Chapter Text
Night City. It wasn’t even a speck on the horizon anymore, but it loomed heavily over V’s thoughts all the same. Had she made the right choice? Sitting here, on the cool, metal chassis of the battered Basilisk, looking out over the dusk-hued rock outcrops and dusty plains, she could breathe more easily. More freely. But she hadn’t been able to shake the weight of what she’d left behind from her shoulders. Night City was all she’d ever known; its streets had felt like an extension of herself growing up and its people had been her family.
She cast her gaze to the grouping of tents not too far away, which was now a hive of activity as people prepared to settle down for the night. Her new family. The Aldecaldos. As she watched them set up bedding inside the tents and light fires for cooking, a tightness formed in her chest. When Saul had announced it, they had accepted her so easily, something that she’d never come across in the city.
She let out a sigh at the thought of the stubborn leader. The Aldecaldos had lost so many because of her. She had lost so many along the way.
“Eddie for your thoughts?”
V flinched at the sudden interruption to her musing and she flicked her gaze to the right, unable to stop the smile that pulled at her lips. Judy stood beside the Basilisk, gazing up at her with those dark eyes that could unlock the most impenetrable parts of V with a single glance.
She looked slightly dishevelled, her pink-tipped green hair hanging messily across one side of her dust-spattered face. Her clothes were creased and also bearing the marks of being on the road all day in the desert.
V slid down off the Basilisk and leaned against it, hoping she seemed more nonchalant than she felt. “Eh, do you think I’m that cheap?”
A flicker of surprise registered in Judy’s eyes before a smirk pulled at one corner of her mouth. She edged closer and traced her fingertips along the upper arm of V’s leather jacket. “I can think of better forms of payment.”
V’s gaze followed those fingers hypnotically. “Mmm?”
Judy lifted her hand and gently cupped V’s chin, bringing her attention back to concerned eyes. “You okay, V?”
V let out a short chuckle and leaned her head back against the Basilisk, closing her eyes. “You see right through me, huh?”
She felt Judy’s hand fall away and come to a rest at her own. Judy toyed with the fingertips there almost nervously, causing V to peek an eye open. Judy’s eyes were downcast, seemingly intent on watching where their hands met.
V sighed again and straightened, squeezing the other woman’s fingers once to reassure her. “Don’t worry about me. Just processing a few things.”
Judy glanced up at her face, taking measure of her, before turning and mirroring V’s pose against the Basilisk. She stared out at the darkening horizon. “Right.”
V felt a stab of guilt. She hadn’t been the only one to leave everything behind. Just half a day ago, she’d been reassuring Judy of all the hope that lay before them, the new beginnings, and here she was, brooding. Brooding and clamming up.
“What d’ya think we’ll find out there, V?” Judy murmured, breaking the silence that had engulfed them.
V let the silence return as she too eyed the horizon. Fucked if she knew. She’d never stepped outside of Night City in her life. The Badlands didn’t really count. They weren’t entirely outside the gravity of the city. Getting away from its clutches had felt like the only thing that mattered yesterday. Maybe when they were further from it, in another day or two, she’d feel more concerned about what was ahead of them, rather than behind them.
Realising she had yet to answer, V turned to face Judy again. “Honestly? I don’t know. But there’s a home out there for us somewhere, Judy.” And she meant it.
She watched as Judy’s brow relaxed and the tightness in her shoulders eased. “Does it… scare you?” she asked, still staring at shadows that now crept towards them from the horizon.
V studied Judy’s face for a moment, not entirely sure what she was asking her. “The uncertainty? Sure,” she said with a shrug of one shoulder. “But it’s exciting too. Don’t you think?”
A small smile pulled at Judy’s lips. “Yeah.”
That damn smile. V leaned towards Judy and lifted her hand to the other woman’s cheek, turning her head gently. “Whatever happens, we’re in it together.”
The smile widened. Dark eyes flickered down and back up to V’s. V couldn’t help but mirror the act as Judy’s lips parted slightly. A tightness formed in V’s stomach and her chest fluttered. She slid her fingers down Judy’s cheek, slipping her hand behind her neck, pulling her in. She heard Judy’s breath hitch as their lips met and suddenly the world melted away around them. No desert, no worries, and no damn Night City. Just Judy and her wonderful lips.
“Um…”
And Panam. Fuck.
Judy jolted back, a slight flush colouring her cheeks. V shot Panam a withering look.
“Hate to interrupt,” she said with a grin. “You do know we have this fantastic new technology called a tent, right?”
V rolled her eyes and glanced at Judy, who was rubbing the back of her neck and looking anywhere but at Panam. The two of them hadn’t had the chance to become properly acquainted yet and this wasn’t really the way V wanted it to happen.
Apparently taking pity on Judy, Panam let her grin drop into an easy smile. “Just wanted to let you know that grub’s up soon.” She jutted a thumb in the direction of the camp.
V pushed herself away from the Basilisk and took a few steps forward. “Thanks. Real considerate of you.”
Panam let out a chuckle. “Relax,” she said and motioned with her other hand to the tents. “And your tent’s the last one on the right. For future reference.”
Judy had come to stand beside V now having seemingly recovered from the initial awkwardness. She stood with a hand on her hip, her eyes flitting between the other two women.
Panam nodded in her direction and held out a hand. “Since V has forgotten her manners – I’m Panam. Welcome to the group.”
Judy regarded the outstretched hand and, for a moment, V thought she might reject it. But then she reached out, shook her hand, and said firmly, “Name’s Judy.”
Panam pulled her hand back, her eyes filled with uncertainty as she looked to V. V attempted to give her a reassuring smile, but she could feel the tension in the air too. It seemed like so long ago, but Judy had been fairly cold with her too when they first met. She guessed that was just how she was. Hopefully Panam would understand that.
Panam’s uncertainty was soon replaced with her usual confidence as she turned towards the camp. “We’ll get a chance to have a proper chat soon, I’m sure. I’ve got a few things to sort out, so I’ll see you later, V?”
V nodded in response and watched as Panam marched back to her people. She let out a breathy laugh. “Well, that was awkward.”
“Sorry, V. Kinda caught me off guard,” Judy said, a note of irritation in her voice.
“Hey, no,” V said quickly and moved closer to the other woman. “I meant…” she waved a hand around them. “…the situation. Not you.”
Judy rewarded her with a lopsided smile. “Coulda handled it a bit better though. I know she’s a good friend of yours.”
V leaned forward and brushed several strands of colourful hair from Judy’s face with one hand. “Plenty of time for all that.”
Judy’s brow creased and she dropped her gaze momentarily. “Yeah.”
Another stab of guilt. V frowned and reached out to embrace Judy, cursing her own choice of words. Her… prognosis was still something the pair of them had not been able to discuss yet. And she wasn’t sure she was ready for that conversation.
Judy waved her off and forced a smile. “Don’t worry about me. Just processin’ a few things.”
I guess I deserve that, V thought wryly. She looked to the camp. “You wanna get something to eat?”
Judy shook her head. “Think I’ll check out the tent.” She turned to leave, but hesitated, glancing over her shoulder. “See you there?”
“Course.”
Seemingly satisfied with that, Judy left, heading towards the cluster of brown and grey canopies. V let out a frustrated breath. They’d only just hit the road and things were awkward already. But perhaps that was because they’d left in such a hurry. As much as she didn’t want to do it, the two of them would have to hash things out. At the very least so they were on the same page about everything.
But, for now, food was beckoning.
*
Judy pulled the tent flap closed with a frustrated swing of her arm. You’re such a gonk, she seethed inwardly. V had only been trying to comfort her, to be positive, and Judy had stomped off like a child. She clenched her fists and forced a few steadying breaths into her lungs. Fucking feelings. They always seemed to knock her off the path she’d set for herself. Anger had caused her to do more than a few stupid things in her time. But fear had always been the loudest backseat driver in her life.
Fear of being alone had pushed her into the company of the wrong kinds of people, had entangled her with girls who only hurt her, and was now, ironically, building a wall between herself and the one good thing left in her life. But it wasn’t just the fear of being alone, it was the terrifying, suffocating knowledge that she could have happiness, she could let herself feel all that good shit, but it would likely be torn away from her.
She’d heard the murmurs amongst the nomads before they left, and again on the road. Things had gone to shit at Mikoshi. The Aldecaldos had lost one of their leaders and many of their people. And V… V had come back. But she hadn’t come back whole. Hell, she’d seen it written all over V’s face when she rushed to Judy’s apartment, asking Judy to leave Night City with her. That sickening fear churned inside Judy’s gut. And worst of all, V wouldn’t talk about it. Judy had just been left to guess what all those whispers truly meant.
But it hadn’t been fear that brought her here. It had been hope and… V. She’d hated Night City, for longer than she realised. She had wanted to leave for so long and had almost done so on a number of occasions. Just a week ago she had been on that precipice again, but again her feelings had derailed her plans. This time it was her feelings for V.
The memory of that night in the lakeside cottage knocked the anger and frustration out of her. She let her fists relax and took a look around the tent. Along one wall of the canopy lay what could only be described as a sleeping bag dropped on a few pallets, barely large enough for a single person, let alone a couple. Sleeping would be… cosy. She navigated past the bags and boxes containing some of her and V’s belongings that had been deposited inside the tent and plopped down on the bed. It was surprisingly soft. Perhaps sleeping here wouldn’t be so bad.
She closed her eyes and placed her palms behind her on the bedding, leaning into the memory of the last time she and V had shared a bed. What a night that had been. The sensations, the intense emotions, the tender touches, the longing looks, they all came to her with crystal clear clarity. She had felt so vulnerable in that bathroom, bearing herself to V, so sure she had misread things. Sure, they had flirted before, but that had seemed so light and easy. There had been no expectations there. But there in that bathroom, sitting so close to one another, the heaviness of the moment before hanging between them, Judy had felt such a yearning for V. And when V reached out and stroked her cheek, with a gentleness that Judy hadn’t thought her capable of, she came undone.
A shiver passed through her at the memory and she lingered over it. As terrifying as that moment had been, it had been worth it. So worth it. If she had let her fears control her then, she would never have experienced the bliss of that acceptance, of the hours that followed. She certainly wouldn’t have had the sweet, stolen moments in the next days, when V would swing by her apartment before rushing off to her next job. And she wouldn’t be sitting here, amongst a bunch of nomads, heading into the great unknown.
She leaned forwards then, resting her elbows on her knees and ran a hand over her face. She’d be so fucking stupid to let fear steal any more happy moments from her now.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she slipped off the makeshift bed and knelt before one of her bags, unzipping it quickly. She pulled out one of her portable interfaces and retreated back to the bed, sitting the interface on her lap. It brought with it a comforting solidity, something that grounded this strange, new phase of her life in the familiar. She booted the computer up and got to work. While she had decided that she wasn’t going to waste her time spent with V, she also wasn’t about to let that time pass without doing a damn thing about what was coming. If she could find something, anything that might help, she’d do everything in her power to do just that. Of course, it would have helped if she had all the facts, but some general research couldn’t hurt. And it would certainly make her feel less useless.
Pressing her lips together firmly, she manipulated the display in front of her with her fingers and began her dive into the deepnet.
*
“To your first night on the road,” Mitch slurred and clinked his empty bottle of beer against V’s.
She chuckled and raised her bottle to the others around the fire. “Cheers.”
The other Aldecaldos mimicked her gesture while Mitch glared at his bottle as though it had betrayed him.
“Here, idiot,” came Panam’s amused voice and she passed him an unopened bottle. He grunted appreciatively as Panam settled down on the rock beside V. “Settling in okay?”
V nodded and took a swig of beer. “You guys make it easy.”
Panam smiled and watched the embers of the fire flicker and dance towards the dirt at her feet. “Still got a long way to go.”
V peered at her friend out of the corner of her eye. “Me? Or the convoy?”
Letting out an amused snort, Panam grinned. “Both.”
V kicked at the dirt beneath her boots absently, scanning the people around her. She wasn’t surprised that Judy hadn’t joined them, but she had still hoped. “What’s our first stop?” she asked, her mind only partly on the conversation.
Panam leaned forwards and lifted her palms to the fire, rubbing them together occasionally. “A small town a couple of days out. We’ll resupply there. Have some friends close by who should be able to update us on the sitch in that area.”
V murmured her acknowledgment and dropped her gaze to stare at her beer bottle.
“We might find some other helpful info there too,” Panam said softly as she laid a hand on V’s forearm.
V shot her a grin. “No rush.”
Panam rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You can be such a jerk sometimes.”
V nudged Panam with her elbow, her grin widening. “One of my many amazing qualities.”
Panam scrunched her nose up at that and picked up her own beer, taking a few gulps from it. A peaceful silence fell over them and V felt herself relax a little more, the warm buzz of the alcohol and the jovial murmur of the people around them comforting her. She tilted her head back and gazed skyward, her eyes quickly adjusting to take in the clusters of stars that blanketed the night above them. It was breathtaking.
The sound of Panam clearing her throat brought V’s attention back down to Earth. “So, where’s your—where’s Judy?”
She scanned the people around them again, but the evening was as Judy-less as before. “Back at the tent,” she answered curtly.
Panam leaned towards her slightly, her voice lowered. “Everything okay there?”
V eyed her, unsure about whether to go into it or not. Panam looked so earnest though, so genuinely concerned, that she shrugged and sighed. “Really don’t know.”
“You looked pretty okay when I saw you earlier,” she said with amusement in her eyes.
A small smile tugged at V’s lips. “Yeah…” she let the word draw out as she considered the situation. “But I haven’t talked to her about… you know.”
A sudden seriousness creased Panam’s brow. “Damn, V. Are you planning on telling her?”
V felt a squirm of discomfort under her skin. “Of course. But I think she already knows.”
Panam nodded slowly. “I guess word gets around here pretty quickly.”
“Shit, Pan. She should have heard it from me.” V emptied the rest of her beer, gulping down the now too-warm liquid. “There just wasn’t time.”
Panam swiped a hand over her forehead, pulling several strands of dark hair out of her eyes. “That’s not your fault. If she has any sense, she won’t blame you.”
V felt an instant flare of defensiveness at that remark, but she wasn’t about to give Panam a hard time. She didn’t know Judy. “I do need to talk to her about it though. She deserves to know everything.”
“Something tells me that’s not at the top of your most wanted list right now.”
“No shit,” she breathed, tension returning to her shoulders once more. “What am I meant to say? Sorry, Judy, I dragged you out here with me but I’m gonna flatline in a few months. Enjoy it while it lasts, girl!”
“Come on, V,” Panam said with a shake of her head. “You didn’t drag her. She made her own choice.” She swivelled on the rock to fully face V. “And now you get to make your choice about how you want to handle this. You can continue being an idiot, or you can go over there and tell her how you feel.”
V’s eyes narrowed at her words. “Meaning?”
Panam prodded V’s forehead with her forefinger. “Are you seriously being this stupid on purpose?”
V jerked away. “It doesn’t matter how I feel.” She lifted a hand to her face and pinched the bridge of her nose, the growing ache in her chest making each breath feel forced. “She wanted… she wanted to get out of Night City. Hell, she needed to. And I’m glad I could help her with that. But I’m not going to be around for long—”
“V—” Panam started but swallowed her next words when V shot her a look.
“I’m not. Let’s be realistic here.” The ache grew. “She’s already lost so much. I’ve seen how it hurts her. She’s tough, but… I can’t do that to her.”
Panam let out a long breath as she mulled over V’s words. “I… I get it if you don’t want that for yourself, V. I do. But I don’t think you can make that decision for her. I don’t think you can protect her from this.”
Tears stung at V’s eyes but she forced them shut, refusing to let herself cry over this. What good was that going to do? Panam was right. She was kidding herself thinking that Judy only came to get out of the city. She was as much here for V as for a new life. She could see it in Judy’s eyes every time she looked at her.
“Yeah… yeah, you’re right. Fuck.”
Panam rested a hand on V’s knee and gave it a quick pat. “Look, V. It’s great that you’re talking to me about this, but you need to tell her. I don’t really know where you two stand, and I don’t know her, but this is chewing you up right now. And from what you said, it sounds like it’s getting to her too. So get your ass over there and sort this out.”
V let out a soft chuckle. Everything seemed so clear to Panam – you identified the problem, you made the plan, you executed the plan. V had always admired that about her. And it had always seemed to work for her in the end, but she wasn’t so sure that was the case for herself. She straightened her back and rolled her shoulders, easing a little of the tension there. She had never been one to run from a fight though; she’d face this head on too.
Giving V’s knee one final squeeze, Panam rose and smiled down at her friend. “That’s decided then.”
V stood as well, running a hand through her hair. “Thanks, Pan. I guess I needed that.”
“Anytime,” Panam said with a nod and clapped V on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
Taking a deep breath, V offered her friend one last uncertain smile and headed off towards the tents.
*
As V pulled the tent flap aside, she heard a scuffle from within. When she stepped inside, her gaze found Judy immediately. Dark eyes were widened, staring at her with a mixture of surprise and something V couldn’t quite place. One hand clasped a laptop that sat beside her, its lid closed. As V pulled the flap closed behind her securely, she noticed the slight jitter in Judy’s knee as she bobbed it up and down.
“Were you looking at porn or something?” V said with a smirk and crossed her arms over her chest in mock disapproval.
Judy seemed to relax at that. “Nah, that’s too old school for me.”
“Oh yeah?” V probed as she made a show of looking around the tent. “Got some juicy BDs stashed somewhere?”
Judy let out a soft chuckle, causing a flush of warmth to fill V’s chest, and she tossed the laptop on top of a bag as she lifted herself off the bed. She moved towards V, a small smile playing on her lips.
“All my BDs are preem.” There was pride in her tone, but it was laced with a teasing lilt.
V took a step towards Judy, inexorably pulled in by the gravity of her warmth. “I don’t doubt it.”
Judy reached out then, and gripped the front of V’s jacket, tugging gently to close the distance between them. “Don’t need them myself, though.”
A tingle of anticipation flitted down V’s spine as their bodies met and she lifted a hand to trace fingertips across Judy’s exposed shoulder. “No?”
Judy’s eyes fluttered shut momentarily and V watched as the tip of her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. A heat tingled under V’s skin at the sight. When Judy slipped her hand beneath the jacket and under the cloth of her tank top, V had to suppress the quiet whimper that rose at the back of her throat.
Judy looked at her with an intensity that made her breath catch, her eyes appearing an even darker shade of brown now. “Got all I need right here.” Her voice had dropped to a deep murmur.
Unable to resist any longer, V leaned forwards and pressed her lips to Judy’s, vaguely registering the sharp intake of breath from the other woman. Judy slid her hand upwards over V’s chest, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. Her fingers skimmed over the sensitive skin of V’s neck before burying themselves in her hair. When V ran the tip of her tongue across Judy’s bottom lip, the grip on her hair tightened and the kiss deepened. Judy pressed her hips against V’s, urging V to wrap her arms tightly around the other woman’s waist.
All too soon, Judy pulled back, breaking the kiss. Her breathing had quickened and she peered at V with heavily lidded eyes. The ache in the pit of V’s stomach grew. As V tried to steady her own breathing, Judy slid her hand around to cup V’s cheek, her thumb slowly caressing the skin there. Judy’s gaze travelled over V’s face, matching the movement of her fingers as she mapped her features.
The tender touches brought a clarity back to V’s thoughts. She had come here with a purpose. Her brow creased as she inwardly fought over doing what she had to or simply enjoying this moment. Judy’s eyes flicked to V’s brow and then her hand was in V’s hair again, pulling her head back. V let out a muted gasp as lips were pressed firmly against her neck.
“Jude, I--” she managed to force out, but was quickly silenced by the flick of Judy’s tongue against her heated skin.
As Judy kissed her way upwards to V’s ear, V took in a shaky breath, her eyes fluttering closed. She slid her own hands upwards over Judy’s back, pushing her fingers into her hair and pulling her closer. She was making this so damn difficult.
Warm lips pressed against her jawline and V swallowed. Hard. “We need to…” Hot breath in her ear. “Jesus.” A tongue trailed down her neck. She let out a low groan. “We need to talk.” Her voice sounded oddly high pitched to her own ears.
When teeth grazed her skin, a surge of desire shot through her and she had to fight the urge to just push Judy back onto the bed there and then. Instead, she forced herself to pull back and gripped Judy by the shoulders, a sudden chill overcoming her at the lack of contact between their bodies.
Judy stared back at her, a slight flush to her face. Her eyes were a storm of emotions, of fear, of desire, of anger. Of so many unspoken things. Any words that V intended to say then fled her immediately. An almost imperceptible shake of the head, pink and green wisps of hair falling across dark eyes. V felt her mouth become dry.
“No,” Judy whispered, her nostrils flaring ever so slightly.
V’s brow furrowed. “What?”
Judy placed her hands over V’s and pulled them down between them before stepping back towards the bed. V let herself be guided. “Not tonight.”
There was something in Judy’s voice that stifled any sort of argument from V. A heaviness, a finality, a knowing.
Judy lowered herself onto the bed and pulled V down with her. V held herself above the other woman and took in the sight of her, her hair splayed against the bedding, the quick rise and fall of her chest, the journey of nimble fingers as they slid up V’s arms. She shivered beneath the touch.
Judy pushed her fingers under V’s jacket and slid it off her shoulders. Straddling Judy’s hips, V shrugged the jacket off, letting it drop to the floor. She settled her weight above Judy, skimming her hands over the fabric of her top, enjoying the way her breath hitched when V grazed the peak of her breast. She leaned down then, capturing Judy’s lips and pushing her top and bra up so she could cup her breast. Judy moaned into her mouth, her back arching.
That need in the pit of her stomach swelled again, and the kiss became more hurried, more desperate. Hands found the bottom of her shirt and it was also pulled over her head quickly. The kiss broke only for a moment, their lips clashing together again almost painfully. Judy’s tongue probed past V’s lips, causing a jolt of desire to pool between her legs.
V shifted her weight again and slipped a leg in between Judy’s, impatiently tugging at her leather overalls with one hand. Judy was otherwise distracted with the new pressure against her pelvis. Her hips bucked up against V’s thigh and her breathing quickened. Teeth grazed against V’s bottom lip, forcing a whimper up the back of her throat.
In her Judy-consumed state, she couldn’t for the life of her figure out how to get those damn overalls off. Fuck it. She slipped her hand between their bodies and under the leather, revelling in the feel of Judy’s abdominal muscles contracting under her fingers. At the same time, she pulled her head back slightly, placing light kisses on Judy’s now-swollen lips. Hot air puffed against her face and the yearning in Judy’s eyes made her heart stutter in her chest.
Warm fingers slid down her arm and encircled her wrist, urging V’s hand lower. V watched Judy’s face as she slipped her fingers under the fabric of her underwear. Judy’s eyelids fluttered as fingers met slick heat. She murmured against Judy’s lips as she flicked the tip of her middle finger against her clit. Judy flinched at the contact, tightening her grip on V’s wrist. V slowly ran her finger along the length of Judy’s lips, ignoring the urging roll of her hips, unable to hold back a smirk.
“V…” It was barely more than a whisper against her mouth, but it held countless unspoken secrets. That simple, drawn out syllable mirrored what V could see in Judy’s eyes now. A pleading, desperate need. Not just for V’s touch, but for more. For something deeper, something that was both entirely terrifying and yet captivatingly irresistible. That display of vulnerability was almost too much for V, and she pressed her lips to Judy’s to smother the dull ache that had formed in her chest.
Judy bit down on V’s bottom lip, her impatience growing. V smirked again as the weight of the prior moment passed. She applied a little more pressure with her fingertip, dipping between Judy’s lips before retreating again. A frustrated groan rumbled against V’s mouth. She repeated the same, slow stroke, again and again, her own excitement growing at how wet Judy was.
The pressure on her wrist tightened suddenly and her hand was quickly pulled away. Before she could even register her surprise, Judy twisted her body and flipped the both of them over, the pallets below the bedding swaying dangerously with the motion. V found herself staring up at a very irritated looking Judy, her brow furrowed and her lips parted as she breathed heavily.
“Fuckin’ tease…” Judy’s voice had dropped to a low growl that sparked a new wave of desire in V.
V could only grin up at her, but it soon faded when she saw the seriousness in Judy’s eyes, the way her mouth curved downwards as her eyes raked over V. And then it was gone. With her gaze firmly set on V’s face, she slipped the strap of her overall off her shoulder and pulled off her shirt and bra. V’s eyes roamed the newly bared flesh, taking in the smooth, tattooed skin, and the curve of her breasts. God, she’s beautiful. She continued to watch as Judy stepped out of the remainder of her clothes before straddling V’s hips.
The urge to touch her overwhelming, V slid her hands up Judy’s thighs, delighting in the goosebumps she left behind. Her eyes returned to Judy’s face, who seemed very intent on V’s chest now, her fingertips tracing her sternum and her bottom lip captured between white teeth. V’s eyes closed as Judy ghosted her fingers across her breast, her thumb flicking across the nipple.
Judy circled the nipple several times with her thumb before pinching it gently, causing V to whimper. She cupped V’s breast firmly then and leaned down, kissing her hungrily. With her other hand, she dragged her nails lightly across V’s ribs, down, down to the waistband of her jeans. V murmured into the kiss.
Judy pulled back, popped the button on the jeans, yanked the zipper open and roughly tugged the jeans down. Just enough to give her access. Clearly, she was in no mood for teasing. Judy looked back up at V, a dark smirk stoking the burning need in the mercenary.
Straddling one of V’s thighs, Judy took V’s hand and guided it to exactly where she wanted her. V let out a puff of air through her nose as her fingers met that glistening heat once more. Judy rocked her hips back and forth, urging V to caress her with a firm pace. V was enraptured by the sight before her. Judy swaying, her fingers encircling V’s wrist, her chest rising and falling with each quickening breath, head tilted back slightly, eyes closed as she lost herself in the pleasure.
Any idea of teasing the other woman had completely left her. She wanted to give Judy everything she wanted. Absolutely everything. With that thought firmly in her mind, she increased the pressure of her hand against Judy, slipping her middle finger inside her. Judy let out a gasp and keeled forward, catching herself with one hand against the bed as she hovered over V. The rocking of her hips quickened.
V slipped another finger inside, letting out a low moan as she felt Judy’s muscles squeeze her fingers momentarily. Judy leaned over V further, giving her the perfect angle to grind the heel of her palm against Judy’s clit. Judy’s gasped breaths soon gave way to short whimpers as V pumped into her with increasing urgency.
V had to bite her own lip to stifle a moan when she felt Judy’s slender fingers graze across the sensitive skin where her thigh met her hip. Without preamble, she parted V’s lips and slipped a finger inside her. Even with V’s own ministrations, Judy deftly circled V’s clit with her thumb, sending shocks of pleasure through her.
The two of them moved together, rocking and bucking against one another, Judy’s hot breath caressing V’s cheek as the tension within her gut built to a crescendo. V pressed her free hand to Judy’s back, her fingers slipping against the slight sheen of perspiration there, and pulled the other woman in closer.
Their grinding became more erratic, the thrust of their fingers more urgent. A groaned curse in V’s ear. A whimper in her throat. Fingers curling, pressed against just the right spot. Skin sliding against skin. Muscles pulsed. A back arched. Judy gripped V’s hair tightly as she convulsed on top of her. And then a wave of blinding ecstasy crashed over V.
The world disappeared.
Her senses returned to her one by one. First came the sound of Judy’s quick, shallow breaths. Then the scent of her skin, just an inch from V’s lips. Then there was the discomfort of her wrist crushed between their bodies. A small price to pay. She opened her eyes, the dull light offered by the portable lantern in one corner of the tent feeling intensely bright to her suddenly. A pleasant tingle radiated across her abdomen.
After long moments had passed but all too soon for V, Judy shifted and disentangled herself from V. She propped herself up on one elbow, the small bed only allowing her to pull back a small distance. Judy lifted a hand and pushed V’s hair back out of her face before stroking her cheek with the tips of her fingers. Her touch was so gentle, her gaze so tender, that words leapt to V’s lips, feelings she hadn’t spoken. But she bit them back. She didn’t want to ruin the moment.
Judy’s fingers trailed across V’s brow, which had apparently betrayed her thoughts. She smoothed the creases with gentle strokes and leaned down, pressing a light kiss to the now relaxed muscles. When she pulled back again, V could swear that she saw her bottom lip tremor. Judy audibly swallowed, her gaze dropping to V’s lips but the kiss never came.
It was only when Judy shivered against her that V realised how cold it was inside the tent. The cool night air brushed against their skin and the murmur of distant voices drifted in. V idly wondered how much noise they’d made, but she was sure the nomads were busy with their own celebrations.
With much effort, she forced herself to sit up, wiggling back into her jeans again. “How about we get under the covers this time?” she asked, looking at Judy.
Judy shrugged with one shoulder and smiled that small smile of hers but did lift herself off the bed. V swung her legs over the side and sat watching Judy as she pulled on her underwear. “That’s completely uncalled for,” V said with an appalled glare.
Judy turned and chuckled, grabbing V’s shirt from the floor. “Want me to freeze?”
“No…” V conceded and held out her hand for the shirt.
Judy quirked an eyebrow at her and lifted the shirt over her own head, the fabric revealing an almost victorious stare as she pulled it down. V scoffed and held out her other hand, beckoning the other woman over. When Judy neared, V grabbed her hips and pulled her between her legs, resting her head against Judy’s chest. She felt Judy’s hands tremble as they rested on her shoulders.
“Gonna steal all my clothes?” she mumbled as Judy ran her fingers through her hair.
“Seems like that would benefit me.” Judy’s tone was playful but there was an edge to it that made V pause.
V pulled her head back and peered up at Judy. “Think the others would have something to say about that.”
Her fingers still playing with V’s hair, Judy merely shrugged and there was that familiar stab in V’s chest again. “That’s a tomorrow problem.”