Chapter 10
10
G race awoke gently to the feeling of Elara slowly tracing shapes on her back. She knew it was late morning before she even opened her eyes. The sun peeking through the window warmed her bare back, and the sounds of birds chirping filled her ears. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking up at Elara, who was gazing at her sleepily. Grace felt her heart flip as she noticed the peaceful happiness that radiated from Elara.
Grace reached out, cupping Elara’s cheek as she smiled in return. Slowly, she leaned in close, watching Elara for any change in body language. Elara’s hand splayed against her back, continuing her soft touches. Grace felt overwhelmed with happiness and closed the distance between them, brushing her lips against Elara’s. This time, their kiss was gentle, charged with an emotion.
Grace moved, straddling Elara as she ran her hands through her hair. Elara sat up, holding Grace in her lap, as she softly explored every inch of available skin. Grace peppered kisses down Elara’s chin and nipped at the lobe of her ear. Continuing her journey, she kissed and licked her way down to Elara’s breasts and closed her mouth around the dark pink nipple. Elara gasped, leaning back to provide Grace better access opening herself to Grace in a way she hadn’t yet. Grace moved to the other, worshiping Elara with sultry kisses as she shifted to ride Elara’s thigh, and slowly began to move her hips back and forth.
Grace moved one hand down the flat planes of Elara’s stomach until she reached the slick wetness of her pussy. Elara’s legs opened as though to invite her in. Gently, she slipped in one finger, then two, inside of Elara. Elara moaned as her own hand shifted, sliding against Grace’s clitoris, before pushing lower and Grace felt Elara’s fingers entering her.
Grace rode Elara’s fingers, creating pressure on her clitoris as she mashed it down against the heel of Elara’s hand. At the very same time, her own fingers worked deep inside of Elara, thrusting in and out in the same rhythm as her hip pressed against Elara’s clitoris.
It was the first time Elara had allowed Grace to fuck her and Grace could see how big of a step it was for her to make herself vulnerable like this. Her blue eyes were wide with a trust that Grace hadn’t seen in her before as they both looked into each other’s eyes. Grace closed the space between them and kissed her tenderly, as though to tell her that she would take care of her.
They continued to move in tandem, in the most intricate dance, and Grace continued to kiss Elara gently, pushing her tongue lightly into Elara’s mouth, probing and exploring.
She felt Elara tightening beneath her and around her fingers and at the same time she felt her own orgasm building.
“Come with me,” she gasped into Elara’s mouth.
And as they looked into each other’s eyes, it was enough to tip them both over the edge.
Grace’s orgasm was intense and drawn out in the same way that Elara’s was as she writhed beneath her.
She kissed Elara again as they rode out their orgasm, fingers still buried inside of each other.
It felt like the most beautiful moment Grace could imagine. Seeing Elara come undone like this for her was something truly special.
Afterward, Grace leaned forward, placing her head in the crook of Elara’s neck as she leaned back to sit against the head of the bed. Their limbs still tangled, Grace softly kissed her, breathing in her woodsy, spicy scent.
Something about this sex felt different, felt real. Elara’s gentle touches grazed across her back as she nudged her nose against Grace’s shoulder. Grace had never felt more content and less motivated to move. And that scared her. She was getting wrapped up, falling for the woman beneath the icy mask. But she was still unsure if anything between them was real.
After a few minutes of silently holding each other, Grace leaned back and looked into Elara’s eyes.
“Elara, is this real? I don’t mean ‘ am I dreaming,’ but I need to know. Is this”—she waved her hand between the two of them—“real?”
Grace felt Elara physically stiffen and watched as that piercing blue gaze grew distant. She realized that Elara was going to pull away and avoid this conversation, but she refused to let her.
She continued, “I mean, fake relationships don’t usually include mind-blowing sex.”
Elara looked away, breaking eye contact as she said, “I wouldn’t know what a fake relationship includes. This would be my first.”
Grace felt the words sting, as if they had slapped her across the face. Elara moved, untangling herself from Grace as she slipped out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. Grace sat back, hugging her knees close to her chest as she chastised herself. Stupid. Stupid. I’m so stupid. She wrapped the duvet around herself, feeling too vulnerable sitting naked on the bed.
Elara emerged from the bathroom in another matching workout set, her hair tucked neatly behind her ears with a black beanie over her head. Grace couldn’t face looking at her, so she shifted to look out the window. She could see Elara out of the corner of her eye, watching her closely.
After a tense moment of silence, Elara announced quietly, “I’m going to work out.”
Without turning around, refusing to acknowledge the pain Elara had caused, Grace softly replied, “Sure.”
Elara audibly sighed as she strode out the suite. Grace lowered her head to her knees and let out a long sigh, doing her best to not cry.
After a long, hot shower, Grace wrapped herself in a plush white robe and grabbed her cell. She needed to talk to someone, and she knew exactly who to call. Wanting more space from the bedroom, she snuck out onto the suite’s balcony, her breath misting in the cold night air as she dialed. After a few rings, Aunt Lucy picked up, her voice light and familiar.
“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite disaster. How’s the fake girlfriend gig going? You seduce the Ice Queen yet?”
Grace groaned. “Oh my god, Aunt Lucy, please. I kissed her. In front of her whole family.”
There was a pause, followed by the sound of Lucy laughing hard. Grace pulled the phone away from her ear, grimacing as the laughter turned into a little wheeze.
Finally, Aunt Lucy blurted out, “Atta girl! Look at you—living the dream. So? How’d it go? Sparks flying? Fireworks? Or did she run screaming into the snow?”
Grace sighed, quietly explaining, “It was...intense. Way more than I expected. And maybe a lot more happened later. Okay, definitely a lot more happened. And it didn’t feel like just sex; it felt different, more somehow. I think she felt it too, but...”
Lucy quietly implored, “But what?”
Grace shivered as a breeze tickled her bare legs. She leaned back against the glass door as she sighed.
“She’s avoiding me. I tried to ask her if what we had was real, and she just clammed up and left. It’s driving me insane, Aunt Lucy. I just…what if she never says anything?”
Lucy sighed, the playful tone in her voice softened into something more serious.
“Sweetheart, people like Elara don’t exactly come with a user manual. You gotta understand, someone like her, all buttoned up and in control? She’s spent years building walls to keep herself safe. It’s not about you. It’s about her learning to let someone in.”
Grace rubbed her temple . “So what am I supposed to do? Just wait around while she decides whether or not I’m worth it?”
Aunt Lucy scoffed. “No, no. Waiting’s not the right word. You step back . You give her space and let her come to you. If she cares—and it sounds like she does—she’ll find her way. But you can’t force her.”
Grace stood in silence for a moment, working up the courage to continue. “And if she doesn’t?”
The pause on the other line was long as Grace heard Lucy shifting on the other end of the line, as if she’s choosing her words carefully.
“Then you have to walk away. I know it’s hard, but you can’t build something real if you’re the only one showing up for it.”
Grace felt her heart break at the idea. “I don’t know if I can do that, Aunt Lucy. It’s already starting to hurt, and we’re not even real.”
“That’s the thing, Grace. Real relationship or not, it sounds like your feelings are. And that’s okay. Just.. don’t lose yourself trying to break down her walls. If she’s worth it, she’ll meet you halfway.”
Grace closed her eyes, letting Lucy’s words sink in. The air felt colder now, but the knot in her chest loosened just a little. “Thanks, Aunt Lucy. I really needed this.”
With a smile in her voice, Lucy said, “Anytime, kid. Now go on. And remember, no more crazy stunts unless you’re gonna call me right after.”
Grace laughed despite herself, feeling just a little lighter. She said goodbye and hung up, staring out over the snow-covered landscape. Elara’s walls might be high, but for the first time, Grace thought she just might be worth climbing them—if Elara let her.
Grace waited for Elara to return, determined to crack that icy exterior and get back the Elara she had seen last night and this morning. She jumped at the sharp knock at the door and padded over to look through the peephole.
Although she figured it wouldn’t be Elara knocking, her heart still dropped in disappointment when she saw a hotel worker with a tray in their hand. She stood there, looking out the peephole for a moment longer, dumbfounded and disappointed. The staff member knocked again and called out, “Room service.”
Grace sighed and pulled the door open. “I didn’t order room service.”
The hotel worker shifted his weight nervously. “Ms. Silver asked for this to be delivered to you.”
Grace rolled her eyes as she motioned for him to enter. As he lifted the cover, Grace noted that only one serving of breakfast was plated. She felt frustration heat her veins as she turned on the worker.
“And did Ms. Silver tell you when she would return?”
The poor man looked like he was going to be sick as pulled out a white envelope and relayed his message. “She included this note and asked that I ensure you received it.”
Grace stiffened, but guilt at causing the worker such discomfort bubbled up in her stomach. She sighed as she looked at the eggs Benedict and cappuccino. Putting on a smile, she turned back to the staff member and turned up the charm. “Thank you so much. I appreciate you doing all this.”
Spotting Elara’s wallet on the table, she strode over and grabbed all of the cash—a hefty three hundred dollars—and handed it over to the man.
“For your troubles.”
The worker’s eyes widened as he stammered, “I couldn’t possibly… This is too much.”
Grace smiled mischievously as she closed the man’s hands around the cash. “I insist.”
She ushered the man out of the suite, refusing to hear his protests.
“Have a good day! And if you see Ms. Silver, make sure to tell her it was me who tipped you.”
Grace slammed the door with a little too much fervor. Well, if she is going to insist I act rich and play along, I’m going to at least do it in style.
Grace sat, grabbing the cappuccino and drinking deeply before she opened the envelope. Inside was a handwritten note.
Grace, I’ve been pulled into meetings until dinner. Please enjoy the spa day I’ve booked for you. - E.
Of course her handwriting was pristine. She threw the note down in frustration and leaned back in her chair. Climbing those walls was going to be a lot harder if she couldn’t even find Elara.