For her part, Teren was finding it hard to breathe, but she didn’t want to stop the kiss even for the moment it would take to draw air. Finally, she had to gently separate from the soft lips. Alex pulled back a touch, her own breathing fast and shallow. Then she was gasping, as Teren’s mouth found purchase on her throat.
Part of her wanted to stay right where she was, nestled in the soft skin of Alex’s throat. But another part of Teren was crying out for attention. Gently, she pushed Alex back, careful not to roll her off the small bed. Then she sat up and pulled her sportsbra over her head. Her shoulder and ribs protested, and she hissed. The sound of it brought Alex’s lips to the bruise, where she placed gentle kisses on the mottled skin. Teren’s hiss turned to a gasp.
“Alex.” Heavily lidded green eyes looked up at her. “Sit up, babe.”
Alex obliged, and Teren pulled her shirt from her jeans. She ignored the buttons, and yanked the garment over the pale head. Reaching for Alex’s bra, she got her fingers underneath it, but almost forgot her aim when she felt Alex pinch her nipple.
“Oh, yes.” Teren’s hands clenched the material of the bra, tightening against the smooth skin of Alex’s sides. She felt the pleasant ache in the tip of her breast, and nearly cried out when Alex pulled away. “Alex —”
“Shhh. I’m not going anywhere.” Alex raised her hands over her head, and Teren pulled the bra off her partner. Seconds later, Alex was moaning in Teren’s ear as her own nipples were pleasantly tortured. Her hands brushed though the tinted hair, urging Teren in her work.
Alex had sunk back on the bed in a gentle haze of sensation when she felt Teren’s hand release the first button on her jeans. She smiled, and placed a kiss at the dark temple. “Yes, Teren,” she whispered, and the second button popped. Teren finally pulled her mouth from Alex’s breast, but immediately claimed her lips. The third and fourth buttons opened.
Alex’s jeans were open, and Teren pulled them down as far as she could. Alex first kicked her shoes off, then the jeans. She reached for her lover, gathering in a handful of the dark hair to gently pull her back for another kiss. Even with her mouth occupied, Alex’s hands were busy with their own explorations. Not content to just remain on Teren’s back, they slowly traced their own route down to, and under, the waist of Teren’s jeans. Stretching out her arms as far as she could, she squeezed the flesh she could reach, feeling muscles clench under her fingers.
Teren couldn’t stop the moans coming from her throat. Alex’s hands had stretched her jeans, pulling the front tight against her overheated skin. The seam of the material was pressing in just the right spot, and every time Alex flexed her arms, Teren felt a small tingle spread out from her center. She wanted more of those tingles, and she slipped one of Alex’s legs between hers, while scooting up to give her better access.
But she didn’t neglect her other goals. With Alex’s jeans gone, Teren was able to search for the silken warmth she knew was there. When she found it, she stroked it, building the fire in Alex’s body. She could feel Alex tighten her grip, and she moaned encouragement.
They worked each other into a sweat. Teren could feel the dampness that coated her back, and every time she pulled slightly away from Alex’s lips, she could see the beads of moisture that gathered on the smaller woman’s brow. Words had become unnecessary; whispers of encouragement had given way to moans of pleasure and anticipation. Alex’s breath came in gasps, and Teren was panting with her efforts. Each of them reached for the final spark that would send her partner, and herself, into that final flare.
Moments later, Alex pulled her head away from Teren, crying her name and pushing forward with her hips. She stiffened, but managed somehow to hold on to the flesh in her hands. Her fingers clenched hard enough to leave bruises, but Teren never noticed. She was too busy falling into the same flames that had just claimed her lover.
As they relaxed, letting the flames turn to embers, Alex finally let go of Teren’s backside. Her hands felt stiff from gripping so tightly. Teren withdrew her hand and turned her head, looking up to catch the green eyes watching her.
“Are you okay?” Teren’s voice cracked as she voiced the question.
Alex gave a soft chuckle. “I’m good,” she whispered. “How about you?”
Teren nodded. “Good.” She slowly pulled herself off of Alex, stretching out next to her. Alex rolled onto her side and snuggled into the crook of Teren’s arm.
“Are your ribs still hurting?”
Teren smiled. “No. I’m not feeling much of anything at the moment. How about you?”
“You mean other than completely relaxed?”
They shared a quiet laugh. Teren was glad there was no awkwardness between them.
“Alex, close your eyes. We’ve got plenty of time ‘til we reach Munich.”
“Oh? You mean that didn’t take the full three hours?”
Teren coughed. “Um. No. Why, did you want it to?”
“Felt like it did. Felt like it took forever.”
A dark eyebrow rose. “Is that good or bad?”
Alex kissed her cheek. “It’s good. Very good.”
Teren blushed. “Well, okay.” She reached over to the edge of the bed. “Here. Let’s pull this cover up. Don’t want you catching a chill.”
Alex did as she was instructed, climbing under the cover and reclaiming her position at Teren’s side. Teren leaned down to place a kiss upon her forehead, and stroked her hair.
“Close your eyes, babe. I’ll wake you in an hour or so.”
She nodded, a yawn keeping her from replying. Alex wrapped her arm around her partner’s torso, and sighed.
Teren waited to hear Alex’s breathing even out into sleep. Even as it did, she felt her own breathing deepen, and a lethargy passed over her. Without her permission, her eyes closed, and Teren slipped into the land of dreams only heartbeats after her lover.
Chapter Twenty-eight
It wasn’t the movement of the train that woke Alex. She realized dimly that she had gotten used to that a long time ago. It was some other sensation.
Teren was trailing her fingers up and down Alex’s back, just barely skimming along her body. It tickled.
She turned her head, and looked up at Teren. “Hey.”
“Hey. You okay?” Teren asked softly.
“Uh-huh. You?”
The blue eyes smiled at her. “I’m good.” She let her hand fall to Alex’s shoulder and squeezed slightly. “You don’t have to get up if you don’t want. We’ve got time, yet.”
“No, that’s okay.” She rolled over slightly, trying not to fall off the tiny bunk.
“Something wrong?”
“Nah. Just needed to stretch, that’s all.” She stood up, reaching over her head and arching her back. Then she sat back down and regarded her lover with a yawn. “How long have you been awake?”
“Just a few minutes.”
“Are you okay? I mean, your bruises?”
“Fine. They’re sore, but not that bad.” She looked closely at Alex. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah.” Alex yawned again, then looked at her watch. “Best ninety minutes of sleep I’ve had in a long time.”
Teren chuckled. “I’m glad.” She sat up next to her partner. “We’ve still got a little time ‘til Munich. I thought maybe we could get some food.”
Alex nodded. “Food sounds good.” Her stomach growled. “Yeah, the monster just woke up as well.”
Teren laughed and patted her belly. “I can hear. Demanding, isn’t it?”
“Yep. David loves teasing me about it.”
“I remember.”
They sat quietly for a moment, then Teren stood. “Okay, I’d offer you a shower, but the facilities aren’t exactly set up for that.”
“Are you saying I smell?” Alex’s voice was indignant.
Teren leaned in, gently nuzzling her neck. She took a sniff and nodded.“Yes. And I love the way you smell,” she whispered. Then she pulled back and looked into Alex’s eyes. “But I’m not sure how everyone else will feel about that.”
Alex folded her arms. “I’m not sure either. But, I gotta tell you, you’re not much better, you know?” Her nose crinkled with her smile.