8. Kaia

8

KAIA

T he next morning's training passes by in a tense blur.

A churning anxiety takes root in the pit of Kaia's stomach when Hallie spends the entirety of their private session maintaining a firm distance, offering only clipped instructions and short breaks between exercises that barely give Kaia time to breathe.

Let alone question the lieutenant's cold attitude.

By the time the other rookies show up for the start of regular training, Kaia is utterly convinced that Hallie is pushing her away on purpose. The weight of the rejection is more crushing than Kaia could have ever anticipated, having replayed the memory of their hurried intimacy in the showers countless times the prior evening.

She couldn't understand it. Hallie had seemed just as desperate for it as Kaia had been.

Why is she trying to act like nothing happened?

Kaia's heart races as she spots Hallie hunched over a table in the break room during lunch, her brow furrowed in concentration and golden curls flopping over her forehead as she pores over a stack of paperwork. She knows it's risky, knows they should keep their distance outside the safety of their locker room, but the magnetic pull she feels towards Hallie Hunter is just too strong to resist.

With a mischievous grin, Kaia saunters over to the table and slides onto the bench beside Hallie. "Hey, Lieutenant," she murmurs, her voice low and sultry. "Got a minute?"

Hallie's head snaps up, her eyes widening as she takes in Kaia's closeness. She quickly glances toward the open door, ensuring no one is within earshot, before whispering harshly, "Kaia, what are you doing? We can't be seen together like this."

But Kaia is undeterred, the lingering thrill of their forbidden tryst coursing through her veins like a drug. She leans in even closer, her breath ghosting over Hallie's ear as she purrs, "I was just thinking, after yesterday, I owe you some attention… fancy meeting me in the locker room in five?"

A pink flush creeps up Hallie's neck as she scoots along the bench to put some distance between them.

"Absolutely not!" she hisses, her eyes darting around to the door once more.

"It's way too risky for us to just disappear in the middle of the day. What if someone saw us both go in there? If what we did becomes public knowledge, I could lose my job. We both could lose our jobs."

Kaia pouts, but she knows Hallie has a point. Still, she can't help but push, the desire to be alone with her consuming her every thought. With a bashful smile, she continues to tease her.

"Well then, Lieutenant, I guess you'll just have to take me out on a proper date if you want to spend any more quality time together."

Hallie pauses, her brow furrowed in thought, and chews on her cheek as she considers her response. Kaia holds her breath, terrified she may be making more of their connection than she should. But she can feel it; she knows Hallie wants her just as badly. Kaia can only hope that discretion at work is the only thing holding the lieutenant back.

Then, slowly, a smile spreads across Hallie's face.

"Okay," she finally says. "How about we go for a hike this weekend, just the two of us? I know a great spot with an amazing view. I go there sometimes to escape; the stars are incredible when you're away from the city pollution."

Kaia arches an eyebrow, a bolt of excitement zipping down her spine.

"A night beneath the stars for our first date, huh?" she drawls, her lips curling into a smirk. "My, my, how presumptuous of you, Lieutenant Hunter!" She punctuates her words with a playful wink, delighting in the way Hallie's cheeks flush an even deeper shade.

"What? No, I didn't mean—I just thought it would be nice to—" Hallie stammers.

But Kaia just giggles, cutting her off with a wave of her hand.

"I'm just teasing. It sounds romantic as fuck. Besides… I already let you take advantage of me in the showers. I don't intend to play coy, now."

Hallie can't seem to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"You're incorrigible, you know that, Montgomery?" she murmurs, shaking her head. "But you've got yourself a date."

They both manage to relax into a comfortable routine over the following days, content in the shared knowledge that they can act freely once the weekend comes. Even during their one-on-one sessions, they maintain a professional demeanor, conscious that they could be spotted at any moment appearing too close.

By the time Friday rolls around, Kaia is wound tight with anticipation, practically skipping out the door after the final debriefing. Hallie watches her from where she leans against the desk at the front of the room, an obvious smirk spread across her sharp features.

"Big plans this weekend, Montgomery?"

"Nah, nothing too exciting, Lieutenant. Just happy to have some time to kick back," Kaia throws over her shoulder, relishing Hallie's scoffed laugh in response.

The following morning, Hallie pulls up outside Kaia's apartment building in her sand-crusted truck, bright and early. Kaia can't help throwing sidelong glances her way throughout their drive beyond the city limits, her blood heating with every shameless perusal of Hallie's muscular frame exposed by her shorts and tank top.

"I'm so looking forward to a day of hiking with you under the desert sun," she jokes, pulling at the neck of her already damp t-shirt. "Making me sweat even on our day off. You must be some kind of crazy sadist. Or masochist, seeing as it's also your day off. Either way… crazy," she finishes with a shrug.

Hallie chuckles, the sound warm and rich as the stunning terrain surrounding them.

"Hey, a good firefighter never stops training!" she says with a grin. "Besides, my family used to hike all the time back home. It's in my blood."

They eventually pull into the sheltered parking lot Hallie had selected for the start of their trail. Hoisting their packs onto their backs, Kaia bites back a groan at the weight of the supplies, determined as always to prove her strength to her unshakeable lieutenant.

The promised reward of a night with Hallie under the stars was more than enough to persuade her to hike this trail ten times over.

Intrigued by her earlier comment, Kaia peppers Hallie with questions as they start along the trail, eager to learn more about her past. Hallie indulges her, sharing stories of her childhood adventures and the tight-knit family that raised her to pursue her dreams.

As they walk, Kaia can't help but steal glimpses of her date, admiring the way the sun glints off her golden hair, the way her muscles flex and ripple beneath her shining skin. The attraction between them is palpable, electric, and Kaia finds herself counting down the moments until they can relax in complete seclusion.

After a couple of hours of lighthearted conversation punctuated by stretches of slightly labored breathing, they reach Hallie's favorite lookout spot. Kaia's breath is taken from her completely as she surveys the flat ridge with a panoramic view of the desert valley below.

They work together to set up their small tent, Kaia settling into the comfortable rhythm of following Hallie's instructions. Every so often, their hands brush as they secure the poles, sending shivers down Kaia's spine.

As the sun begins to set, painting the sky in vivid golds and oranges, the two of them sit side-by-side at the edge of the ridge, their feet dangling over the ledge. The view is stunning, but Kaia finds herself more captivated by the woman beside her, the way the fading light dances across her features, softening them in a way Kaia has never seen before.

"I'm a little jealous, you know," Kaia admits quietly, after a long moment of silence spent looking out over the beautiful desert. "Of how close your family is. I wish I had that."

Hallie turns to look at her, her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" she asks softly. "Aren't you close with your family?"

Kaia sighs, picking at a loose thread on her shorts. "Yes and no," she mumbles. "My mom and brothers are great; we've always been really tight. But my parents had a messy divorce when I was young."

She takes a deep breath before continuing, the words spilling out of her in the comfortable safety of Hallie's presence. "All my time with Dad was kinda tense after that, every other weekend. He was… Well, you already know how he feels about my career choices. He's always treated me so differently from my brothers. Made a point of constantly reminding me that I'm a girl, that I couldn't just follow everything they did."

Hallie reaches over and takes Kaia's hand, entwining their fingers.

"That must have been rough," she murmurs, her thumb stroking soothing circles over Kaia's knuckles. "He should be proud of everything you've achieved. But even if he isn't, I know your mom must be, and your brothers. I know it's easier said than done, but don't let his judgement drown out your own pride in yourself."

Kaia meets Hallie's eyes, seeing the empathy shining there, and has to swallow against the lump forming in her throat.

"Thank you. I could never have predicted in a million years that this would happen." She gestures between them, glancing down at their joined hands. "But, since that first day I walked into the station, all I've wanted to do is prove myself to you. To the one person I've met who truly understands what I'm going through and has beaten the odds to silence all the asshole men out there who doubted her."

Hallie smiles, giving Kaia's fingers a reassuring squeeze. She leans in, her lips finding the rookie's for a soft, tender kiss.

"You'll show them all just like I did. You're doing it already," she whispers, brushing her nose against Kaia's before capturing her mouth again.

Kaia winds her arm around Hallie's neck, pulling her closer to deepen their kiss and clawing her fingers through the soft bristles of the back of her cropped hair. Hallie huffs a small chuckle, breaking away to pepper a line of kisses down Kaia's neck.

"We should lay out the bedrolls. You know… to watch the stars," she says, sucking at the skin where Kaia's neck meets her shoulder.

Kaia giggles and bats her away. "Don't leave any marks on me I'll have to explain to my boss."

They lay out their bedrolls side by side, a safe distance from the ridge, and Kaia can't stop herself from rattling off fire safety protocols in a robotic voice while Hallie expertly builds them a small campfire. Hallie laughs and playfully claps her hand over Kaia's mouth before pulling her down to the soft mats.

"Relax, rookie. I know what I'm doing. You really think I would risk an emergency callout when I've got you out here all to myself?"

Kaia shakes off Hallie's grip with a chuckle. "You make a good point, Lieutenant. That would make for a very awkward discovery if our entire crew showed up."

She stares up at Hallie as she hovers over her, her head resting on her fist while the other hand drifts down to caress the sliver of exposed skin at Kaia's waist. A simmering eagerness rises in Kaia's veins, days of restrained lust bubbling to the surface as she gazes into Hallie's sparkling eyes.

"I know you brought me here to see the stars," she breathes, pulling Hallie's mouth down to her own until their lips brush while she speaks. "But they'll be there all night, right?"

She feels Hallie's answering smirk against her lips before she kisses her, slow and languid while their tongues explore each other after all the time they've spent holding themselves back.

Before long, Kaia's arousal becomes too hot for her to bear. Hallie gasps a small yelp when Kaia flips her, pinning her to the bedroll as she settles herself between Hallie's legs. She's determined to repay every drop of pleasure Hallie drew out of her in the showers that day, her competitive streak dominating her as always.

Kaia's greedy hands push up Hallie's top while she nips and laves at the sticky skin of her smooth stomach. They both succumb to lusty impatience as Hallie yanks her shirt over her head, unclasping her sports bra when Kaia kneels up to strip her own upper half.

A low moan rumbles through Hallie's chest while Kaia leans down to suck her nipple into her mouth, stroking the length of her thigh as she hitches Hallie's leg around her waist. Kaia kneads and pulls at Hallie's small breasts, alternating between the two with her mouth until Hallie is a writhing mess beneath her.

The triumph is an electric current, zinging through Kaia's muscles while she reduces the formidable lieutenant to putty in her hands. She can't help her smug smile as she rises to hover above Hallie, gazing into her hooded eyes as she reaches for the drawstring at the front of her shorts.

"In my professional opinion, these represent an unnecessary obstruction," Kaia quips, relishing Hallie's chuckle as she drags her shorts down her thighs, peeling off her panties at the same time.

"Well spotted, rookie. You must have been trained by a great lieutenant," she throws back, panting slightly. Hallie's breath hitches when Kaia strokes a lazy path through her glistening folds with her thumb, drinking in the sight of her naked body spread beneath her.

Leaning down to capture Hallie's lips again in a hungry, bruising kiss, Kaia plunges a finger inside her. It slips in so easily through the slickness gathered there, she quickly adds another, reassured by Hallie's shameless moans that she's stroking the spot that will bring her right to the edge.

But Kaia wants to draw this out, drive Hallie crazy with her fingers, her tongue, until she's desperate for release. Kissing her way back down Hallie's body, she slows the pumping of her fingers, withdrawing them completely to lick off the sweet musk of Hallie's arousal.

Humming her enjoyment at the heady taste, Kaia dips her head to lick a long stripe up through Hallie's labia before gently sucking at her clit. Her hips buck slightly as she groans in response, winding her fingers into Kaia's wild curls.

Kaia's touches are as reverent as they are forceful, basking in the unfamiliar power of having Hallie crumbling beneath her hungry kisses and bruising grasp on her quivering thighs. She worships Hallie's skin, licking and sucking and nibbling until a sharp yank at her scalp forces her to look up.

"What's with all the teasing?" Hallie demands breathlessly. "We may have all night, Kaia, but I was hoping to spend some of it between your legs. Not on my back being edged for hours on end."

Kaia chuckles, "You just can't help being the boss, can you?"

Hallie pulls her hair tighter, urging her to crawl up her body until they're nose to nose again.

"Get used to it, Montgomery," she murmurs and pulls her in for a quick kiss. "Now get those shorts off and come sit on my face. I want to taste you while you put those clever fingers back inside me, fucking me until I come. Don't make me wait any longer."

Kaia groans as she quickly obeys, peeling off her own shorts and damp underwear before turning to brace her knees either side of Hallie's head. The dominant tone of Hallie's commands is intoxicating, burning through her veins and throbbing in her own aching core.

She leans forward to plunge her hand back between Hallie's legs at the same time as Hallie's arms snake around her thighs, pulling her down until her lips meet Kaia's needy pussy.

The feeling is pure, sinful ecstasy. Kaia grinds her clit against Hallie's expert tongue, panting and mewling as she feels her climax building faster than ever. She gasps air, trying to focus on hooking her fingers enough to hit that perfect spot inside Hallie, while her eyes roll back in her head.

Kaia rubs the heel of her palm against Hallie's own swollen clit while she continues to pump her fingers in and out, certain she must be close as her hips buck in time with Kaia's punishing rhythm. Then all at once, Hallie tenses and clamps her lips around Kaia's clit, humming a long, low groan.

Kaia immediately folds forwards, forcing Hallie's thighs open as they try to clamp shut around her shuddering orgasm. Kaia licks and sucks at Hallie's pussy until the aftershocks subside, bracing her hands on the ground as Hallie's devouring tongue has her own legs trembling uncontrollably.

As her own orgasm barrels into her like a freight train, Kaia struggles not to collapse, the delicious spasms pulsing through her legs until they're practically jelly.

But Hallie doesn't stop, kneading greedy fingers into Kaia's ass cheeks as she continues feasting until the sensitivity becomes too much. Kaia giggles and pants as she crawls forward on weak knees to escape Hallie's greedy lips.

"You're going to kill me," she huffs out, swinging her leg round until she can lie down beside Hallie, folding herself into her equally breathless companion's awaiting arms.

"Where's that infamous stamina, Montgomery?" Hallie quips through a wolfish grin. "I'm just getting started."