Season Four: French Kissing, Book 4

by Harper Bliss

  Solange narrowed her eyes. “Does all of this come from personal experience? Did you have a negative experience with a man? Because I have, yet I don’t look at this in as extreme a way as you do.”

  “This is not only a matter of my experience. Though I am sorry to hear that things that should never have happened, did happen to you.”

  “With all due respect, I didn’t come here for another discussion on women’s rights. I feel that was extensively covered last night. That’s not what I was trying to say. Can we take a deep breath and start again?” Solange set the example by inhaling deeply.

  Aurore followed suit. Solange was like a red rag to a bull. Aurore spent too much of her time rallying against puritans who wished the world could go back at least fifty years. A camp she had always assumed Solange to be in since she’d met her. But Aurore wasn’t as narrow-minded as the people she raged against, and she could give someone the benefit of the doubt, and truly listen to what they had to say. Maybe Solange was just a little nervous.

  “I’m sorry. I got on my high horse there for a minute. It has become a pretty comfortable spot for me. Perhaps too comfortable.” Aurore ostentatiously closed her eyes and took a deep breath in again and exhaled slowly. “What did you want to say?” she asked, her voice soft and welcoming.

  Solange drank again, then slung one leg over the other. She looked into her wine glass as she said, “Do you remember when I was here before and I basically sprinted out of the door when you even dared to mention the word sex?”

  “As if it were yesterday.”

  “There was a reason for that.” Solange voice trembled a little.

  “Does it have anything to do with the bad experiences you’ve had with men?”

  “No. I mean, I don’t know. Maybe. But that’s basically just intimidation and men who can’t deal with women in power throwing their weight around a little. I may not like that aspect of politics, or of the world, but I’m used to it and I can deal with it.” She glanced up for a split second then looked down again. “No, it’s something much more intimate than that.”

  Aurore nodded. “I see.” She believed she knew what Solange was talking about but she didn’t want to put any words into her mouth. It was important that Solange say it out loud—how else to ask for help?

  “I’m one of those straight women who have barely had the pleasure of orgasm. Definitely not while engaging in intercourse with a man. Barely when I, um, touch myself. Which is not an activity I engage in frequently, either way. Because it just seems so pointless.”

  Even though Aurore had expected something like this, she was still astounded that Solange had somehow found the courage to utter the words.

  “First of all, you should know you’re not alone. In fact, you’re in the majority.”

  “Being in the majority doesn’t always put you in the right camp.”

  Aurore was glad Solange attempted a joke. “Ain’t that the truth.” She sent Solange a warm smile. What she really wanted to do was sit on the armrest of her chair and drape an arm around her shoulders, and tell her she had come to the right place. That she had chosen to talk to the right person. This was probably why Solange had—again—reacted so testily to Aurore’s words last night. In hindsight, it had been written all over her face and demeanour. “Do you mind if I ask you some questions? Intimate questions?”

  Solange just nodded.

  Aurore took a moment to ponder the situation. What was Solange asking her really? Advice? Or for her to make a move? Or, perhaps, she was just wanting someone to listen to her, and who would actually hear what she had to say.

  “You’re not in a relationship at the moment,” Aurore said. “Has it been a long time since you were in one?”

  “More than two years. It only lasted a few months. I think I’m not really relationship material. I work too much. I don’t have time for all the drama that comes with it.”

  “What sort of drama would that be?”

  Solange rolled her eyes. “The same thing every time. Guys whining that I’m not there for them. That I’m emotionally unavailable. My last boyfriend even accused me of having a stone for a heart.”

  “Has it occurred to you that maybe these were not the right men for you?”

  “Sure, but the circles I travel in kind of always make me end up with the same sort of guy.”

  “Do you want a relationship?”

  Solange scrunched her lips together. “I don’t know. I guess it would be nice to have someone be there, you know. To not always have to come home to an empty apartment or wake up alone on Sundays. Maybe that’s what I envied Dominique for the most. I saw how she changed, how being with Steph changed her for the better.”

  “Do you think you envied her because she fell in love with a woman?”

  “No,” Solange was quick to say. “The gender didn’t matter. Just the fact that she was so obviously, so blatantly, in love. And that she used it to her advantage in the campaign. I was always against that, but Dominique listened to Steph when it came to that. Not to me.”

  “And look where it got her.”

  Solange heaved a deep sigh. “I also found it very difficult to understand how a woman who had been married to a man for so long, suddenly fell so head over heels for a woman. And a woman like Steph. I vetted her. I had to. What I found was not always… Well, let’s just say Stéphanie Mathis hasn’t been a chaste choir girl all her life.”

  “Nor have many women. Does that bother you?”

  “It bothered me about her, because so much in politics is about how things look and I worried what her reputation would do to Dominique. Dominique deserved to win the election, and I didn’t want it to become all about Stéphanie.”

  “In the end, not a lot of voters cared. Or they cared, but for the right reasons.”

  Solange scoffed. “I even found myself thinking and… I’ve never told this to anyone.” She held Aurore’s gaze for a split second.

  “Nothing you say here will ever leave this room. I promise.”

  “I thought, if she’s going to be with a woman, why can’t it be with someone a bit more like her, you know? Not such a tomboy. Not someone who looks so obviously like a lesbian.” She held up her hands. “I know that’s a silly thought. I’ve regretted having it. I’m just trying to paint an honest picture.”

  “I admire your honesty.” Aurore realised in that moment she wasn’t only admiring Solange guts and courage, but also how she sat there, so serenely, with one leg slung over the other, her tone so poised, despite what she was saying. Her eyes so blue. Her limbs tight, but her voice relaxing more by the minute.

  “This whole thing with Steph has gotten out of hand, which is why I wanted to be there yesterday. Trust me, Dominique is much more pleasant to work for when she wakes up with Steph next to her.”

  “You had to get used to a change. Sometimes it takes time.”

  “But, well… this isn’t really about Steph, of course.” That skittering glance that landed on Aurore again, then flitted away.

  Aurore kept quiet, hoping her silence would entice Solange to say what she really wanted to say.

  “I don’t know why I find you so easy to talk to.” Solange pulled her lips into a pensive pout.

  “I can think of a reason or two,” Aurore said.

  “Such as?”

  “You’ve seen me in all my glory on the internet. I imagine that breaks down some boundaries.”

  Solange’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. “No, um, I mean, I didn’t mean that. I really didn’t.”

  “It’s okay. I’m not offended by your knee-jerk reaction to it anymore. Clearly, you’re not so bothered by it anymore either, since it was your idea for the president to be a guest on my show. What I really wonder, however, is what your very first reaction to that video was.”

  “What do you mean?” Solange’s voice tightened.

  “I think you know very well what I mean.”

  “Did it arouse me?” Solange all but spat out the word
s. She shook her head vigorously. “Pornography doesn’t arouse me.”

  “That makes you very different from most of human kind.”

  “Don’t start pulling percentages and statistics out of your hat again, please.”

  “I won’t, if you start being honest with yourself.”

  Solange narrowed her eyes. “Wait a minute.” She squared her shoulders. “You don’t think I started this conversation because I want you to seduce me, do you? Because if that’s the case, I must apologise for giving you the wrong impression. That’s not what I’m after. At all.” If disgust could have a face, it would be the very picture of Solange Garceau’s face at that moment.

  “No, Solange. That’s not what I think at all.” Aurore leaned forward to bridge the increasing gap between them. “I think that you needed someone to talk to and I was the obvious choice. That’s all.” She tried to hold Solange’s gaze. “I sincerely hope you’re not going to pull your favourite stunt of running away when things get a bit confrontational again.”

  Solange’s grip on the armrest of the chair loosened. “I won’t run away,” she said, “but I could do with a change of topic.”

  “How about we have dinner?” Aurore rose and held out her hand to Solange. She looked at it in silence for a moment, then took it in hers.

  Dominique

  After making sure that Lisa was fast asleep in her hospital bed, and getting three doctors’ assurances that she was in very good hands, and would probably sleep soundly through the night, Dominique had let Steph convince her to go home for a shower and a good night’s sleep.

  The ride to the Elysée had been silent, but in the back of the car, Dominique had reached for Steph’s hand and held on to it for dear life.

  When they arrived in the living quarters—their home—Dominique sank into her favourite chair. “I want to sleep for three days straight,” she said as she put her feet onto the ottoman. As if on cue, Pierrot appeared from under a chair and hopped onto Dominque’s lap.

  “You should call Solange and tell her to reschedule whatever you’ve got going on tomorrow morning at the very least.”

  “Already done,” Dominique said. “Monday morning, the country will have an absent president. Do you think anyone will notice?”

  “I will.” Steph sat opposite her.

  “I’m so glad you’re here.” If Dominique had had any energy left in her body, she would have walked over to Steph and hugged her, or made some other kind of gesture to express her gratitude.

  “At least someone is happy I’m here.” Steph smiled. “My little feline friend doesn’t seem bothered in the least.”

  “Will you stay? I know we need to have a proper talk, but I can’t have it now. I need to sleep first.”

  Steph nodded. “I don’t want you to be alone tonight.”

  “Thank you.” Dominique pulled her lips into the widest smile she could muster. “You never told me how last night’s dinner went. Did Solange behave?”

  “Like a pious schoolgirl.”

  “Is that good or bad?”

  Steph chuckled. “Good, I think.” She locked her gaze on Dominique. “Good enough to make me believe she’s truly willing to make amends. To give things a try.” She kept her gaze on Dominique.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “How I am looking at you?” Steph performed a half smile, as if she was trying to suppress it but was leaning into it at the same time. Dominique knew that smile well. She had missed it terribly.

  “You know.”

  Steph shook her head. “Tell me.”

  “As if you’re up to something.”

  Her lips burst into a full blown smile now. “I have a question, that’s all.”

  “Shoot.”

  “I know you’re exhausted, but would you mind terribly if I came over there and kissed you?”

  A slew of butterflies caught flight in Dominique’s stomach. She just shook her head and held out her hand. The movement made Pierrot jump down, as if he could sense he should make room for Steph.

  Slowly, Steph walked over, gazed into Dominique’s eyes, and planted her knees on either side of Dominique’s hips. She cradled Dominique’s cheeks in the palms of her hands and looked down at her. “I’ve missed you, Madam President,” she said, and leaned forward to plant her lips on Dominique’s.

  As their mouths met, tears started streaming down Dominique’s cheeks. This wasn’t the sort of kiss that would lead to anything more. It wasn’t a kiss of initiation—only reconciliation. Of Steph telling her that she wanted to move forward, past everything that held them apart. It wasn’t a kiss that erased all the words that had been spoken, and all the issues that still lay between them, but it was a gesture of goodwill and love.

  Dominique grabbed the back of Steph’s head and held her close. When they broke from the kiss, Steph wiped the tears from Dominique’s cheek with her slender fingers.

  “I’m here,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Let’s talk tomorrow morning,” Dominique said. “If you’re free.”

  Steph grinned and nodded. “How about I run you a bath?”

  “How about you kiss me again?” Dominique countered.

  “Your choice,” Steph said. “Bath or kiss.”

  “Can’t I have my cake and eat it too?”

  “Well, you are the president…” She paused. “Although that line is getting old and over-used.”

  As Steph leaned in to kiss her again, Dominique thought of the words she had spoken to Philippe last night. Had she really said she was considering not running for a second term? Had she been out of her mind with worry about Lisa or had she, in the face of loss, spoken the truth?

  Then she forgot all about any words she had ever spoken, because Steph’s tongue darted between her lips again and met hers in a deliciously soft embrace.

  Steph

  Steph woke up to Dominique next to her, smiling at her.

  “Finally,” Dominique said. “I’ve been awake for hours.”

  “And you’re still in bed?” Steph’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “I’ve already called the hospital. Lisa’s doing well. She can go home today.”

  “That’s wonderful news.” She found Dominique’s hand under the covers and squeezed it. “What else have you been up to?”

  “Mainly watching you sleep. You look so innocent when you sleep. It’s uncanny.”

  “As opposed to looking guilty when I’m awake?” Steph smiled.

  “No, but you surely never look innocent when you’re awake.” Dominique scooted a little closer. She hadn’t wasted any of her awake time putting on clothes. “You look sexy and mischievous and as if you’re always up to something.” Dominique planted a quick kiss on Steph’s nose.

  Steph had been so tired last night and, out of sheer habit, before getting into bed, she hadn’t put on any pyjamas. She’d just slipped between the sheets naked, the way she always did, and Dominique had followed suit.

  Within minutes, they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms. Now here they lay, naked and fully awake—and in Steph’s case, fully aroused as well. Was this how they were meant to start that much needed chat?

  “I love you,” Dominique said. “I sincerely hope you never doubted that.”

  Steph shook her head. “Never. I know I’m very lovable.”

  Pierrot stirred at the end of the bed. He didn’t seem very impressed by Steph’s return to the Elysée. He gave her a quick glance, then put his head on his paws again and went back to sleep.

  “I wanted to say a few things,” Dominique said. “Things that went through my head when I was sitting next to Lisa’s bed.”

  “Are you sure this is the right setting for one of your Laroche speeches?” Steph grinned. She felt Dominique’s body heat radiate onto her skin.

  “It won’t be a speech, chérie.” Dominique smiled back. Maybe this was one of those rare moments when they were on exactly the same wavelength. “And this is exac
tly the right setting. What better place to lay my heart bare than naked in bed with you?”

  Steph had no answer to that. She had something she wanted to say herself—something that had become very clear to her over the course of yesterday as well, but she would let Dominique do the talking for now.

  “Saturday, when you arrived at the hospital,” Dominique started. “Even though I didn’t know yet what was going on with Lisa, just seeing you there, just being able to hold you and have you near, made the whole situation a lot more bearable for me. When I said that I needed you, I don’t think I’ve meant any words more in my life. Not only is this presidency lark no fun without you to come home to after performing my duties, but what I realised when I saw Lisa lying there so helplessly, is that it means nothing without you and my children in my life. I don’t want to be the kind of president who doesn’t know how to keep her private life together. I’m convinced, even, that having a stable home life will make me better at my job.” She paused. Steph was glued to her words, as always. “I want to see the children more and I want to see you more. I’ve already talked about it with Philippe. He agrees.” She smiled that winning smile. “Now all I need is for you to agree.”

  “Aren’t you forgetting someone?” Steph said.

  Dominique shook her head. “No.”

  “What about Solange? What about your father?”

  “Solange works for me and not the other way around. My father is not the president. I am. He’ll just have to deal with it.”

  “Have you made any concrete plans to make this more than just words?”

  Dominique nodded. “The children will stay over two nights a week. And as for us… I wanted to ask you what you wanted. I’m wide open to negotiations about my time.”