The Washington mountains loomed like silent giants, their peaks dusted with late summer snow under a sky that bled twilight purples. Neal, his calves burning from six hours of relentless trail, trudged toward the Pine Hollow Hut, his pack heavy but his spirit light. At thirty-four, he was no stranger to the grind—his sporty frame, lean but not carved like some gym bro, was built for this: long hikes, fresh air, and the kind of solitude that made his soul hum. His dark hair was damp with sweat under his cap, and his hazel eyes scanned the wooden hut ahead, its windows glowing like a promise of rest.

Inside, the air smelled of pine and stew, the communal dining area buzzing with hikers swapping stories over chipped mugs of beer. Neal dropped his bag in the four-person room upstairs—two bunk beds, simple but cozy. He noted only two other packs, both with colorful tags and a feminine vibe. Interesting, he thought, smirking to himself as he grabbed his towel for a shower. The hot water was a godsend, sluicing away the day’s grit, his muscles loosening as steam curled around him. He let his mind wander, imagining the strangers he’d meet tonight. The mountains had a way of throwing surprises at you.

Downstairs, dinner was a raucous affair. Neal slid into a seat at the long table, his plate piled with hearty chili. Across from him sat two women, their laughter cutting through the din. Leah, with auburn hair tied in a messy bun, had a warm, mischievous smile that crinkled her green eyes. Married thirteen years, her ring glinted in the firelight, but her vibe screamed I’m here to live. Beth, her friend, was a contrast—blonde curls framing a face that was all sharp cheekbones and playful smirks, her blue eyes darting with the restless energy of someone single and savoring it after an eleven-year relationship. They’d known each other for years, their banter easy and sharp, like sisters who’d seen each other through everything.

“Neal, right?” Leah leaned forward, her fork twirling in her chili. “You look like you’ve been eating these trails for breakfast.”

He grinned, sipping his beer. “Gotta keep up with the mountains. They don’t play nice.”

Beth raised an eyebrow, her lips curling. “Oh, we know. Leah here almost slid into a creek yesterday. Saved by a very heroic branch.”

Leah swatted her arm, laughing. “Says the girl who tripped over her own ego on day one.”

Neal chuckled, the beer loosening his edges. The three fell into easy conversation—trail stories, bad blisters, the way the stars looked up here like they’d been spilled across the sky. Leah’s humor was dry, her stories laced with innuendo that made Neal’s pulse tick up. Beth was bolder, her teasing glances lingering on him, her foot brushing his under the table once—accidental, maybe, but her smirk said otherwise. A few drinks in, the room felt warmer, the air charged with something unspoken. The other hikers drifted off, leaving the trio by the fire, their voices low and conspiratorial.

“Bedtime?” Beth finally said, stretching with a catlike grace that made Neal’s eyes linger on the curve of her neck. Leah caught him looking and winked, her lips parting just enough to show a flash of teeth.

“Unless you’re planning to serenade us with trail songs,” Leah teased, standing. “Come on, roomie.”

Upstairs, the four-person room felt smaller, the bunk beds creaking as they settled in. Neal took the top bunk opposite Leah’s, Beth below her. The air was thick with the scent of pine and their mingled perfumes—something floral from Leah, something spicy from Beth. They kept talking, sprawled across their beds, the conversation meandering from favorite hikes to life’s messier corners. Leah spoke of her marriage with a fond but restless edge, like she was chasing a spark she hadn’t felt in years. Beth, fresh from her breakup, was all hunger and freedom, her words dripping with a need to reclaim herself.

“You ever feel like the mountains… I dunno, wake something up in you?” Beth asked, her voice softer now, her eyes glinting in the dim light of the lantern.

Neal propped himself on one elbow, his shirt tight against his chest. “Every damn time. It’s like the air up here strips you bare. Makes you want… more.”

Leah’s laugh was low, throaty. “Careful, Neal. That sounds like an invitation.”

He met her gaze, his heart thudding. “Maybe it is.”

The room went quiet, the kind of quiet that hums with possibility. Beth slid off her bunk, her bare feet silent on the wood floor, and perched on the edge of Leah’s bed. “You know,” she said, her voice a playful purr, “Leah and I were just saying how these huts can get… cozy.”

Leah’s hand grazed Beth’s thigh, a casual touch that wasn’t casual at all. “Cozy’s one word for it,” she murmured, her eyes flicking to Neal. “What do you think, mountain man? Feeling cozy?”

Neal’s throat tightened, his body already responding to the shift in the air. He climbed down from his bunk, his movements deliberate, and stood between the beds, close enough to feel the heat radiating from them. “Depends,” he said, his voice low, teasing. “How cozy are we talking?”

Beth laughed, a sound like honey, and tugged at his shirt, pulling him closer. “Let’s find out.”

The first kiss was Beth’s, bold and hungry, her lips crashing into his with a heat that made his head spin. She tasted of beer and mint, her tongue teasing his as her hands roamed his chest, nails grazing his skin through the fabric. Leah watched, her breath hitching, then slid behind Neal, her fingers slipping under his shirt to trace the muscles of his back. “Not bad for a hiker,” she whispered, her lips brushing his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.

Neal turned, catching Leah’s mouth in a kiss that was slower, deeper, her lips soft but demanding. Beth didn’t wait—she tugged his shirt off, her hands exploring the planes of his chest, her fingers circling his nipples until he groaned into Leah’s mouth. The air felt alive, charged with a primal energy, like the mountains themselves were urging them on, whispering secrets of ancient desires carved into the stone.

Leah pulled back, her eyes dark with want. “Bed,” she said, nodding to the lower bunk. Beth grinned, already peeling off her tank top, revealing a sports bra that hugged her curves. Neal’s gaze flicked between them, his cock straining against his shorts as Leah shed her shirt, her breasts full and heavy, nipples peeking through her bra. They moved as one, a silent agreement, tumbling onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and laughter.

Beth straddled Neal’s hips, grinding against him, her shorts riding up to show the smooth expanse of her thighs. “Fuck, you’re hard already,” she teased, her voice a low growl as she rocked against him, the friction driving him wild. Leah knelt beside them, her hands cupping Beth’s breasts, squeezing them through the bra before tugging it off. Beth’s moan was music, her head tipping back as Leah’s lips found her nipple, sucking gently, then harder.

Neal’s hands found Beth’s waist, guiding her movements, his fingers digging into her hips. “You’re gonna kill me,” he muttered, his voice rough with need. Beth laughed, leaning down to kiss him, her tongue flicking against his as Leah’s hands slid lower, unbuttoning Beth’s shorts and slipping them off. The sight of Beth’s bare skin, her pussy glistening in the lantern light, made Neal’s mouth water.

Leah wasn’t done. She stood, shimmying out of her own shorts, revealing lace panties that clung to her curves. “Your turn,” she said to Neal, her voice dripping with command. He didn’t need telling twice—his shorts hit the floor, his cock springing free, thick and throbbing. Beth’s eyes widened, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “Oh, we’re gonna have fun with that.”

They pushed him back onto the bed, Beth straddling his chest now, her thighs framing his face. “Taste me,” she whispered, lowering herself until her pussy hovered just above his lips. Neal didn’t hesitate, his tongue darting out to lick her, the tangy sweetness of her arousal flooding his senses. She moaned, loud and unashamed, her hips rocking as he sucked her clit, his hands gripping her ass to pull her closer.

Leah, meanwhile, had other plans. She knelt between Neal’s legs, her fingers wrapping around his cock, stroking him slowly, teasingly. “Look at this,” she murmured, her voice thick with lust. “All for us.” She leaned down, her tongue flicking over the tip, tasting the bead of precum there. Neal groaned against Beth’s pussy, the vibration making her gasp, her fingers tangling in his hair.

The room was a symphony of moans and gasps, the air heavy with the scent of sex and pine. Leah took Neal deeper, her lips sliding down his shaft, her tongue swirling as she sucked him with a skill that made his toes curl. Beth rode his face, her movements growing frantic, her thighs trembling as she chased her release. “Fuck, Neal, don’t stop,” she gasped, her voice breaking as she came, her juices coating his tongue, her body shuddering above him.

Leah pulled back, her lips glistening, and climbed onto the bed, straddling Neal’s hips. “My turn,” she said, her voice a sultry promise. She guided his cock to her entrance, sinking down slowly, inch by inch, until he was buried inside her. The heat of her, tight and wet, was almost too much. Neal groaned, his hands gripping her hips as she began to move, her breasts bouncing with each thrust.

Beth, still catching her breath, leaned in to kiss Leah, their tongues tangling as they rode the wave of their shared desire. Neal watched, mesmerized, his cock throbbing inside Leah as she fucked him, her movements slow and deliberate, then faster, harder. Beth’s hand slid between Leah’s legs, finding her clit, rubbing in tight circles until Leah’s moans turned to cries, her body clenching around Neal as she came, her nails digging into his chest.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” Neal panted, his own release building, a fire in his veins. Beth grinned, sliding down to join Leah, their bodies pressed close as they took turns riding him, kissing each other, their hands everywhere—on him, on each other, a blur of heat and skin. The bunk creaked, the mountains silent witnesses to their frenzy.

“I want you to come,” Beth whispered, her lips brushing his ear. “All over us.” Leah nodded, her eyes gleaming with mischief as they slid off him, kneeling side by side. Neal stood, his hand stroking his cock, the sight of them—Beth’s blonde curls, Leah’s auburn waves, their bodies flushed and waiting—pushing him over the edge. He came with a groan, his release painting their skin, dripping over their breasts, their faces, their eager mouths catching what they could.

They collapsed together, a tangle of sweaty limbs and breathless laughter, the lantern casting soft shadows over their bodies. “Well,” Leah said, her voice husky, “that’s one way to end a hike.”

Beth giggled, licking her lips. “Think we can top it tomorrow?”

Neal grinned, his heart still racing. “With you two? I’m game.”

The mountains outside stood sentinel, their peaks whispering of secrets and desires, as the three drifted into sleep, the night alive with the afterglow of their shared heat.