STORY EXCERPT

A week after bumping into Danny and another failed attempt to get up enough nerve to call him, Lacey left her hotel suite and headed to her car. The parking lot was packed with people loading up their vehicles with coolers, kayaks, towels, and other outdoor supplies. Her coffee thermos almost tipped over when she placed it on the car roof. A hand grabbed it just in time. She jiggled her pocketbook and overnight bag as she turned to see who had caught it.

“That was close,” Danny said. His eyes twinkled when he smiled at her.

“Thanks,” she mumbled through the keys in her mouth, embarrassed at how discombobulated she was.

“Here, let me.” He extricated the keys, and she tried not to trip when she moved out of his way. He leaned into her car, wedged the thermos into the cup holder, and inserted the keys into the ignition.

“Thanks. Day off. Heading to my parents’. Supposed to be good beach weather,” she said, leaning in to place her things on the passenger seat. They bumped into each other when she stood up. He grinned.

“How’s everything going?”

“Good,” she stuttered, fidgeting with her tie-dyed t-shirt. It was then she realized it was inside out. “I’m kind of in a hurry.”

He backed up, although he didn’t seem like he wanted to leave. “Oh.”

She slid her sunglasses from her head to her eyes, allowing her to gawk at him in private. She tried not to stare at any one body part too long, although his biceps were hard to ignore. “What are you doing here?”

He grinned. “I lead a hiking group. Everyone meets here and we head down that trail. It leads to the mountain.” He jerked a thumb toward the woods behind the hotel. “You should come sometime. The mountain has some cool hiding spots.”

“Maybe, but I’m not into group things,” she said with a grin.

He grinned back. “I could give you a private tour.”

She sucked in her breath, unable to ignore the physical reactions he caused in her. She twirled her hair absently.

He leaned in some more, backing her against the car. “Come on, hike now. I’ll ditch the group.”

She laughed, taking a whiff of his manly scent. Her head started to get foggy again.

He placed a hand on the car roof, bringing himself even closer. “Call your parents. Tell them you’re sick.” Ugh, that wicked grin of his!

She narrowed her eyes. It was so tempting.

His voice got husky. “Remember when we used to go off trail?”

She moaned, remembering. She could always see her parents next week…

Before she could respond, a jeep pulled up next to them, music blaring, with a blonde driver singing along unabashedly.

“Danny!” she screeched as soon as she cut the engine. “Hot shorts, man.” He gave a lopsided grin and shrugged.

Lacey looked down at his camouflage, khaki shorts when he backed up. They were snug in all the right places. She climbed into her car, the scent of the orange air freshener suddenly reminding her of California.

He stepped up to the door and bent down to look at her through the open window. “You never returned my calls.”

Lacey watched the woman get out of her vehicle. She was really built. A stab of jealousy coursed through her.

“Sorry. Just been busy, you know? I did text you though,” Lacey said, putting the car into gear. She didn’t tell him that she’d tried to call at least a dozen times but lost her nerve.

“Yeah, once.”

She bit her lower lip, wishing she was more confident with men.

“You said you could make time,” he said grimly.

“I will. I promise,” she said, kicking herself for not calling him sooner. She could have been heading down a trail with him, instead of the long-legged, blonde beauty who was checking out his butt as she approached him. A feeling of panic washed through her. One part of her brain screamed at her to do something while another said, don’t bother, this chick is way better than you. She groaned. Why couldn’t she just stop thinking so much and go with the flow?

She gave him a little wave before she took off, leaving him and his hiking beauty in the dust. During the entire ride to her parents’ house she ruminated about him, the past, and whether there could be a future.

ADULT EXCERPT

She bent back a pine bough and stepped off the path, and the branch fell back into place behind her. She picked over the underbrush in a straight line. Now which way? There was no clear path in any direction. A clearing of a throat made her stop.

She squinted as she scanned the area. A hand poked out from behind a large boulder. It beckoned her.

When she rounded the boulder, her jaw dropped. There was Danny, wearing only a grin and hiking boots. She whipped her head left and right when he pulled her close.

“No one can see us back here,” he whispered.

She looked into his eyes. “How do you find these places?”

He tugged at her backpack strap. “Because I like quiet. You know that.”

She shrugged off her backpack and began to speak. He placed a finger over her lips to quiet her as he undid the sweatshirt around her waist. Eyes locked on hers, he tugged at her top until she removed it.

Head tilted back, eyes closed, she savored the sun on her face as her lover pulled down a cup of her bra and engulfed her left nipple with his warm mouth. She raked her fingers through his hair as heat swept through her. When he looked up, his eyes had a dark glint.

“Off,” he said in a husky voice, biting the strap.

She acquiesced with shaky hands. They had made love numerous times outside, yet each experience felt new. As soon as the bra was off, Danny kneaded her globes, alternating warm kisses with little nibbles. She dug her fingers into his shoulders when he sucked harder, and his rigid cock dug into her thigh.

“Make love to me,” she panted, bucking her hips.

He locked eyes with her before bending over to retrieve a condom from his shorts. She nodded, undoing her own while he put it on.

As soon as one leg was free of the shorts, he spun her around and pushed her against the tree. When he slid in, she moaned.

“Shh,” he whispered, moving in and out slowly.

She pushed back into him, ass arched higher. He held her hips and picked up the pace.

Lacey clung to the boulder when Danny began working her the way she really liked, fast and deep, and bit her forearm to stifle her cries. She heard voices in the distance, which increased her excitement.

Her orgasm was right on the heels of his. She scratched the tree as her entire core shuddered with release. When he was fully spent, he showered her back with kisses as he removed the condom. She giggled when he kissed a ticklish spot.

They dressed quickly, both of them with huge grins, and she followed him back to the path just in time. A group of hikers of assorted ages were coming around the bend.

They allowed the group to pass and then resumed their hike, but she was now anxious to get home. Outdoor sex was great, but so was a shower.