December 1992
Once Casey started flying with Bulldog again, everything started to gel with her formation flying. The good thing about flying formation was that she got a clear idea of how good her flying skills were compared to the guys in her class. She could stay in position no matter what the lead aircraft did, and her formation lead was the best in the entire flight. She was finally confident and ready for her formation check ride.
The day of her check ride she was flying against Dan Hopkins, a good ol’ boy from Kentucky. He was not particularly bright and had not flown well the last time she flew with him.
She started as lead and ran him through the required maneuvers. She set him up perfectly for a position change and she became the wingman. He continued forward for a long time doing nothing as they rapidly approached the boundary of their practice area. “Come on, do something,” she mumbled.
His check pilot in the backseat gave them the pitch out signal as he yanked the jet hard into a turn to get back into the practice area. Crap, this isn’t good. Dan finally gave her an echelon turn. He rolled out too fast from the turn and almost hit her jet. She had to push the stick forward quickly to avoid getting hit.
Just then she heard her check pilot’s deep voice on the radio calling, “Knock it off, knock it off.” Then he said, “My jet, Tompkins.”
“Yes, sir, you have the jet.” Fuck, fuck, fuck! This asshole is going to get me busted.
The check pilot smoothly slid away to a safe distance. She was furious at Dan. Stay calm. Keep flying. There’s still a chance you can pass. It was Kathryn’s voice in her head. She took a few deep breaths to stay calm.
Her check pilot said, “Okay, Tompkins, your jet.”
“Roger, I have the aircraft.”
The check pilot in the lead jet signaled he was flying. He returned to Willie and led the formation to a wing landing. Maybe she hadn’t busted the ride because her check pilot was still letting her fly. She would make this wing landing the best one he’d ever seen. Her wing position was rock solid, and she touched down right with lead. If she busted this check ride at least she knew she’d given it her best. She still wanted to kill Dan, the dumbass.
When she walked back into the Gombey flight room, she saw a red circle around Dan’s name on the schedule board. She was not surprised he busted his formation check. All eyes turned to look at her.
“Well, how’d you do, Casey?” the flight commander asked.
“I passed with a Good, sir.” She was very relieved to have squeaked by with a pass and have this ride behind her.
She would call Kathryn tonight and tell her all about what had happened today.
*****
The wing commander’s secretary called Kathryn to tell her that her promotion board would be meeting next week. The board results would be announced in a month. That would be around the same time Casey’s class would be getting their flying assignments. That would be a very eventful week, not without its own issues.
She was worried about how Casey would react when she found out that she was supposed to go to Alabama for a year to school, then to the Pentagon to fly a large steel desk for four more years. The odds seemed insurmountable for them to be together. She’d been busy calling in a few favors to arrange a surprise for Casey that she hoped would soften the blow.
*****
Casey was exhausted from the stress of flying, instrument sims, her formation check ride, and now her upcoming cross-country flights. She wished she could just hang out with Kathryn.
She was flying with Captain Taylor from Boysan flight for her cross-country trip. Bulldog had been pretty absent because of his son’s upcoming heart surgery. She’d seen Captain Taylor around the squadron but never spoken to her. She was one of only two women T-38 instructor pilots in the entire squadron, and they were on the opposite schedule from her flight. She was an imposing-looking IP. She was six feet tall, had forearms like Martina Navratilova, but Casey had never seen her at any softball games.
“Captain Taylor wants you to come over to Boysan at 1400 hours today to talk about your cross-country flight,” the scheduler told Casey.
“Hi, Casey. Have a seat.” Captain Taylor sounded friendly. “You’ve been doing well with your instrument flying, so we’re going to concentrate on preparing you for your navigation check ride.”
“That would be great.”
“Plan a low-level flight to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, then we’ll do a night flight to Peterson Field in Colorado Springs with lots of approaches. Saturday will be a free day for you because I’m going to the Air Force Academy football game with some friends. On Sunday, we’ll fly to Biggs Army Air Field in El Paso, then back to Willie.”
“Okay. This sounds like a great trip.” Casey was thrilled to have a day off in Colorado Springs.
“Do you know what the nickname for El Paso is?”
“No, I don’t.”
“It’s called El Pinko because so many people have busted nav checks there. The runway is very close to El Paso International and it’s very easy to misidentify the runway. I’m going to show you all the hazards of this place so you won’t get burned. Meet me in base operations at 0900 hours on Friday. This will be a fun weekend, Casey. Oh, and call me Janie when we’re in the jet.”
“Got it, see you Friday.” Casey couldn’t wait to fly with Janie.
*****
Casey met Captain Taylor at 0900 hours and showed her the flight plans. She was pleased with the low-level route. She was used to the high speed of the T-38, but flying at four hundred knots close to the ground was mind-blowing and thrilling. She found all her points on time, Meteor Crater, the Painted Desert, and Monument Valley.
After she completed her low-level route, Casey climbed to altitude and flew to Kirtland Air Force Base. Captain Taylor had her do a circling approach. They took a short break while Captain Taylor debriefed the ride. She gave Casey a grade of Excellent on her low-level.
Casey had to switch to the backseat and fly under the canvas hood attached to the canopy for her instrument flying. Captain Taylor taxied the jet and made the takeoff from the front seat. Casey felt closed in and claustrophobic flying under the T-38 hood. There was no way to cheat and steal a peek at the horizon flying under the bag.
Once she was airborne, Casey concentrated on her instrument flying and her position orientation. The flight to Colorado Springs only took fifteen minutes when she requested the first approach. Captain Taylor next had her fly a non-precision approach, a missed approach, then an ILS approach. She nailed all the approaches, then Captain Taylor took the jet.
“Take a break, Casey. All your approaches are good, and we’ll make this last one a precision radar approach. When you call ‘Decision height,’ I’ll take the jet and make the landing.”
“Okay, got it.” Her flying was precise with the radar controller calling, “On glide path, on course.” She kept the jet stabilized until two hundred feet above the ground when she announced, “Decision height.” Captain Taylor took the jet and made a great landing.
After landing, Casey pulled back the hood. You can’t see crap from the backseat. How can they see to land this thing from the back? Captain Taylor pulled up to the parking spot and Casey noticed two other T-38s and one T-37. She assumed they were more Academy grads returning for homecoming. They climbed down the ladders, got their bags, and checked out a car from the base motor pool. All the on base quarters were full, so they got vouchers for an off-base hotel.
Captain Taylor drove them to the hotel, and when they walked into the lobby, Casey saw several other Air Force pilots, including Kathryn.
“Well, look who finally got here. Hi, Janie. Hi, Casey,” Kathryn said.
Casey could hardly believe her eyes. She wanted to pick up Kathryn in a bear hug and twirl her around. Kathryn had a gorgeous smile on her face as she beamed at Casey.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were flying here?” Casey asked.
“And ruin the surprise? The look on your face when you walked in was priceless.”
Captain Taylor was talking to the other T-37 IP who had flown in with Kathryn. She looked familiar, but Casey didn’t know her. She figured she must be a new instructor pilot who was getting her aircraft check out from Kathryn. It was obvious that Janie Taylor and this new woman IP were very familiar with each other as sparks flew from the way they looked at each other.
“Here’s your room key, Casey. Good job today. This is Stephanie Carson. She’s a new Tweet IP. You guys have fun and we’ll meet up with you Sunday morning around 1100 hours.”
“Shall we go find our room?” Kathryn asked softly.
“Our room? Are you crazy?” Casey was stunned.
“In case you hadn’t noticed, this hotel is the unofficial lesbian headquarters for the weekend. Come on, let’s go.”
Casey followed Kathryn feeling deliciously naughty and excited.
Kathryn put out the “Do not disturb” sign and locked the door. She slowly walked over to Casey but did not turn on the light. The drapes were open and Casey could see the lights shining on the magnificent Air Force Academy chapel. The lights from outside cast a soft blue light throughout the room.
Kathryn reached for Casey’s face and slowly drew them together. Her lips were soft and warm as she gently kissed Casey.
Casey returned the soft kisses and put her arms around Kathryn’s small waist. There was no hurry or fear of being caught. For the first time, they were alone with no concerns about anyone seeing them. The freedom was intoxicating. They could take their sweet time with each other as they relished each touch and lingered over every caress.
Kathryn slowly pulled down Casey’s flight suit zipper and slid her hand inside to drag her fingertips across the pebbled skin. Kathryn’s other hand joined in the exploration of Casey’s body as both hands moved up her rib cage under Casey’s white T-shirt. A moan emerged from Casey’s lips at the sensation of Kathryn’s warm hands on her chest. She wanted Kathryn to tear her flight suit off, but she knew Kathryn wanted to make her wait. The slow caresses were exquisite torture and Kathryn would not be hurried.
Kathryn reached behind Casey, unhooked her bra as she continued to kiss her and moved her hands to Casey’s firm breasts. She massaged them and lightly pinched the hard nipples. Casey was getting damp, and she slid her tongue into Kathryn’s hot mouth. Their kisses quickly became more intense as Casey unzipped Kathryn’s flight suit and pulled it down off her shoulders. They had to separate in order to get off their flight boots and they both laughed before quickly getting naked on the bed.
Casey was in heaven at the sensation of Kathryn’s luscious body on top of her. She couldn’t help but writhe when Kathryn pressed her firm thigh into Casey’s center. After Kathryn caressed and sucked Casey’s breasts, she moved slowly down her body, leaving a trail of hot kisses across her stomach. She settled her body between Casey’s legs and dragged her own erect nipples across Casey’s hard clit. She was deliberate and agonizingly slow in her lovemaking as she moved her lips to Casey’s throbbing center. When Casey’s writhing and moaning reached a fever pitch, Kathryn entered her slowly and deeply, bringing her to a powerful orgasm.
Casey pulled Kathryn up to kiss her face. She was breathless and covered in a light sheen of sweat from the giant orgasm, but she wanted to hold on to Kathryn. She loved the feel of Kathryn’s breasts against hers and wrapped her arms tightly around her strong back. I could hold her like this forever.
“Are you okay?” Kathryn asked gently.
“I’m better than okay. That was the most powerful orgasm I’ve ever had. My heart is still pounding.”
“I know. I can feel your heart beating. I like it.” Kathryn placed her hand on top of Casey’s heart.
“How did you know to do that to me?”
“Your body told me what you wanted. I just followed where your body led me, like a good wingman. You are magnificent.” Kathryn nuzzled her face against Casey’s neck. She could feel the strong pulse against her cheek.
Casey gently rolled Kathryn over onto her back. “My turn now.”
Casey pressed her taller body against Kathryn’s. “Am I hurting you?”
“No. I like the feel of you on top of me.”
Casey explored every inch of Kathryn’s body. She was unhurried and rolled Kathryn onto her stomach after she’d kissed every part of her front. She massaged and tasted Kathryn’s back, slowly moving her hands lower. When she got to Kathryn’s cheeks, she gave that area special attention. Casey remembered her last cross-country trip to Las Vegas when she’d spied on Kathryn from her hotel balcony. That image was burned into her brain, and she now wanted to take Kathryn from behind.
Casey pried Kathryn’s knees apart and she pulled up her hips. She felt a slight resistance, but then Kathryn submitted to her. Casey moved her hand lower, finding Kathryn’s center soaked with desire. “Oh, Kathryn.”
Casey slid two fingers deep inside her as she gripped her hip with her other hand. Kathryn backed into Casey’s hand, wanting more. Casey pushed deeper inside her and hooked her leg around Kathryn’s thigh so she couldn’t move. She moved inside Kathryn harder and faster as she rubbed her own hard clit against Kathryn’s ass. She felt Kathryn was close. She accelerated her pace, giving Kathryn exactly what she wanted. Her own orgasm rose from deep within her center as Kathryn cried out her climax. They fell together in a sweaty heap on the bed.
Kathryn turned underneath Casey, wrapping her arms around her neck. Casey held her as small shudders rolled through her. She felt tears on Kathryn’s cheek. “Kathryn, did I hurt you? I’m so sorry.”
“No, you didn’t hurt me.” Kathryn choked out the words.
Casey just held her and kissed her face. Some barrier between them was broken now, never to separate them again. They made love all night long, unhurried and unrestrained. As the soft moonlight faded into darkness, they drifted off to sleep wrapped in each other’s arms. Kathryn treasured the sensation of Casey’s warm body pressed against her back and she held Casey’s hand tenderly between her breasts. As she relaxed into the strong arms, a thought came into her mind that she hadn’t remembered in a very long time. I am happy.
With Casey’s warm breath against the back of her neck, Kathryn slid into a deep, safe slumber.