Author's note: This story contains themes of reluctant sex. All characters are over age 18. I hope you enjoy!
*****
Each step took her farther into the night. Kelli's pink running shoes crunched against the gravel driveway, sliding several inches back for every step she took forward. The shoes, her socks, and her ankles were filthy from hours of hiking through the West Virginia dirt. 'Seven miles to the town' he had told her. Seven more miles on her already aching legs. Seven miles with no food, little water, and with night already fully upon her.
Knowing she shouldn't, Kelli looked back over her shoulder. She had gone no more than a hundred yards from the cabin. She could still make out the soft light pouring from the front door. Inside she knew was the welcoming heat of a wood stove, a warm meal, hot shower, and a soft bed. And him.
She turned and took another step into the darkness.
***
"I'll catch up with you, shit!"
Kelli had decided to punish Alex just a bit longer. The asshole had ruined their hike by flirting with Sara. Or at least talking to her more than Kelli thought was necessary. He'd even made a comment about how cool her boots were. Hiking boots aren't cool, Kelli thought. Running shoes that match your pink top are cool. Shorts that show off your legs are cool, not some shitty hiking pants that the rest of their group was wearing. Shorts that show off your perfect ass.
"Seriously Kelli, I think we should stick together." Alex had put on his serious face. "We're already running late."
Alex was smart enough not to remind Kelli she was the reason they had started so late. He was learning. Still, she didn't see what the big deal was. It was a beautiful early spring day with only a few clouds to mar the perfect blue sky. She was pleasantly tired, the sort of fatigue that washed away quickly with a burger and a few beers.
Sara and the others were already clustered around the trailhead at the far side of the clearing, eager to carry on. Alex stood in the middle, torn between sticking with her and giving her some space. Kelli put on her bitchiest face. "Just go, fuck! I said I'll catch up with you. You're not my dad!"
That did the trick. "Fine," Alex said. "Just don't wait too long." Alex peered up at the sky as if he could see some lurking menace. "It gets dark here fast." With that he joined the others as they hiked single file out of the clearing.
"Thanks dad!" she yelled after them.
Fifteen minutes ought to do it, she thought. Long enough to make him worry just a bit, but not so long anyone would freak out. Alex just had to learn is all. She might even let him fuck her tonight if he apologized a few more times.
Kelli sat on a log in the clearing and leaned back to catch the sun. Her little top left plenty of exposed skin to soak up the rays. She rolled up the hem to expose her belly and slipped the straps off of her shoulders. After a bit she let her eyes slide shut and savored the moment. The waterfall they had rested by bubbled away soothingly.
"Shit!" Kelli awoke shivering. A quick glance at her phone confirmed that she had napped close to an hour. The puffy little clouds that had decorated the sky earlier had been replaced by a wide grey one that seemed to take up the entire horizon. It felt at least five degrees cooler. "Shit!"
Kelli grabbed her few things and took off up the trail. Why hadn't Alex come back for her? She cursed him. Why hadn't he waited just around the corner like he was supposed to? Boys are stupid, she thought bitterly. Forget letting him sleep with her tonight. This would require at least a week of pouting.
Her legs complained as she fought her way up the steep trail. They had stiffened up while she napped and now resisted the sudden exertion. Grabbing onto branches and vines she pulled herself along. Behind her the storm cloud seemed to gather strength. Although still a ways off, it had become darker. The wind picked up as well, chilling her exposed skin, especially where she was sweating. Knowing she couldn't stop, Kelli plunged forward.
Panting with exertion she finally reached the top of the trail, or rather what she thought would be the top. Instead, the trail split. One branch continued uphill, while another continued on level ground. The blue and orange blazes she had been following also split. Kelli stopped, wracked by confusion. She hadn't been paying attention during the first half of their hike, preferring to follow Alex and the others. Now she wasn't sure which way would take her back to the trail head. She tried to remember. For sure they had started the hike by going downhill. If this was the same place then she'd need to go back up.
As much as she hated to do it, Kelli turned uphill once more. Evening began to settle around her.
***
Shivering with cold, Kelli finally reached the top of the long driveway. As he had said, it joined up with a narrow gravel road and continued uphill. Behind her the cabin was no more than a dot of light; in front was nothing but the unflinching night. A whirl of dead leaves spun across the road.
Kelli stopped to catch her breath. Her top did nothing to break the wet chill. Even her feet were cold and the rest of her colder. There was no sign of any traffic. Rubbing her arms and sides helped briefly but as soon as she stopped the chill shot back through her. She checked her phone for the hundredth time. No signal and very little power. The red 'battery low' indicator reminded her of all of the bad decisions leading up to this point.
She would freeze if she kept walking. The certainty was undeniable.
Kelli turned around.
***
That hadn't been the turnoff. Kelli knew it now, but what choice did she have? Go back another half hour just to take an equally unknown trail? No, surely if she kept going up she'd eventually climb out of the accursed valley. She'd find a road or a town.
If she could keep going, that was. The leading edge of the storm had caught her, sending spatters of rain through her clothes. The worrisome cloud also brought an early dusk, just like Alex had warned. The trail was increasingly difficult to find. More than once Kelli had to stop to figure out which was the trail and which was just a dead end. Though still angry at her boyfriend for leaving her, she'd give anything to see him waiting for her on the trail.
A light! With her head down trying to avoid tripping on the roots and rocks that littered the trail she had almost missed it. Excited, she nearly lost sight of it but there it was. Definitely the light of a house through the spare trunks and leafless branches. Kelli didn't waste any time looking for a connecting trail but tore through the woods. Vines tugged at her and fallen trees threatened to trip her, but she had found a singular focus.
The twenty year-old stumbled into a small but tidy clearing. The light she had seen came from a modest cabin of dark planks. The scent of woodsmoke and pine needles mixed with the wet air. There was a truck on the gravel driveway. Someone was home.
Kelli took a moment to compose herself. As she caught her breath she pulled the leaves from her hair, brushed the loose strands from her eyes, and straightened her top. She wasn't ignorant of the danger she was in. She didn't see any other cabins or lights and didn't hear any traffic. If the occupants of the cabin were murderers or rapists she'd be on her own. On the other hand shivering, hungry, and broken by fatigue she had scant hope of making it much further.
She knocked.
The man who opened the door did little to put Kelli at ease. He was considerably older than her, probably in his mid forties. At five-three Kelli wasn't always able to estimate how tall guys were, but he was at least a bit taller than Alex, who was five-ten. He was dressed simply, in jeans and a long-sleeved grey shirt. His thinning hair was cut close.
But it was the way he looked at Kelli that unnerved her. He didn't look surprised to find a cold, wet girl shivering at his door. He didn't look sympathetic or protective. He didn't usher her in immediately with promises of a blanket and hot chocolate. He just eyed her curiously, not bothering to conceal his interest in her legs and breasts.
"Uh, hi," Kelli said. "I'm really sorry to bother you but I'm, like, totally lost." Getting no reaction, Kelli pressed ahead. "I was out hiking but it got dark and started to rain and I can't find my friends plus my phone-"
"Phones don't work here," he said, cutting her off. "No signal." There was a faint scent of alcohol on his breath.
"Ahhhh, yeah," Kelli said. She was at a loss for how to proceed. "Like I said, I'm really sorry. Do you think I can come in? I'm really cold."
The stranger looked Kelli up and down once more. She was suddenly aware that the cold made her nipples stand out against the wet fabric of her top. Not for the first time that day she wished for a jacket.
"Yeah, come in." It seemed a significant concession.
The warmth of the cabin was heavenly. Kelli went at once to the wood stove, standing as close as she dared and turning slowly. "Omigod this feels so good, thank you. I'm Kelli."
The older man said nothing as he closed and locked the door. Still keeping an eye on her, he flopped down into a bulky lounger and picked up a beer. After a long swallow he finally acknowledged her. "Steven."
Kelli took in the cabin. There was a compact kitchen with just enough room for a four-person table. The living area was furnished with several heavy pieces like the lounger and a sofa. The sleeping area was separated only by a bookcase. It was a man's home, with little decoration and no clutter. Kelli didn't see a TV anywhere.
At least he wasn't trying to kill her.
"Hey, do you think I could use your phone?" Kelli tried to look as humble as possible.
"There's no phone. I told you, no signal." Steven took another long drink of beer.
Kelli figured out what was different about him. Most guys, especially old guys like him fawned over her. Practically without being asked they'd buy her drinks, jump-start her car, carry anything heavy, or let her leave work early. A normal guy would already be starting his truck to drive her into town, giving her a blanket, or offering her dinner. She'd have to work harder than usual it seemed.
