Ballad of Flavia & Sarah: Interlude

This is part 5/6 of "The Ballad of Flavia and Sarah".

Many thanks to

DawnDuckie

for editing it.

Flavia rolled off Sarah and lay still on the bed, catching her breath. After a moment, Sarah rolled over too, cuddling up to Flavia despite the sheen of sweat covering both their bodies.

Flavia put her arm around Sarah. "That's the way every morning should start."

"You're telling me. Are you feeling hungry? I could whip up a veggie Full English."

"There's no rush; let's enjoy the moment. Besides, maybe I should switch to yoghurt; I've put on six pounds since you moved in. I love your cooking, but it's not good for me."

Sarah lifted the cover to look at Flavia's body. "Where do you put it? You're absolutely perfect."

Flavia kissed her. "

You're

absolutely perfect. You know that, right?"

"I've certainly got the perfect girlfriend."

Flavia sat up. "I'll cook you breakfast for a change."

"You don't have to." Sarah began to sit up too. "I can do it."

Flavia pushed her back down, and her head hovered over Sarah's. "You just don't want to eat my food, do you?"

"No, I love your cooking. It's just that you work so hard, and I like to look after you."

Flavia's lips descended to kiss her. "I've got the day off. Cooking will help me relax."

"No, really, you..." Sarah stopped talking when Flavia began tickling her, squirming under fingers that she couldn't avoid.

"Admit it!" said Flavia. "Admit you hate my cooking!"

"No, I..." Sarah giggled, turning onto her front to avoid the tickles.

Flavia grabbed Sarah's right leg, holding it tight while her nails ran along the sole. "Admit it!"

"No! No! OK, I don't like your cooking."

Flavia let the leg go. "I knew it," she said in mock outrage, before smacking the bottom Sarah was presenting to her. "That's for lying to me." She smacked it again. "And that's for not liking my cooking."

Sarah rolled onto her back, her arms behind her head, her naked body exposed to Flavia. "I love so many things about you: your kindness, your bravery, your tenderness, your sexiness, that thing you do with your fingers and tongue. But I admit it: your cooking sucks. I guess even you're not perfect."

Flavia ran her hand over Sarah's torso. "Are you sure there's no treat I can offer you to eat?" She swung a leg over Sarah.

Sarah eyed Flavia's womanhood, glistening between her legs. "You're insatiable. I only ate that ten minutes ago."

"Are you saying you don't want it again?"

Sarah smiled as Flavia positioned herself over her face. "I didn't say that."

🎤

Flavia was lying on the leather sofa, wearing nothing but a baggy t-shirt. Between her legs, lying against her, was Sarah, who didn't even have a t-shirt. They were watching a '90s romcom on the television.

Flavia popped a Malteser into her mouth, then Sarah's. "I don't get why Meg Ryan doesn't tell that man she loves him."

"It's not Meg Ryan."

"Isn't it?"

"No. It looks like her, but this is some cheap knock-off movie. That's why the acting's so bad, and the plot makes no sense. We can put something else on if you want."

Flavia put another Malteser in Sarah's mouth. "No, I want to know how it ends now we've started."

"It's a romcom. We know they'll end up together."

Sarah heard the crunching of a Malteser near her ear. "So why would anyone watch it?"

"To see fake Meg Ryan work out her feelings."

Flavia hmmed. "Well, we're comfortable. Let's watch the rest."

They were interrupted by the ringing of Sarah's phone. Picking it up, she saw it was a video call from Georgina. In view of her lack of clothes, Sarah accepted audio only.

"Hi," said Georgina. "Have you seen?"

"Seen?"

"Our videos. On YouTube. They've gone viral."

Sarah accepted another Malteser from Flavia. "How viral?"

"Over three million views."

Coughing on the snack, Sarah said, "Three million? Are you sure?"

Georgina squealed. "That's just for

Silent Tears

. The other songs have got loads of views too. I think this could be it. Kira and I've been working on some new material, but we could do with a hand from you on the lyrics. And a journalist wants to interview us."

Sarah sat up. "An interview? When? Who?"

"It's just for an online newspaper. But she wants to speak to the whole band. It's happening, Sarah!"

After hanging up, Sarah leaned back against Flavia and told her what Georgina had said.

"I'm so happy for you,

innamorata

." She popped another Malteser into Sarah's mouth. "Oh, that's the end of the packet. Anyway, I think we should celebrate. When this film ends, how about we take that tub of Häagen-Dazs up to bed?"

🎤

The noise from the workmen outside came muffled into the Queen Elizabeth, where Sarah, Georgina and Kira were sat opposite Maisy, the journalist. Sarah wasn't quite sure what she expected a music journalist to look like, but it wasn't this glamorous young blonde in a designer pant suit. Bethany and Daniella were playing pool to the side; there was almost nobody else in the pub mid-morning on a Wednesday.

"So," said Maisy, "Things almost fell apart with your first recording?"

"Yeah," said Georgina. "

Silent Tears

did really well when we played it live, but we couldn't get the right energy in the studio. It's annoying; new listeners weren't hearing us at our best."

Maisy nodded. "But the festival performance turned that around?"

"Absolutely," said Kira. "We put on our best show there, and the responses on social media have been epic. We just need to figure out how to record better, so we don't blow it again. We've written almost enough tracks for our first album, and the audiences love them."

"Nice," said Maisy. "I was there at the festival, and you totally smashed it. It's why I wanted to interview you. There's another thing that makes your band stand out: you're all gay, right?"

"No," said Georgina. "Initially we all through we were straight." She glanced at Daniella. "Well, most of us. And we're still not a lesbian band. Bethany's our token straight girl."

"Which one's Bethany?"

Sarah pointed to the pool table. "The one taking a shot. She's our bassist."

Maisy watched while Bethany leaned over the table. "And she's straight? That's such a waste."

Georgina said, "Do you have any more questions for us?"

"Yes." She glanced toward the pool table again. "But I'd like to talk to each of you individually. You know, a little one-on-one chat. Can I start with Bethany?"

Georgina took her over to the pool table.

Sarah turned to Kira. "So, how's things between you two?"

Kira's dopey smile told her all she needed to know. But Kira told her all about the pair picking out furniture and curtains for their new flat.

Eventually, Kira said, "How are things with you and Flavia?"

"Great. But..."

"But?"

"She's taking me to Rome next week, to meet her mum and stay with her overnight. My mum threw Flavia out as soon as she met her, and apparently, Flavia's mum is worse. She's a very old-school Catholic, and Flavia only recently told her that's she's divorced and gay. I'm so nervous."

🎤

Sarah pulled her luggage up the last stone step, sweating. "Did your mum have to live on the top floor?"

Flavia caught her breath. "The lift's not usually broken. Are you ready?"

Sarah felt as though snakes were writhing in her stomach. She straightened out her t-shirt and hair, listening to the traffic outside the window in the hot afternoon.

"Come on," said Flavia. "We can't spend the whole of our holiday outside my mother's door. She promised me she'd behave; I reminded her that you're just a teenager. Do you trust me?"

Sarah looked into her steely blue eyes. "You know I do." She breathed out. "Let's do this then. You're lucky I love you so much."

"I know." Flavia kissed her, then opened the door with a key. "

Mamma?

"

A call came from inside, and Flavia led Sarah by the hand, into the cool and darkness of the flat. Sarah got glimpses of paintings and furnishings that spoke of a faded elegance. Then she found herself in a sizable living room, where a short, grey-haired woman in a black dress sat on a sofa. It was hard to believe that someone as magnificent as Flavia had come from this woman.

Flavia kissed her on both cheeks; her mother didn't rise, because as Flavia had explained, she couldn't stand much any more. Speaking to her loudly in Italian, since her mother didn't understand English and was hard of hearing, Flavia gestured to Sarah. "

Mamma, questa è la mia ragazza, Sarah.

Sarah, this is my mother, Ofelia."

What should Sarah do? Kiss her too? That seemed a bit much. She settled for offering her hand, which Ofelia shook with her bird-boned hand.

"

Caffè, Mamma?

" said Flavia. "Coffee, Sarah?"

Both accepted the offer, and Sarah went with her to the kitchen to help make it. She didn't want to stay under the judgemental, rheumy eyes in the other room.

Flavia held her in her arms while they waited for the water to boil, but all too soon they had to carry the drinks to the other room. Sarah got a "

grazie

" when she handed a cup to Ofelia.

Sitting on the sofa opposite Flavia and Ofelia, Sarah tried to understand what the two said in Italian. Ofelia didn't sound happy. Was it the same religious beliefs Sarah's own mum had hit her with?

Flavia said, "My mother says you're very young. Well, actually she said you're far too young for me. She wants to know what your parents think of our relationship."

Sarah forced herself to lock eyes with Ofelia and smile. "Tell her that my parents don't approve, but they're getting used to the idea. Oh, and tell her that I shag her daughter morning, noon and night, and I intend to carry on doing that as long as I can."

Flavia smiled. "I may have to edit that answer." There was another exchange in Italian. "She wants to know if you think there can be a future between us. She thinks you'll drop me for the first man who pays you any attention."

Sarah chuckled. "It's not like I don't get men showing attention today. She should see the comments they leave on our band videos." A shudder went through her as she remembered the worst.

More Italian, then Flavia said, "She's asking questions that I can answer as well as you. Do you fancy having a bit of fun?"

"Like what?"

"Tell me what you'd like to do with me."

"Oh, I want to live with you for the rest of our lives. To grow old together. To do my best to make you happy every day."

After more words in Italian, Flavia said, "I didn't mean like that. What would you like to do sexually? Here, and now."

Sarah blushed and looked at Ofelia. "What, with her there?" At Flavia's nod, she said, "I'd, um, crawl across the floor, take down your trousers and lick you."

More Italian. Ofelia nodded happily; what had Flavia told her?

"Do you know what I'd like to do?" Flavia gave a sultry smile that Sarah knew only too well. "I'd walk over to you, and while my mother sputtered in disgust, I'd tear that t-shirt over your head, slide your jeans down your legs, kick your trainers off, and kiss every inch of your naked body."

"I'd still have my knickers on."

"Not in my fantasy."

"OK. I'd, uh, let you. And tell your mother what an amazing lover her daughter is."

"You don't speak Italian."

"If you can imagine my knickers away, I can imagine speaking Italian."

"And while you talk to my mother, I take your tiny breast into my mouth."

"That's -- my tits aren't tiny. They're small, maybe. Not as big as yours."

"They're tiny. And I wouldn't change a thing about them. I'd suckle and kiss them until I heard you groaning in pleasure."

"If we can change things in this fantasy, then I'm having a boob job. But a natural one. I'll have a pair of 34DDs."

Flavia laughed. "OK, so I kiss one of your huge breasts, then spend half an hour walking around it to get to the other." She spoke in Italian to her mother for a moment. "What next?"

"I'd wish my tits to a more normal size: a little bigger than yours. And I'll remove your blouse and skirt. And, while your mum covers her eyes in disbelief, I'd kiss along your thigh, then stick my tongue right inside you, and lick you better than you've ever been licked before."

Even as she spoke, Sarah could feel herself getting wet and flushed. At least Ofelia seemed to have no idea what was going on.

Flavia smiled. "After I came--"

"I'd swallow and lick you clean."

"Quite. I'd lead you to that window over there, looking out over the main road we came along. I'd bend you over, so that your extra large breasts are hanging out for everyone in the street to see. Then I'd get my strap-on and take you, while onlookers jeered and laughed. I'd take you until you came, screaming my name."

"And in perfect Italian, I'd tell them that I'm yours, that I love you, and that you can take me like that whenever you want. That I'm adrift in a sea of lust, and you're the overwhelming tide that can effortlessly push me where you want."

Flavia spoke to her mother again. "She says she liked your answer. Sadly, the version she heard was about career prospects."

🎤

After a while, Ofelia and Flavia had heated a talk, and Flavia said to Sarah, "My mother's hungry. She wants me to cook, but I can't. Shall we order in?"

"I can cook," said Sarah, finding that she'd already risen to her feet. "I saw a few ingredients when we made the coffee."

She walked to the kitchen, and as she was looking through the cupboards, she felt a warm and soft body cuddle her from behind. "That had better be you, Flavia, because if it's Ofelia, things just got complicated."

Flavia spun her for a kiss. "Are you alright,

innamorata

?"

"I'm fine. Not speaking the same language has saved me from having to actually talk to your mum."

Flavia kissed her again. "Good. It means so much to me that you've come here with me."

"Of course I came. You're everything to me. And I was curious about seeing where you grew up."

Flavia left her to the cooking, and Sarah heard chatter from the living room. She soon had the spaghetti boiling, and she chopped up some vegetables and made a sauce, which she got simmering in another pan. An alert from her phone drew her attention away; it was the group chat with the band.

Georgina:

The interview is up on the website

Sarah clicked on the link several times, but her phone refused to open the page.

Sarah:

it's not working

Kira:

It works for me

Bethany:

And me

Sarah:

what does it say?

Georgina:

It's a glowing review

Kira:

Yeah, but get this:

The Unnamed Band

are an exciting up-and-coming new band, buoyed by the thrilling basslines of maestro Bethany Johnston

Georgina:

Or there's: Bethany Johnston's bass playing was a tour de force, and the band rocked the festival audience with such an amazing rhythm to build on

Daniella:

Why do we sound like a bassist and a bunch of hangers-on?

Bethany:

Cos that's what this band is ;)

Sarah:

bethany, did you sleep with that journalist?

Bethany:

Neither of us got much sleep

Kira:

But you did have sex with her?

Bethany:

Yes

Sarah:

i don't think we should be sleeping with journalists for good reviews

Georgina:

I don't know about that. It's a really good review

Kira:

So you shagged her then left her like you do with all your blokes?

Bethany:

Not exactly. We've seen each other a couple more times, and we talk every day

The sound of hissing water reminded Sarah that she was supposed to be cooking, and she removed the spaghetti from the stove before it boiled over any more. Nothing was burned, and she soon had three plates dished out. After washing up, she took them into the other room, where the three ate.

Ofelia looked up, a surprised expression on her face. "

È delizioso.

"

After a little more chat, the night drew in. Flavia showed Sarah to her tiny room, which had just a single bed in it. They shared a chaste kiss, and after her long day, Sarah was soon fast asleep.

🎤

Sarah's slumber was interrupted by a knocking and whispering. Looking up, she saw Flavia enter the room wearing a nightdress, hard to see in the faint light from the streetlights.

Flavia leaned down and kissed her. "Were you having trouble sleeping too?"

"No," whispered Sarah. "I was sound asleep." There was a moment's silence. "Were you having trouble sleeping?"

"Yes."

Sarah lifted the covers in welcome and shifted over. There wasn't much room in the bed, and it creaked ominously under their combined weight. But sometimes having space is overrated, and Sarah was never happier than when she was close to Flavia.

The older woman kissed her again. "You got me hot and bothered with our dirty talk earlier."

"But..." Sarah glanced at the door meaningfully.

"Don't worry about her. She wouldn't hear a bomb go off." Her lips returned to Sarah's mouth, and her hand moved over Sarah's t-shirt.

Sarah returned the kiss, unconcerned by the heat of the sultry night. A tugging of her t-shirt encouraged her to lift her arms and sit up, and Flavia slid it off, leaving her in just her knickers.

Flavia's hand ran over Sarah's breast. "I've been thinking about this particular pair of 34DDs all day." She dipped her head and took a nipple into her mouth.

Stifling a moan from the sensation of the hot tongue running over her flesh, Sarah whispered, "How will we manage in this little bed?"

Flavia let the nipple drop and kissed Sarah passionately. "Don't worry, we'll do it like we did the first time. And you don't need to whisper. I want you to cry out our love so that all Italy hears."

Flavia leaned back and grabbed the sides of Sarah's knickers. Without further prompting, Sarah lifted her bum, and Flavia slid her last piece of clothing down her legs and threw it on the floor.

Propping her head on her arm, Sarah said, "Why am I the only one undressed?"

Flavia stood up and removed her nightdress. She had nothing on beneath, and Sarah found her head close enough to smell Flavia's excitement, and see the dark hairs matted with moisture. Rolling over, Sarah kissed Flavia's abdomen, then trailed her tongue down, through the patch of hair, to taste that intoxicating nectar. She felt Flavia cup her head.

As Sarah moved her tongue up and down those slippery lips, Flavia spread her legs, and Sarah took the opportunity to press her tongue inside, feeling the older woman's warmth. She began to rub her thumb over Flavia's clitoral hood, but that wasn't what Flavia wanted. Pushing Sarah back into the bed, Flavia climbed in too, tossing the covers aside and raising one of Sarah's legs over her own. When Flavia pushed forward, Sarah felt their lower lips meet, kissing as surely as the lips on their faces had kissed.

With the accompaniment of the squeaking of the bed, Flavia pushed her hips forward and back. Each time, Sarah felt herself pressed back, and Flavia's most intimate place pressed against her. The loud squeaks were soon joined by gasps and moans from Flavia, who closed her eyes while she continued to hump Sarah with a blissful expression on her face. Just how deaf was Ofelia?

But thoughts of Flavia's mum faded, because Flavia sped up, her need and excitement clear. And she wasn't the only one; Sarah knew that a lot of the juices she felt between her legs were her own, not Flavia's. She looked up in wide-eyed wonder at the beautiful woman making love to her, her plump breasts limned by the yellow streetlights, her kind but lust-filled face serene. With a sense of surrender, Sarah felt the woman she loved grind against her, gasping in ecstasy. She wasn't the only one; Sarah screamed Flavia's name as she climaxed, all attempts at quietness gone.