With whatever dizzying array of thoughts went through her mind in the very few days since her night with Maris, Rory had all but forgotten about the gala night. It wasn't until one of her co-workers texted just to ask what color her dress was that she even remembered it. It was on the calendar. She had RSVP'd with Jess. Jess was an issue she was still trying to gingerly figure out, and she had felt more guilty by the day. Of course, that didn't stop her from texting with Maris, tentatively at first, and bolder as their conversation went on. During her movie and seating chart "date" with Jess, she'd been itching to pick up her phone, inhaling sharply when her phone buzzed with a text. The amount of times she excused herself to grab something, or go to the bathroom just to have the freedom to read and not have to hide a reaction -- yeah, it was getting into really bad territory. They'd barely gotten anything done, but when Jess began to initiate kisses that would definitely lead to something on any other night, Rory gave an oscar-worthy performance of feigning feeling sick. More to make her feel guilty. But she couldn't stop.

The idea that Maris might show up at this thing hadn't been lost on her. She was afraid to ask, but as she picked between three choices, she ultimately ended up with a red number. She told herself that it was because it was the one that felt the most summery -- but in the event that Maris did show up, she liked the idea of the lower neckline and higher skirt than some of her longer ones. Shit, this would be something.

Arriving fashionably late, Rory and Jess surveyed the room. Her gaze found some of her co-workers, so she parted from Jess (who had found her gaggle of friends) to head over to them. She caught up with everyone, who were drinking well thanks to the summer officially having started for most of them. Save for those suckers stuck doing summer courses. After a few minutes, she made her way over to the bar to get herself a drink, though her attention was focused elsewhere, eyes scanning the crowd for a particular woman she couldn't stop thinking about.

Maris had never really been to a gala before but the prospect of something new was kind of the basis of its appeal. No one could ever accuse her of being under dressed. If anything she was a bit too polished in her every day life, conscious of how she looked though her pride in her appearance usually had to do with pleasing herself than others. But despite her carefully curated wardrobe, Maris wasn't quite sure she had anything right for the event and relished in going out in search of it. It gave her a chance to think of something other than Rory who it was suddenly even harder to forget now that there were memories of her in her new place as well as her old one.

Her dress was very much her style. Simple, classic and of course, black. She fretted over her hair, a bit annoyed that it was too short to do much with it even though ease (and she had come to realize that a shorter length suited her best) was the reason she cut it short again in the first place.

Making sure she didn't leave the house with a hair out of place may have been par for the course, but she would have been lying if she said that she wasn't dressing to impress a specific person.

She was just as in the dark as to whether Rory would actually be there. Part of her wished her ex wouldn't show up because she knew who she'd be showing up with (and it wasn't her) but she was dying to see her again. Her fingers had hovered over her phone screen a thousand times but never sent the text inviting her to her bed again. She was almost sure Rory would take her up on the invitation but until she was positive, she wasn't about to push her luck.

She'd been relieved to see that she wasn't the only person to show up solo, but still grabbed a glass of champagne (not her favorite, but it was free and she wasn't about to be picky) to ease her nerves.

A flash of red was what caught her eye initially and once she realized who was wearing it, her heart caught in her throat. This was going to be hard. She looked around for a moment, her stomach knotting when she saw Jess talking to a group a few feet away but Rory was alone and that was all that mattered.

"You just can't find decent peacock feathers in this town," Maris purred, a little too close to Rory's ear as she came up beside her. Her lips twitched before she took a step to face her, wondering if Rory remembered her promise. A lot more had happened the other night than Anne watching.

It would be completely silly to say that the air had changed, or something had even shifted in that regard. Atmosphere was just that - and couldn't possibly, actually be changed to her based on the presence of one person. Rory however felt a palpable shift, something akin to a breeze you'd get without any windows open somehow. She wanted to give off some air of cool, an ability to act aloof to any given situation in their current situation, but she wasn't that good.

She felt her first, a spire of heat lit aflame in her at how near she was. The timbre of her voice in that low register, the lilt of it that felt suggestive, even if her words were innocuous enough. She felt warmth creeping up her neck, a small smile curving her lips as she took her drink in hand but paused before bringing it to her lips. "I'm devastated by this news. I think you really could have tried harder." Her grin grew then, breaking across her features as she turned towards her. God damn, did she have to show up looking so good? Not that she ever looked bad. The woman could wear anything and still look good. A particular favorite was when she wore nothing.

"I'm glad to see you decided to come." She said, her eyes darting (and lingering a little too long) to her lips, then back to meet her eyes. Rory hadn't been able to get their night -- and morning for that matter out of her mind. So much so she'd had a remarkably vivid dream that, upon waking, she nearly got in her car and drove straight to Maris' place. But she had some semblance of willpower, and it was better, she thought, to take some time to cool off and figure out where her head was at. Now faced with the other woman, she was decidedly uncool. She knew she couldn't hide the way she was looking at Maris like she could (and would) downright devour her on site.

Jess' laughter behind her at least made her break eye contact, cooling off with a long drink of her vodka cranberry. "Having fun so far?"

Rory had looked good from afar, but it was nothing compared to what Maris was seeing up close. She took her time taking her in, her eyes traveling over the other woman's body as languidly as they had in her bedroom. Well, after the third or fourth round when a little bit of their urgency subsided anyway. Red was a bold color, the right choice for someone who wanted to be noticed. Rory didn't need it. Maris was pretty sure she'd draw attention if she walked in wearing a tee shirt and sweatpants, but when you combined the other woman's good looks and fashion choice, well, she could hardly be blamed for staring, her thoughts drifting to how she could get that dress onto her bedroom floor.

"It's alright. I've had more exciting things happen this week," she raised an eyebrow playfully as she sipped her champagne.

Her mind was awash with desire, so palpable she wondered how she was still standing upright. Just a week ago, Rory could stay in Maris' company and have perfectly natural, normal conversation ... but she knew this was all burning under the surface. Now that it had been unleashed again and again ... and again, there was no putting it back. It felt like a fuse had been lit to a never-ending popping of fireworks, and she could only hold onto the moments as they passed by. She wanted to press herself into Maris and kiss her, her mind so vividly considering it that she bit her lower lip and clenched her fingers around her glass a little tighter. Fuck, there was really no getting through this but to bask in it, huh? And maybe try not to be so obvious with how much she was thinking about peeling that dress away from her body.

"Funny, so have I." Rory countered, her own brows raised as she smirked. "Champagne? I remember that's not really your drink." Her gaze lingered a bit before she turned and caught the attention of the bartender enough to ask for Maris' old standby, confident (if cocky, true) that she remembered it perfectly - and assuming it hadn't changed any more than her own chinese food standbys had.

Maris' teeth sunk into her lower lip, halfway between delighted and aroused that Rory remembered her preference for old fashioneds.

"It is not my drink," she agreed, putting down her flute and picking up her whiskey, giving Rory a little toast before taking a sip. "But nobody told me there was an open bar so I grabbed the champagne thinking it was the only free booze provided."

She winced playfully. "Classy, right? Can tell these are so my thing."

The truth was, they could be. Dressing up and standing around talking to people with common interests was right up Maris' alley but she'd never really had the time or means to participate until now. Still, it was hard to gauge exactly how she felt about the gala just yet. She'd only been there for a few minutes when Rory arrived and it was hard to remember what happened before she did.

"I like the dress," she finally said aloud, nodding towards it. "Always said red was your color."

Her own glass clinked against Maris', as Rory smiled into the lip of her glass as she took a long sip. "Oh I'd say you're doing very classy." She countered, her smile ever present on her lips even as she struggled - legitimately - not to lean in closer every second. "A gala evening suits you." She made no attempt to hide the way her eyes raked over Maris then, settling back on her face. She attempted to give a little nonchalant shrug, but knew her expression had to be a dead giveaway. She couldn't be that cool.

"Did you always say that? Hm." Rory knew well and good that Maris had always liked red on her. With the events of the other night, even the memories Rory had tried to lock away for her own self preservation came racing back to the forefront of her mind. "Thank you," She said, putting her glass down next to Maris'.

She glanced away from her, not quite looking behind her or anywhere else, but feeling somewhat bold in the space they had created with each other. With their glasses nearly touching, she reached out with her fingers to brush them against the back of Maris' knuckles, dragging her fingertips along hers. Apparently she just couldn't help herself, and she wanted to feel her skin again, even just in the (somewhat) innocent touch. "You look really good."

Maris could have played things off, made some comment about how her very new, very expensive dress was just something she had lying around but it felt like a cliche and frankly, a waste of time when she had spent so much of hers wanting to be in Rory's presence lately.

Her touch would have been bold, maybe even a little unexpected even after the other night if they were alone, but it was doubly so in a room full of people. And as easy as it was to disappear into a bubble where she didn't exist and wasn't an obstacle, Maris hadn't quite forgotten one of them was Rory's fiance.

Their eyes met the moment Rory's fingers touched hers, Maris' thoughts immediately drifting to the way those same knuckles felt between her legs days earlier but she didn't have a chance to speak before Jess did.

"There you are! Everyone's been asking about you."

She straightened when they were interrupted, but the change of posture wasn't the result of nerves, some automatic impulse to play it cool and cover up what had happened a few days before. It was pretty clear Jess had no idea what was going on, or even that Maris and Rory had past goings on to begin with. Rory hadn't introduced her as an ex. As far as Jess knew, she was a friend and that was a role she could play quite well. She'd fooled Rory into thinking that was all she wanted. Well, for a few weeks anyway.

Besides, Jess didn't exactly strike her as a perceptive sort. Maris' posture was mostly a result of smugness. For better or worse, she thought she was well, better than Jess and Rory giving into her the night before had only confirmed that suspicion. But inferior or not, Jess was still Rory's date, something that made her skin prickle if she thought about it for too long.

"Jess, hi," she said warmly. "I'm Maris, we met at the fair? Sorry I've been hogging her."

Rory had never been the kind of woman who thought she needed to gussy herself up one way or another for anyone, but wearing something that made her feel good, where she knew it might make the person she wanted to notice was always on the table. Lord knows she'd done it so much with Maris, knowing that going to dinner together might be a little more rushed if she wore a blouse that lay just one extra button undone. The way Maris looked at her justified her in her choice.

Did she forget about her fiancée so close by? No, definitely not - but the bold part of her felt like she could get away with something. Well, she already had. It was unlike her, truly, but something possessed her to feel as though she could have what she wanted.

Standing straight as she heard Jess' voice, she grabbed for her glass and turned towards her with a smile. Her back went a little rigid, as Rory exhaled to get rid of where her mind was just seconds before. She waited to speak as the two greeted one another, taking the reprieve for a moment to collect herself.

"Sorry, I found the bar." She smiled, glancing towards Maris as Jess slipped an arm around her waist.

'She's easy to hog, I get it.' Jess replied, all cheery and clearly unaware of the palpable tension between the two. While Jess wasn't dumb by any means (Rory wouldn't be caught near a relationship with someone who couldn't at least hold a conversation), she was naive, and indeed not the quickest to pick up on cues. Maybe she was too trusting ... shit, that was a terrible thought. 'Did you get a drink for me babe?'

"Oh, I thought you grabbed champagne, what do you want?" Rory chirped back a little too cheerily, compensating by putting a hand against her back -- which felt shitty to do in front of Maris, even that chaste touch. Rory turned to order for Jess, feeling stuck in some weird situation between the two of them - all of politeness.

'Are you bidding on anything, Maris?' Jess chimed in, still standing incredibly close -- maybe she did sense something after all. 'The silent auction always has some gems.'

In a way, Maris was prepared to see Jess touching Rory. She had sort of steeled herself to expect it because why wouldn't she be all over Rory if she had no clue anything was amiss? She wasn't prepared to see Rory being affectionate even she could understand why she was doing. She wasn't prepared for it to feel like so much of a betrayal.

Her gaze only lingered on the hand on Jess' back for a moment, the same hand that had gripped Maris' waist the moment she slid into her lap. The hand Maris pretended was really the one touching her as she touched herself on more than a few mornings since.

"I didn't even notice there was an auction," she said, teeth clenched in what she hoped was an apologetic smile. "There's a lot to be distracted by. Are they antiques? I'm definitely interested if so."

She looked at Rory and Jess again. If she didn't know what had happened a few days before she would have thought they were fine, a happy couple standing side by side. She didn't know what Rory was going to do and was certainly not the sort of woman who would beg someone to leave their partner for her. As far as she was concerned they didn't need to talk about this, about it all meant or what happened next. All she knew was that she wanted it to happen again, that it seemed like it would, and that if Rory had to keep up appearances so it could well, maybe she should let her.

"I think I'll go check them out now, actually," she said, heading toward the table before they had a chance to reply.

Though Rory hadn't immediately become some cruel, cold person where it came to Jess, and had a lot to sort out on both sides of how she felt and where to move forward, she actively didn't want to make the situation more difficult. Hell, the more selfish part of her didn't want anything Maris might perceive in her actions towards Jess to then put any halt to what they had done ... and what she wanted to do again. And again. It left Rory in a really difficult position, trying to walk a fine line that seemed to be evaporating quicker than she knew how to handle.

Rory had averted her eyes, focusing on getting a drink and glancing towards the area of the silent auction instead of looking at Maris for too long. She didn't particularly feel ashamed or anything (another problematic mood at present), but she was more concerned what her gaze towards Maris might reflect to anyone who knew her well - and Jess was supposed to be the woman she was marrying for god's sake.

"Maris loves her antiques." She chimed in a little absent-mindedly, a small smile directed towards the other woman before she distracted herself again - couldn't linger too long. Maybe even that was too familiar of a thing to say, that it might bring with it an idea of how well she and Maris did indeed know one another. Shit.

Rory leaned back against the bar as Maris decided to take her leave to go look at the auction, if only to stop her body from gravitating towards her as she left. Her gaze lingered however, a moment or two too long.

"She seems lovely." Jess told her, taking her drink and tightening her arm around Rory's waist to pull her away from the bar. Was Rory reading too much into a tone, there? Making things up in her head certainly would do no good, but she did wonder... "Yeah, she's good people." Rory said and tried not to let her tone be too wistful about it.

It took a few minutes of chatting with Jess' friends (most of whom she had never been close to anyway) before she was finally able to pull herself away. She kissed Jess' cheek before leaving, a hopeful salve before she made her way off. She stopped by her table of friends, gossiping for much shorter than she meant to, before gravitational pull took her to where Maris was. "Find anything that you like?"

She may have wandered over to get away from Rory (or more accurately, get away from Jess & Rory but her ex was right. She did love antiques. Maris had gotten sucked into checking out what the auction had to offer almost immediately.

"I don't think this vase is the real deal. Watermark's all wrong," Maris said, eyes narrowed at the item she was studying for a few more moments before turning her attention to Rory.

She would have had an extensive knowledge of antiques if she wasn't a history teacher. They were her grandfather's trade, after all and a person couldn't hang around the family business without learning a thing or two.

Adam had specifically cautioned his granddaughter against buying pieces in scenarios like these, saying that most auctioneers were more concerned with making a quick buck than doing their research.

She looked up. "Shouldn't you be..."

She inwardly cringed. Maybe reminding Rory that she should probably be with her fiance wasn't the best idea. What if she read it as Maris brushing her off? What if she actually took her up on her advice? She'd never acknowledged there were things Rory should be doing (that weren't her) until now and now that she had she immediately wished she could take it back.

She took a breath, inwardly steadying herself as she moved in closer, whispering, "I just mean she's clearly..." Besotted? No, that was another thing Maris probably shouldn't acknowledge.

"She's gonna keep asking where you are."

Rory was struck in that moment of something she had never forgotten about altogether - that she loved listening to Maris talk, particularly about things she knew well about. She could listen to her talk for hours about various historical facts, or why two chairs that looked the exact same to Rory were in fact very different. Any time that Maris was passionate about anything, Rory was rapt with attention.

"Mm, no go then." She agreed while wrinkling her nose in distaste - as though she knew anything about the watermark -- but she knew Maris did.

She was right - Rory should be elsewhere. She should be mingling with her friends, or by Jess' side. She should be talking excitedly about getting her wedding plans underway - but none of that was anywhere near what she was thinking about now. Maris pointing it out should have done something more to chastise her, or set her back on how much she wanted to be close to her. A lot closer than current space would allow, actually.

Rory's gaze met Maris and she nodded, agreeing with her in some regard. She clearly was something. Whatever the end of that sentence was, she was. And she felt terribly about it. But she couldn't stop herself now. How close she was, the whispering tone of her voice -- it did something to her that gave her a feeling she wanted to chase.

"I'm not a kept woman." She shrugged, not adding 'yet' for a myriad of reasons. "I'm spending time with friends, freely..."

Maris was almost delighted the silent auction wasn't as great as Rory's fiance said. Possible reproduction aside, she saw no real "gems" and was weirdly pleased at the revelation Jess didn't seem to know what she was talking about. It was further proof of the mantra she kept repeating more and more now that Rory was back in her life again, especially now that she was back in her bed.

She was better than Jess.

On some level she knew Rory wouldn't become the sort of pod person she despised now that she was a soon to be married woman. She wouldn't lose her autonomy or personality just because she was in a relationship if theirs was any indication but hearing her say so out loud did something to Maris. They gave her a glimmer of hope that her ex hadn't exactly gone all in just yet.

"Come over tomorrow." The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. In true Maris fashion, they sounded more like a certainty than a request because the act of asking for something made her feel weak and uncomfortable, but there was a definite need in her voice as she said them. "I want to see you."

And the look in her eyes was a dead giveaway as to what "see you" really meant.

The odd vacation (to Vermont) and more gift cards and baskets than anyone here could feasibly want were really the bigger ticket items here. A few things maybe cleaned out from attics made up the rest. Rory made a show of looking over things, if only to keep her attention not solely focused on Maris. Rory was too afraid of what her gaze might tell if she stayed staring at her too long.

A fact that remained true for Rory, no matter what point in her life she was at - was she couldn't be with someone who tried to steal away her freedom. When she was with Maris, she'd thought about things like marriage, in those big-forever moments especially, but rarely felt as though it were something they needed to rush to. The point was choosing one another every day regardless, where some days they did better than others, clearly. The thing she needed to grapple with now was if she wasn't choosing Jess anymore, how was she going to figure that in the most delicate way possible?

She wasn't there yet, but the decisions she was making right now definitely colored a result.

"Yes." She said quietly, released in the middle of an exhale like she'd been waiting for the question. She hadn't even taken a moment to play with her answer, or think of something cool or alluring to say. Just the mindless desperation of a woman who wanted Maris. The rest would work itself out. Rory had met her eyes when she said it, which was clearly a mistake as all she wanted then was to grab her and kiss her.

So, the next thing she could do, leaning forward to put down a $40 bid on something -- an escape room? or a baked goods basket, she didn't care. All that mattered was that by leaning forward, she was able to justify leaning her body slightly more against Maris, her fingers brushing gently by her arm as she went.

"If we can wait that long." Was what she whispered upon standing, every bit of nerves she had feeling bold, and that in itself was exhilarating as hell.

Maris wanted her right then and now. Or at least to be the one to take her home and watch that red dress fall off her shoulders, but she knew that just wasn't realistic. She'd have to bide her time.

Rory was there with Jess and she could hardly leave without her. Even if she did fake sick and pull off some grand escape to Maris' house, there was her own exit to consider. It was simply too complicated to become a reality.

Or was it?

They really didn't have to wait and Rory's had Maris thinking that neither of them wanted to.

"Come on," she said before she could start thinking of more complicated plans and consequences to talk herself out of it. Taking Rory's wrist to make sure she was following was a bold move, but one not really spotted since she made sure to walk behind a row of columns and obnoxiously large potted plants. The bathroom was always an option, but not one she was particularly fond of. Hygiene issues aside, there were simply too many people to worry about and if their last encounter was any indication, she couldn't seem to keep quiet with Rory. She was even worse now than she had been when they first got together.

Maris was making a beeline for the parking lot where her car (and it's small but at the moment, convenient) backseat would be waiting.

Rory should have known that the suggestive nature of her comment would light a fuse. Hell, even as she spoke the words she could feel her body temperature rising. Or maybe that was due to the slight touch of their skin. Or the idea that tomorrow she would have her again. But impatience was a bitch, and she wasn't in the mood to play it self. For better or worse.

Somewhere between their eyes catching and Maris pulling her away from the auction, it probably should have occurred to Rory that she was effectively choosing a difficult way forward. Beyond what they were doing and her commitment to someone else, they weren't talking about the implications of this for the two of them. Rory was too swept up in it to bother with those details, or even let her mind wander that far.

Maris nearby was intoxicating, so she could only follow, and follow what felt right. She only glanced back once as they exited the building, as though she'd look back to see a sea of eyes trained on them. Not even a glance their way, from the looks of it. The cool summer air outside hit her all at once, making her realize just how flushed she must be.

Bold seemed to be the name of her game tonight, and she wasn't hating it. As they reached Maris' car, her hands found their way to her hips, pausing her at the car to square off with her and press her mouth against hers; needy and breathless, Rory sighed into the kiss. It was however, all too brief as she pulled back and bit her lower lip, knowing they wouldn't get more than a couple of those out in the open.

Maris had been relatively unconcerned about being spotted while they were in the building. A hand on Rory's wrist could be explained away easily enough, especially in a world where people rarely saw two women as more than friends, no matter how affectionate they were being.

There was no explaining away a kiss and Maris' breath hitched in surprise at Rory's boldness. For all of five seconds, then she was letting out a sigh of almost relief against the other woman's lips like she had been holding her breath for exactly this moment.

She took a quick look around before hastily unlocking her car door, all but pushing Rory into the backseat. Time was of the essence and while her speed was out of necessity, there was some playfulness there too, especially when Maris realized she'd been such a hurry she'd shut a bit of her dress in the car door, laughter bubbling out of her mouth as she opened the door a crack to remedy it.

Once they were closed again, she was struck by just how small the space they were in was, a predicament only made worse by the fact that they were wearing evening gowns which meant extra material that took up far much more space than regular street clothes, but the pair hadn't exactly had a chance to experience something simpler, even in simpler times. Maris had never had a car before.

This was a first, something she'd remember and reflect on later. She was entirely too lost in Rory in the present.

She kissed her hard because on some level she wasn't sure this would happen again. Maris felt just as greedy as she had the other night, maybe even more so because she'd had a chance to remember exactly what she'd been missing.

"I can't stop thinking of you," she murmured against her lips, leaning forward in an effort to lean Rory back and onto the seat. She let out a throaty little laugh, sliding down one of the straps of Rory's dress and pressing her lips to the soft skin she'd exposed, murmuring a confession she'd nearly made to Rory over the phone in their one and only call since their night together. "I can't stop touching myself while I'm thinking about you."

If Rory wasn't practically buzzing with a neediness that shocked even her, she would have laughed at the utter absurdity it was to be scampering off to the back seat of a car because they couldn't find anywhere else to be alone. They both had homes for god's sake, but there was no use getting into the reasons behind them being unable to go off to them just now. No, this was good. This would do.

Rory couldn't help but grin as Maris sighed, a feeling that she agreed with all too well. Off that, she gave a little growl of a sound before scrambling into the back with the aggressive assist from Maris. She laughed, a little too loudly, getting herself however comfortable she could in the confines of the car. Her laughter only grew as Maris had to extricate herself from the door, but her hands were greedy once she did.

Her hands came up to her face, drawing her in and kissing her deeply, greedier and greedier as her tongue swept over hers. This felt desperate and frantic, but her need had reached a boiling point before she'd even seen the other woman tonight. Their texting notwithstanding, her mind had been reeling with thoughts of her since she left her other other morning.

"Me too," She breathed her confession in earnest, her hands dragging down over her hips and gripping her ass to give a deft squeeze. "Fuck," She moaned and let her head fall back a little, shaking her head slightly as she looked at the other woman. "Now I won't be able to stop thinking about that." She laughed softly, nudging her nose to give her a slightly softer kiss that lingered longer than the others. "I made myself come this morning thinking of you." She hummed her words, her teeth then gently biting at Maris' lower lip. "You're all I can think about." She'd joke that it was a problem, but it wasn't to her. Well, not a problem she wanted to fix anyway. Her hands slid further down Maris' thighs, ducking beneath the fabric to run her fingertips up beneath her skirt.

"Really?" Maris said breathlessly, raising an eyebrow. The mental image of Rory pleasing herself while thinking of her would have been a turn on, but when you considered Maris had spent her morning doing the same thing thinking about her, it was enough to make her flush as she thought about how fitting it was and how right this all felt.

How this seemed meant to happen because they wanted it to.

"You should call me next time. You know I love to listen."

Rory and Maris had a lot of phone sex before distance started taking it's toll. Truth be told, it was something Maris enjoyed even when it wasn't the only way to hear her lover on the end of the line, though she hadn't really indulged in it since they parted ways.

She hissed with pleasure as Rory's fingers slid along her skin, every nerve ending in her body already feeling a faint electric him. Her panties were uncharacteristically small, a thong rather than her usual boyshorts to avoid panty lines and make sure her dress looked just right. She may have only been wearing a scrap of black lace, but she wanted it gone. She wanted everything they were wearing to be, but she knew there was no way it was possible. But frustration had a way of turning into something else entirely and she channeled it into kissing Rory as she mirrored her actions only she pushed her panties aside just enough to expose her pussy and start massaging it with her palm.

"Yes," She breathed with a little bit of a laugh at Maris' response. In the moment she expected to maybe feel a little bashful about it, embarrassed even that she had such little self control, but she didn't. Especially knowing that Maris had done the same. An image that was already roiling through her mind even with the woman in her lap.

Such a request, and one that burned heat through Rory just thinking about hearing her voice, knowing that Maris would be listening to her. It had been erotic and sensual every time they'd done it when they had been apart. There was rarely a time she'd even touch herself without Maris on the other end of the line. "I remember you do," She whispered against her ear, her voice ragged and deeper than usual. All this woman's doing.

It wasn't hard for Rory to pick up the cues that Maris gave, every sound or movement she made just guiding her into what to do next. Maris' skirt bunched around her wrists as she moved up, a slight smirk gracing her features as her fingertips touched to the fabric of her thong. She didn't get the chance to dole out some quip about it as Maris' hand against her bare pussy earned a sharp whine from the back of her throat. She kissed her hard, her tongue finding hers as she quit her own slow movements and went for what she wanted. Her fingers hooked inside her thong, moving the pads of her fingertips to rub against her pussy in turn, sliding her thumb against her clit. She moaned again, this time for the sensation of her lover's slick heat on her fingers.

"Ah, yeah fuck me," she said breathlessly, her hips rising up to meet Rory's fingers. Her skirt made a soft swish with each of her movements, her tongue making an even softer sound as it stroked hers as her hand stroked Rory.

She gave her no warning before slipping two fingers inside her. Maris knew her, all the signs and signals she was ready almost as well as she knew her own.

The small, cramped space was annoying, but after a few moments she began to enjoy it. It forced them to be close. With Rory's body pressed against her (and with both of them unable to take their clothes off for more than a few reasons) she felt pleasantly hot. She could smell their arousal thick in the air and as her dress eventually bunched up past her thighs she was suddenly very grateful she paid extra for leather seats.

Her thrusts became rougher, the encounter becoming increasingly more animalistic on her end because on some level she knew this couldn't last. They had to hurry. They had to get back to the party. Remembering that Rory had to get back to someone other than her only served to make her push inside Rory even harder because she needed some way to channel her frustration. Knowing that she would see and have Rory again tomorrow was some small comfort but it wouldn't help her once they were done in the here and now.

Rory grinned into her lips, the verbal affirmation striking her all the more so as she ground her hand into her more, her own fingers sliding inside of her mere moments later. She would never tire of that sound, Maris' voice, demanding and needy all at once.

Gasping a pathetic kind of sound as Maris' fingers entered her, her hips bucked towards her, the sensation of it rocketing through her body. "Fuck." She growled, her free hand moving to the back of Maris' neck. As her fingers curled into her hair, nails raked against her skin as she sought some kind of leverage in their current positioning.

The whole space, moment itself was overwhelming with the passion it inherently brought to it. This was for all intents and purposes, a moment they were stealing. A fuck they were stealing in the midst of whatever else they were supposed to be doing. She couldn't think past the sounds that echoed around them, the motion and the scent of it. The small space added a frustration, which only served to fuel her more.

Matching in kind, that feral feeling drove Rory as well. Her fingers began to pump a haphazard rhythm inside of Maris, fucking her harder, her arm burning in protest thanks to their position, but that didn't slow her down in the slightest. She wanted to earn the shuddering cries from her lover - a small taste of what was to come hours from now. "Fuck me, Maris." She cooed her words, panting hard as her gaze found hers. Flushed and kiss-swollen, it wasn't lost on her how it felt to say her name, how good it felt beyond how incredible it was to fuck her.

Rory's fingers as well as the effort her own were putting in soon had Maris panting, pleasantly dizzy as her limbs trembled and her core begged for release. But her pace picked up even more when Rory cooed her name. She wanted to hear more of it. She wanted Rory to hear it too, to remember just who was pleasing her because it certainly wasn't her fiance.

She started to groan, a mixture of pleasure and slight frustration because her own arm was starting to ache at the rate she was going in an effort to keep Rory satisfied. She shifted a bit, trying to find an angle that would better suit both of them, one of the stitches on the skin tight bodice popping in protesting the sudden movement. She would regret getting it taken in later. Right now, she regretted nothing. Certainly not this considering she came a moment later, her free hand coming to rest on the ceiling while she rode out her orgasm for all it was worth, Rory's name falling from her lips for the first time in five years because she'd been too scared to let it a few nights before.

Between nearly every one of their heated kisses, Rory took her moments to just watch Maris. Her gaze was hazy with lust, yes, but sharp in the things that she noticed. Like the effort she took to reposition herself, the way her face contorted in pleasure when Rory thrust her fingers deep inside of her again - which just made her repeat the motion again, and again. Her fingers curled inside of her, dragging along her slick walls as the heel of her hand pointedly rubbed against her clit. This was a feeling she didn't get ... hadn't gotten with anyone else, not ever. It was wholly indescribable.

As her own pleasure built to a breaking point, she struggled to keep pace, but made the effort. Pleasing this woman took first priority to absolutely anything. A short laugh morphed into a moan as they moved their bodies together, trying to get just the right angle. It was her name on Maris' lips that sent a visceral shudder through her body. God, did she want to hear it more. She watched through hazy eyes as Maris rode out the affects of her orgasm, the sight ... otherworldly. The moment left her wholly overwhelmed, enough so that she came crashing into her orgasm moments later. She cried out Maris' name, loud enough that she should be embarrassed, but her mind wasn't anywhere but in the blissful present. Her body jerked as she started to relax, her hand on Maris' neck smoothing over her shoulder as she leaned in to kiss her neck. "God dammit, Maris." She chuckled, kissing across her skin.

She let out a throaty chuckle as she stroked Rory's hair. Her lips felt good on her still sensitive skin, good enough for her to want to keep her there despite the cramped quarters and being pressed for time.

"You're still coming over tomorrow," she teased, taking on the same tone she'd used on students who needed lecturing, though she was a bit more breathless than usual. "I'm not done with you yet."

As she dipped her fingers under Rory's chin to force her to look up at her it was painfully clear that Maris never had been finished with her ex in the first place, which was precisely why this was happening.

"So don't get any ideas," she said, headbutting her playfully.

Rory smiled against Maris' skin, a soft 'mm' mumbled there as a different kind of warmth spread through her from where her fingers moved through her hair. Some things didn't change, which was ever clearer the longer they spent together.

"Oh," She laughed softly, pulling her fingers finally from Maris, but taking distinct care to brush the pads of her fingertips over her clit one last time. Her hand came to rest on her thigh, her thumb softly stroking her skin there. All while attempting to keep some semblance of calm when Maris' tone of voice and words themselves threatened to get her worked up all over again. They didn't have time for that. Not now.

"Yes ma'am." Rory flashed a cheeky grin, her hands smoothing over to the undersides of her thighs, pulling her into her as much as possible. Rory blushed under the intense gaze of this woman, but she didn't shy away from it. It must be remarkably clear the affect she had.

"I have plenty of ideas," Rory's voice was low, her lips brushed against her cheek as she kept their foreheads together. "But all of them involve you. And no constraints of cars and tight dresses."

"Well, at least it didn't rip," Maris said, a bit defensive because she was feeling more than a bit sheepish as she took the oppurtunity to inspect her dress. "Though I don't think I can take it back now either way." She gave Rory a cheeky grin, both of them knowing she wouldn't really be returning it even though she was pretty sure she would never have an occasion to wear her dress.

Even if she did, how could any other night possibly top this one?

"But I want to hear all about these ideas," she continued, her nails lightly traveling their way up Rory's spine. "I'll share one of mine..."

"Small miracles. I had half a mind to rip it off you myself ... but thought better of it." She laughed, kissing her lips quickly before she leaned back into the seat, mostly just to look at her, but also to catch her breath. "Good. You look really sexy in it. I mean, I'm biased and especially how you look now but. Y'know." Rory grinned, biting at her lower lip. It was stupid how much she missed their playful banter, just the way they regarded each other. Amongst everything else.

"Oh do you?" She shivered slightly at her light touch, feeling in this very moment that she wouldn't be able to deny Maris anything. Leaning in closer, she smiled into her lips, kissing her briefly, softly. "I keep thinking I want to fuck you on your balcony. I thought it might be a little small but ... we do really well in tight spaces." Rory felt this primal nature in her, that boldness carrying on and on. Her tongue darted out to brush over Maris' lips, just briefly. "Your turn..."

"Well, we did just christen my car," she countered with a laugh. "Why not keep the streak going?" Maris' whole house needed breaking in, really. The other night had been the first time she'd had sex in her bedroom since moving in, though she didn't think it was the best time to admit that. There was no denying the way the other woman looked at her, but Maris still wanted to seem as appealing to Rory as possible.

She gave her a tease of a kiss before murmuring, "I got this amazing new vibrator and I want to use it on you. It's only fitting, really. Considering how much you've caused me to use it lately."

"I'm just honored for that." She laughed, her mind already awash with how many rooms in Maris' house could use their stamp. It brought with it this idea they'd have quite a bit of time to do so -- something she was particularly keen on. She'd meant it that she hadn't been able to get Maris out of her head, and didn't see that changing anytime soon. Hell, the moment she'd seen her in the coffee shop had launched a kind of waking-haunting of her former girlfriend. If she were braver, she would have confronted it head-on, but here they were now. Ready to throw all caution to the wind. It was dangerous and felt so, but that was all the more attractive.

"Oh wow," She breathed through a little sigh, grinning as she regarded the other woman. "You're really going to make the wait for tomorrow difficult, aren't you?" Her hands moved over her thighs again, gentle touches of her fingertips over her skin. "I want to take my time with you..." She hummed against her lips, giving her another kiss then that lingered for a bit longer. "Every one of these ideas running in our heads, we're gonna do."

"Mmm, are we sure about that?" Maris teased. While she was pretty patient in her day to day life, the same couldn't be said for her in the bedroom. She craved control and felt out of sorts when she wasn't in the driver's seat. There was a certain vulnerability in waiting, counting on someone to give her what she wanted. Maris could be a snippy terror when she was being teased, though the pay off was almost always worth it.

Still, she knew what Rory meant. Their rushed time in her backseat hadn't given her everything she wanted. She wanted to see Rory, thoroughly please her and be content in the knowledge that there could always be another round.

She kissed her again, sighing with the realization that it was probably time to head back inside. She nodded vaguely toward the building. "You should go in first, I don't have anyone in there to wonder where I am. I'll wait a few minutes before I follow."

"Oh we're very sure about that." She smirked, a kind of cocky attitude making its way into the way she spoke. Rory had always been an exceptionally confident lover, but never so much more than with Maris. Something about the way they played off one another, and complimented in the right ways but clashed in ways that also fueled the fire between them. Maybe it was foolish of Rory to think she'd ever find a better match. Maybe it was foolish of her to allow herself to give up so quickly those years ago. Those were thoughts for the middle of the night spirals. Not for moments where their bodies felt so in sync, their breathing matched.

"I should. But you have to get off of me first." She laughed softly, but her hands squeezed her thighs again. She didn't want to go back. She had half a mind to tell Maris to get in the front seat and drive so they never had to look back. Maybe another time. "One more." She huffed with a sigh, leaning in to steal her lips again, taking her time - whatever time they had left - for a kiss that maybe could tide her over to tomorrow.

Maris quirked an eyebrow. She'd been worried she was pushing her luck by pulling Rory out of the party and into her parking lot. Their fuck in her backseat had already been on borrowed time. She'd half expected Rory to say no the first time around, unsure she would take the same risks when her fiance was around.

She had never been able to deny Rory anything and she certainly wasn't going to start now, especially when she was just as insatiable as she was. They may have promised to slow things down a bit the next day, but somehow she knew it would be more of the same. It was like they had started something they couldn't stop.

She abruptly broke their kiss to shove Rory back on the seat. "Fine," she said smugly. "I'll get you off, but you don't get to touch me again till tomorrow."

She didn't wait for a reply, she was too busy shoving Rory's dress up so she could stick her head under her skirt, devouring her like she was the sweetest thing she'd ever tasted. She knew she could get Rory to come quickly, her tongue having worked its magic on her what seemed like thousands of times before, but she was especially determined this time around. It had to be done in record time, which is why her fingers quickly got to work in tandem with her tongue.

In earnest, Rory had initially meant she wanted one more kiss so they'd have that lingering reminder (beyond the primal fuck they'd just given each other in the car), the intention her body put into that kiss was anything but simple. She could say it was because they were tempting fate, or because the air of the car was thick with the lingering tension and atmosphere of their sex, but she knew it was something much more simple than that. Rory wanted Maris, and her body was merely an instrument of how deep that desire ran.

"I--" She started, her words tapering off into a short laugh as Maris was gone from her in a flash, a sharp sound coming in surprise as she ducked beneath her skirt. If time were a problem, it'd have to wait for them until they were good and ready for it to come back into their world.

Anything she would have thought to say or quip in reply was gone, lost in a moan as her back arched, her hips bucked in direct response to Maris' first contact. One of her hands reached up to brace against the roof of the car, the other smoothing through Maris' hair and finding purchase there. "Fuck," She growled through grit teeth, already sensitive from before sent a shiver through her as Maris worked at her with unfair expertise. It didn't take her long at all, which should have been embarrassing that just a matter of minutes had her shaking and succumbing to another orgasm, crying Maris' name yet again like it was the only word she knew.

"Shit ... I just meant I wanted a kiss." She teased through ragged breath, unable to stop herself from being a smartass. Even with the giant, satisfied grin that split her features.

Maris blinked, wiping her mouth a bit with the back of her hand. "Wait are you ser-" She laughed, but there was no hiding the fact that her cheeks turned red at her mistake, her smugness over a job well done dissipating somewhat as she worried about coming off as some sort of needy nymphomaniac.

"I did kiss you," she pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest somewhat defensively before managing a bashful smile. "You just didn't specify where."

"I didn't." Rory couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up at the look Maris gave her. She bit her lower lip to stifle it, still grinning all the while. She felt overwhelmed by the way Maris looked, the color in her cheeks, the smile that she gave, the way her arms crossed. Her fingers brushed through her hair, letting her short nails drag softly over her scalp, down her neck, her thumb brushing against her cheek. "You spoil me."

Bending towards her, she nudged Maris' nose with her own and kissed her again, a slight murmur of a sound coming from her at the taste of herself on her lips. "You just gave me what I didn't think I could ask for." She chuckled, kissing her again through her smile.

"You can ask me for anything," Maris said softly, leaning into Rory's palm, the kiss she placed there uncharacteristically tender before her smirk reappeared. "Especially in the bedroom. Or you know, backseat as the case may be."

The joke may have been tacked on in an effort to not appear totally sappy, but it was clear Maris meant what she said. She would do anything for Rory.

Except beg her to stay.

She sighed a little, running a hand through her hair. She grabbed a handful, gripping it in frustration before another sigh, this one full of resolve, escaped her lips.

"You should go back in. I think I might actually go home."

One of the main draws of the gala for Maris was an opportunity to get out of the house. She didn't exactly miss teaching but she did miss her traditional 9-5 job, somewhere to go and a checklist of tasks every day, incentive to wear something other than comfy leggings and her baggy college sweatshirt.

But the gala wasn't all that exciting and the knowledge that the antiques weren't exactly up to par (either through deception or just plain ignorance) had kind of soured it for her. The fact that she would have to see Rory interacting with Jess after well, everything only made her less inclined to go back inside.

"I can get things ready for tomorrow."

"Oh I'll keep that in mind." Rory replied with a soft smile, feeling a rush of goosebumps from that tender kiss on her hand. She had the distinct feeling she'd gone so far down a path that was littered with old feelings, that new ones sprung up so easily. "I'm going to demand the bedroom next time. What I want to do with you definitely requires more room."

The gentle teasing seemed to have taken on a depth to it that hung in the space between them. She didn't want to spoil any moment talking about all the things that were likely still unsaid between them. She needed this feeling to last, and she'd deal with the rest of it later. Always later.

"Yeah, there's not much left to do in there." Again she had that feeling she just wanted to throw all fucks to the wind and go with her. But she couldn't be that much of an asshole ... on top of what an asshole she was already being. Every moment felt like she was just trying to stretch it out, linger a little longer, taking in Maris in front of her. She'd see her in a matter of hours. It didn't feel like the same.

Combing her own fingers through her hair, she gave a small sigh and let her free hand brush over Maris' shoulder, a grin returning as she thought about tomorrow. "Yeah, you best be ready for me." Leaning in, she pressed a fervent kiss to her lips, her tongue swiping across her lower one. "Now I just have to try really hard to not look like I've been thoroughly fucked." It was a bad joke, but one that she hoped would make parting from her a little easier - distance herself from how much she didn't want to go.

Another kiss, and another few pecked to her lips before finally pushing herself back towards the door, the effort (emotionally) making her huff a groan. "Okay. I'm going."