Page 17 of Faking It with the Ice Queen

She both wanted and feared that moment when the door would close behind her. The soft click of the door was like a bell ringing through her body, and she almost gave into temptation. She knew without a doubt that if she looked at Grace in that dress for one more moment, she would do just that. It would be all too easy to slide her hand up that slit and hike Grace’s dress up around her hips. The only thing that stopped her was one thought:

It’s not real. This is just a game. The kiss was just part of the game. It’s not real.

Before Elara could look up, before she could lose hold of that one thread of control, Grace had stormed away. Grace’s angerwas palpable, her spine rigid as she walked away. Elara could only watch as Grace grabbed her belongings and went to the bathroom.

Elara fumed over her idiocy. Grace was probably angry with her for taking things too far. She should never have lost control in the first place. What had she expected? Still, as they lay in bed, Elara could not rip her gaze from Grace, wishing she could reach out and hold her once more.

Now, she waited for the sun to rise as she stared at Grace next to her. Like her, it was clear Grace had not been able to sleep much last night. She had tossed and turned, twisting in the blankets until she couldn’t take it anymore and threw them off of her. Now, they faced each other.. Grace’s normally messy curls were in a veritable disarray, and her fuzzy purple sweater had ridden up throughout the night, now resting just beneath her breasts. She should be appalled by the mess, but all Elara could think about was laying her hand on the soft curve of Grace’s stomach. Everything about Grace was soft, full, and utterly alluring. She couldn’t help but remember the way those soft curves felt against her as they kissed last night. Or the way she inhaled sharply before the kiss was deepened.

Elara quietly groaned in frustration, straining to close off her growing attraction. She felt like a teenager again. This was insanity. It’s not like she hadn’t slept with other women. In fact, she had bedded her fair share of them. It had simply been too long; that’s all that this was. Grace didn’t want this, not really. Elara had to remember that nothing between them was real. Was Grace even gay?

Eventually, Elara got out of bed and went for a run at the resort gym. She needed to do something, anything, to get all of this…energy out. On her way back to the room, Elara stopped at the concierge desk and requested entirely too much food be sent upstairs, along with Grace’s favorite cappuccino.

When Grace woke up, their breakfast spread had been set up on the counter in the foyer—the smell of eggs, bacon, and something buttery hanging in the air. Elara watched as she sleepily looked over in confusion. Grace sat up, her hair sticking straight up in places, and Elara smiled.

“I ordered breakfast. I needed lots of carbs and protein after my run this morning. Plus, we will be outside a lot today. You’ll need your energy as well.”

Grace padded over while rubbing her eyes and then looked up at Elara. She momentarily paused, jaw slack as she took in Elara in her tight running clothes. She sported leggings and a thick jacket unzipped, exposing her matching sports bra. Elara watched as Grace audibly gulped and averted her gaze, which landed on the breakfast buffet.

“Umm…are we expecting guests? There’s enough food for five, maybe six, people!”

Elara held out the paper cup with Grace’s cappuccino. “Well, I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got one of everything. I also may have been alittlehungry when I ordered.”

Grace shook her head and snatched the cup from Elara’s hand. “If I eat all of this, you will have to cart me out of this room”—she pointed at Elara—“and it will be all your fault.”

Elara chuckled as she grabbed a plate with an omelet and snatched a croissant from the pile of assorted breads. “That’s only if I don’t eat it all first.”

The chime of Grace’s laugh filled the room, making Elara’s smile grow wider. Grace grabbed a plate with waffles and hefted some eggs and bacon on top. “So outside, huh? What’s the plan today?”

Elara’s smile grew mischievous. “Snowmobiles.”

Grace turned, eyes wide and jaw slack. “Snowmobiles?”

“Snowmobiles.”

Grace pointed at herself and then Elara. “We?We are going on snowmobiles?”

Elara got just a little too much pleasure in watching Grace squirm as she taunted, “What’s the matter? Never ridden a snowmobile?”

Grace plopped down on the chair next to Elara, dropping her plate unceremoniously on the table. “Ride a snowmobile?! I can barely drive a car. I’m going to get myself killed.”

At this, Elara lost her control and outright cackled. Grace sat back, shocked having never heard Elara laugh like that before.

Wiping a tear from her eye, Elara continued, “It’s not so bad. You’ll get used to it.”

Grace held up her fork and waved it at Elara. “I swear to god Elara, if I’m dying on a snowmobile today, I’m taking you with me.”

Elara laughed again, the feeling of it filling her chest. “You’ll be fine.”

Grace was, in fact, not fine.

Elara shook her head as she surveyed the damage. They hadn’t even made it past the instructor’s first few steps before Grace somehow miraculously set the snowmobile careening into the resort wall.

Grace had tears in her eyes as she professed her guilt. “Oh my god, I am so sorry. I cannot believe I did this. I can pay for any repairs. I don’t know how it got away from me so quickly.”

The instructor looked appalled as he looked back and forth between Grace and Elara, as if he could read in their expressions to know how he should react.

Elara stood, dusting off her hands on her pants. “It’s fine. Minor damage only. Nothing that can’t be repaired.”

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