Having a shower, not to mention getting dry, seemed to take a while and by the time they had wrapped themselves in the soft towels that Gina had thoughtfully left for them, their hair was hardly wet. Emily followed Naomi as they tiptoed across the landing, trying not to giggle, and fell through the door to Naomi's room again. Emily clicked it shut carefully behind her and turned to see Naomi perched on the edge of the bed, her towel loosening carelessly around her as she pushed her fingers through her damp blonde hair. Emily leant back against the door, transfixed.

'God, Naomi,' she uttered, not taking her eyes off her, 'you're so fucking beautiful.'

Naomi dropped her hands in her lap and bit her bottom lip in a self-conscious smile. No-one had ever said that to her before and she felt a mix of elation and embarrassment and also a touch of pride that the most beautiful girl she had ever seen in her life thought she was beautiful too.

'Shut up,' she said, grinning broadly, but shaking her head and rolling her eyes in mock annoyance.

'No,' said Emily, seriously. 'You are.'

'Come over here then,' said Naomi cheekily, putting out her hand to Emily, just like she had the night before at the Love Ball.

The memory was not lost on Emily and she skipped across the room and slid the palm of her hand against Naomi's, weaving her fingers with hers and clasping them tightly. Naomi steered Emily between her knees, shaping her other hand against the roundness of Emily's behind and drawing her towards her. She gently pinched at Emily's towel and it had the desired effect of freeing it from where it was tucked under Emily's arms and sending it slipping into a pile on the floor.

Emily raised her eyebrows and looked down at Naomi, but Naomi was too busy to notice. Her eyes were following intently as her fingertips travelled gently across Emily's delicate body, tracing the soft outline of her hip, the slight curve of her stomach and the flatness below it.

The sight of Naomi taking such a delight in her gave Emily a glow of satisfaction. She laid her free hand on Naomi's smooth shoulder blade and Naomi looked up, shaking her head slowly. 'God, Ems,' she breathed, breaking into a wide smile, 'you're so fucking beautiful.'

Emily giggled, running her hand along Naomi's shoulder, wrapping it around the back of her damp head and clasping Naomi's face to her body. Naomi gave a muffled giggle herself and opened her mouth to cover Emily's tummy in soft kisses.

'Oh,' groaned Emily, happily, 'don't do that. You know what it does to me.'

'Yeah,' replied Naomi, not stopping, 'why do you think I'm doing it?'

Emily ran her hand through Naomi's hair, indulging herself in the moment, before forcing herself to take a small step backwards. Naomi looked up as Emily's body was taken away from her.

'Hey,' she pouted unconvincingly, squeezing the hand that still had Emily's clasped tightly in it. 'I was enjoying that.'

'Me too, but this isn't going to get the Fitches dealt with, is it?' Emily scolded, smiling.

'Ems, I thought we sorted that out?' sighed Naomi. 'You, me, James and a machine gun. It's the only way.'

'Come on,' said Emily, pulling a reluctant Naomi to her feet. 'I'm going to need clothes, I'm going to need shoes, I'm going to need something to take my mind off you in half a towel… I can see today is not going to be easy. In so many ways.'

Naomi led Emily towards her wardrobe, letting her towel drop to the floor. Deliberately.

'Not helping, Naomi,' said Emily, shaking her head as she put her hand up to shield her eyes from the sight of Naomi's slender body.

'I'm not sure what I've got in here to fit you,' said Naomi, opening the wardrobe door and rifling through the hangers. 'I'm thinking, probably nothing.'

'Great,' said Emily sarcastically. 'I'll wear nothing.'

'Suits me,' replied Naomi, with a grin, but emerging with a black t-shirt, which she handed to Emily. 'Think I wore that when I was 14. I was going through my goth stage.'

Emily burst out laughing. 'Goth stage? You?' she asked incredulously.

'People change,' said Naomi, defensively.

'Thank fuck they do,' said Emily, 'otherwise I wouldn't be here with you.'

'Ems,' said Naomi, spinning round and taking Emily by surprise by grabbing her body tightly round the middle. She looked down into Emily's wide eyes. 'I haven't changed. Not really. Grown up a bit perhaps. Learnt a few things. Quite a few things actually.' She paused and shrugged. 'It's all good, right?'

'Oh yes,' replied Emily, leaning in to Naomi and lengthening her neck to kiss her reassuringly on the cheek, 'it's all good.'

Naomi smiled. 'Hmm,' she said, smugly. 'I think so.'

Emily held up the t-shirt against her body. 'This might fit,' she said, 'I'll put it on.'

But Naomi suddenly raised the circle of her arms from Emily's waist to her upper body, gently pinning Emily's arms to her sides and bringing her even closer. Emily gasped. Dropping the t-shirt, she looked up, quizzically.

'On second thoughts,' whispered Naomi, smiling wickedly as she pressed her mouth to Emily's and their lips began to move slowly and firmly against each other. 'Don't.'