Reece's Faith (60 page)

"Of course I do."

"I love you, Faith."

"God, Reece. I love you, too," Faith was caught off guard.

Reece chuckled at her lover's reaction. "Go see if your parents are making up on our kitchen table. If so, there's an Ikea catalog under the coffee table."

"Ew, Reece."

"See you soon," Reece laughed.

"You are so dead for that," Faith warned before hanging up.

 
*  *  *

"Faith!?" Marsha yelled.

"What does she do up there for so long?" Quinn wondered.

"After that little spectacle you caused in the grocery store, I'd be surprised if she comes down at all."

"Please, Marsha, the girl looked like she was dead."

"She's a Goth, Quinn," Marsha sighed dramatically.

"What the hell do I know from that? FAITH?"

"If you were hip like me, you'd know such things."

Quinn shrugged and blew off is wife's comment with a wave of his hand.

Marsha, on a quest to make her husband more receptive to their daughter's lover, lifted the recently delivered flowers to his face. "Aren't these roses beautiful?" The older woman inhaled deeply, "They smell so good!"

"They're making my nose itch, take them away. FAITH? Will you go up there and tell your daughter that I haven't got all day? I'm hungry," Quinn sat heavily on the couch and picked up the Ikea catalog. "Where'd this come from?"

"I have no idea. You know, she is taking awfully long. It's not like she's making herself up, she never does anymore."

Faith descended the stairs and shook her head at her parents constant chattering.

"Marsha, you know she said that she hates anything on her face now that she has to wear so much at work."

"I know, dear, but she just looks so..."

"What, Mom? Butch?"

"Heavens no! Not in that sexy dress. Now, Theresa, well
she's
butch."

Faith sighed heavily.

"What were you doing up there?" Quinn asked impatiently.

"Hiding, Dad. Let's go guys, I promised her that I'd be there early, before the customers start pouring in."

"Quinn, stop making faces."

"I can't believe I'm going to a strip club with my daughter."

"Gentleman's club, dear."

"Whatever."

The small family headed into the black car and got comfortable.

"Barry, meet my dad, Quinn."

"Pleasure, sir."

"She has her own..."

"Yes, Dad, he's my driver."

"Theresa got him for her. Isn't that wonderful?"

Faith rolled her eyes. "We're going to the club, Barry."

"Quite a spectacle there, Ms. Ashford."

"Don't remind me," Quinn mumbled.

"Gonna be a mob scene there tonight. Should I wait for you?"

"Would you?ÝThat would be great. We shouldn't be too long, anyway. Just going to pick up Reece and head out to dinner."

"Ms. Ashford, if I may, I don't think she's going to be able to go anywhere tonight."

"Well, let's just get there first." Faith became worried. He was probably right, now that she thought about it.
After all that publicity... A lesbian who owns a gentleman's club should be novelty enough.
Faith bit her fingernail.
However, if that lesbian happens to be a gorgeous hunk of woman like Reece, who's also living in sin with a famous actress, then it was goingÝto blow the roof off her club.

Suddenly, Faith was having serious second thoughts about taking her father there tonight. She was about to voice her feelings when her cell phone rang.

"What the hell is that?" Quinn questioned the muffled sounds of Beethoven's Fifth.

"It's the phone, Dad," Faith shook her head in exasperation, rooting around in her purse.

"Beethoven?" he questioned.

"Theresa did that," Marsha grinned.

"Hello?"

"Hi, babe. How long you got?"

"About five minutes, why?" Faith furrowed her brows at Reece's frustrated breath.

"Nothing. Just wanted to know. Be careful. Love you."

Love you? How odd of her to say that now,
Faith stared at the phone in confusion. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. Her lover sounded very strange.

"Look, Quinn, it's Times Square! That's where they drop the ball."

"I've been here, Marsha. Who was that, Faith?"

The actress heard her name, but not the question. "Dad?"

"Faith? What's wrong?"

"Oh, my god!" Marsha interrupted.

"Holy fuck..."

"Faith!"

There was a line of people an entire block long, five deep, behind police barricades, all waiting to get into "The Lounge".

"Ms. Ashford?"

"Here's fine, Barry. Dad, Mom, stay here a moment, will you? I shouldn't be long."

"Hey! Ms. Ashford! You shouldn't go out there alone..."

Faith slammed the door and stood in the middle of the street in awe. She hadn't seen this many people waiting in line since that time Barbra Streisand was at Madison Square Garden...
and it wasn't even freezing then, either.
She suddenly realized what Reece's phone call was all about; she didn't want her to come to the club and witness this mess.
God, Reece! What are you thinking in that club right now?
Faith panicked for her lover andÝhurried past the mob, towards the front door.

"Hey, there's that chick, you know...
her
," he snickered.

"Yeah! That's the dyke's girlfriend!"

There were many more insults to follow. Faith got a sick feeling as she heard all the comments hurled at her from the sea of people.

"Hey! Let her through, asshole!"

Cori's voice was like music to her ears. Faith felt relief, even as she was picked up off the ground and lifted over the barricade by unfamiliar hands.

"You heard me, fuckhead, MOVE!"

Cori, thank god for you!
Faith was being crushed in the throng as she tried to make her way up the steps. She was on the verge of hyperventilating when a strong, very familiar hand reached out to her. "Reece!" she yelled as she struggled to get through the mob.

"Whattya think this is? The Limelight? Back the hell up, jerk off!" Cori pulled Faith's arm hard.

With the help of her best friend and her strong lover, Faith was finally where she needed to be.

Reece held the actress tight. She was more than concerned about the trembling, but not enough to let her go. She really needed this too.

"Christ, Reece! It's a fucking mob scene out there!" Sam threw open the door and pushed it closed with effort.

"You okay, Sam?

"Great, Boss, just great."

"You okay, babe?" Reece whispered to her lover, finally taking a good long look at her. Her upper lip curled in approval.

"Yeah, I'm okay.

"Hey, what about
me
?" Cori pouted.

"What about you?" Reece teased.

"It's usually my hair," Cori retorted.

Reece couldn't control the loud laugh that escaped her. Cori always managed to lighten the mood. "Thanks, Freak."

"No problem. So, Faith, where's the parents?"

"I left them in the car." She turned to Reece, "What are you going to do?"

"I called in a few favors. Some off-duty cops are going to work the line. Don't worry, no one will get in that's the least bit iffy."

"Thanks, Boss. I really need the help," Sam smiled.

"Yeah," Reece nodded. "Alright then, Sarge, you wait for the guys. Cori, why don't you and the girls just get ready? I'm counting on you to keep the others under control," the club owner winked at her friend then averted her eyes to Faith; they narrowed hungrily.

"Aye, Captain," the dancer saluted and went to go wrangle up the girls.

"What do you want me to do?" Faith smiled, still wrapped in Reece's arms.

The tall woman twirled them around and backed Faith against the wall. She squatted down and lifted her startled lover. "You can start by wrapping those legs around me and throwing your head back."

"Reece?"

The club owner leaned hard into the actress, pinning her against the wall with her torso. "Do you know how hot that dress is on you?" she whispered, running her hands up and down the underside of Faith's thighs.

"God, Reece, now?" she questioned, shivering from the touch.

"Stockings are such a turn on." Reece took Faith's hands from her shoulders and placed them around her neck. "Hold on and kiss me," she whispered.

"Now?" Faith questioned again.

"Now," Reece tilted her head and stared at Faith's lips, all the while running her fingers all over the stocking-covered legs.

She made the mistake of looking into distracted, but very deep blue eyes. "Aye, Captain," Faith whispered back breathlessly before locking her lips onto Reece's.

Reece sighed contentedly and intensified the kiss. She held Faith's head with both hands, pressing her body tightly into all the strategic places, making Faith groan into her mouth.

The actress tore away from the attack, breathing heavily. Reece didn't move. Still staring at Faith's mouth she stroked her thumb across the bottom lip.

"Wow. Reece... as much as I'd love to continue this... god, stop doing that!" she stopped the thumb from entering her mouth by grabbing the larger hand. "My parents are waiting in the car. What should I tell them?" She kissed the sweaty palm, then licked it.

Reece groaned. "Tell them I have an uncontrollable need to ravish you," the club owner captured Faith's lips again.

The actress drowned in the kiss and jumped as she felt her body go limp. "No... baby... please," she whined.

"Faith..." Reece protested, knowing she had to stop before things got out of hand.

"What has gotten into you!?" Faith unlocked her legs and slid down.

"God, I don't know. I was so worried about you and the minute you walked in the club... I needed you," the club owner explained. "I don't know, maybe it was that dress. Isn't that the one you bought that day with your mom?"

"You are so adorable." Faith grinned at her lover's wide-eyed look of denial, "Yes, you are. Now, what to do about my parents?"