Sensual Scenery

The mild heat caused droplets of sweat to trail down my spine as I traversed the steep ascent. The gravel and dust stirred behind my determined footsteps. It seemed my heart wore heavy on this journey, making my climb all the more difficult. I tried to block my thoughts of past pain by scouting the mountainside for the place I searched. The beauty I sought to bring solace was nearby.

The grayness of the surrounding land easily hid the beauty. The desert terrain grew stunted trees that held brown-gray leaves, tan rock, and gray slate that discouraged newcomers from wishing to explore. The air was so dry it left a dusty taste in my mouth, and I paused to drink the icy water from my jug before trudging forward.

This place was far removed from the lush green hills of home. The south seemed to burst forth with moist green mystery from most corners. The trees grew tall and regal among clouds of honeysuckle and fragrant fields of daffodils run mad. The air there fairly dripped with humidity.

But I was over a thousand miles from the blackberry and ivy of home. I was here to say good-bye to part of my life.

Three years I'd spent running away from memories and desires, only to find them dogging my heels. My past had turned out to be a sanctuary when my present fell apart. Now, the house was sold, my belongings on a truck headed southeast, and I came to the only place I had ever felt comfort in this desolate land.

I could hear it long before I reached it. The thundering sound never failed to make my heart beat faster in anticipation of the view to come. I almost slid down the path in my haste to reach it. Nestled between the cliffs, it gleamed in the sunlight, and reflected coolly in the shadows.

The waterfall was probably only thirty feet at the most, but it fell with graceful beauty between two sheer rock walls, it's front facing outward to the vast valley below. I smiled as the wind blew my hair back and the mist soothed across my skin from the turbulent waters. I stripped off my thick sandals in haste to reach, that which came only from mountain snowmelt.

I stepped into the gentlest part of the tumbling foray and shivered with the chill contrast to my overheated skin. It had taken two and a half hours of roasted climbing to reach this place of dreams. It wasn't really that hot, but I was.

The gleaming rock walls and few green trees created a place that made me dream of fairies and wishes granted. I laughed out loud with joy of one freed from their shackles. Oh, I would miss this place! The only place I had found solitude and comfort in the last three years. I fell breathlessly on a great, sun warmed rock, and let my thoughts wander as I basked in the, now cool, sunlight.

The person I had most trusted in the world had betrayed me. I had been broken so thoroughly that it had taken me tow years to find the strength to begin again on my own.

My clothes clung wetly to my skin as I closed my eyes against the sun's bright glare. I sighed with comfort and smiled. I had found my strength again. I had found myself anew in writing. I hadn't realized how much of me dwelt there. I 'd sold my first book and was starting a new life. My chest swelled with hope. I had given him over ten years of my life. Now, it was my turn. The divorce was final two years ago, and I was free.

I went back to my gear and strung up a line. I stepped back into the falls for one more drenching. As I exited, I stripped to my sports bra and matching panties. I hung the wet clothes to dry and returned to my spot in the sun for a pleasant nap.

I awoke with a shiver. I laughed at myself. The sun was far on the horizon and desert nights are not known for their warmth. I hurriedly threw on an oversized sweatshirt and erected my tent just far enough away from the falls to avoid the spray. I built a quick campfire and sighed when the warmth reached me. I'd missed this.

I pulled on my sweatpants and settled in front of the fire with a sandwich and notebook. I began to write by the firelight. I let my thoughts flow where they may. Hither, skitter, flying from one thought to the next. Writing anything that came to mind until one name stopped me fast. Mathieu.

What had made me think of that long lost name? My breath felt tight and my heart beat just a little faster at the vivid memories that name aroused. The comfort of his presence, the warmth of his strong arms around me, the brilliance of his smile as his deep green eyes twinkled with laughter.

We had met at the young age of twelve. His sister had been a close friend of mine for years. He became the same, if not more. He never judged me for the poor choices I had made in my life. He was always the epitome of comfort for me. Until I'd given up on him and decided to marry. We had fought bitterly. I hadn't understood why. I was twenty the last time I'd seen him. Why now, eleven years later, did my thoughts return to him?

I'd dreamed of him loving me. He was always so solid in his beliefs and goals. He met them with straightforward courage, honesty, and hard work. We both wanted to rise above the trailer trash we'd been born into. I took the shortest, easiest way out. I married money when I thought it was love. I hadn't seen Mathieu since. So why, suddenly, did I miss him so? I'd thought of him often, but pushed aside what I had no business dwelling on. Wondering where he was, if he'd fallen in love...

I shook myself and wrote my thoughts down with more urgency. He had been part of my life. Why not record those memories? I wrote late into the night, documenting those moments in time. I laughed with one memory after another, and cried when that last awful fight reached my paper. I slept in the tent, holding my notebook to my chest, and dreamt of him.

I awoke to the crashing of water from the falls. I'd slept late due to my efforts the night before. I stripped quickly in the sunlight and showered naked in the clear mountain water, relishing the cold as it erased the sleepiness from my brain. I stretched my body in one languid arch, smiling with the pleasure it brought.

The smile vanished when I opened my eyes and fear niggled its way up my spine. I searched the area carefully as I stood still draped by the waters. I hadn't heard anything. The water was too loud, but something urged me to hurry.

My breath came faster, and my heart seemed to skip ahead. I grabbed my towel quickly from the ledge I had placed it upon, and wrapped its cottony softness around my nakedness. I felt foolish. There was nothing to be afraid of here. I searched the small valley one last time, and then dropped the towel. I had to get the last of the soap out of my hair.

I spent the day taking photos of my favorite places on the mountain. I had stashed my gear in a small cave near the falls, and carried only my canteen and camera. The last picture I desired that day lay high on the mountain, where I could stand in moderate temperatures and still take pictures of the snow. There was a rocky outcropping that seemed to look across the entire range. I only wanted one good picture, but the light was beginning to fade. I hurried to the ledge for that final shot. Tomorrow, I would be on the road home and I wanted these memories with me.

I slipped on the gravel leading to the ledge and caught myself with a quick grasp of a tiny tree. I shook my head at myself. Carelessness would not get my photograph.

Finally, I looked out at the valley below and caught my breath, as always, at the beauty of it. Ice and desert all rolled into one before my eyes. The snowy peaks gleamed in the fading light, while the desert below stretched out its stark emptiness.

I focused carefully, though the picture would not do the view justice. Only I would know, when looking at the picture, how I felt to stand here. Free, alive, amazed at the possibilities for my life, knowing God's hand had created such magnificence. My life could be this beautiful.

I took my shots, and lost time in the process. When my camera began the auto rewind, I took a good look around. The sun had almost set. It would be dark long before I got back to the falls.

I berated myself as I began the journey back. It would take much longer in the dark. It would also be very dangerous in a few places. I felt my stomach tighten at the thought. I was only a few hours from my camp when the inevitable came to be.

The temperature had dropped with the sun, and my teeth had been chattering for some time. It was late summer, and the mountains did get snow frequently. The snow had begun lightly at first, but was falling heavily now. There was only one narrower log to pass, and then I'd be on the path to the falls. That, of course, was when I fell.

The tiny log was slippery with snow glinting in the moonlight that lit my way. I took tiny, balanced footsteps, and inched along. One yard left...two feet...and my right foot slipped. I caught a branch in an effort to balance myself, but the leaves stripped off in my hand. I was falling.

Everything slowed and I could see how I would land. Something would definitely be broken. My body crashed into the mountain with a breath-stealing thud. I heard something snap and cried out in fear. I tumbled and slid, scraped, and finally slammed into something solid. My head jerked forward, and darkness swallowed me.

I awoke to pain. My head screamed as my body shook violently. I tried to move, but something held me immobile, something...warm. Without a thought, I turned into that warmth. I grunted in pain at the effort.

"Lie still." A voice commanded from the darkness. Fear speared through me and I jolted forward, only to drown in darkness again.

The shivering had ceased by the time I woke again. I could hear the wind screaming, but it was a distant sound. I heard the crackle of a fire in the gloom that held me. It wasn't the complete blackness I'd believed. Faint tendrils of light broke the darkness just enough for me to make out shapes of things. I wasn't outside anymore. I wasn't alone either. I felt that shiver of fear return that I had sensed at the falls. I moved my hand slightly and felt skin that wasn't mine.

Slowly, I realized I lay in an embrace of warmth, hard warmth. I tried to see, but the night prevented that. I didn't want to move because of that undicernable warning in my mind. Still, I had to know where I was. I pushed gently away from that warmth ever so slowly. I shifted a leg and gasped aloud with the pain that shot through me. I felt him awaken.

Oh yeah, it was a him! I thought frantically as I felt his erection stir against my hip. And he was definitely awake, and naked! So was I.

"Hi." was whispered gently in the dark. My heart thundered frantically as my thoughts raced about in panic. Hi ?!

My breathing had become frantic as my thoughts raced about. What do you say when you wake up naked with a stranger?

"Hi," came out chokingly on an exhale.

"Calm down." He said just as softly. "Slow your breathing. I had to get you warm. You were in shock. The storm hit without warning..." He continued to talk to me, softly urging me not to lose control. He did not move a muscle, other than the rise and fall of his chest as he spoke. Eventually, my heart slowed a bit, and I finally began to think a little clearer. The panic was put at bay, but on guard in that fight or flight response. I tried to wet my lips, but they were so dry. A small tin cup of water was there before I could even ask.

It was so cold, yet soothing, as I swallowed the liquid down. I gulped a little too fast and choked. He was there when I coughed and cried out as pain speared from my side and through my chest. He braced his arms around me and brought our arms across my chest to splint against the pain. Then held me and whispered soothing words until I caught my breath.

I felt a cool cloth move over my face, and I relaxed just a little into his chest. I didn't seem to have much strength at the moment. My breathing evened, and he grew quiet. The pop of the fire was the only thing to break the silence. His body was firmly pressed to mine. He did not move, but I was very aware of his wake-up reaction pressed to my backside!

"I'm sorry," he whispered, as if reading my thoughts, "I can't seem to help it at the moment."

I smiled in the darkness, hoping he couldn't see any more than I. I cleared my throat gently.

"Where are we?" I don't know why I continued whispering as he had.

"It's a cave not very far from where you fell. We had to find shelter. I blocked the entrance with debris to keep the wind out. It's a pretty deep cave. That's why it's so dark." He spoke as if explaining to a fearful child about to start screaming. In a way, he was.

"How bad am I hurt?" I felt calmer. Less afraid. He paused for a moment before starting with a sigh. I felt his body relax slightly against mine.

"A concussion, bruised ribs. That's all as far as I can tell, other than a little hypothermia." His head lay gently next to mine. "I had to warm you up. The best thing is..."

"Body heat." I interrupted softly. "What's your name?"

"Aaron. And yours?"

"Leigh." We seemed to have reached the end of polite conversation while naked. He was wonderfully warm. I felt my eyes begin to close and tensed to keep awake.

"It's all right, Leigh. Sleep." he breathed to me as he held me close... so close. For some reason, I did.

I dreamed. Sultry heat surrounded me and I dreamt of Mathieu, but a different Mathieu. His green eyes shone with feral light as he pursued me down a mountain path. Fear traced my belly as I ran from him. I fell and was in a stranger's arms, drenched in moonlight, naked. Yet his face hid in shadow. He held me only, but his skin seemed to beg me to touch him. I did not resist that call.

My hands moved hesitantly as I searched the shadows that hid his features. He gasped gently with my touch. I stroked those shadows and found a soft beard. My hands trailed to his shoulders and lingered there. The skin was so soft and warm, stretched almost taughtly across gentle mounds of muscles. His biceps flexed in response to my caress, but still he did not move.

"Touch me." I whispered, but he shook his head. I could feel his arousal and knew he desired me. "Touch me." I whispered again and lay my mouth against his skin. A gentle moan escaped him involuntarily. I grew bolder and pressed my naked body to him as I teased him with hands and tongue. As my hand closed around his throbbing hardness, his control snapped.

He took my mouth with his, tongue-thrusting heat within me. I trembled with the arousal that washed over me. I was suddenly drowning with need. He turned me in his arms and I felt that heat trace the nape of my neck as his hands came around and cupped my breasts. I gasped with the sensations that roared through me.

I awoke breathing heavily, pulse thundering. I ached there. Where I had wanted, needed him. Aaron still lay naked behind me, aroused. His breathing heavy, his voice thick, he whispered, "You were dreaming. You cried out."

I was vibrating with need. I burned where his skin touched mine. My breasts felt heavy, nipples aching points. I felt swollen and wet. My breathing had not changed with the absence of the dream. My heart still thundered. And I knew he wanted me.

I could feel his hardness against my backside, pulsing lightly, though he did not move. I knew he ached as I did. I whispered those two words. "Touch me."

I felt a tremor pass through him, and felt him shake his head. He pulled slightly back from me. I grabbed his wrists where they lie against my skin and he stilled.
"Please," I whispered, "Please." I took his hands and traced my fingers in his. I had never felt so wanton, so hot. "Please." I whispered again as I lay his hands upon my breasts. I heard his breath hitch, as I rubbed his palms over my hardened tips.