Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Kate extended her hand to Caroline and asked her to dance.
"Be brave, Caroline, you can do it," Kate silently implored, willing Caroline to find the courage to dance with her in front of all these people. "Because, if you can't, I'm wasting my time."
Slowly Caroline reached out and took Kate's hand, somewhat unsure as to whether this was really happening or not. She allowed herself to be led to the dance floor where Kate took her other hand as well and wrapped both of Caroline's arms around her waist so they were held close despite the baby bump. Kate's hand gently caressed her cheek. Their bodies swayed slowly in time to the music they were barely aware of. Kate's hand came to rest under Caroline's chin as she drew their mouths together in a tender, lingering kiss, both women suddenly oblivious to all around them and unconcerned about all the attention they were attracting from the other guests on the dance floor. With each kiss a little more of the heartache they had each been suffering was washed away and replaced with the wish to never let each other go…to stay together forever. Even as the song finished and the other couples left the dance floor, Kate and Caroline danced on, caught up in their own song where only they could hear the music.
It wasn't until a more lively number began to play that the two women reluctantly broke their kiss and made the mutual, unspoken decision to leave the dance floor, Kate firmly grasping Caroline's hand as she led her back to the table. Instead of sitting down, Caroline turned to face her partner and once again wrapped her arms around her.
A little unsure as to whether she was assuming too much, Caroline asked, "Do you want to come back to my room?….I mean we can just talk if you want to…. we don't have to do anything else….but…I don't want you to leave again….ever." Caroline's voice began to falter.
"I'm not leaving, Caroline," she asserted, "but I have to warn you….we will be doing more than talking….I have missed you in oh so many ways." A teasing grin spread across her face reassuring Caroline that her Kate was back.
"Should we tell Celia and Alan that we're going?" Kate asked.
Caroline looked over towards the dance floor where the newlyweds were once again dancing up a storm.
"To be honest, I don't think they'll even notice. They're so caught up in their own thing," Caroline answered, "let's just go."
Caroline took Kate's hand and they headed off towards the rooms. As they entered into the lobby with its large fireplace and arrangement of plush furniture, an uncomfortable silence fell over the two women…. this had been where it had all eventually come undone the last time they were here, when Caroline had lost her nerve and booked two separate rooms for their "romantic" weekend. Instead of continuing up the stairs, Caroline took a deep breath to calm herself and led Kate over to the fireplace where an inviting fire was blazing. She cupped Kate's face tenderly in her hands. Kate felt a lump forming in her throat. Oh, how she had missed those beautiful, blue eyes that were gazing at her now.
"Kate," Caroline whispered, "I promise to try to be braver. I will be braver."
With that said, her mouth met Kate's in a deep and fearless kiss.
Although still quite breathless, when Kate finally pulled away from the kiss she managed to say, "I need….we need to go up to the room….now."
Caroline smiled as she understood Kate's meaning for her own desires were just as pressing. With an increased sense of urgency, they made their way up the stairs and the short distance along the corridor to Caroline's room. Quickly and a little nervously, lest it all be a dream and she wakes up, Caroline turned the key in the lock and led them in. The door had barely shut behind them when Caroline felt Kate's lips pressing on hers, urgent and demanding, their tongues dancing sensually in each other's mouths. Caroline kicked off her shoes while Kate had managed to remove the jacket that she was wearing and her fingers were now busily undoing the zip on the back of Caroline's dress. Caroline had a much easier task as Kate's dress had only a simple tie at the front holding it together. As she tugged on the ties they released and the dress opened to reveal Kate's exquisite pregnant form. Caroline removed the dress completely with ease and slowly ran her hands over Kate's body, reminding herself of its textures and tones. Its increased fullness made Caroline's heart ache with both love and yearning.
"Caroline, the zip on the back of your dress is stuck, it won't undo," Kate whispered, a little embarrassed and a lot frustrated.
"Just rip it," Caroline instructed, "I won't be wearing it ever again so it doesn't matter…just give it a good tug."
Kate did as she was told and felt the material give way. Caroline freed herself from the torn garment and left it lying on the floor with the rest of their clothing.
The two women stood naked before each other, only a soft glow from a bedside lamp illuminating the room. They held each other close, eyes closed, heads bent forward, foreheads touching. Each could feel the warm breath of the other on their cheeks. The urgency of their desire had subsided momentarily as they took in the sheer joy and relief of once again having each other to hold and being able to begin to put the hurt they'd suffered behind them. The sadness was slowly seeping out of their hearts and being replaced with the exhilaration of what might be.
Caroline broke the silence first, her voice soft and sincere.
"It's taken me a lot of heartache to figure out that we had something truly lovely together….something precious. I honestly want it to last forever even if forever is a long time… I love you…I want to spend the rest of my life with you." She stopped there as she could feel tears clouding her eyes and the emotion constricting her voice.
"I'm sorry I was so…so…cold, Caroline, but I had to think with my head and not my heart because my heart was broken and I thought…..I don't know exactly what I thought….I was probably lashing out…" Kate tried to explain.
"Sshh…it doesn't matter anymore. We can start again, can't we?" Caroline pleaded.
"Sure," Kate whispered, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her which was difficult in her hormone-laden state.
Caroline couldn't resist. She ran her hand once again over Kate's swollen belly and then looked up at her, eyes full of adoration.
"You look absolutely beautiful," she declared.
Kate leaned forward and placed feather-light kisses along Caroline's cheek then took her hand and led her to the room's luxurious bed. As they lay down, their naked bodies clasped tightly together, they both felt their desire reignite. Gentle kisses became demanding, full of want and passion. With hands, mouths, tongues they explored each other's bodies and drove them to the brink and then on over the edge. This was no embarrassed fumble…it was raw, honest love-making expressing all the feelings they couldn't find words for…the hurt, the heartache, the longing, the relief and finally the love.
oooOooo
It was well into the morning before Caroline roused from her sleep. As consciousness crept up on her she took great pleasure in feeling Kate's body beside her, reassuring her that last night had not been a figment of her imagination. It had all really happened. She couldn't help but smile.
Kate finally stirred also and rolled over to face Caroline, lazily slinging an arm over her lover's body and pulling her closer. Without opening her eyes or saying a word, Kate disappeared below the covers, her lips plying kisses along Caroline's neck and breasts, taking each nipple in turn in her mouth and teasing it to a hard nub. She then continued to descend, leaving a trail of sensual kisses across Caroline's stomach. Caroline gripped the pillows firmly as her body writhed in the increasing ecstasy that now coursing through her, until it finally spilled over and she was released.
As Kate's reappeared from below the covers, she kissed Caroline innocently on the forehead, however, she wore a less-than-innocent grin on her face.
"Morning, Caroline," Kate all but laughed as she took in the effect her venture had had on her lover.
"Blimey," was all Caroline was capable of saying at that moment.
As Kate lay with Caroline held in her arms still regaining her composure, she peered out the slim slit of window between the curtains and all that she could see was covered in a thick blanket of white. It must have snowed quite heavily during the night and even as she watched now, delicate flakes of snow continued to drift lazily past the window.
"What time do we have to vacate the room?" Kate asked.
"We don't…not today…I have it booked for another night," Caroline replied. "Will you stay with me another night?"
"I would but I don't have any change of clothes," Kate answered, the disappointment obvious in her voice.
"You won't need any clothes. We won't be going anywhere," Caroline said with a mischievous grin, "we can order room service if we need anything."
"What could you possibly have planned for us to do all day…here in this room…in this bed?" Kate asked putting on an air of naivety.
"We could play Scrabble," suggested Caroline with a laugh in her voice but equalling Kate's feigned innocence.
Kate raised an eyebrow. "Do you think you could beat me….you a chemistry person and me a languages person?"
"Sure….and to make it more worthwhile, let's make it 'Strip Scrabble'," Caroline added.
"Caroline, I don't know if you've noticed but we're both already naked. I don't get more naked than this," Kate said, stating the glaringly obvious and drawing Caroline's attention back to the desirable figure that lay beside her. She leant forward and once again covered Kate's belly with attentive kisses. As much as she wanted this woman at the moment, a hunger of another kind was demanding attention. She needed food.
So as not to give into the temptation, Caroline rose from the bed and found a robe for herself and for Kate.
"I'm going to order some breakfast," Caroline declared, looking at her watch on the bedside table. "Make that lunch," she added discovering that it was almost midday, "what would you like?"
oooOooo
After spending the remainder of the day in their room luxuriating in the comforts provided and each other's company, they decided to venture out to the hotel's restaurant for dinner. Both women had showered and dressed and were looking radiant as they entered the restaurant and were shown to a table for two.
"The hotel staff here must be really confused by now," Caroline said as they had took their seats, were handed the menus and left to make their decisions.
Kate gave her a quizzical look. "Why would they be confused?"
"Well, the first time they saw me here I was with you." Caroline laughed gently for a moment and then her tone became more serious. "Then I left on my own and you left with Greg…I assume."
Kate's face remained unreadable, giving away nothing of that night.
Caroline paused for a moment. The thought of Kate spending the night here with Greg rather than her still hurt. Sensing Caroline's pain, Kate reached across the table and took Caroline's hand in her own and ran her thumb soothingly across those long, pale fingers.
Caroline continued. "Then I turned up here with Gillian looking for a venue for mum's wedding only they thought it was Gillian and I who were getting married."
Kate looked at Caroline and laughed. "Seriously?"
"Seriously…..and now I'm back here with you….good lord….who knows what they think now? I can barely get it right with one woman and here they are probably thinking that I've got at least two."
Kate gave Caroline a radiant smile and then squeezed her hand affectionately, reassuring her that tonight she was getting it right.
After the meal, Kate excused herself and went to use the bathroom. While she was gone Caroline passed the time doing some people-watching in the restaurant. To her surprise, she noticed a number of other tables where there were two women or two men sitting together and from the intimate touches and body language it was obvious that they were couples also. Caroline was amazed.
"Why am I just seeing this now for the first time?" she asked herself.
On her return, Kate noticed the puzzled look on Caroline's face.
"What's up?" Kate asked.
"Oh nothing really…. it's just ….there's at least three other couples here…you know…like us."
Kate burst out laughing. She couldn't help herself. When she saw the blush of embarrassment on Caroline's cheeks she tried to hide her smile behind her hand but it was all too much.
Still laughing, Kate replied, "What did I tell you, Caroline? We're not the first gay couple to stay here."
The evening seemed to slip away all too quickly amidst the fine food, the romantic ambience and the easy conversation that flowed. In a moment of quiet, Caroline reminisced to herself about how this was what she had imagined it should have been like for Kate's birthday all those months ago instead of the calamitous mess it had actually turned out to be.
"What are you thinking about?" Kate asked quietly, noticing that she had drifted off to somewhere.
Caroline gave her head a quick shake to clear her thoughts.
"I was thinking about what a perfect evening this has been," she answered softly, "and how this is what was supposed to happen the first time I brought you here…for your birthday…except I ruined it by being a coward…"
Caroline stopped there. The thought of all that followed brought tears to her eyes. Gently Kate brought both of Caroline's hands to her lips and pressed sweet kisses on her knuckles.
"It's alright, Caroline….and besides, I didn't help the situation by insisting that Greg join us," Kate confessed.
"What happened that night?" Caroline ventured to ask, "that night that you and Greg….."
"I will tell you at some time, Caroline, but not tonight….another time…" Kate replied, unwilling to risk spoiling such a wonderful evening.
Caroline nodded. "Of course."
After dinner the couple sat for a short time in front of the fireplace, mostly in a contented silence, each off in their own thoughts, before eventually heading back to their room.
Once inside, Caroline kicked off her heels and made her way to the room's small bar to pour herself a nightcap.
"I'm just going to use the bathroom," Kate indicated. "I feel like I spend half my life in the bathroom with this pregnancy thing."
"Are you alright?" Caroline asked with genuine concern. "There's sweat on your forehead."
As Kate headed for the bathroom she replied, "I think I have a bit of indigestion. I'll be fine. Everything I eat disagrees with me at the moment."
Glass of port in hand, Caroline relaxed on the sofa and thought about the evening. Time and time again over the course of the past two days she'd felt the need to pinch herself to see if things were real. During the last few weeks she'd reluctantly come to accept the idea that she'd probably never be happy…truly, over-the-moon happy ever again…and, yet, against all odds, here she was with the one person who could make her life complete and give her that happiness.
Suddenly she was jostled from her thoughts back to reality as she heard a voice calling her name.
"Caroline. Caroline…" Kate called faintly but desperately from the bathroom.