Part two of your reward for so much faithful reading! IJKS xxx
Chapter Thirty-Six
April 2007
Charlie and Joey arrived home, having held hands, giggled, talked and kissed the whole cab journey back. They kissed their way to Joey's bedroom. Pulling away, Joey yawned involuntarily and hoped that Charlie didn't notice. She did.
"You're tired," Charlie realised.
It had been a long and emotional night.
"No, I'm not," Joey lied, yawning again.
Charlie grinned, thinking her new girlfriend was adorable.
"I'm fine," Joey insisted.
She pouted in defeat once she had yawned a third time.
"Well, maybe I'm a little tired," Joey admitted, sounding utterly disappointed.
"How about we snuggle up together instead?" Charlie suggested, kissing Joey's neck.
"I wanted tonight to be a night to remember," Joey pouted.
"It already is," Charlie assured her. "And tomorrow will be too."
Together, they ventured into Joey's room, shutting the door behind them and began to strip off as if it were a normal day. When it came to removing their bras, they both blushed and shyly turned away, breaking into nervous laughter as they changed into pyjama tops. Climbing into bed and snuggling under the blankets, Charlie and Joey held each other even closer than they ever had before.
"This is the happiest night of my life, Charlie," Joey whispered.
"And mine," Charlie admitted. "I can hardly believe this is real."
"You'd better believe it because I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. Not ever."
"Now I'm even happier."
They kissed each other to sleep.
The following morning, Watson found Charlie and Joey sitting opposite each other on the sofa with their legs entwined, feeding each other grapes and giggling. She eyed them curiously and smiled.
"Are you two...?" she began.
Neither of them could suppress their smiles.
"Oh my goodness! Finally! At long bloody last! It's only been twenty fucking years!"
Charlie and Joey burst out laughing at Watson's amateur dramatics.
"How did this happen?" Watson asked. "Who kicked who up the arse to actually make you both come to your senses and realise you're made for each other?"
"Um... Aunt Elsie kicked me up the arse," Joey explained.
"What did she do that I didn't do?" Watson pouted. "I've been nagging Charlie for years."
"Well, I can assure you that she didn't kiss me," Joey teased.
Watson snorted and blushed all at the same time. Charlie nearly fell off the couch laughing.
"You told her about that?" Watson asked.
"Of course I did!" Charlie replied.
Watson shook her head and turned the kettle on.
"Well, I for one am thrilled. The sexual tension in this place was giving me a migraine!"
Charlie and Joey arrived at Elsie's house, having stopped off at Crumble to collect Charlie's mother's favourite dessert – a lemon meringue pie – as a thank you present. Holding hands, the two of them made their way up to the bedroom where Elsie was, as usual propped up against the pillows reading a book. She looked up and smiled when she saw them. Then she looked down at their clasped hands.
"How was dinner?" she asked curiously.
"Everything we all wanted it to be," Joey told her with a grin.
"Are you...?"
"Thank you for meddling, Mum," Charlie said, beaming.
She presented her mother with the pie and came to sit on the edge of the bed, pulling Joey beside her. Elsie was elated. She reached for both of them. It felt like one of the proudest moments of her life to know that her girls were finally together.
"Oh, I am so happy!" Elsie declared. "Finally! Finally you're together! And it's only taken twenty years!"
"Sarcasm not necessary," Charlie scolded gently.
Joey giggled as Elsie pulled them both into a hug.
"So, you went to dinner and..."
"And after a lot of stuttering and stammering, stopping and starting I finally told Charlie that I was in love with her," Joey explained.
"You what?"
All three women turned to face Ruby in the doorway. She stood there with wide eyes, leaning on the frames for support.
"Um..." Charlie faltered.
She and Joey looked helplessly at Elsie. Their bubble had officially burst. Ruby ventured further into the room.
"I thought you and Charlie had got together ages ago," she said, climbing onto the other side of the bed.
She peered at the pie with hungry eyes.
"Can I have some?"
The other three were speechless. Noting the stares, Ruby looked up.
"What?" she asked.
Elsie was the first to break the silence by bursting out laughing. Charlie and Joey followed suit.
"When did you think we got together?" Joey asked.
"Um, a few years ago," Ruby said. "At New Year. I sneaked back downstairs and you were making out."
Charlie and Joey's jaws dropped and they blushed.
"So I figured you'd been dating a while," Ruby continued. "It made sense really. You know, with the way you are together. You really only got together last night?"
"Yeah," Charlie said. "You don't have a problem with this?"
"No," Ruby said. "Why would I?"
"Well, because... because..."
"Because you're girls?" Ruby asked.
"Well, yeah," Charlie said quietly.
Ruby shrugged.
"I started wondering about you two when I was tiny," she said. "I've always thought of it as being as normal as boys and girls so, no; I don't have any problems with this at all. I'm happy so long as you're happy. And I can't think of two people more perfect for each other."
She smiled at them both.
"Can we have pie now?" she asked.
Having spent most of the day with Elsie and Ruby, Charlie and Joey made their excuses and headed home. In their silent, empty house, the girls suddenly felt shy. Standing in the middle of the room, the two of them held hands and looked into each other's eyes. Fascinated, Joey smiled into Charlie's face.
"You are so beautiful," she said.
Charlie blushed as they came together in a gentle kiss. Joey reached up and wrapped her arms around Charlie's shoulders, holding her close. Kissing each other softly again and again, they rested their foreheads together, still feeling a little nervous. Joey licked her lips. Their mouths were still so close that her tongue briefly touched Charlie's. They giggled. Taking the initiative, Joey led Charlie by the hand towards her bedroom.
Still gazing into Charlie's beautiful eyes, Joey pushed open her bedroom door and guided her inside. Charlie pulled it shut behind them. Joey clicked on a lamp, feeling shy and unable to speak. She had been waiting for this moment for almost all her life. They came together in a passionate kiss, wrapping their arms around each other, pressing lips against lips and letting their tongues dance. Breathlessly, they drew away, smiling at each other and blushing, wondering how they were going to get started. They had kissed so many times, touched so much, shared a bed on countless occasions and even got changed in front of each other. But to try and undress each other, to make love, was something different.
Taking a breath and trying to ignore the fact that her hands were shaking, Joey settled her fingers on the first button of Charlie's black shirt. She glanced up at Charlie to make sure it was okay. Charlie smiled at her, nodding slightly. Joey undid the button and moved onto the next. Still with trembling fingers, she managed to unbutton all six. Charlie held her breath as she felt Joey's fingertips slip inside her shirt and travel up the bare skin of her torso. Joey paused for a fraction of a second as she reached the material of Charlie's bra but then continued, letting her fingers and palms glide over it. She heard Charlie exhale.
Reaching her shoulders, Joey slipped Charlie's shirt off. It dropped silently to the floor. It was far from the first time Joey had seen Charlie in this state of undress but it was certainly the most special time. She looked stunning in her blue jeans and black bra, her hair tumbling down her back, a shy smile on her face, lit by the lamp and the light of the moon pouring in through the open window. Wanting to take it in turns, Charlie moved closer. She kissed Joey once on her mouth, then her jaw, then on two different places on her neck. That morning, Joey had dressed in the red vest top that Charlie had coyly admitted liking so much. Charlie kissed along the neckline, just above the fabric of the top and then gently ran her hands down Joey's front, enjoying the contours of her body as she took in her breasts and abdomen. Reaching the bottom of her clothing, Charlie eased it up. Complying, Joey put her arms up and let Charlie remove the material. It fell to the floor as silently as Charlie's shirt had. It seemed that neither outfit wanted to be on their bodies anymore. Charlie couldn't help but grin. Joey was in a red bra. She looked amazing.
"I like to be colour co-ordinated," Joey said shyly.
She blushed and bowed her head. Charlie captured her mouth in a kiss.
"Every time I think it's impossible for you to get any hotter, you do!" Charlie almost growled.
They kissed hard, not allowing any room for air. Charlie started forward, guiding Joey back onto the bed. The two of them landed on the mattress in a clumsy cuddle, breaking apart only to laugh. They touched noses and gazed into each other's eyes, still laughing.
"I love you so much, Joey," Charlie breathed. "I am so happy to be here with you tonight."
"This is my dream come true," Joey whispered.
They kissed again, more tenderly this time. With Charlie on top of Joey, she brushed her lips softly over hers. She wondered how she could have ever thought of not being with Joey. Suddenly everything made perfect sense and she chastised herself for ever trying to not want this when it felt so right. In spite of or perhaps because of Joey's gender, they were perfect for each other and they always had been. They always would be. Just the feel of Joey's lips against hers made Charlie tingle. She tingled even more when she felt Joey introduce her tongue.
Welcoming her inside, their kiss developed. Charlie had been supporting herself on her hands, resting either side of Joey's head. Now she moved so that she was resting on one elbow and freed her other hand. She let that hand trail down Joey's body. She enjoyed the reaction of Joey's body as she squirmed under her touch. Charlie bent her head to let her lips join her fingers and kiss wherever she could reach. Joey smiled happily and looked up at the ceiling, revelling in Charlie's touch. She never thought she'd be so lucky as to enjoy a moment such as this. Already this was better than anything she had ever experienced before. Charlie slipped her hand down and rested it at the top of Joey's black jeans. Just as Joey had done when removing Charlie's shirt, Charlie looked into her eyes. Joey nodded, encouraging her and waiting for things to develop even further. Charlie fumbled with the button and then the zip. She pulled herself off the bed, standing by Joey's legs so that she could remove her jeans. Joey lifted her hips to help her. Charlie dropped the item without even noticing as she stared at Joey lying flat on her back in her red lacy underwear. She was the most beautiful vision that Charlie had ever seen in her life. She didn't think she would ever be able to stop gazing at her. Joey sat up quickly, startling Charlie. She reached out for the button on Charlie's jeans. Sliding the zip down, she guided the fabric down her girlfriend's never ending legs. Charlie stepped out of them and, a little embarrassed, permitted Joey to look at her in the same fascinated, hungry way. Joey once again considered herself to be the luckiest woman on earth. She could hardly believe that she'd ever forced herself to be satisfied with friendship when she could have had all this. She leant closer and kissed Charlie, just beneath her belly button. Charlie shivered in delight as Joey kissed her way up her body slowly and sensuously, occasionally introducing her tongue. Moving so that they were standing intimately close, Joey and Charlie wrapped their arms around each other. Joey buried her face in Charlie's neck, kissing and nibbling her flesh ever so gently. Her hair was tickling Charlie, only heightening all the sensations that were rushing through her body. She tensed slightly when she felt Joey begin to unhook her bra. Feeling the tightening of her body, Joey looked up sharply.
"Is that not okay?" she asked worriedly.
She did not want to make a wrong move. Their love felt fragile, not quite fully formed yet and she didn't want to break it.
"It's perfectly okay," Charlie assured her. "I guess I'm just nervous. After so long being friends..."
"I know," Joey agreed. "I'm nervous too."
"Really? You seem so... sure of yourself."
Joey left Charlie's bra strap on one hook and took Charlie's hand. She placed it over her heart.
"Feel that?" she asked.
Charlie was surprised at how fast Joey's heart was racing.
"It's racing because I'm scared. It's racing because I'm excited. And it's racing because it's so full of love for you that it doesn't know what to do with itself."
Charlie's smile widened. She kissed Joey tenderly, took her hands and put them back on her bra clasp. Grinning, Joey finished what she'd started and let the lacy garment fall between them. Charlie stretched to free her arms and then she discarded the item.
Joey licked her lips, her mouth having suddenly gone dry at the sight of Charlie's ample chest. She truly was the most perfect creation. Joey dared to reach out and touch, gently stroking her fingertips over Charlie's soft skin. She glanced up at Charlie. They smiled affectionately at each other. Joey's hands continued to explore the smooth surface of Charlie's breasts, making patterns and circles, coming closer to but never quite touching her already erect nipples. Every inch of Charlie was on fire. She loved the look of delight and concentration on Joey's face as she explored and teased. And she loved the effect they both seemed to have on each other. She gasped suddenly as Joey's thumbs reached their destination and then hurried away. Joey looked up at her, grinning wickedly. Charlie matched her grin as Joey came back for more. Time and again, Joey brushed Charlie's peaks, taking a firmer hold of them at last, relishing the feel of them between her thumbs and index fingers.
Joey had never been so aware of her own and someone else's body before. She was enthralled by Charlie, loved the texture of her skin and the way her touch seemed to excite her. Touching Charlie excited Joey beyond the telling of it. She wondered how she would be able to keep control when the time came for Charlie to touch her. Slipping her hands down to Charlie's waist, she turned both their bodies round so that Charlie had her back to the bed. Nudging her backwards, Joey guided Charlie to sit on the mattress. Joey moved to straddle her lap. She kissed her softly before leaning Charlie back so she was lying down again. Joey covered Charlie's body, moving down so that her mouth was in line with her breasts. She kissed her chest delicately. Eventually, she settled her attention to Charlie's right breast. She used her left hand to toy with Charlie's nipple, enjoying how responsive she was, both with her body and with the soft moans she was emitting. Joey quickly let her mouth descend and her tongue play. Charlie felt a thrill rush through her as Joey took control of her breast. Shifting slightly, without releasing Charlie, Joey used her other hand to tease Charlie's unattended nipple. Charlie wondered, not for the first time, why they had waited so long. After a lot of tender attention, provoking much delight from Charlie, Joey resurfaced and gently kissed her lips. They kissed over and over again and before Joey knew what was happening, she was flat on her back. She looked around in surprise and then back at Charlie who was grinning wickedly.
"You are good," Joey declared.
"Hopefully that's what you'll continue to say," Charlie replied.
"I have no doubt," Joey said, kissing her again.
Charlie guided Joey up so that they were both kneeling together in the middle of the double bed, their bodies barely inches apart. They kissed again. Charlie let her eyes wander up and down Joey's body.
"I'm not sure I even want you out of those things," Charlie said, referring to Joey red underwear, desire evident in her voice.
"I could keep my clothes on if you like..." Joey teased.
Charlie gave her a possessive look and reached a hand in between Joey's slightly parted legs. Joey gasped as Charlie began to run her fingers over her, through the lace, stroking her most sensitive places. Charlie was intrigued and thrilled to feel the heat and moisture between Joey's legs. To think that she was responsible for that kind of response was extremely arousing. She felt the heat between her own legs increase.
"I definitely want your clothes off," Charlie decided.
She removed her hand and let it settle on Joey's breast, once again over her dwindling clothing. Her other hand settled on Joey's other breast and she let her fingers play, enjoying the way Joey's nipples hardened through the material so instantaneously. Charlie kissed Joey passionately and moved her hands round to her bra clasp. She suddenly felt like a virgin.
"I may um... have trouble," she said worriedly.
She had no idea how to undo a bra from this angle and was afraid of embarrassing herself by trying.
"Do you want me to?" Joey offered.
Charlie nodded. Joey reached behind her and undid her own bra, letting it drop. Charlie flung it off the bed. She guided Joey onto her back again and continued her pleasure assault on her breasts, paying close attention to every aspect of her skin. She loved the way Joey looked and felt. Introducing her lips and tongue, she quickly decided that she loved the way she tasted and the texture of her nipple on her tongue. She never wanted this night to end. She kissed her way down to the top of Joey's underwear and then back up to her breasts, taking one and then the other into her mouth. She kissed Joey's mouth again and gazed into her eyes. When her hair fell forward, Joey reached out and tucked it behind her ears.
"I have never seen anybody more beautiful in my whole life," Joey whispered.
Charlie blushed.
"I was worried that it would be strange to do... this with... you," Joey admitted. "But nothing has ever felt so right before."
"It really does feel right, doesn't it?" Charlie agreed. "I thought it would be strange too, to make love after being friends for so long but every time I think to myself 'I'm about to have sex with Joey', it's not in a shocked kind of way, it's in an enthralled, amazed kind of way."
Joey smiled.
"I didn't think it was possible to be this happy," she said.
"Nor did I. But you complete me, Joey."
They kissed again and Joey gently rolled Charlie onto her back. She kissed her way down Charlie's body, paying particular attention to her neck and breasts, finally settling between her legs. Her heart raced even quicker as she realised there was just one piece of thin, black material between her mouth and the only part of Charlie she had never encountered. She placed a kiss there, over the fabric. Charlie quivered beneath her, anticipating what would happen next. She lifted her hips when she felt Joey begin to tug her underwear down. Joey forced herself not to look until the skimpy material was on the floor. Then she settled back between Charlie's legs, taking in how beautiful she was. She kissed her once and then ran her tongue up and down Charlie's centre. Charlie opened her legs a little wider, not wanting to restrict Joey in any way. She was trembling with excitement as she felt Joey begin to explore her with her mouth and fingers, circling her entrance and gently pushing a digit inside before finding her clit and applying firm strokes with her tongue.
As Joey gained more confidence, she listened to Charlie's reactions, figuring out quickly what Charlie particularly enjoyed. Charlie gripped the blanket tightly in her fist as pleasure threatened to overwhelm her. Joey was so gentle and yet so confident and in control. Her tongue toyed with her most sensitive part while she penetrated her with one, simple yet provocative finger. Charlie had never experienced anything like it. It was out of this world.
Joey worked hard to please Charlie. It made her head spin and she loved the way Charlie responded, especially the way she gasped and moaned. Charlie felt a wave of orgasm approaching. She cried out as it took over her body. Joey was thrilled as Charlie exploded, knowing that it was because of her. She finished by licking and kissing Charlie repeatedly, withdrawing her finger slowly and tracing it and her other hand up and down her inner thighs. Watching Charlie begin to settle, she continued to kiss Charlie's most intimate place before travelling up her body again. She paid brief but careful attention to Charlie's breasts as she reached her mouth and then she settled on top of her, snuggling in close. Still recovering, Charlie wrapped her arms around Joey, stroking her hair.
"That was amazing," she breathed.
"I'm glad," Joey said.
She truly was glad. She'd been nervous about making it perfect for Charlie. She'd been desperate to get it right. Charlie continued to stroke Joey's hair, feeling emotional as she clung to her lover. Joey held onto Charlie's free hand. She placed a delicate kiss on her chest.
If Charlie hadn't already thought that Joey was the most wonderful person on the planet, she certainly did now. She smiled to herself, thinking back through their life. Who would have known that the girl who had followed her round as a kid, who had cried when she'd fallen over and grazed her knee; the woman who worked on boats, got silly on wine and loved reading Harry Potter, could be such an amazing lover? Who'd have known that she could make her feel this way? Her smile got wider when she pictured their future together, doing this over and over again for so many years to come. She wanted to do this, be with Joey for the rest of her life.
"I am so in love with you," Charlie said dreamily.
Joey propped herself up so that she could look into Charlie's face. She smiled.
"I'm in love with you too," she said. "I can hardly believe this is only the first time."
"The first of many though, right?" Charlie checked.
"I want to be with you forever, Charlie," Joey said. "If you'll have me."
"Forever," Charlie confirmed, gently easing Joey onto her back.
Shaking a little, partly from everything her body had been through and partly from nerves, Charlie covered Joey's expectant body in kisses. As Joey had done, she paused to play with Joey's breasts as she made her descent. Reaching her hand down, she stroked Joey between her legs over the material of her last remaining item of clothing. She traced her finger up and down, enjoying the way Joey fidgeted.
Eventually, she nudged the fabric aside and came into contact with what she really wanted to. Blind, she searched her, exploring just with one digit, delighted by every surface she found. The thong Joey was wearing began to get in the way of her movements so Charlie took the initiative to remove it, allowing her to finally see her. She positioned herself between Joey's legs and kissed her thighs. Joey couldn't help but smile to herself, relishing every touch. Charlie ran her tongue over Joey and dipped inside her, delving deep and then moving to focus on the bundle of nerves that were aching to be touched, pleasuring her as passionately and tenderly as possible.
Remembering everything she had enjoyed, Charlie teased Joey, becoming turned on herself as Joey writhed beneath her, gasping for breath and moaning faint vowel sounds. Joey ran her fingers through her own hair, pulling it tight as Charlie played with her. If she hadn't known her lover so well, she wouldn't have believed that Charlie had never been with a woman before. She knew exactly what to do. Orgasm overwhelmed Joey almost too quickly. She wanted to bask in the teasing forever.
As she climaxed, Charlie continued to lick every part of her, kissing and stroking, wanting to be as engaged with her as she possibly could. She had never enjoyed giving or receiving pleasure like this so much in her entire life. This is what she was made for. Joey was who she was made for.
Climbing back up so they were face to face and feeling reluctantly exhausted, Charlie almost collapsed on top of Joey, who welcomed her with open arms. They kissed passionately and held each other close.
"These last two nights have been the best of my life," Joey said, still breathing a little erratically.
"Mine too," Charlie replied dreamily. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Joey. I love you with my every breath."
They slipped under the blankets together to wrap up in each other's arms, kissing until sleep claimed them.