A BLACK spider diligently spun a dewy web between waist-high ferns in the moonlight. The tent was pitched in the alcove of a cathedral of tall trees, and the shadows of the boys played in a lyrical dance against the canvas walls. The silhouettes of their faces mingled as they kissed. Inside the tent, Brad leaned his forehead against Dany’s and looked intently into his eyes.

“Je t’aime,” he whispered.

“Me too,” Dany whispered back and met his mouth again.

A kiss and then shirts were thrown frantically to the floor. Hands glided through the fine fur of a muscled chest. Fingers raked through glossy black hair and a mouth met a throat. Teeth bit and tongues licked gently at ears. Hands grabbed biceps and held firm. More hands massaged shoulders firmly. And then a finger traced down the spine.

Brad opened his eyes and shivered. “Dany!”

“What?”

“Did you just touch my back?” Brad asked, pulling back to look his partner in the eyes.

Dany nuzzled into his neck and purred, “I’m touching you all over.”

“Don’t mess around. I felt hands on my arms… but then I felt someone’s hands on my back.”

Dany couldn’t help himself from laughing, “Come on.”

“I’m serious.”

“You’re just fantasizing, babe. Were you thinking of our hiker friend from this afternoon?”

“I know what I felt.”

“Look at me,” Dany said, taking his partner’s face in his hands, “It’s just me and you, okay? There’s no one else. You’re letting the woods spook you again.” He traced a finger along Brad’s jaw. “I’m right here. I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”

“I know,” Brad whispered, his skin beginning to melt away the glacial touch he’d felt moments before.

“As far as I can tell, there’s only one disturbing thing going on here,” Dany continued, wrapping his arms around Brad’s waist.

“What’s that?”

Before he even had a chance to speak, Brad was pretty sure where this was going from the smirk on Dany’s face. “We’re still half-dressed.”