Another time perhaps? 14
As Caroline unlocked the door and together they carried her bags inside, the young women were greeted by the cold of a house that has been standing empty for weeks. Caroline shivered in reaction and even though it wasn't a cold day she headed straight to the switch for the heating.
"Emma musn't be back yet." Caroline remarked, suddenly aware of the fact that she and Kate where here alone. "I can't remember when she said she planned to return, she's from Basingstoke." She added conversationally.
Kate nodded. "So, it's just you and me then?"
"Yes." Caroline replied. "I'll have to nip out for some supplies before dinner, but let's get a cup of tea first." She suggested and Kate followed her through the small entry hall into the lounge.
"It's nice." Kate observed of the room. "Much nicer than halls. Sharing with twelve other people."
"You're still in halls?" Caroline asked as if the idea mortified her.
"Yep, at least until next year, it's cheap and we have a laugh. But it's not exactly homely." Kate said. "There is no point having nice stuff in the communal area's, probably just end up getting puked on!" She half joked as she picked up a pretty floral print cushion and gave it a squeeze.
"I'll get the tea." Caroline said as she went in search of the small carton of milk her mother had packed with some sandwiches in a bag for her, leaving Kate to have a look around.
"I like it." Kate declared as Caroline handed her a mug of tea. "This place. It's cosy. It's just you and Emma then?"
"Yeah." Caroline confirmed sitting across from Kate in the small arm chair. "We were in the same college for a bit and then we shared with a couple of other girls, that was a bit of a nightmare and anyway they have both moved in with their boyfriends. Jo is living in London and I think Fran went home, Midlands somewhere."
"You must get on with Emma then, if you've lived together before?" Kate presumed.
Caroline seemed to consider this. "I suppose we are quite similar, we both work very hard, we like peace and quiet..."
"You don't sound like best mates." Kate decided.
"No." Caroline agreed. "Living together is a practical arrangement, it makes financial sense and it works well but we don't..."
"Braid each others hair? Have pillow fights? Talk about the boy's you like?" Kate teased.
Caroline picked up the nearest cushion and proceeded to fling it in Kate's direction as the younger woman giggled. "No. I don't really have friends like that..." She admitted honestly. "Is that the type of relationship you have with Jules?"
Kate sobered quickly at the mention of her friend. "Yes. It was...I mean when we were children. She finds it hard now that I have moved away and she is still at home. The way she is behaving right now is not all about you...or us...I know she feels like I'm leaving her behind." Kate explained.
"You'll sort it out." Caroline said with an adoring smile. "She'd be stupid to throw away a friend like you."
"I think so." Kate agreed, batting her eyelashes dramatically at Caroline.
Caroline felt her tummy do a little flip even though the look was more teasing than it was serious and she suddenly felt flushed as she realised that for this evening at least they were not going to be interrupted. There was no teenage sister, older brother, parent or friend, that may burst in on them unannounced and Caroline was at once thrilled and terrified by the prospect.
"So, which one's your room?" Kate asked, setting her empty mug down on the coffee table.
"What?" Caroline asked nervously.
"Your bedroom Caroline...I thought I could dump my bag in there before we pop to the shops." Kate clarified.
"Oh, of course. I'll bring my bags up." Caroline said, setting her mug beside Kate's and getting clumsily up from the couch.
Xxx
It occurred to Caroline that even the simple task of buying some food from the local supermarket was made much more enjoyable by Kate's mere presence. Kate pushed the shopping trolley down each isle, casually supervising the selections that Caroline made and expressing a few of her preferences when Caroline asked for them or gave her a choice.
They purchased enough food for meals for the next week, although Caroline had said that perhaps they would eat out once or twice, she was familiar with a couple of rather nice restaurants in the area. They had also added a few treats to their purchases, Caroline picking out two bottles of wine and Kate insisting on a tub of ice cream and some strawberries.
When they got back to Caroline's flat, the place was much more welcoming than earlier, they had left the downstairs lights on and the radiators were still warm. Kate watched Caroline unpack the shopping and put things away, leaving out the ingredients for their evening meal and slipping one of the bottles of wine into the small freezer.
It was strange to think that all these mundane little actions were something they had never shared before and each one made Kate feel that much closer to the beautiful blonde. Kate sat up on the far end of the kitchen counter as Caroline went about chopping and preparing food, occasionally offering, but eventually feeding, Kate a tomato or a slice of cheese as she put together the lasagne.
Caroline put the dish into the oven and set the timer, she took the wine out of the freezer, it having chilled nicely and she poured them both a generous glass. Caroline brought both glasses to where Kate sat and handed her one. Caroline stood between Kate's long legs that dangled down either side of Caroline and grazed her hips and thighs. Kate smiled over the rim of her glass as she took a sip and then lent forward to place a small kiss on the corner of Caroline's mouth.
"Thank you." She said sweetly, pushing herself to the edge of the counter top so that she could wrap her legs lightly around Caroline and cross her ankles at her back.
Kate brushed her fingers delicately through Caroline's hair, it framed her face perfectly, hanging just below her chin and curling under slightly. "Thank you for making dinner and for inviting me here."
Caroline couldn't help the smile that spread shyly across her face and she placed her free hand at Kate's waist as she shrugged. "You're welcome?"
Kate placed a finger beneath Caroline's chin and tipped her head back very slightly as she dropped a kiss upon the tip of her nose, causing Caroline's face to crinkle up in response. Kate followed up with a long luxourious exploration of Caroline's lips, letting just the tip of her tongue finally run across the blonde's bottom lip before pulling away to see Caroline with eye's closed, and head tilted as if still inside the moment.
When Caroline opened her eye's she was feeling hot and flustered and she had only had one sip of the wine.
"Kate?" She began as her hand went to the necklace she wore and began to finger it nervously. "I am not sure what you...expect of me...tonight? I mean, I know that I asked you here and I am really pleased that you came, really, really pleased, but I didn't ask you here... for that...so that we could...take things further...you know...physically."
Kate's eyebrows arched high and she looked at Caroline as she considered her response.
"Well...I didn't assume that, that was what I was here for Caroline...I mean, I wouldn't be adverse to taking things a little further, if and when you are comfortable with that...but..you can relax, it will happen when it happens." Kate tried to look reassuring though she was secretly a little thrown by Caroline's obvious nervousness, however adorable it was.
Caroline had moved out from Kate's embrace as she spoke and now she took a large gulp from her glass, her free arm wrapping around her middle.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to make things awkward." She offered after a quiet minute.
Kate hopped down from the counter. "Shall we go and sit?" She asked, sensing that there was more Caroline wanted to say. "We have time before dinner is ready."
In the living room Caroline sat at one end of the couch and Kate was careful to leave a small space between them as she sat down.
"It's just that. I don't do that with people. I mean I don't bring people back and I don't usually sleep with people...casually." Caroline explained.
Kate recalled telling Caroline something about her sexual past and though she hadn't thought of it as sleeping around, she did understand that some people still frowned upon any kind of sex that wasn't part of a serious relationship. Kate understood that, being at University had opened her up to experiences that she probably wouldn't have had if she had stayed at home. It was the old cliche of being a safe environment for experimentation and being free from some of the judgments of the old life at home. She hadn't thought much about what Caroline may think about that.
"I don't sleep with people casually." Kate protested.
Caroline coloured and looked into her glass. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to suggest..."
Kate put a hand out as she saw Caroline's obvious discomfort and took her fingers in her own.
"Have you only been with Rebecca?" Kate guessed.
Caroline's eyes seemed to grow large and she looked at Kate as she sucked in a large breath.
"You did...sleep with Rebecca...didn't you?" Kate asked hesitantly.
Caroline took her glass up and took a drink from it, not looking at Kate as she did so. "We...Rebecca and I, we had a physical relationship...of sorts, we shared a bed most nights and we were often intimate, but there were certain things that I was not ready for, at the time." Caroline took her hand from Kate's and twisted it into her own other hand, only daring short glances at Kate for her reaction, which was currently hard to read.
"You mean, you didn't completely...go there, all the way?" Kate asked, feeling a little confused but trying to hide it.
"God, I don't know why I started telling you this..." Caroline burst, frustrated by her own ineptness.
"Because you wanted me to know...how you feel, what it means to you...I want to know." Kate assured with a weak smile.
Caroline looked closely at Kate's face measuring the truthfulness there. "I wasn't totally comfortable with Rebecca physically, not as comfortable as she was with me. We were intimate but it was a little one sided, if you get my meaning?"
Kate wanted to tell her to spit it out already but she could see how difficult this was for Caroline. "So you made sure she was happy but not the other way around?" Kate asked, to be sure she understood.
Caroline actually looked relieved. "Yes."
Kate nodded. "I see. I understand. Kind of..." It was Kate's turn to take a drink and Caroline looked apprehensive again. "No..I mean, I get what you're saying...I just, don't know how she could have been happy with that arrangement...I suppose...I wouldn't be."
Caroline pushed her hair from her face and smiled sadly. "I don't think she was happy either." She admitted. "Well, clearly she wasn't."
Kate felt sorry she had made that point. "Don't worry Caroline, I think we can share a bed without me ripping your clothes off, we have done once before remember...unless you want me to sleep down here..."
"No." Caroline replied. "I want you with me."
Kate nodded. "Alright then."
Caroline smiled again. "I'll go and check on dinner." She said getting up.
Kate knocked back the rest of the glass of wine as Caroline left the room. It was going to be a long night.
Xxx
A/N- As ever, thank you all so much for the feedback, it means a lot. xx