Page 12 of Teased By the Lumberjack

He flicks my nose playfully. "Listen, smartass. What if we built the camp as a model of sustainable forestry practices?"

I stare at him. "What?"

"Look." He points to a crude drawing of cabins nestled among trees. "Traditional construction using reclaimed timber and local materials. Rainwater collection. Solar panels disguised to maintain historical accuracy."

I take the notebook, fingers tracing his bold handwriting. "You'd do that?"

"It's the future," he says simply. "No reason tradition can't evolve. We'd showcase how logging can coexist with conservation, teach visitors about forest management that prioritizes ecosystem health."

Hope flickers. "You'd include ecological education?"

"That's where you come in." His eyes hold mine, intent and earnest. "The camp needs a science advisor. Someone who understands mycological networks and understory biodiversity."

My breath catches. "Me?"

"Who better?" His hand finds mine. "You'd design the educational program, monitor the impact, make sure we'retreading lightly. It could even be your dissertation—measuring the impact of controlled human engagement on forest health."

The proposal stuns me. It's actually...brilliant. A perfect synthesis of our seemingly opposing values.

"You'd change your entire vision for the camp?"

"Not change," he corrects. "Enhance. Make it better. My grandfather would've loved this approach—honoring tradition while protecting the future."

I set the notebook aside, mind racing. "You know, the University might actually fund this. Sustainable tourism is a growing research field, and having a real-world laboratory to study human-forest interactions..."

"Is that a yes?"

I hesitate, needing to ask. "This isn't just because we slept together, right? Because if you're only suggesting this to?—"

"Teagan." He cups my face. "I had these ideas before I knew what your skin tastes like. Before I knew how you sound when you’re coming on my tongue and on my cock.”

Heat spears low in my belly.

He smirks. “Been thinking about it since you showed me those damn mushrooms."

I laugh. "Such a romantic." But, wow…

"I'm serious." His thumb traces my lower lip. "You made me see something I was missing. A way to honor my heritage without compromising yours."

The sincerity in his eyes undoes me. Without overthinking, I kiss him hard, trying to pour everything I can't articulate into the connection.

When we break apart, he chuckles. "Thatfelt like a yes?"

"It's a maybe," I say, but my grin betrays me. "Show me more details."

For the next hour, we remain tangled in the sleeping bag, designing our vision. Connor's practical knowledgeof construction and forestry complements my scientific understanding. Where I see challenges, he sees solutions. Where he proposes shortcuts, I offer sustainable alternatives.

"Boardwalks here," I suggest, pointing to a marshy area on his crude map. "Elevated paths protect the soil. We could install info panels about wetland ecosystems."

He nods, making notes. "And here—demonstration area. Show proper cutting techniques, how to select trees without disrupting the stand structure."

"What about waste management?"

"Composting toilets." He grins at my surprise. "What? I've been to eco-lodges before. Know more than you think."

I nudge him with my shoulder. "Apparently."

His hand finds mine again, our fingers intertwining naturally. "This could work, Teagan.Reallywork."

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