by Susanne Beck
I could tell my eyes were flashing, even without benefit of a mirror, and I could feel my body, stiff from so many hours in the car, start to turn toward the back, where the source of my frustrations sat, in her own little world.
Whatever I might have done (and truthfully, I don’t think it would have been all that much) was stopped almost unborn by a firm, warm hand on my thigh. My anger drained away like water through a sieve as I gazed into liquid crystal eyes peering into my own over the rims of mirrored sunglasses.
The look in those eyes convinced me to think up a different plan. So I did. Quickly.
"Nia?" I said, calm as I could.
"What."
"I was thinking." Oh boy, was I.
"About what."
Was it possible for her to sound more petulant?
"Well...since we’re in Mexico and I need to fit in here... ."
A derisive snort.
"Yeah, right."
It was possible alright.
Calm, Angel. Be calm. Think happy thoughts. Happy. Happy. Happy.
"Do you think you can teach me some Spanish? You know, just enough to get by?"
Mercifully, the kicking stopped, followed shortly thereafter by the humming.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I know hello, goodbye, thank you, a few swear words, and I can count to ten... I think. None of which is going to get me very far."
She laughed softly.
"So...could you help me? Please?"
"Sure! That would be cool!"
Thank you, God.
"Hey! There’s this great song my Spanish teacher in Elementary School taught us. Let me see if I can remember how it starts."
I sagged back against the seat, defeated.
In a deliberate ploy for sympathy, I rolled my head in Ice’s direction, just in time to see her turn attention back to the road, the corner of her mouth lifting just slightly.
I scowled at her, knowing she could feel it.
Just you wait, love of my life. You’ll pay for that smirk. Later.
* * *
Two hours and one crash course in "Spanish for the tone-deaf" later, my grateful eyes spied a town coming up quickly on the left. If two houses sandwiching an ancient gas station could be considered a town, that is.
"Ice, do you think we could... ."
She had already started to pull into the gas station before I could even finish my question, a small smile playing over her lips.
"If I didn’t know you any better, I’d think you were enjoying this," I muttered out of the corner of my mouth.
Silence was my only reply.
Sighing, I turned my head and peered back out the window, only to have almost half my face taken off by Nia’s swiftly thrust hand pointing forward.
"Where are they going?"
Blinking and shielding my eyes from the glare of the merciless sun, I could see Rio’s car shoot past in a long cloud of desert dust.
"Yeah. Where are they going?"
"There’s another town about fifty miles down the road. They’ll scout it out and we’ll all meet up beyond that and compare notes."
"So I guess this isn’t just your average ‘potty break and stretch your legs’ type stop, is it."
She laughed softly, turning to face me as she pulled the car smoothly in front of some antique gas pumps. "It’s that, too."
I returned her chuckle with one of my own. "Good, because my kidneys were getting ready to file a grievance with their union, and I don’t think either one of us would like it if they went on strike."
As soon as the car stopped, I eased myself out, groaning in combined pain and relief, my over-stressed tendons singing out their anger like a guitar string turned one notch too tight. Stretching toward the sky, I chanced to look around, and saw the opportunity to put my newfound (not to mention hard-won) bi-lingualism to its first test.
"Hmm. Let’s see. Pedro’s Gas and Market. Hot Food. Cold Drinks. P... ." I blinked, rubbed my eyes, and looked again, trying to convince myself that what I thought I was seeing was not, in fact, what I was seeing.
The words refused to change, though.
I turned, looking for Nia, only to see her disappear quickly into the market, searching, no doubt, for a bathroom. Ice was busy inserting the gasoline nozzle into the tank.
I turned back to the sign. "Hot Food. Cold Drinks. Petting...Zoo." My eyes roved lower. "Rattlesnakes. Tarantulas. Scorpions."
A shudder of revulsion skittered down my spine on spider’s legs. I turned quickly away from the sign, only to come nose to chest with my lover, who embraced me quickly to keep me from bowling us both over. "Where’s the fire?"
"Oh! Sorry," I mumbled into her shirt, hiding my blush from her keen eyes. "It’s...um...nothing."
"Mm. Hm." Gently grasping my arms, she stepped back apace. "Thought you were gonna go... ." She cocked her head in the direction of the restrooms.
"I...um...changed my mind."
Her eyebrow hiked itself up over the rim of her glasses. As I watched, she turned her head just slightly, and I knew she was reading the same sign I’d just turned away from. I blushed again at my own foolishness.
After a second, she looked back at me. "I don’t think they’ll have them crawling around on the floor, Angel."
"Maybe not," I replied, my voice full of doubt, "but I’m not real sure if I want to frequent the establishment of someone who thinks that petting scorpions is a money-making venture."
Her laugh was low, and gentle, and soothing. "I don’t think you have anything to worry about." She looped an arm casually over my shoulders, holding me close to her side. "Besides, I haven’t heard Nia scream."
"She died silently," I replied darkly. "They’re probably burying her in the back right now."
She laughed again, more loudly this time, and bumped me with her hip. "C’mon, Angel-mine. I’ve got some gas to pay for, and you’ve got some kidneys to relieve."
"Sure, fine," I grumbled. "Just remember I don’t want an open casket at the funeral."
Goodbye, cruel world.
* * *
It was coming down evening as I spread my blanket atop a long, flat rock that sat on a small hill overlooking the Mexican desert. The rest of the afternoon had been relatively uneventful.
After Ice had finished her business with the gas station owner, she’d driven us back out into the desert to meet up with Rio and company, who’d parked by the side of the road five miles past the town they’d stopped in, ostensibly to fix a flat tire.
From there, we’d continued on for another few hours until we pulled off the road and found ourselves in a small, secluded valley surrounded by small hillocks on every side. It soon became obvious we were going to camp out for the night. Nia surprised me. Rather uncharitably, I’d figured her for a city girl, objecting to any hint of living rough.
Such wasn’t the case. She took to the idea much like a fish takes to water, and pitched in quickly, helping us unload the gear and set up camp, as if she’d been doing it her whole life.
The ground was cleared in short order, the tents—three in all—were quickly pitched, and a fire was started, surrounded by a ring of desert stones. Pony and Nia set to cooking up something for dinner as Ice, Critter and Rio stood off to one side, deep in conversation.
With no more chores to keep me occupied, I decided to take a blanket to the top of the westernmost hill and watch the sun set. It had become a habit since my introduction to the desert, and one which I was loathe to break.
So I sat on my rock which was still warm from the strong sun of the day, and watch the sky turn a myriad of colors as the sun moved inexorably closer to the horizon. Closing my eyes, I tilted my head back and felt the last heat of the sun stroke my face as the cooling desert wind gently ruffled the hair (I’d removed the godawful wig the moment we made camp with a sense of blessed relief) back from my brow.
Suddenly, I felt a warm, soft sweatshirt drape itself around my shoulders, bringing with it the sent of the w
oman I loved. I opened my eyes slowly, a smile curving my lips unbidden as I saw Ice standing above and behind me, her eyes brilliant with the last of the sun’s dying rays reflecting in them.
"Hey," I said, surprising myself with the huskiness of my voice.
"Hey yourself," she replied, smiling in that cockeyed way I so adored. "Mind some company?"
"Not at all."
Lowering herself behind me, I watched as her long legs appeared to either side of my own, and sighed blissfully as her arms wrapped themselves around my waist and pulled me slightly back until I was resting against her chest, wrapped in the warm nest of her arms, legs and body.
"Mmmm, I like this."
"Ya do, huh?" Her head lowered until her chin was resting on my shoulder. Her hair tickled against my cheeks, and the warmth of her body sent tingling heat through my own.
"Yup. A warm rock, a sunset, and you. There are worse things a body could wish for."
"Mm. Guess so." She squeezed me once, and then we both fell silent as the sun shone its last and sunk beyond the rim of the world for another day.
We celebrated the event with a kiss. More kisses followed, until they merged into one, single, passionate melding of lips and quickening breath.
Who knows how far we might have gone if a shout of "dinner’s ready!" hadn’t come from the valley floor below us?
"It’s a conspiracy," I muttered darkly, rearranging my T-shirt and buttoning my jeans as I made a concentrated effort to dampen down the fire raging though me.
Laughing softly in response, Ice rose gracefully to her feet, then pulled me up with deceptive ease. Pressing one more gentle kiss to lips still flushed with passion, she slipped an arm around my waist, and together we made our way down the hill to where our friends waited.
* * *
"Oh...dear...God!" I managed to gasp out as the last of the tremors washed though my body, leaving me weak and breathless and not quite all there.
The tremors—more like the spastic twitches of someone touching an electrified fence than anything else-- started anew as Ice made her way up my sweat-slicked body, pausing here and there to kiss and nip several of the more sensitive spots as she did so.
Her dark head popped out from beneath the sleeping bag, her eyes twinkling and still dark from the love we’d made. Stretching out full length next to me, she tenderly stroked my stomach and breasts, getting me used to my own skin again as she gentled me and brought me back home.
The expression on her face was love mixed with just a tinge of smugness.
Not that I blamed her in the slightest. With an alchemist’s precision and consummate skill, she’d managed, in just a few short moments, to turn me from a human being into a boneless octopus.
"You alright?" she asked after a moment, the husky timbre of her voice and the warm glow of her eyes filling me with a different sort of heat, no less welcomed than the fire we’d just shared.
"Mmm. Perfect, as always," I managed to mumble, my lips and tongue only grudgingly giving up their afterglow lassitude. "This camping out stuff has some merit to it, lemme clue ya."
Her subtle smirk became a full-out grin as she reached up and gently ruffled my hair.
"We’ll have to do it more often then."
Returning her grin, I rolled to my side and buried my face in the warm valley of her breasts. "I like that idea."
The flannel material of the sleeping bag tickled my face as Ice pulled it up to cover my rapidly cooling body. Her arm then wrapped around my waist, strong fingers stroking random, nonsense patterns against the damp skin of my back.
I had almost fallen asleep to the music of her heart when a thought intruded my fog-drenched thoughts and I stirred, untucking my head and looking up at my lover, who was staring ahead, seemingly lost in thought. "Ice?"
She blinked, coming back into herself and looking down at me, her gaze sharp and attentive. "Yes?"
"What’s the plan? For tomorrow, I mean. Did Rio get any good information?"
"Actually, she did." Pulling back slightly, she stretch, arching her back. I winced at the sound of several vertebrae slipping back into place. "Seems that our friend Cavallo has been hiring some local thugs as henchmen. Looks like some of his own men weren’t too keen on spending god knows how long stuck in the middle of nowhere without any place to spend their ill-gotten gain."
"Is that good for us?"
She shrugged. "Depends. They’ll be harder to spot, but I’ll take them over a trained professional any day. They’re generally easier to outsmart." The gleam in her eyes told me everything I needed to know about how much she was going to enjoy testing them.
"So...what happens now?"
"There’s an open air market that opens every Saturday. Rio’s contact says it’s a pretty big deal, especially since it’s close to Christmas. People from the surrounding towns and farms come to sell their produce and other wares. Rumor has it that Cavallo will send some of his men down to pick up some supplies that he can’t get from the smaller markets where he’s hiding."
"Where is he hiding."
Her eyes went far away again. "I don’t know. Yet. But if those idiots do manage to make an appearance, I’ll track him down to his lair." A cold smile curved her lips, chilling me to the bone.
Unable to stop myself, I reached up and stroked her face with the tips of my fingers, trying to bring her back from whatever darkness she’d gone into.
After a long moment, she was back and looking down at me with a bit of chagrin in her eyes. "Sorry."
"No need," I replied, smiling and keeping my hand cupped to her cheek. I felt my smile turn into a cheeky grin. "So, what will the rest of us mere mortals be doing while you’re making the world safe for humanity yet again?"
She laughed softly, reaching up to squeeze my hand, then bring it to her lips to lay a kiss to my palm. "Helping me."
My jaw dropped. "Excuse me? Would you mind repeating that?"
She laughed again. "You heard me."
"Well, yeah, I heard you, but... ."
Her face turned serious. "Angel, it’s one thing to go into a guarded compound with the express purpose of assassinating someone. It’s a different thing entirely to go into that same compound and try to bring that person out alive. I’m gonna need help, and I trust you guys to provide that for me."
"You know we will, Ice. No matter what."
She smiled. "I know."
The vow was sealed with a kiss.
* * *
I awoke the next morning to the sight of the morning sun filtering its way through the nylon fabric of the tent. I could tell straightaway that the air was brisk and cool, but I was warm, tucked in a soft nest of sleeping bags and blankets. I was alone, of course, but that realization didn’t really bother me, as I knew without doubt that Ice was somewhere very close. The thought of her, and the love we had shared well into the night brought a smile to my lips as I stretched and yawned. The scent of bacon cooking over a Mexican wood fire assailed my senses and caused my mouth immediately to water.
Yup, this camping stuff is pretty much alright in my book.
Just as I was considering rolling over and catching a few more winks, the tent flap eased open and Ice ducked in, her hands occupied with carrying a plate of food and a tin mug of what smelled like coffee. Straightening almost to her full height (it was a pretty tall tent), she looked down at me, a smile gracing her lips.
She looked magnificent in her soft, warn jeans, ribbed black T, and roomy flannel worn open over her rangy, muscled frame. Her black hair was loose and flowing over her broad shoulders, and her face sported a sun-kissed glow, giving her the appearance of rugged immortality that I just couldn’t seem to tear my eyes away from.
Not that I wanted to, of course.
Her beauty always took my breath away, and I would gladly live with that particular affliction for the rest of my days and beyond.
Quirking an eyebrow at my blatant appraisal, she lowered herself gracefully down to the floor of the tent t
o sit crosslegged next to me, balancing plate and cup on her knees.
"Sorry," I managed to finally get out, blushing under the weight of her return, if patient, stare. "Um...is that for me?"
"Sure is," she replied, nodding. "If you’re hungry."
"I could eat," I allowed, untangling myself from my comfy nest and sitting up. The cool air from the outside hit my naked body with a slap, causing an all-over shiver. "Brr."
Putting the plate and cup on the ground, she pulled her shirt from her body and drew it over mine, helping my arms through the sleeves and deftly buttoning it over my chest and belly. I couldn’t help but laugh as I held out my arms, a full four inches of spare fabric dangling uselessly over the tips of my fingers.
Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, she helped me roll the cuffs up so that my hands were finally exposed, then handed me the breakfast she’d brought with her.
"Oh, this is good," I managed, around mouthfuls of eggs and bacon washed down by strong, bracing coffee. "Remind me to thank the cook."
"If you don’t kill her first," she replied, eyes twinkling mischief.
"Nia made this?" I asked, disbelieving. In all the time I’d known her, I’d never seen her anywhere near a kitchen, let alone actually in one.
"Yup. She’s pretty handy with a cookfire."
"Wow," was all I could think to say in return.
* * *
Ice left after I was finished, taking my dirty dishes with her to clean. Left to my own devices, I got up and dressed quickly, more due to the cold rather than any particular hurry. After pulling on the damnable wig over my hair and straightening it to the best of my ability, I opened the tent flap and walked out into the morning air, squinting at the bright sunlight shining down on the campsite.
My friends were working like a group of industrious bees clearing out a hive. As I walked over to where Ice was stowing some gear in the trunk, I couldn’t help but notice Pony and Critter dismantling one of the tents, grinning and giggling like a couple of schoolgirls. Their faces and eyes had a glow about them. Almost as if... .