How to be Wild

[WretchRoad]

In that moment she wished she could somehow take it all away, all that pain. She didn’t even want to look back toward the house and think of the man who would destroy his family in a single day, who would leave Daniel all alone in the world to haunt the halls like a lonely ghost, waiting to fade away.

Her anger faded to sadness and she didn’t want to look at his grave anymore, either. There was nothing to do but move forward — the unspoken mantra she lived by.

“Can we go for a walk or something? Would that be okay?”

 

[Knightofsloth707]

"Come with me," Daniel said, taking her hand. "I want to show you one of my favorite places in the world."

He led her along a small path beaten into the overgrown grass. After a bit they reached the treeline and Daniel held her hand while he picked his way expertly between the trees. After about ten minutes of walking the treeline opened up to a clearing, in the center of which was a small remote lake, sunk gently into the earth.

The sun reflected off the vivid blue water, while dragonflies flitted about, performing their aerial maneuvers. Cattails grew in scattered clusters around the shore, shimmering gently in the breeze. Along the lake edge a few trees balanced awkwardly on the bank, their roots reaching down to drink the water.

 

[WretchRoad]

The splendour of the lake stood in stark juxtaposition to the horror of the history behind them. And, the sprawling wilderness they emerged from made her realize just how how extensive his estate truly was, and how isolated he must feel out there in the middle of it.

But her thoughts of loneliness were dispelled by the warmth of the hand in hers. Having shared their stories lessened the sadness and rage she felt at having her choices taken away, it made her feel like the last barrier between them had finally shattered, and she was seen.

"Thank you," she whispered, squeezing his hand, "for showing me this. It's beautiful."

She took a tentative step toward the water, eager to rinse off the stickiness of the high mid-day. "I would suggest we go for a swim," she started before remembering what that local had told her as she floated under the Florida mangroves, "if I knew it was safe. Are there any gators out here?"

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Daniel laughed. "I've been swimming in this lake since I was a kid. No, there's no gators. It's too far from any other body of water, and besides there's nothing to eat in there."

Daniel kicked off his shoes and socks, and walked down the shallow embankment to the water, savoring the feeling of soft earth beneath his toes.

"Roland used to love coming here. I'd bring him with me and he'd splash around in the water with me all day." Daniel smiled, looking out over the water.

He peeled off his tank top, the muscles of his arms and shoulders glistening with sweat from the heat of the day. He looked at Ash.

"Come on, let's jump in."

 

[WretchRoad]

Ash had two whole outfits to her name and little else in the way of worldly possessions. "I don't have a swimsuit..." she began, but she was already unlacing her shoes, stuffing her socks into them, when she caught his silhouette against the sun — his angles in all the right places.

Out here he wasn't a ghost, he had been a man playing with his dog. That thought made her grin.

Maybe they needed this, to rinse off the sorrow of the morning. A reset.

"Don't look!" Ash called, skipping behind a tall clump of cattails to shimmy out of her shorts. She hung them, along with the rest of her clothing, on an old, gnarled branch, and peeked out from behind the reeds. "Are you looking?" she asked, preparing to race into the water the moment his back was turned.

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Daniel grinned and ducked behind a tree to undress himself.

"I'm not looking!" He called out.

He pulled his pants down and kicked them over towards his shoes and tank top. He was reaching into the waistband of his underwear when he heard the first splash.

He didn't mean to look, (or at least that's what he told himself) but nonetheless he craned his head around the tree trunk just in time to see Ash, naked, as she slipped into the water.

 

[WretchRoad]

She ran, careening into the water, inked limbs flailing, as fast as she could. Her lean arms and legs, what still showed of her natural skin, carried a deep tan earned during her long days singing in the sun while her breasts and bare ass were pale as could be. More tattoos were scrawled up her hips and sides while her back and torso remained a blank canvas for future projects. The shock of hair between her legs, like the roots of hair beginning to grow out under the faded purple dye, was golden blonde. And all of it disappeared in a splash.

Where the waves subsided, she didn’t emerge. Only a disturbance of the water’s surface followed her movement toward the tree at the water’s edge. There, her head popped up just before her feet, kicking a wild torrent of water sloshing toward Daniel.

“You looked!” she shouted.

 

[Knightofsloth707]

The brief glimpse of Ash's naked body was all it took to send Daniel's imagination into overdrive.

A series of impressions flashed through his mind in rapid fire. His lips, kissing the soft flesh of her breasts, the warmth between her legs as his hand caressed her, the sound of her groans of pleasure, Ash spreading her legs, inviting him in...

She emerged from the water, vanquishing his daydream. He ducked behind the tree to dodge the dollop of water she sent his way.

"No, I- it was an accident!" He sputtered. "I only saw a little bit, I swear!"

He looked down at his last remaining piece of clothing. The brief glimpse of Ash's body had been all that was needed to awaken his manhood, which was straining angrily against the material.

Ah, shit.

It was at least six steps to the water from his current position. There would be no way he could hide his erection with her right there.

"Ok, uh, cover your eyes," he called out.

He pulled off his underwear, his cock springing to attention. He tried desperately to think of something that would bring himself back under control.

Baseball. Richard Nixon. Geometry. Ah fuck it, this isn't going to work.

He took a breath and sprang out from behind the tree, his cock bouncing comically with each step.

There wasn't an ounce of fat on him, the sharp outline of his muscles evident as they flexed and coiled under his skin. Below his powerful pecs were the defined outline of his abdomen, leading down into the strong V where his torso met his groin. A dusting of straight, dark hair coated his arms and chest.

He reached the water, leaping in and sending water flying.

 

[WretchRoad]

"Fair's fair!' she called back, eyes wide open from where she treaded water nearby. “You-” she was quickly cut off by the sight of him, every muscle straining, fully erect, as he leapt.

It’s not like she didn’t know Daniel was a man, hadn’t felt and seen what happened to men who liked her, when they were close. She simply hadn’t expected it just then.

Ash blushed deeply and sunk into the waterline, closing her eyes against the spray of water. When she opened them again, her pupils were blown wide and black, her face and chest a rosy pink.

She didn’t know what to do with herself. To cover the awkwardness she felt seeing him like that, the sudden nervous shudder that ran down her spine and through her belly, the desire to wrap her hand around him and hear him moan, she did the only thing she thought was reasonable: furiously splash at his face as soon as he emerged, and dive away.

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Daniel had seen Ash's eyes go wide at the sight of him. Ah well, nothing to be done about it now.

The refreshingly cool water swept over him as he dove in. He closed his eyes as he submerged.

A moment later he surfaced. Wiping his face and sweeping back his wet hair. He opened his eyes just in time for Ash to splash him in the face.

"Hey!" He said, laughing. By the time he'd cleared the water from his face she had already started swimming away.

"Oh you're not getting away that easily!" He shouted, setting after her in close pursuit.

 

[WretchRoad]

Inspired by a fresh adrenaline rush, she broke into an all-out sprint, laughing so hard she nearly choked on the less-than-appetizing lake as her arms and legs whipped through the water.

She shrieked in surprise when she felt his hand close on her ankle, and whooped in victory when it slipped through his grasp.

Kicking forward a few more feet, she stopped only to send another insolent splash his way.

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Daniel continued the hunt, laughing and spitting out lake water when Ash kicked more of it at him. He knew she couldn't flee for much longer - she was entering the shallows of the opposite shore.

When he saw her flip upright to stand he dove under the surface of the water, and with a powerful breast stroke, propelled himself towards her.

She'd turned to splash him with her hands, but to her surprise, he surfaced just inches from her. A sweeping upward thrust from his arm sent a wave of water crashing into her.

Soon they were splashing each other at point blank range, hooting and laughing. Daniel, getting the worst of the exchange, went to disarm her, taking ahold of one wrist and then the other, holding them gently above the water.

The struggle ceased, the two of them breathing hard and smiling, her wrists in his hands. Unconsciously, Daniel pulled her closer, slipping between her arms, their faces only inches apart.

He listened to her short happy breaths, her brown eyes beaming into his.

 

[WretchRoad]

The rocks shifted beneath her feet, and she instinctively moved to steady herself. Her leg pressed against his. She could have moved away.

She didn't.

Ash's smile faded. Her breathing grew shallow, coming faster through lips just parted. He gave her ever opportunity to slip free.

She stayed.

Her hair drifted around her shoulders along the surface of the water, her chest rising and falling beneath the waterline. She was suddenly aware of the nearness of him, the quiet between them, the way the water shifted against her skin.

Her gaze lingered on his eyes, blue like the deep ocean, before falling to his lips. She hesitated there.

Then she stepped into him.

Rising onto her toes, pressed her mouth to his. The kiss was abrupt, impatient, but she held it there.

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Daniel's experience with women was limited, but his senses were keen. He heard her short shallow breaths, saw the blushing in her cheeks and chest. Felt her quickening heartbeat through his fingers. Saw the longing in her eyes.

Still, her kiss surprised him in its suddenness. Her soft pursed lips pressed against his and his heart skipped a beat. He kissed her back, without hesitation, his lips curling into a smile.

They pulled apart slightly, his eyes searching hers for regret. He saw none. He led her hand to his chest, planting it there, letting the strong thump of his heart reverberate through her.

Then he swept forward, his hand running behind her ear, pulling her into him, his lips pressing passionately against hers.

 

[WretchRoad]

Another shiver ran through her body, from head to toe.

Her hand stayed firm against his breastbone, feeling the jump in tempo when he pulled her in, deepening the kiss, and she let out a soft sigh. Her heart matched his beat to the point where she could feel it behind her ears, pounding a fierce staccato.

She moved her other hand around his shoulder, sliding up the back of his neck until her fingers weaved into his hair, holding it there to steady herself in the water.

As though slowly waking up, her mouth moved against his, timid at first, then more insistent. Her tongue just barely slipped out to taste his lips.

Suddenly, she was wide awake to the way he smelled, the way he felt everywhere he touched her. She noticed every little thing from the glistening of the sun against the droplets in his hair to the way he tasted against her mouth to the way her fingers tangled into his chest hair. And she wanted more.

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Daniel's tongue slipped between her lips, entwining with hers, dancing in her mouth. His left hand stroked her face, running down her neck the smooth skin of her shoulder.

Every nerve ending savored the intoxicating warmth of her body against his in the cool water. The speed and pressure of their lips increasing as the kiss took on a life of its own.

Years of loneliness had wrapped themselves around him like wire, pressing him smaller and smaller, cutting into him. It had been with him so long that only now as they fell away, did he notice their presence - how small they'd made him. Now his heart sent blood rushing through his veins, vitality surging within him.

Daniel brought his hand to her hip, then slid it along the small of her back. With sudden intensity he pulled her body against his. He could feel her hard nipples brushing against his chest as they kissed. He groaned softly into her mouth.

"Ash..." Not a question or statement - just an expression of pleasure formed in the shape of her name.