12. Zoey

12

ZOEY

Z oey's stomach growled.

She opened her eyes, the pain in her muscles from yesterday's crash still sharp. The smell of dirt and burnt wood filled her nostrils as she glanced over to Lux, who was still asleep. Her lips were slightly parted, and her skin, even with splotches of dirt on it, was beautiful.

Zoey considered waking her but decided against it. She would let her sleep a little longer. They both needed rest. She pushed herself up slowly, trying not to make a sound. Her body protested every movement. She needed food, something to keep up her strength.

She scanned the area, but didn't find anything in the clearing.

She stepped away, the forest silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves. Zoey took a deep breath and tried to steady herself.

Her stomach growled again. There had to be something to eat nearby, maybe some wild berries.

She didn't get far.

Lux stirred, a soft groan escaping her lips as she woke. Zoey turned back, watching her sit up slowly, wincing as she moved her injured leg.

"Where are you going?" Lux asked, her voice rough from sleep.

Zoey hesitated. "Just looking for food. We need to eat."

Lux rubbed her eyes. "Don't go alone. We shouldn't separate."

Zoey considered arguing but didn't. She couldn't leave Lux behind, not after everything that had happened. "Okay. Let's go together."

Lux smiled weakly and stood. Zoey waited and watched as Lux struggled to stand and stretch her legs before stabilizing.

They walked into the dense forest. The ground was uneven, and Zoey could feel her feet sinking into the soft earth with each step. The air was humid, making the walk even more exhausting.

As they walked, Zoey pulled out the phone they'd found earlier, hoping for a signal. The screen remained blank, mocking her. She tried again, holding it up, but it was useless. The forest was too dense, and they didn't have a clear line of sight of the sky.

"Any signal?" Lux asked, though she probably already knew the answer.

"No," Zoey said. "I'll keep trying, though."

They continued walking, the forest growing thicker around them. Zoey's stomach growled again, louder this time. Lux glanced at her.

"Hungry?"

Zoey nodded. "Starving. We need to find something soon."

Lux looked around, scanning the trees. "There has to be something edible out here. We just have to look."

The forest seemed endless, and the trees towered above them, blocking most of the sunlight. Zoey's eyes darted from tree to tree, searching for any sign of fruit. She spotted something up ahead, a small patch of light breaking through the dense canopy.

"Over there." Zoey pointed.

They headed toward the light, pushing through the underbrush. The ground became softer, almost muddy, and Zoey realized they were nearing water. The light grew brighter, and soon they broke through the trees, emerging into a small clearing.

A stream flowed through the center of the clearing, and the water was clear and cool. Zoey's eyes widened as she spotted a small cluster of berry bushes near the edge of the stream.

"Finally," she said, heading toward the bushes.

Zoey picked the berries, filling her hands with as many as she could. Lux reached the bushes minutes after her, picking a few berries and eating them slowly. Zoey watched her, noticing how tired she looked. Her blue eyes were dull.

"Are you okay?" Zoey asked.

Lux looked up. "I'm fine. Just tired."

They ate in silence for a while, and the only sounds were the gentle trickle of the stream and distant bird calls. A couple handfuls of berries later, Lux glanced at the stream. "I'm going to wash up."

Zoey watched as Lux walked toward the stream. When Lux reached the water's edge, she started to undress, peeling off her dirty clothes and tossing them aside. Zoey's eyes followed the movements.

Zoey tore her eyes away, feeling a flush of heat rise in her cheeks. She shouldn't have been looking, shouldn't have been feeling this way. But it was hard to ignore the way her heart fluttered, the way her body reacted to the sight of Lux's bare skin.

She swallowed hard, trying to focus on anything else—the trees, the stream, the berries still clutched in her hand. But her gaze kept drifting back to Lux and to the way the water flowed over her body.

Lux had her back turned toward Zoey as she watched, feeling like she was intruding. Her heart pounded in her chest and her mind raced with thoughts she knew she shouldn't have. Lux turned slightly, and Zoey caught a glimpse of her face, her expression relaxed, almost peaceful.

Zoey's breath caught in her throat, and she quickly looked away, focusing on the berries in her hand. She forced herself to eat, trying to ignore her heart pounding and the heat spreading through her body.

But the sight of Lux's bare breasts glistening with water was burned into Zoey's mind. She tried to shake it off, but it was no use. The attraction was too overwhelming to ignore.

Zoey clenched her fists, trying to steady her breathing. But even as she told herself this, Zoey knew it was a losing battle.

She risked a glance back at Lux, and her resolve crumbled. The sight of Lux's body sent a jolt of desire through Zoey's veins. She bit her lip, trying in vain to keep her breathing steady.

"Why don't you join me?" Lux said.

Zoey hesitated. "Are you sure?"

"Come on."

"We'd still need to set up a better place to sleep when we get back," Zoey said without thinking.

Lux rolled her eyes. Zoey heaved. There was no getting out of this now. She wasn't even sure she wanted to get out of it.

Zoey nodded and slowly stripped off her clothes, feeling Lux's gaze on her the entire time. The air was cool against her skin, but her body felt warm, heat radiating from deep within her.

Lux reached out to take Zoey's hand and lead her into the water. The stream was cold at first, the shock of it making Zoey shiver, but Lux's hand was warm and firm in hers, grounding her.

The chill of the water sent goosebumps over her skin, but it did nothing to quell the heat building inside her.

Lux moved closer, and their bodies almost touched. Zoey could feel the warmth radiating off Lux and hear her soft breathing. Lux's hand slid up Zoey's arm, her touch gentle. Zoey's breath caught, and she looked up to meet Lux's gaze.

Without thinking, Zoey leaned in, her lips brushing against Lux's. The kiss was soft at first, tentative.

But then Lux's hand cupped Zoey's face, and the kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more demanding. Zoey wrapped her arms around Lux's waist, pulling her closer, feeling the press of their bodies together.

Lux moaned softly against Zoey's lips, and the sound sent a shiver down Zoey's spine. She could feel Lux's hands moving, sliding down her back, over her hips, exploring her body with a hunger that matched Zoey's own.

Zoey's fingers trailed over Lux's wet skin, feeling the way her muscles moved under her touch.

They kissed deeply, their breaths mingling. Zoey's hands slid up Lux's back, pulling her even closer, wanting to feel every inch of her.

Lux's fingers found their way into Zoey's hair, tugging gently, tilting her head back to deepen the kiss. Zoey's knees went weak, and her heart pounded. They moved together, the water splashing around them, but neither of them noticed.

Lux's hands were everywhere—touching, caressing, exploring—and Zoey was lost in the sensation, in the feel of Lux's skin against hers. She couldn't think about anything except the way Lux's body fit against hers and the way their breaths came in short, ragged gasps.

Zoey's hand slid down Lux's back, feeling the curve of her spine and softness of her skin. Lux's breath hitched, her body arching into Zoey's touch, and Zoey felt a rush of satisfaction at the response she was drawing from her.

She kissed Lux again, harder this time, more demanding, and Lux responded with a fervor that took Zoey's breath away.

They broke apart for a moment, both gasping for air. Lux looked at Zoey, her eyes filled with desire, her lips swollen from their kisses.

"Zoey…" Lux whispered.

Zoey didn't answer with words. Instead, she closed the distance between their lips in another searing kiss. Lux's hands slid down her arms, pulling her closer. Their bodies pressed together, skin against skin, the water swirling around them.

The world around them faded away, leaving just the two of them wrapped up in each other. Zoey could feel Lux's heart pounding against her chest, matching the frantic beat of her own.

She moved her hands over Lux's body, exploring, feeling, and committing every curve and dip to memory.

Lux gasped as Zoey's hands slid lower, her body responding to Zoey's.

Zoey felt her own right hand instinctively seeking between Lux's legs and as she felt the wetness she had been seeking- that different kind of wetness- she smiled to herself and pushed her fingers inside. She enjoyed Lux's gasp as she entered her and she felt Lux's own right hand pushing between Zoey's legs. She parted her legs further, putting her foot up on a rock to allow Lux easier access. She wanted this so badly… no, she needed this so badly. This, Lux's fingers pushing inside of her.

She heard her own deep guttural groan.

"Fuck, Lux. Yes.. like that." She felt Lux's fingers moving inside of her, seeking her G spot and beginning to thrust in and out. Her own fingers were doing the exact same inside of Lux.

Lux's moans, soft and breathless, sent shivers down Zoey's spine. Her blue eyes were glazed with lust.

Zoey could feel Lux's body responding to her touch, the way her muscles tensed and relaxed, the way her breath caught in her throat.

Zoey pressed her lips to Lux's neck, trailing kisses down her throat, tasting the salt and smoke of her skin, feeling the warmth of her body.

She felt the tension building between them until it felt like she might burst.

Lux's fingers moved in rhythm with her own.

"Oh god, oh yes.. fuck me…" Lux growled and Zoey obliged. She felt Lux's thumb tight against her clitoris.

And then, suddenly, everything turned beautifully white. Lux cried out, her body arching against Zoey's, and Zoey followed her, the world around them fading away as they were both consumed by the intensity of their release.

For a moment, everything was still. The only sounds were their ragged breathing, the water trickling around them, and the distant chirping of birds. Zoey felt the aftershocks of their pleasure still rippling through her and her body trembling from the intensity of it all.

She pulled back slightly, looking at Lux, who was still catching her breath. Lux's eyes met Zoey's, and there was a soft smile on her lips, a look of satisfaction and contentment that made Zoey's heart swell.

"That was…" Lux began but let the words trail off.

Terrible? Wrong? Stupid?

"Amazing," Lux finished.

"That it was," Zoey said.

They stayed like that for a few moments, their bodies still entwined, the water gently lapping at their legs.

She loved every bit of the sex she just had with Lux, but the questions just wouldn't leave her mind. What's wrong with you, Zoey?

How could they be having sex while trapped here? How could she be getting this attracted to someone under these circumstances?

But then Zoey noticed something out of the corner of her eye—a movement on the bank. She looked around and saw nothing, then she heard the rattle. She pulled back, her body tensing as she spotted the source of the movement.

"Lux, don't move."