Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Steam rose from their mugs of mulled wine, carrying the scent of cinnamon and cloves as Camilla and Jade sat huddled together on the porch.
The crackling fire pit and the twinkling lights strung along the eaves lent an almost magical quality to the scene, as if they were cocooned in their own private world.
Camilla's heart raced as she stared into the dancing flames, acutely aware of Jade's presence beside her. They had retreated here to talk, to address the growing tension between them, but now that the moment had arrived, she didn’t know where to begin.
The silence stretched on, filled only by the popping of the fire and the distant hooting of an owl. Camilla took a sip of her wine, hoping the spiced warmth would loosen her tongue. But it was Jade who finally broke the silence.
"Did you mean what you said on the slopes?" she asked softly, her eyes reflecting the firelight as she turned to face Camilla. "About liking it when I kiss you?"
Camilla felt a blush creep up her neck, but she met Jade's gaze steadily.
"Yes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I meant it." She paused, fighting to express the tumult of emotions swirling inside her.
"It's strange," she continued. "We've only known each other for a few days, but something has.
.. awakened inside me. It's like a dormant part of myself is suddenly stirring to life. "
Her gaze dropped to her hands, clasped tightly around her mug. "I don't know what to do," she confessed. "These feelings, this... desire. It's growing more intense with each passing moment, and I can't seem to stop it. I've never experienced anything like this before."
When she looked up again, she found Jade watching her with an intensity that made her breath catch. It was that look again, the one that made Camilla ache to know what thoughts were swirling behind those captivating blue eyes.
"I haven't been entirely honest with myself either," Jade said after a moment.
"I've been taking advantage of this situation, perhaps being more physical than strictly necessary for our charade.
" She took a deep breath. "The truth is, I'm very attracted to you, Camilla.
And I feel something when I'm with you, something that goes beyond just playing a part. "
Camilla let out the breath she’d been holding, relief washing over her. She wasn't alone in these confusing new feelings.
"Confession?" Jade said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Camilla nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"I've always noticed you at the coffee shop," Jade admitted. "Every time you came in for your coffee, I felt a spark of attraction. I've been drawn to you for months, long before this arrangement. I thought about asking you out, but you just seemed so… I don’t know… successful and put together, I suppose. And my life is a mess, so I didn’t think you’d be remotely interested. "
Camilla blinked, taken aback by this revelation. "You wanted to ask me out?”
“Yeah.”
“But... I’m not gay," she said, then paused, reconsidering. "At least… I mean…” Camilla’s voice trailed away.
“Women are often curious.” Jade raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Besides, are you sure you’re not gay?"
They both chuckled, the tension easing slightly.
"Maybe a little bit," Camilla conceded. She paused, considering her next words carefully. "Or maybe a lot. I'd like to find out."
Something in the fire popped, sending a shower of sparks into the night sky. Camilla watched them drift upward, feeling as if she too were on the verge of taking flight into unknown territory.
Jade shifted closer, her eyes never leaving Camilla's face. "Then let's find out," she murmured. With exquisite gentleness, she cupped Camilla's face in her hands, her fingers tracing a slow, teasing path along her jawline.
Camilla's breath hitched, anticipation curling through her like fire.
When Jade leaned in, their lips met softly at first, a gentle press that sent a shockwave of warmth coursing through Camilla.
But then, Jade's lips parted ever so slightly, deepening the kiss.
Her tongue teased Camilla's lower lip, a silent invitation that Camilla didn’t hesitate to accept.
A low hum of pleasure escaped Camilla as their tongues brushed, a languid dance that felt both exploratory and intimate.
Every movement was deliberate, each stroke of Jade’s tongue against hers drawing her deeper into a haze of pure sensation.
Camilla's hands found their way into Jade's hair, fingers tangling in the silky strands, pulling her closer, needing more.
The kiss grew bolder, more consuming, as Camilla’s hands drifted down Jade’s neck, her fingertips grazing the exposed skin under her hairline.
Jade responded with a soft moan that vibrated against Camilla's lips, sending a thrill through her.
The air between them crackled with electricity as their mouths moved hungrily together, tongues tangling, breaths mingling, completely lost in each other.
Jade’s hands weren’t idle either; they slid down from Camilla’s face to her waist, fingers gripping firmly, pulling her flush against her.
Camilla’s body responded instinctively, arching into Jade, the heat and want between them growing.
Every touch, every brush of lips and tongue, felt like an unspoken confession, each of them revealing more of what lay hidden beneath their layers of pretense.
It was raw, urgent, and filled with a need that neither of them had fully understood until now. It was an unfiltered expression of everything they had been holding back. There was no facade to maintain—just them, giving in to the pull that had been simmering beneath the surface.
When they finally parted, both were breathing heavily. Camilla rested her forehead against Jade's, her eyes closed as she tried to process the intensity of what she'd just experienced.
"Fuck," she whispered, a smile spreading across her face.
Jade chuckled softly. "Yeah…" she agreed.
They sat in silence for a moment, still wrapped in each other's embrace, and Camilla felt as if she were seeing the world through new eyes. Everything seemed sharper, more vibrant, but also dauntingly different.
"So," Jade said eventually, pulling back slightly to meet Camilla's gaze. "What happens now?"
It was a loaded question, one that Camilla didn't have an immediate answer for. Their arrangement was supposed to be temporary, a business transaction with the hope they could continue this and enter into an arranged marriage. A paid marriage. But Jade didn’t know that, and Camilla didn’t want to ruin the moment by telling her the truth.
Now, with these new feelings blossoming between them, everything had changed, and she was terrified that truth would ruin everything.
No. Not yet. She needed time to figure out how to handle this, how to break it to Jade that she was planning on asking for a paid marriage of convenience eventually.
"I don't know," she admitted. "This is all so new to me. I've never felt this way about anyone before, let alone another woman. It's exciting, but it's also scary."
Jade took Camilla's hand, interlacing their fingers. "Let's not worry about anything now," she said. "We still have a few days left here. Why don't we use that time to explore these feelings, to get to know each other better without the pressure of pretending?"
“I’d like that.” Camilla smiled and decided to push her plan to the background.
Everything could wait. For now, she just wanted to be with Jade, and most of all, she wanted more.
"I… I want to explore this. Physically. I mean..." She trailed off, feeling the blush creep up her neck again. “I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I’ve been craving it.
.. craving you. And I want to experience more of this with you. "
Her confession hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Camilla wished she could take the words back, but then Jade’s lips curled into a slow, teasing smile.
Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned in and brought her lips to Camilla’s ear.
"Well," she said, her voice dropping to a husky murmur.
"I can definitely help you with that." Her flirtatious tone made anticipation coil tight in Camilla’s belly as she continued.
"Let me show you how good this can feel. "