Chapter 26
Rachel
“I still want to go to the party though,” said Penelope. “If you’re still up for it?”
They’d moved to the bed for cuddles, and Rachel had her arms wrapped around Penny, as if that could undo all the hurt and trauma her ex had inflicted.
“Definitely. And maybe we try going out of dynamic—just Rachel and Penelope, instead of Miss Rachel and Strawberry Moo?”
The blonde woman in her arms nodded. “I’d like that. It could be a good trial for how we could work as a couple.”
As a couple.
Rachel had flown halfway across the world for this woman, and would have done so again, even without the promise of kink or sex. But the opportunity to woo Penelope? To help her trust again, and bring her joy and happiness?
Rachel would have done back-to-back transatlantic flights for that shit.
“It’s a date then,” said Rachel, and laughed because it really was a date. She was going to take Penelope Wilson on a date .
“What do you wear to a pool party?” asked Penny, suddenly. “It’s not as if we’ve got the weather or indeed the space, back home to attend many of them.”
“I think it’s a swimsuit/bikini kind of vibe, with maybe a sarong around your waist?”
“Have you got something like that with you?”
“I packed something,” said Rachel. “How about you?”
Penelope flushed. “I forgot. I managed to pack my cow ears and cow-print skirt, but something to wear in a pool? Nope. Nothing, nada.” Her eyes flickered toward Rachel, as if she were waiting for some admonishment, but Rachel just kissed her and leaned over to grab the phone.
“Hello? Reception? Is there any way we could order a—” She put her hand over the receiver, and asked Penny, “One piece or bikini?”
“One-piece,” whispered Penelope back, smiling.
That was better. Rachel liked it when she smiled. “A swimsuit, please. And size?” She looked at Penelope and gestured desperately. “Sorry, wait a sec—why are you laughing? What size are you? Thank you—sorry about that. A size 18 in US sizing.
“Do you have a preference as to color?—No, whatever you have will be fine, thank you.” She hung up and grinned. “They’ll have something here within fifteen minutes.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” said Penelope.
“What, and miss the opportunity to see you in swimwear? Not a chance!”
When a member of the staff came up with a choice of swimwear, Penelope went out into the hallway to choose, refusing to let Rachel see her pick. “It’s a surprise!” she insisted, and Rachel took the opportunity to change into her own outfit.
She had a two piece; cream, sleek, with pleating across the top of her bikini, and it paired very nicely with the navy sarong she had brought with her.
Penelope’s face when she saw her in it was very gratifying. “I… you… wow. ”
“Wow?” Rachel laughed awkwardly, running her fingers through her curls. “It’ll do.”
“It’ll more than do,” said Penny. “How on earth am I supposed to compete with that?”
Rachel pulled her into her arms and tweaked her nose. “Your mere existence is enough to put me to shame,” she said. “Now go on, go change. I want to see what you’re wearing!”
While she waited, she tried on the cowboy hat with her bikini. It didn’t go with her outfit at all, but she was tempted to wear it anyway, for shits and giggles.
“Rachel?”
“Yes?”
“Could you do up the back of my swimsuit?”
“Of course!”
Penelope inched out of the bathroom, hiding behind her hair. “I think it looks okay.”
It looked more than okay. It was simple, black, with a cold-shoulder design, and a lowcut bikini line that cupped Penelope’s arse perfectly.
And her breasts… her breasts looked bountiful.
If Rachel was to choose a place to die, it would be in Penny’s cleavage.
“You look phenomenal,” she said. “Come on, spin around and let me do up the back.”
There was a clasp to support the inbuilt bra, which she snapped into place, and then spun Penelope out, making her laugh.
“We are going to knock everyone’s socks off,” Rachel said.