No more secrets, Shana thought. There are already too many between us. She sighed. "When you started about last night in that tone, I thought I probably sucked and that you were trying to tell me that I wasn't what you expected from me and --"

The lips that covered hers gently stopped her in mid-sentence. The kiss was undemanding, tender, and a confirmation of the feelings between them. When they parted, Shana saw that Anne's eyes were misty with unshed tears.

"Don't ever scare me like that again, Shea." Anne's voice was raw with emotion. "I love you. I need you." Each word was accentuated by a butterfly kiss on her eyes, nose or mouth. "And what we shared last night was the best experience of my life. I wouldn't want it any other way." Well, except for maybe that shooting off like a teenage boy on his first date.

Shana breathed a sigh of relief. She leaned down to kiss the lips that beckoned to her to explore them, not having it in her to deny that pull. Then she remembered that Anne had tried to tell her something. "What did you want to say about last night, honey?"

Anne wasn't sure anymore whether to bother her lover with her own doubts, but decided that it would probably be a good idea. She was sure that Shana's revelation must have been hard and now she needed to reveal her own fears. She cleared her throat. "Well, I … um … I wanted to apologize. For last night. For not being able to hold out longer. I'm so sorry that I couldn't make it the experience you deserved." She dropped her eyes and watched the creases in the bedspread intently.

Oh, sweetheart. You don't understand at all, don't you? Shana reached out and cupped her lover's head, lifting it so she could look into a pair of eyes that tried to avoid her. "You know, Anne, for someone so intelligent, you sure can be stupid sometimes."

At that, blue eyes finally looked up. "Yes, you," Shana continued. She brushed the back of her hand across Anne's right cheek. "Don't you know that last night you paid me the biggest compliment with the way you responded to my touch? I loved the way you reacted to me, loved how I could make you feel. I love you, Anne."

She kissed Anne lightly. "I didn't know what to do, what to expect last night, but when I was able to --"

"To reduce me to a puddle of need?" Anne asked with a self-depreciating shrug.

"To make you lose control, to give me power over your body, over your needs, I felt so strong. What you gave me last night, honey, was love, and the power to love you." A tear escaped her eyes, but she didn't really know why.

"You have all the power, Shana," Anne replied with feeling. She wiped away the tears on her lover's face with a fingertip. "You are the only one for me. Nobody ever came close to what I feel for you. Nobody ever could do to me what you can do to me with just one look, or word, or touch."

She took Shana's hands in her own heavily bruised ones, holding them gently. "I am yours," she said after a pause, and kissed the hands she held. Her heart was filled to overflowing with love for the smaller woman before her, and when she looked into green eyes, she held her breath at the love and desire that shone from them.

Their lips met, first gently, tenderly, then with ever-growing abandon. Anne's tongue traced an upper lip and was welcomed between parting lips, then sucked into the warmth of Shana's mouth. The kiss deepened, tongues exploring, dancing, playing with each other. A groan escaped Anne's throat at the need that pooled in her lower belly at the intensity of their kiss.

Anne's hands wandered up and down Shana's naked body, tracing lines from her shoulders to her hips and back, ignoring the pain that shot through her sprained hand when she moved it too much. She marveled at the change in Shea's breathing at the tender touches, how it hitched, then continued, faster and even more uneven than before.

Their lips parted and Anne moved her mouth to Shana's neck, nibbling, licking, whispering over skin that erupted in goose bumps wherever she went. The surge of power that went through Anne was unbelievable, the knowledge that she alone would ever make her lover feel that way making her lightheaded. She gasped loudly when Shana's hands cupped her breasts, and thumbs played over rapidly hardening nipples. The moan that came from her mouth was low and sensual, and Shana moaned simply in sympathy at the sound.

Two sets of hands explored, teased, touched until neither women could stand the air between their bodies any longer. Anne leaned back, pulling Shana with her, and both women groaned when their naked bodies came into full contact. "Oh, Shea, I want you so much," Anne breathed into her lover's ear, sucking the lobe into her mouth for good measure.

"Oh, Anne," the blonde groaned when she felt the discovered that her earlobe had a direct connection to her core. "I want you," she growled. All she knew was that she wanted to feel Anne inside her, hard and fast. Their lovemaking the night before had been slow and gentle, and Anne had never entered her, but something told Shana that that was not what she wanted now. "Take me, Anne," she breathed, "make me yours, please."

Anne looked into her lover's eyes and saw a need in them that matched her own. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything Shana interrupted her. "Don't ask me if I'm sure, love," she said firmly, and pushed her wet curls into Anne's mound to show her how ready she was.

The brunette growled and in one fluid motion rolled them over so that Shana lay on her back with Anne between her legs. "Yes," the blonde breathed when Anne's lips closed around her nipple, sucking and biting. "Oh, yes!" Her hips began moving of their own accord, pushing up into Anne, showing her lover that she wouldn't hold out long this morning. Anne moved from one nipple to the other, leaving behind a wet trail.

Shana feared she would come just from the way Anne was making love to her breasts, but that wasn't what she wanted. She entangled her hands in Anne's black mane and tried to push her lover to points further south. "Anne, please … please," was all she could moan when the relentless attack on her breasts didn't lessen.

"Please what?" Anne asked before she could stop herself. She hadn't wanted to play the power game with her lover, but the question came so easily. So easily.

She was surprised when Shana answered with complete trust and without reservation. "I need you inside me," Shana ground out, "please … inside … me."

Anne couldn't stop the tears that streamed down her face. How did I ever deserve this woman? She vowed there and then that she would do whatever Shana wanted from her, now and forever, protecting her, loving her, and, right now, giving her release. She let go of the wonderful breasts she was feasting upon and began a slow trek down Shana's body, alternating licks and gentle bites all over her lover's stomach. When she dipped her tongue into Shea's navel, the blonde groaned loudly, giving Anne a preview of sounds to come. Almost too soon she reached the blond curls that covered her lover's mound, and she placed a kiss just above them.

Shana's whole body was burning, fire pulsing through her veins and little sticks of dynamite exploding wherever Anne's lips touched her body. She arched her body into her lover's touch, pressing as much of herself as possible into the woman she loved, needed, wanted. Her hands were wrapped in silky black hair, clenching and unclenching. When Anne let loose with a groan that sounded more like pain than pleasure, Shana loosened her grip and grabbed the headboard instead, needing its solidity to ground her.

Anne trailed her fingertips through Shana's damp curls. "God, you're so wet for me, baby," she breathed in excitement. Shana's body lifted almost completely off the bed when Anne's finger grazed her swollen clit. "Oh, Anne, yes… yes!" was all she could think of or say.

The brunette delighted in her lover's reactions and for a second regretted that it would be over soon. But she wanted to give Shana what she wanted, so she traced her fingers along her lover's outer lips with gentle determination.

Shana felt as if her body was completely out of control. It writhed in passion and need, overwhelming her with feeling. She couldn't think, only feel, and she realized somewhere in between sensations that she had never felt that good. It was even better than the night before, and she had never thought that possible. When she felt Anne's long fingers pausing against her entrance, she pushed her hip up in an attempt to draw her lover inside her.

Anne slowly, carefully entered her lover for the first time with one finger, restraining herself, not wanting to push too hard when all her instincts told her to fill Shana as deeply as possible. She moaned at the feeling of hot silkiness surrounding her finger, and she had to put conscious effort into not coming herself at the sensation. She pushed her aching clit against the mattress, trying to alleviate the pressure that was building up inside her.

Shana wanted more, needed more. The pressure was becoming more and more difficult to bear, but still she needed more. "More, please," she pleaded with her lover who reacted almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Anne's finger eased completely into her, as far as it would go, but still it wasn't enough. "More, baby, please." Shana's voice sounded almost as if she was in pain.

Anne almost followed her instincts and Shana's pleas and pushed more fingers into her lover, but she stopped herself at the last second. Would that hurt the baby? She had never slept with a pregnant woman before and was suddenly insecure.

"Anne, please," came another demand.

"What about the baby?" Anne got out between breaths. "Will it be okay?"

"Oh, yes, it's … going to … be okay," Shana panted, and cried out when Anne's fingers filled her completely. Anne pushed two fingers deep inside her lover, and began stroking her in a rhythm that matched the movement of Shana's hips against her. When her lover's movements got more frantic, Anne pulled out and added another finger, stretching Shana's inner walls, which clenched around the fingers almost immediately.

Shana saw colors exploding behind her closed eyelids and her heart stopped beating as she felt Anne pull out and enter her again, filling her even more. "Oh, God, yes!" she cried as everything seemed to crash inside her and all around her, the world tilting for one glorious moment. She came, hard, yelling Anne's name, letting go of the headboard and digging her fingers into Anne's shoulders as her body gave in to the ultimate pleasure.

Anne knew she was close to coming herself when she felt her lover's orgasm begin. Shana's muscles clenched around her fingers, holding them in place, tightening as wave after wave of pleasure pulsed through her lover's body. When Shana cried her name and gripped her shoulders, Anne pushed deeply once more. In reaction, Shana raised her leg, bringing her knee up against Anne's painfully swollen clit, pushing her over the edge as well with a sharp cry. "Oh, Shea!"

Anne didn't know how long she had been lying there, her fingers still buried deep inside Shana, when she felt her lover pawing weakly at her back. She looked up and met tear-filled green eyes. "Please, hold me," Shana whispered.

Anne withdrew her fingers from Shana's body, and watched the aftershocks ripple through her body. She placed kisses on her lover's stomach and nipples as she crawled up her body. Then she gathered the blonde into her arms and kissed her head. "I love you, Shea," she whispered hoarsely. "You are so beautiful."

Shana tightened her hold on the woman she loved, telling her with her complete body that she returned the feeling. The intensity of her feelings made her cry, but she didn't want to stop the tears from falling.

"Are you okay, darling?" Anne asked when the first tear hit her breast.

"Yes," Shana nodded, splashing another tear on her lover's body. "Intense." She couldn't really say anymore, but she also knew that she didn't have to.

"I know," whispered Anne as she closed her eyes, "I know."

She lay on her back with the love of her life in her arms, listening to Shana's even breathing and watching the sun crawl across the sky outside of their little haven. She knew that beyond the door of their room problems awaited them, but all she could think of was the peace she felt in her body, her heart, and her mind when she held her lover in her arms.

And with that thought she followed Shana into the land of dreams once more.

*******************

She thought of her sexual encounters in the past. Most of them were based on sex as a tool of power, and she had dominated the women who had come to her bed. Some she had even humiliated if it suited her needs or if she felt like it. Some encounters she couldn't even remember since she was too drunk at the time. Some she had forgotten because they had simply been forgettable. One, she hoped, she would never have to talk about to Shana. That one still filled her with shame. And then there was Carol.

She let her mind wander back to that time, several years ago. They had met in New York, the week Kevin was gay-bashed. Carol had suddenly appeared in the bowels of the tennis stadium and had told her she was a new security officer. She hadn't left Anne's side. Anne had been cool and aloof, being her irritating and cruel younger self. The self she had been since her brother's death and the incident with Shana.

But Carol had been relentless in her pursuit, and one day Anne had agreed to go on a date, more to get rid of her than anything else. She had never liked to be hunted--she was the hunter, 'the killer'--and she had decided to teach that young blonde a lesson.

And what a lesson it had been. They had met in the bar of Anne's hotel and had very soon gone up to Anne's room, where they had spent the night. Anne had pulled out every demeaning trick in the book, knowing it would turn her on and humiliate the blonde. She had tied Carol to the bed and had brought her to the brink of orgasm several times, but had always left her hanging. She had fucked her, repeatedly, without ever allowing her the release she craved.

The blonde had begged, but Anne had not relented. In the early hours of the morning, Carol had practically crawled on her knees before her, and Anne had finally given her release, more out of pity than anything else. Carol had passed out in her room, while Anne had gone out to find a bar where she proceeded to drink until she didn’t feel anything anymore. When she had returned to the hotel hours later, Carol was gone.

Throughout the whole night, she had never even taken off her clothes, let alone allowed Carol to touch her. She felt like shit about the encounter. She had taken the handcuffs, leather straps, whips and dildos she had used that night, stuffed them in a bag, and thrown them away. She had left the hotel, checking into another as soon as she had been sober enough to do so, just hoping that Carol had had enough and would stay out of her way.

Unfortunately, she hadn't. The blonde had wanted more, something Anne still couldn't understand. But the blonde kept asking her for repeat performances, swearing that she was in love with Anne. And with every passing day, Anne hated her more, hated what she herself had become. But she never touched the blonde again.

Then, the day before the final, Anne had returned from a run to a completely destroyed hotel room. Nothing was missing, but everything was strewn about the room. She had not been able to prove anything, but she had known it was Carol. Her gut had told her so. The one hint that had confirmed her suspicion was that in the center of the bed her most valuable possession had lain. A photo of Shana. Shredded beyond repair.

After that day, Carol had been gone from her life.

Now she was back, and Anne didn't have a clue if it was coincidence.

Shana stirred in her arms and brought Anne back to the nice things in life. She tightened her hold on her lover and gently kissed her to wakefulness, lips exploring a sleep-warmed mouth until it opened and responded.

"Good morning," Anne said after their lips had parted.

"Good morning," Shana beamed. "Can I wake up like that every morning?"

"As long as you want to, baby," Anne replied, "as long as you want to."

Now that they were both awake, Anne was determined to ask Shana to marry her, but she needed a few minutes by herself for that. She didn't want to root around in her haphazardly discarded clothes from the night before in search of the ring that was still in the pocket of her khakis. Before she could come up with a way to get the blonde out of the room for a couple of minutes, her lover squirmed in her arms and mumbled, "Bathroom," before she moved out of Anne's arms and the bed.