A Voyage of Discovery
Author: reddawg82
Artist: pennylane101
Link To Art: On LiveJournal
Word count: 27,098
Rating: R/NC-17
Warnings: Adult content, Crude Language
Disclaimer: I don't own Skins, or the characters. I just like to borrow them to make fluffy fanfiction entrees!
Summary: Naomi ends up on a cruise ship for singles (after Effy sends her on it)... Emily happens to work for said cruise line. Completely AU.
Notes: I have a few special thanks to go out... first, to my artist, pennylane101, for the amazing art stuffs made... go check them out! Next, my beta miss_peg, and also tromana, who were both there along the way to keep me on pace. Lastly, Hyperfitched, for her assistance with the title!

Also... thank you, readers, for your support! I really do love you!

xxxxx

I don't know why I'm even here, and before you ask, no, I don't mean on this earth. I mean right now, standing on shore about to get on a massive cruise ship. It's not just an ordinary cruise ship either, well, the actual vessel probably is, not that I would know the difference, but I mean the reason behind it. It's a singles cruise for adults aged eighteen to thirty-five. I know I'm barely above the requirement, but Effy, that mysterious bitch whom I call my best mate, decided it would be fun to send me on it. She neglected to tell me it was a place for people around my age to get together and meet, and fuck, and fall madly in love.

Falling in love, well, to be honest, it's not my cup of tea. I've been fiercely independent since I was around six years of age. I suppose that's what happens since my dad left shortly after I was born and my mum not having enough time for me as a kid. It's not her fault though; she just likes to help as many people as possible. It's how she got into the whole idea of communal living. I can't tell you how many times I woke up with some strange man lying on top of my duvet. Creepy doesn't even cover it, especially since I sleep naked. What makes it worse is when I was informed that I had the same haircut as my mum, his eyes moving to the apex of my thighs. It's safe to say that I promptly moved into the loo and threw up. That is something about my mum that I just didn't need to know! He looked a bit like Jesus, or how the Christian's portray Jesus as looking. I'm sure there was some sod thousands of years ago who had the name of 'Jesus', but I have a hard time believing he was the son of God… a God that I don't even believe in in the first place. Jesus doesn't have the right skin tone though, in those depictions of him, his skin is too light for that area of the world during those times.

Sorry, I got a bit distracted there for a minute. It might end up happening often, just to warn you.

So anyway, I'm now being ushered into a line to basically walk a plank to get on board. I keep my eyes open and alert. Part of me wants to just turn back around with my bags and head home. If I had been the one paying for this trip, I surely wouldn't have even made it to the loading docks at all; I would be home, in my bed, reading a book on my week-long holiday instead of standing here.

I have to admit there are some pretty fit blokes standing around. Some women have already started to flirt with them. Honestly, I can't really be bothered. I wouldn't admit this to anyone, but I'm a bit nervous to even be going on this cruise. I put up a front to scare people away, there have been very few people that have made it into my heart and even less who can be considered friends. Drunken one-night stands satisfy (well, sometimes satisfy) my libido, and I can always just take care of myself if there isn't a guy handy. Handy… ah, I am rather clever.

I make contact with a few of the men and smile politely, and they do the same. One of them in particular, a well dressed, clean-cut brunette seems to be about to walk over to me before a cruise employee stops him and starts to ask him for his ticket. The things I notice most about the man, even from the distance we are from one another, are his bright emerald eyes. They're gorgeous; then again, he's gorgeous. I look up at the ship and notice the people working on getting passengers and their bags safely up the plank to their rooms. I don't know why they set the time up for us leaving at two, especially since I've been here since twelve-thirty (after grabbing a bite of lunch). It's now one-thirty and I'm still not on the vessel.

A flash of vibrant red goes across the deck, though I can't see the rest of the person it belongs to from my position down on solid ground. My gaze fixes on crimson tresses blowing softly behind a woman's rather quick pace across the deck. I snap out of it when a guy in a white collared, long sleeved shirt and black tie stands in front of me. He has a messy mop of dirty blond hair atop his head and he gives me a huge brace-faced smile.

"Hello Miss, do you have your ticket, and I can get you to your cabin?"

I hand the young man, who looks more like a boy, the paper and he nods his head as he takes my two bags and leads me up the ramp.

I find out the boy's name is JJ, well, Jonah Jeremiah Jones, but JJ for short. He's kind of… different. He has his own sort of charm and he goes off on random tangents as he leads me through the corridors, pointing out the way to the dining room, and also that the men's rooms and women's rooms are in opposite areas of the ship. I find that slightly funny seeing as this is a dating cruise. Maybe it's just easier that way. JJ also informs me that at four there will be a meeting on deck for all passengers, and that later dinner would be served to our rooms.

We get to my room and he hands me a key-card to my room, letting me know that if I do lose it to see any of the workers there and they can make me a new one. I take the small plastic rectangle and put it into my purse, which is buried in my bag.

I plop myself down on the bed. It's a modest room, which is fine with me. I never have been into fancy belongings; they're just things, after all. The duvet and the bed are soft, but springy at the same time. I reach up to push into the two pillows at the top of the queen sized bed, and they feel like how a cloud must feel. My two bags get thrown into the closet. I'll take care of them later. My eyes continue to comb over the room, a small personal bathroom with a shower, there's a bunch of drawers inside the closet. What I know I'm going to enjoy most though, is the small balcony. I find myself drawn to it and I step onto the small landing with two chairs. I'm not sure why there would be two chairs when there's only one person per room, but I let that slide. I take a seat and pull out my fags and spark one up. What I wouldn't give for some spliff right now, but I didn't bring any. The only person I know is JJ and he didn't seem the type to take drugs, except maybe a prescription.

The nicotine starts to flow through me, sufficiently calming me enough until I actually want to go out of the cabin. Maybe I will go for a walk to get to know the layout and actually explore the ship in more detail than JJ could offer at the time. It's only a quarter to three, so I have plenty of time to get to the correct deck for an introduction or whatever it is that will be going on at the time.

The moment I exit my room, there's a group of five women all standing around in a circle chit-chatting. I don't usually get along with most women and after a quick look at the open doors I can only assume that these women are staying on my corridor. I smile, or I try to at least. The women are assessing me, just as I'm sure they did to each other before I came out, we're all each other's competition on this little trip. They barely get a once over from me. I couldn't care less what they look like.

I make polite conversation with them, and by the time I walk off I've already forgotten their names. Harsh, I know, but that's just how it is with me. They obviously weren't worth the space available in my mind to remember. The only thing I do recollect is that every single one of them is older than I am. I'm probably the youngest one on the ship, though JJ looked to be about my age. At least I wasn't alone. Not that I can't keep up with those who are older than I am, in fact, I'm usually cleverer than most people twice my age.

I've come to the gathering as I was instructed and a man is up on stage with about twenty employees standing behind him. They're all dressed alike, just like JJ was when he picked me up on the dock. My eyes see the same vibrant red hair that I saw earlier, and soon the man in charge introduces her as Emily. I notice the girl beside her looks similar, like twins, but definitely not identical. The other girl has a sort of purple tint to her brunette tresses, and she's dressed a lot sluttier than Emily, which I didn't think would be possible since they're all wearing the same uniform. I find out the other girl is named Katie. JJ is also introduced and a bunch of others whom I have had no interaction with so I don't think to try to remember their names.

I surprise myself when my eyes keep lingering on Emily's form. She has somehow made herself look different than all the others. Most of the cruise ship employees have their ties on, but Emily and JJ seem to be the only two who actually have them tied properly.

We're given a syllabus of events and happenings whilst on the cruise and also some basic guidelines to follow. There's not many at all, I'd have thought there'd be much more, but apparently not. I tear my eyes away from the vibrant redhead for what seems like the hundredth time that hour, and by five we're told we can go, and that dinner will be delivered by six.

I get back to my cabin and after nearly being cornered by my neighbours wanting to talk about the fit males; I closed the door behind me. Seriously, I just can't be arsed. I grab my book and head back out to the balcony, leaving the door cracked so that I can hear if anyone knocks, not that I really expect that to happen. I light up a cigarette, inhaling it deeply, just listening to the water as it moves around the ship. It's calming me, and once my fag is out, I let my eyes close and just listen. If I listen hard enough I can hear the dolphins playing out beside the vessel, jumping from the water and back in with small splashes and noises of contentment.

Apparently I was more tired than I thought, and soon I hear a sweet raspy voice calling my name, "Miss Campbell?" I snap to attention, my eyes flashing back inside and I quickly follow my gaze as the vibrant redhead nearly runs into me. I glance over her shoulder to see the cart containing my dinner along with various different types of wines, beer, and liquor. My eyes flick back to her, she's looking at me expectantly. I try to part my mouth and say something, but I find my mouth has gone dry. She chuckles, a wonderfully melodic sound and it actually makes me feel lighter. I smile at her; it's a genuine and happy smile, a content smile. I don't actually know where it came from.

"Something to drink with dinner?" she inquires, and I nod.

Shit, she's expecting a response. Why has my voice left me? She's a woman for fucks sake. It's not like I have the worlds fittest bloke inside my cabin chatting me up, just an attractive, fiery haired woman.

What? Attractive? Where the hell did that come from?

"Something alcoholic?" I push out and I smile shyly to her.

"Anything in particular?" her voice sends a shiver down my spine. She really shouldn't have this kind of effect on me. Why am I acting so strangely?

I shake my head, "Something that goes well with what's being served for dinner?" I ask and she nods and starts fixing up something on the other side of the cart. I start to get nervous, what's taking her so long. She hands me a drink, with ice, and it appears to be pink in colour. I glance from her to the drink, then back again. She nods.

I take a sip.

To say that it's strong would be a massive understatement. Before I can ask her what's in my drink or what it's called she answers my question, "It's a Dirty Shirley… basically a Shirley Temple with vodka in it." I can do little but nod my head and I fish out the cherry with my fingers and pop it in my mouth, thankfully the redhead had already removed the stem, because I probably wouldn't have remembered to do so. When I glance back over, I find her milk chocolate eyes staring at my lips and I take another drink to try to distract her. It works. She hands me my tray of food and excuses herself.

That was ridiculously difficult. I did get a damn good drink out of it though, so I can't be too upset with what happened. The food smells lovely as well, and I don't plan on leaving my room for the remainder of the night.

My plan is a success.

xxxxx

I'm up and moving as the sun starts to peek over the horizon. I silently thank Effy for picking the side of the boat that lets me see the sunrise. It's beautiful. Radiant, really. I sit and have a fag as I watch the ball of fire rise up over the water, sending magnificent colours in every direction and reflecting off the water. It's calming, both the view and the nicotine.

I travel up to the dining area, my stomach feeling a bit queasy as I do so. My eyes scan the room looking for the crimson locks, though I don't understand why. I don't see her, but I do see the one who looks like her, Katie, and also I recognize JJ. Those aren't the only two familiar faces, however. The man with the brown hair and piercing green eyes is there. I contemplate sitting with him, but decide otherwise, though I do send a charming smile his way, which he returns. It brightens my morning, but it isn't as if I started to feel butterflies in my stomach or anything. I've never even spoken to the guy for fucks sake. See, I need more than just a physical connection, I need an emotional one as well, and I need them to be intelligent enough so that I can carry on a conversation and be intrigued.

I end up with a bowl of cereal and a cuppa, sat by myself. I figure the light breakfast will quell my aching stomach, but after finishing, it didn't have the desired effect, in fact, I felt a bit worse.

I didn't have very much time before the speed dating exercise was set to begin. I managed to take the quickest shower ever and throw on a pair of tight jeans and a rather conservative blue top. The blue did bring out my eyes though, so it was one of my favourites.

The room was set up in a huge circle with a chair on either side of the small table. I see the fiery haired Emily standing on one of the outside chairs with a microphone.

"Ladies, please enter the circle and take a seat, gentlemen please take a seat on the outside of the circle," she instructs, and I couldn't suppress a shiver that runs down my spine at the sound of her raspy voice. I don't have time to dissect why before I'm following the women inside the circle and taking a seat. I end up at the seat a table over from where Emily is. "Now, you will each have three minutes with each person and I will whistle indicating that the women need to move to the next seat. There's one less guy than girl, so for three minutes you will sit at my station."

I don't know why the idea of sitting with Emily seems so exciting to me, but there's something about her that draws me in like a moth to a flame. Perhaps it's that vibrant red hair, or her deep brown eyes…

A whistle pulls me out of my line of thought and I turn toward the bloke. I assess him for a moment as he starts to speak, asking general questions. It's boring, and I really must seem standoffish. The guy appears nervous, and I feel like the epitome of calm and collected. He spends half the time stuttering and stammering through his questions, trying to make a proper conversation. It is torture.

Emily blows the whistle, thankfully ending the first bit of torture. "Ladies, please move to the next table to your left." With that said we all stand up and move to our left, which regrettably moves me further from the intriguing redhead.

All of these guys are the same. It isn't until I sit down opposite the handsome brunette with the emerald eyes that I actually feel interested in going about this circle. My azure blues take in his nametag, which reads Alexander. I wonder briefly if he actually goes by his whole name, but before I can continue on that track of thought he holds his hand out toward me. I take it and look up into his face. He's rather good looking, after all. His hand is much larger than mine, and is tough and soft at the same time, which is a very odd combination.

"I know my nametag says Alexander, but I usually go by Xander, or sometimes Alex, whichever you prefer." He pauses and I just keep looking at him, "you're Naomi, right?"

I pull my hand back quickly, and I'm sure he noticed. My walls start to go up. How does he know my name? We've never spoken before. Who the fuck does he think he is?

"You know, you really do fit your name's meaning…" he starts and my eyes snap back up to his. This is getting freaky, not only does he know my name, but he's had the time to look up my name somewhere. Okay, Naomi, calm down. You do have a nametag on, so he could have just read it from there… whilst ogling my tits, I'm sure. That still doesn't explain… "You are beautiful and so far pleasant as well," he again interrupts my train of thought.

"W… what?" I manage to say, shock evident in my voice.

"Well, you are beautiful, Naomi," he says in his smooth tone. Who says that kind of thing? I mean, does that actually work on other women… wait… he couldn't possibly know the name and meaning of every woman in this room, there's just too many to remember. "Alexander stands for defender or protector of man, which seems rather fitting in the line of work I do."

Okay, so he's got my attention, at least so far, but I can't seem to get passed the fact that he knew the meaning of my name, "Did you learn the meaning of every woman's name in this room? Is that your way to draw in the ladies?" That wasn't the most polite way to ask that, and I almost wish I could take it back, but he starts to laugh, rather loudly.

"No, Naomi, I only learnt yours," he says between chuckles, which only brings about more questions. He would have needed the foresight to have known my name to be able to look it up to pull that on me. He must be able to read the confusion on my face, because before I could voice my question he elaborated, "I ran into a few of your neighbors outside your room whilst I was roaming the ship."

The more he speaks, the more I seem to enjoy his company.

I can't help but laugh and let a smile form on the very tips of my lips, "So you were kind of stalking me, a bit much, isn't it?"

"I don't think so," he replies simply, his lips turned into a gentle smile, his eyes bright and captivating. I wait for a moment for him to respond, but he doesn't. I shift awkwardly in my chair, crossing my legs under the small table.

"Well, you were outside my room inquiring about me…"

He laughs again. "I didn't know it was your room until the ladies informed me that it was," he said in his defense. It does sound like a valid reason. Maybe I'm being a bit hard on him. He did try to find out my name, which meant he thought I was something more than just a pretty face, because he doesn't seem like the shallow kind of guy who would do that sort of thing.

The whistle blows.

"It was a pleasure chatting with you, Naomi. I hope we can do it again soon."

I stand up. "I'm sure we will, it isn't that big of a ship," I say and he chuckles.

I don't have any more excitement until the very last round, my round without a man in front of me, but Emily instead. All thoughts of Alexander are wiped clean from my brain the moment I go to sit down opposite her.

"Looks like you have an easy round for your last one," she says with a bright smile lighting up her stunning features.

What… did I… I did, didn't I? I just call her stunning?

Shit, I'm meant to reply and my mind is blank, "I'm Naomi," I say dumbly. I'm really striking out with this one, all of a sudden I feel like a pimple-faced teenage boy, complete with braces, trying to talk to a girl he fancies.

There's that melodic laugh again that tickles my insides and makes me laugh softly. "I'm Emily, nice to officially meet you," she holds her hand out and I lift mine to take hers.

Electricity.

That's what I feel when her soft hand grabs onto mine. My blue eyes shoot up to her brown orbs and the look in her eyes tells me she felt it to. We both pull back, a bit miffed as to what just happened. I just sit there, lost in the pools of milk chocolate. Time stands still, for me at least, and by the looks of it, it does for Emily as well.

Before I know it, JJ comes into my field of vision, and he shakes Emily, whispering about it already being five minutes and that she should probably blow the whistle to end the round. I look away sheepishly… how we just sat there, staring, for a full five minutes and not even realize it is beyond me. She clears her throat after she blows the whistle and she announces that we are free to enjoy lunch and that dinner will be brought to our rooms again at six.

I stand, my legs feeling a bit wobbly and I can't tell if I'm feeing nauseous or if I have butterflies. I'm at a loss for words. I know I want to say something to Emily, but my brain isn't able to think of anything even remotely intelligent, in fact I'm fairly certain that the only thing I could say would be unintelligible grunts and other noises that don't resemble speech in the least. I nod to her and smile, and her answer mirrors my own. I rush out, not even noticing that Alexander is walking toward me. I need a fag and I need to try to get some lunch in me.

After my cigarette I sit by myself at lunch, tucking into my food rather quickly. Lunch tasted good, but my stomach keeps protesting. My legs start to force me back along the side of the boat. My hand slides along the guard rail, my steps slow, calculated. I think I'm going to be sick.

I feel the bubbling feeling as my lunch makes its way back up and I heave over the rail and into the water. I'm sure my face is pale, or even green, because that's about how I feel right now. My stomach continues to empty its contents, over and over again. My eyes glance around for long enough to notice that I managed to find a part of the boat where people weren't coming to frequently. Thank fuck.

When a hand comes into contact with my lower back as I'm leant over again, I jump, not just because whomever it is must have snuck up behind me, but because I feel a jolt.

Emily?

What's she…

I stop my own line of thought as my body convulses again. Her hand softly runs along my back. I try to take a step out of her reach, but she just follows me over a step. It's soothing, it really is, and my body relaxes for a minute against the cool rail. The wind feels good blowing against my body, pushing my peroxide tresses back off my glistening face.

Before I can turn around to thank Emily for helping me, even if all she did was rub my back, I feel the electricity cease and I turn my head slightly to see that she's gone. "Fuck…" I whisper to myself.

Moments later the feeling along my back is there again and I turn my head to see that she's holding out a small patch toward me. I recognize it; I had stubbornly decided that I wouldn't need a seasickness patch on the cruise. My arms feel like they've been weighted down and I can't even lift them enough to grab the small item to place it behind my ear.

"I'm just going to…" Emily's raspy voice whispers behind me. Her fingertips run through my hair, pushing it aside. Her touch feels like fire, fire that reaches through my whole body. I feel her press the patch a little below and behind my ear. My breath hitches, it shouldn't have, but it did. Her hand moves back down to my back whilst her other hands me a bottle of water. I can barely hold onto it. She must notice this and unscrews the cap for me. I manage to lift it up and lower my head at the same time to be able to get some of the cool water. It feels good, tastes good, though I'm sure the hand rubbing in soothing circles and patterns on my back is helpful as well.

"Let's get you back to your room, okay, Naomi?" Emily says softly, and I can do little but nod my head in agreement. My body is rather limp, and she puts one of my arms around her shoulders and wraps her own around my body. She's much stronger than I would have given her credit for, but with my body exhausted from expelling the contents of my stomach, she's doing a damn fine job of not letting me fall. She takes me to an 'employees only' area and we take a service elevator down.

I feel the walls starting to close in on me in the dim lighting of the lift. My eyes close to stop them, and I just continue on breathing deeply. I bring the water up to my lips, finishing off the water in the bottle.

There's a jolt and the two of us lose our balance. She manages to keep me upright by pressing her body against mine, and I can do little but put my arms around her shoulders to keep me steady. Once we're both sure that the unsettled sea is calm again she looks up to me and I find I'm stuck in her gaze again, unable to pull away. I hadn't realized just how close we were until I straighten my legs to find one of hers between mine and her hands on either hip, pushing me up into the wall.

My breathing is shallow and I can taste her lip balm and spearmint gum with every inhale of breath. I can't help but look down to her lips before they flit back up to her eyes.

*DING*

She steps away from me as the doors open and she half carries me to my room. I manage to pull the key card from my back pocket and push open the door with the one arm whilst the other still lies softly across Emily's shoulders. She brings me to my bed and I plop down.

Emily moves over to the bedside table and starts to scribble something down. I watch her, probably too intently, my eyes moving over her soft curves. Even with the uniform on I can see the swell of her perky breasts, her tapered thighs…

Why…

Just…

What?

I shake my head as the redhead moves back toward me, handing me a piece of paper with a number on it. I look back up to her, a look of confusion evident on my face. She smiles, "My room's phone extension. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me."

"Thank you," I manage to say as I stand up. I know she's about to leave, but I don't really want her to. I take a step toward her, suddenly wanting to give her a hug, or a kiss, or some other kind of 'thanks' that would let her in on the depth of my appreciation. I don't though. She walks out with a smile on her lips and a cute little wave as she closes my door behind her.

I can do little but sit back down and let the patch work so I don't feel like absolute shite. I end up lying down, my eyes staring up at the ceiling of the cabin. My mind wanders, even though I attempt to make it rest. It's not working, not how I'd like it to. I even try to read to keep me from thinking about the redhead, but I'm too nauseous to read, it's also too difficult to focus in on the print without making my head throb that much more. I even try to think of Xander, or Alex, or whatever it is he wants to go by.

Alex's intense emerald orbs made their way into my mind, and I breathe easier. It's a safer thing to think about. It doesn't take long before the mint swirls into milk chocolate and once again I'm getting lost in them in my mind. How pathetic is this? My eyes close and I feel myself starting to drift into an uneasy sleep.

My eyes open to check the clock. It's five-thirty and I'm feeling much better. I move about my cabin with ease once I wake up, feeling much better now that the patch has been on for long enough to take away the sick feeling. I smoke a fag then take a shower. I realize I'm actually primping, which is something I never do. My hair is straight and I've put a bit of eye-liner and mascara on to bring attention to my eyes, and a small amount of lip gloss on my lips.

At two minutes past six there's a knock at the door and I try not to be quite so excited about answering it. As I open the door I realize that it isn't Emily at all, it's the brunette one who looks like her, Katie. I try not to deflate too much and let her in.

"What would you like to drink with dinner?" She says, and I realize right away that Katie and Emily may look similar, but they are not even close to being alike in personality. With just that one question I can tell that she's an irritable bitch. I try to smile at her, but she's got this fake scowl-smile on her face and it's rather difficult for me to read.

"A Dirty Shirley, please," I request politely.

She doesn't respond, just goes about making the drink, her head shaking smiling. If I'm not mistaken, she might even be mumbling to herself. I find my eyes looking out the window waiting not very patiently for my drink and dinner.

"Anything else?" she all but snaps at me as she hands me the drink and platter. I shake my head and she walks out closing the door a bit too forcefully on her way.

The first thing I do is take a sip, and honestly, I think horse piss tastes better than this drink.

Lucky for me Katie didn't make my dinner as well, because that would have possibly been disastrous!

xxxxx

Morning comes way too soon. I step out on the balcony and sit down, letting the early morning sun move across my skin. It is warm, and I allow myself to reflect on everything that had happened since I'd arrived on the boat. It all makes me smile, which is strange, because I just don't make a habit of doing so.

I know my smile should have been for Alexander, and maybe it is a little bit, but mostly it is reserved for the redhead. Emily. What is going on there, anyway? I don't get locked on with anyone, about anything, unless it's a heated discussion, definitely not just staring at someone. I light up a fag and start to relax my body in the warmth provided. I'm daydreaming about the girl, about her porcelain skin, her soft brown eyes, her warm, inviting smile, her easy personality. Then again how could I really know if her personality was anything just from the few times we've been around one another? If I think about it, though, she did help me out when she could have walked off, and I wouldn't have even known she'd been there. Plus, just looking into her eyes… I just… there was no way she was a bitch like her sister seemed to be.

Just no way.

There is an innocence about Emily, a wholeness, a beauty that shines from inside her that just fascinates me. It makes me want to get to know her more, to learn more about what makes her tick. What makes her act so much different than her twin sister, Katie? It's obvious that they're totally different, not like a lot of twins where they have semi-comparable emotional traits to go along with their physical similarities. Katie and Emily don't seem to even have been raised in the same universe. I wonder what it's like to spend time with Emily, I mean some proper time.

'What are you thinking, Naomi, where is this line of thought bringing you?' I ask myself in my head as I take another drag of my cigarette. I shake my head. "Proper time," I say aloud as I laugh at myself. I pull out my phone and check to see that it's half passed nine, and if I want to actually have some breakfast, I should get moving.

I don't bother showering, just pull my hair up into a messy ponytail and walk up to the dining area in some sweatpants and a t-shirt (yes, I do have on knickers and a bra… pervs). I scoop myself up some food and end up sitting with Alex, who waves and smiles to me the moment he saw me. I decide that maybe he can distract me from the thoughts that are continually revolving around red tresses and chocolate brown eyes. I'm friendly to him, and we fall into an easy conversation. I wondered if it would seem awkward with him, but it's not in the least. He's actually decent company.

"Are you looking for someone?" Alex asks me.

I didn't realize that I started scanning the room for her. I caught myself doing just that earlier whilst walking through the different levels of the ship to get to breakfast. I really need to figure out what it is about Emily that seems to draw me to her. She's beautiful, sure, but there are plenty of beautiful women out there, and I have never wanted to get to know them better. It's just such a mystery to me. I'm not gay, never had a gay thought enter my consciousness until I met Emily, and now all of a sudden I'm actually questioning my sexuality.

Getting a bit ahead of myself, I know, for no reason really. It's not like I'd pursue her, I just find that I'd actually not mind having her in my life. I know, that's a shock in and of itself. Effy's the only one who's managed to get beyond my steely barrier to really know who I am, and sometimes my friend Cook. For some reason I could see myself opening up to Emily, as if it was meant to happen that way. Of course I don't believe in all that romantic garbage, like love at first sight. I don't really believe in love by itself, not really.

Fuck. Who the hell mentioned love? I don't love the girl, I barely know her.

Shit. I haven't responded.

My azure blues look over to meet his and I smile and shake my head, "No, just spacing out I guess," I laugh lightly and take a bite of eggs.

"I do that sometimes… you seemed like a thinker when we officially met yesterday," he chuckles back at me.

I smile at him, my eyebrows raised in a teasing manner when he used the word 'officially'. "Don't think I haven't forgotten about you stalking me, Xander," I say with a smirk.

Alex guffaws at that and takes a sip of his cuppa after he's calmed himself down enough he speaks back to me, "I wouldn't dream that you'd have forgotten, Naomi."

I freeze then, my eyes on my plate, at the eggs to be more precise. I didn't like the way my name sounds when he says it. It isn't as if he said it incorrectly or anything, it just sounds so much better when Em…

Fuck.

Now I'm comparing voices.

Who compares the way their name is said between two different people. Apparently… me.

I feel a touch over the top of my hand and although it's slightly rough and warm, "Naomi?" he says, but the contact doesn't send jolts of electricity up my arm and through my body. My eyes snap up and I pull my hand away slowly, not wanting to seem rude or anything. Alexander is a nice guy, but I just don't really think of him in that way. Sure he's attractive, funny, has a good easy-going personality, but I can't seem to get vibrant red and coffee brown from swirling around in my head. It's a beautiful mix of colours.

"Naomi…" he says, more insistent.

It snaps me from where my mind was taking me. She's like a drug.

A drug I haven't even taken and yet I crave more of it already.

This could be dangerous for me. I fear that if I let her in then I will remain open and vulnerable. I can't, I won't, do that. She'll end up hurting me because I'll push her away. I've had this story happen over and over again. It's why I just vowed to stop looking for a guy and just be and not expect or look for love. If love found me, then fine, but I wouldn't go searching for it… and I was doing well with that until Effy sent me on this sodding cruise.

"Earth to Naomi…" Alexander all but yells at me whilst waiving his hand in my face.

It seems that I wasn't fully brought back to earth the last time, but now I'm here. At least, I think I am now. Can I possibly be held accountable; I mean… has he SEEN Emily? I'm sure he would have left me by the wayside if he had.

Shit.

I look into the green orbs in front of me, "Yeah, I'm here, sorry."

"You sure about that?" He jokes.

I have to admit to myself that I'm only halfway with him. "I probably should go, actually."

He smiles and nods at me and I give him an apologetic smile as I get to my feet. I'm in a daze as I make my way back to my room, not really seeing the people whom I'm walking by. One could almost say that I looked to be walking on air. I was light, my mind consumed with thoughts of red, brown, and soft porcelain skin.

By the time I get back to my room, I have a smile on my face that is possibly the largest one I've had in my life. It's peculiar, but it doesn't feel bad, just strange. I'm sure my face is going to be hurting tomorrow after not using those muscles in so long. We don't have anything planned until tonight, the dinner dance. Well, lunch, obviously, but nothing else.

xxxxx

I've smoked and read the rest of the day away, only leaving my room to grab a plate for lunch. In all honesty I'm actually too nervous to really eat, but I tried to just get little finger foods that I could quickly pop in my mouth, like fruits, vegetables, meat, and cheese. The bite sized foods make it easier for me to read and slip some food in at the same time. It's for that fact alone as to why I'm actually able to stomach some down. The fruit is surprisingly fresh with strawberries, green grapes, and raspberries amongst some others, and when I picked up vegetables, I picked out mostly carrots… anything that would make it all easier for me.

By two-thirty, I've already laid out my dress and heels.

At three pm I get into the shower, making sure I'm shaved in all the right places, if you know what I'm saying. I rub on some sweet scented body lotion and change into a deep navy blue thong. My dress is strapless, so I don't plan on wearing a bra at all, even though I do have a matching satin pushup that usually compliments the thong. They're my favourite set, actually.

I'm walking around my room, all but naked, doing my hair and makeup. I set my hair into soft ringlets that hang just below my shoulders. I've never been one to go too far out with my makeup; I prefer the soft and subtle approach. Foundation and a small amount of blush touches up my features as well as some black eyeliner, and then I give my eyes a smoky effect that, according to Effy, makes my eyes that much more piercing and utterly irresistible. That's what I'm going for, however my target has no idea that she's in my line of sight. My problem will be if I'm brave enough to pull the trigger.

It's now five past four. Technically it all started at four, but I didn't want to be too early. Effy always told me that if I really want to get noticed, that I have to make a grand entrance, which usually means walking in late. I slip my dress on and my heels, but I can't seem to get the zipper up in the back. No matter how I try, I can't get the fucking thing up, and the dress is too tight to twist it around, zip it, then put it back on straight.

"Fuck…" I curse to myself. Usually Effy is around to help me with the zip, and I didn't think of that when I brought this dress. It is my absolute favourite though, and I didn't bring another to change into. I'm starting to panic. I peek my head out the door to see if there's anyone out there, but I'm fairly certain that all my neighbors are already at the dinner dance.

I go back inside and brush my teeth, then apply some fruity lip gloss. Fear starts to make me even more nervous than I already was, and I'm now pacing around the room. I know I don't have many options, so it's not until four twenty-three when I decide to call the one person on this boat whose number I have. My fingers are hovering over the keys on the internal phone and I'm shaking a bit. "Come on, Naomi, it's not like you're asking her on a date, you're fucking asking her to zip up your dress for you."

Without my permission my fingers dial the number and then my arm brings the phone up to my ear. I swallow, once, twice, my breathing is shallow and I swear it might stop any moment now.

"This is Emily Fitch, I'm away from my room right now. If you require immediate assistance, please press zero to be sent to the ship's directory, or press three to be automatically routed to my mobile."

Without conscious thought I press the number three.

"Hello?" I hear her husky voice on the other end of the line with soft music playing in the background. I can't speak. I'm stood in the middle of my room with my gob hanging wide open. "Is someone there?" she asks.

"Yeah, Emily?" I say, my voice just steady enough to not give away how tense I am. She doesn't respond right away and I start to wonder if there's something wrong. I part my lips to try to say something else when she interrupts me.

"Ms. Campbell, is that you?"

I cringe a little at the fact that she's being so formal. It isn't as if she's never called me Naomi before. "Yes, it's me, Naomi." I reply, trying to let her know that it's okay to use my name. There another silence and I can't decide if she's waiting for me to say something or if she's going to ask what I want. Either way I can feel a swarm of butterflies wreaking havoc on my insides, and it's not all that comfortable.

"Is there any way you could come to my room… I mean… if you're not busy," I spit out all at once.

I hear a soft chuckle on the other end of the line, "Anything in particular you need, Ms. Campbell?" If I didn't know better (and I probably do) I'd think that she was being a bit flirty with me, or at least she had a flirty tone in her voice.

"I um… I'm having some issues, with my dress," I say modestly.

There's a silence on the other end of the phone before I hear a knock on my door. I look up, slightly confused. I take a step toward the door, and then think against it. I wouldn't want for it to be Xander looking for me or something.

"Are you going to open your door, Ms. Campbell?"

My eyes open wide. She sure arrived quickly. It takes a few short steps, my heels clicking against the floor and I throw the door open and end the call. I watch as her jaw drops, her eyes grazing over my form before I pull her into my room, closing the door. She falls back against it and my body takes a step forward (I most definitely did NOT tell it to do this). I hear her breath hitch and I awkwardly clear my throat and take a step back and turn around. "I couldn't get the zip up," I explain, pointing to the middle of my back.

She doesn't say a thing, but I hear her take a step forward. Her fingertips trace down my spine to grasp the zipper. I have to say, it is the most agonizingly slow zip ever known to mankind. I hold my breath in, not daring myself to let it go because it would mostly likely be uneven and ragged. Once her fingers leave my skin, indicating that she's finished her task, I fix the material around my breasts and turn around. "Do I look okay?" I ask, and I'm positive that she can hear the nervousness in my voice.

Her gorgeous brown eyes look darker as she lets them travel again over me… looking at the dress, I'm sure, it is a lovely dress. It isn't until she meets my eyes that I realize they look darker because her pupils are dilated to the point where there is just a thin ring of brown surrounding the obsidian. I can't seem to breathe. The look in her eyes is enough of a response for me, or it should be, but she answers anyway,

"You look positively radiant, Ms. Campbell."

"Naomi," I correct, though my voice is soft and timid.

"Naomi…" she repeats, and I feel a flood of desire run through my body.

I want her. There's no other way to describe it.

I'm brought back from the fantasy inside my head when she clears her throat and I realize that I've been checking her out. She's dressed only slightly different than usual, wearing a black vest over her usual attire. For a girl she sure looks hot in a vest and tie.

"Sorry," I say out of habit.

Her lips curl into a smile, "I believe you have a dinner to get to, and you're already fashionably late, would you mind if I escort you there, Naomi?"

I shiver and nod my head, then pick up my phone and key-card, trying to figure out where to put them. It wasn't as if I brought a mini purse that goes with the dress. I'm not much for accessorizing, and a bag is definitely an accessory. My eyes are darting around my dress, the only place I can think of putting either would be in my thong or between my breasts.

"Would you like me to hold those for you?" Emily asks. Without a hesitation I hand them to her, except instead of pulling my hand away, it's sat on top of the items, on top of her hand. Our skin is barely touching around the items, and I'm staring down at my hand as if I have no control over it. Her hand pulls away and mine falls to my side. I watch as she slips the items into the left pocket of her black slacks.

I hold up a finger and head into the washroom. I lean over the water basin for a few moments and pick up my favourite perfume, Versace Woman. I spray it once on each side of my neck, once on my left wrist, then rub my wrists together, then once on each ankle (duh, scent travels up… so if I want it to last all night, I'd have to put some there). My lungs take in a deep breath and then let it out, I'm ready, or … I think I am.

The door opens when I push it and I'm met with a bright smile. She offers her arm to me and I slip my hand around to grasp her bicep, which I notice, is much more solid than I thought it'd be. Not a hard solid, but a soft solid. Right, I know that doesn't make any sense, but I can't really describe it. It's like I know it's strong, but gentle. Christ, I'm going around in circles now.

Emily closes the door behind me and I follow her lead. I'm glad, because the map of the ship that I had in my head has suddenly gone blank. I notice she's not walking too fast, or too slow, and our footsteps are matched perfectly. I have to concentrate on my breathing, because I found myself not breathing a couple of times and by the time I take a deep inhale in I am gasping for breath. Neither of us say much on the way there, which I'm silently thankful for because I'm not sure I can say anything intelligent anyway.

Her opposite hand stretches out to pull open the door for me and I feel the loss immediately as we walk inside the large room and my arm drops from hers. It's decorated immaculately. Fairy lights dip down providing enough light to be able to see, but still give it a 'romantic' atmosphere. I notice quite a few heads turn to look at us, but I notice Emily slinking away, mumbling something about needing to assist other guests. I can't even describe how badly that makes me feel, like a punch in the chest.

I smirk, making eye-contact with every set of eyes that turned my way. Alexander gets to his feet and walks over to me, offering his arm and a smile. I can't help it when my eyes flash over to Emily, whose back is now to me as she talks to JJ, who is pulling out two silver platters. I take Xander's arm and he leads me back to his seat, pulling out my chair like any gentleman should. A "thanks" slips through my lips as I sit down and I notice his dinner plate is already half empty. Maybe my late entrance is a little too late.

"Vegetarian or Lamb, Ms. Campbell?"

My eyes turn up to see JJ stood there with a plate in each hand, "Vegetarian, please, JJ," I say with a smile. He sets the plate down.

"Emily said you'd want the vegetarian platter. I don't know how she knew that, really. She seems to amaze me sometimes. I suppose it was a fifty-fifty chance that she would be correct, unless she had some insider information that I am not aware of, and then the percentage could have been higher, but I couldn't have known unless she told me, but she hasn't, and so I will continue to go with my original assessment..."

"Uh, thanks JJ," I interrupt, not knowing what was going on with him, but I reach my hand out to his arm and he seems to come back to earth from whatever corner of his mind he just went into.

His face flushes to a light pink colour and he looks over to Alex bashfully, then back to me, "Sorry about that, got to rambling, didn't I?" I nod my head, but I keep the smile on my face until he walks away.

Now my mind is thinking of the redhead again, how would she have known that I would have wanted vegetarian? It's not like I don't eat meat at all, I'm just not a huge meat eater, plus the fact that it was lamb turned me off. I'm sure it's veal, and I don't ever want to think about eating a baby animal of anything. I mean, I'm a huge believer of animal rights, and I'm positive that this cruise-line could care less where they receive their meat from. I care though, which is why I only get meat from places where I know they don't add growth hormones to their feed and they house them in a way that doesn't cause the animals to suffer.

Well, that was a good distraction for a moment.

I tuck into my food. Alex and I talk sparingly between bites, and I honestly didn't realize how famished I was until I start to eat. I end up finishing my plate at the same time as Xander does.

Music plays softly in the background and my eyes seem to continually catch glimpses of vibrant red tresses. I try not to make it so obvious that I'm watching her, especially with a perfectly nice bloke sat across from me.

"Would you care to dance?" I hear Alexander ask me and I stare at him for a moment and shake my head. I don't really dance, you see, I'm usually too stiff and I can never seem to follow like I should. "Awe, c'mon, Naomi, live a little," he says with a charming smile on his face.

"I would, but I don't dance. I mean, I can't really dance," I say quietly to him, feeling a little embarrassed. He starts to laugh softly, trying to stifle it behind his hand. My eyes flash up to him, ready to rip into him for his laughter, but the expression on his face causes mine to lighten up slightly.

He gets to his feet and offers me his hand, "Just one dance, and if you don't want to dance after that, I won't pressure you to." I squint at him and he nods to his hand, a huge smile across his face. I let a huge sigh pass my lips and I slip my hand into his.

No sparks.

I feel no sparks.

He leads me out to the dance floor where a number of couples are already swaying together. Xander stops in the middle and turns towards me, slipping his arms around my waist, and pulling me closer to his body. My arms automatically move up around his neck. I can't help but smell the musky scent of his cologne, which isn't bad, but not really something I enjoy either. I guess it just reminds me that it isn't Emily. I glance over Alex's shoulder as we spin slowly in a circle, and when I catch her gaze, she has a look on her face that is hard to distinguish in the dim light. She spins around and heads out the door toward the deck. I want to follow her, but I can't.

"Not so bad, is it?" Alexander says to me, pulling me away from my Emily worries by distracting me.

"No, not really," I say to him. Apparently this response gives him permission to pull me closer; his body is now pressed against mine. Don't get me wrong, his body is amazingly fit. Muscles in all the right places, strong, but not soft, not like Emily. He is nice though, and intelligent, and now I feel like I'm talking myself into something. Something that I don't really want.

"Do you want to take a moment to go out on the deck? The stars have been amazingly beautiful at night."

I don't really have time to respond before he's pulled away and is leading me out one of the side doors into the cool night air. He took off his suit jacket and put it around my bare shoulders. It's a nice gesture. I should be lucky that a guy like Xander is showing interest in me. I should feel… something… but I don't, not really. I mean, I like him, but I couldn't really see him as being anything other than a friend.

His strong arm around my shoulders distracts me from my thoughts. I look over to him to see that he's looking up at the blanket of stars easily visible in the darkness. He has such a serene look on his face. It doesn't dawn on me until it's too late that he was trying to make a romantic move on me. He softly turns me to face him and he leans down to softly press his lips against mine. I'm stunned for a moment before he presses his tongue through my lips. It's not all that unpleasant, to be honest, but I just don't feel it, and I fucking adore kissing. His hands move to my hips, pulling me closer to him. It's then that I can feel his hardening cock pressing against me, and I pull away, pushing my hands against his muscular chest to put some distance between us.

I feel a burning sensation at my back and I turn around to see Emily spin on her heel and re-enter the dance hall. She saw it. I feel guilty, though I don't have a valid reason for it. Her hair flows out behind her and it's the last I see of her before I turn back around toward Xander, my face is stoic. He's not apologizing, but he's not trying to go in for another snog either. We're at an impasse.

"Didn't feel a thing, did you?" he asks as I go to turn around.

My head snaps back around to look at him, my eyebrows furrowing as I look up into his eyes. I shake my head, "I'm sorry," I say as I turn and head back inside. I need a fucking fag, but to get that I'd need to have my keycard, which is in Emily's pocket, along with my phone. Fuck. Could things get any worse than they are right now?

Apparently.

I walk into the room and I immediately search for crimson tresses. I can't seem to see Emily anywhere. I notice JJ clearing the table that Alexander and I were sat at and I quickly move over to him. I'm not sure how I can word this, so I decide blunt and to the point would be the best course of action. "JJ, I was wondering if you could point me in the direction that Emily went off to."

The young man stands up straight, his face looking anxious as he reaches into his pocket. I don't think anything of it really; until I realize the items he has sat in the palm of his hand. My phone and keycard. I tentatively reach to grab the proffered items.

My cerulean gaze flashes back up to his face, "Emily asked me to give these to you." I pick up the untouched glass of wine and down the entire contents in one go before I seize the bottle from the middle of the table. JJ doesn't say anything to me, but his eyes have a sadness to them. I almost feel the need to apologize to him, but I don't know what for.

I stalk off, my pace slower then I'd prefer because of the heels I've got on. I stop once I get to the elevators and whilst waiting for it to arrive I slip out of my shoes. They're dangling from my fingers with the bottle under my arm and my other hand clutching the items.

I don't see anyone on the rest of my trip to my room, and I let myself in and take a long swig of the wine. I grab my cigarettes and go out to sit on the balcony. The nicotine does little to calm me.

xxxxx

I don't realize that it's now half past one in the morning. I'm not sure where the missing time went, but I notice I've been through nearly half a pack of cigarettes during that time. I look down at my mobile, and the only thing I can think of is to phone her. I don't have her number in my phone, but I have the internal extension.

Somehow I end up picking up the phone and dialing Emily's extension.

"This is Emily Fitch, I'm away from my room right now. If you require immediate assistance, please press zero to be sent to the ship's directory, or press three to be automatically routed to my mobile."

Fuck… not this again. I press three and the phone rings, and rings, and rings. I'm just about to hang up when I hear, "This is Emily," I hear the monotone voice on the other end of the line and it makes me flinch. My mouth has gone dry. I can't speak.

"Hello? Can I help you?" I realize she sounds tired.

"Yeah, Emily, it… it's Naomi," I manage to push out.

"Yes, Ms. Campbell, what can I do for you at this late hour?" Her voice is steady, but I'm sure I hear a hint of bitterness in it.

There's another silence because I can't think of a single excuse, so for the second time tonight I've decided to be to the point, "Can you come to my room?"

"If there's something you require, Ms. Campbell, I will send JJ or Katie down to assist you…"

"No, please…" I interrupt my voice clearly desperate, "… I need to see you, talk to you. Please, Emily."

It's this silence now that's deafening. I can only assume that she's weighing her options, and I can hear my heartbeat pounding loudly in my ears, and feel it thumping against my ribs and pulsing through my neck. I swallow, once, feeling a knot in my throat.

"Give me a few minutes, I will be there shortly," is her response. I let out a breath and the line is dead before I can thank her.

I start to pace around my room, staring at the bottle of wine. I know I could really do with some liquid courage, but I don't want her to think I'm drunk. Oh fuck, what the hell am I going to say? I move into the bathroom and rinse out my mouth and re-apply the lip gloss. I'm just checking to make sure I don't have food stuck in my teeth when I hear a light knocking sound. I rush to the door and throw it open, a shy smile plastered on my face.

"You got here… quick," That smile fades when I see that the occupant at my door isn't the redhead, it's Xander. He tries to say something but I hold up my hand, "Look, Alexander, you're a great guy, but I'm honestly not interested. I'm sorry."

"I know, I just wanted to apologize…"

I cut him off, "Accepted, now fuck off, yeah?" I close the door in his face. A few moments later I hear his footsteps walking away from my door. I sigh deeply. That was rude, I'm well aware of that, but I don't want Emily to think that he was here, in my room, when he clearly isn't welcome.

Another five minutes goes by and I swear I'm wearing a trail in the floor from my uneasy pacing. I'm sure if I still had on my heels it would be making a difference, but my bare feet won't do much damage at all. My hand reaches for the bottle of wine just as a knock at the door sounds. I set the wine back down and look through the peep hole this time.

Thank fuck.

I pull open the door and Emily's stood there, shoulders back, head up, and arms held behind her back. It almost appears to be some kind of military stance. "What is it, Ms. Campbell?"

I don't think.

I can't.

My hand reaches forward, pulling her inside my room and then push her back against the closed door. My lips are so close to hers and I want to lean in, but what if she doesn't want that. She's not struggling against me like someone would if they were in a situation that they didn't feel comfortable in. I can feel her ragged breath against my face, and mine is just as irregular.

I feel the electricity bouncing between our bodies at every single connected point along my form. She makes me feel so alive. This was what was missing from Alex.

"Can I help you?" Emily whispers, her voice shaking slightly. I find it cute that she's still trying to show an ounce of professionalism even when I have her pinned against my door.

I have no response, my mind is filled with red and brown and a need that I've never felt in all my life. I lean down, hesitating before my face reaches Emily's. I'm nervous; scared to death may be a more appropriate term.

She closes the gap.

It's like an earthquake rumbling through my body at just the soft touch of her lips to mine. I feel her simply everywhere. She doesn't press further, but slowly our mouths start to move against one another. I feel a flood in my knickers as her tongue traces along my bottom lip, and when I part my lips to give her entrance, I feel her hands slide up my body to cup my cheeks. My hands move to her hips, then around her back.

She pushes me back a few steps so she's no longer pinned against the door. I want to tell her how radiant I think she is, how her voice sends me into a frenzy, but all thoughts cease to exist when one hand slips behind my neck, sliding through my peroxide blonde mane whilst her other hand reaches around to slowly unzip my dress.

Let me tell you, having her unzip my dress is twice as tormenting compared to how it felt when she was doing me up earlier. My breath hitches as her fingertips move down my spine until the zip could go no further. The dress is being held up only because Emily's body is so tight against my own.

I'm passed the point where rational thoughts will help me, so when I start to unbuckle her belt, I decide that my mind will just have to take a back seat whilst my body and heart explore all the wonders that are Emily Fitch. I fumble with the latch for a moment, but once it's done, I rip the belt through the loops. Still holding on to the belt, I unbutton and unzip her trousers. Her lips are still hot and moist against my own, and I realize that her hands aren't actively moving on my body. Maybe she's letting me catch her up to my state of (almost!) undress. Honestly all I'd have to do is step away from her and my dress would fall, leaving me in my knickers.

Frantically I unbutton her vest and push it off her shoulders, and then I loosen her tie and begin down the buttons of her shirt. It's at this time that I finally drop her belt to the floor. I pull the bottom of the shirt up and out of her trousers before pushing that off of her as well. My eyes chance a look down to her bra clad breasts and my breath hitches at the handfuls of flesh being restrained by black lace.

My feet pull me away, and I hear a groan of disappointment coming from the redhead. That groan of hers soon dies in her throat when I let the dress fall to the floor. Chocolate browns take in my pale skin, and her eyes dart around my body, with special interest given to my tits and the thin material that can barely be called knickers. I kick the unwanted dress away and go to my knees in front of the girl, tugging on her tight pants and slowly pushing them down her legs until she steps out of them.

My eyes open wide at the lacy black material, and I can't help but bite my lip.

I freeze then. What the fuck am I doing? I don't know how to make love to a girl, to have sex with a girl, to fuck one. I feel a hand under my chin, pushing my gaze up to look into fiery brown orbs. I must look a fright because she easily pulls me up into a standing position again, her hands moving to my cheeks. I want to tell her that I'm scared, that I want this, but that I'm not sure I'm ready for it. I'm about to tell her that I'm no good, that I don't know what I want.

"I know…" she responds to the myriad of thoughts racing through my head, and I don't have long to wonder how before her lips tenderly move against my own. The kiss is different than the frantic, heated snog moments before. It's much, much softer, and it's much less frightening for me. Her hands start to trace along my sides and my body shutters. "It's okay to touch me," she whispers into my lips, and I hadn't realized that my hands were hanging by my sides.

My fingertips slide up her forearms, over the soft strength of her biceps, and up over her shoulders to the sides of her neck. I can't even contemplate just how soft her skin is. It's like velvet, satin, and silk all mixed into one, and quickly I'm finding that I want to keep feeling more of her. She pulls me closer to her by my hips, and I can taste the hitch in her breath when the skin of my torso makes contact with hers.

I can feel the wet heat soaking my knickers. I don't think I've ever been this turned on before. I notice one of her hands leaving my body and I hear a soft snap and she leans away from me for long enough to toss her bra away. Her body is back against mine, pushing me slowly backwards until the back of my knees connect with the bed and I'm forced to sit. Our lips continue to tease and every once in a while our tongues would dance, but never did our mouths part, even when I start to scoot further on the bed, she simply follows me, crawling her way on top of me.

She didn't stay on top of me long; instead she shifted to the side, pulling me to lie on my side as well. Everything was so beautifully tender. I don't think, of any of the blokes I've been with, that I've ever had my body touched with such… care. It really is a brilliant feeling. I can only imagine that this is what it feels like to be made love to, and I scare myself a little when I realize that I'm okay with that. I'm okay that it's Emily who's making love to me.

My hands gently explore all the available skin, noting the spots that cause her breathing to change, or a moan to reverberate into my mouth. I want to remember so that later I can explore these areas further. I'm positive she's doing the same as one of her hands comes up to cup my fleshy mound, her thumb brushing over my painfully erect nipple. When her hand leaves to pay its twin a visit I can't contain the, "Christ, Emily…" that whispers its way through my lips. I hear her hum her approval of my reaction, but that gets caught, then turns into a groan when my hand slides over the curve of her shapely arse and over the lacey underwear.

I want her everywhere, need her everywhere at once.

Her lips leave my own and start to leave a trail of fire along my jaw line. "You're beautiful," she husks into my ear as her kisses change direction to move down my neck. Before I know it she's kissing along my collarbone and then her lips hover over my right nipple, breathing her hot breath onto it. I want her to take hold of it, suck on it, nip it, lick it, fucking anything but what she's doing, because it's driving me mad. My darkened eyes look down at her and I notice that she's looking up at me, as if asking permission to continue. I nod my head and the moment her lips envelop my nub my back arches into her. It feels like an explosion through my body, like nothing else I've ever experienced.

Her tongue flicks across my nipple and my body trembles. She moves to my other breast and repeats the actions on the one previous before nipping as she pulled away. Her lips are back on mine; sweetly caressing them while her hands push me onto my back.

I comply. I'm a slave to her will.

Emily moves between my legs, leaving kisses down my stomach as her hands slide down my sides, hooking into my knickers. My hips rise of their own accord as she slips the last shred of material from my body. Again she looks up to me, silently asking if she can go on, and I respond with, "Please."

Her lips curl into a smile, and I just can't get over how radiant she is. Her tongue makes a deliberately slow trail along my slit, and I hear her moan before she reaches my clit.

To be honest I've never been one to get off on anything but penetration (and even then I'm hard pressed to get off), but the way her tongue is working my clit, I feel no need to feel her inside me, not yet at least. Her talented tongue continues to bring me higher and I find my right hand has moved into her scarlet tresses whilst my left is pulling and teasing my breasts.

She speeds up, bringing me to the brink of my orgasm before she slows down her movements. I'm aware I'm making all sorts of unintelligible noises, begging for her to push me over the cliff into oblivion. I'm at her mercy though, and she continues to tease me until I simply don't think I can stand anymore without losing consciousness.

"Emily… fuck… don't… stop… " I call out my request to my lover. My vision goes white and my hand subconsciously presses her head harder between my legs, my hips lifting off the bed as the white fire works its way through my body. My body tightens, my clit throbbing between her lips. Emily keeps softly stroking my nub with her tongue as the waves continue to pump through me.

When my body relaxes I can feel her mouth leave my sensitive bundle and she gently starts to lick along my slit, groaning, I can only guess, at the river she created. My hips buck into her every once in a while when her tongue parts my lower lips to dip between them. I'm tired, my body is tired, but I need to feel her lips on mine again. I gently take a handful of her hair and pull on it gently. She understands, wiping her chin clean of my juices before connecting our lips. I can taste myself on them, which is a new experience for me, and I know I'm turned on all over again.

She pulls away, against my protests, and looks down at me, her eyes bright and shining, "You should sleep," she whispers.

"But I…"

"No… not now. You need to rest," she explains.

I don't like her answer, but my body is still exhausted from the energy expelled to argue with her. Emily's body goes to rise off mine and I feel unbridled terror start to find its way through my body. My fingers dig into her, and she looks down at me again. She's still smiling, and I feel my own lips twist up into one as well. "Don't go…" I hear myself request.

Her grin widens. "I have to be up early to tend to breakfast," she says quietly, and I feel my panic rising. I don't want her to go; I want her to stay with me. I want to fall asleep with her in my arms. I want to wake up and see her dazzling face. I need it.

My mind is searching for a reason for her to stay, for any kind of excuse. Hundreds of thoughts go through my head, but none of them seems quite good enough. Most of them, I suspect, Emily will be able to shoot down in a heartbeat.

"Set your alarm on your mobile, and I'll do the same… I'll… I'll make sure you're awake in time…"

"At four in the morning?" she questions me.

I hadn't realized that she had to wake up so early, and if my calculations are correct, it's sometime after two, which means she'll have less than two hours of sleep, and that's if she gets to bed right now.

"If that's what it takes to get you to stay, I'll do anything," I answer honestly.

Emily leans down and pecks my lips, then pulls away from me. I'm about to protest when she puts a hand over my heart, "I'm getting my phone, not leaving, yeah babe? Where's yours?" I point over to the table next to my key card and watch as she leans down to retrieve her phone from the pocket of her trousers and also picks up my mobile on the way. My eyes blatantly perv at Emily's arse as she bends down. I nod my thanks as she hands it to me, and I quickly set my alarm for four am, then for fifteen minutes after that (just in case).

She must do the same thing before she snuggles into my body, tucked under my arm with her head laid on my chest as I lie on my back. Emily's hand moves across my bare middle, and I feel the fire start to boil the blood in my veins all over again. Any shred of weariness that was prevalent a few minutes prior has completely disintegrated. In its place is a yearning that I simply must…

Emily takes this time to move her soft touch lower until her fingertips are brushing over my pubic bone. My arm tightens around her shoulder for but a moment before I flip my body on top of hers, my thigh slipping between her own, and pressing up against those erotic, black lacy knickers she's still got on. Her lips are holding a smirk, and I know now that she knew exactly what she was doing… the little minx. My upper body leans forward and I tease her lips with my tongue before sitting halfway back up, letting my azure gaze move over her delicate skin.

It hit me, like an arrow to the chest… I don't have a fucking clue what to do. I should have been paying more attention when Emily was taking me up the mountain and over the cliff. That would have been a bit counter-productive though, I think. I mean, I've taken care of myself, but it's different when it's someone else. They have different likes, different needs.

I feel two soft hands press against my cheeks and I look up into the mostly obsidian eyes, "Just relax, yeah babes?" I try to nod, but even that is proving difficult. "Look, I should get at least some sleep, so can we just lie here together?" My lips part, an argument on the tip of my tongue when she continues, "We still have a few nights before the end of the cruise, so you're more than welcome to repay the favour." I finally manage to move my head up and down and I slide from atop the red headed debonair.

Emily cuddles into my side, her arm once again going around my middle, but this time she keeps herself from stroking my stomach. Probably a good thing if she actually wants to fall asleep. My eyes feel heavy already and I feel myself slipping into unconsciousness, but not before I hear the husky whisper from the woman cambered into me, "you taste amazing by the way, have sweet dreams."

How the fuck am I suppose to fall asleep now?

Damn it!

xxxxx

It's bright, and the first thing I do is cover my eyes with the pillow to block it out, but it does little because now that I'm half-way awake, I can feel the rest of my body starting to wake up. The first, of course, is my bladder. It isn't until I sit up that my brain proper wakes up, and my head swings to the other side of the bed, which is empty, save for a little note. I pick it up and smile at the bubbly print, 'Emily slept here', complete with a little arrow to her side of the bed. I turn the note over to see that there's more written on the back, the print smaller so she could fit more in. 'I'm glad you set that second alarm on your mobile or I wouldn't have woken up… and you obviously didn't wake. I'm sorry I have to leave you, but I do have to work. See you at breakfast, or maybe lunch if you sleep in that late. xx E'

I feel… lighter. I know that's physically impossible, but my chest, my heart, my head, everything seems to have received a shot of helium, and I'm actually nervous that I may float away. Alright, so I know that's absolute bollocks, but that is the feeling I've got, one of euphoria, and I have Emily to thank for that.

"Shit," I curse to myself as I hear my ringtone start up, followed by the vibration on the hard surface. I lean over and smile a bit to myself as I look at the caller ID. Before answering I get out of bed, grab my fags and lighter, and head out to the balcony. I hit the answer button, "Hey."

"So how goes the quest for love?" I can't help but chuckle a little bit, of course Effy knows. I'm not quite sure how my best friend is able to do that, but she can. I don't answer. "So it's going well then?" she quickly assesses because of my silence. "What's her name?"

"W… what?"

I hear Effy's version of a laugh on the other end of the phone, which could kind of sound like a hiccup. "I asked," she starts slowly, as if I'm some child and she needs to annunciate herself especially slow, "what's her name?"

I start feeling the need to be defensive, and I've just mounted up my response when Effy interrupts me, "You're not going to try to tell me that it's some bloke you've found interesting, are you?"

"No," I respond before I've thought better about it, then I try to quickly correct myself, "there is this guy called Alexander. "

I don't even need to see her face to know that she's got that all knowing smirk on her lips, and that she's already dismissed the guy's name that I gave her. "So… what's her name," she prods again. I sigh. I don't know what I was thinking when I thought I could keep it from her. I might as well call her God, or Goddess Effy, because she just knows everything. "You're not really going to make me guess, are you?"

"Uh… no… I just…"

"Emily Fitch?"

My face goes blank, my jaw drops. Okay, so I know Effy freaks me out a bit with her uncanny ability to know what's going on, but how the actual fuck did she know…

"I'm right, aren't I?"

"Effy, how did you… I mean… what… when…"

I hear a single laugh again through the receiver. "I took the liberty of looking at the crew before I booked your ticket. She's the one that I thought would catch your eye. Though, admittedly, I did think it was going to take a bit longer for you to suck it up." I just know she has that look about her and I know she can feel the scowl I'm throwing her through the phone. "Have you fucked her yet?"

I'm outraged, "That, is none of your fucking business!"

"Another yes… wow, you're moving quite a bit quicker than I thought."

I just wish I could strike her right now. I hate and love her at the same time. "Oh Christ, Eff, what the hell do I do?"

"Have you got her number?"

"Well, kind of, I have the number to her extension…"

"But, you never got her mobile number?" she says in that monotone voice of hers. I don't answer her, and she continues, "So you've fucked her and yet you didn't think to get her contact information."

"I wasn't exactly thinking of that while she was…" I leave the sentence unsaid, knowing that Effy would know what I mean, because, let's face it, she already knows anyway.

There's an uncomfortable silence. Sure there's plenty of silence when I speak to Effy, but this one is horrible, as if she's sorting something out in her head. I don't like it, but I don't have anything else to say. I can't even ask her about what's going on with her, because she knows that it would be because I'm trying to change the subject and not talk about this thing with Emily.

"You better get up to breakfast to see about your girl."

"Fuck off," I halfway laugh into the receiver before the line goes dead.

Fucking Effy. Sometimes I wish she would just let me in on what she's got going on in that mental brain of hers. It would make everything so much fucking easier.

xxxxx

It doesn't take me long to shower and slip into some comfortable clothes, just a blue skirt with a white top (complete with white knickers and a bra), and some white, semi fancy sandals. I brush my hair down and leave for the dining area with my peroxide hair still wet. I walk confidently up to the self serve table, at least I look confident. Effy's little conversation has shaken me to my very core.

"Ms. Campbell," I hear the husky voice behind me, sending tsunami shockwaves through my system. I turn around politely, my face unreadable, but it slowly brightens at the sight of Emily a metre away from me. The gap between us soon shrinks until she's obviously within my personal space, but not touching me.

"Ms. Fitch," I grin at her as I take my plate and sit down at a nearby chair.

The hairs stand on end when I hear her whispering to my seated form, "You'll be on land this afternoon, if you don't care to go sightseeing, we could meet to perhaps learn a bit more about each other." Even that sounded sexual, and it took no time at all for me to respond to her by nodding, not trusting my voice. "Or…" she starts, her voice so quiet that I have to strain to hear her, "… I have the afternoon off and into the late evening, we can go sightseeing together."

I bite my bottom lip, a whirlwind of thoughts all trying to be the most prevalent in my brain at that very moment. My eyes close tightly as I try to clear my mind, though I'm not successful at all.

"What would you prefer?"

She sets a dish in front of me: strawberries and whipped cream. "I think," Emily begins, her lips so close to my ear that I swear I can feel them brushing along the shell of it, which makes me shiver. "… you and I should have a nice picnic…"

"Naomi!"

I glare up to see Alexander coming towards me and Emily takes this moment to stop speaking and stand straight up behind me. I miss feeling the heat radiating from her form.

"Xander," I drawl, clearly agitated that he's ruined the little thing that Emily and I had going.

"So what are you going to do on land?" he asks cheerfully. Did he not remember what happened just last night? Maybe he's just a glutton for punishment.

I turn around to see that my flaming red head is busying herself at the nearby table. I can see, even from the brief glance I permit myself that she's just trying to look busy, but she's really just moving items around. It's cute, and I, regrettably, look back to Alex.

"Not sure, I haven't decided yet." He is still smiling at me, and my eyebrows rise in question. I'm not sure what exactly I saw in him, because I can't even stand to be sat at the same table as him.

"I thought maybe we could go exploring together, that is, unless you're bringing your girlfriend along."

My eyes go wide for a moment before I contain my utter shock. "I'm not sure what you mean," I reply coolly.

"Naomi, you realize you're not fooling anyone. You have that 'just sexed up' look about you, and there's been talk that you and Emily are an item," he responds with a smirk on his lips. He leans over and picks up a strawberry from my plate, dipping it into the whipped cream and offers it to me. I go to grab it from him. He shouldn't be enjoying the treat that Emily so thoughtfully brought to me. Alex pulls the fruit back slightly, shaking his head, "No hands Naomi," he grins as he holds it back toward me.

He's got to be fucking mental if he thinks my lips are going anywhere near that morsel that he's offering me. "No thanks, I can get my own." I grab up another berry, dip it, and then take a bite, all but moaning at the taste with my eyes closed.

When my eyes open I notice that Xander's mouth is slightly open, and I quickly deduce what it is that put that look on his face. My actions were rather sexual, and the sound of contentment probably just added to the affect.

"Excuse me," Alex says as he gets up, his face red, "I'll get back with you about traversing the town later," he says almost as an afterthought as he walks away.

Not two seconds after he's walked away, I feel that chill running down my spine again, "Jesus, Naomi, that was a bit harsh, wasn't it?"

"He didn't seem to take the subtle cues I gave him to fuck off," I state factually.

I hear her giggle, "So, are you going to take him up on his offer, or have you decided on other plans?"

I stand up, grabbing a strawberry and dipping it in one fluid motion. As I turn I realize just how close Emily is to me, and we're nearly on top of each other. Her hand reaches forward to my wrist, and she brings the sweet berry to her lips. Her piercing coffee orbs stay locked with mine as she takes a bite. Some of the cool juice drips onto my fingers and it's my turn for my gob to hang open. Now I see how teasing it was for Alex, because I want to jump Emily's bones right here in the dining area. I snap out of my daze, slipping the remainder of the fruit into my mouth, making sure she's watching as I lick my fingers clean.

She laughs, "You still haven't answered."

"What was I answering?" I honestly couldn't remember after that sensual display of hers.

"Once we hit land…" she offers to assist my sex-addled brain back into the conversation.

Right. I still don't have an answer for her though. I'm about to try to say something when the other twin comes into my vision, grabbing Emily by the hand and whispering rather loudly that Emily needed to "fucking start working, lazy cow."

"Um, Katie, is it?" I say and she whips around to face me with Emily stood behind her.

"Yes," she says shortly. A chortle is teasing the back of my throat and it's taking all that I am not to just let it go. I figure laughing isn't the best idea at the moment.

"I was actually asking Emily if she knew of any special places I should visit when we hit land," I smile at her in a friendly fashion, but the other Fitch twin isn't buying it.

Katie pulls out a brochure and shoves it at me, does what is halfway between a curtsey and a bow and then strides off with Emily following along helplessly. Emily mouths 'sorry' over her shoulder as she's pulled into the 'employees only' section. I look down at the pamphlet in my hands and laugh as it's all about the port we're about to pull into. It has restaurants and shops that are popular. The other twin has spunk, that's for sure.

xxxxx

The ship has been docked for nearly an hour and a half, and I'm not sure if I should go find Emily or wait in my room, which is where I am currently. I end up chain smoking four cigarettes, staring down at my mobile every now and again. Effy was right, I should have gotten her number. Sure I could call her extension, but what if it didn't give me the option to be forwarded to her directly? My phone starts to buzz in my hand and I look down at the screen. It's a text from an unknown number. I feel excitement start to flow through my body as I open it.

'Hey Naomi, have you left the ship yet? I'm still open to meet you if you're not doing anything. Alex'

I frown down at the text. Definitely not the person I was waiting to hear from. I quickly thumb in a response.

'No thank you.'

I'm not sure exactly how he got my mobile number, because I know I sure as fuck didn't give it to him. I sigh down to my phone, hoping that Alexander would get the fucking message this time. A few moments later my phone vibrates again. I growl in frustration and I click into it, not bothering to notice the number.

'Gorgeous Blonde, I wonder if, perhaps, you'd like to get off this fucking ship now. ~E'

I look down, slightly confused as to the response that I was expecting from Alex. A laugh erupts when my mind catches up to realize that it is in fact that red head of mine… mine, eh? Not sure when I started considering her mine, but I'm not about to argue with myself over that fact either.

'My Stunning Red Head, come and get me. Take me somewhere… anywhere. XX N'

A smile forms on my lips as I go back inside and start to primp, knowing that my girl is sure to arrive shortly. I brush through my mane, and brush my teeth. My make-up is quickly touched up, just eye-liner and a bit of concealer, nothing too heavy as I don't know what sort of plans Emily has for us. I pick up and set down my sweater six times before a soft knock on the door steals my attention from my dilemma.

I open the door and, while I'm not surprised to see Emily, I am surprised to see her in anything other than her uniform. I know I'm stupid to have thought that she'd be wearing the same type of outfit she's been forced to wear the entirety of our voyage. She has on a white sun dress with bright green flowers, complete with green slip-on shoes.

"Your stunning red head?" the woman says to me as she steps into my room, closing the door behind her. It took me a few moments to realize that that was exactly what I had put in my text to her. My hand goes up to the back of my neck, rubbing it slightly as my eyes look down at the ground between us, feeling rather foolish, and wishing I had actually thought about my response before sending it. I swallow, the nervous butterflies swarming relentlessly.

"Naomi," her melodic voice whispers as I feel her silky fingertips pushing my chin up to meet her gaze, "it's not a bad thing, I was just surprised." She's smiling at me and it is as if she provided a net to capture the anxious tension in my stomach to be replaced by a warm satisfied feeling.

That's all it takes for me to feel better, to feel more confident. All I need is her. How crazy is that for me to even be thinking that? I'd have sworn up and down that I would never feel like this, never feel so connected to someone that I would do anything for them. Emily came into my life and washed away all my preconceptions of love.

Emotion is burning its way through me. I lean in, my hands cupping her rosy cheeks and I place the softest of kisses on her lips. I could lose myself in her, and with that in mind I pull back. She lets out a disapproving groan and I smile down at her. It's nice to know that it goes both ways, not that Emily hadn't shown me, rather brilliantly, exactly how she felt. I quickly start to go into the perverse section of my brain that is playing out the exchange between Emily and me the night before. My knickers are drenched in a second.

"Naomi?"

Shit. "Yeah, babe?" I smile sweetly to her as if I wasn't just lost in a sea of my own lust.

Emily smiles cheekily at me, grabbing my hand to lead me out. I manage to grab my bag, shoving my phone and keycard inside it as we go. "You're horrible, you know that right?" Emily says to me over her shoulder as I close the door to my room. Confusion must fill my face as she continues, "You're perving, and by the look on your face, fanaticizing."

Busted.

A blush, I'm sure, covers my cheeks, "Can we just go?"

"You're still caught, babe. I'll teach you to be subtle… though I'm horribly turned on wondering what it was that brought that look to your beautiful face."

My throat clears, my voice low, "N… nothing."

"Also a bad liar," she teases.

I pout slightly as we start to walk off the ship, down the thin walkway that I swear I'm going to fall over. My hand squeezes hers whilst the other is sliding down the guard-rail. If I survived making it off this boat, I suspect that Emily knows all the great places to see.

xxxxx

It wasn't the events, or the places that made the outing special, it was the girl who kept my hand firmly in her grasp almost the entire time. She made everything so vibrant, like the colours seemed so much brighter, the lights more illuminated, and the exhibits more fascinating. This trip out would have meant absolutely nothing if I had been with, say, Xander. The music that floated on the air was more beautiful as it swirled around Emily and me as if it created colours of shining jewels all around us, and I owe it all to the girl whose hand I didn't ever want to release again.

I should have brought my camera, but of course that blasted device is still tucked away in the front pocket of my bag. I never was a good one with pictures. If I really need to, I can take one on my phone. It wouldn't be the greatest of quality, but it would suffice.

Emily leads me along the shoreline and I am in some kind of blissed out state. My body is warm, like Emily has planted a burning ember deep within my soul, and as long as she's around, it will continue on. That's a frightening thought for me though. I don't rely on anyone for anything, and all of a sudden this red head comes into my life and I feel this pull towards her, this… knowledge that everything will be alright.

It's actually a pretty fucking fantastic feeling. Don't get me wrong, I swear that at any moment that a tub of water will be poured over Emily's ember, but I will try my hardest to keep it going. I have to.

We dance at a little tent on the beach after she feeds me bite sized pieces of shrimp. There is more food laid out on the table, almost looking like a buffet. Luckily I don't see anyone from the cruise here, not that I'm ashamed, but I really can't stand any of them. I have only one drink, and Emily doesn't have any. She states that it's because she has to work later and for that reason alone she can't drink in excess, so she decides not to tempt herself with any. I don't push it.

We had dinner at a small hole in the wall restaurant that looked disgusting from the outside, but warm and inviting once inside. The food was flavourful and the dishes large enough for me to be pleasantly full without feeling like I had eaten too much.

We walk around, not doing anything much but letting our hands swing serenely between us in a completely comfortable silence, and I would steal kisses from her every once in a while. There's a light breeze coming off the water. I think it feels nice as it cools down my heated skin, since my body is mere moments away from being in flames. Emily, however, is all but shivering. I release her hand only to put my arm around her shoulders. She snuggles into my side, slipping her arm around my lower back.

My newly perverse mind starts imagining her body underneath my own, my hands leaving a trail of heated goosebumps in their wake as they move along her skin. Her raspy voice calls out my name when my lips suck softly on her pulse point. I can feel her excitement simply by the thumping artery against my mouth. Her back arches into me as my hands cover her glorious tits, and she moans when my thumbs brush over her nipples. Emily's hands take handfuls of my peroxide tresses and pull me back up to connect our lips…

"Naomi?"

My eyes snap out of my fantasy and over to the red head, who was staring at me.

"What?" I mumble sheepishly.

She chuckles, which soon turns into a full fledged laugh within a few seconds. "I'd ask what you were thinking of, but I'm fairly certain of what it was," she says lightheartedly with one hand coming up to try to stifle her laugh.

I look at her in confusion. How had she known? Maybe she's trying to drag the answer out of me by pretending she already knows, but in reality she has no clue. Am I that transparent? The only person who can properly read me is Effy, or so I thought. I can't really go off of that though, because she knows everybody, and all their history, and secrets, and everything just by looking at them for three minutes. I swear if there's such thing as a God or Goddess on earth, Effy would be one of them. I don't know how she does it.

I wish I had Effy's powers right about now so I could deduce what it is that Emily is thinking. I wish I could be inside that pretty little head of hers. Wish I knew if she was feeling all the things that I am, or if I'm just some tourist on a cruise, a conquest.

My face falls at the thought and I feel the arm around me tighten slightly. "Naoms, what's wrong?"

I suppose I should be glad that she dropped the previous subject, but it's short-lived with the way my chest is constricting as I conjure up thoughts that I'm just her bitch for the week.

"Naomi," she says with the faintest hint of panic evident in her milky voice.

I look over to her. There's so many things I want to say, so many questions I want to ask, but my tongue has grown in my mouth and I can't seem to formulate a single word. Emily moves around until she's in front of me, both of her arms now encircle my waist and she's pressed softly against me. There's worry and fear in her big beautiful coffee pools. She's searching my azure blues intently, and I have no idea what they're telling her, but soon her body relaxes and a smile starts to form on her lips.

I'm expecting her to say something to me, because that's the impression she gives me, but that isn't what happens at all. She's up on her toes, her breath moving slowly and softly against my mouth.

"You're not some floozy that I've picked up for the week. I don't do this. I never have. That's why I don't work the gay cruises. If the girls are straight then I can admire from afar and not be involved…"

I'm sure I'm meant to hear every word she says and digest it, but I can't seem to concentrate on anything but her lips that are so close to mine. I wet my lips with my tongue, and the back of the muscle swipes along her bottom lip in the process. Emily's breath hitches; I can feel it against my mouth. Christ.

She recovers quickly, "… and I thought I was safe this time around too, until I saw you."

I look into her eyes, and I know she's stating nothing but the truth. I'm elated to hear this, and I show her by the grin that soon graces my features. Warmth spreads through my body; it's a feeling that I'm sure I've never felt before with the exception of when the vivacious ginger is around. Along with that warm feeling, however, is a heat that is pulsating out from my heart to every last nerve ending in my entire body. It's almost as if my body knows something that my brain doesn't, or at least something that my brain is only starting to admit to itself. Of course my heart knows about it, because I'm positive that's why I get this feeling of euphoria just by looking at Emily.

Still, my mind keeps trying to tell me that it's not possible.

I love her. I love Emily. Emily Fitch. I don't just love her though, it's deeper, and it's all encompassing. I'm in love with her.

Emily is magical. I have no doubt in my mind that she is. Everything she does and says screams to my heart in a way that can only be described in fairytales. She is the yin to my yang, the salt to my pepper, the light to my dark… she completes me. She is all that I need in my life.

Christ, what has she done to me?

Everything I knew is rubbish I've thrown in the proverbial bin of life. Of course my morals are still intact, but so many other things are no longer valid, and in their place is a softness I didn't know was possible within me. I feel warm when she's near me, and I can tell she feels the same way, not that she's said, really, but she's given me clues as to how she feels. Soft brushes across my skin, the look in her eyes, the smile that adorns her lips, and I can't forget the tender passion when she kisses me. She makes me feel valuable, loved, needed, wanted, desirable, intelligent, and so many other words… words that had meant nothing before she came into my life.

I will be sure to thank Effy. If it wasn't for her, then none of this could have been possible.

These thoughts run through my mind at hyper-speed and I fear that everything I'm thinking is playing out like a movie across my face, through my ever expressive eyes for Emily to take in.

Bless her if she can read the look I'm giving, because she doesn't mention it. She does lean up to place a kiss that's way too short on my lips before taking a step back. Her hand finds mine and she starts walking back towards the ship. I notice before she turns from me, that the chocolate of her irises is nearly covered completely by the obsidian of her pupils. Her pace is much quicker, less leisurely, as we trek back.

"Where do you live?" I find myself asking after our momentary gaze lock.

Her harmonic laugh forces a shy smile to form on my lips. "Bristol," her voice is soft.

What? "How have I never seen you before?"

"My sister and I did home schooling. Our mum didn't think that traditional schools were good enough for us. It was horrible. This job was what I needed to move out, and Katie didn't want me to do anything without her."

"Is that why she's kind of a bitch? She's protective of you?" I interrupt.

Emily smiles, "Yes, that's exactly why. Well, that and she never wants to be left out of anything. I was kind of the doormat when I lived at home. Katie's the older twin, by only six minutes, but she was the favoured twin. I didn't care to make a fuss so she dubbed me her shadow, taking me everywhere she went. I gave her some kind of power or something."

"I can totally understand that," I say without thinking.

Her eyebrows furrow, which is utterly adorable as she asks, "What do you mean?"

I sidle up to her, my hands slipping around her hips to her lower back as I pull our bodies closer together, "I mean, I understand how she would want you around, Ems," the nickname slips out, but she doesn't correct me, so I continue, "you're brilliant. You're more than that. You make me feel a confidence, a self-worth that I've never felt in my life."

"You had that all along, Naomi, you just couldn't see it," she counters.

"No, Emily, don't discredit yourself. I know who I was. I was an unhappy sarcastic bitch." I chuckle to myself as I remember Effy telling me the same thing weeks before when she presented the ticket for this cruise. "You unlocked something in me, Emily, and I'll never be that way again, not as long as I have you."

Her hands slip up my arms to settle around my neck, her fingertips teasing the nape of my neck, sending electricity down my spine and I'm fairly certain I'm about to short-circuit. I feel the familiar ache settle at the apex of my thighs, and I find that the closer we get to the ship, the more frantic we become. Our kisses more demanding, our hands searching out more, and there's an obvious desire that's almost combustible, and I would willingly explode, or implode, as long as Emily is right there with me.

My red head stops before we walk across the plank to get on the boat. She drops my hand then, and I instantly feel the debilitating loss. I can't help but look to her, a look of pleading in my eyes.

"I can't lose my job, Naomi, please."

How can I really argue with that? I nod my head, though I don't want to and follow along behind her like a puppy that is in trouble. My eyes are downturned as I walk over the water and step onto the ship. Once I feel the sway of the water under the boat I look up, my eyes running up Emily's legs, then over her arse, and up her back to the crimson locks that are softly blowing in the sea breeze. She's beautiful.

I continue to follow along behind her, staying about ten paces behind until she reaches the door to my room. She's impatient. Her hands are fiddling with each other and I decide to take my time with my last few steps, really letting my hips sway with each step I take. Emily is eye fucking me, and she's not being subtle about it at all. I pull out my key card and accidently drop it. She's picked it up and shoved it in the slot before I can even think of leaning down. I stand there for a moment as she takes a step into my cabin and turns toward me, and there's no doubt what she wants to do to me.

A smile graces my lips, a predatory, seductive smile. I lean against the door frame, not fully inside until she reaches forward, grabbing the hair at the back of my neck to pull me inside, slamming me into the closing door and attacking my lips. I lose myself in them, in her. She's so soft, so supple, even in her ferocity.

She's an animal, and I love that about her.

My hands are pulling up her dress as she's stripping me of my clothes. I get her naked first, and I'm left in my knickers. I step into her, and she follows my steps backward until she hits the bed and has no choice but to sit down on the edge.

Fire. Flames. That is all I can feel as I look down on her. She reaches forward to pull me to her and I bat her hands away. Not this time, Emily, this time it is I who will devour you.

I'm not sure where this sudden surge of courage came from, but I roll with it. I get to my knees and spread her legs wide. I reach my hands forward to take her wrists and I pin them behind her, causing her perky tits to sit out on display. I glance down between her legs to see the evidence of her desire. She's soaking wet. I apprehensively lean forward and swipe my tongue the length of her slit. Then I move it back up and look at her.

"Fuck…" she groans at me as she struggles to free her hands.

I let her wrists go and dive forward. I honestly have no clue what I'm doing, but she tastes like honey, and that's what pushes me to continue. It's a need, now, a purely carnal need to feast upon the offering of Emily Fitch.

Her hands move into my tresses and she pulls me more roughly between her legs. A feeling of rapture washes over me, and the only thing in my world right now is this feisty red head.

I move my tongue against her, and I must be doing something right because her groans and moans seem to be increasing in volume. It's like the most gorgeous song playing in my ears. In between her noises of pleasure she calls out my name. I find her clit and suck softly on it. Her hips grind and her hands guide my lips over the bundle of nerves and she lets loose a deep-rooted guttural growl.

I can only assume she's getting closer to her imminent climax by the way her hips are moving into me and the sound of her uneven breathing. At times I wonder if she's going to start breathing again after she holds her breath, letting it out with a whimper.

My chin is dripping with her juices and I relent on her clit to glide my tongue through her wetness again, taking all that she has to offer me into my mouth and swallowing it lustfully. I believe I've found my new favourite thing to eat… Emily.

I reach up to palm her tits, taking her nipples between my fingers and rolling them as she guides me back to her throbbing clit. I oblige her gleefully as I flick across the engorged nub.

"Fuck… Naoms… just like… don't stop…" she half screams half groans at me.

I follow her instructions and continue my ministrations and take her higher and higher. I can feel my jaw and tongue starting to tire and cramp, but I persevere, and everything in my life is nothing compared to how I'm feeling right now, with my head between the Fitch twin's legs, her hands in my hair with the universal sounds of fucking coming, rather loudly, as her head tilts back.

A scream of passion moves through the air as her torso falls back on the bed. Her hips lift off the bed and I follow her up, half because I can't stand to let go, and half because she's still holding me securely to her centre. I can feel her clit throbbing between my lips, but I don't stop my movements, wanting to drag it out as long as possible. It's only when her body stops trembling that I slow and release her. I blow softly at the wet heat and her body shivers.

She pulls me up roughly and she hungrily takes my mouth with hers. I moan into her mouth and she answers my call with one of her own as she tastes herself on my lips. Her tongue and mine fight for dominance before she slows it down and my heart swells with emotion.

When she finally pulls my mouth from hers, she looks deeply into my eyes for a moment before looking to the clock beside the bed. "Fuck," she says, "I have to go to work. Just… fuck…" she pulls me back down for a scorching hot snog, one that tells me that she doesn't want to leave me.

I pull back, unable to let this continue on if she will only get in trouble by being late, or completely absent, from work. My body is on fire, and I know that she is the only one who will be able to make me explode into a glorious climax, but she needs to go. I understand. It doesn't mean I have to like it. I crawl off of her and stand, holding my hand out to her. When her hand wraps around mine I pull her up and I suddenly have a Fitch wrapped around my torso. I pepper her ruby red locks with soft, undemanding kisses until she moves out of my embrace.

"I want to stay."

"I know," I say sadly, which accompanies the sad smile spread across my face.

"Can I nip in to take a shower?"

"Of course."

I want to follow her, and I almost do. It would have been completely counterproductive, and if there's one thing I know (besides the fact that I'm utterly in love with Emily), it's the fact that I never want to hurt this tiger of a woman, and losing her job because of being indecently exposed in my bed would surely do just that.

Instead I go out on the balcony after slipping a top on that doesn't quite reach the top of my knickers. I light up a fag and try to quell the fire in my veins. It helps, but only a small amount. I'm smiling a little too large out at the sea with a tsunami of emotions filling me from the tips of my toes, out to my fingertips, and up to the top of my head. I come to the conclusion that Emily is my natural, beautiful disaster. She has the power to completely obliterate everything I've ever known, and everything in the future.

As I'm contemplating my fate I hear the door open to see a wet Emily wrapped in a towel. Her hair is hanging down in tendrils around her radiant face, and I can't keep the smirk off my lips at what I would like to do to her.

She looks shy, and a bit guilty. I feel it in the pit of my stomach. This isn't good, that look isn't good. "You um… you ripped my dress when you took it off me…" she starts out and I'm standing up and apologizing before I let her finish. "Naoms," she whispers and covers my mouth with her hand. I concede, only because I don't have a choice in the matter. "Do you have something I could slip into? I need to get to my room and I don't think wearing a towel is very acceptable."

"Oh fuck… yes… I do…" I mumble as I pass her into my room and throw open my suitcase and grab a pair of pyjama bottoms and an oversized shirt with a pig on the front of it that I got at one of my mum's protests against the cruelty of animals. It's my favourite for some reason.

Emily giggles as she looks at the picture on the front of the shirt, "Cute," she remarks and my face reddens. She turns her back to me and lets the towel fall.

My gaze immediately goes to her supple arse and I'm reaching for it before she bends down to step into the bottoms, and pulls them up. I stop and pull my hands back as she turns around with a filthy, erotic look on her face. She doesn't bother to cover up her magnificent tits and I glance at them briefly before moving to look back at her face. She slips on the shirt and I have to admit that it does look humongous on her.

"Thanks for the clothes."

"Mmmmhmmm," I hum back to her. She steps into me and places a kiss on the corner of my lips. She doesn't back up, and I'm having a hard time not reaching out to her in such a close proximity.

"If you decide to come out of your room at all, make sure you wash your face, because you smell like pussy," she jests, then turns on her heel, grabbing her belongings in her arms, and heads to the door. Her face softens when she turns back to me as she reaches for the door. I want her to stay. "You are amazing Naomi… not just… not just what you made me feel, but the way I always feel when I'm near you. Please remember that." She opens the door and takes a step before turning back, "Oh, and you probably should stay away from Katie. She's a bit overprotective, and doesn't really agree with my 'lifestyle choice'." She punctuates the last two words with air quotes and smiles to me. "I love you, Naomi Campbell."

I'm left speechless as she strides out, closing the door behind her. My knees give out and I'm thankful that I'm close enough to the bed so that I don't fall to the floor. The sound of her voice is echoing in my head, 'I love you, Naomi Campbell.' It plays over and over in my head.

She loves me. I think I'm the luckiest girl in the world. No, I don't think… I know.

xxxxx

The bed is cold without my fiery ball of Fitch under the duvet with me. It isn't like I expected her to come back, but I miss her. My chest actually hurts… feels constricted, as if Emily took all the oxygen with her when she left. I know I'll see her soon, but honestly, it's becoming increasingly difficult to be away from her. She's my heroin, and I need a fix.

As if by some kind of telepathic powers that I'm starting to believe Emily has, my phone vibrates, and I'm so positive that it must be her that I don't even check the name and just open it up.

'Come meet me on the deck.'

I'm up and dressed in no time at all, pulling my hair back into a messy bun on the back of my head. My smile is huge and I nearly skip to my requested destination. As I walk though, I look at the message again. That's strange, I swear I saved Emily's phone number in my phone.

"Fucking lezza bitch…"

My eyes flick up to see a very angry and aggressive Fitch twin, and it is definitely the wrong one. "Pardon?" I say back with plenty of conviction, letting her know she can't just walk all over me.

"She's mine," she growls, and I can't keep the smirk from my lips.

"Who?" I probably shouldn't be baiting her like I am, but it's just too tempting to resist doing so.

"My fucking sister, you ignorant cow!"

I laugh. Hard. My hands move to my stomach and I'm doubled over with my eyes tearing up. For this reason I didn't see the older twin move toward me and shove me. I end up with my back against the railing and a very predatory Katie Fitch against me with her hands grasping at my throat. My guffaw ceased immediately when my airway was partially blocked.

These Fitches were deceptively strong. I knew that from being with Emily, and it's confirmed now that Katie was trying to either end my life completely, or just scare the shit out of me. Either way, I'm Naomi Fucking Campbell, I don't just cower, not to anyone.

I lift both my hands and I press my thumbs into Katie's eyes, not too hard, but hard enough until she releases my neck and takes a few steps back.

"Do you realize how much work goes into my eye make-up?" she screams angrily at me.

I just about start laughing again, but hold it back this time. I'm sure I have Katie sized hand prints reddening around my neck… I don't need to give her more ammunition.

"Stay away from her," Katie states to me.

"I can't."

"Why the fuck not?"

I smile at her, my whole exterior relaxing, "I love her."

"You don't know what love is, and neither does she!" the older twin exclaims with a huff of agitation.

"Maybe you're the one who doesn't know what love is…" I leave the sentence open, not finishing what I want to say. I don't want to be on this Fitch Twin's bad side. I'm sure I'll lose points with Emily if I do.

Katie's fiery gaze flicks out to the water and she leans against the railing. I'm trying to read her expression, but her profile doesn't give me much to work with.

There are a few minutes of silence, and in this time I turn to look out at the massive sea alongside her. She's concentrating a bit too hard, and when I glance over I can almost see the cogs turning in that burgundy head of hers.

"You're right…" she whispers so softly that it's nearly inaudible, and I almost ask her to repeat herself.

"About?" I say, keeping my voice soft and unthreatening. I don't know what I'm getting myself into with this, but I have to try. She loves Emily, and Emily loves her… somehow in my brain that means I have to love her too, in a way.

I wish Effy to be here, right now. She would know what's wrong and she'd say a few words and probably have Katie nearly falling over herself.

"Love…" Katie says a little louder than previous so I don't have to strain to hear her.

"You should meet my friend Effy…" I start before Katie shoves me, and I stumble a few steps, because I didn't see that one coming at all.

"Cunt licker… I'm not gay…" she hisses at me.

I really can't win with this one. I hadn't meant for it to be some kind of set-up, "I didn't mean for a date, Katie," I struggle to keep my voice even because I want to lash out and laugh at the same time, which I'm sure would turn out to be some kind of snort. Definitely not something I want to ever do in public again… Effy already teases me enough when it does happen. "I just think she could help. She's fairly brilliant, in a mental sort of way… I mean…" I pause when I feel the angry brown eyes on me again. I hadn't meant for it to sound like Katie was mental, I mean that Effy was, in her own way. "… She has an interesting way of thinking, and she seems to know how to quell the feelings of anguish within people. I really think she could help you." I finish off with a small smile of encouragement.

Without thinking I reach my hand out to Katie's shoulder. At first she cringes, but I don't remove my hand, and she finally relaxes into it. "Better?" I inquire.

"Your friend better have fit friends if I'm going to meet her," Katie states.

I have to chuckle at that. "She does have a few, yeah… but I'm sure Effy will have you in a trance with her knowledge. You may even ignore all the male company, even if they will be drooling over the two of you."

"Yeah well, of fucking course they'd be drooling over me," comes the very self assured Fitch twin as she snapped back into Fitch Bitch mode. "Well, you do have my number now, yeah? I expect a fucking invite."

"Noted."

I stand up and look around at the now steady stream of people passing by. My voice is wistful, "Our time on the boat is almost up, and I have a few things to solidify before we get off… so… where's Emily?"

I know I was beating around the bush a bit, but I was trying to at least seem like I had heeded her warning about Emily. In honesty, I'd hurt myself before I'd ever hurt my redhead. Katie pointed off towards the room we had used for the round robin of 'get-to-know-you'.

"Thanks Katie, and please don't worry about Emily and me. I'll take good care of her…"

Katie interrupts me, "I don't need to know how you're fucking my twin fucking sister, yeah? So just, fuck off and do some gay rainbow dance or something."

I tease her by doing a little shimmy before heading off in the direction she had pointed with a smile plastered firmly on my lips.

xxxxx

I round the corner to go into the room and run right into a tall, definitely male, body. My eyes flick up to the emerald green orbs and I frown slightly. I really don't have time to be playing around with Xander, especially right now.

"Excuse me," I find myself saying flatly to him as I try to walk around him, but he steps in my way. I push away from him, probably a little too roughly, by putting my hands on his sculpted chest and giving him a shove. I have to admit that he does have a nice body, but it doesn't even compare to the soft strength of my redheaded lover.

"Easy there, Blondie," he says with a smirk on his lips as he lifts to bring his hands to my biceps.

I brush his calloused hands from my shoulders and again try to walk around him into the room he just exited… the room that should have Emily.

"She's not there," Alexander informs me, and for only the briefest of moments I wonder who it is he's talking about. Of course I know that he's speaking of Emily, but I still have to look in the room to be sure.

I look over his shoulder to see the desolate room and my shoulders and body slump slightly at the fact that she isn't there. I turn to walk off, but I find my forearm is grasped by those same hands that were on my upper arms a few moments ago, twirling me around to face him. "What the fuck?" I all but scream at him, ripping my arm away.

"It's really too bad, isn't it?" He asks me, and I haven't the faintest clue as to what he's talking about. The look of confusion on my face must tell him that he needs to elaborate, and he does so, much to my horror. "Well, let's just say that one can learn quite a bit of information whilst inside someone…"

My face falls, and part of me still wonders what he's on about, but I'm still standing there, waiting for him to continue. When he doesn't, my steely blues burn deep into his pools of green. "What… are you talking about?"

"Katie… she doesn't seem to like the fact that you've gone and gayed up her twin, and the fact that their mother is severely homophobic means you won't have a happy little ending with Emily."

Before I know it my hand has shot out from my side, connecting squarely with his cheek, the slap echoing enough to draw the attention of JJ, who happened to be walking by. I glance at him only briefly before I turn back to Alex to growl at him under my breath, "Don't fucking touch Katie again, do you understand me?" I'm not quite sure why I became so protective of the brunette Fitch all of a sudden, but I assume it's because she and Emily are family, and as deluded as my idea of family is… I don't want to fuck theirs up.

He laughs and JJ comes up to us, "Is there a problem? Judging by the sound of the slap I heard, and the reddening of Alexander's cheek, I can only assume that the two of you were having some kind of disagreement. Is there something I can help you discuss?"

I can't help but smile at JJ, he is a sweet guy, in his own special way. "No, I was just leaving, have you seen Emily?"

JJ eyes Xander for a moment before he discreetly slips a card into my hand as he speaks, "No, but surely she's around here somewhere. We are on a boat, after all, and we have man-overboard sirens that ring out if someone tries to jump. Not that Emily wants to do that, I'm just saying that if she or anyone else did that we would quickly be alerted, and…"

"Thanks JJ," I say to stop him from his ramblings. The boy looks at me with an apologetic expression on his face, but I just smile at him. I want to look at the item he slipped secretly into my hand, but I don't want to do it until I'm out of Alexander's eyeshot. I stride away quickly back in the direction I came and quickly curl around a corner to see the keycard with a room number on it. I can only guess it's from Emily, because there isn't anyone else who would have JJ deliver me something like that.

I wander along the corridors trying to find room number one thirty-two. The employees must be on the very bottom of the boat, because I hadn't seen any numbers that low until now. I didn't even consider where Emily could be staying. I take the elevator down that clearly states that it is for employees only, but I'm not really in the mood to follow stupid rules. I take it down to the bottom floor and step out, looking right and left to see that I must be on the right track from seeing the room numbers 101 on the left side, and 102 on the right. It shouldn't be that difficult to find… just keep walking until I find it.

As I walk, I notice that the rooms on the right are even numbers, and the ones on the left are odd. I focus my gaze on the right side and I start to worry when I nearly get to the end of the hallway and I still haven't found the room on the card.

I sigh thankfully when I realize it's the last room on the right. Should I knock? Should I just walk in with the card JJ provided me? After a few moments I realize I will do both. I slip the card in and turn the handle to push it open as I rattle my knuckles on the door. "Hello?" I call out nervously.

There's a silence that deafens me. I feel a shiver racing up and down my spine. I take a few more steps into the cabin that doesn't look like it's been used in days, maybe even months or years. It even has the smell of moist, rotting wood. I bring my hand up to cover my nose and mouth. Who the fuck would send me here? There's only a handful of people who I've even had a proper conversation with, and two are sisters and the other two I just left up on deck.

"Hello? Is anybody here?" I cough after saying that, having taken in a huge breath to call out again.

I don't like the feeling of being so far down below the surface of the water. It reminds me of the Titanic and the huge blunder the captain had made so many years ago that caused the death of way too many people. Then again, we're not even close to an iceberg, so I shouldn't have so much to worry about. Another shutter runs through me and I wrap my arms close to my body to try to fight off the sudden chill.

I walk in further, my eyes looking at the small window that I hope is a couple of feet thick, that is situated on the other side of the bed. I find myself stood in front of the small circular glass and I look out into the dark of the sea. A fish is barely visible, and he is really swimming as hard as he can, but moments later he falls from view.

"Sorry I had you come down here to meet me. This room is never used, obviously, but it does have the best view of the underwater," a raspy voice says behind me, and I nearly jump out of my skin. I didn't realize anyone else was in the room with me until just then. A smile graces my lips and the redhead flips the light on and closes the door behind her.

"This isn't very romantic, Emily…" I chuckle and smirk at her.

She returns the smile and walks toward me, taking my hand in the process. She doesn't stop though, rather, she continues to walk further into what I would guess is the washroom. It's not though; instead it's an entire wall of glass. My jaw drops a little and I look over to her.

"This any better?"

I nod my reply, too amazed at the view. I take a step closer, "Is it safe?" I whisper. I'm not sure why I feel the need to lower my voice, but I feel as if I speak any louder that this wall of glass will break and we will inevitably end up drowning.

Emily guffaws beside me, her voice light as she answers, "Yes, completely. This has been reinforced many times to ensure the safety of the guests and crew. Every time she's brought into port, she's examined, and every time she passes with flying colours."

I tentatively reach my free hand forward until it's pressed along the near frigid surface. My hand stays there for a minute as I look into the depths of the sea, not that I can see out very far, but I can see enough currently to last me a lifetime. When I pull back my hand I realize I've left a hand print, well, not exactly a hand print, but the outline where my heated hand, contrasted with the cold of the glass, created the silhouette. I move to rub it away but Emily holds me back.

"Leave it," she says simply, not offering me up any kind of explanation as to why I should do so.

I nearly ask why, but I look over at her and she's reaching her free hand up, placing it right next to where mine had been, and making an outline of her own. It's terribly adorable and I just want to squeeze her. I refrain.

Silence descends upon us and at first it's comfortable, but soon it's laced with something. Laced with the unknown, with fear, with questions regarding the future. I have no idea how to broach the subject, and I don't even try.

Emily lets go of my hand and slides her arm around my back and leans into my side. My arm automatically lifts to sit over her shoulders. I lean over to place a kiss on her head. This all seems so surreal. I'm tempted to pinch myself to make sure I'm not sleeping, or asking Emily to do it for me… but I don't. We both just stare into the darkness of the ocean, seeing fish and porpoises moving by us.

I bask in her, in everything Emily. My memory brings me back to the highlights of my time on this ship: the wave of red I saw before even boarding, the dinner and Dirty Shirley that Emily brought and made for me, the round robin where I got lost in her eyes, and also the more… intimate moments. I felt full, in a pleasant sort of way.

"I don't want to lose you," the redhead says quietly, her voice quivering, and her eyes staring forward.

I want to make light of the subject, and I have a clever retort teasing my tongue, but I realize this is the conversation we need to have, one I want to have but was too afraid to bring up. Instead of my quick response, I let that thought marinate for a few minutes before I speak up, "I don't want to lose you either."

I feel and hear the girl beside me sigh in relief. Had she honestly thought that everything between us had been a fling? If I think about it, though, how well do we really know one another? We've talked some, we've fucked, and we've gotten lost in each other's eyes. I've felt a myriad of different emotions filter through my body, invading my senses like poison running through my blood… infecting me. I suppose I should use more positive ways of explaining that, but it's terrifying just as it is wonderful. This has been a captivating journey, a journey of discovery.

"So what happens when we get back to reality?" Emily says, her voice quietly shaking. "Do you go back to your life and I to mine? Is that what will become of us?"

Her words seem oddly melodic, but in a heart wrenching kind of way. I know exactly what I want to happen, and I know exactly what I will do to get that.

"No…" I hesitate for only a moment, "… at least, I don't want us to part ways. We live in the same town, it's doable… right?" I'm not as confident as I was only a few moments before I responded.

She's silent… too silent. I feel my anxieties starting to overtake my conscious thought. Christ. My heart is beating erratically, and I can feel sweat starting to roll out along my skin. I swallow a lump in my throat. Why isn't she saying anything? She obviously doesn't think that it's possible for us to work outside the confines of this ship.

I find myself considering becoming a career cruise rider, or maybe even getting a job on it. I know I couldn't though. I am not one for customer service. I can actually see myself acting more like Katie. The only person I want to be nice to, the only one I would willingly serve is the redhead stood beside me. I'd do anything for her. I'd do anything to keep her.

My whisper cuts through the silence, like a hot knife through butter, "I love you, Emily."

She's holding her breath, I can tell because her body has gone statuesquely stiff. Her arm tightens around me. I want to look at her, but I fear what I will see, I fear that everything that we've been through these past few days mean absolutely nothing to her. I don't want to believe that it's true, but there's an eerie lack of a response from my normally talkative redhead. My chest is constricting painfully as I wait for a response that I now assume will never come.

My arm starts to fall away from her shoulders, but as I try to turn away, her arm is steadfast in its grip around my waist, holding me as I turn away from her. Her other arm slides around me and she presses herself into my back. A jolt of desire shocks its way through my body, but I quickly push it down. Now is not the time for an overactive libido. I don't even attempt to put my hands over hers that are sat on my lower abdomen.

I feel her soft, supple lips brush along the nape of my neck. I can't suppress a shiver that runs down the length of my spine. "Please…" I whisper and reach down to peel her hands away from me. I take a step from her embrace and spin around to face her, but my eyes are looking down. I can't look up at her. I know my heart is showing through my eyes, and I've already made myself vulnerable enough, and if all Emily wants to do is fuck… well, we're not going to work out anyway.

The touch to my cheek is so soft that I almost think I'm imagining it. My knee-jerk reaction is to look up, and I do so to find shining brown orbs looking deep into my own, so deep that I can almost feel her inside of me.

"I love you, Naomi, don't ever doubt that. This… we… us… it won't be easy. I travel for weeks at a time. Can you stand to wait for me?"

I ponder her question. I had never considered it, not really. I suppose a part of me had imagined us going off into the sunset, like some sappy romantic flick. It wouldn't happen like that, I know, but all sense of reason seems to have vacated the premises of my brain. All that remains is my want and need to be with Emily.

"I can," I state more positive than I feel.

"I can't see you for the rest of the cruise. I have so much stuff to take care of before we make it into port. But I then have a week off. I suppose this is goodbye for now."

I see her perfectly white teeth shining lightly and I return the grin, though I don't like the thought of not being able to see her when she's so close. Sure, it's a large boat, but still. Not being able to touch her, speak to her, and feel her naked body pressed against my own. Emily is a drug, my heroin, and I can't get enough of her. Even if it's only innocent touches, I still need them, desire them.

"Okay," passes through my lips. It's really not okay, but there's not much I can do.

She leaves me with a sweet kiss that crushes everything that I am and rebuilds me at the same time. Her lips are warm and soft against mine, her hands tangle in my peroxide mane. I set my hands on her hips. It isn't enough. I want her now.

My tongue glides along her bottom lip, requesting entrance to the hot, wet cavern of her mouth. Instead of opening to let me in, she pushes me back and steps from my embrace.

"Naoms…" she says pathetically, but I know why she says it like that. I drop my head slightly to look at the ground between our feet.

"Sorry."

She comes into my body and presses a kiss to my cheek. I can't move or else I will pull her further into me, harder, more possessive and animalistic.

"I'll see you on shore," Emily's voice wisps into my ears as she turns and walks from the room.

"I'll miss you," I say desperately.

The redhead opens the door and then turns to me and blows me a kiss. "Enjoy the rest of the cruise." With that said, she's gone, the door closing softly behind her.

I'm at a loss.

I don't know what to do.

Slowly I make my way toward my room, and as I do I'm telling myself that what little time I have left on the boat will be spent in my room, coming out only to feed my stomach. If possible, I wouldn't leave the confines of my cabin at all, but I wouldn't want to starve either. Not that I'd do so anyway. I doubt that Emily would let that happen.

Will she even look for me during meals?

What if she realizes after we're back into port that I'm not what she wants?

A beep on my phone echoes through the desolate corridor just before I put my keycard in the door. I pause to look at the screen and a smile forms on my lips as I open the message.

'I can't wait to see you again. xoxo E'

I can't wait to see her, either.

xxxxx

The remainder of the time on this massive ship is spent reading and chain smoking, usually at the same time out on my balcony. I try to deter all thoughts of red and deep brown, but it isn't easy. I don't get much reading done, though (I'm reading 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'), even if it is a rather intriguing story. I am a lot like her, or was, before I met Emily. She's a loner, incredibly intelligent… though Lisbeth blows me out of the water with her photographic memory and genius intellect. It isn't so much that we're shy, but that we just can't always make a connection with others. Of course I'm not to the extremes like she is, but I can see the similarities.

I try to find a character that reminds me of Emily, but there isn't one.

Mealtime is spent looking around for the vibrant ruby tresses, but I never see them. I see Katie and JJ on occasion, but not enough to even have a proper conversation. I have noticed that Xander is finally leaving me alone, and I even saw Katie smack him away when he was trying to grab her arse. It made me smile.

xxxxx

At my last meal, breakfast, I follow my routine of looking about the room, searching for the one person I want to see, the one that causes my heart to flutter. Depressed at not having seen her for entirely too long, I push the food around on my plate, not hungry, but knowing that I should eat.

It's been hard, which is pathetic in and of itself. It's strange for me to have this… this… need to be around another person. Even Effy isn't someone I need to see. Then again, she's infuriating with her omnipotent personality.

A flash of red comes into my field of vision. I almost don't turn, figuring that there isn't any way that it could be my pint-sized fiery supernova. I have to blink twice before I realize it's actually her. She's staring right at me, waiting patiently for me to believe that it's her. Emily holds one hand up and curls one finger, beckoning me to come to her. As if I was a fish on a hook, I let her reel me in, my body getting up from my seat and walking toward her. I try not to show all the excitement by running to her, and instead, casually walk to her.

Most of her body is hidden behind a sheet that says 'Employees Only'. The moment I am close enough, she grabs me by the front of my shirt, pulling me into hiding with her. Her lips are hot on mine, and she's whispering things like, "I couldn't bare it" and "God, I love you" and I'm sure there were a few curses sprinkled in there, as well as my name whispered against my lips.

I want her.

I want her now.

My hands have already found their way under her top, my fingertips running along her lower back. She pushes me away slightly, but still doesn't let go of my shirt completely. I know my eyes are as dilated as hers are.

"Once you get off the ship, there's a little café up the road a bit, meet me there?" she says sweetly. Her voice is like honey.

"Mmmhmmm," I hum my agreement to her and lean back in to taste her lips again, but she doesn't let it happen. I groan unhappily for but a moment before I admit defeat with a sigh.

"Good, now go, so I can watch your body and think of all the ways I will take care of you later," Emily says with a giggle.

I shake my head, laughing quietly at her perverse words before she shoves me back out into the world. I do as she says, walking slowly, deliberately shaking my hips from side to side with each step I take. I lean forward to pick up my juice and drink the remainder before turning around to see my red bombshell staring with her mouth ajar. I let a smirk flit over my lips before I head back to my room. I can't wait to be off this cruise!

It doesn't take me long to shove my belongings into my bags, and I ascend to the deck to wait for my turn to descend down the plank to the dock. It's still scary, the way it moves softly from side to side, but I know I'll be alright.

I follow Emily's directions and head to the café, and I'm surprised to see Effy there, sat with Cook, having a cuppa. Effy looks up, knowingly, but doesn't even attempt to get up. Cook must see her eyes glance my way and he's up and bouncing toward me almost before I can release my bags. His arms envelop me in one of his famous Cook hugs. It feels good to be home.

"Good to see you, Blondie," Cook laughs to me as he sits me down at their table.

I wonder, albeit briefly, if there is some kind of conspiracy. Did Effy know that Emily and I are to meet here? "Good to see you too, Cook… and Effy…" I say as my eyes turn back to my best mate.

"Good time, then?" she smirks to me and I laugh. Cunting all-knowing bitch.

"Yep," I state, deciding not to elaborate.

She looks down at her wrist, but she's not wearing a watch, so I'm not sure what she's actually doing. "Give it… thirty minutes…" Effy says mysteriously.

I frown. Definitely a conspiracy.

"Any fit birds on that there ship for me, Naomikins?" Cook interrupts. Got to love that guy for trying.

"Yeah, Cook, plenty. I'm sure there are still some singles out there too. Maybe you should go check them out."

He didn't need to be told twice. Cook did give me a look and a wink as he headed from the shop. That was one of the good things about him; he understood when I wanted him to go.

Once he was gone my eyes shoot over to smug azure blues. "Fuck off," I say flatly to Effy.

"I figured I should meet this girl who has broken down your icy barriers and has you all sappy and in love."

I frown again. I really want to strike her sometimes.

"Gonna tell me about her before she gets here? Or should I just learn everything then?"

"I suppose you'll have to wait," I say as I cross my arms over my chest defiantly.

"Suit yourself… but I…" Effy pauses and her gaze moves over my shoulder to the entrance. I'm just about to kick her under the table when she speaks, "… I hope that's not Emily."

I turn to see the burgundy haired twin. "Nope, that's her twin…" I whisper as I turn back around. By the time my head moves back to where Effy was sitting, I realize it's now vacant. I stand up and make a complete circle before I see Effy standing next to Katie, chatting softly.

Gobsmacked.

I watch in utter fascination as Katie starts to chuckle, then giggle at whatever it is that Effy is saying to her. Katie reaches out to run her hand down Effy's bicep, which is strange seeing as Effy's not really a touchy type of person. Most people get the Stonem death glare if they even THINK about making contact.

I don't have much time to contemplate the inner workings of my best mate when my Fitch twin comes in and I walk over to her, somewhat shyly. "Hey babe," I say softly.

"Hey yourself…" her chocolate browns flick over to her sister and Effy, and Katie is talking animatedly whilst my mate actually looks interested. "Do you know that girl that's with my sister?" Emily asks.

I nod, "Yep, that would be the mysterious Effy."

Emily looks to be contemplating something before she starts laughing. It's a joke that I apparently do not understand. My gaze flicks back and forth from the pair, back to my redhaired goddess.

"Is the mysterious Effy trying to pick her up?" she guffaws.

I didn't even realize that Effy went the gay way. Then again, she was always into sex. She had actually propositioned me once. I had declined of course… sex with a girl hadn't even been something I wanted to experience at the time, or ever, really, and especially not with my best mate. I distinctly remember her muttering something about me being too tall and blond for her anyway. I didn't think anything of it at the time… but now it was making much more sense.

I wonder briefly if Effy had some kind of premonition about the twins.

That train of thought is swallowed up when Emily's fingers thread through my own.

"I'd wish your friend good luck, but she doesn't seem to need it," Emily grins, still watching the two flirting shamelessly with one another.

"She doesn't need luck… but then again… I don't either… not anymore," I smile shyly down at the girl beside me.

"No… I suppose you don't," she says as she steps in front of me to place a soft kiss on my lips.

No… I definitely don't.

xxxxx