It was a beautiful day outside for a Monday. Okay, it was a hot and humid day but Anna was a glass half-full kind of girl and she was off work today. And it had been a long weekend full of relaxing, watching movies, and eating junk food. But she told herself that sometimes enough is enough and you just need to leave the house. Not just leave the house, but actually do something productive. And it was a beautiful day. So, reluctantly, she turned to her friend Brayden and suggested that instead of lying in their own filth and continuing to binge-watch horror movies (which had been their entire weekend and their go-to when deciding on what to do together), they go to the local state park and go for a walk. Begrudgingly, he agreed that it might be time for them to actually "do something with their lives."
Anna felt a drop in the pit of her stomach- she didn't know why but for some reason she was nervous to suggest this outing. Her and Brayden had been friends for a while now, granted they were usually hanging out in a group but they managed to text at least twice a week and spent most weekends together. Still, going to a park to walk felt sort of intimate. She brushed off the notion and quickly went to get dressed and back a small backpack. Getting dressed, she kept becoming flustered. Nothing in her closet was both athletic and cute. But why did she care? This was just a friendly afternoon of walking. Just as she thought that she knew it wasn't true. Over the last few months she had notice the lingering stares, begun to enjoy the fresh scent of his cologne and even the musk of his sweat. She noticed the way her heart leapt whenever he would text her. Ignoring all of these feelings, she compromised on some typical black leggings and an off the shoulder t-shirt in maroon that would at least make it obvious that she had breasts. While this was not the most flattering outfit she did choose her cutest black, lacy thong and matching bra set as a just-in-case scenario.
By the time she was ready he was already waiting for her by the car and insisted that they get breakfast first. So, they stopped at a diner on the way to the park and enjoyed a small meal while chatting about life. Everything with him seemed so easy, so interesting. Somehow they got on the topic of high school and what they were like. She laughed and explained how she was a bit of a nerd, top of the class and heavily involved in theater while he explained that he was a jock (basketball and track) until he starting working at age 16. The meal ended with him snatching the receipt and paying. Again, this struck her but she told herself they were just friends and this was a kind gesture so off to the park they went.
When they got to the park the sun was already high and the air was thick with heat, but the slight breeze blowing through the trees and over the river made it bearable- well that and the butterflies in her stomach making it impossible to worry about anything else. It was mid-June but the heat seemed to be keeping other hikers away. They started off happily with a brisk pace and light conversation. There is something about being in nature that just seems to alert all of your senses. The birds were chirping a bit louder and the trees bristling swiftly. It also becomes easier to talk about serious topics in these scenarios and Anna and Brayden found themselves doing just that. Discussing family and past relationships, Brayden starting describing some of his more interesting sexual escapades in vivid detail to the point of making Anna blush, but to let him know this wasn't bothering him she made sure to let their hands, arms, or legs accidentally brush. She actually had to make a conscious effort to do this without it being awkward because of his height- he was tall. Not normal tall, he had the kind of height that made other men try to stand taller around him and make women intimidated. His large frame with his dark hair could intimidate anyone... if it wasn't for those crystal blue eyes and thick lips that always seemed to be smiling. It was easy for her to get lost in that and become a bumbling idiot. Focus was key.
Eventually, somewhere around mile 5, she no longer seemed to have to focus. They walked and laughed and she slapped his arm whenever he would say something too sassy. Those touches seemed to last a tad longer each time and his gaze tended to be more on her than the trail. Once they were officially in the middle of the woods, in the middle of nowhere, roughly 7 miles in he stopped abruptly and turned to face her.
"Are you okay?" She asked, worrying that the heat was getting to him.
He grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, mumbled that he could not handle this anymore, and kissed her more fiercely that she thought it was possible to be kissed. She felt her knees go weak and struggled to keep her head tilted upward to be able to reach him. Brayden pulled her hair and lifter her into his body with his other hand, taking in her scent and using his tongue to explore every centimeter of her mouth.
Anna was breathless as she took in every sensation. His mouth was fresh, crisp with the mint of the gum he had chewed recently; his lips were full and strong; his body was wet with sweat and smelled of the combination between his old spice deodorant, his cologne, and his natural musk. She felt helpless with his arms around her body holding her in the air but she knew that it was a good kind of weakness that she felt. As he began to set her back down she let out a brief moan in protest.
