I stop to catch my breath on a hiking trail about halfway up a mountain near my cabin and admire the view of the lake below.
A woman in fitted hiking pants and a lightweight jacket pauses nearby, looking lost.
“Excuse me, do you know if this path leads to the summit overlook? I think I might have taken a wrong turn back there.”
“Yes it does. I’m headed up there if you’d like to trail up together.”
She quickly tucks away her map and adjusts her backpack straps, relief washing across her face as she notices a well-trod path veering off ahead. “That would be fantastic! I’m Sophia, by the way.” She offers her hand to shake; her grip is firm, but her smile carries a hint of nervousness beneath its warm surface.
“I’m James. It’s pretty easy to get pointed in the wrong direction up here. If you follow the trail markers, you should be ok. Sometimes they’re hard to locate, but for the most part they’re on the trees.”
Nodding appreciatively, Sophia falls into step beside me as I start up the winding trail. The late-morning sun peaks through the leafy canopy overhead, casting shadows across the forest floor below.
“Thank you, James. I’ve been hiking these trails for years, but sometimes I find myself preoccupied and wander off the trail.” She glances my way with a sheepish laugh, bouncing slightly as she matches my pace.
“Really? Same here. I have a cabin on the lake below. I hike this trail a lot too. I’ve never noticed you before…I mean…I think I would have noticed you…” I trail off, not wanting to sound like a stalker.
“I guess I had more on my mind than the trail map today.”
“These mountains are a great place to find peace.”
Her cheeks flush at my trailing comment, though she doesn’t seem offended. Instead, amusement plays at the corners of her mouth as she ducks beneath a low-hanging branch. “A cabin sounds charming. And yes, these peaks always clear my head somehow, though today’s thoughts have stubbornly followed me up here.” The trail widens enough for us to walk side by side, Sophia matching my stride with an easy rhythm that suggests she’s no stranger to these paths despite her earlier disorientation.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what’s on your mind?”
Her expression softens, her footsteps slowing slightly as the trail narrows between two boulders. “Just…decisions about the future. My company, mostly. Sometimes I wonder if I’m making the right choices.”
“What is it that you do?”
Her lips press together briefly, her fingers absently brushing against the wooden marker post as they pass it. “I own a small publishing house in the city.” She exhales, her shoulders relaxing slightly, shedding some mental weight. “We specialize in nature guides and travel literature, appropriate given how much time I spend out here, trying to escape paperwork.”
“Interesting. What are some of the titles your company has published?”
Sophia’s pace lightens as the trail begins to level off, the trees thinning to reveal glimpses of the lake below through breaks in the canopy. “Oh, we’ve done quite a few. The bestseller was probably Hiking the Appalachian Trail, but personally, I love Adirondack Hiking Trails. There’s something satisfying about bringing stories and experiences to readers.”
“You know…I think I’ve seen those titles in the general store on the main road. They’re very nicely done. What are the decisions that are weighing heavy on you?”
She stops momentarily, turning slightly to face me as we reach a fork in the path. The scent of pine fills the air around us. “It’s… leadership, I suppose. Growing the company means stepping further away from the creation itself. Sometimes I wonder if that’s who I truly want to be—a manager rather than a maker.” She gestures vaguely downhill, toward the distant glint of water. “This looks familiar. Isn’t the summit overlook just up this ridge? From what I remember, there’s some rugged terrain near the top.”
“Yeah, I’m headed that way too, if you don’t mind continuing the conversation.” She smiles, inviting me to join her. I continue, “Growth is never a bad thing. Have you ever considered hiring someone on to take over the leadership responsibilities to allow you to continue being more focused on the creative? Guiding leadership as the owner? I mean, it’s your company, right? Why can’t you do what you want?”
Sophia’s fingers trace the edge of her backpack strap, her gaze drifting toward the distant summit before returning her look to me. “You make it sound so simple. But maybe that’s exactly what I need: to hear it from someone on the outside.”
“I see that all the time in my line of work. I do consulting, and very often someone in a position of authority wants to step back or focus on something like a new technology with the research and development team. They feel out of touch in management roles and want to return to being the star on the team. Sometimes it works. It really helps if you’re the owner, though, you should be able to do whatever you want.”
Her posture relaxes noticeably as the summit trail reveals itself: a steep but manageable climb over weathered rock formations. She steadies herself briefly against a boulder, then looks back at me with newfound determination. “Maybe you’re right. I do own the place after all. Why am I so hesitant to reshape it how I want?”
The conversation goes silent for a few minutes as we both focus on scaling the boulder to the summit. As we reach the top of the boulder, Sophia holds out her hand to help me up from the last step of the climb. We stand looking at each other briefly, smiling, then walking to the edge overlooking the lake and the slope of the pine trees covering the view below. “Quite a view!”
Standing at the edge, she takes a deep breath, her jacket flapping gently in the high-altitude breeze. Her gaze sweeps across the panoramic view before landing back on me, her expression softened with gratitude. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?” She gestures toward a flat granite slab jutting out from the summit. “Shall we sit there for a minute? I promise I won’t keep you from your cabin too long.”
“I’m enjoying the company. I usually hike these trails alone. It’s nice having a partner.”
She settles onto the granite slab, her legs dangling over the edge. The scent of pine mingles with the earthy aroma of moss as she turns slightly toward me.
I sit beside her and admire the view. “This never gets old. I’ve been coming up here since I was a kid. My parents used to bring me up here.”
Her face softens at the mention of my parents, her hands clasping together in her lap as she takes in the familiar story of childhood memories. “That sounds wonderful. Having places like this…they anchor us to our pasts, don’t they?” She glances at me, curiosity sparking in her expression. “Do you still come here often?”
“You mean this trail? Fairly often. I try to hike other peaks just to keep it interesting. This trail is the easiest for me to access. The cabin is about 3 miles from the trailhead. What about you?”
Sophia leans back slightly, the rough granite pressed against her palms as she balances herself. “I live in the city, so this is my sanctuary when I need to escape the noise and deadlines.” A small smile plays at her lips as she turns to face me more fully, her legs swinging gently over the void. “Though today I’m glad I’m not alone up here. The solitude can be…intense sometimes.”
“How often do you make it out this way?”
The afternoon sun catches the dust motes dancing around her head as she shifts her weight on the granite slab. “Every couple of weeks, when I can manage it. The drive is about two hours, which gives me time to clear my head before I even hit the trail.” Her fingers absently trace patterns on the stone beneath her, the movement betraying a hint of nervousness despite the relaxed atmosphere.
“Cool. Well…if you ever need a hiking companion…I’m usually around.”
Her cheeks warm slightly at the offer, her gaze dropping momentarily to where her fingers still wander across the rock. “I think I’d like that. It’s always safer in pairs anyway, and the company would certainly make the journey more enjoyable.” She pauses, then adds with a touch of shy amusement, “Though I might bore you with too many questions about your life in these mountains.”
“We should exchange numbers. And…” I hesitate, thinking for a moment.
Sophia tilts her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her expression as she waits for me to finish my thought. The breeze carries a faint scent of wildflowers from the patches dotting the rocky terrain around them, adding a sweet undertone to their conversation.
“Maybe it’s a little too forward to ask…would you like to have dinner tonight? If nothing else, just to continue the conversation?”
Her fingers freeze on the stone, her mouth opening slightly in surprise before closing again as she processes the invitation. A soft breath escapes her lips, her shoulders relaxing as the initial shock transforms into something warmer. “That’s… surprisingly lovely of you to ask.” She meets my gaze, her professional composure giving way to a genuine smile. “I’d love to continue this conversation in a less precarious setting.”
“Awesome. There’s a wonderful little place on the lake with tables that overlook the water. Where are you staying…or do you usually just drive up here from the city and back the same day?”
Her fingers curl over the edge of her jacket as she considers, her eyes tracing the contours of the pine forest stretching below. “I’ve booked a room at the lodge near the base of the mountain—nothing fancy, but convenient for early morning starts.”
“Oh yeah. I think I know the place you’re referring to. I know the owners.”
Her eyebrows lift slightly, intrigued by this small-town connection. “That must make things easier for locals, knowing half the people you encounter.” She shifts her weight on the granite slab, the late-afternoon sunlight catching the glow of her face as she angles herself toward me. “Does everyone know each other up here? It seems like that kind of place.”
“Not anymore. A lot of the population here are transients, which is fine. The trend now is to buy up properties here and rent them out after fixing them up. There are a few of us who have been here for years, but the vibe has changed a little since I was a kid.”
Her expression turns contemplative, her gaze drifting across the landscape as if seeing it through new eyes. “Change is inevitable, but it’s odd to see it happen to places we consider timeless.” She glances back at me, curiosity evident in her features. “Have you noticed much difference in how the community interacts compared to when you were younger?”
“Absolutely. Many of the people in my parents’ generation have moved away or passed away, unfortunately. The property values have skyrocketed, so many people just cash in. It used to be that everyone knew each other and didn’t move. I miss some of the old stuff, but the new generation of people here seems to be just as passionate about this place as the previous, for different reasons.”
Sophia nods slowly, her fingers absently tracing the seam of her hiking pant leg as she listens intently to a local’s perspective. “That cycle of old giving way to new—it’s happening everywhere, though I suppose it’s more pronounced in smaller communities.” A thoughtful silence follows her words before she glances at the angle of the sun. “We should probably start making our way down soon if we want to make dinner reservations at that lakeside place. Unless you prefer later in the evening?”
“Yeah…let’s start to hike down. Do you want to document the moment and take a selfie with me?”
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across our perch as she raises her hands in mock surrender at my suggestion of a photo. “Document the moment of my certain death, yes, why not?” She scoots closer to the edge, her foot slipping against the granite with a small skitter before regaining traction.
Her pulse quickens with the proximity to the drop-off, a mix of fear and exhilaration coursing through her veins. She steadies herself against the rock face, the rough texture digging into her palm as she extends the other hand toward me. “I promise I’ll try not to topple off mid-smile.”
I snap a few photos of Sophia and me with the view from the summit as the background. We both smile, looking as if we’d been together for years. We continue our conversation on the hike down the trail. I can’t help but notice how perfectly her form fills her hiking pants. We stop halfway down the mountain near a small waterfall to rest.
The cool mist from the waterfall creates a refreshing veil around us as we pause on the mountain trail. She settles onto a moss-covered boulder, her hiking boots scuffing slightly against the damp rock. “This is one of my favorite spots along this route, usually deserted enough to stop and breathe properly,” she says, unclipping her canteen and taking a long drink of the crisp mountain water.
I dip my hand in the cool water and wet my forehead. I sit beside her and admire the view of the waterfall. I turn and smile at her, “I’m glad we ran into each other. You’re good company.”
Sophia’s fingers tighten around her canteen as she watches me drape myself easily against the boulder. Something about my relaxed posture draws her attention, the way my shoulder hitches against hers creating a momentary connection. “You’re making me regret coming up here alone,” she responds, her tone light but her eyes holding a depth of meaning as she glances sideways at him.
“Is there someone you’d normally come up here with? Why are you regretting it?”
A soft laugh escapes her lips as she shifts her position on the boulder, the movement causing her shoulder to brush against mine. The contact sends a brief shiver down her spine that she quickly suppresses with a slight shift away. “Just my usual hiking partners: ambition and stubbornness,” she replies dryly, taking another sip from her canteen. “They aren’t terrible companions, but they rarely know when to stop pushing.”
“Well…any time you’d rather hike with less pushy companions, I’d be happy to join you.” I pause momentarily, “And how come there’s no one joining you?”
Sophia’s fingers are still on the metal rim of her canteen, her gaze drifting to the waterfall’s spray before returning to me. The question strikes her as both innocent and probing, revealing the subtle loneliness that underscores her solo hikes. “Most people would say I’m too self-reliant to make good company for long,” she admits, her voice dropping slightly with vulnerability. Her boot scuffs against a loose pebble, the sound punctuating the quiet between them as she waits for me to absorb her response.
“Funny, I feel like I have similar preconceptions about myself. I’m often mistaken as the thrill-seeking type that lives out of a van. I would think that you’d already have someone back in the city, or at least a companion…you strike me as the complete package.”
Sophia tilts her head, considering the comparison I’ve drawn between us. The idea of being seen as the complete picture stirs something unexpected within her.
I let the sound of the waterfall fill the space between us. I’m emboldened by the setting frozen in the moment and lean closer, capturing her eyes with mine. Her pinky involuntarily wraps over mine.
The air thins around us as she registers the touch of my pinky brushing against hers. A flicker of awareness crosses her face, the simple connection igniting something long dormant beneath her polished exterior. She doesn’t pull away, instead allowing her own pinky to curl around mine in silent acknowledgment of the moment.
The mist from the waterfall brushes against her skin as she shifts slightly on the boulder, her pinky curling reflexively around mine. She doesn’t pull back from the touch, instead letting the subtle intimacy linger between us.
I hold her eyes with mine, leaning even closer, resting my hand on her neck, and pulling her in for a kiss. Her mouth is wet, and she breathes deep, her pinky leading the way for the rest of her hand to mingle with mine.
Her breath hitches as my lips find hers in the quiet solitude of the forest. The kiss is a sudden spark that ignites something within her—not a fiery passion, but the warm glow of acceptance.
She raises her hand to my shoulder and relaxes into the kiss. The forest falls away. She steadies herself against me, yielding to the kiss. Her lips part slightly in surprise—first at the boldness of the gesture, then at the way her body responds instinctively to the contact. Her lips are full, and the smell of pine and misting water becomes her scent. I breathe her in.
I pause and look at her face to gauge her reaction and admire her at close perspective. The waterfall fades into the background.
Sophia’s fingers trace a pattern against my shoulder as she pulls back slightly, searching my face for answers to questions she hasn’t voiced. Her pulse thrums in her ears, the roar of the waterfall now a distant hum compared to the sound of our breathing.
“I like the way you kiss,” I say as I resume, joining my lips with hers.
Her lips move against mine, tasting the salt and earthiness on my skin. The sensation sends a shiver through her, her free hand finding its way to the nape of my neck. She feels my warmth beneath her palm as she deepens the kiss. I rest my hand on her thigh.
Time seems to slow as her mind processes the sensation: the warmth of my palm through the fabric, the way her muscles tense briefly before relaxing into my touch.
I look down at my hand as I break away from our kiss. I look back at her eyes to measure her reaction. Her eyes glance down to where my hand rests on her thigh, then back up to look into my eyes. Her chest rises and falls with shallow breaths, her fingers twitching slightly against the boulder.
I smile nervously, hoping the last few moments were welcome to her desires. “That was nice. Maybe we can do some more of that later? Or…continue now?” The uncertainty in my voice permits her to explore her own impulses. She glances around our secluded spot, then leans closer. Her breath betrays her relief as her fingers tighten where they rest on my shoulder. She kisses the underside of my chin softly as she presses to my chest. We pause in the moment as the waterfall and birdsong reoccupy their serenade.
I stand and hold out my hand to her. She raises herself from the boulder and smiles reservedly, brushing a wisp of hair behind her ear. Her lips curve into a soft smile as she accepts my hand. Her fingers weave into mine. “Yeah…that was nice,” she lets slip like a secret she’s kept hidden, “maybe both…later…and now.” She leans in with clumsy hesitation and continues our kiss for immediate gratification.
My hand drifts to her waist, and I touch the warmth of the bare skin between the top of her hiking pants and the bottom of her shirt.
The cool breeze plays with the edges of her shirt as my fingers graze the exposed skin of her waist. She shivers at the touch, raising goosebumps along her sides. Her own hand wanders to my hip, mirroring my exploration with cautious curiosity.
I ease from our kiss and scan the dimming sky. “I think we should finish hiking down the mountain before it gets too dark.”
Sophia glances up at the sky, noting how quickly the afternoon light has begun to wane. She nods reluctantly, her fingers trailing along my side as she steps back slightly.
We continue to hike down the mountain. The last 15 minutes of the hike to the trailhead are an easy walk, but the sun has dipped below the mountain rim, and we walk in dusky light. I offer my hand to guide her, and she accepts without hesitation. The last rays of sunlight slip behind the mountain, casting the final stretch of the trail in twilight. We walk together through the easy terrain as if we’d walked this path many times before.
At the trailhead, she flips through the trail register and finds her name on an earlier entry. She smiles as she signs herself out, handing the pen to me. “We made it! Although that last stretch to the trailhead was a little dark.” Her words fade into the silence of the nearly empty parking lot.
“Are you still interested in dinner?” I ask, my voice nervous with lingering anticipation from our moment by the waterfall.
I notice Sophia’s hesitation. There are only two cars parked at the trailhead, and one of them is my Bronco. I ask her, “Are you having second thoughts?”
The sodium lights cast long shadows across the empty parking lot, heightening the sense of privacy that has settled between us after hours of shared trail time. The decision hangs between us as she weighs her options: returning to the lodge alone or accepting my offer of company. She considers how the rest of the evening might unfold depending on her choice.
Hopeful, I ask, “Is that your car over here? That’s my Bronco over there. I’m going to head back to the cabin to shower and change out of these clothes. I can come pick you up at the lodge in about an hour…if that gives you enough time. Or…I can follow you back to the lodge now.” Sophia pauses beside her car, keys jangling softly in her hand as she looks from me to my Bronco and back again.
I narrow the space between us and take her hand. “I’d really like to continue the evening with you, but I can understand if you’d just like to part ways.” Her breath catches as I close the distance between us. She looks up at me, searching my face for any sign of pressure or expectation, and finding only genuine interest.
“James,” Sophia says softly, her fingers interlacing with mine as she stands before me in the quiet parking lot. “I’ve been thinking about this since we left the waterfall.” Her free hand brushes a strand of hair behind her ear as she takes a small step closer, the gravel crunching beneath her hiking boot. “If I go back to the lodge alone now, I’ll find a reason not to go.”
She glances at the two cars, parked side by side like sentinels guarding secrets. The first stars have begun to twinkle overhead, and the air carries the promise of night-blooming flowers from the forest floor.
“If you’re asking if I want dinner,” she continues, her voice dropping lower, “then yes. But not because we need to eat.” Sophia’s thumb traces the back of my hand as she looks up at him with vulnerability. “I want to sit across from you in a quiet place and hear more of your stories…to look at your charming smile. And maybe…” She pauses, the silence hanging between them like the last moment before a storm breaks. “…maybe we can talk about why I found myself leaning into you when you kissed me. Because in that moment…I don’t know…I felt like you awakened something in me.”
The stars have grown more fiery in the evening sky. I linger with her confession. “I have a suggestion…how about if we stop by the lodge and get your things, then go back to the cabin together? You can shower at my place, and we can continue our conversation uninterrupted.” I add, “I’m enjoying this time with you. That hour we’d be apart from each other will be agony for me, too. And…I’d really like to ask you a bunch of questions…and kiss you again.”
Sophia’s gaze drops momentarily before returning to mine, the decision written plainly across her features as she squeezes my hand gently.
“I’d like that very much,” she says, her voice warm in the chill of the evening air. She releases my hand to step into my arms, her forehead resting briefly against my chest. “Then we’ll get my bag and drive to your cabin together.”
I kiss her, this time more passionately. The moment stretches to something longer as she winds her arms around my neck and pulls me closer. The evening narrows to this single point of connection under the spotlight of the sodium lamp above. “Let’s go,” she whispers against my neck. She steps back toward her car with a teasing smile, the keys dangling from her fingertips as the headlights flicker and the doors unlock. Her Audi growls to life, and she pulls out of the parking space ahead of my Bronco, waiting for me to follow.
I climb into the Bronco and turn over the engine. I follow her to the lodge. I wait in the Bronco as she gathers her bags from her room. The light from the lodge casts long shadows that shrink as she approaches her room. She’s only gone for a few minutes before she emerges from her room and climbs into the passenger seat with a smile. She tosses her bags into the back seat with a quick glance my way. The Bronco growls to life as we pull out of the parking lot onto the main road toward the cabin.
She glances at me as I shift through the gears. “Where exactly is this cabin of yours?” Sophia asks. “Are you near the old ranger station?” The silhouettes of pine trees illuminated by the stars pass like sentinels along the narrow mountain road. The air carries the scent of damp earth and wood smoke through the open windows.
“The cabin is about 3 miles up the road. The ranger station is actually the opposite direction.” We veer off the main road to a narrow mountain pass that climbs up the mountain. The trees become more dense as we ascend. “I’m so happy you decided to have dinner with me tonight, and I’m excited to show you the cabin,” I say. I take her hand and bring it to my lips.
The dense forest presses in on either side. The Bronco slows as I navigate a tight bend, my free hand guiding the wheel while her hand remains cradled in my lap. I turn onto a gravel driveway, and a soft gasp escapes her as the headlights suddenly illuminate the cabin nestled among towering pines. Its rustic porch is bathed in the golden glow of lanterns. A small barn sits further back at the end of the driveway.
I park the Bronco and help her with her bags. I set her bags on the front deck and show her around the property. I point out the barn and the view of the lake under the starlight below. She takes my hand again on the walk back to the cabin and squeezes tightly. I unlock the door and hold it open for her to enter. Inside, she comments on the knotty pine walls and the rustic furniture. I set her bags on the kitchen counter.
“I’ll make a fire and show you around the cabin.”
The cabin is soon warmed by the crackling fire in the hearth. Sophia runs her fingers along the rough-hewn banister as she takes in the open layout, the vaulted ceiling exposing wooden beams that support the structure. “It’s beautiful,” she murmurs, turning to face me standing by the kitchen island. ”And very private.”
“Thanks. It’s taken a number of years to get it to this point, but I’m proud of it. I did most of the work myself.” She glances around the room again and then back at me. There is a pleasant awkward silence for a moment. I ask, “Would you like to shower? You can go first, if you like.”
The fireplace pops, sending embers dancing upward in the stone chimney. She crosses to stand before me. She slips off her jacket to reveal the t-shirt beneath, clinging to her curves. “The bathroom is just through there,” I gesture toward a door on the far wall. “Towels in the linen closet. The bedroom is adjacent…so you have some privacy to change.”
The bathroom door creaks softly as she pushes it open. She flips on the light switch, revealing a modest space with a pedestal sink and walk-in shower with subway tile. “I’ll just be a minute,” she calls over her shoulder, her voice muffled as she begins removing her boots.
I retreat to the bedroom and set out a few clothes for myself for the evening. I hear the shower turn on and the rush of water. I imagine her under the rain of water.
The water rushes loudly against the tile, masking any sounds from the bedroom. A few minutes pass before the shower shuts off, followed by the rustle of a towel being wrapped around her body and the soft pad of bare feet crossing tile. The bathroom door opens, releasing a warm cloud of steam into the hallway.
Sophia emerges, wrapped in a white towel that barely reaches her thighs. Steam curls around her ankles as she stands in the doorway, clutching the towel closed at her chest. “I left my clothes in the living room,” she says, her voice tinged with slight embarrassment at her state of undress. Water droplets cling to her skin, catching the light from the hall fixture as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other.
I begin walking toward the living room. “I can bring them to…” My voice trails off as I drink in her figure standing in the bathroom door. I gather her bags and walk them to her as she holds out her hand to take them. I look a little too long, and she smiles.
She accepts her bag, her fingers brushing against mine. The smile that plays at her lips suggests she noticed my gaze and perhaps didn’t mind the attention. She turns toward the bedroom, calling over her shoulder, “Give me just a minute, okay?”
“Yeah take your time. I’ll take a quick shower so we can get out of here. Go ahead and use the bedroom to get ready.” I enter the bathroom and undress.
The bedroom door closes with a soft click, leaving me alone in the steaming bathroom. I adjust the water temperature, wincing slightly as it warms against my chilled skin. The sound of running water muffles any noise from the bedroom as I lather soap across my chest and shoulders, washing away the sweat and dust from the hike.
I finish my shower and realize I’ve left my fresh clothes in the bedroom. I knock on the bedroom door with a towel wrapped around my waist. She peers through the crack of the open door, still wrapped in the towel pinched at her chest. Her bare shoulders are still damp from the shower. “Oh…” she trails off, biting her lower lip.
“Sorry…I left my fresh clothes in here.”
She hesitates for a moment, glancing over her shoulder toward the bed where my clothes are. The towel slips slightly, revealing the very top of her cleavage. “Here, let me…,” she opens the door wider, stepping back to allow me entry. The bedroom is dimly lit by a single table lamp, casting a warm glow across the rustic furnishings. A small suitcase sits open on the bed beside my neatly folded clothes.
I stand in the doorway, unable to take my eyes off her. She gathers my clothes and walks them back to me with a wry smile. Her towel clings precariously to her body as she extends the pile of clothes to me over the threshold.
I reach out to take my clothes and bump them in her hand, sending them to the floor. We both stoop to rescue them, placing our hands on the pile simultaneously. We look at each other briefly as her towel slips, revealing even more.
Our fingers touch momentarily, as she instinctively tugs the slipping towel back into place. The motion causes her to lose balance, and she catches herself against my shoulder, the towel falling open entirely. “Oh!” She gasps, scrambling to cover herself with one arm while the other flails wildly behind her back.
“I’m so sorry! My fault!” In my attempt to catch her as she falls back on the towel, my towel slips away reveling my half-erect length. We face each other, exposed and snickering at our current predicament.
Sophia’s face flushes crimson, her arms flying up in a futile attempt to cover both her breasts and the newly exposed triangle between her legs. The towel crumples to the floor, leaving her utterly bare before my half-hardened form. “This isn’t…,” she stammers, her laughter dying in her throat as she drinks in my muscled abdomen and the dark trail leading down to my hips.
I stand and hold out my hand to pull her up level with me. We stand together facing each other, naked, the laughter fading. I lean in and kiss her, and she exhales in relief. I press against her naked, damp body and relax in her warmth as she instinctively wraps her arms around my neck. Her nipples graze my chest as my lips claim hers in a demanding kiss. She arches into my embrace, her hips tilting forward almost unconsciously to nestle against my erection.
My hands slide down the length of her back, lubricated by the beads of water dripping from her damp hair. I drop one hand to palm the firm plumpness of her ass, contenting in its perfection. Her breath hitches as my fingers spread possessively over her tender curves. Her hands tangle in my damp strands of hair, tilting her head back to allow my tongue to penetrate more deeply to find hers.
“God, you feel incredible,” Sophia murmurs against my lips, her voice thick with arousal. She grinds deliberately against the thick length pressing insistently against her thigh, the head already slippery with pre-cum. “I shouldn’t…” Her confession trails off into a needy whimper as my fingers dig into the soft flesh of her ass, parting her cheeks just enough to allow the cool air of the bedroom to caress her most intimate places.
I lift her off the floor, and she wraps her legs around my waist. I sink deeper into our kiss, her ass in my hands. She explores my naked flesh as I walk her to the edge of the bed.
I drop her to the mattress and delight in her naked flesh. Her legs spread and, sliding along my body, her breasts trembling in anticipation, she beams, excited in the dusky light. I lower my mouth to her thigh and tenderly kiss as she combs her fingers through my hair. I plane my palm over the dewy patch of hair crowning the jewel between her legs, and she moans through her teeth.
Sophia’s back arches off the mattress as my warm breath ghosts across her inner thigh, her legs parting wider in silent invitation. When my palm cups her mound, she lets out a strangled cry, her fingers tightening in my hair. “Please,” she whimpers, her hips bucking upward to press her aching pussy against my hand. “I’m so wet for you already.”
I kiss along her inner thigh, skiing down to the fleshy edge of the entrance to her humid burrow. I breathe her in as I linger in the patch of pubic hair above her magic button. I tease her clit with the tip of my tongue, tasting the sweet-sour flavor of her sex.
Her thighs clamp around my head as my tongue delves between her folds, her whole body trembling with pent-up need. Her back bows sharply off the bed when my tongue finds her sensitive bundle of nerves, circling it with deliberate precision. “Fuck,” she gasps, her voice raspy with want. “Don’t stop—right there!”
Emboldened by her demand, I lick her with my rough tongue, soaking my chin in her wetness.
With a choked cry, her legs lock around my head, her heels digging into the small of my back as she grinds her dripping pussy against my hungry mouth. The room fills with the obscene sounds of her arousal: wet lips parting, slick flesh being devoured, her broken moans echoing off the walls.
“That’s it,” Sophia pants, her fingers fisting in my hair as she rides my face. “I’m cumming—don’t stop!” Her thighs quiver violently as her orgasm crashes through her in powerful waves. I don’t relent, lapping greedily at her twitching sex.
I lift her ass off the mattress ladling her into my mouth, quaffing her orgasm. As her body relaxes, I lower her onto the comforter and free her from my tongue. I crawl onto the mattress beside her and pet her slithering flesh beside me.
“I like your belly button ring.”
Sophia exhales shakily, her skin flushed and overheated everywhere. She turns her head to meet my gaze, a soft smile playing across her lips. “Thank you,” she murmurs, reaching down to toy with the silver barbell nestled in the dip of her navel. “I got it on a trip to Mexico after college. It felt rebellious at the time.”
I cup her cheek with the palm of my hand and kiss her mouth. Her orgasm, still fresh on my lips, mixes with our salivation. She coils to her side and wraps her leg over my torso, inviting me to enjoin her again. We kiss lingeringly, exchanging the salty-sweet taste of her release. She hums into the kiss, aligning her body with mine and trailing her hand down my chest to wrap around my length. “I want you inside me.” She guides the swollen head into her slippery pleats, coating me thoroughly with her desire before accepting me inch by delicious inch. “Fuck, that’s so good!”
I roll on to my back and she gallops in my lap. I take her hands and fold them into mine as she leans into the race toward her next release. Her face contorts as I feel my length probe her inner walls, fueling the chase. Her nails dig into my hands as she takes me deeper, stretching around me with a low moan. “Yes, just like that,” she gasps, her hips beginning to roll in slow, sensual circles, her walls clenching rhythmically around my length. Our fingers intertwine, palms pressing together, as she rises and falls in my saddle over the steeples, her movements growing more frantic as her next orgasm approaches. Her head lolls back, exposing the elegant column of her throat. “I’m going to cum again,” she whines, her inner muscles gripping me like a vice.
I raise myself to the sitting position as she continues to ride her rocking horse winner. I cover her mouth with mine, savoring the flavor of her tongue. She is divine in my arms with her breasts pressed against my chest and her thighs wrapped around my waist. I swell inside her, signaling my release.
The change in position presses her more firmly against me, my riding whip flogging her sweet spot with every bounce. Our mouths move together desperately, tongues tangling in the same rhythm as our bodies below. Her thighs tremble around my waist as my cock pulses inside her, pressing her impossibly to the finish. “I can feel you coming,” she moans, her hips stuttering in her quest for release. “Cum with me,” Sophia pleads, her body taut as a bowstring, hovering on the brink of collapse. I grip her tightly as I release inside her, the day’s anticipation culminating in a flood filling her precious treasury. The heat of my seed filling her sends her crashing over the edge, her pussy clamps down victoriously as we flourish together.
She settles in my lap, breaking from our kiss to appraise me.
Panting softly, she rests her forehead against my shoulder, her limbs loose and sated. After a moment, she tilts her head up to study my face, a slow smile spreading across her features. “That was… incredible,” she admits, breathing into my neck and tickling the hairs on my chest with her fingertips. “I’ve never come undone like that before.”
I purse my lips, holding back a smile. “Stop. You’re going to make me blush.”
Amused by my bashful reaction, she chuckles and presses a soft kiss to my neck. “You don’t seem like the blushing type,” she teases, shifting in my lap to feel our mixed fluids trickling down her thighs.
“I want more of you already…,” I playfully declare.
At my confession, Sophia’s eyes darken with renewed hunger. She rolls her hips, deliberately squeezing my softened length inside her. “Then take me,” she purrs, her voice dripping with challenge. “I’m not stopping you.”
I kiss her gently, beginning with her forehead and plunging to the soft parts of her ear. I breathe, tickling her senses. I return to her lips as my erection fills her once again.
Shivering at the delicate attention, she lets her head fall back, exposing her neck as I worship her skin with my lips and breath. When I claim her mouth again, she meets me eagerly, her tongue sliding against mine in sensual strokes. She feels me stretching her tender walls once more and gasps sharply into the kiss.
The evidence of our first encounter pools beneath us as I begin to advance within her. “I love the way you feel along my skin, in my arms…I love the way I fit inside you…”
Her body tingles at my praise, the heat pooling low in her belly as I rock deeper inside her. She nods her head in encouragement, her nails dragging lightly down my back. “It’s like you’re made for me, like we were designed to fit together.” To punctuate her point, she clenches around me tentatively, observing my reaction.
I smile with the sensation of her vice gripping me. “You might have made a mistake coming here. I’m not going to want to stop.”
Sophia meets my grin with one of her own, equal parts playful and dangerous. “That wasn’t a mistake; that was fate,” she counters, her hips undulating in a slow, sinuous rhythm that makes me groan. “I don’t want you to stop. I want to ruin you for anyone else.”
“Not until I’ve ruined you first…”
My words send a visible thrill through her. She beams as her pulse quickens, imagining the possibilities. “Then by all means, try your worst,” she taunts, her voice breathless with anticipation. “Fair warning. I’m not an easy woman to break.” As if to demonstrate her point, she lifts herself almost completely off my shaft before slamming back down, taking me to the hilt with a sharp cry of pleasure.
I spin her around in my lap and take her from behind, with her bouncing in my lap. I give her a solid spank, mantling her flesh with the shape of my hand. She whimpers with pleasure, intensifying her bucking in my lap.
The sting of my palm branding her ass sends shockwaves of pleasure through Sophia’s body, her hips jerking forward in response even as she whimpers. “Yes, spank me,” she begs, her fingers clenching the sheets, tearing them away from the tuck as my hand comes down again, leaving a matching print on her other cheek.
I push her forward with a thrust of my hips, positioning her on all fours. I glide my hands over her vibrating flesh and spank her perfectly plump hams with random cadence. I penetrate her more deeply in this position, exploring her warm recesses. “I don’t want to break you…I want you to need me to come undone.”
She drops her forehead to the mattress, her shoulders shaking as I pound into her relentlessly. Each slap of flesh echoes through the room with punctuation. “I’m yours already,” she confesses brokenly, her pussy fluttering around my cock as she teeters on the edge of another climax.
“Cum for me, Sophia…say my name.”
At my command, her back arches, her whole body tensing as pleasure crashes over her. “James!” she cries out, her walls clamping down around me as she concedes, her essence flooding my length. The aftershocks wrack her as she prepares for me to fill her and complete the transaction with my release. She lowers her face to the mattress and presents her rump.
“Sophia!” I pull out of her womb and finish in the crease of her perfect ass. She gasps with the heat of my seed falling to her skin, painting her back and finishing in the crevice of her ass. Still spasming I plunge back inside her as she offers her warm folds and milks my remaining drops. As her tremors subside, she breathes huskily, “No one else gets to feel you like this. You’re mine.”
I collapse again beside her, her face breathing on mine. I press my hand on her ass and lower her to the mattress. I smear the white fluid with my palm over her back. “I’m yours…and you’re mine.”
Boneless with satisfaction, she hums in agreement as my possessive words wash over her. She turns her head enough to capture my lips in a slow, deep kiss, tasting herself on my tongue. “Yours,” she promises against my mouth when we finally part. “You’ve ruined me in the best way possible.” A languid smile curves her lips as she nuzzles into the crook of my neck, letting her body relax fully into my hold.
“That was incredible,” I whisper in exhaustion.
Contentment settles over her as she listens to my heartbeat. Sophia nods drowsily in agreement, already slipping toward sleep.
