Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the show or characters of Pretty Little Liars. I'm only borrowing and playing with them. I'll give them back, even though I don't want to, relatively unscathed….
Hi everyone.
Thanks, as always, for reading and reviewing and for all the kind words. I'm so happy you're all enjoying this and it means so much when you drop a word or two my way to let me know.
Also thanks to my new friend, Baby Darth Dalloway, for sharing my link on her tumblr and for all those that are encouraging Emison fans on Twitter to come on over and give my story a read.
So, this is the last regular chapter in this story. All that's left are three epilogues.
I'm a bit disillusioned by the previews at the moment but I will keep the faith. Emily and Alison's journey is not meant to be an easy or a short one.
It would feel very unsatisfying if the show just threw them together, especially since there is still so much unsaid and unresolved between these two.
I, for one, am looking forward to the journey of them finding their way to each other – but that journey is bound to be fraught with hurt, pain, anger and confusion.
But those things will make it all that much sweeter when they finally get there. I just hope I don't have a heart attack in the meantime…lol
Hope I caught all the typos.
Enjoy!
Chapter 8
"Ice skating?" The surprised tone of Emily's voice matched the look on her face.
"What?" Alison scowled as she put her hand on her hip. "You make it sound like I suggested we boil baby rabbits or something."
"Eww, Ali." Emily cringed and it made Alison laugh out loud.
The blonde shrugged as she smirked now. "It was the only thing I could think of to say. I can't help it Fatal Attraction was on TV this morning."
Emily glanced over at ICE, the outdoor skating rink that the City of Santa Monica set up every fall for the holiday season. Kira had told her about it a few weeks ago. It was an eight thousand square foot outdoor ice rink, by the beach, that gave residents and visitors a little taste of winter amidst the sunny southern California weather.
"Do you not want to ice skate?" Alison asked hesitantly. "I thought you liked it."
Emily smiled and she gripped Alison's wrist and tugged her closer. "I do," she assured the blonde. "I'm just amazed that you knew about this."
"I do know how to use Google, you know." Alison huffed, clearly offended.
Emily laughed at her affronted tone and she kissed Alison softly in apology. "I haven't been on ice skates in years though, I'm just giving you fair warning."
Alison rolled her eyes dramatically as they walked over to the skate rental booth. "If anyone is going to fall of their face here, it will be me, trust me. You're the athletic one, after all."
"I'm paying for this," Emily said as they got in line.
"No, this is my surprise, therefore my treat," Alison insisted.
"Ali, please don't argue with me. You've paid way too much to be here as it is."
Alison scowled. "I told you this is on my dad."
"All of it?" Emily looked skeptical.
"Most of it," Alison replied while avoiding Emily's eyes.
Emily shook her head. She knew Alison so well. "Well, I'm getting this."
"Em, you should save your money."
"I do have a job, Ali. I can afford to take you ice skating." Emily's tone was one of finality and Alison sighed in resignation.
"That reminds me," Alison said after a minute. "Why haven't you had to work all week? I know you said you took this weekend off because you were planning to go to Kira's, but why didn't you work earlier in the week?"
Emily slid her hand into Alison's. "I put in for it off because I knew I had papers and tests. My boss is cool and pretty much lets me have whatever time I need off as long as I give her enough notice."
"Nice, boss."
"Ali, it's a rec center. There are plenty of people to cover my shifts."
"Well hello there, beautiful," the guy behind the counter greeted Emily, with a twangy southern drawl, as she walked up.
"Two, please," Emily said, ignoring his greeting.
"She is beautiful, isn't she?" Alison said as she stepped up to the counter beside Emily, leaning on her elbows as she batted her eyelashes flirtatiously.
"Well, so are you, gorgeous," the guy, who didn't look much older than they were, flashed a roguish grin.
"Ali, behave," Emily warned under her breath as she handed the guy her debit card.
"That color blue looks amazing on her, doesn't it?" Ali asked, ignoring Emily's warning, as she tilted her head toward the blue sweater Emily wore under her leather jacket.
The guy let his eyes wander over Emily slowly as he handed her card back with the receipt. She raised her eyebrow at him like "really?" and she reached out for Alison's waist, slipping her hand into the back pocket of Alison's jeans, as she saw the blonde bristle slightly.
"Mmm," she heard Alison hum under her breath and felt her wiggle her ass just a little. Mission accomplished.
"Yes, is does, darlin'" the guy drawled before asking, "What size skates?"
"Eight and half," Emily replied quickly, hoping to diffuse the situation. She looked at Alison. "And eight, right?"
Alison nodded as she slowly dragged her fingertip along the edge of the counter, still eyeing the guy. "Yep."
The guy turned around to get the skates off the shelf behind him and Emily shot a look at Alison over the top of her sunglasses. She watched as Alison smiled, what would look to most people as an innocent smile, but Emily knew Alison's face better than anyone. So she knew when Alison smiled like that, when the dimple in her left cheek was that pronounced, there was nothing innocent about her.
The guy turned around and placed their skates on the counter.
"Tell me something, cowboy," Alison said, her voice taking on a harder edge now. "Would you have hit on her if she was with a guy?"
"Huh?" the guy asked, clearly taken aback by the sudden change in her demeanor.
Alison looked at him pointedly. "I asked...would you have hit on her if I had been a guy standing next to her?"
"Why would I hit on girl who was with a guy?"
Alison's eyes narrowed.
Oh Shit, Emily thought as she removed her hand from Alison's pocket and squeezed her waist gently in silent warning.
"Why would you hit on her when she was with me then?"
The guy looked thoroughly confused. "I don't get what you're asking me blondie."
Alison gritted her teeth. "You just assume because she is with a girl that she isn't taken. That we're not a couple."
"Are you?" His eyes lit up and the urge to bitch slap him was so strong she had to clench her fists to stop herself.
Then a slow feral smile curled the blonde's lips. A smile that reminded Emily of the Grinch when he decided exactly what he was going to do to the citizens of Whoville. Things just went from "oh, shit" to "oh, fuck."
Instead of slapping him, Alison crooked her finger at him and he leaned closer. She lowered her voice to barely a whisper.
"Let's just say she's more beautiful out of those clothes and I'm the only person who will ever see her that way."
That's it. Emily grabbed their skates off the counter and then grabbed Alison's hand and tugged her away as the guy gaped after her.
She could hear Alison's dark chuckle behind her.
"Ali," Emily said as she looked over her shoulder.
Alison smiled impishly. "What?
"I'm beginning to think you just love making a scene."
"You're just beginning to think that?" Alison laughed and nudged Emily with her hip. "Oh, relax, Em. I was just having fun. You know how much I love to tell people that I get to see you naked."
"And why is that anyone else's business?" Emily asked as they stopped at a row of benches beside the ice.
Alison shrugged. "It isn't. I just want them to be jealous."
"You just like the shock value of it."
"Well, there's that too," she admitted and she grinned mischievously.
They sat down on one of the benches and put their ice skates on, before stashing their shoes in a nearby locker.
Alison bit her lip in concentration as she stepped onto the ice, trying to balance. She felt Emily's hand on her hip and looked up. Emily was standing on the ice beside her, looking a lot steadier on her skates, and smiling softly.
"Don't think about it so much," Emily urged as her other hand joined the first on Alison's waist and she moved behind her. She hadn't been on skates for at least three years, but she wasn't as wobbly as she feared she might be.
Emily pushed Alison forward slowly and Alison's hands grasped Emily's where they rested on her hips. "Slow," she said as she stumbled a little bit.
Emily steadied her, laughing softly. "Just let me lead you, Ali." She moved closer and pressed her lips against Alison's ear. "Do you trust me?"
"With my life," Alison replied instantly, but her voice was strained as she concentrated. "God, what the hell was I thinking?" she muttered making Emily laugh again.
Emily pumped her legs, propelling them forward around the ice slowly. Every once in a while Alison would stumble, but she eventually became more confident and graceful as she and Emily skated in tandem.
They skated around the circle a few times. Emily was careful to keep them near the edge in case she needed to lead Alison away from a potential collision with another skater, but it was like riding a bike, the balance came back from memory.
Emily released Alison's waist and skated around in front of her.
"Hey, don't let go," Alison cried out a little panicked but Emily just grasped her hands, skating backwards now as she pulled Alison along.
"I'm not going anywhere." Emily titled her head and grinned at Alison. The blonde's face was flushed and her blue eyes were shining with a combination of happiness and panic. But the panic faded at Emily's words and touch.
"You're going to bump into someone and we're going to go sprawling on our asses," Alison said, even though she doubted it would happen. Her mermaid was careful and graceful in everything she did.
"You'll have to warn me before I do," Emily replied but didn't seem worried. "You're doing great, Ali."
"You think?" Alison asked as she grinned, then she pouted a little. "You're too far away now."
Emily chuckled and closed the distance between them a little. Alison grasped Emily's forearms for better balance.
"Do you remember that time we went skating on the pond behind the school freshman year?" Alison asked.
Emily nodded. "Yeah. Hanna fell through the ice and there were no adults around anywhere."
"Then you threw yourself down on the ice and tried to reach out to her, only it caused the ice hole to get bigger and you started to fall in too." Alison giggled, even though it hadn't been funny at the time. In reality it had been scary as hell when it was happening.
"Then I remember you diving forward and grasping my foot and you slid head first into the water," Emily teased.
"That water was fucking cold," Alison shuddered at the memory. "But I couldn't just let you go in without doing something.
"Thank god the pond was so shallow at the edges. That could have been a disaster of epic proportions," Emily said as she took Alison's hands again.
"It was a disaster of epic proportions, Em," Alison said obviously. "Hanna and I both caught pneumonia."
Emily nodded. "I remember. I only got some sniffles but you and Hanna were really sick."
"And I remember you made me homemade chicken soup and brought it over to me," Alison smiled and her thumbs brushed gently over the back of Emily's hands. "Then you stayed with me when I asked you to lay down with me."
"I was so worried about you," Emily admitted, her eyes warm.
"That was the first time I ever slept in your arms," Alison sighed softly. "You made the best chicken soup, but it was sleeping in your arms that really made me feel better."
The girls' trip down memory lane was just enough of a distraction that they didn't see the two prepubescent boys who were making their way around the ice with little regard for the other skaters.
By the time Alison saw them behind Emily it was too late.
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It all happened so fast.
"Emily," Alison cried out her name as Emily started to tumble backward. Emily eyes widened and she released Alison's hands to try to keep her from falling with her, but Alison just grabbed them again as she attempted to stop Emily's tumble. But it just made it worse as Alison went down with her.
Emily's ass hit the ice first but the momentum of the fall caused her to keep falling backward. First her back, then the back of her head hit the ice. Alison tumbled on top of her, her hands slamming against the ice as she tried to break her fall and not to land so hard on Emily, but her hands just slid out to the side. She landed flat on top of Emily and the brunette grunted hard as their breasts collided and the wind was knocked out of her.
"Em, your head," Alison cried, alarmed. She reached behind Emily's head, feeling for blood as she struggled to get up. But the girls' tangle of limbs and the slippery ice made it impossible.
"Shit, Em, are you alright?" Alison asked worriedly. "I don't feel any blood."
Emily was a little dazed and she ached everywhere. But as soon as the immediate shock of it all passed, and she had caught her breath, Emily started to laugh. She couldn't help it.
Her head freaking hurt. Her back freaking hurt. And her ass freaking hurt.
Alison's weight on her wasn't helping matters either but she couldn't stop the giggles that were bursting out of her.
She saw Alison's face above her, a mask of worry, her eyes frightened, and Emily reached up and touched her cheek.
"I'm okay, Ali. But you really need to get off me. I can't breathe." Emily gasped.
"I'm trying," Alison snapped as she continued to wiggle, finally succeeding in sliding off Emily on her right side.
"Hey are you alright?" A middle aged man and woman had stopped beside them. "Do you need some help?"
Emily looked up at them and laughed harder.
"I think she hit her head a little too hard," Alison said with worry lacing her voice, as she kept feeling around on the back of Emily's head. She knew what it was like to take that kind of smack to the head and it hurt like a mother fucker.
"I'm fine," Emily gasped as she tried to stop laughing.
"This isn't funny, Em," Alison snapped again, reacting the only way she knew how to when she was this panicked, but it only made Emily laugh harder.
The man and woman looked like they didn't know what to do.
"I'm really okay," Emily gasped as her giggles slowly subsided. "But thanks though."
The man and woman skated away and Emily tried to sit up but her hands just slipped on the ice and she fell backward again.
"Em," Alison growled now. "You need to go slowly."
Alison helped to pull her up into a seated position, careful to keep them both from slipping.
"Baby, look at me," she implored, her voice softer and gentler now, as she gingerly shifted to her knees. "How hard did you hit your head?"
"Ali, I'm okay. I promise," Emily tried to reassure her as she took a few deep breaths. "I just got the wind knocked out of me."
"I heard your head hit the ice, Em." Alison chewed her bottom lip anxiously
"Yeah, it did, but it wasn't that hard." Emily reached up and tugged Alison's lip out of her teeth and Alison sighed.
"Thank god your head is," Alison said, not intending to be funny, but it set Emily off again. Alison looked at her like she'd gone insane and it just made Emily laugh harder.
"That's it. We're going to the emergency room," Alison said as she struggled to stand.
Emily grabbed her arm as she sobered. "Ali, I'm not going to the ER."
"You have to Em," she insisted. "What if you have a concussion?"
Emily got to her knees and Ali wobbled a little on her skates as they helped each other up.
"I don't have a concussion," Emily said as Alison reached up to touch the back of Emily's head again. Emily tried not to cringe at the touch but sometimes Alison didn't know her own strength.
"But what if you do?" Alison's eyes flashed and Emily saw the worry in them.
She grasped Alison's hand and pulled it away from her head. "I don't."
"You're gonna have a lump," Alison murmured and Emily could already feel it forming.
Alison looked up at Emily, her eyes imploring. "Please, Em, just get it checked out for me?"
And because Emily could deny Alison nothing, when the blonde looked at her like that, Emily found herself being led off the ice, to what was sure to be hours in the emergency room.
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Emily sat on the overstuffed chair beside the bed, her head leaning back, eyes closed, as she listened to Ali finish getting ready in the bathroom. Her head was no longer pounding, the Advil finally kicking in. Truth be told, her ass was what hurt the most from her fall.
As Emily had suspected, they'd spent most of the afternoon at the ER. Of course, Emily had been right, she didn't have a concussion. Just a lump and a headache, but Alison had been so worried and frantic that Emily gave in and went to the hospital just to appease her anxious girlfriend.
Emily was now dressed in a short black dress, her dark hair falling in long waves over her shoulders and down her back. She was waiting for Alison so they could go to dinner. Sure enough, as Emily had suspected, Alison had put her in a dress. She had made dinner reservations at Melisse, an extremely fancy French restaurant on Wilshire Blvd.
While Alison was showering, Emily looked it up on her phone and almost had a heart attack when she saw the prices. She had immediately gone into the bathroom and asked the blonde what she was thinking, but Ali just shrugged.
"It's on my dad," she'd replied. "He ate there the last time he traveled here for business."
"Ali, we can't take advantage of your dad like that. Let's find somewhere else to eat."
"He knows how much we like French food. He insisted, Em, I swear."
Finally Emily gave in when Alison wouldn't budge; saying this was her second surprise, and asking did Emily want to ruin her surprise.
For a brief moment, Emily felt Alison was trying to manipulate her, but the earnest look on Alison's face made her relent. Alison wasn't trying to manipulate her; she was just trying to do something nice and romantic.
She and Alison had always dreamed of going to France together someday, although any possibility of that seemed like a lifetime away.
"How's your head?" Emily heard Alison's soft voice beside her then felt Alison's fingertips brushing gently over her forehead.
Emily opened her eyes to see Alison leaning over her.
"I'm really okay, Ali. I promise. But I'm starving, so are you almost ready?"
"We don't have to do this, Em. We can do it tomorrow night if you're not feeling up to it tonight. We can just order room service."
Emily stood, feeling a little dizzy, as she got up too fast, but it passed just as quickly. "No," she insisted. "You made me get all dressed up. I'll be damned if you're not going to show me off." Emily grinned then her smile softened as she took in the sight of her girlfriend.
Alison was dressed in a short sliver sequin cocktail dress, her hair falling in long blond ringlets over her shoulders. Her makeup was soft and subtle as always these days. And the sight of her took Emily's breath away.
"You look beautiful, Ali," Emily said sincerely and the blonde flushed with happiness.
Alison stepped closer and pressed her lips to Emily's. "You're so beautiful, you take my breath away, Em," Alison whispered as she pulled away and Emily eyes softened because Alison had just voiced her thoughts.
Emily reached up and cupped Alison's face in her hands, kissing her again, sighing softly into the blonde's mouth. Their tongues caressed gently, touching, tasting, and savoring.
Alison's hands gripped Emily's waist and tugged her closer before her arms slid around her. She moaned into Emily's mouth as their bodies pressed together.
Finally their lips parted and their eyes opened.
"We better get out of here or we're never going to leave," Emily panted softly.
"And that would be so bad, why?" Alison said as she licked her lips, savoring the taste of her mermaid.
Emily took Alison's hand and led her to the door as she chuckled.
"Because we just took an hour and a half to get ready. Well, you did. I only took an hour," Emily teased.
Alison hmphed as they grabbed their purses. "You need less work to look like this than I do."
Emily shook her head. "Ali, you don't need makeup to make you look beautiful."
"But it helps," Alison grinned as they walked out the door.
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The drive to Melisse was relatively short. Emily was slightly uncomfortable in such an extravagant and expensive restaurant, but Ali wasn't fazed in the least as they were led to their table. But, then again, one of Alison's gifts was always to be able to fit in anywhere.
They were seated at a small table near the back and instead of sitting across from her, Alison sat beside Emily. She wanted to be close to her girl so she could touch her if she wished and she scooted her chair closer as soon as they were seated.
Their waiter arrived a minute later, greeting them in French. Alison replied, also in French, before producing two fake ID's from inside her purse. Emily had taken one year of French, freshman year, but has switched to Spanish after Alison disappeared. It was too painful to take the class without her. But Emily still recognized enough to know Alison was ordering two glasses of wine.
Alison slipped her fake ID into her purse as she handed the other one to Emily.
"Here, baby, I forgot to give this back to you," she said sweetly, as the waiter nodded and walked away.
Emily looked at her expectantly as she took it from Alison's fingers.
"What?" Alison scowled as she met Emily's eyes.
"Why do I have a fake ID?"
"Do you want to keep it down, please, Em?" she asked exasperated. "You're in college," Alison said as if it was obvious. "You need one."
Emily couldn't exactly argue but she had to ask, keeping her voice low. "Where did you get it?"
"I know a guy," Alison said breezily.
Emily looked at the ID. "This is my passport picture. How did he get it?"
"My guy knows guys," Alison replied as she took a sip of water.
Emily's brow furrowed. "Alison, why are you being so vague?"
Alison turned her head, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Why are you upset I got you a fake ID? I thought you'd appreciate it. Now you can get into bars and clubs."
Emily sighed as she reached out and took Alison's hand in hers. "I'm not upset. And I'm not opposed, but I'm just surprised."
Alison sat back in her chair and played with Emily's fingers on her lap. "I was planning to take you out to a club dancing tonight. So that's why I got it."
Emily raised an eyebrow at her, even as her lips curved into a warm smile.
"Dinner and dancing. Are you trying to get in my pants? Or my dress, rather?" Emily teased and Alison smirked in return.
"Like I need to do that to get you to give it up."
The waiter returned then with two glasses of wine and some crusty bread before gliding off again without a word.
Alison held up her glass. "To you and me in sweet Paris," Alison toasted as her eyes held Emily's.
They clinked glasses and after taking a small sip, Emily spoke. "This place is the closest we're gonna get to it, for a while anyway."
"I still want to see you on the top of the Eiffel Tower one day. Actually I want to kiss you up there," Alison admitted honestly as she licked her lips. "I want to kiss you until we're both breathless."
Alison's heartfelt words left Emily breathless, right here and now. She took another sip of her wine.
"Do you think we'll ever make it there?"
"If I have anything to say about it we will," Alison said with conviction.
"Ali, I'm going to be in school for the next eight years, and then three years of residency, then two years of fellowship. I'll be lucky to come up for air." Just saying it made Emily exhausted.
Alison tilted her head. "So, we'll go once you're done, before you start your brilliant career as a doctor."
"With all the school loans I'm going to have to get, I'll be lucky if I can afford to take a trip to the store, never mind Paris."
Alison narrowed her eyes and leaned closer to Emily. "Are you doubting my resolve?"
Emily laughed at the fierce look in Alison's eyes. If there was one thing Emily was sure of it was Alison's tenacity. "I wouldn't dream of it," she replied as she gave in to the urge to touch Alison, lifting her hand and caressing her cheek.
Alison's eyes registered surprise and then delight as she lifted her hand and held Emily's palm against her face.
"So what club are we going to?" Emily asked as she sat back in her chair.
"We're not, now."
"Why not?"
"Because you hit your head earlier." Alison frowned. She could still see the sight of Emily going down and slamming her head on the ice.
Emily rolled her eyes. "Ali, I told you I'm fine. We can go if you want to."
"No." Alison shook her head and her eyes softened. "Maybe tomorrow night if you're feeling better. Tonight I just want to make googly eyes at you over our insanely expensive French dinner, thanks dad," she added lightheartedly before her voice took on a more sultry tone. "Then I want to take you back to the hotel and get you naked."
"Do you realize how much time we've spent naked this week?" Emily asked, her voice dropping to match Alison's tone. Just the thought of all their naked time had desire pooling in Emily's abdomen once again.
Alison moaned softly, unable to help herself. "Yes." She placed her hand on Emily's knee under the table. "But do you realize how long we were apart? We had a lot of time to make up for."
"I don't want you to leave again," Emily admitted so fiercely, it made Alison gasp.
"Don't," Alison whispered, pleading, her eyes locked on Emily's as she squeezed her hand. "Please, I don't want to think about that yet."
The waiter arrived at that moment, interrupting them, to deliver the first course of their dinner, Sweet Onion and Parmesan Soup.
After Alison informed the waiter they were fine and didn't need anything else, Emily smiled.
"Where did you learn to speak French so well? We'd barely started studying it when you disappeared."
Alison shrugged as she started on her soup. "I had a lot of free time." Then after a beat. "And there was a time I thought about just leaving the country and never looking back and France was the one place I always wanted to go. I wanted to make sure I could communicate if I did go."
Emily blinked. "What stopped you from leaving?"
"You," Alison admitted without hesitation. "I couldn't' bear the thought that if I left I might never see you again."
Emily's heart stuttered in her chest and she smiled softly as her eyes met Alison's.
The girls ate quietly. After their third course was delivered they started talking about what it would be like next semester with Alison as UCLA.
"What were arguing with your dad about when he called about your acceptance letter?" Emily asked
"Living arrangements. He thinks it will be good for me to live in the dorms for my first semester."
"Ahh," Emily said knowingly and Alison reached for Emily's hand under the table again, entwining their fingers on Emily's thigh.
"That's not a good idea. I don't really play nice with others."
"You play nice with me." Emily smiled.
"I have an incentive to play nice with you." Alison lowered her voice as she leaned her closer, pressing her lips to Emily's ear. "If I do, you let me have my way with your glorious body."
Alison slid her hand up Emily's thigh and Emily squeaked, grabbing Alison's hand to stop its ascent. "Ali, what are you doing?"
Alison chuckled lowly. "I love how shy and prudish you are sometimes. It makes me so hot for you."
"Alison," Emily said more firmly and Alison sat back, sliding her hand back down to Emily's knee, allowing Emily to breathe a sigh of relief.
Eventually their conversation morphed into Ali's anxiety over needing to find another doctor locally in Los Angeles.
"I really like Sarah now," Alison said, surprising even herself. Alison didn't like many people, as a rule. "She understands me like no one else ever has. Except you. And the thought of starting over with someone new makes me want to crawl out of my skin." Alison felt her chest tightening as she thought about it. "She said she'll help me find someone she thinks I'll fit well with, but I'm still nervous."
"There's no reason to be nervous, Ali," Emily assured her, as she moved their joined hands to Alison's thigh, offering the comfort she could see the blonde needed. "She'll find you someone. And I'll be here to help you any way I can."
"I love you, Emily," Alison breathed in response, so infinitely grateful for the beautiful girl beside her.
Emily's face flushed with happiness and love at Alison's words. She released Alison's fingers and lifted her hand to her neck, sliding her hand behind, and pulling the blonde's lips to hers, not caring where they were or who would see them.
"I love you, Ali," Emily whispered against Alison's lips when their lips parted.
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Alison pushed the door to their hotel room open and stepped inside. She kicked her shoes off instantly.
"Damn, those heels are killing me."
Emily walked in behind her and closed the door before doing the same, although a little less dramatically. She tossed her purse on the table and walked over to the balcony, sliding the doors open.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to that club? I'm really feeling okay."
"No," Alison shook her head and smiled. "It'll be too loud. We can go another time next semester."
"It's so nice out tonight," Emily said as she stepped outside.
It was a mild night and there was a soft breeze coming off the ocean below. Emily leaned tentatively on the railing, still a little leery of being so high up, but the lights and muted sounds from the street below were mesmerizing. Across the street she could see the beach and in the distance to the right, the Pier, with the roller coaster and Ferris wheel lighting up the otherwise dark sky.
Alison pulled the candles she'd bought earlier in the week out of her suitcase and set them around the room, lighting them, before turning down the overhead lights.
She put her IPod into the docking station on the bedside table and selected a playlist of slow songs before she stepped out onto the balcony. She walked up behind Emily and slid her arms around her girl's waist from behind, pressing a soft kiss against her neck.
Emily smiled and stood up, pressing back against Alison, sliding her fingers between Alison's on her stomach.
"Thank you for tonight," Emily said sincerely. "Thank you for this whole week, Ali. You being here makes me perfectly happy."
Alison grinned, her heart throbbing with love for the girl in her arms. "You make me perfectly happy, Em. That may sound totally corny, but you do."
Emily turned to face Alison to find the girl smiling happily, her eyes full of love. She lowered her lips to the blonde's, pressing softly, her tongue urging Alison to open for her. It was impossible to keep her lips off Alison when the blonde looked at her like that. Alison hummed softly against her lips.
"Kissing you makes me perfectly happy, too," Alison murmured, making Emily smile against her lips.
Emily pulled back and saw the candles flickering inside the room behind Alison.
"What did you do?" she asked as Alison's eyes fluttered open.
"Huh?" she asked and Emily laughed.
"God, you're so easy," Emily teased as she rested her hands on Alison's hips.
Alison blinked and then scowled for a second, but couldn't keep it up. "I am pretty easy when it comes to you," she admitted, purring as she gripped Emily's hips. She started swaying softly to the beat of the music floating through the door, her hands guiding Emily's hips in the same tempo.
She pressed a kiss to the corner of Emily's mouth. "Dance with me."
Emily pulled Alison closer and both girls sighed. Their bodies swayed gently to the music as Alison slid her hands up Emily's back, pressing her face into Emily' neck.
Emily swept Alison's hair over her shoulder, her fingertips ghosting over the bare skin before she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against Alison's neck as she pulled Alison closer.
"This is what I wanted to do tonight," Alison murmured. "I wanted to hold you and dance with you just like this."
Emily fluttered her fingers up and down Alison's back, nuzzling her neck, swirling her tongue over the warm skin. Alison tilted her head to give Emily better access as she moaned.
"That dance club probably wouldn't have had music like this on," Emily smiled against her skin.
"That's why I wanted to come back here," Alison breathed.
Emily lifted her head and pressed her forehead against Alison's, her eyes traveling over the contours of her face, her natural beauty mesmerizing. Alison was so beautiful it made Emily's heart ache sometimes. Alison opened her eyes, the blue irises, dark and fathomless, and she smiled.
"Hi," Alison whispered as she pressed closer to Emily's body, as close as she could get.
"Hi," Emily kissed Alison softly again.
The soft strains of the music floated around them as they danced slowly on the balcony, under the moonlight, kissing and touching until they were both breathless and panting. Both girls lost track of the time and everything around them except each other.
Finally Alison stepped back clasping Emily's hand in her own. "Come to bed," Alison urged in a soft voice a she turned to walk back into the room.
Emily followed but as they crossed the threshold, Emily closed the sliding glass door, and then tugged on Alison's hand, pulling the blonde's back against her chest. Emily gripped Alison's hips gently as she started to sway to the music again, their intimate movements matching the slow beat of the song.
Alison's head fell back onto Emily's shoulder, moaning softly, and Emily's hands slid up her sides, lifting Alison's arms and wrapping them back around her neck.
"Don't let go," Emily murmured as she nibbled gently on Alison's ear. She slowly dragged her fingers down Alison's arms, the outside of her breasts, over her hips and down the outside of her thighs. The blond trembled against her and it made Emily feel powerful. Powerful and thrilled because she was the only person who could make Alison's body quiver like this.
Emily pressed her body against Alison's back, still slowly moving them from side to side to the low steady pulse of the music. She grasped the hem of Alison's short dress and inched it up slowly. Alison arched her back and whimpered.
"Em." Her voice was hoarse and filled with desire.
"Keep your arms up," Emily reminded as she sucked on the skin just below Alison's ear. Her fingers fluttered over the bare skin of Alison's thighs, traveling from the outsides, to the front, then to her inner thighs.
Alison's legs shook and she was sure they were going to give out on her.
"God," Alison moaned long and low. "How did I lose control of this seduction?"
Emily smiled against her ear. "It's good to lose a little control once in a while."
Emily's hands skimmed up the front of Alison's body until finally she cupped both of Alison's breasts in her hands, squeezing the soft flesh. Alison's back arched deeper and she pushed her ass against Emily's pelvis as she pressed her breasts into Emily's hands.
"Please," she begged softly and Emily circled her nipples softly through the fabric of her dress. Emily teased her nipples mercilessly, alternating between caressing them and rolling the now hard buds between her fingers.
Alison turned her face toward Emily's. "Kiss me," she pleaded and Emily gave in.
As her lips covered Alison's the dam broke for both of them. Alison turned around, keeping her arms around Emily's neck. She pressed against the brunette, kissing her soft and deep as Emily clutched her closer, one arm around Alison's waist and one gripping and hiking her thigh up over Emily's hip.
"I can't take it anymore," Alison murmured as they stumbled over to the bed. "I need you."
They climbed onto the bed, kissing and clutching frantically at each other. As they settled in the middle, facing each other on their knees, their kisses softened and their touches gentled. Slowly their clothes were removed, while hands and lips worshiped newly exposed bare flesh.
Emily's hand slipped between Alison's thighs, her fingers seeking and finding those spots deep inside that made the blonde whimper and moan. Emily found her wet and warm and she teased and pleasured until Alison could no longer remain on her knees.
The blonde fell on to her back as Emily moved over her, settling between her thighs. Alison wrapped her legs around Emily's hips and bucked against her as Emily lowered her tanned body onto Alison's lighter one.
"Yes," Alison hissed as she felt Emily's weight on her.
Alison opened her mouth as Emily kissed her, swallowing the brunette's sigh of pleasure as the blonde's hands touched every inch of Emily she could reach. When she slipped her hand between them, intent on giving Emily the same pleasure, she met Emily's hand on her own descent downward.
As the two girls caressed each other intimately, everything else fell away expect the feel and taste of each other.
####################
"Do you miss it?" Emily asked as she and Alison laid sprawled in the center of the bed, side by side, the sweat still drying on their skin.
The candles still flickered throughout the room, casting shadows over them and the tangled sheets below them.
Alison turned on her side, propping herself on her elbow. "Miss what?"
Emily didn't turn her head. She just looked at Ali out of the corner of her eye. "Sex with a guy."
Alison blinked in surprise. That was the last thing Alison thought Emily would say. "Come again?"
Emily arched her brow but didn't repeat the question, knowing Alison heard her perfectly.
"Why would you ask me that?"
Emily shrugged. "I was just curious."
Alison reached over to Emily, resting her hand gently on her girl's abdomen, her fingers rubbing her skin softly. "Why would you be curious about that? Is this because I got those vibrators?"
"No," Emily answered, the tone of her voice uncertain.
"Em, look at me." Alison lifted her hand to Emily's face, urging the brunette to turn and look at her. "If I was looking to imitate intercourse with a guy I would have gotten a strap on."
"Ali," Emily started but Alison leaned over and kissed her. She moved closer and hiked her leg over Emily's thighs and Emily's hand immediately gripped it gently.
Alison pulled her lips away and rubbed her nose against Emily's gently. "Baby, I got those toys because I wanted to explore new ways to pleasure you. For us to pleasure each other."
Emily smiled as her eyes fluttered open. "But do you ever feel like something is missing?" she asked after her eyes focused again.
"There is nothing missing between us," Alison replied firmly, her voice taking on that tone that made Emily feel like a scolded child. Alison seemed to realize this and sighed, her tone softening now. "Do you feel like there's something missing between us?" Alison asked.
Emily turned on her side so she and Alison were facing each other now, keeping Alison's thigh over her hip. "I don't," Emily admitted honestly. "But I've never been with a guy so I don't really know what I'm missing."
Alison narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips as she tilted her head. "Is this your way of hinting that you want to try it? It was the guy at the ice rink today, wasn't it?" Alison teased because she could. Emily wanting to be with a guy was not something that would ever happen and Alison knew it.
Emily choked out a short laugh. "Not in this lifetime."
Alison sat up, tucking her feet beneath her as she looked down at Emily still on her side.
"You kind of got a taste of it last night when I was pressing the vibrator into you with my thigh. It's not the same, but you get the idea of having something that deep inside when you orgasm."
"Is that why you did that?" Emily asked curiously as she rubbed her thumb over Alison's thigh.
"Maybe a little," Alison admitted honestly. "I think part of me wanted you to know what it was like."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted you to know that there is nothing I won't do for you. Nothing I won't give you. I want to fulfill every fantasy you ever have, Em."
Emily tilted her head. "You said that the other night at the party."
Alison shrugged. "I meant it then too."
Emily sat up, leaning the front of her body against Alison's arm. She lowered her lips to Alison's shoulder, letting her lips ghost gently over her skin. Her lips traveled up Alison's neck as the blonde let her head fall back, her eyes rolling back in her head.
"You already do, Ali," Emily whispered against her ear, telling her girlfriend what she had wanted to the other night.
Emily sat back and smiled as Alison's eyes opened and she shook her head, her eyes still unfocused when they opened.
Emily bit her lip after a minute. "I want to do that for you too," she said quietly as she looked down.
Alison slid her hand into Emily's tousled hair and tilted her face up.
"You do, Em. You are every fantasy I could ever dream of having."
"But I'm not a guy."
"Thank god for that."
"I'm serious, Ali."
"And so am I," Alison replied as she pulled back and then pushed up off the bed with a huff. "God, is this about the whole lesbian thing?" she asked as she walked over to the closet and pulled out the robe she wore the previous night.
She shoved her arms into it and tied it closed. In response, Emily tugged the sheet up around her.
"Alison, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you. I'm just trying to understand."
"Understand what?"
"What it is you want?"
"You," Alison snapped as she clenched her fists at her sides. "You are all I want, okay."
Emily looked at Alison, her eyes soft. "I believe you. You say that you want to be everything for me. And I love you for that. And you are. You're everything I want. But don't you know I want to be the same thing for you?"
"You are. I don't want or need anyone else, ever." Alison growled before she deflated and walked back over to the bed. She sat down heavily. "I can't help who I am, Emily. Believe me, if I could change it, you are the one person I would change it for."
"I don't want you to change, Ali," Emily assured the blonde. "It's just sometimes I wonder if your love for me clouds your view of things. And once those clouds clear and this between us isn't as new and intense as it is now, that you won't realize that maybe what you want is something different. Something I can't give you."
Alison stood up again and walked to the balcony door, looking out to the moonlit sky. Emily moved to the side of the bed, dropping her legs over the side as she wrapped the sheet around her naked body, intending to go to Alison, but she stopped when Alison started speaking.
"You know, my shrink asked me once if I thought I would be gay if you weren't." Alison looked over at Emily, her eyes open and vulnerable. "I couldn't answer that, to be honest. And I think that's one of the reasons I really hate labels. As if I have to be one thing, or another, to be able to love you."
"Ali, I don't doubt your love for me. That isn't what this is about."
"I know, Em," Alison said simply. "When I couldn't answer her, she said that loving one person a certain way doesn't make you a certain way." Emily looked at her questioningly. "In other words you can't be gay for just one person."
Emily swallowed and looked away as she nodded in understanding.
Alison continued as she looked out the door again. "Emily, being gay is so simple for you."
Emily whipped her eyes back to Alison and looked at her like she'd grown another head.
"I know if wasn't always. I know you really struggled with it and I know I never made it any easier for you." Alison looked back at Emily with regret in her eyes. "And I'm sorry I ever made you feel like you were anything but perfect exactly the way you are."
"Ali, we don't have to do this again, I told you I've forgiven you for all of that."
Alison walked over to stand in front of Emily, reaching up to brush Emily's cheek with her thumb. "I know and I'm so grateful. And I'm not trying to rehash all of it. I'm trying to make a point."
"What point?"
"My point is that being gay is so simple for you," Alison repeated. "It's just part of who you are. It is part of the innately beautiful person you are, both inside and out. And as odd as this is going to sound, my sexuality isn't like that for me."
Alison crouched down in front of Emily and took both of the brunette's hands in her own. She took a deep breath.
"Em, I'm a girl who is head over heels in love with her best friend." She paused before continuing. "Who just happens to also be another girl."
Alison squeezed Emily's hands gently as she tilted her head, her eyes shining with love and something Emily didn't recognize but it still took her breath away.
"Em, if you were a guy I would still be head over heels in love with you. It's not your body parts I'm in love with." Alison's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Granted, you are the sexiest girl I've ever laid eyes on." Alison's voice lowered an octave as she continued. "And I've laid eyes on every last inch of you."
Emily's breath hitched softly at the heat that flashed in Alison's eyes as she spoke. "And when I make you come with my tongue," Ali's breath hitched now. "God, Em, your taste," Ali sighed softly as she licked her lips. "The way you taste, I could live on nothing but the taste of you, alone, for the rest of my life."
Emily held her breath.
"But what I'm in love with is this." Alison reached up and pressed her hand over Emily's heart. "This beautiful heart. I'm in love with the person you are inside. Your goodness, your purity, your kindness, and your capacity to love and forgive, and see the best in everyone. Even me. That's what I love. And that is who I am. "
Alison moved to sit beside Emily, grasping both her hands again.
"Gay… straight…. That isn't what it's about. It's all about you, Em. And it always has been, even before I was able to admit it to myself. If you wanted to get a sex change tomorrow, and become a guy, it wouldn't change my feelings for you in any way."
Emily blinked at Alison's words and Alison's lips quirked in response, but her eyes spoke volumes as to the honesty and sincerity of what she was saying.
"I'd still love you. Emily. I'd still want to be with you. I'd still want every inch of you." Alison couldn't help but smile softly as she titled her head. "I'd miss your glorious breasts, I'll admit. And I'd miss how warm and wet you feel around my fingers, against my thigh, and against my tongue." Alison sighed softly. "But it wouldn't change how much I want you and need you. We'd just have adjust the way we make love."
"Ali," Emily breathed, her eyes shining as she blinked back tears that she hadn't realized had been forming.
"What other people think, I don't care," Alison continued. "Let them think what they want. But I won't be put inside some box just because people think they know me and can define me by who I love. It really pisses me off when other people think they know me. You, Em,' Ali emphasized her name. "You are the only person who truly knows me. And you're the only person who matters."
Alison pressed her forehead against Emily's.
"And if you need me to scream from the rooftops that I'm a lesbian, to prove to the world that I'm telling the truth. I'll do it for you. I'll do anything for you. But please tell me you know that truth already. Because you, Em, you are the only truth I've ever known."
Emily's eyes closed even as she lifted her hands and slid them into Alison's hair. She pulled Alison's lips to hers, murmuring the blonde's name as she kissed her. Alison clung to Emily, wrapping her arms around Emily's waist as they both fell sideways on the bed, their lips meeting and clinging over and over.
Alison climbed on top of Emily, straddling her, tugging the sheet off her as she shucked her robe off.
They scooted to the middle of the bed, caressing and kissing, until finally Alison stretched out on top of Emily, laying flat on her girl.
Their laughter died away and was once again replaced with soft sighs and moans and declarations of love.
################
Emily groaned as she felt the bed shift, burrowing her face deeper into the pillow. It smelled like Alison's shampoo and she sighed as she gripped the pillow tighter beneath her head.
Alison's laugh from beside her, along with the feeling of the blonde's fingers fluttering up and down her bare back, had Emily squirming.
"Ali, stop it. I'm trying to sleep."
Alison pressed a soft kiss to the back of her shoulder. "Room service just got here with breakfast. It's going to get cold if you don't get up."
"Why is room service here so early?" Emily said as she opened one eye before quickly slamming it shut when she was assaulted by the sunlight streaming through the window. "God, and why are the curtains open?"
Alison laughed again. "It's a beautiful day, Em. And I was hungry." She leaned down again and purred into Emily's ear as her fingers drifted lower, over Emily's ass. "My girl kept me up most of the night working up a massive appetite. A girl has needs to refuel, you know."
"That's why we should still be asleep," Emily grumped but she tentatively opened one eye again, blinking as it adjusted to the light. She pushed over onto her back and flung her arm over her face. "What time is it anyway?"
"Almost eleven," Alison replied as her fingertip swirled softly over Emily's bare breasts, making the brunette shudder and moan softly under her breath. "Room service stops breakfast at eleven and I had to get my French toast."
"It's already eleven?" Emily asked surprised and lifted her arm away from her face.
Alison pressed a kiss to Emily's lips before standing and walking over to the room service cart. "Yes, now get up. Your omelet is getting cold." She picked up her plate and silverware. "Let's eat on the balcony."
Emily pushed up on her elbows and watched Alison, in her robe again, walk onto the balcony, sitting down at the small table.
Emily stood up and stretched. She actually ached a little this morning, but it was a good kind of ache.
She walked to the closet and pulled out one of the hotel's terry cloth robes and slipped into it. She grabbed her plate and orange juice and joined Alison at the table on the balcony. It was unseasonably warm but the breeze off the ocean made Emily shiver slightly.
"Thanks for ordering breakfast," she said before she took a bite of her omelet.
Alison smiled as she swirled her French toast around her plate to gather up as much syrup as possible. "You're welcome. I wouldn't want you wasting away on me."
Emily smirked. "No chance of that." Alison held out her fork, offering Emily a bite of her breakfast but Emily shook her head. They ate in silence, just enjoying each other's company.
"So what are we doing today?" Emily asked as she sat back in her chair a few minutes later.
Alison shrugged. "No clue. I'm out of plans."
Emily laughed but she reached out to Alison and took her hand, lifting the blonde's palm to her lips.
"It's time for you to entertain me," Alison said as she pushed her plate away with her other hand.
"Well, we've been going almost non-stop since you got here. I think we earned a day to just relax."
Alison grinned. "We do have one more night here in the hotel," Alison's eyes flashed mischievously. "So I say we spend the day, in the room, naked."
God help her, Emily's eyes darkened with desire, causing Alison's to follow suit, as her body flushed with heat.
"Em," Alison warned as she swallowed, but it was cut off when Emily stood up and tugged Alison to her feet. She pressed her lips to Alison's, tasting the last remnants of the maple syrup. She pulled away and licked her lips and Alison moaned in response.
The blonde's eyes flickered open, the blue even deeper now, and she led Emily into the room and over to the bed, leaving the door open.
Alison shrugged out of her robe and pulled on Emily's belt, before pushing the robe off her body.
"It's too bad Kira isn't here," Alison said conversationally, even though the breathless tone of her voice belied her casualness.
"Why do you say that?" Emily gave her an odd look at the mention of her roommate.
Alison smirked. "Because she would be horrified and I would enjoy that so much."
"Horrified by what?"
Alison scooted back onto the bed, pulling Emily down over her. She wrapped her arms and legs around her mermaid, arching and sighing as Emily settled on top of her.
"By how much you and I are going to smell and taste like pussy by the time this day is through."
Emily's head fell onto Alison's shoulder and her body shook with her laughter. Alison grinned unrepentantly as she grasped Emily's cheeks gently in her hands, pulling her beautiful mermaid's lips to her own, swallowing her girl's chuckles.
Chuckles that soon, once again, morphed into moans.