Viva33: I'm glad you enjoyed it. And sorry, if it seemed like an abrupt ending. It was something of a stylistic writing choice. Hopefully the next chapter will flow more smoothly for you.
Maria: I'm sorry that you didn't like the chapter. Clearly you see Paige differently than I do. I hope it doesn't ruin your enjoyment of the story, overall But, I understand if I've taken the character too far away from how you see her.
Chapter 41
The earlier hustle and bustle of the street had diminished since Emily and Paige had entered the club, though it had not disappeared altogether. There were less cars on the road, and majority of the ones that rolled past them were taxis. The stores were long since shuttered and dark, the restaurant patios for the most part deserted. There was a lot of food traffic though, groups and couples making their way up and down the block. Laughter and voices bouncing off the brick and glass of the buildings, competing with the dull thud-thump rhythm of muted music pouring from behind clubs and bars, filling the night.
Emily was only vaguely aware of all of this as they stepped out of the club. The night air had grown colder, causing goosebumps to rise the moment it met her overheated skin. The sweat around her temples and running down her neck immediately chilled, causing her to shiver, and she crossed her arms over her chest, attempting to hold some of her heat in. Before she'd taken more than a couple steps, Paige had her jacket draped over Emily's shoulders. The gesture was sweet, but she shrugged the material off and immediately handed it back to Paige, who shook her head as she took it and returned it to her.
"Paige. I can't take your jacket. You need it."
"I'm fine," Paige said with a shrug that would have been more convincing were it not for the fact that her teeth chattered together as she spoke. She was practically turning blue as they stood there debating it.
"Compromise?" Emily kept the jacket around her shoulders, but leaned into Paige's side and guided her girlfriend's arms around her, beneath the material. It made walking a little more difficult, her stride thrown off by the angle at which she had to hold her body to make this work, but it stopped Paige from shivering.
"I think this is one compromise I can live with," Paige said, giving her a squeeze, and dropping a kiss to the top of her head.
They walked briskly, the cold, as much as their arousal spurring them on. And soon they were turning the corner towards the restaurant, which still seemed to be doing good business despite the late hour. It only took a few minutes for Paige to get her car back from the valet, and then they were driving in silence along the city streets, a heavy, expectant tension in the air between them.
Paige drove with one hand on the wheel, the other on Emily's leg, just a little higher, and slightly more to the inside of her thigh than usual. Her thumb traced idle patterns along the bare skin, goosebumps drifting along in its wake.
She tried to keep her eyes peeled for somewhere they could pull off, but it was hard to concentrate around the dull, throbbing ache between her legs, ignited by what they had done on the dance floor, and kept smoldering by Paige's ministrations.
Before long, Paige was pulling back onto the highway, heading back towards Rosewood. And with every turn of the tires, Emily felt her heart rate ratchet up a notch. There were plenty of secluded spots closer to home.
The drive between Philadelphia and home had never seemed so long. Emily watched the digital numbers on the dashboard clock tick past, a seemingly never ending countdown. Until, finally, familiar landmarks started to emerge, and the next thing she knew, Paige was pulling off, turning smoothly onto one of the service roads that led towards the outskirts of town, and eventually pulling to a stop on a little used access road leading up to the bluff overlooking the town.
From where she parked, Emily could see the whole of Rosewood, in the form of a blanket of lights against an inky-black backdrop. It probably would have been a beautiful sight, if she were paying even the least bit of attention.
Instead, she turned to face Paige the moment the car rolled to a stop, undoing her seat belt as she moved. Paige mirrored her actions, slipping her belt off and turned sideways towards her, one hand drifting up to cup the back of her neck, the other, the one resting on Emily's thigh, slid further up her thigh, fingers digging in slightly as their eyes met for a moment in the darkness, and then their lips crashed together in a rough, needy kiss.
Paige's fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her forward, deepening the kiss, her tongue thrusting into Emily's mouth with no preamble. Emily's hands cradled the sides of Paige's face, holding her in place, not that she had any intention of pulling away.
She leaned forward, trying to get closer, and winced as the center console dug painfully into her stomach.
She shifted, and leaned forward again, but the console was still in the way. She dropped one hand from Paige's cheek and rested it on the console, using it for leverage as she leaned in, but the hard plastic bit into her forearm. Abandoning that idea, she shifted onto her knees, without breaking the kiss, but still found she could not get close enough.
As if sensing her frustration, or maybe feeling some of her own, Paige tore her mouth away from Emily's with a soft growl.
"Backseat?" She suggested, already turning to open her door before Emily even had a chance to respond.
Hurriedly, Emily scrambled out after her, and opened the back door to find Paige sliding onto the long bench seat. Eagerly she followed suit, slipping in beside her and immediately bringing their lips together once again, leaning into Paige as she did so, and feeling the warmth and softness of her body. That felt so much better.
She let out a soft sigh of contentment as she deepened the kiss, hearing Paige moan into her mouth as her hands began to wander. They slid up Emily's sides, following a familiar pattern along the curve of her ribs and coming to rest against her breasts. The predictability of her girlfriend's actions making her chuckle lightly, before she nipped at her bottom lip, tugging it between her teeth before soothing it with a swipe of her tongue.
Paige moaned lowly as she began to knead Emily's breasts. Emily arched into Paige's touch, encouraging her with a soft moan of her own. Her own hands had not been sitting idle, they had slipped beneath Paige's shirt, and her fingers were now raking up and down her back.
She pressed further and further into the kiss, into the touch, slowly inching Paige backwards, until suddenly, without even being aware she'd been doing it, she had Paige flat on her back on the seat.
She paused for a breath and realized that Paige was stretched out beneath her. She grinned devilishly down at her, before sliding her hands from beneath Paige's shirt and reached for the buttons, her fingers fumbling with them, in her haste to get them undone. After the first few, she abandoned the task altogether, the goal of exposing Paige's chest accomplished. She pushed at the edges of her shirt to reveal smooth, pale skin and a lacy white bra.
Her mouth watered for a taste. As much as she teased Paige about her obsession with her boobs, Emily couldn't deny that Paige's definitely appealed to her too. She'd gotten a glimpse of them, the last time they'd made out, all hot and heavy when her mom was out, and they'd been on her mind for the past few days. She'd woken up sweaty and aroused after more than one dream that involved the things she'd like to do to them. With her lips, and her tongue.
She hadn't gotten the opportunity to do that the last time they'd been in this position, she'd started, only to end up distracted by what Paige was doing to her body, and then they'd gotten caught up in…other stuff. She wasn't going to let herself get distracted by Paige this time. Even if her thumbs were tracing light circles over her nipples, applying just the right amount of pressure to make her tingle, but not enough to satisfy. Or her lips were ghosting lightly against her jaw, making her shiver.
Emily dipped her head, pressing a series of soft, lingering kisses along the flat of Paige's chest before moving downward, lips tracing the curve of Paige's breast and up its swell. When they reached the fabric of Paige's bra she hesitated, her fingers toying with the elastic. She raised her gaze, to find Paige already nodding in response to the question she hadn't yet voiced. It was all the encouragement Emily needed, and she slid her hands around Paige's back to fumble with the clasp. Paige arched up, giving her space to work, the motion thrusting her chest up into Emily's face, so that when the hooks finally came undone and she pushed the material away, she only had to tip her head an inch or so, to brush her lips against the newly exposed skin of Paige's chest. She parted her lips eagerly, dragging them over the smooth, sweat-salty skin.
"Em…"Paige sighed deeply and her hands slid from Emily's breasts to her back, fingers digging into her shoulder blades, clinging tightly as she arched up into the sensation of Emily's mouth, eagerly kissing and sucking. "Oh, God."
Emily smiled against Paige's skin, before dragging her tongue across the hardened peak of Paige's nipple, enjoying the way Paige gasped, and shuddered, her fingers scrabbling across Emily's back.
At first she thought the movements were reflexive, just a reaction to the pleasure coursing through her, but after a few minutes she realized that there was a purpose to them, Paige was attempting to tug the sleeves of Emily's dress down. It was a futile effort though, Emily's dress fit snug to her torso, there was no give to the material so it would not be easily slipped off.
"Zipper." She lifted her lips from Paige's chest long enough to pant the word, using one hand to guide Paige's wrist to the tab at the base of her neck hidden beneath her hair. Paige latched eagerly on, tugging the zipper down with force, and Emily felt the material loosen around her shoulders and chest.
Paige's nails raked lightly across her back before her hands were once again tugging at the sleeves of Emily's dress. The slid down by inches, before bunching around her biceps. Paige let out a low groan of frustration at her efforts being thwarted, once again. The sound cutting through Emily's haze of arousal just enough for her to realize that it was their position holding the dress in place.
Reluctantly she gave Paige's breast one last hard suck before pulling away. She rose up onto her knees, smirking as the shift in position had her sliding against Paige's center, the action resulting in Paige's hips bucking up into her, a soft sigh escaping her lips at the slight friction.
Catching Paige's eye, she reached up and pulled the straps of her dress down her arms, slowly, feeling the heat of the other girl's gaze as she watched, unabashed, eyes wide open and shining in the moonlight. She was without a bra tonight, so as soon as she peeled the material off her body, she was exposed to Paige's unwavering stare. She watched the girls eyes go wide at the realization, almost comically so, and then she gulped audibly, and licked her lips.
Any nerves that Emily might have felt at being naked from the waist up in front of the other girl were erased by the reverent gaze, and the soft sigh that left her lips. While her position was vulnerable, she didn't feel even the slightest twinge of hesitance. There was something about Paige's presence that made her feel safe. At ease.
Her breathing was shallow as her hands sliding up Emily's sides to cup her breasts. For a moment they rested there, unmoving, before slowly she began to knead.
The sensation was different against bare skin than it was through the material of her clothes. She could feel the callouses on Paige's fingertips, scraping roughly against the soft skin of one of her most sensitive areas, despite the gentle touch. It ripped a moan from her throat, and sent shivers coursing up and down her spine.
Paige continued to pinch and tug at her nipples, her brow furrowed faintly, lip caught between her teeth in concentration, eyes never leaving Emily's chest.
It had never been this endearing when boys were so obsessed with her breasts. Their constant desire to touch, or see them more irritating than charming.
Paige's ministrations were making her feel lightheaded. Has she been standing, her knees would have been weak. As it was, she was finding it difficult to hold herself in this position.
And then her body went haywire when Paige surged up and wrapped her lips around Emily's breast. A strangled sound left her throat and sparks flared across her vision and she collapsed into Paige, gripping shoulders for support, sending them both toppling back onto the seat. She barely even noticed the change in position as she pressed into the wet warmth that enveloped her, shuddering as Paige sucked, hard, and scraped her tongue along her nipple.
She buried her face in the side of Paige's neck, panting heavily against her skin, having just enough presence of mind to press her lips there, turning her overwhelmed flailing into a quasi-kiss.
Their new position had her thigh pressing firmly against Paige's center, and she felt the other girl begin to slowly respond, her hips beginning to roll, subtly at first, and then with more force as her arousal built.
Emily rocked down into her, finding herself just off center, and not quite getting the friction she needed. Her walls clenched frantically against nothing, sending a needy, hollow sort of feeling spiraling up into her belly.
She shifted, trying to get herself into position, huffing in frustration when she just couldn't quite seem to find the angle but still too distracted by Paige's lips and tongue on her chest to be able to concentrate on achieving what she needed.
As if sensing her dilemma, Paige's hands slid from her waist to the top of her ass, shifting her to the left slightly, as she tensed her thigh and drove it up.
"Mmm, Paige…" she sighed against the other girl's neck and began to roll her hips in earnest. Her hands beginning to wander once again, shifting restlessly up and down Paige's sides, nails dragging along the skin, feeling the muscles quiver and jump at her touch.
The flimsy material off her dress, paired with a barely-there pair of lace panties meant that she was riding Paige's thigh with hardly a barrier between them. The slightly rough material of Paige's pants adding a delicious bit of extra friction.
She raised her head up, and guided Paige's head from her chest, leaning down to capture Paige's lips with her own. She wanted them to be breathing the same are when they came. Hopefully, together.
She thrust her tongue into Paige's mouth in time with the rhythm of their hips, drawing out every gasp and moan and sigh that she could out of the other girl.
Paige's hands gripped at her ass, pulling her in down onto her thigh roughly, while bucking up into her with force, grunting lightly every time their hips collided.
Her whole body was flush with heat, it made her skin feel itchy, and tight. Her stomach dipped and clenched, growing impossibly tense. And each time she thought this was it, she couldn't possibly take any more, the tension increased.
She was close. And from the sound of Paige's laboured breathing, and the way that her kisses had grown sloppy and the motion of her hips was more jerky than fluid, she could tell that Paige was too.
She didn't feel Paige's hand slide from her ass, or slip between their bodies. Wasn't aware of any change in the other girl's position, until she felt Paige's brush softly over her clit, the barely there contact sending a resurgence of arousal coursing through her.
Though the idea that she was somehow lacking in that area at the moment was ridiculous.
"Paige." Her hips angled downwards, seeking out a firmer touch, even as alarm bells went off in her head.
Paige's fingers took another pass, feinting over her before slipping away.
Emily's body was at war with her mind. Physically, she was primed and ready, already on the throes of an orgasm, the addition of Paige's fingers could only make it better. Emotionally, she was pretty sure she was ready too.
What she wasn't really sold on was, now. Was this really the time and place? As much as her body craved the touch, did she really want their first time to be in the backseat of Paige's car, in the middle of nowhere?
Paige's fingers flit over her again, and letting out a heavy sigh, one of regret, Emily reached down and gripped Paige's wrist, pulling her hand away.
Immediately, Paige went rigid beneath her. Not moving, barely breathing. "I'm sorry." The words came out light and airy, tinged with regret and uncertainty.
Emily had hoped that she would be able to thwart Paige's attempts without ruining the mood, but she'd known, deep down, that it wouldn't be that quick and easy. Clamping down on her arousal, she shifted up onto one elbow so she could peer down at Paige and meet her eye.
"You didn't do anything wrong," she said. "It's just, I'm just not sure that here, now is the right time. I mean, don't you want our first time to be special?"
"Wouldn't it be though?" Paige asked softly. "We just had an amazing date. We're alone, under the stars, in the moonlight."
Emily didn't know if Paige actually felt that way, or if it was just her arousal and frustration talking. She also didn't know if it was logic and reasoning or her arousal and frustration that was tempting her to agree.
"Yeah, but do you really want our first time to be a quickie, with one eye on the dashboard clock, because we don't want to break curfew?"
As romantic as the setting was, and Paige was right, it was romantic out here, bathed in moonlight, with the stars glittering like jewels, romance wasn't exactly what either of them had had on their minds when they drove out here. And, maybe it was cliché and unrealistic, but she had visions of their first time being slow, and sweet, not the rushed, frantic coupling they'd been doing. And she wanted to be able to lay with Paige after, basking in the moment and holding the other girl in her arms, not throwing their cloths back on an racing the clock home.
Paige's face was the picture of disappointment. Her sigh laced with dejection as she nodded. "I guess you're right."
Emily felt a twinge of guilt, suddenly realizing that she might have just thwarted Paige's big plans for the evening. Maybe she had planned this to be a romantic interlude. An isolated spot, moonlight and starlight, the town spread out before them like glittering gems. They had turned off the engine, but the radio was still playing softly in the background, not that either of them had been paying it any mind.
It was kind of romantic. Especially if you factored in the rest of the evening, the fancy restaurant, the wonderful meal, Paige being on her most gallant, chivalrous behaviour.
"Oh, God. I'm so sorry, Paige," she breathed when it hit her that Paige had planned for this to be a special night for them. And she'd ruined it. "Please don't be mad," she pleaded, reaching out and stroking Paige's cheek. "I didn't mean it-"
"It fine, Em. I'm not mad." Paige captured the hand on her cheek, turning her head and pressing a soft kiss to her palm. "I shouldn't have assumed that you'd want to-"
"I do want to." Emily shook her head with a faint laugh. "You have no idea how much I want to."
Paige's lips twitched in an almost smile.
They'd had this conversation a few days ago. Had come to the conclusion that they were past thinking in terms of if, and had moved into when. But, it appeared that now they were actually discussing the logistics of it.
Her stomach fluttered at the thought, and she had to tamp down a giddy giggle. Though there was a small part of her that was remained sober, and reminded her that, since this was apparently happening, and happening soon by the looks of it, that she should tell Paige how she felt. How she really felt. Not just that she liked her, or had feelings for her. But, that she had fallen for her.
That, in the three weeks they had been together, Paige had stolen her heart. It had been a gradual process, attraction that grew into affection, affection that strengthened and deepened. For the most part, Emily hadn't even been aware of it happening. She had just known that Paige was the last thing on her mind when she went to bed at night, and the first thing she thought of when she woke up. That she thought about her throughout the day, wondering what she was up to whenever they weren't together, and counted down the seconds until she would see her again. She looked her every time she entered a room, and gravitated towards her whenever she was near. She was captivated by the sound of her voice, her heart fluttered whenever their eyes met and her body thrilled at even the most simplest of touches. She had started including Paige in her picture of the future, however vague those details might be. Almost without her even knowing about it, Emily found herself deeply, irrevocably, in love with Paige.
And, it was time that she told her. She felt like she had known that for a while. That it was important for her to say the words before they took that next step in their relationship. She'd been gearing up for it. Had hinted at it the other day, telling Paige she was falling for her. Hedging because she had been sure it was too soon to feel what she thought she was feeling. But, too soon or not, she couldn't help it. She loved Paige.
She just wasn't sure how to tell. At least, not in this moment. It wasn't just something you blurted out. There was a buildup, a method of delivery. And Emily hadn't quite figured out what that was yet. Though she knew she needed to figure it out fast.
Because she had told Paige that she wouldn't have sex with someone she didn't love. And she didn't want Paige to think she didn't want to have sex with her because she didn't love her.
Her thoughts were a jumble. And it didn't help that Paige was staring up at her, looking wounded by trying to be stoic, and she still ached from being so close to release.
"I'm sorry I spoiled your plans for the evening," she said softly. "I'm sure it would have been special, if I hadn't gone and opened my big mouth."
"It's okay, Em. You don't have to…placate me. I'm-"
"I'm not placating you. I wouldn't do that. I just..."
"I get it. And I'm sorry that I got my signals crossed. Or made assumptions or…something."
Emily was mildly irritated that Paige kept interrupting her attempts to explain. Only mildly, because when Paige was being earnest and endearing it was impossible to be truly mad at her. But, if she'd just let Emily finish one sentence, this whole thing would be cleared up.
Paige didn't seem interested in talking this out anymore. She wiggled out from beneath Emily, pushing herself up into a sitting position and, much to Emily's dismay, hastily began doing up the buttons of her shirt.
Emily stared at her, wordlessly, knowing that she'd screwed this up royally, but not knowing how to make it better. She couldn't just say they should do it, the mood was ruined. And Paige would know Emily was saying it just to feel better.
Holding back a sigh, Emily pulled the sleeves of her dress back up and reached for the door handle. She slid from the back seat and circled around to the front, slipping into the passenger seat as Paige took her place in the driver's seat.
The drive back to town was long and silent. A palpable tension in the air between them, a rift that Emily didn't know how to bridge. She longed to reach out to Paige, but wasn't sure if her touch would be welcome at the moment, so she kept her hands tucked neatly in her lap. Paige kept hers firmly on the wheel. And her eyes steadily ahead, not glancing over, even though she had to feel Emily's gaze on her.
Emily knew she should feel relieved when they pulled up in front of her house, but she only felt dread. They couldn't part with things like this between them. It would only make it more difficult to find their way back to each other if they left it.
"This wasn't how I hoped tonight would end," Paige said, before Emily had a chance to speak. "And I'm sorry that I spent the ride back-"
"Pouting like a child after a tantrum?" Emily grinned to let Paige know she was teasing, hoping it would take the sting out of her words, and put them back on a more even keel. If they could be lighthearted, and banter about this, then they would be okay.
Paige huffed a laugh. "Pretty much, yeah. I hope you know, I'm not upset because you said no. I was just-"
"Hurt that I stomped all over what you thought was a grand, romantic gesture?"
"Are you going to finish all of my sentences?"
Emily twisted her face up in apology, even as she said, "I make no promises."
Paige's lips curled up into a grin, a genuine smile that warmed Emily's heart. "I think I can live with that. And, I'm sorry, for making that decision for the both of us."
"You weren't wrong, in assuming it was something I want," Emily. "I'm just sorry that I didn't catch on sooner."
"No, you were right. It was impulsive. It would have been rushed and-"
"It would have been special. Because it was me and you. And I didn't mean to imply that it wouldn't be."
Her heart picked up its pace, beating a loud staccato in her head, and she wondered if this was the moment. The words were on the tip of her tongue. I love you. So simple. So easy.
"Do you really mean that?"
Emily nodded. "I do. No matter when it happens, no matter where, it'll be nothing short of amazing. And, I'm sorry that I forgot that, for a minute there."
Paige smiled softly and leaned forward, brushing a soft kiss against her lips. "Thank you. For saying that." She pulled back only far enough to rest her forehead against Emily's, her eyes drifting closed. "I know I jumped the gun tonight, trying to be spontaneous and romantic. I just wanted the whole evening to be romantic and…and special. Because I…" She pulled back, lids fluttering open. "I love you. And I was trying to show you how I felt-"
Emily cut her off with a kiss, cupping her face with both hands and gently sliding their lips together, smiling into the kiss, her heart soaring at Paige's words. Their echo ran in her ears.
"I love you too." She pulled back just enough to whisper the words against Paige's lips before leaning in to kiss her again. She couldn't stop smiling. Even when they pulled apart and hugged, holding each other tightly. She buried her face in the side of Paige's neck and grinned against her skin, feeling lighthearted. Elated.
Paige loved her.
Not that there had been any doubt. Paige had shown her how she felt in so many ways, in all the things she did for her, not to mention the way she looked at her. But, it still felt so nice to hear.
"Tonight didn't end so bad after all then, did it?"
Paige shook her head, chuckling softly. "No. No it did not."
Emily pulled back, reluctantly, knowing it was now well past time for her to go inside. Hopefully, her mom would accept that technically, she had been home before curfew, even if she were sitting in Paige's car as it idled in the driveway.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow?"
Paige nodded. "I have church. But I'll call you when it's done."
"Okay. Good. Have a good night."
'Sweet dreams."
She put her hand on the door, had it half-popped open before she turned and leaned in for one last kiss. "I love you."
She felt giddy, saying the words, and wondered if she would ever get tired of the way they felt, forming on her lips.
Or of the soft, sweet pleased smile that graced Paige's features as she heard them.
""I love you too."
Or the faint, husky rasp as she said them back.
Reluctantly she climbed from the car and shut the door gently behind and turned to made her way up the walkway, stopping at the steps to glance back, feeling Paige's gaze on her, even in the darkness. She turned and blew her a kiss, before mounting the steps and heading inside.