Victoria's hand visibly shook as she took a long drink of her colada before standing up. She didn't answer Joy's question. She was afraid to open her mouth. But she waited for Joy to stand up before setting the glass back down.
Neither of them said anything as they made their way down to the beach. Once they passed the few barbeque revelers, the beach turned dark and the sound of the crashing waves was all they could hear. Both had pulled off their heels and carried them slung over their fingers. The cool sand beneath their feet didn't help to cool down the heat left over from that dance.
Large and bright, the light from the full moon escorted them up the deserted coastline. Joy knew if they kept walking they'd get back to the beach house eventually. It would probably take that long to get any words to come out. A lump had lodged in her throat ever since she caught the fire in Victoria's eyes on that dance floor.
"What happened in there?" Victoria finally broke the silence. Her voice unsteady for once.
Joy turned and looked at her friend. She could see Victoria's jaw clenching over and over again. But she didn't have an answer to that question. Her own feelings were like frayed nerves.
They continued to slowly make their way up the beach in silence.
"Joy?" Victoria started to grab Joy's arm but stopped herself short. "I can't do this anymore. I mean…I've tried." Confusion clouded Joy's face. "I've used every acting technique in the book but it's just too strong."
"What are you talking about?"
"Dammit Joy. Don't you see?" Victoria stared deep into the black sea. She was sure Joy could hear her heart beating. "Nevermind." Sighing she started walking again but Joy clutched her arm and stopped her.
Victoria looked at Joy's beautiful hand wrapped around her forearm.
"No, tell me. Don't I see what?" Joy insisted.
"I'm…in love with you!" The words came out as a yelling whisper. That's all Victoria could manage.
Joy quickly released her friend's arm like it burnt her. She didn't understand what Victoria was saying. She knew her own feelings ran very deep for Victoria but could Victoria have the same feelings for her too? Was it even possible? No. She had never seen any signs from her best friend. And she certainly hadn't said anything to her.
"I'm sorry, Joy. I…just needed to say it. We don't have to talk about it again." Victoria started to walk again. If she kept walking all this would be behind her. It was a good thought at least. So afraid she would frighten Joy away, her insides were tied up in knots. Victoria couldn't afford to lose Joy from her life. She needed her as much as she needed the air to breathe.
Laughter behind her stopped her in her tracks. Turning around she saw the tall beauty bent over with laughter.
With hands on hips, "what is so funny? I just spilled my guts and you're laughing your ass off." Did Joy not believe her? She finally let her feelings show and the very best friend she had in the world was laughing at her. With everything she had she fought the tears from flowing.
Joy composed herself. The sight of Victoria standing in the moonlight with her hands on her hips made the corners of her mouth turn into a smile. God, what this woman did to her.
"I was laughing because for 20 years we have always been in sync with each other. Always. We knew each other's thoughts and fears. And yet this…" Joy waved her hand through the air. "This we didn't see?" Joy couldn't believe what was happening. Not in her wildest dreams did she think her feelings for Victoria were even remotely reciprocated.
Joy closed the distance between them and placed her hands on Victoria's thin shoulders. The tension in the actress's body radiated through every muscle.
Looking directly into Victoria's soul, "I've been in love with you for years, Victoria Chase." It was a release she never thought would come. And yet tonight in this paradise, her dreams were coming true.
Joy held her breath while Victoria let what just transpired sink in. Soon, Victoria smirked and raised her eyebrow just as she had on the dance floor. Joy almost melted into the sand. She wanted to crush her mouth to Victoria's but she refrained. That would be too bold and too soon. Still not sure how Victoria was feeling about it all, she just waited.
They stood there staring at each other for several minutes. Gauging what was happening between them. Their chests heaving up and down with every deliberate breath.
Then with the moonlight shining around them, Victoria gently placed her hands on each side of Joy's face. This moment had played in her mind over and over through the years. And as she leaned in, she slowly closed her eyes and breathed in the soft scent of Joy's perfume and the clean ocean breeze. Now finally after all the time and all the heartache their lips touched. A feather-light touch but the most powerful kiss each had ever experienced.
Joy could feel Victoria's hands trembling against her face.
They parted and stood shoulder to shoulder as white hot fireworks exploded in the sky above them.
"Really? I mean how cliché is that?" Victoria gestured towards the booming, multi-colored sparks in the dark sky.
Joy laughed as she ran her tongue along her bottom lip still tasting the sweet remnants of their kiss. It still hadn't sunk in yet that this was actually happening until Victoria's hand rested lightly at the small of her back. A shiver traveled through her whole body as she felt Victoria's elevated body heat penetrating her thin red dress.
The fireworks display ended so they continued as the waves crested at their feet. Walking side by side they both had a small smile plastered to their faces. Biting her lower lip, Joy eased her left hand into Victoria's right. Victoria welcomed it with no hesitation. Their fingers threaded together like delicate ribbons of silk.
"Let's sit for awhile." Joy said quietly.
"Joy, Victoria Chase does not sit in the sand."
Joy tilted her head and pouted her full lips – a move Victoria could never deny.
"Oh alright." Victoria gave in and grudgingly sat down in the sand. "But if I get sand in my ass…"
Shaking her head, Joy leaned back on her elbows and looked at the millions of stars in the sky. How many of those stars had she wished upon all these years for this very moment with Victoria? Victoria wiggled her bare feet into the sand until they were buried up to her ankles. Sand as a good defoliant fleetingly passed through her mind.
"Damn! Our shoes?" Victoria realized they didn't have their respective pumps anymore.
"It doesn't matter." Joy realized her red strappy heels slipped from her fingertips when Victoria kissed her.
"They're Manolos!"
"It doesn't matter, Victoria."
Joy tried to assure her but Victoria continued ranting until Joy had had enough and pushed Victoria back into the sand and hovered over Victoria's upper body. Gazing into Victoria's startled brown eyes; Joy hungrily pressed her lips to Victoria's. The kiss softened and became more intimate immediately as Victoria's muted moan vibrated against Joy's lips. Joy pulled back slightly looking at Victoria for approval to go further. She didn't want to push her too fast. But the heat in Victoria's eyes and the raised eyebrow gave her the green light.
Joy bent her head to the left giving her greater access to what she'd dreamed of every day for more years than she could count. She gently caressed Victoria's lips with her own. Sliding her tongue along Victoria's bottom lip, she was surprised when felt Victoria's hot tongue softly stroke her own. This time it was Joy who made the light sound of approval in the back of her throat.
Just as the kiss deepened and any inhibitions they may have felt at first had melted away, Joy felt Victoria's long arms wrap around her waist. The hollowness in Joy's heart was suddenly over flowing with emotions she hadn't thought possible. She knew any minute she would wake up and this would all be a dream.
To her credit, Joy didn't break contact with Victoria's perfect mouth as she hiked up the end of her red dress slightly and swung her leg over to straddle Victoria's hips. This wasn't her first rodeo although it was the best one she'd ever been to.
Victoria's mind was going in a thousand different directions. The weight of the body over hers was familiar and soft. The mouth covering her own was exploring and generous. The sand underneath her was cool while the body above her was hot. She could feel the heat emanating off of Joy's skin. Loosening the grip around her best friend's waist, she slid her hands down her sides and hips and under the flowing hem of the red dress. With every stroke of Joy's tongue against her own, she massaged the suppleness of Joy's hips and powerful legs. As she circled her thumbs along the inside of Joy's tender thighs, Victoria abruptly stopped and pushed Joy away from her – the unlocking left her lips cold and aching.
"What's wrong?" Joy asked, confused.
"Not like this." Victoria was breathless. Joy had stolen her kiss and her breath all at once. The look on Joy's face nearly broke her heart but she couldn't have their first truly intimate experience be on a deserted beach even if it was paradise.
Sighing heavily, Joy, agreeable, lifted herself off of Victoria's midsection but not before leaning down to steal one last quick kiss.
"You know, I've listened to you brag about your kissing prowess for years…and I always wondered…" Joy faded off.
Victoria sat up attempting to brush the loose sand from her hair. "And?"
Joy twisted her mouth. "As much as it pains me to admit that you were right…" She smiled coyly. "You were right."
I can't give you everything in one chapter! :)