Chapter 8 #2
The sudden shout cut through the charged silence. “Let’s go, people! Saddle up!” Cole’s voice boomed from the hollow’s far rim.
Jack jerked upright, heart still racing. Riley’s grin was easy, one eyebrow quirked in silent encouragement. “You wanna go first or me?” he asked.Jack almost laughed at how normal it sounded. “You,” he said, barely steady.
Riley nodded and started back down the path. Jack sat a few moment longer, the pine-scented air filling his lungs. He felt unsteady and alive all at once, every nerve ending buzzing with what might come next. He knew guilt would creep in later, but for now it felt like something worth holding onto.
He stood, brushed off his jeans, and made his way back down the path.
The wind in the hollow covered his footfalls; by the time he stepped into the open, Riley was already mounted and drinking from a canteen, face an unreadable blank.
Jack grabbed his own reins, palmed his horse’s neck to keep his hands from shaking, and hauled himself up, careful not to meet anyone’s eye.
Harper was nearest, fussing with her saddlebag. Cole surveyed the perimeter, gaze sharp and restless, making sure everyone was accounted for. Ethan lingered by the treeline, lost in his own thoughts.
The break was barely over before Cole signaled the group to move. Jack fell to the rear without a word. He’d always liked the view from the back anyway—nobody staring, nobody asking questions. Plus, it gave him time to think.
Jack’s thoughts whirled, the exhilarating rush of possibility fading like smoke in the wind, replaced by a creeping paranoia that coiled tightly in his chest. He shouldn’t have even let the idea take root; he had sworn to himself that the days of experimentation were behind him.
The thrill of Riley’s proposition lingered, tantalizing and forbidden, but now it felt like a dangerous game he had no business playing.
Jack had dabbled in experimentation during his college days—occasional circle jerks, handjobs in the locker room, quick blowjobs from the closeted gay guy on the team or from a gay roommate, a late-night drunken blowjob from a guy at a party after striking out with the women all night.
But Jack had never reciprocated, never returned the favor, and never gazed at a man the way he looked at a woman.
He’d never let himself even imagine touching another man; Jack just wanted quick and easy relief that was infinitely better than the familiar grip of his own hand.
After college, he had embraced a straight, corporate life, buttoned up and polished.
That experimental nonsense was firmly behind him.
It had always been about relief, like the sweet release of pissing after a long flight.
But Riley’s offer had torn open something within him—a raw, selfish hunger that Jack felt ashamed to admit he found exhilarating.
His first fear was that Riley would weaponize this secret against him.
Riley was dangerous territory—a man he barely knew, someone who could, at any moment, tell the whole world everything — shattering Jack’s carefully constructed life and image.
Cole led the way, with Harper riding next to Ethan, their voices mingling with the rustling leaves.
The forest air cooled as the path leveled out, and Jack fell into a rhythm, though the sound of his horse’s hooves seemed to echo louder than everyone else's.
Every so often, Riley glanced back, catching Jack's eye, and flashed a half-smile—an unspoken dare that sent Jack’s pulse racing.
He wanted to refuse. He wanted to punch Riley for making him feel so exposed. Yet, he tried to tamp down the fear. It was no big deal, he told himself. Just a casual offer. The mere thought of others discovering his curiosity—no, his need—set his teeth on edge.
The group paused at a stream for a water break. Jack lingered by the horses, feeling the weight of Riley’s presence beside him as Riley knelt, fiddling with the straps of his pack. “You good?” Riley asked, still focused on his task.
Jack swallowed hard. “You’re not going to tell anyone, right?”
Riley shook his head, a lock of hair brushing against his cheek. “Why would I? It was just a question. No big deal.”
Jack didn’t trust him, but he exhaled anyway, clenching his jaw. “I haven’t decided.”
Riley smiled, gentle yet knowing. “Then don’t decide now. Nobody’s rushing you. We’ve got all the time in the world.”
Jack grunted, wanting to believe him but unable to shake the doubt. “You know I’m straight.”
“Straight guys get curious,” Riley said softly.
“You wouldn’t believe how many straight men I’ve blown over the years, just needing a little relief and tired of using their hands.
” His tone was casual, but the implication hung heavy in the air.
“Doesn’t mean anything deep. You just… want to feel good…
to be worshiped… to be pleasured without any expectations of reciprocation. ”
Jack turned his gaze away, unwilling to engage. Riley shrugged, untying a strap on his pack. “Your call.” He glanced back at Jack, a silent acknowledgment that the offer still lingered in the hush of the forest.
The break ended with Cole’s bark, and the riders fell back into formation. Jack dropped to the last position, struggling to ignore the tantalizing offer lingering in his mind. He told himself he would refuse. He’d bury the thought, jerk off in his tent if necessary.
Just before nightfall, they reached the base of the mountain.
Cottonwoods framed the camp clearing, and the scent of wild sage filled the air.
Cole selected a spot above the river’s floodplain, and they dismounted to unload.
Jack’s hands moved with an almost mechanical precision, setting up the small cooking stove and pitching his tent, all while feeling Riley’s furtive glances—small, quick looks that made Jack wonder if Riley was imagining the same things he was.
They cooked jerky, beans, and rice, washed down with whiskey from a communal flask.
Firelight flickered on their faces as stories and half-truths floated around the circle.
Eventually, the conversation turned to the tense day ahead.
Cole warned them that tomorrow would pose one of their biggest challenges yet—the thunder rapids crossing, a raging river they would have to navigate on horseback.
It would be dangerous, challenging, and filled with tension, but nothing they couldn’t handle.
Jack kept his gaze fixed on the flames, though his thoughts strayed elsewhere: imagining Riley kneeling before him, unzipping his pants to reveal his thick, throbbing cock, which would make Riley gasp in delight before he began to worship every inch, begging for a big, tasty load. Just the thought made Jack hard.
When the others drifted off to their tents, Jack lingered by the fire, staring into the embers, weighing every possible yes and no.
Silence enveloped the camp. He stood, checking on the horses, hoping Riley would follow for one more offer.
No one stirred. Leaning against a tree, his body thrummed with need and fear, wondering if he could muster the strength to resist.
Inside his tent, he lay on his back, eyes fixed on the moonlit canvas, hand resting on his hard cock inside his jeans. He replayed Riley’s voice—soft, insistent—and felt the familiar hunger rise. A part of him trembled with guilt; another part craved the rush of power and pleasure.
Jack was already planning his reply—a gentle but firm no. Somehow, he managed to resist the urge and eventually fell asleep.
As dawn broke over the horizon, a pale light filtered through the towering pines, casting elongated shadows across the campsite.
The air was thick with anticipation, a palpable tension that wrapped around the group like a heavy fog.
Jack awoke to the sound of rustling fabric and muffled voices, the camp stirring to life as the reality of the day ahead settled in.
The river crossing loomed ominously in their minds — a promise of challenge and danger.
He emerged from his tent, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and took in the scene.
Cole stood at the edge of the clearing, his broad shoulders squared, surveying the rushing water below.
The river roared with a wild intensity, its surface churning with frothy whitecaps that danced in the morning light.
Jack’s stomach tightened at the sight; he could almost feel the cold bite of the current against his skin.
Around him, the others moved with a sense of urgency, their expressions a mix of determination and anxiety. Riley, ever the charmer, cracked jokes to lighten the mood, but even he couldn't mask the undercurrent of fear that rippled through the group.
They began gathering their gear—packs filled with essentials, ropes coiled neatly, and provisions for the journey ahead.
Jack’s hands felt clumsy as he fumbled with his gear, each movement heavy with the weight of his thoughts.
He couldn’t shake the memory of Riley’s offer from the night before, the tantalizing temptation still lingering in his mind like a forbidden fruit.
“Let’s make sure we’re all ready,” Cole’s voice cut through the morning haze, firm and steady.
His gaze swept over the group, instilling a sense of purpose that Jack desperately clung to.
They had trained for this, prepared for the challenges of the trail, but the river was different — untamed and unpredictable.
As they finished packing, Jack’s heart raced, not just from the looming crossing but also from the electric tension that hung between him and Riley. The way Riley had looked at him, the unspoken invitation still echoed in his mind, mingling with the fear of what lay ahead.
With one last check of their supplies, they formed a tight circle, each member exchanging glances that conveyed silent encouragement. Cole stepped forward, his presence commanding as he laid out the plan. “We’ll move in pairs, keeping a tight grip on the ropes. Trust your instincts and stay calm.”
Jack nodded, swallowing hard, the knot in his stomach tightening further.
As they set off toward the river, the sound of rushing water grew louder, a constant reminder of the challenge awaiting them.
Each step felt heavier than the last, anticipation coursing through him like electricity, mingling with the fear of what might happen when they reached the water’s edge.