Chapter 10: Busted
When the two woke the next morning there was an ease in the way they handled each other. They shared small smiles and unashamed glances like longtime friends.
After a light breakfast, Alice turned her thoughts to their survival. They had enough fuel to last them to Medford, but she didn't want to be forced to land there. However, she also had the feeling that they would be hard pressed to find airplane fuel in this practically nonexistent town. The ex-project set out her worn map on the dinner table looking for the little plane-silhouettes that marked airports.
The closest airport was in Tillamook, 16 miles from their current position. In the plane it would take them no time at all. Claire appeared over Alice's shoulder and the taller woman pointed to a spot on the map.
"We're going to fly here in about an hour, see if we can refuel."
The redhead nodded a confirmation. "So I was thinking, since we have a little time, can we spar – like before?"
"Um sure," the ex-project was a bit taken back by the request, usually she worked out alone, but perhaps this would become a regular thing. Alice liked the sound of that.
The two squared off on the beach, rolling waves sounding in the background. At first their choreographed fight was light and timid, but just like before they got into a rhythm. Claire was much more confident this time, her skills improved. The ex-project still wasn't going full out, but if she wasn't careful the redhead would do some harm.
It was then that Claire's confidence fell short, and her stubborn will and arrogance kicked in. The redhead was tired of being bested by the taller woman at every turn. So she did as many combos as she could think of, but Alice was impervious to them all.
To Alice, Claire had never looked more adorable than in her frustration. If she heard me call her adorable I have feeling she'd win this fight, Alice thought and it caused her to smile; that was – right until Claire punched her in the nose.
It hurt like hell, and she knew the redhead would feel bad, so she milked it for all it was worth by collapsing dramatically to the ground; her hand covering her nose and muffling the noises of pain.
"Oh shit, Alice!" Claire's hands clasped over her mouth in shock of what she had just done, and she immediately regretted letting her anger get the better of her. The redhead watched as Alice fell to the ground and rolled onto her stomach, and it sounded to Claire like she was actually crying. "Oh – I'm sorry!" Claire exclaimed, and Alice turned over in the sand still appearing to be crying.
Once Alice was settled on her back, her fake sobbing was revealed to be barely contained laughter; until Alice realized that Claire was straddling her, with both hands on her cheeks to get a better look at the damaged nose. The weight of Claire, leg on her either side of her aroused Alice incredibly but the redhead seemed oblivious to the way this was making her feel.
"Damn it, Alice, I thought you were hurt!" In truth Claire was relieved that Alice was only pretending. But what she saw in Alice's cobalt eyes next, could not be faked even by the best actor. It was desire and it stirred something deep within her; the arousal spreading through to her extremities. Hands still gently holding Alice's face, and before she could protest, Claire brought her mouth down and connected with Alice's lips in a tender kiss.
Alice couldn't stop herself from responding like she couldn't stop the moon from rising. Claire's tongue begged entry and Alice was at her mercy. It seemed like many breathless minutes had passed when Claire finally pulled away from the kiss but not too far away so that she couldn't do it again. In a whir of motion Alice took hold of the redhead's hands and rolled Claire over. Now Alice was on top of Claire with her hands pinned above her head. The redhead smiled seductively in anticipation of what was to come.
It was everything Alice had wanted, and suddenly everything she feared. The ex-project moved as fast she could, releasing Claire's hands and getting off of her. Leaving the redhead in the sand alone and confused.