“So? You wanted me to come on you. I did. It’s time for bed.”
“What?” I roll all the way over.
“You can come when you stop talking back to me.”
“Um, excuse me sir, but I have hands that work very well.”
“I’m sure they do, but I don’t sleep that deep. You try finishing yourself off before morning.” He rolls me back over and spoons me. I stare into the darkness and think about all the ways out of this. My mind is still turning over, but my body eventually gives up. I hate this game, but I can’t stop myself from wanting to play it so badly. I let out a rageful sigh and sag against him. I’ve never been more annoyed with a spent cock pressing against my ass in my whole life.
“Atta girl,” he says. I almost reconsider the blaze and the K9 theft.
Fourteen
Shep
Ican’t rememberthe last time I’ve woken up feeling so smug, but I get some extreme pleasure from sending Claudia to bed wet and unsatisfied. I am not sure whether or not she’s broken the only rule I’ve set for her, but the few times I wake during the night and she’s peacefully sleeping in my arms or curled up against my side, her hands are nowhere near her crotch.
I’m still pissed at Jad for the shit he pulled over dinner, but Claudia is a nice distraction and I try not to think of that in all the ways it could be shitty. Her presence calms me and for the time being it's nice to remember there are other people who don't live on the mountain. I don't mind the sex all that much either.
My alarm goes off at its usual time. I sit up, then roll to the other side of the bed and wake her up. She jerks a little, but doesn't try to punch or elbow me. Definitely an improvement.
“Baby, wake up.”
“Hey,” she says, still groggy. “I’m up. What are we doing?”
“Every morning I go out and photograph different parts of the mountain. You’re coming with me.”
“Okay.”
She shuffles to the edge of the mattress and stands. I watch her as she gets her bearings and starts digging through her things.
I sit on the edge of the other side of the bed and don't realize I'm staring at her until she turns and looks at me.
“What?”
“I’m not gonna lie. I was starting to like the way you always argue with me. I didn't expect you to come along so willingly.”
Maybe she’s finally settled into the time difference and she’s too tired to argue. It is well before dawn. She goes into the bathroom and when she comes back I can smell the mint of her toothpaste coming off of her. I pull on my socks and watch her as she puts lotion on her face.
“Push back turning you on?” she says as she slips on her bra.
“A little bit.”
“I mean, I can make today a living hell for you, you just say the word, Master Shep.”
I pull on my shirt and walk over to her as she's hopping into her jeans.
“I'll think about it. Coffee sound good?”
“Yes please.”
I finish getting ready. We have our coffee and we head out. We head west again and I lead Claudia down the trail. She doesn’t say much, but I do laugh when she jumps at the sound of a screech owl. She slaps my arm and laughs quietly when she realizes she’s not in mortal danger. She finally speaks up though when we hit the clearing.
“This is where we came the other day.”
“Yeah.” I hand her Titus’s leash and set my gear down on the rock ledge. There’s still another fifteen or so minutes before sunrise. “I'm doing a series for the forest service and the Smithsonian called New Day. I've been photographing sunrises for almost five years.”
“Jesus. Is there an end point?”
