Recurring Collisions

A/N: This story is strictly a flashback of Suzie and Moriah's escalating relationship. No present day scenes will occur in this one.

The events pick up after "Dream A Little Dream Of Me."

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I was doing the crossword in the Boston Globe on a lazy Sunday morning. The kitchen was so airy and inviting, I couldn't help but relax there in the early morning sun.

Technically, my living space was the small guest house in the backyard and use of the main house restroom plus the kitchen. Over time, though, my best friend/crush/landlord became more than comfortable with me when I was lounging in the kitchen or in her living room.

If I was in the kitchen, she would sit down next to me with a snack. If I was in the living room, she'd sit down next to me to ask annoying questions about the show or movie I was watching. I didn't feel guilty about being in her space because of our history. She'd always sought me out, and readily accepted when I invited her anywhere.

That day, I read an article from one of my favorite journalists on the front page of the newspaper then immediately gave up on the rest of the paper to do the crossword puzzle and read the funnies.

"Six letter word for 'primal drive.'" I muttered quietly as she came in to the kitchen.

"Morning, Mor!"

"Good morning." I still wracked my brain for something that would fit the across word of oboe. Instinct doesn't have a "b" and was the wrong number of letters. Another word--oh fuck--she was wearing a very sheer nightgown. My mouth hung open as she poured her coffee.

The outline of her figure teased through the mauve silk. I was a sucker for silk but this was so sheer, I could feel her hips in phantom caresses.

The hem stopped mid-thigh, and I followed the curve of her calves down to her bare feet. She turned around, and the peaks of her nipples were barely visible.

She looked at me while she stirred her coffee. Her hair fell over the side of her face as she smiled slowly.

"Libido." I said hoarsely.

"Sorry?"

"Uh--the--um--crossword. Another word for 'primal drive.'" I shook my head then looked down. The black and white type swam around the paper, and I felt as if I'd lost at least 30 IQ points.

I focused on writing "libido" in the column. She toasted some bread then spread butter and jam on it. She found a seat next to me then took the fashion section out from under my crossword puzzle, crossing her legs in front of me.

My eyes tracked the movement, and I caught a glimpse of her pink panties. I took a sip of my coffee, and the liquid dribbled over my chin a bit.

I cleaned myself off as my blood turned into a churning boil.

"What the hell are you wearing?" I asked pathetically.

"A nightgown. It's Sunday."

"I'm aware. You can't wear actual clothes?"

"This is my house, Mor. If I wanna walk around in the buff, I should be able to."

I pressed my fingers to my eyes, trying to erase the mental image her words painted. "I live here too! Even if it's temporary. You don't see me walking around in my underwear!" I tried to get it through her head.

"You could if you wanted! I wouldn't mind."

I groaned in frustration. I looked in her eyes finally, and she stared back, stubborn as hell.

"Fine!" I stood up then stormed out. Going back to my guest house, I paced angrily in the tiny space. Wrenching open a drawer, I pulled out the most expensive sports bra I owned. It was a silver piece with a slight sheen that showed cleavage and crisscrossed in straps across my back. It had tiny matching biker shorts that I stretched over my butt as well and they rode up a little.

I looked at myself in the mirror to see the peaks of my nipples were visible too. I fixed my breasts until they looked perfect in the bra then went back to her in the kitchen.

"All right! Let casual Sunday officially begin!" I said smartly as I walked back in and plopped down in front of her again.

She looked me up and down over the lip of her mug. She just hummed and went back to reading.

The minutes stretched agonizingly slow with not even our usual chatter to fill the air. My heart was clutched in an iron grip as my traitorous eyes kept sliding over to admire her. The way she pushed her hair back delicately when it fell onto her face. The way she grazed her legs against one another in the morning light.

I didn't finish the crossword puzzle that morning.

By midday in the middle of our Real Housewives marathon, I started to get more relaxed around her, and we started to banter like we always did. Her legs were still mostly bare, and the curves of her breasts were still teasing me whenever she shifted on the couch.

"I think I'd like to be in the cast for Beverly Hills," I said finally.

"Of course you would!" She exclaimed, rolling her eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Come on! I saw the way you were ogling Kyle Richards!"

"Oh."

"Yeah. Oh."

"Yeah, she's hot."

"You'd be a menace on a Real Housewives cast."

My eyes glazed over as I imagined working my way through the whole cast.

"Mor! Stop it!"

"What?"

"I can hear your filthy thoughts all the way over here."

I raised my eyebrow at her. "What about you?"

"Dubai."

"Figures..."

"What?"

"All their husbands are super hot."

"They're smart savvy businesswomen who are independently wealthy. But yes, I'm starting to lean towards the dusky skin tone recently."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, like you."

I gulped. "Yeah, I agree. You definitely need a little caramel latte in your life."

She hummed in assent as she ran a hand over her neck.

I'd been staring too long, and she turned to look at me. I blinked and turned back to the TV.

My heart refused to slow down for the rest of the show. All I fixated on was her bare skin and her closeness on the couch.

I wasn't completely sure if she was getting more handsy, brazen, and comfortable with me or if it was just me losing more self-control every day. Either way, I was about to combust in arousal every day and I wondered in a haze how much longer I could continue living with her like this.

My new editor/publicist was in talks with a second publishing company this month after a failed attempt with a horrible contract a couple of weeks ago. If it went well that week, I'd meet with them and draw up a potential new contract.

Suzie and I were going on almost a year of cohabitation. I was simultaneously trying to outline a new book, waitress enough to make a tiny amount of money a month, sell my finally-finished manuscript, and trying to not jump into bed with my best friend and semi-roommate, Suzie (who was straight.)

She went to the kitchen where her phone pinged, forgotten on the island. When she stepped in front of me on her way back to her end of the couch, I tapped the back of her knee with a foot, and she tumbled backward, squeaking out a yell. I grabbed her at her hip and led her fall to thump down heavily on my lap.

My fingers were clutched over the silk at her warm hips, and her bottom felt so lovely on my thighs. I held her securely, and she held on to my shoulder and bicep.

"Hi!" I grinned. "Glad you could drop in!" Her face was inches from mine. She froze with her eyes wide before snapping back.

"Mor! Let me go!"

"Sorry! Be a little more careful, though. You could get really hurt if you don't look where you step." I said seriously. I pushed her at the small of her back, and she scrambled to the other end of the couch.

She glared at me with red cheeks. "You did that on purpose!"

"What do you mean?"

She scoffed, and tossed on the couch, getting more comfortable. I grabbed a throw blanket and offered it to her. She snatched it angrily from me, tucking her feet under her as she covered herself.

I chuckled, finally content I'd thrown her off her game. Let her have a taste of her own medicine.

I got a text from Jesse, my best friend, and focused on my phone.

JESSE: yo, wanna come to the beach house this weekend? Bring your sexy lady so you can see her in a bikini.

ME: Yeah! That sounds great! When will you be there?

JESSE: Ashley and I will be there Thursday all the way through Tuesday.

ME: wow! Sounds like it's going well!

JESSE: dude! She's so hot. I think she likes me.

ME: lol I think so too... can I bring anything?

JESSE: naw I already had the kitchen stocked

ME: all right! If I can convince her to come, we'll probably be there Friday night, after her work, or Saturday

JESSE: cool, make sure you pack a little something-something to wear too. Operation: Seduction Junction is a GO!

ME: lol if you say so

He sent me an R-rated gif of Bert and Ernie doing unspeakable things to each other, making me roll my eyes at his crude humor.

"What?" She drawled.

"Oh, Jess is inviting me to his beach house. He's doing well with his new girl apparently!" I knew that would draw her in.

"Yeah? Who's his new girl?"

"Ashley, he met her at a benefit and they're going on two months already."

"Huh. Is she nice?"

"She's--um--expressive..."

"So, no."

"He says she's just a little oblivious. She says the wrong thing sometimes."

"Oh, sorry."

"Not your fault."

She chuckled, and we had a quiet moment.

"Wanna come?" I asked as casually as possible.

"Huh?"

"Yeah! The beach house is nice and the weather is surprisingly agreeable. So, wanna come?"

"Jesse would be okay with that?"

"Yes, I am always allowed a plus one." Purposefully hinting at other girls I'd taken.

She pursed her lips at that. "Okay, but I'm in the middle of a big order at work. I don't wanna take any days off."

"We can leave Friday night or Saturday morning if you'd like, and come back before Monday."

She scrunched her eyebrows up at me. "Yeah, Friday night would be nice..."

"Excellent! We can leave around 6, 7 and still make it by nine."

"Okay. What should I pack?"

"Uh. Casual clothes. Maybe one dressy outfit in case he has a party. Hiking shoes. And a bikini of course." I smiled devilishly at her.

"Ah." She nodded.

I watched as a housewife complained about her friend's passive aggressive behavior.

She was sprawled out, temptingly, on her side of the couch eating those damn red strawberries. My groin was about to explode, and I had to use every ounce of my willpower not to stretch over her and stick my fingers inside her. Jesus Christ.

Her already pink lips closed over the giant strawberry, and my eyes zoned in on the juices she slurped up.

She finished it and grabbed at another one, stretching her legs between us and rubbing them along each other.

Her mouth sucked in the juices, and suddenly her eyes locked onto mine.

Where before she shied away from my lustful gaze, now she grinned as she bit at her snack. The fucker.

I sniffed harshly then stood up to go get a snack from the fridge.

The cool air from the fancy fridge wafted over me; I let the cheese packages and the bottles of chilled beer distract me. It was, unfortunately, too early to start drinking. But I looked at the bottles of lager and felt the cold glass under my fingers from memory. I got one and twisted it open, chugging the cold sparkles down. I got another one and went back to the living room with it plus a bag of chips to distract me from her ridiculously sexy legs.

----

My brand name sunglasses made me feel so hot. I looked at myself in the mirror. My pompadour was flat and a curl rested over my forehead, almost touching the dark black aviators I had on. You couldn't see past them but I could see everything in soft shadows.

I went to the kitchen to finish packing our snacks for the trip and her thermos with cold lemonade.

I was wearing tight khaki shorts and an oversized blue linen button up. My leather shoes were a little cheeky and overdone, but I felt hot.

She came in to the kitchen to finish getting ready there. She had a perfectly good working mirror in her room, she didn't need to come into my space for this step of getting ready.

She drew close to the giant metal mirror leaning against the wall to the backyard's sliding doors and started to do her makeup. Her light blue sundress rode up a little from behind as she leaned closer to the mirror.

"What are we doing today?" She asked.

"Whatever you want. We'll get there late so we can rest if you want, or go out, or spend the night chatting with Jesse and his girl. He really won't mind whatever we decide to do."

"You want to hang out with him though." She stated as she put mascara on.

"Why do you open your mouth when you do that?"

"What?" She looked at me through the mirror.

"Why do you open your mouth when you're putting stuff on your eyes?"

She smiled lopsidedly. "I don't know, just concentrating I guess. Is it a problem?" She raised her eyebrows.

"No. Just wondering."

I looked at her while she opened her mouth in exaggeration while looking back at me.

I sniffed audibly then went back to packing our snacks. I lugged a pack of waters from the garage then set it on the island.

"Do you mind if we take this? We may need it."

"Sure!"

The road-trip was extremely enjoyable. She was relaxed, happy, and excited. I loved seeing her so uninhibited. We stopped and had breakfast at a diner, at eight at night.

She was so silly. She was so free.

------

"Hi Jess!" We got there at ten and he was all smiles.

"Hey! Glad you got here safe, Mo!" He hugged me then Suzie.

There was a blonde girl hovering behind him with a flimsy little top and pink boy shorts.

"Hi! I'm Moriah Branson, Jesse's friend!"

"Hi! Branson? But aren't you Latin?"

I smiled widely then looked at Jesse. He scratched the back of his head, and grinned awkwardly.

I looked back at the girl.

"Yes, dear. I am very Latin." I grinned winningly while I shook her hand.

She grinned back.

"What's your name?"

"Oh! Ashley Kensington."

"A-ha. Well, this is Suzie Kinsey, my friend." I led Suzie forward, and she smiled at the girl.

"Nice to meet you! I'm so happy Jesse's friends could come this weekend! He talks so much about you, Moriah!"

"Same here, darling." I smiled warmly at her. "Well! We'd like to go to bed. Do you mind, Jess?"

"No, let me show you to your room."

He gave a little kiss to Ashley and whispered something to her.

He walked us to our guest room. I knew where it was, he didn't need to escort us.

"Um... Sorry..."

I guffawed. "'Aren't you Latin?' Haha! She's hilarious!"

Suzie laughed.

"Whatever... So she's curious about stuff."

I went over to hold his shoulder. "I'm sorry, man. She's sweet. We'll behave, of course, I just thought it was a little funny."

He smiled slowly. "Sure, Maria Baquero."

"We could leave, you know?" I said playfully.

"No! Please stay. I'll try to get her a little less excited about your ethnicity."

I laughed and hugged him. "Thanks for the invite, man."

"Sure! We're having breakfast tomorrow at nine, wake up if you two can."

"Thank you, Jess!" Suzie came over to hug him too.

"Welcome, darling." He retreated out of our bedroom. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do! Oh, and feel free to raid the fridge!" He winked and slipped out.

I thumped onto the bed. I noticed it was a California King sized bed and not separate beds for Suzie and I.

"God! I'm tired!" I rubbed at my eyes.

"Maria Baquero?" She questioned.

I froze and silently cursed Jesse. "That was my birth name."

"And?"

"And I was a youthful idiot that thought that a--different sounding name would sell better in literature."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I had my name changed at eighteen, and I still regret it but--I don't exactly want to rebrand myself at this point." I said ruefully, being more honest with her than I'd ever been with Jesse.

"Oh." She sat down next to me.

"Yeah."

"Well, I like Branson. And I like Baquero too."

"Thanks." I smiled. "It kind of means 'cowboy.'"

"That suits you..." she smiled wickedly.

"Yeah, huh?" I smiled too, happy she was taking this so well. "I like your name too."

"Why?"

"Alfred Kinsey? The father of the gay spectrum? His research was instrumental in learning about the female orgasm and sexual fluidity."

Her eyes widened. "Oh."

I smiled placidly.

"That's cool..." she stood up and fixed her hair nervously in the mirror.

"Extremely!" I agreed. "So what do you wanna do? Go straight to sleep?"

"What do you suggest?" She made eye contact with me through the mirror.

"Hot tub!" I grinned.

"Okay! That sounds fun!"

"Excellent!" I jumped up and took my duffel bag to our en-suite restroom to change into a two piece suit.

I came out to see her looking at her phone on the bed.

"Ready! Want me to wait for you?"

"Yes, please." She looked me up and down, making me squirm in her gaze. She stood up to ruffle through her bag.

I was sitting on my side of the bed, and wrenched my gaze away when she started to strip.

Fuck! I grabbed at my phone frantically to fixate on my emails, ignoring her naked body just feet away from me. Stupid Jesse. This was more painful than if we were home, and she was in her underwear.

We padded to the kitchen, and I grabbed some towels from the linen closet on the way.

"What'd you like to drink?" I opened the fridge to spy what he had.

"Surprise me."

I hummed as I grabbed a Brie wheel, a tube of minced garlic and some fresh thyme. I wrapped it in aluminum foil and dressed it with a little olive oil and honey. The expensive convection oven in their kitchen was to die for. Oh, what thousands of dollars could afford. I looked at it fondly.

I turned it on then got the shaker and ingredients for our drinks from the liquor armoire.

I took the biggest shaker he had and the nicest vodka. I mixed everything while I chilled two martini glasses as I worked.

"Don't tell me... You were a bartender?" She looked at my movements as I shook the cold steel then rolled the shaker over my arm, catching it deftly and pouring the ice cold mix into two cups.

"Yes, actually! During college. I won't tell you how many cups I've broken."

"And how many college girls you've picked up?"

"I flirted. But it was mostly for tips. The girls weren't exactly my type."

"No?"

"College. Cheap bar. Straight girls. It was a recipe for disaster, and I didn't want the trouble... at the time."

"Huh." She sipped at her dirty martini as the bell rang for the melted Brie cheese. I grabbed some crackers and a serving tray as I led the way to the backyard deck. The air was fresh but not overly cold. The wind from the ocean was invigorating, and the sound of the waves was soothing.

I turned on the jets and heat on the hot tub then set up the food and towels down nearby. "Want the fairy lights on?"

"No, I kind of want to look at the ocean and the moon if you don't mind."

"Not at all! That's nice."

I tested the water, and it was already starting to heat up, so I stepped in. A jet hit the middle of my back, and I groaned in pleasure.

She daintily stepped up to the tub to dip a toe in. She hummed in delight, and eased into the churning water.

I was watching her every move avidly. Her two piece suit was lilac and had a darling bow tied at her back.

I sipped at my martini, continuing to watch her as she waded in the middle of the water, playing with the bubbles.

My center started to throb, so I shifted to focus on the dark night. The cold wind. The stars. Anything but her. She needed to rest too. She needed to feel safe. And--well--if I continued to look at her, I'd--want to take her, tonight.