28. CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 28
Tilda
A group trip to the gym sounded fun until I realised that included Nic. Haz suggested it’s a good time to go since it’s the day before New Year’s Eve and most everyone will still be off island. I’m surprised Nic wanted to come at all but it is only a few months before Varsity now, and Coach will have us at the gym three times a week in preparation anyway.
We have some tourneys coming up too. Don’t know how I’m going to manage hours-long coach trips and nights away with Nic. She’ll probably smother me in my sleep. Then again, maybe not. She takes hockey as seriously as I do and wouldn’t want something as dumb as my murder to scupper it for herself.
Like the Stores, the university’s gym is underground. I think that was a deliberate choice. With its stone walls and ceiling, the place is so cold you have to jump on the machines immediately to warm up.
We have the place to ourselves just like Haz predicted. Water bottle and towel in hand, she beelines for the weights area, where she’ll probably be parked for the rest of the hour. She’s deadly serious about those guns of hers.
I prefer cardio over weight training. It’s better for the merciless way Coach drives us with drills.
Unfortunately, that means so does Nic.
It looks like we’re heading to the same treadmill, the one I always use when I’m here. We both slow down when we reach it, waiting to see who’ll make the first move.
Nic tosses out a hand. ‘No, after you. You need it more.’
Such a snide fucking comment. But whatever, I win, not her.
I set the machine to running whilst she climbs on the one next to me.
I make it a point never to be too close to her. Side by side like this, it’s extra apparent just how tall she is. Maybe as tall as Ryan and just as lanky. Every time she goes down at hockey or twists something, I’m scared she’s gonna snap.
I know she’s tougher than she looks. It’s the look in her eyes, their hardness, their remoteness. The way her hair spikes like just touching it might stab you. Her elbows and shoulders that probably feel like shrapnel.
She might not be Blakely-sized but I’ve no doubt she could bend me in a fight.
Would the other two come to my rescue?
I glance over at them by weights. Haz is trying to teach Elly something, frustration clear to hear in her voice.
‘Elly. Fucking hell, man. Like this, I said.’
I smile. They’re so cute when they’re squabbling. Just like Dan and Taylor.
When I turn back, Nic is glaring at me.
‘Excuse me.’ I wipe my hand over my mouth. ‘Didn’t mean to smile. I know you hate me having a good time.’
She scoffs quietly, not dignifying me with a reply.
I’ve got the endorphins flowing now. My heart’s beating like a drum, making me want to do silly things like engage with the girl next to me.
I start small, asking her how her Christmas went.
She purses her lips as she deliberates. ‘Good,’ she says, a tiny devious smile on her lips.
I don’t like that look at all. Did she shit in my bed or something? Absolutely would not put it past her.
I push my luck with another question. ‘Are you looking forward to the party tomorrow?’
She nods without answering this time.
I’m surprised she’s allowing the New Year’s party to happen at theirs. I forget she’s not a stick in the mud all the time. I’ve heard her have fun before, I’ve heard her laugh. Granted, it’s usually when I’m not in the room. And there’s no forgetting our night at the Vaults when she was cracked out on cocaine.
I hope she doesn’t bring that stuff to the party. Doubt she will; Haz would have her neck.
‘So when are you back at uni? You’re doing Lit, right?’
‘The fact you can still fucking talk,’ she grinds out, ‘means you’re not pushing hard enough.’
‘Or maybe I’m just fitter than you.’
She glowers, stabbing the button on her machine and upping the speed.
I follow suit with mine.
She doesn’t know I did cross-country at school. That I would run and run and run until my teachers had to make me stop. That running was the only way I could outpace the pain of ruining everybody’s lives.
I snort internally. Nic would have a fucking field day with that. Better I just show her instead.
I take a deep breath, encouraging the air into my lungs and dispersing it slowly. My body tingles, filling with energy. Yeah, I know all the tricks. Nic won’t have me beat on this.
We run for a long time, our gasping breaths loud in the gym without the usual music playing. From the corner of my eye, I see Elly approach. She watches warily, eventually saying, ‘Alright, ladies, time to chill it. You’re both beasts.’
We don’t chill it. We go harder, our legs a blur beneath us. My feet pound the mat, making the machine shake. I don’t glance at Nic. I don’t risk falling. If I did, it wouldn’t be pretty with the speed I’m going.
I hear Nic gasp out a fuck , seeing her in my periphery brace both legs on the edge of the machine, the mat zooming by under her.
I smirk, winding mine down to a cooldown.
I glance at her, trying my best not to rub it in her face. No need to with Nic. I can tell she’s her own harshest critic.
She’s breathing hard, mopping the back of her neck with a towel. Flicking it over her shoulder, she runs a hand through her hair. ‘Mainland have it fucking coming to them,’ she mutters.
I blink, watching her locate the water fountain. Did she just compliment me?
Fucking win.
‘That was ace,’ Elly says. ‘Super fucking dumb, but ace.’
‘Thanks. I’m wiped.’
‘Same.’ She gestures with her head. ‘Come with me a sec.’
I smile at Haz as we pass. She’s lying on a weight bench, paused like she was watching us too. She winks at me, teeth showing in a grin, before resuming her pressing. I watch those muscles flex until they’re out of sight.
Yeah, those two would so have my back.
Flicking the lid on my water bottle, I drink from it deeply. ‘Where are we going?’
‘Wanna go shower?’
I wrinkle my nose. ‘I literally never shower at the gym.’
‘That’s okay. Thought we could go get wet in a different way.’
‘Ohhhh.’ I slap myself on the forehead. ‘Wow, I am slow today. Yeah, a shower sounds super good.’
There are two at the gym, both big wet rooms with a few cubbyholes for towels. There’s a bench beneath them that Elly tosses our water bottles and bags onto.
‘Fuck, those tiles are cold,’ I gasp when she pushes me against them.
She reaches out and flicks on the shower.
‘I don’t wanna get wet,’ I caution.
‘Oh damn. And here I thought you did.’
I roll my eyes. ‘I don’t mean in that way. I don’t have spare clothes.’
‘Don’t worry. I brought you some.’
‘Wow, you’ve really planned this.’
‘Mm-hm. Watching you this whole time in those fucking leggings. Your cheeks all red and sweaty. That’s what you look like after you’ve come.’
‘Ew,’ I laugh. ‘I don’t need to know that.’
Elly smiles, leaning in to kiss me. ‘I want to make it look like that again.’
I close my eyes as she kisses down my neck. Water puddles around my feet, warming them up. I get my hands under her t-shirt to feel her skin. It’s damp like mine even with half the workout.
She groans lightly. ‘I love the feel of your hands on me.’
‘I love the feel of your tongue on me,’ I counter.
Emboldened by that, she continues to kiss downwards, her face a mask of concentration. It’s like she really likes doing this to me. Which is a dumb thing to think, but foreplay is usually something boys have to do rather than what they want. At least in my experience. Elly seems to actually be wanting this.
She traces my mandala tattoo with her fingers, each pass sending bolts straight to my pussy. Pulling down the straps of my sports bra, she kisses my shoulders, her tongue drawing hot circles there.
‘Can I take this off?’
I nod my head, lifting my arms so she can remove it. It plops down in the water. Despite the warmth of the steam, my nipples quickly stiffen to peaks.
Elly cups me in her large hands. ‘First time I’ve seen these under bright lights.’
‘Hope they don’t disappoint.’
‘Nothing about you could disappoint.’
She lowers her head and takes a nipple into her mouth. I let out a quiet moan, mindful of where we are.
Are we ever going to be able to do this without listening ears? I want to get her alone and let her hear what she does to me.
She runs her tongue down to my tattoo, licking two semi circles under my boobs, tracing the ridges of my ribs.
I grit my teeth against how good it feels, both hands gently cupping her face. Screwing up my courage, I say, ‘Go lower.’
Elly pauses. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yeah.’ I look into her eyes, her chin resting against my stomach. I just want to drag her head to every part of my body that’s screaming. ‘I need to get off.’
She’s slow in peeling back my waistband, like I’m going to stop her any minute. I’m too far gone for that, the sound of the shower and the concealing steam bolstering my confidence.
She pulls at my leggings. They’re already wet from the water and sticking.
‘Fucking hell, Tilda. These are fused.’
I chuckle, bracing myself on her head. She almost pulls me over with her yanking, my underwear coming down too. She looks at my pussy, then back up to my eyes as she pulls the leggings the rest of the way off.
‘Your pussy is perfect,’ she whispers.
I hold my breath as she kisses my hipbones, tongue swiping where my thigh meets my groin. She noses just above my pussy, her hot breath wafting over me. Then her tongue nudges lower, the tip grazing over my clit.
I hit my head against the wall, closing my eyes against the invading lights. She lifts one of my legs, hooking it over her shoulder so I’m open to her. She parts me, gathering my wetness to smear over my clit.
Fuck, I mouth, tangling my fingers in her hair.
I knew it would be good. Elly talks a big game but she can back it up too. She starts slow, just like with her kisses, ratcheting up the intensity until I’m a wet, quivering mess hanging onto the shreds of my self-control.
With the flat of her tongue, she spirals her tongue over and over my clit. There’s none of that flicking me until it hurts or lapping me like an ice cream. It’s controlled and deliberate, like she really wants it to feel good for me.
I have to bite down on one of my hands to stop from crying out. When things get that good, I just can’t help myself. Ryan used to hate it, often telling me to shut up when we fucked back at Portia House.
I think Elly would be thrilled if I made noise. She’s certainly doing her best to evoke them. She tongues my entrance, thrusting there before returning to double down on my clit.
‘Fuck.’ I bear down on her shoulders with both hands. ‘Elly, I need to lie down.’
She guides me to the floor. Water hammers over me, sticking my hair to my skin and no doubt ruining my makeup. I don’t care. I just need her tongue back on me.
She circles her palms over my knees. ‘Still good with this?’
I nod, waiting for her to get back into place.
She kneels between my legs, then gets to her stomach, heedless of the water soaking up her joggers.
I let out a moaning hum as all those delicious sensations start up again. Oral really does feel great when done right. It’s like coming a million tiny times whilst knowing the best is still to come.
I bend my knees as far as they will go, completely opening myself to her. It’s so odd, watching this girl’s face between my legs, enjoying it more than pretty much anything I’ve done with anyone else.
She holds my thighs, pushing my hips back down when I raise them to her mouth.
‘Put your fingers in me,’ I gasp.
Without stopping her tongue, Elly peeks up at me, the look on her face like Christmas came again.
She pushes two fingers inside, fluttering them in just the way I like. How many times have I tried to get Ryan to do that, only to have him thrust them in the way he likes? I didn’t even have to ask with Elly.
She presses firmer with her tongue, eyes closing as she races me to the end.
My stomach clenches, jaw clamping tight. She lets me raise my hips this time, rocking them as I come on her mouth. I keep it quiet with moaning gasps, one for each clench of my pussy.
I rest my head against the tiles, licking away shower spray from my lips. Elly crawls up to me. She kisses my lips, letting me taste myself. It’s so much better there than from her fingers.
‘Thought I was gonna come too at the end there,’ she says, breathing almost as hard as I am.
I smile, feeling all soft and gooey inside. I’m not sure I’ll ever have the strength to stand again.
She’s helping me to my feet when a knock comes to the door. Arms around each other, eyes locked, we scarcely dare to breathe as Haz calls out, ‘You in there, El?’
Elly clears her throat. ‘Yeah, mate.’
‘Are you showering?’
‘Obviously.’
‘Why?’
‘Water pressure’s better here, isn’t it? Top of my back’s killing.’
‘Really?’ I hear the scepticism in her voice. ‘Is Tilda in there?’
‘No.’ Elly smiles at me. ‘She went back to the lodge. Trying to avoid Nic.’
Haz sighs. ‘Alright.’ She raps on the door. ‘See you back there then.’
We stare at each other until we’re sure she’s gone.
‘Bad friend,’ I hiss. ‘Naughty.’
‘Sorry. Would you rather I let her in?’
I shake my head mutely, trying not to think about all the wicked things that would be happening in here if she did.
Elly kisses my forehead, stroking my cheeks with her thumbs. ‘You okay?’
‘Yeah.’ Stepping away from the water, I run both hands through my hair with a sigh. ‘I’ve just let a girl lick me out.’
She grins. ‘And you liked it.’
‘Obviously. At least I hope it was obvious.’
‘I could feel you clenching under my tongue. Don’t think you can fake that.’
I did every time a guy went down on me, but I refrain from saying that.
Putting my hand on her chest, I rub there. ‘Do you need to get off?’
She shakes her head with a smile. ‘Nah, I’m good.’
It’s clear that she’s not but I don’t press it. I’d probably just freak out anyway. Even after all this, the thought of touching a girl terrifies me. It’s definitely not through lack of want though. I do want to see her come face again—and be the one to make it.
Swiping my hand over the mirror, I look at my reflection. Naked from head to toe, pink from the water, my makeup a smeared mess. I definitely have that just-fucked look going on.
‘How are we going to explain this to the others?’
Elly shrugs. ‘Gird our loins and hope for the best.’
I grimace, turning from the mirror. ‘That’s lowkey an awful phrase.’
‘I’d gird your loins, babe.’
‘Oh my god, stop. Anyway, you just did.’
‘Fuck yeah, I did.’ She offers me a towel before sitting down on the bench. ‘Clean yourself up, babe. I’ll be right here watching.’