I can still feel her hands pressing into my chest. The faint trace of her perfume lingered… The ghost of Abby in that blue summer dress… she haunted me.

Weeks stretched since her beautifully complicated visit. And every time that Tuesday on the couch came to mind, I kept coming back to the same conclusion… it wasn’t finished.

I felt different. Guilty, definitely… but also younger. More alive than I had in years.

The world seemed sharper. Colors were brighter. Sounds were clearer. Hell, even food tasted better.

But it didn't last long.

The warm nights of late spring had returned. Open windows carried the faint sounds of tree frogs from the woods beyond the yard, a quiet reminder that life was moving forward whether I was ready for it or not.

A dull kind of normal crept in. Family drama, work schedules. My world lost some of its shine. As wrong as it was, I needed a little more Abby in my life.

I’m sure things had settled for her too, as the chats decreased once she safely made it home.

Of course, the nervous flutter in my stomach, that hadn’t faded since our goodbye kiss.

It was a soft, tender kiss that tasted like rain. Lips barely touching like a whisper, then pressing firmer. Mouths slightly open, allowing our tongues to gently swirl and dance. Her arms wrapped around my back, one hand resting on my head. Mine found her waist. She strained upwards, standing on her toes.

That stayed with me.

We still messaged, but there was a difficult space between the messages. I would send something, then check my phone whenever I had a chance, half hoping it was still unopened.

As long as it was unopened, I knew she was probably busy.

Back at work, another out-of-town job came up. My boss called me into his office, since I'm the go-to guy for these jobs.

Looking over the details on the job sheet, I realized it was in Abby’s hometown.

What are the odds?

When my boss asked if I'd be up for it, I couldn't say yes fast enough.

I hadn’t even reached my truck yet, phone already in my hand, trying to think of what to send.

Surprise or guess what…

I pulled open the door and stared at her name a few seconds before typing a quick message, “Funny coincidence. Work’s sending me to your area for a couple days next week.”

Days dragged by with no reply. But I was okay with it. Abby had a life outside of me, and I really understood that.

Besides, I was getting away from home for a couple of days. It would be a nice change of pace.

Two days before my trip, I woke up to find her message waiting.

She had sent it an hour earlier, wanting to know what days I would be there.

I hastily sent back the details. Where I’d be staying and working, when I’d arrive, and head home. Everything she'd possibly need.

God, I really hoped she'd be free.

But nothing. The message just sat, unopened.

The morning of my trip, with everything packed, I gave quick goodbyes to the family and hopped in my truck. I plotted the trip on Maps and pulled out of my driveway. I was hoping to make good time.

I easily beat the estimated three-hour travel time. And of course, I kept glancing at my phone looking for Abby’s reply the whole time.

I got to the job site early, met my contact, and even had a quick walkthrough of where I needed to install the new equipment.

I skipped lunch and installed everything in just a couple of hours. Years of ladders, crawlspaces, and tight attics had made jobs like this second nature, but the install was still surprisingly fast. Even for me.

I had the rest of the day completely free. But, no reply yet.

It’s okay, I thought, regardless of my nagging disappointment. I knew she had a lot going on.

I decided to grab a bite, find my hotel, and get checked in.

I took a quick shower to wash off the workday. Then I started exploring Maps on my phone, figuring out what sites I might go see while I was here.

While I was pinching and zooming, a quick ding sounded. The familiar icon at the top let me know she had finally seen my messages.

“Are you here?”

A smile spread across my face, but the butterflies were back.

I replied right away, telling her where I was and that I was thinking about going out to explore.

I asked if she wanted to join me, maybe hang out for the rest of the day.

The little notification at the bottom said Abby was typing, then it disappeared. A moment later, she was typing again.

They intently stared at my phone waiting, then her message finally dinged.

“I'm running errands right now, but I might be able to sneak away in a little while. Where you thinking about?”

I told her about a new electronics store I’d heard about, then mentioned swinging out to the overlook park we used to hike at years ago.

I’ve always loved being outdoors. Abby had joined me on plenty of those hikes, through the woods, nature reserves, old trails, even a few forgotten historical ruins.

She replied that she’d try to meet at the park and asked what time I was thinking.

I gave her an estimate, and she replied, “I'll try.”

I cracked a smile at the screen, hoping we’d at least get a little time together. Even if nothing came of it, just seeing her again would mean something.

My world grew a bit brighter.

I’d been here many times before, back when my job had me traveling all over the place, training customers on their new systems.

One of those trips came to mind as I drove away from the electronics shop.

She had met me at the hotel. We were going to meet with some other friends at a restaurant across the parking lot. Abby had worn a mint green dress that day, and she’d been in a happy, playful mood.

At one point, she flopped down on the bed and moved to the center, sitting with her legs criss-crossed. I was at the small desk finishing something on my computer.

The hem of her dress had crept up, allowing more than a glimpse of her white panties. They were pulled tight, showing every shape of what was underneath.

I don't know why, but the shape of her pussy behind those panties has stuck with me for years.

I didn't act on every impulse during that time of my life. I was truly trying to be a good man. But in the years that followed, life had broken me down a bit. I'm not trying to defend myself, I'm just explaining…

I never really knew if it had been an accident or not. I like to think Abby was teasing me, seeing how far she could tempt me.

I smirked at the thought as gravel crunched under my tires in the trailhead parking lot.

There were a few cars, but not many. It seemed odd on such a beautiful day.

The sun was still high, with only a few clouds drifting across the sky. It was warm, but not the kind of heat early summer usually brings.

I briefly looked around the parking lot but didn’t notice her car. Then again, there were a couple of different parking areas.

Ding.

My phone went off as I tightened my shoes for the hike.

With sweaty hands, I grab my phone. My heart started racing.

Her name lit up the screen.

I hesitated before opening the message. Part of me, the older man, hoped she couldn’t make it. That would keep life a lot simpler.

But the other side of me, the impulsive young man still kicking and yelling inside, hoped she was on her way.

I gritted my teeth and opened the message.

It was a selfie, the camera angled from above. Abby was looking into the lens with pouty eyes and a devilish smile. Her hair was pulled back with a pink hair tie. A white tank top was pulled tight across her breasts, revealing every curve.

Behind her stood a trail marker where the path split in two.

A message followed, “Do you know where I am?”

Thinking for a few seconds, I was almost certain I knew where that trail split was.

I quickly finished tying my shoes and shut the truck door, glancing at myself in the side mirror, making sure I was presentable. The wrinkles around my eyes caught my attention, and I wondered what she saw when she looked at me.

With keys in my pocket and my phone in hand, I eagerly started up the trail.

My knees protested for the first few steps like they often do, but they loosened up a bit once I got moving.

I sent her a quick reply, asking a dumb question.

“You’re actually here?”

The little bubble popped up, letting me know she’d seen the message, but she didn’t respond.

The split was about half a mile up the trail. It felt like it only took a couple of minutes to get there at the pace I was keeping.

When I reached the worn wooden marker, Abby was nowhere in sight.

I looked around, listening. The woods were alive with their usual sounds. Birds chirping, squirrels chattering, and the distant voices of hikers somewhere further up the trail.

I pretended to be cool as I studied the ground, seeing if I could pick out her footprints somewhere, but there were just too many.

Most of the tracks seemed to head off to the right, which made sense. That was the direction I’d heard the other hikers. It's a much wider path and flatter.

I was beginning to wonder if she was messing with me… but she wouldn’t do that.

Up the trail to the left, something cream-colored caught my eye on a rock. For a second, I wondered if someone had spilled a milkshake or left a napkin behind.

As I unlocked my phone to send her a message, I noticed she was typing.

I impatiently waited for her message to come through, glancing around the trail for any sign of her.

Ding.

“Look for clues.”

Amused, I chuckled and scanned the woods again, wondering where she was hiding. Behind a tree… maybe a rock. I love her, especially when she's mischievous.

My eyes drifted back to the cream-colored object I’d noticed in the distance.

I began casually walking up the less-traveled path toward the large rock.

As I got closer, it clicked. The shape registered.

A pair of cream-colored satin panties. Unmistakably the same ones I remembered from just a few weeks before.

They hadn't been dropped there. They had been placed carefully.

I bent down, picking them up. My back gave a small reminder that it had seen better years, but the smooth satin sliding through my fingers pushed the pain away.

Holding the panties stirred more than just feelings deep inside of me.

I rolled them in my hand as I scanned the dense woods around me.

She could be watching me from anywhere.

The trail ahead was narrow, more overgrown than I remembered. The path curved as it began to climb.

I started up it, slipping the panties into my back pocket.

Another twenty feet or so up the trail, something pink dangled from a low-hanging branch just off the path.

Still scanning for Abby, I reached the bright pink object. It was a hair tie hooked over the branch. It had to be the one from her selfie.

I slipped it free and tucked it into my hip pocket as I continued up the path.

A twig snapped somewhere off to my right, breaking the silence.

I turned just in time to see a whitetail deer standing among the trees, watching me carefully.

A couple of squirrels began chattering at each other as they scrambled down a nearby tree.

The deer suddenly bolted, leaping over a fallen branch and disappearing deeper into the woods.

Fallen leaves rustled on the dirt trail behind me.

Before I could turn, fingers gripped me just above my hips and began tightly squeezing. I jumped forward, spinning around, bursting out in laughter.

Abby’s voice came from behind me, amused.

“Still ticklish?”

“Oh my God, you suck,” I laughed, reaching out to hug her.

It was a friendly, awkward hug that lasted only a few seconds.

God, she was beautiful. Her dark hair was down now, unlike in the selfie.

She wore walking shoes and blue denim cut-off shorts, the loose white threads brushing against her smooth thighs. And that tight tank top.

A broad smile spread across her face as she continued giggling.

She looked almost innocent standing there. Playful. Young. It was as if all these years hadn't passed.

I raised an eyebrow, remembering the panty clue. I pulled them from my pocket and held them up near my face. I looked at them for a few seconds, then back at her.

“Did you… lose something?”

She stepped closer, placing her hand over mine. She just held it there, looking into my eyes. Then she gently pushed my hand down, guiding the panties back into my pocket.

“You should hang onto them… for now.”

Her hand stayed in my back pocket, even after I pulled mine away.

We both edged closer, and I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her against me.

I lowered my head, and we kissed lightly.

Now that's a proper hello, I thought.

When the kiss broke, I rested my forehead against hers.

A faint sigh escaped her, almost contemplative.

With my aging eyes, she was slightly out of focus, but I could still see the longing in her expression.

She pulled back, her hand still in my pocket, gently squeezing my butt.

“So how are you doing?” she asked.

I pressed my lips together, knowing the answer was complicated.

“I'm good,” I finally offered. “I want to know about you… How are you feeling after our last… visit?”

She pulled her hand from my pocket, leaving the panties there, and looked down at her feet for a moment before lifting her eyes back to mine.

“I've thought about it a lot,” she said softly. Then her serious expression eased back into a faint smile. “We're definitely not doing that again,” she joked.

I smiled at the thought of what had happened last time. “That was all you, babe,” giving a slight wink.

“You ass,” she quipped.

She turned and started walking up the path, and I fell in beside her.

“I love you,” she began. “But I don't want to mess things up like we did before. I don't want things to get crazy again.”

I understood. I really did. We had a complicated situation many years ago, and I think it nearly broke both of us.

“I don't want to stop… but I don't want to hurt anybody else.”

Abby moved ahead of me, leading the way as we climbed over the rocks toward the ledge overlooking the valley.

“It's strange,” I said, searching for decent footing.

“What's strange?” she asked.

“Loving two people at once.”

She paused, looked back at me, and smiled. I wondered if I had ever said that to her before.

“I know,” Abby replied as she started up the rocks again. “Let’s not complicate it.”

“Agreed!” I said, grimacing at the hints of pain as we climbed over the loose rocks. I felt like I’d aged a lot since the last time I was here.

“Where you taking me?” I nearly groaned.

“You know where we're going,” she teased.

I did.

Abby was a few feet ahead of me, calculating a path over the loose rocks. She bent, grabbing a tree root for leverage. The movement arched her back, and the denim shorts tightened across her hips.

Her ass was right there in front of me, beautifully framed by those damn cut-offs. The muscles in the back of her thighs tightened as we climbed.

Staring at her rear end, the seam of her shorts pulled tight between her cheeks, I actually forgot about my pains.

She turned her head, looking over her shoulder. A faint blush highlighted her cheeks as she smiled.

She knew.

Abby turned back toward the hill, picking her way through the rocks. I followed behind her, trying to keep my composure, but my eyes kept drifting back.

I wasn’t doing a very good job.

The hill finally leveled off. I tried not to let her see how sore I was, keeping my breathing shallow as I stepped up beside her.

Over the years she’d known me, there had been plenty of injuries. My job can be physically demanding. Miles of walking, climbing ladders, crawling through attics. I’ve stayed in shape, but years of that kind of work leaves its mark. I’d always tried to keep her from seeing me as vulnerable.

We stood close together, her shoulder leaning lightly against my arm as we looked out over the valley.

“I love this spot,” expressed Abby, resting her hand against mine. Not holding it, just touching.

It was so quiet there. No hiker voices, no cars. We seemed far away from the real world.

The view really was amazing. Miles of tall trees stretched across the landscape, birds drifting through the breeze.

And of course, Abby.

I think she realized I was still struggling as she turned toward me and placed her hand over my heart. Her eyebrows lifted.

“Wow… your heart is pounding.”

The corner of her mouth curled into a teasing smile.

“Maybe you should drink more water.”

Was that her messing with me? I didn’t have a comeback. I just gave a half-cocked smile as I stared into her gray eyes.

She moved closer, pressing her ear to my chest as I wrapped my arms around her, resting my head on hers. We stared off into the wilderness below.

Nothing felt rushed as we held each other on that smooth rock ledge. She lightly curled her fingers over my heart. I’m sure she was contemplating the next move just as hard as I was.

I wanted her so much, but I wasn’t going to push it.

Instead, I focused on my breathing, trying to calm the steady pounding in my chest.

Abby lifted her head and looked up into my eyes. I could see the longing.

I knew.

I tilted my head, and our lips met.

A soft, gentle kiss. Our tongues barely touched as her eyes closed.

Her hand still rested over my heart. The other slid up my back to the base of my head. Her fingers moved through my hair as the kiss deepened.

I gripped her waist, pulling her closer against me.

I instantly felt myself getting hard.

The kiss grew more intense as her hand left my chest, cautiously traveling downward. She began to feel and rub me through my shorts.

She broke the kiss but left her hand where it was. She stared into my eyes for several seconds.

Her fingers pressed a little firmer through the fabric of my shorts, feeling how much I wanted her.

I let out a quiet groan through a pressed-lip grin.

Abby’s expression said everything. No doubts about what she wanted in our quiet corner of the world.

Hell, we both wanted this. I felt like we needed it, like something unfinished from our past had finally come knocking. But there was still a trace of hesitation between us.

A warm breeze rose from the valley, carrying the scents of the forest and stirring her hair across my cheek. It almost seemed the world itself was urging us forward. I raised an eyebrow, and she tilted her lips toward mine.

I leaned in again, pressing my lips to hers.

My hand moved over her body, softly touching her breast before gliding over her smooth stomach, inching lower toward the top of her cut-offs.

With one hand, I unbuttoned her shorts and slid my fingers lower, only pausing when I realized she wasn’t wearing panties.

I pulled my lips back from hers just enough to look at her, our noses still nearly touching.

“You’re missing something,” I whispered.

Abby rolled her eyes and a playful smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

She gave my butt a light smack.

“Focus,” she whispered, then pushed her lips back to mine.

Her tongue pushed into my mouth as she gripped my arousal firmly.

Our kissing became desperate as my fingers found her pussy. A sigh escaped her, and she leaned into me, growing wetter under my touch.

The kiss faltered and she pulled back, resting her forehead against my shoulder as soft sounds left her lips. Her hand tightened around me, squeezing a little firmer as her breathing became uneven.

I leaned closer, my mouth near her ear.

“So is this… next time?” I whispered.

Her fingers fumbled with the button of my shorts.

“Don’t stop,” she whimpered.

I glanced around us, double- and triple-checking that we were truly alone, as I pushed my fingers deeper.

Abby tugged down the front of my shorts, her fingers wrapped around me. She began to move curiously, like she was relearning the shape of me.

The moment she touched me, my knees nearly gave out.

I shifted my weight, steadying myself.

Alternating between gentle circles and deeper exploration, my fingers continued a rhythm that made faint hums escape her whenever I hit the right spot.

My head lowered, kissing the nape of her neck and nibbling her earlobe. I slid two fingers between her folds, slipping into her tightness.

Her hand moved from my dick and settled over mine, guiding it, holding it. She shifted her hips forward into me. Her body trembled, her forehead still pressed firmly against my shoulder.

Her other hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me closer as her breath came in short, uneven bursts.

Abby pushed hard against my fingers as her body tensed.

“Oh my God… what are you doing to me?” she managed, her voice unsteady.

I felt her inner muscles flexing, squeezing against my fingers. She tilted her head up and kissed me with desperation, as if she’d been holding back until now.

Her hand slid back, wrapping her fingers around me with more force as she caught my lower lip between her teeth.

She stepped back, looking between us at her hand wrapped around me. That same teasing smile returned.

A quiet “mmm” slipped from her as her eyes lifted to meet mine.

She stroked me slowly, then knelt down. The sunlight caught in her dark hair as she leaned forward.

I tensed at the first touch of her lips.

She didn’t hesitate, her mouth opened around me. The way she swirled her tongue, the way she took her time. It was far from playful when her eyes lifted to mine, with half of my erection in her mouth.

I groaned as she settled into a rhythm. Not knowing what to do, I rested my hands on the sides of her head, my fingers tangled in her hair.

On the rock ledge, Abby knelt in front of me. The warm sun, the forest breeze… everything around me started to blur.

I looked up at the sky, then closed my eyes, trying to let my body relax. I focused on it, trying to ignore the pressure building inside me.

She knew.

Abby pulled back, giving me a final teasing kiss. She gave a few more deliberate strokes before standing and looking back up at me.

“We’re not done yet, handsome,” she whispered, her lips brushing mine.

She kept me right on the edge, in a way no one else ever could.

Briefly, we scanned the area, searching for somewhere that might suit what we both knew was coming.

Our eyes landed on the flat, car-sized limestone slab near the edge of the cliff. I briefly remembered us sitting there once, just watching the world below.

It wasn’t exactly a table, but it was close enough, and we both knew it.

I kissed her again, my hands sliding from her waist to her hips. We sidestepped awkwardly toward the slab without breaking the kiss, neither of us moving normally, dragging our feet and kicking up dust, Abby clutching her shorts to keep them from slipping.

She broke the kiss and bent to push them down, tugging one leg free over her shoe while the other stayed hooked. Then she hopped onto the rock table, caught my hand, and pulled me toward her.

Damn, she’s amazing, I thought, standing there, looking down at her.

My own shorts had fallen nearly to my thighs. She pulled my hips, drawing me closer. Her lips brushed my dick again before I sank down between her legs.

I kissed her knee, then along her thigh, working my way up. Her skin was warm, whether from the afternoon sun or everything building between us, I couldn’t tell.

She leaned back, lifting her feet onto the rock, her fingers threading through my hair as I met her folds with my lips.

She drew in a sharp breath, her fingers tightening in my hair, holding me there.

God… the way she tasted…

Faintly salty, her fresh scent consumed me. She was so hot and familiar.

Her thighs drew in around me, holding me there as soft sounds escaped her, growing stronger with each movement of my tongue.

“Anthony…” My name slipped from her lips, barely more than a whisper.

Fuck… I loved the way she said my name.

She spread her legs and pulled me up, urging me toward her. I shifted over her, bracing my hands against the warm stone until our lips met again.

I eased down against her, our bodies aligning as her legs wrapped closer around my hips.

The summer breeze drifted over us, the trees shifting gently, birds calling somewhere in the distance. Our half-naked bodies stretched out on the slab.

I just imagined some poor hiker out enjoying nature, coming up the hill to see that.

I shook that thought as our lips parted. Her tongue traced along mine, her hands still holding my face, keeping me close as our eyes closed.

“I can taste myself,” she said, almost more to herself than to me.

One of her hands slid from my face and moved down between us. I lifted slightly, giving her room.

Her hand wrapped around me, guiding me.

She urgently slid my head up and down her pussy, till she lined it up.

The real world faded away as I pushed in. It was just Abby and me. Nothing else mattered.

Her head tilted toward the sky, her back arched as her hips shifted beneath me. Her hand moved to the small of my back, pulling me closer, pressing me forward.

I let a deep growl escape, feeling her open for me.

Next time.

I started forward, relishing the softness, the heat. Only pausing when she tensed beneath me.

Her breath caught, her fingers pressing into my back, holding me there briefly. Not stopping me… just asking.

I stayed with her, letting the moment stretch, enjoying the feeling, the way she adjusted around me.

Then she shifted beneath me, subtle, but certain.

That was all I needed.

I moved again, slower this time, easing forward and letting her take me in at her own pace.

I pulled back a fraction, then forward again.

“Oh… God,” she exhaled.

Abby tilted her hips, encouraging me to keep going. I kept changing pace and angles, trying to prolong the inevitable for as long as I could.

She stared back into my eyes, her lips parted.

I was lost in her.

With one more push, she took as much of me as she could. An almost startled sound slipped from her lips. I stayed still, leaning down to brush my lips against hers again.

Then she began to move with me, encouraging me. Longer, deeper motions. Abby grew more vocal, her chest rising and falling with each movement.

She was gripping my waist, her legs wrapped around mine, pulling me into her.

Unexpectedly, I heard faint voices. It sounded like someone was below us.

Abby’s moans had been growing louder and I panicked, quickly covering her mouth, my eyes on hers.

As soon as I did, she heard them too.

The voices drifted up from below the cliff, hikers somewhere on the lower trail, not more than 60 feet or so from us.

We stayed still, listening, staring at each other, waiting.

God, I was so close… and by the look in her eyes, I knew she was too. It was nearly impossible to hold still.

I shifted slightly.

She bit her lower lip, fighting to keep quiet. I gave her a quick, apologetic smile.

The voices faded as they moved farther away.

I nearly forgot my hand was still over her mouth, and slid it down, my fingers brushing her cheek.

We didn’t look away, just stared into each other.

The voices finally disappeared into the forest.

I think we both giggled. Grown adults, worrying about being caught. It's not like they knew us, or could tell anybody that we knew.

It was actually a thrill, for me at least.

With the interruption gone, Abby pulled my head down.

“Well?” she begged.

I propped myself up on my elbows, shifting my angle. I pulled almost completely out, then pushed in hard, hard enough that she winced when I bottomed out, but she quickly gave an encouraging, “yes.”

Her hands pulled me forward with more force. I gave her everything I had.

She called me baby more than once.

I don't remember her ever being this wet before, this vocal. I don't remember us being this powerful.

I knew I was close again, right on the edge of that familiar cliff.

Her chest rose and fell, her hands pulling at my hips as she arched into me. I felt her tightening around me, drawing me deeper.

I felt my pulse in my temples, my heart pounding so hard I thought I could hear it.

I was worried I was going to drip sweat on her.

For a second, I wondered if her moans might carry through the forest… but the thought slipped away.

Abby’s eyes rolled back slightly, her mouth parting. “Fuck,” she uttered as I moved within her.

My release was building, a deep coiling low in my stomach, spreading outward, sparks hitting every nerve.

“Oh, I'm… coming,” she announced.

I had held it as long as I could, fighting it, but her words set me off. I pushed forward, deep and final, the pressure bursting through me like fireworks behind my eyes. I erupted deep inside of her.

A low, throaty growl escaped my chest.

Her legs had wrapped tighter around me, pulling me in as her body tensed, then trembled beneath me. I collapsed over her, feeling unsteady.

“That’s the Anthony I remember,” she exhaled, still clenching around me.

I didn’t want to move, but ended up beside her, on my side, my hand propping up my head. Abby turned, studying my face.

We didn’t say anything. We just stayed there, smiling, letting ourselves exist in the moment for as long as possible.

We knew.

We knew the world would find us soon enough.

She eventually reached over, tugging playfully at my beard.

“God, I’ve missed your face,” she said.

I smirked, then reached behind me, pulling her panties from my back pocket.

“I think you might want these.”

She shook her head and softly laughed.

“No,” she whispered. “You keep them… in case I need them later.”