It was a hot day, dammed hot.
Sticky too, flies buzzed around her head annoyingly. Occasionally gaps between the trees let harsh sunlight slide down on to the path making searing patches that she had to walk through. There were never enough gaps to let the breeze through though, and the trapped moisture between the trees wrapped itself around her like a glove. Her shirt had stuck to her body, slick and wet like a second skin, the damp shorts she wore grated uncomfortably against her skin and sweat ran down her legs in droplets, tickling her with every step.
She paused for a moment, took another swig from her water bottle, and pulled the straps on her backpack to a less tender part of her shoulders. The forest floor was covered in fallen debris but the path had been regularly cleared. Even so it was hard going in places, despite there being steps carved in some of the steeper sections. Four hours and not a sign of another hiker, she was beginning to think she was the only one out there, it seemed like all the clever people had probably gone to the beach.
Shoving her water bottle back into its belt pouch she wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and set off again. Her legs ached and there was a warm feeling between her shoulders where her muscles complained about the backpack. She was hoping that the trail would break out into open ground soon, the humidity and oppressive heat were starting to get to her.
It wasn’t too long before her wish was granted, the trail came over a small rise and down into an open riverbed. There was enough space to allow a slight breeze and the river held a thin trickle of dancing, singing water. The sun still beat down on her though, even if the air was fresher and dry. She saw the trail went across a rocky ford and up the embankment on the other side, disappearing into the dark undergrowth below the towering trees.
The idea of diving straight back into the hot, humid forest was somehow unappealing and besides her body was screaming for a rest. Looking along the watercourse she noticed that the trickle of water ran between a series of wide deep looking pools, surrounded by rocks and boulders. Abandoning the trail she scrambled over some rocks to the edge of one such pool. It’s deep dark reflection stared back at her, wet auburn hair stuck to it’s face and it’s long neck glistening like oil down to a wet and grimy shirt displaying the curve of pert breasts.
She looked around and listened for a while, saw nothing and heard only the song of distant birds and the sighing of the wind. Confidant that she was alone in the forest, she shrugged off her backpack and dropped it on the ground. Unbuttoning her shirt she tossed her wet hair back, then peeled the grimy damp thing from her back, feeling the hot kiss of the sun dance across her shoulders. The shirt was a mess and she dunked it into the water, rubbing it with her hands till most of the dirt was gone. Her breasts bounced with her movements, unhindered by the shirt now and appearing to be glad of the freedom, they danced with her as she washed.
She spread the shirt out on a large flat rock and knelt back by the waters edge to splash her face and chest. The water was cold on her hot skin, sending a sharp thrill through her, it ran down her flat stomach, filling her navel, and dripped from her nipples. She splashed more water on, savoring the feeling as rivulets snaked their cool fingers over her grateful skin. One by one she unlaced her hiking boots and tossed them aside, pulled off her socks and gave them the same treatment as the shirt. Next came the shorts, webbing belt and all, into the water and back out again to take their place on the flat rock.
Now she sat, with nothing but a red G-string, at the waters edge washing the dirt from her legs. She splashed her calves and rubbed them vigorously, her feet soaking in the cool water. As she scrubbed her knees water ran down her thighs into the hot folds between her legs, she sighed and splashed more water on her thighs, feeling it trickle down between her legs and back along the line of her underwear. She looked at the soaked G-string and shrugged, stood up and dropped it to her ankles, then swished it in the water and tossed it over to the rock with all her other clothes.
She smoothed her hair back and stretched, the breeze whispered around her body, tickling her and sending thrills running around her uninhibited flesh. Smiling in a dreamy way she waded into the pool until it was waist deep and fell slowly forward into it, letting the deep dark water swallow her body whole, stiffening to it’s icy embrace. Surfacing she gasped air and glided to the other side, hauling herself out of the water at the base of a wide smooth boulder with a flat top. She clambered on to it and sat with her legs over the side, feet just dangling in the water, and leaned back on her hands. The breeze now chilled her wet body, bringing out goose bumps and hardening her nipples into little points. Beneath her buttocks the rock felt warm and smooth, she lay back against it, her eyes closed against the suns glare and her legs open, letting the breeze caress its way around her soft inner folds.
Idly she let her finger run along her body, tracing patterns around on her belly, smiling to herself and letting her mind wander, conjuring erotic images and leading her to sensual daydreams.
She had lain there for some time and the sun was hot and making her a little sweaty again, she felt quite sleepy and was contemplating another dip when a noise caught her attention. From her position on the rock she had a clear view of the bank on the opposite side of the pool from her, where the sound seemed to come from. Opening her eyes just a little she scanned the bank, looking for something… somewhere.
A bush moved, slightly, and in the darkness behind it she caught a glimpse of something moving. A boot appeared beneath the bush and quickly vanished again.
She was not alone.
Biting her lip she considered her options, her clothes and pack were on the other side of the pool along with her unseen observer, she could neither swim across to get her things or run around the rocky edges of the pool with any degree of speed. There was no quick escape at all, her only option was a slow and dignified exit, ignoring the prying eyes in the bush.
A sudden chill swept through her as she realized the hidden person in the bush may be just waiting for her to get closer, to grab her perhaps, a psycho or something. Who could tell what would happen then? She bit her lip harder and wished she had walked further down stream.
