Chapter 3: Muck & Moss

I led the way up the trail, Mount Rainier’s snow-capped peak stabbing the sky ahead of me like a jagged blade. Towering firs and cedars hemmed us in, their needles softening the ground under my boots with a quiet, earthy crunch. My short-cropped grey hair prickled with sweat, and I felt the mountain air bite at my freckled skin. It was a warm day, the kind that made you forget these slopes ever saw snow, and I’d convinced Coco to join me for a hike—my itch for the outdoors meeting her hunger for a thrill. She trailed behind, her long, silver mane swaying, a wild contrast to the rugged stillness around us.

We broke into a meadow, and I stopped short, the sight stealing my breath. Avalanche lilies speckled the grass, their white petals nodding in the breeze, fragile against the raw sprawl of the mountain. Beyond them, Rainier loomed—huge, timeless, its glaciers glinting like frozen veins under the sun, a silent giant cradling the horizon. “Check that out,” I said, turning to Coco. “Worth the haul, right?”

She grinned, her tawny skin glowing, her green tank top hugging her toned curves. “Oh, it’s stunning, Ginger. Almost as good as the view I got last week at 3rd Culture—your cock in my hand.” She winked, adjusting her backpack, and I laughed, the sound bouncing off the slopes.

“Keep that up, and I’ll dare you to flash the lilies,” I teased, stepping closer. “Give ‘em a show—the girls deserve some air.”

Coco smirked, tugging her tank top’s hem. “You first, big guy. Let’s see that furry ass dance in the breeze.” She darted past me, her thick mane bouncing, and I chased her through the meadow, the lilies brushing our legs. We tumbled to a stop at the edge, breathless, the air thick with pine and her spicy scent.

“Alright,” I said, wiping sweat from my brow. “New dare—top of that rise, you show me the girls. Deal?”

“Only if you drop trou first,” she shot back, eyes glinting. “I wanna see that red bush in the wild.”

We scrambled up the trail, the meadow fading to rocky outcrops and twisted pines, Rainier’s mass looming nearer. At a scenic overlook, I yanked off my shirt, tossing it aside with a grin. “Your move.”

Coco laughed, lifting her tank top slow and teasing, flashing her gorgeous golden breasts—nipples crinkling in the cool air. “Happy now?” she asked, then froze, her gaze dropping to my shorts. “Your turn.”

I smirked, unzipping and shoving them down, my untrimmed red pubes springing free. She clapped, whistling. “A-plus, Ginger. Now, about exploring new paths...” She trailed off, glancing at my ass, then back at me, a blush creeping up her olive cheeks.

“What’s that mean?” I asked, stepping closer, shorts still tangled around my ankles.

She bit her lip, hesitant. “You ever ... you know, go deeper? Back there?” She patted her own generous ass, then giggled softly. “My popo. Been curious about it, but I’m not ready yet. Still too wild.”

Something shifted in her tone—softer, unsure. I could’ve pushed, made a joke, but instead I just nodded.

“I’m game if and when you are,” I said. “No pressure—plenty of other trails to hike first.”

She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thanks. You’re good at that. Not pushing.”

Before I could answer, the sky darkened, a fat raindrop smacking my nose. Then another. “Shit,” I muttered, glancing up as clouds churned over Rainier’s peak. “The mountain makes its own weather—should’ve known.”

Coco yelped as the downpour hit, soaking us in seconds. We bolted for a rocky overhang, its shallow cave barely shielding us from the deluge. Her tank top clung to her skin, outlining every curve, her nipples poking sharp against the wet fabric. My shirt plastered to my freckled chest, water streaming down. We pressed together under the rock, breathless, the rain a thundering curtain beyond.