Amanda stays with Michael.

Amanda shook her head vehemently. "I really should help him," she said with conviction. "Suit yourself," Lina said, grabbing Brant's waistband and tugging him away. "See you guys later!" Amanda watched as they disappeared into the forest, her heart tugging with a feeling of regret. She turned around and walked back to Michael. He had several packs slung over his shoulders and a determined look in his eyes. He looked at her with a hint of admiration. "Grab as much as you can carry and follow me," he said, his voice firm but gentle. Amanda nodded. She grabbed some of the bags and followed him, her heart thumping with anticipation. He led her deep into the forest, the dense foliage blocking out the outside world. It was quiet. All she could hear was the sound of the birds chirping and the wind blowing through the trees. There were so many trees. "I think I'm getting vertigo," she joked, her voice soft and light. Michael laughed. "Well, just stay close to me," he said, his voice strong and reassuring. They walked along a dirt trail, the smell of the earth and the trees surrounding them. The forest was so beautiful. They came upon a large clearing with a few log benches and a large fire pit. "Looks like we've reached our destination," Michael said, his voice triumphant. He set his bags down and let out a loud groan. Amanda placed her bags on the ground and looked around. "So, we arrived but what do you think so far?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with excitement. Amanda nodded, her heart filling with awe. "It's really beautiful," she said, the awe evident in her voice. She looked at him, her eyes shining. "Thank you for inviting me," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. Michael blushed. "I'm glad you think so," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "I can't wait to show you some of my favorite spots!" Amanda smiled, her heart bursting with joy. She couldn't wait to see where he took her. He seemed so excited about it. It made her feel giddy. They both grabbed the rest of the gear and began setting up camp. They were going to sleep in tents.

Amanda stared in disbelief at the enormous box that held the tent. "It says this tent could house 8 people. Wow..." she said, her eyes widening. She shook her head in amazement and turned to Michael. "Why did you bring two tents? Are you planning to house an army?" she asked curiously. Michael shifted nervously on his feet and cleared his throat. "Well, I thought if you didn't want to sleep in the same tent as me we could be a little more spread out," he said, his voice taking on a shy quality. He scanned the campsite, an embarrassed flush creeping up his neck. "I mean, it's not like we would do anything while we were sleeping or anything..." he trailed off, his cheeks turning an even brighter shade of red.

Amanda's cheeks flushed slightly as she frowned. "Oh.. okay," she said, her voice barely audible. She knew they weren't going to have sex that night. But her heart had been aching for some alone time with him. She had been hoping to see him in the glow of the campfire, and fall asleep in his arms. She wasn't expecting them to sleep in different tents. "But don't worry," Michael continued, his voice kind and gentle. "We can take turns sleeping in the same tent." Amanda was dumbstruck by this suggestion. "Um.. I guess we could," she said hesitantly. "If you think it would be okay then yeah sure." she added, her voice barely a whisper. She didn't know what to say. She knew he wouldn't try anything during the night, but she also wanted to spend more time with him. She decided not to argue about it. "Okay," Michael said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well let's get set up camp." They both unpacked the tents and started putting them together. The tents were really big, and Amanda couldn't help feeling a little overwhelmed. Afterward Michael, pulled of his shirt, grabbed the axe and started to chop wood for the fire.

Amanda watched him from behind, admiring his toned figure - slim yet strong - an obvious result of his hard work. Her eyes were transfixed and her heart pounded as he effortlessly split the logs one after the other. Fascinated, she called out to him, "Can I try that?" Michael stopped what he was doing and looked at her with an inquisitive expression. "Try what?" he asked. "Chop some wood." she said, almost too eagerly. "It looks kinda fun." Michael cocked his head slightly, "Sure.. I guess," he said. "Do you know what you're doing?" Amanda shook her head with a sheepish smile. "No clue." she said. She walked up to him as he held out the axe to her, handle first. "Here, take this." he said. Amanda took it from him and nearly dropped it. It was heavier than she had expected, but she could feel the power it held. "It's okay." Michael said, his voice filled with encouragement. "You can do it."

Amanda nodded, her heart pounding with anticipation. She grabbed the axe by the handle and swung it over her shoulder, the weight of it feeling familiar in her hands. She brought the axe down onto the log, barely clipping the edge as it careened off the stump and rolled away. "Oops," she laughed nervously, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Michael smiled at her, his gaze intense and reassuring. "That wasn't so bad." he said. He picked up another log, setting it on the stump. "Let me help you next time, okay?" he asked, his voice full of admiration and encouragement. Amanda nodded, barely able to contain her excitement. She had never felt so close to him before. Michael moved behind her, his body heat radiating against her back. She could feel his calloused hands on hers, his touch sending a shockwave through her body. "Okay, first spread your legs a little wider." he said, his breath tickling her ear. She did as he said, her legs quivering as she felt her butt brush against his crotch. "Good," he said, his voice low and seductive. "Now extend your arms over your head, holding the axe with both hands." "Okay.." Amanda gushed, her body tingling with anticipation. He released his grip on her hands and brought them down to her hips. "Now bend your legs slightly at the knees." She did as he said, feeling her breath quicken as she felt his body press against hers. "Not that much." he said, his voice husky.

He wraps his hands firmly around hers, his palms rough against her soft skin. She takes comfort in the feeling. "Let's try a few practice swings," he says, his breath warm on the back of her neck. She follows his body and hand motions closely, the experience feeling almost sexual in nature. As her hand slides along the handle of the axe, her backside slides up and down against him. She feels her body filling with a hot, tingling sensation. After a few practice swings, they line up once again. "This time," he says, his voice low and smooth, "I want you to do it for real." He stands close, his strength radiating through her as she takes a deep breath and swings the axe down. The logs split into two halves and wobble off the stump to the ground. "Holy shit!" she exclaims, her heart pounding in her chest. "We did it!" He laughs, his eyes twinkling. "YOU did it, Amanda. Great job."

Amanda felt an electric buzz of excitement course through her veins as she spun around and pressed her lips against his. He dropped the axe and brought his arms around her waist, and kissed her back with a passionate intensity. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest and she felt his tongue slide between her lips, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine. Breaking the kiss, she looked into his eyes, and saw his cheeks flush a deep red. They gazed into each others eyes silently, in that moment understanding that words weren't necessary. It was the first time they had kissed since the trip started, and it was comforting to know that he still had strong feelings for her. "How about a few more, with your help of course?" She asked hopefully, her voice full of desire. He nodded in agreement, his voice heavy with emotion. "Of course."