Guest: I never really decided whether Paige actually had ADHD, or was just an active child. It probably won't come up again though, as the story is coming to a close.
Guest: Thank you. As much as I enjoy Paily on the show, I agree that there were a lot of missed opportunities. They definitely had some chemistry. Thank you. Happy New Year to you, too.
Guest I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Guest Yeah, on occasion I think she might.
Guest Yes, Wayne is pretty awesome. I'm glad you're enjoying how the story is developing.
Author's Note I hope that everyone had a good holiday. And, now that they're over, I will (hopefully) be able to return to my regularly scheduled writing schedule.
Chapter 49
They forgot to shut the curtains the night before, and Emily found herself being drawn awake by the early morning sun shining directly into her eyes as day broke. Squeezing them shut against the stinging brightness she groaned and attempted to roll over, only to have her progress stopped by an arm draped around her waist, and a body pressed firmly against her back.
"Morning, sleeping beauty." Paige dropped a kiss against her shoulder before shifting back slightly, allowing Emily the room to shift first onto her back, and then onto her side. She pressed herself into the warmth of Paige's body, as she resettled her arm, drawing Emily in.
"What are you doing?" she mumbled sleepily, eyes still pressed firmly closed, refusing to open them and greet the day just yet. It was still early enough that she had at least another hour before she needed to be up and moving. She wrapped an arm around Paige's waist and buried her nose into the space where her neck and shoulder met, inhaling the sweet, salty scent that was distinctly Paige.
"I believe this is what they call cuddling," Paige said, as she slid her hand beneath the hem of Emily's shirt and pressed it flat against the small of her back. "Or, snuggling, if you prefer. Some have been known to use the word canoodling."
"Dork." Emily huffed against the side of Paige's neck and gave her shoulder a weak smack. "I meant, why are you still here?"
Not that she was complaining. She could definitely get used to waking up in Paige's arms, feeling her body, all loose and sleep-warm, draped around her, hearing the slow, steady beat of her heart, and the deep, even catch of her breath.
It was her new favorite feeling. Right next to falling asleep in Paige's arms, feeling them tighten around her, holding her securely. And kissing her, breath warm and lips soft against her own. And, making Paige come, watching her eyes darken, and then shut, and her lips part into an "O", and watching her body tighten and arch. And, holding Paige's hand, her skin warm and smooth, her fingers firm in their grip.
Anything to do with Paige was her new favorite thing. She couldn't believe it had only been a month. She felt like they had been together for a lifetime. And yet, she was enjoying learning new things about her every day.
"Um…ouch? And, I don't mean that lame ass attempt at a hit."
"You know what I mean."
"No, actually, Em, I don't."
Emily pried her eyes open at that, and lifted her head from the crook of Paige's neck, frowning faintly as she saw the confusion in Paige's features. She raised her eyebrows expectantly.
"Sorry." Emily pressed a soft kiss to her pouting lips, feeling them turn up into a smile.
"It's just, don't you usually go for a run in the mornings?" she asked when she pulled back. She propped herself up on one elbow, so she could look at Paige as they talked. Though, the temptation to just let her eyes fall shut again was huge.
"Most mornings, yeah. But, I thought that I might get my cardio another way today." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, and gave Emily a wide, leering grin.
"Oh, you did, did you?" Emily let out a laugh, as Paige's hand slid from the small of her back down to the top of her ass, which she pinched lightly. "You seem pretty confident that's going to happen."
Paige smile faltered for a moment, and then returned, cockier than before. "Like you can resist me."
She pursed her lips together, holding back a smile. "You think you're that irresistible?"
Paige's hand was kneading her ass now, and it took every effort not to melt into her.
"I don't think, I know."
Paige's self-confidence was making Emily's resolve to tease her weaken. There was just something so sexy about her when she was being bold, and self-assured.
"Oh, really?" She kept her tone cool, but Paige didn't even flinch. Her eyes danced with humour as she slid both hands beneath the waistband Emily's jeans, and kneaded her ass, with just the flimsy material of her panties between her fingertips and Emily's bare skin.
She felt her eyelids flutter, and she had to work to keep them open. Paige's grin grew wider, and she slid her leg between Emily's, pressing up against her center with a firm, muscles thigh.
Groaning, low in her throat, Emily gave in. She surged forward and captured Paige's lips in her own, nipping at the bottom one lightly before sweeping her tongue across it, seeking entrance. Paige granted it with a sigh, and Emily delved in eagerly.
She kept her kisses light, playful. Pressing her lips briefly against Paige's, her tongue flicking into her mouth before pulling away. A rapid series of pecks that had Paige laughing lightly and craning her neck as she chased Emily's mouth.
She rolled Emily onto her back, and shifted up over her, probably thinking she would be able to control their kisses that way, but Emily continued to evade her, peppering the side of her face, jaw and neck with kisses.
Paige let out a sound somewhere between a moan, and a laugh as Emily flicked her tongue across her earlobe, hitting the ticklish spot she knew to be there.
She sucked lightly, making Paige shudder above her, her hands clutched convulsively against Emily's ass, pulling her up into her. Emily gasped lightly at the pressure applied directly to her center, and nipped at Paige's ear again.
She laughed breathlessly against Emily's shoulder before turning her head and chasing Emily's lips once again, hitting the shell of her ear and the side of her face before finally catching them, giving them a playful nip.
Emily threaded her hands in Paige's hair in an attempt to hold Paige in place, and deepen the kiss but Paige chuckled and turned her head, brushing a kiss across Emily's cheek instead.
They wrestled for control, nipping at each other's lips, cheeks and necks, denying the other's attempts at deepening the kisses, their hands playfully skimming along each other's bodies, tumbling across the bed and getting tangled up in the sheets in the process.
It was Emily who finally gained the upper hand, flipping a laughing, breathless Paige, onto her back, pinning her shoulders against the mattress, and trapping her hips in place with her knees.
She grinned victoriously down at Paige, who merely smirked back up at her, eyes alight with laughter, face flushed and shimmering with a thin sheen of sweat. She quirked an eyebrow, the corner of her lip curling up, the challenge clear in her expression, wanting to know what Emily was going to do to her, now that she had her.
A grin tugged at Emily's lips as her brain filled with possibilities. Paige's eyes widened, her smile turning delighted as Emily felt her own expression turn positively wicked. Still grinning, she dipped her head, and captured Paige's lips in a deep, searing kiss, but pulled back just as Paige was really starting to get into it. She laughed at Paige's growl of frustration, then turned her attention to Paige's neck, dragging her lips along skin that was damp, and warm beneath her mouth. She swirled her tongue out, tasting the salt of her sweat, and grinned as Paige arched up into her, moaning as she extended her neck to give Emily more access.
Her hands shifted restlessly against Emily's hips, before sliding around to slip beneath the waistband of her jeans and grip her ass. She tugged Emily's lower body down onto her thigh, as she drove her own up, and Emily's lips faltered, momentarily distracted by the pressure against her center, firm and steady.
Paige chuckled, and pressed her advantage, rolling her hips up again. Emily let out a low groan and rocked back into Paige, before regaining her composure, and redoubling her efforts. She bit down sharply at Paige's neck, the other girl twitching beneath her, and letting out a faint cry of surprise. But, her hips jerked up, and a moan followed her cry. She slid her tongue along the spot she had just bit, soothing the sting, and Paige sighed softly, her hips rocking up once again. She continued to work her way down Paige's neck, pressing kisses along her skin and swirling her tongue in the dips and hollows of her throat. She grinned at the way she felt Paige's pulse jump under her touch, soft moans and sighs falling from her lips as she writhed gently under her.
The subtle rocking of her hips stoked Emily's arousal, she could feel the tightening in her belly, and the pooling of moisture between her thighs, but the light friction was enough to keep it from becoming overwhelming as she slid slightly down Paige's body and began kissing her way along the flat of her chest, until her lips brushed fabric, as she reached the collar of her shirt.
She slid her hands from Paige's shoulders down her torso, skimming over her breasts and down her side, to grip the hem of her shirt, and pull it up, and over her head. She tossed it aside, unconcerned with it once it was no longer in her way, her interest now on the newly exposed expanse of skin that was Paige's chest, and torso. Well, some of her chest. She tugged at Paige's bra, sliding it up and over her head as well, Paige arching and shifting as best she could to help her remove the material.
She pressed her lips to Paige's breastbone, just above her heart, and felt the faint vibrations of her pulse pounding. She grinned against her skin when she felt Paige's breath catch, and hold for a minute, before releasing. She was glad she didn't have to keep reminding Paige to breathe, but it was nice to know that she still had that effect on her.
Her lips followed the swell of Paige's breast, taking the nipple into her mouth when she reached it, and swirling her tongue around it until it hardened, before releasing it with a pop, and giving the other one the same attention.
Paige arched up off the bed, pressing herself towards Emily's mouth, soft sighs and wordless murmurs rising in her throat as Emily slid down her body, pressing kisses along the curve of her ribs, and across her stomach. She swirled her tongue along the ridges of Paige's abdomen, and scraped her teeth along the muscles that stood out in stark relief as Paige's body tensed, and her breath caught once again. She enjoyed the way her muscles shifted under her lips, twitching and tensing as she licked and kissed along them.
Paige's hands slid up her back, nails raking against her skin, and fingers digging into her shoulders as she continued to shift lower. She nipped at Paige's belly button, and Paige squirmed beneath her, a laugh strangling in her throat. She tickled her sides gently, enjoying the way Paige writhed beneath her.
She dipped her head, kissing her way along the stretch of skin just above Paige's panty line, grinning as she felt Paige go rigid beneath her. Her own heart beat ticked loudly in her ears, as she waited for Paige's breath to expel. She was just about to raise her head and remind her, when Paige relaxed beneath her, with an audible sigh.
She hooked her fingers into the hem of Paige's underwear, and tugged, pushing them down her legs and over her ankles, and then leaving them to join Paige's jeans, which had been shucked off and discarded at some point in the night, tangled within the sheets somewhere at the bottom of the bed.
She could smell Paige's arousal, a thick, heady scent. The memory of it lingered on her tongue, and her mouth started to water in anticipation. She parted Paige's thighs and slid down the bed, resettling between them.
"Em…" Paige's fingers tangled in her hair, and her hips rolled up subtly towards her face. She curled her fingers around Paige's upper thighs, feeling the muscles tense and jump under her touch.
She licked her lips, and took a deep, steadying breath, letting it out slowly, and then chuckling as Paige twitched, and yelped, as the soft stream of air hit her sensitive center. It had been unintentional on Emily's part, but she enjoyed the reaction so much that she did it again, and again, blowing purposefully and grinning as Paige's hips twitched, and soft cries fell from her lips.
"Em…Please…" her voice cracked as she shifted beneath her.
As much fun as she was having teasing Paige, she abandoned the efforts and dipped her head forward. She slid her tongue along Paige's length, sluicing through the abundant wetness, the tang of which exploded across her taste buds. She moaned, and repeated the motion. Her finger tightened around Paige's thighs, as she pressed deeper into her, feeling Paige's walls flutter against the tip of her tongue as it flit across them.
"Oh, God…" Paige's moan was breathless as she arched up off the bed, her fingers twisting in Emily's hair. "Fuck. Em."
Her hips rolled towards, and then away from Emily's searching tongue, a whine issuing from her throat. Emily grinned, pleased at how well Paige was responding to her, and doubled her efforts, thrusting her tongue a little deeper into Paige, humming lightly at the sweet tang that coated her tongue.
She was a little surprised at how much she was enjoying this, the few attempts she'd made before, including her first time with Paige, had been uncertain, and a little tentative. But, Paige was moaning and writhing beneath her, gasps and groans falling from her lips, her fingers tugging insistently at Emily's hair, so she knew she was doing it right. And she loved the feeling of Paige's walls shifting, and then giving way to her tongue every time she thrust into her.
Paige's cries had grown hoarse, and her body was rigid with tension beneath her, yet, Emily couldn't seem to get her to fall over the edge.
"Ugh. Em, I can't…I need…" Paige's plea wasn't exactly articulate, though Emily knew just what she meant. She didn't seem to realize that Emily wasn't teasing, she just hadn't found the way to make her come.
She curled her tongue, teasing along the inside of Paige's walls, trying to find that spot inside that would drive her wild.
She knew she found it a moment later when Paige's breath hitched, and her hips bucked wildly.
"Emily." Paige arched towards her, nails digging into her scalp. "Oh.' She panted, and her legs tightened around Emily's head, squeezing them like a vice. "Oh, that feels good. Oh, god." Her words slurred together, a hoarse, hurried mantra, as Emily exploited the spot with the tip of her tongue, flicking back and forth across it rapidly, as she slid her hand around Paige's thigh to thumb at her clit. She circled it roughly, and Paige's back bowed up off the bed as she came with a yell.
Emily backed off her clit, but continued to stroke gently with her tongue, until Paige's legs relaxed, splaying open against the bed, and she tugged weakly at Emily's hair, pulling her head from its place between her thighs, and guiding her up for a kiss. Emily fell into it unthinking, not even occurring to her that Paige's taste was on her lips, until Paige pulled back from the kiss. She raised her head, studying Paige's reaction. Paige licked her own lips slowly, brow furrowing slightly.
"Is that okay?" Emily asked, sitting up and wiping at her mouth with the back of her hand. "Should I go get a drink of water?"
Paige reached up and snagged Emily's wrist, halting the motion. "It's fine. I mean, it's a little weird, knowing that the tang on your lips is my…." She trailed off, and glanced down before raising her gaze back to Emily's. "But, it's not a bad weird. And…." Again, Paige trailed off, glancing down, though this time her gaze didn't come back up. It remained firmly on her lap.
"And?" Emily prompted, cupping Paige's cheek and hoping that she would meet her gaze. But, Paige's head stayed down, and the cheek beneath her hand began to heat. She ducked her head to check, and sure enough, Paige was sporting a bright red blush.
It was then that she realized Paige's gaze was not focused on her own lap, but Emily's. Her eyes widened, and she had to bite her lip to prevent herself from moaning. Her thighs clenched and arousal stirred at the thought of Paige's mouth down there, her lips and tongue exploring, probing with the same enthusiasm as her fingers had. She reigned herself in. If Paige couldn't even bring herself to say it, she probably wasn't ready to actually do it.
"It's okay, if you don't want to." She stroked Paige's cheek lightly.
"I do. Want to. It's just, what if I don't like it?"
"Then, I will be utterly devastated. And will never have sex with you again."
Paige scowled at her. "Don't be ridiculous. Like you could ever give that up."
"Someone is certainly cocky this morning."
Paige's scowl morphed slowly into a grin. "Nope. Don't have the right equipment for that." To emphasise her point, she grabbed Emily's wrist and slid it between her thighs.
"Hmmm." Emily cupped her center, and kneaded gently. "I think you might be right about that."
"Damn straight." Paige punctuated her words with a nod.
"I certainly hope not," Emily said as she slid a finger into Paige's warmth "Otherwise, this is about to get real awkward."
Paige's response was cut off by a gasp, as Emily thumb pressed firmly against her clit. Her hips jumped beneath Emily's touch, and her back arched up off the bed.
Emily fell forward, supporting herself with one hand, on the pillow beside Paige's head, as she hovered over her, keeping eye contact as she thrust into her. She used her hips for leverage, giving each thrust a bit more force, a bit more power, as she kept her strokes slow and steady. She watched Paige's eyes darken, and her gaze grow blurry, her lids growing heavy as she fought to keep them open, until finally giving in and letting them fall shut.
Only for them to fly open a moment later as the shrill sound of her cell-phone alarm blared through the room. They both jumped at the sound, and Emily let out a yelp as she lost her balance, and toppled forward, falling onto her. Paige let out an oomph, and then a groan, as she reached for the offending device. Her finger scrabbled across the bedside table for it, before they both seemed to realize that her phone was still in the back pocket of her jeans, which were tangled up in the sheets, somewhere.
She uttered a curse, and Emily could certainly agree with the sentiment, though, she felt a laugh tickle her throat. She buried her face in Paige's neck, trying to muffle the sound, and could practically hear Paige pouting below her.
"It's not funny." Paige mumbled, voice barely audible beneath the incessant blaring of the alarm.
Slowly, she pulled out. Paige whimpered at the loss of contact, and Emily immediately missed the feeling of being tucked inside her. Groaning, Paige sat up, and began pawing at the sheets, muttering to herself as she tried to find her phone.
"Gotcha, you annoying little bastard." She snagged the leg of her pants and tugged, untangling it from the bedsheet. She reached into the pocket for her phone, getting a hand on it, just as the alarm fell silent. She made a disgruntled sound, and stared down at it, her face the picture of despair, and Emily didn't even bother to hide her laughter this time.
"Oh, yeah? Laugh it up, Fields." Paige shoved her shoulder, and she had to scramble not to fall off the bed.
Without warning, Paige's expression brightened. "Shower time." she said, sounding entirely way to chipper about the prospect. Especially considering their coitus interruptus. She flailed about, attempting to untangle herself from the sheets, made even more a mess by her frantic searching a moment ago.
She finally extracted herself and tumbled from the bed, landing awkwardly on one hand, and one foot, before righting herself, and practically bounding across the room, tripping over her own feet as she walked.
She had the shower on before Emily had even made it to her feet. By the time she reached the bathroom, it was already filling with steam and Paige was waiting, impatiently beside the tub. Emily took a moment to drink in the site, unabashedly letting her eyes wander up and down Paige's body, the other girl, for once seemingly unselfconscious of the open appraisal. She bounced lightly on the balls of her feet as she implored Emily to hurry up, before the water got cold. And, when Emily apparently wasn't moving fast enough for her, she closed the distance between them and began helping her out of her clothes, tugging her shirt off, and tossing it aside, before pushing her jeans down over her hips, her motions jerky and impatient.
Once Emily was sufficiently naked, she pulled back the shower curtain and stepped carefully into the tub, before turning and staring expectantly at Emily. Biting back a chuckle, Emily followed suit, easing gingerly over the lip of the tug and into the path of the shower spray, the warmth of which felt pleasant as it beat down onto her head and shoulders. Paige was already sodden, her hair heavy with moisture, and slicked against her scalp. Emily stood transfixed as she watched the falling water bead against her skin, and run in rivulets down her body. Her eyes followed their paths, down the side of her face and onto her shoulder, between the valley of her breasts, and across the flat of stomach.
She raised her gaze to meet Paige's, and found her girlfriend staring similarly back at her. The intensity of her gaze almost unsettling.
"What?" She shifted, and resisted the urge to cover herself.
"Nothing." Paige shook her head. "I'm just, trying to work out whether or not I should pinch myself," she said. "I mean, I'm sharing a shower with Emily Fields." She put special emphasis on Emily's name, a grin taking over her features, making Emily smile as well, but also roll her eyes at the reverent way she said it. "And, I'm excited about it. Like, beyond over the moon excited about it. And, I feel like that should feel weird to me. Showering with another girl, that's insane right? But, I don't feel weird about it. It feels absolutely amazing. Like a dream. And, if it is a dream, I don't know if I want to wake up from it. Hence, the pinching debate."
Emily shook her head, grinning as she did. "Your mind is a scary, wonderful place."
Paige nodded, earnestly. "It really is."
"But, I promise you, this is not a dream. And, I can think of some better things to be doing with our fingers, besides pinching." She wrapped her arms around Paige's waist and pulled her closer.
"Really? No pinching?" Paige grinned cheekily and pinched Emily's nipple.
Arousal jolted through her, coursing down her spine to her center. "Well, maybe some pinching," she relented, giving Paige's ass a pinch.
Paige chuckled lightly, then descended on her lips.
The movies always made kissing in the shower, or in the rain out to be romantic but Emily was only finding it to be difficult. Water kept streaming down the side of her face and into her nose, and when they parted to take a breath, she inhaled water, which tickled her throat and she had to keep supressing the urge to cough. Her fingers kept slipping across Paige's skin, and she was unable to find firm footing on the slick surface of the tub. She felt like she was one sway away from topping them both over.
It was ridiculous, she thought, feeling a giggle welling up. She swallowed hard, trying to quell it, only to end up having to cough, once again. She felt Paige's shoulder's shake beneath her hands, and a moment later, a short laugh ripped from her throat, though she tried to disguise it as a moan. It was enough to set Emily off as well though, and she tore her lips away from Paige's, finally allowing herself to give in to her laughter.
"This is definitely not all it's cracked up to be, is it?" Paige wheezed, dropping her head against Emily's shoulder.
"Nope. Not at all." She took a deep breath, attempting to reign herself in.
"I feel gypped," Paige said, groaning lightly. "It's like everything I've been led to believe is a lie."
Her dramatics set Emily off again, and it was a long moment before she managed to compose herself, and she was slightly breathless once she had.
Slowly, Paige pulled back from her, the expression on her face going from amused, to dejected.
"Aww, sweetie." Emily cupped her face, and stroked her cheek gently. Paige pulled a face, and turned her head into Emily's hand, kissing her palm. "You know, it doesn't have to be a total waste, right? I mean, we do still have to shower."
"Yeah? So what?"
"So…this." Emily reached back and grabbed the small bottle of hotel soap off the ledge of the tub. "Turn around."
Paige raised an eyebrow, shooting her a skeptical glance, before complying. Emily poured some of the soap into her hand and rubbed until she had worked up a lather. Stepping right up to Paige's back, she wrapped her arms around her, and started working the later into Paige's skin. She started with her stomach, stroking outward in broad circles, her hand slowly drifting further north, and south, with each pass.
"Oh." Paige let out a soft sigh, and leaned back, her head lolling against Emily's shoulder. "Oh, I definitely like this."
Emily pressed a kiss to the side of Paige's neck, and continued to wash her. She slid her hands hand along Paige's hips and sides, grazing the tops of her thighs, and the sides of her ass.
Paige sagged against her, moaning and sighing softly as Emily dragged her fingers lightly across her skin, enjoying the play of muscles beneath the tips, as well as the way they skated smoothly against her slick, heated skin.
She took extra care washing her breasts, and between her legs, cupping and kneading in a slow, easy rhythm, until Paige came with a low grown, and a sigh. She wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her up beneath the spray, letting it was the suds away from her body, before releasing her, and reaching for the shampoo. Once again she worked up a lather in her hands, before laying them on Paige's body.
She massaged Paige's scalp, nails scratching lightly as she washed her hair. It wasn't sexual, but it was still very intimate. Emily found herself lingering in the moment, not wanting it to end. Before reluctantly instructing Paige to tip her head forward and rinse the suds from her hair. She raked her finger through the wet locks, until all traces of the shampoo was gone, and quietly announced that she was done.
Paige spun around slowly, eyes dark with desire, and dazed, glassy. "That was…" she shook her head, and Emily nodded, agreeing with the sentiment even though it hadn't been put into words.
Paige reached around Emily and picked up the container of hotel soap. She poured a liberal dose into her hands, and lathered them up quickly, before running them up and down Emily's arms, spreading the suds across her upper body. She worked her fingers along Emily's shoulders, and down her front, grinning widely as she used washing as an excuse to grope.
Emily chuckled lightly, which only made Paige's grin grow wider, though despite her leering, her eyes shone with love and affection that Emily felt herself melting into. Warm tendrils of arousal coiled through her. Paige's fingers moved softly, but surely, against her skin, rubbing, stroking, caressing. She let out a soft moan and her eyes fluttered shut as she gave herself over to the sensation of the warm water cascading down over her, and Paige's hands working over her body. She massaged her way up Emily's sides, and then down her back, calloused fingertips scraping lightly against sensitive skin, raising goosebumps and making Emily shiver, despite the muggy heat in the room. She kneaded soap into her ass for an unnecessarily long time, before sliding her hands down the backs of Emily's legs. She shivered once again and had to press a hand against the shower wall for balance when she felt Paige's breath tickling against her thighs, as her hands worked back up again. The slowly burning coil of arousal flared, and she had to bite her lip against a moan and fight against the urge to roll her hips.
A strangled cry wrenched from her throat, and her eyes flew open when she felt the tentative swipe of Paige's tongue against her center. She gazed blurrily down at Paige, her vision clearing just long enough to catch a glimpse of her, kneeling in front of her, before it went blurry again, as Paige's tongue took another pass at her. This one probing a little further, but still tentative. She licked her lips, contemplatively. And, Emily was torn between reassuring her girlfriend that she didn't have to do this, and selfishly wanting her to continue.
"Paige." The name came out as a moan, as Paige flicked her tongue lightly against her.
Before she could say anything else, Paige delved in, thrusting her tongue deep into Emily's folds. It was all she could do to retain her balance, as Paige enthusiastically explored.
"Oh, God." She pressed one hand against the wall, and gripped the shower bar tightly with the other, as Paige's tongue twisted, and curled. "Oh. Paige." She rocked her hips towards Paige's touch, her walls fluttering, and giving way to each probing thrust.
She could feel her orgasm building, a hollow, pitting feeling in her stomach, that caught her breathless, and left her head buzzing.
"Paige."
Her girlfriend hummed lightly, the vibrations of which rocketed through her abdomen, and her eyes slammed shut.
She came with a hoarse cry, her legs trembling, and turning to jelly. She would have collapsed if not for her grip on the curtain rod, and she prayed it wouldn't give way. Slowly, Paige slid to her feet, her arms going around Emily's waist to help hold her up. Releasing her grip on the rod, and the wall, she wrapped her arms around Paige's neck, and clung tightly, burying her face in her shoulder, and breathing her in.
They stood like that for a long while, until the water raining down on them began to grow cooler, and goosebumps started to raise on their skin. Reluctantly, Emily untangled herself from Paige's embrace, and reached for the faucet, turning it off. Paige had a towel ready and waiting for her when she straightened, which she wrapped around Emily's shoulders with a smile.
"So, showering together, definitely all it's cracked up to be?" Emily asked, as Paige grabbed a towel for herself, and began to vigorously dry her hair, leaving her dripping, naked body on full display for Emily's perusal.
"I'll say." Paige offered up a wide grin as she pulled back the shower curtain, and stepped out of the tub.
It was definitely one of Emily's highlights of the weekend. Though, the whole weekend felt like something of a highlight reel. She knew that they were extremely lucky to have been granted this opportunity, and that it wasn't likely to occur again any time soon. But, she felt like they had made the most of their time. And by that, she didn't just mean the sex, though that certainly played a part. It was more like, being intimate with Paige had brought them closer together. Even more than getting physical, it was the little things, the times in between, like falling asleep in a tangle of limbs, and waking up together, and sharing whispered conversations beneath the covers, and jostling for space at the mirror and bumping into each other as they got ready. They had shared something special this weekend. Something that Emily knew she would never forget.
They were just finishing up getting ready when Paige's cell phone chimed, it's tone muted by the sheets it had been unceremoniously dropped into in Paige's haste to get into the shower. She abandoned her attempts at re-packing her duffel bag and crossed the room to retrieve the phone.
"Who is it?" Emily asked, as she took once last sweep of the bathroom to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything. She turned just in time to see Paige's face turn beet red as she stared down at the text she had received.
"Paige?"
"What?" Her head shot up, and she stared at Emily for a moment, before glancing back down at her phone. "Oh. Uh, it's Bri. Some of the girls are meeting for breakfast, and she wants to know if we want to join them."
"Uh-huh. Why do I have a feeling Bri said a little more than that?"
Wordlessly, Paige held out her phone, and Emily plucked it from her fingers. She let out a surprised laugh when she read the crudely worded invitation, Bri having told Paige to get her head out from between Emily's legs and join her teammates for breakfast.
"So, what do you think?" Paige asked, looking nervous as she tucked the phone into the pocket of her warm-ups.
"Do you want to go?"
As much as Emily was enjoying the time with Paige, she thought it might be nice spend some time with the other girls. Today was the last day of competition this season, and it might be the last chance they had to all get together for a while.
"Is it bad if I say yes?" Paige turned half-hopeful, half-apologetic eyes on Emily.
"Not at all. I think it might be fun."
"Yeah?" Paige's gaze lit up at the prospect. "You're not just saying that?"
"I'm not just saying it."
Emily had a complicated history with the girls on the team, but she was making an effort to get past that.
"Okay." Paige shot her a dazzling smile. "I'll let her know we'll be right down."
As Paige sent her text, Emily finished packing her bag for her, and placed it on the floor by the door next to her own.
"Ready to go?" Paige held out her hand, and Emily slid her own into it, allowing herself to be guided out of the room, and down the hall towards the bank of elevators.
Paige held her hand all the way down to the first floor dining room, even as the elevator door slid open on three separate floors, and other people shuffled in. She didn't even flinch, just stood there, with her fingers loosely tangled with Emily's and watched the numbers above the door count them down. She did drop her hand as they rounded the corner into the dining room, only to take it again when she realized that Coach Fulton was not around.
Their entrance was greeted by cat-calls and whistles. About half the girls on the team sat around a handful of tables in the far corner of the mostly deserted room. The only other patrons were an elderly couple who glanced up and offered indulgent smiles before returning their attention to their own breakfasts.
"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in," Vicky drawled as they approached, a sly grin crossing her features as she kicked out two vacant chairs, inviting them to sit. "You look like shit, McCullers. You not get any sleep last night, or something?"
Paige's eyes went wide and she stuttered on her response.
"Ignore her," Emily whispered. "She's fishing. And, you look fine." She squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"Hear that, Bri? Emily thinks Paige looks fine." Vicky drew the word out, elbowing Brianne, who was seated beside her, and winking as she said it.
Emily shook her head, and bit back a laugh, not wanting to encourage her. "Let's get some breakfast," she suggested to Paige, ignoring the other two.
"Here, sit. I got it." Paige pulled one of the chairs out and ushered Emily into it.
Brianne mimicked the sound of a whip cracking, and Paige flipped her off before turning and striding away.
"So, how long has this been going on?" Brianne asked, flicking a finger back and forth between Emily, and Paige's retreating form.
"About a month"
"Uh-huh. And, what are your intentions towards our young Ms. McCullers?" Brianne crossed her arms across the surface of the table and leaned forward, bringing their faces close together, as if they were sharing a secret.
Emily shifted uncomfortably under her teammate's intense scrutiny, and wondered if she should even answer the question. It's not like she owed Brianne, or anyone else, an explanation.
"'Cause you know, Em. You're my girl and I love you and all. But Paige and I, we go way back. So, if you hurt her, I'll kill you."
"Oh, my God. What are you, The Godfather?" Vicky shoved her elbow, sending it skidding off the table. "You sound ridiculous."
"What?" Brianne pouted, and rubbed her arm where it had whacked the edge. "Someone's got to look out for our captain."
"Why, because she's too hapless to do it for herself?" Vicky rolled her eyes. "And, against Emily, of all people?"
"Do you really think I'd do that? Hurt Paige?" Emily couldn't keep herself from sounding wounded at the implication.
"What? No. Of course not. I was just messing with you. Come on now, don't give me that face." Brianne leaned in again, this time her expression contrite. "I'm sorry, Em. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt Paige."
Emily wanted to believe her, she really did. But, outside of competition, the girls on her team hadn't shown much evidence that they had any kind of faith in her. She'd felt ostracized since coming out. She knew some of that was her own fault, for projecting her own defensiveness onto them, but it wasn't entirely in her imagination. There had been some distance between her and them in the past few months.
"It's just, that's what friends do, y'know? Warn off potential suitors, make sure they're good enough for them. I'm sure your friends gave her a hard time, at first. Right?"
Emily tried not to feel hurt by the fact that Brianne considered Paige a friend, but not her. Even though she knew she shouldn't, because they had never been particularly close. They swam the relay together, and had shared a couple classes over the years, but had never really hung out outside the team.
She shook her head in response to Brianne's question. "No."
"Oh." Brianne slumped in her chair, looking defeated. "Look, I am sorry, okay? Maybe it was an insensitive joke to make, I just…someone's got to look out for her, y'know? I don't know how well you know her parents but…"
Emily nodded, she did know Paige's parents. Probably better than Brianne did, but she understood where the other girl was coming from. And why she'd felt the need to have the scare tactic conversation with her, even if she found it somewhat offensive, and completely unnecessary.
"Yeah. I get the instinct." She certainly felt protective of Paige. "But, her parents have actually been really cool about the whole thing."
Both Brianne and Vicky's eyes widened in surprise.
"She came out?" It was Vicky who asked the question, though she only beat Brianne to it by a second, if the way her mouth was hanging open was any indication.
"Yeah. A few days ago."
Vicky gave a low whistle, and Brianne nodded in agreement.
"And, they're okay with it?"
Emily glanced over her shoulder at Paige, who was making her way down the buffet line, filling plates for both of them. If Paige hadn't come out to anyone else on the team, Emily figured it wasn't really her place to do it for her. Despite the fact that apparently, they seemed to have all figured it out after last night's dinner. The details were still Paige's to divulge, or not.
"It's really not my story to tell," she said, turning back to the other two girls at the table. "But, for the most part, yeah. They've been good."
She knew Paige and her father were still struggling, but she also knew that they would get there, probably sooner rather than later.
"Oh. Well, good for her," Brianne said softly, and Vicky nodded.
Emily stared down at the table in the silence that followed, uncertain as to whether to broach the subject that was on her mind. "So, you guys are…okay with it?" she asked softly, her gaze on the scarred wooden surface.
"Of course, yeah. Like I said, I'm sorry about the joke. I didn't mean anything by it. You and Paige make a cute couple."
That wasn't exactly what Emily meant, but in a way it did answer her question. Any issues they might have had with having a gay teammate no longer seemed to matter. Maybe it had been a long time coming, but Emily was going to try and stop feeling resentful and enjoy the fact that she had broken through the barrier between herself and her teammates.
"So, what'd I miss?" Paige dropped down into the empty seat beside Emily, and set a tray laden with fresh fruit, two bowls of cereal and two glasses of juice down in front of her.
The three girls exchanged glances, silently agreeing that the conversation they'd just had would remain between them.
"Nothing," Emily said, and the other two girls nodded in agreement.
Paige shot them a suspicious look, then shrugged, and passed Emily her portion of the food she'd collected. Emily smiled her thanks and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, grinning at the chorus of "aww's," from the other girls at the table. She felt Paige's skin heat with a blush, and she lingered for a moment, before turning her attention to her breakfast, content in the moment.