The Twins secret

CH 10 Past Lovers

Ariadne awoke when her bedroom curtains were thrown open by a giggling Ann, the sudden light hitting her sleeping face and shocking her to wakefulness.

“wake up sleepy head” chirped Ann with a bright smile as she launched herself onto Ariadne’s mattress. “AHHHHH” squealed Ariadne as she bounced into the air from the impact.

“What the f**k Ann, what are you five?”

Ann crawled up the bed to lay next to Ariadne on her stomach, propping her chin on her folded hands face turned to Ariadne.

“What?” Ariadne snapped, eyes still closed, she could feel Ann’s eyes on her, studying her.

“It’s after nine and your still in bed. I know we stayed up late last night, still its not like you to stay in bed so long”

Ariadne sighed; she could never get anything past Ann. She rolled onto her side, facing Ann, opening her eyes to gaze into Ann’s chocolate ones.  Reaching forward she hooked a stray stand of Ann’s red hair behind her ear, gently stroking the soft white cheek covered in freckles. “It’s been years and you can still read me like a book”

Ann smiled softly, leaning into Ariadne’s touch “I am always here for you Adne, talk to me! You can tell me anything, you know that don’t you?”

“I’ve missed you Ann. I have barely seen you since you wedding.”

“I know, I know I am sorry about that. Nic has been unreasonably protective since the miscarriage. I cannot even go to the market without him checking on me or sending a maid to accompany me.” Ann hesitated “He has always known about our past. He never cared before. Then I got pregnant.” Her voice softened, barely above a whisper. “The miscarriage happened only days after I visited your country estate for the weekend. He never outright said anything, but I think he has attributed the miscarriage to my visit..  He has not wanted me to visit in case it happened again. It’s unreasonable and silly and I am sorry I went along with it for so long. Are we still friends?”

Ariadne made a grumbling sound and stuck her bottom lip out in a childish pout making Ann giggle.

“You meant best friends, right?” Ariadne pounced on Ann tickling her sides “RIGHT?” she asked again while Ann laughed and gasped for breath, writhing under Ariadne as she continued her onslaught.

Ann managed to turn herself onto her back, her hands going up to Ariadne’s sides, tickling her in turn.  As Ariadne succumbed to the tickles she flailed, trying to get away, falling backwards. Ann followed, straddling Ariadne’s hips “I have you now, your turn” Ann cried out as Ariadne bucked trying to throw Ann off and escape while laughing hysterically.

Raising her knees and planting her feet on the bed to give herself more leverage, Ariadne pushed her hips up trying to dislodge her attacker. Ann’s eyes grew wide as she felt herself get thrown forward. She attempted to throw out her hands to stop her forward momentum. Her left hand landed right next to Ariadne’s right ear. Ann’s right hand had gotten tangled in the bedsheets and clothing, getting stuck between their bodies as Ann fell forward onto Ariadne.

They were both breathing hard from laughing. Ariadne took a shuttering breath when she realised what position they had ended up in.

Ann had ended up falling onto Ariadne, her left hand by her ear, her right tangled in the clothes and sheets was pressed against Ariadne’s left breast.  Ann’s breasts only and quarter inch from Ariadne’s face.

She couldn’t take her eyes from Ann’s cleavage peeking from above her borrowed nightgown. Ariadne’s held her breath as she raised her head slightly to make contact with the smooth warm skin, her lips kissing the top of the soft globe.

The next thing either of them knew their hands were grabbing at each other, mouths connecting with any piece of skin they could reach. Ariadne’s hands went to Ann’s hips as she dropped her knees, pushing Ann down flush against her. Their eyes connected and they both halted.

“We shouldn’t do this” Ann whispered, her breathing heavy, chest heaving. “No, we really shouldn’t” Ariadne agreed a mischievous smile on her face. She agreed they shouldn’t be doing this, but she also knew, knowing it was wrong was not going to stop them.

Ten seconds passed as they stared into each other’s eyes with desire before they both gave in, lips meeting, tongues fighting for dominance, hands clawing at the cloth that separated their bare skin.

It was not gentle or loving, it was animalistic and rough, exactly what both needed. They fell in a sweaty heap thirty-five minutes later, panting.

A few minutes later as she got her breathing under control and her limbs stopped quivering, Ariadne propped herself up on a mound of pillows and opened her arms for Ann to snuggle into her.

Ann turned on her side, pressing her front flush to Ariadne’s side, her head pillowed on Ariadne’s breast, arm draped over her stomach and one leg over her hips.

“Sooooo… are you going to tell me what happened last night. I had thought you would talk to me after Nic was finished examining you, you neatly avoided the subject all night. I thought maybe after a good night sleep you would feel up to talking about it.” Ann enquired as she twirled a stray lock of Ariadne’s hair around her finger.

Ariadne let out a sigh “Lily” As soon as the word left her lips, she felt Ann stiffen.

Lily had been subject of contention in their relationship, she had been a key reason for its demise and was still, three years and a wedding later a subject best avoided.

With obvious reluctance Ann asked Ariadne “what about her?” A small smile formed on Ariadne’s lips. Ann was the best friend she could ask for, even with their history, she was still there for her and still wanted to help…. Even if Lily was the subject.

“I may have kissed her” Ariadne’s heart thumped in her chest and her stomach tied in knots just thinking about kissing Lily. Ann shot up from her position to look at Ariadne’s bashful face, Ariadne couldn’t look her in the eye. “MAY HAVE!” Ann screeched “Did you or did you not finally kiss the woman you have lusted after since you were fifteen.”

So Ari did you or did you not? Orion piped up in her mind. He had been mostly silent since Ann woke her, trying to give her the pretence of privacy.

“Alright fine, I did kiss her! But it was not in the manner of a declaration…. As far as she knows I only kissed her to stop Orion doing so.”

“What? Why would Orion kiss her?” Ann queried.

“Essentially because I told him I wouldn’t let him and he wanted to get under my skin, you know what he is like.”

“Yes, I can easily see him doing that. How was Orion even in a position to kiss her though?”

“well you see…” started Ariadne before she proceeded to explain how Lily had stumbled upon them arguing in their Ariadne’s office, the decision to tell her about their curse and Orion’s attempt to kiss Lily.

Fifteen minutes later, just as Ariadne was wrapping up her explanation there was a light rap at her bedroom door.

“Pardon the intrusion my Lady” came the voice of Charles the Arvenal’s butler. Ariadne quickly covered herself with a robe and opened the door to see Charles standing “there is a young man here with a letter for you, Miss.”

“Thank you Charles, I will be down shortly, please place it on my desk in my study.”

 “I am afraid I cannot Miss. He refuses to relinquish it to me. He says he was intrusted with delivering it to you by Miss Monroe and was not told to relinquish it to anyone else, so he will not. If you would like I can send him away and ask he return with it at another time. Shall I say between three and four?”

Ariadne’s eyes widened, a letter from Lily. She was both anxious and excited to find out what Lily had written.  There were so many things Lily may have wanted to put down on paper rather than say face to face. Some good, some bad and Ariadne had no way of knowing which this letter contained.

“If he can wait, I shall be down in fifteen minutes” Charles gave a short bow and turned to leave. With a shaking hand Ariadne closed the door and leaned her back against it, only now realising Ann was still naked on her bed.

“Ann help me get dressed” She said as she rushed to her basin, discarding her robe as she went.

Chuckling Ann leapt up, wrapping her arms around Ariadne’s waist. “where is the Fire? It is not Lily downstairs, just a courier or footman. No need to rush”

Ariadne did not stop sponging the sweat from her body. “I know that, I just need to know what she is thinking. Once I know her mind, I can deal with the consequences. The not knowing is killing me. Better to get this over and done with for better or worse.”

Ann went to the wardrobe on the far side of the room, pulling out two sets of clothing. “which one?” she asked Ariadne. “The dark Blue, it is a lot easier to take off. Makes it easier for us to switch. If Mrs. Carter drops by, which I doubt after last nights display, Orion is dealing with her and her apple cobbler.”

What? That is not fair Orion grumbled

Consider it punishment Ariadne countered.

“Alright, can I use the yellow one than? I originally came in to borrow a dress. I cannot exactly go around town in my ballgown from last night.”

Ariadne was done brushing and pinning her hair, she walked over to her wardrobe, pulling out a soft lilac dress “ You can use the yellow if you like, but I think this one suits you better. I think you look stunning in Lilac.” Ann blushed, putting away the yellow dress and taking the lilac, placing it on the bed while she helped Ariadne into hers.

Ariadne turned to help Ann only to be waved off “Hurry downstairs and get that letter you are so anxious about. I will be fine dressing myself. I will be down when I am done.”

Giving Ann a quick kiss on the cheek she hurried from the room to meet the young man with her letter.