12. Gianna

Gianna had moved to Rose Bay for a fresh start. She had hoped that she'd reinvent herself, forget the past and forge a better future for herself, without being haunted by the ghost of girlfriends past. In some ways, it had been good for her. She was close to Bianca, which was nice, and there were people she liked and enjoyed spending time with. Still, outside of her sister, there was no one she really felt connected to. Wasn't that why she'd ended up spending all her free time on an anonymous Internet forum, trying to connect with a total stranger, anyway? Because there was nobody around that she truly cared about?

It took Jade coming into her life again to make her realize that the issue wasn't really her ex-girlfriend. Sure, Jade was absolutely a problem—the end of their relationship had been traumatic and caused Gianna to question her own self-worth—but it wasn't about her. Not really. It had just seemed easier to run away than stay where everything haunted her.

Now, having finally had that much-needed closure with her ex, Gianna realized that she missed Sweet Hill. She had belonged there. She knew the community, her colleagues respected and admired her, and she felt like she fit. She didn't miss Jade—it had been nice to reconnect and talk things out, but when she'd kissed her goodbye in the parking lot and watched the blonde drive away, off to wherever her next project took her, it had filled her with an incredible sense of relief. There was nothing there anymore. Absolutely nothing. Gianna could go back to Sweet Hill without having to worry about running into her ex randomly. If she did, it would be fine. It didn't hurt anymore.

"I can't believe you're doing this, Gigi," Bianca sighed, tossing another book into a cardboard box on the living room floor. "You have got to stop running away whenever some chick hurts your feelings."

Gianna shook her head vehemently, picking up the big green potted plant in the corner and heaving it up into her arms.

"It's not about that," she insisted wearily, having already explained this to her sister a dozen times. "I told you. I miss Sweet Hill, and Doctor Frame was happy to let me come back. People actually respect me there. I don't have to compete with stuck-up nepotism hires whose mommies are friends with the director."

"Yeah, but it's definitely not about Scarlett, huh?" Bianca retorted sarcastically with a dramatic eye roll.

Gianna mirrored the expression with a deep grimace, glaring at her baby sister. Yes, it had hurt her feelings that Scarlett had completely rejected her, and now she no longer had the one single connection that had made her feel like being here was manageable. And sure, maybe she might have stuck around a little longer if Scarlett had shown any interest in exploring that intense online connection they'd had further, and maybe that part stung a little. A lot. But still.

"No, it isn't, Bee," she lied defensively. "There's no future for me here. Scarlett's going to get the promotion, and I'm never going to have a fair shot at any career advancement here. Back home, it might take a few years, but I know for a fact that my proposal will be seriously and fairly considered. They respect me. They trust me there."

"Yeah, okay, whatever you say," Bianca sighed in exasperation.

They spent a few more hours packing boxes, sorting out what to keep and what was going to the nearest donation bin. Throughout it all, both sisters were sullen and snappy, neither particularly happy about the turn of events. By the end of it, though, they still hugged tightly at the door.

"Alright. I'll bring Raoul on Friday, and we'll get everything loaded up into the moving truck," Bianca declared as they embraced at the front door.

"Thank you, chica," Gianna mumbled back quietly, giving her little sister an affectionate smile.

Bianca headed home, leaving Gianna alone in an apartment that was now full of half-packed boxes and bubble wrap. Her beautiful, cozy little nest had transformed into this bare and bleak version of itself. Cocoa, at least, was thrilled about the situation, jumping from box to box to see which one was most suited for napping in. Well. Somebody had to be having fun, right?

After a quick shower, Gianna poured herself a glass of wine and flopped onto the couch. God. So much to do. And so many mixed emotions to sort through, too. Her mind drifted off as she absentmindedly watched Cocoa bat at the trailing ribbon of empty tape dispenser with his paws, growling playfully.

Just as she was starting to drift off, lulled into relaxation by the combination of the cozy domestic scene and the lovely chardonnay, the doorbell rang. Really? What was with people showing up unannounced at night these days? Groaning audibly, Gianna pulled herself to her feet, grumbling to herself and smoothing out her clothes in an attempt to look presentable despite wearing an old tank top and sweatpants.

"Coming, coming," she announced as she dragged her feet over the floor, opening the front door.

Nothing could have prepared her for the sight that greeted her when she opened the door. Scarlett Miller was standing in her doorway, looking absolutely gorgeous and nervous, dressed in an elegant white blouse that offset her auburn hair and pale complexion beautifully. Her stunning hazel eyes were wide, almost frantic, full of trepidation and anxiety. The redhead cleared her throat.

"Hi," she whispered hoarsely, "sorry for showing up like this. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time. Can I please come in?"

Gianna blinked repeatedly in shock. For a moment, she wondered if she'd fallen asleep on the couch and this was one of those weird and confusing dreams she'd been having intermittently since first meeting Scarlett. The ones that usually ended with her waking up alone and unsatisfied. Still, she stepped aside and allowed Scarlett to walk past her into the entryway.

"Thanks," the stunning redhead replied, casting her eyes nervously around the mostly packed apartment. "Are you moving?"

"Oh. Yeah," Gianna confirmed with an awkward shrug. "I'm going to go back to Sweet Hill. I called the director, and she offered me my old job back. I'll be out of your hair by next week. Congrats on the promotion."

Scarlett looked at her for a moment. Her piercing gaze seemed to be searching for something, roaming all over Gianna's face and taking her in. It was disarming but oddly pleasant. There was an intensity in those hazel eyes that sucked all the oxygen out of the air and left the atmosphere crackling. "It doesn't feel like much of a win when my competition quit," Scarlett remarked.

Gianna shrugged casually, trying to still her racing heart as she looked at the other woman's face. Every single time they ended up in the same room, she felt herself reduced to this frazzled mess of nerves and heat. Scarlett drove her insane. Crazy in love, crazy in lust, and just plain crazy in general.

"I was never going to get it anyway," she answered calmly. "This is your kingdom, Doctor Miller. You've made it perfectly clear that I'm not welcome here, so I'm getting out of your way. That's all."

Scarlett flinched visibly at that, averting her gaze to stare down at the floor instead. She remained silent for a long while. They stood there awkwardly in the hallway, surrounded by cardboard boxes and piles of stuff, and neither knew exactly how to break that silence.

"Yeah, about that," Scarlett finally spoke, her tone sheepish and ashamed. "I owe you an apology. I've treated you terribly. Especially the other day, in the locker room. When I realized that you were the person I'd been talking to and opening up to and sharing all those feelings and secrets with, it terrified me. I've never felt so close and connected with anyone before in my life, and I've been scared all my life of really facing that part of myself. I panicked, and I lashed out. I'm sorry."

Once again, Gianna stood in stunned silence, unable to form a coherent sentence. Her heart skipped a beat at Scarlett's admission, doing cartwheels and somersaults all over her chest. To hear that she wasn't the only one who had been overwhelmed by their connection—that Scarlett had felt it, too—it filled her with a warm and giddy sense of hope and happiness. Finally, she gathered herself enough to nod.

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "that means the world to me. Uh, this place is a bit of a mess right now, but would you like to come in anyway? I have wine."

Scarlett lit up like the sunrise. It was a rare, genuine, unguarded smile, so radiant that Gianna felt a sudden warmth blossom in her chest and spread all the way through her fingers. Oh god. This woman was stunningly, unfathomably beautiful.

"I'd like that very much," Scarlett said softly.

They migrated to the large, white, L-shaped sofa that dominated the living room, surrounded by cardboard boxes. Gianna fetched them each another glass of wine and sat down beside the redhead, nervously trying to think of something to say. Cocoa sauntered out from wherever he'd been hiding, meowing indignantly, and hopped up onto the couch to settle in Scarlett's lap without hesitation.

"Oh, hi there," the redhead laughed affectionately, petting the orange tabby enthusiastically as he pushed his head into her hand. "I've heard about you. Aren't you a sweet boy?"

Cocoa purred loudly, rolling around in her lap to show her the optimal places to scratch and rub, demanding to be adored. Gianna smiled brightly at the sight, feeling some of the tension dissipating from the space between them.

"I can't believe I'm jealous of a cat right now," Gianna joked, reaching over to run her fingers through her tomcat's soft fur.

Scarlett blushed furiously at that, biting her bottom lip to fight the grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Are you really?" she asked.

Their eyes locked instantly, and Gianna nearly choked on her breath at the warmth and vulnerability in that gorgeous hazel gaze. Gone were the walls and pretense, and in its place was a beautiful, fascinating woman who Gianna couldn't help but feel drawn toward. She inched closer subconsciously.

"I was so disappointed when you said no to meeting up," she admitted softly. "I mean, I understand it, and I'd never want anyone to feel pressured into something they're not ready for, but I wanted to so badly. I kept imagining what it would be like, to meet you and have all the secrecy and distance be gone, to just be with you, whoever you were."

"Me too," Scarlett confessed breathlessly, her hand slipping slowly out from under the cat to rest on Gianna's knee. "This is all so new and frightening to me. I've spent thirty-seven years denying this part of myself, ignoring it and pushing it away, and I just wasn't ready yet, but I never stopped thinking about it. I think, on some level, I hoped that it was you. You're the most intriguing person I've ever met. And the most attractive, that's for sure."

Gianna couldn't help but giggle like a schoolgirl who just found out that her crush liked her back. Ugh, how embarrassing. Scarlett seemed to find it endearing, though, and she started laughing, too.

"I can't believe we've been chatting this whole time and didn't know it was each other," Scarlett chuckled lightly.

"Right? I feel so stupid," Gianna agreed with a playful chuckle. "And relieved, honestly. The things we talked about, the connection we had, it meant the world to me. I've been going crazy without DrHeart to talk to. And send dirty messages to, too."

A delicious smirk appeared on Scarlett's face as she scooted in even closer. Her porcelain cheeks were bright red now, her pupils dilated. Despite her embarrassment, though, she held Gianna's gaze, seemingly determined not to chicken out this time. She took Gianna's hand, their skin brushing together softly and sending shivers racing down the brunette's spine.

"Uhm, this is all new to me," the redhead stammered, "but I'm willing to try if you are."

Gianna's grin grew devilish. She nonchalantly pushed Cocoa down onto the floor. He glanced at the women irritably before disappearing off around the corner to rest on the heated tiles in the bathroom. They watched him leave, and Gianna burst out into amused laughter once more before turning back to Scarlett.

"Well, I happen to be an excellent teacher," the brunette drawled suggestively.

She leaned closer and cupped Scarlett's cheek gently, tenderly stroking her thumb along Scarlett's jawline. The redhead shuddered in response, letting out a little shaky breath. Their noses touched for a second, then their foreheads. Scarlett let her eyes flutter shut, and Gianna tilted her head slightly, moving in to bridge that final gap between them.

It felt like a thousand fireworks exploded in the air at once when their lips finally brushed together. Gently at first, slowly, like they had all the time in the world for this, just exploring and tasting. Then, with more need and urgency. Soft moans escaped both of them as they melted against each other, hands wandering and pulling each other closer. For what might have been forever, they just let themselves sink into that passionate, magical kiss, tongues dancing and swirling around each other, breaths mingling, bodies pressed as close as physically possible.

Finally, reluctantly, they parted.

Scarlett stared up at her with a dazed, enchanted expression, her gaze full of wonder and desire. Gianna had never seen anything so beautiful in her entire life. She ran a trembling finger across Scarlett's reddened lower lip, feeling the way the soft, delicate skin trembled with each of Scarlett's ragged, excited breaths.

"So excuse me if this is too forward, but would you like to sleep over tonight?" Gianna asked eagerly, running her fingers along Scarlett's neck and shoulder. "I haven't packed up the bedroom yet, so it's a lot cozier than it is here. If that's okay."

Scarlett nodded enthusiastically. It was her turn to giggle for a second before she seemed to realize how ridiculous it was, and she quickly cleared her throat and pulled herself together, trying to compose herself into her usual self-assured persona.

"Yes, absolutely, that sounds wonderful," she agreed, "lead the way."

"Mmm, yes, ma'am," Gianna teased, standing up and reaching for Scarlett's hands.

They could barely keep their hands off each other long enough to collapse down onto the bed. By then, Gianna's fingers were furiously at work unbuttoning Scarlett's blouse, while the redhead was fiddling with the clasp of Gianna's bra. In-between frantic kisses and feverish nibbles of earlobes and necks, clothes scattered onto the floor haphazardly. They tumbled down into the silken sheets together, clinging to each other as they made up for every second they'd spent not kissing and touching since the day they'd met.

"I've never done this before. With a woman," Scarlett breathed out hurriedly.

Gianna pulled back and smirked reassuringly. She pushed herself up onto all fours, hovering over the redhead, gazing down at the beautiful, lean body below her.

"Just lie back and let me take care of everything," Gianna purred.

She placed a slow, lingering kiss on Scarlett's neck, making the redhead shiver underneath her. Carefully and patiently, she placed a trail of little kisses down from the collarbones, across her breasts and stomach, all the way down to the top of her thighs. When she reached her target, she teasingly avoided it, nipping at her inner thigh instead. Scarlett let out a tiny whine of frustration.

Gianna positioned herself between Scarlett's legs, lifting them to rest on her shoulders before leaning down. She started with small licks, then long and tantalizing, until she felt Scarlett squirm under her, trying to get more pressure. The redhead's hands knotted in Gianna's hair, pushing her down encouragingly, and Gianna grinned triumphantly as she worked her tongue faster against Scarlett's clit.

"Oh, that feels amazing," Scarlett gasped out above her, writhing in ecstasy.

Gianna looked up, eyes sparkling with mischievous delight. She moved to hold Scarlett's waist tightly, gripping her hips and pinning her in place, then went back to working her magic. It was intoxicating to watch Scarlett fall apart at her touch, her muscles quivering, her breathing shallow and desperate, her back arching off the bed in pure pleasure. When she came, her fingers clenched desperately into fists as she moaned uncontrollably.

When Gianna resurfaced, the two of them exchanged a tender smile, their gazes locked in a trance of lust and admiration. Gianna settled down into the crook of Scarlett's neck, planting gentle kisses along her ivory skin. As the orgasm wore off, the redhead's eyelids grew heavy, and she relaxed into Gianna's embrace.

"Wow," Scarlett murmured weakly, her voice rough from moaning. "So how can I return the favor?"

Gianna laughed gleefully as she gazed down at Scarlett's naked body sprawled out next to her in the messy sheets. This was even better than she had imagined it would be. She traced a pattern on Scarlett's hip with one lazy fingertip, biting her lip seductively.

"Mmm, I have some ideas," she purred.

Scarlett moved onto all fours and straddled Gianna. This was something Gianna had definitely fantasised about. Scarlett naked and ready for her.

Scarlett's hair was loose and messy for what seemed the first time ever, she had never looked more beautiful. She leaned down and kissed Gianna's neck gently. Gianna felt her body responding. She knew she was wet and she was getting wetter by the second. Scarlett's kisses became more passionate and more insistent as they began to move down her body.

Scarlett's warm mouth took her nipple in and sucked it hard. Gianna gasped and felt her back arching as she wanted more and more of Scarlett's mouth on her. She ached for Scarlett and if she was honest with herself, she had ached for her for a long time.

Gianna yelped as she felt Scarlett's teeth on her nipple. A beautiful pain/pleasure conundrum flooded through her body.

"Ugh… Fuck…" she cried out.