Thank you all for reading! Even though the stats are busted and I can't tell for sure if anyone is reading, I'm pretty sure someone is. Right?

Poe had told himself over and over again that his feelings for this woman were due to their situation, and that he needed to take things slow. Asking her yesterday if she was okay with continuing to get to know each other even after they made it safely home had been as far as he was planning on taking this relationship for now, but the hike today and all the talking they had been doing had changed his mind. They were here and they were alone and tomorrow they would most likely find the help needed to get the others to safety. The end was near, and he couldn't help but wish for more than just a potential friendship with this woman before everything went back to 'normal.'

Watching her listening to the howling wolves, seeing the pure joy and euphoria on her face, had made him realize just how much he really wanted this woman. And not as just a friend. She was beautiful, she was sexy, she was smart, and she accepted him as Poe the man, not the celebrity. He wanted her in his life.

And he wanted her in his bed.

He hadn't been able to stop the soft growl as his mind conjured images of a naked Rey. He had to stop thinking that way. There was no guarantee she felt the same. She was so much younger than him, and probably had dozens of men, and maybe women, lining up waiting to ask her out back home. Why would she want the hassle of being hounded by paparazzi once word got out she was seeing him?

At his unconscious noise, she had opened her eyes and looked at him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he had tried to lie. But he couldn't do it. He had to know. "You are just so beautiful," he told her.

As her eyes grew large, he leaned in, glancing down at her mouth. Her eyes widened even more, but then she raised her chin and parted her lips slightly. He took her subtle movement as affirmation, and he completed his action.

Her lips were as soft as they looked, as was her cheek when he brought up his hand to cup it gently. He increased the pressure of his mouth slightly, and she responded eagerly, shifting her body so that she was turned more toward him. With growing excitement, he brought his tongue into play. She emitted a breathy moan as she opened her mouth in acceptance. He moved the hand touching her cheek to cup the back of her head, holding her steady as he began to taste her in earnest. He felt her hands on his chest, one of them gripping the front of his jacket tightly.

He shifted his own body slowly, and in doing so realized just how uncomfortably tight his jeans were getting. Okay, this was getting out of hand. Kissing her was one thing, but he was not going to fuck her out here in the wilderness. He pulled back, huffing out a soft laugh as she tried to follow him.

"Rey," he gasped softly, getting her attention.

She opened her eyes, and even in the dim light from the remaining fire he could see the dazed look on her face. He closed his eyes and licked his lips, trying to control his physical reaction. "We should get some sleep," he ground out.

When he opened his eyes again, she was sitting up straight once more, nodding. "Yeah," she breathed.

"Can we…" he paused. "Can we continue this when we get back to civilization?"

She looked at him, her expression surprised. Then she smiled. "Yeah," she nodded. "Yeah, we can continue this later."

Poe smiled back at her. "Okay," he said, then he stood. "I'm gonna…" He motioned back toward the bushes behind them, indicating his intent to go to the bathroom. And readjust himself, but he wasn't going to say that, either.

She nodded and looked away, biting her lower lip to keep herself from laughing. Yeah, she got it.

When he came back, she was already lying down on one of the larger blankets they had brought, a smaller one over her, and the other small one behind her, waiting for him. He settled down at her back, covering himself and resting his head on his pack, then he reached forward, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her back into him. She helped him, scooching over until her back was flush against his front. Within minutes he could feel her breathing even out. Just before he drifted off to sleep, he gave a thought that they should have been sleeping like this every night.

Morning came quickly, and with it the excitement of hopefully finally finding help. They each stole off into the bushes to take care of business, then they ate the last of their 'plane snacks.' Finally, they were good to go.

Poe led them in the general direction he thought the trail would continue, which was along the lakeshore heading southwest, and soon a very worn looking wooden sign post appeared with an arrow pointing slightly away from the lake and the amazing peaks behind it. They walked steadily for another fifteen minutes or so before the trail became visible once more, the rocky ground around the lake having prevented any such path from being seen. The sun rose higher in the sky and Poe was starting to get frustrated by the lack of other hikers. It was a popular trail. It was summer. Where was everyone?

They climbed up another rocky slope, panting as they reached the top. More beautiful scenery lay before them. Beautiful scenery with no people in sight.

He looked at Rey and she looked back at him, sighing. She looked as exhausted as he felt. They continued on, too tired to converse. One foot in front of the other, he thought.

At mid-morning, Rey stopped, staring at something on the ground. Poe moved next to her, looking down at the dried mud they stood on. A large paw print was embedded in the soil.

"That's as big as my hand," Rey whispered.

"Wolf or mountain lion?"

"There are no claw marks," Rey answered. "So, I'm assuming cat." She looked around them. "I don't think it's too recent. The mud has already dried."

"Yeah, but they're around," Poe grumbled. "Probably watching us, waiting for us to stumble."

Rey sighed. "That's not very encouraging."

"Yeah, it is," he grinned. "It's reminding us to keep moving."

So, they did.

It was early afternoon when they entered what appeared to be a small canyon. A lovely creek was flowing and the plant life was green and verdant, much different from the scrub-like bushes and evergreens from the rocky parts of the trail. The water was clear and running cold, so he decided this would be a good place to refill their water bottles and take a break.

Rey didn't argue, and she immediately found a shady spot and sat down, leaning back against a tree trunk.

"You okay?" he asked, concerned. Even tired, she usually maintained a certain level of energy that invigorated him.

She nodded, then rubbed at her cheek. He realized with a start the she was wiping away a tear. He moved toward her quickly, reaching for her.

"Hey, hey, hey!" he said as he grabbed her gently by the wrists, pulling her back on her feet. "None of that," he whispered as he pulled her into his arms. "We're almost there."

She wrapped her arms tight around him, burying her face in his neck. "You don't know that," she mumbled. "We could be days away."

He shook his head. "I don't think this trail is that long."

"Then why haven't we seen anybody else?"

"I don't know," he admitted, bringing a hand up to smooth along her scalp, whispering into her hair.

He felt her sigh heavily, then she pulled back just enough to look at him. "I'm sorry. I'm just so tired."

"I know," he nodded, reaching up to tuck a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. "You've been so strong," he told her, his voice shaking. "You've kept me strong. You have every right to gripe." He brought his lips up to her forehead and kissed her gently. "Just don't stop."

She nodded slightly as he let his forehead drop to touch hers. They stood like this for a moment, then she brought her face up, nuzzling her nose against his. She looked at him, her expression pleading, and he couldn't resist. Like the night before, he brought his lips to hers, and she met him without hesitation.

As the sun shone hot upon them and the creek babbled happily beside them, they kissed once more.

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