Title: Where the Music Matters (part 9)
Title: Where the Music Matters (part 9)
Words: 5.2k
Pairing: Santana/Brittany
Summary: Santana's a DJ, remixer and aspiring record producer who's never made an album of her own. With a new locale, new job, and a certain club owner that won't leave her alone; she's never been so inspired.
A/N: Much love and infinite thanks to abnab and lemasquerade for their beta ninja skills. Any remaining faults are mine. Cross-posted to AO3
As Brittany pulled into the marina Santana couldn't help but to scrunch her brow in confusion. She didn’t know why they were there. Not that the houseboats in front of them weren't beautiful, especially at that time of night with all the lights reflecting on the calm surface of the water. Santana was expecting a house on in the Magnolia area, where she knew Holly’s house was. She never would’ve thought she’d end up at the docks.
"I thought you lived with Holly?"
"I do." Brittany parked her car and turned it off, then looked at Santana with a shy smile, "But sometimes I need my own space. I love Holly and enjoy coming home to a not-empty house. But sometimes we need our own space. It's her house, you know." Brittany shrugged and then motioned for them to get out of the car. Santana got out, glad for the break in the rain, but wishing she had a warmer jacket. The temperature next to the water was cooler than she had prepared for. This day was such a random rollercoaster ride that she’s still trying to decide if it was good or not, what with all the surprises she had run into. Santana couldn't help but smile as she took hold of Brittany's hand. It was a good day, with an amazing finish, and it wasn't even over yet. Any day that ends with Brittany next to her was a good day. Santana followed next to Brittany as she led them down the docks, past row upon row of house boats.
"I needed my own place too. Something that was just mine. I think I've been slowly moving out of Holly's for a couple years now. Especially once her and Artie started getting serious."
Santana nodded; she'd been thinking about what she would need to do if Quinn and Mike wanted to become more serious. She knew that Quinn would never actually kick her out, especially since Quinn was the one to woo her to the city. Santana didn't feel like a burden-and she absolutely loved her studio-she just knew that sooner or later she'd have to leave. It was getting way far ahead of herself, but maybe, if things worked out, she'd be moving somewhere with Brittany. Santana gave herself a mental eyeroll-talk about a U-Haul moment-but at least they'd been smitten for some time now, even if Santana hadn't wanted to acknowledge it at first. She gave Brittany’s hand a squeeze of affection.
"Here she is." Brittany timidly bit her lip and waved her arm towards the sleek, modern house that was floating on water. Santana wasn't expecting the contemporary architecture. She was beginning to realize that this was just going to be a day full of unexpected things and that she really should’ve got on board with that a lot sooner.
"I thought it'd be a boat." Santana blinked at the elegant house and then at Brittany, who held an amused expression.
"Why, 'cause I'm quirky and colorful?"
"Well, not exactly." Santana scratched her head and shrugged her shoulders, she shot a glance back at the house, licked her lips and stepped toward Brittany, "I mean, I know you've got excellent taste, but you're someone who embraces the differences in life. So why wouldn't you take advantage of the opportunity to literally have a boat as a house?"
Brittany rolled her eyes and smiled, "Come on, let me show it to you."
"I'm excited.” Santana said as she followed Brittany through the door. She’d never get tired of that view. Brittany turned on the lights and Santana felt her eyes widen at the sleek industrial decor before her. The space felt warm and happy, which went against the feeling she usually had when greeted by houses with concrete floors and exposed wooden and steel beams. She shouldn't be surprised by the warmth, it was Brittany's place after all. Santana could probably spend a couple days just taking in the beauty of the house. “This place is gorgeous, Britt. It's hard to miss seeing the houseboats when looking at the bay, I always wondered who lived in them."
"All sorts," Brittany shrugged, and then pushed a button on the wall. The glass overhead door moved up and opened the space to the water. "Though, we don't interact much. I think we've all kinda chosen to live here 'cause of the solitude, you know?"
"It's beautiful." Santana gasped as she stepped to where the glass door had been; if she sat down she could put her feet in the cold water below. A part of her really wanted to feel the cool pain of the nearly freezing water on her feet. It’d been too long since she’d dipped her toes into the water anywhere other than a bath. She barely got to the beach in Los Angeles, traffic was a tedious thing to contend with when she was already worn out from work and needed to keep focusing on her music. Still, it’d been raining a cold, grey and windy rain all day, she didn’t want to risk getting a cold by sticking her feet in. "This must be perfect when it's hot."
"Oh, it's the best. My boat's ‘round the side," Brittany gestured with her hand. "I can just hop in anytime I like and be a dolphin."
"Or a gay shark."
"Exactly," Brittany grinned, and Santana would swear her eyes sparkled. "I kinda got it as, like, a beach house."
"Except..." Santana prompted at Brittany's hesitation.
"I've been spending more and more time here and less time at Holly's." Brittany shrugged and walked over to her kitchen.
"And it's become your home."
Brittany nodded and opened the stainless steel door of her refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of water, "Would you like something?"
"Water is perfect." Santana smiled and let her eyes take in the design of the kitchen. The combination of glass tiles and zebra wood cabinets captivated Santana's eyes. She’d always appreciated fine architecture and interior design, and if Santana were being honest with herself the look of Brittany’s houseboat was damn close to something Santana would choose for herself. She sat down at the island/bar and joined Brittany, who had her glass of water outstretched. She took it and looked down at the surface she rested it on. Santana didn't know what type of stone the counters were, but it's almost obsidian color with warm golden flecks of brown complimented the room wonderfully. In her exhausted state, she almost rubbed her face against the smooth surface for the comfort it exuded. She didn’t, thank goodness she was sober. "This place is beautiful, Britt. I don't blame you wanting to spend more time here."
"I feel bad though," Brittany shrugged and played with the condensation on her glass. "She gave me this awesome opportunity for a fresh start and a place to stay and how do I repay her? By slowly and sneakily moving out, like a dog moving his treats from one hole to another."
"Britt, I doubt that Holly would ever get mad at you for something like that. Shit, she's, like, the ultimate free spirit."
"You're shivering." Brittany put her hand on Santana's arm feeling the chilled skin, "Of course you're cold, your clothes are all damp and here I am opening up the huge ol' window letting more cold air in."
"Britt, it's alright." Santana laughed and shook her head. She moved her arm so that Brittany's hand slid down and into her own. "I honestly hadn't noticed until you just pointed it out. The beauty of your house is super distracting and feels really… I feel welcome."
Brittany dropped her head, but Santana could still see the rosy hue that appeared on her cheeks. Brittany stood up and lightly tugged Santana's hand, "Come on, lets get you into something warmer."
They moved upstairs, Santana appreciating the mix of warm toned wood and dark metal that comprised the staircase. She didn't know what she was expecting when she reached the top of the stairs, but nothing could've prepared herself for the simplicity of the decor and the beauty of the view before her. It was one thing to be on the water, but the simple change in a flight of stairs had shifted perspectives just enough to allow her to see more. Santana was so impressed by the view before her she almost completely forgot about Brittany being there with her.
"Wow." Santana let out a breathless laugh and turned her head to Brittany who was looking at her with a gaze she hadn't seen before. Santana thought she'd experienced most of Brittany's looks; this was new and intense.
"No one has been up here before."
"Why? This is," Santana gestured with her hand towards the glass wall in front of them. "This is amazing."
"It is," Brittany nodded and pulled Santana closer to the bed that was covered in a light orange comforter, "but this is my sanctuary, Santana. Friends are allowed to hang out downstairs all they want, but no one is allowed upstairs. I'm not someone who has a lot of rules or boundaries when it comes to friends and family, but..."
"Everyone needs their space." Santana nodded and squeezed Brittany's hand. She swallowed and took in her surroundings: most of the furniture was a dark grey that would get offset by a bright colored accent. There were magenta pillows on the loveseat next to the window wall, the pulls on the drawers of her dresser were yellow bars and the lampshades on her bedside tables were cyan. There wasn't much furniture up there-there wasn't much of anything-but it all just seemed to make sense to Santana. The space was calming to her. Santana was relaxed. She felt like she was inside one of Brittany's hugs. She couldn't help the soft smile that appeared on her face. "Thank you for letting me in, Britt."
"Yeah, well, you're the exception."
"I'm starting to understand that." Santana looked around the room, at the view before her and then back to Brittany. It all felt so right to her, when she never knew she had been off. The day finally caught up to her, the relaxing comfort of the room lulling her body into a suddenly dazed and sleepy state. Santana mumbled, "My back is really sore."
"I wondered about that, you bending over the controls like that." Brittany let out a chuckle and shook her head. She moved over to the dresser and started sifting through the drawers. Santana was captivated, her exhausted state removing any filters she might've had on her brain and just leaving her standing there slackjawed as she stared at her gorgeous girlfriend in her gorgeous home.
"I love you." It left Santana's lips before her brain was even conscious of the words forming. Brittany's actions stilled, her entire body froze and Santana couldn't even register it before her mouth continued. "I do. I think I've been in love with you since the very first moment I met you. When you sat down at my table with your enigmatic ways and spoke to me like you've known me, the real me, for my entire life." Santana stepped forward and Brittany turned around to face Santana, with a smile and tears running down her face. "I don't know why I kept resisting it. I mean, everything I did just led to you, like some giant universal sign that only I seemed to be missing."
"Well, you are a bit stubborn." Brittany walked over and wrapped her arms around Santana's shoulders.
"I am. I'm stubborn and kind of a major bitch, but not to you. It's like you've got some invisibility cloak and my stubbornness and vicious ways just don't see you.”
"Santana, I love everything about you. I've seen you make a group of grown men run crying from a club, purely from you verbally slaying them."
"It's not fair." Santana pouted and played with the hem of Brittany's shirt.
"What?"
"You've had all this time to know me; I've got a lot of catching up to do." Santana tried to fight it, but couldn't help the yawn that followed the sentence. The soft and soothing sound of the water lapping against the boat, along with the delicious smell of Brittany and her tumultuous day made it very difficult for Santana to not be sleepy.
"No, I'm an open book, love." Brittany leaned forward and placed a soft kiss upon Santana's lips, "I needed the extra time to get past all your walls and defenses, to get to know the true you. The you that exists in your music and in your heart." Brittany ran her fingers through Santana's hair, then softly said, "Why don't you take a bath, it might help your back."
"Mmm, that sounds like a delicious idea. You going to join me?"
"I'll take a bath of my own, downstairs." Brittany chuckled at Santana's pout. "My bath isn't large enough for the both of us, especially when you need it to relax your back."
"Okay," Santana sighed. Brittany intertwined their fingers and led Santana to the bathroom.
--+--
Santana stared into the mirror of Brittany's bedroom. She looked drained, and the soft yellow of Brittany's robe didn't help the pallor of her skin. It was a long day and the stress of the blackout didn't help her nerves, despite being absolutely confident that the performance was nothing short of amazing. Santana was still amazed at what they had managed to pull off that night, even if it took overcoming a huge personal hurdle. She yawned and rubbed her back as she watched a drop of water from her wet hair travel its way down her collarbone. Santana was exhausted and sore and she just wanted to go to sleep, but she didn't want to presume that they'd be sharing Brittany's bed. It was a large bed that looked really inviting and comfortable and the longer Brittany took downstairs, the harder it was for Santana to resist its pull.
"Your back's still sore after the bath?" Brittany walked stepped off the final stair, crossed the room and stopped just behind Santana. She met Santana's eyes in the mirror with a concerned expression.
"Yeah, it helped though." Santana yawned again and turned around, just as Brittany was leaning forward to throw her clothes into the clothes hamper next to the mirror. Their faces were inches apart, and Santana couldn't help but lick her lips. "Thanks."
"What's mine is yours," Brittany whispered before leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss upon Santana's lips. Brittany pulled away and said, "I know of another way to help. Take off the robe and lie face down on the bed."
"Wanky." Santana raised her eyebrow and didn't even fight the smile that came to her lips.
"I'm going to give you a massage," Brittany sighed and rolled her eyes. Santana knew better than to comment on the red flush that had taken over Brittany's face and cheeks. She shouldn't mess with her girlfriend like that, not when she was being offered a free massage.
Santana walked to the bed and untied her robe; she looked back over her shoulder at Brittany as she pulled it open. Brittany wasn't even looking; she had a hand over her eyes. Santana shook her head and let out a silent laugh at her gentlewoman. The simple act filled her entire body with a wave of warmth, the respect and affection implied was something Santana hadn't ever experienced before. She dropped the towel, moved the comforter back so she could lie on the sheets and crawled onto the bed. Santana had been right about how comfortable she thought the bed would be, it was like she were lying on firm clouds. She looked back at Brittany, who still wasn't looking.
"You know, you're allowed to look," Santana said softly. She appreciated the respect, but she knew that Brittany's gaze upon her body would feel even better. "I just ask that I get to do so as well."
Brittany immediately took her hand down and blinked her eyes open, finding Santana's eyes. She raised an eyebrow, smirked and pulled the robe she was wearing apart just enough for it to easily slide down her body. Santana's peripheral vision saw enough to know that Brittany was just as beautiful as she was inside, but her gaze was still locked onto Brittany's. It was as if they were having a staring contest, first one to break wins and loses. Santana was sure there was no downside to this situation; the woman she loved was naked and walking towards her with blue eyes that were slowly becoming darker and darker. Santana licked her lips and Brittany broke the eye contact to see the action and then they just kept on going. Eyes raking over Santana's beautiful dark skin and wonderful curves.
"You're beyond beautiful, Britt." Santana took in as much of Brittany's body as she could. Her small and pert breasts, her taut stomach, and the way her hips widened perfectly for her body. Santana was enthralled. If she hadn't been completely under Brittany's spell before, she would be bewitched by Brittany's hips now. She couldn't take her gaze off of them as they moved towards the bed, but managed to look away just in time as Brittany raised her knee to crawl up onto the bed.
"You know, you're allowed to look." Brittany had leaned forward, the tip of her breast alit the skin of Santana's back as she whispered into Santana's ear. Santana couldn't hold back the moan at the touch, nor her words repeated back to her. Santana tried to roll over, but Brittany stopped her. "Nope, I'm giving you a back massage. Stay there."
Brittany then crawled over Santana and placed her thighs on each side of Santana's hips. Santana gripped the sheets below her hands at the contact.
"Hey now, the massage won’t work if you're all tense, babe," Brittany teased lightly before lowering herself down to sit, her pelvis just below Santana's ass. Santana was going into sensory overload, it had been so long since she'd been intimate with anyone, and she was positive that none of her prior lovers had ever made her feel so comfortable. She couldn't help herself from her hips rolling backwards to meet Brittany.
"Ha," Brittany let out a startled noise at the unexpected contact from Santana.
"Sorry," Santana mumbled into the sheets.
"Nothing to be sorry about, my love, but please let me do this for you." Brittany placed her hands on Santana's shoulders. She refrained from moving until Santana gave a brief nod. Brittany kneaded the skin and muscles there interspersed with soothing strokes. Every once in awhile she would find a spot that would make Santana moan or roll her hips again.
"So good at this," Santana moaned out as Brittany was reaching Santana's mid-back.
"Anyone who's been a dancer knows how to do two things other than dance: stretch and massage." Brittany moved her fingers over to a certain spot and rubbed.
"Unh, strrrrrretching." Santana let out in a moan. If she had any wits about her other than how amazingly talented Brittany's hands appeared to be at making her a puddle of warmth, she'd probably be a bit embarrassed. In the moment though, she was too far gone. The exhaustion of the day combined with the waves of pleasure that Brittany was providing her had overpowered any semblance of thought. As Brittany slowly moved her hands lower to the small of Santana's back, Santana became aware of one certain thing: she wasn't going to last.
"Brrrit, I'ma-" Santana half moaned half mumbled into the sheets in an attempt to warn Brittany of what was to transpire. Brittany only took it as a sign to move her hands again to specific areas on Santana and continue her ministrations with more intent. It wasn't long before Santana fisted the sheets in her hands and rolled herself back into Brittany with a silent gasp.
Brittany lightened her touch on Santana's skin, languidly soothing down the muscles that had instantly become so tight and then released. She didn't stop until Santana rolled over and looked up at a smiling Brittany with a lazy smile of her own.
"My turn." Santana lifted herself up, grabbed Brittany's hips and attempted to move Brittany onto her back. Brittany didn't move, Santana's strength having not returned yet.
"You don't have to," Brittany smiled, leaned forward and stole a languid kiss.
"You need to relax too, my love." Santana pulled away only to swoop in and place a soft kiss on the underside of Brittany's chin. She continued to kiss her way down Brittany's neck, slowly leaning forward with each kiss, lick and light nip of teeth, until Brittany's breathing was labored and she was lying with her back to the bed.
"I'm better than-oh, yes-elaxed, San. I'm happy." Brittany sighed and combed her fingers through Santana's hair, not caring about her fingers getting tangled. Santana moved her lips lower, spending equal time appreciating both of Brittany's breasts with her mouth. Santana's hands traced patterns into Brittany's skin, playing her like her most coveted instrument. Santana became slower and slower with her ministrations and it only seemed to make Brittany whimper and shiver more.
Santana fought off the yawn that tried to break through her body. She was trying to pleasure her girlfriend, she shouldn't be yawning. But the lull of sleep, heavy from exhaustion, relaxation and pleasure finally brought Santana down into a deep sleep, right between Brittany's thighs.
--+--
The first thing Santana's consciousness registered was the sound of water softly lapping against a surface. The steady, relaxing and comforting sound made her smile and burrow deeper into her pillow. Once Santana eventually realized that this was not a normal sound she woke up to, her brain began to rouse itself even more. It wasn't some sound machine mimicking the peaceful sound of waves, but actual waves coming from nearby and not from speakers. She then noticed how the morning sun, though warm and comforting, was not directly in her face demanding her to wake up. This morning light simply surrounded her, allowing her to keep her eyes closed not out of necessity, but out of bliss. She didn't feel disoriented, nor did she feel worried about her unknown location. It was not a feeling she was accustomed to. In the past she'd practically thrown herself out of the room she'd been sleeping in before even fully rousing when she found herself in different waking up territory.
Santana rolled her head deeper into the pillow and inhaled deeply, breathing in the fresh cool air of the water, the light scent of fabric softener and a scent she had come to define as Brittany. Then it all clicked in Santana's mind and she became fully awake. She sat up immediately, a bit too quick for her still sleep addled brain and she had to place a hand behind her for stability. Santana rubbed her face with her other hand, then attempted to run her fingers through her morning hair while looking at the space on the bed beside her. Brittany wasn't there, but Santana wasn't worried that she'd been abandoned. It was a nice feeling, a warm feeling that started in her chest and spread throughout her body. Santana couldn't fight the smile that spread across her face, she loved that she trusted Brittany. (She loved that she was in love with Brittany. It was no longer scary and Santana briefly wondered when the fear suddenly vanished.)
Her hand was stuck in her hair. She yanked her hand out and scowled briefly at her hand like it was its fault that her hair probably looked like a tangled lion’s mane. Santana hadn't planned on the night going the way it did when she took her shower or she would've taken precautionary measures for her hair. She shrugged her shoulders; let Brittany get used to the way she looked in the morning. Santana wanted to keep Brittany around and the sometimes crazy morning hair was a part of that.
Santana yawned and stretched. The sheet that had been barely covering her chest fully fell and pooled in her lap. She looked at it with a lazy smile and then looked up and took in the room. She caught her breath. The way the warm orange of the sun hazily reflected off of all the neutral surfaces was beautiful. Santana briefly believed that she had been transported to some far off place where only she and this room existed. The only way it could be better is if Brittany were there with her. Santana pouted, perhaps she should go on a quest to find her girlfriend; not waking up to morning kisses would simply not do.
Spying a heather grey fabric ball on the floor, Santana crawled to the corner of the bed and reached for it. She had hoped that it was a tee shirt and was pleased to find her assumptions correct. Santana stretched again and tumbled out of bed with a thump. She giggled. Her body felt all sorts of relaxed and tingly; she hoped that her legs would be able to carry herself downstairs. Santana stood up and looked around while she tried to gain her balance. It was rare for her to get a full night's sleep, let alone sleep as deeply as she did. She felt beyond relaxed and it was taking her a bit to fully wake up, not that she minded. Santana looked around for her underwear, but couldn't find them. She shrugged, and looked at the hem of Brittany's tee shirt. It came to mid thigh, it's not like she'd be indecent or anything. Besides, it's not like Brittany hadn't seen her crotch before. Santana giggled, certainly not after last night.
...last night.
Santana's eyes widened, she slapped her palm against her face and groaned. Maybe she could sneak out and save herself the embarrassment. She'd never fallen asleep during sex before. Brittany hadn't even really touched her and...
She looked at the opened window wall and considered making a jump for it and swimming back to her car. Sure, the water was beyond freezing, but Santana was positive she could make it back to the dock before hypothermia or something set in. She yawned again and remembered how good it felt waking up. How amazing last night felt. Santana couldn't run away, she needed to stay and prove herself. Last night was a fluke, besides it wasn't like Brittany tried to kick her out or anything. Santana shook her head and inhaled a deep breath of air then descended the stairs.
Brittany had her hair up in a sloppy mess of a bun, Santana couldn't think of a more beautiful sight. She instantly knew that she wanted to spend many more mornings waking up to Brittany's messy hair. Santana no longer felt so bad about her own hair. Santana took in the rest of Brittany's outfit as she completed her descent of the stairs. Brittany wore a pale blue oversized dress shirt, it's sleeves rolled up past her elbow and the bottom of the shirt almost reached her knees. It was haphazardly buttoned and opened occasionally, exposing a milky thigh or an extra bit of clavicle as Brittany danced around her kitchen to music that was softly playing on the radio.
The food smelled wonderful. The coffee smelled even better. Santana felt as if her chest were about to explode with all the warmth that currently filled it. Brittany was making them breakfast. She was dancing and singing and making them breakfast like it was the most natural thing in the world and Santana realized that she didn't want anything other than this ever again. It all felt so right, like the final puzzle piece sliding into place and completing the picture.
Vocals from the music surrounding them suddenly registered in Santana's brain and she scrunched her brow. She recognized it, but her sleep addled mind was still fuzzy. Santana rolled her eyes and almost laughed when it finally registered. She slowly wrapped her arms around Brittany from behind, trying not to scare the woman who was flipping an omelette on the stove.
"How old is this mix?" Santana's tone held amusement and affection. Brittany hadn't jumped in the slightest at Santana's sudden appearance and for some reason it made the feeling in Santana intensify.
"This is the first one." Santana could hear the smile in Brittany's voice and squeezed her tighter, resting her chin on the slightly taller woman's shoulder. Brittany leaned her head and rested it against Santana's and hummed. "Just so you know that I'm not some total creeper, I'm actually listening to your radio station right now and not to one of my own recordings. Well, it is one of my recordings, but I didn't queue it up to play or anything."
"Wait, what?" Santana pulled her head back and loosened her hold on Brittany so she could turn around. Brittany did after moving the pan off the burner and turning the stove off.
"Well, I woke up early 'cause I needed to send Rory and 'Cedes last night's mix." Brittany's eyes widened and she straightened up, then blushed. She looked over at her laptop and coughed, "Which reminds me, we have an audience that I totally forgot about 'cause omelette."
"We, what?" Santana's voice didn't squeak, but it came close. She followed Brittany's gaze to see the screen of the laptop where a video chat window was opened and showing two screens, one with a beautiful dark skinned woman and the other with a dapper pale skinned man. They both grinned and waved. Santana hid her face into Brittany's chest and moaned, "Oh God."
"Oops." Brittany shrugged.
"I knew I should've put underwear on," Santana mumbled, sighed and then turned back at the screen.
"What?" Brittany whipped her head towards Santana, who ignored her.
"I've heard a lot about you two. My own personal marketing department it seems." Santana rested her elbows on the counter and leaned toward the laptop. She had sleep in her eyes and her hair was a mess, but she couldn't find it in her to care.
"Britt, girl, you okay?" Mercedes said and Santana turned around to catch a red faced Brittany staring at the bottom of Santana's tee shirt, or what was just below it now since the shirt had ridden up a bit with Santana's positioning at the counter. Brittany looked up and Santana smirked, winked and turned back to the laptop.
"She's fine. It's just hot in this kitchen that's all. So, how did you two like last night's set?"
Rory and Mercedes immediately started to talk over one another before they calmed down and interwove their comments on how they wished they were there for it. Brittany slowly came up behind Santana and cuddled into her, making sure to have as much of their bodies connected as she could. She rested her head on the crook of Santana's neck as she joined in on the conversation. Santana smiled and placed a kiss on Brittany's temple and thought to herself, 'Yeah, I definitely want this forever.'
Words: 5.2k
Pairing: Santana/Brittany
Summary: Santana's a DJ, remixer and aspiring record producer who's never made an album of her own. With a new locale, new job, and a certain club owner that won't leave her alone; she's never been so inspired.
A/N: Much love and infinite thanks to abnab and lemasquerade for their beta ninja skills. Any remaining faults are mine. Cross-posted to AO3
As Brittany pulled into the marina Santana couldn't help but to scrunch her brow in confusion. She didn’t know why they were there. Not that the houseboats in front of them weren't beautiful, especially at that time of night with all the lights reflecting on the calm surface of the water. Santana was expecting a house on in the Magnolia area, where she knew Holly’s house was. She never would’ve thought she’d end up at the docks.
"I thought you lived with Holly?"
"I do." Brittany parked her car and turned it off, then looked at Santana with a shy smile, "But sometimes I need my own space. I love Holly and enjoy coming home to a not-empty house. But sometimes we need our own space. It's her house, you know." Brittany shrugged and then motioned for them to get out of the car. Santana got out, glad for the break in the rain, but wishing she had a warmer jacket. The temperature next to the water was cooler than she had prepared for. This day was such a random rollercoaster ride that she’s still trying to decide if it was good or not, what with all the surprises she had run into. Santana couldn't help but smile as she took hold of Brittany's hand. It was a good day, with an amazing finish, and it wasn't even over yet. Any day that ends with Brittany next to her was a good day. Santana followed next to Brittany as she led them down the docks, past row upon row of house boats.
"I needed my own place too. Something that was just mine. I think I've been slowly moving out of Holly's for a couple years now. Especially once her and Artie started getting serious."
Santana nodded; she'd been thinking about what she would need to do if Quinn and Mike wanted to become more serious. She knew that Quinn would never actually kick her out, especially since Quinn was the one to woo her to the city. Santana didn't feel like a burden-and she absolutely loved her studio-she just knew that sooner or later she'd have to leave. It was getting way far ahead of herself, but maybe, if things worked out, she'd be moving somewhere with Brittany. Santana gave herself a mental eyeroll-talk about a U-Haul moment-but at least they'd been smitten for some time now, even if Santana hadn't wanted to acknowledge it at first. She gave Brittany’s hand a squeeze of affection.
"Here she is." Brittany timidly bit her lip and waved her arm towards the sleek, modern house that was floating on water. Santana wasn't expecting the contemporary architecture. She was beginning to realize that this was just going to be a day full of unexpected things and that she really should’ve got on board with that a lot sooner.
"I thought it'd be a boat." Santana blinked at the elegant house and then at Brittany, who held an amused expression.
"Why, 'cause I'm quirky and colorful?"
"Well, not exactly." Santana scratched her head and shrugged her shoulders, she shot a glance back at the house, licked her lips and stepped toward Brittany, "I mean, I know you've got excellent taste, but you're someone who embraces the differences in life. So why wouldn't you take advantage of the opportunity to literally have a boat as a house?"
Brittany rolled her eyes and smiled, "Come on, let me show it to you."
"I'm excited.” Santana said as she followed Brittany through the door. She’d never get tired of that view. Brittany turned on the lights and Santana felt her eyes widen at the sleek industrial decor before her. The space felt warm and happy, which went against the feeling she usually had when greeted by houses with concrete floors and exposed wooden and steel beams. She shouldn't be surprised by the warmth, it was Brittany's place after all. Santana could probably spend a couple days just taking in the beauty of the house. “This place is gorgeous, Britt. It's hard to miss seeing the houseboats when looking at the bay, I always wondered who lived in them."
"All sorts," Brittany shrugged, and then pushed a button on the wall. The glass overhead door moved up and opened the space to the water. "Though, we don't interact much. I think we've all kinda chosen to live here 'cause of the solitude, you know?"
"It's beautiful." Santana gasped as she stepped to where the glass door had been; if she sat down she could put her feet in the cold water below. A part of her really wanted to feel the cool pain of the nearly freezing water on her feet. It’d been too long since she’d dipped her toes into the water anywhere other than a bath. She barely got to the beach in Los Angeles, traffic was a tedious thing to contend with when she was already worn out from work and needed to keep focusing on her music. Still, it’d been raining a cold, grey and windy rain all day, she didn’t want to risk getting a cold by sticking her feet in. "This must be perfect when it's hot."
"Oh, it's the best. My boat's ‘round the side," Brittany gestured with her hand. "I can just hop in anytime I like and be a dolphin."
"Or a gay shark."
"Exactly," Brittany grinned, and Santana would swear her eyes sparkled. "I kinda got it as, like, a beach house."
"Except..." Santana prompted at Brittany's hesitation.
"I've been spending more and more time here and less time at Holly's." Brittany shrugged and walked over to her kitchen.
"And it's become your home."
Brittany nodded and opened the stainless steel door of her refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of water, "Would you like something?"
"Water is perfect." Santana smiled and let her eyes take in the design of the kitchen. The combination of glass tiles and zebra wood cabinets captivated Santana's eyes. She’d always appreciated fine architecture and interior design, and if Santana were being honest with herself the look of Brittany’s houseboat was damn close to something Santana would choose for herself. She sat down at the island/bar and joined Brittany, who had her glass of water outstretched. She took it and looked down at the surface she rested it on. Santana didn't know what type of stone the counters were, but it's almost obsidian color with warm golden flecks of brown complimented the room wonderfully. In her exhausted state, she almost rubbed her face against the smooth surface for the comfort it exuded. She didn’t, thank goodness she was sober. "This place is beautiful, Britt. I don't blame you wanting to spend more time here."
"I feel bad though," Brittany shrugged and played with the condensation on her glass. "She gave me this awesome opportunity for a fresh start and a place to stay and how do I repay her? By slowly and sneakily moving out, like a dog moving his treats from one hole to another."
"Britt, I doubt that Holly would ever get mad at you for something like that. Shit, she's, like, the ultimate free spirit."
"You're shivering." Brittany put her hand on Santana's arm feeling the chilled skin, "Of course you're cold, your clothes are all damp and here I am opening up the huge ol' window letting more cold air in."
"Britt, it's alright." Santana laughed and shook her head. She moved her arm so that Brittany's hand slid down and into her own. "I honestly hadn't noticed until you just pointed it out. The beauty of your house is super distracting and feels really… I feel welcome."
Brittany dropped her head, but Santana could still see the rosy hue that appeared on her cheeks. Brittany stood up and lightly tugged Santana's hand, "Come on, lets get you into something warmer."
They moved upstairs, Santana appreciating the mix of warm toned wood and dark metal that comprised the staircase. She didn't know what she was expecting when she reached the top of the stairs, but nothing could've prepared herself for the simplicity of the decor and the beauty of the view before her. It was one thing to be on the water, but the simple change in a flight of stairs had shifted perspectives just enough to allow her to see more. Santana was so impressed by the view before her she almost completely forgot about Brittany being there with her.
"Wow." Santana let out a breathless laugh and turned her head to Brittany who was looking at her with a gaze she hadn't seen before. Santana thought she'd experienced most of Brittany's looks; this was new and intense.
"No one has been up here before."
"Why? This is," Santana gestured with her hand towards the glass wall in front of them. "This is amazing."
"It is," Brittany nodded and pulled Santana closer to the bed that was covered in a light orange comforter, "but this is my sanctuary, Santana. Friends are allowed to hang out downstairs all they want, but no one is allowed upstairs. I'm not someone who has a lot of rules or boundaries when it comes to friends and family, but..."
"Everyone needs their space." Santana nodded and squeezed Brittany's hand. She swallowed and took in her surroundings: most of the furniture was a dark grey that would get offset by a bright colored accent. There were magenta pillows on the loveseat next to the window wall, the pulls on the drawers of her dresser were yellow bars and the lampshades on her bedside tables were cyan. There wasn't much furniture up there-there wasn't much of anything-but it all just seemed to make sense to Santana. The space was calming to her. Santana was relaxed. She felt like she was inside one of Brittany's hugs. She couldn't help the soft smile that appeared on her face. "Thank you for letting me in, Britt."
"Yeah, well, you're the exception."
"I'm starting to understand that." Santana looked around the room, at the view before her and then back to Brittany. It all felt so right to her, when she never knew she had been off. The day finally caught up to her, the relaxing comfort of the room lulling her body into a suddenly dazed and sleepy state. Santana mumbled, "My back is really sore."
"I wondered about that, you bending over the controls like that." Brittany let out a chuckle and shook her head. She moved over to the dresser and started sifting through the drawers. Santana was captivated, her exhausted state removing any filters she might've had on her brain and just leaving her standing there slackjawed as she stared at her gorgeous girlfriend in her gorgeous home.
"I love you." It left Santana's lips before her brain was even conscious of the words forming. Brittany's actions stilled, her entire body froze and Santana couldn't even register it before her mouth continued. "I do. I think I've been in love with you since the very first moment I met you. When you sat down at my table with your enigmatic ways and spoke to me like you've known me, the real me, for my entire life." Santana stepped forward and Brittany turned around to face Santana, with a smile and tears running down her face. "I don't know why I kept resisting it. I mean, everything I did just led to you, like some giant universal sign that only I seemed to be missing."
"Well, you are a bit stubborn." Brittany walked over and wrapped her arms around Santana's shoulders.
"I am. I'm stubborn and kind of a major bitch, but not to you. It's like you've got some invisibility cloak and my stubbornness and vicious ways just don't see you.”
"Santana, I love everything about you. I've seen you make a group of grown men run crying from a club, purely from you verbally slaying them."
"It's not fair." Santana pouted and played with the hem of Brittany's shirt.
"What?"
"You've had all this time to know me; I've got a lot of catching up to do." Santana tried to fight it, but couldn't help the yawn that followed the sentence. The soft and soothing sound of the water lapping against the boat, along with the delicious smell of Brittany and her tumultuous day made it very difficult for Santana to not be sleepy.
"No, I'm an open book, love." Brittany leaned forward and placed a soft kiss upon Santana's lips, "I needed the extra time to get past all your walls and defenses, to get to know the true you. The you that exists in your music and in your heart." Brittany ran her fingers through Santana's hair, then softly said, "Why don't you take a bath, it might help your back."
"Mmm, that sounds like a delicious idea. You going to join me?"
"I'll take a bath of my own, downstairs." Brittany chuckled at Santana's pout. "My bath isn't large enough for the both of us, especially when you need it to relax your back."
"Okay," Santana sighed. Brittany intertwined their fingers and led Santana to the bathroom.
--+--
Santana stared into the mirror of Brittany's bedroom. She looked drained, and the soft yellow of Brittany's robe didn't help the pallor of her skin. It was a long day and the stress of the blackout didn't help her nerves, despite being absolutely confident that the performance was nothing short of amazing. Santana was still amazed at what they had managed to pull off that night, even if it took overcoming a huge personal hurdle. She yawned and rubbed her back as she watched a drop of water from her wet hair travel its way down her collarbone. Santana was exhausted and sore and she just wanted to go to sleep, but she didn't want to presume that they'd be sharing Brittany's bed. It was a large bed that looked really inviting and comfortable and the longer Brittany took downstairs, the harder it was for Santana to resist its pull.
"Your back's still sore after the bath?" Brittany walked stepped off the final stair, crossed the room and stopped just behind Santana. She met Santana's eyes in the mirror with a concerned expression.
"Yeah, it helped though." Santana yawned again and turned around, just as Brittany was leaning forward to throw her clothes into the clothes hamper next to the mirror. Their faces were inches apart, and Santana couldn't help but lick her lips. "Thanks."
"What's mine is yours," Brittany whispered before leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss upon Santana's lips. Brittany pulled away and said, "I know of another way to help. Take off the robe and lie face down on the bed."
"Wanky." Santana raised her eyebrow and didn't even fight the smile that came to her lips.
"I'm going to give you a massage," Brittany sighed and rolled her eyes. Santana knew better than to comment on the red flush that had taken over Brittany's face and cheeks. She shouldn't mess with her girlfriend like that, not when she was being offered a free massage.
Santana walked to the bed and untied her robe; she looked back over her shoulder at Brittany as she pulled it open. Brittany wasn't even looking; she had a hand over her eyes. Santana shook her head and let out a silent laugh at her gentlewoman. The simple act filled her entire body with a wave of warmth, the respect and affection implied was something Santana hadn't ever experienced before. She dropped the towel, moved the comforter back so she could lie on the sheets and crawled onto the bed. Santana had been right about how comfortable she thought the bed would be, it was like she were lying on firm clouds. She looked back at Brittany, who still wasn't looking.
"You know, you're allowed to look," Santana said softly. She appreciated the respect, but she knew that Brittany's gaze upon her body would feel even better. "I just ask that I get to do so as well."
Brittany immediately took her hand down and blinked her eyes open, finding Santana's eyes. She raised an eyebrow, smirked and pulled the robe she was wearing apart just enough for it to easily slide down her body. Santana's peripheral vision saw enough to know that Brittany was just as beautiful as she was inside, but her gaze was still locked onto Brittany's. It was as if they were having a staring contest, first one to break wins and loses. Santana was sure there was no downside to this situation; the woman she loved was naked and walking towards her with blue eyes that were slowly becoming darker and darker. Santana licked her lips and Brittany broke the eye contact to see the action and then they just kept on going. Eyes raking over Santana's beautiful dark skin and wonderful curves.
"You're beyond beautiful, Britt." Santana took in as much of Brittany's body as she could. Her small and pert breasts, her taut stomach, and the way her hips widened perfectly for her body. Santana was enthralled. If she hadn't been completely under Brittany's spell before, she would be bewitched by Brittany's hips now. She couldn't take her gaze off of them as they moved towards the bed, but managed to look away just in time as Brittany raised her knee to crawl up onto the bed.
"You know, you're allowed to look." Brittany had leaned forward, the tip of her breast alit the skin of Santana's back as she whispered into Santana's ear. Santana couldn't hold back the moan at the touch, nor her words repeated back to her. Santana tried to roll over, but Brittany stopped her. "Nope, I'm giving you a back massage. Stay there."
Brittany then crawled over Santana and placed her thighs on each side of Santana's hips. Santana gripped the sheets below her hands at the contact.
"Hey now, the massage won’t work if you're all tense, babe," Brittany teased lightly before lowering herself down to sit, her pelvis just below Santana's ass. Santana was going into sensory overload, it had been so long since she'd been intimate with anyone, and she was positive that none of her prior lovers had ever made her feel so comfortable. She couldn't help herself from her hips rolling backwards to meet Brittany.
"Ha," Brittany let out a startled noise at the unexpected contact from Santana.
"Sorry," Santana mumbled into the sheets.
"Nothing to be sorry about, my love, but please let me do this for you." Brittany placed her hands on Santana's shoulders. She refrained from moving until Santana gave a brief nod. Brittany kneaded the skin and muscles there interspersed with soothing strokes. Every once in awhile she would find a spot that would make Santana moan or roll her hips again.
"So good at this," Santana moaned out as Brittany was reaching Santana's mid-back.
"Anyone who's been a dancer knows how to do two things other than dance: stretch and massage." Brittany moved her fingers over to a certain spot and rubbed.
"Unh, strrrrrretching." Santana let out in a moan. If she had any wits about her other than how amazingly talented Brittany's hands appeared to be at making her a puddle of warmth, she'd probably be a bit embarrassed. In the moment though, she was too far gone. The exhaustion of the day combined with the waves of pleasure that Brittany was providing her had overpowered any semblance of thought. As Brittany slowly moved her hands lower to the small of Santana's back, Santana became aware of one certain thing: she wasn't going to last.
"Brrrit, I'ma-" Santana half moaned half mumbled into the sheets in an attempt to warn Brittany of what was to transpire. Brittany only took it as a sign to move her hands again to specific areas on Santana and continue her ministrations with more intent. It wasn't long before Santana fisted the sheets in her hands and rolled herself back into Brittany with a silent gasp.
Brittany lightened her touch on Santana's skin, languidly soothing down the muscles that had instantly become so tight and then released. She didn't stop until Santana rolled over and looked up at a smiling Brittany with a lazy smile of her own.
"My turn." Santana lifted herself up, grabbed Brittany's hips and attempted to move Brittany onto her back. Brittany didn't move, Santana's strength having not returned yet.
"You don't have to," Brittany smiled, leaned forward and stole a languid kiss.
"You need to relax too, my love." Santana pulled away only to swoop in and place a soft kiss on the underside of Brittany's chin. She continued to kiss her way down Brittany's neck, slowly leaning forward with each kiss, lick and light nip of teeth, until Brittany's breathing was labored and she was lying with her back to the bed.
"I'm better than-oh, yes-elaxed, San. I'm happy." Brittany sighed and combed her fingers through Santana's hair, not caring about her fingers getting tangled. Santana moved her lips lower, spending equal time appreciating both of Brittany's breasts with her mouth. Santana's hands traced patterns into Brittany's skin, playing her like her most coveted instrument. Santana became slower and slower with her ministrations and it only seemed to make Brittany whimper and shiver more.
Santana fought off the yawn that tried to break through her body. She was trying to pleasure her girlfriend, she shouldn't be yawning. But the lull of sleep, heavy from exhaustion, relaxation and pleasure finally brought Santana down into a deep sleep, right between Brittany's thighs.
--+--
The first thing Santana's consciousness registered was the sound of water softly lapping against a surface. The steady, relaxing and comforting sound made her smile and burrow deeper into her pillow. Once Santana eventually realized that this was not a normal sound she woke up to, her brain began to rouse itself even more. It wasn't some sound machine mimicking the peaceful sound of waves, but actual waves coming from nearby and not from speakers. She then noticed how the morning sun, though warm and comforting, was not directly in her face demanding her to wake up. This morning light simply surrounded her, allowing her to keep her eyes closed not out of necessity, but out of bliss. She didn't feel disoriented, nor did she feel worried about her unknown location. It was not a feeling she was accustomed to. In the past she'd practically thrown herself out of the room she'd been sleeping in before even fully rousing when she found herself in different waking up territory.
Santana rolled her head deeper into the pillow and inhaled deeply, breathing in the fresh cool air of the water, the light scent of fabric softener and a scent she had come to define as Brittany. Then it all clicked in Santana's mind and she became fully awake. She sat up immediately, a bit too quick for her still sleep addled brain and she had to place a hand behind her for stability. Santana rubbed her face with her other hand, then attempted to run her fingers through her morning hair while looking at the space on the bed beside her. Brittany wasn't there, but Santana wasn't worried that she'd been abandoned. It was a nice feeling, a warm feeling that started in her chest and spread throughout her body. Santana couldn't fight the smile that spread across her face, she loved that she trusted Brittany. (She loved that she was in love with Brittany. It was no longer scary and Santana briefly wondered when the fear suddenly vanished.)
Her hand was stuck in her hair. She yanked her hand out and scowled briefly at her hand like it was its fault that her hair probably looked like a tangled lion’s mane. Santana hadn't planned on the night going the way it did when she took her shower or she would've taken precautionary measures for her hair. She shrugged her shoulders; let Brittany get used to the way she looked in the morning. Santana wanted to keep Brittany around and the sometimes crazy morning hair was a part of that.
Santana yawned and stretched. The sheet that had been barely covering her chest fully fell and pooled in her lap. She looked at it with a lazy smile and then looked up and took in the room. She caught her breath. The way the warm orange of the sun hazily reflected off of all the neutral surfaces was beautiful. Santana briefly believed that she had been transported to some far off place where only she and this room existed. The only way it could be better is if Brittany were there with her. Santana pouted, perhaps she should go on a quest to find her girlfriend; not waking up to morning kisses would simply not do.
Spying a heather grey fabric ball on the floor, Santana crawled to the corner of the bed and reached for it. She had hoped that it was a tee shirt and was pleased to find her assumptions correct. Santana stretched again and tumbled out of bed with a thump. She giggled. Her body felt all sorts of relaxed and tingly; she hoped that her legs would be able to carry herself downstairs. Santana stood up and looked around while she tried to gain her balance. It was rare for her to get a full night's sleep, let alone sleep as deeply as she did. She felt beyond relaxed and it was taking her a bit to fully wake up, not that she minded. Santana looked around for her underwear, but couldn't find them. She shrugged, and looked at the hem of Brittany's tee shirt. It came to mid thigh, it's not like she'd be indecent or anything. Besides, it's not like Brittany hadn't seen her crotch before. Santana giggled, certainly not after last night.
...last night.
Santana's eyes widened, she slapped her palm against her face and groaned. Maybe she could sneak out and save herself the embarrassment. She'd never fallen asleep during sex before. Brittany hadn't even really touched her and...
She looked at the opened window wall and considered making a jump for it and swimming back to her car. Sure, the water was beyond freezing, but Santana was positive she could make it back to the dock before hypothermia or something set in. She yawned again and remembered how good it felt waking up. How amazing last night felt. Santana couldn't run away, she needed to stay and prove herself. Last night was a fluke, besides it wasn't like Brittany tried to kick her out or anything. Santana shook her head and inhaled a deep breath of air then descended the stairs.
Brittany had her hair up in a sloppy mess of a bun, Santana couldn't think of a more beautiful sight. She instantly knew that she wanted to spend many more mornings waking up to Brittany's messy hair. Santana no longer felt so bad about her own hair. Santana took in the rest of Brittany's outfit as she completed her descent of the stairs. Brittany wore a pale blue oversized dress shirt, it's sleeves rolled up past her elbow and the bottom of the shirt almost reached her knees. It was haphazardly buttoned and opened occasionally, exposing a milky thigh or an extra bit of clavicle as Brittany danced around her kitchen to music that was softly playing on the radio.
The food smelled wonderful. The coffee smelled even better. Santana felt as if her chest were about to explode with all the warmth that currently filled it. Brittany was making them breakfast. She was dancing and singing and making them breakfast like it was the most natural thing in the world and Santana realized that she didn't want anything other than this ever again. It all felt so right, like the final puzzle piece sliding into place and completing the picture.
Vocals from the music surrounding them suddenly registered in Santana's brain and she scrunched her brow. She recognized it, but her sleep addled mind was still fuzzy. Santana rolled her eyes and almost laughed when it finally registered. She slowly wrapped her arms around Brittany from behind, trying not to scare the woman who was flipping an omelette on the stove.
"How old is this mix?" Santana's tone held amusement and affection. Brittany hadn't jumped in the slightest at Santana's sudden appearance and for some reason it made the feeling in Santana intensify.
"This is the first one." Santana could hear the smile in Brittany's voice and squeezed her tighter, resting her chin on the slightly taller woman's shoulder. Brittany leaned her head and rested it against Santana's and hummed. "Just so you know that I'm not some total creeper, I'm actually listening to your radio station right now and not to one of my own recordings. Well, it is one of my recordings, but I didn't queue it up to play or anything."
"Wait, what?" Santana pulled her head back and loosened her hold on Brittany so she could turn around. Brittany did after moving the pan off the burner and turning the stove off.
"Well, I woke up early 'cause I needed to send Rory and 'Cedes last night's mix." Brittany's eyes widened and she straightened up, then blushed. She looked over at her laptop and coughed, "Which reminds me, we have an audience that I totally forgot about 'cause omelette."
"We, what?" Santana's voice didn't squeak, but it came close. She followed Brittany's gaze to see the screen of the laptop where a video chat window was opened and showing two screens, one with a beautiful dark skinned woman and the other with a dapper pale skinned man. They both grinned and waved. Santana hid her face into Brittany's chest and moaned, "Oh God."
"Oops." Brittany shrugged.
"I knew I should've put underwear on," Santana mumbled, sighed and then turned back at the screen.
"What?" Brittany whipped her head towards Santana, who ignored her.
"I've heard a lot about you two. My own personal marketing department it seems." Santana rested her elbows on the counter and leaned toward the laptop. She had sleep in her eyes and her hair was a mess, but she couldn't find it in her to care.
"Britt, girl, you okay?" Mercedes said and Santana turned around to catch a red faced Brittany staring at the bottom of Santana's tee shirt, or what was just below it now since the shirt had ridden up a bit with Santana's positioning at the counter. Brittany looked up and Santana smirked, winked and turned back to the laptop.
"She's fine. It's just hot in this kitchen that's all. So, how did you two like last night's set?"
Rory and Mercedes immediately started to talk over one another before they calmed down and interwove their comments on how they wished they were there for it. Brittany slowly came up behind Santana and cuddled into her, making sure to have as much of their bodies connected as she could. She rested her head on the crook of Santana's neck as she joined in on the conversation. Santana smiled and placed a kiss on Brittany's temple and thought to herself, 'Yeah, I definitely want this forever.'