Stranger in the Woods

It’s fall in Appalachia. The air is crisp, the leaves are changing color, and Jake decides to head to the nearest state park for a picturesque hike. It isn’t until he arrives that he realizes his mistake: It’s peak tourist season, and the trails are packed with out-of-towners. To get away from the tourists, he decides to check out a closed-off trail. When he gets caught by a hot, older park ranger who threatens to fine him for trespassing, Jake decides to try his hand at flirting his way out of trouble—and it works.

Jake is hiking alone on a scorching summer day. Drenched in sweat, he considers cooling off in the river that runs alongside the trail. It’s a known spot for cruising, something Jake has never done, but it’s so hot out, he decides to take his chances. When a stranger shows up on the bank the two of them watch each other, until watching isn't enough anymore.

Jake and Declan have been best friends since childhood, but never more than that. When Jake shares something on a lonely trail in the pouring rain, it sparks a jealousy in Declan that leads to a heated argument and a hungry kiss that quickly turns passionate.