Sorry the updates are late again today. I had to take the kitten to the vet. Tomorrow will be late as well as I have a church thing to go to but normal service will resume on Thursday! I hope you enjoy the chapter. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty Five

After a short while, Charlie rolled onto her side, gathering Joey into her arms. They were both sleepy, having worked up quite a sweat from the moment they'd arrived back in their room. While their lovemaking was always good, there had been something different about tonight. It had been more passionate, more desperate than normal and although Charlie was far from complaining, she was determined to find out why.

"Joey…" she began.

"Hmm?" Joey mumbled sleepily, nestling against Charlie's slim frame and resting her head happily on her right breast.

"What's on your mind?" Charlie asked.

"Right now?" Joey said. "Sleep."

"I mean… what's been bothering you for the last few days?"

Joey sat up quickly, staring at Charlie in the low lighting. All at once she felt guilty, as if she had done something wrong. And perhaps she had. While nothing ever prevented her from making love to her girlfriend if she could, she had been very aware of her own insecurities, at least when they'd got started.

"What do you mean?" she asked, feigning innocence.

Charlie sat up and held her hands.

"I feel like you've been struggling with something," Charlie ventured, trying to sound less meek than she felt. "And that maybe it might be at least partly why you've been so… well, amazing tonight!"

She grinned affectionately, making Joey relax a little.

"And it's certainly why you've been distracted for the last few days," Charlie added.

Joey's face fell and she nodded quietly.

"So," Charlie urged, squeezing her hand. "What gives?"

Joey looked up and gazed into her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I guess I just let Angelo get into my head."

"Excuse me?" Charlie shrieked, making Joey jump in fright.

"I let Angelo get into my head," she repeated.

"Thank fuck for that," Charlie exclaimed, flopping back dramatically against the pillows.

Joey moved to lie back in her embrace, amused.

"What did you think I said?"

"That you let Angelo get into your bed," Charlie admitted sheepishly.

Joey guffawed, snorting a couple of times as hysterics took over. Charlie couldn't quite help but join in. They lay together, bodies shaking with laughter, wiping tears from their eyes.

"I can assure you that that is not what I said," Joey promised. "And it's definitely not what happened."

She shuddered at the mere thought.

"So, what did happen?" Charlie asked more seriously.

"He just… he made some comments and I guess… I guess I listened to him," Joey admitted. "I know it's stupid. I know he's wrong but…"

She sighed heavily.

"What did he say and how much do I have to kill him?" Charlie asked.

Joey chuckled and kissed her.

"He said that one day, you're going to get bored of me," she said sadly.

"As if!"

"He said that because you're bi, one day, you're going to crave something that I can't give," Joey continued. "He said that you'll eventually start missing the part of a man that girls don't have and…"

"You mean the part I always felt most grossed out by?" Charlie asked.

Joey shifted and gazed into her eyes.

"Charlie, I do understand that you like men," she said earnestly. "You don't have to pretend…"

Charlie sat up quickly and cupped her face.

"I don't even know if I am bisexual, Joey," she admitted. "Yes, I've had relationships with guys and yes I enjoyed them, at least in part. But… when I compare them to what I have with you. There's no contest. I never really enjoyed sex that much with men. You already know I'd never had an actual orgasm until I met you."

She blushed a little. Joey fell more deeply in love with her.

"What I mean is that if I didn't really enjoy being with guys the way I was meant to, then there's zero chance of me missing them," she explained more urgently. "Joey, you're all I didn't even know I wanted. How could I ever feel like anything was lacking? Especially when we're capable of the magic we created tonight?"

She grinned. Now it was Joey's turned to blush.

"It was pretty awesome," she agreed with a shy giggle.

"And it always is," Charlie said passionately. "Maybe I'm looking at everything with rose tinted glasses but I wasn't lying when I was talking to that Joel guy today. Everything about us, even the mundane things like the way we have a perfect routine when it comes to making breakfast in the morning… everything is so perfect. I'm happier than I even knew it was possible to be, happier than I ever thought I deserved. I love you so much, Joey. And you never, ever have to worry about things like that."

Joey nodded and apologised.

"Don't be sorry," Charlie begged. "Just be honest. Tell me how you're feeling. Don't keep it all inside. We're partners, right? Let's communicate."

Joey nodded again and kissed her tenderly.

"I really do love you," she whispered.

"I really do love you too," Charlie replied.

"And you genuinely don't… miss anything?" Joey checked.

"How on earth could I even have the energy to miss anything?" Charlie laughed, pulling her closer and running her hands through her hair.

Joey grinned.

"Because… you know, there are things we could use if we wanted to…" she ventured.

Charlie looked genuinely confused.

"You know…" Joey said.

Charlie's confusion grew.

"Strap-ons," Joey finally blurted out, her face flushing.

"Strap-on what?" Charlie asked.

Joey chuckled.

"Never mind," she said, hugging her.

"I don't understand," Charlie mumbled helplessly.

"When we get back to the Bay, I'll educate you," Joey promised.

She guided them both off the bed so that they could tuck themselves into it. All thoughts of bed time routines such as teeth cleaning had been forgotten in sudden exhaustion.

"If you're going to identify as a lesbian then we really need to work on your credentials," Joey smirked, cuddling up to Charlie in the middle of the bed.

"If any of it involves anything remotely similar to what we had tonight," Charlie mumbled sleepily. "Then count me in."


Next time… Ruby is besotted with Liam, Nicole is sad about Aden and Leah is worried about Elijah, but Charlie and Joey remain perfectly happy...