Ashley stood staring at Jet, unable to believe where she was, and what she was doing.
“Now,” Jet repeated, her look at Ashley pointed. “Lick” she said.
She licked the salt on her hand, waiting for Ashley to do the same, Ashley finally did.
“Drink,” Jet said, and threw back her shot.
Ashley did the same, noting the tequila didn’t burn near as much this time.
Jet handed her a lime slice. “Suck,” she said, her light green eyes widening slightly.
Jet took the lime in her mouth, sucking on it, her eyes on Ashley’s, as Ashley followed suit, starting the feel the first shot taking effect.
“Better,” Jet said, grinning.
“I feel a disturbance in the Force…” came a voice from behind them. It was Devin, with Skyler behind her. “Oh, no,” Devin said, glancing back at Skyler, “Jet’s here, that explains it.”
“You’re not right, Devin…” Jet said, grinning, as she leaned down to kiss Devin’s cheek, and then extending her hand to Skyler.
Devin grinned up at Jet. “You know I love you,” she said, her green eyes sparkling.
“You say that now, but you’re marrying that one in like six months, right?” Jet said, nodding toward Skyler.
“Yep,” Skyler said. “Six months and counting.”
“Dev, Sky, this is Ashley,” Jet said, stepping back so they could see each other.
Ashley looked at the couple that Jet was introducing her to. Devin had black hair with purple streaks, multiple piercings and a bright smile. Skyler seemed more reserved, her light blue-green eyes warm even as she extended her hand to Ashley.
“Nice to meet you,” Ashley said, smiling, feeling a bit tipsy already.
Jet noted the glazed look in Ashley’s eyes. “Come on,” she said, taking Ashley’s hand and leading her over to one of the tables.
Skyler and Devin followed. Skyler moved to pull another table over to the first, creating a space for the group. Jet got the attention of one of the waitresses and ordered appetizers for the table.
Two tables later, there was finally enough room for the rest of the group as they started to arrive.
Jet got Ashley a bottle of water, and made sure she ate some of the appetizers that came out. Ashley felt better immediately, thanking Jet for helping her.
“Too much, too fast, baby girl. But that was my fault,” Jet said, grimacing. She leaned in close, putting her arm around Ashley. “I’ll take better care of you, I promise,” she said, her tone apologetic.
Ashley leaned against Jet for a moment, closing her eyes and just enjoying the feeling of being there at that moment. Skyler and Devin exchanged a look. Jet had told them who Ashley was, but she’d also told them that Ashley was married. They all knew that Jet respected lesbian relationships, but as far as she was concerned, men were “on their own” when it came to whether or not she’d mess with a married woman. They wondered if they were seeing just that.
By the time the rest of the group got there, Ashley was feeling much more stable. She was sipping a glass of wine. A number of women walked by greeting the group. At one point, Jericho arrived with Zoey, her fiancée. Jericho was an imposing figure, tall at five foot nine and even taller in the two inch heeled boots she wore. With long dark hair worn in a ponytail, and bright blue eyes, she had a very exotic look. Zoey, her fiancée, was a classic Californian-looking beauty with blond hair and hazel eyes and a tiny perfect figure. It was obvious from the way Jericho treated Zoey that she was very much her protector.
When she met Quinn and Xandy, she saw exactly what Jet had been talking about; butch women took care of their ladies. Even Kashena, who seemed somewhat feminine in the office with her long blond hair, had a wife who was even more feminine and petite. Sierra Youngblood-Marshal, as she was introduced, was a dark haired American Indian beauty in the classic sense. And Kashena danced attendance on her, often touching her hand, or simply putting her arms around her, holding her from behind as they talked in the group.
Raine and Natalia arrived. Natalia, a beautiful Latina, immediately dragged Raine out onto the dance floor. Raine was also very cute in what Jet called a “soft butch” way, with her long curly red hair.
“Hi! Bye!” Natalia called, laughing.
Raine followed her girlfriend to the floor, shrugging to the group with a grin.
“You think she’d get tired of dancing, wouldn’t you?” Jericho asked.
“I don’t think Nat ever gets tired of dancing with Raine,” Quinn said, grinning.
The group laughed. Ashley was able to see that Raine was definitely more butch than Natalia, although her long curly red hair made it more difficult to be sure.
She did have a harder time with Cat and Jovina. Catalina Roché was the Special Agent Supervisor in charge of another part of LA IMPACT, and was very beautiful with long blond hair, sky-blue eyes and a great figure. Jovina was yet another Latina beauty, and very feminine. Jet told her that Jovina was a songwriter. Catalina seemed to take care of Jovina, getting her drinks, and letting her sit in the bar stool, standing next to her, her arm around her shoulders.
Ashley found herself watching all the couples there that night, seeing exactly what Jet had said and admiring it. At one point Jet excused herself to go and smoke a cigarette. The group watched Jet leave, and not too long after Jet sat down at a table on the back patio the comments started.
“Oh… there’s Tabby, is she still after Jet?” Devin asked Skyler.
“I think that ship’s already sailed…” Skyler said, grinning.
“Seriously?” Xandy asked, rolling her eyes.
“The girl’s no slouch,” Quinn said, grinning.
“You were just as bad, as I recall…” Xandy said.
“Uh-huh,” Quinn said, grinning.
“All caught now,” Skyler said.
“Shut it,” Quinn muttered, causing the group to laugh.
“So, exactly how many women does Jet know here?” Ashley spoke up, surprising the group.
She’d just seen yet another woman approach Jet, who leaned down to kiss her and slid her hand through Jet’s hair seductively. It was the sixth woman since Jet had gone outside less than five minutes before.
The group exchanged looks, some of them grinning.
“Well…” Cat said, her voice trailing off as she looked to the rest of the group.
“Okay, how many of those women has she been with?” Ashley asked, curious now despite how ridiculous she might sound to Jet’s friends.
The looks became distinctly more uncomfortable at that question, except for Quinn, whose grin widened.
“I think it would be a shorter list if we told you who out there she hasn’t been with,” Quinn said.
“Pretty much,” Devin agreed, nodding.
“Yeah, that seems accurate,” Cat added.
“What seems accurate?” Natalia asked as she and Raine walked up.
“Jet’s track record,” Quinn said,
“Jodonton,” Natalia said, whistling softly.
“Stud,” Raine translated.
“Gonna go smoke too,” Skyler said, moving to stand.
She walked outside, sitting down in the chair across from Jet.
“You know they’re in there talking shit, right?” Skyler said, grinning.
Jet laughed. “Yeah, figured as much. How much bullshit are they telling Ash?”
“So far, not a thing that ain’t true,” Skyler said, smiling.
“Be good, Skyler, you’re getting married soon…” said a girl walking by.
“Yeah, no fair monopolizing the one that isn’t engaged,” said the other girl with her.
“Just remember girls,” Skyler said, her grin wicked, “I had her first.”
“Ohhhh…” Jet exclaimed, laughing.
Jet had been in Iraq for a week before she was finally assigned to a base. Her first encounter was with a Blackhawk pilot and her crew, who were her transport to her new unit. She was greeted first by a gu
y about her age, who was all smiles and blue eyes.
“I’m Benny,” he said, smiling at her. “You’re new, huh?” he asked as she handed him her duffle and climbed up into the helicopter.
“Yeah,” Jet had said, “I’m Jet.”
“Good to meet ya,” Benny said, glancing over his shoulder. “Sky and them should be here in a minute.”
“No worries,” Jet said, sitting on the bench of the Blackhawk, her legs extended in front of her, her ankles crossed casually.
Next to arrive were two men; one named Jams, a good looking guy with blond hair and blue eyes, and another with brown hair and glasses, who they called Radar.
“’Cause his last name’s O’Reilly,” Benny told her.
Jet liked Benny right off, he seemed like a fairly happy guy, and without a lot of bluster, which was rare for helicopter crew members. A couple minutes later the pilot arrived. She was cussing a blue streak.
“Fuckin’ damn ass motherfucker, I swear to all that is not holy in this land that the man is just trying to piss me off…” Skyler said, climbing onto the helicopter, then seeing the soldier sitting on the bench seat. “Oh,” she said, grinning. “Sorry, my CO is on a break and his ball-breaker of a second in command is an asshole.”
“It happens,” Jet said.
“Way more than it should,” Skyler said, then she extended her hand to Jet. “Skyler Boché.”
“Jet Mathews,” Jet replied with a grin.
“Where you headed?”
“First infantry HQ,” Jet said.
“We’ll get you there in relatively one piece,” Jams said.
“You’ll be fine,” Skyler said, winking at Jet. “He’s just a copilot. I do the flying.”
“I feel better already,” Jet replied, her light green eyes looking directly back into Skyler’s blue-green ones.
Skyler’s chin came up slightly as she recognized the come on, but she said nothing.
A half hour later they touched down at the camp, and Jet thanked them for the ride. She watched as the Blackhawk lifted off, and thought that it hovered a few seconds longer than necessary, but she couldn’t be sure, then it flew off.
It was a week before Jet saw Skyler again, and by that time she’d all but forgotten the hot pilot. She was in her office, looking over some reports she’d just received. The door to the office had opened, but she’d assumed that it was one of her fellow soldiers returning from a break.
“How’s it going in here?” Skyler finally asked.
Jet turned, surprised to see her.
“Oh, you know,” Jet said, her tone wry. “Same shit, different day.”
Skyler grinned, nodding.
“You had dinner yet?” Skyler asked.
“Is it that late?” Jet asked, looking at her watch. “Wow, time flies, huh?”
“Oh yeah, in this fun place,” Skyler said, rolling her eyes.
They walked over to the mess hall then, eating and talking companionably. Afterwards, they walked around the camp talking for a bit. Skyler told her she was from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and they talked about crawfish boils and things like that.
“Jesus, it’s hot here,” Jet said at one point. “Does it ever cool off?”
“Not often,” Skyler said, they’d stopped walking, having reached the back of the camp.
“I’m from Seattle, it doesn’t get this hot there,” Jet said.
“You’ll get used to it,” Skyler said, staring directly into Jet’s eyes.
Jet caught the look, and felt her breathing become heavier. She swallowed nervously, even as her lips parted in anticipation. She’d known from the moment she’d met Skyler Boché that she wanted her to be the first, she just hadn’t known if she could pull it off. She hadn’t counted on Skyler having her own agenda.
Skyler took a step toward Jet, testing to see if the younger woman would retreat. Jet held her ground, her head tilting up slightly, her lips parting as her eyes connected with Skyler’s again. That was all Skyler needed to see, and taking another step closer, bringing her right up to Jet, Skyler slid her hand around Jet’s waist, pulling her closer, as her mouth closed over Jet’s.
The kiss was hot, and Jet immediately felt her body tremble. She reached up, sliding her hands through Skyler’s hair, and pulling Skyler even closer, deepening the kiss. Skyler responded, by pushing her back against the wall to the barracks. Thankfully there was no back door and no one could see them where they were.
Skyler’s hands pulled at Jet’s shirt and Jet recklessly pulled it off over her head, wanting Skyler’s hands on her. Skyler obliged and Jet groaned softly, pressing closer to Skyler, pulling at her, wanting to feel everything. Jet’s fingers bit into Skyler’s shoulders as Skyler’s lips moved to her neck, then moved lower. Jet had to bite her lips to keep from crying out when Skyler’s mouth closed over a hard nipple. She felt Skyler’s hands at the waist to her pants, and she wanted nothing more than to be naked at that moment, but she knew they were already risking their careers by doing what they were.
When Skyler’s hand slid inside her pants, touching her, Jet came immediately, grasping at Skyler and exalting in the feeling, wanting more. Afterwards, she leaned against the building, breathing heavily. Skyler leaned into her, her lips on Jet’s shoulder and in the curve of her neck.
“My God…” Jet breathed, still trying to catch her breath.
Skyler lifted her head, looking down at Jet. “What?” she asked.
Jet bit her lip, grinning. “That was my first time,” she said softly..
Skyler felt a sexual jolt run through her, the likes of which she’d never experienced before. It had her leaning in to kiss this girl’s lips again. This time, Jet moved away from the wall, turning Skyler to put her back against the wall instead. Jet took the time to do all the things she’d dreamed of doing to another woman for more than a year now. Skyler found herself coming with abandon, her hands in Jet’s hair and feeling insanely protective of this girl suddenly.
Their friendship with benefits lasted a full two years, even though Skyler had a girlfriend back home in Los Angeles, it hadn’t mattered. They were both far away from home, and took refuge in each other’s arms whenever they felt the need. Neither of them was looking for a love match, they just needed to feel needed and wanted, and it worked for them.
When Skyler’s Blackhawk had gone down, Jet had been frantic to find her. When she’d heard that Skyler had lost both Benny and Radar in the crash, her heart broke for her friend, knowing that Skyler would blame herself because they were her crew. When Skyler and Jams were found, Jet had seen Skyler for only a few minutes before she’d been medevacked out to the hospital.
She’d known that Skyler would never be the same; she’d seen it in her eyes. She’d kissed her on the cheek, whispering, “I’m sorry my friend,” as tears had streamed down her cheeks. Skyler had simply nodded, looking like she was hundreds of miles away. It had been one of the saddest days of Jet’s life.
Jet looked over at Skyler, remembering their time in Iraq, but also seeing that Skyler was now happy and Jet knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Devin was the reason for that. It made Jet happy to know that Skyler had finally found love. It also made her sad in a way too.
Back inside, Cat walked over to the bar, winking at Jen. “Give me a couple of shots of Casa Noble, will ya?”
“You’re drinking tequila?” Jen asked, knowing she usually drank Jack Daniel’s.
“It’s for Jet,” Cat said.
“Oh,” Jen said, nodding. She poured the shots and handed them to Cat. “Twenty, Cat,”
“Jesus, Jet has expensive taste,” Cat said, grinning as she pulled a ten and a twenty out, tossing them on the bar. “Thanks,” she said, winking at the bartender again.
“Any time, sweetie,” Jen said, loving their group, they were all good tippers.
Cat walked over to where Ashley sat, watching Skyler and Jet talk.
“Here,” Cat said, handing one shot to Ashley.
Ashley lo
oked back at Cat, her look confused.
“Drink it,” Cat said, her tone commanding.
Ashley did as she was told and drank the shot.
“Now,” Cat said, handing her the other shot, “take this out to Jet.”
“And tell Skyler she needs to get her ass in here,” Devin said, smiling sweetly.
Ashley nodded, standing up and walked toward the back door, noticing that she was getting a lot of looks from women in the bar. It made her feel a little more confident as she opened the back door and walked outside.
Walking over to the table where Jet and Skyler sat, Ashley looked at Skyler. “Devin wants you inside,” she told her.
“Oh, you are in trouble…” Jet said, grinning.
“Damn it,” Skyler said, grinning all the same and getting up, offering Ashley her chair.
Ashley moved to sit down, handing Jet the shot. “Cat sent this out for you.”
Jet grinned, knowing Cat was known to be a matchmaker. Jet drank the shot, and chased it with a drink of her beer. Sitting back, she lit another cigarette, looking at Ashley.
“So how are you doing,” Jet asked, her look searching.
“Okay,” Ashley said. “Your friends are funny.”
“Are they?” Jet asked, her look amused.
“Yeah, according to them, you’ve slept with almost every woman out here,” Ashley said, her smile wide.
Jet looked surprised, and like she was about to protest, but then she looked around, even turning around to look behind her at the far corner of the patio. Finally, she sat back, blowing her breath out.
“Yeah, they’re right,” Jet said, nodding.
“Oh my god!” Ashley said, laughing. “You are such a slut!”
“No, honey,” Jet said. “Sluts will fuck anyone, I’m very particular,” she said, her look direct.
Ashley felt her breath quicken, but then narrowed her eyes.
“All of these girls, that’s particular?” she asked.
Jet licked her lips slowly, looking around. “Do you see even one that isn’t hot?”
Ashley looked around the patio, seeing the different women, and she had to admit there wasn’t one slouch.
Jet Blue (WeHo Book 5) Page 5