Waterfalls
by Darla Michaels

"Come on, Jolene. You can do it!" Jeff's voice was encouraging and his face wore the boyish grin that she loved so much. "It's not that bad, and I'll help you."

He saw the red flags on her cheeks, and the long strands of auburn hair that had managed to work their way out of the ponytail that kept the rest of her thick mane subdued.

Jolene sighed and looked up at him standing in front of her. He looked as fresh as the moment they'd stepped out of the car two hours before. Her eyes lingered on his long muscular legs before she dragged them up to his handsome face. She was exhausted, but she stood back up, ignoring the way her legs felt like rubber and her heart thudded in her chest. Why on earth had she let him talk her into this stupid hike? She shook her head and admitted the truth to herself; she'd wanted to spend as much time as she could with him before he had to go back home. Four hundred miles were too far to go very often.

"Okay Jeff, I'm coming. But can we take it a bit more slowly? I'm not used to this."

She put her hand in his outstretched one, and he reached down to kiss her lightly on the lips. She felt a tiny thrill and smiled to herself. Yes, she'd crawl all over this stupid mountain just to spend some time with him.

She'd been waiting for his trip for weeks. They'd been friends for a year, corresponding daily through email and the occasional phone call. Jolene wasn't sure where their relationship was going, but the fluttering of her stomach from merely the thought of him was enough to convince her that she was beginning to want more than just friendship. Lately, the tone of their conversations had changed, and there were definite romantic undertones. She found herself fantasizing about him with increasing frequency, and sometimes fell asleep with her hand still resting warm between her thighs. She still marveled that her emotions had gotten so tangled up in this young man.

"Look over there, isn't that amazing?" Jeff pointed to a spot just off to his left, and Jolene strained to make out what he was pointing to.

"Um, Jeff," she looked back and forth over the rise, but didn't see what had captured his attention, "I don't see what you're talking about."

"The waterfall." He stood behind her and took her head in his hands, facing her in the right direction. "Right over there."

All of a sudden it was there. She didn't know how she missed it, but now saw the silver water tumbling over rocky outcrops and falling into a pool at the bottom.

"Oh wow," she breathed, "that's gorgeous." She turned to ask if they could take a closer look, but Jeff was already three or four steps away with an excited look on his face.

"Come on, sweetheart, let's go."

Jolene grinned, moaned, and once again started walking.

The falls were magnificent from close up. Three separate rivers converged halfway down the steep cliff and became a roaring flood. They stood at the edge of the pool and felt a light mist bathe their faces. When Jeff put his arm around Jolene's waist, she smiled and leaned back against him.

"This is fabulous. Thank you so much for bringing me up here with you." She spoke softly, though her body was on fire where it touched his lean length.

He turned toward her and placed a fingertip beneath her chin, lifting her face to his. His eyes were half-closed, and he settled his mouth warm and wet over hers. The sensations were indescribable. She wasn't sure whether or not to respond; all her old inhibitions came flooding back. She wanted to succumb to the raging desire his touch inflamed, but was so afraid of rejection. She worried that she wasn't what he wanted in a woman, only as a friend.

His gentle lips teased hers, and his warm breath fanned against her cheeks. She just let go. Her lips softened and opened beneath his searching tongue. Jeff toyed with her lips, sucking lightly before tracing them with the tip of his tongue. She trembled with desire as the kiss deepened, and he pulled her even closer.

Where was her "friend" now? He'd been replaced by the man who haunted her dreams and fueled her fantasies as she lay moaning and squirming in her bed at night, while her fingers took on the role of a lover. Time seemed to suspend, and she was no longer aware of the roar of the waterfalls nearby. She was lost in that special place deep down inside a woman where thoughts aren't allowed, and only emotions survive.

After a lifetime, he raised his head. His eyes were glazed, and the length of his erection pressed warm and thick along her right hip. She couldn't help it; she smiled smugly to herself, knowing she'd affected him as much as he'd affected her.

"Let's go for a swim." His voice was not quite steady, and when he grasped her hand, Jolene felt a tiny tremor.

"I'd love to." She deliberately lifted her damp t-shirt over her head and tossed it onto a convenient rock. She watched his face as she reached back, unclasped her bra and tossed it in the general direction of her shirt. She smiled when his eyes darkened, and he sucked in his breath. Her nipples were hard and aching as she stood before him in only her shorts and hiking boots. She bent over and pulled off her boots and socks. Her look seemed to challenge him before she laughed and sprinted toward the pool at the bottom of the falls.

She stopped only long enough to yank down her shorts and panties, calling over her shoulder, "Last one in buys dinner!"

She'd left Jeff with his shorts, socks and boots on, and thought she had the race won hands down. She was wrong. He ran past her. His bare, tight buttocks flashed with every step, and he dove cleanly into the crystal clear water. Jolene just stood at the edge, watching his form rise from the depths of the pool.

"Argh! Damn, that's cold!" Jeff yelled as he surfaced in the middle of the water.

She couldn't help it -- she started to laugh. He struck out for where she stood and finally rose to his feet. He looked fantastic as his long, lean, body moved up the slope to stand in front of her. He seemed unaware that he was naked. She shivered as he took her into his cool arms. She stopped laughing. He pulled her tight for a moment, then looked deeply into her eyes. She stood mesmerized. Then, very calmly, very lovingly, he spun her around, and pushed her into the freezing water.

She felt all the air sucked from her lungs as the icy water closed over her head. She should have expected it. They'd made a game out of getting the other off-guard with flirting or kissing, then ending the game with tickling or pouncing. Of course, that had only been through email, and so she was stunned when he threw her in.

"Jeff! Oh God, that's so cold." Her body was covered in gooseflesh, and her nipples were as hard as the pebbles beneath their feet. Her teeth chattered, and her thick hair streamed icy trails down her back. She got out of the water immediately and stood shivering in the sun - arms clasped tightly around her breasts.

"You jerk," she muttered, "that wasn't fair." She allowed her full bottom lip to quiver slightly, and watched, fascinated, as Jeff just melted in front of her eyes.

"Ah, I'm sorry, baby. I shouldn't have done that. Here, let me warm you up."

He pulled her close, and ran his hands briskly up and down every inch of her arms and upper torso. When his fingertips found her breasts, they slowed. Softly, he caressed her tingling flesh—drawing just the edges of his fingernails over her puckered aureole, and then finally her aching nipples.

She felt almost dizzy from the effects of sun, exertion and pure naked desire as it flooded through her body. She wanted him. She wanted to drop to her knees and nuzzle her face between his parted thighs, to feel his cock harden against her cheek as she kissed his warm sack. She was almost frantic with the need to feel him lay with her. But the only outward sign that she felt any of this, was when her knees weakened, and she sagged against his strong body.

His mouth moved to her hairline, dropping tiny, slow kisses along the wet hair. She tilted back her head in invitation, and he took it. His mouth was hot in contrast to their still-cold skin as he kissed her deeply, passionately. Their tongues danced lightly, exploring each unique flavor.

The touch of his hand to her buttocks sent shivers down her spine, and when he cupped her right cheek and pulled her closer, she felt the thrust of his cock against her stomach. Ah, yes, he was as aroused as she was.

"I want to make love to you, Jolene. I've wanted to since the moment I saw you standing at the train station. Well, before that actually, since the very first time I heard your voice. But if you're not ready, if it's not what you want, then for God's sake, tell me now. I'm not sure I'll be able to stop if we go any further." His voice was ragged with desire, and his eyes were intent on hers.

Jolene shook her head slightly to clear some of the haze of desire. She wanted him to know that she was making this decision fully aware. She took a deep breath and slowly nodded. To insure he didn't misunderstand, she curled her fingers around his cock and squeezed lightly.

His response was immediate and satisfying as he groaned and dropped his mouth to her breast, sucking it hungrily as his tongue moved quickly over the rigid tip. Jolene felt the fire racing down her spine at his greedy touch.

She found herself spread out on the lush, fragrant grass with Jeff's body poised above her. The back of his head blotted the intensity of the sun, and made him appear to have a sort of corona surrounding his thick, wavy hair.

As he bent to kiss her, his knee nudged her thighs apart, and he pushed slowly inside. Her body opened, and with that first easy thrust, she felt as though he was coming home - to her.

They moved easily together while their tongues stroked and lips sucked. Eager flesh met insistent, Jeff watching her intently the entire time, smiling at the flickers of pure pleasure in her eyes.

Her body seemed to have been designed with him in mind - expanding when necessary, and contracting when demanded. Their bodies warmed against each other, and made their movements easier, smoother.

The roar of the waterfall was suddenly loud in her ears as Jeff moved deeper, faster. She wrapped her legs around his waist and dug her heels into his firm buttocks, urging him on. Desperate hands clung to his strong shoulders as the feelings welled up inside of her and threatened to explode.

"Jeff, oh yes . . . " her words more whimpered than spoken, " . . . I can't take much more - please?"

"Come with me, baby." His mouth covered hers as he made one last mighty shove into her.

The glare of the sun was blinding as she rode the crest of her passion, tumbling downward, only to rise back to the pinnacle then splinter into thousands of pieces.

Jeff's coarse groan filled her ears just as her body relaxed its tight grip, and she felt him shudder and spin into his own orgasm. She loved the look on his face as the warm spurts of his seed flowed into her accepting body. He looked as if he'd never felt anything like their experience before - as if all his life he'd waited for her, and she him. Somehow, she knew her own expression had matched his.

When it was over, she still stroked his sweaty back, murmuring nonsense into his ear as their heartbeats slowed and steadied. His lips nuzzled her earlobe and his breath was warm on her face.

"I love you, Jolene. I have for a long time. I know you probably think I'm just saying that because we just made love, but that's not it. I know that I'm happiest when we're together, even just over the phone. You fill my life with color. I love you."

Jolene stilled beneath him, her thoughts spinning as she considered his words, and her own reaction to them. She'd been in love with him for months, but was afraid that it was all one-sided. There were so many obstacles to their love, the distance only being one. But she realized that they weren't insurmountable, as long as they had this incredible love.

"The words 'I love you' don't seem enough to tell you what I feel for you, Jeff, but they're all I have. I never dreamed you'd feel the same way, but thank God you do."

Her eyes told him they had lots of things to talk about, and his almost imperceptible nod indicated that he knew, but the talking would come later. Right then was reserved for exploration and kindling this new facet of their relationship.

He tugged her to her feet, and once again, they stood arm and arm, and watched the rushing waterfalls.