Neil

I'm just finishing packing up a backpack when I hear rapid-fire knocking at my door, and I cross the room to answer. As expected, it's John, dressed in a flannel shirt open over a t-shirt, the sleeves rolled up over his elbows, jeans, and hiking boots.

Something flutters in my chest at the sight. I take a deep breath before stepping aside slightly. "Come on in. I'm just about ready. I think there's still a little coffee left if you want some."

John holds up a paper cup with a lid. "Brought my own and I have a Thermos full out in the Rover."

I'm not sure what I envisioned him driving. Not a Rover, certainly. I nod and return to finish packing while John starts to tell me about the trail he's chosen. "It's a couple hours drive, but it's pretty easy terrain. Lots of places to rest along the way if we need to. And being the middle of the week, shouldn't be too busy."

It's hard to tell if he's chattering on because of excitement or nerves. Probably a little of both. I must admit, I've got a case of the butterflies myself. We've been trying to plan this hike for the last two weeks, what with our days off not managing to line up until now.

I zip up my backpack and sling it over my shoulders as John continues talking. It's been an embarrassingly long time since I've done so much as a day hike, and I'd rather not embarrass myself further. Everything seems to be in order, and I manage to break in long enough to let John know I'm ready.

I open the passenger door to toss in my backpack and immediately notice the mattress that takes up the entire space. It catches me off guard, but not in a bad way. If John has plans for me other than the hike, well, I can't say I object to that.

Not long after, John opens the driver's side back door, freezing for a moment before looking a little embarrassed. "It's not what you think."

I can't help teasing him a little. "And what might that be?"

I swear I can spot a hint of redness under his tan skin as he shakes his head. "I sleep in the Rover when I go camping. It's easier than pitching a tent."

"I'm sure it comes in handy for other situations." I respond mildly.

John smiles a little at that as he tosses in his backpack. "That's for me to know and for you to find out."

Now it's my turn to blush. My own thoughts have turned in that direction more than a few times since that one kiss, and there's been more than a few times that John or one of the other paramedics has caught me mid-daydream.

We climb into the Rover and John finishes off his paper cup of coffee before shoving it between his legs and starting the Rover up. He shifts it into gear and backs out of the driveway, and we're soon on the road.

"I've got a bunch of tapes in that case by your feet." He tells me. "You'll probably find something you like."

I pick up the case and pop it open, pleasantly surprised by the sheer variety. After some debate, I choose a tape and push it into the tape player before settling back in my seat for the remainder of the drive.

John is remarkably quiet for the rest of the drive, save for humming along with whatever tape I put in, but I can sense the energy coming off him. He's forever in motion, whether he's drumming his fingers on his leg or the steering wheel or bobbing one knee in rhythm with the music.

John pulls into the parking lot and shuts off the Rover. I can almost see the nervous energy leave him, his shoulders dropping ever so slightly before he turns to me. "Ready?"

"Whenever you are."

We climb down and grab our respective packs, starting toward the welcome center to pick up a map before getting started. John chooses a direction and we're off.

We're surrounded by lush forest, and the only sounds are those of birds overhead and water running nearby. It's peaceful, and I find myself relaxing, even as I'm working to keep up with John's strides.

He turns around after we've been going for a while. "Doing okay back there?"

I nod, trying to cover my breathlessness. "Sure. But I think we might have different ideas about what easy means."

John seems to consider this before nodding. "Suppose I could slow down a little. Sometimes I get going and forget I have someone else with me."

"It's fine." I assure him. "Just reminds me that I need to get out more often."

He smiles a little at that. "We don't have far to go. There's a spot up ahead where we can take a break."

I follow John up the trail, stepping carefully over the roots and rocks. I can't help but notice how nimble John is by comparison, how easily he moves over the trail.

John finally stops, taking off his pack and kneeling down, opening it and digging through it and pulling out another bag. It doesn't surprise me a bit when he opens that bag and pulls out a camera.

I set down my own pack and find my canteen, taking a few sips before capping it and sitting down on the ground with a sigh.

That catches John's attention, and I catch the questioning look he gives me. I immediately shake my head. "Just relaxing, that's all." I assure him. "Relaxing and enjoying the view."

John looks me up and down with an amused expression. "So am I."

He returns to fiddling with his camera before I can respond, and soon he's on the move again, pausing to take a photograph here and there before returning to where I'm sitting.

"Did you get some good shots?" I ask him.

"I think so." John suddenly turns the camera toward me. "Say cheese."

"What?" I respond just as I hear the shutter click. "Damn it, John."

John merely responds with that damned lopsided grin. "What's the matter?"

"I wasn't ready."

John shrugs. "Just wanted to capture the moment. Are you ready to keep going?"

"Sure."

We pick up our packs and continue up the trail. It's getting a little steeper, though John navigates it easily, pausing every so often to let me catch up. Eventually we reach a wider spot in the trail, where the forest is less dense, but it's no less beautiful.

"This is the end of the trail." John tells me. "Literally all downhill from here."

"It's really lovely." I respond.

"I usually don't bring people up here with me." John answers quietly. "It's one of my escapes after a bad shift. I can come up here, clear my head a little."

I can hardly imagine what John sees every shift. "Well, thank you for sharing it with me."

John smiles ever so slightly, once again reaching into his pack for his camera bag. He shifts so that he's lying on the ground, pointing his camera up through the trees.

Suddenly he sits up a little. "Come over here. I want to show you something."

I do so, laying on the ground beside him, and he hands me his camera. "Look through the viewfinder."

I follow his direction, looking through the viewfinder at the canopy of branches overhead, the sunlight peeking through. "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to see." I admit before handing back the camera.

John lets out a soft laugh. "Just a different perspective, that's all."

He lays back, and I hear the shutter click a couple of times before he rests the camera on his chest, and I feel his fingers curl around mine.

The move startles me at first, but soon I do the same, and we lay there quietly for what feels like ages, his thumb stroking back and forth across the back of my hand.

"I really needed this." John tells me quietly. "It was a bad night. I almost canceled on you."

I turn my head toward him. "I'm glad you didn't."

John turns toward me, a hint of a smile lighting his face. "Me too."

I hear the distinctive snap of someone stepping on a small branch, and both of us let go and sit up just as another small group of hikers pass by us, nodding as they do so.

We dig into our packs for food and coffee, talking as we eat, and before long we pack up and start our way back down the trail. John still has his camera out, and he takes a few shots as we make our way back down.

Soon enough we're back at the trailhead and on our way to the Rover. He unlocks it and climbs across what would normally be the back seat to unlock the passenger side door.

"One more picture." He tells me. "Smile."

This time I'm a little more prepared, and I do as he directs as I hear the shutter click. "Is that better?"

John nods. "Not that the other one was bad, I don't think. I guess we'll see how they turn out."

We climb into the Rover for the drive back, and John is visibly more relaxed now that he was when we started the day. That energy is still there as he hums along with the tape I've put in, but the tension is gone.

The drive back doesn't seem to take nearly as long as the drive there, and soon enough John pulls into my driveway and shuts off the Rover.

The silence stretches out between us, and I realize that I don't really want the day to end. But there's no telling how things will play out should I invite him in.

That's if he even wants to stay. But the way he's looking at me tells me that he might be open to the idea.

Oh, to hell with it. What's the worst that can happen? "Do you want to come in for a while?" I blurt out. "It's okay if you don't. You saw the house earlier. It's a bit of a disaster area."

John leans over and gives me a quick kiss, cutting off my line of blathering. It's silent for a moment until he finally nods in response. "Wasn't really ready to call it a day anyway."

Neither was I.

John

We climb down from the Rover and I follow Neil inside. I'm suddenly feeling edgy again, and I can't help wondering if we're rushing into things a little.

It's an unusual thought for me. Normally I rush full steam ahead into these things. I'm not sure why this is any different.

Neil seems calmer than he did in the Rover, bending over to unlace his boots before toeing them off. I follow his cue, waiting for any signs that he might want to make a move.

He steps toward me, sliding his hands to my waist and letting them rest on my back before looking up at me. Suddenly his mouth is on mine, and whatever tension I was feeling immediately leaves me as I meet him with equal force, my hands spreading out over his back as I pull him in as close as possible.

The full contact between us only fuels my desire, that initial kiss getting deeper and more intense by the minute. Before I know it, we're on the move. I'm not sure where we're going, but I'm damn sure going to follow.

We half-stumble into the bedroom, and Neil sort of pushes me down on to the bed, straddling me and leaning down to pick up where he left off. I can feel him tug at my t-shirt, his hand finding its way underneath, slightly rough and warm against my skin.

I manage to remove my shirt and toss it aside, moving to do the same with Neil's. He gets a little tangled up in his before it finally comes off, and I run my hands through the fine and sparse hair of his chest and stomach while his hands rest lightly on my chest.

"Is anything off limits for you?" He asks softly.

I have to think about that, which is getting harder to do. Finally, I shake my head. "Can't really think of anything right now."

"Good." Neil smiles a little at that as he leans down once again, shifting slightly so that one of his legs is between mine, the sensation nearly undoing me.

He starts a trail down one side of my throat, shifting as he keeps working his way downward until he slips his fingers just inside the waistband of my jeans. I let out a sharp sound and arch upward into his touch, and I can hear him laugh a little as he leaves a lingering kiss above the waistband before he finally starts working at my belt to undo it.

I'm on the verge of surrendering to the sensation when it dawns on me that Neil has completely turned around, and I have all the access I need to him. I somehow find the presence of mind to undo his belt and jeans as quickly as possible, shoving them off his body, pressing my hands into his thighs as I do so.

Neil lets out his own sounds of pleasure at the move, and it isn't long before we're lost in each other, hands and lips and tongues everywhere, sensation and desire building until neither one of us can take it anymore.

I relax with a long sigh, my brain slowly returning to my body, and I absentmindedly run my fingers along the back of Neil's thigh. He reacts with a sharp jolt and a gasp, grabbing my hand.

"What's the matter?" I ask.

"Nothing." He responds. "I'm just very sensitive afterwards."

"Really?" I repeat the move, curious.

He grabs my hand again with a huff. "Yes, really. Aren't you?"

I feel his fingers run up the inside of my thigh. It's pleasurable, but I don't have the same reaction. "Hmm, nope. Feels good, though."

"How about this?" Neil kisses me where my leg and hip meet, and that makes me jump. No one's ever done that to me before.

"Yeah, okay." I admit, stroking the top of his head. "That's a little sensitive."

He does it again, a little more firmly this time, his tongue darting out. It almost feels as if he's sucking at that spot, the sensation more arousing now. "You're going to get me going again if you keep that up." I tell him.

"Something wrong with that?" He replies in a teasing tone.

"Not at all." I answer, closing my eyes and running my fingers through his hair.

I feel him shift again, and I open my eyes to find him beside me, almost like we were up on the trail earlier in the day. I'd been sorely tempted to kiss him then, and probably would have had that other group of hikers not shown up.

But this is just as good, if not better.

I move so I'm on my side facing him, draping an arm over him and drawing closer to him before giving him a quick kiss.

Neil sighs contentedly, reaching up to push back some hair that's fallen into my eyes. "It's been a good day, hasn't it?"

"It has." I agree. "Wouldn't mind doing this again. I mean, not just this, but, you know. The other stuff, too."

"I'd like that." Neil answers with a full smile.

We lay there for a while longer, talking and touching, occasionally kissing, and it occurs to me that I've never really experienced this with other people I've dated. There's an easy sort of intimacy here with Neil, a sense of understanding. I can't explain it, but I guess there's really no need to.

Eventually, Neil gives me one last kiss before rolling away and finding his clothes. "Think I'll put something together for dinner. Do you want some?" He asks.

"Sure." I answer, rolling to my back and closing my eyes for a moment.

Something soft lands on my chest, and I open my eyes to find my t-shirt. Neil's already dressed again, regarding me with amusement. "I'll let you know when it's ready. Take all the time you need."

I sit up as he leaves the room, pulling my t-shirt over my head and finding the rest of my clothes to put on before I make my way out of the bedroom. Neil has the radio on, tuned to an AM rock station, and I can hear him singing along, though not exactly on key.

It doesn't matter. I'm hardly one to criticize someone else's singing.

I notice a few splotches of paint on the wall and take a closer look. "Neil?" I call out.

Neil pokes his head out of the kitchen. "Yes?"

I gesture at the wall. "What's this?"

Neil lets out a sigh, crossing over to where I'm standing. "Paint samples. I'm having a hell of a time making a decision."

"What's wrong with that middle one?"

"I like it now, but I don't like it when the morning light hits it." Neil explains. "And that one on the left looks amazing in the morning, but I don't like it now. And that one on the right is awful in every light."

I don't understand the problem. "Just paint it all beige and be done with it. What's the big deal?"

Neil gives me a sharp look before shaking his head. "Remind me not to ask you for decorating advice."

"Look, do you want help making a decision?"

"Maybe." Neil answers skeptically. "But I'm not painting the living room beige."

"Might mean I'll have to spend a little more time around here." I tell him casually.

Neil gives me a look I can't quite decipher before stepping toward me, tilting his chin upward to give me a brief kiss. "You're very kind, but you don't need an excuse to hang around if you really want to."

I kiss him back, letting it linger for a good long moment before pulling back. "I might just do that."

"Is that a threat or a promise?" Neil asks with a short laugh.

That stings a little, even though I'm pretty sure Neil doesn't mean anything by it. "Could be either, I guess. Depends on how you look at it."

Neil looks me up and down. "For now we'll consider it a promise. Now, let me go check on this food before I burn it."

It isn't long before we're seated on the couch enjoying our meals. I know I need to leave soon, but I don't want to rush, either. Besides, Neil doesn't seem to be in any hurry to get rid of me.

"This is really good." I tell him.

"It's just a beef stew." He replies. "I had some up in the freezer. Didn't take me any time to heat it up. It's handy when I'm busy around here. Do you cook?"

"Yeah, but I get tired of leftovers pretty quickly." I answer. "I haven't really figured out cooking for one."

"It's not easy." Neil responds. "I end up with a freezer full of leftovers. Sometimes I shove them off on my friends."

We talk a little more as we eat, and once we're done, I feel like I should at least offer to clean up.

Neil takes me up on my offer, and I make quick work of the few dishes while we chat some more.

He leans on the counter while I finish up. "You know, there might be some advantages to keeping you around." He tells me.

I shrug as I finish, rinsing out the sink and wiping down the counters. "I'll be around as long as you want me to be."

Neil smiles at that. "I like the sound of that."

There's that flutter in my chest again. I don't dare think too far ahead. It's never worked out. "Suppose I should get going. You work tomorrow, right?"

"Right." Neil lets out a sigh. "But I'll see you soon."

We make our way to the front door, and I put my hiking boots back on before pulling Neil in close for a moment. "I don't want to go another two weeks before I see you again. That's too damn long."

Neil laughs at that. "Agreed. We'll figure something out."

With that I finally leave, climbing into the Rover and starting it up. The tape starts playing, the one that Neil chose for the drive back.

No matter what happens, that's going to be a good memory of a fantastic day. Here's hoping there are more of these days to come.