Roots, Rocks, and Racks

Where they were going there were no parking lots, no amenities, just wilderness. The two cars pulled off on the shoulder of the highway, looked oddly **** against the endless wall of trees.

From there, the hike started.

Joey trudged after the others, his sneakers catching roots and stones. Hiking wasn't his strong suit. In fact, with the exception of the exorbitant amount of sex he'd been having the past few days, all physical activity hadn't been part of his life. Ahead of him the others moved easily. Juniper, his sister, had always thrived in the world of sports. Taking after their parents, Joey knew that she would easily handle the task. But not Joey. For Joey this would be a struggle. Not that he would let on, though. He would tough it out, keep up as best as he could.

Besides, from his place at the back of the pack, he had the best view of all of them. His three girls, Juniper, Indira, and Serena, had quickly changed, all raiding Juniper's closet, before they left the house, each in something more appropriate than the scant clothes they had worn at breakfast. Not that each outfit wasn't chosen to entice him. No, he knew what these girls were about, and they weren't hiding the fact that they wanted him to know where they wanted him to look.

Serena, her hair tossed in a messy ponytail was wearing an olive green tank top, hugging her curves. Paired with high-waisted black shorts with frayed edges that skimmed the tops of her toned thighs. Her flat sandals, comfortable yet stylish, with thick straps, made it clear she was prepared for the hike but still wants to be noticed. As she strode ahead, the sway of her hips was enough to catch anyone's eye, and every step she took, her confidence seemed to become more magnetic, as if she could sense every time Joey's eyes fixed on her rear end.

Joey's eyes moved to Indira. Gone was the shy, nervous, self-conscious young woman he knew from school. Their time together the previous night had let her leave that part of herself behind. Now she walked with a relaxed but purposeful stride, her long, dark hair spilling over her shoulders. The tube top she was wearing, barely hanging onto her breasts, the same ones Joey had enjoyed the night before, clung to her torso, just the same way the denim shorts did to her rear end. Every few minutes she peeked behind her to see Joey, a smile creeping onto her face, assured that no matter where they were going, they were going together.

And Juniper, not to be outdone by the other two, had pulled out all the stops. Wearing nothing but a pink, sleek, form-fitting workout outfit and a pair of sneakers, she looked far too sexy to be out in the woods. Her sports bra was earning its pay, valiantly holding onto Juniper's large breasts that bounced with every step, while the yoga pants, seemingly painted on, rolled each time her foot touched the path.

Stumbling over another root, Joey had no idea how he was supposed to keep his eyes on the path when there was so much to look at ahead of him.

To be truthful, he was thankful for the distraction. Already he was sweating, panting from the exertion of the hike. Young as he was, his cardio was not the strongest, and it was a hot day in the woods, the humidity settling amongst the trees and sticking to his skin. He knew that he was committed to helping this woman, Elorae, but he wasn't happy about it. Finally, just as his life had begun to take a turn for the better, just as he found love, found affection, he was being pulled into a situation that would put his life in danger. And while he knew that he owed these past few amazing days to Elorae's power, he couldn't deny the sense of bitterness at the timing that had crept into his heart.

The forest swallowed them quickly. The hum of the highway had long faded until the only sound was the shuffle of shoes on leaves and the occasional birdcall was the only thing he could hear. The path, too, became less defined. If he were to guess, they were following the trails laid by animals, not people, into an area not travelled by humans very often. Sunlight came down in mottled streaks through the canopy, dappling Serena's glossy hair, flashing against the beads of sweat that had formed on Indira's breasts as she pushed aside a branch for him, catching on Juniper's laughter when she teased him about nearly tripping again.

They stayed close—closer than necessary. As the path became tighter, Joey found himself catching up to the group, following close behind his sister. Juniper's arm reached back to touch him every few steps. Indira and Serena looked back with envy, but seeming to understand that the forest did not allow them to move in any way but single file.

"You've got this, Joey," Serena said over her shoulder, noting how he was struggling.

It should have steadied him. It didn't.

It wasn't just the exertion that was difficult for him. Joey had no idea what Elorae had done to him back at the house. He didn't feel different. But the thought pressed on him with every breath: if she'd changed something inside him, how would he even know? What if his power was broken? What if it was worse than broken? What if it was gone?

By the time the glade opened before them, his stomach was already knotted tight.

It wasn't big, but there was evidence of Elorae being there before. Grass pressed down where she had laid, some broken branches where she had entered the forest. In a lot of ways there was nothing special about it. Had Elorae not called for them to stop, he would have found the strength to continue his trek into the woods. But now that they had arrived, he found a clear spot and sat on the ground, catching his breath.

Elorae moved first. She drifted to the middle, pale and serene, closing her eyes. Her hands lifted slightly, fingers twitching like she was tugging on invisible strings. Joey watched her face tighten, lashes fluttering against her cheeks.

"Things are holding… for now," she said finally, voice quiet but carrying. "But I'm not sure for how long."

Steve shifted uneasily, running a hand through his far-too-perfect hair. "You will fix it, Your Highness."

Elorae ignored him, despite the fact that even Joey had to admit that the man was the most attractive man he'd ever seen. Her eyes opened, gray and cutting, and fixed on Joey. "It will not hold forever. I can feel the pressure of the ether against the edge of your world. I will have to take you back with me."

Joey blinked. "What? Take me where?"

"To my world," she said simply. "The crack is thin, but the ether is finding its way through. If it widens, if the barrier fails, we will need to confront it at its source. And that means bringing you across."

His mouth went dry. "And… then what? I just… what? Stay there?"

Elorae's expression didn’t flicker. "Perhaps. I hope to bring you back, with luck."

The words hit him like ice water. "No. Absolutely not." His voice came out sharper than he meant, but he didn't care. "That's not happening. I'm not— I have school, I have— I can't just vanish. If you need me, you'll have to have me here."

"You don't have a choice." Her tone cut, calm but firm. "This isn't about what you want. It's about what's necessary. You are needed, and you will do what I say."

His heart pounded. He could feel Juniper's hand tighten around his. Indira murmured, "Joey…" soft and worried. Serena's other hand settled on his shoulder, grounding.

But it only made him angrier.

He hated the way Elorae stood there, so cool, so sure of herself, like she had already decided his life belonged to her. Like he was just a piece on her chessboard.

Something in him snapped.

"Um—actually," he blurted, his words tumbling fast, hot, clumsy. "I don't have to do anything that you say. If you want me to help you'd better start acting a lot nicer to me. As far as I can tell, things are okay right now, and I'm happy staying here with my girls, the most beautiful women I've ever met, who know how to treat me right. You? You're not even in their league. You'd better start catching up with them if you want to get anywhere with me."

The air shifted.

It wasn’t subtle this time. The world shivered—a ripple spreading outward from him, bending the grass, rustling the trees though no wind moved. Joey’s breath caught in his throat.

Elorae staggered. Her mouth opened like she meant to curse him, but instead a gasp tore free. She pressed her hands against her chest, shuddering, her eyes blazing with something rawer than anger.

And then it happened.

Light licked across her skin. Her body trembled as though caught between shapes, refining, sculpting, perfecting. Her hair cascaded brighter, glossier, spilling down her back like spun silver. Her cheekbones lifted; her mouth softened; her figure curved, breasts ballooning outward, hips widening, in ways that made Joey's stomach flip. Joey's power was remaking her—turning every ounce of her otherworldly grace into something devastating, something meant for him. Even her clothes, her loose-hanging beige outfit, shrank, tightened, until it was a tiny top and shorts, something akin to what Indira and Serena were wearing.

And it was all for him.

It was obscene, watching it happen. And yet it was impossible to look away.

Joey's heart slammed so hard it hurt. He hadn't asked for this. He hadn't wanted this. But the words had made it true.

"I'm sorry baby," Elorae's voice was higher than before, more affectionate, "I didn't mean to come on so strong. I mean, you're the boss, but I could really really use your help on this one. I promise I'll make it worth your while."

She approached him, knelt down in front of him, and placed one manicured hand on his knee.

"God, Elorae," Juniper said, rolling her eyes, "Do you always have to come on so strong to him? I mean, I know you like him, but it's not a competition."

"I know," Elorae said, walking two fingers up Joey's thigh, "but can I help it if I know how to treat a man right? You all had him longer than me, and I have catching up to do."

Serena smirked faintly, brushing her thumb over his sleeve. "It's a little ****, don't you think? But flattering, I guess."

"I don't know how else to convince him," Elorae continued, her fingers now running up and down the bulge forming in Joey's pants, "Without Joey, my world is lost. But I guess even if he says no, at least we can have some fun!"

"Hold on," Joey said, scrambling back from the woman from another world, loosening himself from the others. "You don't remember how she was before? How she changed?"

"Changed?" Indira asked, genuine confusion in her voice. "You mean like a different outfit? I think she was wearing that same thing back at the house."

"There is something..." Elorae said, a distant tone to her voice. "Something about feeling differently, feeling worse... but I can't hold on to it. I don't care. Why would I want to be something other than I am?"

"But you're so different!" Joey said as he watched the newly sexed-up Elorae climb to her feet.

"And since when was different bad?" she said, crossing the glade quickly, planting her lips against his like they belonged there, like they were made to kiss him.

And, in a way, he supposed they were.