by Ali Vali
“Into every life a little alcoholic must fall, I always say. Bert is mine, and that’s my only defense. It’s also why he’ll find me representing whoever decided to run against him next year. Hell, I’ll even do it for free if they’re decent enough.” She waved to him when the engine started up, and he headed farther into the marsh. “Don’t forget my order before you come back for me,” she yelled, getting a wave of acknowledgment in return.
*
A makeshift flap of heavy tarp was the door to the blind, and Chili pushed it aside to get out of the cold. She was sure this was the only one on the property with a butane heater, crude wooden floor, cot, CD player, and a refrigerator stocked with champagne and orange juice. On top of that sat a tray of fruit and some muffins and sandwiches.
The place was warm since Jean Pierre had come by earlier and turned up the heat, so she left her muddy boots at the entrance, rested the gun in the corner, and hung up her jacket. With socked feet, she headed for the cot and put on the headphones. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons lulled her into closing her eyes and crossing her feet at the ankles. This was as relaxed as she ever got and how her visitor found her when she pulled open the flap.
Chili opened her eyes when she heard the footsteps getting closer, since her guest hadn’t bothered to remove her shoes. “If I get mud on my socks I’m going to be pissed.” She removed the headphones and laced her fingers behind her head, wanting to admire the shapely butt when Sam bent over to unlace her footwear.
“It’ll make us even then.” A boot landed close to Chili’s with a thud after Sam threw it across the cramped space.
“Even on what?”
“If those idiots in their ridiculously tight hunting clothing had gotten any closer to you this morning on the pretense of getting a look at your gun, I was going to have to do something about it. Their flirting and your not doing anything about it pissed me off, so we’re even.” Sam threw her other boot with the same precision, leaving her in a pair of fleece socks.
Chili chuckled at the straight posture and the balled fists. Charm alone wasn’t going to defrost the mood. “I wasn’t flirting—”
“The hell you weren’t,” Sam shot back.
She dropped the headphones to the floor and swung her legs around and stood. “Flirting is buying a woman flowers and serenading her from the street even though I can’t sing worth a damn.” Their shared memory relaxed Sam into opening her hands and falling back against her. “Flirting is wanting to find ways to get the girl of my dreams to kiss me every time I have her within reach. Flirting is also allowing said woman into my inner sanctum to enjoy the morning.”
“Do many women fall for this bullshit?”
“One bouquet of flowers got me noticed.” Chili put her fingers on the zipper of Sam’s coat and pulled. “The serenade outside her window got me a picnic.”
“All that was my idea, you know.”
Chili unfastened a few buttons of the flannel shirt Sam had ordered for this thing after she’d asked for some input. “You’re the idea part of the team and I’m the one who executes the plan, so pay attention.” She slipped her hand in and placed it on Sam’s stomach.
A little scratch made Sam laugh and reach up to put her hands behind Chili’s head. “She sounds easy.”
“Easy?” Chili laughed, and as always, Sam joined in. “She’s my boss’s daughter and she made it anything but easy, so don’t rewrite history, pumpkin.”
“You did look cute with the mariachi band, at least until you started singing.” Sam removed Chili’s hand so she could turn around and face her. “This place is cozy, which makes me think dark thoughts.”
“If this place had a history I would’ve had Jean Pierre tear it down and start over, so don’t worry about dark thoughts.” With ease, she picked Sam up and carried her to the cot. Outside, the sound of gunfire started as the first fingers of dawn started to paint the cloudy sky. “I usually spend this time listening to classical music to drown out the barrage of gunfire and squealing water fowl, and that’s as sexy as it gets. I keep telling you my past isn’t as X-rated as everyone makes it out to be.” She stopped by the cot but stood there enjoying the way Sam’s legs were wrapped around her waist. “Today though, I thought I’d spend it showing you how much I care about you.”
She knelt, seating Sam gently on the cot, and finished with the buttons to reveal a camouflage bra. “I see you dressed appropriately in case you have to sneak up on a duck in your bra.”
“I saw it in that stupid catalog you gave me and thought you’d like it,” Sam said, as if trying to sound aggravated.
Chili kissed the swell of one breast. “I love it, sweetheart.” The button of the pants came next, and Sam helped by lifting her rear so Chili could take them off. The matching bottoms had little flying ducks embroidered on the waistband, making Chili smile. “This is as close to any ducks as I want to get today.”
Their first kiss was filled with the passion that had been building from the moment Chili had seen Sam that morning and had ignored her because they were working. It was always like this for Sam from the first time she had let Chili through her front door, and the reason she’d tried to resist her. Chili had a way of stripping away her inhibitions and awakening a need she didn’t know she had. Given a chance, she was sure Chili could make anyone a glutton when it came to sexual desire. If she moved on she’d die of starvation.
Chili kissed her and squeezed her ass to the point it almost hurt, and she instantly got wet. Sam’s moan was long and deep, and even though she wasn’t as experienced as Chili in this arena, she was beginning to master the art of weaving snares, as Chili would’ve described it. Without effort, Sam had spun a trap that Chili had more than willingly stepped into months ago.
“I want you to do something for me,” Sam said when they broke apart.
Chili came closer when she flexed her legs and pulled her in. “What do you want?”
Sam ran her fingers through Chili’s light-brown hair before pulling away to stop Chili before she was able to claim another kiss. “Control.”
Simple concept, but from their time together, control was something Chili never gave up too willingly. Sam planned to change that today and knock down the final barrier between them. “What do I get in return?” Chili asked.
Instead of answering her, Sam placed a finger on Chili’s forehead and pushed her back until she was sitting on her heels. To keep her in place Sam put her foot on her chest and applied enough pressure to keep Chili from moving. The game had begun, whether Chili realized it or not, and Sam was so far ahead there was no catching up.
“Take it off,” Sam ordered, the throbbing between her legs making her voice husky. Not wanting to give in too easily, Chili took her time with her sock, smiling at her, and Sam recognized her facial expression. Having Chili’s warm fingers on her skin was making her breathe faster. “You can wipe that grin off your face,” she said as Chili put her hand farther up her leg, as if it needed to be there to finish her task.
“What grin?” Chili asked, as her smile widened.
“The ‘if I bide my time she’ll be begging me in no time’ grin,” Sam said as she pressed her toes harder into Chili’s chest. “It’s not going to be that easy today.”
Chili nodded and looked down as if not convinced of that claim, then froze when her sock came completely off. The first time Sam had figured out this particular weakness of Chili’s had been after a late-night work session in Chili’s office when Sam had slipped off her pumps.
Red toenail polish was Chili’s kryptonite. She even admitted after their third date that to her it was the epitome of femininity. Chili worked a little faster to get the other sock off and lowered her eyes to admire her pedicure.
“Whatever you want, it’s yours,” Chili said as she put her hands behind her back.
“Stand up,” Sam leaned back with no intention of removing anything else just yet, “and take your shirt off.” Chili’s hands went immediately to work and started unbu
ttoning in rapid succession. “Slowly,” she said, not wanting to cut her show short.
Chili’s nostrils flared and her hands stilled altogether. From the look in her eyes Sam could tell that an internal war was taking place inside Chili. She wanted to object, and Sam could think of only one way to tip the outcome in her favor. She sat up again and reached behind her to the clasp of the bra. The cups slid down a bit when the back came undone, but Sam held it in place. Chili’s nostrils flared again, but now Sam guessed it was from a different kind of frustration.
Sam had never thought of herself as beautiful and desirable until the first time she saw this same raw hunger in Chili’s face. The sight had awoken the woman Sam had always wanted to be, and that was the only woman in Chili’s bed. That self-realization hadn’t come until after the first night they’d slept together.
As slowly as she wanted Chili to go, Sam reached for one of the straps and dragged it off her shoulder. Chili studied her every movement, and Sam smiled at the way Chili’s fingers twitched, almost as if she was also fighting the need to touch her. The next strap came down just as slowly, and Sam made eye contact before the garment fell away.
Naked from the waist up, Sam leaned back again and ran a hand from her stomach to underneath her right breast. Chili’s head fell slightly forward in defeat as Sam pinched her already-hard nipple, making her release a hiss of pleasure as she repeated the move on the other nipple.
“I believe I asked you to slowly take off your shirt,” she said, and ran her tongue along her top lip.
Her hands returned to her stomach as Chili began unbuttoning her shirt again. It was agonizing for Sam to watch, but Chili finally finished, leaving the heavy cotton garment hanging open. Underneath she wore a tight, sleeveless T-shirt for extra warmth, so it was time to speed things up a little. “Take it all off,” she demanded, and Chili was almost instantly naked from the waist up. Sam licked her lips again at the sight of Chili’s more-than-obvious need for her since her nipples looked hard enough to chip ice.
“Tell me, baby, are you wet?” Sam asked.
Chili closed her eyes and took a deep breath in an obvious effort to center herself. “Are you?” Chili asked.
“Do you want to stop?”
Chili’s eyes flew open. It seemed that stopping now was most definitely the last thing Chili wanted, and the authority in Sam’s voice knocked the last of the fight right out of her. “No, I don’t.”
“Answer my question.”
“I’m very wet,” Chili admitted softly, “and it’s because of you.” The added comment came close to making Sam give in, but she hadn’t finished playing yet.
“Take your pants off and let me see.”
This time Chili remembered to go slow, unbuttoning her cargo pants and letting them drop to her ankles. It left her in a pair of tight white briefs, and the sight of them made Sam jut her chest out a little. The underwear wasn’t coming down without help so Chili followed them all the way to the floor, bending over to pull them off, along with the pants and socks. When she straightened up, she faced Sam naked, waiting for her next set of directions.
“Do you know what I’ve been thinking about since the last time we were together?” Sam sat up again, set her feet on the floor, and waited for Chili to acknowledge the question. Chili stayed quiet but shook her head, though she seemed to bristle with a restless energy. She reminded Sam of a thoroughbred in the starting gate. Given permission, Chili would explode with a burst of power until she crossed the finish line.
“I’ve thought about how your mouth feels on me.” Sam parted her knees and crooked her fingers, and Chili came closer. With a feather touch she ran her fingers along Chili’s sex, her confidence growing at what she found.
Chili was very wet and more than ready. “I’ve been dreaming about your tongue right here.” Sam leaned back on one hand and slipped the hand she’d used to touch Chili under her waistband and between her legs. When her fingers reappeared, they were glistening. “About how I can taste myself on your lips when you kiss me after you’re done, and how it makes me want to do it all over again when I do.”
Rocking on her heels, Chili swallowed hard. “Sam, please.”
“Hold me,” Sam said softly. She stood up and sighed when Chili engulfed her in her arms. The sweetness of the act despite how turned on Chili was made Sam come close to telling her how she felt. Fear of Chili bolting kept her quiet though, and she stayed silent as Chili moved to pull off the last barrier between them. “On your knees, Alexander,” Sam said.
This time Chili didn’t argue at the command, and Chili groaned when Sam painted her lips with her wet fingers. When she was done they kissed again, and Sam let her mouth relax into a brief smile when again Chili conceded control, letting her lead this dance. When she couldn’t take it anymore, Sam pulled on Chili’s hair again, leading her head lower down her body.
Like she was presenting Chili with a gift, she lay back, prepared to give Chili what they both wanted. “Make my dreams a reality.” Weaving their fingers together, Chili lowered her head and ran her tongue through the wet heat. Sam was more than ready, and immediately her hips began to rock. Before she really wanted, she held Chili’s head in place and gave her last order. “Now, baby, now.”
Chili’s fingers slid easily in and took away the last of her resolve and restraint. Sam exploded against Chili’s mouth and fingers with a yell that scared the few ducks that had obviously landed outside. The feeling of possession was so complete that Sam was sure she’d never give this part of herself to anyone else, even if Chili was too afraid to completely commit to her.
“Wait,” she panted, when Chili began to start again.
Chili moved up and rested her head on Sam’s abdomen for a minute. The position seemed to give her the courage to speak. “Do you know what I think about?” The uncertainty was so evident in Chili’s voice that Sam let go of one of her hands and ran comforting fingers through her hair.
“You can tell me anything. It’s okay.”
“I think about our stolen moments like this, and they’re not enough for me.” A tentacle of fear reached into Sam’s chest, and she thought the pain of it would constrict her lungs until she couldn’t breathe. She had no choice but to look down when Chili’s head came up and she gazed up at her.
“What do you mean?” If this was it, she wanted to know so she could make a clean break. It would take forever to get over it, but that was better than hanging on to something that would never grow past this point, no matter how good Chili made her feel when she touched her.
“I want all of you, Sam. I love you, and I want all of you for as long as you’ll have me. No more sneaking around, and no more hiding how I feel about you.”
“You love me?”
“I didn’t think I’d ever be good at this, so I’m sorry if I’ve made it so you don’t believe me. I do, and I love you enough to have talked to Huey about my intentions for his little girl.”
The tease had its desired effect, and Sam laughed. “You talked to my father and there was no bloodshed?” She pulled on Chili’s fingers, wanting her to move up and hold her. “What happened?”
“We’ll get to that later. Right now we need to finish our talk.” Chili moved to the jacket she’d hung up and took something out of the pocket. “I’ve been a coward up to now in not telling you what you mean to me. Remember what I said at my parents’ anniversary party about not ever finding what they had?” Chili asked, and she nodded as Chili knelt by the bed. “I have, and I never could’ve imagined being this happy, but I am because I love you.”
“I love you too,” Sam said as she sat up and pressed their foreheads together. “I didn’t say it before now because I thought you’d freak out.”
“You’re a smart woman, and I want to spend a lifetime learning anything you want to teach me.” Chili held up a small velvet box. It creaked when she opened it, and Sam held her breath when she saw the ring. “Maybe after enough elections where we put the right folks
in office, we’ll get to marry legally in Louisiana, but until then I want you to take this as a sign of my love for you. There’ll be no other in my life because I’ve found perfection in you.” Chili took it out and held it close to her hand. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” Sam said, not believing she was awake and that this was happening. Overwhelmed, she started crying, surprised when Chili joined her not only on the bed but in the show of emotion. “I guess I should be honest and tell you that from the first day I started and stepped into the jungle, I began my own campaign strategy.”
“Did it work out for you?”
“My father thinks I’m immune to your charm.”
Chili laughed and moved her hand down to slap Sam gently on the butt. “You are. I’ve never had to work so hard at getting someone’s attention. For the longest time during Virgil’s campaign, I thought it’d take begging for you to have a cup of coffee with me.”
“I just wanted to make sure when I fell in love with you, you’d be good and snagged, baby. This was one campaign with a lifetime term limit, so I wanted to win by a landslide.” She placed her palm on Chili’s cheek and kissed her. “I love you, and I can’t wait to start a life with you for real.”
“Can we do something now about your wanting me?” Chili’s low voice cracked when Sam’s fingers closed around one of her nipples.
“I’d be happy to, if you tell me what my father said later, much later.” It was the only words they exchanged until Sam wrenched a yell out of Chili. Sam figured if this was how they spent their time during this gig, the duck hunt would remain a proud company tradition.
*
Jean Pierre pulled out his paddle and moved farther into the pond when he heard Chili yell in an uncharacteristically high-pitched tone that sounded a lot like Sam’s name. He laughed but wasn’t taking any chances that today would be the day Chili finally fired that beautiful gun she’d bought as a prop for this hunt every year. At his feet lay a pile of ducks that would more than assure that Chili would keep the record for making the most kills.
