Reece's Faith (22 page)

"Oh, Reece, you don't get it, do you?" Faith burst into tears again.

Reece's stomach twisted at the sound. "I make you cry. I'm not good for you."

The club owner jumped as two small hands wrapped around her middle and a kiss was placed on her back.

"Oh? You think so? I'll be the judge of what's good for me. I didn't start living until I laid eyes on you. So, you may think you know what's good for me, but you don't."

"I know that no one should ever make you cry."

Reece stood up and poured the coffee into a huge mug. She didn't want to lose physical contact with Faith, so she stood there at the counter despite the way her body felt standing upright.
I knew that from the first time I saw you, you were crying and it made me feel something new....intense. I know now, it broke my heart.

"I made you cry." Reece whispered.

"Reece, I was scared! I thought I'd lost you!" She felt the panic rise just at the thought of it. "I really thought I'd never see you again, and it scared me to death."

"And whose fault is that?" Reece asked bitterly.

"Both of ours. What is it that you said? It takes two to tango?" The actress turned Reece to face her.

"But only one to fuck everything up." Reece stared into forgiving green eyes. Even red mmed, they were beautiful to her. "I'm sorry." Her voice cracked and she spun away from Faith in embarrassment.

"What did she say?
The redhead stared at her lover's back in disbelief.
Well don't make a big deal of it, act normal..

"Reece, aren't you listening to me at all?"

"Yeah, I'm listening." She walked into the living room and sat on the coffee table, grimacing as the hot coffee burned her raw throat. She was a little angry with herself for losing it a second ago.

Faith got on her knees at Reece's feet. It was the only way she could make the stubborn woman look at her.

"You don't have to apologize, I attacked you. I was jealous, and I was being ridiculous. I should know better. I'm the one who's sorry. I love you so much. Please forgive me?"

"You shouldn't have to edit what you say to me. It's not fair." The tall woman opened her teary, bloodshot eyes and saw Faith on her knees, her eyes pleading with her for forgiveness.

"Get up. I never want to see you on your knees for me, Faith. Ever!"

Although Reece was as serious as a heart attack, and Faith knew exactly what she meant, the actress found the topless woman irresistible. She laid her head on a naked breast and sighed with relief at the comfort.

"Hmm, I can think of a few good reasons to be down here." Faith slid her hands up to Reece's waist.

The club owner's head pounded. She felt like there were wads of cotton under her eyelids and her throat felt like sandpaper. Still, Faith's statement tickled her somehow, and she began to laugh.

"Reece?" Faith was taken by surprise at this reaction.
What in the world?
Laughter was the last thing she expected. She looked up as the tall woman laughed and couldn't help but giggle too, it felt so good. Saving the rug from destruction, she took the coffee mug and placed it on the table.

Reece was nearly guffawing and when she snorted, Faith winced.

"Oh baby, that had to hurt," she chuckled reaching up and rubbing Reece's head.

"Like hell, Faith, it hurts like hell But I can't stop laughing.."

"Well, if I knew it was so funny, I'd have propositioned you on my knees much sooner." the redhead teased.

"Ohhh, God.. my head..." Reece wound down and wiped her eyes. "You have no idea the torture it was riding that bike.."

"You just remember that feeling the next time you get on that bike drunk. God Reece! Where the hell did you go off to?" Faith started to relive her fear. "What the hell were you thinking! You could have gotten yourself killed!" Her voice raised an octave and the tall woman shrank back in pain.

"Please, not now. I've been punished enough." she whispered.

"Yeah, well, this conversation isn't over. Come on, baby, let's get you in bed." Feeling bad about her lover's condition, she backed off the subject. Reece took the offered hand and followed Faith upstairs.

"So, are we ok?" The actress asked hesitantly.

Reece shrugged. "I guess so. I never really stuck around before. I don't know how this works. God, I'm so tired."

"I shouldn't have backed you into a corner. I trust you, I was being stupid."

Reece crawled into the big bed and sighed with pleasure when her head hit the pillow.

"You trust me." Reece repeated.
That felt good.

"I hope you can still trust me." Faith spoke quietly.

"I trust you Faith. I really do." She smiled.
That felt good too.

"Thank you, Reece. That means the world to me." She kissed the club owner's lips and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Mmm. I like that." Reece yawned and moved her head into the scratching nails. "Faith?"

"Yeah?" The smaller woman pulled the comforter over her exhausted lover.

"Frankie would have kicked my ass for this.. for you." Sad and sleepy blue eyes melted Faith's heart.

"I bet I would have liked this guy." She smiled.

"I'll take you to meet him one of these days." Reece turned over onto her side and closed her eyes.

Faith kissed her lover's ear and started to get up from the bed.

"Don't leave." Reece whispered.

"Oh honey, I have to go to work.."

"No. I mean even if I'm stupid.."

"Even if you're stupid, I won't leave you."

"Love you." She mumbled. "I wish I could show you."

Faith wondered about that statement from her groggy lover.
Show me? What does she mean show me? Unless... Oh Reece, that's why you've been so attentive lately? You think that you have to prove it to me by making love?

"I know you love me, baby, and you don't have to do anything but look at me to prove it."

Faith waited til her lover was snoring, and then stopped scratching her head. The actress stretched and yawned. The big bed looked so inviting and she frowned at it.
Stupid re-shoot. I look like hell today and John is going to give it to me good!

 
*  *  *

"Ohhh, Miss Thing!?!? You look hideous!" the make up artist hung his mouth open dramatically and ran for the under eye cream.

"Not today, John, not today. I'm cranky. This is your only warning."

"I have Nuprin, Aspirin, Pamprin.. all the 'prins,' sweetie."

"John.." Faith groaned.

"Good God! Look at your eyebags!" He reached for some other sort of remedy.

"Ugh, what is that stuff?"

"Hemorrhoid cream. Uh uh uh.. keep them closed, Louise, terrible things can happen."

"JOHN! You did not just put ass cream on my face!" Faith was horrified.

"Oh relax, Red, it's perfectly ok. How do you think Michele looks so good after a night of drunken bacchanalia?"

"But on my eyes?"

"Pardon me ma'am, would you like some cheese with that whine?"

"Fuck you."

The make up artist clutched his chest and staggered backwards, waving the tube of cream around wildly. "Oh this is it.. He gasped, "I'm coming Elizabeth.. it's the big one.."

"Ok, ok. Cut it out." she grinned. "I told you I was a cranky bitch"

"And I'm a hyper-sensitive queen. The twain should never meet."

Faith was relieved at John's insistence. If anything, his antics made her chuckle and that isn't a bad thing at all.

"So, Louise, wanna talk about it? Hmmm?"

"Not really, but I just know that's not the right answer."

The make up artist sucked in a loud exaggerated gasp.

"Lord lord lord! That neck! Give me Spike's phone number, young lady! We have to talk, man to man."

"Oh, don't ever say that to her face there, buddy." Faith snickered at the thought.

"Oh, like she's not butch. Please, sweetheart." He rolled his eyes and snorted.

"I'm talking about you calling yourself a man."

"Touche. So what's with the eyes? Hormonal?"

"We had a big fight."

"Ok, Chatty Cathy, I see it's all up to me then."

"We made up. Is that better?"

"Much. It would explain the teeth marks on your shoulder that seem to be going..." He peeked down the front of Faith's shirt.

"John! Get out of there." she slapped him in the head.

"Ooooo! She bit your titty! She's an animal!"

"Stop that!" She blushed. "I can't believe you looked!" Faith clutched her shirt against her chest.

"I'll show you mine.." John lifted up his shirt and stuck out his chest.

She couldn't help but grin at him. He really knew how to make her day more interesting. She poked him in the nipple and looked shocked when he tried to retaliate.

"Oh, you must get over yourself, sweetheart. They're adorably perky, but they ain't in no danger from me. I'd never be biting on anything so cute."

"Will you just stop? God!" She scolded. "Anyway, that was before the fight."

"Oh, I see." He pursed his lips and batted his eyelashes. "So you like it like that, huh?"

"Dunno yet, but I'll let you know the moment she ties me up and has her way with me." She gave the makeup artist an evil grin.

"Promises, promises."

"Watch it, wisenheimer, I'll have her come here and tell you how much she liked it herself. Maybe she'll even show you."

"Ok. Shutting up now. Don't sic her on me, she frightens me a little." He indicated how little with two fingers.

"She'd cut off her own hand before she hurt me. You, however.."

"I bet she doesn't even know her own strength. She looks like she drinks her milk alright... straight from the cow."

"Oh, now that's a pretty picture."

"I'm just saying.." He examined her eyes.

"John, the makeup please?" She clucked her tongue.

"OH, that reminds me of a movie, 'Liquid Sky'. Ever see that one? 'Chicken lady with the eyebags..' HA!" He cracked himself up.

"John." She glared daggers at him, pointing to her face.

"Yes, ma'am. Right away, ma'am."

 
*  *  *

Cori was waiting patiently outside the studio when Faith exited the building. The dancer had agreed to meet her and the two were going to go shopping.