It seemed like such a good idea at the time.
"Volunteers wanted for South American Archeological Expedition. No experience required. Must be between 18 and 50 years old, in good health, and able to hike up to 10 miles per day with 40 lbs backpack. All expenses paid for the accepted candidates" the email invitation had read. The return email address was from an "hsblack" at some ".edu" James was unfamiliar with.
At first he thought it was the usual spam and was ready to trash can it. He hesitated briefly, intrigued by the email. As an amateur sleuth he sort of enjoyed figuring out what the angle is on email scams but couldn't spot one here. Looking up the ".edu" address he determined it was from a prominent university in the Chicago area. "Huh. Maybe this it legit after all" James reckoned.
Recently, he had been fortunate enough to sell his software startup and was not quite ready to get back to that 80 hours per week grind in order to pursue a new venture. He had already repaired the damage that sort of routine does to one's body with some healthy eating and no shortage of gym work. His 47 year old body was as strong if not stronger than when it played second string linebacker in college. But all that gym time does get boring. Time spent doing something completely different for a while might be just the ticket to recharge his mental batteries and have a little fun besides.
Making an impulsive decision, "Go for it, James" he thought, clicking on the reply button and requesting the additional information package mentioned in the email.
"Hey, Sara. Get a look at this email. Sounds wild" Judy was always getting excited about email scams, thought her roommate Sara. "What is it this time, Judy? Nigerian prince needs to pick up the Crown Jewels from a bank vault? Or is it a chance to help cash in that winning ticket to the Irish lottery?" Sara teased.
"Neither" retorted Judy. "And I still think that lottery thing would have worked out if I had enough money to buy those gift cards" teased Judy right back. "No, seriously. This looks like it would be something right up your alley. You minored In archeology, didn't you?"
Sara perked up. Mentioning that never-used part of her education from five years ago caught her attention. "Let me see that" she demanded, practically yanking her friend's arm off grabbing the iPhone.
Finishing reading the email intently about a South American expedition, she turned to her friend. "Why do you suppose you got this instead of me? The closest you've ever come to an adventure hike is walking half a block to Whole Foods" Sara asked suspiciously.
"Probably checked off too many boxes on the email consumer survey that promised a chance at a free car (or other prizes)" Judy joked. "You really ought to look into this Sara. You've been just moping around the house since you got laid off."
Judy was right. "I have been in a bit of a rut lately" thought Sara. "I wonder if I can continue my unemployment benefit if this is unpaid? It's not really a job is it? All expenses paid, too." Sara was now warming to the idea.
"And think of all the hot guys that will be on this expedition with you. I'm sure there is more than a little hanky panky going on in those tents at night."
Sara rolled her eyes. "It's always sex sex sex with you, Judy."
"What else is there?" Judy replied, giving her roomie a tickle.
"Stop that" Sara yelled, twisting away and taking the phone with her. She had made up her mind. "I'm going" she decided, forwarding the email to her own account.
Three months later she was boarding the charter flight to Brazil. As she walked self consciously down the aisle in her newly purchased "expedition" clothes, she spotted a few empty rows but decided she would rather have a seat mate for the long flight. Then she spotted him.
He was gazing down, intently reading something in his hands. Slightly older but with an unmistakable air of confidence, his bulging biceps were stretching the sleeves of his knit pullover shirt.
James was watching carefully as the other members of the expedition boarded. Some older, some barely out of high school, none of them were particularly interesting to him. Then he spotted her.
Making her way down the aisle, wearing khakis with a fully loaded backpack with a canteen and some sort of tin cooking pan and utensils clipped behind her, clanging and banging as she turned this way and that, bumping seats with the pack.
It was a bit comical but he did his best to stifle a laugh. But what instantly grabbed James was the way she kept trying to keep her hair out of her beautiful eyes by blowing puffs of air at it. Pfff. Pfff.
She was far and away the best looking woman on the plane. Cute face, curvy in all the right places, the straps of her heavy backpack emphasizing her breasts. Not wanting to be seen ogling her as she approached, he glanced down at the reading materials the professor had given them at the gate. He wasn't actually reading them.
Sara stopped in the aisle next to the open seat next to James. "Is this seat taken?" she asked sweetly.
Pretending he just now noticed her, he looked up into her seductive eyes. "No, no. Nobody there."
She began to try a wriggle out of the backpack straps, twisting left and right as the canteen and pans clanged and crashed behind her.
James stood up quickly and offered to help, trying to figure out how to get a grip on the straps without invading the private area around her chest.
Sara watched him as he stood up directly in front of her, towering over her in the crowded aisle, only inches away, to help. He was at least 6'2" and was an imposing figure. He was muscular without being that sort of grotesque gym rat type.
She suppressed a smile as he stood with his hands up, palms out, turning his wrists left and right as though he was trying to find the right way to grab her boobs.
James got his thumbs under the straps near her stomach but as he tried to work the straps up and off her shoulders, the back of his thumbs accidentally slid up and were caught along side her breasts pressing them together. James looked helplessly into her eyes trying to apologize. As he did so her amazing perfume mixed with a little sweat from her exertions filled his nose.
Sara was startled to find his hands along side her breasts. He was obviously only trying to help and, in fact, once the initial shock wore off, she decided she was rather enjoying it. She only hoped he wouldn't notice her hardening nipples, so obvious under her shirt pulled tight across her chest by the straps.
James was now at a complete loss for words. He was hoping she didn't notice he was now staring directly at a pair of stiffening nipples which poked nicely through her shirt. He was also hoping she wouldn't notice a certain stiffening of his own, also happening now in his pants.
