Jay Williams loved living in the mountains. He loved waking up to the scent of pine. He relished how his cabin floorboards creaked under his footsteps. Even the early-morning chill only soothed by building a fire was refreshing. Nothing compared to chopping wood by the glow of the sunrise.
Most of all, he treasured the isolation. He hadn't always lived alone. There was a time when he woke cradled in another man's arms. But that chapter of his life was over now. That man was gone, and he was never coming back.
Jay tried not to think about it. He tried to enjoy his independence.
There were no nosy neighbors, late-night partiers, or salesmen to knock on his door. Unfortunately, there was also no cell phone reception. Or an internet connection. When he spoke to people, it was after a lengthy drive into town.
So when his jeep broke down as he was driving home, he was pissed.
"No, no, no," he muttered. "Come on, baby. Don't do this to me."
His jeep wasn't known for its reliability, but he liked to think it harbored sentimentality for him after everything they'd been through together. Unfortunately, it was only enough for him to steer onto the shoulder before the stuttering engine died completely.
He sighed, turning the key in the ignition. Nothing. No lights, no attempt to start. With a sigh, he met his own eyes in the rearview mirror. They blinked back at him, more grey than blue in the moonlight.
"At least it's a warm night."
He popped the hood and climbed from the jeep, scratching the dark stubble on his jaw. His boots thudded against the pavement. He didn't have a working flashlight. The one in the front passenger seat was dead. That was how Murphy's Law worked, after all. It kicked you when you were down.
A breeze lifted the hair from his forehead. It crept beneath his cargo jacket and the hem of his shirt. He shivered. Goose bumps broke out over his skin, making his hair stand on end. Warm or not, the air seemed charged tonight with static electricity.
Suddenly, there was an explosion and a brilliant flash of light beyond the treeline.
Jay jumped in surprise, instinctively crouching behind the jeep. It was like someone had set off a firecracker. The only difference was how this light didn't fade after the initial flash.
It pulsed, glistening like the Northern Lights. Violet. Magenta. Emerald.
His eyebrows drew together in confusion. What the hell?
He remained crouched for some time before deciding to investigate. Rational explanations ranged from partying campers to disco hunters, to hikers having a rave. Whatever it was, perhaps it came with a satellite phone and the number for a tow truck.
He rose to his full height, decision made. His first order of business was to slam the hood and lock up the jeep. He could only hope no car barreled around the corner in his absence. The chances of being rear-ended were slim, but there was an uneasy feeling in his gut nevertheless.
Twigs snapped under his boots as he hiked into the forest. The light grew brighter with every step, as if calling to him. Deep down, he knew it wasn't an earthly light. It flowed too easily. Weaving between trees like voltaic waves, it was beauty unto itself. As he drew closer, it began to retreat.
"Hello?" he called. "Is anyone there? I don't mean to scare you. I just need a phone, or a CB radio."
There was no answer. The only sounds were those of rustling branches overhead.
Frowning, he ventured closer. There was an enormous pile of burning coals ahead. They dimmed before his eyes, disintegrating to ash. He stepped behind a tree to shield himself from the heat. Even midday in the summertime was cooler.
Curiosity eventually overwhelmed his reason. He peered around the tree. His heart skipped a beat, and sweat broke out on his brow. The ashes were moving.
Phoenix.
Alien.
Demon.
Whatever emerged from the ashes had the physique of a Greek God. He wouldn't have been surprised to learn that it was sculpted by the finest artists of the Renaissance period. But by the simplest definition, overlooking the contours of muscle, what emerged from the ashes was a man. A naked, dirty man.
Jay exhaled, pulling back to hide in the shadows. Adrenaline thrummed through his veins. Of everything he'd expected to see, a man bathing in coals didn't even rank.
He'd seen enough. He was going to back away slowly and return to his jeep, lock the doors, and hope another car came along before-
He gasped when a hand landed on his shoulder, spinning him around. The naked man stood before him, heat radiating from his skin. Before Jay could react, the man grabbed his head and yanked him forward into a kiss.
He opened his mouth to protest, but the man took advantage by plunging his tongue inside. It explored, swirling and flicking in ways that made Jay's eyes flutter. The man refused to let him go when he tried to pull away. Breathing harshly through his nose was the only alternative to passing out.
Jay gripped his biceps, fiery to the touch, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. An electric jolt shot straight to his dick. He began to harden as the nerves were gently stimulated. Christ, it felt fantastic. Almost like phantom fingertips tickling his shaft and thumbing the head. Strange and unexpected, yes, but his knees threatened to buckle from the pleasure it gave him.
He flushed, heat spreading over his face and chest. While he wasn't the instigator here, he didn't want to give this man the wrong impression. That wouldn't end well for either of them. He was experiencing a natural response to unnatural stimuli. That was all.
He tried to pull away again, putting real effort into it this time. Instead of releasing him, the man thrust his tongue even farther into Jay's mouth, licking the back of his throat. He jerked in surprise, ninety percent certain that human tongues couldn't do that. His hips brushed against the man's naked thigh in the process. The friction made him groan.
Sweat trickled between his shoulder blades, over his back and below his waistline. His cock twitched when it trailed down the crease of his ass. He grunted into the kiss as his legs began to tremble. There were infinite ways he could imagine putting a long tongue to good use.
He pressed his hips forward, grinding, caught up in the ecstasy flooding through him. It wasn't merely affecting him physically, but mentally as well. His brain tingled. His chest swelled, heaving with something more than earth-scented air. It was like contact with this man somehow made him complete. The more contact they shared, the better he felt.
Logical whispers deep within his mind spoke of how wrong this was. He was kissing a naked stranger, if something akin to mouth sex could truly be called kissing. With every lick and prod, his balls tightened, drawing up. He just needed one more forward grind, one more stroke-
The man broke away from his lips as abruptly as he'd crushed them.
