Chapter Text
The hotel room door closed. Charlotte leaned against the cool wood. Her breathing was steady and rapid. Her heart was racing from all the adrenaline. She could feel the blood rushing through her veins.
Her lower abdomen tightened almost painfully. The memory of the press conference just a few minutes ago burned into her mind like a smoldering fire. Every touch had left a tingling sensation. Invisible, but absolutely palpable.
Charlotte closed her eyes. The skin on her cheek felt taut. She could still feel the warm lips that had rested on her for what had seemed like an endless moment.
A sigh escaped her lips. Her fingers fidgeted nervously, running over the back of her hand, trying to dispel the prickling sensation of those long-gone touches.
The cooling wood brought no relief. Her body still felt feverish.
/A shower... I desperately need a shower.../, the thought flashed through the young woman's mind.
She ran her fingers through her long brown hair and pushed herself away from the door. Her body obeyed, albeit slowly. She carelessly tossed her clothes onto the floor, a trail of fabric she would clear away later.
The warm water ran down her slender body. Her muscles relaxed. Her thoughts remained. Soapy hands glided over her skin. She couldn't wash away the tickling feeling.
Charlotte sighed as her fingers brushed over her breasts. Should she...? Her next appointment wasn't for several hours. She had time, but... A wave of shame crept up her neck. Not like this... Not with the thoughts she was having. Not with the image in her mind. She fought desperately against her fantasy of strong, familiar hands on her skin. She pushed the thoughts aside, shut them out. Her shame slowly faded away again.
Her hands continued to glide over her body, beginning to gently massage her breasts. Sparks shot through her lower abdomen. She turned around in the narrow shower stall and pressed her forehead against the tiles. The water was now running down her back. The cool wall was a pleasant contrast to the heat inside Charlotte. Her mind remained blank, her desire clouding everything.
She closed her eyes with pleasure as her fingers gently touched her nipples. Slowly, the buds stiffened under her touch. A soft moan echoed through the small shower. Charlotte didn't stop, letting one hand slide lower, past her flat stomach, right between her legs.
Moisture greeted her. Lots of moisture. Another moan escaped her as her fingers found her clit. She hadn't realized how aroused she was. But here was the proof, almost dripping with wetness.
With slow movements, she stroked her clitoris, savoring every intimate moment. Her thoughts began to wander again. She paused briefly, trying to refocus on what mattered. But she couldn't. Her imagination fought its way back with determination.
Charlotte closed her eyes tightly, pressing her forehead hard against the cool surface. Her fingers picked up the pace, stroking her aroused pleasure center faster. She moaned intensely as a finger slowly slid inside her. And once again, her mind took over, tricking her into believing it was another hand moving between her legs.
Her breathing quickened, her hand massaging her breast more vigorously. Charlotte fought against her mind, trying not to let herself be led by the fantasy. Her finger thrust deeper into her. Her juices ran down her legs.
Her gasps grew louder, her thrusts firmer. She felt her legs tremble, her muscles straining to keep her upright. The rush of water barely drowned out her moans and the slurping sound of her penetration.
"Ahh... God..."
Her voice was hoarse, throaty, almost unrecognizable to her. She sensed how close she was to the edge, could feel the familiar whirlwind forming inside her. A second finger joined the first in her tight cavity, curling, coaxing even more sweet sounds from her.
The minutes passed, her thrusts growing more frantic. Charlotte's long hair clung to her back. The heat was unbearable. She desperately needed release. Her thumb rubbed harder against her clit. She flinched. She was so close, and yet she felt that something was holding her back.
She needed... more. And there it was again. The quiet call in her head. The solitary thought she had kept in check the whole time. She hesitated for a moment, trying to let her imagination run wild in a controlled way.
The thought of a stranger's hand between her legs came back. Long fingers thrusting steadily inside her. She allowed it, but only that. No further indulgences, she swore to herself. No further elaborations, just that hand.
Charlotte almost cried out when she touched her most intimate spot. She was just moments away from climax. The fingers continued to thrust powerfully inside her. Her nipple pressed excitedly against the massaging hand. The pleasure continued to overwhelm her, taking her to new heights. It had been a long time since she'd felt it, this desire to touch herself... No, to be touched. Gently, firmly, everywhere. She surrendered, letting go of the last barrier, the last resistance.
And suddenly... a sensation of warm lips on her shoulder coursed through her. A warm body pressing against her from behind. Heated skin rubbing against hers. Thrusts that grew even faster. A rhythm that swept her away completely.
"P'Fa...," Charlotte moaned.
And that was enough to make her completely melt away. Her body twitched, arched, welcomed the release. Charlotte's climax echoed through the small bathroom. Relentlessly, the fingers continued to thrust into her, prolonging the pleasurable sensation, letting her drift further. She couldn't fight it. Her lustful fantasy was too strong. Like a demon holding her captive with its long claws.
Moments passed. Minutes slipped away. Again and again, that one name escaped her lips in a whisper. One last thrust, and she froze. Her body gave way. With her last ounce of strength, she leaned back against the shower wall and slowly slid down it. Her legs would no longer obey her.
The water flowed over her, washing away everything that had been there just a moment ago. All that remained was the familiar sense of shame.
Charlotte brushed her wet hair out of her face. How could she have done this? The pleasant tingling after the orgasm buzzed through her body. Yet she couldn't enjoy it. She cursed herself too much. Why had she let it get this far again? She wanted to... stop.
Hadn't she learned anything from all those restless nights of the past years? She had left them behind, months ago. Cut it off, almost like cold detox. Only to be completely overtaken by this fateful desire again now.
Charlotte's body trembled. The soothing warmth of the water did nothing to ease the icy storm raging inside her.
She stood up, turned off the shower, and stepped out of the stall. She wrapped a soft towel around her body and used a second one to dry her lush brown hair.
With every breath, her heartbeat slowed. Time passed, allowing the turmoil within her to gradually subside. Calm returned. Her thoughts were gone, and with them all her feelings. Deeply locked away, far from the surface of reality.
Charlotte looked at herself in the mirror one last time. Her hair was still damp, yet it fell shiny over her slender shoulders.
"That was the last time," she whispered.
Charlotte turned, left the bathroom... and froze.
She must be hallucinating. Truly and genuinely. Her thoughts didn't seem to have fully regained control of her senses yet. It couldn't be any other way.
"P'Fa...," the young woman managed to say in surprise. "How... What... Why?"
Engfa looked up from her spot on Charlotte's bed. She set her phone aside. The last glimmer of activity faded from the screen.
Dark eyes looked at Charlotte. A gaze more piercing than anything she had ever known.
/Please don't let her have heard what I... Oh God, no!/
Charlotte's thoughts raced. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, pressing against the tight-fitting towel.
/This can't be true... shit, shit, shit.../
A smile crept across Engfa's face. She reached behind her and pulled out a bag.
"I thought you might be hungry."
Charlotte looked at the packaged snacks, then at Engfa, back at the food, and finally her gaze settled entirely on the older beauty. She swallowed. Her throat felt parched. And her breathing was still racing.
Silence settled over the strange scene. And the longer Charlotte stood there silently, the more the smile faded from Engfa's face. Until it had vanished entirely and a hint of sadness settled over her beautiful features.
"Sorry, I... It was a stupid thought."
Engfa stood up, grabbed her phone from the bed, and headed for the door. Just as she had her hand on the doorknob, Charlotte stopped her.
"Wait...," the young woman whispered. "Stay... Please."
Charlotte heard a sigh and saw Engfa's shoulders slowly slump.
"When did we actually drift so far apart, Charlotte?" Engfa asked.
Charlotte stared at Engfa. The older woman remained standing by the door, not turning around, even though she was clearly struggling not to.
"When did it get so... complicated?"
Now it was Charlotte who sighed softly. She looked down, staring at her feet, fixing her gaze on a spot right next to her manicured toes. She didn't know the answer.
She heard footsteps, saw two feet stop right in front of hers. Charlotte looked up. Engfa was standing right in front of her. She could feel the warmth of her body.
"When did we stop being us?"
A tear ran down Engfa's face, lonely, silent.
"Charlotte, please..."
It was a soft whimper, a plea, almost just a whisper. But it struck Charlotte right in the heart.
"We decided not to wait for each other anymore," Charlotte replied, her voice breaking.
"I never stopped waiting for you," Engfa interrupted her immediately. "Never. There was always only you."
Charlotte swallowed hard. Everything inside her came crashing down. Everything she had built up over the past few months, few years. Her facade, her safe haven. It all shattered in a matter of seconds.
"Engfa... please don't... We've gone over this again and again..."
With every word, Charlotte's voice broke further. Her eyes filled with tears as well. A single tear broke free and slowly ran down her cheek.
Engfa's hand rested on her cheek, wiped away the salty moisture, and remained there afterward. Her thumb absentmindedly stroked Charlotte's skin. Engfa's glance wandered over her face and lingered on her mouth. Absentmindedly, the older woman licked her own lips.
Charlotte's breath caught in her throat. She recognized that look, knew that they were both walking on very thin ice. A whirlwind of emotions surged through her body. She watched as Engfa slowly leaned forward. The tips of their noses touched lightly. She could feel the older woman's breath, felt her fingers tentatively trace her neck.
"No...," she managed to say, placing her hands on Engfa's torso and gently but firmly pushing her away. "That's not a good idea."
Engfa let out a groan. The chaotic emotions were written all over her face. But as upset as she was, not a single word about it passed her lips.
Her gaze returned to Charlotte.
"Do you know what you mean to me?"
Charlotte nodded.
"It hasn't changed after four years."
Charlotte nodded again. The next moment, warm lips touched her cheeks, fleetingly, like the scent of fresh rain on a grassy field. Enchanting, yet barely tangible.
As tentative as that kiss was, it left its mark on Charlotte's skin. Invisible, but she could feel it clearly.
Engfa took a few steps back. She needed some distance. Her hands found their way into her pants pockets. She looked at Charlotte like a dog that had been scolded.
"You'll always be the only one."
She nodded, as if to confirm her own words, and turned away. This time, Charlotte didn't stop Engfa. She walked away without looking back.
The door closed softly, and Charlotte's legs gave way. Tears streamed down her face, her body trembling. The tension eased, leaving behind a pile of shards.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't calm down. Too much had come to light, overwhelming Charlotte with an intensity she hadn't felt in a long time.
Time passed. She didn't know how long she had been crouched on the floor. There was a soft knock at the door.
"Charlotte? The driver will pick you up in 30 minutes," she heard P'Sun's voice through the door. Another knock. "Charlotte?"
"Yes... Thank you. I'm almost ready," she replied in the calmest voice she could manage.
It was going to be a long evening.