French Kissing: Season One

by Harper Bliss

  After a short explosion of slaps, only interrupted by the sound of Nadia sucking in her breath, preparing for the next one, Juliette felt something warm and wet on her behind. Her pussy was a moist mess and Nadia was kissing her way down there, both of her hands now caressing Juliette’s cheeks, erasing the hurt.

  Juliette all but crashed through her elbows when Nadia’s tongue connected with her swollen pussy lips, then trailed higher, and higher still. While her tongue stayed there, Juliette felt Nadia’s finger trace a wet line to her pussy.

  “I will fuck you now, Jules. The way only I fuck you.” With that, Nadia thrust deep, her tongue back between Juliette’s butt cheeks. Relentless from the start, Nadia burrowed down with fast, swift movements—in and out, quick and deep, from an angle Juliette wasn’t that accustomed to. Nadia’s tongue there added extra stimulation and before Juliette had a chance to repent—to think about anything else but pure pleasure—Nadia had her teetering on the edge.

  “I’m going to come,” she moaned.

  Apparently, this was the sign for Nadia to thrust her tongue deep while her fingers delved even further inside of Juliette. Every cell in Juliette’s body exploded into fireworks, burst after burst of ecstasy filling her blood. This time, she did crash through her elbows, her face buried in the sheets, her bottom high in the air.

  Nadia slowly slid out her fingers and planted one last kiss on her butt cheek before draping her body over Juliette’s, finding her ear with her lips. “Now you know,” she said. “There’s only you.”

  And Juliette did.

  CLAIRE

  “Good god, Jules. I made such an ass of myself.” Claire eyed Juliette, who couldn’t seem to find a comfortable position to sit in. “Would you sit still, please? You’re ruining my drama.”

  “Sorry, I just, huh—” A blush crept up her cheeks. “I’m a bit sore this morning.”

  “Oh christ,” Claire groaned. “Please don’t give me details.”

  “Fine, I’ll just say I deserved it.” Juliette painted a forced smile on her face.

  Claire sighed with exasperation. “To have Steph, of all people, tell you to pull it together and have some self-respect. It’s not something one easily forgets.”

  “Speaking of…” Juliette drummed her fingertips on the top of her desk. “We should consider promoting her this year.”

  “We should?”

  “Yes. There’s no one like her in this company. Someone with her charm and effortless communication skills. She’s smart and more than capable. And she’s proven herself over and over again.”

  “Erm… aren’t you forgetting that she’s currently shagging our biggest client?” Claire asked.

  “No thanks to you, who only brought them closer together by encouraging them to go on holiday together.”

  “Hey, we all deserve some happiness in our lives, Jules. And they contained that beautifully. Promoting her is something entirely different. It will make it look as though, when you fuck the right person, it’s a recipe for success.”

  “Seriously? I slept with Sybille and we fired her.”

  Claire wiggled her finger in the air. “Oh no, we didn’t. She got the promotion of a lifetime.”

  “At least she doesn’t work here anymore. And it’s not as if it’s common knowledge that Steph and Laroche are together. No one knows.”

  “Where is this coming from, anyway? Why the sudden desire to promote her?”

  “Apart from the fact that she deserves it, I’d like to work less hours.” Juliette bit the inside of her lip, as if what she was saying was only tentative.

  “Ah… are we back to having babies now?” Claire knew Juliette well enough to at least try to talk her out of this.

  “That’s only part of it. We work too hard, Claire. Our personal lives suffer.”

  “Mine doesn’t.” Claire momentarily pursed her lips together. “And time spent at the office doesn’t necessarily equal working, what with what’s been going on here lately.”

  “It’s August. It’s normal.” Juliette pulled up her shoulders.

  “Are you saying we’re at different stages in our lives, Jules? Are you breaking up with me professionally?” Claire joked. She knew work had taken its toll on Juliette and Nadia’s relationship and handing over some responsibilities to Steph was actually not a bad move. The baby thing didn’t sit right with her though.

  “I love this company and I love you, Claire,” Juliette continued. “I love working with you. But this life of always being available, of checking e-mail first thing in the morning and right before I close my eyes at night, of lying awake trying to solve a client’s problem, of carrying the responsibility for our employees, it’s not what I want anymore.” She shook her head. “I almost lost Nadia and not having to go through that again comes first now.”

  “Are we talking partnership? Name on the door and everything?” Barbier, Cyr & Mathis. Claire rolled around the words in her head.

  “It’s worth thinking about, but let’s not take too long. September, and the craziness that comes with it, is right around the corner.”

  “Okay. I’ll give it some thought and get back to you.” She slanted her head. “As long as you know that this firm still needs you, and that, honestly…” Claire weighed her words before proceeding. “I don’t see you pushing a stroller through the streets of Paris. I just don’t see it.”

  Juliette chuckled. “I hardly see it either, but it’s just one of many things going through my head right now.”

  Relieved, Claire relaxed in her chair. “Whatever it takes.”

  “Was your date really such a disaster?” Juliette planted her elbows on the desk.

  “You wouldn’t believe it… it went fine up to a certain point, and then I just cracked.” She pulled her lips into an apologetic smirk. “Too many cosmos.” She remembered how Steph had picked up the pieces, taken her home and tucked her into bed—and given her a much-needed speech. Come to think of it, Claire wouldn’t have a problem at all welcoming her to the management of Barbier & Cyr. Despite what had happened with Dominique, she trusted Steph with her life.

  Juliette leaned a bit more over her desk, taking on a conspiratorial tone. “You didn’t get this from me, okay? But I hear a certain doctor without borders is leaving Saint-Vincent.”

  Claire’s eyes grew wide. “What?”

  “Nadia told me she resigned yesterday. She’s out of there by next week.”

  “And you’re only telling me this now?” A uncontrollable urge to punch the air ripped through Claire’s muscles—despite having told Margot that she was done with her.

  “Nadia and I had our own drama last night. That doctor she slept with is coming back for a consultation. She only told me about Inez this morning at breakfast.”

  So that’s why your bottom’s sore, Claire thought, but didn’t waste any energy on saying it out loud. Her brain was too busy processing the information. “What happened?”

  “I haven’t gotten to the bottom of it yet.” Juliette grimaced. “But I thought you should know.”

  “Shit,” Claire said, while sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. “La saloppe is leaving. I can’t believe it.” She instantly recognised the tingle sprouting in her stomach as hope.

  STEPH

  Steph glanced at Philippe. With his mousy mouth and thinning hair, he wasn’t that particularly good-looking—but what did she know? Dominique must have seen something in him if she married him and had two children with him. What she didn’t get was why he would have cheated on her, but she’d never had much insight in the thought process of straight men. Sometimes, one tried to get chummy with her, because he believed he and Steph were the same—which couldn’t be further from the truth.

  He was on the phone, saying goodnight to the children, who were spending the night at his parents. So they could have this meeting. Just the three of them. Very cosy. Steph hated every minute of having to be here.

  Philippe handed the phone to Dominique so she could say her
part to Lisa and Didier. “Another beer?” he asked.

  Steph shook her head. She was only halfway through this one. Was he nervous as well? Perhaps it was difficult—or, at the very least quite peculiar—to meet your ex-wife’s girlfriend.

  Steph looked around, at the house where Dominique and Philippe had spent most of their life together. She felt as if she’d been dropped into a picture of a bourgeois lifestyle magazine, if such a thing even existed.

  “They’re all ready for bed.” Dominique gave Philippe his mobile back and sat down at the kitchen table. What must it be like for her? Did she feel in any way mortified? It wouldn’t be her style and, either way, even if she did, nothing in her demeanour would ever give it away.

  They still seemed to have a familiarity about them, punctured by a snide remark here and there, uttered in a tone that could be a tad friendlier. Seeing Philippe and Dominique together like that was such an advertisement for people not to get married.

  “Okay.” Dominique cleared her throat. “Thanks for having us over, Philippe.” Why did she even say that? This was still her house as well. Steph refused to get worked up about things like that though, mostly because it was none of her business and also because such practicalities gave her a massive headache.

  “I’ve had some time to adjust to the idea.” He twirled his beer bottle around between his fingers. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. My only concern is the children.”

  Were they asking for his blessing now? Why was Dominique being so meek with him?

  “I’ve decided to vote in favour of gay marriage in the Assemblée next week, against the MLR’s instructions. It may cause a bit of a stir, but it shouldn’t be anything too disrupting. The real news will be about the bill, not about an MLR party member voting against expectations. I’m working on some other party members and I think I have at least two more on my side.”

  “You’re not just a party member, Domi. You’re Xavier Laroche’s daughter. Every step you take is scrutinised, and if not now, then at least it will be a big deal in the lead-up to next year’s elections.”

  Domi? Was that what he called her? Did she call him Phi-Phi? Steph didn’t understand why she had to be here. This was a discussion between parents, about the welfare of their children. She was fond of Lisa and Didier, but she had no say in the matter.

  “You’re right, but that’s months away. By then, I will have told them.” Dominique shot Steph a tender glance.

  “Not to be the devil’s advocate here, but can you even run?” He brought his beer bottle to his thin lips and took a small sip.

  “Why not? Because I believe in the fundamental right for everyone to get married? I honestly believe it can only work in my advantage. Lots of voters are—”

  “I don’t mean that. I mean, uh, when it comes out. What’s the plan?”

  Steph had avoided that dreaded question since Dominique had come back from holiday, not wanting to burst the bubble they’d been in since Juan-les-Pins. Her ears perked up now though.

  “I don’t mean for it to come out. We’re discreet.” Dominique started fidgeting with her necklace.

  “But, this is serious, right? You’ve introduced her to our children. You’re sitting in my kitchen. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if this wasn’t serious… Surely, you must have a long-term plan.” His voice shot up a bit. Dominique tugged harder on her jewellery. “And you, Stéphanie. Can you live like this?”

  Steph hadn’t expected that question. She suddenly liked him a bit more. He was almost defending her. How chivalrous. Maybe he was just a nice guy. “I have no choice.”

  “Of course you do. Everyone always has a choice.” He slammed his beer down on the table top, apparently surprising himself with the force of it as well.

  “Philippe, come on. That’s not why we’re here. It’s also not for you to worry about.” Dominique’s voice sounded tight, clipped.

  “Of course it is. If, for some reason, this comes out tomorrow, it will be all over the news and the children will see. You can’t keep it a secret forever.”

  “I don’t intend to.” Dominique caught Steph’s glance. “But it’s going to have to happen in phases. You’re the first to know. Papa will be next. And the children. Then the leadership. This doesn’t necessarily have to be an all-round disaster.”

  “You must really have it bad if you believe that.” Steph didn’t really want to, but she agreed with Dominique’s ex-husband.

  “The world is not black and white. Things are changing. Look at Belgium. They had a gay Prime Minister.”

  “Tssss,” Philippe hissed. “Sure, but that’s Belgium. And he was a Socialist.”

  “MLR is not the far-right, Philippe. Maybe we need something like this. Something to connect a large group of disconnected voters to us.”

  “While alienating people who have voted MLR forever.”

  Dominique shook her head. “There aren’t a lot of choices here. This is my life.”

  “I know. I know.” Philippe, who sat next to Dominique, put a hand on her shoulder. “I trust you to do right thing, Domi. You’ve always had such a knack for that.”

  Steph was slightly bewildered by this sudden display of affection. She tried to imagine she was somewhere else, but this was her life as well now. Ex-husbands. Right-wing party politics. Election strategy. Children. A tiny part of her wished she was at Les Pêches, doing shots with Melanie. Or Le Noir. God, she’d have to tell Dominique about that as well. Would she have to be vetted? She hoped not because there was no way anyone could ever conclude Stéphanie Mathis was fit to be a politician’s wife.

  She sat there and watched Dominique and Philippe drift further into a political discussion about right-wing versus left-wing values, and she caught herself not caring. She fell in love, but this, this was not what she had signed up for.

  Still, she knew she wouldn’t walk away. One glance at Dominique, at the fire in her eyes and the determined movements of her hands, was enough to make her stay.

  MARGOT

  Margot slipped the envelope underneath Nadia’s office door, glared at the white paper triangle sticking out for a second, crouched back down and pocketed it. What was she? Twelve years old? She sure felt like it of late. She sucked in a breath and knocked on the door. No reply. All this agony over nothing all the time.

  “Looking for me?” Nadia was just rounding the corner and walking towards her in the hallway.

  Margot nodded. Perhaps, in all of this, and despite their fight, Nadia had been her only true ally.

  “That better not be…” Nadia pinned her eyes on the envelope.

  “No, no.” Margot extended her arm and handed it to Nadia. “Open it, please.” She watched Nadia fold the paper open and extract the card. A crooked grin slipped across her lips as she read.

  “Hey, you never left so you’re still at the top of my list.” Nadia inched closer.

  “So you really do have a friends’ list?” Margot allowed herself a smile as well.

  “You mean you don’t?” Nadia reached for the handle of the door. “Come in for a minute.”

  Margot followed Nadia inside and didn’t wait for Nadia to turn around and face her. It was easier that way. “I’m sorry for what I said. I could give you a list of excuses, but, no matter how I felt at the time, I shouldn’t have said the things I said. I value your friendship enormously and, frankly, without you I probably would have lost it even more.” Margot swallowed a lump out of her throat. “And thank you for talking to Inez. You know I like to fight my own battles, but I had given up on that one. It was a mistake.” A tear ran down her cheek, but she didn’t mind this time. “Thank you for having my back.”

  Nadia clasped a hand to her chest. “God, what a relief. I thought you’d be furious with me for months… but I told Inez because then, at least, there’d be a chance you’d be around for me to witness your anger.”

  “I, uh, never thought she’d be so gracious about it.”

  “She’s not a bad person
and she cares about you… what was she going to do?” Nadia leaned her bottom against the arm rest of a visitor chair.

  “Looks like you know her better than I do.”

  “Ever heard of tunnel vision, doctor de Hay? And gosh, you’re stubborn. Not the best of combinations, you know.” Nadia tapped the card against her thigh. “And hey, after what you did for me…”

  “I’m glad I’m staying.” And that I have a friend like you, Margot wanted to say, but she’d about reached her dose of sentiment for the day.

  “Come here.” Nadia pushed herself up and opened her arms wide.

  Awkwardly, Margot stepped into her hug, but once there, once her chin rested on Nadia’s shoulder, it freed her of a little bit of the sadness that had nestled beneath her stomach, and she threw her arms around Nadia’s waist and held her tight.

  “Now let’s talk about the consequences,” Nadia whispered in her ear. “And by that I mean a woman named Claire Cyr.”

  They let go, Margot slightly reeling from the tenderness bestowed on her. She eyed Nadia and shook her head. “She said some things… All spot on and well-deserved on my part.”

  “Maybe, but Inez leaving changes everything.” Nadia perched on the arm rest again. “God, Juliette told me she went on this disastrous date—”

  “Claire’s dating?” Nadia might as well just have sucker-punched her in the gut.

  “No, not really.” Nadia blinked twice and scratched her face. “I mean, she went on this one blind date Steph set up for her, but she got totally drunk because she’s not over you.” Nadia straightened her back. “Trust me, nothing happened and she won’t be going on any more dates. She wants you, Margot. It’s so obvious.”

  “I just… don’t know if I can handle another outburst like the last one. I hurt her and now there’s all this anger between us, this resentment. I blew it. I have no idea how to approach her.” Margot sighed. “I can hardly write her a card.”