Leather And Lace Part 6

"It's just a bad bruise." He announced as he stood up. "But your ribs probably should be wrapped."

"I can do it, if you've got an ace bandage." Kris offered as she looked from Raven to John and back.

"We have a good stock of first aid supplies on hand and as soon as the planes secured you can get on board." John responded.

All three stiffened when Andrew and Regina advanced in their direction. "Captain Chandler." He said with contempt dripping from his voice. "I must protest." He made it obvious that he was looking her over from top to bottom. "I will NOT take orders from a woman who thinks she can do a MAN's job." He stood in front of her with his fists on his hips. His wife was standing beside him with a smug grin on her face.

Raven straightened her back, taking full advantage of the difference in their height. "Your protest will be noted, Amba.s.sador." She kept her voice even and calm. "But you, your family and staff are my responsibility and until we reach Washington, I'm afraid we're stuck with each other. So I suggest you make the best of it, sit back and enjoy the ride." She turned with the intention of walking away, but his voice stop her.

"No, MISS Chandler, I won't." Andrew Whitfield had never had to deal with very many strong women in his life and most of those just turned a deaf ear because if was easier than dealing with the man and his out dated att.i.tudes.

Raven slowly turned around to face him. She had dealt with people trying to bully her most of her life and this guy was an amateur. She ignored his t.i.tle as he had hers. Not that she really cared less about them, but she returned the insult. "Mr. Whitfield." She had moved to stand about a foot in front of him and looked down. She resembled a predator looking at its next meal. "You will get on that plane or I'll pick you up and put you on it." She had her hands clasped behind her back and remained outwardly calm, but her voice rumbled dangerously low in her chest. "Do I make myself clear?"

Kris stared in awe as Raven transformed from the friend that she had comforted two nights ago into a hardened, battle trained warrior that she had a tiny glimpse of on the boat and a little longer glimpse of on the bike. The warrior, as Kris was beginning to think of her, stood proud and confident. Kris wished that she had a fraction of that self-a.s.surance. 'Maybe if I did I could have taken control of my life sooner.' Her attention was drawn back to the minor conflict when she heard her mother's voice.

"You can't threaten the Amba.s.sador that way." Regina said with a fair amount of hostility.

The Captain smiled but there was nothing friendly about it. She noticed out of the corner of her eye, one of her men signaling that the plane was ready. "I strongly suggest that you get on the plane, Amba.s.sador, before I carry out my 'threat' in front of your staff and your family." This time when she turned, she did walk away. She motioned for Kris to follow her on board.

Kris was enjoying the bewildered looks that followed the Captain as she headed up the ramp and into the plane and had to jog to catch up. "That was a first." She said when she was even with Raven. "I've never seen anyone order him around before."

Raven grabbed a first aid kit and walked several more steps before coming to a sudden halt. She turned to her companion. "I wasn't ordering you to follow me in here." She was worried that Kris might have been frightened by the way she intimidated her father. "I mean I would never just order you around like that unless your safety depended on it."

Kris was again amazed at the way Raven could go from a fearless warrior to a very insecure woman. She saw an almost frightened look on her friend's face. 'She thinks I'm scared of her. That I'll run away from her.' She reached out and laced her fingers through her companions. "I know that." She blushed. "That intimidation thing you did was actually kind of s.e.xy. In fact," Kris figured she might as well finish totally embarra.s.sing herself. "I bet you look very hot in a uniform."

It was Raven's turn to blush. "Uh, we don't have a uniform, unless you count dull grey or drab green fatigues." 'If just thinking about a uniform does that to her maybe I should push for dress blues or something.' Raven opened the door to the small compartment that she used as an office and sleeping quarters. She smiled, bowed and motioned for the young woman to precede her.

The plane was one of two C-17's The Division had. It was a four-engine monster that was designed as a cargo plane for the military. Part of the large cargo area had been sectioned off and used as sleeping compartments for the crew and any pa.s.sengers that might be on board. It also had a fairly comfortable seating area for two-dozen people, a small galley, two toilets, communications and navigational areas behind the c.o.c.kpit and as John had mentioned earlier, a small first aid center.

Kris placed the kit on the desk. "Take off your shirt." She instructed her patient as she removed the bandage from its protective cellophane wrapping and didn't hear Raven come up behind her.

"Is that a proposition, Ms Whitfield?" She wrapped her arms loosely around Kris' waist. Raven didn't want her companion thinking she was pressuring her into anything.

Kris turned around and placed her arms around Raven's neck. "It is if you want it to be." She answered shyly but sincerely.

That caught Raven off guard. She had only been playing with Kris, not trying to inflame the desire that was speeding through her body and that she now saw smoldering in the green eyes. She lowered her head slowly as Kris rose up to meet her. They both hesitated a second, expecting the usual interruption. When it didn't come, they both continued their motion, closing the distance between them. They both watched hypnotized as tongues darted out to moisten suddenly dry lips. Eyes closed as mouths met in a brief delicate kiss. Heads tilted in opposite directions as lips met again. A moan from her companion was all that was needed to drive the last rational thought from Raven's mind. She drove her tongue into the slight opening left by the escaping erotic sound. She knew she had lost all control when she blindly backed Kris against the wall.

Kris heard the moan and was mortified that something that sounded so l.u.s.tful came from her. But when Raven's tongue entered her mouth, she didn't care. She moved her arms to circle Raven's waist and slipped them under her shirt to caress bare skin. When she felt the wall behind her back, she opened her stance slightly to accommodate Raven's body between her legs. She grabbed two handfuls of Raven's backside and pulled the woman roughly into her. "Please." She begged as their mouths parted for much needed air.

Raven's hands rested on Kris' thighs as she thrust her hips against the young woman pinned to the wall, before rational thought returned. She took deep breaths, trying to calm the pa.s.sion that raced through her body. "Kris, I want you, desperately, but not like this. I want our first time to be special, not with you pushed up against the wall." She straightened up and pulled her companion to her. She ran her hands soothingly up and down Kris' back and kissed the top of her head. "Is that okay?" Kris nodded her head. "Are you okay?"

"I, uh, yeah, I'm good." She looked up into blue eyes. "I'm sorry, that's never happened to me. I've never felt like that before. I was completely out of control."

"I'm the one that needs to apologize, I know better. I just sorta lost it when we kissed. I've never felt like that after one kiss, either." Raven replied honestly. No one had ever gotten to her like this young woman had and she wasn't so sure it was a good thing, but she knew she couldn't stop it and if the truth were known, she didn't want to.

They held each other a few minutes longer before Kris pulled back. "Come on, my warrior, I need to take care of your ribs."

Raven raised both eyebrows in surprise. "Warrior? Where did that come from?"

"That's what you reminded me of when you faced down my parents. And besides, a soldier is a kind of warrior." She reasoned as she began wrapping the bandage around her companion.

With their extra-curricular activities they didn't have time to change clothes before having to join the others in the seating area before take-off. They heard the raised voices before they entered the cabin. Kris just shook her head when she heard her mother's voice and then Parker's, complaining. Raven pinched the bridge of her nose. With the desire she felt for Kris still coursing though her veins and the irritation of dealing with these people combined with a possible traitor somewhere in The Division and lack of sleep, she was developing one Hades of a headache.

"What seems to be the problem now?" She didn't raise her voice but nonetheless captured everyone's attention as she stood just inside the entranceway to the seating area.

Kris had entered first and moved into the room resembled a lounge that you might find at an expensive hotel. And the seats looked more like leather executive chairs that you would find in a boardroom than in a plane. They were arranged into groups of two with a small table in-between. She saw her sister sitting with Issy and headed towards them.

Raven saw that Simmons was the one under attack, not John. 'He must have escaped to the c.o.c.kpit. Wish I'd thought of it first.' She saw the haggard look on the poor man's face and addressed the two troublemakers. "Well?" She noticed the Amba.s.sador sitting by himself, quietly staring out the window and wondered if she should be worried about it. But now she didn't have time to wonder if he'd given in or was he plotting something.

"We aren't even being told where it is that you're TAKING us." Parker made it clear that he was against the entire evacuation.

"This whole thing is absurd." Regina continued. "You come to us under false pretenses, take advantage of our hospitality and put G.o.d only knows what kind of...ideas into my daughter's head. Parker was right, you're one of 'those' women." She stared at the muscular arms that were folded across the Captain's chest and particularly at the tattoo that surrounded her right biceps. She had had a Greek Key design done after she had finished her training; it was done in a deep rich purple color and was about a half inch in height.

Kris had taken a deep breath to give her mother a piece of her mind, but hesitated when she felt her sister's hand on her arm. "Let Ms...Captain Chandler handle it. It'll only make mother more irrational if you jump to the Captain's defense." Vivian reasoned.

"You know she's right, child." Issy added and Kris held her tongue.

Raven raised an eyebrow and chuckled at the older woman's righteous att.i.tude before she turned to Parker. "Mr. Lewis, you've not been told because we've just received clearance for our destination." She addressed the entire room. "We will land at the NATO Base which is also a US Naval Air Station in Keflavik, Iceland to refuel and re-supply. From there our final destination is Bolling Air Force Base just south of Washington, DC. We should be landing in Washington by tomorrow morning barring any unforeseen delays."

When there weren't any questions or comments directed at her, Raven turned her attention back to Regina. "First of all, Mrs. Whitfield, the false pretense was necessary because of you and your husband's att.i.tude towards women in any authoritative position. Although I'm not sure why that doesn't apply to you, because you sure as h.e.l.l like to boss people around. Secondly, hospitality doesn't enter into it. I wasn't a guest and you definitely weren't friendly." Raven was surprised that the woman had kept her mouth shut. "And if you mean that I work out and that I'm in a position to give orders and have men follow them, then yes, I'm one of 'those' women. And as far as Kris is concerned, I'm not aware of putting any ideas into her head. She has a mind of her own and can make decisions for herself with out any help from me." She paused and debated, then added. "You don't have to like me Mrs. Whitfield, this isn't a popularity contest. Which is a good thing, because I'm d.a.m.n sure neither of us would win."

Regina Whitfield closed her mouth with a snap. She was completely taken aback; she had never been talked to in that manner before and was at a complete loss. Her entire repartee of scolding remarks seemed to have left her.

John walked in and was immediately aware of the fact that the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. He looked from his Captain to the woman she was staring down and cleared his throat. "We've, uh, received clearance and are ready to taxi and take-off if everyone will take a seat and buckle-up."

Raven acknowledged her lieutenant, took a seat and closed her eyes. She would let Kris decide if she wanted to a.s.sociate with her after Raven's verbal thrashing of the young woman's mother. 'Idiot, you couldn't hold your tongue, oh no, you had to put her in her place. Well Raven, I hope you're happy. You've pretty much made Kris have to go against her mother in order to have anything to do with you.' She berated herself. Her headache was getting worse, she was exhausted and she was quickly becoming rather p.i.s.sed off at the world.

"Hey." Kris sat in the chair next to Raven. "That was quite an accomplishment." She elaborated when she received a confused expression. "I've never seen her speechless before." Kris was aware of the fact that showing her allegiance to Raven would cause all kinds of problems later but she also knew that this was the first step for her to take control of her life. "You okay? You look tired." She saw the drawn features on her companion's face.

Raven opened her eyes and saw the look of genuine concern floating in the normally bright green eyes that now were somewhat dull. "I am." A simple statement from most people, but from the stoic Captain it was a breakthrough of her tough exterior. The image that she presented to her colleagues and to the world in general, was a self-sufficient, don't need anybody, individual. Not that she wasn't self-sufficient, she definitely was. But she did admit at least to herself, that after meeting the young woman sitting beside her, she most a.s.suredly needed Kris in her life. "You don't look that bright eyed and bushy tailed either, my friend." She squeezed Kris' hand that was rubbing her forearm. "It's just been a very long and extremely grueling night."

'She called me her friend.' Kris smiled and a little of the twinkle reappeared in her eyes. She was very aware of the fact, even in the short time she had known Raven, that friend was more than just a word to the complicated woman. "I can understand the 'bright eyes' part of that saying, but the 'bushy tail'? I'm personally very glad that I don't have one. I'm sure you will be too." She tried to stay completely serious but the corner of her mouth turned up at the raised eyebrows and grin from her companion.

'Well, well. She can be playful at a time like this.' Raven didn't try to keep the grin from forming on her face. She felt the plane gain speed and lift off as she leaned in close to Kris' ear and whispered huskily. "I'm sure I will be, too. But tell me, are there any...bushy...places that I should be made aware of?" A blinking red light attached to the phone on the forward bulkhead interrupted her before she could continue which was a good thing considering they had an audience.

'Oh my G.o.d.' Kris was trying to control her breathing and her desire. She could feel the heat rising from point's south, upward across her neck and face. She could also feel the moisture collecting on her underpants and crossed her legs. 'I'm certainly glad I didn't have time to change into clean clothes.'

The Captain hung the phone up and turned. "The pilot says we should have a smooth flight until we start our decent into Keflavik, then it might get a little b.u.mpy. If you're hungry, there are sandwiches, fruit, cereal and a couple of different hot meals the base provided. If you want to rest there are small rooms with cots where you can lay down or you can stay here. The flight deck and the cargo area are the only places that are off limits on the plane." She announced. "Our ETA is about six hours."

Several people started moving around and a few headed towards the food. Vivian squatted down beside her sister. "You ok?" She asked puzzled. "You look a little flushed."

Kris cleared her throat. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine."

"You hungry? I was going to grab a sandwich or something. You want to join me?" Viv looked a little spooked still.

Kris and her sister had grown apart over the last few years. Ever since Kris had finished her schooling, they had spent less time together since Vivian was still with the tutor a good portion of the day. But when they had been younger, especially when they stayed with their grandparents, they had been inseparable. Strange since Vivian and Martin were twins and twins in most instances seemed to be connected to one another. But this wasn't the case, Vivian and Martin barely tolerated each other. Kris had often wondered if she and Viv might have been found on the doorstep, since neither one of them seemed to share their parent's personalities. "Yeah, I could eat. Let me tell Raven."

They looked over their choices and Kris grabbed a turkey on sourdough, an apple and a can of Pepsi while Viv took pastrami on rye, two chocolate chip cookies, a bottle of iced tea and one of water as well. They sat down at a small table in a room just off the galley. "This has, um, been different." Vivian took a swallow of her drink.

Kris chewed a bite of sandwich and swallowed. "Yes, it has." She wasn't sure if Vivian was upset or just trying to fill the silence.

"That cute Sergeant Hardly is headed this way. I think he has a crush on you." Viv grinned at her sister's 'why me' expression.

"You think he's cute?" Kris asked as she wrinkled her nose.

Viv waggled her hand back and forth. "In a hound dog sort of way, yeah." She responded in a whisper. "And he seems like he's a decent kinda guy."

"Sergeant Hardly, I guess I should apologize for tricking you. I hope you didn't get into too much trouble." Kris said sincerely.

"Don't you worry about that, ma'am. I'll forget all about it if you call me Herman." He looked at her with an expression that was a cross between goofy and endearing.

'Oh boy!' Kris wondered if this day could get any worse. 'Scratch that, I don't want to know.' She didn't want to be mean to the poor man, but on the other hand she didn't want to encourage him either. "Ah, Herman, thanks for not holding it against me."

Vivian was aware of the fact that Kris was squirming and decided to have some fun. She figured they'd had a really horrible day and she was ent.i.tled. "Herman, why don't you sit down and join us. I'm sure you have a few stories you could tell us. After all a big brave soldier like yourself must have some heroic tales to tell." She didn't dare look at her sister; she knew she would lose it if she did. It took all of her control not to break down at the puffed-up look of importance the Sergeant was emanating.

"Hardly." A voice rang out behind him.

He jumped to attention, knocking his chair over in the process. "Yes, Captain."

"Lieutenant Logan is looking for you." She waited until he had scurried off before she unceremoniously collapsed into the righted chair. "Hey." She addressed the other two table occupants.

"Hey." Kris responded. "You should eat something, in fact I'll go get it. What'cha want?" She was going to make sure Raven got something to eat and then got some sleep.

"Ham and cheese if we've got it and a bottle of water, please ma'am." She leaned forward, placing her forearms on the table.

Vivian watched her sister disappear through the door. "Captain Chandler, is it?" She turned to the older woman. "Kris seems to like you. Our parents seem to dislike you. That could cause problems for my sister and I don't want to see her hurt." She looked into blue eyes that held many different emotions. From worry to sadness, pain to what might have been a little bit of fear. But Viv noticed the expression soften into tenderness and turned to see what caused the change. She watched Kris walk back to the table and place the food in front of the Captain.

"I brought you an orange." She put it in Raven's hand. "Eat it." She commanded. "It's good for you, full of vitamin C." She looked at the uneasy body language of her tablemates. "What?"

Raven took a bite of sandwich and swallowed before answering. "Vivian is concerned about you siding with me over your parents." She rushed on before the ire she saw building in the young woman's body, exploded. "Sagira, she doesn't want to see you get hurt and neither do I." Raven had to stop herself from reaching out to comfort her upset companion.

The endearment and sentiment soothed the savage beast, somewhat. Kris took a calming breath. "Viv, I know you mean well, but I'm an adult and I'm not going to let them dictate the way I live my life. Not anymore." She looked down at the table and drew patterns in the condensation left by her can of Pepsi. "I couldn't be happy being Parker's showpiece, you know that. I don't love him, I love...my writing." Her mouth stumbled over what her heart wanted to say but she wasn't sure if her sister could handle her being in love with the Captain. 'Or is it that I'm scared that I can't handle her not being able to handle it?' She questioned her own insecurities.

Vivian watched the non-interaction between the two women, which was just as telling as if they had comforted one another. Raven tensing her muscles to stop her arm from reaching out to hold Kris' hand that rested on the table not far from hers. And the looking down by Kris to hide the look of total adoration in her eyes every time she glanced at the Captain. Viv wasn't going to broach the subject of love for them. Viv also wasn't going to tell her sister that she had figured out that Kris was probably gay. She had often wondered about that ever since the lack of interest shown by Kris, not just in Parker but in all boys in general. She leaned over the table to capture her sister's full attention. "I know. And I think you should follow your...heart. Hopefully father and mother will understand that Parker's not the one for you, but if they don't, it's their loss. Don't give in, Kris." She patted her sister's hand and turned to the Captain. "What did you call her?"

Lighter conversation followed while Raven finished her sandwich and ate her orange under the watchful eye of her companion. They stayed together at the table pa.s.sing some of the boring hours that usually made a long flight seem longer.

They returned to the lounge area to strap themselves in when the telltale sign of ears closing up meant the plane's decent into Iceland had started. They had been spared the withering looks of Regina Whitfield and the seething comments of Parker since neither had been seen after takeoff. And were still pleasantly missing. The Amba.s.sador seemed to be in a world of his own. He had reclaimed his seat after taking advantage of the services offered by swallowing a quick meal.

"How long are we going to be here?" Kris asked while the plane taxied from the runway towards one of the hangers.

"An hour tops." Raven answered. "Just long enough to file a flight plan, restock supplies and refuel. Why don't you go try to get some sleep? It's going to be a long night, at least what's left of it and a very long day tomorrow if you don't." She had to stop her traitorous hands from reaching out to caress Kris' cheek.

"I think I will, I'm beat." She cleared her throat and looked down. "Can we...ah...I mean...will you join me?" She blushed. 'Why am I so shy after what we almost did several hours ago?' She questioned herself. "Just to hold each other, I mean." She clarified. "You said you wanted...it...to be special and all." She turned redder when she realized what she'd said. 'Oh G.o.d, I can't even call it making love or sleeping together, I had to say 'it'.' She fought down her embarra.s.sment and turned her attention to her companion when she realized Raven was speaking.

Raven wondered why Kris was so embarra.s.sed. She knew that there were some people that couldn't talk about s.e.x. Oh they could do the kinkiest things in bed, but ask them to talk about it later and they'd faint dead away. Or could it be that she was just inexperienced? And if she was, was it because of being with another woman or was it being with anyone? 'I'll have to find out later, now is not the time or place.' "Yes." She answered and smiled. "I have to talk to the base commander first, but I'll join you after."

Kris leaned over the small window and watched the tall woman walk along the tarmac towards the car that was headed her way. The wind whipped the heavy arctic jacket the Captain was wearing, around her body. "What am I going to do with you, Taz?" Kris mumbled. "It must be freezing out there and you don't even zip your coat up." She sighed and made her way to Raven's cabin.

Captain Chandler and Lieutenant Logan spent most of the time they were on the ground in the base's communications center receiving instructions and relating the details of what had happened, to Colonel Albright. Raven did tell him about the possible infiltration at the emba.s.sy by the two supposed groundskeepers, but didn't mention that she thought that they might have a leak at headquarters.

She entered her cabin to find Kris asleep in her bunk and a smile quickly spread across her face. She briefly wondered how long it had been since she had smiled this readily and this much. She gently sat down on the edge of the bed and brushed the blonde hair away from the peaceful face and discovered sleepy green eyes trying to open. "Shh, go back to sleep, Sagira. I didn't mean to wake you."

Kris propped up on one elbow. "Not until you join me." She brushed her lips across the palm of Raven's hand that she had placed on Kris' cheek.

"I should get cleaned up." Raven really didn't want to do anything but crawl into bed, hold and be held by Kris.

"Come on, Taz, we can take a long hot shower tomorrow." Kris said sleepily. She blushed when she realized what she had suggested.

Raven chuckled. "But I'm too tired so move over." She climbed in bed after she changed into a clean t-shirt and pair of boxers.

Kris held up the cover so Raven could get underneath. They snuggled up together, wrapping arms around each other and legs adjusting to find comfortable positions. They held one another in silence, listening to and feeling the slow and steady inhale and exhale of each other's breath. Both women had been nervously considering the direction their lives were headed. Both knew that they wanted the other one to be a major part of their life, but were afraid that the other may not be quite as serious. Kris tilted her head back and looked up at her companion who was also still awake. "Can I ask you something?"

"You have to ask me that after all I've told you? What else could I possibly keep from you?" Raven grinned.

Kris saw her companion's blue eyes sparkle with playfulness from the small lamp that Raven had left on for Kris so she wouldn't have to get up in a strange place in the dark. "What's going to happen, with us, when we get home?" She hated to turn serious but not knowing was driving her crazy. "I know Seattle is a long way from Washington DC, but I don't want to lose you."

Raven wiped a lone tear away that had run down from the pleading green eyes that were begging her to make everything okay. She decided to be honest with the young woman that had gotten so far into her battered and dark soul, that Raven feared what she would do if she ever lost her. "Kris, I don't want to lose you either." She kissed the forehead that her cheek was resting against. "Colonel Albright told us tonight, that we would be continuing to head up the security for you and your family, until the government relieves us. That'll take a couple of days at least." She took a deep breath. "I don't know how you want to handle your family or how much you want to tell them, but be a.s.sured that I need you in my life, Kris. I don't know how to make any relationship last, much less a long distance one, but I want to try."

"What do you mean by long distance?" She was afraid that Raven didn't want her to come to Seattle.

"Well, with me working in Seattle and you working in DC, I call that long distance." She explained to her very confused looking companion.

It suddenly dawned on Kris that Raven must a.s.sume Kris had wanted to be involved in the political world and wanted to work in DC. "No, I never wanted to work in politics. Just because I wrote my father's speeches they a.s.sumed that was what I would do until I was married. No, definitely don't want to do that, I hate politics."

"Really?" Raven felt better. "So tell me, what does a speech writer that hates politics want to do?" She felt arms tighten around her waist.

'Spend the rest of my life loving you.' Kris grinned. 'Maybe I'd better not dump that on her just yet.' "I want to write science fiction or maybe fantasy fiction or possibly mysteries. My parents don't know this but I've sold some short stories to magazines. My grandparents keep and invest the money I've made for me."

"Have you, ah, ever had the desire to see Seattle." Raven was a little nervous about asking Kris to move that far away from home to live with someone she hardly knew. "Maybe come for a visit and see if you might like living there?"

"Not until I met you. Now I would live anywhere as long as you were there too." She swallowed hard. She was unsure of what Raven was really asking her and she didn't want to make a fool of herself, but she had to know. "Raven, are you asking me to live with you?"

"Please think about it before you answer." Raven rushed ahead. "I know this is sudden and if you want to get separate apartments or what ever, it's okay. I just want you close to me."

"I don't need to think and I don't want separate anything." She saw relief and happiness settle on her companion's features. She tightened her arms around the strong body and laid her head on the Captain's shoulder. She sighed in contentment. 'Haven't you figured it out by now, Taz? I love you and I'm not letting you get away.' Kris wished she had the courage to voice that out-loud.

Raven let go of the breath she was holding and sucked another one in deeply. "Thank the G.o.ds for that. Because the only way you could get rid of me now, is to drop me from the plane." The joy she felt in her heart flowed throughout her entire being. "Oh, in case you haven't figured it out either, Sagira, I don't want separate anything's either." They kissed, but didn't let it get out of hand like earlier. It was a kiss to confirm the love they felt, but couldn't yet admit to each other. Not one to ignite pa.s.sion, and although they found it hard to break apart, they did. "Goodnight, Kris."

Kris brushed the backs of her fingers down Raven's cheek, then snuggled back down into Raven's arms. "Goodnight, my warrior." Sleep came surprisingly easy for both women, considering the gauntlet of emotions that they had run in the last twenty-four hours and the uncertainty of what would happen in their future.

Continued in Part 3.

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