Heat Lightning

Author: Scooterkitty
Title: Heat Lightning
Rating: R
Setting: pre-mini-series


4/2/05

HEAT LIGHTNING


The heavy, humid air seemed to cling to Lee’s body like a physical thing. Even walking at a leisurely pace, he could feel the sweat trickling down his temples and sliding down the small of his back to be absorbed by his khaki shorts. He could feel his light blue t-shirt sticking to his damp skin uncomfortably.

Caprica City was generally known for its mild weather. While it was located in a region that did have four distinct seasons, none of them was usually characterized by extreme temperatures. Unfortunately this summer was proving to be an exception, as the Capricans had been forced to endure weeks of above average temperatures and this Sunday was projected to be one of the worst of the heat wave. The temperatures had soared into the 90s by 10 AM and the humidity level was about the same in percentage. So, of course this was the weekend that William Adama’s old Viper squadron picked to get together for their annual reunion picnic.

William and his sons had been attending these get-togethers for years. As a child, Lee had always enjoyed these family-oriented picnics. There were large quantities of food, games for the kids, and of course, alcohol for the adults. But now, at 17, Lee was too old for the games, but not old enough for the alcohol. And quite frankly, he had better things to do than sit around with a bunch of old men, drinking ale, telling war stories, and trying to recapture their glory days. Several of his friends had gone camping in the mountains for the week, but Lee had been told he couldn’t go because his father wanted him to attend the picnic.

Upon their arrival at Elysian Park, William would shepherd Lee and Zac around the gathering, showing them off like a pair of trophies. After the boys had been seen and admired by everyone, he would rejoin his former squadron mates by the keg, telling the same stories they repeated every year, oblivious of his sons for the rest of the day.

He really only needs our attendance for the first half hour or so, Lee thought sourly. After that, he couldn’t care less what we do.

Elysian Park was a very large, natural area which dominated several square miles of downtown Caprica City. The park was famous for its botanical garden at one end, covered bandstand in the center, and wooded, nature trails throughout. Many families and organizations held picnics in the park and, despite the heat, it was filled with people this Sunday afternoon.

Lee had wandered away from the gathering in search of a quiet, secluded spot where he could brood in peace. One of his father’s friends, Capt. Barbara Miller, had brought along her pretty 16-year-old daughter, Megan, and 14-year-old Zac was happily following the older girl around like a puppy. This left Lee to entertain himself. Luckily he had thought to bring a book.

Finding a small, deserted, wooden gazebo tucked back behind a tall cluster of evergreen trees, he climbed the steps and stepped under the peaked roof. The structure was hexagonally shaped and had a built-in bench which extended around the entire the perimeter. Latticework, covered with climbing wisteria, formed a colorful, fragrant screen for the gazebo. All in all, Lee thought, he couldn’t have found a more secluded spot in the entire park.

Settling himself on the bench, he pulled the battered paperback from his back pocket and was soon immersed in the action-packed thriller about the Scorpia-Arilon Wars. In fact, he was so engrossed in the book that nearly an hour later, he didn’t even notice the woman who had come to stand in the archway of the gazebo, until she had spoken.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize there was someone in here,” she said. “I was looking for someplace to... clear my head.”

Lee looked up to see a stunningly attractive, blonde woman in a very short, bright pink, silk sundress smiling down at him. She appeared to be about 30-ish, with shoulder-length hair and the longest legs he had ever seen. He stared at her open-mouthed, unable to think of anything to say.

“Mind if I join you?” she asked, apparently unaware of his discomfort. “I think it’s a little cooler here in the shade.”

“Uh, no, go ahead,” he said, gesturing to the bench across from him.

To his surprise, the woman sat down close beside him, close enough that the bare skin of their thighs lightly brushed together and he could smell her, a mingled scent of sweat, some floral perfume, and ambrosia. Reaching up she lifted her loose hair off her shoulders.

“Oh, it is so hot,” she said. “I can’t remember a summer that was this hot, can you?”

Lee mumbled some incoherent response, trying not to stare at the newly exposed expanse of skin along the back of her neck or the way the movement of her arms strained the thin fabric of her dress across her breasts. She wasn’t wearing a bra and he could clearly see the outline of her nipples. He quickly looked away.

Releasing her hair again, she asked, “So, what are you doing, sitting here all by yourself?”

“Oh, uh, just wanted a quiet place to read.”

“I see. So, are you with the...” she trailed off, waving a hand vaguely in the direction of the pilots’ reunion.

“Yeah.”

“Really? You don’t look old enough to have been a pilot in the Cylon Wars.”

He stared at her for a moment, confused. It took him a moment to realize that she was teasing him. “Oh, no, my father was in the squadron,” he said, smiling.

“Oh...” she said, in mock solemnity.

Turning her attention to the large straw bag she had brought with her, the woman reached in and produced a silver flask. Lee had seen similar items before, small, square, flat bottles, thin enough to fit in a pocket. But this was more like a canteen. It was easily big enough to hold an entire pint of alcohol. Unscrewing the top, she poured a measure of light green liquid into it and took a dainty sip. She leaned back against the latticework, savoring the ambrosia.

“Ah, it’s the only way to survive these kinds of tedious affairs,” she said, gesturing toward the picnic area again. “Care for a sip?” She held the flask out to him.

“No, thank you, ma’am.”

“Oh, afraid your father will catch you? Don’t be, this little gazebo is very private. No one can see us. Go on...”

With only a slight hesitation, Lee set his book aside, accepted the bottle and took a small sip. He had never tasted ambrosia before and it was sweeter than he had expected, but it did leave a slight burning sensation in the pit of his stomach. It occurred to him that he probably shouldn’t be drinking this, as he hadn’t eaten much all day.

“Good, isn’t it?”

He nodded and returned the bottle to her. She refilled her small ‘glass’ and extended it back to him. The boy shook his head.

“Oh, come on, you barely even tasted it. Have some more.”

He took it back and drank another sip. The second taste was better than the first, perhaps because he knew what to expect this time. The two sat and made innocuous small talk for a while and shared the flask. The mysterious woman made no offer to introduce herself and Lee felt too awkward to make that offer himself. So, they remained anonymous drinking partners.

After a time, Lee began to feel somewhat strange, sort of hyperly aware of his senses, particularly his sense of touch. He was acutely conscious of the woman’s bare leg pressed against his. The sound of the bees flitting about among the wisteria blossoms seemed suddenly very loud. And the almost tangible humidity hanging in the air had taken on the feel of a warm, moist, caressing hand rather than the oppressive fist it had seemed earlier.

Lee had heard stories from his more experienced friends that ambrosia could play with your senses and that it had an almost aphrodisiac-like effect on many people. He had always assumed this was just talk, but now he wasn’t so sure. He was certainly feeling... something. But maybe it was just the presence of this beautiful, mysterious woman.

Almost as if she had read his thoughts, the woman turned her body to face him fully and regarded him with frank, appraising eyes. “Has anyone ever told you that you have incredibly beautiful, blue eyes?” she asked after a moment.

“No,” he said, feeling himself beginning to blush under her very direct gaze.

“Well, you do. In fact, you’re a very attractive, young man. How old are you?”

“Um, seventeen.”

“Hmm, isn’t the age of consent on Caprica seventeen?”

“Uh, I-I think so.”

“Mmmm, how convenient...”

Leaning in close, she cupped one hand under his jaw and drew him to her. Lee’s already overheated body was flooded with even more warmth as her lips pressed to his. With only the slightest pressure from her, his lips parted to give access to her very moist tongue and it was as if that organ were reaching directly down to his groin. He moaned softly into her mouth.

She let her hand slowly trail down from his jaw to his neck and down the front of his chest. She could feel the slight ripples of his muscles under the thin cotton. As her hand came to rest on one bare knee, the boy shifted his legs apart slightly, allowing her to slide her fingers up his inner thigh, under the hem of his shorts.

Unsure of what to do with his own hands, Lee allowed one to rest lightly on her hip, not daring to take any further liberties. The thin silk of her dress did nothing to block the heat of her body and it was as if it was not there at all, as if he was actually touching her bare skin. The thought made him slightly lightheaded. He was a virgin, had never had a steady girlfriend, so this was all completely new and somewhat overwhelming to him.

As she continued to kiss him, her fingers began lightly tracing circles on his inner thigh. Lee’s fingers tightened reflexively on her hip, digging into the soft flesh with bruising force. After a moment, the woman drew back from him, gently disengaging his hand.

“Easy there, Tiger,” she whispered, with a slight chuckle. “I bruise easily.”

“Sorry,” the boy breathed, blushing furiously.

“That’s okay,” she reassured him, running a finger lightly down one smooth cheek. “Let me just show you how to do it.”

Still holding his hand, she pressed it against one of her breasts. Using her own hands to guide him, she showed him how to lightly pinch and tease the nipples. When his awkward attempts to follow her instructions elicited a low moan from her, Lee felt his own body respond as well. His heart was pounding almost painfully in his chest, as though it was trying to force its way out through his ribs. Frankly, he was almost surprised that she didn’t hear it as well.

Drawing the boy close to kiss him again, the woman’s hands strayed down to his waist to unbutton his loose shorts and slip her hand under the light, cotton fabric. As her hand closed over his groin, Lee nearly jumped off the bench. No one outside of the medical profession had ever touched him there. He quickly grabbed the woman’s wrist.

“What are you doing?!” He demanded.

“Relax, I’m not going to hurt you,” she said, with a slight laugh.

Keeping her gaze locked with his, she twisted her wrist out of his loosened grip and resumed her exploration. On some subconscious level, Lee knew that he should leave, should get the hell away from this woman, but he also realized that his arousal was rapidly growing very visible. Where would he go? He couldn’t return to the party, not like this...

With the woman’s experienced hand rubbing him and, now, her scorching mouth branding his neck and jaw, these few rational thoughts were quickly drowned under the onslaught of teen-aged hormones flooding his body. Gradually, she began lightly biting her way lower, down his jaw and neck, to suckle at his collarbone for a moment. Continuing her deliberate downward journey, she pressed her mouth over one flat nipple, lightly grazing it with her bared teeth and leaving behind a small wet spot on the front of his t-shirt.

Leaning back against the bench, with his eyes closed, the boy had no advanced warning when her mouth replaced her hand at his crotch. Lee actually gave a loud groan at the sudden, unexpected pleasure that rippled through his body.

Gripping the edge of the bench in a two-handed death grip, the boy tried desperately to keep from bucking his hips up and choking the woman. He pressed the back of his head against the latticework, using the slight pain to help ground himself. His breath was coming in heavy pants now, as if he had just run a race, and he felt like his entire body was about to completely fly apart.

Lee knew what an orgasm felt like, he had figured that one out on his own, but he had never felt anything like this. In fact, he wasn’t sure how he had managed to survive 17 years of life without having experienced this before. Without even realizing it, he had begun to whimper softly. Luckily the loud noise from the nearby reunion drowned out the sound of his passion.

Enveloped in the warm moisture of the woman’s mouth, the boy was unprepared for the intensity of his release. He gave a soft cry as an incredible convulsive shudder shook his body. He collapsed back against the latticework behind him, feeling like a wrung out rag.

The woman raised her head and smiled at him smugly. Wiping her mouth, she picked up the flask and took a long pull at the ambrosia. She watched him, still smiling, while he tried to regain control of his body. Taking another deep drink, she leaned in close and kissed him. As both their lips parted, the boy became aware of the ambrosia passing from her mouth to his. He swallowed the alcohol reflexively and pulled away slightly. She nuzzled her face close to his ear.

“My turn,” she breathed, lightly running the tip of her tongue around the outer shell of his ear.

With these two simple acts, Lee felt his so-recently spent member twitch back to life. Still smiling that oh-so-knowing smile, the woman stood and hiked the hem of her pink dress up around her waist. Lee was presented with enough of a look, to note that she was not wearing any panties and she was not a ‘natural’ blonde, before she was climbing onto his lap.

Straddling his hips, she eased herself down and made herself comfortable. As she began to slowly rock her hips back and forth, Lee was once again plunged into that feverish haze of pleasure. Taking his hands, the woman placed them on her breasts again and the boy quickly complied with the unspoken command. Running the pads of his thumbs lightly over the sharp little nubs of flesh, he felt her shiver and buck her hips a little faster. She let her head fall back and moaned loudly.

Digging her fingers painfully into his shoulders, she picked up the pace of her pelvic thrusts again. The woman was moving her hips quite roughly now and Lee was forced to move his hands to her waist to keep her from rocking herself right off his lap. She was also moaning and crying out quite loudly and the boy had a momentary flash of panic at the thought that someone might hear her and come to investigate. What if Zac came looking for him and walked in on them? What if his father did?

These fleeting thoughts were quickly swept away as he felt himself, once again, nearing climax. Gripping her waist and pulling her tightly to him, Lee’s body stiffened convulsively for a moment then he went limp, sagging back against the bench, exhausted. He had no idea whether the woman had gotten the same satisfaction from this quick coupling as he had, but at the moment, he didn’t really care.

Standing up, she straightened her dress back down over her legs and ran a hand through her hair a few times. Picking up the almost empty flask, she returned the cap to its place and dropped the bottle back into her bag. Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she bent down and placed a disturbingly maternal kiss on his forehead and left the gazebo, taking the steps a bit unsteadily.

Lee was left feeling alternately relieved and abandoned. Standing a bit unsteadily himself, he restored his own clothing as well. Looking around him, he saw there was no visible sign left of the strange woman, as if she had never been there at all. If it weren’t for the lingering scent of sex and ambrosia, the boy might have convinced himself that it had all been a heat-induced wet dream.

Picking up his book, he deliberately moved to sit on the other side of the gazebo. He sat for a long time staring at the spot where he had just a short time ago lost his virginity. Somehow he didn’t feel the way he would have thought he would at this moment. His friends had all bragged about how and when they had lost theirs, but somehow Lee didn’t feel like bragging. He didn’t feel like doing much of anything, least of all, rejoining his father and brother and his father’s friends at the picnic.

He supposed he was still in shock at the unexpected suddenness of it all, but he couldn’t help feeling rather betrayed. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, was it? It had felt good, there was no denying that, but now that the immediate pleasure was over, he felt as if he had been cheated of something. The problem was, he wasn’t sure what that something was. Perhaps later, when he’d had time to get over the shock, he would feel better about the whole thing.

He didn’t know how long he had sat there, staring into space, before he heard his brother calling his name. For some reason he couldn’t explain, he didn’t respond. He just sat silently. After several minutes, he heard Zac approaching the gazebo and then the younger boy poked his head inside.

“Hey, there you are,” he said, annoyed. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Didn’t you hear me yelling for you?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, why didn’t you answer me?”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay... whatever. Dad told me to find you.”

“Why?! What does he want?” Lee asked sharply, sudden panic flaring his chest. Did his father know?

“I don’t know. He just told me to go and get you. Come on, he’s waiting.”

Frak! Lee thought, he knows, he has to! Why else would he have so abruptly summoned Lee to his presence? Taking a deep, Lee stood and followed Zac out of the gazebo. He knew better than to keep the elder Adama waiting. The punishment was only worse if you tried to delay it.

Lee followed along behind his brother like a man walking to his execution. His parents had always told him and Zac that sex was not something to be undertaken lightly. It should only happen with someone with whom you had strong feelings and certainly not with someone whom you had only known for about a half hour. Hell, Lee thought with a sick feeling, I didn’t even know her name.

Returning to the thick of the gathering, Lee suddenly felt exposed and guilty, fancying that every person present was staring at him disapprovingly. William Adama was standing with several other men and women. He was laughing and appeared relaxed. Lee felt his spirits lift slightly. Maybe his father didn’t know... Surely he wouldn’t say anything in front of all these people.

William turned and smiled broadly at his sons. “Lee, there you are! Where have you been? Come here, boys, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

The two boys glanced at each other and Zac discreetly rolled his eyes. Great, someone they had missed during their early rounds. Lee might have been annoyed as well, if he weren’t feeling so relieved. At the moment, he was inclined to be generous to his father.

As they approached, William moved to stand between them and hooked an arm over each of their shoulders. “Boys,” he said. “I want you to meet Saul’s new wife, Ellen Tigh.”

Looking up at his father’s best friend, Lee’s eyes followed the older man’s gaze to the right and, for a moment, he thought he was going to pass out. The beautiful blonde standing at the major’s side was none other than the same blonde who, less than an hour ago, had stolen his virginity. He had just had sex with his father’s best friend’s wife... Lee could actually feel the blood draining from his face.

He was only vaguely aware of his father still speaking, “They just got here from their honeymoon... Ellen, these are my boys. Zac, here, is 14 and Lee is 17.”

“Wow, you got married, Major Tigh?” Zac said. “Congratulations and it’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Thank you, Zac,” Tigh said, smiling happily. Turning to Lee, the older man said teasingly, “I know she’s beautiful, Son, but it’s not polite to stare.”

“Oh, Saul, leave the poor boy alone,” Ellen said, lightly swatting at her husband’s arm.

“Um, I-I’m sorry, sir. It’s very nice to meet you, ma’am,” Lee finally managed to stammer.

“Bill, you didn’t tell me that your sons were so handsome...” Ellen gushed.

“Well, a father doesn’t want to brag too much,” William said with a proud smile.

Lee looked down at the ground, very much aware that the woman was still watching him. Indeed, he could feel her eyes boring into him like lasers. Gods, how could she be so calm and casual? he thought. Then remembering how much ambrosia she had been drinking and how unsteady she had been as she walked away, he wondered if she even remembered it. Or does she do this sort of thing that frequently? With that thought, he felt a wave of nausea wash over him.

“Um, are you done with us?” Lee asked his father abruptly. “Can Zac and I go?”

“Yes, you can go,” William said, with an indulgent smile.

“You know, she’s pretty hot for an older woman,” Zac said quietly to Lee as the two boys walked away from the adults. “Wonder how Tigh managed to land her.”

“Shut up, Zac!”

“What’s up with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Okay, so you’ve been acting like a prick all day for no reason?”

“Look, I don’t really feel well,” Lee said evasively, although it was the partial truth. He was still feeling nauseous after his little encounter with the new Mrs. Tigh.

He trailed after Zac as the younger boy went in search of Megan Miller. Lee sat at an empty picnic table alone and watched his brother trying to flirt with the older girl. The girl seemed receptive to his attentions, but obviously didn’t want to become involved. After all, her family lived on Aquarion. They had only flown to Caprica for the reunion. So, there was really no point in getting attached to a boy she only saw once a year.

Lee felt no desire to interact with the other kids, even those closer to his own age. So, he just sat and watched, feeling numb and empty. He wanted to leave the reunion, to get away from all these people. And he desperately wanted to take a long, very hot shower. He felt dirty... no, more like, unclean. His skin felt different... too tight, itchy, uncomfortable. He wished he could crawl right out of his skin, the way snakes do, perhaps then he could feel clean again. He was so preoccupied with these thoughts that he didn’t notice his father approach until the man was standing next to him.

“Hey, Zac said you weren’t feeling well,” William said. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Lee said quickly.

“You sure? You look a little pale. Are you running a fever?” William reached out to put a hand on the boy’s forehead, but Lee quickly shied away before he could.

“I’m fine, really. I think it’s just the heat...” Lee had an irrational fear that if his father touched him, he would somehow know what his son had done just by feel, or that at his touch, the word ‘unclean’ would somehow appear on the boy’s forehead. So absorbed with his own misery, Lee did not notice the look of hurt disappointment that briefly crossed his father’s face.

“Alright, well, let’s get you back to my apartment. At least it’s air-conditioned there. Why don’t you round up Zac and I’ll let Saul and Ellen know that we’re leaving.”

“Yes sir.”

After collecting Zac from Megan, the two boys wandered over to where their father was still talking with Major Tigh and his new wife. They waited patiently for the adults to finish their conversation. As William turned back to his sons, Saul and Ellen stepped forward to say good-bye to the boys. Tigh shook hands with both of them and Ellen laid a gentle hand on Lee’s forearm.

“I do hope you feel better, soon,” she said solicitously.

“Thank you, ma’am,” the boy said softly, only just managing not to shrink away from her in revulsion.

“Okay, Boys, let’s go,” William said. “It’s been a long day.”