New Fic: Here to Stay, Part II
New fic: Here to Stay, Part II
Rating: M’ish
Disclaimer: They’re owned by Fox and Lauren Weisberger. Lucky bastards.
Notes: Beta-fabulous Xander gets kudos for suggesting the title, and for fixing what was busted!
This story takes place after Beautiful Things.
Part II.
When dinner was through, the group stood to reconvene in the large parlour off the dining room. It was a pleasant gathering, but he didn't plan on staying much longer. Andy disappeared to see the girls before they went to bed, and Miranda said she'd return shortly. Something about the Book that had to be taken care of immediately, she said. Typical.
Nigel took advantage of the respite to make his way downstairs to the back garden. He had a cigar in his pocket, and this was the perfect time to enjoy such a rare indulgence. Years ago he spent a little time in the small outdoor space, when Miranda had thrown a dinner party not unlike this one. Except Stephen had been in the picture back then, and the whole night, he'd felt nervous. Frightened, even. The tension had been thick, but Miranda had smiled pleasantly, as had Stephen. That's what freaked him out. They were bizarrely… nice.
Tonight, Miranda might have been quiet, and a little irritable, but at least she was herself.
When he stepped through the French doors, he gaped. The place had totally changed. Gone were the minimalist pebbles and rocks that had been the central theme. Now the scent of jasmine filled the air, and a small tree was in purple, brilliant bloom a few feet away. There was also some sort of cherry tree just coming into its own. Trees and ferns lined the bamboo-covered walls, and he was sure he heard the sound of running water. He stepped further into the dim space, and found its source. A fountain gurgled pleasantly near a table with four chairs around it. Huh. They must have had someone in to redesign, Nigel thought.
As he was about to strike a match, a light went on inside. Miranda was in the study; he guessed she was going to handle whatever it was that happened with the Book. But curiously, she did not sit down at the desk, or do anything, really. She paced for a few moments, impatient as ever. She crossed her arms and frowned. What was she up to?
He did not have to wait long to find out. Andy slipped in through the door, and wearing a blinding grin, she flew directly into Miranda's open arms.
You could have knocked Nigel over with a feather.
They clung to each other, and only then did Nigel realize that two of the windows were open out onto the garden. Thank god he hadn't lit the cigar. He might have been murdered otherwise.
Nigel knew he should go back inside. He was intruding on the privacy of two friends. At best, it was rude and voyeuristic.
He did not go inside. Instead, he moved closer, staying out of the light.
"God, I missed you so much," Andy groaned. Her hands moved along Miranda's back, then burrowed into silver hair as she nuzzled Miranda's neck.
He waited for Miranda's reply, but she instead turned Andy's head and found her mouth, kissing her. Passionately. Nigel rocked back on his heels. They moved as one, bodies crushed together, and Nigel saw a flash of tongue pass between them. He couldn't tell which one was making that low, purring sound, but he wished they'd stop; it was causing a tendril of arousal to course through his belly. He was drawn to the image, realizing an unspoken desire to see this hidden part of Miranda. The part he didn't believe existed.
When they separated, Nigel was almost relieved. That, however, was short lived, since Andy proceeded to push Miranda against the desk, leaning her back for another round. He realized then who was making that sound, and it wasn't Andy. He swallowed as Andy settled in between Miranda's thighs. When one elegant leg twined around Andy’s body, a lace band at the top of Miranda’s stocking came into view, but then Miranda’s blouse fluttered open, just like that. Andy had fast hands; he hadn’t even noticed her working on the buttons. Jesus. So much for not spotting the chemistry between them before now.
One of Andy’s quick hands vanished, and Miranda threw her head back with a gasp. “Oh god,” Miranda gasped. “God, Andrea, we don’t have time--”
“Yes we do,” Andy breathed.
“They’ll all know--”
“Who cares? I sure as hell don’t.” She did something then that made Miranda arch even further back, and Nigel shifted his stance, adjusting his suddenly snug pants. This was not good. But he was gripped by the sheer abandon on Miranda’s face. Andy was in complete control. They were both beautiful. And it was very, very hot to watch Miranda Priestly writhe in the throes of passion. “You’ve been thinking about me, haven’t you,” Andy growled. “I can tell.”
Miranda bucked against her. “Yes.”
“You’re already close.”
“Mm-hmm,” Miranda hummed, panting through her nose.
“Come on then.”
“Ah, almost,” Miranda whispered. “Please, please, oh, please.”
“God, I can’t wait to taste you tonight,” Andy said, and Miranda bit down hard on her lip and whined. “I am going to eat you alive--”
And Miranda came, her whole body convulsing at once, an expression of pure ecstasy on her face. And the sound she made… Nigel took an unsteady, silent breath.
Miranda sagged back on her elbows, exhaling mightily. Andy nuzzled her hairline, rubbing her face against her pale skin. She kissed a spot near Miranda’s ear before pulling back to meet Miranda’s gaze.
"Hi," Andy said.
"Hi," Miranda replied softly, and smiled.
Nigel's heart dropped into his stomach. He'd never in his life seen that look on Miranda's face. God, she was beautiful. She might as well have been a different person.
"Welcome home," Miranda added. "I missed you too."
“I can tell,” Andy teased. "Sorry I was late."
"I was worried."
"I know. I told the pilot that you might get him fired if we didn't leave on time, but it didn't make any difference," Andy said. Nigel assumed she was joking, but with Miranda, you never knew.
"It's all right. You're here now. And we should get back to everyone, since this went a little longer than I expected, for which I blame you entirely--"
"I know, and there's just one thing I wanted to tell you, since I had kind of a realization while I was gone." Andy started buttoning up Miranda’s blouse after wiping her hands off with a tissue from the desk.
"All right."
Nigel waited, wondering what sort of punishment he'd eventually have to suffer for overhearing this conversation. And seeing what he’d just seen.
"I changed my mind about Paris. I want to come with you after all."
Miranda took a breath, mouth open in surprise. "Oh."
"If you still want me to."
"Of course I do," Miranda said. "Of course. Yes."
"And you can think it over, but…I thought the girls might come with us. You could, you know, work, and see the shows, and hobnob, and during the day the girls and I could go around the city and check out what I missed the first time. They probably know Paris better than I do anyway, and we could be tourists, and then meet up with you later, after the parties. And then maybe take a day or two extra, after Fashion Week, to just… hang out. Or whatever." Andy swallowed. "What do you think?"
Miranda swept a strand of hair away from Andy's forehead. "What brought this on?"
Andy shrugged. "I don't know. I just…" She chewed on her lip for a moment. "I didn't like being gone for so long. I missed you, and the girls, and I thought about how it would be with you so far away for a whole week, and I… changed my mind. That's all."
"We'll stay an extra seven days at the very least,” Miranda said, as if the whole thing had been decided. “Some time in Nice would be lovely, and we could finish in Provence. There's a little winery I'd love to show you."
Christ, Nigel thought. Andy wasn't kidding about the romantic thing.
"Sure. I'll talk to Dixon tomorrow. I think I've earned some comp time over the last two weeks."
"He's an intelligent man. I'm sure he'll accommodate the request."
"I can always write an article or two while I'm there."
"Or you could take an actual vacation like the rest of the world does," Miranda complained.
"Oh, you mean like you do?" Andy countered.
"I will. This year I have reason to." Miranda’s hand crept low, hitching up the back of Andy’s already short dress. He saw a flash of red lace panties, and shook his head with a lecherous grin. Just when he’d relaxed enough to show himself in public…
“Mm, I want to wait,” Andy said, shaking off Miranda’s touch. “I like it when you owe me one.”
“Well then,” Miranda said. “I’d better give you something to think about until our guests take their leave.” They kissed once more, slowly, as if they had all the time in the world.
Nigel took his cue. They were distracted enough that even if he made a ruckus getting back in the house, they probably wouldn't notice. But he opened the French doors silently, and slipped upstairs. No one questioned his absence except James, and Nigel lied that he returned a call from his brother in Los Angeles. James accepted his explanation easily, and Nigel sat a little closer to him than he would have before. "Having fun?" he asked.
"Yeah. Miranda seemed a little… weird though. Am I crazy?"
"No. But you know how she is," Nigel said. It’s what everyone always said about Miranda.
Nigel caught up with Patrick for a little while, until Andy returned solo, looking chipper and unflustered. Nigel was impressed. She sat with Jocelyn, and Nigel heard her ask after Emily.
Miranda joined them not long after that. She was more talkative than before, and she actually laughed a little when he made a joke. He watched Andy when that happened, struck at how visibly enamored she was. She did not even attempt to mask her affection. Guileless, Nigel thought.
The party started to break up when Jocelyn got antsy over going home to the baby, and Miranda nodded in understanding. Nigel was the last out of the parlour, but he paused at a set of photos hanging in the hallway. It was a triptych of images of Miranda and Andy in close up.
“They’re pretty, aren’t they,” Andy said behind him.
“You can say that again.” He leaned in for a better look. “Who took them?”
“Alfonso.”
“Alfonso Vargas?”
“Yeah. He’s really sweet. He was great with Miranda.”
Nigel shook his head in disbelief for what felt like the twentieth time that night. “You are something else,” he said.
“You think?”
“Yeah.” The central image was peaceful, with Miranda smiling at Andy, whose eyes were blissfully closed. The one to the left revealed Miranda gazing away with a grin as Andy tipped her head back in laughter, and the one on the right was of the two of them looking directly at the camera as if in challenge. Don’t even try to keep us apart, it said to him. Nigel reached out and touched the glass with the tip of his fingernail, tracing Miranda’s determined expression. “I think I get it now.”
“Get what?” Andy asked, leaning against his shoulder.
He looked down at her. “You two.”
Her eyes were bright. “I love her.”
“I know.” And she loves you. Wonders would never cease.
He made it to the front door before James had to hunt him down. Quickly he kissed Miranda’s cheek in farewell, and for a moment, he flashed back to Andy kissing the same spot. A wash of heat crept up his neck, and he stepped away. “Thanks for a lovely evening,” he said before hugging Andy. He whispered in her ear, “Have fun tonight.”
She giggled. It wasn’t a suspicious remark; after all, she had been gone a week. He didn’t have to spy on them to know what they were about to get up to. She goosed him, and James grabbed his arm to get them out the door before they started out and out teasing. “Good night all,” he waved, and then they were outside, the door shut firmly behind them.
“So, that was fun,” James said, inhaling the cool night air.
Spring was here, and the city seemed sweeter than ever to Nigel at that moment. “It was. Nice to see them so happy.”
“You think so? It’s hard to tell. Miranda seems so cool, so removed. I don’t know what Andy sees in her sometimes.”
“I think a lot goes on behind closed doors,” Nigel said, and left it at that. He slipped his hand under James’ arm and led him out onto the sidewalk. “Now come on. I want to get home.”
“What’s the rush?”
He met James’ eyes. “What do you think?”
James quirked an eyebrow. He lifted an arm and waved to an oncoming cab. “Taxi!”
~fin.
Read the final story in the "Small Favors" universe: Good Fortune.