Spicy Sapphic Christmas

4. Piper

FOUR

piper

Piper led the way onto the dance floor. She needed to move more than Bunny could ever truly understand. The energy from their show still itched beneath her skin. Sweaty bodies parted to make way for them to pass without losing their momentum. Piper’s smile stretched over her face as her hips swayed to the beat, her shoulders joining in on the next step.

It had been easy enough for her to carve out a space for them to dance in. People assumed because of her long legs and equally long torso that she needed a lot of room to throw her body around.

When she was young, she would often take advantage of that, using the space as a stage to show off her skills and get noticed. Now though, she danced primarily for herself. The energy that fluttered beneath her skin needed a way to escape.

Tonight she leaned into people’s assumptions a little more. She wanted Jo to have space enough to not be touched.

If she had known Jo a little longer, she might not have worried about it so much. Despite how well they clicked instantly, she was well aware that not everyone was as comfortable as she was at touching when they danced.

Flicking a look up at the band, Piper nodded in appreciation for the three figures moving to their own music. They were androgynous and synchronized, and Piper’s chest swelled with the recognition of her community, of being part of the family.

She had always understood Bunny’s reasons for staying in the closet, and she had agreed with them just as readily. But the world was changing, and sometimes she wished they could as well.

Pushing away the maudlin thoughts, Piper focused on the music the band played. They were good. The music was always good at Julianna’s. You didn’t get to play there if you weren’t.

“Show me what you got,” Jo spoke loud enough for Piper to hear her over the thrum that poured from the stage.

“Excuse me?” Piper turned from the band and focused her gaze on Jo. She raised her eyebrows and stretched her lips into a cheeky grin. She had used that smile on enough men and women to know it worked in wonderful ways. Right now, she had no idea what turn the conversation had just taken, but she buzzed with excitement at the energy that flowed from Jo. It had been rare to find anyone who could come near to matching her own level.

Jo laughed, a full-bodied sound that tinkled imaginary wind chimes in Piper’s mind.

“Bunny said you’re the dancer.” Jo spread her long fingers wide and palms up, moving them out from each other, encompassing the floor between and around them. “Show me what you’ve got.”

“Care to join me?” Piper held out her hand, and Jo took it eagerly.

Before Jo could even think about taking the lead, Piper pulled her in. Her smile widened even more as Jo stepped into the move, twirling her body along Piper’s arm until her back rested snugly into Piper’s front. Her movements were graceful, with the ease of practice.

“How long did you dance for?” Piper asked.

“Oh, I see.” Jo laughed and shook her head. Her blonde curls brushing Piper’s chin. “A little tit for tat is it?”

Piper’s hips moved, and Jo swayed along.

“Just wondering how you moved from trained dancer into a punk rock band?” Piper asked as she turned Jo around in her arms with the lightest touch.

“Have you looked me up, Piper?” Jo’s eyes twinkled with excitement.

“Sorry to burst your bubble,” Piper spoke as she curled her fingers around Jo’s hips. She didn’t need to put any pressure into her touch, though. Jo followed with ease, as though the two of them had been dancing together for years.

“Then how did you figure it out?” Jo’s eyes furrowed, but she didn’t miss a step.

“The way you stand. The way you move.” Piper laughed as Jo took the opportunity and grabbed hold of the lead.

Jo pushed Piper back lightly with both palms against her chest, just over her breasts.

Piper’s breath caught.

Oh yes, dancing had so often led her to seduction and many a near-stranger’s bed. Some would even say it was the best thing that could happen when you’re dancing. That flirt and innuendo of touch. The desire of bodies moving in new ways. That brush of fingers just right. Right now, Piper couldn’t imagine disagreeing.

The tempo increased, and without a hitch, Jo increased the movement of their steps to match. Her fingers dug into Piper’s hips as she stepped closer. It wasn’t that they had been far away from each other, but now Piper could feel the softest brush of Jo’s dress against the top of her thighs. The speed wasn’t all that different. The movements became less traditional and taut.

“All right.” Piper laughed in reply, wondering when was the last time she had enjoyed herself this much on the dance floor. “I’ll go first.”

“First? With what exactly?” Jo winked, and damn it all if Piper didn’t feel that heat rush through her body. But she wasn’t here to get laid. She was here to find out if Siena should take on Jo and Bea as clients.

“I took every dance lesson my mom could enroll me in from the age of three,” Piper said

“Three?” Jo’s eyes widened, and Piper saw what others must. The sweet innocence of the girl next door. But in those deep brown eyes, Piper sensed the mischief hidden behind the innocence. She knew how easily people assumed things based on her appearance. When she danced for the first time around people, the shock and awe were written across their faces. How could such a lanky-looking girl dance with such ease and grace? She had heard it a million times before, and seen it even more often.

But she hadn’t seen it on Jo’s face.

“I had too much enthusiasm for my mom to handle.” Piper laughed, a little surprised at the open honesty that came willingly to her lips. She had been in the business long enough to know keeping her life private for herself was vital. But she didn’t want to keep it from Jo. Even in the few moments since they had met, Piper sensed that Jo would understand.

“Is that what they called it back then?”

“Oh, playing the age card, are we? We in the old-age category like to call it well-refined experience.” Piper narrowed her eyes, but she smiled, making sure Jo knew she hadn’t been offended. And she hadn’t been, but she did feel the words like a splash of cold water. Age wasn’t an issue, the idea of getting closer to a person, especially one she might end up sharing Siena with, was. And the sisters were so out and proud about who they were. While that made Piper want to get to know Jo even more, she knew exactly how Bunny would feel about it.

Without stopping her feet, Piper shuffled back a little, giving Jo no choice but to drop her hands or stumble forward.

Jo wasn’t about to stumble, and Piper was relieved she had read the woman right. Jo smiled, but it didn’t make her eyes sparkle the way they had previously.

“I wonder if Bunny and Bea have killed each other yet.” Piper forced levity into the conversation. It had been so easy to talk to Jo, and she didn’t want that to change.

“Perhaps not killed, but certainly traded a few blows by now.” Jo laughed. Her eyes sparkled, and Piper relaxed into the sway of her body again.

They danced close to each other, but now there was a distinct line of air where one of their bodies ended and the other started.

“When I first found out about you two, I was certain you would have to be Bunny.”

“What?” Piper laughed at the mere idea.

Jo threw her head back and joined in on the laughter.

Piper’s mouth dried at the stretch of smooth skin covering Jo’s neck.

“Why?” Piper’s voice squeaked on the word. She swallowed and tried again. “Why would you think that?”

“Well.” Jo’s cheeks carried a rose pink that Piper smiled at, despite her knowing there couldn’t be anything between the two of them. “She’s not exactly the cute little Bunny type.”

Jo smiled, letting the silence linger until Piper filled in the details Jo knew better than to assume.

“I mean, of the two of you she’s definitely the more butch one. And Bunny definitely screams more of a femme, perky, cheerleader name to me.”

“Oh.” The blood rushed from Piper’s face, cold washing through her at how close to the truth Jo was.

Jo came closer, breaking the unspoken no-touching-allowed rule of air between them. She laid gentle fingers on Jo’s forearm. “Piper, I get the mainstream audiences don’t know, and I’m guessing from your reaction you don’t want them to, which is fine. But I mean…” She looked up at Piper beneath half-lidded eyes. “But family always knows each other, don’t you think?”

“Oh.” Piper breathed again, only just now realizing she had stopped moving to the music. Her mouth felt as though she hadn’t had a drink in years. “It was different when we started.”

“I suppose so.” Jo’s fingers danced slowly over Piper’s forearm to the inside of her elbow. “But does that mean we can’t have fun?”

Piper really needed a drink. “It’s probably not a good idea, especially if Siena ends up representing you. Bunny and I don’t mix business and pleasure.”

“Do you think Siena will?” Jo’s voice came out a little higher, the sultry quality of mere seconds earlier gone.

“Maybe. It’s Siena’s decision. She just asked us for our opinion. And while it would be fun, I don’t do friends with benefits.” Piper shivered, but she had been thinking about just that. She’d been wanting to get sideways with Jo already, but she pulled back.

“We aren’t friends,” Jo replied, that seductive, sultry quality back.

“But we could be.” Piper turned to see Bea and Bunny leaning over the table toward each other, heated words being exchanged. But there was something in the way Bunny’s shoulders sat that created a strange but intriguing thought to cross Piper’s mind. Under her breath, she muttered, “Four minutes.”

“What?” Jo asked, a chuckle of confusion on her lips.

“Once you get to know Bunny, the name makes sense.”

“Really?” Jo’s face twisted in complete disbelief.

“Oh yeah, she’s the fucking Energizer Bunny. She just keeps going and going and going. What I wouldn’t give to have a break every now and then without having to fight for it. She’d work instead of sleep if given the chance.” It hadn’t exactly been what Piper had meant, but it was a good secondary reason for Bunny’s name.

“Oh Bea is exactly the same.” Jo chuckled and shook her head slightly. “I keep joking to her about needing to get laid more often, or to at least get a hobby. Just anything so that maybe I can go back to the dance studio for one hour a week.”

“Really?” Piper’s mind sparked, and the intriguing idea took flight.

“I’m not sure I like that look.”

“Do you like that look?” Piper nodded over to where Bea and Bunny leaned even farther over the table. She wouldn’t say it out loud, but she needed Jo to see what she saw.

“I think I need another drink.” Jo grabbed Piper’s hand and led her off the dance floor in the opposite direction from where Bea and Bunny sat talking.

Piper walked closely behind Jo, having been given no choice as Jo kept a firm grip on her hand.

“Careful, there’s a lip.” Jo looked back as she spoke.

Despite the warning, Piper still managed to stumble over her feet as she reached the edge of the dance floor. If the movement of Jo’s shoulders was any indicator, then Jo chuckled at Piper’s new found clumsiness.

They kept their own council as they ordered drinks at the bar and went in search of a place to drink and talk.

“All right.” Jo smiled at the men who shuffled away from the tall table as they approached.

There were no chairs, but Piper didn’t mind. Leaning on the tabletop with both forearms took enough weight from her feet. Jo pinned her with a serious look, but the play of the smile at her lips told Piper that something else was going on.

“Bunny and Bea didn’t seem to just be fighting.” Jo looked at Piper as though anticipating an answer to a question Piper hadn’t entirely asked.

Piper waited, but it didn’t take long before Jo had enough of the silence.

“I mean…” Jo laughed, and Piper melted a little. “Tell me if I’m wrong, but I sensed there was definitely something more there.”

“You aren’t wrong.” The words were out of Piper’s mouth before she knew it, and dread washed over her. “But Bunny isn’t out.”

“I know.” Jo glanced at the pair again, sobering slightly. “I did my research on you two before I contacted Siena. I wanted to know exactly how she handles tough situations. Bunny refuses to talk about it. She gets up and walks out on interviews if they deviate from the music to her personal life. Siena then plays crowd control, as do you.”

Piper was impressed at Jo’s knowledge, even if the knowledge seemed entirely focused on the other half of her music partnership. “Go on.”

Jo leaned forward, and her eyes gleamed with anticipation. Piper had to admit, Jo was far more clued in than she had previously given the woman credit for. It didn’t seem fair that she should be so beautiful, a pretty good musician, and smart as well.

“I think it’s time for those two to discover all the things they’ve been missing out on while they’ve been working us to the bone.” Jo lifted her drink to her lips again.

“And this?” Piper lidded her eyes as she looked over at Jo. She waved two fingers suggestively between the two of them. They needed ground rules if they were going to do any kind of work together—professional or personal.

Jo spluttered some of her drink on the table and focused on cleaning it up with one of the napkins she’d shoved in her pocket at the bar. “I think this plan is more important than some fun we might have.”

Piper took a deep breath and let it out. She had gotten along with Jo so easily, their energies meshed perfectly. She didn’t want to lose that with her usual lack of articulation when a woman seemed a little too interested too quickly. “It can never be anything more than just a little flirting and fun. I like you, Jo, and I’d really like to be your friend. It’s hard to always be around such calm energy.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” Jo winked, a grin playing at her lips. Did this woman ever not smile? Or was it just her pure sunshine energy pushing through every doubt in Piper’s mind?

Piper closed her eyes and sighed with relief. “So, we get the two of them together.”

“I think we need to do more than that.”

“Oh really?” Piper could have kicked herself as the words purred out sultry and low.

“I think we get them to fall in love.”

“Love?” Piper’s voice squeaked, and she wondered what on earth was happening to her.

“Definitely.” Jo finished the last of her drink and pushed herself back from the table. “But if we don’t head back soon, Bea just might send out a search party.”

Piper downed the last of her own drink and followed Jo. They weren’t holding hands this time, so Piper had the privilege of getting to watch the way Jo sashayed her way through the crowds.

“What the hell?” Jo jerked with a start.

Piper had been so caught up in watching Jo’s ass that she didn’t realize Jo had stopped walking until she ran directly into her from behind.

“Sorry.” Piper stepped back.

Jo turned around and searched for something over Piper’s head.

“Where are they?”

“What?” Piper asked, looking around at Jo and seeing the empty table. “Well, maybe we don’t have to focus on love after all.”

“What do you mean?” Jo looked at Piper, a vertical line appearing between her eyebrows as confusion covered her face.

“Maybe they realized they were sparking for each other and went off to have a quickie in the dressing room.”

Jo laughed boisterously as she shook her head. “Definitely not. Bea is not a one-night stand kind of person.”

“Oh.” Piper’s hope deflated. Jo’s plan would never work then, because Bunny didn’t do love. She didn’t do relationships. She didn’t do anything except love them and leave them.

“No, it’s going to have to be love.”

“Great.” Piper forced some enthusiasm in her voice. “Who doesn’t love love?”

What she wouldn’t give for another drink right now.