The characters in this work of fiction are over the age of 18.
*****
I hadn't been this way since last summer. I had Red with me then. He quit living just before Christmas, I mean he just got real old real fast and looked at me with those liquid brown eyes, telling me he'd had enough. I wasn't ready to start over yet, so this walk I was alone. It suited me.
It was the first really warm day after the longest crappiest winter in living memory. I knew exactly where I was going, I had walked this trail so many times and once I got off the main track I was pretty much the only thing on 2 legs for miles around. Before long I was feeling the heat and exertion, I undid my shirt to allow the air to cool me, it was exhilarating to feel the fresh breeze caressing my bare breasts and soothing my heated nipples.
Finally, hot and gritty I broke into the clearing and scanned around, drawing deep breaths and allowing my heartbeat to slow back down from the hike. Dropping my pack and stripping off my shirt I walked towards my boulder and looked over the edge. The water would be cold this early on, still carrying the run off from the snowmelt of the surrounding mountains.
It would also be deeper than in mid summer, deep enough to jump in from here instead of having to clamber down. I shucked my shorts and skanties and without giving myself chance to chicken out I dove in. Breaking the surface with a squeal and a gasp I 'oh my god' ed my way back to the nearby rocks shivering uncontrollably.
I whooped my pleasure as I stood up, relief now kicking in as the suns warmth found it's way into my skin. Shaking my head to remove excess water, I laughed out loud with the joy of release. Free of the winter, free of the bone chilling heart stopping freezing stream, free of the restriction of layers of stifling winter woollens. I slowly made my way back up to my boulder, my soft feet yet to be weather hardened by being bared more than shod over the coming months.
I wasn't specifically a naturist, I didn't holiday at those kind of resorts, I wasn't exactly an exhibitionist, I didn't deliberately walk naked in the hope of being seen. I just loved being naked in nature. To me it was exciting, erotic, it made me feel more alive than at any other time. I hadn't been clothes free for months and my bones were still feeling the permafrost of months of sub zero temperatures.
I needed this. I needed to feel the sun on my skin, thawing my bones, I needed to feel the breeze lifting my nipples into peaks, reminding me I was alive. I had my factor 30 in my bag, but I needed a few moments to just feel the warmth after the exhilarating chill of the stream.
As my front warmed, I rolled over onto my tummy resting my cheek on my forearms and allowing my thoughts to drift. The breeze tickled my butt cheeks and I slid my legs further apart to allow it to nudge against my rapidly moistening centre. I would do something about it in a while, for now I was enjoying the erotic breath of springs whisper on my lower lips.
I had been single a long time now, and hadn't met a man recently who made me want to change my status, but it meant I had to seek out sexual encounters, make an effort, make a judgement about a potential partner, sometimes it was just too much effort. So in much the same way I looked after the needs of my house, I mostly looked after my own needs too.
I drowsed in the gentle warmth, day dreaming of the perfect man; an 8 inch handsome booty call, no emotions just hot sex and some kissing and cuddling. He could stay the night, as my perfect man wouldn't snore or fart, he would wake me up with tongue and fingers, and after another masterful rootin' he would make me breakfast before heading home to await my next call. Oh yeah, I could go for some of that.
A gentle smile rested on my cheeks as I considered the unlikelihood of my daydream when I suddenly heard a scuffle behind me and felt something freezing cold thrust up against my anus. I shrieked out and whirled round ready to confront some 'Deliverance' scenario, wondering what I had in my bag that would double as a weapon, when my assailant wagged his tail and trod on my crotch in his excitement to reach and lick my face.
"Git down Duke! Leave the little lady alone!"
"My apologies missy, me an Duke don't come across too many wood nymphs, he's kinda keen to introduce himself."
I'd never given much thought to the verb 'mosey' not being much of a fan of westerns, but this guy definitely moseyed into my line of vision. Wearing boots that had been made from the hide of a rhino which had had deep tissue massage it's entire life and jeans that looked like they would be passed down through the family.
I needed to lift my eyes past a disturbingly large bulge resting below a ornate silver buckle to see the rest of him. It was worth the effort. A chambray shirt soft enough to wrap a newborn, fitted loosely over broad shoulders, his shape tapering to a narrow waist. His cowboy hat hid most of his face, but I heard the gentle humour in his voice and felt no threat. I did feel something else though, something which made my core shudder.
I was aware that I was naked in front of him,, but knew instinctively that If I tried to cover up, our meeting would be short and courteous. And entirely unsatisfying. Instead I reached out to Duke, and scruffled his loose neck. He was some kind of hound all loose limbs, loose skin, too much slobber and too little brain. So obviously I was half way in love already.
"Seems you've made yourself a bit of a friend there little miss, Duke is pretty particular who he slobbers on." Crouching down over his heels 'cowboy' stuck his hand out
"Hank," He said by way of introduction. "I do most sincerely apologise for the intrusion, we usually have this trail to ourselves, in fact, I was kinda beginnin' to think of that as my boulder."
"I've been coming here for years." I state, not argumentatively or possessively, "first time since last summer though."
"Aah, that'll explain it, we moved up here last fall."
"We?" Was there a Mrs Cowboy on the scene? And what did I care?
"Duke an' me."
"Oh." Thank you God, I owe you one.
"Sorry, I didn't catch your name?" Hank quirked a brow
"No, you didn't did you." I was in no rush to enlighten him. I wasn't sure where this was going, so I wasn't sure I wanted him to know who I was.
Catching on quick Hank grinned, "I'll just call you Aspen then, my little wood nymph."
"Gettin' mighty possessive there cowboy," I showed that I too can quirk a brow.
Now that he was down at my level, I saw he was just a few years older than me, possibly his late forties, his face was tanned and smokey grey eyes penetrated my own, trying to figure me out. Good luck with that, even I don't know who I am most of the time.