The New Job

[lancguy14]

I hated my job.

We've all been there; that job you loved the look of, the honeymoon phase lasts about a year, and then suddenly it isn't the same. People come and go, management changes, your responsibilities go through the roof. Before you know it, the job you thought you'd be at 'til you retired is suddenly the job you can't get out of fast enough.

Yep, I was there. And so, after just four years, I was on the hunt.

I needed a job that didn't make me a bitch. And oh was I a bitch thanks to this one. My now-ex had had enough and broken up with me about six months prior. It was probably for the best, since we didn't exactly mesh. The lust factor was there of course, but emotionally we didn't have that spark.

I'll spare you the details of the search, but eventually I found a new position; it was a remote job, one where I could work from home, have no commute, flexibility in my hours, and--most importantly--no dress code. And the best part? It was nearly $30K more a year.

Sold!

I spent the first several months getting up to speed with my new teammates. As a project manager, it's important not just to get to know the projects you'll be overseeing and guiding, but the people you'll be working with as well. More than half of working a successful project across the finish line is managing people: their expectations, their needs, their wants, understanding their approaches so you can balance all the aspects of the work that needs to get done.

While I was enjoying my new job (again, remember it's hard to hate a job you were excited to get, at least for that first year) I spent my weekends and the occasional evening trying to get out of the condo. The downside to working from home and being constantly tied to your desk with a headset is you get zero exercise. And while I have always prided myself on keeping in-shape, riding a desk can be just asking to fall off the wagon. So I started making it a point to get outside as much as possible: for a run, a bike ride, a hike in the woods nearby. I made sure I wasn't going to get soft.

So before I go any further, a little about myself: my name is Reid, I'm 27 years old, stand exactly 6', and weight in around 175 pounds. I dont sport the most defined abs, but I'm well toned and have a pretty slender build; short, cropped, dark blonde hair that almost looks brown, and blue-green eyes, with usually a day or two's worth of scruff. Quite a catch I think, and from the times I'd been out at the gym and bars pre-COVID and the glances that would come my way, pretty decent-looking I'd say. Of course I'm also slightly on the introverted side, so a tad quieter compared to my energetic and somewhat boisterous gang of friends. (More about them later.)

It was a warm, sunny Thursday evening where my story begins. I headed out the door for a run, but soon decided I wasn't feeling it and headed at a slow jog for the nearby woods. My complex sits right along one of those rural rail trails, and at points along the main path you'll find trails that head up the hills that the old railroad used to cut through. I've explored a number of them, but they're often what you'd expect--an interconnected web of dirt paths that eventually tie into each other. A half-mile of trail that's new before you circle back to a path you've explored previously.

Not that I mind of course, part of what I love about the trails is the workout from the steep climb some of them take. And most go deep into underbrush that secludes them, especially in the summer when the foliage is fully grown in. So this particular evening I picked a trailhead I'd checked out before, but one that had a branch-off I hadn't yet explored. It took me about ten minutes to reach the fork, and off I headed to the right to see where this direction would lead.

This trail turned out to be a much more winding and occasionally steep trail than most of the ones I had climbed, and after a while I had to pause to take a quick rest. I'd had my earbuds in, listening to some music as I worked my way up, so I took them out and took a moment to inhale deeply and look around and listen. I love the smell of the woods, still slightly musty after a recent rain (like we'd had last night), and the energetic chirping of the birds that you couldn't see but knew were all around you. There was a fallen tree to the side of the small, open area I had stopped in, so I went over and had a seat, figuring I'd be back up and climbing higher within a few minutes.

"Hey there!"

Holy shit, I literally jumped half off the fallen log at my surprise at hearing the voice.

"Whoa, sorry, didn't mean to scare the shit out of ya. You must have been in you're own little world there."

I turned to face the source of that voice, and found myself looking at a beast of a man, standing probably a good three inches taller than me, heavily muscled (like a beefy linebacker), and sporting a deep red--almost maroon--tank top. The salt-and-pepper chest hair that spread out from underneath it matched the flattop haircut and trim goatee he sported. I'd guess he was probably in his 50s, and he clearly spent more time than most at the gym keeping his body.

Pausing a moment to compose myself, I eventually forced out the words to get the conversation started, in something of a stutter.

"Um, yeah, sorry. I didn't realize anyone else was around here. I thought I'd check out a new trail this evening, and it's quite the climb."

"Sure is," he responded. "It's one of my favorites, but I've noticed most people who try it tend not to come back this way again. They prefer the trails that don't test them quite as much."

"I can probably understand why," I agreed. Even in my pretty good shape I had need to stop for a momentary break, I could only imagine how this trail must chew up and spit out those who weren't prepared for it.

"So what do you think? Has it kicked your ass too?" my fellow hiker inquired.

"No, not really. It was definitely more than what I expected, but I like a trail that will push me now and then when I need it. I don't always like an easy hike," I replied.

"Well, I was on my way back down, but if you'd like, I can head back up with you if you want someone to show you further up?" he offered.

It would have been rude for me to refuse, and he wasn't the worst looking guy I've seen. Perhaps a tad older than what usually peaked my interest, but there was something about him that both put me at ease and intrigued me. I chalked it up to finding someone who seemed easy to talk to and enjoyed an activity that I did as well, and decided to take him up on his gesture.

"Sure, probably wouldn't hurt to have someone who knows the path, especially if it gets to be any tougher a climb!"

"Great! I'm Gerry by the way, though most people just call me 'G' for short," he said, extending his hand and introducing himself.

"Reid, nice to meet you," I said, reaching out to shake his hand.

As our hands clasped in that typical form of greeting, I felt a strange sensation wash over me as my hand made contact with his. It was warm, slightly sweaty as you would expect, but I felt my pulse oddly quicken in excitement. Again, I chalked it up to the thrill of the trail ahead.

Having introduced ourselves, we started up the next leg of beaten down dirth path. It was, as I suspected, just as exerting a climb as the first portion had been, but at least I had someone along to pace myself against, keeping me from slowing down or going easy. We seemed to attack the climb, moving deliberately and steadily. Occasionally Gerry, I mean G, would alert me to a trip hazard or potential loose footing danger from his position ahead. He clearly knew this trail, and I marveled at how he seemed so at ease on it. Clearly he wasn't kidding about most folks not wanting to hike this deep woods, high mountain path simply give the energy it took.

We went for probably 25 minutes before we came to another small opening. The trail ahead seemed to level from this point for a bit as it disappeared into the trees. We took the opportunity to pause and strike up a conversation again.

"So are you new around here?" G asked me.

"I've been here about a year now. Moved here with the boyfriend, but we broke up about six months ago, so I've only been out exploring the trails for the last couple months," I explained, not even thinking that I had casually informed him of my sexuality.

"Boyfriend eh? Sorry to hear you two broke up, but you seem like a decent guy. Guess he was the problem half," he said, locking eyes with me. "My partner passed away last year, so I know what it means to find yourself out and about solo. He loved the trails around here. Hell, he loved the trails anywhere he could find them."

The conversation was so natural. I didn't even find myself surprised at this beefy, muscled man coming out to me either, as if both of us having male-on-male desires was completely normal. As it is.

"Sorry to hear that," I said. "Was it unexpected, or was it... Covid?"

"Not unexpected," he replied. "He'd been dealing with some health issues, and in the end they were too much. He had a good life, we enjoyed our time together. There are days I miss him, but I'm fortunate to have known him for almost 20 years, so I hold onto the good memories and try to be happy when I remember."

I could tell there was still a part of him that missed his former partner, as by the end of his words his gaze had moved off into the distance. I felt a bit of sadness for him.

"But enough about the mushy stuff, what about you? Any new prospects since your breakup?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Nah, I'm not sure I'm ready for anything serious yet. I'm enjoying having time for myself, doing what I want, when I want, wherever I want."

"And doing... whomever you want?" he smirked at me.

I blushed. I hadn't had sex since the ex and I broke up. Some days I just didn't care, and others my hand had usually sufficed. But every now and then...

"Nah, no sex in a long time."

"Shame. Paul and I had sex all the time, more than a few times on the trail right here!" he laughed. "Since it's always been a pretty quiet trail, never had to really worry about anyone stumbling across us."

It was as if he read my mind, poised to ask him just that question about being discovered by passers-by. A quick glance confirmed that this was indeed a secluded spot, and the time and effort it had taken to arrive here would have deterred all but the most ardent climbers, and that was assuming they even noticed this particular branch of the trails to begin with. I found myself imagining where in the clearing would have been "the spot" to do it, before his voice drew me back.

"Ever had outdoor sex?"

He had an almost mischievous grin on his face, as if he was daring me to say "yes." But I couldn't, because in the time we'd been together Shawn and I had never done anything remotely risque; quite the opposite in fact, our sex had been pretty vanilla. And I must have turned red at the question, because before I could muster up the courage to say I hadn't, he jumped right back in.

"Ever WANTED to have outdoor sex?"

Honestly? I had never really thought about it. And I answered him truthfully.

"I've never really given it any thought. I mean, it sounds hot, I guess I've just always played it safe when it came to the who's and the wheres," I replied.

And that's when I--laughingly and jokingly, or so I thought at the time--asked that fateful question that would, unbeknownst to me in the moment, change the course of my life forever.

"Why? You offering?"

"Hell yeah, I would!"

He had caught me off-guard with his reply. And yet again, I made what would be--in hindsight--a pivotal choice. I got up, stood in front of him, and with as much courage as I could muster, looked him straight in the eyes and said, "prove it!"

[kitpig]

What a great start - this sounds as though it could become a really interesting story  😈

[austin_submale]

Nice start!

 

[shinelover]

Off to a good start. More please!

[SubOhioBttm]

Mmmm.. great start! Can't wait for the next chapter. 

[jagmanaz]

Hot story so far, Sex and Hiking always fun

[rawflipfuck]

Great setup so far, looking forward for more of the story!

[seattlebbbtm]

I’m liking the ride so far! 

[tbone69rimmer]

Love the "Prove it" line. It is one of my favorites and gets great results for both me and the man I tell.

[noladude]

this start is really exciting

[PozTalkAuthor]

Continue it! And...

Can I say I love having sex in the woods? When weather is friendly though.

Poz talk when there's no one around

 

[Hunter22]

Great start! 

[cman54]

Great start for sure! I'm thinking Gerry's partner may have died of AIDS. I'm betting Gerry is poz and hopefully not on meds.

[pozpopperpig]

I like where this is goinng!

[DNG999]

Loving this. Could almost be my fantasy