Slow Fever

by Bushman, Leona

  Chapter Seven

  I could barely hold back the need to throw up as I saw the finger in the squirrel’s mouth. I didn’t point it out. Jack and Rachel both looked scared enough as it was. Usually, Jack took things in stride, having seen so much CGI in today’s movies, so for him to be that shook up made my “dad to the rescue” brain kick in.

  But it was more than that. Something was badly wrong. We just didn’t understand what. How could we have known? Anything close to the truth that we could have come up with, we would have put down as a crazy Hollywood theory. At least, I know I would have. We could not possibly have been prepared for what came next…

  Sebastian

  Sebastian considered tearing down camp and going home, but then what? The animals in town had acted funny as well. So he didn’t suggest it. Instead, they stayed closer to camp. Jack and Rachel threw the Frisbee for Ruff, who appeared to be fine.

  “At least Ruff quit acting weird, I guess,” he mused aloud as he watched them play.

  “What?” Karla gave him a sharp look.

  He shrugged, leaning against the picnic table. “In the city, he wouldn’t stop getting wet. Broke through the screen door to get to the pool the first time. And we had the sprinkler running to give the yard a good watering before we left, and Jack said Ruff wouldn’t stay out of it. Anytime the dog started getting dry, he headed for the pool or sprinkler. Jack and Rachel apparently spent half their time home yesterday being drenched as they tried to get Ruff out and dried off.”

  “Ruff really likes the water that much?”

  Sebastian stared at their dog playing normally now. “He does love the water, but think about it. There’s a river right there. He’s only gone in a couple of times in the hot part of the day. Otherwise, he just drinks from the banks.”

  “Okay. I get you. And now that you mention it, all the animals back in Yakima were acting weird. I saw a cat jump into a kiddo pool and dive. I kid you not.”

  “All over town, cats and dogs were jumping into the water, not even fighting each other. Like, when animals all head to a watering hole during a wild fire. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many broken leashes in my life. As if they were desperate to get wet.”

  “Maybe we should head down to Rimrock Retreat. Get ice and a few snacks. See if we hear any news.” She crossed her arms and rubbed them with her hands. “This is all creepy. And maybe seeing normal things will help.”

  Maybe it would. At least they could see if someone else had news about why dead animals littered the mountain side. A little over an hour later, having piled into Karla’s vehicle, they were in Rimrock Retreat, but it looked like a ghost town, felt like one. Only a few animals ran around. No one came out to see them when they parked, and no one manned the store.

  Empty.

  They grabbed the ice and drove back to camp in silence. Instead of helping as intended, it confirmed that something weird was happening in the hills.

  All of them, except Karla who drove, checked on their smartphones, trying to catch something as the signal hit them. When they got back to camp, they went to the one spot which seemed to get a consistent signal.

  “A lot of ‘animals acting weird’ posts. A few people commented on the guys in the bar,” Jack said of his Facebook feed.

  “Yeah, mine too,” Rachel piped up. “But there’s hardly anything for today. No matter whose I go to, the last posts are yesterday or night before. Oh, here’s one. ‘My mom grounded me, but I’m leaving anyway.’ Trisha is a turd like that. Has to do whatever it is her parents don’t want her to do. But the next one is, ‘I’ve been punished. I don’t know how they did it, but the whole town is in on it. They must be using some sort of makeup. The people look all gray and stuff like in drama class. And dead people, animals all over town. I don’t dare touch anything, because I can’t tell if it’s real or not, and it’s all so gross. I don’t want to touch it anyway. I might get something really awful on me. Mom, Dad. I’m so sorry. I won’t do it again. I promise. Please make it all stop.’ That was actually this morning.”

  “Sebastian, there’s something from Olivia today,” Karla said, staring hard at her phone. “‘Best soap ever made. Works great, but my facial soaps must be failing as my color isn’t good. I’ll get more sun. That’ll take the gray out.’”

  “Gray?” he asked her. What the hell makes someone’s skin gray?

  “Yeah. Weird. Here’s another. ‘Trevor acting strange. Looks at me like I’m dessert. If it’s supposed to be flattering, it misses its mark.’ That’s from our boss.”

  “I think we’ll stay up here for now. Rachel, monitor Trisha’s posts. Or message her. See if she’s okay. I don’t want to use the ATVs due to the noise factor. Karla, let’s get the horses and go up higher and see if we can get better reception. There has to be a clear spot somewhere.

  “I know you’re not a kid anymore, Jack, but please, you and Rachel stay near camp. More importantly, the car and your phone. If something, anything, spooks you, you get in the car and call me, text me, message me, whatever you can think of.”

  “I won’t leave until you get back. Hey, take your whistles.” Jack grabbed them off the picnic table and tossed them to his dad.

  “Be careful.”

  Chapter Eight

  And just like that, Jack turned into an adult. Well, I knew he was about one anyway, but that’s when I saw him as more adult than child. Part of me felt silly for carrying a whistle, but I did it. I could break a leg as easy as anyone, I thought at the time and smirked at my own sassiness.

  I’m not sure if it was the air, the week off for just camping—instead of the normal weekend I’d done for years—or knowing that Jack was almost grown. Whatever it was, I became freer in my words and actions than I’d been since he’d been a baby.

  Don’t get me wrong, even buttoned-up and working, I still had a sense of humor and got dirty playing baseball with my son. But I had to control myself, limit my passions, even in something as innocent as sports, lest the beast be let out and I lose track of what’s really important. I anticipated making love to Karla if nothing worse happened, and built myself up to it until I was in a frenzy of want and need.

  I told myself that there was an illness and that it didn’t concern us as long as we were in the mountains. I told myself that the young friend of Rachel’s exaggerated. I told myself I’d waited too long and not even the end of the world was going to stop me from having Karla. I’d been with no one since I started dating her.

  My body craved her, craved sex, and I felt as if I were a stallion next to a mare in heat. None of this was conscious thought, other than anticipating being alone with Karla. I guess denying myself for too long had uncovered the beast I hid from everyone—including myself.

  Karla

  As surreptitiously as possible, Karla watched Seb get on the horse. His jeans were tight around the ass as he swung his long leg over. He wore hiking boots, rather than cowboy or other riding boots, but they were better than sneakers. They allowed the horses to trot up the dirt trail leading over the hill to get to the paved mountain road, Seb’s movements fluid as if he and Lightning had been riding together for years. What a joy to watch how well he rode and how natural he appeared in handling her horse. Thoughts of him riding and handling her brought heat to her face. Though she had the faster and stronger horse, she let him take the lead.

  Despite their unease with what they’d seen lately, he seemed freer somehow. Every movement, his words, all had a relaxed flow to them which he lacked in the confines of the office. Did he really have to hold himself in that much every day? From the first, she’d sensed a wildness in him. And what could be hotter than a man who could—and did—control his wild side?

  Of course, when he didn’t take her to bed, she’d wondered if she’d read him right. But then, they’d had an office night at the bar which catered to sports. There, she’d witnessed his passion. Oh, it was there all right. He simply channeled it. At the Superbowl office party, she’d vow
ed to find some way to get him to let his passions loose on her.

  A few morning coffees, a couple casual lunches, and some office flirting. After months of that, she’d about thrown in the towel when she’d overheard him asking for days off for camping. Now that was something she could get behind. So she’d put in for two weeks and worked on how to bring it up in casual conversation and get herself invited. Obviously, that hadn’t happened. Yet here she was, watching him relax and begin to show the impetuous side she wanted so much.

  “You ride well,” she called out, then urged her mare to catch up.

  “Been riding most of my life. Did some bareback tricks as a kid. Jack and I will go and ride horses for a rescue place when they get too many in for their volunteers to handle.”

  He helped with a rescue place for horses? Her heart thumped extra hard against her chest as if to say, “Duh. He’s awesome.” Damn. Could he get any hotter? Her head reeled, making her feel a little dizzy as love blinded her. Literally. She had put her emotions in a box for the last year, not daring to give her heart to him while unsure of how he felt, and with three sentences, he’d blown away that box and moved right in.

  His hand touched her elbow. “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Fine, just a little dizzy spell.” With one hand, she reached back and undid the clasp on her riding flask which held the water she’d brought along. Taking a big swig of it before putting the lid back on, she contemplated what to do next. She hoped that whatever was going on in town wouldn’t force them to head back. Leaving before she got to explore his body would be criminal.

  Yes, criminal, she decided.

  His manner, even at work, had shown he was clearly dominant, and boy, did that turn her on. When he’d done that squeeze on her neck... She started panting thinking of it, then had to stop. At this rate, her saddle would be too wet to sit on.

  They reached an open area near the peak in less than an hour and stopped and tied the horses up. Both of them tried their phones, but the signal was worse than back at camp. They’d just have to keep that area open for communications.

  With a quick shove, she put her phone back into the saddlebag, but didn’t get on again. The beautiful jagged mountain peak had drifts of snow everywhere, despite the heat. She walked over to a fallen log which came to about her waist and stood next to it. The majesty of the mountains never failed to speak to her soul. Surrounded by nature, evidence of a greater world than the busy human life, it soothed her and set her free all at once.

  Seb came up behind her and circled his arms around her waist. And perfect. She leaned her head back, which put them cheek to cheek, and together, they stared out.

  Sometime later, she had no idea how long, she felt his dick pressed against her ass cheeks, and it turned her on. Horny, yet he let them have their peaceful moments. As his reward, she started pushing against his dick in a small rocking motion. To her satisfaction, he moaned.

  “Karla. I’m fighting the instinct to bend you over right here. I won’t be able to stop myself.”

  His hoarse voice told her more than his words did how agonizing it was for him to deny himself. Hell with that noise. They’d denied themselves long enough—too long. She reached one arm up behind her and grasped his neck. At the same time, she turned her head for a kiss. His response didn’t disappoint.

  Gone was the shy gentleman. In its place stood a dominant, demanding lover. His tongue circled her lips, requesting entrance. She complied, and he thrust in and out with it while hers dueled with his, challenging his dominance. One of his hands splayed across her stomach and held her against him while he pushed against her butt with his pelvic region.

  Faster, his hips moved against hers until he broke their kiss and held her by her hips. He held them immobile, pressed hard into her, and just breathed for a minute. Then, with no warning, he tore her shirt off over her head in a swift movement and started undoing her pants. His deft hands had her jeans and thong undies down around her ankles so fast, she might as well have worn granny panties for all the look he had of them.

  With one hand he bent her over, then spread her legs apart. His fingers caressed her vulva a moment before he plunged a finger into her hot channel.

  “Seb, oh my God, Seb,” she cried out as an orgasm started low.

  With his wet finger, he circled her clit, and the orgasm exploded within her. Hot juices flowed, dripping down her legs, but he didn’t stop. He kept going through her orgasm, making it last longer. Then he plunged two fingers into her pussy, and it clenched around his fingers as he stroked in and out. When she started to rise, he put a hand on her back and made her stay down.

  “No.” He groaned. “Don’t move. You’re mine now. I’ve waited too long for you.”

  His words caused more wetness to pool, and his hand was now covered in her juices. She’d known for a long time that she was a submissive and needed a male she could trust to be dominant, and Seb proved an even better match than she’d imagined.

  Still holding her down with one hand, he stopped fingering her as she neared an orgasm. “No,” she moaned.

  He pulled a fistful of her hair. “No?”

  Her pussy clenched against itself. “Please, don’t stop. I want you so much.” God, anything to feel him inside her again.

  The head of his cock rubbed against her ass, and she moaned. She had to have him. Now. Desperate need coursed through her as he stood leaned over her back, yet not taking her. He pulsated against her, and her moans escaped louder and stronger.

  “You like that?”

  “Yes, please. More. God I need to feel you.”

  With his other hand, he guided himself to her entrance and pushed in an inch, then back out. His thick head only made her more desperate for the rest of him. “More, more,” she demanded, barely able to speak.

  His dick felt heavy against her as he slowly traced her crack and down to her hot zone. After a quick positioning, he shoved himself in and let out a groan. It reverberated through her and caused her to shiver in the warm air. He let go of her hair, put an arm on either side of her, and started screwing her.

  Trapped between his muscular arms, she could do little but enjoy the feel of him as he fucked her. Regular beat at first, as if feeling her out, finding the rhythm. Then faster. Each stroke brought her to the brink as it moved over her g-spot.

  As she neared another climax, he grabbed her chin and pulled her head back. Putting his cheek next to hers, he whispered, “Look at the mountain peak with me while we come together, but hold it back until I say.”

  She swore that she went blind at that moment. Such a romantic and hot thing to do all at once. She forced her eyes to remain open and stared at the beautiful peak. With his cheek still by hers, he increased his pace. Faster he went, higher her climax built, until it took everything she had to hold back. The tension in her stomach and around her clit became nearly unbearable. Her nipples ached, her heart raced, and everything in her wanted to jump off the ledge he’d kept her on.

  “Now, baby. Come for me,” he whispered when she thought she would go insane from not having her much needed climax.

  At his words, she released the pent-up feelings she’d been holding back and let it ride. Blinding streaks of color entered her vision as he kept thrusting, pushing her higher, not letting her head go as she stared at the mountain top.

  He leaned back slightly, and with his now-free hand, he tweaked her nipples between his thumb and forefinger and rode her harder, the sound of their skin slapping echoing around them. “Come again,” he ordered.

  And to her surprise, she did, him following shortly after, his cries echoing across the meadow. Spent, she lay against the log for support. He had his forehead on her back and breathed heavily, his air blowing against her skin.

  “I, you, wow,” he said.

  A laugh escaped her. “Yeah, I feel the same.” With that kind of pent-up passion, he had to have the self-control of the pope.

  “Now I’m mad at you.”

>   “What?”

  She smiled secretly at the incredulousness in his voice. “I’m mad because you made me wait two years to experience this. It’s even better than I imagined, and let me tell you, I’ve got a good imagination and a great dildo.”

  Now he laughed. “I never know what you’re going to say, except that it’s not usually what I might expect.”

  “Good. Keeps you on your toes. But don’t you dare make me wait that long again. I’ll cheerfully kill you. And a jury of my peers would say it was justifiable homicide. After having multiple orgasms and that kind of sex, they’d agree that I may have gone temporarily insane for the lack.”

  He stepped back from her while he laughed.

  She drew up her thong and heard his intake of breath.

  “You’re so sexy,” he said huskily. “I don’t know how I’ve kept my hands off you this long. I can tell you, I don’t intend to make that mistake again.”

  She bent over to pull up her pants, and he was there.

  He circled one arm around her waist and traced the line of her thong. “So sexy,” he repeated and began to pull her thong to the side.

  “What?” Karla said, then moaned. He pushed her over and had her touch her toes and that opened her up.

  As he continued to hold her up with one arm, he moved the line of her thong to the side and slid his cock into her still throbbing pussy—hard and fast. Her cries of pleasure never stopped. He picked her up off her feet, dick still inside her, and leaned her against the log again. But this time, she wasn’t touching the ground and already had her shirt on.

  With one hand holding her down on her back and the other clenched on her hip, he fucked her to the hilt. His balls slammed against her clit with each, deep stroke. He moved as if he raced a demon. The tension in her body mounted. Everywhere his body touched hers felt seared with lust. Faster he went, and her liquids coated his cock as she got closer and closer. Electricity seemed to shoot through her body, crackling and buzzing and searching for a ground.