An Unexplored Wilderness

Macey groaned in relief as she finally had the chance to put down her book bag on her couch. All these books, and now she had to read them! These were the burdens of being in a top graduate program in biology, she supposed. Not that she was terribly interested in flora, but she was good at it, and found working with plants much more interesting than working with spreadsheets. For now, however, there was research to do.

Weeks of intense study later, and she was fairly confident she had found her research topic. Now all she had to do was pitch it to the dissertation panel for approval. As she sat down with Dr. Catton, her thesis advisor, she took a deep breath for courage. Dr. Catton was well respected in the department, and Macey was a little intimidated by her. Unlike most of the other PhD students, Macey had arrived straight from grad school, with no work experience. As a result, she sometimes felt out of place and out of her depth when talking to Dr. Catton.

As she reviewed her plan. Dr. Catton seemed suitably impressed. She offered a few insights on how to optimize the research and ensure the pitch got approved, and then leaned back.

"Macey, I know you want to graduate. I totally understand that, and at your age, another year seems like an eternity." Macey groaned internally, another year was an eternity. And expensive. Unfortunately, Dr. Catton noticed. "But, no, hear me out. Something has changed in the past few weeks. Something I think you may be interested in. Amboró just opened up for an expedition to map the Maddidi glen."

"But that's a protected space for an uncontacted tribe...?"

Macey knew of the Maddidi, as it had come up in Dr. Catton's class last semester. An unexplored temperate forest in the Bolivian highlands, it had been off limits due to an uncontacted tribe living there.

"It was. A month ago, the remaining members of the tribe, just seven of them, emerged from the Maddidi and, well, became contacted. They wanted medicines for their youngest, and have settled in a contacted area. The government of Bolivia has approved my expedition to Maddidi. It will be led by me, and will be the first women-led and woman-majority expedition. I'd like you to come along, although it will wipe out all of spring semester. You may be able to do your thesis on any new flora or fauna we document."

"Dr. Catton, I'd love to!"

**** Three months later ****

Macey had prepped hard for the expedition. She was beyond thrilled to be in the right place at the right time to get selected for the team, and get to explore part of this new wilderness. There were ten researchers under Dr. Catton going, all young, promising women from graduate schools across the nation. Macey was impressed at the credentials of her teammates.

Lisa, who was going to be her tent mate, was a Doctoral candidate specializing in fungi. Heather and Anis were both avian specialists, one with a focus on parrots. Kayla was already published in two journals, a leader in forest ecology. Sarah had a resume so impressive, Macey wondered how she had not graduated. Ashley and Samantha, zoologists, both PhD students, completed the team.

Well, almost completed the team. Also joining the group were two young men 'to do the dirty work,' Dr. Catton joked. She also made it very clear that she expected no romances to develop during their three month expedition. The men's resumes seemed more sparse than that of the women, but they were both military veterans, and so had been out of academics for several years. As a result, they had only been in graduate school for a year or two. They seemed out of place. Macey shrugged to herself, trusting that her advisor knew what she was doing.

*****

Macey lightly traced her belly with her vibrator, waking her body up. It would likely be her last chance at an orgasm until she returned from the expedition, and she wanted this one to be good. The toy, of course, was not going to go with her. Ideally she would have picked up a super hot lover, but it was a Tuesday night, not a great night to go on the prowl. The weekend had been her last chance, but had been filled with last minute packing, paperwork and calming down her mother.

Her mind drifted to the upcoming expedition. She knew she would be sharing a small tent with Lisa, and as a result would have little chance at privacy. As an 'every other day' kind of girl, she wondered if prolonged abstinence would be an issue. She hadn't had to share a room since freshman year, a long time ago. This was going to be her longest attempt at chastity in years.

She brushed her nipple with the vibrator's tip, teasing herself, then her other nipple. Her left hand drifted between her legs, across her shaved mound, and gently stroked herself. Meanwhile the toy flowed from one breast to the other, playing with her nipples, while the other hand got more aggressive, massaging her clit in slow, tight circles. She felt herself getting wet, and her nipples became even more sensitive.

Switching the vibrator to her left hand allowed her right hand to play with her nipples. The toy moved towards her clit, touching it for just a moment, but she pulled back. Macey had learned that fine line, the line between pleasure and frustration. She could spend hours teasing herself, leaving the toy on her clit until just the last moment before pulling it away. For her, the long wait until she finally allowed herself to orgasm was just as delicious as the final release.

While she continued to tease her clit with the vibrator, Macey's mind wandered to the other members of the expedition. She wondered if the other girls were doing the same thing at that moment, or if they had mastered their desires better than she had. She thought of her favorite fantasies, of getting fucked in a crowded concert, or going to a frat party alone. Over and over she brought herself to the edge and then backed away.

The toy slowly slipped to her belly button, and with her other hand she gently pushed it lower. As the toy continued to move south, her other hand played with her clit in tight, circling motions. She felt her body tense, her orgasm approaching, but pulled away at the last instant once more.

Now covered in a light sheen of sweat, Macey's nipples hardened as she pushed her vibrator against them harder, a flood of pleasure rippling over her. In her mind she was pressing herself against the hands that had been groping her, wrapping her arms around herself and squeezing. She imagined herself in the crowded concert, a phalanx of men massaging her tits, rubbing her sensitive nipples, taking turns with her vibrator. She wondered if she would take the cock they offered, or if she would choose the vibrator while the other men teased her, their hands traveling up her skirt, finding her wet, wanting pussy. Eyes clamped closed, her breathing was becoming ragged, her body racing to her release. Even though she was alone in her apartment, she still tried to choke off excessive sounds.

Finally she latched onto a memory of a porn scene, a girl getting pounded by her blind date. She lowered the vibrator again, reaching between her legs and lightly tapping at her pussy. She took a deep breath, then another. She could feel the orgasm start to rise, and she pressed the toy hard against her clit. She rubbed the toy's vibrating head in small circles, escaping the bounds of physical reality as she soared into orbit.

Macey lay there for a few moments, awash in a warm afterglow. She had never felt so satisfied before, and wanted to savor the feeling. Feeling a deep connection to her own body in that moment, she languished in the soft haze of her mind.

She placed her hands on her body, feeling the curves of her breasts, the roundness of her hips, and the flatness of her stomach. Never before had she felt this comfortable and confident in her own skin, or been able to appreciate her own beauty the way she did in that moment. With a sigh, she rolled out of bed to clean up.

As Macey drifted off to sleep, she thought of her upcoming journey. She was excited to explore new places, meet new people, and find new experiences. But she also wondered if she would be able to find that same connection, that same feeling of pleasure and satisfaction, when she was on the expedition for the next three months.

Macey awoke before the alarm and stretched. It was time to get up. As she moved around her room, getting ready to leave, she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and excitement. She knew this trip was going to be life-changing, and she was eager to find out what was waiting for her.

Macey grabbed her backpack and took one last look around her room, her books, her bed. "See you in a few months," she said to no one. She turned to her door, smiled, and thought to herself, "I'm ready."

********

The group finally assembled at the airfield in Bolivia. It was the first time Macey had met some of them, and she was happy to discover that they all seemed like good people with inquisitive minds and impressive skills. Then there were the two guys, Adam and Dylan.

When Macey saw them, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. The men were, well, big. Big and athletic. Very much unlike the other male graduate students in her biology department. With a shrug, she boarded the small plane to the flight near Maddidi, which was a temperate forest in the highlands of the Amazon basin.

On the flight, Dylan had sat next to her. He had smelled of sweat and musk, a far cry from the clean, fresh school boys in her department. She was only wearing a loose tank top and a pair of cotton shorts, not one to try to be coy about her body. Macey thought she caught him trying to catch a peek down her top, but she quickly shifted over and watched the forest go by below them.

They spent the night in a communal lodge, all of them huddling around a fire telling stories and sharing their backgrounds. Soon, it was hard to believe they had never met before this trip. It was almost as if they had known each other for years.

She didn't know how it happened, but Adam found a spot by her side, sitting close to her. He began asking questions about why she chose to study biology. Macey gave a small laugh at the obvious pick up line, but as she answered she glanced at Dylan. He was sitting a few meters away, also sitting on the ground. The fire cast a warm, flickering light over his handsome face.

The next morning, there was a problem. Despite the approval of the government, the local shaman, formerly of the uncontacted tribe, refused to give permission for the team to proceed to the glen. The interpreter wasn't quite sure why, but the man kept on looking at all the women in astonishment, as if western women in the Maddidi were unthinkable. He repeatedly asked if they were married to the men. Macey glowered internally at his judgment. Dr. Catton produced another sum of money, as the expedition was very well funded, and the shaman relented. Even when compensated so, he went away grumbling.

After the comparatively relaxing boat ride it was a long, hard slog up to Maddidi. Despite Macey's best efforts at getting in top shape for the expedition, the climb was hard. The two men were an absolute godsend, helping everywhere, even carrying a couple of the girls' backpacks. Their thick legs and big arms were moving up and down the trail to help where needed. Finally, at nightfall, they reached their designated camp site, with the sea-land container that held most of their supplies. A frenzy of setting up camp began. The men set up their tent away from the rest of the camp to give the women some privacy.

As their last activity prior to heading to bed, Macey and the other women showered. A fancy bucket was attached to a tree, and right in the middle of the forest, they stripped down and washed. Macey couldn't help but feel exposed, utterly bare and outside, and hoped the men stayed in their own area. Sleep came easily and she finally got to rest, sleeping soundly until the light of dawn illuminated her tent.

Macey woke, feeling refreshed, but still a little sore from the previous day's exertions. However, she welcomed the prospect of a new day. She stretched silently, hoping not to wake her tent mate, but looked over to see Lisa smiling at her.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning!"

She emerged from the tent and filled her lungs with clean air. It was incredible. Everything seemed so bright and green! A pair of brightly colored macaws flew by, and she gasped at their beauty. Her eyes drifted to the kitchen area, where the men were already preparing breakfast. Macey felt so alive, she thought she might not even need her normal morning coffee fix.

Soon they were enjoying their breakfast at the edge of the lake, watching the waterfall. Macey couldn't get over how wonderful everything felt in the great outdoors. Everyone else seemed really happy and content too. 'I need to go camping more,' she thought to herself.

As they finished their breakfast, Ashley suggested they take a dip in the lake to start their day. With a resigned smile, Dr. Catton agreed. Everyone raced back to their tents to change, then ran into the cool water, their laughter echoing through the trees.

Although the lake was only thigh deep, Macey felt a sense of liberation wash over her. She felt so free and alive, and loved the feeling of the clear water against her skin. They guys were laughing too, looking so delicious in their trunks. Sarah, again, was making her interest in the guys obvious. They splashed in the shallow water and played until Dr. Catton called them back in. As they made their way back to shore, they were shivering, but happy. Now, though, it was time to get to work.

The day was packed with projects to complete. A sea-land container had been dropped off via helicopter a few days prior, and the team spent the day building showers, toilets, research areas, a kitchen and an assembly area, in addition to small camp niceties like benches and tables. The men had stripped off their shirts, and labored while covered in a light sheen of sweat. Eye candy. The entire team was kept busy, working in small groups, getting things in order. Throughout it all, her whole body seemed to glow. All morning, everyone seemed happy and eager to continue setting up the camp. Dr. Catton wandered around, constantly reminding everyone to stay hydrated. The place just seemed so... alive. Bursting with promise. Even then, though, Macey kept glancing at the men.

Adam was the taller of the two, but only by an inch or so. He had black hair, trimmed close, and somewhat tan skin. Dylan was broad shouldered, with short sandy brown hair. They both seemed nice, but Macey chided herself for wanting to be near them. Then again, all the young women seemed to gravitate to them. She had only been out of civilization for a few days, and yet she already seemed to crave their attention. Further, she found herself competing for that attention with the other women. Kayla seemed to be the worst, rubbing on Adam as they joked.

Something else was gnawing at Macey, something that she forced out of her head all day until finally, she had to acknowledge it. Her body was alive. Every nerve seemed to tingle. She even had to adjust the way she carried things because her nipples were sparking with any contact. It would have been funny had it not been so awkward.

It all came to a head when, at dinner, Dylan casually brushed against her bare arm as they reached for the drink pitcher. She barely stifled a whimper at the intense flush that washed over her, staring at him for a moment too long. Macey managed to force herself to focus, and get her libido back under control, but the rest of the night was an exercise in frustration.

When the sun went down, their activities slowed too. Soon they were in their tents, getting settled for the night. Macey's body still sang, eager for more attention, but there was no way to satiate it; not with Lisa laying right beside her. Even the toilets offered no relief, as the pungent chemicals they used made staying inside for a second longer than absolutely necessary impossible. She forced her mind to still, and her body to relax. Yet still she tingled.

As the night wore on, Macey found herself unable to sleep, tossing and turning restlessly, her body still buzzing with anticipation. She tried to think of anything else, tried to focus on breathing, but her mind kept drifting back to Dylan. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was just inches away, on the other side of the thin tent wall. It was driving her mad.

Finally, unable to take it anymore, Macey got up. She slipped out of the tent as quietly as she could, not wanting to wake anyone. The night air was cool against her skin, but she paid it no mind as she made her way to the edge of the lake. She could see the stars twinkling above, and the sound of the waterfall was soothing. Even at night, utterly beautiful. But it wasn't enough.

She needed something more.

Desperate, Macey shook her head and growled. She had to get a grip, this was ludicrous. She was not going to lower herself to running over to the guy's tent on the second night of the expedition, for fuck's sake! With a new resolve, she tightened her jaw and marched back to her tent. Finally, mercifully, sleep swept over her.

The next day, Macey awoke feeling even more alive than the day before, if that was possible. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was different about this place. It wasn't just the extraordinary beauty all around them, nor the unexplored wilderness, but something else entirely. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she knew it was there. As she stepped out of her tent, she saw Adam and Dylan already up and about, preparing breakfast for the team. Their thick arms seemed to throb in the early morning sunlight, and Macey felt her body respond involuntarily.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she headed towards the sinks to wash up. As the rest of the camp woke, she was already wading into the lake. She paused for a while, sunning her face, but eventually felt a pair of eyes on her. She turned to see Adam staring at her with a small smile on his face. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned away.

Throughout the morning, Macey kept finding herself drawn to the two men. She tried to focus on her work, but it was only a brief distraction from the men. Worse, the other young women seemed to endlessly orbit the men. Kayla upped the ante, tying her shirt into a midriff baring halter, a style quickly copied by some of the other girls.

Macey didn't want to go that far, but picked a flower and put it in her hair. When Dylan complimented her, she swooned. Then, much to her chagrin, her new style caught on with the others.

Macey found herself in a constant state of arousal. She tried to hide it, but it was impossible. The men worked hard, sweat pouring down their bodies, their muscles flexing with every movement. Macey couldn't help but watch them, her eyes lingering on their arms, their chests, their thighs. She felt like a predator, stalking her prey.

As the day went on, the sexual tension in the air became palpable. Macey could feel it in every fiber of her being. She didn't know how much longer she could take it. Her body was on fire, and she couldn't resist the urge to sneak glances at Adam and Dylan whenever she could, and couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to be with them.

That evening, as the rest of the team all sat around the table after dinner, Macey found herself working next to Dylan washing dishes. His arm brushed against hers, sending shivers down her spine. She couldn't resist anymore. She turned to him and leaned in, pressing her arm to his. He smiled immediately, playfully bumping her with his hip.

Macey felt like she was in a dream. It seemed that she was the lead in a silly rom-com. They finally finished, and Macey couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph as she saw the jealousy in Kayla's eyes. Before things could develop further, Dr. Catton sent them off to bed to rest up for another busy day.