BLUE LACE

02

Warmth brushed her eyelids, waking her from her dreams. Dreams where she held the girl she loved.

Dreams where she was happy. She opened her eyes, squinting at the sunlight that trickled down through the trees. It took a moment to remember where she was.

How could she have forgotten. A smile slowly spread across her lips as she replayed the night before. She glanced over, and laying beside her, and there, face buried under a curtain of auburn hair, was Paige. Sleeping peacefully, breathing slow shallow breaths beside her. Emily reached her fingers over, sliding the blanket higher around Paige's bare shoulders, and relishing the way the sun shone on her creamy skin.

She carefully brushed the auburn hair off of her face, smiling at the pure peace she found there.

Leaning in slowly, she pressed her lips softly to her exposed neck.

Paige was still. 'She is so beautiful.' Emily thought, keeping herself still when all she really wanted to do was kiss Paige again, touch her, be touched the way she had been last night. Any reminder that it had been real, and not a dream. She couldn't believe it had been real. Doubts had plagued her so heavily in the past few months and even more so once Paige had become a constant in her life.

Fear rooted itself deep in her stomach. What if she had taken it too far last night? What if Paige regretted it? What if she lost her? She was so wrapped up in her worries, her self doubts.

Maya had made her feel that way. Pulling her just close enough, and then pushing her away so that she was never too close. Maya had always had the power. An upper hand to her heart. It ached her to think that was all she would ever have. Last night had been so beautiful. It had been everything to her. She found herself bordering on panic. Thinking about what Paige might say when she woke. Even worrying that she had not been good enough. That she hadn't satisfied her. She was so lost in these thoughts that she didn't notice the girl beside her stir slighty. She didn't feel the brown eyes that now studied her face.

She felt something. A breeze maybe. No, fingers brush against her face, stopping her heart, and her breath. The night before flooded back to her making her body glow and burn with heat. The scent of lavender filled her nose as she felt Emily's lips lightly graze her neck. She could already feel her pulse quicken though she kept her eyes closed, replaying the night slowly in her mind.

Detail by detail. Touch by touch. Emily's lips on her body. Every part of her felt like a live wire, slowly sinking into the water, charging everything that it touched. 'It was like a dream.'

Her eyes flew open. Taking in the sight before her. The beautiful girl with the long raven hair. Hints of chocolate strands shining through in the sunlight. Her caramel skin running smooth and bare, with the plaid blanket draped lightly over her chest. The same blanket that she herself was beneath. The slight wrinkle between her brow as she gazed up into the trees. 'Oh no.' she thought. 'She's upset'. Emily's face was wrinkled in concern. Her heart sank. 'Way to go, Paige. You ruined everything. As usual.' Any chance she had with Emily suddenly seemed to be slipping away, as quickly as it had started. Her throat dried and her chest tightened. Fear replacing the bliss she had felt moments ago.

Emily's face froze suddenly, then quickly returned to a relaxed state, finally sensing that she was being watched .
She turned slowly to face her.

When their eyes met, Paige felt her entire body melt. The love she saw in Emily's eyes couldn't be missed and it mirrored her own.

Easing her mind completely of the worry. Emily reached, brushing her cheek softly. Her breath releasing from her lungs as though she had been holding it in. All concern dissolved from her now that they where seeing each other. Maybe that's how it would always be for her. Plagued by fear and self-doubt when she was away from Emily, but amazed by the intense love when they reunited. She felt that love now. She caught Emily's hand, holding it in place on her cheek, and leaning up off the ground she pressed her lips to Emily's. Perhaps too roughly, she thought. But Emily proved that assumption wrong, wrapping her arms around her neck and pulling her closer.