Sunrise Hike Delight (Audio Script)

Stories

It’s early. Too early. Especially after the night I had.

One of my buddies is leaving for a new job in the city, so we got together for a drink last night. But that drink turned into two, and two turned into… more than a few.

Needless to say, I am absolutely dreading this sunrise hike.

Usually, I don’t mind an early start. The groups tend to be smaller and more interested, and the sights are gorgeous. Plus, I love meeting the tourists, and the job pays well.

But with my raging headache and three hours of sleep… today will be a much different story.

Not a single car is in the parking lot with me.

“Don’t tell me no one is going to show.”

A couple more hours of sleep don’t sound all that bad, but since I got myself up and drove all the way here, I’d like to get paid.

I wait a few minutes, already thinking about what I’ll grab for breakfast on the way home as I pace the parking lot… But right when I’m about to call it a morning, I see a pair of headlights pull into the lot.

“Fantastic.”

The car pulls into the space next to mine, and the engine cuts.

I hear her before I see her.

“I’m so sorry I’m late!”

She rushes around the front of the car in a fury, scrambling as she locks her doors and slings her backpack over her shoulder.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry.. I’m here!”

Suddenly, I’m not dreading this as much as I was a few minutes ago.

Even in the dimly lit parking lot, I can tell this woman is gorgeous. She’s got a bright smile and an adventurous flicker in her eye.

“Where is everyone? I didn’t miss it, did I?”

“Uh, no, you didn't miss anything. Everyone else backed out. Must have decided it was too early.”

She flashes me a smile, trying to hide the way her eyes trace down my body.

“Well, I guess it’s just you and me.”

Maybe I’m imagining things, but she almost looks excited about that.

I sure as hell am.

“I guess it is.”

“It’s a way to the top. We better get going.”

She sweeps her arm in front of her and flashes me another grin.

“Then, by all means, lead the way.”

As we start up the mountain, I can’t stop staring at her as I go through my usual spiel.

I talk about the terrain and the history of this area. I’m glad I’ve memorised this part, but all I can think about is how beautiful she looks in the glow of the moonlight.

Of all the people who could have shown up for a solo hike this morning, how did I get so lucky?

Long, shiny hair cascades over her back like a waterfall. Her shorts and tank top show off a toned body, despite being a little impractical for the weather.

It’s chilly right now, and it will be until the sun comes up.

“Don’t like my outfit?”

“No, the outfit is great. It’s just that it gets pretty cold until the sun comes up.”

“I thought it would be warm in the desert.”

“Most people do. By ten, it’ll be close to 100 degrees, but the temperature can swing almost sixty degrees overnight.

She takes the flannel from me, daintily draping it over her shoulders.

“Then I guess I’ll take you up on the jacket.”

As we walk, I can’t say all the things that are on my mind because they’re slightly unprofessional. Okay, a lot unprofessional.

So instead, I start rattling off all the random facts I can.

“That’s called Spinifex. It’s a common grass type here.”

She nods along eagerly as I point out the grassy fields rolling on either side of us.

“And those are Acacia trees… pretty popular with koalas.”

“Koalas? Do you think we might see one?”

I shake my head.

“They’re pretty rare to come across. Maybe if we were in the back country, but this trail can get busy, and they usually stay away from populated areas.”

“You really know your stuff. Is this what you do full-time?”

“This is just a summer thing. I’m a ski instructor up in Victoria in the Winter.”

“Wow. A professional outdoorsman.”

God, that smile.

“Teasing me?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Careful. I could abandon you out here…”

“With the koalas? I can think of worse ways to go…”

The conversation comes easily as we walk. I learn about all her favorite things— the ocean, acoustic guitar covers, and a really good espresso martini.

I tell her about a little bar on the beach where she can find all three, but stop short of offering to take her there.

This is crazy. We barely know each other, but I’ve never felt such an instant connection with someone before.

The more she talks, the more I find we have in common… And the less I can ignore the flirty flash in her eye.

We turn up a switchback, and I tell her about my adventures as a guide all over first Australia, then New Zealand, and all the things I tried before I found my place here.

“God, I wish I could be brave enough to start over in search of something that really lights me up, you know? Just pick up and leave… go start a brand new life somewhere away from the business of the city and all the rigid rules that come with it. That sounds incredible.”

“Hey, I’ve got a spare room if you ever decide to take the plunge.”

“Do you always offer your guest room to strangers on your hike?”

I can’t help but smirk as she glances up, batting her gorgeous eyelashes at me, not the least bit intimidated.

“Only the pretty ones.”

My response makes her blush a little as she reaches for her water bottle in the pocket of her backpack.

Her silhouette in the soft morning glow is almost more than I can take, and I feel electricity coursing through my veins.

Focusing on the trail seems impossible when I have such a gorgeous view next to me.

Silence is just as easy as conversation. Usually, I feel like I have to fill it on these hikes to entertain the tourists, but something about her is different.

It’s comfortable, and somewhere between miles one and two, this stops being about my job.

“I’m having fun.”

A great time, actually, and suddenly five miles doesn’t feel long enough.

Our hands brush against each other as we continue up the trail. The higher we get, the more secluded, and there are only a few other people out on the trail at all.

“We must be getting close.”

Another accidental hand brush. I try to keep my composure.

“It’s just up ahead. You know, if we turn here, the terrain gets a little harder, but we’ll have a much better vantage point for the sunrise… and there won’t be as many people. What do you think?”

She shrugs, my flannel slipping off one of her shoulders.

“I’ll follow you anywhere.”

I take her hand, helping her over boulders and through the brush. It’s more of a hike than I’d usually take a tourist on, but with her, somehow I know the risk will be worth it.

“You’re not bringing me up here to kill me, are you?”

“Quite the opposite, actually.”

We make it to the clearing, and finally, we get the view we’ve been waiting for.

“Wow, this is…”

The wild terrain sprawls out at the summit, pitching sharply down the mountainside until it meets the Indian Ocean on either side of this narrow sliver of land.

Her eyes light up as she scans the horizon, taking in every beautiful and intricate detail.

I’ve seen the view a thousand times, but it still gets that same awestruck reaction out of me–even more so this morning with a beautiful woman standing in front of it.

“I don’t… I–”

“Stunning, isn’t it?”

She’s speechless, nodding as she takes in a deep breath.

“And now…”

I put my hand on her waist, turning toward the Eastern edge of the sky.

“It’s about to get even better.”

Bright rays of light start to peak out over the horizon. It’s slow at first, and then oranges and pinks explode across the sky,

“Oh, wow!”

It’s the kind of pure, natural beauty that can make you emotional, especially if it’s your first time seeing it.

She steps back a smidge, and she’s close to me. Too close to be accidental. Her body presses lightly against mine as we watch the sun continue to rise.

The smell of her shampoo floats into my nose and I breathe her in, heart pounding in my chest.

Slowly, I wrap my arm around her shoulders. She doesn’t pull away in the slightest, but settles in against my chest, cramping her head back, eyes fixed on the horizon.

“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in all of my life.”

“Me too.”

But I’m not looking at the view anymore. I’m looking at her. She must hear something in my voice, because she tilts her head to the side, staring up at me with those gorgeous, hooded eyes.

My gaze traces the lines of her lips as they part the slightest bit.

An urge rushes through me and I lean forward, taking her mouth in a gentle kiss.

I hold back, waiting for her reaction, and when I get it, it surprises me.

“The view is nice… but this? This kiss is what I’ve been waiting for all morning.”

She spins around, draping her arms over my shoulders as she slips her tongue into my mouth, taking charge of the kiss.

Our worlds collide in a mess of hot, passionate kisses, tangled bodies and soft, muffled moans as we try not to draw too much attention to ourselves.

“Come here.”

I break the kiss only long enough to pull her back behind some of the brush. We’re alone up here, but there are other groups and tourists not far below and I don’t want to take the chance of getting interrupted.

Pulling her back in, I slide my hands up the inside of her tank top, her warm skin so soft in my grip.

She lets my flannel pool at our feet, baring her shoulders and begging me for more as I continue to stroke and tease her soft, bare skin.

The look in her eye is desperate…needy almost.

And it’s so fucking hot.

Everything starts to happen quickly, both of us consumed by the heat of the moment and the passion swirling between us. We know our time is limited, and neither of us wants to waste it.

Her fingers fumble with the hem of my t-shirt, and she starts to work it over my head. I whip it off and leave it in a pile on the ground.

“You sure about this?

“Absolutely.”

Fuuuuck.

The look in her eye nearly takes me out.

She starts to slip her shirt off, and I help, pulling it over her head.

The sports bra she’s got on boosts up the most gorgeous set of tits I’ve ever seen, and she reaches around to unhook it. In one swoop, it falls to the ground.