#67 (Writers Choice: Peeping Tom) LOST

Title: Shivering Spy
Pairing: Kate/Sawyer
Genre: Romance/Fluff
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: LOST belongs to genius JJ Abrams, not me.
Summary: Sawyer happens to be in the right place at the right time on several occasions, and what he sees leads him to take a risk. (Second chapter to "Gentle but Firm")
Dedication: All the Skaters that encouraged me to turn change "Gentle but Firm" from a one shot into chapters, and of course to Jules, my wonderful beta and meimei, who really is pretty much my little sister

Shivering Spy

Kate sighed contentedly as the cool water droplets slid over her skin. She slowly wiped her face with a sopping cloth, washing away the sweat and grit of the day. She could feel her body heat lowering some and she was thankful. It was much too hot in this damn jungle.

Sawyer entered the caves, water bottle in hand. He stopped immediately when he noticed Kate kneeling beside the chilly fresh water spring, lazily washing her face. He smiled at her closed eyes and content expression, and watched the water trickle down her neck and soak into her shirt. His heart was inexplicably fluttering, and he found that when she opened her eyes, the sight of the beads of water glittering on her eyelashes made Sawyer feel somewhat giddy.

Kate gave a small relaxed sigh as she finished, wringing out her cloth and setting it aside as she began to fill a water bottle. Sawyer realized he was still standing in exactly the same spot, still staring at her, utterly transfixed. He cleared his throat gently, snapping himself out of it, and slipped into the shadows until she finished, his eyes following her back as she left the caves, heading back to the beach. He hurriedly collected his water and followed her, amazed he made it back to his shelter without running into something, as his mind was so full of her that he was rather blinded.

A couple of days later, Kate wandered along a path in the jungle that led to the waterfall, a towel hung over her shoulder. She hummed to herself as she walked along, reaching up and picking fruit from an overhanging branch and nibbling as she continued on. She heard the echoing thumps of someone chopping wood not far away, and wondered if it was Sawyer. She contemplated going to see if it was him and ask if he wanted to go for a swim, but decided against it. She wanted to wash, not swim. She tossed the core of the fruit to the side of the path as she approached the entrance way to the waterfall. She smiled and walked to the edge, dropping her towel on the rocks. She rolled up her pant legs for now and sat on the ledge, dangling her shins in the water.

Sawyer was indeed chopping the wood, and was dripping with sweat from the exertion, despite having removed his shirt to try and cool down. When he finally finished he made a beeline for the waterfall, wanting to jump straight in. He was about to break through the foliage when he sensed her there and stopped just behind a giant clump of bushes. He edged his way into the clump, looking through a parting in the leaves. He watched her swaying her legs peacefully in the water, looking quite relaxed as she stared up at the waterfall. He jumped slightly as she stood, breaking the still image that had been before him for several moments. He watched her remove her jeans to reveal a pair of shorts, and the removal of her t-shirt revealed a tank top. His eyes greedily took in her graceful form as she leapt from the rock and dove smoothly into the water, hardly making a splash. He would have given her a ten if she'd been in a diving contest. He watched her surface and his heart fluttered as he heard a soft laugh from her echo quietly around the clearing. She looked so beautiful, flopping around playfully in the water, her long wavy hair sticking to her back when she stood. He wished he could go out there and sweep her into his arms. He wanted to kiss her so badly; her lips were so inviting, and every time she wore her hair in a ponytail, her bare neck beckoned to him, as though he were a vampire. The way her emerald eyes sparkled always brightened his day, and her smile could make him cheer up no matter how miserable he was feeling.

Kate leaned back in the chest deep water, her hair spreading over the surface as she gently ran her fingers through it, combing out the knots and trying to remove any dirt. She desperately wished she could use shampoo, but they'd rationed the shampoo in the hatch; only one use per person per week, and she'd already used hers a couple of days prior. So she was stuck with using just water, and took her time, trying to rub every strand of hair to remove any dirt. After she was fairly sure she'd gotten everything she dunked herself and came up smoothly, her hair clinging to her shoulders and back as the water slid down her body, hugging her skin in a chilly embrace.

Sawyer sensed that she was about to wash her body now, and was torn between giving her privacy and watching. He leaned forward unconsciously as he watched her cross her arms over her front and start to peel up her shirt. He leaned so far that a branch he was leaning against snapped, echoing loudly around the clearing. Eyes widening, he stepped back immediately as she gasped in surprise and lowered her shirt, looking around warily. He bit his lip, hoping her searching eyes wouldn't fall on him, and thankfully, they didn't.

Kate didn't know who was out there, but she was spooked. She decided she was clean enough and swam to the edge, heaved herself out and wrapped the towel around her. She balled her clothes up, slipped on her sandals and hurried from the clearing, her hair and body still dripping with water.

Mentally cursing himself, Sawyer waited a few moments after she had left before emerging from the bushes and taking a running leap into the water, the cold liquid cooling the heat from his body that was not created solely by chopping the wood...

The next day Kate was feeling gritty again and decided it was time to actually wash herself. She headed out to the waterfall again, carrying a towel, a pair of jeans, underwear, bra and a shirt. She wore the same tank top and shorts and had a bikini underneath; the same one that she had been wearing days earlier when Sawyer had given her a massage. The straps still smelled like sun tan lotion where it had sunk in, and she smiled as she strolled along, remembering the pleasurably feelings he'd created in her, even though she was reluctant to admit it. She got to the waterfall and dove into the water without hesitation after dropping her things, not even noticing Sawyer himself on the other side of the clearing, sitting on the ground, carving something from a piece of wood. He looked up in surprise when he heard a splash, wondering how she had not seen him, and realized he was hidden by a small hill that had bushes growing on it. He stood and walked along towards the water, watching her as she surfaced. His heart pounded almost painfully as she stripped off her shirt and shorts, revealing the purple bikini she had been wearing only a few days previously.

She scooped water up over her arms and rubbed, wiping off sweat and dirt, shivering at the chilly water that her body hadn't adjusted to yet. Sawyer swallowed thickly as he watched her. Her half-bare figure was driving him nuts, and finally he couldn't stand it anymore. He pulled off his t-shirt and walked around to the side of the pool, out of her line of vision and slipped into the water silently. He waded quietly over to where she stood, humming tunelessly to herself. She still didn't hear him. He smiled, a slightly mischievous look in his eyes. He watched her hand scoop up handful after handful of water and pour it over her shoulder, and after a moment he scooped up some water himself, and let it drop over the opposite shoulder that she was wetting. He bit his lip to stop himself from laughing as she froze. She swiveled on the spot, screaming and jumping back as she saw him standing so close behind her. He laughed at her expression; it had been terrified but was quickly turning to a mixture of anger, embarrassment and laughter.

"Hey there Freckles." he said pleasantly.

"Don't... do that." she breathed, still shaking slightly. He grinned.

"Sorry." he said innocently. She peered up at him.

"Were you spying on me?" she asked suspiciously.

"Maybe..." he said mischievously. She arched an eyebrow at him and he held up his hands in surrender. "I wasn't! Honestly! I was just sitting over on the side over there and I couldn't help surprising you!" She looked like she didn't quite believe him, but she turned away from him and sunk to her shoulders in the water to warm herself before standing again. He reached out impulsively and pulled her hair away from her face, causing her to turn and look at him. Her expression had softened, and he was heartened to see that she looked almost expectant, as though she knew how badly he wanted her. He gently pushed a few wet strands of hair that stuck to her face behind her ear, as she looked up at him -he was shocked to see- almost vulnerably. He decided to take his chances and closed the distance between them, tangled his fingers in her wet hair and pulling her into a gentle kiss. His dry, warm lips contrasted with her moist, cool ones, and it made him shiver. She tentatively lifted her arms, one hand resting on his shoulder, the other finding a spot on his waist. He shivered again as he felt droplets from her hand run over his bare chest, and wrapped his free arm around her waist, pulling her closer still. He hadn't taken a chance like this in a very long time, and as he deepened their kiss, their tongues gently massaging each other, he made a note to do it much more often.

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