Page 33

The sensations heightened with every stroke, her body responding to the vivid image in her mind of Sam’s lips on hers, the soft moan of pleasure that Sam always let slip when their mouths met. Kara bit her lip, her hand moving with more urgency now, the pressure building as she remembered the feel of Sam’s mouth traveling down her neck, biting, teasing. It wasn’t just desire; it was love, deep and all-encompassing. Kara exhaled a trembling breath, her fingers moving faster, imagining Sam’s touch—rougher now, insistent, the way Sam always was when she was desperate to feel every inch of her.

Her body arched, her free hand pressing against the cool wall for support as her legs weakened under the pressure of her own touch. She gasped, the sound soft but desperate, muffled by falling water, her fingers circling her clit and driving her wild. Her mind was consumed by Sam—by the way, Sam would whisper her name, in that low voice that sent shivers down her spine, by the way, she would push her body against hers, hard.

With a final, sharp intake of breath, Kara’s body tensed, her climax crashing over her like a wave. Her knees shook as the pleasure traveled upwards through her belly, leaving her breathless anddizzy. The water now felt soothing against her flushed skin. Slowly, her hand fell away, and she leaned her forehead against the shower wall, letting the water continue to pour over her as her breathing steadied.

Sam. It’ll always be you, Sam.

As the sensations faded, Kara let her thoughts drift beyond her relationship. Fort Haven had changed so much since Sam had arrived. What had started as a rigid, distrustful community led by the captain who ruled with an iron fist had now transformed into something so different, it was beyond belief. Kara felt that she and Sam had definitely had something to dowith that change. Sam had really pushed for new ideas, and Kara had followed her lead. They were living in a world that seemed determined to destroy them, and so survival strategies, new plans, and shared experiences made life more bearable.

Fort Haven was more than surviving these days. It had come to life. They had devised innovative ways to grow food—vertical farming that utilized every square inch of spaceandhydroponic systems that meant they could cultivate vegetables and herbs year-round. The once-barren soil within the walls was now full of plants, tended by the community in shifts. They had tomatoes, beans, and leafy greens.

Over the last few months, new families and solo survivors have been welcomed, each bringing with them new knowledge andskills.

Sam had led the efforts to build a new and improved solar power system that now provided Fort Haven with electricity. The panels were scavenged from abandoned towns and cities, carefully transported on foot in teams, and installed piece by piece until the entire community could rely on the sun for warmth and light. No more dim, flickering candles or sputtering fires, the energy they generated powered their cabins, their communal kitchen, andeven their water filtration system, which had once seemed like an impossible dream.

Kara turned the shower handle, the cascade of water slowing to a final, reluctant drip. The sensation of steam clung to her skin, still warm and flushed from the heat, and the scent of Sam’s homemade lavender soap lingered in the air. She stepped out onto the cool, unforgiving concrete floor. Reaching for a towel hanging nearby, she pressed the soft fabric to her damp skin, starting at her arms, then across her breasts, her nipples hard as she savored the simple ritual of drying off. Each movement was slow and deliberate as if trying to hold onto the fleeting warmth a little longer.

As she left the room and closed the door behind her,her eyes landed on Sam, who was standing by the window, her back to Kara, her broad shoulders framed by the light filtering in through the glass. Sam turned at the sound of Kara’s footsteps, her face breaking into a broad smile, her eyes dark with the same longing that Kara had only a few minutes earlier felt in the shower.

“You think of me? That’s your post-orgasm face right there,” Sam teased affectionately. She stepped forward, her arms slipping around Kara’s waist, pulling her close.

Kara smiled, pressing her body against Sam’s, feeling the heat of her skin through the thin fabric of her robe. “Always,” Kara whispered, her lips brushing against Sam’s ear.

Sam’s hands moved to the small of Kara’s back, fingers tracing the curve of her spine. “Good,” Sam murmured, her voice deep and rough with desire. “Because I’ve been thinking about you… and your post shower look really does something to me.”

Kara laughed softly, her heart swelling with love for this woman who had become everything to her—her partner, her lover, her protector. “Really? Well, come over here. Let’s rectify that.”

They stood there for a moment, holding each other, the quiet beat of their hearts in sync. Kara tilted her head up, her lips finding Sam’s in a slow, tender kiss. The kiss deepened as Sam’s hand slid under her robe, and her fingers splayed across the bare skin of Kara’s hips.

Kara moaned softly into Sam’s mouth, her body already responding to the familiarity of Sam’s touch. It didn’t take much—just a look, a word, a brush of skin—and the fire between them would ignite all over again, as strong as it had been the first time.

But there was something different about their sex these days. Lust was still a significant factor, but it was so much more than that. It was about everything they’d been through—the battles,the fear, the loss—and how they’d come out the other side almost unscathed.

“I love you,” Kara whispered against Sam’s lips, her hand sliding up to cup Sam’s face.

Sam’s eyes softened, her expression full of the same unspoken emotion that Kara felt every time she looked at her. “I love you too,” Sam replied, her voice barely more than a breath. “Always.”

They kissed again, slower this time, savoring the momentand the taste of each other. Kara’s hands roamed across Sam’s body as she continued to commit to memory every line, every muscle, every scar—a map of their shared journey etched into her skin.

Kara murmured between kisses, her voice laced with playful mischief, “I’m pretty sure I could spend the rest of my life exploring you… and still find new places to get lost in.”

Sam chuckled. “Good thing we’re in this for life, then,” she teased, pulling Kara even closer. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”