Tenderness is a Dangerous Thing

Chapter 35: Botany Camp- Morning Regrets

Anna and Evan rejoined the bird watching group and continued the last half hour of the tour, not really paying attention to anything the camp leader was saying. The tour ended at a lookout platform, overlooking a breathtaking mountain panorama view, bathed in warm golden sunlight. The landscape stretches for miles, showcasing towering sandstone cliffs, dense forested valleys and distant escarpments beneath an expansive sky filled with scattered clouds. They stepped onto the spacious observation desk constructed from weathered wooden plants and extending outward over a cliff’s edge in a broad, slightly curved shape. A study metal safety railing wrapped around the perimeter, its simple silver-grey design contrasting with the warm tones of the wood beneath.

At noon the campers went back to the main camp site, where fishing rods, fishing line and fishing bait had been set up for them. The camp leaders tried to manage the excited chaos of campers who wanted to fish and explained to them that they could fish on the northern side of the lake. While the campers fished, raw and dried vegetable and fruit snacks were available for the campers. After two hours of fishing, camp leaders helped the campers who had caught fish, to barbecue their catches, for those who wanted to eat fish. By the time everyone was done eating, the sun was starting to set. A group of camp leaders gathered and started helping the camper’s collect firewood for a big bon fire. Once the bonfire was lit and the sky was dark and covered by stars, the camp leaders left, and the campers started drinking and dancing.

Anna was looking out at the bright orange and yellow flames of the bonfire, casting a warm glow across the campers nearby while more of the campsite was cloaked in darkness. The bonfire was contained with circular metal fire rings and thick logs had been carefully stacked in a teepee-like arrangement, leaning against one another to form a cone that channeled the flames upward. The fire burned intensely, with tongues of flame reaching several feet into the air. Bright orange embers and tine sparks rose from the blaze, carried upward by the hot air, while wisps of smoke drifted into the dark sky. The base of the fire glowed white-hot, fading into deep orange and red where the logs were actively burning. The campers encircled the bonfire, several feet back from the flames. The faces of those closest to the flames flowed with warm amber highlights, while those farther back faded into shadow.

Evan handed Anna a drink and when she accepted it from him, her fingers brushed against his. The warmth of his touch lingered even after he pulled away to drink his own drink. She took a sip, the sweetness of the punch hitting her tongue. “Thanks,” she said, her voice slightly breathless for their earlier activities. “I think I need this after all that hiking and... Other things.” She glanced around at the other campers who were starting to get rowdy around the bonfire. Laughter and music filled the air as some of them began dancing near the flames. Anna leaned closer to Evan speaking quietly so only he could hear her over the noise. “This is kind of perfect, isn’t it? Just us and everyone else to busy getting drunk to notice we are not exactly innocent campers.” Her brown eyes sparkled in the firelight as she took another sip of her drink. The alcohol was already making her feel warm and relaxed, both physically and emotionally. “Yeah, perfect opportunity,” Evan mumbled. Throughout the night he kept giving Anna drink after drink. The night blurred together, laughing, dancing, kissing, nakedness, pain...

Anna groaned as consciousness slowly returned. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, and her mouth felt like cotton. Sunlight filtered through the tent fabric, indicating it was well past morning. She blinked several times, trying to piece together the previous night’s events. Vague memories flickered- dancing by the bonfire, laughing with Evan as they shared drink after drink... Turning her head slowly, she saw Evan asleep beside her. His arm was draped possessively over her waist, holding her close against his warm chest. The sleeping bag had slipped down to their waists, revealing both their bare skin. A quick check confirmed that they were both naked underneath the covers. Anna’s face flushed pink as she remembered bits and pieced of making out under the stars before stumbling back to her tent together. Evan’s eyes fluttered open, focusing on Anna sitting upright beside him, when she did, she felt an unfamiliar pain shoot through her body, originating from her hips. Evan noticed her wincing and immediately sat up. “Hey, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” His voice was rough from sleep and alcohol. Anna shifted uncomfortably, feeling the sharp sting in her backside every time she moved. “I do not know,” she admitted, her voice laced with confusion. “It feels like something is... Different.” She glanced back over her shoulder, trying to see what was causing the discomfort. That is when she noticed a faint red mark on her skin, shaped like teeth. “Oh my god,” she gasped touching the area gently. The skin was tender and sensitive to her touch. “Do you think... Do you think you bit me last night?” Her cheek flushed pink as she remembered bits of their drunken make out session- hands everywhere, mouths exploring places they should not have...

“Yeah, I might have. Before we tried anal,” Evan mumbled casually. “Sorry about that,” he added while stretching his arms over his head. Anna’s brown eyes widened at his nonchalant admission. Anal? They had done that last night. The memory was fuzzy, but suddenly little details started coming back- the burning sensation, Evan’s hands gripping her hips firmly... “You bit me during that?” she asked incredulously, turning to stare at him with a mixture of shock and something else she could not quite identify. Her heart raced as she processed this information. Not only had he taken her virginity the night before and they had had s*x multiple times throughout the evening, but they had also experimented with something she had never even considered before. “And you are sorry about it?” Anna challenged, crossing her arms defensively over her bare chest. “Because I am pretty sure ‘sorry’ is not the word I am looking for right now.” Evan scoffed. “We were both drunk,” he said dismissively. “We should get dressed,” His voice was devoid of feeling as he reached for his shirt and put it on. Anna watched as Evan casually pulled on his shirt, the movement casual and unapologetic.

The dismissive tone of his voice stung more than the physical mark on her skin. He was treating this like it was no big deal, while her entire world felt like it had been turned upside down. “You are just going to act like that was nothing?” she asked, her voice rising slightly. “We had anal s*x, Evan. That is not exactly ‘nothing’.” She struggled to find her clothes amidst the tangled sleeping bag, her movement sharp with frustration. The morning light streaming through the tent felt too bright, too exposing for what they had done. “I can’t believe you,” Anna continued, pulling on her shorts with more force than necessary. “You bit me so hard it left a mark, and you are acting like we just shared a soda.” Her hands shook slightly as she buttoned her shorts. “Well, I can’t take it back, can I? I will not be so rough again alright,” he said gruffly and put on his boxers and jeans. Anna’s anger deflated slightly at Evan’s gruff apology. The roughness in his voice suggested he was uncomfortable with her reaction. She finished dressing quickly, pulling her hair into a messy ponytail. “Fine,” she said finally, her tone still sharp but losing some of its initial heat. “Just... Be more careful next time. I am not used to this stuff.” She zipped up her shorts and grabbed her water bottle from beside the tent flap. The morning air outside felt crisp and cool against her flushed cheeks.