Playing With Fire

+++++++++



"Guess where I am," Kelly said, bouncing in her seat.



"Hmm," Carrie smiled. "Alaska?"



"No..."



"Mexico."



"No..." Kelly laughed.



"Surfing in Australia?"



"Sharks."



"True," Carrie laughed.



"I'm in Texas!" Kelly cheered.



"Of course," Carrie smiled. "You're in Texas. Why didn't I think of that?"



"Cause you like to humor me," Kelly smiled.



"So how long till you get home?"



"About an hour and a half," she yawned. "I can't wait to sleep in my bed again. Although, I wish you were here to sleep with me. Where are you anyway?"



"I am in New York, counting down the hours till you get your booty on a plane and come see me."



"I already have the flight booked. Day after tomorrow I'll be in your arms."



"You have no idea how good that sounds," Carrie sighed.



"I think I can imagine," Kelly replied. "Day after tomorrow seems so far away."



"It'll be sooner than you think," Carrie assured her, stretching out on the sofa.



"I can always get an earlier flight."



"You need your rest," Carrie reminded her. "Besides, I'm completely booked tomorrow anyway, so we wouldn't have any time to hang out."



"Yea, I know. But I miss you," she yawned again.



"I miss you too," Carrie laughed. "But why don't you take a nap for the rest of the drive and give me a call when you're settled in."



"Ok," Kelly sighed. "I'll talk to you later."



"Love you."



"You too."



++++++++++



Carrie paced the floor anxiously. It had been nearly two hours since Kelly had called. She should have been home by now. She carefully placed the flowers that she had been holding on the coffee table as she sat in the chair. Who would have thought it would be this nerve racking to surprise someone? Carrie didn't even remember being this nervous for their first date.



Finally, she heard the front door opening, and she jumped up, greeting the short Texan with hazel eyes.



++++++++



Kelly stretched as she hopped out of the car, "Let's just unload everything tomorrow. I think we could all just use some sleep."



Jason nodded in agreement as he and Ashley followed her up the front stairs to the house. She unlocked the door, opening it to find the blonde country singer standing there as if she had seen a ghost.



"Care?" Kelly asked carefully, her heart racing.



Carrie suddenly snapped back to at the sound of that raspy voice that she loved so much.



"Surprise," she greeted, and a smile broke across her face as she opened her arms, momentarily forgetting about the pair of eyes that were watching her every move from the living room.



Kelly rushed to her, jumping into the embrace, pinning her against the wall. Carrie laughed into the kiss as her hands slid to Kelly's legs that were wrapped around her waist as she helped to support the Texan. She could feel her blood rushing as their lips melted together, moving in harmony.



Kelly cradled Carrie's face as she kissed her hungrily, thankful for the wall that was holding the two of them up. The kisses were hot and fervent and she was finding it hard to breathe, but she could care less. All she cared about was being held by and being kissed by the girl she loved. Breathing could take a back seat.



"Kell," Carrie laughed breathlessly as the shorter girl moved her lips along her jaw line and down her neck. "When I said you owe me, I didn't mean the very second I saw you."



She closed her eyes as Kelly's voice was muffled against Carrie's neck. "Try again," she moaned softly.



"I love you," Kelly smiled, pulling back.



Carrie adjusted her grip on her as she felt her starting to slip, "I love you too."



They leaned towards each other once more.



"Kelly..." Ashley said.



"Just ignore us," Kelly waved.



"Kelly..." Jason said, his voice holding a slight edge.



She just waved him off as well, her mouth being too preoccupied to say anything this time. It was the softest of coughs that finally caught her attention. It was more of someone clearing their throat, than a cough, but she'd know that sound anywhere. She pulled back, breathing heavily, watching as realization dawned on Carrie's face.



Carrie felt her heart sink as she was brought back to reality. She released her hold on Kelly, letting the Texan's feet slide back to the ground. She had been so caught up in being reunited with her that she had forgotten about the visitor that was waiting for them in the living room--the other short Texan with hazel eyes that Carrie had originally opened the door to.



Kelly turned towards the entryway to the living room to see three people staring at them, two of them wearing a similar expression to the one Carrie had been when Kelly first opened the door.



"Mom," she managed to choke out, acknowledging the third.



"What are you doing here?" Kelly asked, thankful for Carrie as the country singer linked their hands together.



"I didn't know you were still with...her," Jeanne replied, eyeing Carrie carefully.



"Why wouldn't I be?" Kelly asked. "I love her."



Jeanne snorted at the word, "You don't know what love is."



Kelly took a steadying breath, "What are you doing here, mom? If I remember right, I asked you to leave last time you were here."



"I came to see if you had come to your senses."



"Well, apparently I have," she smiled, giving Carrie's hand a squeeze. "I've realized I can't live without this girl."



"Kelly Brianne."



"Mom, if you're not here to apologize for what you did, then I suggest you go."



Jeanne frowned, "I'm sorry for the things I said to you, sweetie, but you're my daughter--"



"Not to me," Kelly shook her head. "You need to apologize for Carrie for the things you said and did to her."



"I only want what's best for you," Jeanne explained.



"Carrie is what's best for me," Kelly replied firmly, using all her energy just to keep her anger in check.



Carrie could sense this and looked at Jason and Ashley nervously.



"Look, it's been a long day," Ashley broke in. "Why don't we all just get some sleep, and we'll talk about this in the morning when we're all fresh?"



"If she doesn't apologize to her, she's not staying," Kelly said.



"I'm not apologizing to the tram--"



"Mom, don't say something you're gonna regret," Jason broke in.



"I want her out of my house," Kelly said, looking at Jason. She could feel herself start to shake with anger.



"Hey," Carrie said, soothingly, tugging on Kelly's hand to get her to look at her. "I think Ashley's right. Maybe we should all just get some sleep," she said softly.



"Carrie, I don't want her here," Kelly replied. "Not when she's treated you like she has."



Carrie smiled at her, pushing the Texan's bangs out of her eyes, "I'm ok. And I'd rather we all just relax and calm down before you do something drastic. "



"Care..."



"She's your mom, Kell. And I know how much you love her. That's why it hurts so much, and I don't want you ruining that because of something that I've already forgiven her for."



Kelly nodded.



"Alright?"



"Yea," Kelly sighed, turning back to the rest of them. "Ashley's right. Let's just all get some sleep."



Carrie watched as Ashley and Jason let out a sigh of relief, each mouthing a 'thank you' in her direction. She just shrugged as Kelly guided her up the stairs with the other three following.



"See you guys in the morning," Carrie waved as Kelly tugged her into her room. She couldn't help but give an inward cheer at the look on Jeanne's face when she saw the two of them go in the same bedroom together.



Kelly closed the bedroom door, letting out a deep sigh. Carrie smiled at her, taking her hands and leading her to the bed. They quickly found themselves completely wrapped up in each other, snuggled close.



"Have I told you how much I love you?" Kelly asked as Carrie looked down at her adoringly.



She nodded as their lips met in a kiss that tied all of the days emotions together. Kelly sighed as she pulled back, smiling. Her hand grazed Carrie's cheek.



"You're perfect," she smiled. "And I know things may have gotten out of hand down there, but don't think I didn't forget about you surprising me. You have no idea how good it felt to see your face when I got home."



"I'm glad," Carrie replied, pulling her even closer, needing to feel her. In her opinion it had been far too long since she had held her in her arms.



"My mom didn't give you a hard time when it was just you and her, did she?" Kelly asked worriedly.



"No," Carrie shook her head, setting her chin on top of Kelly's head while she rested on her chest. "To be honest she didn't even say anything. I opened the door, and at first she looked a little shocked. I said, 'hi', and she just kind of smirked at me before walking into the living room."



Kelly nodded, giggling as Carrie's feet moved against hers.



"Your feet are freezing," Carrie laughed.



"It's December. What do you expect?" Kelly asked, looking up at her.



Carrie couldn't help it as she leaned down, kissing the tip of Kelly's nose, making her giggle again.



"I'm sorry for that, by the way," she yawned.



"For what?" Kelly asked, trying not to yawn as well, but couldn't help it.



"I didn't mean for us to make out in front of your mom," she replied, blushing slightly. "I just saw you and forgot about everything else."



"It's ok," Kelly smiled. "I know what it's like to feel like you're the only two people in the room."



"I love you," Carrie said sincerely.



"I love you too," Kelly replied with just as much emotion as their lips met in a heartfelt kiss. Carrie finally had to pull away, searching for air.



"I'm sorry about this," Kelly said. "I know I was supposed to be making a certain something up to you."



"Hey, what happened to you being able to be quiet?" Carrie teased. "I mean, if Ashley couldn't hear us, I doubt your mom could all the way down the hall."



"It's not that. I'm just. I just rather all of this blow over first. There's just too much going on in my mind right now."



"No, I know," Carrie replied. "And I agree. This is supposed to be your time to relax after your tour, and you're probably even more stressed than before."



"Yea," she nodded. "But having you here helps."



"You know what else helps?" Carrie asked with a smile. "Take off your shirt and lay down."



"Care," Kelly laughed softly. "Didn't we just talk about this."



Carrie rolled her eyes, "Is everything about sex with you? Lay down on your stomach."



Kelly eyed her carefully but did as she said, untangling herself from the country singer and laying down on the bed. She took off her t-shirt, tossing it aside and felt Carrie climb over her, straddling her hips. Soon, two warm hands were applying a firm pressure to her lower back, slowly moving upward.



"Oh God," Kelly groaned deeply.



Carrie laughed, satisfied at the response she got. She continued to massage the Texan's back, getting a series of moans and 'I love you's as gratification. It wasn't long after, though, that she felt Kelly's breathing even out, and she smiled, knowing that she was in a deep peaceful sleep. She got off of her, lying back down next to her, pulling the covers over them. Carrie pulled Kelly closer, and the singer instinctively folded into her. Carrie felt her heart flutter, as she rubbed the shorter girl's back soothingly, finding her own eyelids growing heavy.