The Pairing

by Jessica Miles

  He put the radio on and they sat mostly in silence the whole way. He looked at her now and then… she looked at him now and then. It was a secretive and mutually super heated admiration.

  They arrived at the park and Seb drove on through the winding undulating terrain. She started to wonder how she had managed to get herself in this unexpected situation. Here she was simply miles from anywhere with a neighbour she barely knew, camping with him for a whole weekend in a tent the size of a small single bed. She smiled to herself for a second.

  This was pure madness and more than exciting!

  After a lot of ups and downs and bumping about, they finally stopped, arriving at their destination. Her teeth ached with all the bumping. She thought in amusement of her little car trying to navigate all that lot… no way would it have stayed in one piece! They got out and looked around. She smiled with absolute delight. Seb was quite right. She loved it. They were positioned on the side of a small mountain ridge. There was a lake further along the valley which glimmered deep blue and silver under the sun. The green swathe of forest dipped down to it and up the other side. She breathed in the fresh natural air deeply. It was a superb spot. She was smiling widely at how wonderful it all was when she turned to find Seb staring her way deep in thought. He was watching her with a dark expression. She stood and stared back with a mounting excitement in her mind, her breathing quickening. It seemed to last for quite a while before he broke the spell.

  “Let’s get set up then…” he said finally.

  They unpacked their stuff. She put up the tent, which actually seemed bigger than she remembered. Then they set about making a fire. She watched Seb gather kindling and wood, explaining the best things to burn. He lit it with a match and got it going strongly. He collected some more wood with her help. She was enjoying herself rather a lot. Following him around was part of it. He had a lot of confidence in himself. She liked that in a man. Someone who knew just what he was doing. Simon had been like that. But there the similarity between the two ended.

  “I know it’s early, but shall we feed ourselves, whilst we still have the light?” he asked her.

  She agreed as she was actually rather hungry. The fresh air had given her a big appetite. They cooked some chicken he had brought in his cooler box, wrapping it in foil and placing it on glowing embers in the fire. They sat on a large flat rock and ate together. Then they munched some fruit and had some other packaged snacks. Evening was drawing in. She put on her fleece jacket and put down a blanket by the fire and sat on it. He sat next to her.

  They watched the sun setting in silence. Absolutely stunning… Completely gorgeous… They each thought simultaneously. The sunset was real pretty too.

  The night air became cool very quickly. They were both gazing absentmindedly into the fire. Fires make you do that, she thought. They were dangerous and mesmerising. Wild and primeval things.

  “Tomorrow Laura… I’m going to take you fishing.” he said.

  “I’m not sure I can do that” she said quietly. “Sticking worms on hooks makes me feel sick.”

  “No worms. Fly fishing. It’ll be good. We’ll catch our own food tomorrow.”

  They sat staring at the primeval fire some more.

  “I think I need to get in my sleeping bag now.” She said after a while. Her teeth were chattering. “It’s rather chilly. You must be freezing with just your t-shirt on? Aren’t you?”

  “No, I’m fine… but you’re right, we should go to bed. It’s late and I want to be up at dawn. Go and squeeze yourself in first… ”

  The way he said go to bed made her toes curl with desire. She crawled inside and stripped off all her clothes and climbed into the thick warm sleeping bag. She really was very tired.

  “No teeth cleaning tonight” she announced loudly. “Too tired, too dark, too cold.”

  “Sweet dreams Laura. See you tomorrow.” He said looking up at the perfectly full moon very sadly. “I’ll be in in soon.”

  He thought of running in the dark. But not now. A little later when she was properly asleep. He could run for miles if he was alone. But he wouldn’t leave her on her own here for that long. He’d build up the fire some more for protection and run a large circuit around their camp. He was excited at the prospect for running unchecked for once. The dark made it special, sensual… the cold air was thrilling. He got up and made his way inside to wait for an hour.

  He lay next to her. They were so very close. The thin membrane between them was almost non existent. He could feel her heat through it. He could hear her soft breathing and smell her strong scent. She excited him way beyond his normal levels. He would need to work hard to keep himself in check. Absolutely nothing must happen between them. He couldn’t trust himself for a second at this time, not in the full moon, he had little control over it. He would have to keep the tent open as well… he didn’t want to trap himself inside.

  Chapter 10

  Laura awoke in the night. She heard howling or was it growling… something like that… or was it just part of a dream? She lay still and listened. No… Nothing… Whatever it was must have gone. There was a sudden rustling of the tent and movement.

  “Is that you Seb?” she asked with more than a little fear creeping in. She was very glad he was with her on this trip after all. The wilderness at night was rather frightening, she admitted to herself. The strange sudden noises so close by and the slight wind whipping at the tent….

  “Bathroom call… Go to sleep Laura, there’s no danger. I’m here, don’t worry.” he replied. He slipped his naked form into his sleeping bag and dumped his clothes next to his head.

  She closed her eyes and drifted off feeling safe for a few more hours…

  “Wake up… it’s sunrise… come and see!” Seb was suddenly shaking her awake.

  She sat up clutching her sleeping bag and fumbled for some clean clothes, she pulled on a t-shirt and leggings, not bothering with underwear… she wanted to get out quickly and see it. She made her way out of the tent into the cold mountain air to be met by a sight that made her heart sing the most wonderful song. The horizon was ablaze with purple, pink and yellow. She walked up to stand near him. He took her hand and pulled her close to his side.

  “This was worth coming for, anyway.” He said in a whisper. “It’s almost as beautiful as you.”

  She looked at him. Did he realise he had just called her beautiful?

  He was watching the sunrise with an odd smile on his face. He knew.

  “You’re quite beautiful yourself.” She added truthfully. He really was. She stared at the sunrise smiling.

  He turned his head and studied her intently as she marvelled at the colorful start to the day.

  “Laura … You’d better go put some underwear on.” He remarked in a quiet strained voice. “That top leaves very little to the imagination. Not that I mind, of course.” He carried on looking anyway while her female charms were on public display.

  She looked down at her obviously thin and very see through t-shirt with a sudden flush of heat flaring inside her.

  Men like him should have a health warning, she thought. He made her feel way too hot. All the time. He was a constant assault on her senses.

  Chapter 11

  After a long morning’s walk along the most beautiful winding wild trails she had ever been on they returned to their small camp.

  How did he know exactly where he was going all the time? It was quite amazing, his perfect sense of direction, as if he had an inbuit compass in his head. He must know this area very well indeed.

  Without a doubt one of the best parts of following him was that she had been able to stare non stop at his completely fabulous tight ass for the last few hours as well.

  They ate some crackers, potato chips, some fruit and a couple of cereal bars each and made some strong black coffee. She was thoroughly enjoying herself here and by the looks of it so was he. He was ever so smiley today. They then set off for the highlight of the afternoon.

 
The sun was still fairly high in the sky as they stood on the bank of the rushing stream ready to fish for their dinner.

  “Laura… stand like this and flip with your arms and wrists, like so.”

  Seb demonstrated casting the fly.

  “Errr… nope… don’t get it.” She said as her line whipped up and landed two feet away from her on the bank.

  She tried again and the hook snagged in her thick hiking sock. She twisted around trying to get it out and tipped over landing face down in an undignified heap with the rod between her legs.

  Seb put down his rod and came over to help her de hook herself. He was trying to stop himself laughing at her clumsiness. He was shaking silently with the effort. She starting laughing at herself too, despite the nasty graze on her elbow. They were soon both sniggering and spluttering about it.

  He pulled her up, brushed the mud and gravel from her cheek and gently placed her hands in position on the rod. Then he stood close behind her and took hold of the rod with his hands on hers. He cast a beautiful arc into the stream. Her heart was beating madly. This had nothing to do with his beautiful casting. The mere touch of his hands and the sudden jerking of her arms was enough to get her senses running riot and the feel of his body lightly touching the back of hers was sending her into a mini climax already.

  Fishing was the last thing on her mind right now… they would have to bloody starve!

  “Now you try… go on.” he urged moving round to the other side of her.

  “Just one more demonstration first.” She said quietly. “Show me again please!”

  “No… I’m wise to your game. You’re probably an expert fly caster and this is all an act.” Being up close to her like that had made his head spin. He needed to keep some distance between them.

  “Seb, I’m not playing any games with you… I really liked you touching me to be honest… and my ‘just friends’ idea is being beaten to death in my head right now.” She looked at him for a reaction.

  “Laura… believe me… you really, really don’t want a man like me in your life. I’m not going to be good for you in any way, shape or form.” That was certainly a very true statement of fact… He stared back at her with an equal passion in his mind that he couldn’t and mustn’t act on. This was getting hard already.

  “Can’t I be the judge of that? I’d like to make my own mind up.” she said dropping her rod, standing up close on tiptoe and linking her hands around the back of his neck.

  She brushed her lips against his cheek. Just a gentle friendly little kiss to start with. Her eyes were alight with a pent up surge of desire. Much against his better judgement he couldn’t stop himself kissing her. She was very hard to resist. Extremely kissable in fact. He kissed her harder and her hot tongue met his in an explosion of sensation. His hands moved down her back, pressing her tightly to him. She was making little sighing sounds against him. His mind was suddenly on fire… the heat started to whip around his body.

  She was in heaven. The touch of his tongue caused tiny little shockwaves to run all around her. Her stupid “just friends” idea was completely dead and buried. She moved one hand into his hair, tugging at it gently, winding it round her fingers. Her other slid between them underneath the front of his shirt up to his chest running her fingers through his hair. He had a light animal like scent that stirred her up and made her feel wild inside. She’d never met anyone like him ever before. She sighed softly against his mouth.

  She was steaming with desire. Molten hot for him. She didn’t care about anything else, she just had to have him right now.

  Something started to surface from deep within him. No no, no…! He couldn’t, and absolutely mustn’t go any further…

  He wrenched himself away suddenly and rushed off down the side of the stream disappearing into the veil of woodland feeling hot, shaky and frustrated.

  She stood alone on the bank feeling hot, shaky and tearful.

  Chapter 12

  After a while she returned to their nearby camp and sat in the opening of the tent, waiting for him to return. Her mind was in complete and utter turmoil. He was gone a long, long time. They both had a chance to cool off completely and utterly.

  When he finally came back he had two big fish in his net.

  Nothing was said about their encounter as he prepared and cooked their fish. They sat on the rock and ate and had more crackers, fruit, a little red wine and candy that she had bought. Not a great mixture, but she didn’t care. She had other more important things on her mind than their menu. She knew he wanted her. Rather a lot, it seemed. What had happened this afternoon? She had put herself on a plate back there at the river. Weren’t all men supposed to take the opportunity when it presented itself? Why did he run off like that? She was going to find out what his problem was.

  He had just finished cleaning and tidying up and came back to put some more wood on the fire standing opposite where she was sitting.

  “Seb?”

  “Aha”

  “I don’t need a commitment from you.”

  “Laura… don’t.”

  “I thought men were supposed to like that kind of arrangement. Sex with no commitment.”

  “That’s not what I want from you or for you. Or for me either.”

  “Why not?”

  “I can’t go into it. It’s kinda complicated. I have good reasons.”

  “So if I came up to you right now….” She got up and went right up to him “… and asked you to sleep with me tonight….you would really say no?”

  He held her gently in his arms.

  “That’s right Laura… I would say no. So please don’t ask… okay…” His heart was beating fast as she stood so close to him. He was barely in control of himself at all in her company. How could he turn her down… ? He must be fucking mad! Maybe it would be alright. He could concentrate really hard to keep it back.

  She looked up into his green eyes.

  “But Seb, I know you want to… and I want to. Let’s just see how it goes.”

  His gave in to her in one second flat. His mouth came down on hers and they indulged in the hottest kiss since the universe began. At least it seemed to be that way to the both of them.

  It went on and on, their tongues twisting around each other’s madly.

  It was so exciting being out here in the open doing this…. she thought. She wanted him to push her on the bare earth right now and do it to her. His hands and mouth caressed her neck and face making her moan out loud for him. Her hands were in his hair. She loved the feel of it between her fingers, the wood smoky animal scent of it.

  He felt so hard and so overheated he thought he might just pass out before he got any of her clothes off.

  He suddenly stopped dead. He could feel it rising inside of him. He tried to force it back. It didn’t work, he couldn’t think of two things at once. She was all that he could think of. The change was almost upon him. He released her and shot off across their camp disappearing into the trees, quickly pulling off his clothes. Shit, that was a close call…. very close!

  “What the fuck…?” she gasped as he left her hanging high and dry. “Seb… you come back here right now… you bastard. You can’t do this to me again…” she screamed in tears.

  He waited not far away. He heard her call out. His mind and stomach were twisting in anguish. His pulse was slowing now. He picked up his discarded clothes, put them on and sat quietly just a short distance from their camp considering things carefully. They needed to go home early tomorrow. This can’t happen again. He sat it out until darkness arrived and then he returned to the tent.

  Chapter 13

  “Well that was a rather interesting trip” Laura said sarcastically when they pulled up in their road after what had proven to be a long silent journey back. “I’d like to say I enjoyed it… and I really, really did, but parts of it were more painful than enjoyable…”

  “Don’t you dare start about that…” he said glowering at her. “I told you I have very goo
d reasons for not sleeping with you.”

  “Well, anyways… thanks for coming camping with me Seb. I don’t suppose you’ll be offering again, will you?”

  “It’s possible but highly unlikely if the moon is full.” He said darkly.

  “Well then. I suppose that’s it?” She said ignoring his odd little joke. They got out and he picked her stuff out of the truck for her. She went off up the path to her apartment in resignation. He could hear the noise from where he stood. He didn’t want her going back in there. That disgusting place, not his beautiful Laura. He had an idea. He called out to her.

  “Laura… would you come with me a moment, please?”

  She gave him a confused look as he led her into his home. He shut the door behind them and leaned on it.

  This looked promising, she thought. Imprisoning her in his little love nest. She’d just love him to pounce on her right now and rip her clothes off. But he wasn’t going to, was he?

  “Would you like to stay here with me, in my apartment. I have two spare rooms here. It’s quiet and clean and you know you won’t be harassed… !“ He joked nervously.

  “Really? Are you sure? I mean… having such a red hot temptation under your roof might push you over the edge…” there was a hard tone to her voice. He knew she was feeling hurt and rejected. He felt even worse about it himself. He had never felt so bad.

  “I’m sure I can control myself around you, just about. Go and get some stuff. You can come over now.” He rushed off to his room. She could have his room, it had a bathroom in it… and a very large wardrobe. He moved his clothes and most of his personal stuff into the second room. She returned with her first armful. He took her into his room.

  “No Seb, this is your room, isn’t it… I’ll have another.” She said looking at his ruffled duvet, his study books still on the floor and his desk at the window with his laptop still on it.

  “It’s okay. Girls need a lot of space. They have stuff. Men don’t have stuff. I’m fine in smaller room number two next door to you.”