"You Call It Madness But I Call It Love"
Hi CJers!
The days are just going by so fast it always feels like just yesterday that I updated this fic until I realize it's nearly been a week! Life is flying by right now!
B2T - Yes the kiss was in the sea but the name of the chapter being 'the lake kiss' was in reference to the Skins inspiration kiss ;) At least you've learnt not to count on things in my fics! That's about all I can promise in my fics!
JCLuv - Well hopefully I manage to finish my fics before I do cark it! Can't leave you hanging! Nice to know you'll notice...I think lol! Hope you love this chapter too!
Jensy - Sexy kiss! Glad you thought so! The Best Positions Part 2 - not sure this will fit that title but I might keep it in store for something down the line...!
Pony - Glad I managed to do your idea justice! Glad you thought it was well written and that you're still loving how the story's going! You want a spoiler do you? Very well - Joey might be taking a short break from being in Summer Bay in the coming chapters...but just to keep you hanging I won't spoil if she's running away from Charlie or if Charlie goes with her...
Oniz - Happy that you loved the kiss ending the last chapter! Forbidden couple doing forbidden things - Bwa haha I think you'll need to give me suggestions for such forbidden things lol! I like where that could be headed!
Skippy - Skins is a great show and it is a fantastic build up they did with that particular kiss but it doesn't hold a candle to the hotness that is CJ! Thanks for saying this is one of your fave fics! I love hearing your thoughts!
CJ4eva - Why am I not surprised your begging for more? Love it! Will I finally give in to your begging lol?
Enjoy reading!
Chapter Twenty-Six
Charlie and Joey were still floating together in the surf. Their lips melded together perfectly as their hands were wrapped around each other's waists.
Kicking their legs against the water enough to keep their heads bobbing above the surface of the water, their bodies brushed up against each others'.
Running her tongue against the bottom of Joey's lip, Charlie smiled as Joey allowed her to deepen their kiss and their tongues clashed together forcefully. Both women moaned loudly into their kiss as they couldn't stop the rush of emotions flowing through them at giving into their feelings for one another.
Breaking their kiss softly for the sake of oxygen, the two women pressed their foreheads against each other's. Unable to keep their lips apart for long they indulged in several quick kisses.
Opening their eyes for their first time since their lips crashed together, neither woman was sure how the other was set to react after their long awaited kisses.
Charlie found her right hand shifting from the back of Joey's neck to gently cupping her face, "I love you."
Joey couldn't help but swallow hard and her eyes widened at Charlie's words, "Charlie..."
Charlie pressed their lips together for a mere second, "I kinda lost my mind for a moment when I didn't see you surface after crashing off your surf board...I just needed you to know that I can't imagine my life without you..."
Joey felt as if Charlie was breaking through all her defences but she couldn't allow herself to give into her love for the woman, "Charlie I can't..."
Charlie nodded in understanding, her heart breaking fiercely, "I know...and I'm sorry if I overstepped the whole friends' boundary...I know we can't be together and I need to find a way to accept that...I was just so scared something had happened to you and I was overtaken by all my emotions..."
"I was too," Joey confessed as she held onto Charlie's body calmly as the pair still bobbed up and down in the water, "But I can't be with you...I can't allow myself to hurt my family like that. If they were to find out..."
Charlie squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds, hoping that the tears brimming in her eyes would be mistaken for water droplets, "I won't let this happen again...no matter how much it hurts not being able to be with you..."
Joey felt her own heart breaking at the sight of Charlie fighting off her tears, "We keep saying that Charlie but we always end up giving in...It hurts so much being around you but not being with you..."
Charlie tried to smile lightly, "I won't give in unless it's really what you want...just no more possible surfing accidents...or any kind of accidents that leave me thinking I've lost you...'cause that I can't resist allowing my feelings for you taking over... I promise we're just friends and I won't do anything to break that...but anymore near-death accidents and I can't hold myself responsible for my actions if I make a move on you..."
Joey nodded her head, though she was unconvinced, "We're friends...and nothing more...with the exception of near-death accidents causing us to give in to our love..."
Charlie bit her lip, "Exactly...logic and reason go out the window when it comes to near-death accidents...now that we've got that sorted...I'm kinda freezing to death out here and I should probably head back home so I can go check on Ruby...will I see you out here tomorrow for another lesson?"
Joey smiled calmly, "If that's what you want...to learn to surf...I'll keep teaching you."
"And nothing needs to happen between us so you don't have to be afraid of any of this happening again," Charlie reassured her.
"If you say so," Joey whispered, unsure if nothing happening between the pair was really what she wanted.
"Anyway I'm gonna get out of here before I turn into a prune. You stay out here and try not to get yourself into any more battles with any big waves," Charlie grinned playfully.
Unable to resist, Charlie then pressed her lips firmly against Joey's. Joey moaned softly at the contact, powerless to do anything to stop Charlie from giving into her desires.
Charlie broke off their kiss, whispering seductively, "One last kiss for the road..."
Without another word she released her grip from Joey's body and began swimming away from the younger woman.
Joey could only stare in wonder as Charlie swum away from her. Continuing to kick her legs against the water to keep herself afloat, Joey found herself placing her fingertips against her lips as the feeling of Charlie's lips against them was unrelenting.
Joey kept watching Charlie as the older woman made her way out of the surf, "One last kiss...is that really what that was? Why don't I believe that?"
Several Days Later
Leah stared at Charlie in confusion, "Charlie what are you so nervous about?"
Charlie blushed softly, as she stared at her dress in the mirror, "Are you sure this dress is okay? Maybe I should try another one."
Leah shook her head as she watched Charlie as she leant against the edge of Charlie's bedroom door, "It's the fourth dress you've tried on Charlie! It's great. You don't need to change...again!"
Charlie turned to face Leah, "Really? Are you sure?"
Leah threw up her hands in frustration, "Why are you acting like this? It's not like you're going on a date Charlie!"
Charlie blushed even deeper much to Leah's confusion, "I know but it's...important...to Ruby that...tonight goes well."
"I thought you weren't interested in getting to know Casey 'cause he's such a bad influence on Ruby," Leah pointed out.
Charlie shrugged, "Well true but I'm doing the right thing and making an effort for Ruby's sake..."
Leah narrowed her eyes, "I swear if it was Brax coming along with Casey tonight I'd think for sure you were dressing up for a double date with Ruby and the Braxton boys...the fact that Casey's bringing his sister to protect him from you if you get all overprotective parent about him and Ruby...you still seem to me like you're dressing up for a date."
"Don't be ridiculous," Charlie whispered unconvincingly, "It's not a date...it's just dinner so I can get to know Casey better...and since Joey wanted to join us...I couldn't say no..."
"Plus it's also not a date 'cause otherwise I'd be the fifth wheel!" Leah chuckled light heartedly.
Charlie smirked, "Well you did cook us the dinner...it would've been wrong not to ask you to join us."
"You just want another mother on your side in case you and the young couple get into an argument about them being together and you want me to step in on why it would be a mistake for them to see each other," Leah told her straight forwardly.
Charlie sighed not really listening to Leah, "Are you sure this dress is perfect?"
Leah rolled her eyes, "And we're back to you obsessing with your dress like this really is a date..."
Charlie continued staring at herself in the mirror. A part of her was desperate to tell Leah about her complex relationship with Joey and even though she knew deep down their meal would never be a date between them she was still hopelessly wanting to impress the younger woman who had stolen her heart.
Since their passionate kisses in the surf two days ago the pair had reverted back to the level of friendship between them that was wrought with sexual tension and flirtation. Spending time alone together sanctified the feelings between them but they knew they couldn't act on them.
Both women looked forward to their surfing lesson every day and just about counted down the hours until they could be together again in the privacy of their own cove. With the fear of how the Braxton's could react to the knowledge of them being friends they weren't able to spend the kind of time together they were desperate for.
But when Charlie had been outraged to have found her daughter in the back of a car sleeping with none other than Casey Braxton, she found herself turning to the woman she loved for guidance on how to deal with the situation.
And now here she was getting ready to have dinner with Ruby, Casey, Leah and Joey in an attempt to get to know the youngest Braxton for the sake of her daughter.
The fact that Joey was coming along to help her made her feel so proud but it was killing her knowing that they had to act as friends around the company of anyone else. They may not have been together as a couple but when they were alone it didn't stop them from acting like it and the idea of trying to hide their chemistry from Casey and Leah was a worry.
Ruby was particularly curious to meet Joey properly so she could see for herself just how Charlie had managed to fall for the woman and if the pair were simply 'just friends' as Charlie kept insisting.
Hearing the doorbell ring, Charlie jumped before rushing past Leah hurriedly down the stairs so she could welcome her guests to her place for the night.
Leah could only shake her head at Charlie's antics unaware of what Charlie was going through.
As Charlie sprinted down the stairs as fast as she could go in her heels she kept repeating to herself, "It's not a date. It's not a date. It's not a date."
Making her way down to the end of the hall, Charlie opened the front door eagerly to the awaiting siblings.
Charlie's eyes fell straight to Joey's the moment the door was open and the pair couldn't help but stare at one another lovingly.
I so want this to be a date...
Say do you think they both thought that at the same time?
Well it might not be a date but will it stop the women from acting like it's a date?
Do you think Joey might actually be having some influence in Charlie taking a chance in getting to know Casey?
Next Time - It's the Buckton/Braxton Non-Double Date (Plus Fifth Wheel Leah)
Can the girls cope with hiding their feelings for each other from Casey & Leah?
And will Ruby do a bit of interrogating Joey to find out if she's good enough for her mother?