Page 75 of The Rest is History
Of course, that was after two years of trying and agonising over why we couldn’t get pregnant. I know those words came from a place of intense heartbreak and resentment once we finally got our tests back.
It wasn’t her fault.
It was mine.
‘Charlie?’ Elodie’s staring at me. ‘You okay?’
I drag myself back to the distinct pleasure of this moment. ‘I’m a lot more than okay. And it’s not weird, sweetheart.’ I pull up to seated and wrap my arms around her back as tightly as I can.
I need her as close to me as possible when I move inside her.
‘What’s this?’ Lauren asks, poking the corner of my mouth.
Shelby swishes over to us, muscling in on the action. ‘I think this is Charlie’s happy face. But I can’t be sure.’ She squishes my face.
‘Fuck you both,’ I say, but I’m grinning like a lunatic.
Thank God for Elodie. Her light chases away the darkness so it retreats to the furthest corners of my mind, and that’s good enough for now. This morning, I gave myself over to her, mind and body. After our intense quickie, we lay out on my bedroom’s terrace while I poured espresso into her, and now we’re at the palace. Turns out, she brought some overnight stuff with her yesterday. It makes me really happy that she knew I was a foregone conclusion.
Was it really only last weekend that we shocked ourselves with that scorching encounter upstairs in the palace?
So much has changed in a few short days. Last week, she had me so riled. Rather, my jealousy and pettiness over her teaching prowess did. That rage was the kindling that ignited months of deepening desire and prompted my desperate move on her. A move that was as confusing as it was amazing.
But there’s no confusion now.
Not after the conversations we had last night.
Not after knowing her from the inside.
Not after waking up next to her this morning.
We can’t go backwards from this.
Now, I put my arm around her in front of the other queens, right in the middle of Clock Court, and gaze down at her.
‘Why do you think I’m smiling, my queen?’ I ask, and before she can reply, I kiss her mouth.
She’s grinning when I pull away. We discussed our options on the way here and decided we’d play things by ear, but now I’m here, there’s no way I can pretend. She’s just spent the night in my bed. She’s dealt with my shit and she’s given her body and her trust to me. Freely.
So, no. I’m not about to tamp down what we have in front of the others. Deny there’s anything going on.
Shelby gasps theatrically and hits Lauren on the arm. ‘Oh my God. Oh myGod. Was that—is this real? Are you guys, like, a thing?’
I still have Elodie locked in a firm hold. ‘What do you think, sweetheart? Is this real, or just for the crowds?’
She tries to shrug. ‘I think we’re just really good actors,’ she tells the others. ‘We wanted to spice things up for the Saturday crowds.’
‘Bollocks,’ Lauren says. ‘He’s been following you around like a lovesick puppy since he persuaded you to come on board. He didn’t give Kate the time of day when she was Anne. You guys are shagging, aren’t you?’
‘Hush,’ Tess hisses at them. ‘There are kids around!’ But she’s looking at us with her lower lip stuck out like she’s on the verge of tears.
‘Don’t answer that,’ I tell Elodie now.
She giggles and grins up at me conspiratorially. She looks so fucking beautiful as Anne. It’s Elodie I’m in love with, but I can still appreciate her embodying my favourite kink. The dark hair swept under her hood, showcasing that long, slim neck that still makes me want to bite down. Suck hard. TheBnecklace, its pearls trembling against white skin.
She’s so getting it later. At least now, when I look at her, I know my chances of sealing the deal are pretty good. No more tortured wishing from afar.
‘We’re kind of… together,’ she tells the queens, and there’s another collective and completely gratuitous gasp.
