Chapter 26

A/N: Y'all, my apologies for the ridiculously long, unexpected delay. That's not the norm for me. It has been a few months since I've touched this story or really even thought about it. Here's hoping I'm not rusty getting back at it. Let's find out together.

Paige and Emily walked hand-in-hand out of The Brew. It took several long moments before Emily would let go of Paige in the staff break room. She was so happy to see her after the build-up of the day-long scavenger hunt that the thought of not holding her girlfriend was unwelcome.

Emily had every note tucked into her purse. She would cherish these notes forever. They were from her and Paige's first Valentine's Day together. Emily could have never imagined that Paige was this romantic. It blew her away sometimes how much Paige loves her. And how much she loves Paige.

Hearing Paige's voice broke her out of her romantic reverie. "You hungry," Paige asked.

For the first time since that morning Emily realized she had not eaten since breakfast. She's been too busy on Paige's journey. "Yeah, I am actually."

Paige winked at her. "Good. I made reservations at The Grille for dinner." With her free hand she pulled her phone out of her jeans pocket to check the time. "And we should be right on time."

"How'd you manage to time that right?" Paige couldn't have known how long it would take for Emily to finish the scavenger hunt.

Paige shrugged her shoulders in confident nonchalance. "I'm just that good." Emily side-eyed Paige with a playful smirk. Paige laughed. "It was a completely random, totally surprising lucky guess."

Emily opened the door to The Grille as she and Paige walked in. She kissed her on the cheek walking up to the hostess stand. "Well, either way, thank you for making reservations…thank you for everything, Paige."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Their dinner orders placed, the girls sat in a booth towards a quiet back corner of the restaurant. They sat side-by-side. You couldn't have squeezed a piece of paper between them if you'd tried.

Paige gently rubbed her thumb over Emily's hand that rested on top of the table. Emily turned a little in her seat to better talk to Paige with direct eye contact. "My mom got me a little worried when she told me this morning that you weren't coming to pick me up." She looked down at their hands. "I'll admit that I panicked for a second."

Paige traced a heart over the top of Emily's hand without realizing that's what she was doing. "I'd have never stood you up, Em. I just needed some help getting the scavenger hunt started."

"I know. It was kind of funny actually when I realized what was going on. I had a lot of fun today."

"It wasn't too much," Paige asked with a hint of shyness. Truthfully, Emily found it endearing when this side of Paige came out. The vulnerable, open side of Paige that only Emily really gets to see.

"Not at all! I loved it! How did you even come up with the idea?" She nudged Paige's shoulder then. "And why didn't you tell me you are an amateur poet?"

Paige tilted her head back in a loud laugh. "Because I'm not! But I'm glad you liked it. The idea hit me when I was trying to think about what I could do for us for Valentine's Day. I started thinking about all of the great things we've done together and," Paige fanned her arm out as if to reveal a trick, "there you go. The scavenger hunt happened. I had a lot of fun today too."

"Oh yeah," Emily said, remembering she had not asked Paige about her day so far. "What did you to today while I was busy reliving our greatest hits?"

Paige playfully poked Emily in the ribs. "I was trying to stay one step ahead of you all day. I didn't want anyone messing with the notes if I'd left them out too long so basically I spent the day racing from location to location."

"Where were you when I got back to The Brew for that last clue?"

"Sabrina helped me out there. She hid me in that closet down the back hallway towards the stairs to Toby's loft. When you went back to your locker she texted me so I could head that way."

"And then you asked me to be your Valentine," Emily said with a huge smile on her face.

"And you said 'yes,'" Paige said with just as big a smile on her face.

Just then their waiter came to check on them and see if he could get them anything else. Noticing their plates were nearly he empty he asked, "Would you like anything for dessert?"

Paige looked over at Emily in question. "No thank you," Emily answered the waiter.

As he turned to leave, Paige made sure. "We can get something if you want, Em. It's ok."

Emily shook her head biting the corner of her bottom lip. She raised an eyebrow at Paige. "How about dessert at my house instead?"

"But won't your parents…"

"My dad made dinner reservations in Philadelphia tonight. They won't be home for quite a while."

Paige suddenly had a very strong affection for Mr. Fields having known this bit of information. "Dessert sounds great! You know how much I love dessert."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Emily and Paige walked into the dark, quiet house noticing that they were indeed all alone. Paige started kissing along the column of Emily's neck as soon as Emily sat her purse and house keys on the table in the foyer.

Emily gently pushed at Paige's shoulders to get her to slow the pace some. She kissed Paige's soft lips. They were still cool from the cold February air and the brief walk up the footpath from the driveway.

Paige looked up at Emily with her big brown eyes full of want and now hesitation. "Dessert?"

"Soon," Emily agreed nodding her head in confirmation. "Why don't you go up to my room and get comfortable?"

Paige made her way up the stairs while Emily walked through the dark hallway towards her parents' home office.

Emily picked up the wrapped package from the top of the desk. It was wrapped in red paper and had a large white bow taped to the top. She fastened a tag near the bow with Paige's name written in neat script.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Paige was propped up against Emily's headboard when Emily walked in to her bedroom. Paige had left all of the lights off except the small lamp on the bedside table.

Emily walked up to the bed and sat on the edge facing Paige. She handed the wrapped package to her. "Happy Valentine's Day, Paige."

Paige sat up straighter as she accepted the gift from her girlfriend. "Em, we weren't supposed to get gifts for each other." That was true; they had decided not to gift gifts since they were just in high school after all and neither had much available "slush" funds.

"You did that whole scavenger hunt for me, which took time and money and you took me out for dinner. Please, open it," she urged Paige, pushing on the wrapped package in her girlfriends hands.

Paige bounced the package in her hands. There was surprising heft to it. "What is it," she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

Emily swatted her leg. "I'm not telling. You'll have to open it to find out."

Paige began tearing away the red paper. Once all of the paper was fully removed she held a large wooden frame made of dark-stained old barn wood. There were three 5x7 pictures framed in glass on one side and across from each picture was a note also framed in glass. Paige could tell that the notes were written by Emily.

"It's beautiful, Em." She leaned over the frame to kiss Emily. "It looks like it cost a lot of money though."

"It's ok; it didn't," Emily reassured her. "The wood is from Spencer's barn renovation and Toby put it all together. I added the pictures and notes after."

Emily brushed her fingers along the course wood. She really loved how the project turned out. The old barn wood gave a homemade, from the heart feel. "You know, with it being Valentine's Day, I just wanted to give you something that kind of explains what our love means to me. What you mean to me."

Emily looked down and pointed at the first picture. It was a profile shot of she and Paige sitting on the dock of the Love Shack when the whole group had gotten together over there. Emily was leaning back against Paige. Paige had her chin resting on Emily's shoulder. They were both wrapped in a large beach towel. You could see a content smile on both girls' faces. "This one is kind of about security."

Paige looked down to the picture that Emily was pointing to. She remembered that day well. In fact, if she thought about it now, she could almost still feel the sun on her face and Emily's body pressed up against her. She looked at the note across from the picture. "I know that no matter what comes my way, your way, or our way in the future, we'll face it together with our love guiding the way."

Paige was speechless. Emily then pointed to the next picture. It was of the two of them sitting at a table in The Brew. They both had coffee mugs and blueberry muffins sitting between them. Spread out on the table was school books; this was taken by Aria towards the beginning of school when they had just started dating. Resting in the free space on the side of the table, their hands were joined by the lacing of their fingers together. "Homework date, remember," Emily asked Paige.

Paige nodded her head. How could she forget? If she were asked, she could recall most everything about her and Emily. Paige read the note accompanying the picture. "From simple beginnings, come simple loves stories. Ours is one that I look forward to playing out."

Paige sat as Emily continued to explain the last picture and the corresponding note. The picture was taken when Hanna, Caleb, Emily and Paige had gone on a hike in a nearby park. Hanna was incorrigible that day. There were too many bugs, it was too dirty, it was hot, there were strange noises…Paige pulled Emily ahead of Hanna and Caleb to get away from Hanna's whines. The two girls laughed as they remembered Hanna's antics that day and the empathy they'd felt for Caleb having to put up with it. Hanna did redeem herself when she snapped this picture on her phone though. Emily and Paige held hands as they walked ahead on the trail. The note with that picture said, "And so today, my heart it smiles. Your hand in mind, we walk the miles. Thanks to you it will be done, for you to me are the only one."

"Where is this quote from," Paige asked, looking up at Emily. She could tell that this particular note may have been felt in sentiment by Emily, but it was not written in her own words. "It's great."

Emily laughed to herself. "You'll never guess."

"No doubt some sort of brainiac scholar." Emily shook her head. "No?"

"Not exactly. It's from Led Zepplin."

"Well, brainiacs in their own right, or something," Paige teased.

Emily raised the back of the barn wood frame. "I had Toby add some hooks on the back so you can hang it if you want."

Paige took the frame from Emily's hands and sat it gingerly on the floor so it wouldn't fall off of the bed. She pulled Emily onto her lap and kissed her eagerly yet with undeniable tenderness. "Thanks, Em. I love it. And I love you."

Emily wrapped her hands around Paige's neck. "You're welcome. I love you too."

Paige brushed her fingers along the top Emily's legs. "I think you said something about dessert earlier?"

"Right. You want some ice cream?"

Paige shook her head no and kissed along Emily's jaw line.

"Pie?"

Paige reached a hand under Emily's shirt and skirted her fingertips over the tight abdominals. Again, she shook her head no.

Emily's breathing grew faster and somewhat erratic. She had to concentrate to keep her questions going. "Chocolate cake?"

Paige moved long raven colored locks from Emily's neck. She began kissing and nipping the sensitive skin.

"Chee- cheesecake," Emily asked again, this time barely getting the word out. They both knew exactly what kind of "dessert" Emily was talking about at the restaurant but the game they were playing now was delicious as well.

"Nu, huh," Paige said between kisses.

"Then what do you want," Emily asked with a hitch as she stretched her neck to give Paige more access. She'd give Paige anything right now. Anything at all.

Paige guided her lips towards Emily's ear. "You," she whispered as her hot breath tickled Emily's skin. "I want to taste every inch of your body."

The hand that had made its way up Emily's shirt now began kneading her right breast through the lacy bra her girlfriend wore.

"Please. Yes."

Paige stopped to bunch the hem of Emily's shirt in both fists and swiftly pulled it up and over her head. She ran her hands through Emily's soft, wavy tresses pulling her closer again. She claimed her mouth in a soul searching kiss.

The way their kisses felt was pure magic. It went beyond the physicality of a kiss. Their kisses weren't simply lips caressing another set of pillowy soft lips. Not just smooth, searching tongues dancing together in perfect rhythm. It was emotions and love played out in the coming together of two people meant for each other. That's what took their breaths away each time they joined together in this way.

Paige removed Emily's bra. She wrapped her arms around Emily's back and fanned her fingers across Emily's shoulder blades to hold her in place. She latched her lips around one of Emily's breasts. Her tongue swirled around the tip causing Emily to gasp loudly. She bit down enough to graze the flesh with her teeth before sucking and removing her mouth with a barely audible "pop."

After giving the other breast the same attention, Paige eased Emily from her lap and gently guided her down flat on her back. She was careful so as not to make Emily bump her head on the footboard. Paige leaned over Emily staring lovingly into her eyes. She was going to enjoy every second of this. They both were.

Emily reached up, brushing Paige's cheek and tucked fallen hair behind Paige's ear. Paige reached for Emily's hand and gently kissed the palm and then her wrist. She straddled Emily's waist and stretched for the other hand. Leaning up Emily's shirtless torso, Paige wrapped Emily's fingers around the iron rails and gave a short squeeze. Emily answered the silent plea. She grabbed hold firmly; the cool metal heated with the warmth of her hands, and waited for the pleasure that was sure to come.

Paige slowly dragged her fingertips down the underside of Emily's strong arms, skated along the sides of her waist and tickled the skin where Emily's hips crested the top of her jeans. She dipped the pad of one finger below the waistband on each side and seductively brought both fingers together at the button of the jeans. With a flourish she popped the button and tick-by-tick lowered the zipper.

To make up for the momentary lack of skin-on-skin contact, Paige brought her lips to just above the popped button. She placed one feather-light kiss then ran the flat of her tongue up to Emily's bellybutton before quickly dipping the tip in. She blew a cool breath along the path of moisture left behind.

Emily groaned from the quickly escalating desire building in her body and the absence of Paige where she needed her most. She was grasping the iron rails so tightly that her knuckles were turning white and her arms began to tremble.

Paige smiled to herself as she shimmied down Emily's body a little lower. She gave a tug to Emily's jeans to get them down past her hips on the way. She knew this was exquisitely torturous and pleasure filled all at the same time for Emily. She wanted to strike the right balance. Not wait too long but make it last just long enough.

Paige pulled the jeans off first then removed the socks Emily wore under her black calf-high boots that day. Her fingers trailed a swirling, unpredictable pattern from the tips of Emily's toes up to the hem of her matching lace panties. On the way up, she pressed against Emily's center just enough to encourage Emily's hips off the bed seeking more contact. She was more than ready for Paige and the wetness was there to prove it.

Removing the final barrier to Emily's full nakedness, Paige hooked a finger under the hem of the panties at each hip and slowly pulled them down the length of Emily's legs. Kisses followed the path the lace made downward.

Paige sat back on her heels. Emily was breathing hard now. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Her hands were wrapped tightly around the metal bedposts. Her luscious caramel-colored skin and dark hair was gorgeous against the cream backdrop of the comforter. "You're so beautiful, Em."

What she got in response was a hoarse reply of her name leaving Emily's plumped up lips.

Paige blindly reached for a pillow behind her. She made her way back up Emily's body and tucked the pillow under her head.

Emily didn't move her hands as Paige approached. She did however, lean up to capture Paige's lips in a scorching kiss.

Gasping for air once released, Paige whispered, "I love you," as she began her descent down Emily's body. Her fingers claimed flesh that she knew would always be hers. Her lips mapped out the contours of Emily's body that she'd come to know so well. And as her tongue gloriously, finally reached its ultimate destination, she got a heavenly taste of what she had been craving all night long.

A/N 2: Before I wrote this chapter I had to do a quick skim-through of my own story to wrap my head around it again. When I got to Ch. 25 I thought "Ah, hell. How am I gonna continue their Valentine's and top what Paige did?" Backed myself into one tight corner there, y'all. Then I decided I can't top it and I'll just write "something," which honestly is what I do anyway so I guess it was really no different. I'm glad y'all liked the scavenger hunt last chapter. That was fun to write. Next update hopefully won't take as long as this one to get to. Until then… I hope you enjoyed the chapter.