Archive-name: Places/highmead.mf
Archive-author: Jessie
Archive-title: High Meadows

 
     Jessie leisurely stretched her body in the down bag.  The
pines around her tent exuded a clean scent, a scent of such
incredible clarity that it compelled Jessie to draw it into her
lungs, in deeply exhilarating breaths.
     The morning sun streamed in through the window of the tent
and played glorious rays amongst her hair, loosened golden about
the pillow.  Sleep-tousled and dreamy-eyed, she stepped from the
bag and stood up to survey her surroundings.
     Her soul savored towering trees, golden sunlight and snow
covered peaks stretching as far as the eye could see.  These
mountains were her refuge when life began to close in.  She came
here to feel reborn, a part of the great conspiracy of life to
extend itself in joy.  Drinking in the feelings of joy, she
realized that to fully appreciate the measure of splendor this
scene commanded, she wanted her morning mug of coffee.
     Jessie stretched and stepped out of the tent to get the
thermos she filled the night before.  Standing in the filtering
light from the trees, the light caught her hair, a mass of long,
honey hued, soft tresses; hair so beautiful, the gods themselves
might have spun it out of gold.  Jessie poured herself a steaming
cup of the dark brew, then mellowed it,  perfectly blending milk
and sugar.  She sipped at the edges of the mug and warmed her
hands.
     Nothing could intrude on the peace in her soul and the
exhilaration she felt in just being alive.  Jessie sat down at
the table to let the joy of BEING, sink in.
     Jessie's beauty matched the splendor of her surroundings and
the glory of her feelings.  For all of her lithe, tall frame,
there was not an ounce of awkwardness.  Jessie carried herself
with the assurance of a god, head high, shoulders straight, a
flowing quality to her movements, she synchronized with the
rhythms of the universe itself.  Some women might have looked
less than wonderful in the men's pajama tops that she wore.
Jessie looked fetching.  She looked spectacular.  Even the trees
of forest accepted her as an equal.  Jessie accepted her beauty
as part of the natural order of things, part of the heritage of
all mankind.  She sat at the camp table, radiantly alive and
stretched across the seat with the grace and spirit of a wild
animal.  Jessie crossed her legs slowly and cradled the coffee
cup in her hands.  Her legs began beneath the pajama top, long
and lean and infinitely pleasurable to behold.  Her thighs were
sculpted out of fine creamy marble.
     The morning beckoned, a panorama of perfection before her.
She surveyed the world.  It was her special domain and playground
for the wild, free, joyous quality of her nature.  She sighed
pleasurably and looked around the camping area.  Sometime in the
night the camping spot next to hers had acquired a tent, a four
by four truck and assorted gear.  The rest of the campground was
usually abandoned this late into fall and the only thing that
spoke of life besides the gentle sound of her breathing, was the
scamper of ground squirrels looking for food under the table.
She wondered who the other inhabitant was that could come here so
late, long after summer fled, and during the week when most other
denizens of the world sat at their desks and only dreamed of open
air.
     The ultimate appearance of the other camper soon settled her
quizzical musings, and the tall frame of a man stood outlined in
the door of the other tent.
     He was about 6'1", his hair graying on the sides where it
touched his face.  It was a mature, satisfying face and he looked
to be in his late 40's or early 50's.  This face had an air about
it that demanded respect.  He looked as though he could handle
anything that life threw him and still be strong, fair, confident
and in control.
     The man smiled at Jessie and her body registered the inde-
finable pull of desire.
     Jessie flashed a warm smile in his direction.  She left no
doubt that it was intended to telegraph her interest to the
recipient.  She sipped her coffee and savored the sensual quality
of this male.  His sensuality mixed itself with the scent of the
trees and the golden light in a mixture that called forth magic.
     Her body was stirring now and it felt drawn to this
stranger's strength, in a way that few men called her.  Moistness
began to spread itself on her thighs.  It made her acutely aware
of just how fascinating he really was.
     The man readied to shave.  Cold water in a small pan, razor
and shaving cream laid out on the table.  He hung a small mirror
from his kit on the side pole of the tent.
     Jessie was mesmerized.
     He began with long strokes on the sides of his face.  Each
was perfectly executed.  They were strokes of a master painter
working on a canvas.  Each pass of the blade was strong, and each
had their own symmetry as uniquely apropos as the verbal passages
of Shakespeare.
     He finished, wiped his face with a towel and raised his head
to catch Jessie still intent upon his face.
     "I have never had such an attentive audience before," he
laughed, "nor such a pretty one," and he surveyed her face.  "Are
you making sure I have done the job properly?" he offered with a
twinkle to his voice.
     Jessie gently laughed out loud.  "And what would you do if I
tested your handiwork with a kiss?" she countered.
     Hal was tempted to say, "I'm old enough to be your father,
sweet lady," but he was both intrigued and attracted by her youth
and her sublime grace.  Instead he said, "Be my guest beautiful
lady."  It surprised him even as the words left his mouth.
     Jessie rose from the bench where she had been surveying the
proceedings and walked over to Hal's campsite.  Smiling, she took
a finger and traced a path across his upper lip.  Then she
stroked the side of his face softly with the back of her hand.
It was as smooth as a satin shirt.  Flawless.  He smelled of lime
and soap and maleness.  It was as heady a perfume as the pine
trees, and she wondered what it would be like to love a man like
that and have his scent on her pillow to drink in, every morning,
along with his body.  She gently kissed his cheek.
   Hal cleared his throat.  "I suppose this means that I ought to
introduce myself, as I'm not in the habit of having people I'm
not acquainted with pass judgment on my handiwork.  Especially
when I have not had my coffee nor caught their name," he teased,
"If you find me suitably proficient, you may call me Hal."
     Jessie barely suppressed the urge she was feeling to bring
her body close to his, and run her fingers through the grey at
his temples.  She said, "My friends call me Jessie.  I wouldn't
know what is usual in this sort of situation, but my compliments
to the artiste for his deft touch."  She smiled and quipped, "It
passes muster in my book, Michelangelo," and she touched Hal's
cheek again with her lips, very softly, lingering just a bit at
the last.
     Jessie had the feeling that Hal was about to draw her deeply
to him and engulf her with his arms and soul, but his reserve
held fast and the moment passed.  She turned and went to her camp
spot, returning in a moment with the thermos and a spare cup.  "I
understand that you also start your day with an infusion of dark
caffeine.  Would you care to share some of mine?"
     Hal extended an arm for the cup and Jessie poured the hot
brown liquid till it reached the rim.  His eyes teased her over
the top of the coffee and he said, "My thanks to the chef.  I
never was able to wait very well while I brewed up my first batch
of the day.  You seem to be a very handy camper to have nearby."
     Jessie raised her eyes to his and said, "You'd be surprised
as just how handy I am and all the things this camper knows how
to do.  Or just maybe...you wouldn't," and she flashed the big-
gest, brightest look that was such a mixture of gentle, friendly,
wickedness and pure exuberance, that Hal was momentarily caught
off guard.  He lost himself happily in enjoying it, until his
sanity returned.
     "You ought to be spanked, young lady," he retorted, "And I
might be tempted to do it myself if you don't get dressed and
stop endangering an old man's heart like that," he threatened
semi-seriously.
     Jessie shot back a gleeful smile and countered, "Looks to me
as if your heart is strong enough to take it," and she headed
back to her site in a hasty but reluctant retreat, before she
could get her rear end swatted.
     She called over her shoulder as she passed, "You wouldn't
happen to want to go with me up to the high meadow by the lake
after breakfast, would you? It is a bit of a hike in, but well
worth the trouble to get there."
     Hal called back "What's up there besides the lake?"
     Jessie shot back, "Me," and disappeared into the safety of
her tent.
     Once inside the tent she shed the pajama top.  She raised
her arms high over her head and it slid off in a gentle caress.
It brushed the nipples of her breasts, where the rose of their
tips met the tan of her skin.  She noted that the tips stood
erect, totally appreciative of the gentle stimulation that Hal
effected upon her mind.  That gentleman out there was having a
friendly, awakening, influence on her sleek body.
     She reached for her jeans and pulled them on over the blond
triangle of her pubic hair.  The thought of wearing them without
underwear teased at her mind and brought a gentle glow of excite-
ment to her loins.  She found her belt and fastened it low on her
hips.  The only thing left was a shirt.  She finally decided on a
clean white T-shirt to set off her tan.  It slightly revealed the
tips of her nipples, just in case Hal was up to noticing.  She
was beginning to hope he was up to more than that.  He made her
want inside.  He made her aware of her femaleness and her desire
to express herself in deep and lasting rhythms.
     She smelled the smoke of a campfire and the aroma of wafting
bacon drew her out to investigate.  Maybe the man could even
cook.  There was the promise of heaven about his habits.
     Jessie now dressed, but highly indecent, made her way over
to her table and surveyed her breakfast box.  Usually she kept
things simple on these trips to the campground.  Hot breakfast
cereals and fruit for the morning.  The wafting smell of bacon
was making her regret this decision though, and she considered
putting a proposition to Hal.
     "How would you like to consider combining our stores for a
really spectacular breakfast?" she suggested hopefully.  "I have
hot cream of wheat and honey sweet slices of melon to offer.  If
that isn't enough...there is always me for dessert," she said
with a mischievous glint to her eye.
     "I have more than enough to share," Hal countered while his
heart caught in his chest and he tried to maintain his calm
exterior.  "Besides, I never eat dessert with my breakfast,
however attractive it might be!"
     He surveyed her now dressed body.  She was lyrical.  She
made his throat dry and made him doubt his own, normally well
balanced, sense of assurance.  Her hair caught the rays of the
morning sun, her violet eyes constantly teased him and the tips
of her breasts were visible through her shirt in a salute that
made it impossible to concentrate on what he was doing.  He might
as well share breakfast with her as she was going to be all he
could think about the whole time anyway.
     Jessie carried the fixings over to Hal's stove and busied
herself with the cereal.
     The whole time, Hal tried to keep his mind on his bacon
cooking, but her presence grew on his body like the energy of a
storm before it was about to break.  A brush of her arm made him
catch his breath.  Her scent was like warm hay fields under the
sun.  It was sweet and intoxicating and made him almost ache from
trying to draw it in.  He wanted to catch her up in his arms and
crush her to him.  He WOULD stay in control!  He would not let
his fantasies run wild! This child-woman would not tempt him like
that!
     She bent over.  He wanted to brush against her, turn her
face to him and carry her off into his tent but he would not give
in to her spell! He resolved that no woman was going to make him
lose the control it had taken 50 years to build.  He was wrong
about that.
     They had a quiet breakfast.  Jessie washed the dishes and
Hal dried.  It was a constant trial for Hal.  Her fingers would
brush his as she handed him the plates.  She was more than intox-
icating, each touch chipped at his defenses.  With Jessie it was
almost unintentional.  She breathed and lived and exuded
desire...so much in her being...that once one knew her, it would
have been impossible to imagine her without this quality.  It was
a spark of life that flowed forth to entrance those in her
presence.  She wove a spell of clean earth and warm sunshine and
exuberance.  She was a drink of heady wine.  She made the senses
swim and rational suddenly seem unimportant.  She was the joy of
Life itself.
     Finally they were through with the clean up.  Hal gave an
inward sigh of hope that he might now find relief from the battle
he was fighting with himself.  Just when he thought he had won,
Jessie smiled and he had to fight his impulse to fall in love
with her all over again.
     Jessie made a lunch for the two of them and placed it into
each of their packs.  It would be cold at the lake so she caught
up a moleskin shirt to throw on for the higher elevation and then
she looked around for something Hal could use.
     Hal had tossed a plaid, heavy, wool shirt over a bush by his
tent.  Jessie picked it up to hand to him.  Her hand strayed
though, and she lifted it to her face first.  It smelled sweet
and smoky, like campfires and like Hal's warm essence.  This was
as enchanting and addicting to her as the thought of opium pop-
pies.  She wanted to rub it on her face and bury herself in it
like a puppy.  There was something about his man, that she wanted
to make her man, and something as necessary about him, as breath
itself.  Reluctantly she suggested he put the shirt on and re-
turned it to him.
     They started off on the trail to the lake.  Jessie lead the
way through the forest.  Meadows of ripe huckleberry bushes
followed them from open area to forested area and then back
again.  They wound by fallen areas where the fire weed spikes
sprinkled themselves in amongst the downed timber, where ground
squirrels darted into small holes around the upright stumps.  The
hum of wild bees made the world buzz in the sunlight and the
sunshine was heavy, overwhelming the senses and dissolving their
every day selves into warmth.
     Hal and Jessie moved into the timber again and now began to
climb in earnest.  The trail moved ever upward where the wind
carried a slight chill to it and the clouds dropped lower on the
mountain sides.  At last they moved out of the trees on the side
of the mountain and looked down at a perfect jewel of a lake.  It
was surrounded below on all sides, by sloping terrain and it
cupped a verdant, emerald meadow, beside its waters.  They stood
there for the longest time on that mountain side, absorbed in the
sight and catching their breaths.
     Jessie dropped down the path to the lake, Hal followed upon
her heels.  The sun was dispersing the clouds now and it looked
like it might be a fine day of Indian summer warmth.  They picked
their way to the part of the meadow spread beside the southern
edge of the lake, the beauty of the day and the place acting upon
their feelings like a drug.
     Jessie took a soft Madras bedspread from her pack and Hal
helped her spread it over the fragrant grasses.  The hum of
insects made the Earth seem to vibrate with life and the sunshine
lulled them into a sense of timelessness and pleasure.
     Hal helped Jessie slip the pack from her shoulders.  She was
close now.  So close that she was overloading his senses.  She
turned and Hal could almost taste her skin on his lips, salt and
coffee cream richness.  Hal was losing his grip on reality and as
he fought he knew it would be a battle he would ultimately and
gladly lose.
     Then Jessie cast her die in the game.  She took off her
shirt to sunbathe.
     Jessie slipped her T-shirt off with the grace of a dancer.
Her skin was flawless, the tan and the rose tips of her breasts
melted the steel of Hal's reserve.  He clasped her to his body
and pressed his warm lips to hers tenderly, but with an urgency
that confessed what he had been repressing all morning.  She met
his kiss with equal abandon and slowly pulled him down beside her
on the cloth.
     Jessie's lips were trembling and Hal tried to soak her
deeply into his soul, with each passionate response to his kiss-
es.  Hal cradled her face between his strong hands and tasted her
honey wine lips with the desire of a man lost to the world.
Kisses followed to her cheeks.  Jessie arched and exposed her
neck as he caressed her body with his tongue.
     Hal followed the line of the swan to the hollow of her
throat and gently bit with his teeth until she could stand it no
longer.  Jessie's thighs were slippery from desire and she en-
twined her limbs about his.  Hal strayed down the throat to the
chest, his tongue urging her abandon in small, intense circles
until he reached her twin, perfect breasts.  He encircled their
tips and gently pulled, bringing warm flashes of need that washed
over Jessie in waves.  Breathing now in small gasps she rolled on
her side and gently pushed Hal onto his back.
     What was fair for the swan was fair for the lady of the
lake.
     Jessie planted kisses on Hal's cheeks and mouth and gently
nibbled his ear.  Her tongue flicked in and out and round, until
Hal too began to breathe in irregular gasps.  Her right hand
worked down Hal's shirt buttons until the top lay open at the fur
of his chest.  Jessie ran the tips of her fingers though the
black and grey hair curling across his chest, stroking his skin
with desire.  Shifting her weight to the side, she pulled his
shirt to the side, effectively pinning his arms still entrapped
in it.  Desire driving her, Jessie moved her tongue over his
breasts, circling, tickling, sucking while Hal lost himself
wanting to play out the age old game of love and merging.
Jessie's hand strayed to the straining bulge in his jeans and she
stroked the surface of his thighs with ever gentle, passes that
brought forth his breath in deep, pleasured moans.
     Now it was his turn again.  Hal struggled to return from the
waves of pleasure in which he floated.  He finally raised himself
on one elbow and removed his prison of a shirt.  Hal reached for
the zipper on Jessie's jeans and slowly inched it down, his
fingers seeking to dip themselves in her soft petals of skin.
His probing palms found  the triangle of golden fur that arched
skyward to meet him and he slid his hand along her glistening
thighs searching for panties.  There were none to find and it
excited him to find her so ready and unencumbered.
     Jessie's right hand was no quieter than his.  She worked the
snap of Hal's jeans open and slid her hand inside over his under-
pants and caressed his shaft.  It was full and firm and strained
upward at each pass she made from the tip to the base and back
again.  She worked Hal's zipper open and teased his firm member
into the softness of her palm.  It was velvet soft on the outside
but unable to disguise the raging energy it contained.  His shaft
wanted only to be as close to her, to burrow itself deep within
her magic.  Its tip moistened in overwhelming expectation of
heaven to come.
     Jessie and Hal were both breathing hard now.  But they still
had entirely too many clothes on.  It took them no time at all to
realize this fact and seek to remedy the situation to fulfill
their desire.  Hal was the first to call a truce.  He eased
Jessie's jeans off, his hand stroking her thighs with a caress
with the softness of the wind, but the urgency of manhood.
Reciprocating, Jessie slowly slid both his pants down until he
stepped out of them.
     He stood before her like a graying, handsome god of lust.
She knelt and took his shaft into her mouth and teased it round
the head and underneath with her tongue.  Each pass brought Hal
closer to his knees.  His back was arched and he fought the
desire to end this ballet in a flood of saltiness.
     Jessie moved up his pubic area with her tongue...up the
chest...up to the neck and then to his lips again.  They embraced
in a kiss that lost them both to time.  Hal moved to enter her,
thrusting, like a sword seeking its rightful sheath and when he
found his home, they both cried out in pleasure.
     Now a deep thrust, now a shallow one.  They clung in each
others arms, swaying like great willows caught up in the dance of
life and the wind.  The deeper Hal thrust, the deeper Jessie
tried to take him.  She wanted him in the center of her being but
she could not keep her balance, her knees were so weak that they
had to hold each other up to keep from falling.  Her body urged
Hal to follow it gently down without slipping from its hold, to
lie upon her on the sweet earth together.
     Now their rhythms lost them to all reason.  She moaned and
cried out and struggled sideways in an effort to bring Hal close
enough within her.  He lost himself in passion until the urgency
of both of them brought the crescendo of centering.  Hal came in
a flood of warmth and a cry to the gods of perfection.  Jessie
joined him as his salty flood spread inside her loins that
brought her own loss of space and time.  She was in a time and
place where nothing mattered but holding this man as close as she
could for eternity itself.  They lay relaxed, merged with one
another while time itself passed away.
     Tears began to stream down Jessie's cheeks.  They were tears
of pure joy, tears of pure happiness and she held Hal gently and
let them flow with her passion.  Hal reached up and brushed them
gently away with his finger tips.  He kissed their saltiness and
whispered gently into her ear, "I love you," while he tried not
to cry himself.  There was no way to express in words what he
felt about what they had shared with each other.  Language lost
its power to express when compared with this sharing.
     For the longest time they laid there, wrapped in eternity,
love taking them on a journey to the ultimate high meadow.
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