I kicked the gravel around the fire pit, listening to the flames lick the wood. My fellow expeditioners chattered on about stones and jobs and dating and marriage and kids, but I stared silently at Athean. My sister's words repeated in my head, "Go on this expedition. Get out of your comfort zone." Athean was surely outside my comfort zone.
I knew almost nothing about the tall, slender Brit, except that he had dark, wavy locks and facial hair. He'd hardly spoken the entire day, but neither had I.
The leader of the stone hunt laughed over the others' babble and it pulled me from my steady stare. By the time I looked back, Athean was gone.
I sighed.
This was my sister's fault. I didn't want some stupid waste-of-time expedition. I didn't care about finding stones. Nor did I care for being outside all day and night, or digging in the dirt. I wanted my sofa, some ice cream, and Jimmy Fallon. At least the campground had showers.
The leader stood with his ridiculous hat, complete with flashlight, and announced it was time to turn in. "We have a busy day of hiking and cave digging tomorrow," he'd said. Another day wasted.
I waited for everyone to find their tents, and headed for the woods. I'd seen a stream earlier and wanted to sit by it. To be alone in the crowd of strangers.
Moonlight lit my way to the stream, and the slow, steady movement of water splashing over the rocky bed, kept me on path. There was a downed tree a few feet from the water's edge, large enough for me to sit. I patted the mossy surface and was just about to jump up when I heard a crackle from the woods behind me.
I turned—startled—and saw Athean. His pale skin reflected the moon's blue haze, and the whites of his eyes shimmered like the water. My breath caught.
He approached me in silence. His movements drawn out and seductive. I turned away from him, feeling the contrast between my twisting stomach and the rising heat between my legs. I focused on the stream to cool some of the heat.
The last time I'd been with a man was almost a year ago, just before I'd found my fiancé screwing my neighbor. But I wanted Athean, badly, and I sensed he wanted me too.
I closed my eyes, allowing him to approach without jumping at his presence. When he touched me, I opened my eyes. The pain in my stomach ceased as he whispered, "Relax."
He buried his face in my hair, and breathed me in.
My shoulders relaxed.
Athean grabbed my hair in his fist, his breath hot against the back of my neck. He reached around to my stomach and pulled me closer. His desire for me clear as his cock pressed into me from behind.
He ran his tongue down my neck until he reached my collarbone. The summer air felt crisp against the moisture his mouth left behind. Then he took a nip at the nape of my neck, and sent chills through my entire body.
"What's your name?" he asked between wet kisses.
"Clara," I murmured.
My eyes fluttered as I looked up at the moon. Why had I come here again? Amethyst? Quartz? Stones I hadn't found. But I had found Athean. He'd be my precious jewel.
"Are you having fun, Clara?"
Even his voice made me wet, and I squirmed.
"Uh huh..."
"How much more fun would you like to have?"
I squirmed again, unable to suppress my smile.
"I'd like to have some fun with you," I said.
Athean let out a small chuckle and reached his hand under my nightshirt. I gasped as he grabbed my breasts, first the left, then traced his fingers across to the right. I leaned further into him and let Athean play with my nipples.
His fingers twirled over them, then he pinched and pulled outward. Sensation built between my legs, a tingle I hadn't felt in far too long.
Athean removed his hand and turned me to face him. His movements smooth, yet firm. He traced along my jawbone with his finger, then reached his hand up behind my head, tangling it in long strands of brown.
He crushed his lips onto mine. His tongue roamed and entangled with my own.
I leaned into Athean and tugged at his plaid pajama bottoms. He kissed me harder as I reached down his pants and grabbed hold of his cock. Before I got a good motion going, he pulled back, removing my hand.
I wasn't sure why he'd pulled away, but before I could circle too much around his withdrawal, he met my lips again and began unbuttoning my pajama shirt. When he finished, he jerked it off with one swift movement, and threw it behind me.
Damp air hit my nipples. They hardened instantly. Athean lowered his head, meeting my gaze before running his tongue over my breasts. His pacing made my insides burn. I let out a gentle moan and leaned back into the downed log.
The moss soft against my bare skin, the smell of fresh growth, sounds of water and an owl in the distance, all brought with it a sense of freedom. An urge to let go and trust a complete stranger.
His tongue explored the top of my breast as his hand cupped it from underneath. He moved from breast to breast before finally reaching for the tie on my pants. Athean's smile grew as he lowered his head, and it sent a chill all the way to my toes. His eyes opened wide, fluttering with a hint of invitation.
I sucked in a breath and tilted my head back again as he pulled down my pants.
My panties clung to my skin, and he used his teeth to tug at them.
Heat rushed me again. I could hardly contain myself. I wanted to scream, yell out to stop taking his damn time and rip off my panties already. To shove his tongue inside me, fingers too, to just take me now.
I moaned instead.
