The Sweetest Scent Part 16

And the rest of him wasn't bad either, his athletic figure sporting broad shoulders, narrow waist, washboard stomach, and delineated musculature in streamlined perfection. This was the body of a high school football player, and Lacey adored the visual every day and night.

She dipped down and kissed his inviting lips tenderly, cupping his face, feeling the start of stubble on his jaw and the soft skin of his temples. Bro's hands slid up her back, toying with the thin fabric of her dress. With the tip of his tongue, Bro coaxed Lacey's lips to part, and he stole his way inside, taking her breath away. For a while they kissed, touched, and held each other as the slow fire between them simmered.

A reverent knock came from the door.

Bro groaned, displeased, and Lacey snickered at her grumpy lover.

"Dinner's ready, you two," came Jordan's amused shout from outside the door. At least he didn't peek inside, Lacey mused gratefully.

Bro growled some more, his eyes closed tight. "f.u.c.k. I was just getting into-"

"Me?" Lacey teased.

Bro's eyes shot open, and in one fell swoop he had her pinned down on the bed. "Be very careful, little rabbit, or this big bad wolf will eat you up." Lacey laughed, and Bro grinned. "In fact, I might just push up your pretty dress and gobble up your sweet c.o.c.k right now." His hands brushed against the waistband of Lacey's tight undies, reaching for her swelling d.i.c.k, and managing to successfully graze the hardening length trapped beneath the strict, unyielding fabric.

She swatted his hand away. "If you give me wood at the dinner table, I'll wring your neck-or some other body part."

Bro chuckled, not the least bit concerned about the threat aimed at his crown jewels. "Oh, baby, you can squeeze the life out of any part of me." He smacked a big, sloppy kiss on her lips, and she scrunched her nose playfully. "You already have my heart in a chokehold."

Lacey blinked away some unneeded moisture in her eyes. "You say the silliest things." But she didn't mean it. In all honesty, she loved him for saying them. And she just... loved him.

Winking at her, Bro obviously wasn't fooled by her reproach, and then he confirmed his magical mind-reading prowess. "And you love me for it."

What could she say to that? Lacey wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him down for a deep, hungry kiss that seemed to halt time itself.

Five hot, sweaty minutes later they sat down at the dinner table. Their awfully amused family members sat around them, and most of them were grinning ear to ear at the sight of Lacey's flushed face, mussed up short blond hair, and feverish hazel eyes, and Bro's just-try-me glare aimed at each and every one of them.

"Sure hope you two worked up an appet.i.te," Jordan commented placidly. Jack, his younger brother sitting across the table, burst into hopeless cackles.

"My brother's appet.i.te is insatiable," Sebastian remarked next to Jordan with equal calm. At that point, Jack was chortling and banging on the table with tears streaming out of his eyes, and even his typically stoic boyfriend Kevin chuckled a bit under the concealment of his napkin.

"Fine!" Bro huffed, indignant, red-faced. "Everybody take a potshot at me!"

Jordan frowned in mock confusion. "I thought we already were."

Lacey giggled, covering her full lips behind her hand in a demure gesture. Bro let go of his temper in favor of wors.h.i.+ping his girlfriend, who was in actuality a boy in a girl's dress. This point of view Lacey knew well because Bro's eyes glazed over when he was lost in his feelings for her, and she loved him all the more for it. Not because of the adulation itself, but the way Bro saw her never failed to make her appreciate the bond between them. That tie had gone through its share of frays and tears within the last year, but solidified into a stronger connection.

The summer break was almost over, and their freshman year at college would start in less than a week. Worst of all, they would be going to different places: Bro would go to Howard University right here in DC on a football scholars.h.i.+p, with his best friend, Bradley, and Lacey's best friend, Audrey-Bradley to play football, too, and Audrey to study law-while Lacey would be headed for the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, over an hour away from DC by car. It was a manageable distance, though not one she expected to enjoy on a daily basis.

But for Bro, Lacey would do anything, make any sacrifice. Not that the Peabody was such a hards.h.i.+p. The school had an excellent reputation, and Lacey was looking forward to getting her bachelor's degree in music with the string department. And who knew? After that accomplishment, the next step along her career would be a master's, and then perhaps, if she studied really hard and dedicated herself to her trade, a doctorate in musical arts. Violin performance would be her tool in achieving these goals, and then... take the world by storm?

Sometimes she was so excited about it all she could barely contain her enthusiasm, let alone sit still. Yet, she didn't feel like rus.h.i.+ng it. This past summer had been the best of her life, and she didn't want it to be over yet. In four days, on Thursday, Lacey had to go to Peabody for orientation. And then she had one last weekend of peace before her time would be dominated by studies, research, and practice, practice, practice.

"Mr. Teasdale's going to drive you to Baltimore?" Kevin asked Lacey between bites of the pepper steak Jack had made. It was pretty much all Jack could make, but the steaks were d.a.m.n juicy. Even Lacey, who rarely ate meat, had to admit that. She wasn't a vegetarian, but she was beginning to lean in that direction, not just to satisfy her ecological convictions, but because of the fresh, light taste.

"Yes." Lacey nodded. "I think he's as eager as I am to see the conservatory. He studied in England and Italy, so this is a change for him."

"Aww, your first fan," Jack stated with childish glee, half of it fake.

Lacey snickered. "I'll have to start selling tickets to my performances next." Then she glanced at her boyfriend beneath her lashes. "You'll have a special boyfriends-only backstage pa.s.s."

Bro grinned and blushed endearingly. Lacey just had to kiss him, tasting pepper steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, and vegetables, all with one lick. Friendly chuckles and one wolf whistle accompanied her actions.

As he pulled back, Bro stared at her dazed, like he always did after they had been smooching. Lacey felt heat suffuse her own cheeks, and felt her c.o.c.k jump in her tight underwear, pleading to be let out to play.

As if sensing her discomfort, Bro asked, "We've still got four days. What do you want to do?"

During the past month, the six of them-Bro, Lacey, Jordan, Sebastian, Jack, and Kevin-had traveled quite a lot of the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca.n.a.l National Historical Park, by car, on bikes, and on foot. It had been an awesome six days, though they had scarcely seen all there was to see. Lacey had loved the outdoors. "I was thinking we could go camping for a couple of nights in the Shenandoah National Park."

Bro was a sporty, outdoorsy person too. The twinkle in his eyes and the widening grin told her that her idea was grand. "Yeah, that sounds f.u.c.king great. I've never been there before."

"Bro," Sebastian admonished him for his cursing, pursing his lips in playful distaste.

Bro rolled his eyes, but for his deaf brother's benefit signed, "Sorry." He turned to Lacey, buzzing with excitement. "Yeah, let's do it. We'll go tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's Sunday," Kevin noted. "I recommend waiting until Monday."

"Why?" Lacey asked, curious.

"I've stayed at Shenandoah before. During the weekends, the campsites are crowded with children, precious few of them on their best behavior. It'll be noisy. Weekdays are best. I recommend Loft Mountain Campground. It's not necessarily the most popular site for families with kids, with no tourist shops close by. Oh, and do try to get there early. The A lots are the best. They come with some semblance of privacy, not to mention some killer views. But they go out fast." As usual, Kevin delivered his information with a deliberate lack of sensationalism, in an impa.s.sive manner. He rarely showed his feelings to people, and his boyfriend, Jack, was one of the few who could coax a truly emotional response out of him.

"Thanks, man," Bro said, his expression grateful and happy. Lacey adored seeing him like this, so effervescent, bubbling with life.

"It's at least four hours to drive there, so you better leave early," Kevin advised. "You could call them to make a reservation for a specific lot, but it's really first come, first served out there. Eat or be eaten."

"G.o.d, I love it when you get down and dirty poetic," Jack murmured wickedly next to him and leaned closer to nuzzle the big bear of a man's stubbly cheek. It wasn't Lacey's imagination that Kevin's face reddened at the teasing of the gorgeous blond.

Kevin cleared his throat and dug into his steak, lowering his face practically to the plate before him. Jack chuckled. Then Kevin suddenly jumped in his chair, while Jack looked all innocent. Lacey had a distinct feeling there were naughty things happening beneath the table, but she wisely chose to look the other way and say nothing.

Jordan had no qualms about scolding his little brother, though. "Jack, shut up and eat."

"You mean let your partner eat without getting his junk manhandled under the table," Jack said back, his tone ready for an argument.

Jordan and Kevin were partners in the Financial Crimes and Fraud Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department, while Jack was an EMT for the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department. Sebastian was a volunteer police officer on account of being deaf, but he worked for the same department as Jordan and Kevin these days, tending to the evidence locker and to the mountains of paperwork generated by the department, being so diligent and energetic.

While Jordan and Jack bickered good-naturedly, Sebastian watched the row with rapt amus.e.m.e.nt, and Kevin buried his face in his plate, Bro was free to fondle Lacey under the table too. She felt his fingers sliding beneath the hem of her dress, trailing their leisurely way up her thighs. Lacey swallowed hard, feeling hot and perspiring again. She took a gulp of water from her gla.s.s, but then Bro's fingers found their way to her hardening c.o.c.k and rubbed along the length with precision and stealth.

His downright evil grin made Lacey's heart pound. "Stop it, you fiend," she whispered, all but hissing.

"Make me," Bro dared with a low, seductive chuckle.

The only way she could do that was by causing a scene.

Lacey lifted her water gla.s.s above his head, warning with her eyes she was about to pour. "You need to cool down, boy."

Bro's hand stilled, and his wary eyes glanced at the gla.s.s, then her, then back at the gla.s.s again. Lacey could tell he was wondering if she would really carry out her threat. Then, with a total s.h.i.+t-eating grin, he said smugly, "Nah, you wouldn't." And his palm rubbed over Lacey's c.o.c.k once more, insistently this time.

Then he let out a shrill yelp when Lacey spilled a gla.s.sful of cold water on his head.

Giggling, Lacey jumped up from her seat and ran around the table with a growling, water-spewing Bro on her heels and a tableful of men guffawing after them.

ON M MONDAY morning, Bro and Lacey sat in Jordan's SUV on their way to Shenandoah. They had left early, around 5:00 a.m., both of them too excited to sleep. They still had about twenty minutes to go as the car climbed up along Skyline Drive as it wound its way up to the rocky, woodsy ridge. There was so much green around Lacey felt like she was swimming in it. morning, Bro and Lacey sat in Jordan's SUV on their way to Shenandoah. They had left early, around 5:00 a.m., both of them too excited to sleep. They still had about twenty minutes to go as the car climbed up along Skyline Drive as it wound its way up to the rocky, woodsy ridge. There was so much green around Lacey felt like she was swimming in it.

"You okay to drive the rest of the way?" she asked. They had changed seats midway.

Bro nodded with a grin. "Well, I might get a boost if you-"

"Don't even think about it." Lacey knew exactly what dirty things her boyfriend had in mind, and no way were they going to do that in the car while driving on a steep mountain road.

"Spoilsport," Bro countered, huffing in mock anger and pouting. Lacey was sure he would have been more surprised had she said yes and actually blown him right there.

Lacey laughed, shrugged, and turned her attention to the wilderness spreading outside the vehicle. She wanted to roll down the windows for lungfuls of crisp mountain air, but since they would already be sleeping outside in a tent for a couple of nights, they would be getting enough fresh air soon enough. So she snuggled into the soft, cus.h.i.+oned seat and enjoyed the warmth inside the car.

The Blue Ridge Mountains surrounded them, a lush jungle of vegetation with emerald-green gra.s.s and deep-green pine trees, sloping valleys and rising hills, and clouds of mist rising from the few waterfalls in these woodlands. Lacey had grown accustomed to high mountains and gushes of rain when she had lived in Seattle, in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains, and though this range had gentler inclines, it felt homey.

Although, DC was her home these days. She felt little to no longing to return to her old stomping grounds in Seattle. Her aunt, Valerie, lived there with her family, and during the summer Lacey had gotten the chance to visit her. Bro had tagged along, unsurprisingly. It had been a great sojourn, but it had gone a long way to prove to Lacey it was no longer her home.

Bro was, and she hoped he would continue to be for eons to come.

They arrived at the Loft Mountain campsite, asked the ranger what the availability was, and learned the cold morning and misty moisture had kept people away. They had gotten there at 8:30 a.m. Lacey knew Sebastian would have had a fit had he known his little brother had driven there this fast, cutting their traveling time by half an hour. Jordan would call Bro the A-word and then strangle him for speeding.

On account of their early arrival, they did, however, get a great spot on the A line, a relatively secluded section with a few concealing shrubberies around. They were able to park the car close by, forty feet away from their campsite. The ground was flat, well trod, brown and green, but that was good because they were able to pitch the tent with ease and speed, and it didn't list to any side.

In fifteen minutes, they were done and got the chance to take a leisurely look around.

They sat on the blanket in front of their tent, Bro holding Lacey in his arms, and just stared at the view. Rugged woodsy hills spread all around, with several peaks showcasing their magnificence in the distance, and deep ravines fell down toward the river, which was too far down to see. The scenery featured specks of yellow and red amid the green, too, and a light fog veiled parts of it.

"According to the map, that's the Doyle's River Trail," Bro explained, pointing down to the gully. "We're gonna take that trip tomorrow, yeah?"

Lacey leaned her head against her boyfriend's shoulder and sighed happily. "Sounds wonderful." His strong, muscular arms tightened around her as he nuzzled her neck, and she giggled at the feel of him. Her back was against his chest, which was good since the wind up on top of the mountain was harsher and colder than she had expected. It was late August, so autumn was on its way. She wondered if there was going to be snow on the trail. "What are we going to do today?"

Bro kissed her temple gently. "Relax and enjoy ourselves. Nothing complicated."

"Can we snuggle in the tent?" she asked in a whisper, though no one was around.

Bro chuckled, hot puffs of breath wafting over her ear. "Abso-f.u.c.king-lutely."

Yet neither of them made a move toward the tent.

They watched in silence as the winds swept away the gossamer fog and revealed the beauty of the midmorning wilderness landscape. The sun came out, but it looked like the day was going to remain slightly chilly.

They both lost their sense of time. Once it got a bit cold, they went into the tent and took a nap after the long drive. Lacey laid her head on Bro's chest, hearing his heartbeats in her ear, and slept like a baby. When they woke up, rested but groggy, they ate lunch-turkey on rye and apple slices-and drank hot chocolate. Dressed in their best boots, they walked about, checking out their surroundings. The sun was up but partly covered by thin clouds, and the wind had picked up. Very few people were about, and most of the tent sites were empty. It was quiet and peaceful.

Lacey held Bro's hand as they walked around the campsite, keeping on the traveled paths and not venturing into the wilderness without proper gear. The high elevation afforded them some unforgettable vistas, but they knew they would descend into deeper forests tomorrow. Most flowers from spring and summer were gone now, but the oaks, hickory, and maples provided a lush, rich feel that wasn't hampered by the inevitability of winter. There was moisture in the air, though it wasn't quite raining.

They returned to their tent slowly, in no rush, after hours of aimless wandering. Bro went to pick up dead branches and twigs for their campfire while Lacey prepared a cast iron frying pan for their evening meal, which was macaroni and cheese, premade at home and easy to reheat, plus made tastier with a few dried herbs. Bro got the fire going quickly, beaming and blus.h.i.+ng in the light of Lacey's admiring gaze, and in less than ten minutes they were able to sit down and dine.

"Mmm, this is delicious, babe," Bro complimented Lacey, and she felt the same warm tightening in her chest she always got with him.

"I wish I could take credit for it, but I'm pretty sure Sebastian made it," Lacey replied humbly.

Bro shrugged. "Maybe. But Bas doesn't do the seasoning as well as you. And Jordan would have burnt this whole thing into a crispy, black mess by now."

Lacey laughed. "You're cruel."

Bro grinned wickedly. "Nuh-uh. I've lived through Jordan's cooking, and I can proudly state I'm a survivor."

Giggling some more, Lacey nearly choked on her meal.

Chapter 14.

ONCE they were finished, they cleaned up after themselves, locking the remains of the food into a plastic container and hauling it back to the car. It seemed easier than burying it or placing it far away from the tent, as advised. Whatever midnight snacks they felt they might need if peckish-candy bars, crackers, water bottles, marshmallows, peanut b.u.t.ter, and dried vegetables and fruits-Bro stored in a tight plastic box and buried it under his smelly, sweaty clothing while Lacey snickered at his inventive streak. No bear would think to try and find food under that pile of odors! they were finished, they cleaned up after themselves, locking the remains of the food into a plastic container and hauling it back to the car. It seemed easier than burying it or placing it far away from the tent, as advised. Whatever midnight snacks they felt they might need if peckish-candy bars, crackers, water bottles, marshmallows, peanut b.u.t.ter, and dried vegetables and fruits-Bro stored in a tight plastic box and buried it under his smelly, sweaty clothing while Lacey snickered at his inventive streak. No bear would think to try and find food under that pile of odors!

Afterward, they decided to take turns in the showers located at the entrance to the campgrounds, by the store. Bro was ever the gentleman, and offered to go second, so Lacey went off on her own, taking their trash with her to dispose of in the designated dumpsters. She took the car, because she didn't want to traipse back wet, as the place was a ways off from their tent.

It was barely six p.m. once she got to the group of buildings, and still no one was around. Because of the sense of privacy she got, she looked at the women's side of the showers.

Only when she took a step toward the door, she heard a man's whistle. He wasn't a park ranger, but looked like a regular camper, an average height middle-aged man with thick hair and a scruffy beard, with an equally scruffy dog at his side.

"That side's for women. Can't you read?" he commented, snorting.

Lacey's cheeks flamed, and she couldn't find her voice.

The man laughed fully now, checking her out head to toes. "Maybe you're one of them she-boys. What you got under that dress?"

She looked down at her clothes. Lacey wore simple, tight but comfortable dark-gray sweats, a long-sleeved s.h.i.+rt with a slightly longer than normal hemline, and a jacket over it. There was nothing that screamed girl about her. For the purposes of this trip, she had even dispensed with her typical eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss.

She didn't dignify him with an answer, and headed for the men's showers. Just as she was about to enter, he called after her, "Need a real man to wash your back, pretty boy?"

While not above playful teasing, Lacey did not appreciate mean taunting, especially not in a situation where a guy like that could do anything to her. So she chose to remain silent as she ducked into the dressing rooms. Her heart beat frantically as she made her way to a tiny bench, sat down, and willed herself to calm down.

There was someone in the showers, as she could hear the water running. She decided to be quick about it. Choosing a locker, Lacey undressed in a hurry, grabbed her was.h.i.+ng kit, and made a beeline to the closest shower.

On the way there, she saw her own reflection in a mirror. Lacey was indeed a boy, no matter how much she liked girl's dresses and makeup. Blond hair, cut short in a feminine style, was ruffled by the winds, and her sun-kissed caramel-hued skin p.r.i.c.kled in the heat of the shower room, the steam giving her goose b.u.mps. Her slim figure had barely an ounce of fat, giving her form a pet.i.te quality instead of whip-thin or bony. Her c.o.c.k wasn't as thick as she might have liked, not like Bro's, but it was of decent size, straight, and pink, and aroused it sported a very enviable length indeed. Yet hazel eyes stared back at her, huge and fearful, like a deer caught in headlights. She hated that a stranger had the ability to rattle her so.

She entered the shower s.p.a.ce, picked an empty one, and turned on the water, placing her was.h.i.+ng supplies on the empty metal rack. She wet herself down, washed up, and rinsed, all in haste and in fear of some violent bigot's or closet rapist's imminent arrival.

"Soap?" a man's low, husky voice asked, and Lacey's spine went ramrod straight and cold with chills. Images of prison movie shower scenes flashed before her mind's eye. Swallowing hard, she turned, practically hearing the creak of her joints. There was an older man in one of the showers across from her, and he was offering a bar of soap, an una.s.suming question in his eyes. "Need to borrow?" he asked, simple kindness in his voice.