Chapter 1 #2
I keep moving down the path, looking for somewhere, anywhere, to take shelter.
I see a dense thicket of trees off the main path up ahead, and I make a beeline for it as fast as I can with my throbbing ankle.
As I walk, I pull the InReach out of my pocket.
Now isn’t the time for pride. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to feel humiliated after Beau’s team hauls my stupid non-weather-checking ass back to safety.
Way to prove to him that you’re not an incompetent little girl, Hailey. Great job.
I make it to the trees, and despite my hiking gear, I’m just about soaked through. I’m still getting rained on in here because of the wind, but the trees do provide some shelter. Leaning back against the rough trunk of a pine, I turn the radio on.
“Hello, is anyone there? Over.”
The radio connects to one at the Mountain Rescue station, where Beau is the head ranger.
“Hailey? What’s wrong? Over.” Beau’s voice comes through the radio, and just the sound of it sends fresh tears not just pricking at my eyes, but streaming down my face, losing themselves in the raindrops.
“I’m stranded in the forest. I set out to hike the Honey Ridge trail, and this storm came in. I’ve taken shelter in a thicket of trees, but the conditions are deteriorating quickly and I don’t know what to do and I—” I suck in a sharp breath. I don’t want Beau to hear me crying. “Over.”
“You found shelter. Good girl.” His praise washes over me like warm sunshine on a spring day, and while it feels good, it also makes me cry harder because he’s never going to say those words to me the way I want him to.
I can picture it—Beau telling me I’m his good girl as I suck his cock, as I swallow his cum.
Telling me I’m a good girl for taking his cock whenever he wants.
“I can get a read on your coordinates through the InReach. Stay there, try to keep warm, and I’m on my way. Keep the radio on. Over.”
“Okay,” I say weakly, flinching as more thunder cracks right above me. “Beau, I—“ I swallow thickly, my throat feeling tight and achy as I fight back tears.
“Stay with me, Hails,” he says, his deep voice anchoring me. He’s my literal rock in the storm. “You’re okay. You’re going to be okay. I know it’s scary. I need you to breathe for me and stay calm. Can you do that for me? Over.”
I suck in a breath, trying to block out the sound of the storm around me, trying to ignore just how freaking cold I am and focus on the sound of Beau’s voice.
I hate how my body instantly responds to it.
I hate the way warmth blooms across my chest. I hate the way just knowing he’s on the other end of the radio makes me feel safer, even if I’m trying to avoid him right now.
I hate that not only do I need his help, but I want it.
I hate how much I want him. How much I need him. And I hate that he’ll never feel the same way about me.
“I’m scared, Beau,” I say quietly into the radio, treating this faceless connection like my own personal confessional. “I need you.” Thunder cracks overhead, so loud and close that I let out a little shriek. My hands are shaking. My heart is a wild, erratic thump in my chest.
“I know you are. But you can get through this. You’re not a novice hiker. You’re going to be okay.” His deep voice is firm, unyielding, but gentle. I cling to the sound of it, trying to breathe through my fear and panic. “Are you staying warm? Do you have dry clothes in your pack? Over.”
I shake my head before I remember that he can’t see me. “No. I packed light. I wasn’t planning to be out here for long. O-over,” I say through my chattering teeth. The cold feels like it’s seeping into my bones. My head feels a little fuzzy.
“Okay, no problem. We’ll work with what we have. Can you find some dry leaves or pine needles? Anything to insulate yourself as a measure against the cold? Over.”
I look around. I’m nestled in a dense copse of pines, and I’m able to scrounge up enough dry ones to make myself a little nest. I grab up additional handfuls, my clumsy, frozen fingers aching as I shove the pine needles into my coat, against my chest and back with the goal of keeping the wet fabric away from my skin. It helps, but only a little.
“Got some pine needles,” I say into the radio, my voice shaking. Another rumble of thunder booms through the forest, echoing against the mountains. “Over,” I remember to say. I’m so cold that I just want to close my eyes.
“Good girl,” he praises, and that perks me up a little. My heart flutters, and even in my current state, I can’t stop myself from wondering what it would feel like to hear Beau say those words as he fucks me hard and deep, claiming me, breeding me.
God, I’m so fucked up over him it’s not even funny.
“Keep breathing, stay calm, and I’ll be there soon. I’m on my way to you right now. I’ve got your coordinates, and I’m coming as fast as I can. Over.”
“H-how l-long?” I ask, my voice trembling.
I feel like a human icicle. Everything’s numb, except for my ankle, which I can feel swelling against the confines of my hiking boot.
I try to press the button to say something else, but my fingers aren’t cooperating anymore. I want to tell him that I need him.
“Not long, sweet girl. I’m in my Jeep right now headed for the trailhead entrance closest to you. Just hold on. Keep talking to me. Over.”
Did he call me sweet girl? No. That can’t be what he said. Beau wouldn’t call me that. Beau was on a date with another woman. I’m not okay. I’m hearing things that aren’t there. It’s the only logical explanation.
I lean back against the trunk of the pine, the bark rough against my back even through my jacket. There isn’t an ounce of comfort to be found and I’m so tired. My ankle hurts and my eyelids are heavy and my fingers and toes are painfully numb.
“I’m here,” I say into the radio once I’m able to get the button to work. “I’m…I’m here.” I let my eyes fall closed, just for a moment, and it feels so good that I don’t fight to keep them open.
Thunder booms again, and my eyes fly open.
I don’t know how long they were closed. Long enough that the wind has shifted and rain is now pelting me in the face.
I realize the radio isn’t in my hand any longer, and I look around for it, finding it a couple of feet away.
I must’ve dropped it when I passed out for a minute.
I reach for it, struggling to press the button with my frozen fingers.
After a moment, I give up. I’m too cold. Too tired. I can’t.
More lightning streaks across the sky and it starts to rain even harder. It’s so windy that my trees aren’t providing any shelter at all, so I do my best to tuck my face into my jacket and curl up into a little ball against the trees.
My breathing slows and soon, my eyes fall closed again.