Sierra City
They walked on in silence, their boots scuffing the rocks, the only sound. Chris led them higher, towards an overlook. She took out her flashlight and cast the beam ahead of them. They came near the edge and stopped, both looking out over the moon-touched mountaintops. The distant peaks all but glowed in the moonlight."It’s so quiet," Jessie whispered. "Beautiful."Chris nodded. Indeed, it was enchanting. Her eyes strayed from the moon-kissed peaks to Jessie. Jessie stood, bathed in the moonlight, her face aglow as she scanned the horizon. Chris couldn’t pull her eyes away. She had never seen anything more beautiful.    Jessie stood motionless, her eyes fixed on a distant mountain peak. A memory tried to crowd in . . . he was beside her, holding her, keeping her warm. What else? Were they camping? Had they been up this high? She closed her eyes, but still, she couldn’t remember. Instead, an image came to her of them camping near the river. She was seven, maybe eight and he had taught her to tie flies that trip. They had fished for hours the next day, bringing their catch home. It was one of the few times she could remember Annie having dinner with them."What are you thinking about?" Chris asked quietly.Jessie shook her head. "Nothing really. Just  . . . it’s so quiet. No owls. No wind. Nothing."    Chris nodded, not wanting to speak and disturb the silence. She knew they should get back. It was getting late. And colder. But Jessie looked so peaceful standing there, her arms crossed against her waist as she stared out into the vastness.Jessie felt Chris watching her. She turned and caught her eyes, her breath catching at the unguarded desire she saw there. It was at that very moment she realized she was starving for physical contact, for intimacy. And not from a total stranger she’d just met at a bar. She could imagine Chris kissing her, holding her. She wanted her heart to pound with life like she knew it would, should their lips meet.    Chris swallowed hard, the sound echoing in her ears, so loud, she was sure it was bouncing off the canyon walls, for all to hear. But there was only Jessie, eyes locked with her own. Chris silenced the voice in her head that urged her to turn and go, leaving Jessie to follow if she chose. Instead, she stepped closer to the eyes that beckoned, unable to resist any longer. Their eyes locked again, then Jessie moved into her arms, her mouth searching for Chris’ waiting lips. The flashlight fell unnoticed between them as Chris pulled her closer, her hands on Jessie’s hips holding her flush against her. Their mouths moved together, tongues meeting as they let their desire rage unchecked.    "Oh, God, yes," Jessie breathed, pressing her hips more firmly against Chris. She let her desire overtake her, felt her knees grow weak as Chris’ hands moved up her sides, stopping just beneath her breasts. Jessi tried to remember a time she’d wanted another’s touch this desperately. There was none. The countless, nameless list of strangers paraded through her mind in seconds and then there was only Chris, whose hands stoked the fire within her.