Author's Note: A slow-burn romance between two women on opposite sides of the law. Like 'Better with You', this was written years ago but never published. It's a complete story, centered more on romance and intimacy than sex. Special thanks to my editor, Ash, for keeping me on track. Published for the 2025 Pink Orchid event for Women-Centric Erotica.
Every love story has its own kind of magic. This one belongs to Kim and Sam.
Cat Meets Mouse
Kim looked out the window of the plane.
It's funny how the human mind works,
she thought.
She wasn't afraid of airplanes. She wasn't afraid of heights either, not really. Or windows. But the idea of being hurled ten thousand feet into the air in a metal tube? That was terrifying. And with thunderstorms supposedly looming? That was a whole different kind of terrifying.
She'd debated window versus aisle, as if one might magically make flying tolerable. But once seated, she realized it didn't matter because both options kind of sucked equally. She sighed as she fidgeted nervously with her fingers over seatbelt. Her mind wandered over the cabin, and she found herself suddenly having a great interest in how well bolted the seats were to the floor. She prodded with her foot on the seat in front of her. It didn't move.
There weren't many people on the evening flight. Four seats per row, two on each side of the aisle. In her row, it was just her and a brunette seated on the opposite side of her. Well-dressed, hair in a sleek ponytail, glasses perched on her nose, and immersed in a book whose title Kim couldn't quite read. Probably early-thirties, like herself.
The safety demonstration began, the flight attendants going through their usual motions. The brunette didn't even glance up from her book, but Kim clung to every word. Would it help if they crashed? Doubtful. But it didn't hurt to pay attention.
She'd already decided this whole experience was punishment for the universe's insistence on face-to-face conferences. Who needed in-person meetings in the age of Zoom? Sadists, that's who.
Kim was proud of herself for getting so far. She could be lying on the floor in a panic attack but she wasn't. She could be hyperventilating in her seat, but she wasn't. Not yet at least. Had it not been for her testing the lock on the seat belt a hundred times already, she'd consider this a great success.
She fiddled with her hands until she decided that the most suitable place for them were the armrests. She prodded the chair in front of her again. Still bolted to the floor.
Stupid, stupid conference. Everything is done remotely nowadays. Why not this, too?
She closed her eyes as the roaring of the jet engines got louder. She could feel her heart beating faster and panic starting to set in.
"Hey," a voice cut through the loud noise. "Look at me."
Kim blinked, raised her head and saw that the pretty brunette had made her way across the aisle.
"May I?" she asked, as she placed her warm hand on hers, gentle but steady. "Eyes on me, okay?"
The brunette didn't have her glasses on, and her hazel eyes shone brightly. They were kind eyes, but sharp. Vigilant. The kind of eyes that could steady a storm. She felt the woman squeeze her hand, and Kim let go of the armrest.
"There you go," the woman said gently. "Small steps. We're about to take off, and it's going to get even louder but I'm right here, okay? You got this. Hand in mine, eyes on me. We'll go through this together."
Kim nodded.
The engines roared louder, the plane accelerating. But her world narrowed to the woman's hand in hers, the steady rhythm of her voice, and those impossibly kind, watchful eyes.
As they were pushed back into their seats the brunette squeezed her hand.
"Breathe in, breathe out. Slowly," she said as she gestured with her free hand. They got into a rhythm together and Kim regained control.
As the plane leveled out a good ten minutes later Kim closed her eyes and let go of the stranger's hand. She was okay. When she opened her eyes again the stranger had moved back to her seat. She was greeted with a gentle smile and a thumbs up, and then the woman resumed reading her book. Kim was, simply put, captivated.
The hour-long flight meant it wouldn't take too long until the plane began its descent. When the speakers suddenly came to life, the pilot informed everyone of the upcoming descent and that it could get a bit jumpy. Poor weather conditions were expected to cause turbulence. The seat belt sign dinged back on again.
Concern flashed before Kim's eyes. The only thing worse than climbing up at blistering speeds was coming down. As if summoned by her panic, the brunette appeared again, her purse slung over one shoulder. Relief washed over Kim.
"Do you mind if I sit with you?"
Kim shook her head weakly and managed a nervous smile. "I'm Kim, Kimberly Evans. Uh, thanks."
"Hi Kim. I'm..," the woman hesitated for a split second before continuing, "Sam, for Samantha. Don't like flying, huh?"
"Oh I love it," Kim said, deadpan, "but you can't tell, can you?"
Sam slid into the seat beside her, taking her hand with a playful smirk. "Could have totally fooled me," she chuckled. "Lucky for you I've done this before. The pilot said we can expect some turbulence soon so it can get a bit jumpy in a roller coaster kind of way, okay?"
"Not okay," Kim muttered and shook her head. "I don't have much of a choice though, do I?"
"No, I'm afraid not." Sam's smile softened. "But we'll be fine."
"How can you be sure?"
Sam shrugged, her nonchalance almost enviable. "I've flown so many times. I'm not worried. And if I'm not worried, I don't think you should be either. I'll be here with you the whole time."
Kim nodded, ever so grateful but still concerned.
"And if we crash?"
"Uh, I mean, it's highly unlikely," Sam replied, her mind racing, "but I guess if we do, I'll ensure you land somewhere comfortable."
Kim raised an eyebrow. "Like?"
"My arms," Sam grinned. "C'mon, you have to admit there are worse places to be."
Kim could certainly think of more unpleasant places.
"Fine," she said, rolling her eyes, "I'll take it."
"I mean, the alternative is that we're down there," Sam continued, gesturing vaguely to the front of the plane, "if the seats aren't bolted to the floor."
"That's okay, I checked," Kim replied.
Sam raised an eyebrow.
Kim showed her by prodding her foot on the seat in front of her. "See? Sturdy as a rock."
Sam laughed. "Ah, you got it under control. So what do you do?" Sam asked as she took off her glasses. "What makes someone like you board an airplane like this?"
"I'm with law enforcement. It's apparently relevant enough that we attend a conference in person so... Here I am. And you? What do you do?"
