Riley's POV

And just like that, Mom waited until we were nearly at our destination to tell me and dad, well, my stepdad, that we were going on an adventure in the desert. We exchanged a look, both of us seeing the same helpless resignation in the other's eyes.

It's not that I dislike traveling. On the contrary, I love being around my stepdad; for reasons I can't explain, I've always been drawn to him.

But trekking through a desert hot enough to melt your shoes? Facing sunburn, getting lost, or dehydrating together? I'd much rather be somewhere with shade-somewhere I could lounge on a chair and read my favorite Kindle books.

Right now, though, Mom couldn't care less about what either of us thought. She was buzzing with excitement as she stuffed our giant backpacks with everything short of a kitchen sink. Water bottles, clothes, snacks, sunscreen, two tablets, and an absurd amount of wet wipes. Then she strapped the bags onto the camels we'd rented, ignoring that we only had two.

"Mom, if you put all that there, I won't even have space to sit." I complained, wiping sweat off my forehead.

"Riley's right. We should leave some things behind."My stepdad, Liam, chimed in.

Mom didn't even look up. "No. The signal drops out here all the time. If we get stranded, these supplies could save our lives."

Ugh, of course, she had some paranoid reason.

I turned to Liam, and our eyes met once more. His eyes said exactly what I was thinking: we were doomed. Even in a situation like this, I couldn't help but let my mind wander whenever I caught his gaze.

It was easy to understand why. Dad was the kind of man you noticed right away. Broad shoulders, tan skin, shirt stretched across his back. When he turned around, his brown hair looked a bit tousled in the sunlight, and his sharply defined jawline drew attention the way it always did. Even though he was nearly twice my age, Dad still looked like he was fresh out of college.

Sometimes, I wondered how Mom got so lucky. A confident, hot husband, and willing to follow her anywhere, even into this furnace of a desert. Me? I was just the third wheel tagging along. That realization left a faint bitterness in my heart.

"How about this?" I proposed, "since I'm already eighteen, I could just wait out here at the desert entrance. The two of you can go on this trip without me. Besides, you need someone on the outside who can call for help if anything goes wrong."

Mom zipped up one of the backpacks and shook her head. "No way. This might be our last family adventure before you go to college. So quit your whining-we're doing this. You'll thank me later."

Liam crossed his arms. "But there are only two camels. If you don't get rid of the stuff in the back, Riley will barely have enough room to sit. I don't want my baby girl walk across the desert."

That's the thing about having a good man in the house. Whatever he says goes, and a good daughter follows. Mom is no exception.

So Mom took a moment to reassess the situation. "Damn, I should have rented three camels," she murmured. "Fine, she can ride with you."

That got both our attention. Liam straightened a little, clearly surprised. "Are you kidding me? Why can't she ride with you?"

Mom smirked. "Because I don't trust you to handle the backpacks. Remember what happened on our last camping trip?"

I sighed. I knew that thing. I was eight, half-asleep in the back seat when Liam suddenly swerved the car, and a suitcase flew out of the trunk.

"We had to backtrack and retrieve the suitcase, which was all but destroyed by the time we got to it." Mom folded her arms now. "That was my favorite suitcase."

"No, it wasn't," Liam said. "And it's been ten years-can you not bring that up every time?"

Mom made a face, pretending to think. "No."

He threw up his hands. "You seriously hold a grudge like a pro."

"It's fact. No matter what, Riley rides with you. At least I know you'll focus if she's there."

Liam looked somewhat irritated. So I decided to stang up and lighten the mood. "Or you two could ride together, and I'll handle the backpacks."

Mom shook her head. "Camels can't carry two adults. You'd tire them out before we even make it halfway."

"Great," I muttered, kicking at the sand. "Guess I'm officially a sandbag now."

Liam exhaled through his nose. "Fine. She rides with me. But don't make this more awkward than necessary. You hear it."

Mom beamed. "Okay, no problem."

I blinked. Normally, they'd bicker back and forth for hours before settling anything. But this time, Liam gave in so easily. That's strange.

Riley's POV

Liam sat on the camel first, saying some words to the massive animal as if it understood him.. He patted the saddle in front of him and held out his hand to me.

"Let's hope he doesn't throw us off, Come on, Riley."

The camel snorted and shifted, but he didn't even flinch. I put my foot in the stirrup, grabbed his hand, and pushed myself up. The saddle was higher than I expected, and for a second I wobbled. Liam's grip tightened until I finally managed to swing my leg over and sit in front of him.

"Got you," he said quietly.

"You guys, good?" Mom asked, already perched on the camel in front of us.

"Ready as we'll ever be." Liam said adjusting his weight again.

Mom smiled and pulled the reins on her came; "Alright then. Let's go! Ya! Ya!" The camel bellowed and began a light march in the direction mom steered. Our camel followed closely behind.

The sway was strange at first, like being in a slow, uneven boat. My hands held onto the horn of the saddle, and I focused on the camel's ears swaying in front of me. Then the movement started to feel. different.

Every time the camel stepped, its body rolled under us. My butt kept sliding back, closer to Liam. I shifted forward, trying to keep some distance, but a few steps later, I slid back again, bumping into him.

"Seriously?" I muttered under my breath.

Just then, Liam wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing my back against his chest. He murmured, "Stop squirming. You don't want to make him mad-he might throw us off."

"I'm sorry, but I keep slipping back," I whispered. "This thing feels like a moving couch."

"Indeed, but don't worry, I'll be your steady anchor, making you feel safe." Hearing his words, my cheeks burning involuntarily. I'm already 18, yet being cradled in his arms like a child right now made me a bit embarrassed. But I have to admit, his warm body didn't just feel comforting, it felt right.

"Better?" he asked.

"Yeah." I hated how honest my answer sounded.

Mom turned her head slightly, her scarf flapping in the wind. "The map says we'll see the first marker for the oasis in about two clicks. Just stay behind me, and don't fall behind."

"Two hours?" I groaned. "On this thing?"

Liam tilted his head down, his cheek brushing my hair. "You'll live."

For a while, that was it. The camels plodded on, their feet pressing into the sand with steady thumps. During this time, Liam and Mom started bickering like always. She wanted to follow the map exactly. Liam kept pointing out shadows and dips in the sand, arguing that one path looked more sheltered from the wind.

"Just trust the map," Mom said. "Why would it ever be wrong?"

"It's not about being wrong," Liam replied. "It's about having more shelter. We can use those hills as cover, If the wind picks up, it' won't blow sand straight into us."

"Oh my God, Liam," she said. "You're not in charge of the Sahara."

"Someone should be," he replied. "And obviously I'm the most qualified."

I listened to them go back and forth. Clearly, Mom was stubborn-she never took anyone's advice, even when it was right. I couldn't help but wonder how a woman like her had managed to attract a man like Liam. Even though I was her daughter, I felt she didn't deserve him.

Thankfully they quieted down after a few minutes, mom seemed to have won this argument.

I was already sleepy, my eyelids felt heavy and I yawned from the exhaustion. Just then, the road jolted suddenly, and immediately, I felt something pressing against my bottom. I froze for a moment.

"Riley, are you okay? The road ahead might get a little rough," Dad explained. I nodded, convincing myself it was just an accident. But in the moments that followed, that sensation looped in my mind like a broken record. After a few replays, a wicked little thought slipped in.

Since this bumpy stretch will last a while longer, why not steal a little more of that thrill? Dad wouldn't find out. With that thought in mind, I felt a burning desire. I shifted my bottom back a little, pretending that the camel's movement had pushed me closer to him. Then, I pressed my crotch directly against his penis. As I imagined him penetrating me, my core began to drip. It felt so good.

I started grinding my body against Liam's tall, powerful frame. I did all this while keeping an eye on mom. It was pretty fucked up that I was pleasuring myself with my mother so close by, but I knew that she would only focus on the road and won't notice what happens behind.

I was completely lost in the sensation until I felt Liam's hand slide up my thigh up under my skirt. When that happens, I feel my heart skip a beat. I realized that Liam completely understood what I was doing. My body was stuck in place, unable to move.

Oh my god, this was simply a nightmare. What would he think of me if he found out I was rubbing his crotch? Would he punish me, like he did when I did something wrong as a child by spanking my ass? Or would he tell my mom? Anyway, I would never be able to face them again.

" Dad, I - " I tried to explain, just as I had planned, attributing the reason to the road conditions. But at this moment, I completely stammered.

"Keep going, baby, I like it this way." his gentle voice reached my ear.