Author's note: May I say, once again, a huge thank you to all of you for your very kind responses to my stories. This will be my last posting for a several days. I'm heading back to the sea – with a yo-ho-ho and a bottle of ... err ... diet coke, probably! I won't have the opportunity to write while I am away because I will be with a group of people who don't know I do this type of thing. In fact ... nobody knows I write except you guys. And that's the way (Uh Huh Uh Huh) I like it! I'll do my best to continue the story as soon as possible - after I get back. Take care all x - FirstCenturyBC

Chapter 13

"The roof?" asked Charlie, her brow furrowing.

Joey grabbed her by the hand and led her back into the room.

"Lift all the blankets and pillows you can find," she said as she stripped almost every item off their bed. Charlie opened a closet and found a few extra blankets.

Joey took her by the hand again and led her upstairs, their arms loaded with bedding, barely able to see over the top of them. "Watch your feet," she said. She didn't want Charlie to hurt herself on any of the small stones that were scattered about. The alarm in the adjacent building had stopped.

As they ascended the top step, Charlie realised exactly why Joey was so excited. Before her eyes was a beautiful roof garden, softly lit with faintly-coloured lights, deftly hidden behind shrubs and flowering plants. A water feature trickled in one corner. Loungers were placed neatly around the edges. They were large enough for two people.

Charlie smiled. "This is beautiful."

"That's not even the best part," said Joey.

Charlie had no idea what she meant by that. Joey laid blankets on the lounger, making sure she kept a few to put over them. She placed two pillows at the top and lay down, patting the other side for Charlie to join her. Charlie lay down and Joey wrapped the remaining blankets around them both, tucking them in. It wasn't particularly cold outside, but since their bodies still felt hot from their lovemaking, the air felt cool against their skin.

They lay face to face, their arms and legs intertwined, looking into each other's eyes.

Joey glanced up into the night sky. "There's the best part," she whispered, pointing a finger up towards the array of stars shining down on them. Charlie looked up and gasped.

"Wow ... I don't think I've ever seen so many stars in my entire life."

It was a very clear night, and the hotel was secluded enough that their view of the Milky Way was not obscured by the presence of the moon or by annoying street lights.

"Aren't they beautiful," said Joey, not taking her eyes off them.

"They're amazing," replied Charlie.

"Do you see Orion?" Joey asked, pointing to one particular spot in the sky.

"The one with the three stars on his belt?" Charlie pointed along with her.

"Yeah ... that's the one. Do you see how it's got ... two stars spaced apart below the belt ... and two stars spaced apart high above it?"

"Yes ... I see them."

"Look at the one on the bottom right-hand side."

Charlie looked at it. "Hmmm .., it's different from the rest. It's red. The rest look ... kinda bluish. I've never noticed that before."

"The red star is cooler than the others. Hotter stars look blue ... cooler stars look orange or red ... and that one is called beetlejuice."

"Like in the movie?"

Joey smiled. "Yeah ... just like in the movie. Some people pronounce it like ... bet-el-gurs .. but I like beetlejuice much better."

Charlie smilled - impressed. "You know a lot about a lot of things, Joey Collins .. I'm finding that out about you more and more each day." She kissed her on the cheek.

Joey blushed a little. "I like to read a lot ... mostly about the things I'm interested in. Besides ... when you're out in the middle of the night .... in the middle of the ocean ... on a fishing boat ... and all your navigational equipment fails you ... the stars are all you've got."

Charlie thought about that for a few moments. "Sounds scary."

"No, really ... it's not. It's one of the most peaceful places in the world ... when the water's calm, that is. It's just you and those little points of light above you ... and they seem so close that ... you feel you could pick them out of the sky like picking fruit from a tree."

Charlie smiled at Joey's description of her work. "Now that you put it like that ... I might try a career change."

Joey giggled and kissed her softly on the lips. "Are you warm enough?" she whispered. She was concerned that Charlie might be feeling the chill in the air a bit too much.

"Yes ... I'm okay," Charlie replied with a smile, delighting in Joey's concern for her.

Joey glanced down at Charlie's erect nipples. "Well ... err ... your nips say otherwise ... by the look of them."

Charlie looked down and laughed at the sight she saw. "The cold isn't doing that ... YOU are!"

Joey laughed harder. "I beg your pardon? NOT GUILTY, your honour!"

They were having such a wonderful night, the perfect end to a perfect day – for both of them. They gazed into each other's eyes once more and felt their lips drawing closer together. They kissed tenderly, becoming deeper with every movement. They sank further into their temporary bed. Joey found herself suddenly full of energy – her adrenalin flowing fast again – and she rolled on top of Charlie, their lips remaining tightly locked.

Charlie slid her arms around Joey's waist, drawing her as close to her own body as her strength would allow. Joey moved her attentions to Charlie's neck, kissing and licking her soft, scented skin. She could faintly taste vanilla moisturiser, and the mild saltiness of Charlie's perspiration – an arousing combination on her tongue. She slid further downwards, brushing her lips against Charlie's breasts.

Charlie felt Joey's warm, moist breath against her own skin, then felt her lips make contact – kissing and licking her. Her nipples hardened even more, and she gasped as Joey cupped her breast, caressing it with her thumb, back and forth - her lips and tongue working harder to please her.

Joey disappeared under the covers, leaving Charlie to gaze up at the huge cluster of stars above. She tried to focus on beetlejuice again, but found it difficult – her vision hazed by the rising passion within her. She closed her eyes as Joey kissed her tummy, then moved even further below the crumpled up sheets and blankets.

Charlie gasped as Joey's tongue made contact between her legs. She felt Joey's hands slide along her inner thighs, pushing her legs gently apart. It aroused her even more.

Joey intensified her efforts. She knew Charlie's body very well by now, and could push all the right buttons, barely even having to think about them – it came so naturally to her. Her hands caressed Charlie all over, touching her everywhere she could possibly reach. She reached upwards and grabbed Charlie's breasts, squeezing them firmly but not too hard. Charlie arched her back. It felt amazing. Joey allowed one hand to remain where it was, and slid the other back beneath the covers – slipping it down over her tummy and rested it between Charlie's legs. She was preparing to double Charlie's pleasure!

Charlie gasped out loud as Joey gently made her move. Her fingers explored delicately until they reached the place she knew Charlie wanted them to be. She caressed her, deepening as she did. Charlie reached underneath the covers and clasped Joey by the wrist. She guided her fingers further inside, letting her lover know that she didn't need to be so gentle with her! Joey responded immediately. The signal was clear and she could sense the return of the animalistic Charlie she loved to be with, albeit brief.

Charlie's breathing became heavier, and she found herself moaning with increasing volume. She slid her other hand underneath the covers and ran her fingers through Joey's hair, grabbing it loosely. She clenched her fists as she approached orgasm, clutching handfuls of Joey's brunette locks in the palms of her hands. Joey could feel Charlie tugging at her, her scalp smarted a little, but it did not deter her - it aroused her enormously.

Charlie writhed as she approached orgasm. Her entire body felt as though it was burning hot, her skin prickled from head to toe. She moaned loudly and continuously, tightening her grip on Joey's hair. Joey's poor head throbbed, but she didn't mind one bit! She was determined to end Charlie's birthday in the best possible way.

Charlie thrust her pelvis upwards as she reached the moment of release. She cried out as she felt a succession of strong pulsations within her, thrusting her hips upwards with each one. Joey moved in time with her, trying desperately not to lose her balance and fall of the lounger - or be accidentally kicked by one of Charlie's flailing legs. She loved it when Charlie let go of her emotions completely and allowed her wild side to take over – but she was also aware of the dangers it could bring – and the pain! Her scalp still hurt. She had also been in total darkness for several minutes and was beginning to lose her orientation.

Charlie relaxed her body completely. She suddenly felt completely exhausted and in need of rest. Joey clambered her way up for some much-needed oxygen. Charlie looked at her as she emerged from below and laughed out loud at the sight she saw. Joey's hair was matted and was stuck to her face. She was soaking with sweat and her face was bright red.

"Aww babe ... come here!" Charlie sympathised, giggling as she spoke and holding her arms out to take Joey into her embrace.

Joey lay against her. "That was hard work," she admitted, completely out of breath. "I'm glad your birthday is only once a year."

Charlie burst into laughter. Joey lay down beside her.

They snuggled together. Charlie tucked the blankets in around them. Joey traced tiny circles on Charlie's soft skin with her fingertips. They lay there, the memories of their day together replaying in their minds.

"So ... have you thought of a name yet?" asked Joey.

Charlie grinned, thinking about all that happened at the zoo earlier in the day.

"Not yet ... I haven't had much of a chance to think about it today. You've kept me so ... busy."

Joey grinned mischievously at the innuendo in Charlie's words.

"Ruby wants me to call him Ruben ... after her. Well .. she wanted me to call him Ruby ... then she changed it to Ruben when I reminded her that male lions aren't usually given girls names."

Joey spoke the name aloud. "Ruben." She thought about it for a few seconds. "Sounds like a great name to me."

Charlie thought about it again and nodded her head. "Yeah ... it is."

--------x-------

They had lain outside on the lounger for almost an hour, nodding off to sleep briefly before waking up again to the noises of the people below them. There must have been a party at the hotel that night and they had heard the corridors below them come alive with human traffic.

Joey raised her head to look at Charlie. Charlie had been sleeping but awoke when she sensed Joey's movements. They smiled at one another.

"Hey," greeted Joey tenderly.

"Hey," responded Charlie.

"You wanna go inside?"

Charlie was feeling pretty settled there on the lounger, but the thought of a warm and comfortable bed swayed her very easily. "Okay."

The stood up and gathered their blankets, sheets and pillows. They wrapped them around their bodies to stay warm and made their way down the steps. Joey grasped the handle of the sliding door and pulled sharply. It wouldn't move. During their recreational time upstairs, the sliding door that they had left open had slid shut and had locked from the inside. Joey tried it again, harder this time. It still wouldn't budge. She turned around to look at Charlie who hadn't noticed the problem.

"We're locked out, Charlie."

Charlie looked at her in horror, her eyes widened. "WHAT?"

"The door ... it's locked itself from the inside." She bit her bottom lip.

Charlie moved past her and tried the door handle. It was secured shut. She looked at Joey, who could see the panic spreading across her face. Charlie's mind raced. How would they get in? They'd have to find another way down to reception to get a spare key – from that woman! They'd be wrapped only in bedlinen. How embarrassing! Wild, carefree Charlie had disappeared back into Charlie's subconscious. Sensible, fretful Charlie had returned and she was not looking forward to solving this problem!

To be continued ...