by J P Books
“Gracias,” Jessica replies, feeling braver now that she’s flanked by her two professors and surrounded by so much natural beauty.
The ranger blinks then smiles. “And she speaks Spanish! Corcovado Park is very beautiful, señorita. I’m sorry you’ll have to spend the whole time here with these two crazy people. I hope you won’t hold that against the park.”
“Hey!” Weston exclaims, laughing.
Jessica smiles. “I promise I won’t,” she says.
Jorge nods and waves his hand. “Well, then, come on. Let’s get you home. How was the trip?”
“Oh, eventful, as always,” says Dan, as they head up the beach.
Jorge leads them to the park rangers’ station, where they stock up on cases of bottled water, batteries, and various bits of camping equipment that the professors had arranged ahead of time. All of these get shoved in the back of a battered, mud-covered Range Rover that looks like it’s survived not just one but several apocalypses.
“Good luck, señorita,” says Jorge when the 4WD is packed. “If you need anything, you can always call us on the walkie-talkies.”
Jessica smiles. “Gracias,” she says again.
Jorge watches them pull away with a smile, giving them one last wave before he disappears behind a wall of jungle.
They weren’t kidding when they said remote, Jessica thinks as, two hours later, they’re still bouncing along a tiny dirt trail. Dan drives and, while he and Weston chat in the front seat, in the back, Jessica peers out the window into the thick undergrowth of the jungle that surrounds them.
Am I really going to spend three months out here? But instead of scaring her, the idea thrills Jessica. There’s so much to learn, to discover, out here. Three months isn’t going to be enough!
“Here we are!” Dan announces, breaking into her thoughts.
In the middle of a tiny clearing, is a small, rectangular hut just out of the hill, its front end standing on stilts above the ground. Its walls are mostly open, made of a fine mesh stretched between wooden posts. Out the back, where the hut meets the hill, another, smaller room juts off of the main one, but this one has wooden walls.
“Home sweet home,” Weston grins.
Jessica wants to ask about bedrooms but doesn’t want to seem squeamish. “Very cute,” she says instead. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
The guys laugh and start hauling gear up the wooden ladder and into the cabin. Inside, the cabin is small but not cramped. Along the back wall—the only one made entirely of wood—lockable cabinets and deep shelves are ready to hold their equipment. On one side, there’s a large work table with collapsible chairs for writing and, Jessica presumes, eating. In the middle of the cabin is a large bed partially hidden inside a white mosquito net. And next to that, is a single bed built on top of more lockable cabinets.
“It’s not much, but it’s comfortable,” Dan says. “Plus, last year they put in a shower with collected rainwater so it’s pretty much the height of research luxury,” he grins. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
He leads her through a door in the back wall and out into the tacked-on room she’d seen from the car. In fact, it’s two rooms: an outhouse with a compostable toilet (“It doesn’t really smell,” Jessica says, surprised.) and another, round room with a pebble-tiled floor, no roof, and one giant shower head.
“What happens when it rains?” Jessica asks, pointing up at the sky.
“Then you don’t take a shower,” Dan replies.
Jessica looks up, imagining showering under the shifting green leaves above them. Unbidden, an image of Dan showering here, naked and dripping under the Costa Rican canopy, springs to mind. Jessica bites her lip. “I like it,” she says.
“I’m glad,” says Dan. Is it Jessica’s imagination, or does he look a little relieved?
Back in the main room, Weston has organized their laptops, scales, cameras, and other gear—and dropped Jessica’s bag on the single bed.
“I wish I could say that you had your own room,” he says apologetically. “But, barring that, I can offer you your very own private bed.”
Jessica smiles and laughs, but suddenly the reality of the situation hits her. I’m going to be sleeping, like, three feet away from them. While they share a bed. Obviously, Jessica knows that her professors won’t be doing anything but sleeping in the double bed, but still.
She knows what Breeze would say in this situation.
“Thank you,” Jessica says instead. “I hope you guys won’t be too squished in there.”
“Nah,” Weston grins. “The more the merrier. Besides, how many research trips have we gone on together now, Dan?”
“God knows, but we’ve slept in way worse places,” Dan consoles Jessica.
“And with way worse company,” Weston adds with a wink.
Jessica smiles. Well, this will certainly be interesting.
***
A few days later, Jessica is not sure that “interesting” is exactly the word she would use to describe the situation. “Tempting” might be a little better. Or even “excruciating”.
Jessica groans, reaching toward the ceiling and stretching her back, finally resurfacing from several hours spent pouring over data from last year’s trip.
Perfect time for a shower, she thinks as the warm afternoon breeze filters through the cabin’s netting. Even without walls, the heat can get intense inside their little shelter. Distantly, she registers noises coming from the truck.
The guys must be working on the motor or something. I totally missed them leaving. Who knew data entry could be so all-consuming? Jessica shakes her head and grabs her towel. Data entry is the most boring—but also most necessary—part of being a biologist. All their studies are no good if they can’t look back at the information they’ve gathered.
Her head still full of facts and figures about the ornate spider monkey, Jessica opens the bathroom door—only to walk right into a dripping, half-naked Weston.
“Oh my God!” Jessica stutters. Her eyes wide, she quickly takes in his carved shoulders, riveted abs, and the deep V lines heading straight into his too-small towel. “I am so sorry!” she gulps, whipping her eyes back up to his face. Despite her best efforts, she can feel her cheeks burning.
The tall man smiles down at her, just a hint of a smirk in the corners of his lips. “My fault entirely,” he says.
Jessica swallows. “I thought you were out with Dan working on the car or whatever it is he’s doing.”
Weston chuckles, raking a hand through his blond hair to keep it from dripping water in his eyes. Jessica feels her knees tremble. “Nope, I had a shower. I guess you were really deep in that reading.”
“Yeah…” Jessica replies faintly, trying to put her eyes somewhere appropriate and having trouble. “I was pretty out of it,” she agrees.
Weston chuckles. “Well, let me get out of your way and you can get on with taking a well-deserved break.”
“Okay,” Jessica nods. Keep your eyes on his face, Jessica! On his face!
Weston moves to go around her but she moves at the same time and they end up bumping into each other again.
“Sorry,” Jessica says again.
“My fault,” Weston replies as they both automatically shift the other way, once more blocking each other. The professor chuckles, making Jessica relax too.
“You used up all the hot water, didn’t you?” she accuses teasingly. “And now you’re trying to distract me!” It’s entirely a joke as their jungle hut doesn’t have any hot water ever. Which is just as well. Nobody wants a hot shower when it’s almost 90 degrees outside.
Weston laughs, his dark eyes catching hers with an intensity that startles her. “Is it working?” he asks, leaning in just ever so slightly. His voice is a low rumble that sends a shiver up Jessica’s spine. Out of the corner of her eyes, she sees him readjust his towel.
She bites her lip again. “Obviously not,” she retorts
, trying to keep her cool. “I saw right through you, didn’t I?” she grins as they once more bump into each other. It takes all of Jessica’s self-control not to run a hand down the smooth ripples of Weston’s still-wet chest.
Still laughing, Weston reaches out and takes her by the hips. Jessica can feel heat explode in her belly as she grows slick. She catches her breath.
But all Weston does is gently move her to the side so that he can finally slip past her and she can use the bathroom.
“There you go,” he says softly. “All yours.”
“Finally,” she replies, but with a smile, so that he knows it’s a joke.
He chuckles and turns away to find his clothes, leaving Jessica to totter gratefully into the privacy of the bathroom.
Oh god, Jessica thinks, leaning her forehead on the still-wet wooden walls of the shower. Her body tingles all over, the image of Weston’s slick body still dancing in front of her eyes. Not to mention the way he’d looked at her, his dark eyes suddenly intense…
Jess groans and turns the knob of the shower. A cold shower is exactly what I need right now! she thinks, quickly yanking off her tank top and shorts.
But the cool water, while it makes her sweaty skin feel better, does nothing to cool her desires. If anything, the idea of standing naked where Weston had just been standing naked, makes the whole thing worse.
The thought of him here with her, their bodies slipping against each other’s…he’d push her up against the wall as they kissed, lifting her up onto his hips, her legs around his waist, her heels on his perfect ass as his thick cock sought her wet, eager entrance. He’d fuck her there, against the wall, his hands grabbing her ass as he drilled her into the smooth wood and she—
Oh god, stop! Jessica tells herself. She’s panting, eyes closed, one hand pumping her tight, aching pussy while the other kneads her breasts.
“Ugggh,” she whines pitifully. She can feel her pussy spasming around her fingers, desperate for release. She hasn’t wanted anyone this badly in a long time.
Oh, what’s the harm, she thinks, leaning back against the wall, letting the water rush over her. Maybe if I finish, I’ll be able to get it out of my system.
Somehow Jessica doubts that, but she doesn’t talk herself out of it either.
—she’d grab his hair, one hand raking his back as she arched into him, bucking her hips against his washboard abs, desperate for more of him. Weston’s mouth would close on her nipples sucking hard as he groaned with pleasure, burying himself deeper and deeper into her eager folds. One hand would open and he’d slap her ass, again, again, harder each time as his huge member filled her, stroking her walls into frenzied pleasure until it was too much and—
“Ahhhhh,” Jessica gasps as her fantasy dissolves in her over-powering orgasm. Suddenly, she’d back in reality, one hand hot with her own juices as she collapses, panting against the wall of the shower.
I guess now I really need to wash myself off, she thinks and chuckles softly.
CHAPTER 5
As the days go by, life in the jungle hut falls into a rhythm as the three researchers grow more and more used to each other’s company. Every day, they review the footage of their cameras, take notes, compare ideas. At night, they set up traps to catch the monkeys from the family they were studying—so that they can weigh, measure, and tag the different individuals. It makes for long hours, but Jessica has never felt so exhilarated before. She loves bouncing ideas back and forth with Dan and Weston, and never feels like they look down on her because she’s a student and they’re the experts. They make her feel like she’s a vital part of their research team.
Though Jessica’s modesty keeps her from realizing it, the two men are more than a little impressed with their intern.
“Do you ever get the feeling that we’re going to be obsolete in a few more years?” Dan asks Weston as they work together to weigh a tranquilized male spider monkey—the head of their family.
Weston chuckles. “You mean by our brilliant pupil?” he clarifies.
“Yeah,” Dan nods.
“All the time. Yesterday for example, when she made the connection between family roles and the use of chirping? I was just about ready to hand in my resignation right then and there.”
Dan grins. “Tell me about it.”
Over the monkey’s limp body, Weston catches Dan’s eyes and waggles his eyebrows. “Looks like we made the right choice after all.”
Dan snorts. “From a research perspective, I know we did. That doesn’t mean that my doubts don’t still stand. Look me in the eye and tell me you haven’t had a single inappropriate thought since we got here.”
Weston makes a face. “Like you haven’t,” he shoots back.
Dan rolls his eyes. “That doesn’t make it better! Having two of your mentors lusting after you is not somehow better than just one. Jessica deserves to learn and grow in a safe and respectful environment.”
This time, his friend and colleague is serious. “Dan, you know me. You know that I would never do anything inappropriate or disrespectful to Jessica. Just like I know you wouldn’t, even if just looking at her makes you hard.”
“It does not!” Dan replies, indignant.
Weston raises an eyebrow.
“It was just that one time…and she was in that tiny bikini…” Dan sighs. “At least she didn’t notice.”
“Nope, just me,” Weston grins.
“Lucky me,” Dan grumbles. “Can we get back to work now?”
“Sure, sure, change the subject,” Weston chuckles.
But Weston knows he’s just as guilty as Dan. He never got around to telling his friend about the shower incident from their first week. Thank god she didn’t notice then either, he thinks to himself.
***
A few days later, deep in the jungle, Dan pauses to catch his breath, wiping sweat from his forehead with a grimy, abused handkerchief and looking back at Jessica. “So…do you still love it here as much as you did that first day?” he asks, smiling fondly at her tired expression.
Jessica smiles gamely, too out of breath to laugh. Taking advantage of the stop, she leans against a nearby tree. “Yeah,” she finally replies, also wiping her face. She doesn’t have a handkerchief and just uses the bottom of her t-shirt. Dan can’t help himself—his eyes linger on her smooth, toned stomach. After three weeks in Costa Rica, her olive skin has tanned to deep gold. Her face reappears from under her shirt and he whips his eyes back up to her face.
But there’s a twinkle in her eye that makes him think that she caught him looking—and doesn’t really mind. And it’s true. Every once in a while, he and Weston have caught her watching them almost as hungrily as they watch her. Or is that just the sad fantasy of two forty-year-old guys who had a hard time growing up and quite believe they’re too old for her?
Weston insists that Jessica is an adult and can make her own choices, but Dan knows just how much pressure working with your professors can put on a young, impressionable student. And he doesn’t want her to feel like she should do anything that she doesn’t absolutely want to do.
“I mean, it would be great if our hut had AC, but this place is still pretty much paradise,” she says, now that she’s caught her breath.
Dan chuckles. “That’s fair.” He glances up to the steep trail they’re climbing. “How about this? We finish checking the last of the camera traps and I’ll show you a secret.”
Jessica’s eyebrows rise. “Oooh,” she grins. “I love secrets.”
“Then it’s a deal,” Dan replies. He knows his plan might be pushing the line, but she deserves a break. And so do I.
The camera traps are mostly fine, just needing a few readjustments to get a better view of the monkey’s antics. Still, getting around from one to the other takes time and it’s a few hours before Dan gets to show Jessica his surprise.
“Jeez, did we really set up that many traps?” Jessica asks, huffing as she and Dan make t
heir way through the jungle.
Dan laughs. “And we didn’t even visit all of them today!”
Jessica groans, but good-naturedly. “Don’t remind me! One day we’ll have to go around to all of them and take them down!”
“So true,” Dan replies, making a face. “But, for right now, I promised you a surprise. And I always keep my promises.”
Jessica giggles. “Phew. Because I was starting to think you’d forgotten. It is a secret AC machine hidden deep, deep in the jungle?”
Dan laughs. “Not quite. But it’s almost as good. I swear.”
After a couple of minutes, they finally emerge out of the jungle at the lip of a small, burbling stream.
“Ooh, water!” Jessica grins.
“We’re not quite there yet,” Dan smiles, following the water.
A few minutes later, when they’re standing on the edge of a waterfall, Jessica gasps.
From where they stand on black, volcanic rocks, they look out at the crystalline water leaping off the ridge and cascading into a pure, emerald-colored pool below, surrounded on all sides by thick jungle. Above them, colorful birds whirl in the perfect, blue sky, calling to each other as they swirl through the air.
“It’s perfect,” Jessica whispers. “Oh my god, Dan. It’s beautiful. Did I die back there in the jungle and this is heaven?”
Dan laughs. “You didn’t. I promise.” And he reaches out and pinches her arm gently.
Jessica giggles, looking up at him through her long eyelashes and making his groin twinge. “Can we swim?”
“Oh, we can,” he replies.
“Can we…jump?” she asks, nodding toward the waterfall.
“Definitely,” Dan grins.
Whooping in delight, Jessica shrugs off her backpack and tugs off her shirt, revealing not only the golden stomach Dan had been eyeing earlier, but also her high, round breasts arching up out a low-cut, green sports bra.
Dan swallows. The faster I get into that cold water the better, he thinks. Quickly, he busies himself with stripping off his own clothes.