5. Kate

Chapter 5

Kate

A few hours of sleep had helped with Kate's nerves. It allowed her to push back some of the fear and anxiety that stemmed from lack of sleep and exhaustion. When she cracked her eyes open, she wasn't scared or anxious. Alexis had kept her safe while she'd slept. The first thing she saw was Alexis's sleeping face. The smooth lines and angular jaw broadcasted her Native American heritage, and Kate thought that her out of regulations, messy dark hair resembled a mohawk, and she understood why no one gave Alexis shit for it. She resembled a warrior goddess, and Kate blushed at the thought.

Her heart fluttered and confusion skittered through her. Kate had fallen asleep on top of Alexis, but Alexis hadn't tried to move her or reposition them. She pushed off Alexis, nervous about the shoulder wound, and also trying not to wake her. She wanted to check over her supplies, take inventory of their stock and their situation, and change the dressing on the wound.

Kate watched Alexis for a few more minutes, making certain that her breathing returned to a resting rate, and monitoring her for any other issues. When none presented and Alexis was sound asleep again, Kate turned to her pack.

The medical kit was lighter than Kate had expected it to be, and anxiety flared through her. She dug through it looking for gauze and tried not to think about how much was left. Alexis didn't stir at the noise, and Kate knew she needed as much rest as possible before the sun set for the day, and they had to start moving again. Her supplies had dwindled, and she was down to a couple of wound dressings and an emergency pack with tourniquets, quick clot powder, and the cauterization tool she'd brought. She checked both of their canteens, finding them half empty. If they couldn't get to the next extraction site quickly, they'd run out of water.

Running out of water would be a serious problem, but not one they could do anything about in the bottom of a dried riverbed. Unless it started pouring rain, they were shit-out-of-luck on that front. Alexis probably had some knowledge of the best places to get water in this location, but Kate figured that she and Alexis were on the same page. They wouldn't need more water if they got out of there fast enough.

Peeling off the bandage, Kate inspected Alexis's wound for any surprises. The wound looked stable, just a small, neat little bullet hole with no signs of infection or a hemorrhage. The wound's edges were smooth, and it wasn't actively bleeding. Kate counted their blessings. It could have been a lot worse. She replaced the dressing with a fresh one and gently secured it in place so as not to wake Alexis.

The reality of their situation sank in as Kate slowly collected her clothes and put them back on as if in a trance. They were stuck in hostile territory, Alexis had a minor injury, and Kate was running low on medical supplies. Their water supply wouldn't last much longer, and they were in the desert. The only way they were going to make it out of there alive was if they made their next extraction point—and quickly.

Memorizing the maps had allowed Kate to figure out where they were before Alexis had led them into this hole. The terrain had confused her a bit, but the city rubble and surrounding rocky outcroppings had eventually clicked into place, and Kate had realized they'd nearly made it to the southern inlet of the valley. They'd need to traverse the valley's opening and get out via the southern border of Syria—if they could get across the border and into Iraq. She had no idea what that would entail, or how long it would take. It had to be at least a few hours of jogging, or less if they could go faster. That didn't take into account if they came across patrols or enemy encampments.

A glance toward Alexis' sleeping form had Kate's anxiety rising again. She'd spent so long distancing herself from others so she wouldn't get hurt and need to rely on anyone. Somehow, Alexis Cole had snuck her way in without her knowing and without her permission. It had been reckless to let themselves get so distracted, but when she'd realized Alexis had a bullet wound, all good sense had fled from her. Two parts took over. The first was her medical training persona. This was her standard approach to anything that frightened her. Personality two: emotionally vulnerable Kate. When Alexis had first leaned down to kiss her, Kate had finally just let it all go and given herself over to the raw, all-consuming lust that Alexis had stoked in her.

Nothing irritated Kate more than being a weepy, lovestruck idiot, and she had wanted to avoid getting into an intense situation with Alexis. After she lost her last partner Lorelei, Kate had sworn off making attachments and dating in general. Lorelei had deployed with a combat unit into Libya. The platoon had gone in, but they'd never come out. Reports had been sketchy at best, but Kate had read between the lines. Lorelei's platoon had taken heavy fire. None had made it out alive. An entire covert base had been lost, and the casualties were unimaginable.

The mourning processes had nearly destroyed Kate, and she'd kept new relationships casual at most. Lorelei had planned their life out down to the colors they'd paint their house. Imagining having that with anyone else had been impossible.

Alexis's face flickered through Kate's mind and she jerked her head back around. She still slept, silent and peaceful. Alexis was so fucking beautiful. Handsome beautiful. Kate's heart pounded, her ears rang, and she tried to take a few deep breaths. She hadn't intentionally gotten attached to Alexis. It had just happened between one breath and the next. They could die and never make it home. She was only thirty three, for Christ's sake! There was so much life she could still live, if only they got the hell out of here.

As her thoughts whirled, Kate repacked her supplies to keep her hands and mind busy. The beam of light slowly crawled up the cave of the wall as Kate stripped the pistol Alexis had given her, indicating that time was passing by. She checked her clip and ammo and made sure it was clean and functional. She repeated the processes to keep her mind busy. Her eyes grew heavy after a while, and Kate judged by the angle of the light beam that it was only mid-afternoon. They'd have to wait several more hours for the sun to go down, so Kate figured she could sleep for a few hours. She laid down next to Alexis, pressing her back against her side to share heat. The cave had been cooler than Kate expected, and they hadn't brought any cool weather gear, so Kate let herself bask in Alexis' warmth and let herself drift off into restless sleep for another few hours, ignoring the sense of safety that Alexis gave her just by being next to her.

Sometime later, Alexis tapped her shoulder and whispered into the semi-dark cave.

"Time to wake up. We'll need to get moving soon."

Kate groaned and stretched her muscles, sore from sleeping on the ground. Darkness was creeping in, and Kate guessed the sun was going down. Kate's stomach growled as her hunger announced itself, but she ignored it, determined not to let her hunger bother her. Alexis tossed her a brown package, and Kate exclaimed quietly, happily surprised. It was an M.R.E. Meals Ready to Eat were widely known as some of the worst meals you could have in the military, but every now and then, there were a few MRE's that actually tasted good and had tasty snacks inside. Some had Gatorade, and if you were really lucky, you'd find one with coffee. Alexis gave Kate her favorite—beef stew.

It had been a long time since Kate had gone hungry, and she was grateful that Alexis had MREs in her pack. Kate hadn't even thought about it. She tilted her head in thought while she tore into the package, ready to feast on the peanut butter and flat bread and then dive into the beef stew. The meal had never tasted so good, and she wondered if all surprise meals in the desert tasted this damned good.

"Did you guess my favorite flavor, or is this a coincidence?"

Alexis laughed softly. "Coincidence. But can it really be considered a coincidence when beef stew is really just the best choice? I'll only choose it and the?—"

"Beef lasagna," they said together.

They laughed together, and Kate smiled at Alexis. "Great minds."

Alexis stood near the entrance to their cavern, keeping watch for any patrols or search parties. They'd been lucky to find such a good hiding spot. Kate doubted they'd get so lucky again.

Alexis spoke while Kate finished eating, and Kate kept her eyes closed and focused on the flavor of the food and the soft lilting of Alexis's voice.

"The rest of the journey will be either through or around the ruins of old cities. This area is war torn and weary. They kept rebuilding for a while, but their cities continued to be destroyed by falling mortar shells and enemy bomb runs. Eventually, most of the civilians left the area, realizing it wouldn't be worth it to rebuild within the valley where so much conflict thrived."

Kate nodded, impressed with the scope of her knowledge. "So most of the people in the area will be enemy combatants."

Alexis nodded. "This area is well known for its different dangers. There's Syrian militia, Iraqi rebels, Iraqi militia, sandstorms, and freezing cold nights. We have to be really careful we don't let a sandstorm sneak up on us at night. We need to keep low, but most importantly we need to be as quiet as possible. There will definitely be enemy patrols out, and we can't afford a run in with trouble."

"Are we going to be able to get over the border without detection?"

Alexis shrugged. "That kind of depends on what their patrols are looking like. There's every chance they'll be patrolling the specific section where we need to cross, or they may be sixty miles down the borderline doing checks there. Since it's nighttime, we have the advantage. Any patrols will be visible. They'll have trucks with lights."

Kate nodded her understanding but said nothing. She didn't trust herself to speak. Alexis would lead them through this. She had no other choice but to trust her. The chance that patrols wouldn't be in this area were low, especially if the enemy was expecting any survivors to head south. If the ambush had control of the territory surrounding the border, it was likely they were going to hit. Not if, but when.

When the sun finally went down, Alexis poked her head out of their shelter to check for any nearby patrols. Agile and strong, as if she didn't even have a bullet hole in her shoulder, Alexis climbed out and Kate followed, slightly annoyed at her causal treatment of the wound. She took the hand Alexis offered her and pulled herself up out of the hole. Night had fallen, and the temperature had dropped rapidly again. The sand was cold, and the air was dry. Kate swallowed, her throat dry and scratchy. As Alexis took in her surroundings, she stretched her arms, neck, and legs.

"Stretch a bit," she whispered at Kate. "We'll be jogging for a while. I'll stop occasionally to rest and drink water, but if you feel weak or as if you're going to pass out, just say my name and I'll catch you before you hit the ground."

Kate nodded, stretched, and prepared herself for a long run. The desert was still cooling, and it would be a while before the temperature would really drop and night fully set in. They'd need water sooner or later, and Kate kept her eyes busy looking for any signs of danger or water. Alexis kept them at a run for over thirty minutes and then slowed to a fast walk. She shoved a canteen in Kate's hands and ordered her to take small sips.

"Don't throw it up. That's all the water we have."

She sipped slowly, unwilling to waste their water. The water, though air temperature, was refreshing on Kate's dry tongue.

I hate the desert.

"Me, too," Alexis said, surprising Kate.

"Shit, did I say that out loud?"

Alexis chuckled at her between deep breaths. "Yes. Yes you did."

After a few minutes of rest, Alexis took the canteen from her, stuffed it into her pack, and pushed them forward into a fast jog again, encouraging Kate to keep up.

"Come on, Little Lieutenant. We have a few more miles to cover. The quicker we go, the better our chances at avoiding a patrol."

They pushed on, determined to make the best time possible. The sand scrunched under their feet, and Kate had to focus in order to move through it as smoothly as possible. Alexis moved seamlessly, having no apparent issue with the shifting ground and the darkness. Kate breathed in raggedly and tried to regulate her airflow, fully focusing on the task of running smoothly for at least twenty minutes at a time. Eventually the burning in her lungs and legs stopped and she could move forward with a runner's high rather than gasping for breath.

In the distance, shadowy spires rose into the night, indicating they'd arrived at the southernmost ruins of the valley. They approached the crumbling city at a run. The village had clearly been under siege at some point but had not been bombed. Much of the city had damage, including holes in buildings from RPG's and grenade or rocket launchers. If they were lucky, they could navigate their way through the mess and to its opposite side in order to make a run for the border through the valley's southern inlet. The city stretched out for miles in all directions, and dread twisted Kate's gut. She didn't want to go in there, but she had the sinking feeling this shitty option was the best one they had.

Cover would be easier to find, but there was also a serious increased risk that they'd run into a patrol, or that there was even a small encampment hiding within. Alexis trotted forward, steering them toward the ruins of the fallen city, obviously aware of the danger, but willing to brave it and face it head on. Kate tried to dig deep and find her backbone.

On approach, Alexis pointed out a few trucks parked three or four blocks in from the entrance to the city. They'd have to avoid that patrol, and Alexis veered off, changing their heading to the opposite direction. She didn't think it would affect their time, but Kate was worried about getting caught. There were definitely enemies within the city, but it was also their best chance at finding cover.

Alexis navigated through the rubble leading them into the city, turning immediately into an unlit block of buildings. Most had minor damage, crumbling walls or roofs. This area was bathed in darkness, allowing them to slowly jog through alleys. Piles of rock, rubble, trash, and abandoned vehicles littered the paths, making it difficult to traverse. The smell of garbage rose from the ground and made Kate's stomach feel sour. She fought down the nausea that rose, making her mouth taste like acid. Alexis seemed unaffected by the debris and the smell and jogged fluidly through the mess as if it weren't even there. Kate was impressed with Alexis. She'd demonstrated knowledge, intelligence, the ability to adapt at a moment's notice, and a cool head during conflict. She had nerves of steel. She appeared unaffected by the fear and danger that had been choking Kate. A sliver of hope returned to her. They might make it out of there with Alexis leading the way.

Kate's thoughts screeched to a halt as Alexis came to an abrupt stop. She nearly crashed into the back of her but managed to stop in time. They crouched and went silent. Kate's heart thrashed in her chest, her heartbeat pounded in her ears. She tried to remember not to hold her breath. She couldn't hear anything over her heartbeat, and the alleyways seemed clear, but Kate didn't dare move.

Down the next alley, a trickle of light jumped out at her, and Kate realized why Alexis had stopped them. They'd practically run straight into a foot patrol. The beam came from a flashlight. Someone was walking through the alley a block ahead of them checking the areas behind the debris field for anyone that shouldn't be there. Great. They'd run into the most thorough bloody foot patrolman Kate had ever seen.

She rested her hand on Alexis's back, anxiety flaring through her, and she didn't know what to do. The fear was overwhelming, but Kate waited for some sort of signal from Alexis. She would know what they were supposed to do and how to act in this situation.

The figure moved slowly in the distance, and they crouched in the darkness behind some sort of crate. Their hearts pounded as they waited for him to make his way across the intersection and into their alley. Kate felt like she wasn't getting enough oxygen, her breaths coming too slow, shallow, and silent.

Alexis' muscles relaxed, and Kate raised her head to see the man turn down the alley to their left, his light flickering out of their view and his footfalls going quiet as he walked farther away. To be safe, Alexis made them wait at least ten minutes, and they moved forward at a turtle's pace until they were certain the man hadn't spotted them or turned around. Kate wanted to vomit from the tension of almost being discovered. They advanced through the night, trying to maintain a decent speed, but silence was their new priority.

After they'd advanced another few blocks, Alexis slowed them to a walk, and Kate wondered what she'd seen or heard.

"Something doesn't feel right," Alexis whispered. Dread filled Kate's gut, and she glanced around warily.

"Just stay low, go slow, keep your eyes peeled, and make sure you turn off the safety on your pistol."

With the safety clicked off and her weapon at the ready, Kate followed, staying vigilant. Though the stars and moon were out, visibility wasn't great due to the shadows cast by the buildings. She was sure Alexis was seeing something that she wasn't. She knew they were approaching the southernmost part of the city. It would usually be heavily patrolled. The area lay eerily silent, and there wasn't a patrol to be found. The small hairs on her neck prickled, and she felt a charge in the air.

Suddenly, Alexis dashed into a building, and Kate followed directly behind her. The building's upper floor was demolished, and a side wall of the first floor had crumbled into a pile. There was a staircase carved out in the dark gray stone and they ran down it. Alexis flicked on a flashlight atop her rifle, held it at the ready, and inspected the below ground area. It was a small basement, mostly empty, with a few clay pots and boxes stacked in a corner. The light flicked off, and Kate's eyes struggled to readjust to the darkness. She held a hand out and walked forward blindly until she found a wall. She slid down the wall and sat with her back against the cold, hard stone.

Alexis's footfalls announced she'd ascended the stairs partway and stood so she could see out the entrance. Silence descended again, and a quiet whistle came through the night. Alexis had gotten them into hiding right before a patrol went through. The voices were male, low and quiet, and one toward the front of their group was whistling. Kate couldn't make out the language, unsure if it was Kurdish or Arabic. Not that it mattered. Both groups would happily put a bullet into Alexis and her.

Her dark form retreated back down the stairs, and Alexis joined her in leaning against the wall, rifle still trained on the top of the steps.

"There's a sandstorm coming in."

Of all the things Kate had expected Alexis to say, that wasn't one of them.

"Come again?"

Alexis chuckled, and Kate couldn't see her smile in the darkness, but she could hear it in her voice as she explained.

"I got a weird feeling about ten minutes ago. It was really dry, and the wind shifted in an odd way. This area is known for sandstorms. If you get caught in one, you have to hunker down and then basically dig yourself out. If you can find cover, you're pretty much hidden until it goes away."

Swallowing down the lump in her throat, Kate wrapped her mind around the idea of a sandstorm.

"How long do they last?" They'd only been on the move for a few hours. The night was still early, and Kate figured it probably wasn't even one in the morning. She didn't check her watch. She didn't even want to know.

She felt Alexis shrug. "Depends on the season. It's early in the sandstorm season. They can last days, but if I had to guess most likely around eight or ten hours?"

The lilt of her voice at the end suggested she wasn't sure. Kate was just grateful they'd dodged the patrol in time to find shelter.

"I could see it coming in on the horizon from the steps, so it'll probably be here in the next twenty to thirty minutes. The locals must know this. That's probably why the streets were so empty. They're about to huddle down for the rest of the night and through the day until the storm ends. They were likely doing a last sweep before they locked down. Patrols will be minimal, but there's no way we can travel during the storm."

They were stuck in a basement in the dark for what would likely be a while. The darkness was charged with the electricity between them. Fear crept into Kate's heart. She wasn't sure she could resist Alexis. She was even less sure that Alexis would be gentle with her heart.

Izzy's words were fresh in her mind.

Alexis Cole. Dreamy. They call her Lieutenant Love ‘em and Leave ‘em

Time hadn't healed Kate's own grief at losing her partner in combat. It only made her more wary and jaded. The thought wasn't a welcome one, and she wondered if she were seeing Alexis properly, or labeling her as heartbreak before she even had the chance to actually find out.

Emotionally and physically, Kate was run down. It had been a hellish three days, not to mention the chemistry flowing between her and Alexis, and the adrenaline and fear that had been coursing through her since they'd missed their extraction. Her nerves were raw, and she realized her hands were shaking, and her body was trembling.

"God, I didn't used to be such a fucking nutcase." Her voice broke at the end, and Kate choked down a quiet sob.

Alexis dropped her arm around Kate's shoulder and pulled her onto her lap.

"You're not a nutcase, Little Lieutenant. You've been through hell the last few days, and most people react the same way in these kinds of dangerous scenarios. It's totally normal."

Kate nodded and swiped at her face. "I just…" she froze, unable to go on.

"Just what, Kate?"

Hearing her name on Alexis's tongue while being held in her lap was a jolt to her system. She wanted to tell her everything. She adopted a neutral tone, hoping to crush any more chance of tears.

"I'm scared."

Alexis stroked in a soothing rhythm, her thumbs whirled in circles over her lower back. The movement and her silence encouraged Kate to go on.

"My last girlfriend deployed to Libya. Short version, she didn't come back. Slightly longer version, it fucking broke me, Alexis."

Her arms tightened around Kate as she pulled her in tighter, enveloping her completely, bringing them chest to chest and tucking her chin on top of Kate's head.

"Will you tell me her name?"

Kate nodded. "Lorelei."

Alexis hummed in her ear. "That's a beautiful name."

"I can barely remember her face anymore. I'm terrified of losing anyone else and not being able to remember what they look like."

Silence greeted her. Alexis said nothing. Kate pushed on in the silence.

"Not to be insensitive, but I've heard you have a reputation. Even a nickname."

"Oh? And what nickname is that?" Alexis's question came through the darkness. Kate didn't feel a change in her muscles. She'd half expected Alexis to tense up and get defensive.

" Lieutenant Love em' and Leave em' ," Kate said, her voice soft, the name both an accusation and a caress in the darkness.

Alexis braced one hand on the back of Kate's hips, and cupped the back of her neck with the other. Her thumbs still swirled, massaging Kate's neck with gentle pressure. The sensation had Kate clamping down on her lip in a punishing bite, hard enough to draw blood. She fought down a groan and tilted her head into Alexis's strong, capable hand.

"Maybe," Alexis said quietly. "Maybe my nickname isn't the whole story." Kate felt Alexis take a deep breath.

"Everyone's got trauma, Kate. I'm no stranger to loss."

Guilt surged through her. Of course Alexis had lost someone. They all had. She stayed quiet, encouraging Alexis by remaining silent and willing putty in her hands.

"I lost my parents when I was ten. They died in a car crash, so I was raised by my aunt. She died of breast cancer fifteen years ago. I was an only child, and I don't know if I even have cousins or other relatives. My family is mostly Native American, and once they moved off the res, they became isolated from the rest of our people. I wasn't born until later, so I never even got to see the reservation."

Sadness coated her voice, and Alexis shook her head slightly, ruffling Kate's hair with her chin. "So I joined the military at eighteen. A lot of Natives without a tribe join. I found friends. But like you, I was scared to let anyone in. I was lonely and young, so I figured, what the hell? Why not just enjoy myself and keep things casual. I guess I just hadn't met anyone until now I wanted to change my single status and lifestyle for."

What was unsaid rang through the air between them. Alexis hadn't met anyone until Kate that she'd even considered monogamy for. It scared the shit out of Kate. Alexis had never even tried to have a serious relationship, although Kate couldn't blame her. If she'd lost everyone she'd ever loved— Kate knew she'd be no match for the grief.

Amazed that she managed to date or be with anyone at all, Kate asked with genuine disbelief. "How do you manage not to get attached? Jesus, that must have been so difficult. I'm so sorry for all your loss." Kate wound her arms around Alexis's waist and hugged her tightly. She couldn't imagine the anguish of such loss.

Alexis shrugged, her muscles stiffening beneath Kate's hands. "Hasn't been that difficult. I'm always honest and upfront with them. But women like to think they can change me. But, I feel differently now. Today. With you."

She sucked in a soft gasp. "What did you just say?"

Clearing her throat, Alexis rephrased, going for the direct approach. "I didn't have any real interest in a serious relationship with anyone until I met you. You do things to my heart, Kate."

Kate didn't know what to say. She was scared and her heart pounded. This was a very extreme circumstance they were in. Could the feelings be real? Or just heightened by the circumstances? She felt as if she was falling in love, and that terrified her. So instead of thinking too much about it, she leaned in and captured Alexis's mouth with her own. Their lips met, and Kate was ravenous yet again for Alexis. The last time, she'd been unsure and had been running on adrenaline and lust. This time, Kate was invested in feeling and basking in every single moment with Alexis. If Kate was going to trust her, she may as well let her in.

Reaching for her, Kate cupped Alexis's jaw with one hand and wrapped the other around her back, snaking it up her spine to pull her in closer. Their tongues caressed, and Kate groaned at the feeling of Alexis's hands roaming over her back. She wanted the clothes between them gone, but she refused to release Alexis long enough to take anything off yet.

Instead, Kate roamed her hand down to Alexis's belt, undoing it with one hand and completely ignoring the buttons. Kate jerked the t-shirt out of Alexis's waistline and shoved her hand up the shirt and under her bra, finally getting her hand on one of her small, perfect breasts. Her nipple was hard and pebbled and Kate lightly pinched and rolled it between her index and thumb. Alexis let out a surprised moan that sounded to Kate like a whimper. Heat flooded deep between Kate's legs, and her pussy clenched at the sound of Alexis's moans and panting breaths.

Kate clamped the other hand over Alexis's mouth and pinched her nipple again lightly.

Alexis cried out again and thrust her breast into Kate's hand. She trailed open-mouthed kisses up Alexis's chest, then over collarbone to her neck. Kate lapped her tongue over Alexis's carotid, causing her to jerk, then clamped her earlobe between her teeth.

Alexis pushed at Kate's chest, separating them and going immediately for her shirt.

"Hold your horses, Little Lieutenant. I need these damned shirts off right now. I can't stand it anymore. I need to feel you against my skin."

Kate chuckled at the near desperate tone of her whisper. As Alexis's hands roamed over her body and started to pull her shirt off, Kate's ears picked up a new sound on the whistling of the wind coming from the base of the stairs.

The sandstorm had come. They were stuck here now, for who knew how long. Kate knew they were really alone now, and the likelihood of being discovered before the storm ended was almost zero.

That thought had Kate pulling Alexis's lip between her teeth. She sucked her lower lip into her mouth and caressed it with her tongue before releasing it with a quiet pop. As she backed away, Alexis followed, resuming her pursuit to get them out of their uniforms. She yanked the buttons undone on Kate's cargo pants, then pinned Kate to her with one hand, her mouth clamped to her neck, her other hand untying the laces of her boots.

Once everything had been undone, unbuttoned, or untied, Alexis rose with Kate in her arms.

"Stand up for me, pretty girl."

Kate whimpered and stood, feeling as if she was on fire. Alexis peeled her bra off, pushed her underwear down off her hips, and told her to sit down and take her boots off. While Kate complied, she watched, mesmerized as Alexis took off her clothes. The shirt came first, revealing the lean lines of Alexis's body, and Kate wanted to groan. She was a unique meld of masculine and feminine beauty, all muscle and soft olive skin covered in tattoos. Her bra followed, and Kate wanted her hands on Alexis's breasts again. She waited, however, as Alexis slid her pants down her hips and yanked them off over her boots.

Drifting to the floor, Alexis went to work on the laces of her own boots. Kate remembered she was supposed to be taking her own boots off, too. She ripped them off and practically chucked them away. Reaching for her socks, she was surprised to find Alexis already there, pushing her hands away. Boot socks were impractical and hot, especially in the desert. But you had to wear them, or your feet and ankles would be covered in blisters and sores.

Alexis didn't seem to mind and rolled Kate's socks down with an almost sexy slowness. She let her fingers trail down Kate's calves, caressing her skin and sending electricity coursing through her at every touch. Moving to her other leg, she worked on the second sock, and Kate writhed a bit, feeling needy and impatient.

Somehow, Alexis had taken control again, and Kate wanted to reassert herself—give part of herself to Alexis. She skimmed her hand down Alexis's bare front, just gently grazing her nipples before moving on, her hand trailed softly down her quivering abdomen to the edge of her panties. Alexis was panting, and Kate pushed her back with one hand, urging her to lie down. Kate's other hand slid Alexis's panties down her thighs, letting her lift her feet in order to fully pull them off.

"Stay still for me," Kate ordered, her voice husky with the lust coursing through her.

Repositioning herself so she could loom over Alexis, Kate let one hand dance across the sensitive golden umber skin of Alexis's thighs. Kate trailed her mouth down the bare skin of Alexis's throat, flicking her tongue out to taste her skin and enjoying the small jerk and hitch of her breaths every time Kate did this.

Eventually, Kate reached what she wanted. She sucked the right nipple into her mouth, palmed her left breast with one hand, and brought her other hand to Alexis's hot, wet pussy. She came alive as if she'd been electrocuted, throwing a hand up to her mouth and biting down on her fist. A muffled, quiet scream tore from Alexis's throat and she pressed her breast further into Kate's mouth. She moaned around her breast, causing the vibrations to stimulate her nipple while also lapping at it with her tongue. Her salty flesh tasted like heaven, and Kate wanted to consume her. Kate circled her thumb over Alexis' clit until she was grinding her pelvis up into Kate's hand. Her moans were quiet, as if she were trying to stifle them, and Kate wanted to hear more of her intoxicating noises.

Keeping Alexis's left breast occupied with her hand, Kate released the right breast with a pop, gave it a final lick, then trailed her tongue downward to Alexis's abdomen. Her breathing hitched and she bucked upward, realizing what Kate was up to.

Kate's mouth joined her hand between Alexis's legs, and she gave a lick up her entrance before swirling her tongue around her clit, causing her to jerk underneath Kate's ruthless tongue. She sucked Alexis's clit into her mouth and grazed the small bud with her teeth. Alexis tasted earthy and sexy as all hell. They hadn't showered in a while but it didn't diminish any of Kate's enthusiasm to taste Alexis. As she licked she felt like she was tasting the real Alexis. The very core of her. And she was delicious. As Alexis arched and moaned, Kate inserted one finger, then a second, and curled them upwards seeking her G spot and then began to pump in rhythm with her tongue on Alexis's clitoris.

Alexis was extremely reactive to Kate's every touch, and Kate momentarily wondered if people ever took control with her, or if she was allowing Kate to have control. The thought was haunting, and Kate wanted to protect what Alexis was offering her.

So she focused in, determined not to stop until Alexis's world shattered and her limbs quaked with pleasure.

She swirled her tongue and feasted on Alexis, her fingers pumping, grazing her G-spot, her other hand softly rolling and pinching her left nipple. It didn't take long before Kate felt Alexis tightening around her fingers.

"Yes, baby. I know you want to come. Give in for me. I want to taste your orgasm on my tongue."

It was as if Kate had thrown a match at gasoline. She watched as Alexis jerked and fell apart. It was beautiful. Her face was screwed up in pleasure as her voice cried out, her body twitched, and legs quivered and clamped around Kate's head, securing her in place. But Kate wasn't planning on going anywhere.

Instead of stopping or slowing to give Alexis a chance to catch her breath, Kate latched her mouth onto the sensitive skin of Alexis's thigh and sucked hard—hard enough it would leave a big, dark hickey. Her thumb returned to Alexis's clit and circled faster. Kate pumped in rhythm, determined to push Alexis over the edge again, harder this time.

"Oh God, Kate!" Alexis whimpered, her thighs still quivering around Kate's head, holding her a willing prisoner.

Hips bucking, Kate felt Alexis jerk, tumbling toward the edge, and she gave her clit a little pinch, released her thigh, and clamped her mouth over Alexis's clit again.

Alexis cried out again, "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck."

Her body shook, tightening around Kate's fingers. Her pussy was drenched, and Kate lapped at her while Alexis whimpered, twitched, and rode out that last all-consuming orgasm.

When she finally stopped shaking, Alexis sat up and lifted Kate into her arms. Before Kate knew what she was doing, Alexis had flipped her, repositioning Kate so that Alexis was lying on her back and Kate was straddling her face and leaning forward in 69 position. Kate was straddling Alexis's face, and she was wet in anticipation of what Alexis was going to do to her. Kate lowered her head and lapped gently at Alexis's excited pussy as Alexis pulled aside Kate's soaking panties.

"Your pussy is so beautiful, Kate," Alexis whispered, and then Kate jumped as her tongue lapped at her wet slit. Kate groaned into Alexis's folds, feeling like she might combust.

"You taste so fucking good," Alexis growled.

Alexis groaned, then began her slow attack on Kate's clit with her tongue. She lapped at it slowly, making Kate jerk, wanting desperately for her to just clamp her mouth down and feast on her pussy. The anticipation was torture, and Kate ground against Alexis's mouth.

Kate focused in on Alexis and sucked her clit into her mouth and inserted two fingers back inside her. She was soaked for her, and Kate pumped her fingers and swirled her tongue, urging Alexis on.

Responding immediately, Alexis inserted a single digit into Kate's tight, grasping heat. Kate groaned and bucked into her hand. The teasing went away as she pushed Alexis closer to another orgasm.

In response to the fire building in her, Alexis sucked Kate's clit into her mouth and inserted another finger. She pumped her hand, grazing Kate's G-spot and flicking her clit with her tongue, determined to push Kate over the edge before Kate managed to set Alexis off for the third time.

Fire built in Kate, and she moaned into Alexis's soft flesh and rode her mouth, unable to control her grinding hips anymore.

"Alexis," Kate gasped out.

Alexis didn't speak, only sucked harder and grazed Kate's clit with her teeth. Her fingers pumped in rhythm, and Kate's vision exploded into stars as her orgasm overtook her.

She lowered her mouth from Kate's pussy long enough to say, "Yes, baby, ride my face while you come." Then she went back to lapping at Kate's clit.

Tremors overtook Kate's body, and she cried out and ground into Alexis's mouth. She sucked hard on Alexis's clit and readjusted her fingers to press her G-spot. Soon, Alexis was moaning into Kate's pussy, and Kate felt the beginning twitches of her body as she came undone.

They lay there together, naked and slick with sweat, gasping, moaning, and writhing until their bodies finally stopped shaking.

Kate repositioned herself, still straddling Alexis but chest to chest. Mouth to mouth. She lowered her mouth to take Alexis's lips in a kiss, tasting salty sweat and sex and that earthy unmistakable taste of Alexis that she just couldn't resist. She kneaded one of her breasts gently, circling her thumb over one of Alexis's nipples. Kate tried to remember the last time she'd had sex that had felt like that. Shocked, she realized she'd never had sex so raw, passionate, or deeply emotional. Not even with Lorelei. The idea lodged itself in Kate's heart as she drifted off to sleep with her head pressed against Alexis's heart.

She was falling in love with Alexis.