There had been a five-hour changeover in Paris. On the longest flight, Gillian had stretched her legs by lying along the empty seats, head in Caroline's lap, tiredness and the soothing fingers doodling on her arm lulling her into sleep despite the activity around them. She knew she'd be safe, protected by Caroline and her inability to sleep in public.
Gillian had put that sleep to good use once they'd finally arrived in Bora Bora more than 20 hours later. When the bellhop with a gloriously thick French accent had handed over the keys to the bungalow and left them to it, Gillian was wired whereas Caroline was stumbling around like the walking dead.
In that somnambulant fashion of someone whose brain could only focus on one thing at a time, Caroline had stared at the ocean for a long minute before turning to inspect the room with a lazy smile, fascinated by the design of the suite. Moving slowly, she ran a hand along the back of the couch, then along the sleek table, eventually reaching for the thatched walls of the bungalow. Fingers tracing the woven leaves, she explored the texture, muttering, "two lives interwoven are stronger than one."
Gillian had never seen Caroline this shattered, not even when they had arrived in Barcelona. It was bewitching to watch Caroline when the normal fabric of her defences had crumbled, and seeing her lover so enthralled by the tactile tugged at her heart.
Gillian walked up behind Caroline, pushed the blonde hair aside and softly kissed the back of Caroline's neck. The soft "Mmmm" she heard was encouraging, so she did it again. She could feel Caroline responding to the sensation so she pressed herself into Caroline's back, arms reaching around the soft belly.
"Y-y-you smell good," she stuttered against the pale skin of Caroline's neck.
A soft sigh was followed by a mumbled, "I need a shower."
"Not yet. I like you like this," Gillian murmured, tasting the pale skin with her tongue.
Caroline angled her head to present more of her neck to her lover, offering a way out again. "I'm filthy, Gillian."
Gillian growled softly, nipping Caroline's presented neck. "I know. Filthy. Sweaty." She kissed her way to Caroline's earlobe before nipping that too. "Sexy."
Caroline moaned this time, leaning into the back of her lover.
Gillian took that as a green light and pushed into Caroline again until only Caroline's strong arms kept them from the thatched walls. With both of her lover's hands busy, Gillian used the advantage to reach for her lover's full breasts with the visceral thrill of knowing how she would react.
Caroline gasped, arching her back into the firm touch on her breasts. She was lost in the sensations coursing through her, unable to do anything but hold herself off the wall as Gillian drove them forward.
Gillian couldn't get enough of her lover. Her mouth ravenous and her hands full, Gillian's hips started a subtle thrusting of their own when Caroline clasped one of her hands and urged Gillian's fingers between her legs, pressing the small hand hard into her heat.
Grabbing at the fabric, trying to get underneath the dress was a temporary challenge for them both as Caroline's desperation became more apparent.
"God Gillian. Now!"
"I know, I know," Gillian gasped, eyes nearly rolling back in her head when her nimble fingers finally found wet flesh. Teeth nipping at Caroline's ear, she hoarsely whispered everything she was going to do to Caroline, everything she wanted Caroline to do to her in the days and nights to come as her fingers worked with the rhythm of Caroline's hips. She loved Caroline like this, owning her desire, gasping for breath, body on fire.
Gillian was intoxicated by her lover, growing more in love with her every day. The desire to please her, encourage her, support her through all that life threw at them had grown steadily since they'd first clashed. That initial enmity had shifted into grudging respect, eventually morphing into friendship and now this potent, exquisite sexual connection. Gillian held Caroline as she came, a susurration of "I love you" whispered into her ear as her body stiffened and shuddered.
"You're so beautiful." Gillian relaxed her grip and when Caroline returned to the moment, lead her into the bedroom. Sitting her on the edge of the bed, she caressed and stripped the clothing from her lover with infinite care until she was dressed solely in pearls. Gillian pulled back the sheet and tucked Caroline into bed before shedding her own clothes and closing the curtains against the light outside. Snuggling into her lover's back, Gillian could hear Caroline's breathing deepening as sleep took hold of her.
"Sweet dreams, my love," she murmured into Caroline's ear before following her into a paradise of dreams.
It had been five days and Caroline was starting to adjust to the heat. She lay naked on top of the sheets, sweat pooling between her breasts until she rolled over onto her back. The gentle lapping of the waves in the lagoon as they embraced the pillars underneath the bungalow were a soothing symphony. She hadn't expected sleeping over water to be so enriching, but the gentle rhythms of the ocean had a calming effect on her and the stresses that normally charged through her system had been washed away. Flora would be well looked after by Ellie and Raff, Gillian would be close by and a rare sense of contentment settled over Caroline. She was simply glad to be alive.
Caroline sat up and looked outside, the liquid blue of miles and miles of never-ending ocean visible through open doors. The best descriptor she could think of was glorious and if anyone asked, she would tell them that this was her favourite view. She smirked because Gillian would know it ran a very close second to the bedroom ceiling fan she'd spent almost as much time watching while Gillian repeatedly made her body flush with desire.
Gillian. Her mind wandered back to her lover, as it so often did now. Her affectionate smile was interrupted by the screeching of scavenger birds which startled her as they flew by, the sound eerily reminiscent of the screaming metal of beams shredded by fire in the gym. A ghostly prickle of terror ran down her spine as she recalled the fear of losing Gillian after the conflagration. Her fist clutched at the sheet as she breathed through the memory, eyes settling on the never-ending blue until calm threaded its way through her body. Gillian had proven to her once again that she was part phoenix; no matter what vanquished her in life, Gillian came back stronger. If the fire had taught Caroline anything, it was that loosening her grip on the people she treasured was the best way to hold onto them.
She was happy, and she could loosely hold onto that too. Caroline now realised that it was happiness that had been building since the night at the disco. It would be the main souvenir she intended to take back to Yorkshire in a few days…well, that and a revitalisation of her freckles which now bombastically coloured her skin.
Caroline traced her fingers lightly over a forearm. The changes she saw there were less familiar than the already recognisable patterns of their holiday. Glancing at her watch to find it just after 10am, Caroline knew Gillian would be in the lagoon. It had been a revelation to see Gillian take to the water like she'd grown gills and Caroline had as much pleasure watching Gillian find a new environment to call home as watching the farmer's fit body poured into a bikini. What a delight that was! Caroline smiled, remembering the adventure of taking Gillian shopping for it.
"I really want you to try on this one, Gillian," she requested, pulling the hanger off the rack.
Gillian pouted, suspiciously eyeing the small triangles of ochre-coloured fabric Caroline was foisting upon her. "S'not even going to cover me nipples, Caz."
Caroline laughed, eyes shiny with joy. "Slightly more than that, but I promise you'll look fabulous in it." She pushed it toward Gillian. "Go on. Give it a go." The look on Gillian's face meant some bribery might be needed, so Caroline tempted her with a favourite dinner, "And if I cook Caneton â l'orange this week?"
Gillian screwed up her face with the conflict between her discomfort and the ever-present desire to please Caroline before looking at the floor, fingers tapping her thigh.
Caroline grinned, knowing Gillian loved her duck with orange sauce recipe, but rather than wait for an answer, she upped the stakes. "Or Beef Bourguignon?"
Gillian huffed with gleeful anticipation of a week of her favourite foods, decision made. "How about both this week," she negotiated, well aware that Caroline loved cooking for her anyway, "And leftovers for me lunch."
"You must think I'm Julia Child and have time to cook all day!" Caroline exclaimed, peering at Gillian just long enough to give the impression she was thinking about it, although they both knew she'd agree. "You drive a hard bargain, oh lover of mine. Now, this on," Caroline instructed, jiggling the bikini, "Then parade for me."
"Bossy."
"Yes, and you love it."
"Hmmmf," Gillian grunted, her expression revealing how little she wanted to admit Caroline might be right as she took the hanger from her.
After a few minutes of quietly swearing in the changing room, Gillian cautiously emerged, head poking out of the curtains while she looked around the store, relieved they were the only people in the shop other than the bored 18-year-old sales clerk with eyes glued to her phone. When she spotted familiar blonde hair among the clothes racks, she stepped out of the changing room and stood looking at herself in the full-length mirror. She turned to find Caroline swallowing hard while her gaze raked over Gillian's body.
"That's the one," Caroline hoarsely croaked.
"Barely covers anything, Caz," Gillian whined, arms moving awkwardly around her body like she didn't quite know what to do with them.
The outfit was obviously working for Caroline, who was struggling to breathe and had eyes darkening with desire. "It covers enough, Gillian."
Caroline stepped closer, hands trembling a little as they reached out ostensibly to check the fit of the garment, but the look on Gillian's face said she wasn't taken in by it. The misdirection was clear when Caroline cupped one of Gillian's breasts and breathily whispered into her ear, "You are so beautiful, so sexy," before standing back to appreciate the full effect of Gillian in the string bikini. "Definitely this one, darling. It fits you perfectly."
Gillian's bashfulness showed as she fidgeted. "It's a little…" she turned to face the mirror again while Caroline looked over her shoulder. "I mean, there's not much of it. I reckon it's more like those bikinis we see on the telly, you know, with the tassels on."
Caroline barked out a laugh before she caught herself, unable to stop the smirk appearing. "We could always get two pairs…I'll glue tassels on one set if you like," she offered suggestively as eager fingers caressed Gillian's nipples over the bathing suit.
Gillian glared at her in the mirror, grabbed the hands on her breasts and pulled them tight around her belly. "Do that and you'll be the one wearing them."
"Is that so?" Caroline asked cheekily, trying to imagine it. She laughed, "Christ, they really would only be nipple covers."
She could feel Gillian's body shaking before roaring with laughter, each one setting the other off again until they were gasping for breath and having trouble standing up.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Caroline chuckled at the memory, appreciating how much lighter, how much more fun life was for them both of late. She had a quick shower before getting dressed and making two espressos. The new holiday habit of mid-morning coffee with Gillian was one she wasn't going to miss.
Gillian floated dreamily in the shallow water, arms stretched out for balance while her toes bobbed through the surface again. A lackadaisical Vitruvian woman, occasionally she'd hear an indistinct murmur from a nearby bungalow and in the distance a boat would slide through the water, but mostly all was rendered quiet as her head nestled into the ocean's bosom and her ears sank below the water line. There were moments of quiet on the farm too, but there was always more to do, always more to worry about. Here was different; here the to do list would dawdle across her brain before wandering out of her thoughts, her mind emptying of home as the cool of the waves and the heat of the sun on her skin washed her free.
The sense of being watched tingled her spine and she opened her eyes, turning her head to find Caroline observing her from their deck. She knew her face matched the affectionate smile that graced Caroline's. She couldn't help it. They had found their own private paradise.
Caroline lifted up a cup and motioned with her head to the steps leading into the water.
Gillian let her feet sink and with a gentle paddle of her hands, gracefully rolled over onto her belly. She swam towards Caroline who was sitting on the steps so her feet were dangling in the water. Hauling herself onto the bottom step, Gillian turned to receive the freshly brewed coffee.
"Thank you," was all Gillian said. She leaned against Caroline's legs, her wet skin quickly drying under the sun. When her coffee was finished, she gently wrapped her arms around Caroline's calves, resting her head on a firm thigh. Closing her eyes as fingers caressed her neck, Gillian sighed peacefully.
It was Caroline who lead them from their reverie. "We have the boat ride around the archipelago tomorrow…is there anything special you'd like to do today?"
"Hmmm," was the reply as Gillian sat up to look at Caroline, loving her make-up free face. "I was thinking a walk along the beach, maybe some snorkelling. You can read more of your book while I scare the fishes," she added with a grin.
"And how you do scare them," Caroline smiled, leaning down to kiss the top of Gillian's head. "A farmer in the ocean…they're probably worried you want to herd them or shear them or something," Caroline quipped.
Gillian laughed, delighted by the thought. "Would you prefer I school them?"
Caroline chuckled. "Okay. Let's wander down to the reef and see if Maeva has any free spots with her shoal of snorkellers. I'll bring my book."
It wasn't long before they were both dressed, Caroline wearing the baggy shorts and loose linen shirt she'd worn in Barcelona and Gillian pulling her green summer frock directly over her bathing suit. She'd deliberately packed it, knowing the memories it had for them both, and the effect it had on her lover. It instantly worked its magic on Caroline who stopped and stared at Gillian, eyes tracking slowly down the frock before eventually rising to meet Gillian's eyes.
"Or…or we could just stay here…for a bit," Caroline offered, fingers reaching to touch as she moved closer, "And I could school you."
Gillian laughed giddily, delighted the frock was working as she'd intended. "No! No, we're going out," she paused, wondering how far to push it, adding lasciviously as she swayed her hips, "So you can watch how my dress dances with my thighs in the breeze, winding around my legs—"
"Jesus, Gillian!" Caroline groaned. "You're going to be the death of me," she added, almost launching herself at her lover, pleading, "Wouldn't dinner out tonight be enough?"
Gillian caught Caroline by the wrists as she deftly sidestepped the amorous intent. "We're going out," Gillian stepped backwards, leading Caroline to the door, hips sashaying provocatively. "Walk with me, Caz."
Caroline followed but then stopped in the doorway. "One kiss," she asked, "And then I'll go with you."
Gillian acquiesced. "One…and then we go?"
Caroline nodded as she swung Gillian around and pushed her up against the wall outside the bungalow. "One kiss, I promise."
It was only one kiss, but it was one of those kisses that started with a soft touch against Gillian's lips and finished with warm hands caressing her breasts and a knee between her thighs. Left breathless and highly aroused, Gillian slouched against the wall, her mind adrift.
Caroline was equally breathless, but she managed to lock the door and then offered Gillian a hand. Smirking, she suggested, "Shall we?" before adding with mock solemnity, "I hear the water is less of a shock if you're already wet."
Gillian stumbled in Caroline's wake for a moment, dreamily following as she ploughed over the waves of the boardwalk, chuckling at such deliciously designed payback. She should have known Caroline wasn't going to let her off the hook for teasing like that. She grinned as she pulled Caroline closer to her, enjoying the simplicity of strolling together in the fresh air, with nothing more imperative to do than pleasing themselves.
The morning sun was warm on Gillian's back but it paled in comparison to the warmth in her heart. She'd had vacations before, not many but none had been like this, with someone who made her feel happier, stronger. Less alone. She felt seen, like Caroline knew all of her secrets and loved her anyway. She felt desired too, and not just for her body. It was a heady feeling and Gillian's deep breath was noticed by Caroline who turned to study her.
Gillian smiled and squeezed her lover's hand before lifting it to her mouth for a gentle kiss. She'd never been a priority in anyone's life before, but as she sauntered beside Caroline, she knew this was true. Their hands swung a slow pendulum in the rhythm of their walk, Gillian smiling as she remembered their dinner the previous night; Caroline always gave her the last of the bottle of wine, the best slice of pie, the largest serving. It was a demonstration of love every day. For the first time in her life, Gillian was dancing towards her destiny with someone she truly loved. It was finally sinking in; she no longer needed to be somewhere else, do something else, be someone else, or need anyone else. Maybe this was happiness.
