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.
Gemma dipped her head again, but this time towards Emily's hand, nestling her cheek against her friend's palm. It felt cozy, but she could also feel her heart racing. She took off a glove as well and placed her hand over Emily's, then gently turned her friend's hand so as to kiss the palm softy.
Gemma looked up and again connected with Emily's steady stare. She clasped Emily's hand to her breast, reaching out to stroke her cheek, extending the same tenderness that Emily had shown her. But there was something more than tenderness. It was there in Emily'a stare, there in Gemma's pulse rate. Neither of them had said a word, but an understanding had been exchanged. Releasing Emily's hand, Gemma cupped her friend's face and moved her own towards it.
Eyes closed, lips parted and met. Brushing at first, tentative, exploring. Then more certainly with pressure, with rising intensity. The girls pulled back. They looked at each other differently than they had before. Or perhaps they finally acknowledged what had always been there. They rejoined more forcibly. Gemma felt Emily's hands on the back of her head, Emily's body pressing against hers and Emily's tongue in her mouth.
