Awakening Ch. 02

Alicia had been wonderful throughout the entire episode. It was hard to believe that one amazing night had been such a catalyst. Her whole life had changed unrecognisably in a short space of time. As much as she wished some of it had not happened, she couldn't deny that in many ways it had forced her to sort her life for the better.

Ben had not been in touch at all which surprised Kiera slightly. She guessed that he felt too ashamed about the way he had behaved and he was worried that she would try and press charges against him. Not that she was going to do that. The physical signs had faded and she was left with only the emotional wounds. They would take a long time to disappear, if indeed they ever disappeared at all.

Every night she had slept with Alicia, curled up against her warm body like a cat. There had been no sexual overtures from the other woman and Kiera knew that she was waiting until Kiera was ready. Up until now she hadn't been ready at all. Sex was the last thing on her mind, but gradually her libido was starting to kick in.

Tonight they were going out for dinner and Kiera was looking forward to setting foot outside the flat. She felt like she had been sequestered for the last two weeks, although it had been entirely her own choice.

She drank the rest of her tea and headed back inside to do some washing and cleaning. If nothing else she had kept the flat clean and tidy whilst she had been blocking out all the horrible things she didn't want to think about. Mindless monotony was a good way of dealing with emotional trauma.

* * *

The restaurant was small and intimate in much the same way as the first place they had eaten at after the seminar. Kiera looked at her menu and tried to decide what to eat. She was spoiled for choice. Temporarily putting the menu down, she took another slug of red wine and looked at her companion.

Alicia was dressed in a beautiful pale blue dress that flattered her golden complexion perfectly. Her pale blonde hair shone in sleek waves and rippled over her shoulders. She looked up and caught Kiera staring and smiled warmly; a secret smile just for Kiera. For a moment the two of them were locked in their own private world and nobody else could possible intrude. Alicia reached out and gently touched her finger tips to Kiera's hand.

"You okay babe?" she asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm alright," smiled Kiera. And she was. The pain had faded to manageable proportions and she was slowly realising that she would be fine. Better than fine actually -- she was happier now in many ways than she had ever been. It was just sad that her happiness had been born out of something so bad.

"Have you spoken to work yet?" asked Alicia seriously.

"I have today, yes. My boss is being very understanding, but I get the impression he needs my presence back in the office sooner rather than later." She frowned slightly. The thought of returning to work on Monday was not too attractive, but she recognised that it was a necessity.

"Well you know you don't need to rush things. Only go back if you are ready. I am happy to have you staying with me as long as you want to." Alicia squeezed her hand tightly. "You can stay permanently you know," she said.

"Do you mean that?" Kiera had been worried that maybe she was putting on her too much. As much as she enjoyed the time they had been together, she didn't want to feel like she was in the way.

"Yes I do mean it. I really care about you silly!"

"Ahem!" The waiter interrupted their conversation with a loud cough. "Are you ladies ready to order yet?" he asked, glancing at their interlocked fingers with a disappointed frown. Clearly he had no chance at this table -- these two were far more interested in each other. God what a bloody waste, he thought crossly.

"Just give us five more minutes," Alicia said politely. The waiter nodded and walked away across the room.

She returned her attention back to Kiera. "Sweetheart, I really like you and I want us to be together, but only if you are happy with that. I understand that this is all new to you and I don't want to apply any pressure. I am your friend first and foremost -- but if you want more than that, I am here..." She looked at her meaningfully and Kiera blushed. She knew exactly what Alicia meant and for a heated second she felt the sexual tension sizzle between them.

She could see Alicia's breasts moulded in the soft fabric of her dress and her imagination began to picture the dress slowly slipping off her shoulders to reveal the smooth flesh. Her skin prickled with sudden sparks of desire and when she raised her eyes, she saw her incendiary thoughts mirrored in Alicia's face. She squirmed in her seat uncomfortably.

"Is it me or is it suddenly too hot in here?" quipped Alicia with a grin. "Come on, we need to eat first..."

Kiera felt her cheeks blushing again and she cursed her continual propensity to go red at any embarrassing thing. It had been the bane of her life ever since she was old enough to feel embarrassment.

She hid her face behind the menu and tried to concentrate on the descriptions of tasty dishes whilst Alicia giggled from her side of the table.

The conversation lightened up once food had arrived and they both tucked into creamy pasta with gusto. Kiera had lost her appetite over the last couple of weeks and her weight had plummeted. Tonight she suddenly found herself incredibly hungry and wolfed down the garlic bread with relish.

Alicia watched her eat and grinned. It was good to see her happy again. It had been a difficult two weeks seeing her so low and depressed. She had a pink flush to her cheeks and the spark was back in her eyes. Her dark hair curled round her face in waves and she looked gorgeous.

"Want seconds??"

Kiera looked up from polishing her plate with the last of the bread. "Are you being rude to me?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Me, no..." grinned Alicia. "I was just asking 'cause you seemed rather hungry."

"I was hungry and I definitely want some pudding."

"Don't worry -- you'll be having some soon..." Alicia's voice trailed off with a smirk and they both exchanged knowing glances.

Suddenly Kiera turned white as a sheet.

"What's wrong?" Alicia asked in concern.

"Ben's here..."

They both turned to see a tall man walking towards them with a red haired woman trailing behind him. For a microsecond Kiera thought he was going to walk past their table without seeing her. But then he turned at the last moment and she saw the shock flit across his face like a dark cloud.

"Kiera..." he stated woodenly. He dropped his gaze and saw her hand entwined in Alicia's and his eyes widened in shock. The room temperature dropped to sub zero and Kiera's stomach fell through the floor.

"Well, well," he spat icily. "I got it so wrong didn't I...there was me thinking you were fucking another man. But oh no, you decided to fuck a woman instead!"

Kiera felt blind rage rushing through her system. How dare he have a go at her after what he had done!

"Leave me alone!" she snarled angrily. "Haven't you done enough damage?"

Alicia looked at her in surprise, not expecting her to react so venomously. Ben was surprised too. He took a step backwards at her words, obviously not used to such hostility.

"Aren't you going to introduce us honey?" simpered a syrupy voice from behind Ben. He turned and frowned crossly. "No, she's nobody important. Come on, let's go somewhere else -- this place is full of fucking lesbians." He grabbed the woman's wrist sharply and ignoring her yelp of pain, dragged her away from the table and out of the restaurant door.

Alicia and Kiera were left feeling slightly shell-shocked at the altercation. "Can we go home now?" Kiera asked in a small voice once everyone had stopped staring at them in curiosity. Her appetite had vanished and she just wanted to get the hell out of this place.

"Sure we can darling. I'll just pay the bill." Alicia smiled encouragingly and raised her hand to call the waiter over. He arrived in a heartbeat having been lingering nearby to catch what was being said.

Alicia handed her credit card over and waited for the transaction to complete. It took minutes and once it was done, they left the restaurant and headed for her car. Once they reached it, she put her arm round Kiera's waist to hug her tightly.

"Forget him," she said simply. "You have me now."

Kiera looked sideways at her and realised she was right. Ben was the past. She didn't need him anymore. Alicia was the person she wanted to be with.

"I already have," she agreed with a smile. It was time to go home and be with someone who truly cared about her. It was time to finally move on -- when you've hit rock bottom, the only way is up. She had been in that dark place and now her life could only get better with Alicia at her side.

"Thank you for everything," she whispered before kissing her lover passionately. Their bodies melded together in the half light of the street lamp.

"My pleasure," said Alicia when their lips parted. "Let's go home now; I missed out on my dessert!"

"Oh don't worry, you'll be having it soon..." Kiera grinned naughtily at the thought of all the things she wanted to try. She could hardly wait!