Your Coffee's Getting Cold

Posted: June 2003
Title: Your Coffee's Getting Cold
Sequel to: Hiccups
Author: Clare
Type: RPS
Characters: Liv Tyler/Miranda Otto
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Never happened. It's fiction.
Notes: Part 2 of the Blithe Oblivion Series
Summary: Miranda has a cunning plan...

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Liv sat and stared into her coffee thinking. . . what? Certainly not about soft lips and firm supple hands, about eyes so blue that. . . She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her head hurt. It had been a long, tiring and extremely strange day.

What had happened? Miranda had kissed her, that much was certainly true. But why? What on earth had she been thinking? 'She wanted to cure my hiccups,' she thought firmly to herself. 'That's all. Stop obsessing! Why am I obsessing? Why do I care? I don't care! I don't even. . . Then why does my stomach turn over every time I think of her? Oh dear. . . I think I'm in trouble.'

Miranda smiled to herself. She had been puposefully avoiding Liv since the hiccuping incident, but it looked like it might be time to make her next move. She carefully schooled her face into it's most innocent expression and crossed the space between them.

"Liv." The soft voice almost whispered her name. She twitched involuntarily, and almost spilled her coffee. She looked around.

"Hey, Miranda. You startled me." Miranda laughed.

"You're a little jumpy. How are you feeling, anyway?" and she lifted one perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"Sorry?"

"With the hiccups. You were looking kind of - well, miserable for a while back there."

"Yeah. I just hate hiccups. And of course, now I have a pounding headache and . . . never mind. Thankyou."

"For what?"

"Asking. And, um, earlier." Miranda hid a smile.

"Oh, the hiccups? Sure, no biggie. Figured I should surprise you. You looked surprised."

"I was." Liv sighed. Her headache was getting worse. She closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose again. And nearly knocked her coffee over for a second time when she felt cool fingers at her temples.

"Miranda?" This time, knowing that Liv couldn't see her, Miranda allowed herself a small smile.

"What? You said you have a headache. My skill with my fingers is legendary." Liv swallowed. 'Not like that! Bad Liv!Oh dear. . .'

Miranda began stroking her temples in soothing circling motions. Whatever her ulterior motives might be, she did actually have a real interest in massage, and gave a mean head rub. She paid a few moments more attention to Liv's temples, then shifted to the back of her neck, working up her spine to the base of her skull and down. Then her shoulders, in deep kneading circles.

"Jeez, Liv. I'm not surprised you've got a headache. You're really tense." She kept going for a few moments longer. "You should let me oil you up some time."

Liv blinked. That had to be completely innocent. Still. . . "Sorry?" she asked, carefully.

"I have a load of essential oils and stuff that can really help a massage. I got really into it a while back and read up on massage and aromatherapy. I bet I could tease those knots out with a bit of lubrication." Miranda grinned, choosing her words carefully.

Liv flushed, but kept silent. She was reading far more into this than was really there.

"Starting to help any?"

"Mmm hmm." Liv's eyes were shut. The day might have been as weird as a pink banana, but the massage felt good.

Miranda continued to work on Liv's shoulders until she felt them give up some of their tightness, then she began moving her fingers in light swirling motions over her scalp. Liv shivered.

"You okay?"

"Mmm hmm." Liv was more than okay. Little prickles were dancing up and down her spine because of Miranda's fingers in her
hair. She had always loved having her hair played with. Also, there was a distinct ache making itself felt between her legs, but she refused to think about it. Moments passed.

"Liv?" Miranda was gigging.

"Mmm?"

"You're purring." Miranda was pleased with herself. She had seen the shiver, and knew that her 'legendary fingers' were doing their job. She gave one last firm stroke down the back of Liv's neck, trailing to a feather light trail over her shoulders.

Liv's body sang with dissappointment when Miranda withdrew, but she turned and smiled at her.

"Thank you. My head feels much better. But I don't purr." Miranda grinned at her.

"Yes you do. Just here," and she reached out and lightly brushed the hollow of Liv's throat. "Anyway, you're welcome. And your coffee's getting cold." Reflexively, Liv glanced at her coffee, and when she turned back, Miranda was heading for the door. For a moment, she was ready to call out to her, but thought better of it.

'What was that about?' She was confused. It had seemed totally innocent, and yet. . . What was Miranda up to? If she was up to anything. And why was she feeling so jumpy? Liv had thought Miranda was attractive since she had first met her, in an objective sort of way, but it was as if the kiss had jolted Liv's awareness of her onto a different level. Besides, Miranda hadn't meant anything by it. She was just being Miranda. Wasn't she?

*****

THE END

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Clare