13. Lux

13

LUX

T he rattlesnake was coiled and had its head raised, poised to attack.

Lux kept her eyes locked on the snake. Her body was tense, but her mind was clear. Panic would only make things worse.

"Stay still," Zoey whispered.

Lux kept her gaze on the snake. "It's a timber rattlesnake. The rattle is a warning."

Zoey swallowed hard, her eyes darting between Lux and the snake. "What do we do?"

"Just stay calm," Lux said. "It's probably just as scared as we are. We need to slowly back away."

Lux took a slow, deep breath as she steadied herself. She could feel the cold water lapping at her legs, the dampness of the air clinging to her skin. Every sense was heightened, every sound amplified in the stillness. The snake's tongue flicked out, tasting the air, but it didn't move.

Lux stepped back carefully, and Zoey followed her lead. Every muscle in Lux's body was tense, but she kept her movements smooth and controlled. The snake watched them, it's head swaying slightly, but it didn't strike.

Lux kept talking, her voice low and calm, hoping it would soothe both Zoey and the snake.

"They're most dangerous when they feel threatened," Lux said.

"Does it feel threatened?"

"How would I know?"

"Well, you're the snake expert."

"Shhh, don't upset it." Lux stopped backing away. "If we give it space, it should leave us alone."

"Should?"

"Back away slowly. I can't tell what it's thinking right now."

Zoey nodded. "I've never been this close to a snake before."

"Neither have I, not like this," Lux admitted.

The snake remained where it was, its gaze still fixed on them, but it made no move to follow. Lux kept her eyes on it, watching for any sign that it might strike, but it remained coiled, its body still.

Lux slowly straightened, still keeping her movements slow and deliberate. "Okay, we're almost out of its range," she said softly.

They took a few more steps back, and then the snake finally moved. It lowered its head, its body relaxing slightly as it slithered away.

Lux watched it go, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't move until the snake was out of sight, disappearing into the underbrush. Only then did she let out the breath she'd been holding.

Zoey let out a shaky laugh, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. "I can't believe that just happened."

"Neither can I."

"How did you stay so calm?"

"That was calm?" Lux laughed. "I nearly peed my pants."

"You're not wearing any."

They both laughed, and Lux chuckled the loudest. She glanced at Zoey's face and smiled.

"Can't believe a snake saw me naked," Lux said.

"Who knows, maybe that's why it didn't attack."

"Don't even get started, you're"—she glanced at Zoey's body again—"damn."

Zoey backed away and cleared her throat. "We should get dressed."

Didn't she want this? Lux nodded and walked over to pick her clothes. Zoey did the same. Lux couldn't take her eyes off Zoey's beautiful round ass as she bent over. There was a memory that would stay with her forever.

"We should head back to camp," Lux said, as soon as they were done dressing. "We need to get dry and make sure we're ready for the next leg of the journey."

Zoey nodded, but she didn't move. Her eyes were still locked on Lux's, her expression softening. "Lux…?"

"Yes?"

Zoey hesitated, her hand still resting on Lux's arm. She could see the conflict in Zoey's lovely brown eyes.

"Nothing. Let's go."

Lux nodded, though she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something Zoey had wanted to say. But she didn't press, knowing that they had already been through enough for one day. They turned and began to make their way back to camp.

The tension from the rattlesnake encounter still buzzed in her veins, but she forced herself to try to relax. Zoey's hand brushed against Lux's, and her heart skipped a beat.

She reminded herself she wasn't supposed to feel this way. It was supposed to be just sex, nothing more. She didn't do more. She wasn't looking for anything deeper and didn't want to risk hurting Zoey when she inevitably got bored of her.

"Lux," Zoey started, "what do you think you'll do after all this is over?"

Lux's stomach tightened. She knew the question was coming, even if it wasn't the dreaded "what are we" talk. She needed to keep things light, keep the walls up.

"I don't know. Maybe take a long shower and eat something that isn't wild berries. You?"

Zoey laughed, but it was a little forced. "I guess I haven't really thought about it. It feels like we've been out here forever."

"Yeah," Lux agreed, keeping her tone casual, though her thoughts were anything but. She liked Zoey, more than she should. But she wasn't the type to settle down. It was easier to keep things physical to avoid the emotional entanglements that came with letting someone in.

Zoey hesitated, then reached out, her fingers brushing Lux's arm. The touch was light, but it sent a jolt of electricity through Lux.

"You okay?" Zoey asked, her eyes searching Lux's face.

Lux nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just tired."

Lux swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. She wanted to say something, but the words were stuck. Instead, she nodded again, her smile feeling tight.

Lux's heart twisted. She knew she was on the edge of something she couldn't control, something that terrified her more than the fire or the snake. But she couldn't bring herself to pull away.

Not yet.

She reached out, tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind Zoey's ear, her fingers lingering against Zoey's cheek.

The space between them seemed to shrink, the air around them thick with unspoken feelings. Lux wanted to close the gap, to give in to the pull she felt toward Zoey. But the fear of what might happen after held her back.

Instead, she stepped away, breaking the moment. "We should get some more rest," Lux said, even though her heart was racing.

Zoey nodded, the disappointment clear in her eyes, but she didn't press. "Yeah, you're right."

As they settled down, Lux couldn't help but wonder how much longer she could keep up this balancing act, caught between what she wanted and what she was afraid to have.

As much as she loved being with Zoey, she didn't want to think of anything after this episode. Commitment just wasn't her thing.

Zoey smiled, and it was that soft, genuine smile that Lux had come to love seeing. "Well, I'm glad you were here. I would've probably freaked out."

Lux chuckled softly. "You're tougher than you give yourself credit for."

Zoey shook her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Not when it comes to snakes."

They both laughed, the sound carrying through the trees. It felt good to laugh, to share this light moment after the intensity of the situation. It had brought them closer in a way that Lux hadn't expected.

As they continued walking, the camp came into view, the faint glow of the fire a welcome sight in the dark forest. But neither of them seemed in a hurry to rejoin the others.

Zoey stopped walking, turning to face Lux fully. The look in her eyes was intense, but not in the way it had been with the snake. This was different—more personal, more vulnerable.

Zoey took a small step closer, her eyes never leaving Lux's. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Lux swallowed hard. She didn't know what to say or how to respond to her raw honesty. "Come on, Zoey. You'd be fine."

Zoey shook her head, her eyes shining with something Lux couldn't quite place. "Maybe. But I'd rather not find out."

The space between them felt like it was shrinking, drawing them together in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying. Lux could feel the heat radiating off Zoey's skin, could see the way her chest rose and fell with each breath.

"Zoey," Lux began, her voice trembling slightly. "I?—"

But before she could finish, Zoey closed the gap between them, her lips pressing softly against Lux's. The kiss was gentle at first.

But then it deepened, the hesitation melting away as they lost themselves in each other.

Lux's hands found their way to Zoey's waist, pulling her closer as the kiss became more urgent. She could feel Zoey's heart pounding against her chest and could taste the faint sweetness of her lips.

When they finally pulled apart, they rested their foreheads against each other's.

"Lux," Zoey whispered, her voice shaky. "Why do I want you this much?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?"

Zoey's hands cupped Lux's face, her thumbs brushing gently over her cheeks. "You're just something else, aren't you?"

Zoey's lips found Lux's again, more insistent this time. Lux responded eagerly, her hands roaming over Zoey's back, feeling the smooth skin beneath her fingertips.

They moved together, instinctively finding a rhythm that felt right and natural. Every touch, every kiss was filled with a longing that had been building for so long and finally found its release.

Lux guided Zoey to the ground, the cool earth beneath them a stark contrast to the heat between their bodies. They moved slowly, savoring each moment.

Surely one more time wouldn't hurt.

Zoey's hands were everywhere, exploring Lux's body with a reverence that made her heart ache with affection.

Lux moved quickly pulling down Zoey's fire pants and underwear from her hips to her ankles and off in one smooth move.

She pushed Zoey's T shirt and bra upwards exposing her beautiful breasts.

She's so fucking beautiful.

Lux pinned Zoey's eager hands above her head as she took Zoey's nipple in her mouth, sucking, biting enjoying Zoey's gasps.

Zoey tried again to release her hands.

"Keep your hands there," Lux commanded. "I want to worship your body,"

Zoey shuddered as she nodded and her hands stayed above her head as Lux moved down her body with her mouth, kissing, licking, biting her belly and her hips getting closer and closer to where she really wanted to taste.

She was hungry with desire for Zoey.

She moved lower, parting Zoey's legs so she could kneel between them. She dipped her head and ran a long slow stroke of her tongue through Zoey's labia. She felt her own lust buzzing harder in her veins as she licked again and again. Long strokes with her tongue, pushing deep inside, tasting her.

Zoey's eyes were closed and she was moaning in appreciation, the sweetest sounds to Lux's ears.

She took Zoey's clitoris in her mouth and sucked feeling it swell in her mouth. Zoey whimpered and Lux felt throbbing between her own legs as though she might come herself just from licking Zoey.

Lux enjoyed the feel of Zoey's clit in her mouth so much that she kept it there alternating long slow sucks of it with massaging it with the flat of her tongue.

She moved her right hand to join in, her fingers delving Zoey's wetness before pushing deep inside. Zoey gasped and her legs began to shake. She whimpered again.

Oh fuck, she is so good to fuck.

Lux sucked gently yet persistently on Zoey's clitoris as her fingers began to fuck her.

She felt Zoey's pussy tightening around her fingers, she felt Zoey's whole body begin to tighten pre-orgasm. She felt a throbbing between her own thighs more insistent than anything she had ever felt before.

Lux slid her left hand inside her own pants and pressed against her own clitoris.

Zoey called out loudly and shuddered and gushed as her orgasm flooded through her.

Lux pressed tightly against her own clitoris and it was enough to tip her over the edge, her orgasm coming in a way it never had before. Her body convulsed as her climax rushed to every part of her lighting her up in all the best ways possible.

When she opened her eyes, she still had her fingers inside Zoey and a pool of Zoey's climax in the palm of her hand. Zoey's orgasm had passed and her body relaxed. Her beautiful brown eyes looked up through heavy lids to Lux. Lux felt her heart swell as her orgasm subsided.

Well, fuck…