by Kit Fortier
"What was it like, growing up in a small town?"
Fox skittered about, setting the table and meting out food.
"White or red?"
Jake smiled. "Let's try red first."
Fox grinned as he pulled out a couple of relatively unused wine glasses. As he uncorked and poured the wine, he picked up on Jake's question.
"It wasn't bad. Whatever I couldn't find here, I would drive over to Sundance for it. We lived here for the longest time. When Dad took over the lodge, and the park surrounding it, he spent a few years renovating it while I was going to school. When I got into college, he moved up to Pine Haven, and he let me stay here to live on the property and manage the place. School was nothing special, but I'd rather be running around outside than stuck in a classroom." Fox waited until Jake started in on the meal before him.
"I imagine that's still the same today," Jake said. "Wow, this is good."
Fox preened a little. "It really is the same. I'm glad Dad set me up here. This place does great, and I don't have to worry about much. But it always seemed like home might be somewhere else."
Jake nodded. "I get that. What was school like? Friends?"
The corners of Fox's mouth turned down slightly. "With folks from a small town, it's fifty-fifty. Either you leave town and try to make it somewhere else, or you stay behind and become a part of the town's foundation." He completely sidestepped an issue of major unhappiness--but to Fox, it was worth it not to ruin the moment.
"Sounds soul sucking."
"Yeah. It's pretty painful."
"Ever thought of different jobs? Maybe joining the military?"
Fox laughed. "I can't deal with people telling me what to do. Most of the time, I'm doing my own thing. It annoyed a few of my coaches. Other coaches figured out how to make the best of it and made me a catcher."
Jake tilted an eyebrow, naughty thoughts clearly visible on his face.
"Quiet, you."
Jake laughed. "Sorry. We're climbing high in porn set-ups here."
Fox smirked. "I'm starting to think you think of porn a lot."
"Only since I've met you. So, jobs?"
Fox chuckled at the clumsy subject change. "You know, I tried a few places around town. Except, when it came to using someone's computer or a fancy register, every piece of equipment I touched would fry out."
Jake chewed on a piece of chicken. Fox could see him thinking.
Fox took a deep pull from his beer. "Where have you hiked to? I imagine you've hit a lot of places between here and there."
"Flew out of Boise into Rapid City."
"You started near here?"
"Yep. Closest airport. Well, second closest. I could have flown into Sundance, but that was more money than I cared to shell out. Drove into the Devils Tower park and started my journey."
"Why there?"
Fox glanced at Jake. He saw furrowed eyebrows.
"It's hard to explain. It's not that I don't want to answer, I'm just not sure how."
"We'll figure it out." Fox saw Jake's features relaxed. He polished off his wine. "Want more?"
Jake shook his head. "It was amazing. Thank you."
Fox smiled. He cleared the dishes and put the leftovers away, along with the unfinished Pinot and the unopened Moscato. When he turned from the fridge, he saw Jake standing, facing him, like he was waiting to say something. The two stood, and a short, comfortable silence bloomed between them.
"What are you doing- ", Jake said, cutting himself off because Fox began to ask, "What's on your…" simultaneously. They laughed.
Jake moved in, putting his arms around Fox's waist. Fox hummed as he leaned into Jake's embrace, resting his head against Jake's shoulder.
"What's on your agenda tomorrow?" Fox asked, soaking in the scent that was the man holding him-pine and handfuls of earth and sun and Jake.
Jake took a deep breath against Fox's neck. Fox swore he could feel Jake's heartbeat against his own.
"I was going to ask… If you're not doing anything, I'd like to check out Pine Haven."
"I think that can be arranged," Fox grinned. "It's not much to out-of-towners, but the reservoir isn't anything to thumb your nose at."
"Sounds like fun."
Fox pulled back, his eyes locking with Jake's. "We could… make a night or two of it?"
Jake quirked an eyebrow.
"There's a campsite on the west end of town. Great view of that part of the reservoir."
"Oh yeah?"
"Absolutely." Fox gave a slack-jawed grin. "You know, aside from those couple of hours I was with you today, I've been up since yesterday afternoon. Had a couple of night shifts in a row."
Jake ran his hand through Fox's hair and caressed his face. Fox closed his eyes as he leaned his face into Jake's touch.
"Pasta coma?"
Fox didn't hesitate to nod.
"I saw your bed. It's great for one person."
Fox nodded, his eyes still closed.
"Let's stay in my room for the night."
"You sure?"
"Well, I could sleep on the floor in here, I suppose."
Fox laughed, mortified at the very idea of treating a guest so badly. "No, I'm fine with using your room."
Jake gave Fox a lopsided grin. "Let's go then."
Fox nodded. "One sec." He padded around the corner into the main room. Rifling through a nightstand drawer on one end of his bed, he pulled out a small bottle and a handful of foil packets. Fox quickly shoved his find into his pocket and pulled a pair of flip flops off the door.
*** Jake
Jake tugged on Fox's hand as they walked to his room. The sensation of the pulse was as strong as the first time they touched. Jake looked back, seeing a sleepy smile on Fox's face.
"Boy, you must be tired."
"Yeah. I don't think I have it in me for any of this," Fox said as he wiggled his hand in his pocket.
"Oh? What's that?" Jake said, playing along. He touched his door, and while Fox was pulling the words together, Jake alchemically unlocked it. He made a small show of using his key card as he opened his door.
"I really like looking at your butt." Fox might have been drunk, but Jake was sure he had been running on fumes, and he was all out of them.
"Flattery will get you whatever you want," Jake laughed. He locked (and sealed) the door behind him as Fox left his flip flops by the door. Fox disappeared into the bathroom, and Jake heard the sink come on.
"I'm gonna use your complimentary toothbrush," Fox called out over the light sound of rushing water.
"Go for it." Jake pulled the remnants of the salt and silver mix from his pocket and tucked it away in his pack. Still plenty for a few more, smaller barriers, or one big one. He also removed the sheathed knives, placing them on the nightstand. When he turned around, he saw a few packets of condoms and a bottle of lube tossed on the bed. Fox grinned like a cat that ate the canary, but his eyes were still heavily lidded.
"Hey," Jake said as he crossed the room and pulled Fox closer to him. "You are crashing hard, handsome."
Fox rested his head on Jake's shoulder, as before, and held him close as he put his hands on his shoulders. "Not sleepy," he drawled, sleepily.
"Right," Jake drew out the word, full of sarcastic intent. He swayed like a father rocking a baby to sleep. "Let's get you ready for bed. We'll save your goodies for later."
Fox nodded. Jake pulled away and took the hem of Fox's shirt in hand. Once he disrobed Fox of his shirt, Jake hooked his thumbs into Fox's shorts.
"Nu-uh," Fox said with a gentle shake of his head.
"What, baby?"
"This goes, too." The not-sleepy red-head tugged at his dark blue briefs.
Jake let out a soft snicker. "You got it." He slipped his thumbs under the elastic bands of Fox's underwear. With one smooth move, he slid both shorts and boxers off.
As he was bent down, Jake caught Fox's scent. It was much like the sharp tang of the first drops of rain hitting the earth. There was
trace of a lightly metallic scent, and a touch musky from the day's activity. He ran his hands up and down Fox's legs--the soft texture of the whorls of his leg hair made Jake's heart rate rise.
But Jake didn't want to deprive Fox of sleep any longer. Even though he'd gone a few days without sleep before, it wasn't pleasant. Jake lead Fox around the other side of the bed and pulled back the blanket for him.
"Be right with you," Jake said. Fox nodded as he crawled into bed. He made a show of wiggling his butt slowly and suggestively. Jake shuddered at the sight of Fox's display. The young guy moved across the bed to the other side, where Jake liked to sleep. Fox plopped down, face down, sprawled across the enormous bed.
Jake shuddered at the sight.
He removed his trail-runners, then pulled his own clothes off. Jake then put them across the back of the desk chair to air out. The air of the room cooled his skin.
Jake closed the curtains and turned off all the lights save for the one over the door. He went back to the bed, crawling over Fox's weary form. He settled his weight over Fox. The man rubbed his hands on taut shoulders; down taut upper arms; curling over hands. He ground himself gently into Fox's rear, his own dick warm and hard and nestled in Fox's fuzzy crack.
Fox moaned.
"No fair," he murmured.
"Just giving you a taste of what's to come," Jake said, his hips writhing obscenely against the pinned man's ass.
"What was that? Taste your come? I didn't quite catch that," Fox groaned, his face pressed into the mattress.
"Maybe you'll think twice about sleeping on the wrong side of the bed."
Fox laughed. He turned his head, his face still sleepy. "Yeah. I'm gonna do that every night now."
A pang squeezed Jake's heart. He said nothing, considering the blowup earlier. It came from nowhere, but it didn't come without a reason. He was certain of it. He pressed on, determined to enjoy the moment. Every night indeed.
Jake rolled both himself and Fox onto their sides. Fox was curled against Jake, his back to Jake's front. Jake pulled him close, nibbling gently on Fox's ear.
"Ungh, seriously, Jake. No fair."
"Shhh. Just sleep."
"How can I when I'm your very own chew toy?"
Jake chucked lightly. He gave up his assault on Fox's senses, choosing to nudge his nose through soft, thick, dark hair. Sleep crawled upon him. As Jake closed his eyes, he breathed in the scent of rain.
6. The Scent of Soil and Pine
*** Fox
Something wet touched Fox's chin as he woke up. Bleary eyed, he looked down and found he left a little puddle of drool in the middle of Jake's chest.
"Mornin', sleepyhead," Jake said, his voice a gravelly rumble of amusement.
"I'm so sorry," Fox said. He thought to wipe his drool off Jake's chest with his hand, but then that gorgeous chest would be all wet with spit. He sat up and found his shirt at the foot of the bed, using that to mop up his little mess.
"Ew," Jake laughed. "You're gonna wear a spitty shirt on your walk of shame?"
"Walk of shame? Doesn't that mean that we've done something to be ashamed about? Because last I remember, I was forced to fight off your advances, you animal," Fox replied. He carried laughter in his voice as he tweaked Jake's nipple hard. Jake yowled at the assault and attacked Fox, straddling him and tickling him. A few moments later, they stilled. Their foreheads pressed together, breathing deeply, smiles across both of their faces.
"I wouldn't mind doing something," Jake whispered. He ground his ass down, pressing Fox's erection tight. Fox groaned and ground his hips back, finding a rhythm with Jake.
Jake tipped Fox's head back. He dipped down and sealed his mouth against Fox's. Their tongues lapped over each other, exploring. Fox sucked on Jake's tongue, relishing in the taste. They writhed and moaned, a light sheen of sweat coming across them both.
"Do you… Do you want me to fuck you?" Fox stammered, the heat of the moment wrapping tightly around his brain, coiling at the base of his spine. Jake never stopped grinding.
"No, baby. Just feel."
Fox let his head fall back as Jake began to play him, much like in the shower. His heart hammered as Jake put his mouth on his neck, the point just below his Adam's apple. Fingers circled and worried Fox's nipples. Jake pinched, drawing a sharp breath from him and pulling a moan out of him-a moan that Jake swallowed down. Fox's dick had become slick with clear fluid as the two of them ground against each other. The feel of Jake's ass invited him in, pressing against the door, trapped tightly. A thatch of light, sparse hairs created more texture that drove Fox against the edge of his sanity.
Fox placed his hand at Jake's chest, enjoying the feel of sweat in the mat of hair that spread from one side to the other. Jake's heartbeat pounded wildly. A flush crawled up Jake's chest to his neck to his head as he undulated on Fox's thickness.
"Fox," Jake shuddered.
Fox could only groan in reply.
"Come for me, baby."
Fox was almost there. Jake ground down a few times more, and the coil snapped at last. Fox's hot release dribbled down after he shot it up Jake's back. Jake lost himself in the moment. His neck strained, corded and hot, as he shot out, his come hit with wet splashes on Fox's chest, his neck, his chin.
Fox looked up at Jake, who returned his look with thick, glassy eyes. Fox slid his fingers up his chest, collecting Jake's release, and sucked his fingers clean as Jake watched. Fox thought he saw Jake's eyes blow out--pools of black surrounded by a thin ring of the palest blue. Then suddenly, hungrily, Jake was hunched over, kissing Fox desperately.
Fox submitted to Jake's ministrations as Jake licked off the come on his chin. Jake rubbed spilled seed into his skin as he kissed Fox more, sharing the taste of his essence again.
"How's that for animal?" Jake laughed. "If we were out in the wild, everyone would know you're mine. They could smell it on you."
Fox laughed. "I'm carrying your scent? Gross."
Fox didn't comment on the notion that Jake claimed him. There was a tenuous thread between them that Fox didn't want to break by acting or reacting badly. But it did warm his heart in a way that his interludes with Adam hadn't.
Jake crawled off Fox and laid down next to him, arms under his head.
"Lemme grab a washcloth and clean your back," Fox said, sitting up. Jake grabbed him by the hand and pulled him back down.
"I like that I'm carrying your scent, too."
Fox laughed. "What are you, a werewolf or something?"
Jake gave Fox a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "No," he said, pulling Fox over his chest. "Caveman, maybe."
"Aw, that's cute. I think." Fox smirked, relishing in the scent of release that came off the both of them. Jake's musky smell, the earth, the pine, seemed much more intense.
The two of them lay quietly for a while, listening to each other breathe. Fox pressed his head against Jake's chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"Do you have a tent?" Jake asked.
"Naw. There's a small cabin. But when I camp out there, I usually just set up a mattress in the back of my truck. Tents would just get between me and the stars," he said.
"That actually sounds great. Do I need to pack anything?"
Fox lifted his head up and turned to look at Jake. "Yourself. Bring a change of clothes, if you wanna go skinny dipping." He waggled his eyebrows at Jake.
"Is it that kind of campsite?" Jake smirked.
"It's a place I like to go where no one else is around, on private land Dad owns."
Jake smiled. "Then let's go then."
Fox hopped up. He pulled on his shorts, wadding up his shirt as he got to his flip flops. "I'm gonna put a bag and a cooler together. Then we'll head out."
Jake hadn't moved from his spot when Fox put his knees on the bed and crawled over to him.
"This place smells like sex, you know."
Jake arched an eyebrow, grinning. "I hadn't noticed."
"For the record, I like your scent
on me, too." Fox brought his lips over Jake's, getting another taste of the man. The kiss was short, but sensual, nonetheless. "Come on over whenever you're ready." Jake got up and went to the door. He unlocked it and held it open for Fox, whose golden skin had a warm shine in the morning light. "Put that away," Fox said, palming Jake's dick with a mischievous grin. "Someone might see." He walked down the way to his apartment.
Behind him, Fox heard Jake say, "That's the idea though!"
7. A Circle in Water and Stone
*** Jake
Jake closed the door to his room and inhaled deeply. His host and guest wasn't kidding about the smell. It was thick with their recent, raucous round of pleasure.
Jake tugged on his jeans and trail runners. He pulled out the bag of salt and silver, sticking it in his pocket. He stashed the silver knives like he had done so many times before. After fishing a button-down flannel out of his pack, he put it on, leaving it untucked for comfort. Jake grabbed his sixty-four-ounce stainless steel water bottle and filled it up with tap water.
As he was about to leave, Jake paused at the door. He went back to his pack and pulled out another five-ounce silver ingot as well as his leather scroll. Within minutes, he created another batch of silver and salt, which he poured into the existing bag. He stashed the bag in a pocket of a pair of gym shorts.
Jake disconnected a shoulder pack from his massive backpack, stuffing the shorts in. He also added a towel from the room. As he stepped out of the bathroom, Jake saw the strip of condoms and the lube Fox brought earlier. With a quick swipe, he tucked those away into his shoulder pack as well.
He left his room secured and walked down to Fox's apartment. As he got there, Fox stepped outside. He wore the same gym shorts but had on a short sleeve button up that wasn't buttoned up, and a pair of sandals. He toted a backpack in one hand and a large, hand-carried, hard-shelled cooler in the other. Fox saw Jake coming and smiled.
"Mountain man," Fox grinned.
"Beach boy," Jake parroted. "That's pretty hot," Jake said, a laugh in his voice. Fox preened a little bit.