Queen and bandit, p.22
Queen and Bandit, page 22
“Mm-hmm.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Can I sleep? I know we haven’t seen each other in a long time. But I’ve been sleeping awfully ever since I got back from the road trip, and right now I feel like I could just pass out. I don’t want you to think--”
“No, please, sleep. We’ve got a ways to go yet. I’ll wake you so you won’t miss anything.”
Evelyn nodded her thanks and sank down in the seat. She closed her eyes and let the hum of the car relax her.
“And I’m not a dummy,” Evelyn said when she was right on the verge of sleep.
“What?”
“I haven’t been able to sleep since the road trip. And now, a couple of hours in your car, I’m... on the verge...” She sighed heavily and felt the tension seep out of her. She smacked her lips. “I just... I know what it says. About you. And about... how I feel about you.”
Gracie chuckled. “You find me dull as dishwater?”
“It means I’m a cat,” Evelyn murmured. “And cats only fall asleep where they feel safe.”
Seconds later she was asleep.
***
“Evelyn?” Gracie hated disturbing her, so she spoke almost too quietly for even a conscious person to hear. Evelyn had slumped over almost immediately after comparing herself to a cat. The next hour had been a serenade of heavy breathing and sweet little snores, with the occasional shift of position on the seat. Once or twice she was pretty sure she’d seen Evelyn wake up, look out the window, and immediately go back to sleep, but her eyes were already closed again by the time Gracie risked looking away from the road.
She’d found a parking spot near a camping area. The ground was rocky and they were surrounded by skeletal trees with bare branches. She considered letting Evelyn sleep for a while longer, but they were so close to sunset that she was worried they might miss it. She rested her hand on Evelyn’s shoulder and gently shook her.
“Evie...? We’re here, hon.”
Evelyn’s eyelids fluttered. She looked out the window, and immediately clapped a hand over her eyes. “Oh! Oh no! I don’t want to see it for the first time by accident.”
Gracie smiled. “We’re still about half a mile from the rim. You won’t see anything but trees from here, I promise.”
Evelyn pushed herself up and rubbed her eyes. “Boy, I was out like a light.”
“You sure were. You okay?”
“Yeah. The walk will help me wake up.”
They got out of the car. Evelyn stretched her arms above her head, the hem of her polo shirt riding up to expose her belly as she linked her fingers and twisted her waist one way, then the other. Gracie heard a pop and Evelyn sighed blissfully. Gracie came around the front of the Desoto and pulled out a handkerchief.
“If you want to wait until you have a good view, I can blindfold you for the walk out.”
“Really?” Evelyn eyed the cloth. “Won’t people think that’s a little silly?”
Gracie shrugged. “Who cares?”
Evelyn nodded. “Right. Yes! Screw them.”
Gracie folded the handkerchief in half, then wrapped it around Evelyn’s eyes. She tied a loose knot and then took Evelyn’s hand.
“Trust me?”
“Of course.”
Gracie squeezed Evelyn’s fingers and led her away from the car. They had only walked a little way before Evelyn leaned in close and slipped her arm around Gracie’s elbow. Gracie tensed and looked around, even though she hadn’t seen any other campers since she parked.
“Relax,” Evelyn whispered. “Even if someone sees us, they’ll just think we’re a couple out on a stroll.”
“And if they recognize you, it might cause problems for you and Barry,” Gracie whispered back.
Evelyn said, “Oh.” After a few steps, she shrugged. “I don’t care. Let them gossip.”
Gracie smiled and ducked her head. “Are you okay? Not too disoriented?”
“Just keep me away from the... what do they have, guardrails?”
“Fences. They’re more than waist-high. You’ll be safe.”
“Keep me away from them anyway. Gravity is already pulling at me in a weird way.”
Gracie tightened her arm around Evelyn’s and led her down a rock-lined path. The canyon spread out to their right, as magnificent as it had been the day before, but Gracie was glad it wouldn’t be Evelyn’s first view. For something like this, spectacle was required, and she was taking her responsibility as guide very seriously. She wasn’t going to mess up this memory.
They passed two lookout points that Gracie deemed unworthy. Evelyn had smiled when Gracie dismissed the first one, and laughed at the second.
“It doesn’t have to be perfect,” she said. “As long as it’s pretty, I’ll be satisfied.”
“But I won’t be. It has to be just right.”
Evelyn sighed and put her head on Gracie’s shoulder.
A few minutes later she found it. The lookout point was in the deep V between two stone walls that sloped almost vertically down to the canyon floor. The angle of the walls seemed to open up the entire canyon to their view, framing the nearby rock formations and a good chunk of sky as well. Gracie positioned Evelyn near the railing and guided her hands to the metal bar.
“Okay, are you ready?”
“Yes.” Evelyn’s voice and fingers were shaking. “I’m excited.”
“I can tell.”
Gracie untied the blindfold. Then, before Evelyn could open her eyes, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. Evelyn made a sound of surprise, and then her mouth relaxed and she tilted her head into the kiss. Gracie put a hand on Evelyn’s cheek, and Evelyn snaked an arm around Gracie’s waist. She cupped Gracie’s ass through her slacks and moaned appreciatively into the kiss.
Then Gracie stepped back and to the side.
“Open your eyes.”
Evelyn opened them. She took a deep breath and instinctively took a step back. Gracie put a hand in the small of her back to keep her from going too far, and Evelyn’s grip tightened on the handrail. When she breathed again, she said, “Wow,” and let her weight rest against Gracie’s arm. “Wow, oh, wow.”
“I know,” Gracie said. “I saw it at sunrise. Looks like sunset is pretty fantastic, too.”
“Look at the colors!” Evelyn gasped. “Oh, Gracie. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She kissed Evelyn’s hair. “I’m sorry I said no the first time you asked to come here.”
Evelyn shook her head. “Don’t be. This is perfect. How long can we stay?”
“Well,” Gracie said, “we shouldn’t stay until it’s full dark. I don’t know how well these paths are lit. But I brought a flashlight, just in case--”
“No, no, no, no,” Evelyn said, turning to put a finger against Gracie’s lips. She looked into her eyes. “How long can we stay? Here.”
Gracie understood. She wrapped her arms around Evelyn and pulled her close. “As long as we want, Evie. As long as you’ll have me.”
Evelyn smiled and stood on her toes to kiss Gracie’s lips as the shadows stretched around them.
***
Evelyn wasn’t surprised when Gracie pulled into the parking lot of a campground not far from the Canyon. They’d left when the sun was just barely visible in the distance, using the last bit of its light to follow the path back to the car. It would’ve been ridiculous to expect Gracie to spend another eight hours driving back in the dark.
She waited in the car while Gracie went inside to reserve a room, which turned out to be a cabin at the end of a short dirt driveway.
Gracie led her into the cabin, pausing to turn on a light. It was a single room with a sitting area directly in front of the door and a queen-size bed behind it. The kitchen was to the right, and Gracie gestured toward it.
“They said the fridge is fully stocked. And, um, the bed... they only had cabins with one bedroom, but I don’t want you to think I was presuming anything. I can sleep on the couch or we can--”
Evelyn cut her off by kissing her. Gracie immediately returned the kiss, her strong arms wrapping around Evelyn’s waist and pulling her close.
“I really would have,” she said quickly between kisses, “mm, taken the couch.”
“I know.” Evelyn was quickly trying to work the buttons of Gracie’s shirt with hands that barely seemed to work. “Can I tear this off of you?”
Gracie reached up to help her. “No, I only have one shirt...”
“Then hurry,” Evelyn whimpered. She kissed Gracie’s cheeks, jaw, and neck while Gracie unbuttoned her own shirt. The second the felt the material being pulled away, she bent her knees and started kissing lower. Across Gracie’s collarbone, down to her cleavage, across to take a nipple into her mouth. She used her teeth and tongue on it while Gracie grabbed handfuls of her hair and made the most delicious noises of encouragement.
Gracie let Evelyn spend some time on her chest before she pulled her away, taking her mouth for another long kiss. They moved across the room like dancers, feet shuffling over the hardwood floor toward the bed. Evelyn tugged her polo shirt out of her slacks and immediately felt Gracie’s hands brushing over the newly-exposed strip of hip and the small of her back and left goosebumps in their wake. She leaned back long enough to pull the shirt over her head and drop it, then watched Gracie’s face as she reached behind to unfasten her bra.
Once it was gone, Gracie cupped Evelyn’s breasts. “I love seeing you naked.”
“You do?” Evelyn felt the blush creeping up her throat.
“Yes.” She bent down and pressed her lips to Evelyn’s chest. “You’re gorgeous.”
Evelyn closed her eyes and, for reasons even she couldn’t explain, lifted her heels so she was standing on her tiptoes. Gracie took it as a hint to move lower, so she did. She knelt on the floor and kissed Evelyn’s belly as she unbuttoned her pants and slowly, but with a desperate urgency, tugged them down over her hips. Evelyn held her breath and stepped out of the pants and her shoes at the same time, then let Gracie guide her toward the bed so she could lie down.
“Please,” Evelyn said, resting the back of one hand across her mouth.
“This?” Gracie asked, and lightly brushed her lips over Evelyn’s thigh.
Evelyn’s body twitched and she moved her legs apart. “Yes.”
“This?” Gracie asked, angling her head. She kissed skin no one else had ever kissed, and her hair brushed Evelyn’s sex.
“Yes,” Evelyn moaned. “That... more.”
Gracie’s finger brushed against her. Evelyn grunted. And then Gracie’s mouth was on her. Evelyn closed her eyes and opened her lips, slipping her middle finger into her mouth and biting down hard on the knuckle. She pulled her feet up onto the mattress and pushed down with them, lifting herself up to meet Gracie’s lips and tongue. Gracie responded with increased force, which made Evelyn’s legs tremble.
She came with a force that surprised her, dropping her hand to cry out and then immediately putting it back in case anyone nearby might overhear.
Her brain went foggy for an unknown amount of time, because the next thing she knew, Gracie was climbing on top of her. She’d removed her pants at some point during the blackout. Evelyn felt skin on her skin and reached out for it as she accepted Gracie’s kiss, taking the tip of her tongue into her mouth and gently sucking on it, eyes closed and brow furrowed at the strange taste of herself.
“Show me what to do to you,” Evelyn said, taking her mouth away from Gracie as little as possible to get the words out.
“You want me to show you?” Gracie asked. She slipped one arm around Evelyn’s shoulders, propping her up slightly off the mattress.
“Yes.” She was cradled against Gracie’s bare chest, and she couldn’t imagine ever getting up from this spot. “Show me.”
Gracie brought Evelyn’s hand to her mouth and kissed two fingertips, then took them into her mouth. She sucked and swirled her tongue, then guided the hand down her body. Evelyn watched its path, even though she knew Gracie was staring at her face. She could feel the intensity of her stare like it was a heat source, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from her fingers tracing a wet path over Gracie’s breast, down her stomach, to... to...
“Oh,” Evelyn said, then looked up to see what Gracie’s face was doing.
Gracie’s eyes were closed. Her teeth pulled at her bottom lip, and a line appeared between her eyebrows. Evelyn turned her hand, and Gracie stroked her palm and the inside of her wrist.
“Do this...” Gracie let go and held up her hand to make a ‘come here’ gesture.
Evelyn did what she was told and watched Gracie flinch. “Good?”
“Great, baby. Press harder...”
“Okay...”
Evelyn stroked and watched Gracie’s face. Sweat shined on her forehead and her hair was stuck to it. She looked desperate, maybe even pained. But she only whispered “faster,” and “right there,” so Evelyn didn’t stop. Before long, Gracie was thrusting against her fingers, and her other hand tightened on Evelyn’s shoulder. Gracie moved her leg so that it was between Evelyn’s thighs. Evelyn captured it and rubbed against her, matching the rhythm she had found with her fingers.
“I think you’re going to let go,” Evelyn half-whispered, half-moaned, and then she watched and felt it happen. The muscles moved against her trapped fingers, and Gracie’s face twisted into the most hideously gorgeous expression she’d ever seen. When the waves passed, she exhaled twice, very hard, and her arms gave out. She slumped to one side and pressed her face to Evelyn’s shoulder, kissing her, trembling so hard that it made Evelyn’s breasts shake. She chuckled when she realized this, but she didn’t say anything. She just held and kissed Gracie until she came back to herself enough to participate.
“Tell me again, Grace,” Evelyn whispered, eyes closed. “Tell me again how long we can stay here.”
“As long as we want.” Gracie kissed Evelyn’s neck, which made her shudder. “As long as you’ll have me.”
Evelyn smiled and decided it would almost be enough.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Gracie finished tying her bowtie as she came out of the bathroom, giving the two sides a gentle tug to make sure they were even. Evelyn, sitting at her vanity, huffed and rolled her eyes.
“This is completely unfair. Just because you’re going dressed as a man, you can get away with a shower and a nice suit. Did that even take you five minutes?”
“Ten. I shaved, too.” Gracie brushed the back of her hand over her cheek. “I don’t know if it actually makes a difference. But it’s a ritual. And sometimes I nick myself, and that makes it a little more believable to people at the office.”
Evelyn put a hand on her chest. “Oh, lord, I’m sorry. I had no idea of the sacrifices you were making.”
Gracie stood behind Evelyn’s chair and bent down so they could look at each other in the mirror. “You could go dressed as a man, too. You’d look amazing in a tux and tails.” She teased Evelyn’s curls. “Nice top hat.”
I’ll leave that to Marlene, thank you.” She finished with her eyelashes and turned her head. “Kiss me before I start on my lipstick.”
Gracie did as she was told, then pressed another kiss to Evelyn’s cheek before she went to get her shoes. “I’m glad you have your priorities in check.”
“We can’t have you showing up with lipstick on your mouth! People will see that, realize you’re too beautiful to be a man, and then the whole jig will be up.”
Gracie chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed. Their bed. The bed they’d shared since Gracie moved in a few months earlier. Barry understood the situation once it was laid out for him, but he and Evelyn needed time to work out a satisfying end to their so-called relationship that made them both look good. The opportunity came when he was cast in a Western filming in Spain. He would have to relocate for three months. It was as good a chance as any to say their relationship wasn’t working and they had mutually decided to part ways.
She was glad they’d been forced to wait. It gave them a chance to get away from the heightened environment of their road trip and see how they felt in their real lives. They got to know each other in real life, and quickly discovered that their feelings were only stronger without the forced proximity of the car. And sex in a proper bed was a completely different creature than motels.
“Are you all ready for tomorrow?” Gracie asked.
“Tomorrow? I just have to be there. You’re the one who has to be ready. It’s the opposite of tonight. Tonight you’re just my arm candy.”
“True.” Gracie adjusted her cufflinks. “Wait. They’re not going to want to talk to me, are they?”
“Who?”
“The photographers. Some of them are going to be from the Merc. Or used to be there. God, that would be strange, running into them on the red carpet...”
Evelyn got up and walked over. She petted the top of Gracie’s head. “You don’t have to come. I know you’re not really comfortable with publicity and all that.”
Gracie took Evelyn’s hand, kissed the knuckles, and pressed it against her cheek. “You’re sweet. But I want to support you. Besides, this is our movie. This movie is the reason we met. I can’t just catch the matinee.”
“True, true. But to set your mind at ease, no. They don’t really care about the partners unless they’re also famous.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
Evelyn finished her preparations and they headed out. Gracie waited until they were in the car before she asked if Evelyn was nervous.
“Not really. I’m used to these things by now. I know what to expect.”
“But this is the movie with Sol and that screenwriter asshole whose name I can never remember. It might be awkward.”
Evelyn shook her head. “No, they’re like all the other male assholes in this town. They barely even remember that article came out, because barely any of them had to suffer consequences.”
Gracie knew the actual number was two. One actor and one producer who had been fired due to their behavior on set, and in the case of the producer, he was only punished because in his case it had been a violent sexual assault and the actress had taken photos of her bruises. They were the sacrificial lambs so the rest of the boys could continue with business as usual.
