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"What is all this....stuff?!" Sarah grumbled, poking a particularly pudgy teddy bear staring at her from the shelf she was perusing.
There was a chuckle beside her.
"Sarah," Anacostia said, reaching out and righting the stuffed animal Sarah had tipped onto its side, "You've spent enough time in the civilian world to know what this stuff is. This is how they choose to celebrate Valentine's Day. In all its glory."
Sarah plucked at another plush animal, this one a black and yellow insect wearing a shirt emblazoned with "Bee Mine" and holding a bow and arrow.
"People cannot possibly buy these things while still maintaining their dignity."
Anacostia crossed her arms. "Aren't we here for exactly this purpose? Why you insisted I hand off my class this morning because you had, and I quote, 'a high-priority assignment that needed my immediate attention?'"
Sarah slid her eyes sideways enough to see Anacostia raising her eyebrow at her.
"You did not have to agree."
"Oh, really? I seem to recall someone threatening to report me for an unauthorized absence from base last week if I didn't contact Captain Martinez to take my class."
Sarah sniffed. "It is hardly my fault that you weren't careful enough to avoid detection while Salva-ing over the North Gate."
"Listen, I hadn't seen Sterling in two months. And he was leaving again in the morning. There wasn't time to get approval. And, by the way, why were you out there in the dead of night?"
Sarah smiled enigmatically.
"Serendipity."
"Right," Anacostia answered dryly. "I would just like to point out that this isn't exactly an authorized absence either. Pretty sure General Bellweather isn't going to take 'shopping for chocolate hearts' as a legit reason for not teaching my Intro to Seeds class."
Sarah waved off Anacostia's words as she examined a heart-shaped box of expensive truffles.
"Don't worry about Petra. I'll speak with her if she raises any objections."
"Must be nice to be Special Council to the General," Anacostia commented as she trailed Sarah down the aisle.
Sarah snorted softly. "It has its perks."
Indeed, Sarah found her new role in the Army to be far more satisfying than she anticipated. Surprisingly, she did not miss the day-to-day running of the military or the base as much as she feared she would. Instead, her new role as advisor to Petra Bellweather suited her just fine, and gave her flexibility and a certain peace that she hadn't had in her life since, well, maybe ever. She was learning to, if not entirely enjoy it just yet, be comfortable in its benefits.
"No doubt. But are you going to explain why we're here at some point? No offense, but a Hallmark store a week before Valentine's Day doesn't exactly scream, 'Sarah Alder.'"
"No, it most certainly does not," Sarah grimaced at a truly hideous pair of pink socks with hearts all over them. "But, and this will come as no surprise, my wife loves Valentine's Day. And since I love my wife, I find myself an unwitting participant in a holiday dedicated to a chubby cherub with wings and a penchant for slinging love arrows. As if that's a thing."
Anacostia burst out laughing.
"Only you could make a holiday dedicated to love sound about as much fun as a summer camp run by the Camarilla."
Sarah sighed and looked with dismay at the several aisles they had yet to investigate. Anacostia peered at her.
"Okay, but seriously, Sarah. It's not like this is your first Valentine's Day with Tally. Not by a long shot. Why do you seem unusually...anxious?"
For a second, Sarah thought to brush off Anacostia's question and tell the younger woman to stay on the task at hand. But then she reminded herself that she had enlisted her daughter for a reason, and she might as well avail herself of her advice.
Sarah cleared her throat.
"Tally has been working very hard this year. As you know, she's been working with Sargent Zhe and Captain Murray on expanding the Knower Program at Fort Salem, and they have put quite of bit of the responsibility on her shoulders. I don't know that I've seen her for more than a few hours at a time for several months."
"Yes, I've seen her hustling across campus, and she's usually got her head buried in some report or another."
Sarah nodded. "Yes. She wants this program to be a success. And while she would never admit it, I know she has put a lot of pressure on herself. Too much. I would very much like to...take her mind off everything."
"Ah," Anacostia answered. "And since Valentine's Day is coming up, and she loves it so much, it might be a good time to provide a...moment of respite."
"Precisely."
"Okaaaay," Anacostia said, drawing out the word. "But....why this?" she asked, sweeping her hand around the store.
Sarah felt her shoulders slump as she emitted a small grumble.
"Traditionally, I have not been...an enthusiastic participant in this holiday."
"Shocking."
Sarah glared at Anacostia but continued. "I would like to improve on that. Make it special for Tally. Show her that I know it's important to her. And from what I've observed, this," she waved her hand at the sea of pink and red spilling down the aisles, "Is what seems to constitute a happy Valentine's Day."
Sarah saw a smile forming on her daughter's face and she tilted her head.
"What?"
"I am very tempted to tell you that this is really cute, but I think it would get me windstruck out the door."
"And you would be correct."
Anacostia chuckled and gently removed the I love you a latte mug from Sarah's hand that she'd just picked up.
"Okay. I understand. But Sarah, this place is not you. And while I'm sure that Tally is going to appreciate whatever effort you make, I also one hundred percent know she wouldn't want you to do it as anything less than your authentic self. So we need to get out of here before either of us goes into sugar shock, and you need a new plan."
Sarah wasn't sure whether to be disappointed that the answer she was hoping for wasn't sitting on one of these shelves or relieved that someone was telling her to get out of a store she was fairly sure belonged in Dante’s Inferno.
"Very well. I must admit, you are probably right."
Because what Anacostia said about her wife was completely true. Tally never asked Sarah to be someone she was not, even if that meant Sarah didn't always feel the same way Tally did about civilian holidays and traditions.
"Good, let's go," Anacostia said, turning and heading back down the aisle. Sarah followed and they were almost clear of the shelves when Anacostia stopped and turned. "Wait." She took a few steps back, picked up the heart socks that Sarah had seen earlier, and thrust them at Sarah.
"Buy these. They scream 'Tally.'"
Sarah held out the socks in front of herself, studying them, and then smiled.
"They do, don't they. I originally thought they were garish, but..perhaps they have a certain whimsical charm. I can see her wearing them."
"Great. See? Progress already."
Sarah nodded and took her purchase to the register, already formulating a new plan for a Valentine's Day surprise.
"Oh, good, you're here. How's Operation Chubby Cherub going?"
Sarah glanced up sharply from her desk where she'd been going over some scheduling with her assistant, who was standing just off to her left scratching notes into a planner.
Sarah's eyes confirmed what she already knew she'd find - Anacostia standing in her office doorway with the world's cheekiest grin on her face.
Sarah sighed and glanced up at Lieutenant Greene.
"Do I have an appointment with Captain Quartermaine today?"
Lieutenant Jennifer Greene, without missing a beat, made a show of glancing at her planner and then frowning at the woman in the doorway.
"You do not. I'm sorry, Captain, but the General's schedule is quite full today. Perhaps you can come back at a more convenient time?"
Anacostia simply rolled her eyes, looked behind herself to the, admittedly, empty ante room of Sarah's office, and then return her gaze to Sarah with an upticked eyebrow.
"Nice try. Besides, I think you've left standing orders that I'm pretty much allowed to show up whenever. You know, unless there's a sock on the door knob."
Sarah groaned audibly as Anacostia sauntered further into the room, and she could hear her assistant stifling a laugh, which she quickly covered with a cough.
When Sarah glanced up at her again, her face was studiously placid.
"Ma'am, I am afraid the Captain is correct. You have indicated that she is permitted here without an appointment. Though I am afraid I am unfamiliar with the sock order. Perhaps I should set aside a few moments for us to discuss?"
Sarah sighed and cast a glare at Anacostia who looked utterly delighted with herself.
"Never mind, Lieutenant. Can you give the Captain and me a few moments?"
"Of course, General," Greene answered smoothly, scooping a few papers off Sarah's desk. "But please do let me know if I should add 'Operation Chubby Cherub' to the official list of covert operations."
Sarah was going to kill Anacostia just as soon as there were no witnesses.
"Not a word, Lieutenant."
This time, her assistant didn't even bother to hide her grin.
"Of course not, ma'am. I am a vault." And with that, the Lieutenant slipped past Anacostia and out the door, closing it softly behind her.
Sarah eyed Anacostia.
"I trust you're pleased with yourself. Is there a particular reason for your visit, Daughter, or did you simply come by to toss around innuendo in front of my assistant for your own amusement?"
Anacostia chuckled.
"We both know you chose Jen because she is equal parts incredibly discreet and has your same wicked sense of humor."
Sarah inclined her head in acknowledgment. "Very true. Now, what can I do for you?"
Anacostia lowered herself into the chair in front of Sarah's desk. "I was just coming to see if you'd recovered from yesterday's foray into the terrors of Valentine's Day, and to see if you'd decided what to do for Tally instead of buying a giant pink bunny?"
Sarah leaned back in her own chair.
"As a matter of fact, I have."
Anacostia leaned forward. "Ooooh, please, don't keep me waiting."
Sarah steepled her fingers. "I am planning a small surprise trip. Nothing terribly long as I know Tally will be anxious to get back to work, but long enough to let her relax a little and for us to spend some time together."
Anacostia was nodding. "Good, good. And....where are you taking her?"
Sarah smiled. "Germany."
"Oh, that's- Wait, what?"
"Germany."
Anacostia's eyebrows furrowed. "Ummm....Germany?"
"That is correct."
"Sarah, how do I put this delicately...when I think romantic getaways in Europe, I think gondolas in Venice or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Brandeburg Gate in Berlin doesn't immediately come to mind."
Sarah smiled again. "I thought about those places. I did. But then I remembered what you said, to make it my own. And Germany....holds a special meaning for me and Tally. A....romantic one."
Anacostia looked confused for a second before realization sank in.
"Sarah, no. Absolutely not. Being trapped in an ice cave together does not count as a Top Ten Romantic Moment."
"I beg to differ."
"You chopped off a frozen witch's arm! This is for Valentine's Day! Not Surprise-You-Married-A-Sociopath Day!"
Sarah tossed her head back and laughed.
"Daughter, I promise you, I have this under control. I know it sounds unconventional. But trust me, it will work."
Anacostia shook her head and looked dubious. "If you say so. But how do you plan on surprising Tally, let alone get her to agree to leave the base? Also, how are you getting to Germany?"
"Well, as you know, I do have a special relationship with the mycelium. I am confident she will help me out. And as long as Collar and Bellweather do their jobs right, Tally won't suspect a thing until it's time to go."
"Tally! Where have you been? We're starving!"
Tally hustled to the table in the officer's cafeteria and threw herself into a seat in a heap.
"I know. I'm late, I'm sorry."
“You should be sorry,” Abigail grumbled. “I practically had to wrestle Shitbird in order to keep her from getting her food as soon as we sat down.”
Raelle made a face at Abigail. “It’s not me. It’s her,” she said, pointing at the swell of her belly. “Freaking kid wants to eat all the time.”
Tally’s eyes followed Raelle’s finger, noting how much her sister’s pregnancy had progressed since she’d last seen her. She leaned over and laid a hand on Raelle’s baby bump.
“My apologies, little Willa, I did not mean to keep you waiting.”
“She forgives you,” Raelle said. “Now can we please eat? I’m about to start chewing the table cloth.”
Tally laughed. “Of course.”
Once all three had gotten their food, Raelle’s plate piled generously high, they settled themselves at their table. The cafeteria was sparsely populated, the lunch rush being over, and the three sisters had the room largely to themselves.
It had been too long since Tally had seen her sisters. All three of them were ridiculously busy these days. Abigail was following in the grand Bellweather tradition, and was climbing the military ranks, proving herself a fair and steady leader with an ear for gathering intelligence, just like her mother. Raelle was becoming one of the finest Fixers Fort Salem had ever seen, and she was in high demand from covens around the world to teach other witches the old Work she knew that had all but been forgotten elsewhere. She was also, in just a few months’ time, going to add “mother” to her already impressive resume when she and Scylla would welcome their baby girl into the brighter world they created.
And Tally had discovered that her talent lied in teaching. All the new witches arriving in Fort Salem, eager to waken the Work within themselves that had long laid dormant, needed guidance. And though her powers had been diminished significantly, they had not been erased entirely, and Tally found satisfaction and fulfillment in teaching the young women of the next generation everything she knew. Right now, she was currently working on significantly expanding the Knower Program and identifying candidates who would be a good fit. Lately, it had been taking up so much of her time, she’d had little for anything, or anyone, else, her wife and sisters included.
She hated she was missing out on time with them all, but she hoped that soon enough the program would be on better footing, and she could go back to her normal schedule and those she loved.
“So, Tal, tell us,” Raelle said around a mouthful of food. “How’s the new program shaping up?”
Tally smiled tiredly. “It’s good. Really good. It’s just a lot of work, you know? I’ve never really built a program from scratch, and there’s so much to think about. Stuff I never even considered when I signed on.”
“Yeah, but you’ve got help, right?” Abigail asked.
“Sure, yeah. But Sargent Zhe and Captain Murray are more like advisors. They’ve left the curriculum largely up to me. And let’s just say, if there’s anything in the campus library that you can’t find, I’m your girl. Pretty sure I’ve now ready every single book in there. Twice.”
Raelle reached out and patted Tally’s shoulder. “You’ve got this, Tal. They wouldn’t have asked you to work on this project if they didn’t think you were the best witch for the job.”
Tally felt warmed by Raelle’s words. “Thanks, Rae, I appreciate that. And I’m sorry I’ve been so distant lately. I really hope it’s just temporary.”
“It’s okay, Tal, we understand,” Abigail said from the other side. “It’s a big deal. We’re proud of you.”
“Awww, Abs, what a softie,” Tally teased and Abigail immediately looked so offended that Tally laughed. “Anyway, enough about me! I want to hear all about you guys. Tell me everything!”
For the next forty-five minutes, the three sisters caught up, chatting animatedly about everything going on in their lives. It felt so nice to relax and spend time with two of the people who knew her best in the whole world. It was sorely needed, and she made a silent vow right there to carve out more time for her sisters.
“Okay, this cherry brownie is fantastic,” Raelle was saying, biting into the chewy dessert.
“How do you still have room?” Abigail marveled across from her. “Where is it going?”
Raelle shrugged. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. At what other time in my life will I be able to eat like this? There has to be some reward for the daily nausea this kid gave me for the first two months.”
“Good point,” Tally said, making a sympathetic face.
“This is not selling me on pregnancy,” Abigail declared.
Raelle laughed and took another big bite of brownie.
"Anyway,” Abigail continued. “What’s everyone doing for Valentine’s Day tomorrow? Tal, what are you and Sarah up to?”
Tally smiled and shook her head. “I’m probably going to have to work. We’ve only got a few weeks before we present to the board. And besides, Sarah is not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day. I once saw her shove over one of those giant teddy bears in a store when she thought I wasn’t looking.”
Abigail snorted. “Well, I don’t exactly blame her for that. If Adil came home with one of those, I’d probably punch it. But seriously…nothing? Tal, you love V-Day!”
“I do. And I’m sure we’ll do something quiet at home. Sarah has really been loving cooking lately, and has made some amazing meals.”
Raelle perked up. “Feel free to invite me any time, Tal. Happy to be Sarah’s new recipe Guinea pig.”
Abigail just shook her head. “Lame. Okay,” she said, shifting her focus, “Cookie Monster, what are you and Scylla doing?”
“Going to dinner at that new restaurant in town, the Italian one. Scylla knows the owner, and she got us in. But we’re not going until Saturday because Scyl is in Madrid meeting with some witches who want to start a Necro school there.”
Abigail eyed them both. “So two out of two of you are being absolutely lame tomorrow.”
“Okay, what are you doing, Abs?”
Abigail sniffed. “Rocking Adil’s world, of course. He’s in charge of dinner, so I don’t know that part. But I’m responsible for planning the mind-blowing sex.”
Tally practically spit out her drink, coughing. “Some warning before you say things like that, please?” she asked, reaching for a napkin.
“Well, someone is going to have to make up for the two of you. It’s a day designed for sex and neither of you are going to be doing your part.”
“It’s a day designed for love, Abigail,” Raelle said dryly, exchanging an eye roll with Tally.
“Which then naturally leads to sex. And I intend to do it justice.”
“Your dedication to your craft is admirable.”
Abigail inclined her head. “Thank you. Now. Since neither of you is doing anything significant tomorrow, meet me at the front of the old apple orchard at noon.”
Tally laughed. “For what? A shoot-out?”
“Lunch, obvi.”
Tally was already shaking her head. “I don’t think I can, Abs. I have a meeting at one o’clock, and it’s across campus.”
“Tal, you have to eat. And it’s not going be long, I promise. Look, if you must know, I thought we could have a little V-Day picnic. I just came up with it. You know, to celebrate our sisterly looooove.”
“A picnic? It’s February.”
“I didn’t say the picnic was outside.”
“Well, I’m in,” Raelle chimed in. “I’ve got nothing to do, and food is being offered. So I’m there.”
“Excellent.” Abigail turned back to Tally. “Tal? Pleeeeeease? I promise to be done in time for you to get to your meeting.”
Tally looked back and forth between the hopeful faces of her friends. She sighed.
“Fine. Sign me up for a picnic in February.”
“Abigail, where on earth are we going?”
“Craven, stop asking questions and just follow me. You’ll see soon enough.”
Tally and Raelle were following Abigail across campus, apparently on their way to a picnic (though Tally saw no evidence of food of any kind), except that she was leading them to a fairly secluded part of campus. In fact, the only thing of significance in that direction was….
“Abigail, are we picnicking in the Necropolis?”
Abigail glanced over her shoulder just as the building came into view.
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“Why?”
It seemed to Tally that the Necropolis was an odd choice for a picnic, as far as cheerful choices went.
“I thought it might be nice to sit next to the mycelium. It’s been a while.”
Tally turned to Raelle as the three of them approached the building and opened the door to the descending stairwell.
“Does any of this seem weird to you?” she muttered.
Raelle shrugged. “It’s Abigail. Sometimes she’s weird.”
Tally couldn’t exactly argue with that so she dutifully followed Abigail down the stairs.
But when they got to the space where the mycelium was housed, radiating a placid, iridescent blue and there still wasn’t a stitch of food in sight, Tally stopped in the middle of the room.
“Um, Abs? For a picnic I think there’s supposed to be things to eat.”
Abigail turned. “You’re not wrong. But…we’re not having a picnic.”
Tally was getting more confused by the second. “We’re not?”
“Nope,” Raelle said from just behind her. “We’re not.”
Tally looked back and forth between her two sisters, who were both smiling conspiratorially. She quickly realized that they knew something she didn't.
“Then what are we doing here? What is going on? And why are you two being really really weird right now?”
Raelle slung her arm over Tally’s shoulders. “Relax, Tal. It’s nothing bad. You’re just going on a little adventure.”
Now Tally was thoroughly baffled.
“And adventure?”
“Yup.”
“With…you?”
“Nope.”
“Then…where, exactly, am I going? And with whom?”
“With me.”
The voice behind Tally made her jump and she spun around to find Sarah standing in the entrance to the cavern, holding two bags and what appeared to be a thick jacket slung over one arm. She herself was wearing her winter parka.
“Sarah! What are you doing here? What is going on?”
“I’ll answer all your questions in a moment, darling. But first,” Sarah set down the bags in her hands and glanced past Tally to address Abigail and Raelle. “Thank you, ladies, for getting her here. I’m sure it wasn’t easy. But I very much appreciate your efforts.”
“Of course, General,” Abigail replied. “Our pleasure. I’m always up for clandestine operations.”
“I’d question your parentage if you weren’t, Bellweather.”
Abigail cackled and bumped Tally’s shoulder as she walked past her. “You’re welcome,” she whispered.
“Have fun,” Raelle said, giving her a quick hug. “ And remember, there are lots of ways to stay warm.”
And then both her sisters were gone, leaving Tally standing alone in front of the mycelium with her wife completely clueless as to what was happening.
She turned to Sarah.
“Will you explain what is happening?”
“Certainly. What is happening is that you are being kidnapped. By me. You have been working so hard, my love, and you deserve a break. So we are taking a mini getaway, just you and me. And the mycelium has been gracious enough to get us there. Well, most of the way there. She doesn’t like to travel quite as far as we’re going. But the point is, we are packed,” Sarah pointed to the two bags at her feet, “We have a ride,” she waved at the shimmering mycelium, “And we must get going if we’re going to get there in time.”
“Sarah, I…this is a lovely idea, truly. But I can’t. I have meetings today and tomorrow. Things I have to prepare for.”
“Darling,” Sarah approached her. “It’s all taken care of. I spoke to Zhe and Murray and they agreed to rearrange your meetings so you won’t miss a thing. I promise. I know how important this work is for you. And we will not be gone long.” Sarah kissed Tally’s cheek. “Just a couple days.” When Tally gave her a dubious look, she kissed her other cheek and smiled. “Just a little time for the two of us.”
Well, Tally couldn’t say no to that.
“Okay,” she nodded and smiled. “Let’s go. A getaway does sound really nice.”
“Wonderful,” Sarah said, and promptly handed Tally the winter coat that she was holding. “You’re going to need this.”
“When you said ‘getaway’ earlier, this isn’t exactly what I was picturing.”
Sarah smiled, and glanced back at her wife who was, despite her what her words implied, trudging along good-naturedly behind her, looking rather adorable in her fur-lined parka, a few auburn wisps escaping the hood.
“No? And what were you picturing?”
“Well, you know, maybe something beachy. Perhaps involving a coconut with a tiny umbrella. Perhaps involving a bikini.”
Sarah’s eyebrows lifted as she easily imagined such a scene. She stopped and waited for Tally to catch up to her, and when she did, she slid gloved hands around her waist. She leaned down and brushed her cold nose against Tally’s.
“Next time, my darling, I promise. As I very much enjoy the thought of you in a bikini. Or perhaps a nude beach where nothing is required at all.”
Tally was shaking her head.
“Don’t even think about it. I don’t want everyone ogling my wife.”
Sarah grinned and nudged aside Tally’s hood just enough to press her lips close to her ear.
“Interesting. Because I very much like the idea of people seeing what is mine and mine alone.”
Tally’s mouth fell open and she pulled back to look at Sarah, her eyes lit up in amused shock.
“Sarah Alder, you dirty witch!”
Sarah laughed and wiggled her eyebrows. “You would know.”
Tally shook her head and shoved Sarah gently. “Keep walking. Depending on where you’re leading me, I’ll think about the nude beach.”
“An excellent incentive, to be sure.”
Tally shook her head with a smile on her face, and fell back into step with Sarah as they continued through the virgin snow in front of them. It wasn’t terribly cold, certainly not as cold as it had been years ago, and without an imminent threat looming in front of them, the trek was pleasantly invigorating.
Twenty minutes later, they were nearly there, and when they rounded a small copse of trees, Sarah heard Tally’s small gasp behind her.
“Sarah….”
Sarah turned once again and caught Tally’s eyes widening in recognition. Tally stopped and glanced around.
“Are we where I think we are?”
Sarah smiled. “I suppose that depends on where you think we are.” She watched as Tally’s eyes took in the scene in front them – pristine snow drifts giving way to low scrub brush, small snow whorls skittering along until they at last hit solid rock and ice and exploded into silent puffs. For a few feet in front of them, rising out of the earth, was frozen stone, a jutting sentry that had been standing guard over a secret for centuries.
Tally at last locked eyes with Sarah.
“The ice cave,” she breathed.
“Indeed,” Sarah nodded. “Come.” She held out her hand, and Tally slipped her glove into Sarah’s without hesitation, allowing her wife to tug her forward toward the entrance nearly hidden in craggy rock.
When Sarah found the small opening, she led Tally through, and instantly, the world became quieter. She flipped her own hood backwards, and then gently pushed Tally’s back as well. Her wife looked around, taking it all in.
There wasn’t much left to the actual cave. Most of it had collapsed on that day years ago, and there was only a few feet in front of them before jagged rock and ice blocked the way. Sarah doubted there was anything left beyond it. The ice witch and her companions were likely buried forever in an icy tomb.
Tally turned in a small circle, taking in small space and bluish light before turning back and looking at Sarah curiously. “This is…unexpected.”
Sarah nodded. “Yes, I know. And I realize it’s not a tropical resort or dinner along the Seine, and perhaps I should have chosen something of that nature instead, but…” Sarah suddenly felt nervous that perhaps this hadn’t been the best idea after all. “…I wanted to take you somewhere…,” she paused, searching for the right word. “…Meaningful.”
Tally stepped closer, seemingly sensing Sarah’s momentary doubt. She slipped off her glove, reached up, and cupped Sarah’s cheek.
“Hey, look at me.” Sarah lifted her eyes from where she’d dropped them, and found Tally smiling at her gently. “I know that if you brought me here, you must have a reason. And I very much want to know why.”
Sarah calmed instantly, Tally’s faith in her warming her like it always did. It was an astonishing thing, to have this woman’s trust after everything they’d been through. She took in a slow breath, let it out, and settled her gaze on her wife.
“I know that I haven’t always been, perhaps, as enthusiastic as you’d like about certain civilian holidays.”
“Sarah, I –” Tally was already shaking her head in protest when Sarah pressed her still-gloved finger to Tally’s lips.
“Tally Craven, it is my turn to speak. You will get your turn.”
“But –”
“Tally,” Sarah pressed a touch harder against Tally’s lips.
Tally pursed her lips. “Fine,” she muttered against Sarah’s glove. “But I will have something to say about this.”
Sarah rolled her eyes fondly. “Don’t I know it. Now, may I continue?”
Tally sighed and nodded.
“Very well. Now as I was saying,” Sarah started again. “I realize that I don’t subscribe to the traditional candy hearts and stuffed teddy bears that Valentine’s Day seems to require, and I have determined that a Hallmark store in February is akin to one of the lower rings of Hell, but I also wanted to mark it in some fashion. I know that you very much enjoy the spirit of the holiday, and I don’t want you to think that you shouldn’t because of me. I would never want to temper your enthusiasm about anything.”
Tally’s expression grew softer as Sarah spoke, and when she finished, she tilted her head slightly.
“Am I allowed to say something?” she asked. Sarah nodded, and Tally shook off her other glove and was soon cupping both hands around Sarah’s cheeks. “It’s okay that you don’t like Valentine’s Day, you know.”
Sarah nodded again. “I know that.”
“I love you whether you want to celebrate the civilian holidays or not.”
Sarah leaned into Tally’s hands. “I know that too. But I also want to be better at trying things I decided so long ago weren’t for me. Perhaps I was wrong about one or two of them, and I think I owe you, and myself, another attempt at them.”
Tally smiled, and before she knew it, Sarah was being kissed – frost-cold lips against hers followed by the gentle sweep of a warm tongue. Sarah melted into it, opened her mouth in invitation of Tally’s slow and very thorough kiss, and wondered what she’d done to deserve this woman. When Tally pressed her mouth once more deliciously to Sarah’s and then tilted her forehead against hers, Sarah’s breath puffed into the space between them.
“What was that for?”
“For trying. For making me love you just a little bit more in this moment. Even if I can’t completely feel my toes.”
Sarah frowned, instantly on alert. “Maybe we should go.”
Tally shook her head. “Absolutely not.”
“Tally, you’re cold. And I like your toes.”
“They’ll still be there. We’re not leaving until you tell me why we’re here.”
Sarah cleared her throat. She was stalling, she knew. And she wasn’t entirely clear on the reason why, but she was. Perhaps Tally would think it’s silly, that the reason didn’t warrant hiking in the middle of February to some Goddess-forsaken ice cave in Germany where they’d both nearly died. She certainly could have told her the reason while sipping daiquiris in Tahiti.
“Tally, I…” she started, and then stopped and took another breath. “The last time we were here was a difficult time.”
“Yes.”
“We were fighting for witches’ lives, and then we ended up fighting for our own.”
One corner of Tally’s mouth turned up. “I remember.”
“The thing is, there is something I’ve never told you. When…when that witch grabbed you, when you went so rigid and it seemed like your very essence was being siphoned out of you, that’s when everything changed for me.”
Thumbs stroked at Sarah’s cheeks. “Explain,” came the soft request.
Sarah shook off her own gloves and mirrored Tally, sliding both hands up along her jaw.
“When the ice witch had you, when I was desperately searching for anything that might help free you, it was that moment that I realized I couldn’t lose you. I would have done anything to get you free. That witch losing her arm, it didn’t remotely concern me. Because she was hurting you. And Tally, when you finally dropped to the ground, the relief I felt…” Sarah felt her breath hitch a little as she recalled the panic she felt that day. “All I wanted was to see you breathe. And then you did. It was at that moment, that moment, that I realized that I was in love with you.”
Sarah’s voice was barely a whisper in the quiet, empty cave, the icy stalactites surrounding them the only other witnesses to Sarah’s confession.
Tally’s hands gripped Sarah tighter and her voice was trembling when she spoke.
“You never said anything.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“It seemed neither the time nor the place. Our entire existence was at stake.”
“That’s true. But why is it that you haven’t told me until now?”
Sarah sighed slowly. “I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps I thought you might think it strange that I fell in love with you while slicing off someone’s arm.”
Tally chuckled. “Maybe a little. But you’ve also somehow made dismembering someone incredibly romantic and a little sexy. Leave it to you.”
Sarah’s eyebrows rose. “Leave it to me?”
Tally gave Sarah a look. “Sarah, you somehow make everything sexy.”
Sarah laughed. “I do?”
“Yes, and I find it incredibly unfair. Hacking off someone’s arm should not be sexy, and yet here we are. I’m standing in an ice cave in a remote part of Germany and all I can think about is how freaking romantic my wife is because she made me hike out here just to tell me about how she fell in love with me as she severed someone’s arm.”
Sarah smiled widely. “We probably should keep this to ourselves.”
Tally laughed. “Which part?”
“The romantic-feelings-over-an-amputation part. Feel free to tell everyone the I-make-everything-sexy part.”
Tally rolled her eyes. “I’m going to regret telling you that, aren’t I.”
Sarah kissed Tally with a devilish grin. “It may be something I occasionally use to my advantage going forward.”
Tally kissed her back. “Of course you are.”
Sarah felt a small shiver run through her wife and she realized they’d been standing here for some time without really moving, and despite being out of the wind, the cold was starting to penetrate.
“Are you ready to go back?” she asked.
Tally nodded. “Yeah. I think we need to get moving again. Especially if we want to get back to the mycelium and Fort Salem before dark.”
Sarah smiled. “We’re not going back to Fort Salem tonight.”
“We’re not?”
“We are not.”
“Please tell me we’re not camping out in the snow somewhere after hunting our own dinner.”
Sarah made a face. “Give me a little credit. We are staying tonight at a small inn in a town close by, and we have reservations for dinner at seven.”
Tally’s eyebrows lifted and her expression turned from skeptical to impressed.
“Sarah Alder, you never cease to surprise me. Lead the way.”
By the time they arrived at the small, stone inn tucked just outside of a small village whose name Tally couldn't even begin to pronounce, Tally was more than a little chilled. They had warmed up during the hike back to their snowmobile, but by the time they had gotten back down to the road and the four-wheel drive truck Sarah had somehow procured, the cold had gotten the better of Tally. The short drive into the village did little to warm her up, and she didn't even have the energy to comment on Sarah's driving skills (which, contrary to Sarah's opinion, were not "the epitome of excellence behind the wheel.")
So when Sarah ushered her through the front door after lifting their bags from the back seat, Tally didn’t have much time to look around as Sarah made quick business of checking in. From what Tally could tell, the inn was obviously quite old - rough hand-chiseled stone compromising not only the exterior but several walls in the front room as well, and the smell of the ancient beams holding up the ceiling as well as rich wood smoke filled Tally’s nostrils as she looked around. But she didn’t have much time as Sarah quickly hurried her down a small hallway and through a door at the far end.
"Tally, into the shower immediately. You're freezing."
Sarah's voice was firm as she ushered Tally in, setting their bags down.
"I don't even get to look around?" Tally asked shucking off her coat and getting a first glance at their accommodations.
"You can look around when you're no longer shivering. Shower. Now."
"Fine," Tally huffed, though in truth, a hot shower sounded heavenly. She shed clothes as she walked toward the bathroom. When she was down to her thermals, she cast a glance back at Sarah, who was climbing out of her own winter gear.
"Join me?"
Sarah eyed her and shook her head, smiling.
"Absolutely not. If I join you, we will never make it to dinner."
"Please? I promise to behave."
"Experience suggests otherwise."
Tally laughed softly. Well, that was true. Tally had a history of getting handsy in the shower. Though she really felt she couldn't be blamed - Sarah all warm and soapy and wet was very hard to resist.
But Tally made a face at her wife anyway before disappearing into the bathroom. "Fine. I'll just be in here all by myself." She turned the shower on and let it warm up while she discarded the last of her clothes. "Allll by myyyyyself, " she sang, raising her voice over the sound of the water. "Don't wanna be... allll by myyyyseeeellf." She stepped into the hot spray and then stuck her head back out. "And naked!"
All she heard was Sarah's answering laugh.
Twenty minutes later, Sarah sticking to her guns except for when she walked into the bathroom to deposit some toiletries and reached into the shower to pinch Tally's ass, Tally walked out of the bathroom in a luxuriously fluffy bathrobe, towel drying her hair, warmth and circulation having been restored.
Standing just outside the steamy bathroom, she got her first true glance around their accommodations.
The first word that came to mind was cozy.
The room wasn't overly large, and much like the parts of the inn she had already seen, was either rough-cut stone or exposed wooden beams, exuding an old, rustic warmth that suggested it had cocooned its inhabitants for untold years and would continue to do so far into the future.
Soft lighting from a few lamps cast golden shadows against the wall, and a small wood stove in the corner was throwing off a pleasant heat into the room.
A large window at one end of the room showcased the snow flurries that had kicked up outside, and below the window sat a large, four-poster bed with the warmest, fluffiest duvet Tally had ever seen. And reclining on the bed with her feet tucked under the duvet was her wife, who was watching Tally take in her surroundings.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Tally smiled while she resumed rubbing at her hair.
"It's amazing, Sarah. How did you even find this place. I mean, I'd be surprised if this little town is even on any map."
Sarah chuckled. "I promise it is. It's not Brigadoon."
Tally frowned. "Where?"
Sarah sighed. “I thought we agreed a long time ago that you wouldn’t make me feel old.”
Tally laughed. “Sarah, I can’t exactly help it. You are old.”
Sarah sighed again with exasperated amusement. “Fine. Point Taken. Brigadoon is a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every one hundred years. Hence, not on any map.”
Tally crawled up on the bed and nestled into Sarah.
“So you’ve been there, like, at least three times?”
Her comment was followed by an indignant gasp and then fingers were immediately delving into her robe and tickling her sides mercilessly.
“Okay, okay,” Tally said between peals of laughter. “I’m sorry, I give! I give!”
The tickling stopped and Tally opened her eyes to find Sarah half draped over her, hands inside her robe, resting on Tally’s bare stomach.
“Thin ice, Tally Craven. That’s what you’re on.”
Tally reached up and threaded her fingers through dark, unruly curls, up to the back of Sarah’s neck where they traced the outline of her witchmark.
“And what are you going to do about it?” she asked softly.
She was rewarded with a quick inhale and a distinct widening of blue eyes. When Tally’s fingers brushed over the back of her neck again and those same blue eyes dropped to the expanse of skin showing through the open robe, Tally laughed softly.
“I thought we don’t have time for that,” she said, intentionally wiggling under her wife just the same.
Tally saw Sarah’s jaw clench determinedly. “Very sadly, we do not. However, for your insolence….” Quick as a flash, Sarah drew Tally’s robe to the side, revealing Tally’s left breast, and then her mouth was upon it, sucking her nipple into her mouth as Tally cried out in surprise.
“Goddess, Sarah!”
Just as quickly, Sarah let go, leaving Tally’s sensitive skin wet and aching. Calmly, Sarah drew the robe back over Tally and sat up.
“Think about that while I’m in the shower,” Sarah grinned wickedly before leaving Tally gaping at her on the bed and walked toward the bathroom without a backward glance.
Tally blew out a sigh and drew the luxurious duvet up over her head.
“Tally, wake up, my love.”
“Mmmm….” Tally mumbled, unwilling to quite find consciousness from the warm cocoon she was in.
A feather light kiss landed on her cheek and then Sarah’s honeyed voice was in her ear.
“Do you want to continue sleeping or would you like to have dinner?”
Tally cracked one eye open.
“What?”
“Darling,” Tally’s hair was brushed out of her face. “You fell asleep while I was showering. It’s time for dinner. Unless you’d rather stay here in the room.”
Tally blinked up at Sarah, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing charcoal gray slacks and a black lace bra, her hair falling in gentle curls down her back.
“Is that the dress code for dinner? Because if it is, then I’m all in.”
Sarah chuckled. “This is the dress code for dessert. For dinner, I shall be slightly more modestly dressed.”
Tally frowned. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
Sarah smiled fondly. “Despite my advanced age that you seem to delight in pointing out, I am hardly addled yet. I took the liberty of bringing you clothes for dinner.”
“Really? What did you bring?” Tally asked, doing a mental inventory of her closet and wondering what Sarah chose for her.
Sarah winked. “Something new,” she replied.
Tally sat up, immediately wide awake and interested. “Really?”
Sarah’s gaze dropped slowly down the length of Tally’s torso, into the generous gap of Tally’s robe, and back up. She licked her lips.
“Would you like to see?”
Tally nodded. “Yes, please.”
Sarah stood up and went over to the small closet in the room. She opened the door, pulled out a hanger, and turned toward Tally.
Tally’s eyes widened appreciatively. “Wow,” she breathed. “That’s…wow.”
On the hanger hung an open back black halter dress with what could only be described as a plunging neckline and a flowing asymmetrical hemline that, if Tally had to guess, would hit her about mid-calf. Around the waist sat a belt studded in small scarlet beads that continuously sparkled as they caught the light. It was simple, elegant, and completely gorgeous.
Tally stood up and walked to Sarah, reaching out and sliding her fingers along the material.
“Sarah, this is…this is gorgeous. Where did you find this?”
“You like it?”
Tally looked up into her wife’s hopeful expression.
“I more than like it. I love it. It’s beautiful.”
Sarah leaned over and kissed Tally. “A beautiful dress for a beautiful woman. Would you like to try it on?”
Tally nodded eagerly, and Sarah smiled widely and handed her the hanger.
“Here you go, then.”
Tally took the dress and walked into the bathroom, hanging it on the bathroom door in order to shed her robe. She carefully removed the dress, undid the short zipper in the back, and then stepped into it and slid the dress into place. The fabric felt luxurious.
Reaching behind, she managed to find the zipper and pull it up, and then stood to appraise herself in the mirror.
The dress fit in all the right places. The neckline dipped between her breasts in such a way that somehow hinted at everything and yet revealed nothing. The beaded belt sat just at her waist, accentuating but not restricting, and the skirt flowed gently around her legs, indeed hitting her mid-calf like she thought.
Goddess, it felt decadent. And indulgent. And very sexy.
Tally turned sideways, admiring it from all angles, noting that her shoulders and back were on full display.
“Well?” came Sarah’s voice from just outside.
Tally smiled to herself and walked back out into the room. The second Sarah caught sight of her, she froze and stared, wide-eyed.
Tally turned slowly in front of her.
“What do you think?”
Sarah visibly swallowed.
“Tally Craven…Marry me.”
Tally laughed. “I believe we’re already married.”
Sarah’s gazed dropped along the length of Tally’s body and back up.
“You’re saying this is all mine?” she asked stepping close to Tally and running her palms up and down Tally’s bare arms, causing goosebumps to rise.
“All yours,” Tally confirmed, leaning forward to kiss the corner of Sarah’s mouth. “Thank you,” she murmured. “This dress is unbelievable. Thank you for picking it out for me. I love it.”
Sarah’s hands landed at Tally’s waist, gripping, as she tilted her forehead against Tally’s and exhaled a shaky breath.
“You are most welcome. I’m glad you like it so much. Though I must confess, I failed to take into account what seeing you in it would do to me.”
Tally hummed and nipped at Sarah’s lower lip. “What is it doing to you?”
Sarah lifted her right hand and traced one finger down the center of the generous neckline.
“Very indecent things.”
Tally shivered, but managed to catch Sarah’s hand and step away at the same time.
“Dinner first. I’m hungry.”
Sarah frowned, her eyes still raking over Tally. “So am I.”
Tally chuckled, both delighted at the clear power she’d been given in the form of this dress, and definitely turned on by the fact that the woman who gifted the dress was being driven a little mad by it. Her body felt alive with a crackling energy that she very much was in the mood to savor.
“You’re just going to have to wait, Sarah. You promised me dinner. So for now, you’re just going to have look but not touch. And you have no one to blame but yourself.”
“Fuck me,” Sarah swore softly, her blue eyes darting over Tally yet again.
Tally smiled with all the sweetness she possessed and walked back toward the bathroom to finish getting ready.
“Only if you’re good.”
Look but don’t touch was proving to be the worst rule ever to be invented in the history of the world as far as Sarah was concerned.
They were seated at the corner table of the pub adjacent to the inn. It was a small establishment, eight tables at most, and all of them were occupied with couples who seemed to be entirely interested in each other. Or so Sarah theorized, anyway. She knew she was certainly only interested in the exquisite woman seated beside her, sipping her glass of water and looking around the charming pub.
Tally must have felt her staring because she turned and smiled at Sarah.
“What?” she asked.
Sarah picked up her own water and sipped, raising her eyebrows.
“Nothing. Just admiring the view.”
Tally’s hair was falling in amber curls across her bare back and shoulders, small drop earrings and matching necklace catching the light when she moved, and the bodice of the dress Sarah had chosen, well....That damn dress was making Sarah want to give the rest of the restaurant patrons a show right then and there that they wouldn’t soon forget.
“Mmmm, I see. Well,” Tally replied, dark amber eyes dropping down Sarah’s torso and back up. “I think I should tell you the view from over here isn’t terrible either.”
Sarah shivered, pleased with herself. She had paired her dark gray pants with a silk button down burgundy blouse, leaving the top three buttons undone to showcase the simple silver pendant she was wearing, but if she was being honest with herself, the third button was purely so Tally could stare. As she was clearly doing now.
Tally eyed her and her mouth quirked. “You are very proud of yourself right now, aren’t you?”
Sarah opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, an approaching voice interrupted.
“Sarah, willkommen! Es ist gut, dich zu sehen!”
Sarah looked up to see an elderly man coming toward them, and though age had clearly slowed him, there was still a spring in his step and the kindness in his eyes was obvious as he walked toward them with open arms.
Sarah stood up immediately and accepted the man’s embrace. “Reinhard, it is wonderful to see you too.”
Sarah smiled warmly at the man and then looked down at her wife who was watching the exchange with interest.
“Tally, you asked me how I knew of this place. It belongs to this man, Reinhard Braun. He is a very old friend of mine. Reinhard, this is my wife, Tally.”
“Old, yes, but perhaps not as old as some,” Reinhard said jovially in a thick German accent, winking at Tally.
Tally immediately laughed and stood, offering her hand. “It is very nice to meet you. Your inn is absolutely charming.”
“Ah, thank you very much,” Reinhard answered, taking Tally’s hand and bestowing a kiss to her knuckles. “And it is lovely to meet you. When I heard Sarah finally got married, well, I was very interested in meeting the woman who had stolen her heart.” He nudged Sarah’s shoulder with his own. “Sarah, you have chosen well.”
Sarah watched as Tally blushed.
“Yes, I have,” she replied, her chest feeling suddenly full. “I thank the Goddess every day.”
Reinhard nodded. “As you should. Now,” he said, indicating Sarah should retake her seat. “Have you ordered yet?”
Tally shook her head. “Not yet, we just sat down a few minutes ago.” She gestured to the menu. “What do you recommend?”
“Nein, nein, allow me, if you will,” Reinhard replied, gently taking the menu from Tally. “I will have the kitchen make something very special for you, not on the menu, if you allow me.”
Sarah glanced at Tally and could instantly tell her wife was thoroughly charmed by their host, and she laughed softly when Tally nodded with enthusiasm. Reinhard clapped his hands together.
“Wundebar. I will get it started right away. In the meantime, wine?”
“We would love wine,” Sarah answered.
Reinhard laughed. “Still the Sarah I remember, I see.” He waved over a young waiter from another table and spoke briefly to him, who nodded crisply and walked away.
“Adrian is going to bring you one of my favorites. It is a younger wine, but delicious and pairs perfectly with the dish I am going to bring you. It’s a Spätburgunder, or what you call a Pinot Noir on your side of the world. It is made in Baden, no far from where I grew up.”
Sarah smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”
Reinhard nodded. “Then I shall leave you to enjoy your evening. That is, until I return with your dinner.” And with another wink, he was gone.
Tally turned to Sarah. “Okay, he’s adorable. I imagine there is a story here. How on earth do you know an old German man who lives in the middle of nowhere?”
Sarah smiled. “Well, we didn’t meet in the middle of nowhere. We met during World War Two. He was part of the Resistance. At the time, he was funneling intel to the Allies. But he eventually found this abandoned building and turned it into an inn, ostensibly for German soldiers to rest if they happened by. But all the while, he was moving weaponry, supplies, and sometimes even people right under their noses.”
Tally leaned forward. “Really?”
“Yes,” Sarah nodded, as Adrian returned to their table with a bottle and two glasses. “There are extensive tunnels under this house, carefully hidden.”
Adrian poured wine into both glasses. “They are now the wine cellar,” he offered, sliding a glass in front of each of them.
“Ah,” Sarah replied. “I’m glad they’ve been repurposed.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Adrian replied before placing the bottle gently on the table and retreating.
Sarah turned to Tally. “Did I just get ma’am-ed?”
“People call you ‘ma’am’ all the time at Fort Salem,” Tally pointed out.
“That’s Fort Salem,” Sarah countered. “This is hardly a military base.”
Tally tried to hide her smile. “You don’t seem to mind when I call you ma’am.”
“Well,” Sarah huffed. “That’s because you’re usually not wearing much when you do so.”
Tally grinned and picked up her glass and gestured to Sarah to do the same. Her eyes softened as she gazed at her. “Thank you, for completely surprising me today – for our wonderful adventure, and for this lovely dinner. It is really very romantic, and I would say you’ve set the bar very high on your first attempt. It’s also so nice to have some time together, just the two of us. I am grateful.”
Sarah smiled and clinked her glass with Tally’s. “I am so happy you’re enjoying yourself, my love. I, too, am grateful to spend time with you alone. We don’t get that nearly often enough with our busy schedules, and I intend to be better about it going forward.”
Tally sipped her wine and made an appreciative sound. “Agreed. I am definitely in favor of more Sarah and Tally time.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Sarah replied.
The rest of their meal was lovely.
While they waited for their meal, Sarah and Tally talked, about nothing and everything. Tally told Sarah all about how they were structuring the new Knower program, talking so passionately about everything she wanted to accomplish. And Sarah amused Tally with several of her recent encounters with Petra, who, while absolutely having Sarah’s respect and trust, still drove her crazy on occasion, and Sarah’s impression of a puffed-up Petra made Tally giggle repeatedly while making Sarah promise she’d do it again for Abigail. “She’ll absolutely die,” Tally declared.
Reinhard delivered on his promise and two beautiful plates of flavorful, braised Schweinebraten appeared before them, which he explained was his mother’s recipe from Bavaria. The roast was accompanied by pillowy potato dumplings and a medley of crispy, roasted vegetables. Every bite was heavenly, and just as Reinhard had said, the wine paired with the meal perfectly.
And all the while, Sarah watched Tally.
She watched as her cheeks reddened slightly from the wine, dimples on full display as she smiled again and again.
She watched when Tally closed her eyes as she took the first bite of her meal and hummed in approval.
She watched as her eyes lit up when a decadent slice of German chocolate cake arrived at their table at the end of their meal, and she lifted the first forkful up for Sarah to taste, grinning when Sarah groaned at how good it was.
And she watched as Tally’s expression went from content to surprised to hooded when Sarah slipped her hand over Tally’s thigh, fingers rubbing lightly.
“Sarah….”
Sarah was sure her name was meant to be a warning, but it came out breathy instead and only made Sarah edge closer to her wife.
“Yes?”
Tally glanced around the room. “What do you think you’re doing? There are other people here.”
“Am I doing something?” Sarah asked innocently, lifting her wine glass to her lips, even as her hand slipped further over Tally’s leg, now dipping to the inside of her thigh.
Tally squirmed. “You know you are,” she hissed quietly.
Sarah set her glass down and leaned closer to her wife. “And what am I doing?”
Tally licked her lips. “You’re trying to turn me on.”
Sarah’s eyes dropped to Tally’s mouth and then back up. “Is it working?”
She swore she heard a small whine in Tally’s throat, and then she nearly made a noise herself when Tally’s hand unexpectedly landed on top of hers under the table and yanked Sarah’s hand higher.
“Yes.”
Sarah’s eyes widened as she felt the heat of Tally’s skin under the silky fabric of Tally’s dress. How quickly this woman could turn the tables on her. Sarah sometimes couldn’t quite believe it, but she long ago had admitted to herself how much she liked it.
“Tally,” Sarah murmured.
Tally’s expression was at once seductive and dangerous. It was one that Sarah recognized well as Tally being in the mood to play with Sarah. Her voice dropped, so no one would hear her.
“You’ve been watching me all evening.”
Sarah’s hand kneaded the flesh under her palm. “Yes,” she answered simply.
“You like this dress on me.”
“Very much.”
Tally’s hand, still on top of Sarah’s, tightened. She leaned into Sarah, voice dropping even more.
“Would you like this dress off of me even more?”
Sarah’s hand gripped Tally’s thigh hard, earning a triumphant smile from her wife. “Yes.”
“Mmmm,” Tally murmured. “Me, too. And as absolutely stunning as you look, I want this off as well,” she said, fingering the silky material of Sarah’s sleeve with the hand not currently pressing Sarah’s to the warmth of her inner thigh.
Sarah felt her breath shallow. “Is that so?”
Tally’s smile was slow and wolf-like. “That’s so. Because, Sarah? I intend to show you how very appreciative I am for all of this.” Her voice was just a whisper and she took a quick glance around the room and then pressed a soft kiss to Sarah’s mouth, “And I am so. Very. Appreciative.”
A full-bodied tremor shook its way through Sarah’s body, and she made the decision to stand before she couldn’t anymore. Her legs already felt unsteady as she reached for Tally’s hand and tugged.
“Dinner is officially over.”
Tally stood in front of the mirror in the dimly-lit bathroom, leaning in, having intended on quickly removing her jewelry before returning to her sexy wife in the other room. But apparently the clasp on her necklace had other ideas, and Tally growled in frustration.
"Would you like some help?"
Tally glanced up in the mirror to find Sarah leaning against the door jam, haloed in soft light, and looking as goddess-like as one could.
Tally swallowed thickly as she took her in.
"Please. I can't seem to get it undone."
Sarah pushed off the door and slipped behind Tally, pulling the chain from her fingers.
"Here, I've got it." Another second and the necklace was free and Sarah leaned forward to deposit it on the counter. When she straightened, she caught Tally’s eyes in the mirror and she held her gaze for several moments before smiling and lifting her hands. Blue and brown held steadily as Sarah's hands smoothed over bare shoulders, dropped to slowly trace the ridges of her shoulder blades and then down the length of her spine, ticking along each vertebra. When her fingers settled around her waist, she smiled again at Tally’s reflection and leaned down to press an impossibly slow kiss to Tally's shoulder. That was followed by sliding her lips to the crease of her neck, and pressing another kiss into the skin there.
Tally shivered as she watched her in the mirror and swayed slightly. Sarah's hands on hips steadied her.
"Sarah."
Her wife looked back up.
"Yes, my love?"
Goddess, Tally's body instantly felt like a match being struck at the sound of Sarah's voice, already roughed at the edges with what Tally recognized as arousal.
Tally tried to keep the tremor out of her own voice, but she wasn't entirely successful.
"Unzip me?"
Sarah dipped her nose into Tally’s hair, mouthing the shell of Tally’s ear.
"With pleasure."
But Sarah's hands didn’t immediately go to the zipper. Instead, they went back to roaming the generous expanse of Tally's bare back, slipping just under the material of the bodice for a moment before retreating. And then a second time, higher, just brushing the sides of Tally’s breasts and drawing a small whimper from her.
"Sarah."
Sarah's only response was to lick at Tally’s witchmark, causing Tally to jump.
Sarah only chuckled. "My impatient wife."
Sarah's hands slid to the back of Tally’s dress and Tally felt her catch the zipper and draw it down. The clasp behind Tally's neck was next, and her eyes fixed on Tally's body in the mirror as the dress slid off and pooled at Tally's feet, leaving Tally nude except for the black bikini panties she was wearing.
Tally stood still as she watched Sarah rake her eyes over her reflection.
"My beautiful wife," she said, pressing up against Tally’s back.
Her arms came around Tally, hands splaying across her ribs, igniting little whispers of sensation with every touch of her fingers tips and then Sarah's hands lifted to cradle her breasts. Tally's breath caught as her nipples stiffened instantly.
"My very, very sexy wife."
Arousal instantly sparked down Tally’s spine and settled low in her belly.
"Oh, Goddess," Tally managed as her head dropped back on Sarah's shoulder and she arched into her wife’s hands. Sarah responded by rolling both nipples between her thumbs and forefinger, and Tally's mouth dropped open with a pant. Her right hand shot up to fist into Sarah's hair.
"That feels...." Sarah's fingers continued to tease her, Tally’s nipples taut and straining. "So good. Sarah, so good."
"Yes, it does, my love." Tally felt a soft nip on her shoulder. "Look at me, please."
Tally sighed, not wanting to move, but raised her head to find Sarah's eyes in the mirror once more. Sarah, who was still fully clothed behind her, hands curled around Tally's breasts. Sarah, who was staring back at her as if she were something to be feasted on. Sarah, who was whispering "Keep looking at me, Tally," as her right hand slid down Tally’s torso.
Tally could do nothing but tremble as Sarah's hand dropped over Tally’s belly and over the only scrap of clothing still on her body. And she whined because she knew exactly what Sarah would find there.
"Oh, darling, you're soaked," Sarah said, her breath hot in her ear, her gaze never wavering. "How long have you been like this?"
Tally’s hand, still caught in Sarah's hair, clenched as Sarah's fingers encountered saturated cotton.
"Fuck," she hissed when Sarah rubbed over the material. "Since...since dinner. Since before dinner, probably. I've basically been turned on since I showered because you're absolutely wicked and wouldn't join me."
Sarah laughed, clearly delighted with that answer, and then drew a near-filthy moan from Tally when she dipped a single finger beneath her panties and delved into Tally's wet heat.
Tally fell forward, bracing her hands on the counter. As desperate as she was for Sarah to continue, she also needed her to stop.
"Fuck, Sarah, I can't. Goddess, I will come in two seconds if you keep touching me like that." She caught Sarah's wrist.
"And what, exactly, is wrong with that? You are exquisite when you come for me."
Tally took a deep breath and steadied herself, forcing air into her lungs.
She managed to turn in Sarah's arms, looking directly into eyes the color of a night storm for the first time since she'd stepped in here.
"There's absolutely nothing wrong with it," she said. "And believe me, I want it. But...." Tally reached out and flicked open a button on Sarah's shirt. And then another.
Sarah watched her with interest as her shirt came undone. "But...?"
Tally untucked the shirt, pushed it off her wife’s shoulders, and Sarah let it fall to the floor.
She smiled, feeling a little more in control. "But I want you to come first."
Sarah's eyes blew wide and Tally saw her hands clench briefly. But Sarah was nothing if not willing to go toe to toe with her wife.
She lifted an eyebrow. "And how do you intend to accomplish that?"
Tally licked her lips, taking in Sarah standing shirtless in front of her, and then she smirked and backed up a step until she could lift herself to sit on the counter.
"Undress for me, please."
Sarah stared for a beat as she absorbed Tally's request, contemplating it, and then her mouth curled into a smile.
"Very well."
And the feverish heat already flaming in Tally's body didn't even have a moment to dissipate as Sarah kicked off the heels she'd been wearing and slowly began to dance.
Unfortunately for Tally, once Sarah Alder committed herself to devastating something, or someone, well...not many lived to tell the tale. And watching her wife’s lithe body dancing in front her, Tally very much feared she might become the next casualty.
Because, dear Goddess, it was a strip tease Tally wouldn't soon forget. Sarah moved in a sensuous rhythm that seemed to keep time with Tally's thumping pulse as bit by bit, more of her wife was revealed. Tally was first treated to long, lean legs stepping out of the pants that seemed tailor-made for them. Next her bra was dangling off her finger, offered to Tally with a roguish smile. Tally yanked the scrap of clothing away, her focus on pert nipples standing at attention. She could barely stop herself from jumping down from the counter to cover them with her mouth, to suck them hard the way Sarah liked.
"Are you enjoying the show?" her wife asked, her hands wandering gracefully across her own body, over the swells of her breasts, over the jut of her hips, thumbs tugging suggestively at the red bikini panties she was wearing.
Tally's mouth watered and she nodded. "More," she whispered.
The small piece of material was pulled lower. "Like this?" Sarah asked, still swaying to her own, invisible melody.
Tally's hands gripped the countertop, the pulse between her legs feeling more unbearable by the second. She had seen her wife naked now more times than she could count, and yet every time, it made her breathless. The way she was still completely, unequivocally aroused by this woman amazed her sometimes. She wanted her. She craved her.
"Goddess, Sarah, more," she practically begged as she watched Sarah tug the material down further still, revealing the dark patch of hair at the apex of her thighs. Tally could practically feel the soft hair under her fingers.
And when the small scrap of clothing at last fell to Sarah's feet and was kicked away, Tally's eyes ravenously ate up every inch of Sarah's nude form, all of its soft valleys and sharp angles, the freckles that she knew by heart, the places she intended to touch, to taste.
"Come here," she instructed, amazed by the steadiness of her own voice given that nothing else in her body felt remotely steady.
Sarah stepped toward Tally, slotted herself right between Tally's open knees.
"I’m here. Now what?" she asked, her mouth coming very close to Tally's but not touching.
And Tally couldn't stand it one second longer. With a garbled moan, she reached up and latched onto Sarah's neck and kissed her like a woman possessed. Her tongue was in Sarah's mouth immediately, finding hers. Licking. Tasting. Claiming.
Sarah met her in equal measure, sucking at her tongue, hands roaming Tally’s body, sliding over her thighs and hips, the length of her back and the swell of her ass.
"Touch me, Tally," Sarah gasped between hard kisses. "Please, I need you to touch me."
Tally was off the counter in a flash and backing Sarah up. When her back hit the wall with a soft thud, Tally’s mouth was instantly dipping her head to take one perfect, stiff nipple into her mouth. Sarah cried out, her hands burying themselves in Tally's hair.
Tally licked a circle around the peak before flattening her tongue over Sarah and then sucking. Hard.
"Fuck, Tally!" Sarah's body went rigid against the wall and her nails were scratching at Tally’s scalp. "Yes." Tally felt her push harder into the wall as she sucked again, Sarah's nipple insistent against Tally’s tongue.
Tally let go with a soft pop, her mouth now kissing the warm skin of Sarah's chest, over her collar bones, the hollow of her throat. When she found her mouth again, she swallowed Sarah's gasp that followed when her fingers slid down through damp curls and into slick heat.
Sarah jolted.
"Looks like I'm not the only one," Tally whispered, feeling her fingers being generously coated in Sarah's arousal. Reveling in it.
"Definitely not," Sarah gasped as Tally circled her clit.
"You feel so very good, Sarah," Tally murmured against her wife's mouth, pleased with the whimper it drew from her wife's throat. "So, so good," she repeated sliding just the tip of her finger inside her, but not giving any more.
Sarah tipped her head back against the wall, a frustrated laugh bubbling out of her.
Tally pressed a little more, smiling and kissing her wife's exposed throat.
"It makes me wish –”
Sarah's head instantly snapped up.
"- You had your favorite toy?" she finished.
Tally stilled, looked up at her wife.
"I was going to say 'that we never have to leave here,' but your thing is much better. Wait...." Tally said, taking note of Sarah's cat-with-a-canary expression. "...Sarah, did you bring it?"
Sarah slid her palm slowly down Tally’s arm until she reached her wrist and squeezed gently, causing Tally's finger to sink just a little further.
"Perhaps," she said around a delicious sigh.
Tally stared at her wife, who was simultaneously rocking her hips against her hand and grinning at Tally. Tally, whose eyebrows had shot up and mouth was hanging open in a disbelieving smile.
"Seriously?"
"After so many years in the army, I have learned it's very important to be prepared for any eventuality."
My wife is going to be the death of me, Tally thought even as she flicked her wrist quickly, burying her finger inside Sarah.
"And as you were packing for this little trip," she panted, curling her finger, "The eventuality that came to mind was, 'What if my wife wants her strap-on?'"
Sarah's one hand continued to grip Tally's wrist, urging her on, the other was digging into her hip, nails biting into Tally's skin.
"Every eventuality means every eventuality, my love." Sarah kissed her. "But feel free to tell me you don't want it."
Tally would tell her no such thing. But she was also not giving Sarah all she wanted all at once.
She slid her finger from in between Sarah's legs and stepped back. She smiled.
"Oh, I want it very much. Where are you hiding it?"
Tally looked down at her wife splayed out on the bed before her. She was a vision of disheveled dark hair fanned over crisp white sheets, bare limbs stretched long, and navy eyes dark and hungry and focused solely on Tally.
She sat up, slowly raking her eyes over Tally, up and down, until they settled at her hips, now strapped with her favorite bedroom accessory - a black harness with a purple dildo attached to the front.
"Every time you wear that, it makes me...." she trailed off, her tongue darting out to run across her bottom lip.
"Crazy hot?" Tally suggested. "Because it makes me crazy hot."
Tally never ever imagined it would, but Goddess, she loved wearing a strap-on. She had been completely surprised at first, but it made her feel confident and so very sexy.
Sarah smiled and reached out to stroke the toy hanging between Tally’s legs.
"Well, yes," she replied. "But I was going to say....feral."
Tally trembled, watching Sarah's hand. "There is something about you wearing this, about how bold it makes you, that awakens my basest desires."
Tally eased onto the bed next to Sarah, brushing her mouth with hers.
"And what are those desires?" she asked.
Sarah's hands skated over Tally’s body, touching everywhere.
"To let go of everything. To be possessed by you. To be taken."
Tally clenched her teeth as she pushed Sarah back on the bed, marveling that she had the strength to brace above her. She settled herself between Sarah's thighs.
"Are you ready to let go, Sarah?" she whispered.
Sarah gripped Tally’s shoulders. "Yes."
She canted her hips so the toy slid across the crease of Sarah's thigh.
"You want me to take you?"
"Goddess, yes," Sarah arched, moaning when the toy pressed against her.
Tally reached between their bodies, guiding the toy across the thatch of dark, damp curls between Sarah's legs and then lower, rubbing, letting it slicken, before easing just the tip of it inside her wife.
"I want to have you completely, Sarah." She pulled out and then pressed in again. "Until you lose control. Is that what you want?"
Sarah nodded, her breath already shallow.
"Yes, Tally," she leaned up, kissing Tally hard. "I want you to fuck me, darling." Tally's hips dropped at her words, sinking further into Sarah. "Don't hold back."
Sarah had barely finished speaking before Tally tilted her hips and slipped the remaining length of the toy smoothly into Sarah, burying herself to the hilt.
"Oh," Sarah groaned, her mouth falling open at the sudden fullness. "Goddess, Tally...."
Tally smiled, withdrew, and then slid back in, inch by inch. "Good?" she said, circling her hips.
Sarah locked her long legs around Tally's waist. "Very, very good."
Tally didn't need any more urging. With Sarah wrapped around her, she braced herself, and began to move.
Steady and careful, she watched Sarah as she slid slowly in and out, her wife’s eyes falling closed as she adjusted to the feeling. When they opened again, she kissed Tally and nodded.
Tally grinned. "Yeah?"
She thrust a little harder.
"Yeah," Sarah responded. "Oh, just like that."
Tally heard the whine at the back of her own throat.
"Fuck, Sarah. This feels....mmmm...Oh, my....Goddess, I love this. Do I feel good inside you? Tell me," she demanded, her hips circling.
Sarah's feet dropped to the bed as she arched to meet Tally’s next thrust.
"You know you do, my love. So good." Her hands reached for Tally’s ass, urging her on. "You're going to make me come like this."
Tally's eyes practically rolled back as she dropped her head to the mattress next to Sarah's and rocked her hips even harder. Faster.
Oh, every part of her body was now on fire.
The base of the toy was knocking insistently against Tally’s clit with each thrust, hitting just right, and her nipples ached with near painful pleasure as they dragged against Sarah's chest again and again. She was hurtling ever closer to the edge herself.
Goddess, it was possible she was going to climax just from this alone.
Underneath her, Sarah was grasping at her, pulling, a sheen of sweat across her chest, her mouth claiming Tally’s neck and shoulder, any place she could reach.
"Harder, Tally," Sarah's ragged voice was pure sex in her ear. "I'm....."
"Close?" Tally managed as she began to grind her hips into Sarah's in short, deep thrusts.
"So close," Sarah hissed, her entire body starting to tense.
Tally lifted her head to kiss her, hard and messy. "Then come for me, Sarah. I want you to." She thrust again, and her own thighs began to shake. "That’s it. It's right there, isn't it?" Sarah's eyes clamped shut and Tally's hips drove down again. "Oh, yes, right there."
"Goddess, Tally!" Sarah's hands fisted into the bedding above her head. "Right there, right...there...!"
With Tally's next thrust, Sarah came apart, crying out and clamping around the toy inside her, her arms pulling blindly at Tally.
And Tally, breathless, muscles straining, witnessing her wife’s ecstasy, gasped when she felt her own pleasure bloom between her legs and shiver along her limbs. It rippled the length of her body and she moaned.
Sarah raised her head slightly from where it was buried in Tally's shoulder, her voice raw.
"Did you just...?"
Tally hummed in the affirmative as she carefully pulled out of Sarah and settled against her. "That was...so amazing. Also," she laughed quietly, kissing Sarah softly, "I told you, you've had me turned on for hours."
She expected Sarah's quiet chuckle in response, perhaps a dirty comment about her impressive powers, but before she knew what was happening, Tally found herself on her back, Sarah making quick work of the harness strapped to Tally’s hips, casting it aside. Tally lifted her head.
"Sarah, what are you -"
"Again," Sarah said, her mouth already on Tally's chest, on her breasts, on her ribs, and continuing downward.
"What?" Tally's brain was hardly working at full capacity at the moment.
"You're going to come again, my darling." The demand in Sarah's voice was clear. "Right now." And then Sarah's mouth was between Tally’s legs, tongue dipping, licking the length of her - once, twice - before sucking Tally's clit rather roughly into her mouth.
"Fuck, Sarah!" Tally practically shouted, even as she arched, desperate to feel the ache of pleasure again that had just shot through her.
Sarah did not make her wait. This time, two of Sarah's fingers slipped inside her with little resistance, curling, beckoning Tally's body toward release.
Within seconds, Tally's head tossed back, Sarah's name on her lips, a second orgasm exploded behind Tally's eyelids. Her body locked, and she was flying.
“I’ve missed you,” Sarah whispered from where her head was resting against Tally’s stomach.
Tally carded her hand through Sarah’s damp hair. “Thank you for saying that.” It wasn’t long ago that Sarah had had a hard time expressing herself to Tally when it came to more difficult emotions. So many years as the general of the army had taught her that her needs weren’t more important than the greater good, and it had taken Tally some time to convince her that what she wanted was of equal importance in their relationship. So she knew how hard it was for Sarah to say something so seemingly simple. “I’ve missed you too.”
“I don’t want you to think that I resent your work in any way.”
“I know that.”
“Because I don’t.”
“I know, Sarah. You just miss spending time together. And I agree. We’re going to do better.”
Sarah pressed a kiss to Tally’s belly. “Okay.”
Tally scratched at Sarah’s scalp with her nails, and Sarah practically purred. Content, she closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of her Sarah Alder blanket, when something Sarah had said earlier suddenly came to mind.
“Did you really go to a Hallmark store?” she asked.
“Hmmmm? Oh. Yes, I did. Horrid place.”
“I would have paid good money to see that.”
“You can ask Anacostia for a full account. I made her go with me.”
Tally chuckled. “Of course you did. You love torturing that poor woman.”
Sarah shifted up to Tally and then snuggled into her open arms. “Payback for all she put me through as a child,” she sighed, getting comfortable in Tally’s embrace. “As you might imagine, she was incredibly willful. And naughty.”
“Wonder where she got that from,” Tally said, kissing the top of Sarah’s head.
Sarah huffed, and Tally could tell by her voice she was fading fast. “And when you see her, you can tell her that, contrary to her doubts, Operation Chubby Cherub was a complete success.”
Tally laughed softly. “Operation Chubby Cherub?”
But if Tally wanted an explanation, she’d have to wait until morning to get it. Sarah’s head was already heavy against Tally’s shoulder, her arm slung across her waist, when she let out a long sigh.
“Mmmhmm, don't worry, she ’ll understand.”