Dallin pushed through the forest, heart galloping in his chest. It was dim and gloaming, sunlight evaporating through the trees as the coming darkness of night settled on the forest. Ahead, the young woman smiled coyly at him, giggled, and rushed off between the boughs.

He’d never counted himself a foolish guy. He was pretty sensible. And he’d never thought himself the sort of person to just up and abandon a trail, especially with nighttime so close.

But the way that girl had flashed her eyes at him… the way she’d flipped that long mane of hair… that burning, foxlike look of desire…

He knew how to read body language. She wanted him, and if she wanted to play this game of cat-and-mouse through the trees, who was he to begrudge her?

This wood didn’t have a reputation of danger, anyway. The pokemon here knew to keep away from people and avoid harassing them. Hell, even the repel he’d purchased was barely necessary. He hadn’t even had to use it yet! With a huff, he vaulted over a gnarled tree root, spying a flash of red hair further up ahead. Dallin was vaguely aware that he was well off-path at this point, but it hardly mattered. The girl would know how to get back, and even if she didn’t, he could always retrace his own footsteps come morning.

The chase continued for long minutes until finally, he cornered her in a glade surrounded by dry, gnarled trees, knots bulbing out of them and hollows seeming to whisper with secrets. The girl had already peeled out of her clothes and was glancing hungrily at him. Her body was lightly sheened with sweat, her hips were curvy, and her breasts were pert but firm.

“Right,” Dallin said, the word exhaling in a huff of dry breath. “You do play hard-to-get, don’t you?” He set aside his pack and set about stripping off his own clothes.