Chapter 14
REMI
Paige’s home is cozy. A small three-bedroom house built by her grandpa in the backyard of the inn. Originally, her great-grandparents used to live inside the inn in one of the rooms, before her Grandpa Henry built this to give his family more space and privacy.
The floors are dark wood, and the decor, while minimalistic, has a charming, rustic vibe to it. Everything about the space feels lived in in a way that embodies the word home.
“I don’t spend a lot of time here,” Paige says almost apologetically as she shifts her weight from foot to foot.
Remi stops taking in the space to give Paige a teasing smile. “Especially not recently.”
Her cheeks flush that adorable shade of pink Remi is obsessed with.
“So, would you like a glass of water? Tea? Juice? I also have pop. I can—”
“Princess,” Remi interrupts, the corner of her mouth quirks. “Are you nervous?”
“No,” Paige says far too quickly, then deflates. “Maybe. A little.”
“How come?” Remi pulls Paige into her arms and gives her a light squeeze. Remi doesn’t like seeing Paige flustered unless it’s from her gentle teasing.
“I think it’s kind of hitting me that my parents could pop over—like they sometimes randomly do—and then they’ll know.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
Paige has been going back and forth with this over the past two weeks, and Remi never wants her to feel pressured to come out before she’s ready.
Paige has opened up about her fears that her mom will refuse to accept it—and since she’s not even sure about a label that feels right for herself—she doesn’t think she can handle that.
Remi is doing her best to be supportive, encouraging, and reminding Paige that she doesn’t need a label if none feel right. It’s okay to just be yourself—no further explanation needed.
“No, god, no,” Paige says, and wraps her arm tighter around Remi’s waist, locking her against her body. “Please don’t go.”
Remi laughs softly. “I won’t.”
“Part of why I invited you here is because I’m tired of hiding,” Paige says. “I feel like I’ve been building this all up into needing to have some long and deep emotional conversation with them. But I don’t want that. I want them to meet you. I can introduce you and that be that.”
Remi’s heart skips. “Introduce me as?”
Paige tenses, a wicked blush spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. Her mouth opens and shuts a couple times. Remi bites her bottom lip to stop herself from smiling.
She’s been dying to ask Paige to be her real girlfriend since the day they drove home from Dakota and Casey’s wedding, but she doesn’t want to rush or pressure Paige.
Pulling back, Paige stares into Remi’s eyes. “Can I introduce you as my girlfriend?”
“Would this be as your fake girlfriend or …?”
“I think we can be done with all the pretending, don’t you?”
Remi’s bright smile takes over her whole face. “God, yes.”
She leans forward to cover Paige’s mouth with her own, hands cupping her cheeks as she deepens the kiss. Paige’s lips part with a small sigh as she melts against Remi.
“How about we skip the drink?” Remi suggests.
“Definitely,” Paige groans when Remi’s tongue finds the sensitive spot at the base of her throat. Then she presses a hand to Remi’s chest. “Wait. I’m gross. I need to shower first.”
“You are not gross.”
Paige cocks one eyebrow. “You’re a damn liar.”
Remi barks out a laugh. “I’m being serious. I don’t mind a little sweat.”
Paige’s nose wrinkles which only makes Remi laugh harder.
“I’ll only be a few minutes, and then we can …” Paige squeezes Remi’s ass.
“I could always … join you?”
Paige bites her lip, contemplating, before she nods. “Okay, but I need to actually shower.”
Remi holds her hands up innocently. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”
Paige lets out a disbelieving scoff.
They both know Remi is full of shit.
Paige leads them through her bedroom and into the bathroom.
The shower is large and has a glass door, the vanity is spotless, and there’s a couple hanging ceramic pots with plants that trail over the sides.
Remi doesn’t have enough of a green thumb to identify them.
She opens her mouth to ask when Paige peels her tank top and sports bra over her head in one go.
All thoughts of botany leave her mind.
Paige winks, then slowly strips out of her leggings. She bends to check the temperature of the water, giving Remi her fill of the globe of Paige’s ass.
Remi moves forward without thinking, her hands finding soft hips.
Paige presses into Remi’s chest as she stands to her full height. “The water isn’t warm enough yet.”
“That’s fine.” Remi’s lips ghost across Paige’s cheek, her teeth grazing her jaw before her mouth moves up to her ear, nipping on the lobe. “Do you know how beautiful you are?” Remi whispers against Paige’s neck, kissing the small beauty mark there.
“Remi,” Paige warns.
“I’m sorry,” Remi says, her hands not leaving Paige’s hips. Her tongue glides across the helix of Paige’s ear.
Paige rocks back into Remi. Her hands move to cover Remi’s, squeezing her fingers, as she groans, the sound throaty. “Okay.” She pulls Remi’s hands away from her skin and flips around. “Take your clothes off.”
“Ooh, yes ma’am.”
Remi steps back to tug off her shirt and sports bra. Shoving her pants down, she steps out of them.
Paige’s eyes darken as she soaks Remi in. She lifts one finger and beckons Remi forward. “Come here.”
Remi smirks and does as she’s told. “I love this confident, bossy side to you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Mhm. So sexy.”
Their kiss is soft and slow. Desire pools in Remi’s belly, the ache spreading to her thighs.
“We’re going to run out of hot water before we get to enjoy it,” Paige whispers.
“Can’t have that.”
There’s a ledge against the back wall of the shower with several bottles and soap sitting atop it. Steam billows around them as Paige reaches for the shampoo.
Remi wraps her fingers around the bottle. “Let me.”
She loves Paige’s hair. So long, buttery blonde, and full of waves from being pulled into a braid for hours on end. There’s nothing better than watching a movie on her couch with Paige’s head in her lap as she absentmindedly plays with her hair.
“That feels so good.” Paige’s head drops back with a small groan as Remi massages her scalp.
“I told you I’d be on my best behavior.”
Paige laughs and turns to give Remi a quick peck. “We’ll see how long it lasts.”
Remi smirks, but doesn’t comment, only guides Paige back to rinse out the shampoo.
There’s a fluffy pink loofah hanging from the shower handle. She covers it with soap and starts with Paige’s arms, making her hum as she works her way across her body. Her fingers ghost over Paige’s belly as her other hand lathers her side.
It’s a simple thing, really—not even inherently sexual—to touch Paige.
Over clothes, under clothes, it doesn’t matter.
Remi is obsessed with it. With the intimacy of letting her fingertips trail across Paige’s every surface.
With being so close to her, their breathing slotting into the same rhythm.
With knowing how much Paige likes it and the way she trusts Remi with her body.
It’s a privilege she will never take for granted.
As she trails the loofah lower, she kisses the column of Paige’s neck.
“Remi.”
“Hm?” She teases Paige’s throat with her teeth, before guiding her forward under the stream of warm water, letting it rinse the suds from her body. Her hand glides up to cup Paige’s breast. She massages and caresses before rolling her fingers over Paige’s hard nipple.
The loofah falls, making a small splash at their feet. Paige’s breath hitches. With Remi’s fingers working the hard peak of Paige’s nipple, her other hand trails up her thigh.
Paige’s palms go out, searching for purchase, one slapping the wall while the other rattles the glass door. She curses as Remi strokes her center.
“I could get drunk on the little sounds you make,” Remi says against her shoulder.
“Baby,” Paige whimpers.
“Now, let’s see how loud you can get.”
Turning her around, Remi presses Paige against the tile wall, then drops to her knees in front of her.
Remi guides one leg up and drapes it over her shoulder.
Paige holds Remi’s eye contact as Remi kisses the inside of her thigh.
She holds it as Remi’s tongue drags across soft skin.
She holds it as her hips buck off the wall, and Remi grips the firm roundness of her ass with both hands, supporting her weight.
It’s only when Remi lowers her mouth to Paige’s wet heat that she breaks contact. Paige’s eyes squeeze shut as she lets loose a string of curses.
Remi pulls back. “Eyes on me, Princess.”
“W-what?” Paige gasps, rolling her hips forward, seeking Remi’s mouth.
“Open your eyes,” Remi repeats.
Slowly, Paige peels them open. Her chest rapidly rising and falling. Small, gasping moans tumbling from her tongue, before she bites down on her bottom lip, her hips wriggling under Remi’s arms.
“Good girl,” Remi says. Then she drags her tongue through Paige’s arousal.
Paige’s fingers fist in Remi’s hair as she rolls her hips into Remi’s mouth.
Her moans grow in volume and intensity as Remi licks and sucks, taking her time.
Remi’s knees ache from the unforgiving porcelain floor. But she doesn’t care.
Remi would gladly get on her knees and worship at the altar that is Paige’s body every night for the rest of her life if she let her.
Remi sucks Paige’s clit into her mouth, and she lets out a feral whine. Remi’s thighs quiver. She knows Paige is close, and her own arousal drips down her legs. The warm water turns cool as it rains against her back.
Her thighs clench, begging for friction. She removes one hand from Paige’s ass to press between her legs.
Paige’s fingers tighten in Remi’s hair. “Nuh uh. Don’t touch yourself.”
Remi pauses.
Paige’s pupils are blown wide, her brown eyes a dark umber, as she stares down at Remi. “Don’t come yet. I want you needy and desperate when I get my hands on you.”