As much as she tried to calm herself, and as much reassurance that Maris had given her, Rory was still a bit of a bundle of nerves during the drive up to Maris' father's house. She'd been nervous the first time she had met him all those years ago, but this time she felt this twinge at the back of her mind that made her worry. What if he held some resentment for the way she and Maris had broken up before? What if he didn't trust her not to hurt Maris again? The moment she thought of that however, Rory knew her own conviction. She would die before she lost her again, and that was not even hyperbole. When she thought about it, Rory did feel prepared for any of that which could come up ... but she just hoped it wouldn't.

Their pit stops along the way certainly helped ease her nerves, and every kiss they'd stolen between sips of coffee or stopped at the occasional light helped all the more.

"Green beans, I'm ready for 'em." She said as they walked up the steps to the senior Forrester's house, her hand clasped in Maris' while she held their prepared dessert in her other hand. "We probably should have come up with some kind of an escape word, huh?" She made a wide-eyed face before leaning in to steal one more kiss as they approached the front door.

"Oh, thermometer, obviously," Maris said with a grin, confirming their new escape word with one last kiss a few seconds before Faye opened the door.

Maris' stepmother (that she'd ever called her that) was sporting one of those awful seasonal turtlenecks popular with women of a certain age. It was white, but covered with orange and yellow fall leaves and worn over black stretch pants. Faye was chubby, especially compared to Maris' rail thin father, but had a certain prettiness about her. Her eyes were a startling shade of blue and her soft blonde hair hadn't come from a bottle. Maris had the sneaking suspicion Faye had been a real babe once upon a time and simply stopped caring about what everyone thought as she got older. She sort of admired her for that.

"Come in you two!" she said, warm as ever despite Maris' usual coldness towards her. "It's freezing out. " She helped them out of their coats, smiling in approval of Maris' dress. "Ooh, I like that. You always look so nice."

Maris appreciated the compliment, but didn't have time to (somewhat begrudgingly) thank Faye for it. The older woman had set her sights and Rory and the unspoken no hugging rule between her and Maris didn't seem to apply to her stepdaughter's girlfriend.

"Rory, I got so excited when John told me you were coming!" she gushed, pulling her into a tight embrace. "You look nice too, of course. God, she's even prettier than I remembered."

"Very pretty," Maris echoed, unable to keep the smile out of her voice. "It's completely unfair."

The three exchanged small talk for a few minutes before Maris' father walked into the entry way. John Forrester dressed exactly how you'd expect a professor too. His deep green sweater was somewhat baggy and sported leather patches on the elbows. He was sporting wire framed glasses and (still surprisingly thick) hair that he had let go from salt and pepper to full on gray since Rory had seen him last. Maris didn't really like the change since it reminded her that her father was getting older, but it suited him. John was handsome. It was plain to see where Maris had gotten at least some of her good looks and most of her height from.

"There you are. I was starting to wonder."

"Ah, well, holiday traffic, you know." Maris grinned. She and Rory knew that traffic hadn't been the only thing that had been delaying their arrival, but her father certainly didn't need to know that.

She took a few steps forward to plant a quick, but affectionate kiss on his cheek. "Hi, daddy."

"Hi, Mari," he echoed fondly.

The slight shortening of her name was the only nickname Maris had ever really gone by and her father and grandfather were the only ones who ever used it.

She reached for Rory's hand to present her to her father (again).

"It's wonderful to see you again, Rory," he said, making eye contact and squeezing her free hand warmly before turning his attention back to Rory. "Well, it's not like you girls have missed much. You know the oven's slow so dinner won't be for a few hours yet. Come in the living room. I have rugelach."

Maris beamed, shooting Rory a look that said, see, I told you before following her father and Faye.

A few minutes later they were settled in with Faye going on about some show she was watching while they had pastries and strong coffee.

Maris' father's was an irish one, so she added a splash of liquor to hers too. Her love of whiskey hadn't exactly come out of left field. She'd developed a taste for it doing what most kids did, raiding her dad's liquor cabinet.

Maris was more focused on her pastries than Faye's story. Her father had made both her favorite kinds of rugelach: cinnamon and chocolate and she couldn't resist sneaking a glance to see which (if any) Rory liked best.

But Maris wasn't the only one with her eyes on Rory. Once Faye finished talking, John jumped in to change the course of the conversation. He hadn't really been listening to his wife, either.

"So, Rory, you're still teaching?"

"Right." Rory had said, rolling her eyes at herself for being so nervous she'd momentarily forgotten their "out" word. She really should get a handle on things.

Now or never, as the door swung open and there was Faye. Rory was smiling already, whether or not it was genuine delight to see the older woman or just her gut reaction to greeting someone so friendly, it was hard to tell. She found herself drawn into the warmth of the house and the woman who greeted them, smiling over at Maris as she stepped in with her.

"Thank you for having me," Rory said, a slight blush creeping up on her cheeks - more due to Maris' compliment than Faye's. It was nice to be greeted by the woman, some ease settling over her even if she was extra friendly and super enthusiastic during their initial conversation.

The man of the hour (and only man of the evening, at that) arrived and Rory had an immediate jolt in her chest. It went away pretty quickly however, upon her attention settling on Maris and her father. Once upon a time that had seemed like an impenetrable bond, and in some ways, Rory wouldn't have been able to really understand it. So much of her prideful attitude towards fathers was a direct result of being raised without one. It wasn't until she saw the bond between Maris and John that she finally got it. She understood because this man helped shape the woman she loved. She loved him for that.

"So good to see you again too, John." She remembered an far earlier conversation when she had stumbled over a "mister, professor, Forrester." Before he'd given her that approval just to call him by his name. God, she'd felt like a teenager or something.

Once Faye had taken the dessert from her hands, Rory removed her coat since it was warm enough in her dress inside. She grasped one of Maris' in both of hers, giving her a gentle squeeze as they went off for their treats. Rory sampled in earnest, going back and forth a bit before deciding (predictably) that the chocolate one was her favorite. She sat with Maris, close enough feel her warmth but not so much it was like she was going to climb into her lap. Not in front of her father.

Rory listened to Faye's story with a bit more attention than the Forresters in attendance, but was glad for John's diversion of topic. "I am indeed. Still trying to shape young minds and make sure they don't all read complete junk before going off into the big brave world." She smiled, taking a sip of her coffee. "Really the same thing, different city." She smiled, glancing over at Maris as her hand brushed against her side.

Maris' dad nodded approvingly. Rory fit in well to their family of academics, even if Maris hadn't made it official yet. John liked his daughter's girlfriend even without her occupation being thrown into the equation, but it was an undeniable bonus for a man who sometimes struggled to find common ground with strangers. "Glad to hear it. Teaching is a noble profession." He gave his daughter a somewhat pointed look before picking up his coffee again.

Maris sucked her teeth as she sat down hers. "Ooh, there's an implication there, not sure I like it..."

The tone of her voice was a warning. John knew his daughter's temper well, but seemed unphased by it. "It is."

"Sure it is and she's wonderful at it, I just don't see what it has to do with me."

"You don't see what your old job has to do with you?"

It was more of a debate than an argument, but there was no denying John was calmer than his notoriously self possessed daughter. His patient, steadfast demeanor really was the perfect compliment to her occasionally tempestuous one.

"Not really, no." She leaned forward with a smirk. "I'm not noble anymore, is that it?"

"I just think it's a shame, is all. That you're not teaching. It seems like a waste."

Maris let out a little snort. "I'm hardly wasting my degree. I wouldn't have been able to write my book without it." She had a feeling no one would have taken so much as a second glance at it if she didn't have one either.

"I didn't say that," he said soothingly. "Just, there's a real lack of good teachers in the world and-

Maris laughed. "You've never even seen me teach! How do you know if I'm any good at it or not?!"

She'd never doubted her abilities on that front. Despite her occasional distaste for her job (or more accurately, her students), Maris knew she was good at it and not just because she was well versed in her subject. Kids may have found her harsh, the sort of teacher who pushed hard and didn't suffer fools gladly, but despite her threats and whispers that she was giving out F's left and right, Maris rarely failed anyone because her efforts rarely meant she needed to. She knew how to get students to buckle down and get the job done. The only people who failed her class were the sort who put in no effort at all.

"I just have a feeling," he said with a soft smile before he turned to Rory. "You've seen her. Does she let those kids get away with anything?"

Oh now this Rory had missed. She tried to hide her smile behind her coffee mug as the two Forresters sparred in a way that felt so inherently them. She tried to keep her expression neutral as John pulled her and her career into the conversation, pursing her lips a bit as she looked over at Maris fondly.

It would be clear to anyone who knew Rory with Maris just how brilliant, funny, endlessly talented she thought her girlfriend was. She couldn't hide it ever. It was probably was futile to even try.

"Well, I'm surely going to revel in being the noble one here..." Rory said with a smile, reaching over and giving Maris' hand a squeeze. She kept her hand there as she leaned forward to set her mug down, a knowing smirk on her face as she regarded John. "Oh no, not a single thing. Even I was intimidated by her in the beginning." She winked at Maris as she settled back in next to her.

"I just love that she's sharing her mind with the world in such a way." She said gently, glancing from Maris over to John and a glance at Faye for good measure. "I can't be the only person who loves when she goes off on whole speech about her latest research project. I mean, I'm biased but... Most teenagers really don't see much past their phones."

Maris knew her father meant well. She also knew he was as proud of her accomplishments as anyone and kept asking when he could have a physical copy of her book to put in his office. But Rory was the one she told she was being published first and her girlfriend's praise and the fact that she was...defending her in a sense, even though she didn't really need to), kind of meant the world.

She smiled warmly at Rory, giving her hand a squeeze, neither of which escaped her father's notice.

"Oh, everyone loves those," Maris said dryly, picking up her plate full of pastries again.

"We do. But you could do both, you know. If anyone could do both..."

"Yeah, I know," she said with a shrug.

But she had honestly never considered writing and teaching at the same time before.

Maris' father had planted an idea in her mind. She was still thinking about what it might be like to go back to teaching (because there was no denying she wasn't entirely sold on her latest project and the novelty of working from home was beginning to wear off fast) a few hours later.

Full from entirely too much turkey and her father's famous challah mushroom stuffing, Maris had a fresh cup of coffee in hand as she waited for Rory to get away from Faye and meet her out on the porch for a little alone time.

It was chilly, but Maris wasn't too worried about keeping warm since she had a hot drink and her thickest coat on over her dress and tights. It was a beautiful night, the street lamps just beginning to turn on as she fastened the last few buttons on her coat, her breath making the tiniest cloud as she sat her coffee mug on the ledge.

Reminiscing about their old days working together had been something that Rory loved doing with Maris. It made her feel like those days, though they had eventually come to an end, didn't have to bring her a longing or a sadness anymore - like they had during the dark years. Rory did love the idea of Maris visiting her at work more frequently, but it really wasn't the same. Sometimes she did wonder if Maris missed it at all, but she didn't bring it up because she did entirely support her writing career, and didn't want it to seem like she was pushing her into something.

After all, they weren't planning on staying in Maine all that much longer, if they could work out all the details. Something she didn't bring up (obviously), but made her smile to think about. They'd find a home that suited them both, she'd teach at a new school or maybe even help start one from the ground up again. They'd have a home that was theirs. One that maybe they'd come to raise a family in. The thought made her smile every time she thought about it. She felt entirely entranced by what their future might hold for them.

Rory was sufficiently stuffed by the time she had slipped on her coat to go outside, only to be stopped in conversation with Faye. Which, she was happy to be in, but for wanting just a bit of alone time with her girlfriend. Finally she managed to sneak away (thanks to John calling Faye away for something - a saving grace), heading out to the porch where she sat so close to Maris she snuggled right in close to her.

"I made the mistake of mentioning my mom had a recipe for dutch pancakes." She chuckled, nuzzling her nose against Marris' neck and pressing a soft kiss there. "I told her I'd text mom for the recipe and get it to Faye later." Rory pulled back and raised her eyebrows at Maris. "Yes, she made sure I put my number in her contacts."

Rory was always, always happiest when she was with Maris, but tonight felt ... different, deeply satisfying and warm in a way that she just didn't know how to describe. But she didn't need to. She got the idea that Maris would understand anyway.

"I really love this, thank you for inviting me." She said softly, sliding her hand down Maris' arm until her fingers could lace through hers, as she inched closer and took a sip of her own hot coffee. "But also don't think you're getting out of here without showing me your old room. I need all the trophies and ribbons and yearbooks you've got."

"Oh definite veto on the yearbooks," Maris said, wrinkling her nose. Though she did remember promising to show Rory her infamous chess club photo a few weeks before. She just hoped her girlfriend didn't remember it too.

"But of course I invited you," she said, idly running her fingers along the other woman's shoulder. "It just wouldn't be the same without you."

That much would have been true on any day, but it was especially true on this one. It was Thanksgiving and Rory was definitely what she was most thankful for even if she would never understand how they managed to find each other again.

But Maris definitely understood why.

It felt like they were standing on the edge of something greater, a whole new life even though there was nothing wrong with their current one and if she got what she wanted (and wished for on her birthday despite never believing in power of birthday magic, even when she was the right age for that kind of gullibility), she figured nothing would really change, at least as far as their dynamic was concerned.

They would only get better.

"Next year we're bringing a side dish too. Or at least finding a way to destroy Faye's green bean casserole."

Maris smiled, but it wasn't just because she liked the idea of getting rid of her stepmother's truly terrible cooking. Two simple words were what was actually making her happy.

Next year.

She liked knowing that Rory would be right there with her.

"You seem to forget that I've got very persuasive ways." Rory grinned in response, raising her eyebrows a couple times suggestively. Rory however, bad been very well behaved and would continue to be so... but the threat of what could be made her smile just the same.

Rory's smile turned soft when Maris spoke again, her teeth catching her lower lip as a look nothing less than bashful took over her features. Rory leaned into Maris' shoulder and kissed her cheek again, letting her lips just linger there for a few seconds. "Well thank you all the same, babe."

From the time she was small, Rory knew that the definition of family was going to be different from a lot of her peers. Not that everyone she knew had that traditional father-mother-whatever, but her family had such a palpable shift when her father left. It was the Berlanti women against the world, with the frequent help of amazing grandparents. She never missed having a father, because the alternative was having some asshole around who would have been nothing but toxic.

But now she had been invited into Maris' family, and she felt hers expanding. She felt this willingness to let more people in. Maris was a given. John. Even Faye. Her tight-knit family could get bigger, and maybe some day even more so.

"Maybe by then we'll know someone with a dog who is basically a vacuum cleaner and we can bribe him to eat it." She laughed, squeezing Maris' hand as she bowed her head to kiss her shoulder.

Next year indeed. It made her feel like she was glowing from the inside out. Next year, and then the year after that, the next one too. A lifetime of holidays and all the days in between. Every time Rory thought about the future that stretched ahead of them, it made her whole body practically quake with excitement of it.

"I really wish I could say it wasn't terrible ... but it was kind of..." Rory made a face, baring her teeth. "Inedible." She laughed in earnest, feeling sort of bad for what she said but well, it was the truth.

Maris was bordering on giddy when she pulled up to the hotel. It wasn't the nicest in the world, but it was hardly a dump either, a nice middle ground that perhaps, most importantly, had a vacancy during one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. Or so the buzzing neon sign said.

Rory was right.

Stopping at a hotel for the night rather than making a long, torturous drive home really was one of Maris' best ideas.

She kissed her as they exited the car, the cover of darkness making her bolder than she normally would have been a strange, public place. The sheer joy of a truly good day (and a healthy dose of anticipation for what they both knew what was gonna happen the moment they got behind closed doors) making her giddy enough to let out a very uncharacteristic giggle against her lover's mouth.

"Mmm," she purred. But kissing while walking was difficult and she let out another laugh as their inability to stop kissing (and grabbing and touching) caused her to stumble and fall back against the side of the building.

She probably looked drunk. She certainly felt it, but there was nothing more intoxicating than her and she grinned once she was steady once more, pulling Rory closer by her scarf so she could feel her body pressing against hers.

"Fuck, I want you," she hissed. "I'm half tempted to fuck you right he-"

But she never got to finish the sentence. The bell over the front door clanged, startling her even though it was only a few feet away. The sound was a warning, one that gave her enough time to (gently) push Rory away before a woman and her two toddlers saw them in a very compromising position.

She forced a smile as they walked by then let out a very frustrated sigh. "Come on, let's go inside."

Not wanting to tempt herself any further, Maris didn't hold Rory's hand though it was clear they were together, standing side by side as they took their place in line.

There was only one person ahead of them, but Maris was still impatient for their turn. It was hard to focus on anything but Rory, how close she was and how badly she needed to get her into bed, fast, but Maris couldn't help noticing the guy behind the desk wasn't entirely focused on the old man he was supposed to be waiting on.

He kept sneaking glances at them, quickly looking away every time he saw Maris looking back. She looked around for a moment, her stomach sinking as she realized just how many windows there were. The hotel's lobby almost looked like a green house.

He saw us.

The realization should have made her stomach sink even more and for a moment, it did. But the kid was being so awkward about the whole thing Maris was more amused than embarrassed.

Why should she be? Kissing Rory had been fun. It had made her feel free. She'd gotten a thrill out of doing it out there in the open.

But somewhere, deep down the idea of being watched was turning into a thrill too.

He looked young, but certainly old enough to have learned how to control himself around women by now. Why was he being such a spaz about it?

Then again, they probably had given him a show.

She squeezed Rory's elbow and gave her a look that asked a question.

Are you seeing this?

Actually extracting themselves from the senior Forrester’s house had been a bit of a feat in itself, and Rory really had thought that they’d have a nice drive home, full of food and a sort of warm glow of the whole evening.

She should have known there couldn’t have been any other ending to this scenario that had them actually making it home by any amount of their hours of driving. Rory and Maris were too insatiable, too into each other to possibly go from the occasional touch and soft conversation and actually make the drive.

The hotel was fucking. genius. Rory couldn’t remember the last time she’d just checked into a hotel on a whim, and certainly couldn’t think of any time ever she’d been so amorous that she needed to have her lover right then. Maris did things to her, and fucking hell did she love it.

Rory was a fit of giggles and warmth as they got out of the car, her hands reaching for Maris as they found each other just outside the car. She stole every kiss she possibly could, just how eager she was coming through in every one of them.

“We’re lucky there’s no ice out here.” She laughed as they made their way up the steps, as Rory was pretty sure they wouldn’t be paying close enough attention to actually watch where they were going. It might as well have been icy though, as Rory came in close to Maris as they reached the hotel front.

“So have me…” She dared her with a cheeky smirk, her voice betraying just how affected she was and just how close she was to actually daring Maris to fuck her right here.

The abrupt interruption had Rory covering her mouth with her fingertips, trying desperately not to burst out laughing as the nice looking woman walked on by with her two kids. Sweet. Wholesome. Very out of character for the web of lurid ideas running through her mind.

Inside was warm, which was nice she supposed. She was busying herself with looking around the hotel lobby, counting Christmas decorations (because obviously nobody could wait for Thanksgiving to actually be over these days) in some desperate attempt to distract herself from being all over Maris while they waited.

Maris’ squeeze of Rory’s elbow caught her attention, her brow furrowing a bit as she glanced at her and then followed her gaze to the young man behind the counter. It took her all of a few seconds before she saw it. Oh.

While Rory’s first instinct would be mind your business, there was nothing malicious in the young man’s gaze. He seemed more nervous, maybe a little pervy just from how curious his look was. But utterly rattled.

And Rory knew Maris well enough to know where her head was at.

Rory sighed dramatically and tapped one of her feet once, before her body angled into Maris’ and she grasped her hand. Her other hand slipped into Maris’ coat as she brushed her nose just quickly against her ear. “Any excuse to touch you, let’s be real here.” She husked against her ear before taking a little step to the side, but kept her hand tightly clasped in Maris’.

Maris smirked, approaching the desk with a cool sort of confidence once the man in front of them was sorted. For all his stolen glances, the kid (early 20's? clearly younger than them, but she couldn't be sure) couldn't seem to look her in the eye.

"Hi," she purred. "Can we get a room?"

"One second," he said quickly, a nervous laugh coming out of him a moment later. "Our computer system's running a little slow today."

"That's fine," she said, a picture of warmth and patience. In other words, most of the things she wasn't, especially right now. But despite her desire to finally have Rory all to herself, there was some appeal in this too.

It went without saying that male attention played very little part in Maris' life. She had no patience for men, especially the sort that thought they had a chance with her. She shot them down quickly, there was no point in wasting either of their time but she did have an ego. And sometimes it was just nice to feel wanted.

There was a certain kind of thrill that came with knowing Rory was wanted too. Maris couldn't blame them, of course. She was smart, funny, gorgeous, but she was also hers and she liked walking away from gaping men (women were rarely so bold, but she'd caught a few checking out Rory too) knowing just whose bed she would end up in at the end of the night.

"Yup, we have a few more rooms. Two beds or..."

"One please," she smirked at Rory before idly running her fingers along the back of her girlfriend's neck. It was meant to appear nonchalant and it was. Touching Rory was automatic because it simply couldn't be helped, but there was a certain sort of possessiveness there too. She was touching Rory because she could, like she was staking her claim in front of him. She smirked, adding, "We share."

There was an implication there. That maybe, just maybe she'd share Rory too. She wouldn't, of course. She may have admitted to a threesome or two during a game of truth or dare in the early days of their relationship, but she was never going to invite a third party into her bed again, not with Rory.

And certainly not a man.

But she allowed him that tiny sliver of hope, reveling in the way he shifted behind the desk, nodding again as he continued to type. "One second," he mumbled.

Oh yeah, this was going to be fun. There were those "experimental" types who got off on flirting or even kissing on women for the benefit of men ... which always made Rory's stomach turn (she had met and even made out with a couple of those in her day). But this was entirely for Maris and Rory's benefit. This was just a hell of a lot of fun to get to play and mercilessly tease this poor young man. Did people leave tips for front desk men? She'd look that up later.

Rory had to bite her lower lip to stifle an amused grin, though in doing so likely just made her look a little more coquettish than usual. She had to admit it was hot to see Maris playing whatever role this was.

For her part, it wasn't hard for Rory to ham up her affection for Maris. Actually, it gave her all the more excuse to be touching her and not put much space between them at all. She kept leaning into Maris when it felt like she'd had the attention of the young man - the poor thing really didn't seem well equipped to handle this.

"We are exceptionally good at sharing, aren't we?" She agreed, her voice low and silky as she caught Maris' eye. This was a fun game to play, yes, but Rory had already been amped up and well, this wasn't helping tamper that down.

Of course they weren't going to invite this guy into their bed (the very idea of it was enough to make her cringe and turn a little green), but there was something that stoked the possessive quality in Rory at the very idea that someone else might look at her girlfriend in that way. Most of the time it would be enough to make her see some red, but the two of them were really egging this on. It made her almost laugh out loud at the very thought that later they'd probably order room service, and if this guy also had that task of delivery? God help him.

"Can you also do me a favor and make sure we have a do not disturb hangy-thing for the door?" She asked innocently, leaning towards the counter a bit, and playing the dumber vocabulary, while her arm still stayed around Maris. "It's just the last time we didn't have one and well. That was a mess."

Hearing Rory play dumb nearly caused Maris to break then and there, but she bit back a laugh and stood a little straighter giving the guy behind the desk a little nod. "Total mess," she agreed solemnly, her fingers creeping up into Rory's hair to lightly massage her scalp.

He somehow managed to get them sorted and once the keys were in Maris' hand she took off like a shot, finally giving into her laughter when they were halfway down the hall.

"Hangy thing!?" she repeated incredulously before cracking up again. "Oh my god." She shook her head as she fumbled a bit with the key card because she'd never been given one that actually went through on the first try, then tugged Rory inside with her.

"Did you see his face?" she said, obviously pleased with herself. She shrugged off her coat immediately, letting it hit the floor with a satisfying thud.

Her eyes, darker than they'd been even when they were up against the side of the building, never left Rory's. It was clear that their little game: the way she'd teased that poor man and the way she'd touched Rory in front of him had gotten to her.

"He thought I'd let him touch you," she murmured, reaching out for Rory's scarf.

She pulled her in slower this time around.

Rory and Maris were intellectual women. Yes, everyone was capable of dumb moments (herself especially), but actually playing up a dumb brain was an actual feat for Rory. It was funny enough as it was, but Maris egging her on even made it more so. She was thankful for Maris' hand sliding into her hair and the warmth that ran through her as a direct result. She hummed a soft sound, not even meaning that for their little game. It was too telling just how desperately she wanted Maris.

Mercifully they were able to make it halfway to their room before Rory completely broke, a fit of giggles brought on by Maris'. "It was... all I could come up with!" She shrugged, still laughing as she shook her head at the other woman. "I still can't even think of what they are actually called!" She was laughing as she stepped inside, too overwhelmed with desire to take in much of the room at all.

"I did." She nodded, her own coat making its way off of her shoulders and falling behind her. Rory reached over to the door, twisting the deadbolt with a pointed click.

"Poor thing, probably thought he had a chance with us." She smirked, her voice considerably lower as she allowed herself to be tugged in close. Rory's hands slid over Maris' waist, gripping her hips snugly as she pressed her body against hers, mirroring what they'd done outside but this time she was the one directing them. Her short nails dug into Maris' thighs as she raised her skirt up over her hips, letting it rest there while her hands had far better places to be. They slid between Maris and the wall, palms squeezing her ass as she pressed her hips squarely against hers. "As if I'd ever let anyone touch me or my girl ever." She hummed her words, brushing her lips almost teasingly against Maris', before sweeping her tongue over her lips as a precursor to a deep kiss.

Maris rarely wore tights under her dresses, but an already brutal winter meant she'd had to run and buy a pair from the drugstore the night before.

They were cheap and terrible, meant to be thrown in the trash rather than the wash when the day was done. There was a faint run in them even before Rory dug her nails into her thighs and when Maris felt the material snag, she wanted Rory to shred them more.

They were a completely needless barrier between them, but she was admittedly curious as to how her girlfriend was going to go about getting them off since they were an accessory she'd never really had to deal with when undressing her before.

If Maris' darkened eyes and greedy kiss weren't big enough hints of her arousal, her body heat would have been. It wasn't just the result of her coyness, the rush that came with making the guy behind the desk want them.

There was a bit of jealousy there too, even it had been a situation of her own making. The idea of someone else touching Rory made her angry, vaguely sick if she was being honest which was why it was a wonder she'd ever survived that brief period in time where she really had shared her.

But she didn't have to share anymore and if she had her way, she never would again.

She moaned at the intensity of their kiss, writhing for Rory in a way she never would have for anyone else, even if her body wanted her to.

Soon Maris wasn't the only one with her dress pushed up past her thighs. Maris' hand found its way between Rory's legs and she began rubbing her through her panties with her palm as the kiss turned rough and with it, a bit sloppy.

Rory on the other hand, had decided that her skirt was long enough (not really, just to the knees), and that they'd spend enough time indoors that she didn't need tights under her dress - something she had regretted until she'd burrowed under the blanket out on the porch with Maris. But now they were inside, warm (hot), and she was quite happy with her choice. She groaned, maybe a little frustrated as her hands dragged along Maris' tights.

But she'd get to that later. At present, Rory was too tangled up in the taste of Maris' lips and the way their tongues found each other. She hummed into her mouth, a little bit of a whine to her voice because god dammit it had been hours and they had behaved so goddamn well until now. Not that Rory couldn't help herself but ... well, why even try when they were alone?

Rory couldn't stop now, and wouldn't as they finally had space to themselves. Even if she knew it was only a few feet to shuffle over to the bed, she was reluctant to move. Her hands squeezed her girlfriend's ass, her short nails digging in through the thin fabric of her tights. It was maddening, being so close, but still not close enough.

"I only want you, forever." Her words came out through ragged pants, a moan to her voice as her hips began to rock into Maris' hand. She whined softly, bowing her head against Maris' as she clung to the woman, her tongue sweeping over her lips before punctuating it with almost a chaste kiss. Rory didn't need to say it, she knew Maris knew that, but something primal and possessive had struck her so deeply that she had to voice it.

"You're mine." She said softly, kissing her again and sucking softly at her lips before working her hands upward to pull up Maris' dress more.

Forever was a long, honestly sort of intangible amount of time. When she heard people saying that their relationship would last forever, she would usually scoff, wondering why they'd even bother to make such a bold claim out loud when they'd only end up saying another relationship was it only a few years down the line.

People changed. People got bored. People left one way or the other.

She believed it when they say it. It probably made her a hypocrite. The fact that she wanted to hear it from Rory (and that she wanted to say it to her) probably made Maris a hypocrite but it was the sort of confession she'd probably only make to her girlfriend because she was the only one who needed to hear it anyway.

Well, at least until the wedding she kept thinking about more and more often with increasing intensity.

Maris was hers and hers forever.

Pathetic or not, she moaned when she heard Rory felt the same because the notion wasn't just touching. It turned her on.

Part of the reason why Maris had chosen to wear her dress was because it was one of very few she owned that could be worn during the fall and early winter. It's gray wool blend meant it was warmer than most, but it hadn't really been able to ward off a chill for most of the day.

Maris was sweating now, running her tongue along her kiss plumped lower lip, her stomach and a sliver of the silk cups of her navy blue bra exposed now that her dress was up as far as it could go without Maris reaching behind her to let the zipper give way.

Her hands were busy at the moment. She'd never stopped massaging Rory with her palm.

"I was always told you should take what's yours," she murmured, letting her finger slip inside Rory's underwear, letting out the softest of sighs as she began to touch her.

Working with teenagers on a daily basis meant that Rory saw her fair share of varying dramatics in relationships. There was the puppy love to the kind that might actually stand the test of time, and everything in between. Kids had the tendency to be superfluous, deciding that someone they'd dated all of a month was their forever. It was not a term that Rory used much, if at all in relationships that she had been serious about. She probably did think all the way back with her first girlfriend that she'd last forever. The woman now lived in a van (by choice) and moved state to state, traveling and adventuring through state parks. That ... would have been a lifestyle Rory would not do well in.

But when Rory thought about the rest of her life, it was Maris who was with her. If she allowed herself some great think on any kind of afterlife, she only knew that she hoped that Maris would be beside her in that eternal kind of place. So yes. Forever. And even that didn't feel like it would be enough to properly love Maris the way she deserved it.

God, she was so lucky. Lucky to have found Maris once, yes, but then more so to find her again. If that wasn't telling her that she needed to spend the rest of time itself with this woman, she didn't know what would.

And fuck if that moan coming from Maris' lips didn't spend a spire of heat alighting through her body.

Rory couldn't help but laugh softly when Maris had to undo her zipper, in her haste, she'd completely forgotten that. Rory's own sounds were breathy and pitched in a higher octave of her voice, as her hips twisted just enough to press herself more into Maris' hand. "Fuck," She seethed, gritting her teeth, knowing how utterly wet she was from everything leading up to now.

"We really wouldn't have made it home." She sighed against Maris' lips, growling her words as it was her turn to run her fingertips over the other woman's skin. She squeezed her ass again, smirking into her lips as she gave one cheek a deft little smack. "Well I'm yours..." She agreed, flicking her tongue over her lower lip as she rocked her hips into Maris' hand. "So you should take me."

Maris was never one to back down from a challenge and that was precisely what Rory's words (and spanking) felt like.

"Whatever my girl wants," she purred.

She pushed herself away from the wall and Rory onto the bed, allowing herself to notice it for the first time since they had entered the room.

It was smaller than she would have liked, but certainly big enough for two people. It was force them to be close and there was definitely some appeal in that.

Since she was still in her bra, panties and tights, she kept her boots on too. It was kind of a look, though she wasn't sure if it was kind of hot or kind of weird. It certainly felt more like the latter when she wanted to be naked, but Rory had sent her on a bit of a power trip.

She would lose her clothes once she lost her control and she wasn't about to give it up yet.

The shove had been rough, a sign that the time for teasing was over. Rory got a spank of her own, purely because her girlfriend wasn't about to let her get away with giving her one first.

Maris' was harder.

She moved over her on the bed, but there was no more foreplay. She simply shoved Rory's dress up past her thighs and roughly pulled her panties down, devouring her the moment her mouth made contact with her pussy.

Dammit, there were those words again. It should almost be embarrassing how affected Rory always became when Maris used those possessive words with her. As if there were any doubt who Rory was with, it was just a reminder that they belonged with, and to each other. Maybe too, it reminded Rory that she would never take for granted what it took them to get here.

"I just want you." She murmured back, just seconds before she found herself pushed backwards onto the bed. Rory let out a little yelp that turned into a laugh, pressing her hands against the bed to scoot herself more squarely on top of it.

For all the potential roadside dumps they could have ended up in, Rory was glad that she and Maris had some taste to actually look for a decent hotel. The room wasn't fancy or anything, but it was nice enough. It served the purpose of what they needed. Did Rory even know what city they were in? It might dawn on her later, but now it didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was touching Maris, and being touched by her.

Rory gazed at Maris, biting her lower lip as she took in the sight of her girlfriend, that look indeed sending her desire into overdrive.

"Ah fuck," She seethed at the sharp pain that Maris' smack had given her, the grin on her face all too telling of just how much she enjoyed it. But that was short lived as the residual sting mingled deliciously with pleasure that soared right through her at the first contact of Maris' mouth with her pussy. She cursed again, this time a little more pitchy and breathless. Her fingers gripped the blanket on the bed, as the other hand slid into Maris' hair, dragging her short nails against her scalp.

Rory barely had moments to fully prepare herself with how good her mouth felt, her head spinning from it as her back arched and her hi[s slowly started to rock into her. "Fuck, you feel so good." She growled, biting at her lower lip as another moan tore from deep in her throat.

Maris grinned against Rory's thigh as she came up for air, nothing if not pleased to be egged on. Not that she needed much encouragement. She loved the taste of Rory almost as much as she did knowing that she was pleasing her.

She gripped her lover's hips, helping her rock against her as she started thrusting with her tongue. Obviously preoccupied, Maris missed the creak and thud of footsteps in the hallway. It wasn't their curious desk clerk, just a tired couple who had spent most of their Thanksgiving drive arguing over whether the husband had picked the longest route to his mother's on purpose.

They were the sort of couple who didn't have moments like the one Rory and Maris were currently in the middle of anymore and hearing someone else being pleased the way her husband didn't please her anymore (and never had, really) would only cause the wife to pick another fight.

Maris' breath came in pants against Rory's skin, but she never really stopped, her mouth eventually sliding up to brush, then suck at her clit.

The way Maris knew Rory's body would never cease to utterly amaze Rory. The way her mouth felt just spurred something deeply primal inside of Rory, the way her strong hands gripped her skin did just the same.

Rory moaned, probably more loudly than she should have considering how thin a lot of hotel room walls were. While most people (and likely the passer-by couple in the hallway) were dealing with the after effects of politics at dinner and food comas, Rory and Maris were enjoying the fuck out of each others' bodies. God, they were lucky and exceptionally talented women.

"Baby," She gasped, a little whine leaving her lips as she bucked her hips against her mouth. "Maris, babe..." She tried to get out words, her heart hammering so hard she wasn't sure she could breathe. She gave her hair a little more of a deliberate tug, laughing softly through a shudder that raced up her spine. "C'mere." Later she might hate how her voice edged into begging territory, but not now. Now, she wanted something very specific. "I want to feel your pussy on mine."

Maris didn't realize her name and all of Rory's "babe" and "baby"s were her lover trying to get her attention. Until she felt the other woman's fingers tugging at her hair, she thought they were pleas for more.

Which is why she laughed, slightly embarrassed (but obviously not really sorry) that she'd doubled her efforts moments before she raised her head.

"Yeah, sure," she said breathlessly, licking the corner of her mouth before wiping it with the back of her hand.

Rory's request, not to mention her tone when she asked for it only stoked the fire burning in the pit of Maris' stomach, but she had to sit on the edge of the bed to unzip her boots. There was no way her tights and panties would come off otherwise.

She smirked a little before taking off Rory's shoes too. Getting fully undressed hadn't really been a priority before, but now it was something Maris desperately wanted.

As she moved up and over Rory on the bed, her hands sliding her lover's dress even further up past her waist, her intentions were clear. She'd give her girlfriend what she wanted. But they were gonna undress each other (and have a bit of fun) first.

Once she got Rory's dress over her head, she caught her lips in a slow, deep, undeniably hungry kiss, sharing the taste that still lingered on her tongue as her hand slowly came up to rest on the other woman's bra. Since it was the only thing Rory was left wearing, it was clear Maris was going to wait a while before taking it off, her fingers lightly grazing the fullness of her breast that was spilling over one of the cups.

Though she probably could have/should have made it clearer what she wanted sooner, it was extremely hard for Rory to even attempt to pause with Maris when what she was doing felt so good. Her mouth always made her feel like every nerve ending was on fire, but when Rory got like this, she was, well, demanding. She was a fairly patient woman in other areas, but with Maris, and particularly during sex, she got needy. Be it what she wanted from Maris or what she wanted to give to the other woman, it had to be now when the mood struck her as such.

"Fuck, I'm an idiot." She laughed in a sort of exasperated way when it became clear moments later that it would take a minute to fully get what she'd asked for. Rory huffed a deep sigh, laughing softly as she raked fingers through her hair before her attention turned back where it belonged, to Maris.

Rory grinned as she kicked off her shoes, propping herself up on her elbows to gaze at the other woman as she finished undressing herself. Rory sighed with relief as Maris moved over her, pausing in her own greedy need to touch Maris to help her get her dress off. Maris' lips were the reprieve she needed, a soft hum drowning against her lover's mouth as her tongue moved over hers. It was truly unfair how erotic it was to taste herself on Maris' tongue.

Moving her hands down Maris' body, she reveled in the feel of her warm bare skin under her fingertips. A moan tore from deep in her throat, her nipples hard through the fabric of her bra as Maris teased them. Rory kissed her deeply, breathless and hungry for more and more again. One hand cupped the back of Maris' neck, threading up into her hair as the other moved down her girlfriend's body. Her fingers raked down her sternum and then lower over her stomach. She punctuated a deep kiss with her teeth nipping at Maris' lower lip, as her fingers slid between her legs and began to stroke long, languid movements against her pussy, moaning again as she did so.

Maris' breath hitched. From the moment her girlfriend's fingers made contact it was nothing if not obvious that pleasing Rory pleased her. It always had. She was warm and wet to the touch, her arousal, while apparent kind of pushed to the back of her mind because she knew Rory would hardly let her town. Maris thought she would have her turn eventually, but there was no need to wait anymore.

The idea of giving and receiving pleasure all at the same time, not to mention anticipation of the heady feeling that came with fucking Rory with her entire body had Maris' head spinning almost as much as what the other woman was doing with her hands or her mouth.

She gasped softly as she shifted into position, a breathy ah of pleasure conveying more than real words ever could at that first, soft, warm, wet brush of contact, rubbing her nose against Rory's as she rested their foreheads together.

For a moment she didn't move or even speak, struck silent in almost awe of the woman beneath her. Sometimes Maris just had to stop and revel at just how gorgeous Rory was and just how lucky she was to have her, even before she lost her the first time around.

But moments like these and the very big, very intense feelings that accompanied them made her feel as sappy as they did alive. She couldn't resist making a joke as she started to move.

"Oh, desk boy is definitely not invited," she purred, nipping at Rory's lower lip playfully. "This is the gayest shit ever."

God, she would never tire of this. She would never get used to the way Maris' sounds affected her, or how hot she got when she touched her girlfriend, when she felt her slick pussy and how her wetness coated her fingers. Rory reveled in the sounds even just her fingers made as she slipped them slowly, deliberately over her clit and rubbing all along her the rest of her folds.

As much as Rory loved touching Maris, she wanted to feel her body on hers for a reason. Rory wanted to look at Maris as their bodies moved together. She wanted to take in the way she panted and the color of her cheeks. She wanted to see the way she moved her body and add all of that to the way she knew it felt.

Rory moaned as Maris moved over her, a slight hitch to her breath as she raised her hips enough to angle back into Maris. Her hands moved to grip Maris' hips, her breath already heavy as she gazed up at her girlfriend.

If Maris was marveling at her, Rory was doing the same. She felt her heart beating faster and not just because of the pleasure that sent jolts through her body. Moments like this one, Rory could swear the love they had for each other had a tangibility. If she stretched out her arms, she felt she might be able to feel the waves of it.

Maris' words caught Rory somewhat off-guard, a breathy laugh sounding from her her as she kissed Maris again. "This is the gayest shit." She agreed, nodding as she spread her thighs just a little wider, angling her hips against Rory's so she could raise her pussy to connect with Maris' again, more deliberately, more insistently. "Nobody's invited but you and me." She hummed, licking her lips as she continued to grind herself against Maris with some effort. "As if anybody else would ever make me so wet. This is all for you."

Maris whimpered as Rory shifted, offering more of herself to her, but her voice took on a slightly possessive growl as she used it to grind harder into her.

"Oh, good girl. That's it, baby. Give me more." As Maris' hand reached behind Rory's back to finally unhook her bra, it was clear she was going to give her more too. She pressed noisy, breathless kisses down the curve of her girlfriend's neck, murmuring against her skin, "How do you always feel so good?"

She didn't really wait for an answer. She busied herself with using the tip of her tongue to guide one of Rory's nipples into her mouth, sucking hard enough to make an audible sound as her eyes found Rory's to gauge her reaction.

There it was. No matter how soft and loving the two of them could (and often did) get with each other, moments like this one drove in a very intense, instinctive kind of response. Maris' whimper that soon became a growl just spiked heat through every inch of her. Rory gasped softly in response to it, or maybe that was the way she moved.

"Always more," She agreed, a cheeky grin flashing across her flushed cheeks as she did exactly what Maris demanded of her. She anchored herself enough to rock up against Maris, shuddering just a little as their slick pussies found just the right spot. "Fuck," She seethed through grit teeth, glad to be finally free of that pesky bra. "I only do cause you do." She said between rough breaths, a little whine in her voice as she kept herself tightly against Maris but still rocked her hips.

"Oh fucking fuck," Her words hung lightly on air, gasping softly as one hand dragged up through Maris' hair. Her nipples were hard against Maris' tongue, and the rest of her hot and pliable. She rocked a bit harder, her clit throbbing as she ground herself into Marris. "Fuck Mar. You're so wet." She loved how their bodies moved together, how they always seemed to find the exact thing that the other one needed.

Without thinking twice about it, Rory brought her hand down to smack Maris' ass, a quick move, but one that made a noise in the room. Rory couldn't help the wicked grin that spread across her face, even as her hips lifted to rock hard into Maris' pussy.

Maris let out a little cry of surprise as Rory's hand came down, but it coaxed another sound from her throat as the sting of it buzzed through her entire body.

"Oh come on, Ror." Her voice was thick with desire, emphasis placed the last word to show that her girlfriend wasn't the only one who could start shortening names (although she'd always liked when Rory called her Mar, even if it didn't happen very often). "I know you can hit harder than that."

It was a challenge, one Maris knew her girlfriend would rise to, but she was too caught up to really care. Rory had inspired her to add a little pain to her girlfriend's pleasure. When she lifted her head to give Rory's left breast some attention, she didn't suck on it like she had the other one. She bit down hard, a low groan against her lover's skin proof the end wasn't far behind.

It was getting harder to breathe and Maris' sighs were as full of pleasure as they were frustration. She was maddeningly close, each rock of their bodies giving her such an intense jolt of pleasure that she had to remind herself to keep moving, that it really would only get better if she could summon the energy to get them both there.

"Oh, fuck, Rory," she moaned. "Oh god, Rory, yeah..." She sounded a million miles away, but her body was nothing if not present, her hips so insistent for more that the bed was beginning to squeak in protest. Then she let the sort of cry that their neighbors had to have heard, shivering as she felt herself pulse against Rory, flushing even more at the deliciously naughty idea that she was nearly coming inside her.

Every sound that Maris made only served to turn Rory on all the more - if that was even actually possible. Pleasure soared through every inch of her, so it felt like all her synapses were firing in double-time, and all completely wrapped up in the pleasure they gave to each otherr.

Rory couldn't help but laugh, a breathless, throaty kind of laugh at the nickname and then all the more so at the challenge. Oh. Challenge accepted indeed. Rory however hesitated as Maris bit her breast, a sharp cry escaping her lips as her hips lurched strongly beneath Maris, lifting off the bed so much that she ground her pussy harder into Maris'. "Oh fuck," She growled, almost as an after thought smacking her hand down harder on Maris' ass and gripping her flesh hard with her fingers. She rocked into her harder, feeling pleasure spiraling up her spine with every shift of their bodies together.

"Yes, yes. Fuck, Maris." She whined, her body beginning to tremble as she clutched onto her girlfriend. She cried out a little louder than she should have, her body trembling as her breath became more audible and labored. She could feel the way Maris was affected far beyond how wet she was. She watched with half-lidded eyes as Maris came, and while she didn't come at the exact same time, toppled over her own proverbial ledge just a few seconds later. "Oh fuck fuck fuck, that's it baby." She gasped, her own voice louder than it should have been as she slapped her hand back down on Maris' ass so hard she could feel a bit of a sting in her own hand. Her whole body trembled almost violently with the force of her orgasm, her head spinning as she moaned and clung tighter to her girlfriend.

Maris kept rocking against Rory until she just didn't have any energy left anymore. Pleasantly spent because they made sure to draw out their pleasure for as long as possible, she eventually collapsed on top of her lover, though she took care to find a position that didn't leave the other woman feeling squished.

"Mmm," she purred, still a bit shivery because the sting of Rory's last spanking hadn't quite subsided yet. She felt confident, sexy even though (or maybe because) she was a sweaty, sticky mess.

Her lips traveled down Rory's collarbone with surprising tenderness, her lips eventually brushing the mark her teeth had left on Rory's breast in an attempt to soothe it, though Maris' smug expression was proof she wasn't really sorry she'd done it.

"I sorta think I should give you another one." Her lips twitched. "For symmetry's sake."

But there was a loud, pound of a knock on their door before Maris could get her answer. She was startled, but also curious, giving Rory a quick kiss that doubled as a silent signal to stay put.

Maris quickly slipped into a robe hanging on the closet door, tying it as she crossed the room.

"Hello?" she said tentatively, relaxing a bit when she saw desk boy waiting outside. She opened the door a tiny bit further, but only let him see a tiny sliver of the room. After everything that had just happened, she was feeling more protective (and possessive) of Rory than she had during their little game.

"Yeah, um... we got a noise complaint."

He seemed even more reluctant to meet her eyes than he had been in the lobby. His eyes never really left his shoes and his awkward shifting from foot to foot proved just how nervous he was to be the bearer of bad news.

His reaction (and the notion people really had heard) delighted Maris, who couldn't resist teasing him just a little bit more. It was what he deserved, really for interrupting what had felt like a perfect moment.

"Really?" she asked, leaning against the door frame. "What sort of noise complaint?"

It was a cruel question because with her kiss swollen lips, flushed cheeks, mussed hair and a thin layer of sweat coating the bare skin that was peaking out from under her robe, it was very obvious what Maris had been up to. She wouldn't have been surprised if this guy could smell Rory on her, despite the bit of distance between them.

"Just...complaints," he said meekly. "Could you um, maybe try and keep it down?"

"I'll try," she said, giving him a solemn nod before shutting the door a bit too firmly in his face.

She dove almost gleefully back into bed, her teeth sinking into her lower lip in a vain attempt to hold back a smile. "Awww, looks like you need a spanking too. We're too loud. We've gotta be good." She punctuated her sentence with a kiss. "And quiet." And then another, but this one was deeper with Maris cupping Rory's face with both hands.

Rory felt like her whole body was shaking in those moments after she came, glad for Maris lying on top of her eventually. She kissed her skin as they lay together, a humming sound of both pleasure and contentment settling beautifully over her whole body.

"I'd really take it..." She smirked, but a moment later her heart jumped in her chest, the loud knocking snapping her brutally out of their reverie. "Fuck." She laughed, shaking her head as she brought her fingers up through her hair. She sighed in an exasperated sound, her lips making noise through the breath as she watched Maris move away from her.

Rory was instantly cold without her lover there, but she had to laugh as soon as she heard the stammering young man's voice filtering in. She clapped a hand over her mouth, grinning all the while as she shook her head. Oh, they really hadn't even tried to be quiet, had they? Oops.

As she listened from the bed, she propped herself up on her shoulders, still grinning as they wound down. "Baby come back to bed," She suddenly had the impulse to call out to her, adding in a kind of trill and whine quality to her voice. She certainly wasn't helping, but she found it particularly hilarious.

Rory's hands were immediately greedy as soon as Maris was back in her arm's reach, though she was still giggly as her arms came around her lover. "Oh no, whatever will we do about that?" She kissed her back, sighing softly into her lips as her tongue swept against hers. "Is this the part where you promise to cover my mouth?" She chuckled against her lips, kissing her again, and again. Her hands smoothed down her body, letting both hands reach down to then move down and squeeze her ass in her hands. She smirked again, lifting her hips just a little beneath her. "Do you think you have it in you to behave yourself?" She smirked as she ran her palms over Maris' ass, soothing the spot she'd slapped. "I know I can't promise i'm only going to leave one mark on you tonight, babe."