The Project 01 - White Jade by Alex Lukeman

Nick had survived. Maybe there was meaning in it, maybe not . T hat was a question for people who found value in probing theological and metaphysical mysteries. He wasn't one of them.
    He didn't look for meaning anymore. When it came right down to it, it was all about survival. The way he dealt with it was one day at a time. It had been one day at a time for the last fifteen years . I t didn't do any good to think about it. It was what he did, a job. Someone had to do it.
    About two miles from the cabin they paused for a breather.
    " You were right, this is a great trail. " Selena looked out over a wide valley.
    " I make this run every morning when I ' m here. "
    They were s oaked in sweat. Selena rested her hand on his arm, catching her breath.
    " Nick…, " she began. She looked at him , thoughtful. " Oh, never mind. Let ' s talk when we get back. "
    " After you. " He gestured at the trail.
    Back at the cabin Nick stood by the sink with a glass of water looking out the window . He felt her hand on his shoulder.
    " Nick, " she said.
    He turned and she reached behind his head and pulled him to her. He set the water down and put his arms around her . She radiated heat . He tasted the salt of her sweat, pulled her close, probed her mouth with his tongue and felt himself stiffen. Her hands moved on his back, his shoulders, then she reached down and cupped him , rubbed her hand over him .
    He broke the kiss. He didn't think about it.
    " Maybe we should go in the bedroom. "
    " Maybe we should. "
    He kissed her again, on the mole on her lip. They moved together to the bed, stripped and stood naked.
    Her breasts were firm, her nipples pink and erect, her abdomen flat with narrow hips . A fuzz of blond descend ed from her navel to the tangle between her legs. She grasped him in one hand and kissed him while she ran her other hand along his back. Her fingers traced over the scar s . He picked her up and laid her across the bed.
    She was wet. When he entered she sighed , raised her legs and pulled him deep inside. They moved together and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight. Her skin was smooth, glistening with sweat. Her fingers dug into his arms. After a few minutes she suddenly moved faster, arched her back and let out a long, wild yell. Nick exploded inside her.
    He slipped out of her and they lay next to each other. Gradually their breathing slowed to normal.
    " Whew, " he said.
    Selena brushed hair back from her forehead, looked away. He felt her withdraw. She got up and turned her back toward him .
    " I ' m going to take a shower. "
    He lay on the bed, feeling awkward.
    She went into the bathroom, closed the door. He heard the shower running. Nick remembered how it used to be with Megan.

    " Do you think we ' ll still be lovers when we ' re old and gray? "
    He 'd stroked her hair, kissed her, r u n his hands over her body. They were tangled around each other in her big king sized bed, where they'd been all afternoon. Half-packed boxes were scattered around the room.
    He 'd kissed her breast.
    " We ' ll never get old and gray. "
    " Not if you keep doing that. "
    " Like this? "
    She 'd gasped, reached for him .
    " Yes, Nick, yes. "

    Megan , he thought. I couldn ' t stop it from happening. I couldn ' t will that plane back into the air. His thoughts turned bleak.
    One day at a time.
    When Selena came out, she dressed quickly. She went into the kitchen.
    He pulled on Levis and a light shirt . They made breakfast in silence. They sat down at the table with fresh coffee.
    She was pensive. " That mine was no fun. "
    He picked up his cup. " Hell of a way to get to know each ot her. "
    " You know something, " she said.
    " What? "
    " I ' ve heard that people who go through serious stress together jump into each other ' s arms. " She paused. " I never felt so mortal before. Nothing ' s the same. T he moment seems more important now, everything seems more intense. "
    " I know. More alive. "
    " Even the colors are brighter. I