Faithful Service, Silent Hearts Read online

  For the first time, she really looked at the new lieutenant. Her five foot ten frame was tightly sculpted muscle, her face beautifully handsome and that thick, wavy blond hair just begged to have fingers run through it. When Devon looked deliberately back at her, meeting her stare openly with achingly beautiful ice blue eyes, Jillian was suddenly flushed and cleared her throat.

  "Well, I guess you must be exhausted from your long day," she managed.

  Devon looked at her watch, surprised to see that it was past midnight. She couldn't remember the last time she had lost track of time, really enjoying a simple conversation, particularly with someone she hardly knew. She wasn't used to letting her guard down with strangers and she wondered why tonight was different. During her entire life, she had only had one really close friend, and with the exception of her sister, she pretty much kept to herself. But, hitting it off with Jillian was definitely a good thing because they would be sharing this space for maybe six months, and Devon was happy that they seemed to be compatible.

  "Yeah, you're right, it has been a long day," she agreed. Devon stood up and felt her fatigue in every muscle. She grabbed her toothbrush, soap and a towel, heading for the bathroom.

  A short time later, they killed the lights and the newcomer was asleep nearly as soon as her head hit the pillow. Jillian lay on the top bunk, staring at the ceiling, smiling as she replayed the evening in her mind. She pictured the attractive blonde who occupied the bed below her, feeling a warm comfort inside that she couldn't explain. Maybe it was the cute way she had fallen into the room when she arrived, or the easy conversation and the way she listened so intently, or maybe it was those excruciatingly beautiful blue eyes…

  Jesus. You really need to get laid this weekend. Jillian decided it was best not to read too much into a first meeting, better still not to lust after the new lieutenant, even though she was drop dead gorgeous.

  #

  First Lieutenant Jillian Gray walked smartly across the large expanse of the 'quad', an open grassy area about the size of a football field. It served as the common area between the tall buildings lined with large satellite antenna dishes where training classes were conducted and the shorter buildings to the east that served as the housing areas. On special occasions such as class graduations, or promotional ceremonies, the area also functioned as a parade ground. It was just before five p.m. and the sun was starting to sink low in the western sky.

  She was thinking how glad she was that the week was over, looking forward to the weekend and some well deserved relaxation and who knows, just maybe a romantic rendezvous. Maybe that hot little red head will be at the club again. Lost in her musings of possibilities, Jillian didn't hear the jogger approaching from behind. She jumped as she was slapped on the back unexpectedly.

  "Hey, you!" the now familiar muscular form pulled up from a full run to match the other woman's stride. "Got out of school late, huh?" Devon asked through deep breaths. She was finishing her run, and her skin was shiny with sweat, droplets clung to the tips of her hair above her collar and her tank top molded to her torso as it absorbed the moisture.

  "Yeah, I had a project to finish," Jillian's stare lingered a moment on the bare skin, flush from her workout. She resisted the urge to touch her finger to the large bead of sweat running from under Devon's ear down the muscle at the side of her neck.

  Devon nodded. They walked a few moments in silence. "I guess you'll be heading into the city for the weekend?"

  "Yep, that's the plan," Jillian returned, "I have a friend who wants to take me for a night on the town."

  "Sounds like fun." Devon said quietly.

  In the three weeks since she had arrived, Jillian had gone away every weekend. She never said where she went, just 'the city'. The younger woman tried to hide a wave of disappointment, thinking about another solitary weekend. Devon found Jillian totally engaging, relishing her quick wit and sense of humor on display nightly. They talked about everything and nothing late into the evening as their companionable first meeting developed quickly into a friendship. Devon had been used to a somewhat solitary life and it surprised her to realize that she missed Jillian when she was away.

  Jillian mulled over Devon's obvious reaction to the mention of her weekend plans. She enjoyed spending time with Devon, so it wasn't that she needed space. Quite the opposite, many times she fantasized about that gorgeous body molded to hers on the dance floor or sharing a private joke in a truly unguarded moment away from the base. Yeah, there were lots of worse things than having such a great looking woman accompany her on a weekend of fun.

  She wanted to ask Devon to Boston, but there were just so many things to consider. She wasn't absolutely certain that the athletic, somewhat solitary new lieutenant would even be comfortable at the establishments that Jillian frequented on her weekend trips. Then there were the others to consider. If she was wrong about the cute second lieutenant, she would put them all in jeopardy. It was one thing for her to take the risk on her own, but entirely another to involve her friends. Then again, her radar usually didn't miss much, and she was sure that she had caught those blue eyes watching her with a bit more interest than the average female.

  "What are you thinking?" Devon's intense eyes were questioning as Jillian let out an unintentional chuckle at her thoughts. Oh, yeah, I'll bet you are a blast. She drew in a deep breath, savoring the wicked thought.

  "What?" Devon asked again. She had to smile at the devilishly playful expression on Jillian's face.

  "Nothing," her face masked over, recovering from the momentary lustful lapse. Suddenly, trusting her instincts, Jillian plunged ahead.

  "Why don't you come with us?" She watched the blue eyes dance, but Devon's face was still cautious.

  "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to intrude."

  "Nonsense," she insisted, "It's all settled, and my friends are going to love you."

  "Thanks!" Devon's brilliant smile appeared, "I just need a few minutes to shower and throw a bag together."

  "Okay, I'll go round up the gang and let them know you'll be joining us. With that, she hurried off down the hall, calling over her shoulder, "Be ready in thirty minutes." Chapter 3

  The group's Friday night regular spot, Rumors, was a small pool hall located at the east end of what the locals called the combat zone. Lagrange Street, just outside of Chinatown and about a mile from Boston Common, teemed with exotic nightlife as the group of women made their way to the pub.

  Devon had never experienced such a place. Street performers lined the sidewalks along with hustlers, gamblers and assorted other street inhabitants. Male and female couples walked proudly, arms around each other's waists, drag queens and kings smiled in acknowledgement of their group as they walked by. The sights and sounds all around her fired Devon's imagination. Her head was on a swivel trying to look everywhere at once. Devon was fascinated by the scenery and amazed to feel her heart pounding with excitement.

  Claiming a wooden table large enough for six at the back of the bar, they settled onto stools. A thin, rather butch looking redhead wearing a low cut very tight black t-shirt and a white apron fastened around her waist approached the table. "Whaddayahave ladies?"

  They ordered two pitchers of beer with six glasses. Jillian observed Devon with amusement as she stared wide-eyed in astonishment at the surroundings. When the beer arrived, the women raised their glasses, toasting the weekend ahead. All of the women were attending advanced training on the same base, but some were in different courses and had not previously met Devon before tonight.

  Jillian, who was seated next to Devon, obviously was the quasi-leader of the group. She directed much of the conversation and it was clear that the others placed a great deal of stock in her opinions. Devon noted that a few of the women regarded her suspiciously, and she thought she heard a brunette at the end of the table ask the red head next to her if 'James was okay
'.

  "How about a game of pool?" Jillian cocked her head toward the nearby tables, flashing a devil may care grin that Devon felt in the pit of her stomach. She immediately accepted, anxious to escape the scrutiny of those seated around the table. She never played pool before, but that didn't seem to matter at all while she basked in the pleasure of Jillian's individual attention.

  "Everything okay?" Jillian asked while she applied chalk to her cue stick.

  Devon tipped her chin back toward the table, "Is everything okay with your friends?"

  "Yeah, why?"

  "I don't know, they just seem like…well…I don't quite fit in." Devon's eyes were clouded with discomfort that pained Jillian to see.

  She wanted Devon to have a good time, but she understood the other's hesitance. So much was at stake, their careers, their reputations; everything depended upon the utmost confidentiality. She wanted so much to come right out and say it. To tell Devon that it had nothing really to do with her; it was just the fear of being discovered. Jillian had hoped that something would come up in conversation on the ride up, or at least by now. Christ, doesn't she realize there are no men in this bar? Military careers and lesbians, actually all gays, weren't supposed to coexist, at least not according to the rules. Maybe I was wrong to bring you.

  Shaking off the haze of doubt, Jillian thought about the reasons she had invited Devon along, aside from her physical attraction to her, of course. She had never heard the woman mention any men in her life, in fact she didn't say much about her personal life at all, with the exception of bragging about her new nephew.

  Jillian had often seen the not so subtle glances from countless GI's as they walked around the base, but it was as if Devon didn't even notice them. At school, the guys milled around, like sharks circling prey. As the weeks went by Jillian increasingly felt the urge to drive a fist into the face of the next one who made a lewd comment to the others whenever Devon was out of earshot. Even now, among her friends she felt the overwhelming urge to protect Devon. Maybe it was the fourth beer starting to have an effect on her judgment, but for the second time in a day she decided to trust her gut.

  "Don't worry about them, they'll be fine. Ready to play?" she indicated the pool table, grinning broadly at her opponent.

  "Is it too late to tell you I've never done this?" Devon said sheepishly.

  "Really?" Jillian's eyes flashed with decadence, "I would be happy to give you a private lesson." Seeing a flicker of mischief in response as their eyes locked, Jillian had an odd feeling that they weren't talking about billiards anymore. A second later the look had vanished from the blue eyes and Devon turned her attention to the table.

  Jillian efficiently racked the balls and then demonstrated how to break. She called stripes and began methodically working her way around the table, skillfully making four successive shots. Her student watched intently. When the teacher missed the next shot, and it was Devon's turn, she tried to line up her first shot. Years of practice told Jillian that the angle was hopelessly wrong, but she let her try it so that she would see what happened. The green ball sailed across the table harmlessly.

  "Oh, I really suck at this," Devon laughed.

  "Time for that lesson," Jillian smiled. "May I?"

  "Please," Devon held out the stick with her left hand.

  "No, you line up a shot and we'll start again." Jillian instructed.

  Devon bent at the waist and leaned over the table pointing the stick toward the cue ball. She felt Jillian step close behind her, thighs pressing lightly into the back of her own. Reaching around Devon's shoulders she placed her hands lightly over the other woman's to grasp the cue stick. Devon felt Jillian's breath in her ear and on her neck, sending a shiver throughout her body.

  Softly, Jillian said, "You draw an imaginary line through the cue ball into the ball you want to hit and line it up with the pocket. Can you see what I mean?"

  Her lips were a whisper away from Devon's ear. Another inch and she could run her tongue along the outer rim and Jillian fought the powerful urge to do just that. Devon's scent was sending urgent signals to her erogenous zones. Unconsciously she pressed closer to Devon's back. Pulling back on the pool stick together, they knocked the solid orange ball into the side pocket. Both women laughed out loud.

  Jillian's head swam as she stood. Her entire body tingled in response to the contact with Devon's. Her voice was tight, "Great shot."

  Devon leaned a hip on the corner of the pool table to steady herself. The beer was making her lightheaded, she was certain. She rubbed a hand over her face and breathed deeply to clear her head of the intoxicating feeling. When she looked up again, Jillian was standing directly in front of her, their faces inches apart, the soft brown eyes studying her with concern.

  "You okay?" The southern twang always got to Devon and a grin pulled at her lips.

  Jillian stared as Devon's lips curved into that smile. Smiling at her. When their eyes met, Jillian felt herself falling into deep pools of blue and she grabbed the table on either side of Devon's legs to control the urge to kiss her fully right then and there. The air in the inches between them was alive and charged, heavy like the feeling of an approaching thunderstorm. Jillian watched the blood pulsing forcefully in the vein of Devon's neck. Neither woman moved, transfixed in the heat of the moment, breathing the same air.

  Somewhere deep inside Jillian registered a powerful feeling that was altogether foreign to her. The attraction was beyond physical-no, attraction was physical, plain and simple. So why did this feel…different? Stop it. She silenced the voices in her head. Pushing upright again, Jillian sucked in a deep breath and stepped back, desperately needing her mug of beer.

  Confused by the abrupt withdrawal, Devon asked, "Are you alright?"

  "Yeah," she replied a bit shakily, "I just need another beer." With that, she moved back to the safety of the large table filled with other people.

  Watching Devon follow to rejoin the group Jillian grasped her mug with both hands, afraid that she couldn't keep from touching that soft skin again when Devon sat down next to her. To the Kentucky woman's surprise, Devon slid her stool closer as they joined in the raucous conversation going on within the group. No one else could see their legs slightly touching beneath the table.

  Before the end of the night, Devon was pleased to feel that the group had begun to accept her. What she didn't realize is that the women had observed those moments of contact between she and Jillian with amused interest. They took note of the flustered look about the usually cool, confident Jillian Gray whenever the new girl was near. The women also noted that Devon was neither overly eager nor uncomfortable with the group's obvious sexuality; she quietly assimilated without effort. The buzz that had filled the room was strong enough that each one of them felt it and realized that they had a good feeling about their new friend. But for Jillian, the feeling was beginning to take on a much deeper meaning that excited and frightened her to her core.

  #

  Saturday night was dance night, and the lively group of women entered the night club, moving to the pulsing beat even as they stepped through the entrance. The group threaded their way through the huge space, packed tightly with more women than Devon had ever seen assembled in one place. Just as she had the previous night, Devon was wide-eyed taking in the myriad of sights and sounds around her.

  "Hey, Devon, new kid on the block buys the first round," the brunette who had been cautious of her the night before called in a friendly tone. Her name was Julie and Devon had learned from last night's conversation that she and Jillian had met in ROTC, and had for a time, been an item.

  "Not a problem," Devon grinned at her. She liked Julie. "So what's everybody having?"

  After getting several orders for beers, and assorted mixed drinks, Julie took pity on Devon, and offered to assist her at the bar. Julie was twenty six, roughly the same height as
Devon, with a slender build, dark green eyes and shoulder length brown hair. She fixed Devon with a serious but friendly stare as they stood at the bar awaiting service.

  "So what gives, kid?"

  "Excuse me?" Devon was puzzled by the question and her attention was divided as she attempted to get the bartender's attention.

  "You family or what?" still, the question made no sense. The music was loud and Devon couldn't understand.

  Leaning in closer to Julie so that she could hear, she asked, "I'm sorry, did you ask about my family?"

  Julie waved her hand to disregard, she was obviously getting nowhere, this one was a tough nut to crack, that's for sure. Watching the fair haired lieutenant capture the bartender's undivided attention ahead of many others holding dollars out for service, she shook her head and grinned. She has no idea the affect she has on women.

  Jillian made her way back to the table after dancing several fast songs with a hot brunette who had been making eyes at her all evening. She was all smiles and sweaty from the aerobic workout of the dances. Leaning into Devon with her left shoulder she grinned sideways at her, "Having fun?"