Things are going so good. This can’t be the other shoe, and it can’t be ready to drop.

Panic became a wide but tight band around her gut, making her struggle for breath and making her palms sweat. She wanted to turn, gaze into pale blue and latch onto her lover’s hand for extra strength, but the caseworker knew that it couldn’t be done. The blonde peered into her friend’s eyes, knowing hers must be frantic. She hoped to read acceptance but saw only a soft smile upturning lips. It was a smile that didn’t reach the older caseworker’s eyes. Anxiety took over completely, and Cory snatched her eyes away and was suddenly glad that the bags she was holding hid her shaking hands. Trouble. Big trouble. Shit.

Double shit. Taylor instantly saw the potential for a huge mess forming right before her eyes. Barb was back, and for some reason the admin couldn’t tell if the cryptic smile on the caseworker’s face was for her or Cory. Right now, it didn’t matter. Everything she had tried at first to deny and then later grasps with both hands dangled in front of her on a floss thin string, waiting to be cut loose. A chill went down her spine, and she could only imagine what Cory was feeling. Hold on there Bunch. Don’t loose it. Just hold on. I love you, and we’ll get through this intact even if I have to kill somebody. I won’t lose you, not now. Her heart cringed in pain at the thought.

Instead of allowing the blonde to steer toward her desk, Taylor put a hand at the small of her lover’s back, feeling the bunched, hard muscle. She led them both to her own office and closed the door silently behind them.

With her back to the admin, Cory whimpered and turned to her lover. Green eyes were full of fear, anger, and resignation. "What are we going to do? I can’t go back out there." She whispered harshly. Taylor deposited her briefcase on the floor then walked up to the blonde. She took the two bags out of small hands and let them fall to the carpet. Hands went back up to caress the blonde’s bare arms.

"First, we breathe." She took a deep breath and waited for the caseworker to do the same. "Second, we play it by ear. She may be okay with this, with us. We’ll have to see." The admin held up a hand to the blonde’s mouth. "Ah, ah, I can’t order her not to tell anybody, and I can’t order her to be okay with us." I can fire her for insubordination.

That’s the coward’s way out.

I know.

"We both just need to put out feelers first and compare notes." Taylor read the uncertainty on the blonde’s face. Believe in us, Cory. She cupped her cheeks and leaned down for a lingering kiss. "Know that I love you no matter what happens, and I’m not going anywhere. I know my place is with you." She kissed her again. "I need you to be really strong right now like I know that you can be. I need you to go out there, Cory. You can do this. Talk to her, and I will do the same later." The admin took shaking hands in her larger ones. Blue eyes held scanned green, hoping the blonde would feed from her own conviction. "Believe me?" I will not lose you.

Cory took a deep breath. She seems so sure, and I know this is just a job. She’s what is important. She let the breath out. I knew she was coming back sooner or later. Shoulda been prepared for this. Barb, my friend, I can’t let you destroy the best thing that ever happened to me because of misplaced feelings or loyalty. Their gaze held for a few seconds longer before Cory nodded. "I believe you." She pulled her hands from the admin’s grip and wrapped her arms around the taller woman. "And I love you." Taylor returned the hug, lifting her off the ground.

Taylor felt her heart slow. "Good." She sat the blonde back on the floor and reached up to tweak her nose. "Let’s do this."

******

Barb tapped the sharp end of a pencil against her desk as she waited. I don’t understand. She almost looked scared. That woman’s got you twisted, Kid. I’m your friend, and I’m here to help so things can go back like they used to be. Just please don’t make me do something drastic just to get you to see. I’d hate for anybody to lose their jobs, but we can always get another somewhere else. I just hope you hear me out. Her eyes squinted. She’s the one that should be scared. Scared I’m gonna show what a conniving bitch she really is. You hurt someone once you’ll do it again.

Cory came out of the admin’s office without looking back. She silently pulled out her chair and pushed her bag under the desk, while keeping her purse over a shoulder. Without hesitation, she walked to Barb’s desk and touched it lightly with fingertips as she gathered her thoughts. Looking around and then down, she met the other woman’s eyes and refused to look away. "Look, um, we obviously need to talk, and we can’t do it here. Can we go to Subway and get a cup of coffee or something?"

Barb smiled slightly and patted the hand on her desk. "Sure thing. Just let me get my purse."

They walked down the street in silence. It was the same way they entered the restaurant. Cory picked a booth in the back. "Why don’t you go ahead? I’ll get us some drinks."

The blonde sipped on her coke as she sat the cup of coffee in front of the brunette. She had a seat and continued to sip until the ice got in the way. Reluctantly, she sat the fountain cup down. The petite caseworker opened her mouth to speak. Barb beat her to the punch. "I heard you on the radio. They even talked about you on the news. You did good, Kid. Surprised me though. I pictured you doing a lot of yelling and calling it a day."

Cory shook the cup causing the ice to crunch. She sighed, leaned in, and looked up at the older woman. "I would have not too long ago. I’ve changed, Barb. It was time to start doing something about the things I get so upset about. Dr. Zawid helped me out, and so did Taylor. She was really there for me."

Barb moved back and laughed cynically. "How long do you think that’s going to last?"

"As long as we make it last." She answered confidently.

The brunette’s eyes squinted. "You know, I’ve known you for a long time, but I would have never figured you to be this blind. Of course, she seemed okay at first, but she hurt you. How can you get past that so easily?" Her voice dripped with sadness.

"Because I love her," she said with conviction. "And I know she loves me."

Barb snorted ungracefully, causing unreadable green to snap toward her. "How can you love someone that hurts you?"

Cory sighed. "You don’t even know what happened. . ."

Barb threw up her hands. "I don’t need to know what happened. I just needed to know that she hurt you. You play tough, Cor, but you’re really not. I’m your friend here."

Impatience piled on top of the blonde, and her voice rose slightly. "If you’re my friend you would listen to me! You do need to know what happened." Her voice lowered when they got stares from the few other patrons. "She was scared of what she was feeling for me so she lied about her sexuality. Yeah, it hurt, but I went home to my mom’s to think and saw it for what it was, simple fear. I was scared too when she looked at me, touched me I came apart, Barb, and it scared the shit out of me. It was something I couldn’t control. . ." She pointed toward her chest. "I need her, and I don’t think I’ve said that to another human being. Don’t you understand? I look at her and I see. . .everything." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "Haven’t you ever felt that way?"

Barb shook her head. "I-I don’t know, but that’s not the point. Can’t you see that? How do you know she’s not playing games? How do you know she won’t hurt you just for the hell of it?"

Cory reached across the table and grabbed the other woman’s hand. "Because of the way she looks at me; the way she reacts to my touch; the way she says my name. I feel it, and I know it. I don’t think that I can make it any clearer than that."

Barb scanned the blonde’s face. She seems so sure, but I’ve never seen her like this. I can’t believe. . . How do you know she just didn’t send you to talk to me to save her career?"

Cory took her hand away. "Look, I love my job and so does Taylor, but we love each other more. Don’t let your misguided loyalty to me push us further apart than we already are. You can’t make me choose between the job, you and her. There’s no competition. She’ll win every time. I’m happy, Barb. Happy, and you trying to break us apart won’t make us friends again. It’ll make us enemies." There’s got to be something more to this why are you doing this, Barb? Help me understand. Cory pleaded with her eyes.

Barb turned away. How could she do this to me, damn it! I need her! I can’t survive this job without her. We were friends first. I can’t lose that I can’t. There’ll be nothing." Her head jerked back to the blonde’s face. The older woman’s eyes glittered, and she asked softly, shakily, "What about me? After you two became chummy, you barely talked to me anymore. If I didn’t disapprove, would you still be my partner in the field since I’m back or would you dump me for her there too?"

She rubbed her hand over her chest and continued to speak. "What about me? I need you too. I don’t have anyone else. He doesn’t understand what I do or how I feel when I do it. Only you have. I’ve been at this job for almost twenty years, and I’ve suffered in silence most of the time. Thank God for vacations, but when you came along. I had somebody who understood, who stood by me. Without you, I can’t do this anymore, and I don’t know how to do anything else! So, What about ME!?" She shouted and her voice broke. "You’re supposed to be my friend too!" Barb stood up abruptly, almost toppling the table over. Jerking her purse over her shoulder, she exited the booth and walked briskly toward the door.

Cory pushed her hands through blonde hair and hung her head sadly. You were right. I should have seen this coming, but you can’t put that kind of responsibility on my shoulders, Barb. I think you know that you should of gotten out of this a long time ago, and yes, I was a bad friend because I never saw it. It was hidden behind the sense of humor and teasing smile. Maybe I am blind, at least when it comes to you. How did you get past a head doctor with the mess going on in your head? Maybe you told ‘em what he needed or wanted to hear, eh Barb? The big question now is what am I going to do about this. The blonde rubbed her forehead and scrunched up her nose in deep thought. I have to see if I can convince you to get some real help. Cory got up and deposited her cup in the waste basket before making her way out.