by Jade Winters
God help me!
Forcing her feet forward, Astrid trailed behind Callie as she made her way across the grassy field to another gate up ahead. Several enclosures surrounded by stone walls stood between them and the final ascent to Steel Fell. The ground became steeper the further they walked. As they reached the gate of the final enclosure, Astrid’s lungs started to burn and she stopped to catch her breath.
‘I thought you were fit,’ Callie said as she retrieved a water bottle from her backpack and handed it to Astrid.
‘I … am.’ She took a sip of water and her breathing resumed its normal rhythm. ‘I just don’t cycle up many hills.’
Callie grinned. ‘Do you want to sit down for a minute?’
‘No, I’m fine. Let’s carry on.’
Astrid continued to follow Callie and even dared to look down at the valley below. They reached an area that flattened out into what looked like a large step and Callie placed her bag on the floor.
‘Let’s have a rest for a few minutes. There’s no point overexerting yourself.’ She perched on a nearby rock and gazed out over the valley.
Astrid lowered herself down onto a grassy mound, her body grateful for the reprieve.
‘If you look over there, you can just about make out Lake Windermere. Grasmere is just to the right,’ Callie said.
‘It’s beautiful. Thank you for letting me tag along.’
‘You’re welcome. You seem to be okay with the height at the moment.’
‘It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. As long as I stay away from the edge I think I’ll be fine.’
There was no place on earth Astrid would rather be right then. Alone with Callie, surrounded by beauty. Callie’s concern for her well-being only served to endear her even more.
If I ever decide to have a girlfriend, she’ll be exactly like Callie.
The thought shocked her. Since when had she been looking for a girlfriend? Never! Settling down had never been on her mind before. Until I met Callie.
‘We’d best carry on,’ Callie said, moments later.
They both rose to their feet and continued walking. Callie didn’t say much more. Her jawline was set. Astrid could tell her thoughts had turned to finding Lexi. Astrid didn’t hold out much hope but she kept her opinion to herself. Stranger things had happened.
The path grew much steeper as they neared the summit and Astrid’s pace started to slow. She didn’t dare to look down now. Her eyes were firmly fixed on the trail in front of her.
‘What’s wrong, slow coach? Can’t keep up?’ Laughter bubbled on Callie’s words and even irritated, Astrid couldn’t help the smile cracking her face.
‘Carry on. I’ll catch up with you,’ Astrid said as she wiped away the sweat beading down her face.
‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ Callie called back.
‘I’m fine.’
‘If you’re sure.’
Ahead of her, Callie climbed higher, her firm arse hugged in her stylish hiking trousers. The muscles in her legs flexing as she reached the summit. Even though Astrid was hot and breathless, she couldn’t deny the view of Callie’s backside was amazing.
‘Give me a yell if you need me,’ Callie called back.
‘Yeah.’ Astrid panted, trying to keep her breathing at an even keel. ‘Who was the idiot that thought this was a good idea?’ Astrid muttered to herself.
Still walking, she risked looking away from the path and out across the valley. It was a mistake. Surprised at how high they’d climbed, her heart hammered in her chest and she became dizzy. Without realising, she’d stumbled off course and was close to the edge. It wasn’t until she heard the alarm in Callie’s voice that panic coursed through her. One more step and she would have fallen hundreds of feet onto the rocks below. She froze. Seeing the long drop down made her nauseous. Without thinking, she took a step back. Her foot came into contact with a loose rock. Her ankle twisted and she lost her balance. As she fell backwards and started to roll down the path, all Astrid could do was be grateful she hadn’t fallen forwards.
The ground flew past and fear overcame her.
‘Astrid!’ Callie’s scream sounded from above. Astrid tried to tuck her arms and legs in, images of hospitals and broken bones flashing through her mind.
One more tumble and Astrid slammed into a hard, unyielding object.
Pain burst around her back. She clamped her lips and tried to stop the moan crawling out of her throat.
Callie scrambled down towards her.
Astrid opened her eyes and saw Callie’s familiar form filling her vision.
‘Hey, did you fall out of heaven?’ Astrid tried a weak smile, but Callie didn’t return it, her face pinched in concern. Firm, but cautious hands were already roaming around Astrid’s body.
‘You know if you wanted to feel me up, all you had to do is ask.’
Callie’s eyes narrowed.
‘Sorry, not funny—’
‘No it isn’t,’ Callie said. Her eyes welled with tears. ‘You could have … really hurt yourself.’
‘Well I didn’t. I’m fine. Look.’ Astrid quickly tried to get to her feet but let out a yelp as she stood on her twisted ankle.
‘Sit down,’ Callie said gently helping her back onto the floor. ‘Did you hit your head?’
‘No, honestly I’m fine. It’s just my ankle that’s a bit sore.’
Callie grabbed her bag and withdrew her first aid kit.
‘Take your boot off and let me strap up your ankle.’
‘Yes, boss,’ Astrid said unlacing her boot before removing it slowly along with her sock.
Callie gently felt around Astrid’s ankle, then flexed her foot up and down.
‘I don’t think it’s broken,’ she said as she bandaged it to give it support. ‘You were lucky this time. What were you thinking?’
‘About you.’ Astrid groaned and slowly pulled herself into a sitting position.
Callie’s eyes didn’t leave Astrid’s face.
Astrid reached out and stroked Callie’s cheek with her scraped hand. ‘I’m sorry if I scared you.’
Callie leant into her touch and let out a small sigh. ‘You did more than scare me. Until this moment I didn’t realise how … how much I cared about you.’
Astrid chuckled and scooted in closer to her. ‘Then it was worth it. Even if I’m going to feel like crap tomorrow.’
She wrapped her arms around Callie and pulled her close, feeling her heartbeat through her t-shirt.
Callie pulled her head out of Astrid’s hug and looked up at her. ‘I’ll be the first to remind you when you can’t get out of bed.’
Pearls of laughter broke into the air. ‘I hope so. Maybe you should stay with me tonight in case I have concussion or something.’
Astrid’s fingers dipped underneath Callie’s top to touch her smooth, soft skin.
‘Hey–’ Callie jumped at the contact and tried to move away, but Astrid held on, keeping her close.
‘No, stay.’ The words were thick and hot out of Astrid’s mouth, and her need blinded her to anything but the sweet feel of Callie. The desire shining in her eyes, the pulse of her heartbeat. Everything about her was perfect.
Callie looked around them and back up towards the summit. ‘What if someone comes down—’
‘And what if they don’t?’ Astrid dipped her head and captured Callie’s lips with her own, silencing her. Like magic, Callie’s protest died and faded into a whimper, her own arms wrapping around Astrid’s waist.
Astrid nipped at Callie’s lower lip, feeling the tremble coursing through her lover. ‘We’re the only ones on this trail.’
One of Astrid’s arms escaped from under Callie’s shirt and she cupped the back of Callie’s head. Desire already burnt in the depths of her eyes. ‘After that scare, all I want to do is drown in you.’
Callie stilled for a moment. Astrid sensed the internal war raging inside her, but like a spring snapping, Callie launched into action.
Her
hands pulled at Astrid’s shirt. Seeing Callie, so usually reserved and cautious, abandon her cover, instantly ignited Astrid’s lust to astronomical heights.
Some small part of Callie’s mind must’ve still been functioning because she dug into her rucksack and pulled out a fleece blanket. Throwing it behind Astrid, she pushed her down onto the cloth.
Lips and hands were everywhere. Astrid had expected the immediate explosion of heat and lust that flashed through her body. But what surprised her was the intensity of it.
The world faded into the background: the birds, the sky, the hard floor and the cool breeze. All that remained was Astrid and Callie in that moment. The feel of Callie’s mouth, her soft lips. The warmth of her probing tongue. The urgent want and need for Callie.
Astrid dragged up Callie’s t-shirt, exposing her sports bra. Her breasts begging for release. Astrid tugged on the cotton, pushing it down. Callie’s beautiful mounds sprang into the open. Her nipples already hard and ready for Astrid’s eager mouth. The cotton bra, now wedged underneath Callie’s breasts, served as hands holding up her generous flesh as an offering to Astrid’s greedy eyes.
‘You’re so beautiful,’ Astrid breathed, all the while mesmerised by Callie’s athletic body.
Before Callie could comment, Astrid lowered her head, taking Callie’s nipple into her mouth. Salt and sweetness swirled on her tongue. Astrid moaned against Callie’s skin and Callie dug her hands into Astrid’s hair. A leg wrapped around Astrid’s waist. Bracing one arm as she feasted on Callie’s firm breast, Astrid snaked her hand down between them, feeling the moist heat of the humid air and their perspiration. The metal button of Callie’s combat trousers skirted over Astrid’s touch.
With deft fingers, Astrid opened and unzipped Callie’s trousers. Callie’s hips jerked up in response to the action. Astrid’s hand covered Callie’s sex and slipped into her heat.
Both of them moaned at the contact.
When Astrid rubbed the tight nub of nerves, Callie let out a cry and shoved her hand into her mouth, biting down and trying to not make a sound.
The sight drove Astrid wild. The fall and minor pinpricks of discomfort vanished as her world narrowed on the woman underneath her. She wanted to make her fall apart in front of her eyes.
Callie was beautiful in the middle of a climax, and on the exposed trail with the possibility of discovery, everything in Astrid hummed with excitement.
She looked like a goddess. Like nature herself, naked and primal.
Astrid pulled away and Callie whimpered at the loss, but it quickly turned into a gasp as Astrid stripped off Callie’s trousers and underwear.
Spreading Callie’s legs open, Astrid smiled, licked her lips and lowered her head. The scent of Callie’s arousal diffused around Astrid like a perfume.
A fine shiver coursed through Callie’s body. Her thighs trembled around Astrid as Astrid flicked and licked her clit, then teased her with soft breaths and whispers of kisses on the sensitive, swollen flesh. Callie wiggled underneath Astrid’s mouth and the smile turned into a sly grin.
‘Any regrets?’ Astrid asked in a husky voice. Callie growled back and grabbed the back of Astrid’s head pushing her harder against her skin.
‘Only leaving it this long.’
Yes, Astrid howled to herself. This is what she wanted. Callie undone, lost in abandon, and she was the one doing it, driving her to that point. In the middle of the mountains, with the sun still bathing them both. Everything raw and real.
Complying with her lover, Astrid drove her fingers into Callie, tasting and drinking from her core. Like a glorious symphony coming to its crescendo, Callie’s whole body writhed and tensed under Astrid’s touch.
Then Callie arched her back, her body bowed, her breasts pointing towards the sky, her head digging into the ground as she forgot herself and screamed into the vast openness around them.
Tremors of pleasure crashed through her, and Astrid drank from her, feeding her hunger with each of Callie’s waves of ecstasy.
When she finally started to come down, Callie’s body settled back fully on the blanket. She tugged on Astrid, and without a comment, Astrid allowed herself to be dragged up and wrapped into Callie’s warm and satisfied arms.
They kissed slowly, savouring the moment and after a few minutes, Astrid settled her head on Callie’s shoulder.
For a while they lay there, taking in the bright afternoon sky when Astrid felt Callie shift and reach for her bag.
Astrid gave a small smile. Ah well, must be time to get home. She started to push herself into a sitting position.
‘Oh no, you don’t.’ Callie’s hand pressed in the middle of Astrid’s chest. She took a quick swig of water from the bottle she retrieved from her bag.
Confusion blared in Astrid’s mind.
Callie smirked, mischief dancing in her dark eyes. ‘I knew from the minute I laid eyes on you, you’d be a bad influence.’
‘Me?’ Astrid asked innocently.
‘Yes, you.’ She pushed Astrid down on the blanket and straddled her hips.
Bracing her hands on either side of Astrid’s head, she leant down and nipped Astrid’s earlobe.
‘We aren’t finished yet.’
Chapter Twenty-Three
‘Hello, sexy,’ Helen’s voice whispered into Keri’s ear.
‘Hey, how’s it going?’ Keri said distractedly.
She moved the net curtain in the living room aside for a better view. A sudden shower began pounding the pavement so hard Keri could hear it from where she stood. Thunder boomed in the distance. Keri had never seen anything like it. One minute the sun was shining and the next there was torrential rain. It’s the Lake District for a reason.
Despite the dire weather conditions, Elaine strode down the road towards the bus stop as if it was a sunny day.
‘Have I caught you at a bad time?’ Helen asked.
Elaine disappeared from view. ‘No, not at all.’
‘I take it you’re following up on leads about the missing girl.’
The empathy in her voice wasn’t hard to miss. Again Keri felt a pang of guilt. If Helen so much as got a whiff of what she was up to, she would be disgusted with her and rightly so. I’m just going to have to make sure that never happens.
‘Yeah. Have you seen the news?’ Keri spoke as she mounted the stairs to Astrid’s room. She needed to throw her a red herring. ‘I’m looking into the parents’ backgrounds. The dad anyway.’
‘I swear if he has something to do with it I’ll lose my faith in humanity.’
‘That’s the last thing the world needs. We need good guys like you to give sinners like me hope.’
‘The only sinful things about you, sweetheart, are the things you did to me last night. Whoa. My body’s still vibrating.’
Keri turned the handle on the door slowly. Even though she knew Astrid wasn’t home, she still felt paranoid.
‘Are you still there?’
She pushed open the door, went in and stood just beside the bed. Astrid’s scent wafted up her nostrils and her mind flashed back to the night she spent with her. ‘Yes, sorry.’
‘Look, I’m just going to get straight to the point of me calling. Am I going to see you again? Or was last night a one off?’
Keri knelt down next to the bed, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder. Like the day before, she reached under the bed.
‘I mean,’ Helen added. ‘I’m no stranger to one-night stands, believe me.’
Panic coursed through her. Shit. It wasn’t there. The phone slipped from her ear and dropped to the floor. Ignoring it, Keri lay down on the floor to get a better view. Phew! She let out a huge sigh of relief. The laptop was still there. Only pushed back further. She made a point to gauge where it was before drawing it to her.
‘Keri? Keri?’ She could hear Helen’s tinny voice resonating from her phone. Shit.
She grabbed it. ‘Sorry, the phone fell under the bed. What were you saying?’
‘I wa
s talking about us. If we’re going to see each other again.’
An image of Helen’s soft mouth, firm hands and incredible body formed in her mind. Keri’s stomach tightened. Helen incited the craziest reactions in her. Though she was a distraction, she wasn’t an unwelcome one. Not in the slightest. ‘Are you crazy? Of course we are.’
‘Good. I was worried for a moment.’
Keri laughed in disbelief. Helen was the last person she would peg as a worrier. She was too stable. Too reassured. Helen didn’t suffer from low self-esteem. The stuff oozed out of every pore. ‘You worried? Never.’
‘Believe me after last night, I’d be very worried if we didn’t have a repeat session.’ Her voice sounded more confident now. More relaxed.
‘There’ll be several. Trust me,’ Keri murmured.
‘In that case, how about tonight?’
Keri opened the computer lid and powered it up. ‘Mmm,’ she said moving the cursor to the file folder. She was trying her hardest to take in what Helen was saying while concentrating on the task at hand.
‘Great. What time?’
Keri realised she’d missed a part of the conversation. How much, she didn’t know. ‘Sorry, what time for?’
‘Are you committing a crime or something?’ Helen said in jest.
She doesn’t know how close she is to the truth.
‘I’m just sorting out some files.’ It was pointless trying to multi task. She had to find what she was looking for and quick. ‘Look, can I call you back later?’
‘Sure. Make sure you do. Remember I know what it’s like to be a workaholic and forget the important things. And believe me, you’re important to me.’
Keri appreciated Helen’s honesty. The lack of game playing was refreshing. In turn, Keri found herself free to be honest with her own feelings. Something she hadn’t done in a long while. ‘I couldn’t forget you. I promise, I’ll call.’
‘I’ll just have to live off my imagination until then.’
Keri wanted to flirt back, to keep the conversation going for as long as possible. But there just wasn’t the time. Instead she said, ‘Speak soon.’
She cut the call and threw the phone on the bed. Sitting on the floor, her back against the wall, she put the computer on her lap.