Here is chapter 7.. it's shorter than a couple of the previous but I wanted to get this out there..
thank you to all my readers, followers, reviewers.. it fuels me to keep going..
As always, if you can please review. If you can't, that's cool too. Please enjoy.
.
.
The hand stayed steady on her lower back. A silent reminder that she was looked after, cared for. She felt the knife's hard edge start on the wax near her shoulder. Her brain tried not to think how sharp the knife was, what damage could be done if she moved. Would it hurt much to feel only the edge slicing down her skin. She could tell that it was more scraping happening than anything close to cutting. It still felt dangerous, wrong. She was tied down, wearing next to nothing. She had felt her body's response to each sensation. From the beginning, her nerves were on alert. She knew she was aroused and had a good idea that her tormentor could tell.
She shuddered as the knife kept mapping its way down and across her back.
Reflection – Chapter 7
She walked into her room and shut the door. Wouldn't you like to know...Oh my God.. did I just really say that to Naomi Campbell.. shit shit shit.. what the fuck. She slid down her door and sat on the floor trying to breathe, then trying to stifle the giggles. She wanted to kiss those lips badly. Such perfect rosy lips. Clear blue eyes that could see through her. She wasn't sure what came over her but it felt perfect to tease the blonde. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the door. She took a deep breath. Wow.
She got up from the floor, turned and placed one hand on the door. She was right on the other side. If she was truly bold, she would open the door and give her an option to sleeping on the couch. She shivered at the thought of sharing her bed with Naomi. She hadn't allowed anyone in her bed in a long time. Part was fear. Part was insecurity. She knew it was all in her head. It didn't make anything easier, that knowledge. But little by little, maybe she could change it. Tonight was a surprise to her. A welcome, unexpected turn of events. She was pretty certain that Naomi felt an attraction to her as well. She smiled and crawled into bed.
Earlier...
"Effy.. you'd best be on the late night back to Bristol." Katie growled into the phone as she closed her bedroom door.
"Miss you too Katiekins. Things didn't get bloody given you're still breathing."
"No. Things worked out ok not thanks to you bitch. Where the fuck are you?" Katie plopped down on her bed.
"Not on the late night back." Effy heard Katie growl on her end and smiled. "Katie, you know what those noises do to me."
"Still a bitch then."
"And now talking dirty.. you want me worked up. Gonna tell me what went on between you and the blonde goddess? Or do you want me to guess." Katie let out an exasperated breath and gave her a quick run down of the afternoon and the evening including Cook's little blunder. "I should leave town more often. Sounds like it's all neat and tied in a bow."
"Fuck you Eff. This wasn't easy.. and you were supposed to back me up.. and Christ, Emily was never supposed to know about me and Naomi fucking snogging. I mean shit.. I've never.. not with Naomi.. she's great but you know.." Katie's lisp was fully present.
"How eloquent Katie." Effy smirked, knowing she was riling up the other girl. "But it's all sorted, that you and Naomi were never involved?"
"Yeah.. but I need to tell her Effy. You should have seen her face when she said I basically hadn't trusted her with what happened. I don't want to see that look again.. so I, we need to tell her." Katie held her breath, knowing how Effy felt about opening up.
"Right." Effy paused. "When I get back? We have dinner and talk with her. We knew it would happen at some point. My return is as good as any."
"Holy shit? Wow, ok.. I expected you to argue a little more. Thank you babe." She felt the relief and the love flood her. Effy was full of surprises. She should know better by now.
"Does this make up for me not being there today?"
"Fuck no. I want chocolate. And champagne... and maybe shoes." Both Katie and Effy laughed. "I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
"You could take the early train and come up to join me instead Katie." Effy was hopeful but she wouldn't say it out loud. Hope was not an every day occurrence for Effy and Katie did things her way.
"I could." Katie smiled. "Ok.. I have to get back to the girls, though, yeah?"
"Of course." Effy felt a warmth spread over her. "And Katie..."
"Yeah, yeah you twat, I know. See you in the morning." Katie hung up and almost squealed in delight. She took a moment to calm herself down before walking back to Emily and Naomi.
Now...
Naomi lay on the couch unable to sleep. She replayed every moment. Every nuance. She was certain Emily wanted to kiss her as much as she wanted to kiss Emily. And yet, the little minx walked away. And, I can't sleep. Frustrated, she got up. She wandered over to the window and looked out at the non-existent nightlife in this side of Bristol. Then, she remembered Emily's book shelves. What is it that you didn't want me to see?
She sits cross legged on the floor and examines the bottom two shelves. The first shelf holds a number of gardening and music history books. Most are oversized and laying on their side. The bottom shelf has a few fiction titles. Nothing too extraordinary until she reached the end. There, nestled in the back of the bottom shelf, were a few titles that brought both a smile and burning curiosity. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, Exit to Eden by Anne Rampling, Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nin.
Emily woke up the next morning and slowly crept out of her bedroom. She found a note from Katie in the kitchen.
Gone to London to meet up with Effy. Have fun today. - K
She started the coffee going and walked to the living room to check on Naomi. She was still asleep on the couch. On the coffee table, there was an open gardening book and one of her music book on rock star legends. She looked at the bookshelf from where she stood frozen, wondering if Naomi had found the other books. She backed up into the kitchen and set about preparing two cups. She bit her lip, wanting to know and being a hesitant at the same time. She took the two cups and walked around the couch. Setting the cups on the table, she knelt in front of the sleeping blonde. She's beautiful. That's when she saw the Anaïs book by the crook of Naomi's elbow. Guess she found the other books. Now what? She put her hands, palm down, on her lap. Emily watched Naomi sleep, curious to her thoughts on her choice of reading. She was kneeling there, still biting her lip, when Naomi stirred and opened her eyes.
"Hi" Naomi managed to eek out before taking Emily in completely. The redhead's passive posture, extremely welcoming to someone like Naomi, was breathtaking. So innocent. She's kneeling there and doesn't even realize how amazing she looks to me.
"Good morning. Did you sleep ok?" Emily asked shyly. "I see you went looking last night." She nodded to the books on the coffee table but her eyes locked on to the book nearest Naomi who didn't miss the question in Emily's eyes. "I brought you coffee. You only take your tea in the afternoon yeah?"
"You pay attention lil'Red. I need to talk to you about one of these books. Will you sit and have coffee with me?" Naomi sat up, rubbing the last bit of sleep from her eyes and stretching. She saw the hesitation in Emily's body but she got up from where she was kneeling and sat opposite Naomi.
"What did you want to talk about?" Emily asked, taking a slow sip of her coffee.
"Well it's going to seem silly but I need a hand.. and you seem to know a fair bit..." The coffee was delicious. She does pay close attention. Right amount of milk and sugar. Do I draw this out? Make her wonder if I'm going to ask about her naughty reading? Naomi smirks. Curiosity getting the better of her, Emily raised her gaze to meet Naomi's eyes. Interesting, still not as afraid. Good. "Gardening.. I'm living at my mum's place while she's off being one with her boyfriend Kieran, living Buddha and all that.. and see she had a garden out back.. lovely, really.. I'm not one for the greenery and it's gone to shit. I was thinking that since you seem to enjoy it and probably know more about it than I ever could or would want to.. I could hire you to get it going again. Mum's got a shed full of tools.." Naomi rambled in between sips of coffee, urging her brain to work properly.
"You want me to work your garden.. at your place?"
"My mum's place, mum's garden but yeah.. I'm desperate for help. I kill all green things."
Emily laughed nervously, relief flooding her being. "That's what you want to talk to me about? Gardening... yeah.. I'd love to."
"You don't know what the pay is yet.."
"I love gardens.. I used to help with my mum's all the time growing up. I'd love to get my hands dirty again. I didn't think about being hired. I thought you were asking as a friend. Have you any idea what you want to do with it?" She drank her coffee, enjoying it. Tension disappearing from her shoulders.
"Nope.. not a clue what I want. You're in charge of that.. whatever you seem fit to do to make it pretty again.. I leave it in your capable hands. And I can't ask you as just friends. Trust me, there's loads to be done. Is Katie still sleeping?" Naomi looked back towards the bedrooms.
"Um no.. she left a note saying she was meeting Effy in London. Took the early train out."
"Oh. Huh.. that's funny. She never mentioned it. What's on your agenda today?"
"I dunno. Working in your garden?" Emily sprang up from the couch and took the empty cups into the kitchen.
"You're joking.. Aren't you rearing to go?" Naomi sat, stunned that the redhead seemed rather invigorated.
"I've nothing else to do.. why not?" She came back in. "Let me grab a quick shower and we can head out."
Naomi didn't exaggerate about the garden. It was a mess - overgrown weeds, dead flowers, shrubs and what looked like a former vegetable patch. Couple weeks of work to make it all green again. Emily wandered, studying the area, imagining what plants would look best and where she should start the overhaul. Her level of intensity and the shine in her eyes captivated Naomi who stood back almost afraid of stepping into the forgotten space. Emily walked over to the shed and unlocked it with keys Naomi provided. She stepped in and surveyed the tools and other items. Once done, she locked up and walked over to the blonde who still refused to step foot in the garden.
"By the looks of you, you'd think something was going to bite you out here." Emily mused. "I assure you, it's all dead out here. Nothing to be frightened of."
"I don't know bout that. Ever watch horror movies? Evil could be lurking out there.. you never know. Can I fix you a cuppa?"
"Sure. That'd be great." They walked back into the house. Emily stood in the kitchen doorway watching the blonde. She filled the kettle and set it on the burner. "I figure it'll take a couple of days to clear up the overgrowth and the dead plants. Then a couple weeks to plant and get it going until you see everything green again."
"But even after everything is all good, you could do like a weekly thing to check on it yeah?" Naomi busied herself with the cups, milk and sugar. Then she reached up and brought out some biscuits.
"You could do that yourself." Emily joked as the kettle whistled.
"Oh.. no, no, no. I can't. Did you see what's back there? That was all me. My mum left it all green, beautiful, peaceful.. I killed it.. it was horrendous. I should be tried under some form of capital plant genocide." Naomi poured the tea. She turned and grabbed the honey from the cupboard and set it in front of Emily. She paid attention too. The little redhead liked honey instead of sugar in her tea.
"I could show you." Emily laughed, picking up the honey absently. She didn't realize the significance until she had stirred the tea. She smiled.
"I'm not sure I can learn. Mum tried that too." Naomi blew on her tea, shook her head a little. "Nope.. not something I can learn."
"That's rubbish. I insist you help me. I won't accept payment other than you getting your hands dirty."
"That's evil Emily... think of the plants." Naomi joked but blanched a little. "You're serious?"
"Yes, I am. And the sooner we start, the sooner we can get it taken care of." Emily felt a bit of a power shift and Naomi's apparent discomfort. This could be fun, she thought.
