Jazmine closed her eyes, trying desperately to hold back the screams that wanted to come out of her mouth. Finally, she gave up and screamed, moaned, and gasped in pleasure at all the sensations Rayden was causing with her mouth. She grasped at Rayden’s head, her shoulders, whatever she could reach at that moment as she orgasmed over and over again. Rayden finally moved upward, lying over her, and pressed her body against her, moving rhythmically. Jazmine reached up to touch hard nipples, and grasped at Rayden’s ass, feeling the muscles there flex as Rayden moved against her.
Within minutes, they were crying out in their release, and as usual, Rayden’s half yell and groan sending Jazmine over the edge again. Afterward, Rayden moved to lie half over her, with her arm and leg thrown over her possessively. Jazmine closed her eyes, remembering this feeling so well, and reveling in it.
Rayden arrived at the hotel separately from Grayson. They didn’t want to make their visit to Baghdad and the Cristal Grand Ishtar Hotel public knowledge. They certainly didn’t want to show up together. Grayson had driven a rental car, and Rayden had gotten a ride into the city with one of her teammates. She’d had him drop her off half a mile away so he wouldn’t know what was going on. ‘Better safe than sorry’ was the way Rayden always figured it.
When she arrived in the hallway outside the room, Rayden stood outside the door breathing in deeply. She wanted this to go right, and she had no idea why the whole thing scared the crap out of her. Part of her didn’t want to admit that somehow this woman had become so damned important to her in such a short time. That scared her to death. She heard music coming from the room. Rayden guessed correctly that it was Adele. Grayson loved the woman’s music. Taking a deep breath and blowing it out, she put the key up to the door and heard it click. She opened the door, and walked inside. The lights in the room were low. She looked around and didn’t see Grayson, but the music was coming from the bedroom area. She took off her jacket and set it aside, kicking off her boots as well. She wore jeans and an army-green collared shirt.
Rayden walked into the bedroom and stood staring at the vision before her. There were candles everywhere, flickering, and giving the room a warm glow. Grayson was sitting on the bed wearing a lace and satin nightgown that was fitted in the bodice, but flowed around her legs, sexily revealing her thigh. It wasn’t overly revealing, but definitely suggested the incredible body under it. Grayson’s tanned skin seemed to glow. Her honey-blond hair fell softly around her face, her slate-blue eyes framed with darker lashes, and just enough makeup to enhance her beautiful face. Rayden couldn’t speak for a few moments, simply awed by this woman. She walked over to the bed, moving to sit next to Grayson. She reached out to touch her face, then put her lips to Grayson’s ear.
“You take my breath…” Rayden said, her voice the barest whisper.
Grayson turned her head and her eyes connected with Rayden’s. She took Rayden’s face in her hands, leaning into kiss her lips softly. Rayden slid her hand across Grayson’s midriff, grasping at her waist as their lips met over and over again, increasing in pressure.
“Ray…” Grayson whispered against her lips. “Please…” she pleaded softly.
Rayden moved to lie on her side next to Grayson. She slid her hand gently down to Grayson’s waist, moving her gown aside so she could caress her bare thigh. Then her lips found Grayson’s neck and she kissed and sucked gently, the sensation causing a current to surge through her.
Grayson’s hands were at her shoulders, then at the shirt buttons. Rayden reached up and pulled her shirt off over her head, and Grayson’s hands immediately touched her corded muscles and smooth dark skin, with her nails grazing Rayden’s skin.
“Rayden… Ray…” Grayson whispered heatedly. “Please…”
Rayden brushed her thumbs over hardened nipples through the satin of the nightgown. Grayson gasped and grasped at Rayden’s shoulders as she moved her hips, wanting Rayden so much. Rayden slid her hand downward, and then back up Grayson’s thigh, her fingers brushing upward, exciting Grayson even more. Then slowly she slid her hand between Grayson’s legs, touching the heat and wetness there and Grayson cried out immediately, pressing against Rayden’s hand desperately. Afterwards, Grayson lay on her side, resting her head against Rayden’s shoulder, breathing heavily. Rayden held Grayson to her, pressing her lips against the top of Grayson’s head.
After a few minutes, Grayson started kissing Rayden’s shoulder, then moved up her neck. She kissed her lips again next, all the while unbuttoning Rayden’s jeans.
“Take these off…” Grayson told her. “Just take it all off,” she commanded.
“Yes ma’am,” Rayden said, grinning as she got off the bed to take off the rest of her clothes.
Grayson pulled the nightgown off and tossed it aside, making Rayden breathe faster, just seeing how really incredibly perfect Grayson’s body was.
“God, you are so beautiful…” Rayden said, as she climbed back onto the bed.
“And you…” Grayson said, sitting up and looking Rayden’s body over from head to toes. “Wow…” she said simply, her look awed.
In truth, she’d never seen such a perfect combination of strength and lean muscle. Rayden’s body was solid muscle, with just the slightest curve of breast and hip. She touched the SEAL Trident on her abdomen, running her hand over it, while looking down into Rayden’s eyes. Her eyes then went to the four cornered swirl patterned tattoo on her shoulder.
“What is this?” she asked, as she touched the tattoo.
“It’s the Tsalagi symbol for strength.” Rayden told her.
Grayson smiled. “That is for damned sure,” she said, her eyes alight.
Rayden chuckled, wetting her lips and reaching up to touch Grayson’s skin, tracing her fingers from her shoulder down to her breasts, making Grayson gasp.
“Come here,” Rayden said, her voice husky.
“Oh no…” Grayson said, shaking her head. “You’re going to let me touch you now.”
“Can’t we both touch?” Rayden asked reasonably.
“No,” Grayson said, smiling, “if you keep touching me I’m not going to be able to concentrate on you…”
She moved to lie over Rayden, lowering her head to kiss her lips. Rayden’s hands immediately slid over her skin.
“No…” Grayson said, reaching down to grab Rayden’s hands.
“What am I supposed to do with my hands?” Rayden asked.
Grayson thought for a moment, then she took Rayden’s hands, still in hers, and put them above her head, wrapping her hands around the rod iron headboard of the bed.
“Hold on to those,” she told Rayden, nodding at where her hands were.
Rayden started to grin. “Are you serious?”
“Very,” Grayson said, widening her eyes.
Rayden blew her breath out, biting her lower lip as she grinned. “Well, I gotta say this is a first…”
“Good,” Grayson said, smiling. “I want to be your first at something…” she said, winking at her.
Grayson lowered her head then, kissing Rayden’s lips, then she moved to her neck, biting it softly, then sucking and kissing. Next, she moved to Rayden’s nipples, her hands touching and caressing. Rayden’s muscles rippled and jumped in reaction to the sensations Grayson was causing. When Grayson moved lower Rayden was beyond excited, and she closed her eyes blowing her breath out in a rush. She felt Grayson’s lips on her stomach and her hair brushing her thighs…
“Gray…” Rayden moaned, breathing heavily, her body straining. “Gray…” she groaned again as Grayson moved lower.
When Grayson’s mouth touched her, Rayden lost all control. She’d never had such a forceful orgasm in her life and Grayson kept touching her making it go on and on. Rayden yelled, gasped, and moaned over and over again. Finally, she dropped her hands to Grayson’s shoulders, and pulled her up over her so she could and kiss her deeply.
Rayden shifted their bodies, putting Grayson under her with an almost animal growl in the
back of her throat as she kissed Grayson hungrily.
“Oh my God…” Grayson said when their lips parted for a moment. “I think I just woke the wolf…”
“Yes, you did…” Rayden said.
Rayden proceeded to make love to Grayson with both heated passion and barely leashed aggression and excited Grayson beyond anything she’d ever experienced. There was no moment when she was afraid of Rayden, she knew that Rayden would die before hurting her, so her hunger and strength only served to excite her more.
Afterwards they both lay panting. Rayden moved to her back, pulling Grayson over her. The music was still playing in the background and the song changed as they lay there. The song “One and Only” by Adele came on. As Rayden listened to the lyrics, she felt like they were being sung to her. They talked of letting go of doubt and allowing a person into her heart and asking to be considered her “one and only.” She knew that she needed to do just that with Grayson.
As the song ended, Rayden looked up into Grayson’s eyes, and she saw her life in Grayson’s eyes. She shook her head slowly, a look of wonder on her face.
“What?” Grayson asked, seeing the look in Rayden’s eyes but not understanding it.
Rayden touched her cheek, her eyes looking directly into Grayson’s. “Tsi a-ya-s-ti-gi u-ga-u-hi-u ne-hi,” she said softly, her accent very clear.
Grayson smiled at hearing the way Rayden spoke. “What does that mean?” she asked softly.
Rayden smiled. “You called me a warrior once…” she said. “It means that this warrior loves you.”
Grayson’s eyes widened. “Ray…” she breathed, shaking her head. “I never believed… or thought… oh God, I love you so much…”
Rayden smiled, her eyes lighting up as they crinkled at the corners.
“Say it again,” Grayson said.
“In which language?” Rayden asked.
“Both,” Grayson said, smiling brightly.
“Tsi a-ya-s-ti-gi u-ga-u-hi-u ne-hi,” Rayden said again, leaning close to Grayson’s lips. “I love you, Gray…”
Grayson kissed her then, and they kissed for what seemed like hours. Eventually they fell asleep, with Grayson still lying in Rayden’s arms.
The next morning Grayson was awake before Rayden. She lay staring down at this incredible woman and still unable to believe that she’d been lucky enough to not only meet her, but to be loved by her. She looked at Rayden’s face, so much like the classic pictures of brave American Indian warriors with the strong jawlines and high cheekbones. Rayden was the perfect Cherokee warrior and Grayson loved her. She hadn’t fully realized it until Rayden had said it the day before, but when she had, it had clicked in Grayson’s head. She loved this woman.
Grayson had been listening to the lyrics of “One and Only” too, and she was thinking that she wanted Rayden to be willing to be her one and only. She didn’t want to share Rayden with any other woman. She hadn’t been sure how that kind of request would go over though. It was obvious from the way that Marcie had talked about her encounter with Rayden that Rayden wasn’t exactly the ‘in it for the long haul’ kind of lesbian. So when Rayden had told her she loved her, Grayson had realized that she loved Rayden too.
Rayden stirred. Her head was tilted toward the sun streaming through the windows so when she opened them and looked at Grayson, the gold flecks in them were very pronounced.
“Oh my God…” Grayson breathed at seeing her eyes.
“What?” Rayden asked.
“I’ve never seen those flecks of gold in your eyes practically glow before… wow…” she said, amazed and dazzled by them.
Rayden laughed softly. “My grandfather used to tell me that I’d played in the Oconaluftee so much as a kid that the pyrite in the water just sank into my skin and ended up in my eyes.”
Grayson laughed, nodding. “I think he may have been right.”
“Mmmm,” Rayden murmured as she stretched, running her hand up Grayson’s skin as she did.
“Indeed,” Grayson said, smiling.
Rayden pulled her down to kiss her, and minutes later they were making love again. It was a nice long weekend.
Chapter 4
Raine eventually made it back to the apartment she shared with Natalia after a few hours of just riding around. She walked inside, kicked the door closed, and just stood looking around. Natalia still wasn’t home. She suspected she was afraid to return.
They’d made the apartment really nice, adding color and artwork that they’d picked out together. There were the two recliners that Raine had bought to contribute to the furniture when she’d moved in, not to mention her bedroom furniture. There was the TV and the stereo system they’d bought together. She gritted her teeth as she walked into the bedroom. It smelled like Natalia’s perfume, and it killed Raine just little bit more. Forcing herself to ignore everything she was feeling, she walked into the bathroom, stripped off her sweaty workout clothes, and tossed them in the hamper. She got into the shower, washed her hair, and then used the eucalyptus and spearmint body wash, which was supposed to relieve stress. Not surprisingly, it didn’t work this time.
After her shower she toweled off her hair and body, and braided her hair; it hung down three inches past her shoulders. She put on clean clothes and her riding boots. She then put a few things into a backpack, and set it down near the apartment door with her gear bag for work.
She sat down straddling the arm of the couch, her feet on the ground, her hands on her knees, waiting. She figured Natalia would be home soon. Her mind ran over the course of the evening. She’d seen the look Natalia had given Dakota; it had been a shocked look and then she’d seen a flood of guilt and she’d known in that instant that something had happened between them. Raine knew that things had been strained with them, but she hadn’t felt they were that bad. Dakota’s reaction to Natalia’s look had been to grin roguishly and shake her head. That had sealed it for Raine. She’d known then that she was right.
Challenging Quinn to a match was just a way for Raine to try and get rid of the tension and fury she was feeling. She’d really wanted to do damage to the newcomer, but hadn’t wanted to give Natalia something else to hate her for at that point. Raine had no idea what to do with all the feelings of betrayal, anger, and downright devastation she was feeling. This was her first relationship ever, and she had honestly believed it would last forever. She had no idea how to handle moving forward, but she also knew that she needed to stay calm.
Just then, there was the sound of the key in the lock. Raine looked toward the door and waited.
Natalia had been frantic after Raine left the gym. She’d talked to Jet who’d told her about the confrontation between Cody and Raine. Jet had told her that Raine had driven off at a milder speed afterwards. Natalia had been worried sick, waiting at the gym and hoping that Raine would come back so they could talk. Jazmine had walked into the locker room and seen Natalia sitting on the bench, her body bent over as she cried.
“What happened?” Jazmine had asked her.
Natalia had shaken her head, not wanting to even say the words.
“They’re saying you did something with Dakota?” Jazmine had said, her tone gentle.
Natalia had cried harder, nodding her head.
“Oh God…” Jazmine had said, grimacing. “Why?” she had asked, thinking that Raine was so incredibly nice and they had seemed so in love.
“I was so stupid, so stupid…” Natalia had said, her voice strident. “Estoy muriendo… estoy muriendo…” she had repeated over and over again, saying in Spanish that she was dying.
When Raine didn’t come back to the gym, she knew she would have to go home and face her.
Natalia walked into the apartment to see Raine sitting on the arm of the couch. She noticed straightaway that Raine had showered, but was dressed to leave again and the hope she’d had that they could talk dimmed significantly.
Natalia put down her gym bag, and saw Raine’s backpack and gear bag by the door. She began cr
ying immediately, moving toward Raine but Raine’s stony look stopped her from coming too close.
“Complacer…” Natalia whispered. Please.
Speaking Spanish was something she often did with Raine, because Raine not only understood Spanish but could speak it fluently as well. It was something they shared, something Natalia hadn’t shared with anyone else. It was one of the many things that Natalia loved about Raine.
Raine shook her head slowly, her look despondent as if she too had just realized one more thing they were losing.
“I need to know,” Raine said, her tone grim. “It was Dakota, right?”
Natalia considered trying to lie her way out of it, but she didn’t know what she’d say.
Raine saw the look on Natalia’s face and her eyes narrowed. “Don’t even think about lying to me again,” she said, her tone low.
Natalia squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head, her face a mask of anguish.
“I’m sorry Raine… I’m so sorry…” she said, her voice reflecting her devastation.
Raine swallowed against the lump in her throat, feeling sick. She’d known she was right, but Natalia’s admission hurt more than she’d realized it could. She nodded, tears in her eyes, her lips pressed together to keep from crying out. She took a gasping breath to try to control her emotions. She stood up and felt her knees weaken. The desire to scream was overwhelming, but she stood quietly, reigning in her emotions so she could speak without yelling.
“I’ll start looking for a place in the morning,” she said, forcing her voice to sound calm, even if she couldn’t keep the devastation out of it.
“Raine, no…” Natalia said, moving toward her again.
Raine pulled her head back, looking away from her. “I can’t stay here,” she said, her voice a barely audible whisper. Then her light blues looked at Natalia. “I don’t want to stay here…” With that she walked past Natalia, picked up her bags and left the apartment, closing the door softly behind her.
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