Heat Waves Read Online Free PDF Page A

filled with the earthy scents of nature. I
reach behind the driver's seat and pick up my backpack, which is
heavy with water and treats. Slipping my arms through the straps, I
wonder if I’ve brought too much before shrugging my shoulders and
cinching down the straps.
    “Ready?” I turn to you as you arrange your
hair under a baseball cap and smile.
    With a nod, you reply, “Yep. I'm eager to see
what is so special about this hike you picked out.”
    We are heading towards the trailhead’s brown
wooden sign, carved with the words 'Heaven's Pools' , filled
in with yellow paint so it is clearly visible.
    “It's going to be a long walk with quite a
bit of elevation gain, however, it ends at 'Heaven's Pools' ,
which is supposed to be just amazing!”
    “A little long? What's that mean? Two hours?
Six hours?” We walk past the sign, and the forest abruptly
surrounds us, a rocky dirt path beckoning us further.
    “About two or so hours up, and an hour and a
half back down.”
    “That's never a good sign, an hour difference
there versus back. Some serious elevation gain, huh?”
    “Yeah, a little more than we've done in the
past, about one thousand four hundred feet—over seven point two
miles. Besides, you like it when you make me gain elevation.”
    I hear you grumble a little bit as we leave
the parking lot behind. Walking along the slightly overgrown path,
I can hear your breathing relax as you inhabit the meditative zone
hiking brings about. The red blazes painted on the trees make it
easy to follow the trail, even where the grasses and moss have
begun to cover the path. I hope that the soft trail and the
promised reward will make the journey worth it in the end.
    We continue along at a good clip until we get
to our first obstacle, a fallen tree. It is just large enough to be
a nuisance, with enough branches that we need to think before we
pass by.
    We walk over to the right side, and I hug the
trunk and swing myself underneath the branch, my feet sliding on
the dirt and my hand sliding against the bark. I try to hide my
discomfort under a veil of masculinity, however, you can tell it
burns a little, based on how I rub the dirt off me.
    Concentrating, you turn around and bounce up
so you are sitting on the trunk. With the protection of your shorts
you swing one leg up and over the log. You turn to me and wink,
your hands flat on the tree between your legs. Then, you flip your
other leg over, lift your chin a bit, and smile, satisfied at how
much better your plan was.
    I walk over to your side and you wrap your
arm around my shoulder. You hop up and then slide down the log,
your body running delightfully against mine. After you hit the
ground and stand up straight again, your shoulder is right in the
crook of my arm, your breast pressed against my ribcage. I lean
down and look into your sparkling eyes. You wrap your arm around my
waist, flash a mischievous smile, and lean your head back. As I
lean down to kiss you, one of your pixie laughs escapes, and you
twirl away from me, your fingertips trailing slowly across my
crotch as you disappear ahead of me.
    “Can't take a break yet, we have too far yet
to go.” Your voice is playful as you continue up the trail.
    I can still smell the lingering scent of your
shampoo as I follow up the trail. I do a quick jog to catch up with
you, and then I'm right behind you once again. “I want to go so far
with you…,” my voice trailing off. You shoot a look over your
shoulder, and immediately notice that I'm taking in the view of
your amazing ass. With a snort you turn back around, shaking your
ass seductively.
    As we keep walking down the trail, the path
gets steeper and more rugged. You slow your pace, and, secretly,
I'm a little thankful. The going is not terrible but it is
certainly getting tougher.
    Huffing in response to the strain, you mange
to collect enough breath to talk. “Gosh, this is so much harder
than our usual hikes. I hope that this one is worth