"I'm sorry," Jessie said softly.
"You don't have to apologize to me," Chris said.
"She offered a room here," Jessie explained. "But I just think that would be too strange. I mean, it's been so many years."
Chris met her eyes across the table and held them.
"If you want to leave, then leave. But don't use the excuse that you don't have a place to stay."
Jessie's eyes flashed, but she knew she should not be angry with Chris. She had spoken the truth. In fact, it had been a comfort that she had to be out by the twentieth. It gave her an excuse to flee if she needed it.
Annie came back in and stood at the table with another bottle of wine. She looked at Chris first before addressing Jessie.
"You just came back into my life," she said. "The idea of you leaving again so soon is painful. I'm sorry. But you do what you have to do. You have a place here if you'd like to stay longer."
"Thank you, Annie. We'll see when the time comes."
"Good. Fair enough. Now, let's take the wine into the living room and enjoy the fire."
Their conversation moved to less personal things and Chris filled Annie in on what was happening in town and Jessie listened quietly, only occasionally interjecting her own thoughts. They stayed nearly another hour before Chris yawned and stood.
"I should really get going. I'll be hiking all over the place tomorrow, I'm sure. Thanks again for dinner, Annie. It was delicious, as always." She bent quickly and kissed Annie's cheek.
"I should get going, too," Jessie said. As much as she was enjoying her visit with Annie, she wanted a chance to finish her conversation with Chris.
"I understand," Annie said.
"Tomorrow may be my last day to get a run in before the snows come," Jessie offered as an excuse.
"I didn't know you jogged," Annie said as she walked them to the door.
"My lone form of exercise, I'm afraid. I'm not a serious runner, though. I usually only do five miles or so."
"And that's not serious?" Chris asked. "Just give me a hiking trail and I'll be fine."
"Thank you for inviting me to dinner, Annie. You've got my phone number, right?"
"Yes. And you've got mine."
Chris and Jessie walked out together, then stopped between the Jeep and Jessie's rental car, their backs to the house. The cedar blocked out the light from the porch and they stood in the shadows, watching each other as their breath frosted around them.
"Was that rough on you?" Chris asked. "I mean, about your leaving in a month."
"A little. It's not like I'm in a hurry to get back, that's not it. I've got my apartment there, but nothing else. I'm just not sure staying here with her would be a good idea. Not yet, anyway."
"Well, like you said, you can decide when the time comes."
They were quiet and Chris shifted her feet, not wanting the evening to end but knowing she should go.
Jessie glanced up at the house to see if Annie could see them, then moved closer to Chris.
"When can I see you again?" she asked quietly.
"See me? I'm sure we'll see each other, Jessie."
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
"You mean, like a date?" Chris asked with a small smile.
"A date? Well, if that's what you want to call it. I just want to see you, to spend time with you." It was Jessie's turn to fidget and she shifted from one foot to the other. "In case you haven't realized it... I'm extremely attracted to you."
"Extremely?"
"Yeah, McKenna, extremely."
Chris searched Jessie's eyes, trying to figure out what game Jessie was playing, if any. Her breath caught when she saw desire in Jessie's dark eyes, desire that she didn't even try to hide. She shook her head slowly but was unable to look away. Those black eyes were drawing her close, pulling her in and she tried to resist their power, but she was paralyzed. She stood there, as unmoving as the mountains around them, watching as Jessie moved closer, her head bending to Chris's ear.
"If you don't stop looking at me that way, I'll be forced to kiss you right here," Jessie whispered into her ear. She pulled back slowly, breathing deeply, remembering the unique smell of Chris from other nights. Was it perfume or simply the sweet smell of cedars and the mountains? She saw Chris's pulse throbbing rapidly in her throat and she wanted to put her mouth there. And it was all so new to her, this attraction. For the first time in her life, she ached to wake up with a lover in her bed. Not alone and with all the emptiness that usually followed after her trysts with strangers.
Chris moved her head without thinking, taking the lips that were so close to her own. Jessie's lips were soft, tender... so unlike the bruising kisses that she remembered from that night on the ledge.
Jessie moved into Chris's arms, sliding her own over Chris's shoulders. She pressed her body tight against Chris, her eyes closed as her mouth opened to the kiss, and she searched out Chris's tongue, pulling it inside her own mouth.
"I want you so much," Jessie whispered. "Please, come home with me," she pleaded, uttering the one phrase she had never said to anyone before.
"Jessie..."
"Please. Make love to me. Let me make love to you." Her hands slid down and cupped Chris's small breasts, her hands as hungry as her mouth.
Chris lost her resolve and pulled Jessie up against her, her hips pressing into Jessie's. She felt herself grow wet and she ached for Jessie's touch.
"I'll follow you," Chris whispered into Jessie's ear. "Hurry."
Chris drove without thinking. She wanted her. She had wanted her since the first time they met, since before that even. She couldn't stop what was about to happen even if she wanted to. She refused to think about the last time.
When the cabin door closed behind them, Jessie pushed Chris against the wall, her mouth starving for her kisses. They pressed together, lips and tongues moving wildly as they struggled to touch through their clothes.
Jessie grabbed the bottom of Chris's shirt and pulled it over her head in one quick motion, then tossed it carelessly to the floor as Chris pulled Jessie's head to her breasts. Jessie's mouth opened and she sucked a nipple into her mouth, her tongue grazing it as Chris gently held her head to her.
"Yes," Chris whispered. She had wanted this for so long, she wasn't sure her legs would support her now as she watched Jessie at her breast. She felt her wetness soak her jeans and she reached blindly for Jessie's hand and pressed it hard against herself.
"Oh, Jesus," Jessie murmured. "You're so wet."
Her hands fumbled with Chris's jeans, finally pushing them down enough to touch her. Her fingers glided through her warmth, dripping wet as she touched her. Chris moaned loudly and clutched Jessie to her as Jessie's fingers plunged deep inside her. Jessie withdrew slightly, then buried herself again inside her as her tongue batted with Chris's. She finally pulled out and stroked her, feeling Chris throb against her fingertips. Chris's hands dug into Jessie's shoulders and Jessie felt her tremble seconds before her orgasm hit.
Chris leaned her head against the wall, her breath coming in rapid gasps. Too fast. It was just too fast, but she couldn't hold back another second.
Jessie's own chest heaved, her body throbbing with need as she pressed against Chris. Had it ever felt like this? Had she ever wanted to scream in pleasure as someone touched her? Had she ever wanted to give pleasure? No, it was just a means to an end. But this was different. The thought of Chris touching her, making love to her because she wanted to make love to her, was almost more than she could bear. She dipped her head lazily and lightly kissed Chris's breast, her tongue coming out to tease a nipple.
"Jessie," Chris whispered. "The bedroom."
Jessie pulled away, her eyes clouded with desire as she took Chris's hand and led her silently into the bedroom. Chris pulled Jessie's top off with ease and her hands lightly brushed her nipples through her bra before removing that as well.