New Beginnings, page 31
Tristan nodded. “I’m done until Monday morning.”
“Really?”
“Yep. And I showered,” she said, wiggling her brows as she grinned.
Courtney shook her and laughed.
“I was actually about to call Loki. Do you want to join me?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. I need to turn in my flight log. I’ll meet you in the comms room.”
*
“Where are you?” Loki asked, staring at the two women in the fuzzy screen. Both were in their Army Combat Uniforms, and Courtney’s hair was twisted back in a bun. They looked very different from what he was used to.
“We can’t really say,” Tristan replied. “But hopefully we’ll be coming back soon. How is school going?”
“It’s okay. The playground is my favorite part,” he said.
“That was my favorite, too,” Courtney added.
“Have you been flying?” he asked.
“Yes. I was in the air a little bit ago,” she answered with a smile.
“Cool!”
“Me and Pip are working on a…” He paused. “Pip, what’s it called again?”
“A care box,” she replied.
“Yeah. We’re making one for both of you.”
“That’s nice of you,” Tristan said.
“I can’t wait!” Courtney exclaimed.
“I thought you wanted it to be a surprise,” Patty said.
“Oops.” He frowned.
“That’s okay. Everything in it will be a surprise,” Tristan reassured. “I miss you guys.”
“I miss you both,” he said.
“So, I have a secret to share with you, Loki.”
“What is it?”
“Today is Courtney’s birthday!”
“It is?” he questioned.
“Yes,” Courtney said, smiling as she looked at Tristan.
“How old are you?” Loki asked.
“Old enough,” she laughed. When he stared at her, she answered, “Twenty-seven.”
“That is old!”
“I must be ancient,” Patty muttered, causing Tristan and Courtney to laugh. “Happy birthday, Courtney,” she added.
“Thank you.”
“Alright, guys. We need to go so other people can call home. We’ll do this again soon, okay? I love you both.”
Tristan ended the call, and they left the building, heading towards the barracks.
“I had no idea you knew,” Courtney said.
“Of course, I did. I tried to celebrate with you this morning…”
“When you were covered in sweat and I needed to be on the flightline,” Courtney laughed.
“Your loss.” Tristan grinned and shrugged.
Courtney shook her head as her mouth curled into a smile. “I hate that we’re in different buildings,” she said, coming to a stop in front of hers.
“Captain Malloy,” a guy called from across the way.
Tristan turned around.
“Who is that?” Courtney asked.
“I don’t know,” she muttered. “My team’s going to the Canteen in a bit. Catch up with you there?” she said to Courtney as she walked away, heading in his direction.
Courtney shrugged and went inside. She was barely in her room when she removed the jacket and boots of her uniform, and pulled her hair free of the tight bun, shaking it out over her shoulders. “Happy birthday,” she sighed, getting rid of the t-shirt and pants she was still wearing. She didn’t exactly feel like going to the Canteen, but she wanted to see Tristan, so she pulled on a clean PT shirt and shorts and headed over.
Chapter 41
“Here she comes!” Howie said, quieting the bar. Everyone stopped what they were doing and faced the door. A minute later, Courtney walked in, and the place erupted in, “Happy Birthday!”
“What?” she stammered, covering her face with her hands in surprise. “Oh, my gosh!” She looked around, seeing Tristan and all of Bravo Team, all of Alpha Team, Howie, Maguire, the maintenance crew for her helo, and Capt. Warren.
“Happy birthday,” each person said as she passed by them, walking further into the room.
“This is crazy.” She shook her head, still smiling from ear to ear.
“It was all Capt. Malloy’s idea,” Maguire said.
“Yes, but Howie pulled it off,” she replied, winking at Courtney.
“You still owe me a game, but since it’s your birthday, I’ll let it slide,” Judd teased.
“He wants you,” Tristan whispered, leaning closer to her as Courtney stepped up to the bar and ordered a beer.
“Too bad I’m all yours,” she whispered back. “Thank you for this, by the way.”
“You deserve so much more. I hate that we’re here for your birthday and will still be here for Christmas.”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky and make it home for New Year’s.”
“Don’t count on it. Not after the meeting I was in today, anyway,” Tristan said.
“Great.”
“We’re here to celebrate,” Fowler said. “The table is open,” he added, nodding towards the pool table. Judd and his team occupied the other, nearest the dartboards, which they were also utilizing.
“I get first round,” Howie said.
Courtney smiled and shook her head, accepting the pool stick from Fowler. Then, she proceeded to wipe the table in only a matter of minutes.
“Who’s next?” Howie said defeatedly, holding the stick out.
“Nope. I’m not that stupid,” Maguire said, shaking his head.
One of the maintenance sergeants stepped up, holding his hand out. As he chalked the end of the stick, Courtney waved her hand, seemingly giving him the break of the table. He sunk two balls, then missed his next shot. Courtney stepped up to the table, sinking three balls easily, before setting up a trick shot for her fourth ball, which rolled into the pocket effortlessly. She made her fifth shot, then missed her sixth. The sergeant missed again on his next turn, and Courtney finished the table. He shook his head and held the stick up for someone else to claim.
“I’m not that good, but I’ll give it a shot,” Fowler said, taking the stick.
Tristan shook her head when Courtney looked over at her and smiled.
He broke and sunk a ball, which he was proud of. Then, missed his next shot. Courtney took her turn, dropping three balls easily. She almost felt bad for him when he missed his next shot, then the one after that, as she proceeded to clear the table. By the time she’d sunk the eight ball, he’d only managed to drop two of his.
“You guys obviously don’t play pool when you hang out in here,” Capt. Warren laughed, grabbing the stick. He was better than the others, but still not good enough to give Courtney a run for her money. After she beat him, leaving three of his striped balls on the table, he shook his head. “Who’s next?” he said, holding out the stick in defeat.
“I think I’ll take that game you owe me,” Judd said, smiling like a Cheshire cat as he stepped up to the table.
“Here’s his chance,” Tristan whispered. “He’s been waiting all night for this.”
“Keep dreaming,” Courtney laughed, smacking her on the arm before re-chalking her stick and walking back to the table.
“All or nothing?” Judd said, holding his hand out.
“What?” she questioned.
“Bragging rights.”
“Deal,” she said, shaking his hand. He held on a little longer than she wanted, but she shrugged it off as she racked the balls. “You can break.”
“That’s a bad idea,” he said through clenched teeth, shaking his head as he walked to the head of the table and began lining up his stick with the cue ball.
Courtney ignored him and stepped back against the wall. They’d played before. She knew he’d be a worthy opponent, but he was also cocky, and that was his downfall.
On the break, the balls scattered around the table, bouncing off each other and the sides, but nothing went into a pocket.
“Open table,” he grumbled, stepping away.
Courtney’s eyes scanned the table, always looking ahead to her second and third shot. Then, she bent down, lining up and shooting her stick into the cue ball. It slammed into the solid red ball, pushing it into the corner pocket. She quickly adjusted her position and sunk the yellow ball into the side pocket before moving once more and sending the blue one into the far corner pocket. The orange ball was locked behind a group of stripes, so she turned to the green one and took a shot on a whim, even though it wasn’t alone in the opposite corner. It fell into the pocket after sliding against a stripe, but the cue ball went in behind it.
“Not bad,” Judd muttered, nodding his head. “Now, pay attention. I usually charge for these lessons,” he said, grinning at her.
“Does he always talk this much shit?” Capt. Warren laughed.
“Yep,” all of Bravo Team answered.
“Quiet over there, Turd squad,” Judd grumbled as he lined up his shot. The cue ball blasted through the group of stripes in the corner, sending two of them into the pocket. Then, he moved to the other side of the table, close to where Courtney was standing. She politely moved out of the way, and he turned towards her. “Come here. Watch closely,” he said, calling her back over.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Is he trying to play pool or flirt with her?” Nigel whispered.
“Both,” Fowler and Tristan said.
“He’s not very good at either,” Perry laughed.
“Damnit,” Judd muttered when he missed the shot.
“Here, let me show you where you went wrong,” Courtney said, serving him his own dish of bullshit. She set up her shot and quickly got rid of her three remaining balls, plus the eight ball, to end the game.
He leaned his stick against the wall and grumbled with his tail tucked as he went back over to his team at the dart boards.
“Next?” Courtney said, looking around the room with a big smile on her face.
“Captain Malloy!” someone shouted.
Tristan smiled and shook her head.
Courtney laughed.
“Come on, Captain…” one of the guys said.
“It’s her birthday. Let her have fun,” Tristan replied, sipping her beer.
Courtney raised a brow and a teasing grin spread across her face as she walked directly up to Tristan, then reached around her for her beer. “I’ll go easy on you,” she playfully whispered, setting it back down as she nodded towards the table.
Tristan sighed and set her beer bottle down before walking over to the table as the bar erupted in cheer.
“Let’s go, Captain!” Nigel yelled.
“You can break,” Courtney said.
Tristan shook her head from side to side as she began tightly racking the balls before putting them into position and removing the triangle. She began chalking her stick as Courtney bent down, lining up her break shot. I hope you know what you started. Their eyes met briefly before Courtney crushed the cue ball with her stick, sending the balls flying all around the table. The red striped one landed in the side pocket. Tristan nodded slightly, indicating her approval of the break.
Courtney set up her next shot, then quickly sunk the yellow striped ball into the corner pocket. She bit her bottom lip between her teeth masking her grin as she looked over at Tristan before sinking another ball, but out of nowhere, the cue ball rolled into the side pocket.
Tristan grimaced and shook her head. She walked around the table to retrieve the cue ball, sliding past Courtney close enough to feel her presence without touching her. She set the cue ball at the top of the table, then quickly shot her stick into it. The solid green ball went into the side pocket. She moved to the side, and took her next shot, sinking the solid red ball into the corner pocket. After that, she readjusted and sunk two more of her balls, before missing the next.
“Are you sure you want to keep going?” Tristan teased.
“Oh, look who has jokes,” Courtney laughed as the crowd cheered them on. She locked eyes with Tristan as she flung her hair over one shoulder and bent across the table. The bottom of her t-shirt came untucked and slid up just enough to show a line of tanned skin above the waistband of the shorts hugging her tight ass.
Tristan swallowed hard.
Courtney carefully tapped the cue ball with her stick, sending another striped ball into the corner pocket, before straightening up and moving to the side of the table where Tristan was standing. She stood right beside her as she took her next shot, easily sinking the ball before missing again. “Are you sure you want to keep going?” she asked.
Tristan smiled and winked at her before moving to line up the cue ball with one of her last two balls. She made the shot effortlessly, leaving the table nearly empty, with only one striped ball, one solid ball, and the eight ball. Without hesitation, she adjusted her position and banked the cue ball off the side of the table. It slowly rolled across the green felt, barely tapping the solid ball as it came to a stop. Tristan shrugged, thinking she’d lost, but gravity pulled the teetering ball over the edge and into the pocket.
“Holy shit!” Hoffman exclaimed.
Tristan shrugged and lined up her shot for the eight ball. She pulled her stick back and fired away. The cue ball hit the eight ball, but it wasn’t hard enough to roll it all the way to the pocket.
“Is it over?” one of the guys said.
“No,” Tristan replied. “We’ve always played by the pro rules. It’s a simple foul like any other missed ball.”
Courtney knew this and had already lined up to sink her last striped ball, which she did easily, before sending the eight ball into the same corner pocket Tristan had missed on. Thus, winning the game.
“Happy birthday,” Tristan whispered.
Courtney smiled and shook her head. She knew as soon as Tristan had taken her shot that she’d thrown the game. Everyone began cheering and singing happy birthday.
“She’s your kryptonite,” Fowler said as Tristan walked back over to the bar.
“Yeah, maybe,” she replied.
*
Tristan looked down the hall as she knocked softly on the door. Despite command knowing about them, she and Courtney still needed to maintain a level of discretion around the base. She knocked again, wondering if maybe Courtney had fallen asleep. When their pool game ended, the soldiers in the Canteen began to disperse, including Courtney. Tristan had hung back, talking to Fowler and Capt. Warren for a bit before calling it a night. Instead of going to her barracks, Tristan headed straight to Courtney.
“Hey,” Courtney said softly as she opened the door wearing nothing but a white tank top and matching panties. The dark circles of her areolas were clearly visible, pressing into the thin material as she draped her arms loosely around Tristan’s neck when she stepped inside.
Tristan reached around, grabbing her ass, and easily lifting her. Courtney’s legs wrapped around her waist as she turned around, backing her up against the closed door. Her hands moved to Tristan’s head, tugging on her short hair as their mouths crashed together fervently, each hungering for a taste of the other.
Tristan held Courtney tightly as she pulled her away from the door and placed her on the bed on her back. She broke the kiss as she rocked back on her knees and grabbed Courtney’s hands, pulling her to a sitting position. She tugged the tank top over her head, revealing the beautiful breasts that had been teasing her. Their lips collided again as she pushed her back down while crawling on top of her. Courtney plucked at her t-shirt as she ran her hands over the muscled skin under it, but Tristan tore her lips from Courtney’s instead, sliding lower down her body, licking, and sucking her peaked nipples before slinking lower, tracing a wet path down her torso with her tongue.
Courtney lifted her hips when Tristan’s mouth reached the hem of her panties, while her fingers began dragging them down over her hips. Her eyes locked onto Tristan’s as the garment disappeared. The unease of not knowing what was happening next thrilled her. She bit down on her lower lip, fighting to slow her racing heart as Tristan lowered her head, burying it between her thighs. Her legs spread and her back arched as her breath hissed between clenched teeth.
Tristan’s mouth and tongue worked together, devouring her with swirling licks and gentle suckles of her clit. Courtney’s thighs trembled against her cheeks when she backed off, flattening her tongue, and lapping it up and down gently. Both of Courtney’s hands reached down, searching for any part of Tristan to latch onto. She let out a throaty moan as Tristan pushed two fingers inside of her and began stroking as deeply as she could while ravaging her once more with her mouth.
Courtney’s hips bucked against her face, begging for more. She tugged at Tristan’s hair, her shirt, the bed sheets, anything she could grab ahold of as her body lost control. She desperately tried to keep her eyes open, wanting to watch Tristan feed on her, but they slammed shut with colors swirling psychedelically behind her closed lids like she was soaring through time in outer space. Blood rushed through her veins as her chest heaved and her heart hammered.
Suddenly, like an animal in the wild, she thrashed around, tearing at the sheets with both hands as the mind-blowing orgasm tore through her body. Tristan stilled her fingers and her mouth, simply feeling the throbbing pulse against her until it subsided. Carefully, she eased her fingers free wiping the glistening wetness from them and her mouth on the sheet, before sliding back up Courtney’s naked body.
“Happy birthday,” she whispered before kissing her lips softly and rolling to the side.
Courtney gazed at her eyes breathlessly as air finally began filling her lungs. She grabbed a handful of Tristan’s shirt when she moved to get up. “Don’t think this is over, Captain,” she rasped, pushing her to her back as she rolled on top of her.
Chapter 42
It had been two days since Courtney’s birthday. The base had been busy hustling and bustling in preparation for the upcoming operation. Tristan hadn’t seen her since the night they’d spent together. After running a training drill with her team, she’d spent the rest of the time reviewing drone updates of the traffic coming and going from the warehouse and tracking the coordinates of the sub alongside Maj. Irving.
“Really?”
“Yep. And I showered,” she said, wiggling her brows as she grinned.
Courtney shook her and laughed.
“I was actually about to call Loki. Do you want to join me?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. I need to turn in my flight log. I’ll meet you in the comms room.”
*
“Where are you?” Loki asked, staring at the two women in the fuzzy screen. Both were in their Army Combat Uniforms, and Courtney’s hair was twisted back in a bun. They looked very different from what he was used to.
“We can’t really say,” Tristan replied. “But hopefully we’ll be coming back soon. How is school going?”
“It’s okay. The playground is my favorite part,” he said.
“That was my favorite, too,” Courtney added.
“Have you been flying?” he asked.
“Yes. I was in the air a little bit ago,” she answered with a smile.
“Cool!”
“Me and Pip are working on a…” He paused. “Pip, what’s it called again?”
“A care box,” she replied.
“Yeah. We’re making one for both of you.”
“That’s nice of you,” Tristan said.
“I can’t wait!” Courtney exclaimed.
“I thought you wanted it to be a surprise,” Patty said.
“Oops.” He frowned.
“That’s okay. Everything in it will be a surprise,” Tristan reassured. “I miss you guys.”
“I miss you both,” he said.
“So, I have a secret to share with you, Loki.”
“What is it?”
“Today is Courtney’s birthday!”
“It is?” he questioned.
“Yes,” Courtney said, smiling as she looked at Tristan.
“How old are you?” Loki asked.
“Old enough,” she laughed. When he stared at her, she answered, “Twenty-seven.”
“That is old!”
“I must be ancient,” Patty muttered, causing Tristan and Courtney to laugh. “Happy birthday, Courtney,” she added.
“Thank you.”
“Alright, guys. We need to go so other people can call home. We’ll do this again soon, okay? I love you both.”
Tristan ended the call, and they left the building, heading towards the barracks.
“I had no idea you knew,” Courtney said.
“Of course, I did. I tried to celebrate with you this morning…”
“When you were covered in sweat and I needed to be on the flightline,” Courtney laughed.
“Your loss.” Tristan grinned and shrugged.
Courtney shook her head as her mouth curled into a smile. “I hate that we’re in different buildings,” she said, coming to a stop in front of hers.
“Captain Malloy,” a guy called from across the way.
Tristan turned around.
“Who is that?” Courtney asked.
“I don’t know,” she muttered. “My team’s going to the Canteen in a bit. Catch up with you there?” she said to Courtney as she walked away, heading in his direction.
Courtney shrugged and went inside. She was barely in her room when she removed the jacket and boots of her uniform, and pulled her hair free of the tight bun, shaking it out over her shoulders. “Happy birthday,” she sighed, getting rid of the t-shirt and pants she was still wearing. She didn’t exactly feel like going to the Canteen, but she wanted to see Tristan, so she pulled on a clean PT shirt and shorts and headed over.
Chapter 41
“Here she comes!” Howie said, quieting the bar. Everyone stopped what they were doing and faced the door. A minute later, Courtney walked in, and the place erupted in, “Happy Birthday!”
“What?” she stammered, covering her face with her hands in surprise. “Oh, my gosh!” She looked around, seeing Tristan and all of Bravo Team, all of Alpha Team, Howie, Maguire, the maintenance crew for her helo, and Capt. Warren.
“Happy birthday,” each person said as she passed by them, walking further into the room.
“This is crazy.” She shook her head, still smiling from ear to ear.
“It was all Capt. Malloy’s idea,” Maguire said.
“Yes, but Howie pulled it off,” she replied, winking at Courtney.
“You still owe me a game, but since it’s your birthday, I’ll let it slide,” Judd teased.
“He wants you,” Tristan whispered, leaning closer to her as Courtney stepped up to the bar and ordered a beer.
“Too bad I’m all yours,” she whispered back. “Thank you for this, by the way.”
“You deserve so much more. I hate that we’re here for your birthday and will still be here for Christmas.”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky and make it home for New Year’s.”
“Don’t count on it. Not after the meeting I was in today, anyway,” Tristan said.
“Great.”
“We’re here to celebrate,” Fowler said. “The table is open,” he added, nodding towards the pool table. Judd and his team occupied the other, nearest the dartboards, which they were also utilizing.
“I get first round,” Howie said.
Courtney smiled and shook her head, accepting the pool stick from Fowler. Then, she proceeded to wipe the table in only a matter of minutes.
“Who’s next?” Howie said defeatedly, holding the stick out.
“Nope. I’m not that stupid,” Maguire said, shaking his head.
One of the maintenance sergeants stepped up, holding his hand out. As he chalked the end of the stick, Courtney waved her hand, seemingly giving him the break of the table. He sunk two balls, then missed his next shot. Courtney stepped up to the table, sinking three balls easily, before setting up a trick shot for her fourth ball, which rolled into the pocket effortlessly. She made her fifth shot, then missed her sixth. The sergeant missed again on his next turn, and Courtney finished the table. He shook his head and held the stick up for someone else to claim.
“I’m not that good, but I’ll give it a shot,” Fowler said, taking the stick.
Tristan shook her head when Courtney looked over at her and smiled.
He broke and sunk a ball, which he was proud of. Then, missed his next shot. Courtney took her turn, dropping three balls easily. She almost felt bad for him when he missed his next shot, then the one after that, as she proceeded to clear the table. By the time she’d sunk the eight ball, he’d only managed to drop two of his.
“You guys obviously don’t play pool when you hang out in here,” Capt. Warren laughed, grabbing the stick. He was better than the others, but still not good enough to give Courtney a run for her money. After she beat him, leaving three of his striped balls on the table, he shook his head. “Who’s next?” he said, holding out the stick in defeat.
“I think I’ll take that game you owe me,” Judd said, smiling like a Cheshire cat as he stepped up to the table.
“Here’s his chance,” Tristan whispered. “He’s been waiting all night for this.”
“Keep dreaming,” Courtney laughed, smacking her on the arm before re-chalking her stick and walking back to the table.
“All or nothing?” Judd said, holding his hand out.
“What?” she questioned.
“Bragging rights.”
“Deal,” she said, shaking his hand. He held on a little longer than she wanted, but she shrugged it off as she racked the balls. “You can break.”
“That’s a bad idea,” he said through clenched teeth, shaking his head as he walked to the head of the table and began lining up his stick with the cue ball.
Courtney ignored him and stepped back against the wall. They’d played before. She knew he’d be a worthy opponent, but he was also cocky, and that was his downfall.
On the break, the balls scattered around the table, bouncing off each other and the sides, but nothing went into a pocket.
“Open table,” he grumbled, stepping away.
Courtney’s eyes scanned the table, always looking ahead to her second and third shot. Then, she bent down, lining up and shooting her stick into the cue ball. It slammed into the solid red ball, pushing it into the corner pocket. She quickly adjusted her position and sunk the yellow ball into the side pocket before moving once more and sending the blue one into the far corner pocket. The orange ball was locked behind a group of stripes, so she turned to the green one and took a shot on a whim, even though it wasn’t alone in the opposite corner. It fell into the pocket after sliding against a stripe, but the cue ball went in behind it.
“Not bad,” Judd muttered, nodding his head. “Now, pay attention. I usually charge for these lessons,” he said, grinning at her.
“Does he always talk this much shit?” Capt. Warren laughed.
“Yep,” all of Bravo Team answered.
“Quiet over there, Turd squad,” Judd grumbled as he lined up his shot. The cue ball blasted through the group of stripes in the corner, sending two of them into the pocket. Then, he moved to the other side of the table, close to where Courtney was standing. She politely moved out of the way, and he turned towards her. “Come here. Watch closely,” he said, calling her back over.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Is he trying to play pool or flirt with her?” Nigel whispered.
“Both,” Fowler and Tristan said.
“He’s not very good at either,” Perry laughed.
“Damnit,” Judd muttered when he missed the shot.
“Here, let me show you where you went wrong,” Courtney said, serving him his own dish of bullshit. She set up her shot and quickly got rid of her three remaining balls, plus the eight ball, to end the game.
He leaned his stick against the wall and grumbled with his tail tucked as he went back over to his team at the dart boards.
“Next?” Courtney said, looking around the room with a big smile on her face.
“Captain Malloy!” someone shouted.
Tristan smiled and shook her head.
Courtney laughed.
“Come on, Captain…” one of the guys said.
“It’s her birthday. Let her have fun,” Tristan replied, sipping her beer.
Courtney raised a brow and a teasing grin spread across her face as she walked directly up to Tristan, then reached around her for her beer. “I’ll go easy on you,” she playfully whispered, setting it back down as she nodded towards the table.
Tristan sighed and set her beer bottle down before walking over to the table as the bar erupted in cheer.
“Let’s go, Captain!” Nigel yelled.
“You can break,” Courtney said.
Tristan shook her head from side to side as she began tightly racking the balls before putting them into position and removing the triangle. She began chalking her stick as Courtney bent down, lining up her break shot. I hope you know what you started. Their eyes met briefly before Courtney crushed the cue ball with her stick, sending the balls flying all around the table. The red striped one landed in the side pocket. Tristan nodded slightly, indicating her approval of the break.
Courtney set up her next shot, then quickly sunk the yellow striped ball into the corner pocket. She bit her bottom lip between her teeth masking her grin as she looked over at Tristan before sinking another ball, but out of nowhere, the cue ball rolled into the side pocket.
Tristan grimaced and shook her head. She walked around the table to retrieve the cue ball, sliding past Courtney close enough to feel her presence without touching her. She set the cue ball at the top of the table, then quickly shot her stick into it. The solid green ball went into the side pocket. She moved to the side, and took her next shot, sinking the solid red ball into the corner pocket. After that, she readjusted and sunk two more of her balls, before missing the next.
“Are you sure you want to keep going?” Tristan teased.
“Oh, look who has jokes,” Courtney laughed as the crowd cheered them on. She locked eyes with Tristan as she flung her hair over one shoulder and bent across the table. The bottom of her t-shirt came untucked and slid up just enough to show a line of tanned skin above the waistband of the shorts hugging her tight ass.
Tristan swallowed hard.
Courtney carefully tapped the cue ball with her stick, sending another striped ball into the corner pocket, before straightening up and moving to the side of the table where Tristan was standing. She stood right beside her as she took her next shot, easily sinking the ball before missing again. “Are you sure you want to keep going?” she asked.
Tristan smiled and winked at her before moving to line up the cue ball with one of her last two balls. She made the shot effortlessly, leaving the table nearly empty, with only one striped ball, one solid ball, and the eight ball. Without hesitation, she adjusted her position and banked the cue ball off the side of the table. It slowly rolled across the green felt, barely tapping the solid ball as it came to a stop. Tristan shrugged, thinking she’d lost, but gravity pulled the teetering ball over the edge and into the pocket.
“Holy shit!” Hoffman exclaimed.
Tristan shrugged and lined up her shot for the eight ball. She pulled her stick back and fired away. The cue ball hit the eight ball, but it wasn’t hard enough to roll it all the way to the pocket.
“Is it over?” one of the guys said.
“No,” Tristan replied. “We’ve always played by the pro rules. It’s a simple foul like any other missed ball.”
Courtney knew this and had already lined up to sink her last striped ball, which she did easily, before sending the eight ball into the same corner pocket Tristan had missed on. Thus, winning the game.
“Happy birthday,” Tristan whispered.
Courtney smiled and shook her head. She knew as soon as Tristan had taken her shot that she’d thrown the game. Everyone began cheering and singing happy birthday.
“She’s your kryptonite,” Fowler said as Tristan walked back over to the bar.
“Yeah, maybe,” she replied.
*
Tristan looked down the hall as she knocked softly on the door. Despite command knowing about them, she and Courtney still needed to maintain a level of discretion around the base. She knocked again, wondering if maybe Courtney had fallen asleep. When their pool game ended, the soldiers in the Canteen began to disperse, including Courtney. Tristan had hung back, talking to Fowler and Capt. Warren for a bit before calling it a night. Instead of going to her barracks, Tristan headed straight to Courtney.
“Hey,” Courtney said softly as she opened the door wearing nothing but a white tank top and matching panties. The dark circles of her areolas were clearly visible, pressing into the thin material as she draped her arms loosely around Tristan’s neck when she stepped inside.
Tristan reached around, grabbing her ass, and easily lifting her. Courtney’s legs wrapped around her waist as she turned around, backing her up against the closed door. Her hands moved to Tristan’s head, tugging on her short hair as their mouths crashed together fervently, each hungering for a taste of the other.
Tristan held Courtney tightly as she pulled her away from the door and placed her on the bed on her back. She broke the kiss as she rocked back on her knees and grabbed Courtney’s hands, pulling her to a sitting position. She tugged the tank top over her head, revealing the beautiful breasts that had been teasing her. Their lips collided again as she pushed her back down while crawling on top of her. Courtney plucked at her t-shirt as she ran her hands over the muscled skin under it, but Tristan tore her lips from Courtney’s instead, sliding lower down her body, licking, and sucking her peaked nipples before slinking lower, tracing a wet path down her torso with her tongue.
Courtney lifted her hips when Tristan’s mouth reached the hem of her panties, while her fingers began dragging them down over her hips. Her eyes locked onto Tristan’s as the garment disappeared. The unease of not knowing what was happening next thrilled her. She bit down on her lower lip, fighting to slow her racing heart as Tristan lowered her head, burying it between her thighs. Her legs spread and her back arched as her breath hissed between clenched teeth.
Tristan’s mouth and tongue worked together, devouring her with swirling licks and gentle suckles of her clit. Courtney’s thighs trembled against her cheeks when she backed off, flattening her tongue, and lapping it up and down gently. Both of Courtney’s hands reached down, searching for any part of Tristan to latch onto. She let out a throaty moan as Tristan pushed two fingers inside of her and began stroking as deeply as she could while ravaging her once more with her mouth.
Courtney’s hips bucked against her face, begging for more. She tugged at Tristan’s hair, her shirt, the bed sheets, anything she could grab ahold of as her body lost control. She desperately tried to keep her eyes open, wanting to watch Tristan feed on her, but they slammed shut with colors swirling psychedelically behind her closed lids like she was soaring through time in outer space. Blood rushed through her veins as her chest heaved and her heart hammered.
Suddenly, like an animal in the wild, she thrashed around, tearing at the sheets with both hands as the mind-blowing orgasm tore through her body. Tristan stilled her fingers and her mouth, simply feeling the throbbing pulse against her until it subsided. Carefully, she eased her fingers free wiping the glistening wetness from them and her mouth on the sheet, before sliding back up Courtney’s naked body.
“Happy birthday,” she whispered before kissing her lips softly and rolling to the side.
Courtney gazed at her eyes breathlessly as air finally began filling her lungs. She grabbed a handful of Tristan’s shirt when she moved to get up. “Don’t think this is over, Captain,” she rasped, pushing her to her back as she rolled on top of her.
Chapter 42
It had been two days since Courtney’s birthday. The base had been busy hustling and bustling in preparation for the upcoming operation. Tristan hadn’t seen her since the night they’d spent together. After running a training drill with her team, she’d spent the rest of the time reviewing drone updates of the traffic coming and going from the warehouse and tracking the coordinates of the sub alongside Maj. Irving.
