19. Lux

19

LUX

L ux leaned back against the tree, her eyes closed as Zoey continued to gently caress her lower leg and foot. The pain was still there, a dull throb that pulsed with each beat of her heart, but Zoey's touch made it bearable.

She wasn't sure if it was the massage itself or just the fact that Zoey was the one doing it, but it didn't matter. What mattered was the warmth spreading from Zoey's hands into her skin, a warmth that seemed to reach straight to her chest.

She had been trying not to think too much about her feelings for Zoey, but it was impossible now. Every touch made it harder to deny what was happening.

She was falling in love.

The thought should have terrified her, and maybe it did a little, but not as much as she would have expected. There was no jolt of fear, no urge to pull away and protect herself. Instead, there was just a pull toward Zoey that she didn't want to resist.

She opened her eyes and looked at Zoey, who had her brow furrowed in concentration. Zoey had a way of looking at the world that fascinated Lux. There was a softness in her beautiful brown eyes, a kind of quiet determination that made Lux want to know everything about her.

But there was also a distance there, especially when Zoey talked about leaving people behind. Lux could see the pain it caused her, the way it made her withdraw into herself, and it made Lux wonder what it was like for Zoey to be with her, someone who was so scared of letting people in.

"What was it like for you growing up?" Lux asked. "Did you always know you were meant to love a woman?"

Zoey smiled.

"I think I always knew, but it took me a while to figure it out. I did have this crush on a girl in high school. She was a year older than me—really pretty and really smart and straight. I thought she was perfect. You can guess how the rest played out."

"What happened?" Lux asked, curious.

"I told her how I felt, and she didn't feel the same way," Zoey said, shrugging like it didn't matter, but Lux could see the hurt in her eyes. "It was tough, but it taught me a lot about myself. I realized that I'm the kind of person who goes all in, a thousand percent, even when I know it might not work out."

Lux felt a pang in her chest at Zoey's words. She wasn't sure if she was ready for someone like that, someone who would give everything and expect the same in return.

But at the same time, the thought didn't scare her the way it usually did. Instead, she found herself wanting to be the person Zoey could depend on, the one who wouldn't let her down.

She looked away, trying to hide the confusion written on her face. She wasn't sure what to do with these feelings or how to handle the fact that she was starting to fall for Zoey, but she didn't want to push her away either.

The last thing she wanted was to hurt Zoey, but she couldn't deny the pull she felt, the way she wanted to kiss Zoey every time they were close.

"What's on your mind?" Zoey asked.

Lux hesitated, not sure how to answer. She didn't want to admit what she was thinking, so she deflected with a joke.

"I'm just thinking about how nice it would be if we had some marshmallows right now. A campfire and some s'mores would make this whole situation a lot more bearable."

Zoey chuckled, a sound that made Lux's heart flutter. "You always know how to lighten the mood, don't you?"

"It's a gift," Lux said with a grin. "But seriously, I'm just trying to figure out when we're going to get out of here. I mean, I'm not exactly in a hurry to get back to reality, but it would be nice to know we're not going to be stuck out here forever."

Lux found herself relaxing, letting go of some of the tension she had been carrying. It felt good to just be with Zoey, to not have to pretend or put up walls. She hadn't felt this way in a long time, and it scared her, but it also felt right.

Zoey's hands moved up her leg, massaging her thigh through her pants, and Lux let out a sigh of relief. The pain was still there, but it was manageable, and Zoey's touch was soothing in a way Lux hadn't expected.

"What about you?" Zoey asked suddenly, breaking the silence. "Did you always know?"

Lux thought about the question for a moment before answering. "I think I always knew, too, but it took me a long time to accept it. I was scared of what it meant and how people would react. It wasn't until I met someone who made me realize it was okay to be myself that I accepted it."

Zoey looked at her, curiosity in her eyes. "What happened to her?"

Lux shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "It didn't work out. I guess I wasn't ready for it, for the whole relationship thing. I've always had a hard time letting people in and letting them get close. But I'm trying to be better about that. I think losing my mom so young, I have serious abandonment issues. Trust issues. You know, well all of it."

Zoey nodded, understanding. "It's not easy, but it would be worth it, I think." Her brown eyes were warm and welcoming.

Lux looked at Zoey, feeling a sudden urge to kiss her and close the distance between them, to just give in to what she was feeling. But she held back, warning herself not to get too close or let herself fall too hard, too fast. She didn't want to hurt Zoey or make promises she wasn't sure she could keep.

She closed her eyes, leaning back against the tree, and let herself relax. She wasn't sure what would happen next, but for now, she was content to just be here with Zoey.

Zoey's hands moved on her leg again, this time massaging the area around her knee, and Lux felt a shiver run through her. She opened her eyes and looked at Zoey.

There was something beautiful about loving a woman like Zoey. It wasn't just about the physical attraction, though that was certainly there. It was about the connection, the understanding, the way they could just be themselves with each other.

Lux let out a sigh, closing her eyes again as she let herself get lost in the moment. She watched as Zoey's fingers traced the outline of her ankle, her touch gentle. She could feel Zoey's warmth through her touch, and it sent a tingling sensation up her leg.

Lux shifted slightly, trying to ignore the way her heart sped up just being this close to Zoey. It was hard to believe how much her feelings for Zoey had changed in such a short time.

When they first met, Lux saw Zoey as just another person she had to work with, someone to keep at arm's length. But now, everything was different. She was falling in love, and that realization terrified her.

She found herself wanting to be around Zoey constantly. The thought of kissing Zoey always lingered in her mind, and the way Zoey's hand rested on her leg only made that desire stronger.

Lux noticed the way Zoey's eyes seemed distant whenever she talked about leaving anyone behind. Losing a kid in a fire would do that for you. For sure. Lux understood the need to keep her distance, but she wondered what it was like for Zoey to be with her.

Did Zoey feel the same pull? Did she want to kiss her as badly as Lux did?

"Are you okay?" Zoey asked, looking up from Lux's ankle with a concerned expression.

"Yeah, just thinking," Lux said, trying to sound casual.

"About?"

Lux forced a smile. "Just thinking about when we'll be rescued. Trying to stay optimistic, you know?"

Zoey nodded. "We'll make it out of here, Lux. I promise."

Lux's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to believe Zoey and trust that everything would be okay. But part of her was still scared.

Scared of getting too close, scared of what might happen if she did. To lighten the mood, Lux decided to crack a joke. "If we don't make it out, at least I can say I spent my last days with a real-life action hero."

Zoey laughed, and the sound made Lux's chest tighten in the best way. "If you're lucky, I'll even let you see some of my stunts."

Lux grinned, but her mind was still racing. She didn't want to hurt Zoey or get too close, only to pull away later. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized she didn't feel the usual fear. She wanted to get closer and kiss Zoey again.

Zoey's hand rested on Lux's ankle, her fingers tracing light patterns that made Lux's skin tingle. Lux felt a warmth spreading through her, her body reacting to Zoey's touch in ways she couldn't control. She shifted slightly, feeling a growing tension between them, one that was becoming harder to ignore.

Zoey's fingers moved higher up Lux's thigh, and Lux's breath hitched. She could feel her pulse quicken and her body responding to Zoey in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying. Lux looked at Zoey, their eyes locking, and she could see the same desire reflected in her.

Without thinking, Lux leaned in, her lips brushing against Zoey's in a brief but electric kiss. It was enough to send a jolt of electricity through her, leaving her wanting more.

But before they could go any further, the sound of hooves running uphill distracted them.

Lux pulled back, and she looked around. Three deer raced past. Then another.

"What's going on?"

Zoey's eyes followed the animals, her brow furrowing. "The fire must be getting closer. They're trying to escape."

Lux nodded, trying to push down the disappointment she felt at being interrupted. "Should we follow them?"

Zoey considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Animals have an instinct for where it's safe. We should head in the same direction."

"I used to have a dog who was the opposite. He always got into trouble."

"Sounds like you were always part of the mischief," Zoey said.

Lux was about to suggest going straight uphill but changed her mind. Zoey's point made sense, and she didn't want to argue.

"Let's go, then."

They started moving in the same direction as the animals, the sounds of the fire growing louder behind them.

Lux tried to stay focused, but her mind kept drifting back to that kiss and the way Zoey's hand had felt on her thigh. She wanted to feel it again and lose herself in Zoey's touch.

Lux heard vibrations, a low rumble that seemed to come from deep within the earth tried to pinpoint where it was coming from.

"Did you hear that?"

Zoey paused, listening. "Hear what?"

"That rumbling," Lux said, feeling a knot of unease forming in her stomach. "Maybe it's nothing, but?—"

Another loud rumble cut her off, this time unmistakable. It was louder, more intense, and it made the ground beneath them tremble. Lux froze, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at Zoey.

"What the hell was that?" Zoey asked.

Lux shook her head, her mind racing. "I don't know, but it doesn't sound good."

They stood there for a moment, both of them unsure of what to do. The rumbling grew louder and more persistent, and Lux could feel the vibrations in her bones. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her fear in check, but it was no use. This was bad, really bad.

"Maybe we should—" Zoey started to say, but another rumble cut her off, this one even louder than before.

Lux's heart pounded in her chest as she realized what was happening. "We need to move now!"