We jump into a cab to take us to the hiking spot.
Nikki sits in the front as she knows where to go, and the rest of us squeeze in the back. Javi offers to sit in the middle, his leg pressing against mine. I can feel him gently and subtly push against me. He moves his leg that was on Dave’s side up to the middle floor mount, then crosses his arms across his knees. His fingertips graze the top of my thigh in the process. A position that appears innocent from anyone else in the cab. But to me, this will be the start of a hike with subtle, secret touches. It’s going to be his game. His touch sends sparks through me that I find hard to ignore.
Twenty-minutes later, we get to the hiking trail and pile out of the car. Nikki arranges for the cab to be back at a certain time to take us back to the hotel.
“This hike is a loop and lets us out at the same place. It will take a few hours. We’ll get to a cliff lookout and then back here,” Nikki explains.
We begin to walk with Nikki leading the way, then Dave, Javi, and me at the back.
The hike starts off fine. No funny business from Javi.
We come up upon a large tree with low branches of white flowers.
“Oh! Magnolias! These smell wonderful!” Nikki exclaims and stops to bring a branch down to her nose to smell them. Dave approaches her and she moves it to his nose.
Javi stops in front of me and brings a branch down to his nose.
“Mmm, you’ve got to smell this, Sophia,” he says as he grabs my hand to get me closer. He brings the flower to my nose, still holding my hand.
I inhale the delightful floral scent, my eyes closing. It does smell wonderful.
I feel Javi’s fingers trail up and down my arm. I open my eyes to see him watching me.
I crinkle my nose at him and ask, “And what do you think you are doing?” with a half smiling.
“Why, nothing at all,” he replies, his fingertips continuing.
“Let’s keep walking,” I suggest, motioning him forward to follow the path.
He lets go of the branch, prompting loose flowers to shower down in a white petal storm over us.
He gestures his arm out, “After…me,” and then walks ahead of me again, adhering to my elevator request.
We all continue on. Nikki and Dave start walking a little ahead of us, Nikki’s excited pace forgetting us for a moment. Javi takes this opportunity to play up again. He reaches his hands to the back of his waistband and slips his pants down, exposing half of his tight ass. I am mesmerised, watching his ass take each stride. The muscles firming and stretching with each step up as we ascend some makeshift rock stairs. Imagining what that ass looks like in bed with me. Firm and confident thrusts, reaching further into me with each movement. Hitting me just where I am most—
He suddenly stops, causing me to run into the back of him, taking advantage of my distracted mind. My hands instinctively rise up to brace myself, but end up on his exposed ass.
“Excuse me, ma’am! Keep your hands to yourself!” he whispers, feigning mock indignation, quickly pulling his pants up. Taking advantage of our proximity, he leans down to my ear and continues, “And your thoughts to this lovely walk!” His warm breath skates down my neck, sending goosebumps down my arms.
I shake my head and quietly laugh.
Fucking hell, this is going to be a tough hike. He is not going to making it easy for me. He’s all about the flirty fun.And I feel a little giddy at the secrecy.
Nikki and Dave slow to look at some wildlife in the nearby brush. When we walk again, Nikki and I take off first while Dave and Javi trail behind us.
“This is such a beautiful hike, Nikki. Thanks for inviting me. I feel like I am actually doing something productive on a day off!” I say.
“You guys all work so hard, it’s understandable to want to flake out on days off,” Nikki reply.
Nikki was fortunate to be a partner who can travel with us when she wants. She is a writer, so she can do that anywhere. She and Dave are also my closest friends, but I haven’t dared confess to them what I have been up to lately. They are both always asking about my personal life and if I want them to set me up with anyone, but I always say no, focusing on my career is my priority.
“Yeah, this is true.” I take in all the different trees, the edges of the mountains peeking through them in the distance, a promise of what we are walking towards.
“You know, when we ran into Javi and told him what we were up to today, he practically bowled us over when we said you were coming with us. He didn’t hesitate to run up to your room to collect you,” she offers.
Wow, Javi. Not subtle at all.
I internally face palm.
