Pretending in Paradise

by M. Ullrich

  “I’m right there with you.” Caroline dug her hands into Emma’s thick hair and tugged so that Emma looked up at her. She kissed her deeply and ran her fingernails down her neck into the back of Emma’s shirt. She scratched between her shoulders and swallowed Emma’s whimper. Caroline started moving her hips slowly, grinding her center against Emma’s lap.

  She felt so good. The warm night air surrounded her, the pressure building between her thighs held a promise of incredible pleasure, and Emma’s breath tickled her skin. Emma reached under her shirt and up to cup her breasts. Caroline’s nipples tightened along with her lower abdomen. She only needed a little more friction and she would come undone.

  Caroline opened her eyes wide and stared at the starry sky. She stopped and covered Emma’s hands with her own. “Wait.” Emma stopped immediately. “I’m sorry. Again.” Her breathing was far from normal, and she struggled to calm her heartbeat. She couldn’t bring herself to move, especially if it meant releasing Emma’s hands from her breasts.

  “You have absolutely nothing to apologize for.” She kissed the underside of Caroline’s chin. “I could sit just like this for the rest of the night and be content. You smell and feel wonderful.”

  Caroline’s heart melted, and her body refused to calm down. She finally, reluctantly released Emma’s hands and distanced herself by leaning back. Emma dropped her hands to her thighs. “I know you want more.”

  Emma lay back on the lounger, her thin shirt clinging to her body. She ran her hands up and up, her thumbs coming so close to Caroline’s center. Caroline gasped. “I know you want more, too,” Emma said with a confident smirk. “But we shouldn’t.”

  “No.” Caroline licked her lips. “We shouldn’t.”

  “You could finally join the balcony club with me.” Emma bit her lip and winked.

  Caroline had to look away from the hypnotic desire she saw in Emma’s eyes. She watched Emma’s thumbs as she traced her skin. With so little movement, Emma could make her way up her shorts and feel how wet Caroline was—how ready she was for her. “We should go to bed.” Emma’s grip tightened. “Ah, to sleep. I’m tired. Very tired. The dancing and…everything really wiped me out.”

  Emma sat up and kissed Caroline sweetly. “I had a wonderful day with you.” She embraced Caroline, her arms wrapped around her waist, and she just held her. No ulterior motives or wandering hands. The hug was simple, and Caroline sank into it. “Come on,” she said, patting Caroline’s side.

  They closed up the balcony and shut off the few lamps in the room, plunging them into darkness. The only light in the room came from outside. After climbing into bed, both Caroline and Emma shifted around to find a comfortable position. But neither made a move to bring their bodies together, as if they had a silent understanding any more contact at this point would bring them back into the passionate moment they were trying to escape.

  Caroline lay on her back, focused on the ceiling and her steady breathing. She knew she could move to the cot if the temptation grew too strong. But Caroline was happy right where she was, even if her body felt heated and the sticky evidence of her desire was a little uncomfortable. It had been so long since she had a moment like this, and she had resigned herself to the possibility that she might never have one again.

  Emma shifted, and a soft sigh filled the room.

  Caroline could commiserate with her restlessness. She wondered what Emma wanted to do to her, what she would have done if given permission. Would she be willing and attentive with her pleasure? Was Emma the kind of lover who turned shy when they were naked and vulnerable in each other’s arms? Caroline imagined Emma as a loud lover, and God she could easily lose herself in the thought of her fingers and her lips everywhere.

  “Caroline? Are you still awake?” Emma’s voice sounded deep and loud in the silence.

  Caroline kept her eyes on the ceiling. “Yes. I can’t fall asleep.”

  “Me either. What are you thinking about?”

  Caroline’s eyes widened. Did Emma know? She wouldn’t be at all surprised to find out Emma could read minds. “I’m thinking about you,” she said honestly. No point in lying.

  “I’m thinking about you, too.”

  Caroline heard the rustling of covers and could barely see Emma out of the corner of her eye. She swallowed hard. “What were you thinking?” She knew she was playing with fire. But this moment reminded her of being young and running her fingers through the flame of a lit match. She never got burned, but the excitement scorched her insides.

  “How good it felt to touch you and what your mouth tastes like. You’re a really good kisser.”

  “So are you.” Caroline pulled the covers aside to bare one leg. She felt very warm.

  “I could feel how hot you were through your shorts. You must’ve been so wet.” Emma whimpered.

  The sound momentarily shocked Caroline. Her heart lurched, and she twitched at an intense pull at her clit. Caroline had a choice to make. She could either flee the situation or dive in and enjoy herself. Who knew what the future held? The darkness added to her bravery. She looked to the side and watched Emma’s silhouette move in an unmistakable way. She gasped at the erotic visual. When she didn’t say anything, Emma stopped.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll go to the bathroom.”

  She reached out and grabbed Emma’s wrist. She licked her dry lips. “I’m still wet, very wet.”

  “Tell me more.” Emma pulled her hand back.

  Caroline left her hand on the mattress between them, desperate for Emma to fill in the blanks of her imagination. “I almost came on your lap.”

  Emma hummed.

  “That’s why I stopped us,” Caroline said. “I was so close.”

  “You must be pretty frustrated, then. You can still come with me, if you want to.” Emma’s voice sounded different now, more strained.

  Caroline looked down at Emma’s outline, barely highlighted by the moonlight. She stared at the obvious slope of her full breasts as she reached below the waistband of her own shorts. She entered herself so easily. “Do you want me to?” Caroline asked in a sigh. She touched herself often, but knowing Emma was doing the same less than a foot away heightened her every sense. It wouldn’t take long to climax.

  Emma moaned. “Fuck yes.”

  “What else do you want me to do?” Caroline closed her eyes and waited for Emma’s directions. She felt starved for her voice. “I’m already inside myself.”

  “Shit. I’m going to come soon, and I don’t want this to be over so fast.”

  “Then hurry up and start talking.”

  “Rub your clit slowly.”

  Caroline pulled out and moaned loudly. She focused around her clit, circling it but never making direct contact. If she wanted to last, she had to be careful. “Feels so, so good, Emma.” Saying Emma’s name as she pleasured herself evoked a fresh gush of arousal. Caroline traced her sensitive folds with her fingertip and collected a few drops to spread around her heated, silky skin.

  “Pinch your nipple and imagine it’s my teeth. I want my mouth on you so badly.” Emma groaned. “Your body is everything I find sexy. Especially your thighs. I want them wrapped around my head as I eat you, as I slide my tongue into you. Finger yourself, Caroline.”

  Caroline hissed as she filled herself quickly with two fingers and started a rhythmic pumping. She could no longer control her hips, and she rocked against her hand with force. “I want to come so badly,” she said in a whine.

  “It would’ve been so fucking hot if you had come on me before. I’d feel you tremble against me and hold you as you shook and came down. Or I could’ve pulled your shorts aside and entered you. I bet you’re so tight.” Emma took rapid, short breaths.

  Caroline threw her head back and opened her mouth, letting out a long, low howl. Her orgasm was intense and lasted longer than any she had given herself. She was unrelenting as she pulled her fingers out to rub her clit. “Make me come again,” she demanded. She rubbed herself furiously, her f
orearm started to cramp.

  “I’m so close, Caroline. All it’d take is one kiss or one touch from you. If you wrapped your lips around me now, I’d explode.”

  Caroline bucked off the mattress as her second orgasm hit, much faster than the first but no less intense. She clamped her eyes shut and rode out every ounce of pleasure her body was willing to give her. She convulsed and giggled.

  Emma’s orgasm was quiet, but Caroline knew the exact moment she fell over the edge into oblivion. She keened lowly and the mattress shifted. She stilled.

  They lay together quietly as they caught their breath. Emma was the first to move and rolled on to her side to face Caroline. She took Caroline’s left hand, fingers still coated in her own juices and brought them to her lips. “May I?”

  Caroline gulped audibly to swallow a whimper. She never knew she’d want Emma to clean her fingers, but now she was filled with need. “Please.”

  The pulsing in Caroline’s pussy increased the moment Emma sucked her fingers in. The hot, wet cavern of her mouth felt divine. A latent tremor shook Caroline’s body.

  Emma released her fingers with a pop and kissed Caroline’s neck, up to her ear. “Good night, Caroline. Sweet dreams.” She burrowed her face into Caroline’s neck and pillow.

  “Good night, Emma.”

  Caroline’s body was still pulsing as she fell into a peaceful slumber.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Emma knew she had to get up, but her limbs felt heavy on the warm mattress, and her mind was clear. These early mornings were her favorite. She knew she should go for a run or hit the gym before Caroline woke up, but one quick peek at the sliding doors told her the sun was just rising and she had plenty of time.

  She pulled the plush comforter over her head and felt around for Caroline and some early-hour cuddling. All she found was Caroline’s legs. When she pulled the covers down, she saw Caroline sitting against the headboard, wide awake.

  “Hey,” Emma said in her groggy morning voice. “What are you doing up there? You should be down here with me.”

  “I woke up a little while ago and couldn’t get back to sleep.”

  “Come here.” Emma struggled to free both of her hands from the covers. She opened and closed them in front of Caroline. “Come to me, and we’ll both go back to sleep.”

  “My mom sent me a weird message late last night. I tried to call her, but she didn’t answer. Neither did my dad.”

  Emma was much more awake now. “What did the message say?”

  “She’s hoping I’m having a great time.”

  “That doesn’t sound very weird.”

  “For her it is. She can be very passive aggressive when Kyle’s not doing well. It makes me worry.”

  “They probably didn’t answer because they’re sleeping, like you should be. The sun isn’t even up yet.” Emma lifted the covers and beckoned Caroline again. “You can call them in a couple of hours. I’m sure they’ll answer then.” Emma patted the mattress, but Caroline still wouldn’t move. She wasn’t even looking at her. “Is everything else okay?”

  “I’m scared of facing you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes. I’m a little embarrassed after last night. I’m worried you’ll look at me differently or things between us will be uncomfortable.”

  Emma leaned up on her elbow. “You seem okay with me now.”

  “I can’t see you, silly.”

  Emma rolled over and turned on the bedside lamp. “There. You can see me.” She knew her hair was all over the place and her face was creased with sheet marks. But putting Caroline at ease was much more important. Emma kissed Caroline’s cheek. “Everything is fine between us. Actually, better than fine. I feel great and even closer to you.”

  Caroline turned her head slowly. Emma found her shyness adorable. “You do?”

  “I do.” Emma wanted her to know how sincere she was. “I would’ve thought two orgasms would relax you a little.”

  Caroline’s head fell against the headboard, and she sighed. “I was relaxed. I was sleeping so deeply and then I got up to go to the bathroom. That’s when I saw the message. I’ve been on edge since, and it didn’t take much for me to start overthinking last night.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “I’ve just never done anything like that before.”

  Emma smiled at Caroline’s coy demeanor. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

  “Clearly.”

  “So did I, and I’ve never done anything like that before, either.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. I was just so turned on that—”

  “I know.”

  Emma sensed Caroline’s discomfort, so she dropped the subject. Just because she liked to talk openly about sex didn’t mean she should force Caroline to. She began rubbing soothing circles on Caroline’s thigh. “Everything’s fine. Last night was great, and your family is okay. Will you let me hold you for a little while?” Caroline nodded. Emma turned off the lamp and held her arms open.

  Caroline moved into position and put her head on Emma’s chest. Emma’s arms were chilly from being exposed, and she shivered. Caroline flashed her a smile, and Emma kissed her sweetly.

  “You brushed your teeth,” Emma said. She covered her mouth with her hand. “That’s cheating.”

  Caroline laughed. “When I got up to use the bathroom, I figured it couldn’t hurt to freshen up.” She held on to Emma when she tried to turn away. “I’ll kiss you anyway.”

  “I have to brush my teeth.” Emma started to get out of bed, but Caroline wrapped herself around her waist.

  “Please don’t go. You just started to warm me up.”

  Emma gave in easily and cuddled up to Caroline once more. She kissed her hair and ran her hands down her arms. “I’m going to miss this,” she whispered, her sleepy mind allowing her to express herself openly.

  Caroline danced her fingertips along Emma’s stomach. “I’ll miss this, too.”

  The silence between them stretched on, and Emma couldn’t stop thinking about what was next. Caroline had opened up to her and shared so much of herself, Emma was worried she’d regret it once they got home. Just the thought broke her heart a little.

  Emma had grown used to seeing Caroline every day, an aspect of relationships Emma had once struggled with. She liked distance and days apart. Her time was precious and her own, but that wasn’t the case with Caroline. As her eyelids grew heavier, Emma considered what was so different this time. When the answer dawned on her, Emma opened her eyes. Everything was different with Caroline because they were never supposed to like each other. She was never supposed to start falling in love.

  * * *

  Caroline and Emma spent their morning together in the gym and then enjoyed a light breakfast by the pool. Everything felt so normal between them. Caroline complained the whole time they were at the gym. She knew Emma had caught on to her after she feigned stupidity while trying to use a step machine. But Emma showed nothing but patience and cuteness as she helped Caroline.

  She gave Caroline a respectful amount of distance when she called her mother to check in, and she gave Caroline the sweetest hug when she hung up and announced everything was, indeed, okay. During breakfast, Emma scrolled through her phone but paid no less attention to Caroline, who grew shy every single time Emma turned her camera on her.

  The only turbulence came when Caroline had to drag Emma to another group meeting.

  Caroline walked a bit ahead of Emma, who was sulking. “We have to say good-bye to everyone.”

  “But the weather is perfect for drinking in the pool,” Emma whined.

  “And just like I tell you every time, we can drink in the pool later.”

  “No time.”

  Caroline stopped walking in the hallway of the resort. “I can’t believe you just said we won’t have time to drink in the pool.”

  Emma laughed. “I have plans for later.”

  “Oh.” Caroline felt a little silly for expec
ting to spend their last night at the resort together. Emma took her hand and turned her around.

  “It’s time for my date plans.”

  Caroline was confused. “I thought Little Havana was your date idea.”

  Emma shook her head and smirked as she laced her fingers with Caroline’s. “Little Havana was just a fun day out. Tonight is a real date.”

  Caroline squeezed Emma’s hand. “I can’t wait.”

  Ramona greeted them loudly the minute they walked through the rec room door. Both Caroline and Emma’s eyes went wide.

  Ramona clapped her hands excitedly. “We’re playing The Newlywed Game today.” She looked like she was about to burst.

  Maria entered the conversation with a laugh. “Not quite,” she said, pointing to the long table she was leaning against. “Ladies, one of you please take a seat at the far table and the other take a seat here.”

  Caroline kept her eyes on Emma, unabashedly checking her out. Emma looked good in skinny jeans and a simple tank top that seemed molded to every curve. She bumped into the table and finally looked away with a blush.

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone undress another person with their eyes,” Ramona said.

  Caroline smiled at Ramona. “I was not. I was admiring the way her clothes fit. Similar, but not the same.” She winked and took a seat.

  Maria stood at the front of the room and waited for the chatter to stop. “Okay, I think everyone is here, so let’s get started.”

  Caroline looked around the room and noticed the group was smaller.

  Ramona must’ve sensed Caroline’s concern. “Cam and Barry left this morning,” she said.

  Caroline was a bit disappointed that they left without a good-bye. She nodded in understanding as Maria got started.

  “Today’s activity will be a lot like The Newlywed Game. I’ll give each table a set of questions, and you’ll write your answers on the large cards stacked in the center of the table. Answer honestly, because you know what comes next. Your partner will have to guess.”

  “I used to watch The Newlywed Game all the time and dreamed of being a contestant.” Ramona looked more excited than Caroline had ever seen her. And that was saying something.