Age of The Understatement

Part 7 - Wonderous Place

Between Mount Baldy & Whitewater Baldy, AZ

They had all set up camp pretty quickly as soon as they found a decently covered piece of land underneath a rather large tree canopy. The river flowed less than a jog away from where they set up. Alex had decided it would be a good idea for them all to take a quick swim in the river, to cool off from the dreadful weather conditions and hopefully get off the rest of the dust and dirt from their travels through the desert.

Miles sat along the river bank in his underwear, dunking and ringing out Alex, Pearl, and his own clothes into the water, watching the dirt that came out flow into the continuous stream. Alex and Pearl still splashed around in the water, enjoying the cool off. It felt nice to have someone else to hang out with for a change, some company. But, Miles still couldn't wait till nightfall came. Miles laid out the clothes along a few taller sunny rocks, hoping that they'd dry out a bit laid out that way.

"Come in the water Miles!" Alex called out, splashing some water Miles' direction. Alex had the biggest grin on his face, his lips and teeth barely visible beneath his unkept beard. Miles pushed his hair back and waded his way into the water, making his way to Alex's side. The water felt insanely refreshing, like he had never felt such crisp water on his body before– like a large gulp of fresh lemonade on a hot summer day. It's like he could feel his body soaking up the water like a sponge. Miles let out an involuntary moan as he sank into the water, just up to his neck.
"Feels good doesn't it?" Alex said, a cheeky little grin peaking out under his beard. He hadn't heard Miles moan like that in awhile, although he was hoping he would later.

Pearl waded over to the two men. "What's on the menu for dinner then, boys?" She said, her long hair flowing into the water. She looked quite lovely actually, her cheeks were kissed with the softest pink from the sun, her hair starting to curl slightly around her face.
"Well, really whatever we've got left doll." Alex said, turning back to Miles. "Which is what?"

Miles let himself float in the water a little, the hot sun beating down onto his face as the cool water engulfed him. His feet ran across the algae covered rocks that lined the riverbed, it was rather slick.
"Um.." He said, not really able to focus as his mind slowly started to gather all the words he just heard, eventually being able to form a sentence. "I think we have a pack of crackers, a few pieces of beef, some more oatmeal, and bread." He paused for awhile as he stood himself up a bit more. "Not much really, we'll need to stock back up in the next town."
Pearl sighed as she stood herself back upright, ringing out her hair a bit. "I always thought cowboys had such a lavish lifestyle, I didn't think it would be blistering hot days and stale crackers." She walked back over to the bank, making her way back onto the shore where all their clothes laid out. Her white chemise clung to her frame, her body perfectly visible under the nearly sheer wet fabric. She hoped Miles had gotten a good look at her, looking back over her shoulder to see the two men not paying a single bit of attention to her. Pearl let out another sigh as she peered down at the now clean clothes, still nothing had really dried. She made her way over to her horse who was tied up to a tree that sat just between the river and the camp and pulled the small tin of soap from one of her many satchels.
"Well, I'll figure out something for food." Pearl yelled out at Miles and Alex, her full bosom clearly visible under her white chemise as she brought herself to the edge of the river. "In the meantime, wash up a bit. Here's the soap." Pearl placed the tincan of soap on the edge of the river, unsure of why the two men seemed uneasy. Don't all men want this?

"Thanks Pearl." Alex said as he waded over yo the edge, picking up the tin and gesturing it her way. "Do you have any dry clothes?" Alex asked, trying to be gentle on the subject.

"Oh, yeah. Um, I should have spare underthings in one of my satchels.." Pearl stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself. She suddenly felt really cold.

"Didn't want you to have to wait for your clothes to dry! Could be hours. Don't want you gettin sick now." Alex said back, pulling himself up onto the edge of the riverbed, his strong arms glistening from the water.
Pearl nodded as she looked down at the surprisingly muscular man below her before quickly returning to her horse to fetch a dry chemise.

Miles waded over to Alex, who's legs were dangling in the water. Miles glimpsed over the edge, seeing Pearl starting to change. Miles quickly looked back at Alex. They had at least ten, maybe twenty minutes to themselves.
"Hey." Miles said, looking up at Alex as he ran his hands along his legs, placing a small kiss against his knee. Alex's wet hair fell into his eyes as he looked down at Miles, you could see his cheeks flushing with a rosy pink, his hands gripping the dirt edge of the river.
"Hey." Alex replied, a bashful smile creeping across his lips. "Come here often, handsome?" Alex giggled, running one of his hands across Miles' head, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear. Miles pressed another kiss against Alex's knee before pulling himself back a bit. "Help me?" Miles said, gesturing towards the soap container. Alex grinned, nodding a little.
"Let's go behind the rocks, I don't think she can see us from there." Alex suggested, to which Miles quickly agreed as he started to make his way over to the small shore where their clothes laid out.

Alex had a seat on the flat rock that dipped into the river, his legs just barely submerged as he picked up the soap tin. Miles perched himself next to him, facing in Alex's direction.
"I like her, she hasn't been too much of a struggle." Alex said as he got the soap lathered up in his hands. "Although she keeps acting like she wants to fuck you or somethin." Alex said as he gestured at Miles to turn around, rubbing the now lathered soap onto his back, making sure to really work it into his scalp too.

"Yeah, she's making me uncomfortable with all that. But there's no easy way to say 'quit it I'm spoken for.' That would come with questions." Miles said. "Can't really tell her we're an item, I don't want to get shot."

"Yeah." Alex said. "Me neither. Nice to have someone else to talk to on our travels though, some sort of outside communication."

Miles nodded in agreement.
Alex continued to scrub the soap into Miles' scalp before moving in front of Miles' to let him lather up his back now. Miles quickly sudsed up Alex's back, working his thumbs into his shoulders.
"Mm.. that feels good baby." Alex moaned, leaning himself back into Miles' firm but gentle pressure. Miles grinned as he continued to massage Alex's back, working his way up into his hair. Miles rubbed his fingers against his scalp, making sure to get behind his ears. Alex let out a moan as Miles suddenly grasped at his hair, tugging it back gently as he planted a few kisses along Alex's neck, Miles' stubble scratching deliciously against his soft skin.

"God, I've missed you." Alex sighed as Miles reluctantly pulled himself away.
"Just wait till later." Miles whispered back, quickly planting one last kiss against his neck. "You'll be able to have all of me."