The Kiss
- Chapter One
Gemma stood next to Emily, leaning on the parapet and admiring the view. Both girls' breath came in clouds. Maybe early January was a less than ideal time to visit Niagara, but at least they had avoided the crowds. Not a soul was in sight.
Gemma had always wanted to visit the US, but having a local as a guide was perfect. She and Emily had got to know each other on-line. Gemma had a trip arranged, Emily had some leave she needed to use or lose and a plan had come together.
The two of them had become close over the last few days. Exploring New York from Emily's Jersey base, going to the Shore whale watching and just hanging out and eating pizza. Now they were on a road trip.
Emily was older than Gemma by a few years, but the age gap didn't seem relevant. They found that they shared a sense of humor, as well as a taste for pizza and silly TV shows. Emily was, well, American, and Gemma was definitively not. But they met somewhere in the middle. Gemma thought that maybe she was coming out of her shell being round Emily, not acting as shy and retiring as normal. It felt nice.
They had headed out in Emily's car, sharing the driving and checked in to a quaint hotel last night. Emily had described it as Victorian, but it wasn't what Gemma thought of as that architecture, more Amityville than the red-brick terraces back home.
They had been too tired to do anything but crash last night. A miscommunication meant that they had a double bed instead of the twins they had asked for, but that was no big deal. It had been nice to chat to Emily face to face before they fell asleep, nice to make plans for the morning. It had been nicer still to feel Emily's warm body curled up next to her, that had felt comforting, but also, what was the word, tingly maybe? Gemma wasn't quite sure, it was a new feeling, but she knew she had liked it.
Now watching the gray waters slowly pour earthwards, looking more like a translucent form of treacle than anything else, Gemma felt content. The spectacle was humbling, but also comforting. There was such beauty and serenity in the world. She began to feel somewhat Zen, to feel connected with the majesty of nature. She was warm, despite the frigid air.
In this state, it felt like the most natural thing in the world to have a hand interlock with hers. Gemma was mentally reaching out already and a physical connection seemed to just be an extension of this. She felt fingers squeeze hers through winter gloves and turned to smile at Emily, who reciprocated. Emily's gray-blue eyes fixed on Gemma's and held her gaze steadily, her hair being tugged across her face by the breeze. In other circumstances, such prolonged eye contact might have felt awkward. Here, today, in this place, it felt right.
Emily removed one glove and extended a hand towards Gemma's face. Gemma pulled back reflexively, dipping her head to her breast. But she was not entirely the same girl who had left Heathrow a few days ago. She raised her eyes again and mouthed "sorry" to her friend. Emily had halted, her hand in space, but reassured she now touched Gemma's cheek, then caressed it. Tingly, that word again. Little flickers of electricity ran from Emily's fingertips through Gemma's body.
