I know it's been a while but I'm still writing. Lots of half formed stories, but unfortunately, real work with real pay must take precedence.
This short series is close to completion so I will start to release it. There are three chapters, I'll publish one a week.
Please enjoy, and write feedback. I like the feedback.
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Cecilia stopped to consult her map again. As she dropped her daypack at the base of a ponderosa pine and crouched to retrieve the map and compass, the faint scent of vanilla that this type of tree was known for wafted to her nose. She popped a piece of homemade jerky into her mouth, closing her eyes and enjoying the bite of the cracked black pepper on her tongue. Standing, she threw back her head to drink from her canteen. The last of her water dribbled out of the water bottle as she drank. She needed to find that little lake soon.
After carefully putting her water bottle and snacks back in the pack, she used her compass to take a bearing to the distinctive craggy rocks at the top of Mitre Peak. Then she sat with a pencil to mark the map, an errant lock of her shoulder length blonde hair blew into her mouth as she drew a line. She went to fix her ponytail and the rubber band snapped. Cursing while she dug in her bag for a spare, she found her last one.
After redoing her high ponytail she took a compass bearing to another peak in order to triangulate her position. The ceiling lines missed the lake by less than a half mile; she was getting close. The lake must lie just on the other side of the ridge to the west.
She was hiking off trail as she and her father had done many times in her 23 years of life. It was always fun to adventure where most never went. But no trails also meant you needed to find your own way. She did not think she was lost but sun was only a couple hours from setting. If she found some water she could make her way back to the trailhead where her car was parked. It was five miles back and she could make it easily with the light the full moon and her flashlight.
She would have been fine, and made the round trip before sunset with plenty of time to spare, but some moron with the department of forestry had decided to lock the handle on the well pump. Finding her planned water source locked up she had looked at her map and seen a spring and this little lake not too far out of the way along her return path. Or it had seemed not far out of way. She had not included the additional difficulty of cross-country hiking in her mental calculations.
Since climbing through that barbed wire fence a way back the land had given over to rolling grassy meadows with a few stands of pines here and there. It made for long views and easier walking but also meant she should see the lake already. She pressed on, sure the lake was close and would come into view over the next hill.
To entertain herself, she challenged her mind to imagine the worst thing that could possibly happen. First she reflected on tripping and breaking her leg. Would she die of exposure or dehydration as she lay helpless? Given her current parched state she decided dehydration would most likely win out. But that way seemed too slow and boring, so she kept thinking, trying to come up with something more interesting.
Next she imagined a mountain lion stalking her and when she least expected it, it would pounce and break her neck in its strong jaws. After the big cat finished feasting on her flesh the vultures could strip her bones. Hopefully, mountain lions did not play with their pray the way house cats did. She shuddered at the thought of being tossed and batted about. She cast her mind again, for something less disturbing.
Lastly, she pictured a crazed mountain man trapping her and keeping alive as his sex slave. She entertained herself by playing out endless permutations of her sex slave musings as she walk along. Each version the crazed mountain man looked more like a rugged Christian Bale or Chris Evans. She wondered if she should have one of them play a rescuing hero. The rescuing hero, whom despite his high morals, was overcome at the nude site of her and demanded an immediate, and highly physical, reward before untying her from the bed.
His rough hands spread her thighs so he could lick her center. She struggled against the bonds as he made her wet and ready with his tongue. Without worrying about how he had become naked, he pressed his large cock at her opening. It caused a pleasurable pain as he forced his way inside-.
"Oh!" she was shocked from her fantasy world by stumbling across a well worn trail.
Looking left and right, she gambled that it must go to the lake. She followed it to the right. If it did not go to the lake it seemed to head in the correct general direction and would make for easier walking.
Just over the next low rise in the trail she caught sight of sparkling blue water in the bottom of a bowl shaped hollow. It was like a painting. Bright blue water surrounded by lush green meadows, and a small copse of pines at one end.
"I need to come back and camp here," she said aloud.
Spirits renewed by the sight of water, she ambled along the trail thinking she would likely find the spring among the trees.
Stopping where the trail passed near the tiny lake to admire the view she heard a loud whisper from her left, "My god, you're gorgeous."
Cecilia look over to see a tall handsome man she could have sworn was not there a moment ago. By his hushed tone she was not sure she had been meant to hear what he had said.
He was a good looking man, probably a couple years shy of 30, and rugged much like the crazed mountain man in her mind, or her sexually demanding rescuer. He had a dark brooding quality, but with kind eyes. He was definitely flirt worthy.
And apparently interested in her.
She watched his eyes travel down her legs, and back to her butt, where it lingered for several seconds before returning to her face, taking in all 5 foot 4 of her slim body. She had no idea how to respond to his frank greeting or unguarded leering. He had not really greeted her directly yet. She smiled in a welcoming way.
More loudly, the man went on, "I was just coming to look for you. I was getting worried you got lost or something."
Looking for her? Confused and somewhat affronted at the suggestion she could not find her own way, she vaguely protested, "I'm not lost."
"You're very late. I started to think you were not coming."
Feeling a little mischievous and wanting to flirt she played along. "If you knew me, you'd know I'm never late for anything. Besides, I think the party starts when I get there anyway." She winked.
He nodded as if understanding and accepting her statement, then all the sudden he became distracted and sounded unsure as he said, "I've never done anything like this before. Should we establish a safe word or something before we get started?"
Her eyebrows knit together in confusion. "Safe word? Why would we need..." Then her eyes shot large. Obviously, he was meeting someone, a female someone, and they needed a safe word? This was too funny. She decided to tease him a little more and lead him on. Maybe she could get a future date out of this. She chewed her lip and said, "Peanut butter."
"Peanut butter?" His brow krinkled in a way that she found adorable.
"That's the 'safe word'."
"Oh, okay." His eyes took her in head to toe again. "Wow, I really wasn't expecting you to be this beautiful."
Cecilia was never comfortable receiving flattery. She bit her lip in consternation.
"My real name is Martin," he said as though he was unsure she would welcome this information.
"Cecil," she answered almost automatically.
"Cecil?"
"Well, Cecilia is the name on my driver's license, but my friends call me Cecil."
"I like Cecilia better, it's very pretty. Is it your real name?"
"Yeah?"
She she wondered why it would not be, but then she remembered he was waiting for some mystery girl. What kind of girl would he not know what she looked like or her name, and she might use a fake name, and they would need a safe word? The picture coming into focus in her mind was... intriguing. He had some kind of arranged hook up and she had stumbled into it. He was hot and seemed nice enough, maybe she could hijack this date or whatever it was and steal him for herself. She would play along and see where it went, this was going to be fun.
"A lovely name for a lovely girl. If you don't mind, I'd like to call you Cecilia."
"Okay." Again she was uncomfortable with the flattery. "Can I call you Marty?"
