Page 13 of Staging Love
"Your adoring public awaits," Jade whispered teasingly, her breath warm against Camilla's ear.
Camilla rolled her eyes, but she couldn't suppress a smile. "Behave yourself," she murmured back.
They made their way to a large table where the rest of the family had already gathered. Steaming mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream were being distributed, and the children were eagerly reaching for a plate of freshly baked cookies. Camilla noticed once again how Jade fit in seamlessly with her family, laughing at Uncle Robert's jokes and engaging Aunt Vivian in a discussion about her latest skincare line. It was... nice, she realized with surprise. More than nice, actually.
"Jade," Theresa said, her tone deceptively casual, "You surprised us. Do you and Camilla go skiing together often?"
"When we can," Camilla interjected. "Our schedules don't always align, but we try to make time for it."
“Camilla usually beats me though,” Jade chipped in. “But today, the victory was mine.” She shot Camilla a grin, then, without warning, she cupped her cheeks and kissed her.
The kiss was brief and chaste, barely more than a peck, yet it left Camilla feeling dizzy and breathless, and the intensity of her reaction caught her completely off guard. Why was her heart racing? Why did her skin tingle where Jade had touched her?
Her mind reeled as she tried to make sense of these new sensations. Was it just the adrenaline from their ski race? The thrill of pulling off their charade? Or was it something more, something she wasn't ready to acknowledge? She looked at Jade, who was now chatting with Emma about their upcoming "wedding," and felt a confusing mix of warmth and panic rise in her chest.
As she sipped her hot chocolate, trying to calm her racing thoughts, Camilla realized with a start that the lines between pretense and reality were beginning to blur. And that realization terrified her more than any business deal or family expectation ever had.
Chapter Nine
Camilla and Jade stumbled into their room, faces flushed and muscles aching from a long day on the slopes. Despite the physical fatigue, there was a palpable energy between them, a playful competitiveness that had only grown stronger throughout the day.
"I still can't believe that last run," Camilla said, shaking her head as she unzipped her ski jacket. "You barely edged me out at the end."
Jade grinned, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "Barely? I think you mean I clearly and decisively won that race. Two for you, two for me, and that last glorious victory for yours truly."
Camilla scoffed, but couldn't hide her smile. "Please, it was so close it hardly counts. I'd call it a draw at best."
"A draw?" Jade gasped in mock offense. "I'm wounded, Camilla. Truly wounded. After my stunning display of skill and grace on that final run, you'd deny me my hard-earned victory?"
Their banter continued as they began topeel off layers of ski gear. Camilla marveled at how easy it was to joke around with Jade. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so relaxed and carefree, especially around someone she'd known for such a short time.
"You know," Jade said, her tone softening, "I had a really great time today. I mean, I expected this whole arrangement would be... weird at best, but I didn't think I’d have quite so much fun."
"I did too," Camilla admitted. "It's been a long time since I've enjoyed myself this much on the slopes. Or anywhere, really."
As Jade began to strip down to her underwear, Camilla’s eyes were drawn once again to her toned figure. She watched, almost mesmerized, as Jade's smooth skin was revealed inch by inch. The graceful curve of her back, the lean muscles of her legs, the subtle dip of her waist – her gaze traced every line and contour.
Suddenly, Jade turned, catching Camilla's stare, and Camilla quickly averted her eyes, feeling a hot flush creep up her neck. She busied herself with folding her ski pants, trying to act as if nothing had happened.
"Oh, God, I'm sorry," Jade said, grabbing a robe from the back of the bathroom door. "I didn't even think... I'm just used to changing in front of other women. In dressing rooms at the theater and stuff. And I figured since you're straight and this is all pretend anyway... But that was presumptuous of me. I should have been more considerate."
Camilla took a deep breath, willing her heartbeat to slow. "No, no, it's fine," she insisted. "Really, Jade. We're both adults here. And we're sharing a room. We should be able to be comfortable around each other."
Jade studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, if you're sure. I just don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"You're not," Camilla said, and she was surprised to find she meant it. Uncomfortable wasn't quite the right word for what she was feeling. Flustered, for sure. Or... something else she wasn't ready to name.
As Jade disappeared into the bathroom to shower, she sank onto the edge of the bed, her mind whirling. What was happening to her? She'd never reacted this way to another woman before. But then again, she'd never been in a situation like this either.
She thought back over the events of the day. The exhilaration of racing down the slopes with Jade, their laughter echoing across the mountain. The warmth that had spread through her when Jade had casually draped an arm around her. The way her stomach had flipped when Jade kissed her in front of her family...
Jade was just playing a role, of course, and she was playing it well. That's why it felt so natural, so real. Because Jade was a talented actress, nothing more.
But even as she thought it, Camilla knew she was lying to herself. There was something more happening here, something that went beyond their carefully constructed charade. The way her body reacted to Jade's touch, the flutter in her chest when Jade smiled at her, the constant urge to be near her - it all pointed to feelings she’d never experienced before.
She'd always considered herself straight, never questioning her sexuality. But now, faced with the growing attraction she felt towards Jade, she was reevaluating everything she thought she knew about herself. Was this just a fleeting attraction, brought on by the intensity of their situation? Or was it something deeper, something that had always been there, waiting to be awakened?
She thought about her past relationships, few and farbetween as they were. They had all been with men, but none had ever stirred the kind of feelings she was experiencing now. She'd always attributed her lack of interest in romance to being focused on her career, but what if there was more to it?
