Chapter 31
THIRTY ONE
Honey
Quickly I stuff warm clothing into a pack, pulling on a pair of tights and a light sweater instead of my sundress.
I grab my hiking boots from the top of my closet and some thick socks, and Dad helps me hoist a container of water onto the back of Gryff’s truck.
Mom adds a cooler bag packed with so much food I could eat for a week, and I hop up into the driver’s seat and turn the keys in the ignition.
I feel small in the big cabin of the truck and have to move the seat all the way forward so I can grip the steering wheel.
I back the truck out and wait for Dad to pull out of our driveway in his old station wagon.
The plan I finally got my parents to agree to is that I’m going to drive Gryff’s truck out to the campsite and spend two nights out there alone to see if I can find Gryff or get him to find me.
There’s reception at the parking lot and Dad made me promise to check in twice a day, which I’m absolutely going to do because I do not want him and Mom coming to rescue me and unexpectedly interrupting whatever I have to do to get Gryff back.
And I’m anticipating I might have to fight dirty the succubus way.
The Sapphire Lake campsite is only a thirty-minute drive out of town. The sun is going down as I pull into a spot, making the sky above the tall pines orange.
Dad opens my door and leans his arm over the roof of the car. “Let me help you carry your stuff down and set up camp,” he says.
I shake my head. “It’s fine. I can manage. I might have to eat a few hundred sandwiches, but you know I’m good to set up the tent. You remember how many times you made me put ours up and fold it down again that year I tried to be a Pixie Scout?”
We share a laugh, and he reaches into the cabin to ruffle my hair. “OK, Honey Bee. You’re right. You can do this. Make sure you check in twice a day. I’m coming right back down here if I don’t hear from you.”
“I promise.” I climb out of the truck and give him a big hug.
Then I wave him off as he drives back into town, leaving me alone in the cooling evening air.
I pull my sweater tighter around me as I unpack the truck, making the climb down the gravel path to the campsite by the lake.
I hope Dad was right about Gryff making his way here.
My gut tells me if he wanted to disappear he would do it in wolf form.
He’d escape into the national park and live wild, not talking to anyone.
My heart has a sick, anxious moment worrying he had other plans, like running out onto the highway or just swimming out into the crater lake and never coming back, but I have a stern word with it and determine not to let myself think like that. At least not until I’ve exhausted all my other ideas.
By the time it’s fully dark, I have the tent set up, a fire burning, and I’m unwrapping the first of Mom’s ham-and-cheese sandwiches with a growling belly.
I wonder if Gryff is hungry yet. I wonder if he’s made it this far.
I don’t know how fast a wolf can run, but I imagine he could have made it all the way from Mosswood by now.
It’s quiet out here. Just like it was in the cabin growing up. The water laps against the shore of the lake with a quiet slicking sound, and somewhere in the trees an owl calls softly.
I figure if Gryff came out here to get away from everyone I’m not going to find him just hanging around in the tent.
To be honest, I probably won’t find him if he really doesn’t want to be found.
I think there’s a much better chance he’ll find me.
I just need to give him a reason. Part of why I came out here by myself is so it would be safe to do that.
If there’s one thing I know Gryff can scent a mile off, it’s my need. I haven’t cum all day. That’s a good start. I can go a few days without, though, if I have to.
To speed things along, I find a comfortable spot on the grass beside the tent and slip my hand into my tights.
I’ve spent the day worried and with my mind on anything but sex, so it’s not very surprising that I’m pretty dry when my fingers tease open my pussy lips.
Not completely, because I can always cum, but near enough that I know I’ve been worried.
I shut my eyes, lying back, listening to the peaceful sounds of nature around me and letting my mind wander for a moment, focused only on sensation. The smooth feel of my outer lips, the soft grass underneath me, the cool night air on my belly.
Then I let myself picture the tread of four paws on the lake shore. A low growl as he scents me. A pause.
In my fantasy, Gryff fights against his instincts to come to me because fantasy Gryff is still Gryff. But eventually his body shifts and he strides across the distance between us in human shape, naked and powerful, gaze locked on the place where my hand disappears into my leggings.
Fantasy Gryff lets out a low growl as he stalks between my legs and stands over me. “That’s mine.”
I shiver as I imagine him yanking the tights from my legs, kneeling there, and burying his face into my pussy, starved for my taste so that he groans as his tongue slicks across my clit.
My fingers slide easily through the new wetness gathered at my entrance, and I gasp as a swipe across my clit sends a bolt of pleasure to my core. Just the thought of him changes my body, plumping my pussy lips, drenching me with slick.
I spear two fingers deep inside, curling, reaching for the spot he strokes better than I can, wishing for his tongue, his fingers.
Where is he? Will he come for me?
My need feels urgent as I withdraw my fingers and swipe small circles around my aching clit.
I break off before I can cum, pulling my hand from my pussy and wiping my dripping fingers up my belly as I do.
I sit up, blinking around in the dim light, straining to see into the darkness between the trees, but as far as I can tell, I’m alone.
With a little sigh, I pick myself up and pack away the food, careful not to leave anything out to tempt the wildlife. There’s only one creature out there I plan on tempting, and so far I’ve had no luck.
I won’t give up, though. I’m not giving up on him. Not even if every other monster in this town has. I need to show him he’s worth fighting for even if he doesn’t believe that himself yet.