Disclaimers: I don't own these characters. I don't profit from them.
Northwest corner. Midnight. Lady Jaye frowned down at the small corner of torn paper she had pulled from her jacket pocket. She turned it over, but there was no other writing. Her eyes crinkled in a brief smile and her hand closed around the message, tucking it back into the pocket.
She made her way back to her room, tossing the jacket aside. She made and consumed a quick dinner, following it with a long, warm bath. After dressing again, she checked the clock, then sat down with one of her favorite novels, glancing toward the glowing numbers every fifteen minutes or so. At 11:45, she closed the book, switched out the light, and headed toward one of the smaller base exits.
The moon was rising in an otherwise dark sky, casting long, pale shadows on the ground. There were no trees rising above the horizon, only the low black shapes of the buildings. A light flashed twice, revealing a section of metal wall. The flashing became a steady glow, masked for a moment by the edge of the door, which closed again with a quiet click. The light flashed again, once, and was dark. Lady Jaye stepped away from the wall, striding toward the fencing that surrounded the base. She slowed upon nearing the corner, stopping at a sudden noise that sounded like the rustling of leaves.
"Flint?" the she whispered.
"Over here," his voice replied. Flint stood, revealing himself, features washed of all color by the moonlight. His posture was relaxed, but gave the sense that he was intimately aware of his surroundings, of every small movement and noise: the scurry of a tiny lizard, chasing after an insect; the hum of a bat passing over head; the figure moving toward him in the dark. As Lady Jaye stepped closer, his awareness changed its focus, becoming a sharp pinpoint centered on her.
Flint reached for her hand, then resumed his seated position on the ground, gently pulling Lady Jaye down beside him. Her eyes widened for a moment at the crackle of leaves and the feel of soft wool beneath her. "Where did you get leaves?" she asked, wonder tingeing her voice. "There aren't any trees around here!"
He gave a deep, throaty chuckle and leaned closer. "I shipped a big box to the base the last time I was home. I was raking the yard, and I remembered how you said that you always missed the change of seasons out here in the desert."
Lady Jaye dug under the blanket and brought up a handful of the crisp autumn leaves. Taking a deep breath, she sighed and let them fall through her fingers. "Mmmm…I love that smell. Fall has always been my favorite time of year." She glanced sideways at her companion, giving him a sly smile. "You did all of this for me?"
"I'm kind of hoping I might enjoy it, too," Flint murmured softly in her ear.
"Duke would throw a gasket if he knew we were out here," Lady Jaye told him. "The 'lights out' status means that Cobra might be gunning for the base. No exterior lights and all personnel inside at all times."
"We'd hear an alarm in plenty of time," Flint whispered, "And I couldn't think of a better opportunity to be outside and away from prying eyes." His hand found the zipper at the front of her uniform and gave it a sharp tug. She gasped as the cool air hit exposed skin, and Flint moved his mouth over the area, his breath soft and warm against the rising goosebumps on her collarbone.
Her eyes closed at the pleasure of it, and she traced her fingers through his hair. His mouth moved up her neck, eliciting a quiet sigh. She dipped her chin to bring their mouths together, lips brushing lightly in a gentle teasing way. Flint smiled briefly, then applied enough pressure to push her back against the blanket. The leaves rustled under her as she settled her full weight on them, and she breathed deep as the smell of the leaves became stronger.
"This was really sweet of you," she told him, stretching out on the blanket. His eyes glinted in amusement and desire, his breath quickening as he held her gaze. He reached blindly behind him and brought forth a second blanket, which he threw over them.
"Don't want to get cold." His teeth flashed white in a quick grin. Despite the dark, Flint's hands moved confidently to work at her clothing, removing the barriers between them. The air under the blanket was quickly heated by their bodies; Lady Jaye gave a grateful sigh and snuggled closer to him.
They lay together for a few moments, skin to skin, quiet, and still enough that the small animal noises resumed their nightly pattern. Flint broke the silence, his words falling as lightly as shadows across her skin. "I love you."
She answered him with a kiss, sliding her arms around his shoulders and holding him close. They moved together then, shadows merging, lines between them becoming blurred. The moon moved slowly across the sky, bathing the lovers in both shadow and light as their sighs merged with the sound of the desert wind.
Flint held Lady Jaye close, his head resting on her shoulder, eyes closed. She idly traced the outlines of his features, letting her fingers follow the familiar paths. His breathing eased, nearing the soft, regular pattern of sleep. "I love you, too," she whispered, feeling the corners of his mouth turn up in a smile under her fingertips. She brushed her own lips over his forehead, resting her cheek on his hair.
He stirred, nuzzling her neck for a moment before giving a short sigh. "I don't think it would be a good idea to fall asleep out here," he chuckled. She nodded, but didn't move.
"How did you slip the note into my pocket without my noticing it?" she asked him.
"I have my ways."
She tickled his chest, dislodging the blanket from around their shoulders. He caught her in a firm hug, trapping her arms. She struggled playfully for a moment, then shivered and gasped, "Cold!"
Flint laughed and sat up, groping for the discarded clothing. They dressed quickly and gathered the blankets, walking back to the base, moving slowly, hand in hand. They stopped short of the wall, looking up at the moon and sharing a last long kiss. The light above the door flashed again as they reentered, leaving the night behind them. In the corner of the base, a small animal burrowed into the warm pile of leaves they had left behind.