Page 10 of Vying Girls (Girls of Hazelhurst #2)

Elly

It was a cute idea, even if the clouds aren’t as pretty as the first time we did it. We walk through the quad, on the way to the east tower to recreate our first ever ‘date’, five months exactly to the day.

Tilda claimed it our anniversary, and this is how she wants to celebrate. Even packed the picnic basket for us this time.

‘It’s so cloudy,’ she bemoans, tipping her head back at the grey-blue skies visible to us again.

‘It’s fine.’ Pulling her close, I land a kiss on her smooth cheek. ‘Won’t be looking at the clouds anyway.’

She smiles, that cute, embarrassed one I just love to elicit.

We enter the castle. It’s not too busy in here at this time, able to hear clearly the clopping of low heels as Margot Savage breezes through, accompanied by some blonde chick with legs up to her chin.

I’ve never had Margot for a lecturer, probably never will, but I still know who she is. A bit of a celebrity at Hazelhurst, or maybe more a notoriety, demanding a certain sort of reverence whenever you pass her.

I don’t think she’s all that. Her reputation’s founded mainly on being a shark on her business course, slaying more than a few young girls’ dreams. And of course, the fact she’s a Savage, a notable family name around here.

I don’t know the ins and outs of that, except that she’s up there with the Zaccaros.

So, of course, that means Mafia.

The girl flashes Tilda a cool smile as she passes, receiving one in reply. Margot, for her part, makes a good game of pretending we don’t exist.

‘Who was that?’

‘Aurelie. She’s in my elective. She’s housemates with Nic’s friends. You know, Blakely and that Fina girl.’

I grumble at the mention of Blakely. That gargantuan asshole scared my girl and made her late for our very important lunch date.

‘Is she gay?’

‘Dunno. Didn’t think so at first, but I kind of get the feeling she might be. Thinking that with everyone at the moment though.’

I chuckle. ‘Welcome to my life. Most aren’t, just so you know. Save yourself the disappointment.’

‘Thanks, but the girls I’m into most definitely are.’

We wend right, through a dark, empty corridor to the foot of the east tower.

‘Ugh. These fucking stairs.’

‘Be worth it,’ Tilda assures, opening the ancient door and starting up them. ‘I’ll have a surprise waiting for you at the top.’

‘Sure, because you’ll get there before me.’

She laughs, the sound echoing off the stone as she disappears around the spiral. ‘An even more exciting surprise than that, I promise.’

Don’t know if the stairs have multiplied or I’ve just got more unfit, but it seems to take even longer to reach the top of them today. Which doesn’t make sense considering how much sex I’ve been having. Strapping Tilda is a workout all in itself. That girl can just keep going and going.

Not that I’m complaining.

I watch as she catches her breath by the window. She looks cute. Sexy-cute. In black, as usual, ripped up jeans and a plaid shirt. It’s still cold enough on Hazelhurst for coats, but I think everyone’s making the most of the milder weather following the storms.

It’s only a break. They’re due to start up again, this time with a vengeance. They’re putting the whole island on lockdown. No ferries to the mainland or to Little Hazel.

Won’t last too long, I’m hoping. Need to visit the fam soon.

Tilda turns to me with a smile. ‘Made it then. Food for your troubles?’

She lays a blanket over the stone floor, right by the pillar like last time. From the picnic basket she pulls a posh bottle of pink lemonade and various beige picky bits.

‘The olives are for me,’ she says, putting them to one side.

I screw my face up. ‘Well, they’re certainly not for me. So. What’s this surprise then?’

She pats the place next to her, encouraging me to sit. ‘Good things come to those who wait, Elly-Belly.’

I flop down beside her with a smile. ‘Gonna tell my nan you’re calling me that.’

‘Can’t see her disapproving.’

‘No, she likes you too much.’

Tilda keeps her eyes averted. ‘Does she?’

I tweak her nose. ‘Yes, little fish. She does.’

‘Well, good. Because I like her too.’ Sitting against the pillar, she parts her legs and gestures me between them.

I huff out a laugh. ‘I’ll crush you.’

‘What a way to go.’

With a sigh, I shuffle between her legs. I have to lie pretty much all the way down to accommodate. I peek at her over my shoulder.

‘Can you breathe?’

Squeezing me, she kisses the side of my head. ‘Perfectly. This is nice. We should switch it up more often.’

‘Not opposed to a strapping by you.’

Tilda laughs. ‘God, can you imagine? I mean, if you really wanted me to, I’d do it.’

‘Nah, you’re good. Not my thing.’

She feeds me like I’m some Egyptian queen, even dangling grape sprigs over my mouth and laughing when I rip them off with my teeth, stalk and all.

There are worse places to be than wrapped up in Tilda. Her sweet cherry scent. The way she keeps hugging me, littering me with tiny kisses like she just can’t help herself. I understand the compulsion. Just want to fucking squeeze her sometimes. Affectionately, obviously. In a way she’d like.

‘Elly?’ she says quietly.

‘Yeah?’

‘I’m really glad to be here with you.’

I find her leg and squeeze it. ‘Me too, babe. You have no idea.’

‘No. You don’t.’ I feel her chest rise and fall in a sigh. ‘I want so much to be good enough for you.’

I crane my head, taking in her pensive face. ‘Babe. You are. You’re perfect.’

She shakes her head with a smile. ‘Not like you. You make me want to be a better person every day. The best person I can be. I dunno. There’s something I’m trying to say here but I’m not sure what.’

‘That noggin of yours overthinking again.’

‘Always.’ She leans down to kiss my lips. ‘Just want to let you know how much you mean to me. And not just in a romantic way. In every way. You’re the best person I know.’

‘What about Haz?’

Tilda frowns, a discombobulated little thing that makes me grin. ‘Still the best person I know, by miles.’

I chuckle. ‘Yeah, suppose morally we can’t be compared.’

‘She good in her own ways. Loyal. Hot. Great kisser.’

‘You mean all that slobbering?’

‘Hey!’ She backhands me on the arm. ‘How would you know anyway? Something to tell me?’

‘God, no.’ I suppress a shudder at the thought.

‘But the two of you share, right? See each other naked?’

‘Literally one time. And we don’t look. We’re just both…there.’

‘And you’d share with me?’ she asks quietly.

‘Yeah.’ I lean my head on her shoulder, the darkening skies a suitable projector screen for the visual of that. It makes my heart thump, skin growing warm. ‘I’d share you with her. If you ever wanted that.’

‘I think I want that. Like, eventually.’

I feel another wave as she breathes in and out. She’s thinking about it, I can tell.

I pick up her hand and kiss it. ‘Ready when you are, babe. No pressure.’

‘Never any pressure with you, is there?’ She scratches my head.

‘Easy-breezy, me.’

She chuckles gently, both arms around me now we’ve finished eating.

The sky’s darkening quickly. It’s later in the evening than it had been the last time we were here, back in winter.

Only a few short months but it feels like a lifetime.

Who’d have thought we’d be here, like this, now? Not me, that’s for damn sure.

‘Kinda looks stormy,’ Tilda comments.

‘Not supposed to.’

‘Forecast’s been wrong before. Especially on this island.’

‘True,’ I concede. ‘Wish it would just be summer already.’

‘Not looking forward to the storm?’

‘No.’

She runs her lips over my hair. ‘Worried about not being able to get home?’

I sigh at her perceptivity. ‘Kind off. Sod’s law says that’s when it all kicks off.’

She murmurs sympathetically. It’s not Mum this time, but Grandad. Blocked colostomy bag. Pain, inability to eat. Not the first time this has happened, but it requires a few days in hospital and another fight to get the bag repositioned to stop it happening again. Just never bloody stops.

He’s due in tomorrow and not happy about it. Hopefully it’ll pass along with the oncoming storm.

‘Hey.’ Tilda nudges me, new energy in her voice. ‘I think it’s time for your surprise. Some cheering up. You ready?’

I nod wordlessly. If she can take my mind off this niggling worry, more power to her.

‘Budge,’ she says, nudging me again.

I get out the way, settling against the pillar as she positions herself before the window.

She giggles uncertainly as she fiddles with the buttons on her shirt. ‘Nervous for this.’

I sit up straighter when the shirt falls to the floor. Her top follows, then her jeans, doing an adorable little hop when they get stuck on her legs.

Then she’s standing in nothing but a matching lacy bra and knickers.

Not black, but blue. My favourite colour.

‘It’s that dusty blue you like,’ she says almost shyly, adjusting the knickers.

I nod, still not able to form words.

She tilts her head with a smile. ‘Does she speak?’

I shake my head. Right now, no she does not.

Tilda creeps over, getting to her knees and winding her arms around my neck. ‘But I was so hoping to hear you make noise.’

Biting my lip, I glance at the stairwell. God, she feels so hot, her naked skin startingly soft.

‘Figured the chances were pretty low of anyone busting in,’ she says.

I turn back, taking her in properly this time. ‘Let’s hope you’re right. Because I’m not fucking stopping.’

‘Not stopping what?’ she teases.

‘You think I can keep my hands to myself with you in this?’ I huff out a breath.

‘Well, hurry please. I’m freezing.’

For her insolence, I get her legs wrapped around my waist so I can stand up and walk her over to the window. ‘Want a view when I do this.’

‘I’ve got mine,’ she replies breathily, readjusting herself on the deep ledge. ‘Shit, that stone’s cold.’

‘Working as quick as I can.’ Her hair tickles me as I kiss her neck, teasing with the flat of my tongue and sucking lightly.

‘Fuck, I’m all tingly,’ she gasps. ‘Think it’s the fear of someone finding us.’

‘That’s what you’re into, huh?’

‘Apparently.’