The Final Expedition

Day Fifty-One

I awoke from a light sleep as the bright light from the module outside penetrated my sleeping compartment. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I squinted, realising with a start that the door to my compartment was being slowly and carefully opened. Natalya’s face appeared sideways on over the edge of the door with a finger pressed to her lips, her pale blue eyes yearning with longing. I nodded my understanding, though my initial bewilderment must have been etched on my face as a smile played across her lips. She glanced over her shoulder before carefully squeezing herself into my compartment, pulling the door closed behind her, plunging us into darkness. I felt her press her lips to mine, kissing me urgently, passionately, her fingers running through my hair. Her legs hooked around mine, pulling her body against me. Recovering from my surprise, I reached for her, kissing her back just as hungrily, my hands caressing her, pulling her body close, feeling her heart thumping in her chest. She pulled back slightly, her hands pulling at my clothes. I reciprocated, my fingers tugging down the zip on the front of her flight suit. As I peeled it off her, she wriggled her lithe body out of it. We breathlessly embraced each other again, her body feeling hot against my cool skin. I could feel my pulse racing as I felt her naked breasts pressed against my chest. Her hands traced their way down my body and guided me inside her. I could feel her hot breath against my cheek as our bodies moved together. Pressed into that cramped compartment and in a zero gravity environment didn’t make for the most fluent of lovemaking, but it was certainly the most exhilarating of my life. When it was over, we held each other for a moment, our bodies covered in a sheen of perspiration, our breathing rapid as we caught our breath. Natalya rested her head against my shoulder for a few moments before kissing me again, a long and lingering kiss, not as passionate as earlier, but tender and heartfelt. Then she pulled her flight suit back on and as abruptly as she had arrived, she gently pushed open the compartment door, climbed out, furtively looking around to make sure she hadn’t been seen, while simultaneously adjusting her clothing. Satisfied that she was alone, she pushed closed the door behind her with the briefest of glances back at me as she did so. Neither of us had uttered a single word.