Though Rory figured that she and Maris might do something outside the house during Maris' birthday, she hadn't entirely planned for a night out of pub food and pool and dancing. So regrettably, she had to stop by her house on the way to Maris' place. After loving on her cats for a while (an ever reminder they needed to take next steps to fully integrate their fur babies) and picking out a dress, she decided to get changed at Maris' place. Not only just for the fun of ready together, but because she couldn't possibly be gone from Maris longer than absolutely necessary. She really was going to be that clingy girlfriend, wasn't she? Oh well, she figured Maris was as into it as she was -- if their current (and perpetual) state was any indication.

After parking in her usual spot at Maris' place, she grabbed her school bag and her dress with a few other things she'd packed. Sometimes when she let her keys dangle from her fingers like she was now, walking towards the door, she'd smile, seeing the extra key along with her own. It made her heart beat a little faster and the grin on her face grow all the more.

Rory let herself in, putting down her bag where she usually did and draping her dress over a nearby chair. "Babe?" She called out, still smiling to herself at how utterly domestic it felt when she came home to her. It made Rory keenly aware of how much she was looking forward to them having their own place. Some place that was theirs.

Maris' had been mostly joking about "getting pretty" for Rory before she came over. She'd done her best to pick out an outfit that was both warm and fashionable, but honestly anything was a major upgrade from the college sweatshirt and plaid pajama pants she'd spent most of her day in.

A sudden burst of inspiration meant she hadn't bothered getting dressed (or even showering, something she'd had to remedy while Rory was driving over) before plopping herself down at the computer.

Her hair was a bit damper than she would have liked, especially now that they were battling frigid temperatures, but she figured it would dry in the car. She ran her fingers through it one last time before shrugging on her leather jacket as she headed down the hall to meet Rory.

"There she is," she said as she rounded the corner. She greeted Rory with her usual (greedy, but trying to be casual) kiss, then frowned a little as she pulled away, recognizing her girlfriend's work clothes. "You're not ready yet? Come oooon, I'm going stir crazy in here," she whined, tugging on Rory's hand playfully. "I've earned it. I wrote six whole paragraphs this morning."

While Rory didn't have a particular uniform when it came to her day to day teaching, she had a 'usual' look which straddled the line between business and casual. She never wanted to be so buttoned up, but wasn't exactly donning jeans and t-shirts on a daily basis either. Today had been brown slacks and a cream colored sweater pulled over a camisole. Not exactly going-out clothes, either.

She had just shrugged off her coat and was about to hang it when she spotted Maris coming into the room. "Oh," She said distractedly taking in the full vision of Maris, in her jacket, hair damp. She was still distracted even as Maris came close to her and kissed her.

"First of all, I am extremely proud of you." She said quickly, grinning as she squeezed her hand. "Second of all ... you look too fucking good in my jacket, you're lucky I'm gonna let you out the door." She swatted her ass playfully and grabbed her dress. "Give me four minutes. You can count." She chuckled, leaning in to kiss her again. God, she loved coming home to this woman.

Rory hurried off into Maris' room, leaving the door open because she figured there was no point in shutting out the other woman. She made quick work of her work clothes, mostly for the fact she knew remaining in any state of undress would only make getting out the door harder. Her mismatched cotton bra and lace underwear were covered up by a new dress she'd been dying for an excuse to wear.

She grabbed her more comfortable (but still cute, thank you very much) boots and a jacket, before pausing to reapply a little light makeup at the mirror. "Okay one more minute I swear!"

Maris gave Rory a lopsided smile, pleased by her compliment. "Yeah? I was going to wear mine, but the zipper keeps getting stuck and you left yours here so..."

Maris actually thought Rory's leather jacket fit better than hers, which she had never really been happy with before the zipper started malfunctioning, but the fact that it still smelled faintly of her was the best thing her girlfriend's jacket had going for it.

She sighed a little, sinking down on the couch while she waited, trying to let her thoughts wander to her work and what needed to come next but it was pretty much impossible to think of anything but Rory now that she was finally here.

Maris wasn't a fidgety person, but she found herself jiggling her foot inher boots. Like Rory she'd opted for cute, yet comfortable, going for the tallest heel she could stand for more than a few hours.

"If you don't come out here in like two seconds I'm coming after you!" she shouted. But she didn't even wait that long.

She slid her arms around Rory's stomach once she'd finished up her lipstick, resting her chin on her girlfriend's shoulder and looking pleased at their shared reflection in the mirror.

"I like this," she said, pinching at Rory's belt playfully. "I don't even think I've gotten to throw it on the floor yet."

t was decided very quickly: Rory loved seeing Maris in her clothes. Okay so that wasn't exactly news at all, but it seemed to take on a very different (yet incredibly sexy) vibe when they were going out. Nobody would really know that the jacket didn't belong to Maris, but Rory did.

While Rory was hurrying to get herself ready, she didn't want the entirety of her look to seem rushed. "You say that like I wouldn't like it!" She called back, shaking her head as she laughed and clicked the cap back onto her mascara.

She was already smiling as Maris found her, her body instinctively leaning back into Maris' embrace. It was almost pathetic how incredible it felt to be in Maris' arms, to feel her so close even as they were hurrying to get out the door. Rory hadn't ever been content like she was with Maris.

"You haven't, actually. It's new, so something to look forward to later." She smirked, pressing her lips together as she turned in Maris' arms and looped her own around her shoulders. "We should probably go before that happens too quickly. It's gotta see a bit of the world before it ends up on your floor." She chuckled, brushing her fingers over Maris' chin before she leaned in and kissed her lips softly. "There, now you have some of my lipstick, too."

"Ooh wait, come back," Maris teased, pulling Rory in again. "I haven't put any on yet so I'm gonna need some more of yours."

But she settled for another relatively quick kiss before taking out her phone to arrange an uber. Maris rarely got drunk in public or behind closed doors, but she figured she'd keep the option open. A night was always better when you didn't have to spend it counting drinks.

Since Rory's kiss reminded her that she should probably put on some make up too, Maris headed back into her bedroom to apply some burgundy lipstick, then grabbed her glasses because she'd had to squint at a restaurant menu when she'd left them behind when they went out to dinner the night before.

She sighed and plopped down on the sofa next to Rory, prepared to wait for their ride. But waiting turned to kissing after all of two seconds.

Maris hadn't felt quite so charged, constantly eager to kiss someone since she'd been a teenager (and even then there hadn't been a specific target, when you were young kissing was just new, fun and you seized every opportunity where it was possible).

She grinned into Rory's lips, a bit smug that they were technically multitasking. They were killing time until their driver arrived and making up for every bit they'd lost while Rory was at work.

Maris tried to be careful, especially now that they both had on make up to smear, but the truth was she'd always liked the taste of Rory's lipstick and couldn't wait to leave hers all over her girlfriend's thighs.

"I think you look good with a little bit of me on you." She laughed, trying to maintain some semblance of distance so she didn't completely meld into the other woman and ruin their plans for the night. Well, not ruin. Just shift.

Even though she managed to get out to the couch with only a couple of kisses, all bets really were off as soon as Maris sat next to her. She could have spent the time telling Rory about her day or asking her girlfriend about hers but ... no, kissing was a far better use of their time when they had spent hours apart.

Similarly, Rory wasn't used to this kind of near-constant need for another person. She wasn't exactly needy in most things, but the way she wanted Maris was just ... well there was no actual word to describe it, and she knew a lot of them. Rory loved her so wholly, and that spilled out in to the physical as much as it did everything else. The way that they craved each other really could get in the way of being normal functioning adults but hey, they had a couple years to make up for. Rory hoped they'd spend the whole rest of their lives feeling this exact way. She was pretty positive they would.

Rory was a little breathless by the time they parted, a soft whine coming from deep in her throat after the telltale noise of the phone signaling their car arriving. Rory tugged on the lapels of Maris', well, her jacket to pull her closer for a moment. "Can't we just tell Bob or Gary or Lisa or whoever that we're homebodies who really don't need other human interaction and send them on their way?" She smirked against Maris' lips, huffing a soft sound and kissing her one more time before she forced herself to stand. "Later, you're mine." She faux-threatened, her mind already reeling ... but food and dancing .. that was going to be a lot of fun.

Taking Maris' hand, she pulled her off towards the door and off they went to their car. Her legs were freezing by the time they traveled the short space from the front door to their car. Once they were inside, she settled into the backseat with Maris, her hand instinctively sliding to her thigh and squeezing. "Food first? I have a feeling once we start on the dance floor..." She dropped her voice, leaning over so her lips brushed against Maris' ear. "I'm not going to be able to take my hands off you."

Their uber driver was a woman, or maybe more accurately, a girl. The petite blonde (who her screen identified as Katie) with her hair twisted into perfect Dutch braids looked like a college kid who was probably driving to pick up a little extra cash.

Maris was relieved. If she did get a little handsy in the back of the car (and Rory's actions were definitely enough to have her rethinking her minimal PDA policy), Katie would probably be less of a leering creep about it than some man who thought they were giving him a show.

She smirked at Rory as she pulled back from her ear. "Food first," she said firmly, nodding in agreement.

It was a short ride to downtown. Katie (who was friendly, but not overly chatty, something Maris could appreciate) dropped them off in front of a bar that promised dancing and all the pub food they craved.

Despite Rory's jacket and her black jeans, Maris was feeling a bit chilly as they jogged inside. She'd liked her outfit before leaving the house but it wasn't entirely weather appropriate, proof she still had a lot to learn about surviving Maine in near winter.

She rubbed Rory's arm absently as they slipped inside, an attempt to warm her girlfriend up since she knew she had to be even colder than she was.

Luckily the bar was warm, bordering on uncomfortably so since it was packed with bodies. Maris inwardly cringed, realizing she had sort of forgotten it was a Friday, possibly the worst night to head out to a bar, but the hostess told them she could sit them down at a table in a few minutes and that they were more than welcome to grab a drink while they waited.

"Here, you stay in case a table comes up," Maris said, giving Rory's hand a squeeze. "I'll get us some drinks and find you if I need to."

Maris headed on over to the bar, ordering Rory's usual, then her own.

"What was the last one?" the bartender shouted.

"An old fashioned!" she yelled back, wrinkling her nose in resentment of the fact that she had to scream to be heard over the sea of voices in the bar.

But the bartender wasn't the only one who heard her. A few feet away handsome, but undeniably smarmy older man with graying hair at the temples smiled and raised his glass at her.

"Nice choice."

Maris fought the urge to roll her eyes. She'd been through this song and dance before. He was about to praise her for picking a good, strong drink, for not being like the other girls with their fruity pink cocktails and little umbrellas. And maybe she wasn't, but when you loved as women as much as Maris did, you just couldn't abide someone, especially a man trashing them.

"Thank you," she said, offering him a smile because as repugnant as he and any male attention was, it was kind of flattering, especially when she was going to be older, her thirties half gone by this time tomorrow.

"Do you like to dance?"

Her smile turned cheeky, especially when the bartender placed their drinks in front of her a moment after.

"I love to dance," she said as she picked them up and went to go find Rory.

Feeling very pleased with herself (and the way she'd left him in the dust), she was still smiling as she handed Rory her drink.

"Men want to dance with me. You better stake your claim before my dance card fills up."

Perhaps it was just history or the general state of the world, but Rory was utterly relieved when they climbed into their car to have a woman driver. She felt like it just set a good tone for their night out. She didn’t necessarily let comments or grumbly men get to her as a general rule, but if they’d had to make some faux small-talk with some dude driving them around, that would have set a very different tone for the night.

As it was, Rory felt like she had free rein to be just as affectionate as she wanted to, within reason of course. She often felt when they went out, that she never made conscious effort but always managed to be touching Maris somehow. It was habit now, and one she didn’t see would be changed anytime soon.

She thanked Katie as they hopped out and headed for the bar, which Rory was thankful didn’t have some sort of dreadful line or waiting outside nonsense. She shivered a little as they came in from the cold - no matter that it was only a couple of minutes, if that. This did not bode well for later in the winter, which often made her lament why she’d ever left California at all. She’d acclimated well to pretty much every other thing in New England but the weather.

While Maris took off to get them drinks, she smiled and leaned against a nearby wall, as all the seating seemed to be taken up. She absentmindedly scrolled through her phone, busying herself rather than keeping herself open to someone’s eye. She never went to bars alone for that very reason, and the one time she had gone solo while she was single gave her such anxiety that she threatened her friends that they couldn’t leave her alone if she were to go out with them. It all worked out in the end, particularly now.

She looked up as Maris approached, her smile returning and easily at that. Anyone with half a brain who saw the way they looked at each other would know what a goner Rory really was.

“Oh wait, what?” She feigned shock, but truly it would be more of a wonder that Maris didn’t have a long line of men or women who would be utterly disappointed not to get to dance with her. “I’ll murder him.” She said flatly, narrowing her eyes though the playful gleam in them never left. Taking her drink, she slipped her other arm around Maris’ waist as she made a show of scanning the room around them. “Your dance card is full, sorry not sorry.”

True to her word, the hostess called their name and let them off to their booth. Her hand easily found Maris’ as they walked, which she gave a squeeze to before sliding into one side of the booth. “They make a strong drink.” She said with a smirk before taking another sip of hers. While Rory also didn’t like getting outright drunk, she did enjoy the idea of having a good little buzz going as the night went on.

Maris laughed, leaning into Rory's arm as they slipped into the dimly lit dining room, her girlfriend's faux jealousy doing even more for her ego than her admirer had.

True to plan, they indulged in all the appetizers (all of which were entirely too big for just two people) their hearts desired, including a plate of nachos that were so deliciously messy that an whole pile of napkins hadn't kept their fingers clean.

After a brief pit stop to the bathroom to get themselves sorted, they headed to the other side of the bar to hit the dance floor.

Contrary to what she'd told her suitor, Maris didn't love to dance. She was largely ambivalent towards it really. She wasn't a terrible dancer. She liked it well enough. She wasn't the first person out on the floor, but she could when the occasion called for it and sometimes, she wanted to.

And usually those times happened when Rory was around.

The dance floor was surprisingly less crowded than the other side of the bar, which meant Maris grinned as she tugged Rory over to a prime piece of it where there didn't seem to be anyone else around.

"What is this music?" she said, wrinkling her nose because Maris just wasn't Maris if she wasn't finding fault in something even if she was mostly joking this time around.

"I'll never understand techno," she sighed, her lips twitching into a smirk as she pulled Rory against her.

While Rory never particularly tried to boost her girlfriend's ego, it was kind of hard not to as a default considering how consistently, constantly enamored with the woman she was. It struck her as much when they were wrapped up in one anothers' embrace as it did when Rory might catch Maris just sitting on the couch, glasses on, nose deep in a research book.

Rory reminded herself as they were eating and having their first (and into their second) rounds of drinks not to totally stuff herself. They had plenty of moving to do in their night out, and being wildly uncomfortable was not on her list. Yes, her figurative list.

In college, Rory had been the last person in her dorm floor to be dragged out to go clubbing. Whatever it was, she wasn't a fan. Why go someplace with music that was hard to even dance to, too loud, with bodies smashing up against you that you didn't even want? The idea of going out dancing was only made appealing now because of her company, and the one woman who would be smashing up against her was very, very wanted.

What she hadn't anticipated however, was the kind of music they'd be dancing to. "Is it music?" Rory laughed, wrinkling her nose right back at the other woman. "I guess we just try to find our rhythm." She said as she gladly moved in against Maris. One of her arms draped loosely over her shoulder, dragging her fingers through her short hair as she began to find the beat of the ... admittedly awful music.

"Next time we should just embrace the cheese and go line dancing or something." She chuckled against her ear, before pressing a brief kiss to the side of Maris' neck. It didn't take her all that long to find a rhythm that felt right even with the terrible music, her hips swaying back and forth but never straying far from Maris' at all. She pressed against her all the more, letting her other hand slide around her back, tucking inside the jacket that looked so fucking good on her girlfriend.

"Oh god, that's even worse!" Maris said with a laugh. "Although I'm suddenly curious about what you look like in a cowboy hat."

But she already knew she'd be into it.

Eventually the song changed and while it was still the same genre, this one had more audible lyrics, not that Maris could have told you what they were. They had to lock eyes to adjust to the changing rhythm which meant she was soon lost in theirs and just how good it felt to have Rory's body against hers.

How had she ever gone years without it? She pulled her in closer and soon the scent of her shampoo and something undeniably Rory hit her with full force. Her hips pressed into hers, their lips close enough to brush. So Maris let them, slightly tentative at first because even though she'd made sure they weren't surrounded or smack dab in the middle of the floor, she was still vaguely aware there were other people around, but their kisses never stayed soft and when they did, they could never stop with just one.

She cupped the back of Rory's neck to help keep them in place as she slowly parted her lips with her tongue, pressing, then rocking her body against hers.

"You don't wanna get all honkey tonk with me?" She tried to affect a southern accent and failed miserably, but suddenly did like the idea of wearing a cowboy hat. And how Maris might look in one too. Something to think about...

People were dancing around them but thankfully it wasn't some huge moshpit of bodies. That, she would not be into at all. But pleasant enough that it wasn't like they were the only two dancing, though as far as Rory was concerned, they might as well have been. She felt her heartbeat quicken and not entirely from the way they were moving - just for the nearness of her.

Rory moved in time with the new rhythm with Maris, letting her hips sway just so that each time they moved together, she felt a wave of heat grow all the more within her. She bowed her head against Maris', breathing in the heady feeling this whole moment was giving her.

She didn't hesitate in the slightest as Maris moved in for the kiss, her mouth immediately parting and greedily so as her own tongue met Maris'. Rory's hips moved a little more deliberately, still sort of in time with the music but mostly a suggestive move into Maris. Her fingers threaded through Maris' hair and tugged just a little, a grin on her features as she flicked her tongue over Maris' lips. "God you feel good," She hummed softly, more counting on the fact that Maris might be able to feel her words than hear them.

"You always feel good," she murmured, hands sliding down to grip Rory's ass and keep her that much closer.

But despite their nearness, there was still an element of restraint. If anyone looked over at them, they would see just how close Rory and Maris were but there was nothing overtly lewd about what they were doing. Holding back ever so slightly was as exciting as it was frustrating. Maris had almost forgotten what it felt like to have to reign herself in.

As soon as Rory came home these days, all bets (and clothes) were off. It almost reminded her of what it felt like when she had to hold back when they were both at the same school, only about a thousand times more erotic.

She stole kisses at random, each one lingering a little longer than the last, her hips never quite stopping, even as her hands slid further down to Rory's hips. "I really do like this dress," she said, knowing by now that they could hear each other. "I just wish it was shorter."

Rory simply smiled at Maris' compliment, a soft hum of a sound escaping her lips near Maris' ear as her hips jutted towards her as soon as her girlfriend's hands gripped her ass.

Her fingers bunched in Maris' shirt beneath the jacket she wore, clinging tightly to Maris as their bodies moved together. It shouldn't have been a shock that their rhythm fell in sync so well, when it seemed to be par for the course when that was their natural state in just about everything they did.

Rory similarly had a rising frustration that nipped at the back of her mind the heavier into their dancing that they got. Wherever Maris touched her felt like fire, her whole body set aflame as their dancing grew closer (if that was even possible), and more suggestive. It was keenly felt that they were both holding back, and rightly so, but that certainly wasn't easy.

"Too bad," She huffed against her ear, grinning as she pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. Her fingers dragged down the back of her neck, holding herself around Maris' shoulders as her hips bucked a little bit more deliberately just once - enough that only Maris would be the one to notice. "If it was, you'd feel how wet you're making me." Her voice dropped even lower as she spoke, her cheeks flush from both the way they danced and letting Maris in on that particular fact. It really had been a great idea to go out, all the more so once they finally got home later.

Maris' pants were her favorite, that rare pair of jeans that fit just right. They were the sort that hugged every curve without digging into your skin, a rare find, especially for a woman who didn't just tend to avoid jeans because they were a bit more casual then she liked. She'd always found them uncomfortable.

After years of faithful service, Maris' jeans were finally letting her down. With every rock of their bodies sending an admittedly pleasant ache between her legs, they suddenly felt too tight. Her whole body, but especially her pussy pulsed with want that was quickly beginning to warp into need.

She needed so much more than their current teasing.

Hearing that Rory wanted (and was ready for her) too only made matters worse.

Maris had kept them close to the edge of the dance floor for a few reasons. She didn't want to be in the middle of a crowd of sweaty, insistent bodies. She also wanted to be able to make a quick exit once they finished because there was nothing worse than trying to weave your way through a bunch of people lost in dance induced La La Land when you just wanted to go home.

She didn't want to stop what was happening with Rory but she take her hand and pull her off the dance floor and straight into a darkened corner of the club. Emboldened by the fact that they were partially hidden by some sort of scraggly looking potted plant, she cupped Rory's face in both hands and kissed her hard. The force of it caused her to inadvertently send Rory's back against the wall.

Maris' policy on pda meant she had never really done anything like this before. Even in college she had just needed looks and (admittedly dirty) words to convince girls to come home with her rather than engage in what would undoubtedly become a show for everyone around them, especially a few frat boys who were vaguely obsessed with her and her exploits (because she would be the first to admit she'd garnered something of a reputation) because they had her pegged as a sexy, bitchy (and she'd nearly taken a swing at one who had the audacity to call her one to her face), challenge.

Because didn't every stupid, twisted dude bro think he could convert a lesbian once he managed to get her into bed?

She'd obviously never given any of them a chance to test that theory out.

She didn't really know how far she wanted or would be willing to go. They had a bit of privacy, yes but in the back of her mind Maris couldn't shake the notion they weren't really alone. Even though part of her didn't seem to care.

Pushing Rory up against the wall may have been an accident, but a split second after her back hit the tile Maris pinned her there, one of her palms finding its way to the wall because she needed something to steady herself when they were kissing so fiercely.

Sure, Rory was probably incredibly biased, but she meant it when she said that Maris looked good in everything. Evidence to her comments on that: she could never take her hands off of her. Tonight was no exception, however Maris looking like a goddamn seven course meal was almost too much to handle. In her jacket, no less.

Rory just had to remind herself that if she let her hands wander too much, it'd be far more difficult to maintain composure ... and she was already teetering on the edge as it was. They were moving together in a rhythm that was entirely their own - were they even on beat to the music? Did she care? Absolutely not.

Her hands slid down to the small of Maris' back as they danced, as her own skin felt hot all over. God, it was nearly painful being out on the dance floor with her and not able to just ravage her already. She was playing a dangerous game with teasing Maris, when all she wanted was to be someplace private.

Lucky for Rory, Maris seemed to have a similar idea. She let out a little squeak of sound as Maris pulled her away from the dance floor, laughing as her teeth sunk into her lower lip. It really wasn't long at all before she found herself wedged between the wall and her girlfriend, and honestly better for it. She kissed her with abandon, her tongue aggressively seeking out Maris' as she kissed her, her arms circling around her waist and pulling her in close.

Rory couldn't even remember a time when she'd been so public (even tucked into an alcove) and so willing to say fuck it and entirely give herself over to how good this felt. She whined a little sound into her lips, her teeth nipping at her lower one as she moved her hips as though she could actually garner enough friction between them to do anything.

This reminded her some, of a certain evening where they absolutely had to escape to Maris' car and fuck each other because nothing seemed to satiate them before then. She felt that same heat welling within her as she yanked at the lapels of Maris' jacket and pulled her in for a deep kiss, her lips parting in need of breath but only enough to flick her tongue over her girlfriend's lips.

"Fuck," She growled a little breathlessly sliding her hands back inside of the jacket and clawing a bit at her shirt so she could press the palms of her hands against her bare skin. "We might not get to pool, baby." She chuckled, pressing her already kiss-swollen lips back against the other woman's.

"Right," she said, biting her lip and running a hand through her hair as pulled back ever so slightly, a bit embarrassed that she'd forgotten that pool, or anything but kissing Rory, was on the agenda at all.

She wasn't exactly looking forward to playing. Like Rory, she had a competitive streak, though she'd argue that her girlfriend's was much worse than her own. She had basically no experience with pool, so she was pretty sure that even with her girlfriend's coaching, she was going to lose, even if (or maybe because) Rory was hot when she was in teacher mode. Maris didn't like to lose, which is why what she offered next was kind of a big deal.

"If I let you win, can we go home early?" she murmured, kissing Rory's jaw.

Rory's head tilted towards Maris as she pulled back from her - even if it wasn't far, Rory didn't want space between the at all. Problematic, considering. "Right." She echoed with a little laugh, her short nails dragging down the fabric of Maris' shirt.

Rory really could have done away with the entirety of the idea of playing pool. Where she stood now, she wasn't entirely sure they could make it home in a car, much less spend another however-many minutes in this bar. Maris always stoked something immediate and primal within her - she couldn't deny it and fuck did she love it. "We don't have to." She hummed softly against her ear, biting softly at her earlobe and then brushing her lips against the curve of her jaw in return.

"Much as I like the idea of you bent over a pool table making some frat boys your bitch..." Rory smirked at the idea, but her hands were dipping lower, sliding into the back pockets of her jeans and deftly gripping her ass there. "I'd much rather have you bent over something exclusively for me."

Rory wasn't the only one thinking about that night at the gala. She suddenly wished they hadn't had the good sense to be driven there. Their drinks had relaxed her a little, but she wasn't even buzzed. They probably could have gotten away with taking one of their cars there which could have made their getaway from the bar that much quicker. They could have headed straight for the backseat for another try at car sex.

Unless Rory got rough (which admittedly, had its own appeal), Maris' clothes would probably come out unscathed. There would be nary a popped seam this time.

But they could only deal in the here and now and what Rory said next nearly made Maris moan in anticipation, automatically pressing herself into her lover's hands. "You can bend me over anything you want," she promised.

She placed a call for another car and within seconds they were killing time the same way they had while waiting for the last one. They went straight back to kissing, possibly not the smartest choice when they were so worked up already, but a fun one.

Just as Maris was nipping at Rory's lip, their positions having shifted to where she was pinned towards the end of it, her phone signaled it was time to go.

She wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed that they were going home because it really was hard for her to stop as far as Rory was concerned. They had spent entire weekends in bed and yet somehow, at the end of it, Maris was undeniably satisfied but never truly sated.

The fact that she didn't really see that changing made her all the more sure that Rory was the woman she didn't just want to spend the rest of her life with, she sort of had to. She'd never get tired.of her because she'd never get enough.

She was slightly annoyed, but not surprised they didn't luck out twice. Their second driver was a balding man more or less their age who seemed determined to pull them into conversation about local sports. He was the sort of man Maris normally would have tried to silence with a look (and they both knew she usually succeeded), but she simply didn't have the energy. Every bit of her focus was on Rory and fruitlessly willing lights to change faster so they could get home.

And get naked once they got there.

She was trying to be good and for the most part she was succeeding. She needed to be touching some part of Rory though, so she found herself gripping the other woman's hand a little too tightly with fingers laced and her knuckles turning white.

But it was impossible to keep some sort of distance and her mind off other matters when the driver took a sharp turn that sent Maris careening into Rory so that she ended up halfway in her lap. She bit back a wicked grin as she ever so slowly removed herself and settled on her side of the seat, whispering in her ear, "Don't worry, I'll be back there soon."

>It still felt crazy to Rory that here she was, well into her thirties, and somehow more adventurous and amorous than she ever had been when she was younger. It all had to do with the partner she had, and just how utterly insatiable they made one another. Rory simply could not get enough of Maris, and that much was clear every time that they kissed or touched each other. Hell even when they were miles apart and hours away from seeing each other, her need for this woman was always thrumming its own beat just beneath the surface.

It really was no wonder that going out dancing left them breathless and almost in pain with how much they needed one another. "I'm going to count on that." She husked right back to her, grinning as a shiver went up her spine just from Maris' moan alone. She wanted more of that sound and a hell of a lot more.

Rory let out a little moan in protest when Maris' phone interrupted a particularly good, breathless kiss, her head tilting towards Maris' to chase after her lips even when she pulled back. The sting of her teeth still felt so present on her lips and fuck, did she want more. Especially with the upper hand now, she could have just said fuck it, they'd call another call... but she let her go (somewhat) with a sigh. Going home, that was a much better idea.

Though she didn't let Maris out of her touch at all while they made a quick exit out to their waiting car, she did try to keep her hands relatively tame on their drive. Mostly because of their driver, honestly. She scowled a bit but leaned into Maris just the same, her thumb brushing over Maris' as they sat together.

Rory made a noise as they crashed into each other, muttering a "Jesus" before she realized it kind of was a happy accident all in all. "You better be." She murmured back, managing to steal a very quick kiss with Maris' close proximity.

Other than that, the drive was relatively uneventful, and a lack of commentary from their driver was about all she could hope for. As soon as they'd stopped back at Maris' place, she pulled the other woman from the car and raced up to the front door, her key to the house already out and in the lock. "Finally." Was all she managed to say before she had spun Maris around and had her up against the nearest wall, her hands (albeit slightly cold from being outside again) gripping her hips as she pressed herself against her. "You shouldn't look so fucking good in my jacket." She nearly growled, moments before her mouth crashed into Maris' in a hot kiss.

Maris couldn't help but laugh at Rory all but scolding her for having the audacity to look good in her jacket, especially when finding out suited her had been the happiest sort of accident.

But the sound was quickly cut off by a kiss that made her weak in the knees and very grateful for the wall she was pinned too.

"Mmm," she purred, wanton in a way they weren't allowed to be in the bar or their taxi. She nipped at Rory's lip again, knowing she'd liked it and been reluctant to give it up before, but that was amped up too.

This time, she bit her harder.

"Take it off then," she challenged, their current position causing Rory's jacket to slip down off her shoulders anyway. The white button up Maris was wearing under it was thin and with it, slightly sheer, yet another poor choice for cold, Maine weather. But it did allow her girlfriend to see just how turned on she was, because in her rush to get out the door Maris hadn't had the foresight to wear a bra with adequate padding, either. Her hardened nipples were on pretty prominent display, something Rory's jacket had hidden until now.

In moments like their current one, Rory so often had the thought of how much she loved Maris' laugh, and how much again in a moment like this one, it felt like her laugh just made her warm all over and turned her on even more.

She was so thankful to be out of their car and alone to do ... exactly what they wanted to be doing. "We were really good at trying to go out tonight." She chuckled against her lips, musing somewhat distractedly as her fingers raked over Maris' hips where she hooked her fingers into the waist line of her jeans and pulled her in roughly against her. It was a direct response to the sting of Maris' teeth. Being so unable to properly touch her the way she wanted to just made Rory feel aggressive, for lack of a better term.

"If you say so." Rory huffed as she was already moving her hands to shove at the fabric of her jacket that her girlfriend was wearing until it dangled from her fingertips and fell to the ground. "Fuck you always look so good." She hummed her words, her hands coming up to her breasts, her thumbs smoothing over her hard nipples through the maddening fabric that still kept them separated. Rory's lips were on Maris' again, her tongue sliding into her mouth as she hummed and pressed her hips harder into Maris'. "And such a good dancer..." She managed to get out between her kisses, as he moved one hand down between them to make quick work of undoing the fasten of Maris' jeans.

Maris had her doubts about being a good dancer, but with both of Rory's hands exactly where she wanted them to be, she didn't feel the need to argue for once.

She helped Rory get her out her pants since jeans as tight as hers always required a bit of extra maneuvering to get out of even when a person was alone. She grabbed the front of Rory's dress to pull her in for another kiss when she was finished.. It was the sort of kiss that would have made spectators blush, Maris' tongue stroking Rory's like the way it would eventually stroke something else, but it wasn't time for that yet.

Her hands down Rory's dress, making their way up the backs of her lover's legs as she started to rock against her the same way she had at the bar. But now her hands slid under her dress, then under her panties, her lips twitching as she realized how perfectly her lover's ass fit in her hands.

Maybe Rory was made for her. Maybe they really were meant to be together all along, but Maris' thought process wasn't exactly tender in that moment.

She kneaded her fingers into the other woman's bare skin as she nipped at her lower lip once more. Maris was so distracted by everything they were doing that she missed.

So she nibbled on Rory's neck instead.

They could do just about anything, Rory was positive, and she would still find her girlfriend every bit alluring, sexy, adorable, any number of combination that described the woman she loved with her whole heart. Yes, she even figured she'd find a way to be impossibly sexy while bowling or one of those ridiculous new fad places like ax throwing ... come to think of it...

Rory would have to bring that up later. But at present, she was entirely occupied with the woman she held in her hands. Rory laughed softly as they finally got Maris' pants off with some effort - something she was about to comment on how they might as well be painted on, but her breath (and words) were instead stolen by a kiss that made her whimper and her knees just about give out. This was the kind of kiss that always bore straight through her, searing heat to her core and making her wet and weak all at once.

Leaning into Maris, Rory's hands slid down and squeezed her ass in turn, angling herself just enough so her thigh could press in between Maris' legs. She groaned as she felt her own ass squeezed, her tongue flicking suggestively over Maris'. She had a million words of love and sex and everything in between stuck somewhere in her mind, but incapable of making their way out past her lips. They were currently being very well used elsewhere.

"Fuck," She managed to curse through a rough breath, her body leaning in closer, her neck craning away from Maris to give her better access to her neck. She swallowed hard, her grip on Maris' ass tighter as she pulled the other woman into her, her knee coming up so she could raise her bare thigh up to grind against Maris. Everything felt like a rush in the heat of their passion, but she was in no real hurry to move off to the bed or anything. That would require putting some space between them, which she was not keen on doing.

She let out a soft sigh, the sound vibrating against Rory's neck as she pressed herself against her thigh. Pressure and friction were a thrill, but nearly as intoxicating as the taste of her skin as her tongue soothed the mark her teeth had just made.

Their mouths couldn't seem to part for long. Maris was always taken aback by their kisses. They could be tender, but most were tinged with fierceness, a fire she knew would never go out.

She needed every part of them to be touching and they were: tongues, bodies, mouths all working in sync, but it (or at least the friction she was trying to build) wasn't enough. She broke the kiss with an almost desperate moan, the sort Rory usually only heard when they were in the thick of things. It was a sign that Maris wanted, needed more and was far gone enough to do anything get it.

Even beg.

She slid down her panties which were damp enough to have left evidence of her arousal on Rory's new dress.

Rory's hit the floor next, Maris' fingers immediately stroking the skin she'd exposed, her thumb slowly sliding up to press against the most sensitive part of her the moment their lips brushed again.

It wasn't enough, but then again, until they were finally entirely giving each other the pleasure both of them needed, when was it ever? Rory hummed a sharp sound as Maris' teeth and tongue moved over her skin, her mind already imagining the shape of whatever welt she'd left there. Their passion took on an urgency and boldness in moments like this one, that Rory quite frankly couldn't get enough of. Yes, she loved when they were soft and took their time with each other just as much, but there had to be something said for when their more primal instincts took over.

Case in point: her mouth crushed hard against Maris' when she was close enough, breath stolen and lips already swollen as she kissed her deeply. There was no relent to the passion she felt, and she absolutely chased after the feeling.

A sound that could only be described as a rumbling growl escaped Rory's lips in direct response to the moan that Maris sounded into the room. She gripped her ass harder, pressing her knee into the wall behind Maris to give more leverage to the both of them. "That's my girl," She purred into her ear, her teeth then nipping at her ear and giving a less than gentle tug.

She only pulled back ever so slightly as their panties came off, her own were wet as she stepped out of them. Her own moan ripped from her throat as her hips bucked into Maris' hand, the thrumming pleasure racing through her on immediate contact was far too telling of just how affected by Maris she was. She always was. Her knees felt weak, but she was too stubborn to let herself fall.

Rory kissed her deeply, her one hand moving up to grip Maris' short hair as she kissed her, tongue lashing over hers as her other hand moved in between her lover's legs to seek out her clit with her fingertips. "So wet," She purred, grinning wide in a flash of completely heady pride. She leaned in close enough to kiss Maris, but instead nipped at her lips with her teeth. "I think I promised to bend you over something." She hummed against her lips, her fingers dragging along her folds until she could almost tease her by sliding her middle finger inside of her.

"And I promised you that you could bend me over anything you like," she countered. She leaned in, eager for a kiss. Getting a little nip instead was hardly a letdown, but Maris' eyes flashed with annoyance at being tricked.

She wasn't used to being caught off guard. Maris didn't just long for control in her day to day life. In intimate moments like these it quite literally got her off. Her sexual encounters during what they now called the dark time had been a little one sided. Sure, Maris had enjoyed herself because she didn't see the point in going to bed with someone who couldn't satisfy her, but she had never truly given in. She hadn't even let herself be touched more than necessary.

There had been no submission there. No pulse pounding vulnerability because she wanted them to want her more. Everything had been on her terms. She told them what to do, where to go, a bossy, sometimes mechanical affair that caused one woman to tease and ask if she ever considered moonlighting as a dominatrix. Those other women had been at her mercy.

Now she was at Rory's. And old, defiant habits died hard even when you wanted to give yourself to someone.

The moan that Rory's finger coaxed out of her was weak, breathy, arguably more desperate than the one that proceeded it moments before. Hearing it out loud only added to Maris' frustration and not just because of her need to appear aloof. They were competitive, after all.

Even in moments like these.

And right now, her girlfriend was winning.

She wanted Rory inside her.

She needed her to be.

"Unless you're all talk," she murmured, locking eyes with Rory defiantly. It wasn't just an attempt to get back at her lover for teasing. She wanted to push her. Maris wanted to get a rise out of Rory because (as she obviously knew in that moment), anger and frustration could be as much as a turn on as anything else.

And maybe it would help her get what she wanted a little bit faster.

"You did." She countered with a wide grin that she couldn't hide, even with the arousal thrumming like crazy through her body. The annoyance she caught in her eyes only served to stoke her desire all the more.

Something that Rory had always loved about her relationship with Maris was how neither of them could ever be described as meek in any which way. Be that in their day to day life or the bedroom, they were well matched in that way. It was an impossibly alluring turn-on that Maris so often made her so willing (at times) to relent control to her. Rory was no pillow princess or wallflower, but loving Maris so completely and trusting her with everything she had made her more adventurous on top of it.

Even the way that Maris pressed into her made Rory's heart soar. She loved it when Maris was bossy, and she loved it when she was all the more so because Rory was drawing it out in her. It made her laugh as much as it made her wet.

Rory flashed a grin as she slowly worked her singular finger inside of her, drawing a slow rhythm as she leaned in close enough to kiss Maris, but didn't, instead just breathed with her and watched the way she reacted. God, she was fucking beautiful.

"Hm." She murmured simply, her eyes narrowing at Marris before she slowly dragged her finger out of her and brought her finger to her own lips to taste her girlfriend. She moaned softly, but there was a wicked grin on her lips as she did it. "C'mere." She said and yanked Maris close to her, crushing a deep kiss on her lips but stopping it before she ended up giving in too much.

Of all the places she could have gone, there were a couple of close options. Rory however, didn't think the table would be very comfortable and she didn't want to cut off their fun with actual pain. Logically, she could have guided them to the bedroom without much effort at all, but she ended up pulling Maris with her as she backed into the living room and she was giving her another quick kiss before letting go of her long enough to guide her into the back of the couch. "It was always gonna be the fucking green couch, wasn't it?" She smirked and kissed the back of Maris' shoulder as her hands slid down her waist and pulled her back against her, murmuring softly as she slid her hand around Maris' body and blindly slid down between her legs where her fingers easily found and began to roll softly over her clit.

Her slightly desperate, mostly futile attempt to build friction had left Maris flushed and with it, sweaty. Her thin white blouse was soaked, the smell of her perfume faint (but more prominent than usual because she was so used to it she rarely smelled it on herself anymore) as it seeped out through her pores.

She smelled sex too, though there really was no telling if it was Rory's arousal or her own. It was more of a heady mix of the two, a turn on in and of itself.

"I'm starting to think you love this couch more than me," Maris huffed, feeling a little thrill as she let Rory manuever her however she liked.

When her girlfriend's fingers grazed her clit, Maris' breath hitched. It wasn't just a result of pleasure, or even relief over finally getting the sort of direct stimulation her body so desperately needed. She was so wet that when Rory's fingers brushed her pussy, she heard a soft, slick, faint but still audible sound.

She knew what her girlfriend could do to her. She certainly felt it right now, but hearing it was enough to make her moan.

She wasn't embarrassed, her lips twitched into an almost proud expression as she very purposefully pressed herself back against Rory, her ass brushing her thigh.

"Mmm, you hear that?"

Her touch felt good, but Maris very purposefully reigned herself in, letting out only the softest of purrs so they could listen to the sound of Rory's fingers working against her.

But a sharp ah, spilled from her lips as Rory's fingers slid into exactly the right spot, one that had Maris gripping the wooden frame of the couch. It added a new sound to the equation, a very satisfying creak.

It always felt that among the way sex felt with Maris, there was always a component that led to a total sensory overload - the world could be coming down around them outside the walls of this house and Rory wouldn't be able to register it at all. She was too attuned to the taste of sweat on Maris' skin, the aroma of their bodies, perfumes, sex all adding to that heady feeling, the way she felt, and of course, the sounds they made. There was always some sort of beautiful and erratic symphony they made of moans and sighs that made Rory dizzy with desire.

"I am incapable of loving anything more than you." She countered without thinking twice about it, though it would have been prime real estate for a joke in return. She smirked and just kissed the side of her neck.

The aforementioned sounds. Rory thrived hearing the affect she had on her girlfriend in the way her breathing hitched, but her attention so soon diverted to the sounds coming from between her legs. She hummed a soft sound, her mouth parting open as she let out a soft grunt at hearing the affect she had on her as much as she could feel it. It made her eyes glaze and mouth water for the depth of arousal it gave her.

"My girl," She purred against her ear, slowly stroking her clit with her fingers, gathering the slick feeling on her fingers. Her other arm came around Maris' body, sliding her hand to palm over one of her breasts at the same time she began to stroke against the spot that made Maris make that sound. "We should dance more often." She hummed against her ear, biting less than gently at the skin just beneath it. "If this is how wet you get for me."

Her tone and position took on a dominant vibe, a possessive grip around her girlfriend as she shifted into her, sliding two fingers inside of her and huffing a sound as she was greeted by the warmth and wetness of her pussy. "Fuck," She growled, her hips grinding against her ass like that would actually give her any friction as she began to fuck her in earnest, slow at first, but picking up pace as she let the heel of her thumb grind against her clit. This couch certainly had seen some things, and she was just getting started.

My girl, Maris may have been the one who said it first. It was Rory's nickname, one of a handful she cycled through when the mood struck, but she was always caught off guard when it was turned around on her.

She liked it. It was almost scary how much she liked it.

It was certainly arousing. Maris was suddenly just a little wetter than she had been a second earlier, even before Rory's fingers slipped exactly where she needed them to be.

She let out a sharp cry as Rory slipped inside her, the word yes hissed through her teeth as she rocked against her fingers. They found a rhythm almost instantly, Rory's name falling from Maris' lips in a breathy moan. In moments like these they didn't need to speak. They had looks, actions, sounds to convey exactly what they needed and meant.

Maris had given up her control, more than content to let her lover take the lead, to take her, but she did have one request.

"Say it again," she prompted, once she'd swallowed a moan, somehow knowing that she wouldn't need to elaborate. That Rory knew how much she liked hearing that she was her girl.

The sentiment was one that always struck a certain chord inside of Rory, and she wasn't even sure the first time she'd adopted it for Maris as well. It was some perfect combination of possessiveness, yes, but safe and warm and hot all at once. She had such a sense of home when Maris noted that Rory belonged to her. Because she did, and there was no denying it - not that she'd ever wanted to.

Every reaction she garnered from her lover just meant she wanted more. She stroked and prodded her fingers until she found a rhythm that worked for them, her gaze traveling over as much of Maris as she could from her position behind her. It felt entirely erotic, fucking her like this, knowing they had behaved (for the most part) so well before.

"Yes, that's it." She groaned into Maris' ear, thrusting her fingers inside of her harder, building a faster pace as she messily rubbed her thumb over Maris' clit. She reveled in how wet she was, how her hand ached but the adrenaline coursing through her made it easy to ignore. All she cared about was pleasing this woman.

Rory let out a soft sigh as Maris spoke, her hand squeezing her breast and teasing her nipple between two of her fingers. "Mine," She growled against her ear, flicking her tongue against her neck, before her teeth nipped at the same spot. She began to drive her fingers inside of her more deliberately, a little slower because of it, but using her body to guide her hand and Maris' body into it. "You're my girl." She purred into her ear, just as her thumb redoubled its efforts against her clit. Part of the great part of feeling so in control was being able to enjoy the demanding feeling she had while she fucked her girlfriend. "And I want you to come for me."

Not being able to see what Rory was doing was frustrating in the best sort of way. Okay, so maybe it was a little maddening for someone who liked control as much as Maris did, but maybe that was why she secretly liked being taken from behind.

It was a thrill, that slight hint of annoyance making her that much warmer. Though not nearly as flushed as Rory following through on her request.

"I'm yours," she echoed breathlessly. Unlike Rory, she was a bit hesitant to admit as much, but they both knew it was the truth and would have been even if her body wasn't giving away just how much of an effect the other woman had on her. "So fucking yours, so do whatever you want to me."

Rory had always had her, really. But there was no denying that things were different now. In ways she still didn't know how to describe. Everything made sense again. It felt like before and yet she still wanted more. She wanted to give her more. She'd held things back before. She'd put off telling her things. She sometimes bit back I love yous for fear that saying it all the time would somehow make the words mean less and lose their power. She hadn't asked for the things she wanted. Wasn't that how she lost her in the first place?

But there was no holding back now. Maris groaned as she was taken by the only woman she'd ever really let have power over her. For all her bravado and despite the fact she might deny it later for fear of being pegged as some sort of pillow princess (although it was clear she was working just as hard her lover was, meeting her thrusts so eagerly her breasts bounced, one anchored by Rory's hand), Maris loved this. Her gasps and sighs turned breathy, almost giddy as her orgasm began to build, a tickling sort of buzz creeping up her thighs.

She didn't quite come on Rory's command but she nearly did, hard enough to not only spill onto Rory's fingers but to feel a telltale trickle on her thighs, a sensation that made her shiver just a little bit more.

If she wasn't careful, this power trip would just entirely go to Rory's head for quite a while. Not that she thought either of them would particularly mind that. Their relationship had so much give and take, a balance that had truly taken them knowing each other entirely to be able to know and maneuver without even needing to think about it. She'd give up her control easily for Maris, sometimes maybe too easily, but only because she knew she could trust her with anything.

Rory let out a little grunt in reply to Maris' agreement, sucking at her neck because it was the closest part of her and she suddenly liked the idea of leaving a mark on her lover from this particular encounter. "Dangerous." She hummed back, her mouth leaving a wet red welt on her neck that she'd ultimately be satisfied with later, she gathered.

There was just something about hearing it, not only that she was hers, the confirmation that had already come in every other way but vocal, but the affirmation of how in depth that really was. It was as heart-warming inducing as it was arousing.

Maybe they were older now, maybe they knew the importance of actually being together and knowing, without doubt, that they were meant to be that way. Whatever it was that made their relationship different now, it was palpable. But their relationship had never been bad before, not until the very end, really. But perhaps back then there was a selfishness to it, a naivety that they were invincible and nothing could tear them apart. Part of their difference now was that Rory knew nothing would tear them apart again. Nothing had more power than this, and she was sure of it as she was in taking her next breath.

Rory didn't stop in the slightest as she felt Maris buck against her, her fingers working hard to drive deep inside of her, all the while paying attention to her clit to give her maximum pleasure. She knew what Maris liked, and knew what got her off on a good day, but the sheer ferocity of their sex right now drove them to new heights. She slipped her hand from her breast (somewhat reluctantly) to drag her fingers down her back, pushing her just that much forward as she fucked her hard. As she felt Maris begin to shake with her building orgasm, her hand came down hard in a slap on her ass, her hand gripping the spot it had landed.

"That's it," She coaxed, a near whine from her lips as she reveled in watching Maris as she came over the edge, her hand wet and cheeks flushed as she only slowed her hand some. She purred a low sound, sliding her hand up Maris' back until she could grip her shoulder and lean into her. She kissed her back and then the back of her neck, a soft chuckle drowned against her skin as she slowly slid her fingers from inside of her, brushing them over her clit once more, knowing how sensitive she'd be. "Fuck, I love you." She whispered against her ear, kissing her cheek and then leaning forward and guiding her to turn her head so she could press a messy and breathless kiss to her lips.

She was spent by the time it was all over, tender in a way she usually wasn't as she turned her head, murmuring that she loved her too before the words were swallowed up by Rory's mouth. They kissed for a while longer, Maris hand gently guiding Rory's back between her legs to keep stroking her. She was nothing if not satisfied, but the little jolt that accompanied each brush of her fingers was too good to resist, treating Rory to more than a few moans until her lungs really did need a proper break.

Maris looked nothing if not properly fucked. Her blouse was askew, the few top buttons undone even if the rest weren't. One of her breasts threatened to pop out of her bra. Her hair was a mess. Naturally full lips bordered on swollen thanks to her lover's kisses. Not to mention the mark Rory had just left her with...

She should have been exhausted and she kind of was. Her orgasm had left her with a heavy pleasantness in her limbs but she could rest later.

Rory was right when she made an offhanded remark a few weeks before, one that made Maris smirk every time she thought about it, not entirely sure if she thought it was funny or hot.

In this house, they took turns.

She kissed Rory again, the eagerness creeping in a sign that her strength was returning.

"Can you wait like...five minutes for me?" she asked hopefully, smoothing her thumb over Rory's lips like some sort of wordless apology for her absence. "I promise it'll be worth it."

She didn't really wait for an answer. She practically dashed into her bedroom, rummaging through her top drawer until she found what she wanted, more than a few pairs of freshly laundered underwear hitting the floor in her wake.

Her complaints had been valid a few weeks before. It really did take a maddening amount of preparation, awkward wiggling and adjustment for what she wanted to happen next but she told herself it would be worth it. She tossed on a robe before she went back out into the living room. It wasn't her nicest, or even her sexiest (that honor went to her little black kimono that had given more than a few delivery guys an eyeful over the course of their relationship) but it was the closest and conveniently hanging on the back of her bedroom drawer.

All she really cared about was that the long, gray silk robe kept her covered as she stepped into the room. She wasn't going to keep it on long. She just wanted some sort of reveal, even though she was pretty sure what was underneath wouldn't really be a surprise.

It was Maris' turn to come up behind her lover, pressing soft but undeniably hungry kisses up the back of Rory's neck. She took her hand and slid it between her legs like she had moments before, but bit her lip as Rory found something else there, her harness, primed and ready to go.

"Want to?" she murmured, sucking on her earlobe. "I'll fuck you any way, anywhere you want."

Rory, quite obviously, loved sex with Maris. It would be practically silly to say out loud, but something that always struck her like a ton of bricks was the aftermath of even the most passionate, the most intense, the most primal of their sex. Rory enjoyed the breathless, languid way they kissed each other, the way their tongues found each other so eagerly. She hummed her own sound of approval when Maris guided her hand between her thighs, enjoying the way her body moved to Rory's almost gentle strokes.

As they pulled apart in earnest, Rory couldn't help the wide grin that split across her face, seeing Maris so wanton and mussed. Fuck, it made her all the more ready to go again, the heat between her legs spiking new levels. It was evident in the way Rory kissed her as soon as she was close enough, or even in the slight whine that left her lips when Maris pulled away.

"I'm going to time you, don't make me wait longer than five." She huffed, exaggerating a playful glare as she let herself rest and sit on the arm of the sofa once Maris had retreated.

One might think in those minutes that it would give Rory the opportunity to calm herself down, for her heartbeat to return to normal, but the opposite was true. Waiting for Maris only gave her a swelling anticipation in her gut, her mind reeling over what could be taking so long, and replaying favorite moments of what had just transpired between the two of them. She smiled to herself, knowing Maris would have a mark on her neck later.

Rory hadn't actually timed it, but she had stood from the couch and had been pacing around the room a little when Maris finally came into the room. She turned her head just a little towards her, sighing softly in some kind of relief. Her gaze was immediately darkened as Maris guided her hand between her legs, her own teeth sinking into her lower lip. "Oh fuck me," She sort of whispered to herself, though the sentiment was indeed apt.

"Yes," She hissed back, rocking back just a little and removing her hand so she could feel it directly against her. Rory was torn, her mind a little muddled as desire took over any real thought. "One would think this couch has seen enough for one night..." She smirked, somewhat reluctantly stepping away from Maris, but only enough to survey the space by the fireplace. "We could start a fire..." She slowly turned towards Maris, reaching behind her to pull at the zipper on her dress. All the while, Rory's gaze was fixed on Maris, taking in the robe, how she knew what was just beneath it. "I want you to fuck me here."

Maris was surprised by just how much she liked her fireplace. A few months ago, if someone started going on and on about how much fun it was to fuck in front of one she probably would have rolled her eyes and called them cliche and unoriginal.

Now she knew better.

She wasn't even sure why she liked it so much. The warmth? The ambiance? The fact that it was just plain fun to fuck someone on your living room floor?

It was probably all of the above, but the fact that Rory had asked Maris to fuck her in her new favorite spot made it even more appealing than ever.

Maris had a few armchairs sitting a safe distance away from the fireplace. They were rarely used, but a flannel blanket draped over the back of one was. They'd thrown it down before getting started a few times now because rug burns were never fun, and this time was no exception.

It was freshly washed, giving off the faint vanilla scent of Maris' detergent, but she knew it would be overwhelmed by the warm, smoky scent of firewood once it got going.

She knew it would take a while for the fire to catch, but she playfully shoved Rory down on the blanket anyway. They had time. And foreplay was always half the fun anyway.

She wore a cheeky grin as she moved over her, robe still in place, but open so she could slip inside her once the moment was right, but she was in no hurry for that either. "Think you're slick, huh?" she teased, biting her lower lip with more force than was probably needed. "Giving me a hickey like we're in high school."

Maris wasn't really scolding her. She kind of liked the idea of someone seeing it, seeing them out together and drawing the conclusion that she was Rory's, but it was something she'd forgotten they used to do, especially during school breaks when there was no one around to see. She hadn't realized she missed it.

Rory too, had honestly thought that fucking in front of a fireplace probably belonged somewhere in the 70's with bear rugs and shag carpets. Maybe a lava lamp. If not that, then it would be such a sweaty mess that could it really be all that fun? The answer was, apparently, a resounding yes, it was that much fun and more. Something about a crackling fire just made everything light a different way, and feel intimate beyond what they created with each other.

The space she'd put between them seemed like an agony now, where she was near buzzing with anticipation of being touched, kissed, fucked by this woman. Rory let her dress drop to the floor before she kicked it away, uncaring that it was brand new and maybe should have had some care taken to it. Less important with Maris approaching her.

Rory couldn't help but laugh softly as she found herself pushed down to the floor, her greedy hands reaching out for Maris as soon as she was close enough. She hummed a soft sound, adjusting herself against the blanket as she gazed up at her lover. "You love it." She chuckled, after letting out a soft 'ah' sound at the sting of Maris' teeth on her lip. If it were even possible to be more turned on, that would do it. "But please, feel free to leave as many marks on me as you want."

"As for being slick ... I am. You should really feel for yourself." An obvious play on words, perhaps, but Rory was aching with nothing separating her from Maris anymore. Glad that Maris had rid her of her panties long before, that made it all the more difficult not to demand an end to her own 'suffering'. She knew what Maris was doing, playing into the foreplay as the warmth of the growing fire was just starting to light their space was a soft glow. "Touch me, Maris." She would hate how wanton and gaspy she sounded, but the whine in her voice was too telling.

Rory really had waited enough. Maris wanted to please her. She always did, but especially after her the other woman made her feel good, but she knew her lover well enough to know her tells.

She knew when Rory was aroused, when she wanted more. She was addicted to making that feeling last as long as possible for both their sakes.

Okay so maybe it was more for Maris' benefit in this particular moment. She did touch her, though maybe not in the place Rory had been expecting.

She ran her fingers down her chest, thumb circling a nipple while she followed Rory's other advice. She kissed and sucked on her neck, though she wasn't rough enough to bruise. It too, was a tease of pleasure. Her hand kept moving, making an almost agonizingly slow descent down the swell of her breast, her stomach, her thighs. Her gaze never left Rory's through any of it, the flames reflecting ever so slightly in Maris' dark eyes.

She started to touch her, stroking her slowly even though she could tell was more than ready for more.

"Christ, I can't remember the last time you were this wet," she murmured, letting their noses brush playfully.

Her expression turned serious, her brow furrowing with concern for a moment, though her slightly labored breathing gave away just how far gone she was too.

"Are you ready for me?" she asked, brushing her hair out of her face almost tenderly.

There could be something inherently selfish in pleasure, depending on the partner you were with. Rory had to feel utterly miserable for those people, if she ever actually gave them any mind. She was lucky, so goddamn lucky, to be so madly in love with a woman who gave as good as she got, and then some. She was even luckier that the two of them understood each other so well, even so much as to anticipate what they needed from each other. Rory was ready in more ways than one for what was to come next, but a big part of that was how aroused she got from giving pleasure to her girlfriend.

Rory reveled in pleasing Maris, in drawing out every moan and cry and shudder of pleasure she could. But in doing so, it had Rory's skin on fire, her pussy wet and her whole body aching for a relief only Maris could give her.

She would almost be embarrassed by how sensitive she was to Maris' touch, if she wasn't so entranced by it. As Maris' hand moved down her body, her back arched, pressing her breast into her palm eagerly as she dragged one of her hands up through Maris' hair, her fingers softly massaging her scalp as she sighed at the feel of her mouth on her skin. She was too fa gone to even attempt to hold back the whimper of pleasure that pathetically fell from her lips the moment Maris' hand moved to where she so desperately needed it.

"It's what you've done to me." She said plainly, a small smile on her lips that didn't last long as another gasp escaped her lips. Anticipation swelled within her, knowing what came next. Rory reveled in the intensity of her need for this woman. Only this woman, always.

"Yes." She sighed, chuckling a little bit at how utterly desperate she sounded. Lifting her head just enough to brush an almost chaste kiss to her lips, she brushed her fingers down Maris' jaw before her thumb rolled over her lips. There was something so inherently tender in this moment, despite the ferocity of how deeply she needed her. "I'm always ready for you... but if you don't fuck me I think I'm going to burn up right here." She laughed, still grinning as she kissed her deeper this time.

It was probably a silly question. Maris knew Rory was ready for her even before she got verbal confirmation, but she sort of needed it. The moment felt...intimate in a way they hadn't been in a while.

Toys had always been sprinkled into their sex life for variety's sake, but when Rory mentioned preferring to stick with their own hands, tongues, bodies in an effort to relearn each other's, Maris had agreed with the sentiment.

She knew Rory wasn't going anywhere. Maris wasn't either, but sometimes she found herself reaching out and touching the other woman not just because she wanted to, but because she kind of needed to know this was real.

She smiled softly into the kiss as she shrugged her robe off her shoulders, wanting as few barriers between them as possible as she shifted between her legs.

Her heart rate spiked a little as she wrapped her hand around the toy and started guiding it inside her, eyes never quite leaving Rory's face as she watched her reaction.

She pressed an almost chaste kiss to her forehead, murmuring, "You good?" once she was fully inside her, rocking her hips slowly as she palmed one of her breasts, with a soft groan.

Maris would have been lying if she said this wasn't something of a power trip and lying more if she said that power trips didn't go straight to her head, but she kept a slow, steady sort of control, though each thrust was just a little harder than the one that came before.

"Oh good girl," she purred in Rory's ear as they fell into sync. "Now do you wanna be fucked or do you wanna really have to work to come?" She nipped at her jaw playfully, her words slow and thick as their movements stole some of her breath. "Remember that one night during summer vacation? I pulled up your skirt and fucked you so slow. God, you loved it." She smirked, brushing a sweaty strand of hair away from Rory's forehead. "The things you said..."

Her fingers traveled downward with no real destination in mind, just an insatiable urge to touch her. "But then there was that night after the Halloween party. I still miss that vase we broke." Her grin turned devious, her hips picking up the pace, it paled in comparison to how rough they'd been, but it was a reminder all the same. A very purposeful one.

"Come on, Rory," she challenged, pulling back, then waiting a few seconds before filling up her lover to get a rise out of her. "What's it gonna be?"

One could assume that having spent so much time apart, it would have taken Rory and Maris some time to get back into a certain level of comfort and by extent trust with each other. Something that shouldn't have surprised Rory at all was how easy it was to trust Maris completely, entirely, and without hesitation. In the early days when they were still just sneaking around, she had maybe worried that was part of the thrill of it, but she knew better in her gut. There was nothing she wouldn't give Maris, and pretending like anything else was true would have just been stupid to begin with.

This, included. The very introduction of toys into their sex life came along with an exploratory fascination that grew with each time they used a vibrator or a strap on or anything in between. She never felt they needed anything, but it was fun, and god was it a turn on to see the affect it had on Maris.

Rory hummed a soft sound as Maris shrugged off her robe, her hands trailing down her bare skin and reveling in every warm inch she touched. She was glad she'd picked this for a myriad of reasons, but mostly because she could see Maris. She loved to watch her, even as her own pleasure built.

"Ah," She gasped, her back arching sharply off the ground, her eyes flaring wide as she nodded. Her body shuddered as Maris slid the toy inside of her, an ease settling in as pleasure spiraled up her spine in a way that made her entirely dizzy. "Babe, fuck, yes." She managed to get out jumbled words she hoped sort of made sense. She tilted her head and kissed the side of her mouth, a shuddering sigh escaping her lips as Maris rocked inside of her.

"Jesus christ." She half laughed, her lungs expelling breath in such a way that her lips made a noise. Her hips lifted to meet Maris' thrusts, soft sounds escaping her lips every time Maris drove so deeply inside of her. "I remember..." She nodded, the words and way Maris said them sending a visible shudder through her. She remembered both experiences so vividly but both were utterly eclipsed by this exact moment. It was hard to focus on anything other than Maris fucking her with her strap on.

"Maris... fuck." She growled, a slight pitch of whine to her voice as she lifted her hips in some attempt to chase after her when she pulled back, ultimately releasing a low moan as she drove home inside of her. "Fuck me." She finally said, as both hands clasped either side of her head, her thumbs brushing along the underside of her jaw. "But make it slow." She demanded before closing the space between their lips and kissing her hard.

Maris had been ready, willing and able to give Rory whatever she asked for, but she was secretly grateful for Rory's choice. Watching her lover as they moved together is what she wanted too, though she would definitely argue that she had the better view.

And there was really no better show then watching Rory have to really work for an orgasm, even if was sometimes hard for Maris to keep the pace slow when she saw her lover flushed and in the thick of things.

She gave her a little nod, then took one of Rory's legs and slid it around her waist to help drive herself in just a little bit further. She started to pant with the effort she was putting in to pleasing her, but was clearly in no real hurry. They had all night and Maris would keep going for that long if she had to. All that mattered was Rory, her pleasure and the gorgeous sounds she made in time with her thrusts, the kiss eventually breaking in an effort to get some air into her lungs, but she found herself kissing her throat instead, running her tongue along Rory's pulse point as she started driving into her hard enough for their bodies to start meeting with an increasingly audible slap. The sound of skin on skin was yet another one for Maris to get addicted to and it spurned her on to go even faster. Soon she was losing control and the slow rhythm Rory asked for.

Though she didn't think the other woman would mind.

Rory would honestly never be able to pinpoint what made their sex so insanely good. She'd never be able to comprehend with her puny human mind what made them so well matched. It was just everything, from how they communicated to how they anticipated and tried different things with each other. Nothing felt like too much, and Rory always knew that she was in utterly perfect hands.

The heat that radiated from the fireplace had absolutely nothing on the eat that pooled and spiraled through her whole body once Maris started moving. She gasped against her lips, her hands sliding down over her collarbone until they palmed greedily over her breasts. "Oh jesus, Maris, yes, right there." She cried as her lips tore away, her fingers stroking over her nipples as her hips lifted towards every thrust Maris delivered. Rory was nothing if not an active participant in their pleasure, though it was harder to focus on any rhythm as an erratic bucking motion took over her hips.

The faster Maris moved, the louder Rory became, the more a picture of an entire mess of moans and sweat beneath her lover. "Fuck, that's it." She growled, her hands having moved down Maris' body and were now gripping her ass so hard she was vaguely aware she'd probably leave some marks where her short nails dug into her skin. The sounds their skin made as they collided together just spurred her on all the more, her fingers gripping tightly as she pressed a messy kiss to Maris' lips. She bucked harder, meeting every one of Maris' thrusts. "Fuck me babe, make me come." She moaned, bowing her head against hers, and because the particular mood Maris had her in, she just had to add, "Please."

They both knew she wouldn't leave her unsatisfied. It wasn't even a matter of ego, though there was no denying Maris would be somewhat disgusted with herself if she didn't manage to please a lover completely.

It was Rory. She was fucking Rory and Rory never deserved anything less than everything. She was gorgeous (maybe even especially) like this. How could Maris not want to make her moan?

But one tiny word put a vice grip around her heart and sent an even more insistent throb between her legs.

Please.

It gave her a second wind she didn't know she had.

Rory didn't have to beg.

Deep down the other woman had to know she was a goner, that Maris would give her exactly what she wanted even if she hadn't said so before they got started.

She didn't have to beg, but god, Maris liked hearing it. Suddenly she was fucking her hard, hard enough for the blanket to shift and the side of Maris knees to press against the rough carpet. She didn't care, not when she needed to make Rory come as much as her lover needed the release.

She never stopped, her hips and with it, the toy working overtime, even as she slid her hand between Rory's legs to almost furiously rub her clit. With her mouth on her neck, she sucked as hard as she could. Doing and feeling so many things at once had Maris feeling like her heart was going to give it out, but what a way to die.

She was pleasing her every way she knew how.

She pressed her lips to her ear, her words a sort of breathless growl as her fingers dug into Rory's hip. "Come," she said, more of a demand than encouragement. "Hard enough that I can feel it on my thighs too." One final thrust, most of the energy Maris had left, punctuated her statement, though her fingers never really stopped.

Something about Maris that Rory always noted way after the fact, was how much she never particularly worried about what she looked like. That went for all aspects of their life together, whether it was off of a workout (which brought back a lot of memories of seeing Maris for the first time fresh off of a run) or early in the morning, or from an utter lack of sleep. It never mattered to her what she looked like because she knew that Maris' love for her wasn't conditional on her appearance. Yet another reason why she never worried about what she looked like when they were in the throes of even the most intense sex they could have. Her hair was wild and all over the place, her face flushed and skin with a sheen of sweat. She didn't need to try and fix her hair or calm her breathing - this was all Maris' doing after all, and she knew that Maris loved seeing it as much as Rory loved seeing a similar sight in her.

A string of profanities tumbled from Rory's lips so emphatically that she wasn't even sure she was actually saying words when Maris began fucking her harder. She felt her thighs begin to tremble even as she tightened the one around Maris' hip, her hips bucking hard to meet every one of her thrusts in a way that nearly made her eyes water from the sheer pleasure that raged through her.

Rory clung to her tightly, one hand reaching up to grip the back of Maris' neck, her fingers sliding through her hair while the other stayed gripping tightly to her ass. She felt like a fire had been lit within her, driving towards an inevitable explosion and well, to use a metaphor sure.

She nearly came the second Maris' fingers began to slide over her clit, a sharp cry barely held back as she bit hard on her own lower lip. She was racing towards the edge, all done by Maris. This woman knew her body and how to fuck her like she'd spent a goddamn lifetime mastering it.

"Yes, yes," She cried, her hips moving with Maris' until her whole body went still for a few precious seconds before her orgasm tore through her like a huge magnitude quake. She cried out Maris' name, her voice rough with exertion as she came so hard her whole body shook. She clung to her lover, even her hands trembling as she felt her whole body give into the pleasure that made her dizzy. As she blinked, she saw stars; her lungs burned, her teeth nearly chattered with the intensity of it. She liked to do what she knew would please Maris, but even she couldn't have anticipated that she'd come so hard her whole body would take several beats to even begin to come down. "Fucking fuck." She panted, her legs dropping to the floor as her limbs continued to tremble. Her arms however circled around Maris, her lips traveling down her neck and shoulder. She could feel how she dripped down her own thighs, a feeling erotic as fuck and enough to send another shiver of an aftershock through her. "I fucking love the way you fuck me." She hummed into her ear before pressing a kiss against her cheek, almost a chaste one.

"And I fucking love fucking you," she shot back playfully, Rory not the only one trying to catch her breath. After pulling out and a bit of slight fumbling (someone really did need to do some sort of design overhaul), Maris managed to undo her harness and toss it somewhat unceremoniously across the room with a loud thud.

They didn't need it anymore, but she did need Rory as close (and with as few barriers between them) as humanly possible.

"God, I love you. You're so beautiful," she murmured, her fingers tracing a slow path down Rory's cheek, lingering even further on her lips as she settled between her legs once more. She shifted into a more comfortable position before sliding her arms around her, finally allowing herself the sort of lazy grin that came with a job well done when she felt just how relaxed the other woman was against her.

The loud gong of Maris' grandfather clock (aptly named because it really had been a gift from hers, a housewarming present when she got her first apartment even though it barely fit inside it) startled them both. They had fallen into a contented silence, drowsy enough to almost doze with no other sound than the two of them trying to catch their breath.

It was midnight.

Which meant that it was Maris' birthday.

She made of a bit of a face, wondering if she felt any older. If anything it was the opposite, especially right now.

She felt invincible, alive, giddy in a way she hadn't since she was younger and that made her smile just a little bit wider.

She gave Rory a playful spank, ignoring the elephant in the room though her birthday didn't seem nearly as ominous now as it did the day before. Her expression was just as cheeky. "So! Do you wanna sleep in here or do you wanna try and make it to the bedroom once your legs start working again?"

Even in her exhaustion, Rory couldn't help but laugh before she nudged Maris' side with her knee. Her final bit of labored expelled in a sigh as Maris settled between her legs, glad for the complete lack of anything between them. She was utterly spent, the kind of exhaustion that only set in when she and Maris truly needed a reprieve -- for a while, anyway. She'd hummed a soft sound, her fingers dancing down Maris' spine.

"I love you," She said softly in reply, a blush creeping up her cheeks at the compliment. "Says the most exquisite person I've ever met." She said with a cheeky grin, Rory's nose nudging Maris' before she kissed her quickly.

The clock startled her a little, which made her giggle softly in her already giddy mood. The change of time and turning over into a new day was not lost on her - particularly which day it was. Their rest was much needed, as Rory was fairly certain she wouldn't be able to move for a while. But that spank sent a jolt through her, her eyes narrowing playfully as she shifted beneath her, her hands gripping her sides. "Let's go to bed, birthday girl." She smiled, but it was her turn to bring her hand down on her ass for a quick smack. "You just gotta get off of me, sadly."

Once they'd actually fumbled their way to the bedroom and climbed into the covers, Rory slid in so close to Maris it was a wonder she wasn't actually on top of her. "Happy birthday, my love." She whispered softly against her ear, kissing her gently more than a few times before exhaustion finally took them into actual sleep for the night.

When Rory woke up in the morning, she was glad that she was the first one up. She spent a few extra moments just watching Maris sleep, her fingertips gently brushing against her cheek and along her jaw line. God, it was almost ridiculous how much she loved this woman. She slipped carefully out of bed to get one of the presents she'd wrapped and put it on the nightstand before climbing back into bed where it was mercifully warm. "Babe," She murmured softly, her hand sliding over her side and down over her hip as she kissed her cheek gently, then let her lips trail down over her jawline and her neck. "I really let you sleep in but..." She quietly spoke against her ear. "I'm kind of impatient." To give her her gift or something else ... who could tell? She couldn't stop smiling as she kissed over her skin and shifted her body in close.

After the night they'd had, it was probably no surprise Maris fell fast into a deep, dreamless sleep. She was slightly disoriented and certainly disheveled when she finally stirred, her hair sticking up as she raised her head from the pillow.

"Hmm?" she purred, not really making much sense, but she was alert enough to recognize Rory was right there beside her, her lazy smile only widening as memories hit her from the night before, though she didn't remember what day it was until the present on her bedside table came into blurry focus.

"What's all this?!" Maris asked, grinning as she sat up to get a better look. She clutched the comforter to her chest, bur she was hardly attempting to be modest after the night before. She was just trying to keep warm.

What a difference a year could make. She'd spent the morning of her last birthday completely on her own. Birthdays had never really been a big deal to her. Having a small family meant her special day had always been a relatively small affair. She'd never really liked to be fussed over and after she'd hit big milestones like 16, 21 and 30, there didn't seem to be much of a point in making a big deal about it.

Sure, she liked dinners with friends or the bouquet of flowers her father sent every year without fail, but birthdays were just like holidays.

They were just another day.

Unless you had someone to spend them with.

She leaned over and kissed Rory's cheek before ripping open the paper.

It was probably ridiculous just how much Rory loved waking up with Maris. It didn't matter which one was up first, or what either one of them had going for the rest of the day. She couldn't help but luxuriate in even the fewest of moments before the day launched itself at them. Rory hoped (and had a suspicion) that she would never take a single morning of waking up with Maris for granted. She was too in love, too entirely gone to the kind of life they were building together. And she knew the alternative.

"It's your birthday present. Well, one of them." She laughed softly, biting her lower lip and turning to her side to rest her head in her hand and her elbow on her pillow. It was kind of a cheesy first gift, but she couldn't not buy it the moment she saw it.

Rory grinned as she watched Maris tearing into the paper, her arm draping over her lap and resting her palm against her far hip.

Once Maris had opened the gift of the Anne Lister stick pin, Rory sat up a little more, the sheet falling from her bare chest but she was too excited to cover up. "It was made by the same jewelers who make all the jewelry for the actual show. I couldn't resist it." She was grinning hopefully, realizing it was fairly cheesy ... but also the rich red and elegant piece just seemed to fit.

"Oh wow," she said as the early morning sun hit the red stone in the center of her pin just right. "It looks just like hers!" she exclaimed, clearly delighted by the idea of matching her new hero.

"This would look really nice on my pea coat," she mused aloud.

Thick, black wool made it Maris' warmest winter coat. Her new pin would add a nice pop of color to Maris' let's face it, occasionally drab winter wardrobe.

"I love it, thank you," she said with a soft smile, pressing an even softer kiss to Rory's temple as she carefully sat her present back on her bedside table.

"So!" she said with a grin. "What are we doing today? No unanticipated pub crawls, I hope."

It was a reference to a particularly disastrous birthday that had become an inside joke. The pair had gone out with another couple on her birthday years before. Greg and Kira insisted on going to one more bar, then another, then another until all Maris and Rory really wanted to do was go home, but since the other couple had gotten drunker with each passing stop, they'd spent most of what was supposed to be her night babysitting and trying to coax them into a taxi. Birthdays were never shared with anyone else after that.

"Because I gotta be honest I'm pretty content with this," she said, sliding closer to drop a kiss on Rory's shoulder. Her lips twitched as she looked up at her. "Last night was fun."

"Mmhm." Rory beamed, unable to keep the giddy excitement from her face. She really was that kind of dork who just couldn't help but contain how much she loved giving gifts to people, especially someone she loved. Especially Maris. Rory knew that Maris was a discerning woman, who liked what she liked and that was usually that, so being able to get her something that a) truly surprised her and b) that she'd actually really like felt like hitting the jackpot.

"Ooh, it would! It really would." Rory smiled, one that grew when Maris kissed her face. "You're welcome. Happy birthday." She smiled, sitting up and crossing her legs as she stretched into the light a little more.

"Well." She said, clapping her hands together once. "I had planned a minimum of six pubs, but I guess if you don't want to be carried home..." She smirked at the same memory, though was well aware the two of them would never actually have that kind of a mess amongst just themselves. No, they'd get home together, usually just pawing at each other rather than too drunk to do much about it.

"I hadn't planned too much more, but we have options." She smiled, sliding her arm around Maris and letting her palm run down her side. "Last night was ... fucking perfect." She blushed just a little bit, unable to hide that. Bowing her head a little more, Rory captured Maris' lips in a deep kiss. She hummed a soft sound, the kiss sort of immediately deepening because, well, she couldn't help herself. "You get everything you want for your birthday." Rory murmured against her lips, the suggestive nature of her words apparent.

Rory had stretched out a little more, her body angling more towards Maris as her lips started to trail down her neck. It was just as her hands began to roam that the doorbell suddenly cut into her reverie. "OH!" Rory jolted back, a little flushed, and definitely still naked. "Right. It's ... yeah. I ordered something to be delivered. Shit. Okay. I'm stealing one of your robes." Rory was stealing one more kiss a second later, and practically leaping out of bed to make sure she could throw something on.

"Oh, really? Because I know exactly what to ask for," she murmured against Rory's lips."

Maris was fully prepared to start pressing Rory into the mattress when she heard someone at the door. She wasn't expecting anyone which meant the noise startled her, but surprise quickly turned to slight disappointment at the idea of Rory leaving her side.

Even for a surprise.

"Go. Before I change my mind," she said, punctuating the statement with a firm spank. "And I don't know where half of them are, but my gray one is still in the living room!" she shouted as Rory made her way out the door. Her harness was still in the other room too, but she'd forgotten all about it for the time being.

Sighing a little, she settled back against the pillows. She was curious about the delivery, but it was a pretty chilly morning. She was grateful for the opportunity to burrow under the covers again, but not before snatching her present off the table, cracking open the box for another look.

Extracting herself from Maris was probably the hardest thing that Rory had had to do in ... days. Certainly hours if she wasn't being dramatic. All she wanted to do was ignore the doorbell and roll around in the covers with her girlfriend, ultimately giving her whatever, whichever position she wanted because after all, it was her birthday.

But Rory's excitement had propelled her off the bed, even if the cold air outside of their bed felt like a shock. More so as the jolt of heat spurred on by Maris' smack to her ass. She wagged a finger at her and made a face, one that was probably too telling of just how much she wanted back in bed.

But she was a woman on a mission. Barely tying the robe around her waist to cover herself as she made her way out to the front room, she did make sure she was covered before swinging the door open. A lovely girl handed over the goods, which was less hilarious, but easier to extract herself from in that case. She put everything down and went into the living room, sliding her arms into Maris' coat (which probably looked ridiculous over the robe) and then paused to slide the harness of the strap-on over her wrist to carry as well. Just in case.

After re-picking up the goodies, she carefully made her way back into the bedroom to find Maris there. She was still beaming a smile as she cleared her throat. "I'm going to spare you a very bad rendition of happy birthday..." She smirked, putting the to-go carton of fresh brewed coffee on the night stand with the cups it had come with, and then tossing the harness unceremoniously on the foot of the bed before she climbed carefully back in over the covers. Still with both layers on, she dramatically presented a bright pink box that smelled so delicious it made her mouth water.

"These. I am going to dare say, I will actually miss when we move out of Maine. Best donuts in New England. I will fight anyone who says otherwise."

"What are you wearing!?" Maris asked with a laugh before crossing her arms over her chest, her voice turning stern. "I'm the birthday girl and I did not approve this."

She had to admit Rory looked good in her robe though and as her eyes fell on the harness at the end of the bed, it was hard not to remember just how much fun they'd had the night before.

She let those very pleasant memories simmer in the back of her mind as she took her coffee, but not before pushing the jacket off Rory's shoulders and stealing a quick kiss.

"A bold claim," she said. "I'm going to have to see for myself."

Maris flipped the box open, hand hovering over her options before ultimately choosing a relatively simple doughnut with hot pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles.

It wasn't the sort she usually went for. She was happy to see Rory had remembered her love of all things chocolate and chosen accordingly, but the doughnut seemed...festive and therefore fitting on a day like today.

She expected it to look better than it tasted, but she was pleasantly surprised, giving Rory a nod of approval while her mouth was full. She swallowed her first bite, then licked some stray frosting off her thumb. "I like how you said when we move though."

For all her complaining about Maine's waspy inhabitants and freezing cold temperatures, Maris was in no real hurry to move. She was dreading all the work that came with it, but she would have been lying if she said there wasn't one thing that had her excited and ultimately make the headaches that came from going from one place to another worth it.

She'd be moving with Rory into a place that was finally theirs.

She took another bite. If she had to nitpick one thing (and let's face it, she usually did), it was that the frosting to doughnut ratio was a bit off. There was a bit too much on the top of her doughnut. Eating it was a slightly messy experience, but when more frosting ended up on her fingers, she smirked, holding them out for Rory to taste.

"I had a lot of things to carry, I had to improvise!" Rory said with a laugh, her grin so wide it threatened to make her cheeks hurt. "Yeah yeah, well. Tough." She said all the while marveling at how utterly enamored she was with this stubborn birthday girl of hers.

Getting out of the jacket, she tossed it towards the chair by the bed and managed to get it half on there. She returned all of her attention to Maris as she sat next to her on the bed, stretching her legs out so one sort of draped over Maris' shin.

"I'm very bold when it comes to pastries."

Rory was biting at her lower lip as she watched Maris carefully select her treat. Though her choice was a bit of a surprise (and she quirked a brow when she made her selection), Rory was delighted by it. Okay, so she was in probably one of the best moods she'd been in a while (a feat, cause she just radiated happy these days), but still. She loved making the woman she loved happy in any way shape or form.

"Well of course." She said with a small smile, nodding as she selected one of the old fashioned doughnuts and picked off one of the sides before popping it into her mouth for a taste. "You know I'm not going anywhere without you. And we need a space that's just ours." The more they did talk about their future, and what finding a house together would be like, the more confident and excited Rory became every time they spoke about it. She wanted a porch, wherever they ended up, so they could have lazy days in the summer sitting together and drinking tea, or cold autumn nights bundled up under a blanket. She wanted a yard where they'd eventually have a swing set or a treehouse for their kids. She wanted space for Maris to have to write. She wanted a big kitchen. She wanted a big fireplace. Maybe one in their bedroom, too.

Rory raised her hand to gently grip Maris' wrist when she offered her fingers, a wicked smirk gracing her features in reply. Her gaze remained on Maris as she leaned over and sucked one of her fingers into her mouth, gently scraping her teeth against the pad of her finger before she followed suit with her tongue. "Mmm," She murmured, and did the same kind of thing with the other finger that had the pink icing on it. "You taste delicious." Her voice was an octave deeper than normal, as she moved her hand to rest on Maris' thigh. "But then again, that's not new."

"Do I?" she purred, letting out another soft sound as Rory's teeth and tongue caressed her skin. "I probably do, but we've already established I think you taste better."

She ran her finger along the top of her doughnut. Maris was purposefully collecting frosting now and eventually placed some along the curve of Rory's neck.

She didn't need to suck as hard as she did to remove it a moment later, but she did it anyway, soothing the faint red mark she left behind with the tip of her tongue.

When she raised her head, she was still feeling playful.

"I mean it's not bad," she said, somewhat noisily sucking the last bit of frosting off her thumb. "Your pussy tastes better though."

But before either party could make a move, the doorbell chimed again.

Maris blinked. "Did you order something else?"

When Rory confirmed she wasn't expecting anything, Maris sighed and rose from the bed, figuring it was her turn to brave the cold since her girlfriend had moments before. She borrowed the gray robe for her journey, kind of loving how it was still warm from being against Rory's skin.

She smiled when she returned, carrying a vase full of flowers she probably should have expected. Her father sent some every year.

She wasn't sure why they were always sunflowers. They weren't her favorite or even a kind she had mentioned to him before, but they always arrived without fail.

One of these days she would remember to ask and learn her theory was wrong. They weren't her father's favorite flower.

They were her mother's. They were her John's quiet way of including her in Maris' special day, even if she had only been around for the first few. If nothing else, he sort of assumed that if Christina liked them, Maris would too. He always thought his daughter was more like his ex wife than not. She had been just as bold, beautiful, witty, just as infuriatingly hard headed and even harder to please, but he understood that probably wasn't what Maris wanted to hear and that she was hardly the sort of person she'd want to emulate.

"Well, now it looks like a farm in here," she said, plopping the crystal vase on her bedside table. "At least it's not roses, right? Total cliche."

But it was obvious Maris was pleased with her dad's gift from the sound of her voice.

Even if it took her away from Rory. She kissed her girlfriend's nose as she climbed back into bed with a cheeky grin. "Sorry, what was I saying?"

These mornings. The kind of mornings that she and Maris had nowhere to be, nothing to do (but each other) were her absolute favorites. She felt luxurious in a kind of way; unhurried and with that, a kind of warm glowy feeling settled over her. This was Maris' birthday, and she couldn't wait to fully give her everything she had planned, but she enjoyed the hell out of it, too.

Rory was all anticipation and warmth as she dragged her fingers through Maris' hair, the way she sucked at her skin sending goosebumps all over her skin. That damn doorbell however, snapped her out of it a bit, her brow furrowing a bit as no, she didn't think anything else she'd planned for were coming so early.

Trying not to feel dramatically bereft in Maris' absence, she took a few sips of coffee as she finished her doughnut and wiped her hands on a napkin. By the time Maris came back, she'd lounged back into the pillows, her legs stretched out in front of her.

"Oh those are lovely." She beamed when she saw the sunflowers, the bright burst of color seeming like something Rory would try to sneak in to her room. "Not roses, and no big stalks of corn so ... we don't have to worry about you going full farm on me." She laughed softly, her gaze leveled at the other woman, drinking in the sight of her. She loved Maris in all forms, in every second of every day, but there was something calling back to that glowing feeling that just made her feel extra enamored with the woman today.

She was just so fucking lucky to have her. She wouldn't take a single minute with Maris for granted.

"Oh, well..." Rory pouted her lips in thought, wrinkling her nose after Maris kissed it. She waited for Maris to settle in before she heaved a dramatic sigh and swung her leg over Maris' lap. She settled in atop her, pressing her hands into the wall on either side of her. "I think we were about to have a very serious debate over who had the better tasting pussy." She smirked, bowing her head to press a quick kiss to her lips. "But I think we've had that debate before..." Rory hummed her words and kissed Maris again, and then again, far deeper than the one before it. She moaned softly into her lips, one of her hands coming down to brush through her short hair as she shifted closer to her in her lap.

"We have had that debate before," she murmured between kisses, her voice as thick as her lover's once more. "And I think don't think we're ever going to agree so why bother? All that really matters is that they're so good together."

Maris rocked her hips. It was a slow, subtle motion, a purposeful one: an attempt to show just how good the most sensitive parts of their bodies could feel together too.

They really didn't have anywhere else to be and Maris was craving the sort of slow, achingly satisfying morning that would eventually have her too caught up to even think of leaving the bed no matter how many times her doorbell tried to interrupt.

Her kisses were just as insistent. Maris made sure to amp up the intensity with each one, her breath beginning to come in short gasps not just because Rory was stealing the air in her lungs, but because she was surprised that just her mouth could have such an effect on her. You sort of forgot just how good a kiss could be when you got older and moved on to bigger and better (see: naughtier) things.

She gasped a little as they parted, however briefly and as their eyes met, Maris knew Rory felt it too.

"You know, you're very right about that. Our disagreement here is actually mutually beneficial." She grinned into every one of their kisses, Rory's body shifting just slightly into Maris' all the more.

She couldn't help the soft sound that came from the back of her throat as she felt Maris slowly rocking beneath her. Rory sucked softly at Maris' lower lip, her own hips angling slightly so she could mirror the slow movements. It was a tease, a playful gesture from the both of them at this point, but the promise of more was right there.

As much as Rory really did want to just tear at what little clothes they were wearing and properly touch Maris the way she so deeply wanted to, there was that certain charge to their kisses that of course she felt too. It was electric, the way their kisses turned more and more breathless, how her body heat seemed to rise and how the thumping beat of her heart picked up to a rate that made her a little dizzy. The way that Maris turned her on never ceased to amaze Rory. It could be something so simple as a look, or sometimes even her presence alone. But then there were the kisses, and particularly, ones like this. Unhurried.

"Maris," She purred her name through a panting breath, her lover's name on her lips feeling like the most natural thing she could ever say. "Feel this," She said softly, reaching for one of Maris' hands and kissing her palm before guiding her hand to rest flat over her heart. Her heart was racing, an amused smile on her face as she bowed her head against Maris'.

Letting Maris have control back of her hand and wherever she wanted it, Rory pressed a line of kisses down her throat as her hand slid between their bodies to slowly graze her fingers up Maris' inner thigh dragging slowly towards her pussy.

The way Rory said her name was enough to make Maris warm all over, but feeling her heartbeat under her hand made was what really made her own begin to race in kind.

She kept her hand completely still for a moment, not wanting to miss a (literal) beat, but eventually flexed her fingers, sliding them up to cup Rory's breast and squeeze it gently.

Maris' hands were up while Rory's moved lower. She'd tied her robe loosely enough that her girlfriend could slip her hand inside it without much of a problem, the gray silk a very thin barrier between them.

She really didn't mind. One of the main reasons Maris had bought what she was wearing was that she liked the way it felt against her bare skin.

"Are you going to touch me?" she murmured playfully, a needlessly cocky question. She pressed her thumb into Rory's nipple, a silent promise she would do the same to her if the answer was yes.

Rory's gaze remained fixed on Maris for those few moments when her hand was over her heart. It felt good to have that force of her heart, knowing the woman was now feeling all the more the affect she had. Beyond how dizzy and lustful she made Rory, beyond how wet she made her so consistently - it was her heart that she affected most often. Physically and otherwise.

She hummed a soft sound against Maris' throat as she felt her girlfriend's hand move to her breast, her back arching a little to press into her a little more.

Rory laughed at Maris' question, punctuating the sound with a noisy kiss against her neck. "I guess, maybe." She teased back, though goosebumps were racing along her arms. She always felt so hot when Maris' hands teased her breasts. "You're the birthday girl," She said softly, as she dragged the pads of her fingers over her pussy, sliding her fingers into her folds and moaning softly at how wet they immediately became. "You get whatever you want." Her words were a promise, murmured against her lips as she slowly pressed her middle finger inside of her.