The Loudest Silence (Part One)

by Olivia Janae

  “Are you having a nice time?”

  Kate gave a tight chuckle. “It’s been a nice evening.”

  “Yes,” her dance partner laughed, “these events tend to bore me as well.”

  Kate gave a noncommittal “Mmm.”

  “Vivian Kensington is watching us pretty closely.”

  “Oh.” Kate smirked. “Is she?”

  When Kate was released, she retreated to the opposite side of the room, declining her next dance offer.

  Vivian’s eyes followed her as she signed, “This game you’re playing – you won’t win.”

  Kate cocked an eyebrow and slowly licked her lip. “You’re having fun now, right?”

  Before Vivian could answer, Kate slid through the lobby doors and into the long hallway. She wasn’t completely sure if Vivian would follow or put up her own fight in this fun battle of wills, but she walked slowly, waiting, hoping.

  She almost cheered when she heard the door open and close, quick feet coming after her. She knew it was an achievement to make Vivian Kensington chase you, seek you out.

  “I thought you said I wouldn’t win,” she teased, walking backward down the hall, Vivian gliding after her.

  “And who says you have?”

  Kate stopped moving; her point made when, the second she was within arm’s reach, Vivian attacked, mouth hovering a breath away from Kate’s to save their makeup while her hands went immediately to cup Kate’s ass and breast.

  Kate smirked. “I told you.”

  “I want you, and I will have you, Kate. I waited long enough while you dithered in the land of Ashley. I do not want to wait any longer.”

  “Still jealous?” Kate cooed, her finger running down Vivian’s flexing jaw. She was teasing her, but Vivian’s words, perhaps a bit demanding, sent a whole firework display rocketing and whistling through her body.

  “I am not jealous,” Vivian snarled, her eyes flashing.

  Kate pushed, grinding herself against Vivian and making her whimper.

  The door down the hall opened and, simpering, Kate skipped away from Vivian, biting her lip and trying to clear her head as she entered the main hall.

  Kate was loving this, loving the way that Vivian had held her tightly, possessively, and yet carefully, as though Kate were something to be cherished. She loved watching her eyes dance, she loved feeling her stubborn will pushing against hers as she tried to get her to succumb.

  She made her way through the crowd, nodding politely at the strangers she passed. She glanced around a bit, unsure of exactly where Vivian had gone. She let herself be pulled into another dance, but the longer Vivian remained absent the more distracted Kate became. She took another glass of champagne from a waiter and began to circle the room, fun ebbing to worry.

  Finally, she felt the surge of relief as on her second sweep Vivian appeared from the bathroom.

  Eyes flashing roguishly, Vivian signed one word. “Phone.”

  Confused Kate lifted her phone from the hidden spot in her sash belt and saw she had a notification of a video sent from Vivian.

  The shot was only seconds long. It showed Vivian’s hips rocking hard, her dress lifted and hand thrust into her thin, lacy panties.

  Icy fire began at Kate’s face and slammed through her suddenly throbbing body hard enough to make her legs involuntarily clench together.

  She looked up into Vivian’s eyes, dumbfounded. Vivian smirked, suddenly in control of their game, and turned her attention to her neighbor.

  Kate stood rooted to the spot for a moment, a gentle fire building in her chest. How dare she take the orgasm that Kate had been working so hard to build! Handing her glass off, she strode purposefully past Vivian and into the bathroom. She didn’t have to wait even a second, Vivian followed so closely behind her that they might as well have been attached.

  Kate marched straight into the final stall before turning on Vivian, slamming her into the tiled wall, holding her by the throat and hovering. Black lipstick was not easily removed, so she held her place, but it turned out that holding back was driving Vivian deliciously mad. She strained forward, her lips begging to attach themselves to Kate’s, whining when Kate instead ran the tip of her tongue up the side of Vivian’s neck.

  She pressed herself into Vivian, sliding up and down her as her tongue delicately traced the blackened lips.

  Vivian moaned.

  “That wasn’t fair, you know?”

  “Hmm?” Vivian couldn’t seem to focus enough to catch her words, her hands kneading Kate’s rear, her fingers digging into her skin in a way that only made the pull in Kate’s belly stronger.

  Catching Vivian’s wrists, Kate slammed them into the wall above her head. Vivian whimpered in the best way, her throat rumbling below Kate’s lips as she caught at her jaw, her neck, with her teeth. When Vivian was writhing, lightly trying to pull out of Kate’s grasp so she could touch her, Kate bit her lip and transferred the wrists to one hand, listening closely for the sound of feet outside of the bathroom door.

  “Do you want me to touch you?”

  Vivian’s eyes just skipped over the moving mouth without focus, so Kate tried again.

  “Do you want me to touch you?”

  Vivian’s smile rose, genuine and large. “Please.”

  Kate slid her palm quickly down Vivian’s stomach. Vivian began panting heavily, begging with her eyes, ready to be touched.

  Kate grinned wickedly, but instead of slipping her hand over Vivian, she quickly thrust it down her own tights, pressing even harder against Vivian’s body so she could feel her moving. Vivian gasped loudly, eyes almost angry. She tried to pull away, but Kate was strong. She held her still, grinning.

  Fast and hard Kate caressed herself, pressed against her lover, her mouth falling open as she held back a moan. Vivian was all but thrashing under her. Her head fell roughly against Vivian’s forehead as she rocked, careful to be sure Vivian could feel her fast breath and see her face. Quickly, perhaps a little too quickly, Kate tensed. Vivian moaned a guttural animal sound as she watched Kate fall over the edge, rocking wildly, smashing hipbone into hipbone. “Oh god, Kate,” Vivian whimpered, her face gently pressing into her. “God, I adore you.”

  Kate gave her a half-smile, pressing harder into her, working to stay upright.

  “Oh my god!” The door to the bathroom swung open, and two women walked in. “Did you see that guy at the punch bowl?”

  Kate didn’t wait; she released Vivian and skipped out of reach.

  With a bite of her lip and a wink, she washed her hands fast and hurriedly left the bathroom, hearing Vivian’s outraged cry of “No fucking way!”

  Satisfied with herself, Kate laughed as the door closed behind her.

  Her mind was replaying the look on Vivian’s face as she jumped out of reach over and over again, replaying Vivian’s hushed words; so Kate wasn’t paying attention and accidentally walked headlong into a stationary person.

  “Oh, god, I’m so sorry, ma’am. I wasn’t paying attention, are you all right?” she asked, her hands going out to help the person she had bumped in to, despite the fact she had been the one to stumble.

  “There you are, Ms. Flynn,” the woman said, grasping her shoulders to steady her. “I’ve been looking for you. Wherever have you and my daughter been?”

  19

  Kate’s jaw dropped, her mouth popping open, trying to find words as she stared at this matriarchal double of her girlfriend. There were no words in the universe just then, so she stammered, fumbling under the gray gaze of the woman and trying hard not to think of what had just happened in the bathroom, just in case, like her daughter, this woman could read her thoughts.

  “Uh,” she started. “Mrs. Kensington!” She had never met Vivian’s mother, the head of the biggest arts foundation in the city, but she would have known her by sight. She was her daughter in mirror, her cheekbones regally high, her chin and nose identical; it was only in the thinness of her lip and the silver peppering of her black hair that
they were different. Vivian’s mother was coldly beautiful… and giving her a look that said she knew exactly what Kate had just done.

  “Kate!” Vivian snarled from behind her, clearly planning on pulling her back into the bathroom, but the moment she grabbed her wrist she froze. “Mother!” Vivian’s eyes popped unnaturally wide. “You’re here! Y— you’re never here! What are you doing here?”

  “Vivi.” She smiled indulgently and kissed Vivian’s cheek. “How are you, dear?”

  Kate’s eyebrows shot up; no one called Vivian “Vivi.” She had established early in their relationship that she didn’t like it, and Kate agreed. “Vivi” was too juvenile to fit Vivian.

  “I noticed you haven’t danced with Mr. Altman yet. You should amend that mistake sooner rather than later.”

  A shiver of discomfort passed down Kate’s spine as she wondered how long Vivian’s mother had been watching them.

  “Of course, Mother, I will soon. I’m, I’m well, thank you. Mother, this is Kate Flynn, my girlfriend.” Kate couldn’t help but note that Vivian’s hands had balled tightly at her sides. The mask that had fallen across her lover’s face was a new one, not professionally superior, as it could normally be called, but professionally blank, almost bitter.

  “The cellist,” she confirmed. “Jacqueline Kensington.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Kate shook the offered hand, fighting the heat in her cheeks.

  “Oh no,” the older woman shook her head. “No, I am much too young to be a ‘ma’am.’ My name is Jacqueline.”

  “All right. I can do that. How did you know I’m a cellist?”

  Jacqueline laughed, not exactly unkindly. “Well, you do play in my chamber group.”

  Kate frowned. “Right.”

  “Speaking of which, how is your cello? Was all of that ugly business successfully handled?”

  “Uh, yes, ma’am, err, Jacqueline, thank you. Vivian took care of it. And you, so I, uh, hear.”

  “Yes. We were so concerned when we heard. Of course we were mortified that one of our own would behave in such a way. My daughter wanted an immediate termination, but the board and I were concerned. After all, she had been with Ms. Campbell herself not long ago. Who is to say that this was Ms. Campbell’s fault? Right, dear? These matters can be very messy.” Jacqueline blew on without a response from Vivian.

  Kate glanced at Vivian and saw, to her surprise, a vacant look in her eyes. She glanced covertly between the rambling woman and her daughter. If Vivian couldn’t understand her mother, then why didn’t she say something? Why wasn’t Jacqueline signing?

  Tentatively, as Jacqueline spoke, Kate began to sign, low and very slowly, trying her best to keep up.

  Jacqueline paused in the middle of her story, her eyes catching Kate’s moving hands. “Oh, don’t do that, dear.”

  Kate flushed scarlet, mortified. She knew that she was bad, but that had been kind of cold!

  Without looking away from her mother, Vivian reached out and softly lowered Kate’s hands. “It’s all right, Kate. Thank you.”

  Jacqueline continued on with her story as though nothing of consequence had just happened.

  The conversation was light, though perhaps a bit strained, until a board member that Kate vaguely recognized pulled Vivian away, promising that he would “give her back” as soon as he introduced her to someone.

  “Come,” Jacqueline said, offering a bony elbow to Kate so she could take it in the most gentlemanly fashion possible. “Escort me outside for a cigarette.”

  She led Jacqueline outside, dazed and not sure if she was completely willing. She wasn’t getting the best feeling from the Kensington matriarch.

  “So, Katelyn, I know I have your biography somewhere, I’m sure it was given to me, but unfortunately I can’t say that I’ve read it yet.”

  Kate took that to be a request for information, so she gave her a verbal resume, listing where she had played and under which conductors.

  “Uh-huh. That’s wonderful. I’ve also heard tale of a child?”

  Kate smiled and pulled her phone from her sash, proudly showing off the home screen. It was a recent shot of Vivian and Max, their faces pressed against a window so it looked as though they were trying desperately to rip their way from the phone and into the real world.

  Jacqueline chuckled lightly, holding it in front of her face. “My, my, on your phone! You must have taken quite a liking to my daughter to want to see her face that regularly.”

  Kate cleared her throat, unsure of what to say. That might have been the single most bitchy comment she had ever heard. Also, she wasn’t sure she liked the way Jacqueline said “my daughter,” as if Vivian were a possession in a large and underappreciated collection.

  “Though I suppose,” Jacqueline drawled, her deep brown eyes raking Kate’s face, “I can see that regardless.” Her voice had dropped. Kate wasn’t sure, but she thought that somehow she had stepped in it.

  “Ma’am?”

  Jacqueline just smiled and gave her arm a placating squeeze. “How old is he, and what is his name?”

  “His name is Maxwell,” she said, unsure if she was actually supposed to speak. “He’s four. He’s—”

  Kate sighed in relief when Jacqueline looked over her shoulder and said, “Ah, Mr. Altman,” cutting her off. She produced a long, thin cigarette from a purse on her hip and handed the lighter to Kate.

  It took her a second before she realized that Mrs. Kensington was waiting for her to light it. She smiled, switched on a polite, albeit preoccupied, smile, and acquiesced, handing the golden lighter back to her once it was done. She couldn’t tell if she was winning this woman over completely or crashing and burning. That damn mask Vivian wore so often was clearly handed down generation to generation.

  “Ladies!” Mr. Altman greeted them, pulling out his own cigarette. He apparently could light it himself. “Enjoying the party?”

  “Of course,” Kate said.

  Altman studied her for a moment. “Gallantly polite, Ms. Flynn, though I did notice you were the belle of the ball for a while. Please remember to save a dance for me as well.”

  Kate nodded. She hadn’t even given a dance to Vivian yet, had she?

  “And how are you, my lovely?” he asked Jacqueline.

  “Carlyle,” Jacqueline started, taking a long drag of her cigarette and ignoring his question, “when is this secret audition no one is supposed to know about?”

  If Altman protested to the subject being brought up in front of Kate, he didn’t show it. He just leaned back, palm resting on the top of his cane. “April. Why?”

  Jacqueline turned to Kate, making her back stiffen. “Katelyn, you will be taking it, will you not?”

  All of the blood in Kate’s face drained away. “Um, well, I kind of thought it was invite only.”

  Jacqueline blew a tendril of smoke from her nose in a daunting impression of a dragon. “Consider yourself invited.”

  Mr. Altman studied both for the barest of seconds, then nodded once in assent.

  Kate wanted to scream, to jump up and down and hug them, to vomit with sudden nerves, but while her insides were doing a polka, she simply crossed her arms over herself and nodded. “Thank you.” She gave Mr. Altman a small nod as well. “Sir.”

  “It’s my pleasure.” His voice was sardonic through a gale of smoke.

  She heard shuffling behind her and Vivian appeared, asking, “Where did everybody go?” She glanced at Kate, and her eyes widened.

  “What?” asked Kate.

  Vivian shook her head quickly and smiled, slipping into her new professional mask as she turned back to the group. Jacqueline was staring at Vivian, saying something stony without words.

  Kate shuddered at the coldness that seemed to be saved specifically for her daughter. Vivian was still shifting, her eyes owlishly large.

  “Seriously, what?” she mouthed.

  “Ms. Flynn.” Exasperated, Jacqueline dug through her purse and handed her a
compact. “Allow me to explain, since it appears that my daughter cannot.”

  “Really, Mother?” Vivian growled.

  Nervous, Kate looked into the little mirror, searched her face, and found nothing.

  With a huff, Vivian moved the compact so Kate could see the long, black smudge across her jaw and throat, the exact shade of Vivian’s lipstick.

  Kate gasped and began to rub, but the action only managed to smear it.

  She had no idea when it had happened; she had no memory of Vivian’s lips touching her in the bathroom, and yet clearly they had.

  She rubbed again and only succeeded in transferring some of the stain onto her fingers. She had two choices. She could panic and rub it everywhere under the judgmental eyes of Vivian’s mother and the general director of Lyric, or she could run for the hills.

  She chose to run.

  Mortified to the point of tears, she gave a stiff nod. “I apologize, Mrs. Kensington, Mr. Altman, Ms. Kensington. If you will excuse me.”

  She tried to walk quickly, constantly fighting her body’s urge to move faster, wanting to get far away as fast as she could. She slammed into the bathroom door a bit harder than she meant to, groaning as she looked at her ravaged neck in the mirror. The woman next to her gave a scandalized look, huffing a quiet “Really!”

  Kate scowled. She was ready for this night to end.

  “My mother has invited you and Max to an early lunch.”

  “What?” Vivian’s voice pulled Kate out of her deep sulk, staring out across the bright street as they waited for the valet.

  “Lunch. Next Sunday.”

  “Why?” She wasn’t sure she could face Vivian’s mother again.

  “I think you impressed her.”

  “You mean with my lipstick hickey?”

  Vivian shrugged, her face pensive as she said, “You never know with my mother; she is impressed by the strangest things. Perhaps she liked the way you handled yourself, or she liked the fact that we clearly enjoy one another publicly.”