On the same page, p.26
On the Same Page, page 26
Her eyes were so bright, so exuberant. “Who would have thought when you called me a bitch in our dorm room all those years ago that we’d be here, achieving our dreams side-by-side?”
Riley lightly shoved Gianna back, an exasperated laugh working out of her throat at the memory. “I did not call you a bitch!”
Gianna’s cheeky, teasing smile glinted back at her, as she reached out and caught Riley’s hands in hers, keeping her from moving too far back. “Hey, I’m not holding it against you. No need to get tied down in the past.”
She knew Gianna was joking, but the words sparked a very specific thought in Riley. A very specific thought from earlier this week, in fact.
She squeezed Gianna’s hands with her own, before disentangling them and sliding her hands up Gianna’s arms, resting her forearms over Gianna’s shoulders in a loose hold. She lifted herself up to her tiptoes, bringing her mouth up to Gianna’s ear, as she whispered, “If you aren’t too bratty tonight, perhaps you might get a little tied down in the very near future.”
Given the very open nature of Gianna’s outfit, she could see how Gianna shivered – full-body goosebumps – and the way her full, glossy lips parted with her words. “Oh?”
God, she loved when she could steal the teasing right out of Gianna’s mouth. In twelve years, she’d never had that power, not until they’d started this; it was addicting. Powerful.
“Mm-hmm,” she affirmed, arching her eyebrows. “And I might have a little extra surprise for–”
“Wow. This place is crazy impressive,” Joel’s voice carried to them from a few feet away, cutting right into their shared fantasy.
Riley pulled away from the close embrace they’d been in – where she’d been about to spoil her own surprise for later, merely because she was greedy and impatient with want to see Gianna’s responses – clearing her throat, as she faced their friends.
But neither Ellie nor Joel gave them a look as if anything was amiss. Not even Mia, not even after the other night. Saved, by the very close and tactile relationship she and Gianna had always had.
Gianna snapped back to herself, straightening up and smiling brightly – maybe just a smidge too brightly. “Hi! Ellie Beckett, as I live and breathe.” She rested her hand over her chest, “Out at a party.”
Ellie’s eyebrows furrowed together. “I mean, it is your party. And I care about you.”
Gianna’s smile turned sweet and genuine as she leaned in to give Ellie a hug.
“Plus, I was in no way not coming. My friend is throwing a launch party in Manhattan, at the fanciest hotel I’ve ever seen,” Mia joked.
“Don’t try to rain on my parade and take away how special it is that Ellie showed up tonight,” Gianna shot back with a wink.
“Everyone showed up tonight,” Joel said, sounding very excited, as he fixed his bowtie.
Riley scanned the room, noting, indeed, that there was now a steady barrage of people entering the large room.
Gianna’s friends and non-business associates were here, of course, but tonight was the opposite of the Holiday Spectacular. It was less about them and more of a business party. The models and crew who had worked on the ad campaign, the team of seamstresses Gianna had built and hired over the years – she was committed to Worthy being made by-hand with high quality fabric, while everyone was paid well – other sponsors and influencers Gianna worked with…
There was going to be a lot of people in this room tonight.
“You’re right about that.” Gianna took a deep breath. “I suppose that’s my reminder that I should start to circulate. I’ll see you guys later?”
She said the words to the group, but she directed her gaze at Riley.
“Of course.”
Even if they didn’t mingle much in the next few hours at the party, Riley knew that she and Gianna had a sex-date tonight.
She expelled a deep breath, pushing through the mild disappointment of being out of their bubble and in the midst of people. Because she wanted Gianna’s now-customary – when they were just them – kiss when they were parting ways.
And the strangest feeling pinged in her stomach, that… she still wanted it. Even right now. Even with Ellie and Joel and Mia with her.
“I need champagne,” she blurted out, alarmed by the clarity of that want.
She rolled her shoulders as she walked away. Maybe it was a good thing they weren’t going to be in their comfortable yet thrilling, easy yet exciting sex bubble this weekend. Clearly, time with some other people and with some other social norms imposed on them would do them some good.
She approached a server with a tray, taking a flute just as Athena did.
“Hey! I didn’t know if you’d be here?” She’d seen the list of RSVP’s and Athena had been a maybe, depending on some scheduling arrangements.
Athena smiled, holding her flute to gently tap against Riley’s. “Yes, well, Valentine’s Day is a very busy day for my own website,” she acknowledged with a coy smile.
Riley nearly choked on a surprised laugh as she sipped. “I can imagine.”
She was certain that people who subscribed to Athena’s high-end cam site very much indulged in something special today.
“I’m glad I was able to make time, though. It’s quite the celebration,” she nodded approvingly as she looked over the room.
Riley found herself smiling again, full of pride for Gianna. “Yeah, it is. It’s really something special.”
“The line is extremely promising, too. She has a good eye for fabrics,” Athena murmured, looking across the room. “She truly is quite the success. She looks incredible tonight; I appreciate the bold choice.”
Riley followed her gaze… and landed squarely on Gianna. Of course, who else could she be referring to? No one in this room – maybe in the world – looked as incredible as Gianna did right now.
“Yeah, she does,” Riley agreed, unable to hold in the airy sigh that escaped her, as she watched Gianna toss her head back, laughing at something one of her models said.
Athena’s sharp gaze turned back to Riley, and she eyed her closely over her glass. Riley held her gaze, even as she wanted to squirm a little. “You know,” she began, drawing the words out slowly, “I’m not quite sure I’ve ever seen two friends behave as you and Gianna did, at her Christmas party.”
Riley blinked, surprised by the comment. “I mean… I guess, we’re just very close.”
“Clearly,” Athena agreed, easily. “It’s just very interesting to me, the intimacy you two have. As someone who makes a living dealing in intimacy.” She took a long sip, a thoughtful expression taking over her face. “But, Gianna was believingly insistent when she informed me, after the whole gift box debacle, that you two are just friends, so… as I said: interesting.”
“Yeah, I know it’s not super common, but we are just friends,” Riley echoed, intending for it to be an affirmation.
But what it really did, was make her stomach twist in revolt, leaving a bad taste in her mouth.
Just friends… was so very not what she and Gianna were.
First and foremost, there was no just about their friendship; it meant the world to Riley. It was precious to her.
Secondly – and most alarmingly in this moment – she found herself unable to get over the word friend.
While it wasn’t a bad word at all – she loved Gianna’s friendship – it felt… minimizing, almost.
“While it’s uncommon to see such an intense platonic relationship, I appreciate it. I’m utterly intrigued, of course, but appreciative,” Athena mused.
Platonic.
The word sent a discomforting jolt through her.
Platonic, by definition, was at odds with everything she and Gianna had explored for weeks. It was incongruent with the earth-shattering sex they had, with the languid make-outs they indulged each other in, with the quiet intimacy they’d deepened.
She realized, as she had to swallow back the verbal disagreement, that she didn’t like it. She didn’t inherently agree with the fact that she and Gianna were strictly platonic or even that they were strictly friends.
The thought made her heart leap in her chest, distress chasing it.
No. No, she doubled-down on in her mind, swallowing hard, as she finished the rest of her champagne.
“Yeah, it’s uncommon, but that’s what it is. Intensely platonic.”
She told herself that the words didn’t taste like a lie.
Hours later, Riley found herself in Gianna’s hotel room.
The rest of the night had gone very, very well. Especially as soon as Athena had started talking about her work, instead of Riley and Gianna. She’d been utterly relieved, and those thoughts hadn’t made a return.
Riley had danced with her friends, she’d had several glasses of champagne, she hadn’t let herself think about work.
She’d had fun celebrating Gianna, which was exactly what the night was designed for.
And she was most definitely having fun right now.
As Gianna had both wrists tied to the bedpost with the silk ties she’d given Riley in the gift box. Gianna was entirely naked, as she’d complied with Riley had ordered her to strip after stumbling into the room together, both a little tipsy on champagne.
After tying Gianna up, she’d slid her hands down, playing with her nipples. Rolling them between her fingers, even as she’d stood at the edge of the bed. Loving the way Gianna arched and strained toward her.
She’d slid a hand down, pausing as she’d murmured, “Open your legs.”
Gianna immediately complied and Riley whimpered at the sight of her thighs falling open. She moved down, sliding two fingers between Gianna’s folds, rubbing, holding back a groan at just how wet she was.
Because Riley’s fingers were already soaked. Already, and they’d barely gotten started.
“Get undressed,” Gianna had panted up at her, tone quietly begging.
The rush of that tone pulsed through Riley, making her even wetter.
Still, she bit back her own desire and reluctantly pulled her hand away from Gianna. “I have no idea why you think you are in a position to be telling me what to do right now.”
Gianna pouted, and Riley couldn’t resist bending down to kiss that sensuous mouth. Sucking her bottom lip between her own, biting down at it softly, before releasing it.
She walked to the end of the bed, already feeling so high on anticipation. That was even before she got to really take in the way Gianna was looking at her. Needy and desperate. Her wrists tied – loose enough to not be sore or painful, but firmly enough to keep her where they both wanted her – to the bedframe.
Riley tried to center herself, even as her heart was already racing, even as she could feel how wet she was.
“I’ve had this idea for a while,” she said, impressed by the steadiness of her own voice.
“Tying me up?” Gianna asked, not taking her eyes off Riley. Very clearly wondering where this was going.
“Yes…” Riley trailed off, as she shrugged, using that shrug to set in motion her sliding off her blazer. “But specifically, what I wanted you to see, while you were tied up.”
Gianna sat up higher at that, as at-attention as she could be given her position, but her interest was clearly sparked. “What you wanted me to see?”
She eyed Riley up and down from where she was on the bed, and Riley felt the dark thrill of it shoot through her.
Gianna would love this.
“There’s a reason I chose a suit tonight, instead of a dress,” she said, unbuttoning her shirt.
She didn’t slip it off right away. Instead, she moved her hands down to unbutton her pants.
Gianna groaned, impatiently. “Take it off.”
“I will,” she promised, keeping her fingers tucked into the waist of her pants, not yet pushing them down. “Do you remember the first time we went bra shopping together?”
Gianna nodded – quicker than Riley would have expected. “Mm, yeah. Sophomore year.”
“Right. And you told me that you had very specific designers you wore,” she paused, pushing down the tailored pants before stepping out of them. But she knew her shirt hung down just low enough. “And you were appalled that I bought whatever seemed to fit the best?”
Gianna’s chest was rapidly rising and falling already, eyes keenly focused on Riley’s body, and she nodded.
“I think I’ve officially found my brand loyalty.”
With that, she slid off her shirt and stood in front of Gianna.
In a black lace bustier that was genuinely very comfortable, as her breasts were perfectly encased, with the matching sheer bikini underwear. It really did fit her like a glove, snug and supportive, but with enough softness and give to feel good.
Gianna’s mouth opened on a whimper, her gaze roaming over Riley like she couldn’t decide where she wanted to settle.
As soon as she’d known about the Worthy launch, months ago, she’d ordered the set. At the time, it was a little show of support, and she thought it would be fun to wear Worthy lingerie under her clothing.
She could never have anticipated back then just how fun this was. She could have never predicted the look in Gianna’s eyes, the desperation, the way her breathing was labored. And she certainly couldn’t have known that she’d react so strongly to it.
Having Gianna admire her like this, so strongly, made Riley feel unstoppable.
“I…” Gianna trailed off, seemingly unable to finish the sentence. Any sentence, as she appeared to search for something to say, but came up empty.
Riley reveled in it.
In the hot, hungry way Gianna looked at her. In how Gianna’s thighs pressed firmly together and then relaxed, then clenched again. Like she was trying to do anything to feel pressure.
In the way Gianna had managed to twist her wrists, so she could grip the ties holding her to the bed, her knuckles white.
“Mine,” Gianna’s voice was wondrous and low and rough, as she stared at Riley, her pupils blown. There was desperation there, so heady, so wanton, as she pulled at the ties. “Mine. You – I – that’s mine.”
And Riley knew that she meant the lingerie. She didn’t need Gianna to have ever explicitly voiced how much it would turn her on to see someone she was fucking wearing the lingerie she herself designed. She knew Gianna well enough to know exactly what it would mean to her.
But the words settled somewhere inside of her – warm in a very different way than the heat burning through her.
“Yours,” she agreed as she walked toward the bed.
She woke up the next morning, languidly stretching in Gianna’s bed.
Gianna’s bed, which Gianna’s wasn’t in, anymore. Riley realized this as she blinked open bleary eyes – they’d been up having sex until well after three in the morning – but the bed smelled like Gianna. Like them. And Riley dropped her head back down into the pillow, content with that.
Only a few seconds later, Gianna walked in from the bathroom, smiling brightly at Riley. “Hey, sleepyhead.”
She wore, as far as Riley could see, only her Boston University sweatshirt, which just barely skimmed the tops of her thighs. Gianna must have packed to take with them, because Riley hadn’t seen it among her own clothes.
“Good morning, thief,” she teased.
Gianna climbed back into bed. “As a matter of fact, it’s almost noon. I was going to wake you up, soon, because we’re supposed to meet everyone in the lobby to head out for the day.”
Riley hummed under her breath, an unexpected reluctance sliding through her. She didn’t want to leave this bed so soon. She didn’t want Gianna to change out of their sweatshirt and put on real clothing.
And mostly, she realized, with that same alarm that she’d felt last night when talking to Athena, she didn’t want to have to go out with Joel and Ellie and Mia, and pretend that she and Gianna were just friends.
Only, it wasn’t pretending.
She and Gianna were just friends.
The utterly terrifying feeling that worked through her, well and truly waking her up, sprung from the thought that she didn’t exactly feel like that, anymore.
CHAPTER 20
July, between freshman and sophomore year
Nowhere, Vermont was very beautiful, that much Gianna could admit. Nowhere was actually, technically, called Green Ridge, and she was putting some respect on its name, given that it was the hometown of her favorite person.
She didn’t think she would ever be one to really love small town living, but Green Ridge had some charm.
“It’s mostly a tourist destination,” Riley explained, as they walked along the road, back toward Riley and Ellie’s childhood home. “It’s really only busy in the winter, for ski season.”
“I love to ski; we should come back in the winter,” she said.
Riley shot her a surprised, warm smile. “Really? I mean, sure. You can come here with me whenever you want. The Walker Resort is where most people go to ski or snowboard, but if you want to do some small runs, we can do it just from my house.”
Gianna found herself smiling back, bumping her shoulder into Riley’s. “Yes, really.”
Gianna had arrived for her visit only a few hours before, but she’d already gotten her tour of the Beckett family home – which was very cute, full of books, and on a big plot of land, surrounded by nature. Riley’s parents, she knew, were both scientists who did some sort of nature-related work, so… it checked out. She’d met Riley’s mom, who’d given her a warm but distracted smile, and made a quip about tomorrow being “pancake Sunday.” And they’d walked into town so Gianna could see the “downtown” area, which was only one main street.
Quaint.
Riley bumped her shoulder into Gianna’s, as they turned onto the path that would lead them back to her house. “Well, Green Ridge isn’t exactly the same thing as going to Lake Como for winter break or the south of France for a month in the summer, so, I wouldn’t be offended if you wanted to keep going to see your parents.”
