"Well, next time I'm up that way, I'll have a look."
They walked on in silence, boots scuffing rocks the only sound. Chris led them higher, towards an overlook. She took out her flashlight and cast the beam ahead. They came near the edge and stopped, both looking out over the moon-touched mountaintops. The distant peaks all but glowed in the moonlight.
"It's so quiet," Jessie whispered. "Beautiful."
Chris nodded. Indeed, it was enchanting. Her eyes strayed from the moon-kissed peaks to Jessie. Jessie stood, bathed in the moonlight, her face aglow as she scanned the horizon. Chris couldn't pull her eyes away. She had never seen anything more beautiful.
Jessie stood motionless, her eyes fixed on a distant mountain peak. A memory tried to crowd in... he was beside her, holding her, keeping her warm. What else? Were they camping? Had they been up this high? She closed her eyes, but still, she couldn't remember. Instead, an image came to her of them camping near the river. She was seven, maybe eight and he had taught her to tie flies that trip. They had fished for hours the next day, bringing their catch home. It was one of the few times she could remember Annie having dinner with them.
"What are you thinking about?" Chris asked quietly.
Jessie shook her head. "Nothing really. Just... it's so quiet. No owls. No wind. Nothing."
Chris nodded, not wanting to speak and disturb the silence. She knew they should get back. It was getting late. And colder. But Jessie looked so peaceful standing there, her arms crossed against her waist as she stared out into the vastness.
Jessie felt Chris watching her. She turned and caught her eyes, her breath catching at the unguarded desire she saw there. It was at that very moment she realized she was starving for physical contact, for intimacy. And not from a total stranger she'd just met at a bar. She could imagine Chris kissing her, holding her. She wanted her heart to pound with life like she knew it would, should their lips meet.
Chris swallowed hard, the sound echoing in her ears, so loud, she was sure it was bouncing off the canyon walls for all to hear. But there was only Jessie, eyes locked with her own. Chris silenced the voice in her head that urged her to turn and go, leaving Jessie to follow if she chose. Instead, she stepped closer to the eyes that beckoned, unable to resist any longer. Their eyes locked again, then Jessie moved into her arms, her mouth searching for Chris's waiting lips. The flashlight fell unnoticed between them as Chris pulled her closer, her hands on Jessie's hips holding her flush against her. Their mouths moved together, tongues meeting as they let their desire rage unchecked.
"Oh, God, yes," Jessie breathed, pressing her hips more firmly against Chris. She let her desire overtake her, felt her knees grow weak as Chris's hands moved up her sides, stopping just beneath her breasts. Jessie tried to remember a time she'd wanted another's touch this desperately. There was none. The countless, nameless list of strangers paraded through her mind in seconds and then there was only Chris, whose hands stoked the fire within her.
Her mouth opened fully to Chris, tongue moving against tongue. Her hands found Chris's and she slid them the few inches to her own breasts, moaning as Chris's warm hands cupped her. Jessie moved against her, her arms sliding over Chris's strong shoulders to hold her close.
Chris wasn't prepared for this. Staring at Jessie's picture for hours on end and the fantasies that followed did not compare to this. She felt Jessie's fullness and she pushed against her. Then, in one quick motion, her hands slid under Jessie's sweatshirt, touching her warm skin. She finally pulled her mouth away, searching Jessie's eyes, seeing mirrored passion. Chris moved her hands upward, stopping just beneath Jessie's full breasts.
"I want you to touch me," Jessie said softly.
"This is crazy," Chris murmured.
"Yes," Jessie agreed, her eyes never leaving Chris's.
Chris found the lacy bra and let her fingers move over it, feeling hard nipples straining against it. Jessie gave her a gentle nudge and Chris opened her legs, feeling Jessie's thigh slide between her opened legs. She was lost. She quickly shoved the bra aside, her hands closing over warm flesh and her mouth claimed Jessie's with a new hunger. Chris felt herself grow wet with need and she moved against Jessie's thigh, pressing her swollen clit hard against her.
"I want you," Chris breathed into Jessie's mouth.
"Yes. I want you, too."
Jessie's hands moved under Chris's sweatshirt, pushing it away from her flushed skin. She wasted no time as her hands moved up her body, trembling slightly when she found no bra. Her fingers gently grazed swollen nipples and she bent her head back, feeling Chris's lips move away from her own, across her face to find the throbbing pulse in her neck. Insane, she thought. This desire was nearly too much for her to bear. Jessie was always the one to drive women to the brink of desire, not the other way around. Never had she wanted to lie down on a cold forest floor and have someone make love to her. She wanted that now, regardless.
Chris came to her senses moments before she would have pulled Jessie down with her, unmindful of the rocks and sticks beneath them. She pushed Jessie away and held her at arm's length, her breath heaving in her chest.
"Jesus," she whispered. How close? How close had she been to ripping Jessie's clothes off? How close was she to pulling her own sweatshirt over her head.
Jessie licked her lips, wanting Chris's mouth again. It wouldn't take much, she knew, and she could have her. Right here, right now. But instead, she took a deep breath and moved away. It would serve nothing for them to lose themselves in this passion that had nearly swallowed them. Instead, Jessie tried to make light of it.
"Wow, McKenna, you sure know how to show a girl a view."
"I... I'm sorry."
Jessie cringed. She didn't want an apology. If anything, she should be the one apologizing.
"Don't you dare," she whispered. "We both wanted that."
Chris nodded. Yes. No doubt they'd both wanted it. Wanted more, in fact. But she knew it was best not to dwell on it.
"We should get back," she said. She bent over, searching for the fallen flashlight. Her hands gripped it, turning it over in her palm as she tried desperately to think of something witty to say. Anything to ease the tension that had sprung up between them. Nothing came.
Instead she turned and headed back down the trail, hoping Jessie would follow. She did.
They walked to their campsite in silence, finding the embers of the fire nearly dead. Chris contemplated starting it again, if only to delay the eventual departure into the tent. Together. Side by side. Chris physically shook herself. They were tired. They would sleep. That's all.
Chapter Fourteen
They hurried down the mountain, trying to beat the rain that was threatening. They had taken time for coffee and a quick breakfast of two muffins that Chris had stuffed in her pack, which were flattened nearly beyond recognition. Neither mentioned the incident of the previous night, nor the mostly sleepless night both of them had endured.
The air was cool and damp, just enough to prevent them from shedding their sweatshirts. By the time they reached the trailhead, it was starting to sprinkle and thunder rumbled overhead. They both tossed their packs in the Jeep, which was still uncovered. Chris had removed the top for the summer and she turned the heater on now as she drove quickly to the cabins.
"I don't guess I could talk you into coming to my place first?" Chris asked. "I could use some help with the top and I don't think I'm going to beat the rain."
"Of course. I don't mind getting wet, McKenna. Why should you have all the fun?"
The canvas top was stored under her bed and Chris ran to get it as the rain fell harder. They were soaked by the time the Jeep was covered and the windows zipped up.