Page 2 of Liberated By the Logger

This is a big upgrade in our lack luster sex life, and I’m all for adding extra spice, as out of character as it is for my boyfriend. I’ve begged Gary for months for more than missionary on my cheap studio apartment mattress. There’s never any foreplay, no matter how much I initiate it. Gary gets too excited, too fast, and it’s over before it’s begun, often with me being left unsatisfied. There have been too many nights I’d finish myself off after he would leave to wherever he pitched his tent for the night, all so I wouldn’t make him feel bad. I’ve gotten to the point of not asking for him to give me pleasure—the let down is too much, and I’m tired of being disappointed.

Unsurprisingly, I’ve been contemplating breaking up with Gary. I’m not getting much of anything from our relationship—definitely not in the bedroom department. And, if I’m being honest, not a whole heck of a lot more in the emotional department, either.

Sure, we share a love of nature and desire to protect it. But Gary isn’t interested in learning about my desires outside of our shared interest. From my experience, if it’s not important to Gary, it’s not worth his time. For a long time, I was okay accepting him as is. I’m not sure why. What I know is this trip was a deciding factor for me to continue the relationship or not.

With the weight of the chain in my hand, I’m willing to see what Gary has in mind. I didn’t take him for the bondage type, but everyone has a kink, right? I mean, I don’t have a ton of bedroom experience, and I’m merely making the logical assumption most people have sexual preferences. Bondage could be fun though.

Aside from Gary, I’ve had two other sexual partners. One involved a sloppy hookup at a fraternity party where I lost my virginity. The dude was a virgin, too—not exactly a thrilling experience. And the other guy was a classmate I dated for half a year during my undergrad. The sex was decent, but we ended things when we admitted we didn’t have feelings beyond friendship.

Gary popped into my life after a looong dry spell. He’s cute and kind of quirky with his long hair, thrift store clothes, and his devotion to preserving Mother Earth. Maybe I was sex deprived, willing to overlook his less than charming qualities—such as always leaving the toilet seat up, to bigger offenses like talking over me during a conversation—in favor of finally having someone who could fill a void, only to find out he can’t fill the void at all, literally and figuratively.

Honestly, I’ve kept things going with him for nearly a year, unsure I can find better. It’s not like I have a ton of options. Men aren’t banging down my door to get a date. My intelligence intimidates most guys, and the guys who aren’t frightened by my intellect are more interested in women who can’t go toe-to-toe with them in a debate.

Not a big dating pool for a short, brainy girl with an independent disposition.

Gary smirks at me as he takes the chain from my hand and wraps it around me and the tree trunk several times.

Oh gosh! This is happening. Aspen is going to have fun with chains.

As I rub my thighs together with expectation, I ask, “Shouldn’t I remove my clothes?”

Gary raises an eyebrow as he sets the lock in place, giggling like I told a funny joke. “Well, that will certainly grab their attention, but not the attention we want.”

“Huh? Who’s ‘they?’”

He throws his thumb over his shoulder to the west where the sound of chainsaws carries on the wind. “The loggers, of course.”

My eyes widen. “The loggers? Why would they be involved with us?”

Hey, I’m willing to try a little bondage, but I draw the line at voyeurism. One kink at a time, please.

Gary quickly slips his arms back into his backpack, his smile stretching from ear to ear. “This is going to be AMAZING! We’re stopping those tree killers from cutting down this beauty and another tree down the trail closer to them.”

I blink slowly, not believing my ears. “Gary, how much have you smoked today?”

He squints, looking up at the sky like he’s trying to solve a complicated physics question before looking at me with glazed eyes. “A few bowls.”

Unbelievable. I’ve stupidly followed a stoner into the Rockies. I could kick myself for not paying attention to his demeanor in the car when I drove us here. To be fair, Gary is usually high when around me, so this isn’t anything unusual for him. But this is the first time he’s been this high in the mountains with me.

“Gary, please listen to me. We’re not saving anything. This tree is dead.”

I lift my leg, kicking the sole of my sneaker back into the trunk of the tree. More dead needles fall around us, proving my point.

Unwilling to listen or being plain stupid, Gary shakes his head at me. “No, Aspen. She needs some love.” He pats the trunk of the pine above my head tenderly, causing the crumbling bark to fall into my hair.

This is ridiculous. He’s ridiculous.

“Gary, not even the fountain of youth could bring her back to life. Now unchain me.”

“There’s no time. I need to get to the other tree before the loggers make their way up here to remove them.”

“No,” I snap angrily. “You need to remove my chains. I did not consent to this stupid plan.”

“It’s not stupid,” Gary says with a pout, looking as juvenile as he’s behaving. “If we don’t take a stand against these money-hungry loggers, who will?”

“The loggers are doing their job, Gary! They can’t harvest in the National Forest unless contracted with the Colorado State Forestry Services. And even then, they’re only removing dead or diseased trees.”

“You need to have faith in my plan, Aspen. You must guard this tree with your life like you’re a woodland fairy.” He bops me on the nose. “Be the tree fairy.”