Part 16 (2/2)

Bro's hand stilled, and his wary eyes glanced at the gla.s.s, then her, then back at the gla.s.s again. Lacey could tell he was wondering if she would really carry out her threat. Then, with a total s.h.i.+t-eating grin, he said smugly, ”Nah, you wouldn't.” And his palm rubbed over Lacey's c.o.c.k once more, insistently this time.

Then he let out a shrill yelp when Lacey spilled a gla.s.sful of cold water on his head.

Giggling, Lacey jumped up from her seat and ran around the table with a growling, water-spewing Bro on her heels and a tableful of men guffawing after them.

ON M MONDAY morning, Bro and Lacey sat in Jordan's SUV on their way to Shenandoah. They had left early, around 5:00 a.m., both of them too excited to sleep. They still had about twenty minutes to go as the car climbed up along Skyline Drive as it wound its way up to the rocky, woodsy ridge. There was so much green around Lacey felt like she was swimming in it. morning, Bro and Lacey sat in Jordan's SUV on their way to Shenandoah. They had left early, around 5:00 a.m., both of them too excited to sleep. They still had about twenty minutes to go as the car climbed up along Skyline Drive as it wound its way up to the rocky, woodsy ridge. There was so much green around Lacey felt like she was swimming in it.

”You okay to drive the rest of the way?” she asked. They had changed seats midway.

Bro nodded with a grin. ”Well, I might get a boost if you-”

”Don't even think about it.” Lacey knew exactly what dirty things her boyfriend had in mind, and no way were they going to do that in the car while driving on a steep mountain road.

”Spoilsport,” Bro countered, huffing in mock anger and pouting. Lacey was sure he would have been more surprised had she said yes and actually blown him right there.

Lacey laughed, shrugged, and turned her attention to the wilderness spreading outside the vehicle. She wanted to roll down the windows for lungfuls of crisp mountain air, but since they would already be sleeping outside in a tent for a couple of nights, they would be getting enough fresh air soon enough. So she snuggled into the soft, cus.h.i.+oned seat and enjoyed the warmth inside the car.

The Blue Ridge Mountains surrounded them, a lush jungle of vegetation with emerald-green gra.s.s and deep-green pine trees, sloping valleys and rising hills, and clouds of mist rising from the few waterfalls in these woodlands. Lacey had grown accustomed to high mountains and gushes of rain when she had lived in Seattle, in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains, and though this range had gentler inclines, it felt homey.

Although, DC was her home these days. She felt little to no longing to return to her old stomping grounds in Seattle. Her aunt, Valerie, lived there with her family, and during the summer Lacey had gotten the chance to visit her. Bro had tagged along, unsurprisingly. It had been a great sojourn, but it had gone a long way to prove to Lacey it was no longer her home.

Bro was, and she hoped he would continue to be for eons to come.

They arrived at the Loft Mountain campsite, asked the ranger what the availability was, and learned the cold morning and misty moisture had kept people away. They had gotten there at 8:30 a.m. Lacey knew Sebastian would have had a fit had he known his little brother had driven there this fast, cutting their traveling time by half an hour. Jordan would call Bro the A-word and then strangle him for speeding.

On account of their early arrival, they did, however, get a great spot on the A line, a relatively secluded section with a few concealing shrubberies around. They were able to park the car close by, forty feet away from their campsite. The ground was flat, well trod, brown and green, but that was good because they were able to pitch the tent with ease and speed, and it didn't list to any side.

In fifteen minutes, they were done and got the chance to take a leisurely look around.

They sat on the blanket in front of their tent, Bro holding Lacey in his arms, and just stared at the view. Rugged woodsy hills spread all around, with several peaks showcasing their magnificence in the distance, and deep ravines fell down toward the river, which was too far down to see. The scenery featured specks of yellow and red amid the green, too, and a light fog veiled parts of it.

”According to the map, that's the Doyle's River Trail,” Bro explained, pointing down to the gully. ”We're gonna take that trip tomorrow, yeah?”

Lacey leaned her head against her boyfriend's shoulder and sighed happily. ”Sounds wonderful.” His strong, muscular arms tightened around her as he nuzzled her neck, and she giggled at the feel of him. Her back was against his chest, which was good since the wind up on top of the mountain was harsher and colder than she had expected. It was late August, so autumn was on its way. She wondered if there was going to be snow on the trail. ”What are we going to do today?”

Bro kissed her temple gently. ”Relax and enjoy ourselves. Nothing complicated.”

”Can we snuggle in the tent?” she asked in a whisper, though no one was around.

Bro chuckled, hot puffs of breath wafting over her ear. ”Abso-f.u.c.king-lutely.”

Yet neither of them made a move toward the tent.

They watched in silence as the winds swept away the gossamer fog and revealed the beauty of the midmorning wilderness landscape. The sun came out, but it looked like the day was going to remain slightly chilly.

They both lost their sense of time. Once it got a bit cold, they went into the tent and took a nap after the long drive. Lacey laid her head on Bro's chest, hearing his heartbeats in her ear, and slept like a baby. When they woke up, rested but groggy, they ate lunch-turkey on rye and apple slices-and drank hot chocolate. Dressed in their best boots, they walked about, checking out their surroundings. The sun was up but partly covered by thin clouds, and the wind had picked up. Very few people were about, and most of the tent sites were empty. It was quiet and peaceful.

Lacey held Bro's hand as they walked around the campsite, keeping on the traveled paths and not venturing into the wilderness without proper gear. The high elevation afforded them some unforgettable vistas, but they knew they would descend into deeper forests tomorrow. Most flowers from spring and summer were gone now, but the oaks, hickory, and maples provided a lush, rich feel that wasn't hampered by the inevitability of winter. There was moisture in the air, though it wasn't quite raining.

They returned to their tent slowly, in no rush, after hours of aimless wandering. Bro went to pick up dead branches and twigs for their campfire while Lacey prepared a cast iron frying pan for their evening meal, which was macaroni and cheese, premade at home and easy to reheat, plus made tastier with a few dried herbs. Bro got the fire going quickly, beaming and blus.h.i.+ng in the light of Lacey's admiring gaze, and in less than ten minutes they were able to sit down and dine.

”Mmm, this is delicious, babe,” Bro complimented Lacey, and she felt the same warm tightening in her chest she always got with him.

”I wish I could take credit for it, but I'm pretty sure Sebastian made it,” Lacey replied humbly.

Bro shrugged. ”Maybe. But Bas doesn't do the seasoning as well as you. And Jordan would have burnt this whole thing into a crispy, black mess by now.”

Lacey laughed. ”You're cruel.”

Bro grinned wickedly. ”Nuh-uh. I've lived through Jordan's cooking, and I can proudly state I'm a survivor.”

Giggling some more, Lacey nearly choked on her meal.

Chapter 14.

ONCE they were finished, they cleaned up after themselves, locking the remains of the food into a plastic container and hauling it back to the car. It seemed easier than burying it or placing it far away from the tent, as advised. Whatever midnight snacks they felt they might need if peckish-candy bars, crackers, water bottles, marshmallows, peanut b.u.t.ter, and dried vegetables and fruits-Bro stored in a tight plastic box and buried it under his smelly, sweaty clothing while Lacey snickered at his inventive streak. No bear would think to try and find food under that pile of odors! they were finished, they cleaned up after themselves, locking the remains of the food into a plastic container and hauling it back to the car. It seemed easier than burying it or placing it far away from the tent, as advised. Whatever midnight snacks they felt they might need if peckish-candy bars, crackers, water bottles, marshmallows, peanut b.u.t.ter, and dried vegetables and fruits-Bro stored in a tight plastic box and buried it under his smelly, sweaty clothing while Lacey snickered at his inventive streak. No bear would think to try and find food under that pile of odors!

Afterward, they decided to take turns in the showers located at the entrance to the campgrounds, by the store. Bro was ever the gentleman, and offered to go second, so Lacey went off on her own, taking their trash with her to dispose of in the designated dumpsters. She took the car, because she didn't want to traipse back wet, as the place was a ways off from their tent.

It was barely six p.m. once she got to the group of buildings, and still no one was around. Because of the sense of privacy she got, she looked at the women's side of the showers.

Only when she took a step toward the door, she heard a man's whistle. He wasn't a park ranger, but looked like a regular camper, an average height middle-aged man with thick hair and a scruffy beard, with an equally scruffy dog at his side.

”That side's for women. Can't you read?” he commented, snorting.

Lacey's cheeks flamed, and she couldn't find her voice.

The man laughed fully now, checking her out head to toes. ”Maybe you're one of them she-boys. What you got under that dress?”

She looked down at her clothes. Lacey wore simple, tight but comfortable dark-gray sweats, a long-sleeved s.h.i.+rt with a slightly longer than normal hemline, and a jacket over it. There was nothing that screamed girl about her. For the purposes of this trip, she had even dispensed with her typical eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss.

She didn't dignify him with an answer, and headed for the men's showers. Just as she was about to enter, he called after her, ”Need a real man to wash your back, pretty boy?”

While not above playful teasing, Lacey did not appreciate mean taunting, especially not in a situation where a guy like that could do anything to her. So she chose to remain silent as she ducked into the dressing rooms. Her heart beat frantically as she made her way to a tiny bench, sat down, and willed herself to calm down.

There was someone in the showers, as she could hear the water running. She decided to be quick about it. Choosing a locker, Lacey undressed in a hurry, grabbed her was.h.i.+ng kit, and made a beeline to the closest shower.

On the way there, she saw her own reflection in a mirror. Lacey was indeed a boy, no matter how much she liked girl's dresses and makeup. Blond hair, cut short in a feminine style, was ruffled by the winds, and her sun-kissed caramel-hued skin p.r.i.c.kled in the heat of the shower room, the steam giving her goose b.u.mps. Her slim figure had barely an ounce of fat, giving her form a pet.i.te quality instead of whip-thin or bony. Her c.o.c.k wasn't as thick as she might have liked, not like Bro's, but it was of decent size, straight, and pink, and aroused it sported a very enviable length indeed. Yet hazel eyes stared back at her, huge and fearful, like a deer caught in headlights. She hated that a stranger had the ability to rattle her so.

She entered the shower s.p.a.ce, picked an empty one, and turned on the water, placing her was.h.i.+ng supplies on the empty metal rack. She wet herself down, washed up, and rinsed, all in haste and in fear of some violent bigot's or closet rapist's imminent arrival.

”Soap?” a man's low, husky voice asked, and Lacey's spine went ramrod straight and cold with chills. Images of prison movie shower scenes flashed before her mind's eye. Swallowing hard, she turned, practically hearing the creak of her joints. There was an older man in one of the showers across from her, and he was offering a bar of soap, an una.s.suming question in his eyes. ”Need to borrow?” he asked, simple kindness in his voice.

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