”And no more shall we part
The contracts are drawn up, the ring is locked upon the finger
And never again will my letters start
Sadly, or in the depths of winter
And no more shall we part
All the hatchets have been buried now
And all of birds will sing to your
Beautiful heart
Upon the bough…”

Carmen’s fists holding her tank top, tightly.
Carmen’s heavy breath on her neck.
Carmen’s teeth on her shoulders.
Shane frantically unbuttons Carmen’s shirt and, a second later, her fingers are unzipping her jeans, bringing them down, on the floor.
She rips Carmen’s thong with a growl, lifting her up and laying her on the table.
Carmen’s nails into Shane’s back, pressing, and grasping, and scratching.
She’s going to leave her permanent marks.
It doesn’t matter.
Panting and recklessly looking for each other’s mouth, for each other’s tongue.
Carmen grabs Shane’s hand and puts her between her thighs.
“Come on”, she snarls into her ear, “Come on, do what you want to me, show me that –“.
She gasps as Shane penetrates her abruptly, and clings to her shoulders.
Shane’s lips are on her neck, kissing, sucking, nibbling.
Carmen leans her head back and lets go a loud moan.
Shane is already out of breath, her green eyes are deep pools of lust and, finally, freedom.
Carmen hooks her with her heels, pulling her towards her and meeting her mouth in an deep, quivering kiss.
“Tell me that nobody ever made you feel this way”, Carmen whispers against her lips.
“Nobody else ever made me feel the way you do”, Shane replies immediately, thrusting and shoving, feeling her head spin in excitement and love.
“Tell me that this is what you really want”. Panting, and panting.
“This is what I want”. Husky voice trying hard to catch her breath and muttering.
Carmen squeezes her eyes.
“Fuck…”, she murmurs, laying back on the table.
Shane’s body all over hers. Shane’s lips on her breast, on her stomach, on her scar, on her perfectly sculpted tigh, her fingers moving skillfully inside of her.
“I won’t leave you and I won’t let you down”, Shane murmurs.
“You are mine…”. Sounding like a prayer. Sounding like a hope. Sounding like a question.
“I am yours”, Shane nods, slowing down her pace and looking for Carmen’s lips.
She picks it up and walks towards the bedroom.

”And no more shall we part
Your chain of command has been silenced now
And all of those birds would’ve sung to your beautiful heart
Anyhow
Lord, stay by me
Don’t go down
I will never be free
If I’m not free now…”

They cuddle, listening distractedly to the noises on the street.
Carmen’s lips laying small kisses all over Shane’s face. Her hand, slowly moving between Shane’s legs.
Shane’s breath is uneven, her eyes half-closed.
Her fingers linger on Carmen’s face, on Carmen’s hair.
She lets her do whatever she wants to do to her.
It’s okay.
It’s fine.
It’s even perfect.
Carmen’s kisses go down, down, reaching every inch of Shane’s body.
Shane closes her eyes and clings to the bedhead, mouthing an inaudible moan and arching her back.

”Lord, stay by me
Don’t go down
I never was free
What are you talking about?
For no more shall we part
And no more shall we part”**

Later, that night, they’re just staring at each other in the suffused light of a moon that grey clouds are partially obscuring.
They don’t say anything for a very long time.
They are just breathing each other.
They’re just tracing the outline of each other’s face with delicate fingers.
There is no more trace of rage inside Carmen’s eyes.
There is no more trace of fear inside Shane’s.
There is nothing else but reassurances and truth.

**
SOUNDTRACK:
* “Stupid Girl” (Garbage)
** “And No More Shall We Part” (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)