Beautiful Girls
“Hey, are you gonna be over later tonight?” Maria questions, over an early lunch of chicken noodle soup, spooned into two thermoses provided by Carol, to settle Maria’s stomach. Carol has been slowly astonishing Maria with her knowledge of prenatal material, from the walks they’ve both started taking, (one hour after dinner, since Carol is over more often than not,) to the folic acid vitamins she found in her cabinet two days after Carol learned about the pregnancy.
“Shit, no.” Carol smacks her forehead. “I forgot to tell you, my old Air Force friend is visiting. I promised to get dinner with her a while back, in November.” Maria crinkles her nose, imagining a tall, thin, fierce soldier in a spiff uniform, laughing over a fancy dinner with Carol, and she shakes her head to get the image out.
“Hey, what’s up?” Carol tilts her head, like a confused puppy, and Maria smiles adoringly. “I’m sorry to miss movie night.” Carol continues.
Maria brushes her fingertips over the blonde’s upturned palm, and shakes her head again.
“It’s not a problem, really,” She smiles, “Is she the same one that gave you Goose?” The orange cat’s head raises when she hears her name, hopping down from her perch on the couch and weaving around their legs.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s the one,” Carol coos, scratching at Goose’s ear, the small creature purring happily.
“Hey, you should come along and meet her, show her that I’m not a complete nomad out here.” Carol suggests, straightening back up to look at the brunette.
“Oh, no, that’s nice of you to offer, but really, you should go be with your friend. I wouldn’t want to impose.” Maria blushes, knowing that Carol can read the slight discomfort on her face.
“Come on, please, Maria? She’d love you, I know she would!” Carol’s eyebrows draw inwards, making her sad puppy face, and Maria can feel herself relenting-
“Okay, fine. But only if you pay for my dinner.” Maria smirks, and Carol nods her head enthusiastically.
“Done and done.”
- - -
“Carol, what’s the dress code for this whole dinner plan?” Maria calls from her bedroom, where she’s standing in front of her closet. Light footsteps echo across her wooden floors until a pair of slender arms wrap around her middle, and a blonde head rests on her shoulder.
“Ooh, wear this.” Carol’s hand reaches to pull at a black dress, with long sleeves, that flares at the waist.
“You sure?” Maria asks, raising an eyebrow as her hand absentmindedly brushes over her stomach, which pokes out the slightest bit now.
“I’m sure.” Carol’s hand is firmer when it slides over her abdomen, placing a slight peck on her cheek before pulling away.
“Besides, now we’ll match!” Maria turns around, and her breath hiccups in her throat. Carol’s wearing a white collared shirt with jet black slacks, which cling to her thighs and flare minimally at the bottom. Her usually wild blonde curls are straightened, partially pulled back in a clip, flipping up at the ends. The honey-amber eyes that Maria loves are rimmed with light eyeshadow, a nude color that makes them appear soft, sparkly.
“Wow,” Maria breathes. “You look- wow.” She almost smacks herself for sounding so obtuse, but Carol’s smile stretches her cheeks, and her ears turn cotton candy pink.
“The um, the bathroom’s free if you wanna finish getting ready.” Carol stutters, turning her goofy expression towards the floor, and Maria nods her head, eyes lingering on Carol’s waist, where her shirt is tucked in and the curve of her hips is displayed. She drifts towards the bathroom, the black dress bunched in her arms.
Maria decides to go light on her makeup, too, a few brushes of mascara, some lipstick, and a little concealer, but nothing much further than that. She slides a few small gold hoops in her ears, and spritzes her favorite perfume, some Calvin Klein number that her mother bought her for “special occasions”, under her jaw.
She slides into the dress, the skirt of it barely grazing the tops of her knees, and steps into a pair of black heels to match Carol’s. Her short hair is curled and pinned back, a single strand falling to frame her face. She leaves the bathroom, and spots Carol in the living room, draped over the couch, flipping through one of the maternity magazines she’s already read from Maria’s coffee table.
She looks up when she hears the door creak, and her jaw slackens, running over Maria’s narrow waist to her toned thighs. Carol stands up, and walks the short distance to the brunette, her eyes wide and dark.
“You’re so pretty, Maria.” She says quietly, seriously, and Maria almost melts into a puddle on the floor, heat running through her veins at Carol’s tone. She places her hand on Carol’s shoulder, pulling her minimally closer, and the blonde grasps her waist, sending sparks over Maria’s skin.
Their lips press together fiercely, and Maria’s back is against the wall before she can close her eyes. A clothed thigh hikes up in between her own, and a gravelly noise bursts from her throat before she can stop it. Carol’s lips drag over her jaw, and Maria tips her head back to allow more space, the pull at the bottom of her stomach becoming unbearable.
“Mmm- okay-uh, Carol,” She breathes, struggling to form words with the sinful pressure that Carol’s thigh is applying.
“Maybe, we should-oh- save this for, hmmm-later?” Maria squeaks, and Carol stops her ministrations, burying her face in the bend of her shoulder.
“Good idea.” Carol sighs, steadying her breathing, sliding her thigh down from it’s place, and Maria mourns the contact.
“Later.” she says, pulling away, the light brown of her eyes still dark, and the tug in Maria’s stomach yanks.
“Later.” She confirms, her voice a little raspy.
- - -
Carol’s hand rests on Maria’s thigh while she drives, warm in contrast to the particularly cold winter, by Louisiana standards.
They pull into the parking lot of the restaurant, and Maria’s heart rate picks up, a rare wave of nerves washing over her, and Carol squeezes slightly, as if sensing her apprehension.
“Trust me, she’ll love you. I promise.” Carol supplies, and Maria calms, stepping out of passenger door, and waiting for Carol to turn the engine off.
“Ready?” the blonde’s grin is contagious, and Maria nods, brushing their pinkies together.