Reece's Faith (61 page)

 
*  *  *

"I'm telling you, she's all right, Quinn! Theresa would never let anything happen to her!"

"How do I know that? What the hell is going on inside that club anyway? Why haven't they come out?"

Faith's purse began chirping. Marsha took the liberty of rooting around for the phone.

"What are you going in there for? That's not your bag!"

"Quiet, Quinn, maybe it's Faith."

"Hello?"

"Mother? Are you okay?"

"Yes, dear. Quinn, it's Faith. I told you."

"Look Mom, you and Daddy go to the restaurant. I'm going to stay here with Reece. She needs me now."

"And I know you need her, too, but I'm worried about you. Are you eating?"

"Reece is going to order some Chinese for all of us tonight. She said to tell the Maitre 'd to put your dinner on her tab. She's treating you both. Okay?"

"Are you sure? It's awfully expensive..."

"Yeah, she apologizes and wants you to go have fun."

"Well... if you're sure," Marsha was hesitant to tell her husband the change of plans.

"Yeah, go. Someone's coming to the car to get my purse for me, so wait until then."

 
*  *  *

"And what kind of name is 'Sarge' for a woman?"

The Ashfords were seated at the restaurant and Quinn had been complaining ever since Sarge appeared at the car for Faith's purse. Marsha had tolerated his whining gracefully, but her patience was wearing thin. "She was in the Army. She
protected
our country."

"I'm just observing, Marsha. I mean, did you
see
her?"

"So she's a little masculine. With her job, who cares?"

"You know I don't like that. It's not normal."

"Oh, and what if Faith looked like that? Would you say the same terrible things about your own daughter?"

"That's not what I mean and you know it."

"Quinn, why don't you stop judging and just relax. Faith is happier than she's ever been in her life. If Theresa and her friends can make her feel something that we obviously couldn't, why should you care what they look like? Would you care just the same if that girl had one arm? That's not normal either. You should be thankful, not judgmental. Those people took care of Faith when we didn't."

"Marsha, I know that. I'm just worried about her. She seems to be living in a whole other world."

"So? Thank god she's healthy, happy and hasn't given up on her dreams. She's made loyal friends who support her and has someone who worships the ground she walks on. And, incidentally, I feel pretty secure about Faith's safety with someone like Theresa by her side."

"Yeah, well... she seems a bit unstable to me."

"For Christ sakes! I wonder what
you
seem like to her," Marsha retorted sarcastically.

"I want to like that woman, honest I do, Marsha, but..."

"That woman makes her smile so brightly... she can light up a room, Quinn. I haven't seen our daughter smile like that since she was a child. Personally, I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a part of her life again, like any mother should, I wouldn't care if she was living with a farm animal, " Mrs. Ashford finished her rant and sipped her drink ever so daintily.

Quinn toyed with his napkin, seemingly lost deep in thought. He wasn't pleased about being chastised, but he knew, deep down, his wife was right. Faith sparkles when she's with Reece and he should be happy, not angry. Combine with next. "Hon, you are absolutely right. I wasn't being ungrateful, I'm glad they helped my little girl," Quinn sighed heavily and played with a breadstick. "I suppose I'm just jealous."

"Well, you have good reason to be. Faith trusts you less than she trusts her friends."

"How can I fix this, Marsha? I made so many mistakes," Quinn felt like crying.

"You have to accept Faith's choices and support her, not butt heads with Theresa. Faith knows how to handle you, but I'm afraid her partner is a little hasty to react on Faith's behalf. You need to prove to her that you accept Faith and love her. Only then will you earn Theresa's respect. Without her respect, your daughter can't really forgive your previous behavior."

Quinn ran his hand over his face. He knew his wife was right, but could he be as accepting as she is?
How did this happen to her anyway?
"What changed your mind, Marsha? Why is it so easy for you to accept their relationship? How did you do it? How did you earn her trust?"

"Well, Theresa and I certainly started out differently than you two did, but once you get to know her, she's really very charming."

"Charming?" Quinn smirked. "You used to think I was charming."

"Yes, and I still do. Now eat your dinner before it gets cold. I want to be home before the ball drops."

"We have plenty of time, Marsha." Quinn looked puzzled.

"Well dear, not with what I have planned for dessert," she smiled playfully and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Oh yeah? Heh... well come on, woman, eat! What are you waiting for?" he grinned right back.

"Eat your pasta, Quinn, you just may need that energy."

 
*  *  *

Reece stood behind the stage, her eyes searching constantly, her muscles tight. Tonight she was working and it felt great. Already pumped from the excitement of the day, she jumped at the chance to guard the stage. The familiar feeling of guarding the girls was energizing.

Back when she was younger and wilder, her job was much more than guarding the dancers. The club and its occupants were in constant danger. The threat of being raided wasn't as scary as the threat of being robbed. Frankie refused to accept the "protection" that the other clubs did and, more times than not, The Lounge was under attack by the very people that offered the protection in the first place. Reece often found herself fending off flying stools or bottles as these goons came crashing through the building, if not hustling the girls out the back door as the police came busting in through the front. There were no illegal activities that she knew of and she feared no one, but she protected the girls' anonymity fiercely and made sure they weren't publicly humiliated.

Although this was not The Lounge of years ago and there was no real threat to the girls or herself, she still let her old feelings of being the protector take over her persona. She had no choice really, The Animal was so close to the surface already, it needed no more than a nudge.

Faith was seated at the bar and would be, for quite some time. She was hot and sweaty and wished her purse wasn't in the office. She really wanted a mirror about now. Glancing around her, she dismissed the thought of going to the safe, quiet office and staying there.

It was New Years Eve and every single man New York City seemed to be at the club. The crowd was thick and Faith had no desire to hop into it any time soon. Letting her gaze fall on the bartender, she snickered evilly. Christina was up to her ass in work and it thrilled Faith to see her so harried. When Reece told her about what happened with Christina in her office that day, Faith had gone ballistic. The actress had to promise not to maim the bartender in order to be allowed into the club again, but that didn't mean she couldn't
think
about hurting her. Christina was forced into apologizing to Faith by Reece, of course, and the actress gloated about that for a long time. Having to call Chris up to pinch hit behind the bar tonight annoyed her, but seeing her sweat like this was worth it.

"Okay, you can stop setting me on fire in your daydreams, Faith."

"Well, Christina I see you've learned my name," the actress replied with a bored look.

"Yeah... Look, I'm really sorry..."

"Don't apologize. No need. You want my woman and you can't have her."

"Very mature," Chris said disgustedly.

"Your fantasies should be punishment enough," Faith smirked.

"Okay, now I'm confused," the bartender leaned over the bar closer to Faith.

The actress hoped she would do just that and she leaned towards her ear to explain in a sultry voice. "In your fantasies, I bet you picture her naked, sweaty body, writhing beneath you... begging for release... arching into your touch... The great Reece Corbett whimpering and moaning until she starts trembling in the throes of a killer orgasm... you hear her screaming her pleasures into the night... Faith! Yes! Faith! Faith! OH, God! Faith!"

Christina had a flushed dreamy look about her up until the woman in her fantasy yelled. She looked at the actress who was grinning very smugly. "I hate you," Christina stormed away as Faith snickered cockily and tilted her head towards the TV screen over the bar.

When Faith got tired of looking at the soundless television, she scanned the crowd for any troublemakers and then settled her eyes on Reece. The actress felt a tingle in her belly watching her lover work. She observed the tall woman from her perch.

Reece stood with her legs slightly apart, chin up, shoulders back and her hands held slightly away from her body, casually dangling. Her whole demeanor was different, confident and her lopsided smile was endearing. Each time she winked at one of the performers, Faith felt her heart flutter. The club owner was being used as a prop by every dancer on the stage and the actress loved it. Her flirtatious actions only made Faith proud.

She was nervous at first when the guys told Reece they didn't have enough men to cover the stage, but Reece sprang up and volunteered quickly. She fell into her old skin very easily and Faith was thrilled to be witnessing the old Reece. To the average Joe, her lover appeared to be relaxing, but Faith knew better. Reece was on high alert, watching everything at once. It was exciting for the actress; she was watching the woman she had only heard about. All those stories were true; Reece was positively crackling with power and dripping with sex.

"Amazing, ain't she?" Cori shouted over the pounding music, squeezing her body into Faith's space.

Faith nodded her head. "So different," she shouted back.
It is such a turn on to watch her. No wonder she had her pick of the girls.

"You should see her in action."

"I bet it was gorgeous."

"Oh, I wouldn't say gorgeous... exciting, maybe."

"How so?" Faith wondered.

"Watch this," the dancer yelled. Cori grabbed her friend's hand and dragged her off the stool and into the crowd.

Faith was momentarily alarmed. "CORI!"

"Relax, just wait..." she grinned.

Faith panicked slightly as she was surrounded, until she was suddenly lifted off the floor by a hand around her waist. Disoriented, she found herself in her lover's arms, face to face with the tall woman.
How the hell did she get here so fast?
Their eyes met and she was surprised by the look of fear and anger in the intense glare.

"What did you think you were doing Faith?"

The actress winced at the tone of Reece's voice. Finding Cori nowhere in sight, she improvised. "I slipped off my stool. Sorry."

"You scared the shit out of me! Fuck!" the club owner was breathing hard.

Faith's eyes went wide when she felt Reece's forearms trembling.
Jesus, she was really scared! Look at her posture... wow. Imagine being taken by this woman? Oh yeah... just look at her eyes! They look silver!
"I'm sorry, baby. I'll go back to my stool..."