***

Nina stormed into her townhouse, startled Yorkies getting well out of the way.  Lights flared to life in the brunette's rampage path.  She pushed through her bedroom door, stripping out of her jacket and throwing her purse to the bed.  She grabbed the hem of her shirt, about to whip it over her head when she heard the sound of pounding on the door downstairs.  Wanting to ignore it, she knew she couldn't.

Nina stomped down to the main floor, shoving the curtains aside on the window next to the door.  Just as she figured, a very pissed off Kansas stood on the stoop.

"Yes?" she sad, pulling the door open.  The blonde was startled silent for a moment before regaining her bearing.

"What the hell, Nina?  Why did you leave the fucking restaurant?"

"Gee, I didn't know.  Shall I say for starters because my dinner companion was about to fuck some chick in the bathroom?" Nina fumed, hand on her hip.  Kansas pushed past her, entering the house.

"Your neighbors don't need to hear this."

"Don't need to hear what?  That you're an asshole of the highest degree?  Is that what you don't want them to hear?"  Nina marched into the kitchen, leaving Kansas still standing just inside the door.  She slammed it shut then followed, only narrowly missing getting hit by a flying dog toy that squeaked as it bounced off the wall behind Kansas.  "How the hell could you do that?  I cannot believe I agreed to go to dinner with you.  Mistake number one."  Kansas opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted as Nina continued. "Mistake number two was staying when I saw you eye that woman as she entered the damn restaurant.  My third and final mistake was believing that we could rekindle our friendship after all this time, and after all the shit I've heard about you and now seen with my own eyes."  She turned her back to the blonde, resting her weight on the counter by the sink.

"What you think happened didn't happen, Nina," Kansas said, her own anger bubbling just under the surface.

"You two were making out, Kansas!" Nina fumed, whirling on the smaller woman.

"She kissed me!"

Nina stared at her, incredulous.  "Kansas, you get up from the table, you're gone for fifteen minutes.  Do you have any idea how goddamn rude that is?  So, I get up to make sure you haven't had a fucking heart attack in the bathroom, and end up finding you and that woman making out."  She paused, shaking her head, her hurt showing in her eyes.  "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Wait," Kansas held up her hands in supplication.  "I know it looked bad.  Please, let me explain."

Nina stood back, arms crossed over her chest as she waited to hear what would come out of Kansas' mouth.  "Please.  Enthrall me."

"I saw that woman and I looked at her, yes.  She used to be an artist I worked with years ago, and who is going to be working with us on a show coming this winter.  Okay, yes, I looked at her, so strike me dead!  Next, I had to pee.  I'm sorry I didn't invite you to join me, but I truly had to piss!  While in the bathroom, Michael called me.  He had a slight emergency with one of our artists, mainly that one of his paintings was missing.  I made some calls, and we finally figured out that it had been sent out by Michael's assistant to be cleaned, but she forgot to let anyone know.  Sandra, said artist working with us this winter, came in to the bathroom as I was finishing up my calls, and we began to talk."

"So why was her tongue in your mouth?" Nina asked, shocked by just how jealous she felt- she was nearly vibrating with it.

"I was shocked by that, too," Kansas said, her voice tired as she ran a hand through her hair. "Sandra has made it clear since the day we met that she'd like to be more than colleagues, but I've never been interested.  I was about to shove her away when you came in.  I swear."

Nina kept her gaze, and saw that it was steady and true.  Kansas was telling the truth.  Blowing out a breath, she turned her back to the blonde again, feeling ashamed and stupid.   "I'm sorry I got so upset.  It was wrong."  A small smile touched her lips. "It was still rude, though."

Kansas breathed a sigh of relief as she walked up behind the brunette, studying the way her shirt hugged her body, the way dark tendrils of hair gleamed under the harsh kitchen light.  "I'm sorry I didn't say anything about the call, let you know.  I just got caught up in trying to fix my business."  She could feel the heat pouring off Nina's body in waves, drawing her in closer to be warmed.  Nina said nothing.  Kansas closed her eyes, allowing all that was Nina to seep into her skin, all five senses alive and aware.  "I'm sorry," she whispered, moving in closer until she could feel Nina's back press into her front, her arms reaching around to hug the taller woman.

Nina's eyes fell closed, her body falling back into the solidness that Kansas.  She turned her head to the side, feeling hot breath against her neck.  Her body began to send out a pulsing beat, demanding attention, craving Kansas' touch.  How is this possible?  It's been so long.

"I'm sorry," Kansas whispered again, this time into Nina's ear, making the brunette shiver.  She tipped her head a bit more when she felt a soft kiss placed just behind her ear.

"Nothing to forgive," Nina breathed, beginning to lose control.

"I think there is," the blonde whispered, flicking Nina's lobe with her tongue.  She smiled at the small whimper from the older woman.  "I shouldn't be such an asshole.  Seems you bring it out in me."  She smiled at the chuckle she heard deep in Nina's throat.  She groaned when two hands reached around to her hips, squeezing. "Does your girlfriend make you feel like this?" Kansas asked, thinking of the redhead she'd seen Nina with at the club and at the gallery's opening.

"I don't have a girlfriend," Nina whispered, gasping softly as the hands on her stomach began to move, barely brushing just up under her breasts.

"Oh, I think you do.  She also didn't look happy seeing you dance with me."  Kansas leaned in close to the brunette's ear.  "I think she was jealous."

"We broke up.  Oh," Nina moaned as her breasts were covered by soft, gentle hands.  Her mind was frozen, no thought entering or leaving, except that what Kansas was doing felt amazing.

"Oh yeah?  Why, baby?"  Kansas felt herself growing more wet with each bold move.  She wanted Nina so bad it hurt.  Guess some things don't change.

"I wouldn't. . . " Nina began, but trailed off as her breasts were massaged through her bra.

"Wouldn't what?"

"Wouldn't sleep with her," Nina finally gasped.

Kansas needed to see her, wanted so badly to kiss her.  She grabbed Nina by the hips and turned her around, pulling their bodies together.  "Stupid girl to walk away from you," Kansas murmured, bringing her hand up to curl around the back of Nina's neck.  "She should've stuck around."

Nina couldn't believe how soft Kansas' lips were, their kiss from eight years ago still fresh in her mind.  She felt the blonde deepen the kiss, her lips and tongue working magic in the brunette's mouth, the kiss, that from someone who was well versed in the art.  She felt her body giving in, the desires long-buried clawing to see the light of day.  She sighed into the kiss, burying her fingers in thick, blonde hair.

Something inside Kansas made her stop, a feeling of something being wrong, off, somehow.  She pulled back, both women gasping for air.  She took several deep breaths before looking up into confused, hooded blue eyes.  "I'm sorry," she said, running trembling hands through her hair.  "I have to know something."

"What?" Nina asked, body buzzing and alive.

"Why"

The brunette was utterly confused, and getting frustrated as her body was making demands that only Kansas could keep.  "Why what?"

"Why wouldn't you sleep with your girlfriend?"

Taken aback, Nina stared at the blonde.  "What?  Why?"

"I need to know.  Why?"  She couldn't explain it to herself, let alone the bemused woman standing in front of her.  She had a tickle in the back of her brain that told her she needed to know the answer to this question.

Nina moved slightly away, suddenly feeling very embarrassed by the answer she'd have to give Kansas.  Here she was 34, and a virgin with women.  "I didn't want to just give that to her," she said softly, her back to the blonde.

"What do you mean?" Kansas walked around the kitchen island until she was standing face to face with Nina.

"I've never been with a woman, Kansas."  She smiled ruefully at the look of shock she received.  "I know.  Been out for three years and still haven't gone all the way.  Crazy, right?"

Kansas shook her head.  "No.  I don't get it, but no.  Not crazy.  But why?"

"Why do you sleep around so much?"

Kansas was taken aback by the non-sequitur.  "Uh, I guess I just haven't found the right one."  As she spoke, the light of understanding flared to life.  She nodded.  "I see."  Wow, did she ever feel like a shit.  Hands stuffed into the back pockets of her jeans, she took a step back.  "I should probably go, Nina."

The brunette nodded.  She'd had enough humiliation for one night.  "Yeah.  Probably so."

"Listen, why don't you come to my place Friday night.  I'll make you dinner."  Kansas continued at Nina's confused expression.  "We need to talk, I think."

Nina nodded in agreement.  "Okay.  Give me the details and I'll be there."

***

The work week was good, but long, as usual.  Nina sat on a stone bench on campus and watched the students and faculty around her.  Her eye caught two girls walking together.  Nina was pleased to see that they were holding hands.  She watched the couple, noting how comfortable they were with each other.  She missed that, having someone in her life who knew her better than anyone.  Someone she could cuddle with and tell her dreams to.  She had to laugh at herself with that last one- she'd never had that.  Certainly not with Dan, and since him, she'd not really let anyone get close enough.

With a heavy sigh, Nina pushed up from the bench, tucking the tests she'd been grading under her arm, and heading off toward her office.  She could feel autumn in the air, and it was brisk.

***

Kansas honestly couldn't say why she was nervous for Nina to see her place, but she was.  She had spent the day cleaning an already spotless house, and making sure dinner was perfect.  She truly had no conscious thoughts of what she expected or wanted to come of this, but she was determined to get it going on the right foot.

Glancing at the clock over the stove once more, Kansas saw that Nina was due in five minutes.  Take a deep breath, she walked into the dining room where she'd placed two table settings, candles at the ready.  She nearly jumped out of her skin when the doorbell sounded.  Blowing out a steadying breath, Kansas padded over to the front door and pulled it open.

Nina smiled a greeting, taking in the blonde's comfy jeans, light-weight sweater and bare feet.  She was glad she, too had chosen to keep it simple in jeans and a long-sleeve tee.  "Hi," she said.

"Hi.  Welcome and come in."  Kansas stepped aside, waiting for her guest to enter.  She hadn't seen her all week, and after seeing her several times in as many days, she had really missed the brunette.

Nina entered the modest ranch-style house.  Though it was dark out, Nina hadn't noticed too many houses nearby. "This is really beautiful, Kansas," she said, taking in the gorgeous wood accents and pine furniture.  She hadn't expected something so rugged from an artist, instead thinking it would be all metal and glass contemporary, like the gallery.

"Thanks," Kansas tossed over her shoulder, leading Nina toward the dining room.  I hope you're hungry.  I made a ton.  Hope baked chicken is okay."

"Yeah.  Sounds terrific."

"Great!"  Once they'd arrived in the formal room, Kansas got her guest settled, then looked around.  It was so damn. . . formal.  "You know what, I'm sorry, Nina.  This just isn't me.  Grab your plate."  She nodded toward the kitchen, where she headed, plate in hand.  Confused, Nina did the same.  In the kitchen, Kansas began to dish food that smelled heavenly.  "I'm sorry," she said with a sheepish grin.  "I hate that room.  I don't know why I set up in there.  Do you mind?" she asked, a hopeful brow raised.  Nina chuckled, amused.

"No.  I don't mind.  Where to?"

Plates loaded, Kansas led them down a narrow hall, which led to a glassed in back patio.  The blonde flicked on a light- beyond was a garden filled with just about every type of flower and plant that would grow in Colorado.  Much of it was starting to die for the coming cold, but it was still beautiful.