39. River
river
. . .
lose to win
“Are you sure it was a bear and not, like, a deer?”
Rue squeezes my thigh under the dining table before I can tell Matteo to go fuck himself. I throw her a disgruntled look before taking another bite of my sandwich.
After Kirk the Cockblocker showed up this morning with two armed park rangers in tow, we spent over an hour giving our statements before breaking camp and hiking back to PAC.
We only stopped at our cabins long enough to drop our packs before coming to the Lodge for a late lunch, and now, apparently, an inquisition from a pothead.
I’m exhausted, dirty, and cranky, and Rue is too. But she’s a better person than me, managing a polite smile for the asshat sitting across from us.
“We’re sure. The rangers who found us confirmed it was the same bear that attacked other campsites a few days ago.”
They also told us why it happened. Due to irresponsible assholes not using the provided lockers, the bear had become food conditioned and lost the desire to forage.
People now meant dinner. There’s no coming back from it, either, and relocation isn’t an option.
Bears have insane homing instincts and will always return to the source of their preferred food.
When the rangers find him, he’ll be euthanized.
Ghostwood Creek had been empty because the entire area was locked down while they tracked the animal.
Whether through bad luck or sheer coincidence, the trail Kirk led us on hadn’t been closed like it should have been.
When the rest of our group arrived at their much larger campsite, they found a ranger waiting and were escorted out of the park.
As everyone else at PAC panicked about Rue and me being lost and potentially mauled to death, Kirk snuck back into the park and searched for us all night.
The rangers found him snoozing in a tree at first light.
Rather than waste time escorting him out, they let him join them as they headed for Ghostwood Creek.
Matteo leans forward, shaking his head. “How did they know, though? You didn’t see it.”
Jae throws a commiserating glance our way. He and Elio, the only bystanders to this bullshit, are making drinks at the nearby espresso station.
Rue’s smile tightens. “In addition to matching tracks in the dirt, there were markings on nearby trees, tufts of fur, and piles of shit.”
“But, like, the bear could have been there days ago. Not saying you didn’t hear something weird, but it could’ve been anything. I just think it’s lame that we missed out on the annual camping trip for nothing.”
I toss the uneaten half of my sandwich back to my plate. Rue doesn’t bother squeezing my leg this time.
“For fuck’s sake, Matteo. You need to lay off Kirk’s weed before it kills any more brain cells.”
He blinks at me. “Huh?”
His obvious confusion and bloodshot eyes are so pathetic the anger trickles out of me. Last week, Dan told me Matteo hasn’t finished a single piece of art in the four weeks we’ve been here. He cracked under the stress, and now he’s staying high to cope.
Well aware of how crippling the pressure to produce can be, I’m not unsympathetic to his situation. But he’s still a dick.
I wave a hand. “Forget it. Sorry you missed out on camping because of an extreme threat that closed seven campsites for no reason.”
He bobs his head. “Thanks, bro. You get it.”
Jae coughs over a dry laugh.
Rue drops her head on my shoulder. “Are you done?”
I nod, and we push back our chairs.
Matteo perks up. “Where are you guys headed? Wanna sauna?”
Jae steps toward the table. “I think they’d like to shower and rest, but I could use some help in my studio.”
“Sweet. I’ll grab snacks.”
He lurches to his feet, almost knocking his chair over, and makes his way toward the on-site pantry. At a pointed look from Jae, Elio hurries after him.
I give Jae a tired smile. “Thanks for the assist.”
He nods, serene as always. “I’m glad you’re both okay. I do have a question, though, if you don’t mind.”
Rue smiles. “Of course we don’t.”
“Forgive my bluntness, but why did the bear stop harassing you? The rangers gave us the impression that even spray wouldn’t deter him.”
A pained expression crosses Rue’s face, an echo of the distress she felt when they told us the bear would have to be put down. I reach for her hand and thread our fingers together, then tell Jae the same thing we told the rangers.
“There were some coyotes in the area who were pretty vocal. We think they spooked him.”
His dark eyes move between us, lingering on Rue. “I suspect you’re right.”
Rue’s fingers tighten around mine, telling me she heard the same undercurrent in his words I did. The rangers disregarded our explanation, insisting coyotes would neither intimidate nor antagonize an adult bear, but Jae sounded like I didn’t answer a question so much as confirm his conclusion.
Given that he’s a savant who solves impossible math equations in his spare time, I probably did.
The pantry door slams open on the other side of the Lodge, belching Matteo with an armful of snacks. For the first and likely last time, I’m glad to see him. Elio follows, carrying a bottle of wine and wearing an insulted expression.
Jae offers me a nod and Rue a slight smile.
“You’re blessed to have the friends you do. Enjoy your rest.” He turns smoothly and strides toward the men.
Keeping hold of Rue’s hand, I lead her outside and across the patio.
“That was weird. Do you think Jae has seen me with Lenny?”
“It’s possible. But he also notices shit no one else does. There’s no telling what he’s picked up on.”
She nods thoughtfully, then grins and smacks my arm. “Did you notice the energy between him and Elio?”
“Old news. Jae’s had Elio whipped since week two.”
She stops with a gasp. “How did I miss that?”
“Pretty sure you were hiding in the dome and avoiding me at all costs when it first went down. Meanwhile, I was socializing and making friends after someone told me to stop being a dick.”
“Whoever told you that must be really smart.”
“Yep. She’s a genius.”
She grins. “Do you think there’s actual whipping happening? I can totally see it. Jae has major Daddy Dom vibes.”
I start to laugh, then realize she’s serious. “Hold up. How do you know what a Daddy Dom is? From personal experience?”
“Sadly, no. Although one time—”
“Nope. I take it back. Don’t care.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
The cover of Kirk’s book violates my brain. My mouth curls in distaste.
“Hard no.”
Her eyes sparkle with laughter. “Just messing with you. If I call you anything, it’ll be…” She trails off with a giant yawn that makes her sway.
Crouching in front of her, I tug her hand over my shoulder. “Climb on.”
“Aren’t you tired?”
I glance back with a grin. “Does it matter? You know you want to ride me.”
To my surprise, she smirks and hops onto my back. I wince as I straighten, my quads sore as hell, but I bury the discomfort as I resume walking. A little extra pain is worth having her wrapped around me.
“I’m still waiting to hear what you’d call me.”
She pats my head.
“Brat Boy.”
I almost drop her. “Are you joking?”
“If you’re lucky, you’ll find out.”
The following giggle fades into another yawn, and I pick up the pace.
“We’re bookmarking this conversation for later.”
“Mmkay.”
Rue yawns consistently for the next few minutes, but by the time we reach the clearing, she’s a silent, dead weight on my back. I stop at the bottom of the stairs. As much as I’d love to carry her up, I know my limits. My thighs are torched.
I stroke her lax legs, giving her calves a gentle squeeze.
“Wake up, Princess.”
She shoves something wet in my ear and wiggles it around. I yelp, jerking my head to the side.
“A wet willy? Really?”
With a cackle worthy of Kirk, she drops off my back.
“Last one in the shower has to do whatever the other person says for a day!”
She runs up the steps, pulling her key from her pocket as she darts across the porch. If she looked back even once, she’d realize there’s no need to rush. I have zero interest in running or winning.
By the time I walk barefoot into her bedroom, she’s already in the shower. I follow the breadcrumbs of her discarded clothing and stop in the bathroom doorway. She left the curtain open, giving me an unobstructed view of another fantasy come to life.
Rue’s head is tipped back, her spine bowed and breasts thrust forward as she rinses her hair. I soak in every detail, envious of the water’s ability to be everywhere at once—teasing her hard nipples, streaming down the gentle slope of her stomach, sliding over her ass and between her legs.
My exhaustion burns away as heat spreads through the base of my spine and spills into my cock.
Opening her eyes, Rue grins smugly.
“I won.”
I rip off my shirt and unbutton my jeans. “You sure about that?”
Her breasts jerk with a sharp inhale. I step out of my pants, smirking when she frowns.
I hook my thumbs into the waist of my boxer briefs. “Jeans are the exception.”
My smile widens at her distracted nod. I tug the elastic down slowly, intoxicated by the way she looks at me—like I’m an unexpected, surprising gift she can’t wait to tear open and consume. When my cock finally springs free, we’re both breathing heavily.
Rue makes grabby hands, and I’ve never seen anything cuter or sexier in my life.
“Gimme.”
Arching a brow, I fist myself. “This?”
Those beautiful eyes roll. “I guess you can bring the rest.”
Chuckling, I kick off the briefs and yank the tie from my hair. Rue moves back to make space for me under the water.
The second I step into the tub and pull the curtain, she wraps soapy hands around my cock.
I hiss and rock into her grip. Her eyes flash to my face, absorbing my reaction as she rolls her thumb over my piercings.
Emboldened by what she sees, her hands tighten, twisting as she moves them up and down my length.
“Fuck.”
I slap a palm to the tile and widen my stance. My head falls back into the water, my eyes staying open just enough to see her.
She licks her lips. “This feels okay?”
“It feels amazing. I love the way you touch me. Do you love how I feel in your hands?”
“Duh. You have the prettiest penis in existence. I’d probably pet it all day if you let me.”
My shocked laughter compresses to a strangled moan when she cups my balls and two of her fingers slip up to massage my perineum. The sensation of her other hand moving up and down my cock becomes five times more intense.
Rue’s eyes sparkle. “I’ve read about this and always wanted to try it. Does it feel good? I can do it harder if you want.”
I grab the back of her neck, guiding her face up to mine. My teeth sink into her lower lip, then I soothe the sting with my tongue.
“You like being in charge of my body, don’t you? Making me come for you?”
“Yes. I feel powerful.”
“Mmm, thought so. And you don’t want me to touch you back until you say I can, right?”
Surprise flickers in her eyes.
“That’s right, Princess. I see you. All of you, all the time. Use conditioner, not soap. Drench us.”
She grabs the bottle, almost dropping it in her haste, and squeezes the thick white contents all over my cock. When her hand wraps around me, I cover it with mine and increase the pressure and speed of her strokes. Those wicked fingers curl and start massaging.
“As hard and rough as you want. Take it from me like you own me.”
She does.
Within seconds, I have to release her hand and brace both of mine on the wall above her.
Lashes fluttering, her heated stare roams my face before lowering.
She lingers on my abs, watching them contract and release with undisguised fascination.
I groan as she increases the speed of her strokes, her palm twisting over my piercings on each pass.
“Feels so good. So good. Don’t stop… oh fuck.”
Prickling heat races inward and explodes at the base of my cock. My hips buck wildly, my cock jerking and painting her stomach with cum. A fragmented sound surrounds us—me, whimpering. It’s a miracle my knees don’t give out.
Rue languidly milks the last of my release, her smile the epitome of self-satisfaction. As my head slowly returns from its detour to outer space, I drag tingling fingertips across her stomach.
“Best art I’ll ever make.”
“Best sounds you’ll ever make.”
I smile softly. “Congratulations. You’re the first person to make me sound like a wounded animal.”
She laughs.
Resisting the urge to gather my cum and put it inside her, I sweep my fingers across her stomach one more time before shifting so the water can wash it away.
Rue’s hands cup my face, and I lift my head in anticipation of a kiss. When she grins and smooshes my cheeks instead, all I can do is blink at her.
“Perfect timing.”
She boops my nose and steps out of the shower. It takes my sluggish brain a few more seconds to understand what she meant by timing.
The water on my back goes cold.