The day had dragged. Saturday, the last day of the shoot, and it had been hot, and Amy was over the glamour of the day before. With no work of her own to do, and no one she really knew apart from Luisa to talk to, who was busy, it had been a slow day. Not that she minded, it was important that Luisa was as professional as she could be in her work environment, but Amy resolved that maybe in future she’d come to the exotic locations but skip a lot of the modelling… go there for the swimming pool, the partying and the evenings out. That sounded better.
The interactions between Luisa and Bel had been much the same as the day before, friendly, professional, you wouldn’t have had a clue that there had ever been anything between them. Bel had come over to talk to Amy for a while at one point as well, which Amy had really appreciated… it felt like her snap decision to invite Bel for a drink the night before was paying off.
That evening though, after Amy and Luisa had showered and changed into dresses that were suitable for a night out in that warm climate, Luisa made her move.Operation Open Togetheras Amy had called it, drawing an eye roll from Luisa.
“Maybe let me do the talking with Bel if you’re going to come out with lines like that…”
They walked together down to the hotel bar where most of the people from the shoot had gathered to grab a drink and Bel was there, looking for all the world like the entire evening was orbiting around her. Given that her and Luisa were the two biggest names on the shoot, that probably wasn’t too far from the truth, Amy figured.
Bel was leaning against the bar, glass of wine in hand, when Luisa walked over. Amy stayed back a few steps, not far, certainly close enough to hear, but not wanting to crowd them.
“We’re going to watch the sunset on my balcony,” Luisa said, her voice deliberately light and breezy. “You should join us.” Bel looked at her, not quite surprised but certainly intrigued. “Just one drink.”
Amy could see the exact moment that Bel understood. Just one drink was the key. Whatever that was, whatever connotation it held between them, Amy saw Bel cock her head to the side, a look of interest on her face.
Bel looked at Amy, then back at Luisa. “The three of us?”
“Yes.”
“I’d love to,” she replied with a faint smile.
And that was that.
***
They sat, the three of them, sharing a bottle of chilled white wine and letting the conversation drift as the sun slipped below the horizon.
Luisa was relaxed, happy in a way that made Amy love her even more than before. Sitting there cross-legged, barefoot, talking to Bel with Amy alongside her, seemed to have a liberating effect on her.
Bel was stretched out on one of the other balcony chairs, semi-reclined, her feet up on the balcony railings and her long, bare legs spectacular in the golden light.
The conversation flowed easily, the three of them finding a natural rhythm. Bel was funnier than Amy had expected, drier, her humour delivered deadpan in that cut-glass accent that made everything sound either hilarious or threatening depending on her mood.
Amy sat watching, participating of course, but also listening to the undercurrent beneath the casual talk, almost too subtle to detect but there in the glances that lingered a little too long, the smiles that carried something extra.
It was Luisa, after an exchange of glances with Amy that Bel couldn’t have possibly seen, who made the move. It had to be really.
She stood, smoothing her hands down over the soft cotton of her dress, then crossed to the doorway leading from the balcony to the bedroom. Luisa stood there for a few moments, the last rays of the sun settling on her, and then she held out both hands, one towards each of Amy and Bel.
“Come to bed.”
Again, Amy didn’t know the full significance but Bel put down her wine glass at once and stood, reaching her hand out towards Luisa. Amy’s pulse leapt, realising this was the moment, the point at which open together took on real meaning, and she stood too, taking Luisa’s hand in hers.
Luisa led them both inside.
***
The bed looked inviting, crisp white sheets that were cool and soft after the warmth of the evening outside. As the sun dipped fully below the horizon the sea breeze picked up, warm and gentle through the open balcony door, carrying the scent of the flowers from below and the salt of the sea.
“We go as slow as you need,” Luisa whispered to Amy, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
“Or as fast,” Bel added with a smile that somehow managed to be both playful and respectful of the two of them. She looked at Amy with a directness that was new, different from the distance she’d kept so far. “For what it’s worth, you’re very beautiful, Amy. You should know that at the start.”
Amy felt herself blush, which was absurd given what was about to happen, but the compliment from Bel, delivered so casually, caught her off guard. “Thank you. So are you.”
“I’ve been told,” Bel replied. “Usually by men, usually late at night.” The self-assurance was so absolute that it made Amy laugh, which broke any residual tension perfectly.
Luisa turned to face Amy, letting go of Bel’s hand to brush an imaginary strand of hair from Amy’s face, looking into her eyes with that expression that was just for the two of them, that saidI love you and this is ours.Then she kissed Amy, gentle, playful, the usual incredible set of sensations… she was the best kisser that Amy had ever met, with lips that made Amy fall in love with her again each time they touched hers.
