D-Day

The intensity in the cobalt blue eyes that look at her with almost reverent awe steals Lena's breath away. Her eyes widen, her head tilts back, and she loses herself in the all-consuming fire of her world-shattering orgasm. She rides the powerful waves of her climax, her body shuddering uncontrollably, and an uninhibited moan rolls off her lips, echoing like an endless prayer against the walls of her penthouse.

Gasping for air, she collapses forward onto the warm, sun-kissed skin. The loving, feather-light touches of gentle fingertips on her bare back and the tender kisses at her temple break down her last defenses.

Her body trembles with heart-wrenching sobs as she feels strong arms pull her closer, tighter. For minutes, the only sounds piercing the silence of the room are her sobs and gasps for breath as Lena drowns in her emotions.

"I'm so sorry," Kara whispers, her own tears leaving dark blue stains on the pristine, pale blue sheets.

Lena rolls off Kara and slips out of bed, reaching for the silk robe and wrapping it around herself as if the thin fabric could shield her from what was to come next.

"Please stay."

Kara sits up and leans against the headboard. The sheet slides down, revealing her muscular torso and full, round breasts. Breasts that Lena had lovingly caressed just minutes before.

"I can't," she replies, her voice breaking under the weight of her tears. She reaches out a hand to Lena.

"Don't want to or can't, Kara?" Lena snaps, her eyes flashing with anger.

Kara lets her hand drop. She wishes more than anything that she could undo the last two hours. Her heart clenches at the sight of the pain hidden in Lena's beautiful, gray-blue eyes, eyes that stare at her, waiting for an answer.

"Lee, sweetheart…" She extends her hand to Lena again.

Lena hesitates before taking Kara's hand with a deep sigh, intertwining her fingers with Kara's as she sits down on the bed, dejected.

"Can I visit you?" she asks quietly.

Kara sees the uncried tears in Lena's dull eyes, waiting to receive another terrible piece of news.

She lowers her gaze and shakes her head.

"I'm afraid not."

She looks back into the tear-filled, reddened eyes. She curses herself for losing control. She curses herself for being the cause of the pain that spreads across Lena's soft features.

Oh, how she wishes she could tell her the truth. Share all the secrets that torment her soul so deeply. But instead, she will maintain the lie one last time to protect Lena from the truth. A truth that would turn Lena's impending triumph into a nightmare.

Her chest feels like an iron fist is gripping it as Lena rises again and angrily leaves the room.

Kara stands up and gathers her clothes scattered across Lena's bedroom floor, remnants of their passion. Sighing, she steps into the living room, where Lena stands by the window with her arms crossed, her back turned.

"Lee… please don't let it end like this."

She places her hand on Lena's shoulder. Lena turns slightly and brushes off the comforting hand. She spins around, anger mingling with desperation.

"And how exactly should I end it if YOU are the one ending it?" Lena snaps angrily, fresh tears welling up in her eyes.

Kara silently pulls Lena into her arms, feeling the desperation with which Lena clings to her, pressing her head into the crook of Kara's neck. Minutes pass as Lena tries to comprehend how they ended up in this situation. Why she never had the courage to confess her love to Kara when they had a real chance at a future together.

"I love you," Lena's voice is barely a whisper.

Kara tilts her head back and gently brushes her thumb over Lena's still swollen, pink lips before placing one last kiss on Lena's mouth.

"I love you."

She closes her eyes in a desperate attempt to hold onto this moment, to forever remember the sweetness of this tender touch. A touch she will never feel again.

Then she steps back.

"I have to go," she says through her tears.

She grabs the jacket she had carelessly thrown over a chair hours before. She can barely breathe.

"Will you ever come back?" Lena whispers.

God, she hates herself for what she is doing to Lena. She hates herself for all the lies that have led them to this point. If only she had been brave enough to tell Lena the truth, they might not be here today. But the past could not be changed, and the future—Lena's future—should not be destroyed by the truth.

"Don't wait for me," she replies.

As she closes the door behind her, her eyes overflow and her heart aches so much she thinks it might stop. "Oh God," she whimpers, sliding to the floor against the back wall of the elevator, stifling her loud sobs in the crook of her arm.

Exactly 93 minutes later, she presses the large, red button on the remote with red, swollen eyes. She can no longer cry; her tears have dried up, her heart frozen.