Author note:

I hope you guys enjoy this. Please drop a note if you liked it. It lets me know that someone is still interested.

CH 81-Into the Woods

It was dark by the time Clay and Emma arrived at the cabin. As they pulled up, he told Emma to stay in the truck until he got the generator started and got some lights on inside. Emma was happy that the place wasn't as rustic as she feared. She was fine with no TV or internet, but she had to have running water and a toilet. Clay teased her about being soft.

She busied herself gathering up their things that were in the back seat. She had packed her clothes, with some input from Clay, but left the rest up to him. She hadn't done much camping and she knew he would make sure they were prepared for anything.

She looked up and saw a soft glow coming from the windows and the open doorway. Clay made his way back out to her and started to unload the bed of the truck. They had quite a bit carry inside, food, fishing poles, sheets, and even towels. Clay had also brought his bow and targets as well as his rifle. He told her that the bow was for target shooting, just for fun. The rifle was more for protection. You never knew what you might run into in the woods. They finally got everything inside and started to get organized.

"Em, I'll set up the bed if you want to put the food away."

"That's sounds like a plan."

Once everything was in its place, Clay sat down on the couch and Emma draped herself across his lap with a deep sigh. He held her close and she laid her head on his shoulder. He could tell that her eyelids were drooping. It had been a jam-packed and emotional day for her. As much as he wanted to take her back to the bedroom and make love to her, it was clear she needed her rest.

"Tired babe?"

"Yea, I am. Today was great, but I am beat."

"Okay. Time for bed then."

He picked her up and carried her to the small bedroom. They each got ready and almost as soon as Clay spooned himself behind her, her breathing let him know that she had drifted off. He thought about his plans for the next few days and hoped she would enjoy herself. On the ride they discussed options and she seemed enthusiastic. He hoped the weather would cooperate. He knew this wasn't exactly a tropical island or an exotic country but being completely alone with his girl for a few days, with no interruptions sounded like paradise to him.

Clay awoke early, as usual. He didn't get up right away, instead he laid, listening to the quiet. He was eager to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, but he didn't want to do anything without Emma. Easing himself away from her, he decided to get some coffee going and then go take a shower. As he glanced out the window, it looked like a clear day. It would be perfect for doing a little fishing. Even though there was a kitchen in the little cabin, he was glad he and Vic had fixed up a fire pit. There was nothing quite like fresh-caught fish cooked over an open flame.

Emma blinked her eyes, trying to focus on her surroundings. As she realized where she was a smile stretched across her face. She could hear the shower going in the small bathroom next door. She decided to go on out to the kitchen and get breakfast started. Rolling out from under the covers, she could already smell coffee. She padded out into the larger room and found their travel mugs in the bag sitting on the counter. She filled hers up, making sure there was still plenty for Clay. It looked like the sun was shining and she wanted to get a look at the lake. She opened the door and stood out on the small porch, sipping her coffee, and taking in the view. She heard a door open inside and soon Clay joined her on the porch. Clad in just shorts, he wrapped his arms around her and leaned to kiss her cheek.

"Morning babe. What ya doin' out here?'

"I wanted to check out the scenery. I couldn't see much last night in the dark. It's beautiful."

"I'm happy you think so. I know camping isn't really your thing…"

Emma turned and placed an arm around his neck, "Maybe not. But being alone with you is definitely my thing."

She pulled his mouth down to hers and nibbled at his lips. Clay growled low in his throat and slid his hands down to the back of her thighs and picked her up. With her legs wrapped around his waist and her lips and tongue teasing his neck and shoulders, they headed back to the bedroom, stopping briefly for Emma to sit her mug down on the counter.

As they laid together, still in the afterglow, Clay pushed her hair away from her face and stroked his fingertips across her cheek, down her neck, between her breasts and finally rested his hand on her hip. Emma watched his eyes follow the path his hand had taken down her body and then flick back up to meet her gaze.

"Penny for your thoughts."

"Just thinking about how lucky I am. And how I really wouldn't mind forgetting everything else and just spending the next few days in bed with you."

"I'm not completely opposed to that idea." She stretched up and nuzzled at his neck. "But I am getting kind of hungry."

"Your wish is my command," he said as he rolled away from her and pulled his shorts back on and found a t-shirt. "I'll fix us some food if you want to take a shower."

"Okay."

By the time she emerged from the shower, Clay had a simple meal of egg and ham sandwiches ready. They sat on the front porch while they ate.

"Did you still want to do some fishing today? I know you said it's best in the morning…so we might be too late for that."

"We can still fish if you're up for it. I planned on having whatever we catch for dinner tonight."

He got their poles and tackle and they walked down to the lake and found a shady spot to set up. She laid out the blanket near the base of a tree while he selected the proper lures and got their poles ready. He showed Emma how to cast properly and she tried to copy him. Her first couple of attempts didn't go very far, but her third try was almost perfect. They settled down next to each other and waited. Much to both of their surprise, Emma's line started to wiggle, and her pole bent almost immediately. She jumped up with excitement.

"What do I do?"

"Reel it in," he answered with a laugh.

Soon a beautiful Trout was dangling and the end of her line, just above the water.

"Okay, bring it over and lay it on the grass."

He took the fish off the line and put it out of its misery and laid it in the cooler he brought for that purpose.

"That was a great catch Em. Must be about 3 pounds."

Her face glowed and a smiled broke out as he praised her. She got her line back in the water and in just a few more minutes, she was pulling in another sizeable fish. Neither of them could believe it.

"I thought you said this was hard," she teased him.

He mumbled something about beginner's luck as he took her second catch off the line. He shook his head in disbelief. He really didn't care that she was showing him up but was happy that she was actually having fun.

After she got her line back in the water for the third time, the action settled down. They sat quietly for a while, just enjoying the silence and each other. Clay got out some holders for their poles and placed each in one securely. Then he leaned back against the tree and Emma situated herself between his outstretched legs, leaning back against his broad chest. He teased her hair through his fingers, and she closed her eyes in pleasure.

"You keep doing that and I'm going to go back to sleep."

He kissed the top of her head gently and answered her. "That's fine honey. Fall asleep if you want, I don't mind."

They settled back into comfortable silence and Emma did eventually doze in his arms. He drifted off as well, not waking until he heard the bell on his pole indicate that he had a strike. They both sat up and Clay retrieved his pole. He pulled in a beautiful specimen about the size of Emma's first catch. They were both surprised when they saw the position of the sun in the sky. It was later than they realized. Deciding to pack it in for the day, they gathered their things and headed back to the cabin.

Once the poles and tackle were stowed, Clay set up and began to clean their catch. He showed Emma how to scale a fish, gut, and de-bone it for eating. She prepared one of the two she caught on her own. While he got a fire going, she went inside and worked on cutting up some veggies for them to grill and preparing a salad. He joined her grabbed what he needed to fry the fish. Soon, the mouth-watering aroma of pan-fried fish filled the air. It didn't take long until everything was ready to eat. Again, they opted to eat outdoors. She retrieved their plates and cutlery from inside while he poured them each some wine. Maybe it was the fresh air or the fact that they'd caught the fish themselves, but they both agreed it was one of the best meals they had ever had.

Emma volunteered to wash up. While she was doing the dishes, Clay carried some items out to the bed of his truck. She became very curious and hurried to finish up. She stepped outside and saw that he had blown up the air mattress and set up a bed in the back of the truck, with pillows, blankets, and everything.

"What's all this?"

"I thought we might sit out here to see the sunset, and look at the stars. Does that sound okay to you?"

"That sounds wonderful."

"Go ahead and climb on up. I'll get the rest of the wine and make sure this fire is good and out."

She made herself comfortable and waited for him to join her. Before climbing in, he handed her the wine and glasses and tucked his rifle inside the cab where he could reach it easily. He settled himself down and pulled her into his arms. They sat, sipping at the remains of the wine while the sky turned gold and pink and crimson, and then dark indigo. The moon was only a sliver, letting them take in all the glittering stars sprinkled across the summer sky. Emma couldn't believe how many were visible. He started to point out constellations to her, telling her their names and the stories behind each of them. He paid special attention to the star formation directly above that he informed her was called, 'Cygnas the Swan.'

"Where did you learn all that?"

"From my Grandfather. There wasn't a lot to do at night at the mission. He would take me on walks and show me the stars. He taught me all about them, how they got their names and even how to use them to find my way if I ever got lost."

She noticed the fond, thoughtful expression on his face as he told her.

"He sounds like a wonderful man."

He smiled and nodded his head. "He was, he really was."

"When I was little, and Dad was gone, I would look up at the moon and the stars and wonder if he could see them too, wherever he was. I know that's silly."

"Why?"

"Well, I never really thought that just because it was night here, that didn't mean it was night wherever he was. It just made him seem closer, I guess."

"That's not silly at all."

"You don't think so?"

"No, no at all."

"Good…because…."

"Because why?"

"Because…now when you're spun up, I sometimes still look up at them and pray that you're safe and wonder if you're missing me too," she confessed.

He lifted her chin to look in her eyes. "I always miss you honey."

He took her mouth then, coaxing her lips open and caressing her tongue with his own. She pulled back and trailed her lips down his neck and sucked at the sensitive spot behind his ear.

"Mmm Emma!"

He pulled her across to straddle his lap and tangled his hand in her hair as he brought her down to his lips again. As their mouths danced, she swiveled her hips against the growing hardness in his pants.

"God Clay…I need you so much."

He pushed her shirt up and over her head and watched with wide eyes as she removed her bra. It didn't matter how many times they made love, the sight of her, bare just for him made his heart race. His hands cupped her, and he teased his thumbs across the peaks of her breasts. She leaned forward and Clay licked her and then bit gently at her hardened nipples. Her hands stole up into his blonde waves and tried to press herself further into his mouth.

"Ahhh, God, babe…mmmm!"

When he released her from his mouth she whimpered at the loss. Her disappointment didn't last long as he flipped them over and laid her back down against the mattress. He took off her shoes and slipped her shorts and panties down her legs and she kicked them off. His eyes swept over her form, marveling at how the starlight turned her skin to molten sliver before him.

"Clay…please," she begged and tried to reach to unbutton his shorts.

He grabbed her hands and bent to kiss her quivering lips. "Baby," he panted between kisses, "Yes, I want to be inside you, Emmie. I need to be inside you."

He managed to get his boots and pants off and she helped him peel off his shirt. As she saw the opalescent glow of the stars play across the dips and sinews of his body, she gasped and tried to touch him everywhere. She licked and sucked at his neck and shoulders and pecs, marking him, claiming him.

"Emmie, Emmie…baby, look at me."

She locked eyes with him as he slid himself inside her. Slowly, holding her gaze, he eased almost all the way out of her and then pushed in even deeper. Emma wrapped her legs around his waist and rolled her hips in time with his thrusts.

"Yes…God yes," she moaned.

He watched her throw her head back and open her mouth in silent supplication as she approached her peak. He wanted to see her, he wanted to feel her explode all around him. Sliding his hand beneath her, he lifted her hips just a fraction and was able to press against her clit as he drove into her. Her breathing became more frantic and he increased his efforts. Feeling the tingle starting at the base of his spine, he knew that he couldn't hold on much longer.

"Let me feel you baby, please Em, let me feel you."

Their twin cries tore through the night, as they reached the ultimate pleasure together. Her body quaked from head to toe and he barely had the strength to keep himself from collapsing on top of her.

Clay managed to lay down without crushing her and she wove her body around him like a vine, unwilling to let any space separate them. He held her as tightly as he dared and continued to kiss her head and cheeks and lips.

"God, I love you Em. I love you so much."

"And I love you."

As their bodies cooled Clay suggested that she might be more comfortable inside. But she shook her head and insisted on staying where they were.

"Are you sure honey?"

"Mmmhmm. I want to stay out here with you. Maybe the next time you're gone we can both look at the stars and remember this and you won't feel so far away."

He kissed her again and they slept under the blanket of the night sky.