Subtext: Yes. This story does depict the main characters in a loving relationship. If this offends you or is illegal in your area, please stop reading now.

Plot: Evidently, this is supposed to be the main story line in a piece of literature. I don't think you'll find much of that here?

Notice: This is my first uber? So, I would like to apologize in advance for any faux pas? But,

please don't hesitate to let me know if there are any flaws as far a characterization, etc?

Please feel free to let me know what you think: bardkelly@hotmail.com I love feedback!

Xe wiped the crumbs away from the countertop and sighed. These were the last remnants of her baking frenzy. She had spent most of her waking hours in the kitchen the last few days. She smiled. Every one of her neighbors had received some sort of baked good. Beneficiaries of this latest of many hobbies she had adopted. She swiped at some non-existent crumbs on the counter. 'The only problem is,' she thought disparagingly, 'that I'm obsessive-compulsive about it.' Once she found something she wanted to do, she'd focus all her energy and time on it, her every waking hour devoted to it. Then, when she had mastered her new hobby, she lost interest in it? bored. 'Now, I'm tired of baking, just another of my many skills?' she thought with a half-smile. 'And I still have one more day to get through before she comes home,' she groaned silently. She draped her dishrag over the sink partition, switched off the light and turned to leave the kitchen, glancing back once to admire the dim, but spotless room.

She walked into the equally clean living room. Picking up the remote, she switched on the television and restlessly flicked through over a hundred channels in less than sixty seconds before switching it off again. She glanced at the guitar resting against the wall in the corner, then down at the blistered tips of her fingers. She shook her head, 'better not.' She bit her lip and paced the length the room, stopping in thought near the front door. "Hmmm, maybe the attic needs dusting?" she said into the silence.

Just then, she heard the lock turn and the front door swing open. She turned to watch as slim, high-heeled feet stepped into the room. Her eyes took in delicate ankles, well-muscled calves encased in sheer pantyhose, and the smooth thighs that disappeared beneath the hem of a short gray skirt. She followed the curve of a gently sloping hip up to a tiny waist. A pristine white dress-shirt was tucked into it, a stark contrast to the dark skirt. Her eyes followed a row of tiny pearl buttons up the swell of perfect breasts, up the column of a long, graceful neck and over a small chin to rest on full sensuous lips. 'Edible lips,' she thought distractedly before her eyes moved up to connect with an emerald gaze. An auburn eyebrow arched and she felt her own brow raise as her lips echoed the smile that came to those lips she hungered for. "Well, well, well," she replied in a low voice, "you're home early?"

Gab stepped further into the room and dropped her bags, glancing around the spotless interior. "I see you've kept yourself busy while I was away."

"Well, I? yeah, I picked the place up a bit," she mumbled with a wave of her hand at their surroundings. She watched the eyebrow arch further and added with a shrug, "nothing important? you, know, rearranged the furniture, cleaned the carpets?"

Gab's smile widened and she brought her hands up to rest on her hips, looking at Xe expectantly.

Xe, flustered, swiped at a blue-black lock of hair that had fallen over her shoulder before she continued, "?and painted the walls a little." She wound down and took her bottom lip between her teeth, deciding it was definitely time to change the subject. "How was your seminar and book signing?" She asked and held out her arms.

"OK," the blond said as she stepped into the embrace, "I missed you though." She raised her mouth up to meet Xe's lips. The kiss was gentle, lovers reacquainting themselves with the honeyed taste of the other. Xe pulled Gab's lower lip into her mouth running her tongue along its soft contour, then moved to caress her upper lip. She drove her tongue inside to rub against Gab's. She took her time, exploring Gab's mouth with slow strokes. A low moan rose to Gab's throat and she returned Xe's caresses with gentle strokes of her own.

Slowly, Gab became aware of the puppy that had rushed into the room, sliding to a halt and yipping excitedly at their feet.

Gab pulled away, bending to pat its little head. "Well, what do we have here?"

"Oh, uh, this is? Shep."

Gab stopped petting the puppy and looked up at Xe in disbelief. "Shep? you named your dog, Shep?"

"Our dog?"

"But, he's not even a Shepherd." She looked down at the pup's wrinkled face, his eyes gazing soulfully into hers. She couldn't help herself and bent to pat his head again. "Well, hello?" she smiled up at Xe, her green eyes flashing with mischief, "Shep."

She stood and Xe noted the dark smudges beneath her lover's tired green eyes. She took her small hand, leading her to their room. "Tired from the flight?" she asked over her shoulder. Gab shook her head, causing a few strands of blond hair to fall from her untidy bun. Xe smiled already knowing the answer to her next question, "Hungry?".

"Oh, I could eat," Gab replied nonchalantly, knowing full well what the dark haired beauty before her was thinking.

Xe rolled her eyes and stopped just inside their bedroom door. She nudged the blond towards the bathroom. "You go freshen up. I'll lock up and bring something in for you to eat? we'll picnic in front of the fireplace."

Gab turned and reached up to drop a quick kiss on Xe's lips. "Sounds good," she replied as she turned and entered the bathroom. Xe watched her go, her eyes resting on the sway of Gab's hips before she disappeared into the other room. With a satisfied smile, she turned and walked to the kitchen, already making plans on how to properly welcome Gabby home. The puppy trounced behind her, tripping on his overly long ears.

Xe returned with a tray piled high with turkey, roasted ham, and various baked goods. She found Gab reclining on a comforter that she had spread before the fireplace. Her eyes widened as she stared in wonder at the silky material that just barely covered her lover, hinting at all the hidden treasures beneath. The white, gauzy material seemed to ooze over the woman's form-perfectly accenting her curves. Gab's bronzed skin glowed as the firelight flickered over her, a gentle kiss of warmth that brought a rosy flush to her creamy skin. Xe took it all in and her pulse quickened. 'It's been such a long week without her,' she thought as she sat next to Gab and motioned for her to eat. She eyed the hem of the skimpy gown slipping up Gab's thigh as she leaned forward to sample the tasty treats on the tray. Gab took a croissant tearing it apart with agile fingers, "So, did a little baking while I was gone?" She asked casually between bites.

Xe shrugged, her eyes still on Gab's hemline, "a little." She reached out caress the bare thigh.

Gab smirked and picked up a slice of ham. "I thought you didn't like to cook?" she asked, wolfing it down and picking up a piece buttered bread.

Xe looked down at the tray of food, 'I shouldn't have brought in so much of it?' she thought. Still avoiding Gab's eyes she replied, "Well, I found this cookbook while I was cleaning and?" her voiced trailed off and she shrugged.

"And you made everything in the book didn't you?" Gab finished. She smiled when Xe remained silent; her eyes fixed on her lap. She placed gentle fingers on Xe's chin and lifted so that she could look deeply into ice-blue eyes. Xe met her look steadily, just a hint of a smile on her soft lips. Gab chuckled and leaned in to drop a quick kiss on them.

Xe nodded down at the tray. "Had enough?"

Gab eyed the food covetously, but nodded, "For now." She took the tray and set it aside. Scooting closer to Xe, laying her head in her lover's lap. "So, you missed me too," she murmured with satisfaction.

Xe ran her fingers through blond wisps that fringed her lover's forehead and frowned. "What made you doubt that I would?"

Gab turned to hide her face in Xe's midriff, but her muffled reply drifted up to Xe. "I? sometimes I worry that you'll get bored with me."

Xe tugged at Gab's shoulder, rolling her onto her back so that their gazes met. "I never could," she stated slowly and succinctly, meeting the searching emerald gaze with ice-blue intensity.

Gab sat up, leaning in so that her lips just brushed her lover's as she spoke. "Promise?" she asked huskily.

"Not even death could part us, my love," the darker woman whispered in return before lowering her head to close the distance between them. She pushed Gab back onto the comforter, following her down and never breaking the searing kiss they shared.

Shep tumbled onto the blanket. Obviously wanting to join in the romp, he began to pounce at them, yipping and barking.

Xe pushed him away gently and continued her kiss. But the persistent pup was back within seconds, nipping at her hair and swiping her ear with a wet tongue. "Shep, no." she hissed at the dog. The puppy immediately stopped his antics and looked at her with sad droopy eyes. Xe shook her head, picked up her lover and carried her to their bed. She pushed Gab back onto soft pillows and smiled. "Now, where were we?" she whispered as she settled in beside her, dropping her mouth to taste soft lips again.

Gab felt Xe press against the length of her body and slipped her bare thigh between Xe's long, denim covered legs. She threaded her fingers into Xe's hair and pulled her in closer, driving her tongue up into her mouth. The velvet softness she found there was ecstasy. Rolling them over and straddling Xe's hips, she aggressively pinning Xe's hands above her head as she continued to probe her lover's soft mouth with slow strokes of her tongue. A multitude of tumultuous emotions ran through her as she heard Xe moan deep in the back of her throat. All the while, she was dimly aware of the sharp staccato of puppy howls that rang through the room. She couldn't help herself and chuckled into Xe's mouth. She pulled away and looked over the edge of the bed to see the puppy trying in vain to jump high enough to get himself on the bed, howling each time he was unsuccessful.

Xe tugged at her, "He'll quit soon. I wouldn't let him up here last night and he gave up after a while. C'mere." She pulled her small lover into the curve of her body, stroking a soft bare thigh and running her fingers up under the hem of the gown. She placed kisses along the line of Gab's jaw and down her neck, moving her mouth towards the sharply plunging neckline of the gown.

Each of Xe's kisses was punctuated by a sharp yip from the puppy, whose scratching and tugging served as testament to his continuing struggle to join them on the bed. "Maybe we should put him outside for a while," Gab suggested as she dropped her head back to give Xe better access to her neck. The puppy howled as if in answer to her suggestion and Gab started to giggle again.

Xe frowned, "I don't find this at all funny." She looked up into those smiling green eyes and melted. "I guess it's mildly funny," she allowed, unable to stop the smile that came to her lips. She heaved an exasperated sigh and got up. She scooped up the pup and headed for the door. "Stay right there," she threw over her shoulder with an exaggerated leer.

Gab dropped back onto the pillows, closing her eyes and breathing in Xe's scent that permeated the sheets. 'It's good to be home,' she thought with a contented smile.

Xe came back into the room and leaned against the doorway. She took a moment to simply admire the beauty of the half naked woman lounging on her bed, letting her eyes wander the entire length of the trim body. "The little runt is inspecting the yard," she said with quiet satisfaction, smiling when Gab started at the sound of her voice. She continued to study her from the doorway. Watching quietly as Gab sat up, scooted to the edge of the bed, and rose to walk slowly towards her. With the fire flickering behind her, Gab's gown had become transparent. Xe could clearly see the shadowed outline of her body as she came towards her. She darted her tongue out and licked her suddenly dry lips.

Gab smiled at the expression on her lover's face. She marveled at how sexy Xe could make her feel with just a look. Pressing herself against Xe, she leaned up to whisper, "touch me."

Xe drew in a ragged breath and complied. Placing gentle hands on her lover's shoulders, she tugged the thin straps of her gown out and watched them fall loosely against the creamy skin of her upper arms. She dropped a soft kiss on Gab's collarbone, then let her fingers inch up into the silken locks of her hair. Gently, she released the clasp and watched red-gold lock cascade down over her hands and onto slim bare shoulders. Her heart began the thump wildly in her chest and she whirled them around to press her lover against the wall just inside the doorway. "I need to taste you, now," she husked before dropping to kneel before her. Xe gazed up at her lover, meeting Gab's look of desire as she slid her hands up under the hem of the short gown. She tugged on the edge of the small scrap of lacey material yet unseen beneath the gown and pulled it down, letting her fingers caress the length of those smooth legs as she did so. She felt Gab lean on her shoulders as first one foot and then the other stepped gracefully out of the underwear. Running her hands back up along her legs, she again found the hem of the gown and lifted it up, holding it against Gab's bare midriff. Her eyes focused on the thatch of golden curls nestled at the apex of Gab's legs and she leaned in to nuzzle the soft down with her face, breathing in the tangy scent of her lover's arousal.

Gab moaned as she felt Xe's tongue swirl out to tangle in her curls. She threw her head back, bumping it against the wall at her back. She cried out at the shriek of the fire alarm as it sounded above their heads.

Xe pulled away surprised and bewildered. She took in Gab's horrified expression and then the fire alarm as it wailed above them. Quickly she stood, reached up, and pulled it off the wall. With a quick flick of her fingers, she pried the batteries out, breathing a sigh of relief when the harsh ringing ceased.

She turned and threw the alarm across the room; the batteries followed close behind.

Gab held her breath and bit her bottom lip, but couldn't contain her snort of mirth. Within seconds, she was laughing helplessly as she leaned against the wall. Xe turned back towards her, pinning her with an icy glare that Gab had dubbed "The Look." Gab held her sides and tried to regain control. "I'm sorry?he, he, he," she paused as a fit of laughter consumed her, "but? he, he, he? the look on your? he, he, he? face? he, he, he?" she was off again with another fit of giggles. Tears came to her eyes and she reached out to place a hand on Xe's hip. Balancing herself, she took deep gulps of air. Finally calming, she raised her glittering eyes to meet Xe's stoic gaze. She bit her lip again as the phone rang. "I'll take care of that," she said quietly.

Xe stood there for a few moments trying to compose herself while Gab went into the living room to answer the phone. As Xe came into the room and began to pace, she listened to Gab calmly deal with the security office. She heard Gab's muted voice assure the woman on the other end that it was a false alarm.

"No it won't be necessary for you to send the fire department?" Gab patiently reiterated. She looked over at her fuming lover thinking that maybe she could use a good hosing down? 'Then again,' she thought, 'I think I know an even better way to relieve her tension.' She smiled as she answered the woman, "No, thank you. We're fine. Just a false alarm?." Her smile broadened and she rolled her eyes, "No, I'm not sure why it went off? certainly? yes, and thank you. She placed the receiver in its cradle and looked towards Xe. "I've scheduled someone to come take a look at the system on Monday? " Only a slight giggle accompanied the statement. Xe frowned at her and stalked back into the bedroom.

"Uh Oh?" Gab thought and followed her. She watched as Xe ripped opened the dresser and fished out a T-shirt. She stripped off her jeans leaving them where they fell and pulled off her blouse, letting it fall to the floor as well. Her bra soon landed on the growing pile of discarded clothing. With quick efficient movements, she pulled the T-shirt over her head and slammed the drawer shut.

Gab moved up behind the taller woman and slipped her arms around her waist. Pressing her cheek against the tense muscles of Xe's back, she asked quietly. "You ok?"

"I'm fine," Xe returned a little harshly, but she turned and pulled the smaller woman into her arms.

Gab lifted her head and placed quick kiss on Xe's cheek as her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. She felt the taller woman tense in her arms.

"I'm sorry." She took a steadying breath before she continued, her voice still a little thick with mirth, "I can't help it. What a home coming?" her voice trailed off and she looked at Xe helplessly.

Xe sighed, "and I was trying for romantic."

Gab reached up to cup her cheek, "I know. And I love you for it," came her soft reply. They stood that way for several moments. "I brought home a present for you," Gab said quietly in an attempt to lighten Xe's black mood. She left the room, returning shortly with a bottle of champagne and a small gift-wrapped box.

"Hey, where did those come from?"

"I left them outside the front door." She smiled winningly, "I knew you'd notice if I brought them in."

She held the bottle out for Xe's inspection. She watched long fingers curl around the base of the bottle and the dark head bend to read the label.

"Very nice?"

"Only the best for you." She smiled and gestured towards the box, "that is just to let you know that I WAS thinking about you while I was away." She looked down at the green bottle still cradled in Xe's hand. "Here let me take that." She took the bottle, carrying it to the kitchen to put in the fridge to chill.

Meanwhile, Xe sat on the bed and opened the gift box, ripping the wrapping off with abandon. Inside, she found a box filled with various bottles of paint. She picked up the colorful card that lay on top of the bottles and read it aloud. "Body watercolors-sensual soap for adults..." She smiled wickedly. "Thinking about me indeed," she murmured into the silent room.

Gab returned to find Xe still smiling down at her gift. "So, what do you say? shall we do a little painting?" she said as she wiggled her eyebrows lecherously. She lifted the hem of her gown and pulled the garment over her head, gliding over to stand before Xe, now adorned only in the firelight that reflected off her smooth skin.

Xe stared at the seductive curves of her body before raising her head to meet her lover's gaze. She was mesmerized the beauty of those green depths. Then, she heard Gab begin to speak in those low husky tones that always thrilled her.

Gab smiled seductively, knowing the effect that her voice had on the woman before her, "I want to undress you, Xe." Gab murmured in a low, sultry voice that made Xe shudder with desire. Gab took her lover's hands and tugged until she rose from the bed. Her breathing became labored as Gab pulled her T-shirt over her head and then stooped to pull her panties down. She stepped out of them and moved into the smaller woman's waiting arms. She bent her head for a kiss, luxuriating in the feel of warm flesh against her bare skin. 'At last,' she thought with satisfaction as she brought a hand up to cup her lover's breast. She felt the nipple pucker against her palm as she deepened the kiss. When the doorbell sounded, she pulled away slightly.

Gab, her face flushed with desire, pulled her back. "Just ignore it, they'll go away," she said between ragged breaths.

Xe glanced toward the doorway and then down at the naked woman standing before her. 'No contest,' she thought. As she dropped her head to claim those soft lips again, someone began knocking on the door. They both chose to ignore it, but the person at the door continued to knock.

Xe growled and pulled away when the persistent knocking continued. She pinned the smaller woman with her icy gaze, "If you laugh, I'm going to wring your pretty little neck?" she said in a low, dangerous voice.

Gab widened her eyes innocently and smiled, but managed not to laugh. "I wouldn't think of it," she said with a regal toss of her blond head.

Xe bent and pulled on the nearest article of clothing and marched out to answer the door.

A kindly looking policeman stood blinking at Xe when she violently ripped it open. He opened his mouth and then shut it again. His eyes dropped to her cleavage for an instant. Xe glanced down following his gaze and realized for the first time that she had put on Gab's filmy little gown, discovering that the garment covered considerably less of her than it had Gab? She raised her eyes to glare at him and watched as his face turned several shades of red while he tried to look anywhere but at the half-nude woman standing before him.

"Yes," even to her own ears, the word sounded more like a threat than a question when she said it in that tone of voice.

He paled and began to stammer. "We uh, got a call about a fire alarm?" He cleared his throat, "Thought we'd check it out," he glanced up at Xe attired only in the slinky little nighty, looking very uncomfortable. "just to make sure?"

"We're fine." She stated firmly, still using that I'm-going-to-kill-you-if-you-don't-get-the-hell-out-of-here-now tone of voice. She leveled "The Look" at him for good measure.

The man mumbled an apology for bothering her and beat a hasty retreat.

Xe resolutely closed the door and threw home the bolt. She heard the puppy scratching at the back door and went to let him in. He must have sensed her mood and went obediently to his rug in the corner of the porch. She checked his dishes to make sure he had food and water. She didn't want that to be an interruption later on-she'd had enough of those? Turning out the light, she hurried back to the bedroom, eager to continue where they had left off.

She found Gab in front of the fire where she had created a small bower with their pillows and the comforter. Her face softened as she gazed down at the slumbering woman. Gab had cuddled inside the soft pile of bedding to wait for Xe and had fallen asleep. One creamy breast was exposed, its pert, rosy nipple just peeking out from beneath the blanket as if to taunt her. She thought about waking her, but even in the soft firelight, Gab had looked tired. She sighed. 'So much for my welcome home plans' she thought as she snuggled in beside her lover.

'Tomorrow, I'm taking up watercolor.' she promised herself before drifting off to sleep...