A Watchful Eye

Cabin in the woods.

The short phrase itself strikes fear in most people's minds upon hearing it, due to the fact that it's such a cliche in horror movies. Most people would prefer to go elsewhere, take a vacation at a sunny beach and soak up the warm sands. Others would probably go to something cultural like Asia or something. Me? I opted to take the cabin in the woods, mainly because I just needed to get away from it all. The hustle and bustle of the city was drowned out by the quiet peace and tranquility that surrounded me as I drove up the mountains. The idea of driving around for miles with no traffic to stop me felt so freeing, seeing as traffic in the city would have me grinding to a halt just to pass a single intersection, with many more to follow it.

The green scenery all around me was also a welcome change. Gone was the concrete jungle with towers reaching up the sky, but was instead replaced with good ole, organic, natural wood--not the cheap plastic kind they'd try to sell you off as natural at the depot stores. No, these were the natural, born from the soil types that reached up high to the sky, that had me craning my neck up just so I can see the top of the trees.

It was beautiful.

The air was fresh, and the fauna surrounding me just made everything fit together perfectly. I was honestly doubtful in taking this vacation, but all my doubts were taken away when I saw the cabin I rented for the duration of my stay. It was a cabin located by the wayside of the road, accessible through a dirt path that was clearly used for cars. The entire place gave off this rustic, homey feel to it.

It was the perfect mix of modern society meets nature as it blended perfectly with all the other scenery around it. I parked the car towards the side, next to a white car as well.

"Must be the owner's..." I thought to myself.

Turning off the engine, and stepping out of the car, my thoughts began to move to all the assorted activities I could plan. I looked to my left to see massive evergreens around me, the green needles dripping from the melting snow and ice that creeped around the branches of the dark pine. The mountains in the background were breathtaking and I took in a long breath as I imagined hiking up along the side and exploring the area. My feet crunched underneath the snow and I breathed outward, my breath coming out in a wisp of frozen air. Slinging my backpack up over my shoulder, I hiked up to the wooden steps, taking out the cabin's keys from my pocket. The doormat beneath my feet had a feral moose on the front with "Welcome home" in dark black letters across a red and black kashmier pattern. When I stuck the key inside of the small hole and gave it a twist to the left, there was a metallic click and I pushed open the door.

Although it looked like it was cut off from society on the outside, the rustic cabin was nothing more than an aesthetic choice. The place was purely functional, reaching up to today's modern standards. Walking into the living room, my shoes clunked on the bright tan wooden floor, the wood brightly polished and having a nice, clean smell. The living room had a TV, the flatscreen perched above an electric fireplace which sat silent. Reaching to my left, I clicked on a light switch, the light filtering over the room and making the wooden walls glisten; it looked to be made of the same wood as the floor and had a polished and pristine look.

Walking over to a leather recliner, I placed my backpack on the seat and gave a sigh as I looked out past two glass doors and towards the balcony. The balcony was fairly large looking and I could see the white snow clashing against the maroon of the hot tub cover. My tail began to flick back and forth excitingly as I remembered the picture of the large hot tub and was thankful I had some swimwear. Even though the swimsuit was a year or so old, it would still fit and I had every intention of squeezing myself into it to try out the hot tub tonight.

I made my way around to the kitchen, walking through small archway to check out the kitchen. There was the usual appliances; a refrigerator, stove, and very nice and spacious countertops. On the fridge, there was a list of assorted numbers to call for maintenance as well as the addresses of different gas stations and a convenience store.

A small note at the bottom said, "Rent will be paid every month on the 5th. If you need anything, let me know at 709-677-0616. Enjoy the area! I highly suggest taking a hike on the trails!"

Well, at least the landlord seemed nice. Getting a message on my phone, I reached into my pocket to see my friend from college had just sent me a picture, the bars on the top left of my phone mostly full and the wi-fi signal at a strong four bars. It was truly a home away from home, and I whistled happily as I explored the rest of the cabin.

I climbed upstairs and checked the room where I would be sleeping for the coming days. It was a modest king size bed, with a very comfy looking mattress. There was a personal bathroom, stocked with the usual amenities. Everything was clean and spotless, the upkeep the owner had done to the place was amazing, considering how far away this place was from the city. That was when I felt a rumble come from my stomach. I thought back to my drive and realized I haven't eaten anything in at least four hours. Heading downstairs, I decided to raid the refrigerator to see what I could eat. It was fully stocked, and I smiled gleefully, thinking of what I would be having for dinner. One of the benefits of renting a place near a friend and pulling some favors. Jim owed me for the time I bought him a plane ticket back in college. Calling him to come up here loaded up with food before I came was nice.

As I took out some vegetables to prepare for my meal later, I heard a sound. I cocked my head to the side. It came from the balcony. I tried to rack my brain as to what that was. The owner didn't mention anyone being here with the cabin with me. Was it an animal? Was that the wind? Thoughts of the whole cabin in the woods thing begin to creep up my mind, and I felt a sense of dread grip me. But before I could let my own irrational thoughts take hold, I shook it away.

I put on a brave face and decide to check out the source of the noise. I slid the glass window open and stepped out into the chilly balcony. The breathtaking view of the lake greeted me, framed perfectly by the trees. The forest that surrounded the lake acted almost like a natural barrier and the leafless trees looked almost eerie against the crystal clear water of the lake. Well, the water that could be seen shimmering on the surface; most of the lake was frozen. If I wasn't so concerned of what the noise was, I'd have taken a picture and posted it on Instagram to get all the likes.

"Oh, hello."

I nearly jumped out of my skin upon hearing the deep voice that came from the side. I snap my head around and saw a large, muscular man smiling at me. He was standing from the opposite balcony, wearing nothing more than a simple bathrobe and suddenly I felt overdressed. His own cabin looked almost identical to mine.

"Hello!" I sheepishly greeted back. Embarrassingly, his deep, rumbling voice made me jump and caught me off guard . "Errr...I did not expect to have company nearby."

He gave a low chuckle, placing his large arms casually on the wooden railing that separated the balcony from the sprawling forest. When he leaned forward, the bathrobe moved up along his legs, and pushed his rump out. I gave a small blush and looked up towards the man's eyes. He had a causal gaze, but his hazel eyes also had somewhat of a devious twinkle. "Well, I have been living here much longer than you have. I did not expect to have company, either. You're the first one in about a year."

I felt a shiver down his spine as his deep voice seemed to have a low growl to it. The man did not even look that old, but he seemed to appear much more mature than his appearance.He was clean, but definitely not clean shaven with a brown beard that highlighted his defined jawline and short hair of the same color.

"I found an article online that this cabin was looking for someone," I said casually as I warmed up slightly to what could possibly be my new neighbor even though he was barely wearing anything. I had to admit; it really highlighted his physique and I was growing rather jealous of how the robe clung to his beefy body. Everything from his arms to his legs looked like they were crafted with blood, sweat, and tears in a gym.

"Ahh, you work in the city?" the stranger asked as he looked forward towards the lake.

"Yeah. I work IT," I replied as I placed my arms on the wooden railing of the balcony and looked over at him.

He gave a grunt in response and nodded. "Pretty good field right now. You can do anything with that...and go anywhere. Guess that's how you ended up here," the man said with a grin that showed his teeth. It was a charming, handsome grin and I found myself smirking like a fool back to him.

"Oh yeah. Nice and flexible."

"Like other things," he replied back with a devilish smile. He reached forward across the balcony and extended his hand. "I'm Joseph by the way."

I ignored the offhanded comment and took the handshake. His grip was firm, but not uncomfortable.

"I'm Tim," I replied back with a shy chuckle, my hand lingering in his grip for a bit longer than necessary as we smiled at one another.

"Well, Tim it is a pleasure to meet you. Need anything brought inside?"

"I just got done checking the place," I answered, jabbing a thumb behind me. "Everything's fully stocked and in order, so I think I'm set for now. Though, I do still have to bring in my luggage." I looked outwards and watched the frozen lake through the forest trees. "I've been looking forward to this move for a long time." I turn my head and face him. "What about you? What brought you here?"

"Work for me as well, actually."

I gave him a confused look as my eyes scanned over his dark grey robe.

He chuckled in response. "I know, I know," he answered. "I look like I'm on vacation, which I kind of am, but isn't that how jobs are when you like them?" He shifted his footing and turned to face me, saying, "I'm an ecological scientist."

"Ahh, so a tree hugger?"

He grinned smartly. "Sometimes. But to be more precise, I study the local flora and understand their living conditions." Joseph propped his hands on the railing. "We have a research camp not far from here. I go to work every now and then, check on samples and reports of my fellow team and come back here when the work is over." He gave a warm smile, his composure relaxing.

I nodded, and listened politely to Joseph, my curiosity heightening about him, but not necessarily the subject matter . Listening to Joseph talk about it though made it palatable. At least a bit more interesting than hearing it from some nerd in a lab coat going on about his experiments. I chocked it up to his deep, rumbling voice. It had a quality that was almost trance-inducing.

"How's the progress going so far?" I chimed in as if I wasn't just looking at his pecs moments ago.

"It's going great actually. The surrounding area is coming up with a clean bill of health. We're still running a few tests to make sure there aren't any odd mutations happening because of global warming, but so far, so good. And I-"

The buzzing of a phone was unmistakable and Joseph's face contorted into an annoyed frown.

"Excuse me," Joseph smiled apologetically. "I have to take this."

"It's fine. It was a pleasure talking with you."

"Likewise. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other."

Again, there was that glimmer in his eyes. If I had to make a guess, I'd assume he was flirting with me. But nah. I shook my head. I stole a glance at him again, admiring his overall physique as he talked over the phone. The bathrobe he wore left little to the imagination with the way it clung to his body like a second skin. It rose up his legs just enough to tease his rump, but not high enough to reveal it fully.

I gulped, and excused myself. I didn't exactly want to be called a pervert for ogling, especially after making such a good impression. Besides, he must have been wearing underwear underneath that...

Right?

I grunted heavily, taking out my duffle bag from my pack and hefting it all the way back inside to the cabin. I always prided myself in packing light for travels, but I had to pack extra for this trip, seeing as I was staying longer than normal, and I wasn't sure if they had a washing machine and dryer to use before I came. I was thankful that there was a washing machine inside what looked like a communal shed, but my back wasn't for having to carry all the bags.

I rested on the recliner, taking a moment to catch my breath. I could still hear the sounds of Joseph talking to--who I assumed was his fellow researcher--on the phone. An Eco Scientist, huh? Did that mean that there are other people besides Joseph? I quietly mulled the thoughts over as I began to unpack my belongings from the bag. But if that were the case, why WAS he wearing that bathrobe? Unless of course he was that comfortable with his co workers...

I then realized my line of thinking and could feel heat rushing towards my cheeks at the thought. Joseph's business was his own, as much as mine was. Before continuing to unpack my bags, I went to the door that led out to the balcony and opened it wide before reaching around the balcony door. I grabbed another door which I pulled outward until there was a metallic click. A mesh covering separated me from the outside world and I gave a content sigh when I felt the cool air brush over my skin. Looking outside, I noticed the brilliant orange and red dancing across the sky, and my muscles relaxed and my heart slow. I decided to turn off the air and start to open up the windows, letting the cabin naturally begin to cool itself out and turned off the artificial lights, simply enjoying the natural light that filtered in from outside.

Eventually, I managed to unpack my belongings and place them in the drawers of the bedroom. I glanced at the wall clock, taking note that it was already nearing 6pm. A rumble in my stomach reminded me that it was time to at least get some dinner made. I made a beeline for the kitchen and began to prepare the necessary ingredients. A pot was soon placed on the gas range, with the fire underneath heating it up. I began to cut up the vegetables and even the meat to go along with my simple yet delicious meal. I got into a sort of rhythm, the sounds of the bubbling water and the knife I used crashing against the chopping board filling my ears.

Once I was done, I loaded everything into the pot and began to stir it. I glanced at the bubbling concoction then back to the clock. I decided that letting the uncooked veggies sit for twenty minutes would be enough. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I sifted through the internet casually and checking on what's been going on with the world when I heard a noise.

At first I thought I was hearing things, perhaps the wood of the cabin cooling or heating up rapidly and making noise.

Then I heard it again. It was muffled, low, and I would have probably not have heard it if I was not listening carefully. I looked around and saw it was coming from the balcony. Night had set in, and the stars were visibly twinkling against the blanket of the black sky. The moonlight that reflected off the lake created an almost other-worldly appearance; the light creating curtains of silky white that seemed to streak through the forest.

I peeked my head out through the kitchen and towards the living room, my ears perking at the sound of another soft groan. I could tell it was coming outside and specifically towards Joseph's cabin. I started to move behind the couch, kneeling on the leather seating and felt the cool material against my bare knees. As I looked out past the glass doors that led towards the balcony, I could see Joseph sitting in a relaxed pose on a rather long chair. He was still wearing his bathrobe, holding a small tablet in his right hand. His left hand was busy pushing at his crotch area, his gaze focused intently on the screen as the artificial light reflected off his features. I could not help, but let out a small gasp, my ears practically flicking upward when I heard the sound of a low moan coming from him as well as some moans coming from his device.

"Holy f-"

I did not have time to finish the sentence when what I could only assume was a well placed burst of wind flew over the balcony. I could hear the whoosh of it as it passed through the tiny crack in the glass door. When it hit Joseph, I nearly bit my tongue when the cold wind blew towards Joseph and ruffled his robe to show off just a glimpse of his balls. His eyebrows furrowed before he spread his legs, and I caught a glimpse of Joseph's lower body; the stud wore nothing underneath the bathrobe and I had the sight of the full sight of Joseph's round, large balls as well as plump shaft flashing me for what felt like a split second before the image was gone.

You know that moment when it feels as if the only thing you can do is just kind of watch? Well, I was in that moment as Joseph adjusted his posture casually as if it was a mere annoyance that he had to adjust himself. My heart was beating in my chest, my mouth becoming wet and my eyes going wide as I found myself almost craving to get another glimpse. I know it was something I should not have been doing; spying on my new neighbor during such an intimate moment, but I could not help myself. He was an attractive stud, and I found myself leaning forward in my awkward kneeling position, my knees feeling like wet noodles.

I felt the adrenaline rush all over my body and the blood flush across my face.

I didn't know what to do, and my mind was full of assorted ways that I could approach the situation. Most people would shy away, and proceed to go about what they were doing to give the guy his much needed privacy. I wanted to move, but a deeper, more devious side of me froze my entire body in place, my eyes glued to Joseph's figure illuminated by the lights from his side of the cabin as he sat there, enjoying his time.

I felt like a kid again, discovering porn for the first time and a new addiction.

The image itself wasn't clear, and looked as if I was looking through a fog. My eyes were squinted as I watched closely, trying to take in all the detail I could. I don't know when Joseph had started his personal time, but it looked like he had already started prior to me discovering him. I must have kneeled there for what seemed like hours, afraid to move since I thought if I blink the scene in front of me would disappear. That was probably the longest time I ever held my breath, but the pressure in my lungs building upward was like the pressure in my shorts.

Things only got hotter when Joseph idly stretched in his seat, raising his arms up and high and holding the tablet with it. You couldn't believe the sheer amount of physical power I dedicated to squint my eyes as best as I could to get a good look of him under the low light conditions. The best I could see was that my initial hypothesis about Joseph was correct and he really was well built and sturdy; his muscles underneath the bathrobe bulging and powerful and I and an idle thought crossed my mind that if he flexed in a thinner robe if the material would rip. My mouth watered at the idea of getting a clearer picture of the adonis.

My eyes flicked upwards and happened to glance at the video he was watching. I had to stifle my gasp as best as I could, covering my mouth with my hands. The logo on the site was clear as I noticed the colors as if the computer screen was just waiting to accept a splash of color from a rainbow prism. All of a sudden, the moans that came from the tablet sounded a lot more masculine.