New fic: Four Suites and One Room, Part III
Title: Four Suites and One Room
Author: chilly_flame
Rating: M
Pairing: Andy/Miranda
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything associated with The Devil Wears Prada. Too bad.
Notes: This story is for corby1970 , who bid for this story and subsequently made an amazing donation tohelp_haiti . This might not be exactly what you asked for, but in any case, thank you, corby1970 , for your generosity. Thanks also to everyone else in the comm who dug deep and made donations of your own, plus of course my appreciation for my ever-present beta, Xander.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!
3. The third time, they were both sober.
This was different for Andy because her desire to be completely enveloped by Miranda was so sharp as to be almost unpleasant. Over the following weeks, her memories of the event were more melancholy than sexually charged.
“I’m in San Francisco, Daisy,” Miranda had told her over the phone early that afternoon. “At the Mandarin. Would you care to meet me?”
It was a Monday, and Andy had to work a party that night. Luckily she was on camera only, with a producer who would head back to the studio and cut the segment for the 11:00 broadcast. “When?”
“Tonight. Tomorrow I fly out at 10-there’s a dinner I need to attend, but Phillip is here, and it’s imperative that I see everything today, and--”
“I’ll call you right back,” Andy said, and hung up.
After she did so, she wondered if Miranda would even pick up again, but she had to hurry to check the flight listings.
Fifteen minutes later, Miranda answered the phone. “Your manners are impeccable,” she said instead of hello.
“I land at 11, and can probably be in the city by midnight.”
There was a pause. “That’s rather late.”
“I have to work, but I don’t care. If I time it right I’ll walk right on the plane in Burbank and take off by 10.”
“Well,” Miranda said, sounding just a little impressed. “Fine. Room 4302.” She hung up.
Andy packed a small traveling case right away and threw it in her car before leaving for the Roosevelt. She did her makeup at red lights, which is something she’d sworn to never do, and tried not to sweat under her arms. On the red carpet, she was on fire, her energy fueled by thoughts of Miranda wanting her, Miranda kissing her, Miranda fucking her all night long.
“Girl, you look like a lightbulb,” her friend Danae said when the cameraman was packing up. A PR rep from Eileen Koch, Danae was usually at these nights, and she and Andy had become friendly in a distant kind of way. Andy didn’t claim to know her well, nor had she shared much about herself in return. That was typical of many of her friends in Los Angeles, other than Lily of course. Not that she’d seen Lil much these days-she had a hot and heavy boyfriend in Long Beach, so she was rarely home between his place and the gallery.
“Well, I’ve got plans,” Andy admitted, feeling a blush creep up her throat. “I gotta go now, actually.”
“Oh, come on-I brought a ton of friends. We’re going to Three Clubs for the burlesque show in like, fifteen minutes. Are you sure you can’t make it?”
“I’m sure,” Andy said, “but next time I’m in.” She kissed Danae’s cheek and skittered down the red carpet. Once in the car, she hauled ass up Highland, counting the minutes till the traffic thinned out. Skipping the freeway, she took surface streets and parked in the overnight lot at the Burbank airport. With fifty minutes to make it to the gate, she prayed for luck.
Remarkably, everything went off without a hitch. Thank god Miranda chose a Monday to come to California, otherwise who knew if she’d have made it at all.
The hour crept by slowly. As the plane descended into the Oakland area, Andy started to wonder what the hell she’d been thinking, flying to San Francisco just to spend a few hours having sex.
But as usual, there was a very simple explanation. It was Miranda. It always had been.
She didn’t know why Miranda still had such a hold on her, or why the hell she couldn’t let go after two years. She expected nothing from Miranda, even though she wanted everything. She was whipped, plain and simple, and no one else could measure up. She’d stopped even trying to look for another lover, or a boyfriend, or a girlfriend. It had to be Miranda, even for a few hours every few months.
After landing, she grabbed a cab. Sixty bucks later, she exited in front of the Mandarin and attempted to look inconspicuous as she strode across the lobby. In the elevator, her heart thumped so hard it seemed as though her whole body was vibrating. By the time she was in front of the door, she truly was trembling, struck by the fact that without the comfort of a nice buzz, she had no idea what to say to Miranda. It had been nearly three months since the last time they’d seen each other.
But she had no time to think any further about it, because the door swung open, and there was Miranda, in a pale skirt, ivory blouse and long pendant necklace. Her hair was perfect, and Andy could smell her perfume already, with its traces of gardenia and plumeria. Andy closed her eyes and inhaled. Paradise.
Without realizing it, Andy stood there for more than a few seconds, transported by the scent as Miranda stared at her. “Are you coming in?” Miranda asked, her voice catching a little. She cleared her throat.
Andy opened her eyes, and nodded. “Sorry I took so long.” She managed to make her feet propel her across the threshold, and Miranda closed the door. “I thought I--”
Her words were cut off when Miranda kissed her softly, so softly that Andy dropped her carrying case on the floor. She made a noise like a high moan as Miranda slid one hand into her hair. It felt incredible, and she realized how much she’d missed being touched. Being held. Being wanted and cared for, even if Miranda didn’t love her.
Once more she was reminded that this time together would be enough, because it had to be.
Gone was the urgency of their prior meetings, replaced by a languor that made Andy feel drugged. Miranda undressed her slowly, worshipping her skin with gentle kisses and caresses. Andy got lost, all her tension falling away with each moment. She could barely respond, her heavy limbs sprawled on the bed as Miranda hovered above her. “Andrea,” she said occasionally. And “beautiful.” And “lovely.” When Miranda finally placed her hand between Andy’s legs, she rubbed lightly and licked at her breast, murmuring words Andy couldn’t hear.
“Ohhh,” Andy sighed in delight. “Miranda. I waited so long…”
Miranda glanced up at this, as though she wanted to hear more. But Andy couldn’t say anything else with Miranda rubbing that way, and soon she was moving and lifting her hips and calling out as she came. A minute later Miranda tried again, and Andy was right there with her. With little effort, she came a second time. It was like she’d been storing her desire up, saving it to spill out onto Miranda all at once.
She drifted placidly for a few minutes, feeling comfortable and safe. When she opened her eyes, Miranda was watching her, eyes strangely blank. “Sorry,” Andy whispered. “I just felt so good I wanted to hold onto it for a little while longer.”
Miranda didn’t move. “What did you mean you waited?” she asked, almost in a whisper.
Andy blinked. She was so relaxed that she spoke before she thought. “I wait every day,” she breathed. “For you.”
Startled, Miranda broke eye contact and looked down at Andy’s naked body, gaze lingering at her shoulders in a curious manner.
“It’s all right,” Andy said. “I don’t mind. This is enough.”
Miranda didn’t reply, instead leaning to kiss Andy’s belly, rubbing her cheek against it. Andy combed through Miranda’s hair, continuing her caress even when lips moved down to press between her legs.
---
“I’d like to see you more,” Miranda said later as they lounged in the tub. The view from the suite’s bathroom was breathtaking, but Andy paid little attention.
“You would?” she asked, her heart leaping.
There was a pause. “Yes. I--I find myself thinking of you. Now and then,” she added.
Andy tangled her fingers in Miranda’s more tightly. Her breasts were slippery and warm against Andy’s back. “That’s nice,” she said, trying to sound calm and cool.
“Perhaps we could plan--” Miranda stopped again, as though weighing her words. “Something in advance. Choose a date to meet.”
Andy lifted their joined hands and kissed Miranda’s knuckle. “I’d like that.”
For a few minutes, they watched the Golden Gate sparkle and sway in the night breeze. It was peaceful, despite the excitement budding inside Andy’s chest. The silence was broken when Miranda said flatly, “I expect you’re rather good at your job.”
Andy shrugged. “I do all right.”
“Yes.” Andy waited. “And you’re enjoying Los Angeles.”
This time, her heart began to race so fast she was sure Miranda could feel it. “It’s okay,” she said very slowly, praying her voice wouldn’t shake. “I doubt I’ll stay forever, though. It’s not really home.”
Miranda nuzzled her temple, exhaling warm breath on her damp hair. “Mm. And where’s home?”
With closed eyes, Andy said, “I don’t know yet,” instead of New York. As long as you’re there.
---
Part IV.