Kim Pritekel - Crossing Lines

"What about love?" Kansas asked, her voice heartbreakingly soft.

Nina met the frank gaze with one of her own. "No. I don't know that I'm looking for it, either."

"I see. Well then, guess we've got something in common, don't we?"

"I guess so." Nina raised her long-cold coffee cup to clink with Kansas' raised water bottle. "Here's to no love, and okay with it."

The blonde grinned, taking a swig from her drink. "So, anti-love, care to have dinner with me tonight?"

Nina eyed her younger friend, chewing on her bottom lip before agreeing with a nod. "Alright."

***

Nina stormed into her townhouse, startled Yorkies getting well out of the way. Lights flared to life in the brunette's rampage path. She pushed through her bedroom door, stripping out of her jacket and throwing her purse to the bed. She grabbed the hem of her shirt, about to whip it over her head when she heard the sound of pounding on the door downstairs. Wanting to ignore it, she knew she couldn't.

Nina stomped down to the main floor, shoving the curtains aside on the window next to the door. Just as she figured, a very pissed off Kansas stood on the stoop.

"Yes?" she sad, pulling the door open. The blonde was startled silent for a moment before regaining her bearing.

"What the hell, Nina? Why did you leave the fucking restaurant?"

"Gee, I didn't know. Shall I say for starters because my dinner companion was about to fuck some chick in the bathroom?" Nina fumed, hand on her hip. Kansas pushed past her, entering the house.

"Your neighbors don't need to hear this."

"Don't need to hear what? That you're an asshole of the highest degree? Is that what you don't want them to hear?" Nina marched into the kitchen, leaving Kansas still standing just inside the door. She slammed it shut then followed, only narrowly missing getting hit by a flying dog toy that squeaked as it bounced off the wall behind Kansas. "How the hell could you do that? I cannot believe I agreed to go to dinner with you. Mistake number one." Kansas opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted as Nina continued. "Mistake number two was staying when I saw you eye that woman as she entered the damn restaurant. My third and final mistake was believing that we could rekindle our friendship after all this time, and after all the shit I've heard about you and now seen with my own eyes." She turned her back to the blonde, resting her weight on the counter by the sink.

"What you think happened didn't happen, Nina," Kansas said, her own anger bubbling just under the surface.

"You two were making out, Kansas!" Nina fumed, whirling on the smaller woman.

"She kissed me !"

Nina stared at her, incredulous. "Kansas, you get up from the table, you're gone for fifteen minutes. Do you have any idea how goddamn rude that is? So, I get up to make sure you haven't had a fucking heart attack in the bathroom, and end up finding you and that woman making out." She paused, shaking her head, her hurt showing in her eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Wait," Kansas held up her hands in supplication. "I know it looked bad. Please, let me explain."

Nina stood back, arms crossed over her chest as she waited to hear what would come out of Kansas' mouth. "Please. Enthrall me."

"I saw that woman and I looked at her, yes. She used to be an artist I worked with years ago, and who is going to be working with us on a show coming this winter. Okay, yes, I looked at her, so strike me dead! Next, I had to pee. I'm sorry I didn't invite you to join me, but I truly had to piss! While in the bathroom, Michael called me. He had a slight emergency with one of our artists, mainly that one of his paintings was missing. I made some calls, and we finally figured out that it had been sent out by Michael's assistant to be cleaned, but she forgot to let anyone know. Sandra, said artist working with us this winter, came in to the bathroom as I was finishing up my calls, and we began to talk."

"So why was her tongue in your mouth?" Nina asked, shocked by just how jealous she felt- she was nearly vibrating with it.

"I was shocked by that, too," Kansas said, her voice tired as she ran a hand through her hair. "Sandra has made it clear since the day we met that she'd like to be more than colleagues, but I've never been interested. I was about to shove her away when you came in. I swear."

Nina kept her gaze, and saw that it was steady and true. Kansas was telling the truth. Blowing out a breath, she turned her back to the blonde again, feeling ashamed and stupid. "I'm sorry I got so upset. It was wrong." A small smile touched her lips. "It was still rude, though."

Kansas breathed a sigh of relief as she walked up behind the brunette, studying the way her shirt hugged her body, the way dark tendrils of hair gleamed under the harsh kitchen light. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything about the call, let you know. I just got caught up in trying to fix my business." She could feel the heat pouring off Nina's body in waves, drawing her in closer to be warmed. Nina said nothing. Kansas closed her eyes, allowing all that was Nina to seep into her skin, all five senses alive and aware. "I'm sorry," she whispered, moving in closer until she could feel Nina's back press into her front, her arms reaching around to hug the taller woman.

Nina's eyes fell closed, her body falling back into the solidness that Kansas. She turned her head to the side, feeling hot breath against her neck. Her body began to send out a pulsing beat, demanding attention, craving Kansas' touch. How is this possible? It's been so long.

"I'm sorry," Kansas whispered again, this time into Nina's ear, making the brunette shiver. She tipped her head a bit more when she felt a soft kiss placed just behind her ear.

"Nothing to forgive," Nina breathed, beginning to lose control.

"I think there is," the blonde whispered, flicking Nina's lobe with her tongue. She smiled at the small whimper from the older woman. "I shouldn't be such an asshole. Seems you bring it out in me." She smiled at the chuckle she heard deep in Nina's throat. She groaned when two hands reached around to her hips, squeezing. "Does your girlfriend make you feel like this?" Kansas asked, thinking of the redhead she'd seen Nina with at the club and at the gallery's opening.

"I don't have a girlfriend," Nina whispered, gasping softly as the hands on her stomach began to move, barely brushing just up under her breasts.

"Oh, I think you do. She also didn't look happy seeing you dance with me." Kansas leaned in close to the brunette's ear. "I think she was jealous."

"We broke up. Oh," Nina moaned as her breasts were covered by soft, gentle hands. Her mind was frozen, no thought entering or leaving, except that what Kansas was doing felt amazing.

"Oh yeah? Why, baby?" Kansas felt herself growing more wet with each bold move. She wanted Nina so bad it hurt. Guess some things don't change.

"I wouldn't. . . " Nina began, but trailed off as her breasts were massaged through her bra.

"Wouldn't what?"

"Wouldn't sleep with her," Nina finally gasped.

Kansas needed to see her, wanted so badly to kiss her. She grabbed Nina by the hips and turned her around, pulling their bodies together. "Stupid girl to walk away from you," Kansas murmured, bringing her hand up to curl around the back of Nina's neck. "She should've stuck around."

Nina couldn't believe how soft Kansas' lips were, their kiss from eight years ago still fresh in her mind. She felt the blonde deepen the kiss, her lips and tongue working magic in the brunette's mouth, the kiss, that from someone who was well versed in the art. She felt her body giving in, the desires long-buried clawing to see the light of day. She sighed into the kiss, burying her fingers in thick, blonde hair.