Opposites Attract (20 page)

Ethan grinned at her enthusiasm. It was indeed a very profitable night. ‘What I want to know is where did you learn to handle people like that?’

‘What can I say? I was raised to charm and get what I want out of people.’

‘And where did you learn to lay tattoos out? I mean, really lay them out?’

‘Well, I watched you do the layouts. It’s just tracing,’ Alexis said, tilting her head in confusion.

‘No, I mean pick the designs out like that, determine the sizes and areas.’ Ethan stretched his arms over his head.

‘Oh, that.’ She waved her hand like it was no big deal. ‘I just thought of it as clothing, or decorating a house. You look at the lines, study the area you have to work with and
voilà
. You hang a picture on the wall.’

Ethan forced himself off the bed and moved to grab a pair of boxers from his bag. He went into the bathroom.

‘You know,’ Alexis called through the door, ‘when we started this trip, I never would’ve called what you do art. But I would’ve been wrong. You’re a very talented artist, Ethan, and I’m impressed with how sterile and clean you are. You take your work very seriously.’

Ethan slowly changed into his boxers as he listened to her.

‘Anyway, what I’m trying to say is, I think you’ll do great opening a shop in California – plan or no plan.’

Ethan smiled softly at her words. He stepped out of the bathroom. ‘Thank you.’

‘Yeah, well.’ Alexis waved her hand. ‘It’s late. I’m tired and rambling and in need of a shower.’

She made a move to go past him. Ethan couldn’t stop himself. He grabbed her to his chest and pulled his lips to hers. He kissed her hard, thrusting his tongue inside her warm mouth.

He’d wanted her for what seemed like an eternity. His shaft was hard, nearly painfully erect. It had been most of the day. Then, to see her parading around all evening in her bikini, knowing he couldn’t touch her, it had been too much. He had to touch her, needed to touch her.

Alexis moaned into his passionate kiss as she slowly lifted her arms around Ethan’s neck. There had been something erotic in watching him work. His hands were so precise in what they did. Whereas she didn’t completely understand his lifestyle and maybe never would, she could appreciate his dedication to it.

Ethan tugged the towel from her waist. It fell to the floor and he instantly replaced it with the press of his cock. He touched her hips, running his fingers up her spine to her bikini top. Looking deep into her eyes, he slowly nodded his head. He didn’t have to say a word. She knew what he was asking. Their harsh breath mingled between them. Slowly, she nodded. Yes, she wanted this. It seemed silly to deny their bodies any longer.

Ethan kissed her again, this time softer. Alexis found herself moaning as his tongue swept between her teeth. He untied her bathing suit behind her back and it fell forwards, draped about her neck. Warm hands cupped her breasts, massaging them in soft circles.

Her hair was damp from the swimming pool and she smelled like chlorine. Ethan didn’t seem to care as his lips moved to her throat. He nibbled her neck, kissing down across her chest to the other side.

Alexis was pressed along the wall. The mirror behind his back reflected her face back to her. She watched his red-tipped head moving over her body, saw his tattoos. They only served to turn her on more when she thought she’d be repulsed. She’d never been with a man like him.

Ethan wasn’t refined. He didn’t open car doors or automatically guide her elbow when walking. But, when she talked, she felt he really listened. When he talked, she felt he spoke the truth. And when he looked at her, he really looked. He saw her – the good, the bad, the everything. She’d told him things about her life that she barely admitted to Susan and he was still here, kissing her as if her past didn’t matter. As he touched her, she felt as if he was accepting who she was, faults and all.

His back flexed in the mirror, drawing her eyes to his butt. She watched her hands gliding over his muscles, kneading them. Ethan lowered himself, leaning to suck her nipples into his mouth. He bit lightly, causing a jolt of sensation to course through her. She lifted her leg, moving it along his waist, trying to entice him to press his erection back into her.

When he lifted his head, his lids were lowered over his eyes. ‘Ah, you mentioned something about a shower?’

‘Yes,’ Alexis said, just as softly.

He glanced down her body. ‘Don’t go anywhere.’

Alexis nearly fell over as he left her. The shower turned on and soon steam was curling out of the bathroom. Ethan cussed softly and she heard him fumbling with the shower curtain. She stood against the wall, watching her reflection. Her skin was flushed, her nipples wet and hard from Ethan’s kisses. Her top was pulled to the side, but still hung about her neck. She weakly pulled the tie at her nape, letting the bikini top drop to the floor. She tried to catch her breath, but her heart was racing fast and her body was tight with longing.

Alexis refused to touch herself. She was already heated to the point of urgency and seeing her half-naked body, her dishevelled hair, was arousal enough. She wiggled her hips, finally deciding to push the bottoms off as well. There was no point in wasting time with undressing.

Ethan stepped out of the bathroom followed by steam. He held his breath, his eyes automatically trailing down to her thighs. Alexis groaned, reaching to grab him. She pushed him to her place against the wall, taking the lead as she kissed his neck and chest. Her lips brushed past his pierced nipples. He felt good, warm. Pushing his hands away when he tried to touch her, she pinned them by his head only to trail her fingers down his arms to his waist.

The steam caressed her back as she drew her hands to his boxers. She kissed him, slowly freeing his arousal. His hands dropped to her arms and he moaned softly. The boxers fell around his ankles.

Stroking his hard length, she shivered. Her fingers ran over the piercings along the top of his shaft. She’d been curious about them since she’d first seen them. ‘What are these for?’

‘Most genital piercings are done with a woman’s pleasure in mind,’ he answered, grinning.

Alexis swore her thighs tightened and more cream came pouring out of her at the look he gave her. Awed, she asked, ‘What’s it feel like?’

Ethan chuckled. ‘You’ll have to tell me.’

‘Condom,’ Alexis said, stroking him.

‘Ah.’ Ethan looked worried for a moment and then confused. He glanced around. ‘My bag.’

‘Hurry. I can’t wait much longer. I’ll be in the shower.’ Alexis kissed him and then turned to the bathroom. Ethan’s hand brushed her backside as she walked away. Climbing into the warm water, she barely turned around when Ethan was right there beside her, box of condoms in hand.

Water glided over their bodies. Alexis grabbed soap and rubbed down her breasts, spending more time caressing herself than getting clean. Then, she ran her soapy hands over Ethan’s body as he fumbled with the box. Finally getting a condom, he slipped it over his cock, pinching the tip.

Ethan grabbed her, lifting her soapy body up against the wall. Water hit his back, as he placed her butt near the handrail. Alexis tensed, waiting for the first thrust, needing him desperately. Any more foreplay and she was likely to go mad. His hips moved along her as he found entrance.

She held onto the rail with one hand and his shoulder with the other. He thrust, stretching her body to his. The way he moved bumped his firm stomach along her clit, stimulating the sensitive bud with each pass. He kept moving, gripping her thighs as he rocked his hips in deep strokes.

‘Ah, this, good,’ he managed, speeding his thrusts and making them harder.

‘Mm, yeah, good,’ she answered, breathing too hard to say much else. She never imagined being taken up against the shower wall in a cheap motel in Iowa City would be so enjoyable.

‘Come for me, I can’t hold back much longer,’ he said.

Alexis rolled her hips. She reached between them, firmly rubbing herself to increase her own pleasure. All the tension of waiting for this moment exploded within her. Her climax came to her hard and she stiffened. Ethan’s body jerked as soon as the first tremor hit her. He grunted, making animalistic noises as he came.

Slowly, he lowered her. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her. She turned her head. Breathing hard, his eyes closed as he said, ‘Tell me you don’t regret it.’

‘No.’ Alexis reached to touch his face. ‘We just have to be clear about something. No one can know, especially Susan and Ted.’

‘Ashamed of me?’ His tone was light, but she saw the hurt look on his face.

‘No, of course not,’ Alexis said. ‘It’s just that Susan won’t understand. She and Ted will stare at us, making us feel all uncomfortable. There’ll be pressure to act like a couple, or like we’re in some kind of serious relationship like they are. If they just think we’re friends, then there will be no pressure.’

OK, it was partly the truth. The other part was the idea of her mother finding out that her daughter was having an affair with someone who was socially beneath her. Alexis didn’t know how her mother would find out, but she wasn’t one to take the chance. A one night fling her mother would understand. But, an extended affair? The woman would break out of prison just so she could commit Alexis to a home for the mentally insane.

‘OK?’ Alexis prompted when Ethan continued to stare at her, his face blank.

‘Sure.’ He pushed the hair back from his face. ‘We should get some sleep.’

‘I’m just going to wash my hair,’ Alexis said. ‘I shouldn’t have let the chlorine stay in it so long.’

Ethan leaned over and gave her a light kiss, which turned slowly deeper. ‘Mm, OK. See you in bed.’

‘OK,’ she said, her voice soft.

Ethan stepped out of the shower. Alexis smiled to herself, her body sated. Ethan was a great lover and this trip might end up being pretty darned good. The best part was that no one would ever have to know about them. She’d have her cake and eat it too.

The next morning they got a late start. Alexis was exhausted and a little too aroused. Waking up, she’d been about to seduce Ethan when the phone rang. It was Susan telling them that they had twenty minutes until check-out.

Alexis sleepily pulled on the V-neck, green-apple-coloured mesh shirt with the built-in camisole, her Joie vintage denim jeans and black leather boots. For the first time in her life she didn’t debate about what she wore. She just got dressed barely looking in the mirror before leaving. Susan and Ted were ready to go when Alexis came stumbling out of the hotel room.

Ethan took care of check-out. Ted said he’d drive since Ethan and Alexis had had a long night with the tattooing. Susan was amazed at how well they did, but even more so that Alexis had arranged it. Alexis told Ethan to hold onto her half of the money for her. He’d proven himself to be a fairly honest, generous person. She trusted him with her cash and it saved her the trouble of carrying it in a purse everywhere.

As they rode in the back seat, all Alexis wanted to do was curl up next to Ethan and sleep. Instead, she settled for curling up on the black leather seat. When she awoke, Ethan’s fingers were absently stroking her hair. Embarrassed, she realised she’d drooled a little bit. Ethan just chuckled as she yawned, trying to sneakily wipe the evidence away.

‘Mm.’ Alexis blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light. Glancing out the window, the land looked the same, maybe a little browner.

‘Morning sleepyhead,’ Susan said.

‘Are we almost to Missouri?’ Alexis yawned again, this time loudly as she covered her mouth.

‘We’re almost out of Missouri,’ Susan answered, smiling. ‘Kansas City’s coming up in a few miles. We thought we’d stop and get something to eat there.’

Alexis nodded, not answering as she tried to wake up. She glanced at Ethan and he gave her a secretive smile. He looked so adorable. Alexis stretched, twisting her back as she tried to lengthen her legs in the car. Looking out of the back window, she frowned. ‘Ted, how long has that grey car been behind us?’

‘What grey car?’ Ted craned his neck. ‘Huh, I don’t know. I haven’t been paying attention. Why?’

‘I think it’s following us,’ Alexis said.

‘What?’ Susan asked, slightly alarmed. ‘What makes you say that?’

‘You remember that first night when I was standing outside? We thought Ethan . . .’ Alexis stopped, giving a dirty look at the Ethan. ‘A man was smoking a cigarette, watching me.’

‘You thought Ethan what?’ Ethan asked.

Alexis ignored him, pretending like she couldn’t hear him though he was right there. ‘He asked me if he could help me with my luggage. I told him no.’

‘You thought Ethan what?’ Ethan repeated.

‘I don’t remember,’ Susan said to Alexis. She too refused to look at Ethan. Ted laughed.

‘You thought Ethan what?’ Ethan asked again.

‘They thought you were having sex with that hotel clerk you were tattooing. They heard buzzing and thought you were using, you know, sex toys.’ Ted laughed. Susan made a mortified sound and hit him playfully in the arm.

‘Mm, so you guys were spying on me?’ Ethan grinned. Alexis felt his eyes on her. She couldn’t resist glancing at him. He gave her a wickedly handsome smile that made her thighs tighten. She shook her head to clear it.

‘Anyway,’ Alexis drawled to get the conversation back on track. ‘I only remember it because he had really gross armpit stains and smelled a little like stale corn chips. Anyway, I don’t remember seeing him in Wisconsin, but he was definitely at a few of the same gas stations we were at.’

Susan frowned, getting worried. ‘You don’t think he could be following us, do you? I mean, what do you think he wants?’

‘I don’t know.’ Alexis frowned, looking at Ethan.

‘You’re probably just paranoid,’ Ted said. ‘If it is the same man, he’s probably just a traveller on vacation.’