Winter's Role, page 11
Stephanie looked at the pictures and nodded. “First of all, let me say that I didn’t choose that particular premiere to come out. I’d been thinking about it for a long time, but it just never seemed like the timing was right.”
“So, why now?” he asked, nudging her some more.
She shrugged. “I’d just begun this fantastic relationship with a woman who doesn’t live her life in the closet. I didn’t feel right, asking her to hide, and be someone she’s not.”
“And is it safe to say that you’re still in this relationship?”
Stephanie smiled a mysterious little smile, as her thoughts drifted to Jessie. “Absolutely. We’re one hundred percent committed to each other.”
Tom nodded, smiling. “And yet she still lives in…” he shuffled his notes around a bit, before coming up with, “Ohio?”
“For now, yes. We hope to change that eventually, but we’re making it work,” Stephanie answered. She hated trying to explain this to people. Everyone seemed determined to tell her how hard long distance relationships were to maintain.
Tom looked out toward the audience and then back at Stephanie. “Well Stephanie, before I ask you anything else, I have a surprise for you.” She looked at him curiously, preparing to ask him what he was talking about. He never gave her the chance however, as he said, “Ladies and Gentleman, Stephanie…Would you please all join me in welcoming…All the way from Ohio! Jessica Drake!”
Jessie, hearing the introduction, took one last deep breath and stepped out onto the stage. As she did, she put on her game face…the one she used when she was performing and smiled, waving to the audience as she walked over to join Tom and Stephanie. As she approached, she caught Stephanie’s eye and winked.
Stephanie, stunned at the introduction, couldn’t believe it when Jessie strode onto the stage. Dressed in her brown leather pants, black shirt and leather jacket, she looked stunning. She stood up and greeted Jessie with a hug and a kiss on the cheek as she arrived.
Jessie took the opportunity to whisper, “Hey Sweetheart, surprised?”
Stephanie nodded, still stunned. “Yeah, I am,” she whispered back. “How did you…?”
“Later,” she answered, releasing her. Jessie reached over and shook Tom’s hand in greeting. “Tom.”
“Jessica, or…May I call you Jessie?” he began.
“Jessie.”
“Jessie…First of all, I want to thank you for agreeing to fly all the way out here for the show,” he said, sitting back down.
“Happy to do it, Tom.”
“So, now that you’re here, I’d like for the two of you to tell me how you met,” the TV host said, waiting for their reply.
Stephanie, thrilled that Jessie was actually there with her, reached over and caught her hand. Squeezing gently, she began the story with walking into Jessie’s office that Monday morning. Together, they took Tom and his audience through the first few months of their relationship, ending with the movie premiere. True to his word, Tom only focused on the good things. Interjecting occasionally to ask a question, he allowed them to tell their story.
After the show, Tom invited them both back to his dressing room. Pouring each of them a drink, he sat down and thanked them again for agreeing to the interview. He particularly wanted to thank Jessie for flying all the way out to LA for an hour long show. Interviewing Stephanie was great, but Jessie showing up had made the show even better. Seeing the two women together made it easier for people to understand why they’d fallen in love. And, Jessie’s presence had certainly made the evening easier on Stephanie.
* * * *
Two hours later, Stephanie slid the key card into the door of Jessie’s hotel room. Joanie had waited around to give Jessie a ride back to the hotel, but Stephanie had insisted that she would do it. Now, as they entered the room hand in hand, Stephanie was positive that her idea had been the better one. She couldn’t imagine going home to an empty house knowing that Jessie was in a hotel room only a twenty minute drive away.
She smiled at Jessie as she shut the door and locked it. All the way to the hotel, Jessie had held her hand, rubbed her thigh or caressed her cheek, kissing her every time they had to stop at a traffic light. “So, what’s gotten into you tonight?”
Jessie leaned in and kissed her softly before answering. “I’ve just missed you so much.” She stepped into Stephanie’s personal space, forcing her to back up against the wall. “I’ve wanted to be with you since the minute I left. God, you’re so beautiful.” She whispered into Steph’s ear, nuzzling her neck. “The only thing I’ve wanted to do all night is kiss you.”
Stephanie moaned when Jessie’s breath whispered across her neck and ear. “Kiss me? That’s the only thing you’ve wanted to do?” Stephanie arched a brow and looked at her. Then, reaching out, she slid her hands under Jessie’s leather jacket and pushed it off to fall to the floor.
“Well, I could probably be convinced to do more than just kiss you,” Jessie said, smiling.
Stephanie smiled back and pulled Jessie to her, taking control of her mouth. Suddenly turning them around, she pressed Jessie against the wall. Between kisses, she whispered, “This is me, convincing you.” She slid her hands from Jessie’s shoulders down to begin unbuttoning her blouse. When she finished with the final button, she pushed the shirt off Jessie’s shoulders and began kneading her breasts through her bra.
Hands tangled in Stephanie’s hair, her head tilted back to rest on the wall, Jessie barely managed to speak. “Jesus, Steph…with convincing like this, I’ll do anything.”
“I don’t want you to do just anything. I want you to do it all,” Stephanie growled, pressing herself into Jessie’s body and taking control of her mouth again. This time, she only let Jessie go long enough for them to move over to the bed. Reaching down, she easily unlaced Jessie’s brown leather pants. Then, ever so slowly, she slid them down. Pushing Jessie down onto the bed, she pulled them off and tossed them into a corner.
Hours later, satiated, Stephanie lay with Jessie in her arms. Dozing off and on, Jessie was barely able to stay awake. Nuzzling into her neck, Stephanie whispered, “Jess? I’ve been wondering: Would you be interested in going on a vacation? A real one, I mean. Not just a few days away?”
Jessie, almost asleep, took a deep breath before answering. “A real vacation? Where would you like to go, Sweetheart?”
“Mmm,” Stephanie planted a series of small kisses down Jessie’s neck. “I was thinking about Greece.”
“Greece?” Jessie moaned at the sensations Stephanie was currently causing. “I’ve always wanted to go to Greece. When would you like to leave?”
“I was thinking about two weeks from now?” she wrapped her arm tighter around Jessie.
“I’ll talk to Mr. Mason as soon as I get back. I have a few cases I’m due in court for but I’m sure I can talk either Dana or Marcus into covering for me. They each owe me at least one,” Jessie said, smiling into Stephanie’s next kiss.
“Fantastic. Now, shut up and make love to me,” Stephanie said, rolling to her right and pulling Jessie over on top of her. Jessie, suddenly feeling more energetic, was happy to oblige.
* * * *
Nancy Winters picked up the phone on the third ring. “Hello?”
“Mom? Hi,” her oldest daughter’s voice came over the phone.
“Stephanie! I’m so glad you called, Sweetheart. What’s going on?” Nancy asked, wondering why Stephanie was calling this evening. She had been under the impression that Stephanie was preparing to go away on a vacation.
“Oh, I’m just trying to get ready for this trip, and decided to take a break. I thought I should call now, because I probably won’t have time to call tomorrow,” Stephanie answered.
“You sound tired. Are you okay?” Nancy asked, noticing the exhaustion in her voice.
“Yeah, I’ve just been running around, trying to get things ready.”
“So, are you getting excited? I can’t believe you’re going to Greece! I’ve always wanted to go there,” Nancy said enthusiastically.
“I can’t either, actually. I’ll just be glad when I finally get on the plane and we’re on our way.”
“How’s Jessie doing? Is she excited, too?”
Stephanie smiled when her mother mentioned Jessie. “She said she hasn’t been able to sleep for days. She’s never been to Greece, either.”
“And she’s meeting you at the airport in Columbus?” Nancy asked, confirming details of the trip.
“Yeah,” Stephanie answered. “I sent you an e-mail with our itinerary. Did you get it?”
“Yes, I’ve got it right here, Sweetheart,” Nancy said, looking over the printout. “You two are going to have so much fun. I want you to just forget about everything going on here, and not worry about anything for the next two weeks. I know things have been hard on you since the premiere,” Nancy said, referring to Steph’s coming out six weeks ago. Since then, there had been interviews, articles in magazines and pictures of Stephanie and Jessie together. Not all of them had been supportive, and she knew that Stephanie had been hurt by some of the less than favorable comments. Both women had been hurt, actually, but Jessie seemed to handle the pressure better. Either that, or she was just really good at hiding how stressed out she was.
Stephanie sighed. “Mom…we knew what we were getting into when we decided to do this. It’s nothing we haven’t been able to handle,” Stephanie said, reassuring her.
“I know, but it’s still hard for me to watch you go through all that. No one should have to endure questions about their personal life the way you two have the last two months.”
“It was our choice, Mom. It’s okay. Besides, the studio’s been behind me all the way, and Mr. Mason’s been great to Jess,” Stephanie said, grateful for that, at least.
“Well, that’s a relief,” Nancy said. “I’m glad they’ve been supportive of you, Sweetheart.”
“Actually Mom, it’s my personal business I wanted to talk to you about,” Stephanie said, biting her lower lip. She didn’t really want to talk about this at all, but she felt like she needed to.
“Oh?” Nancy’s voice rose a bit, not sure what Stephanie might be referring to.
“Yeah. Jessie mentioned something a while back that I wanted to talk to you about. Well…apologize to you is more like it,” she said, growing more hesitant.
Nancy was confused, now. “Apologize for what? You haven’t done anything to apologize for.”
“Remember the night we went to dinner with Julie…when you came to visit us in Ohio?”
“Yes.” She was still unsure where Stephanie was going with this.
“Well, apparently, you overheard us that night. You know…um…having sex?”
Understanding dawned, and Nancy hurried to say, “Oh! Stephanie, you don’t have to apologize for that. It’s not like I was unaware that you were sleeping together. I am an adult, you know?”
“Regardless, it was still rude of us to be so loud. Especially when we knew you were right downstairs. I’m really sorry we put you through that.” She was regaining her equilibrium, now. Her mother had always made it easy for her to talk about things like this, and for that, she was grateful. Especially right now.
“Stephanie…”
Stephanie cut her off. “Mom, I know I tell you everything. But…hearing it while it’s happening and hearing about it after the fact is two different things. Especially when it’s your own child. I can’t imagine what was going through your head, hearing us.” She was mortified, thinking about it. Her mother had heard them. That was bad enough. She couldn’t remember everything about that night. She just hoped they hadn’t been too wild, screaming things that no parent should ever hear coming out of their child’s mouth.
Nancy had heard enough. “Stephanie, I am the mother of four children. I’m very aware of what happens between adults in the bedroom. I understand that you’re embarrassed, but you don’t need to be. I’d actually forgotten about it until you brought it up. Or at least, I’ve tried to forget about it. You love Jessie and she loves you. I trust and love both of you. Your happiness is more important to me than anything, and Jessie makes you very happy. I didn’t need to overhear the two of you to know that. I see it every time I see the two of you together or you mention her name.”
“Oh, Mom…”
Nancy wasn’t finished yet, and didn’t allow her daughter to derail her thoughts. “You’re both young and beautiful with fantastic bodies. It’s nice to know that you enjoy each other so much. That’s the way love is supposed to be, Stephanie. Don’t you ever apologize for that.”
“I love you.”
“I know. Now, I’ll tell you what…I’ll pretend I never heard anything that night if you promise to never mention the incident to your father. I don’t think he could take knowing that you’re having sex with Jessie.”
“How could he not know? I mean, my God! I’m almost 31 years old. He has to know that I’m not his innocent little girl, anymore. Jesus, I was living with Jessie while I was in Ohio and she’s staying with me when she’s here.”
Nancy laughed. “He does, Sweetheart. He knows. He just chooses to pretend that you’re not. For now, we should just humor him.”
Stephanie, rolling her eyes, and not understanding the logic of what her mother was saying, finally agreed. “All right. If it will make him more comfortable, we’ll just pretend I’m still his innocent little girl.”
“Thank you, Dear. Now, you’d better get off here and get busy. You’re plane’s leaving early tomorrow, isn’t it?”
Stephanie sighed. “Yeah, it is. Thanks, Mom…for the talk. I’m really glad you’re my Mom.”
“And I’m glad you’re my daughter. I love you, Stephanie. Give Jessie a hug and kiss for me,” she said. “And have a great time on your trip.”
“I will. Bye,” Stephanie said, hanging up the phone. Setting it down next to her on the bed, she looked over at the suitcases on the floor. How did she manage to get so much stuff together for this trip? Sighing to herself, she got up and went over her list again. She was certain she’d packed things she didn’t need.
Chapter 9
It was late evening when they finally arrived at Athens International Airport in Greece. After disembarking, they were met at the security gate by their tour guide, Anieli. Leading them to the baggage claim area, they picked up their luggage and followed him to a waiting car.
Within thirty five minutes, he had brought them safely to their hotel, The Athens Ledra Marriott, in the heart of Athens. After they checked in, he led them to their room, where he promptly went over their itinerary for the next few days. They had chosen to begin with a private half day walking tour the following morning, allowing for their jet lag. After that, Anieli had scheduled a full day tour of all the historic sites, including the Acropolis, The Temple of Zeus and The Changing of the Guards.
Once Anieli had left for the evening, Stephanie called room service to order something to eat. The last meal they’d had was at Heathrow almost eight hours before and both of them were starving. By the time room service knocked on their door fifteen minutes later, they’d both changed into sweats and t-shirts. Jessie answered and tipped the young man as he left.
Their room had a balcony which overlooked the street, and Stephanie was already seated at the small table outside. Jessie carried their salads out and set them down, noticing the bottle of wine that Steph had already opened and poured out for each of them.
When Jessie sat down next to her, Stephanie handed her one of the wine glasses. “It’s so beautiful here, Jess. Thank you, for coming with me.”
Jessie accepted the wine and took a small sip. Stephanie had excellent taste in wine, and this one was no exception. “It is beautiful. But it’s not the city that takes my breath away.” She was staring into the green eyes again, as she picked up the other wine glass and handed it to Stephanie. “I’d go to the ends of the earth for you.”
Stephanie accepted the glass and took a drink, smiling at Jessie’s sweet words. “I’m so glad to get away from home, for a while,” she said, relaxing back into the chair and closing her eyes. “I know I said I was prepared for everything that would happen when I came out, but…I just feel so exhausted.”
“Well, on the bright side, things seem to have calmed down some.”
“True…I was getting tired of being asked the same thing over and over again,” Stephanie said, glancing over at her.
Jessie took in a deep breath and reached over to catch Stephanie’s hand with her own. “We have two weeks to decompress. Let’s just forget about home for a while and enjoy this.”
“I think I can do that,” Stephanie said, squeezing her hand. Her eyes lighting up, she reached over and pulled Jessie into a slow, deep kiss.
* * * *
Stephanie managed to talk Jessie into a shopping trip through the Old Agora Market two days later. She loved the atmosphere of the marketplace and really enjoyed talking to the shop owners. Around two, they found a small tavern and had lunch, before shopping some more. Jessie thought they must have hit every jewelry store, pottery store and every other store known to man that day, they’d shopped so much. She wouldn’t have traded it for the world, though…because it made Steph smile. Nothing made her happier, than to see Steph smiling. By the time they arrived back at their room around seven, they were both tired. All the walking had made them both grateful they’d opted for sensible walking shoes for the day, instead of trying to look fashionable.
Before going out for dinner, Stephanie decided to take a shower and wash off the dust. Jessie waited until she was sure Steph was in the shower. Then, pulling a business card out of the pocket of her jeans, she made a call. When she was finished, she rang for the concierge. Within moments, there was a knock on the door and Jessie answered.
