Well, here we are again. Took a bit longer than my usual update time, but you'll be glad to hear that they are still moving in a forward direction. It's not as long as I would have liked, but I felt I needed to just get it out there for you all.

Thanks as ever for the reviews, they really make me smile! To Portamento: its nice to hear that this story is encouraging people to watch magic. I've been enjoying the Penn & Teller show myself.

Who votes for them to get to second base? Naomily that is, not Penn & Teller. Though who knows - maybe that's a fanfiction that's already been written...


Chapter seventeen: Secretly

Naomi

I stepped into the elevator, ready to go down to our rehearsal room. As the doors closed, I caught sight of a flash of red in the corridor. I hastily pressed the button to open the doors again. It seems that getting my first kiss of the day from Emily was going to be easy this morning.

"What are you grinning about, Campbell?" The scornful face of Katie greeted me. Shit. Of course I wouldn't be as lucky as that.

"Nothing" I grumbled. It was true – at my first proper glimpse of the wrong twin, my goofy grin had fallen from my face. I half expected to see it smashed on the floor at my feet.

"Well, this'll put a smile on your face!" Said Katie, pulling a newspaper from her handbag. I could see that it was a British paper – probably the one her mother promised to send. Katie flicked through it until she found the right page. "There!" She declared triumphantly. I took it from her grasp and scanned the article. It was a standard 'Brits abroad doing well' sort of story, and was full of praise for our show. Alongside it was a photo of me and Katie – one of our many publicity pictures. The whole thing took up about half a page. I frowned to myself at the sight of it. I hadn't really thought about there being any publicity back in England about our show. I had almost forgotten that a world existed beyond our little bubble in Las Vegas. Yet here was a British newspaper telling whoever cared to read it exactly what I was up to now. And more importantly, where to find me.

"…So we're going tomorrow night." I glanced up at Katie with a vacant stare. It seemed that she had carried on talking, and had just told me her plans for the following evening.

"Huh?"

Katie chuckled at me.

"Yeah, I knew that article would catch your interest!" She said with a laugh. "Me and Cook. We're going to see Freddie's show tomorrow."

I nodded, finally feeling up to speed. Katie had recently started to take an interest in the rival magic act, and had insisted on going to see it the next time we were dark. Cook had readily agreed, but I had made my excuses. I had no wish to sit through the show again. Besides, I could hardly let Emily spend the whole evening alone while the rest of us went out, could I? No, I had graciously agreed to keep the secret twin company. Although, by 'graciously', I really mean 'readily'. Spending the evening making out with Emily sounded infinitely more fun than seeing Freddie's show.


"So why's Katie suddenly taken an interest in the show now?" Asked Emily for the third time. I shrugged, and proceeded to pour a glass of wine out for us both. Katie's actions were quite often a mystery to me, but not a one that I felt the need to ponder over. "She didn't seem bothered when we went to see it. Why now?"

"I dunno" I answered, with just a hint of exasperation creeping into my tone. We had the whole evening alone together in Emily's room, and I didn't want to waste it by talking about her sister. Talking didn't figure very highly in my plans at all in fact.

"Okay, I'm sorry" said Emily with a smile. I smiled back and stretched out across the bed, watching Emily as she moved about the room. She had on a very snug-fitting t-shirt that made her tits look fantastic. My eyes had been constantly drawn there since I walked into the room. "You want to watch some TV?" She asked as she stretched up to reach the remote control. I was about to answer that I didn't want to watch TV, but the words dried up in my throat.

For some unknown reason, the cleaners in this hotel always put the TV remote on top of the tall TV cabinet after servicing the room. Not a concern for most people, but for someone of Emily's height, it was problematic. As she strained to grasp the remote, her t-shirt rose up, exposing a good section of midriff above her jeans. She was standing side on to the cabinet, and from my position reclining on the bed, it allowing me an excellent view of her smooth stomach and her pierced belly-button. I couldn't tear my eyes away from such a beautiful spectacle. That top was quickly becoming one of my favourites on her.

"Nai?" Emily's concerned voice reminded me that she had asked me a question.

"Er, no. No TV" I murmured, whilst unashamedly staring at her exposed skin. What's the point in trying to hide it anymore? It's no secret that I'm attracted to Emily. Wait - yes it is, but not to her.

"No TV" Emily repeated, as she stepped nearer to me. Christ, how the fuck can she make her voice sound so sexy and husky like that? I smiled, and let my eyes trail back up to meet hers.

"No" I answered. "I was hoping to spend the night canoodling with my girl, if that's okay with you?" Oh smooth, Campbell. Why the fuck did I say that? 'Canoodling' is the sort of word my mother would have used. Emily giggled.

"Canoodling?" She asked, clearly amused at my choice of words. "Does anyone still 'canoodle' anymore?"

"Come here and we can find out" I breathed. Emily climbed onto the bed. Moving on her hands and knees, she made her way up my body. She kept her progress deliberately slow, her eyes fixed firmly on mine. She drew level with my face before coming to a stop, hovering agonizingly above me. I stared up into her deep brown eyes. God, I could lose myself for days in them. A faint smile played across her lips, and I sensed some teasing was about to occur.

"So what exactly does 'canoodling' involve?" Asked Emily softly. I grinned back at her.

"Well, first you have to be much closer…"

With a flirtatious smile, Emily finally gave in to what I wanted. She lowered herself down onto me, and met my lips with her own. She deepened the kiss almost immediately. Acting on instinct, my hands went straight to trace across the soft skin at the base of her t-shirt.

Much as I loved being like this with Emily, it wasn't quite enough anymore. We had been taking things slowly – which I still wanted – but it felt like we had been acting like a couple of nuns around each other. Admittedly, a couple of nuns that snog each other every chance they get, but for all I know that could be what nuns do. Maybe that's what all the singing is about.

I let one hand move higher. My fingertips ghosted up Emily's t-shirt, scarcely making any contact. As they grazed gently across her breast, I felt her smile against my lips. Taking that as approval, I flattened my palm out and gave her breast a firm squeeze. A soft moan was the response to my actions, a sound that sent a rush of heat right through me. Emily moved one of her hands from its position on the bed to stroke my breast in a similar manner. I moaned too, but much louder. The noise made us both giggle. I felt a little embarrassed at how needy I sounded, but Emily's smile soon eased any awkward feelings away. It had been a long time since I had felt this way about someone. That thought could still scare the crap out of me if I let it, but I pushed my fears away. I was having too much fun to let my doubts enter into this right now.

We kissed again. Deep, slow kisses that almost made me dizzy. All the while, our hands continued their exploration over newly discovered terrain. Feeling brave, I moved my left hand down to the bottom of Emily's t-shirt. I slid it back to its original location, this time under her top. I stroked my thumb across her nipple, feeling its hardness even through the material of her bra. I gave it a squeeze, delighting in the second moan that it brought from Emily. She broke our kiss and placed her fingers on the top button of my shirt.

"Is this okay?" She asked as she stared into my eyes. I nodded, not sure that I was capable of forming any words. Emily has a habit of rendering me speechless. She moved back into a sitting position across my lap. With deft movements, she unbuttoned my shirt before splaying it open. Her eyes darted approvingly over the area uncovered. Then I watched in revered silence as she stripped off her t-shirt. As much as I loved her in that thing, I was delighted at its departure. I gazed up in awe at the divine sight of Emily's torso. Her tits were absolutely perfect, only hidden from view by her black bra. Oh and also my left hand, which had not relinquished its hold for a second.

Then she moved back to lying on top of me, our lips meeting again straight away. Our kisses were faster this time, the passion between us becoming more intense. Touching Emily's breasts while feeling her hands on mine was the most wonderful sensation that I had felt in a very long time.

I rolled us over so that I was on top, shrugging my shirt from my shoulders as I moved. I let my fingers stray inside the cup of Emily's bra, teasing across her nipple. She gasped with arousal at the skin to skin contact. I felt my own bra go slack, and realised that Emily had popped the clasp open. My surprise must have shown on my face, because as I stared down at her, she froze. She looked taken aback by her own actions, and unsure of whether she was about to push me too far. I found her concern really touching, and didn't want her to worry.

As I gazed down at the gorgeous, half-dressed woman beneath me, I ached to find out if her tits were as perfect as I imagined them to be. My decision made, I cast my bra quickly to the floor. Emily's eyes widened with surprise as she took in the sight of my topless figure. I felt a little self-conscious being so exposed like that, but I couldn't mistake the lust in Emily's eyes as she stared at my chest. Slowly, as though giving me the chance to stop her, she reached forward and placed a gentle hand onto my breast. The contact sent a burst of longing through my body. I arched into her touch, which seemed to spur her on. She raised her other hand and caressed both my tits as though she felt privileged to be able to touch me. I closed my eyes as every flick of her fingers across my nipples added fuel to my fire.

I groaned as Emily removed her hands from me. I opened my eyes and was about to protest, before realising that I had yet to see Emily topless. She was about to put that right for me. With a coquettish smile, she reached behind her and unhooked her bra. I held my breath as her breasts finally came into view. They were the most amazing tits it had ever been my good fortune to look at. I felt sure that my mouth must be hanging open as I stared at the flesh now on show to me. I surged forward, and we kissed each other fiercely, our hands roaming freely across each other's tits.

I lost track of time while we made out like that. I lost track of anything that wasn't Emily, half naked beneath me. If asked, I probably couldn't have told you my own name right at that moment. But after some time of increasingly heated touching, Emily let out a soft groan.

"Nai" she breathed. I was kissing my way along her jaw towards her ear, and didn't want to be interrupted. "Nai. Naoms!" As her tone became firmer, I stopped what I was doing and looked down at her with a frown. "Maybe we should stop" she gasped out. "I mean, if you don't want things to go any further that is." I noticed that Emily was struggling to control her breathing, and I realised that I was no better. Things had been moving pretty quickly this evening, and as much fun as it was, I still wasn't ready to take things any further. Only my body seemed to disagree. I felt so turned on, and could feel a hot wetness in my knickers. Time to cool things off. I nodded, and sat back on the bed, putting a little space between us. Emily sat up as well. I felt suddenly awkward, as though I was some virginal adolescent, blowing hot and cold.

"I'm sorry" I muttered. "I didn't mean to get so heated, it's just that you're so beautiful, and I…" Emily leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to my lips to silence me.

"Nai, it's fine" she insisted. "I loved it, okay?" I nodded. Emily grinned at me. "I really loved it, but I don't want us to get too carried away before you're ready." I nodded again, feeling somewhat better about it. At least it seemed as if Emily had enjoyed what we'd done as much as I had.

Emily slid off the bed and reached for her t-shirt. I retrieved my own discarded clothes and put them back on. I couldn't deny myself a last longing look at Emily's figure as she pulled her t-shirt down over her still bra-less tits. Fucking hell, that girl has a hot body! Emily caught my gaze and grinned at me.

"Perve!" She declared, as she handed me a glass of wine. I couldn't even deny it.

We settled onto the bed, each with a glass of wine in hand, and a respectable distance between us now. I took a grateful gulp of wine as I tried to regain some hint of composure. I cast around in my mind for a neutral subject to talk about while we tried to keep our raging passion in check.

"So when are your parents coming to visit?" I asked. Emily chuckled.

"Okay, that's guaranteed to pour ice over my libido!" I laughed along with her. I guess it had been rather abrupt. "I'm not sure" she answered with a sigh.

"Don't you want them to visit?"

Emily shrugged.

"Yeah, of course I do." She didn't sound very sure about it though. "But things with my parents are… complicated." Her shoulders slumped, and she lapsed into a thoughtful silence.

"So what are they like?" I asked after a moment or two.

Emily shrugged again.

"They're okay. Normal in a lot of ways. My dad's great, but mum can be a bit…" She sighed as she sought the appropriate words. "Full-on, at times." Emily took a hasty swig of wine, as if she needed its help to talk about her mother. "She cares far too much about what other people think. That's her reaction to anything out of the ordinary: 'what will the neighbours say?' Like anyone should give a shit about what they think!"

I tried my best to imagine a woman – maybe an older version of Emily or Katie - frowning with distaste as a teenage Emily tried to tell her that she was gay. It was so at odds with what my own upbringing had been. Everything had always been so openly discussed in my household. Whenever I was attracted to a girl or a boy, I talked freely about it, because I knew that there was nothing wrong with those feelings. It was such a shame that not all parents are as open and accepting as mine had been.

Emily let out an exasperated sigh.

"I know I should tell them" she said. "I will" she added firmly. She sounded suddenly so resolute, and it sent a little tremor of panic running through me. Since meeting Emily, I had encouraged her to come out to Katie and her parents. I know that in the long run it's what she should do, but things are different now that we're together. I don't really have any wish to be introduced as 'the girlfriend' just yet, so since we became a couple, I've no longer mentioned to her about coming out. Hell, I haven't even told Cook about us, I'm hardly ready for the tempest that would be Katie's reaction. Never mind the whole shit-storm it could bring with it, if things turned really nasty.

Emily grabbed my hand and linked her fingers through mine.

"It's not really fair, is it? Keeping this secret from Cook and Katie."

I shook my head gently, but refrained from giving her an answer just yet. She was right of course – it's not fair. Yet somehow, I'm just not ready for it to be out in the open yet. Deep down, I know that I should tell Cook. He is my best friend, after all. And I know that he would be happy for me, but telling him would somehow make this whole thing seem more real. Something that I'm just not ready for.

"It's going to be right out of the blue though" I began, hating myself for what I was saying. "Maybe we should wait a while. You haven't seen your parents in ages, so if you suddenly spring all this on them…"

Emily frowned, but she nodded her agreement.

"What about Cook?" She asked. "How come you haven't told him?"

"I'm not sure how he'd take it" I answered, unable to look her in the eyes anymore. "After everything that happened with Effy and Freddie, maybe he'd think us being together would fuck the group up." I could feel Emily's gaze remaining steadily on me. Could she tell that I was lying? Perhaps she was trying to read what I was really thinking. It made me feel very uncomfortable.

"You're probably right" she said eventually. "We should wait."

Well, clearly her resolve had not been that strong, I told myself. If I could talk her out of it that easily, then she mustn't actually be ready to go public just yet. Coming out is a big step, and she should take more time over it. Though even as I reassured myself, I still felt guilty.


Well, I hope you liked that. Please let me know what you think!

Myrtle.