Opposites Attract (28 page)

‘Shh.’ He cupped her face. Then, holding up her panties, he said, ‘Take these with you.’

Alexis gave a short laugh despite her fear and grabbed her panties from him. She balled them in her fist. ‘I’ll hurry.’

Alexis took off running, nodding only slightly to the woman as she got out of the car. She glanced at the truck. The gun was still on the rack. Her heart beat faster. Suddenly the beautiful mountain night seemed the thing of horror movies. By the time she got to the campsite, she was frantic with fear.

She shook Ted awake gently, motioning him to follow. He yawned, sleepily rubbing his eyes. Alexis dug Ethan’s car keys out of his pocket. They left Susan asleep by the campfire. As they made their way the quarter-mile back up the road, Alexis said, ‘Ethan and I were talking by the car. Some people stopped and they’re going to help fix the flat.’

‘Now?’ Ted asked, yawning. ‘It’s the middle of the night.’

‘They, ah, didn’t really give us a choice,’ Alexis said, wringing her hands as she walked faster to get back to Ethan. She heard a laugh. The sound cackled strangely and she knew it wasn’t Ethan. Softly, she added, ‘They have a rifle in their truck.’

At that news Ted seemed to wake up. He pushed Alexis behind him. ‘Get back to the camp.’

‘No,’ Alexis protested. They were close to the car.

Before Ted could insist, Ethan said, ‘There you are. Got the keys?’

Alexis relaxed to hear his voice. Ted assessed the situation and then turned to frown slightly at her. She bit her lip. Perhaps she had judged too quickly. The woman stood on the side of the road holding lug nuts in one hand and a flashlight in the other. Ethan and Slim loosened the flat. Alexis shot Ted an apologetic look as she gave Ethan the keys. He popped the trunk and pulled out their bags with Ted’s help and got out the flat tyre.

‘Which way ya’ll headin’?’ Slim asked.

‘New Mexico next,’ Ethan said. ‘But ultimately California.’

‘Ya’ll stoppin’ at the Grand Canyon?’ Slim pulled the flat tyre off and set it aside.

‘Sure are,’ Ted said. He and Ethan put the spare on.

‘You be sure to stay out of Las Vegas,’ the woman said. ‘That city is nothing but sin and trouble.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Ethan said. She seemed pleased with his answer.

‘Ah, good.’ Slim nodded, standing back to watch them. ‘Glad to see ya’ll didn’t have one of those doughnut tyres. These roads are too rough to be drivin’ on a doughnut. They’re so small, I can’t see how anyone rides around on them. Ya’ll just make sure to get another spare real soon. California is a sight off from here.’

‘Will do, sir,’ Ethan said.

Slim nodded, obviously satisfied. Alexis moved closer to Ethan, lightly touching his back.

‘Thank you.’ Ethan lowered the car and handed the jack to Slim.

‘Not a problem.’ Slim swung the jack into the back of his pickup.

‘You kids have a nice night,’ the woman said, switching off the flashlight. The moon was adequate to see by and the trunk light was giving off a soft glow.

They said their goodbyes. The pickup took off. Ted and Ethan put the flat where the spare had been before reloading the trunk of the car.

Ted chuckled as they finished. ‘I don’t even want to know what you guys were doing out here “talking”.’

‘At least we got the car fixed,’ Ethan said, winking at Alexis.

‘Yeah, the way Alexis made it sound, you were about to be murdered,’ Ted teased. They walked towards the campsite. Alexis couldn’t help but laugh at herself. It did seem foolish now. Ethan wrapped his arm over her shoulder and lightly kissed her temple. Ted eyed them briefly before looking ahead. Alexis smiled and couldn’t help but think that Ethan had just claimed her as his woman.

They woke up early the next morning just after sunrise to Summer giving herself a sponge bath outside her camper. The sight caused them to hurry as they packed up to go. Thanking everyone for their hospitality, they finished their drive down the Highway of Legends. Alexis just smiled at Susan before leaning over to cuddle by Ethan’s side in the car. He kissed her temple. Driving with one hand, he draped his arm over her shoulders.

The mountain scenery was beautiful in the morning light, turning from green to dark browns to greys and bright blues. They passed by abandoned coal mines and a town full of beautiful old architecture. Stopping for gas along the Colorado border, Alexis waited as Susan followed her into the bathroom.

‘Well?’ Susan asked immediately. ‘Ted told me what happened.’

‘Oh, yeah?’ Alexis asked.

‘You seem pretty cosy.’ Susan crossed her arms over her chest.

‘Are you mad at me?’

Susan sighed, uncrossing her arms. ‘No, of course not. Are you happy? You’re sure you want to . . .’

Alexis smiled, unable to help it. She felt wonderful this morning. ‘It’s not like I’m getting married. Ethan and I had a good talk, that’s all. We’re taking things very slowly and we’ll see what happens.’

‘I am getting married,’ Susan blurted, before gasping and covering her mouth. She hopped on her toes in excitement, waiting for Alexis’s reaction.

‘What?’ Alexis stood for a moment, shocked. Then, suddenly, she started screaming in excitement. Susan joined her and they jumped up and down hugging like excited teenagers.

‘I know, right?’ Susan nodded.

‘Oh my,’ Alexis said.

‘I know.’

‘Wow, I can’t . . .’

‘Yeah.’

‘Wow.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘When?’

‘Yesterday on our walk.’ Susan quickly told Alexis everything, finishing with, ‘I can’t believe he just did it then and there. It was so beautiful. I nearly fainted.’

Alexis grinned. ‘That stupid dog was good luck, wasn’t it? That crazy lady was right.’

Susan laughed.

‘I can’t believe you waited to tell me in a bathroom,’ Alexis scolded.

‘Well –’ Susan shrugged ‘– it’s the first second we had alone and I couldn’t keep the secret from you any longer.’

‘Oh, congratulations, sweetie,’ Alexis said, giving her friend a big hug. ‘I know you two are going to be so happy together.’

Ethan felt Alexis’s hand on his thigh. It was a big turn-on, just holding her next to him as he drove. The couples were quiet as they headed into New Mexico. He smiled to know Susan and Ted had gotten engaged. It was about time. The two were mad for each other, almost sickeningly so at times, though it was sweet and Ethan could well understand the tendency as he held Alexis.

‘You know,’ Ethan said. They were still in the mountains but the landscape looked more like a desert, with its red sands and high cliffs. Hot-air balloons floated overhead, contrasting the colours of the mountainous desert beauty. ‘All and all, this trip has gone really well.’

Alexis looked up at him and just smiled. She looked a lot different than the prissy debutante he picked up on the sidewalks of New York City.

‘I can’t believe all we’ve seen,’ Susan said, sighing.

The trip through New Mexico was uneventful. They stopped for food in Taos around noon. They went to the Taos Pueblos, an ancient community still inhabited by Taos Indians. The adobe homes and churches were gorgeous structures. Alexis took her camera and didn’t want to leave. Ethan loved watching her when she was taking pictures.

The land became more like a desert as they headed into Arizona. They passed by the Petrified Forest National Park but didn’t stop, as they drove through the Painted Desert towards the Grand Canyon. Gigantic dinosaur statues were alongside the road. The first time Alexis saw one in the distance, she stiffened and pointed. By the time they figured out what it was, Ethan couldn’t help but tease her. She took it all in her stride, jolting him in the ribs with her elbow.

‘Ow.’ He winced. She had got him in a sore muscle. Falling off the skateboard hadn’t been too bad when it happened, but after making love to Alexis on the trunk of his car and then spending the night on the hard ground, his back was a little sore.

‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, looking mortified.

‘Back in Colorado I was messing around with this kid and his skateboard. I had a little accident,’ Ethan said, trying to act like it was no big deal.

‘It looked like it hurt to me,’ Ted said, laughing.

Ethan grinned. ‘Saw that did you?’

‘Yep.’ Ted reached up and patted his shoulder. ‘It’s all right. I won’t tell everyone you were showed up by a nine-year-old boy.’

Ethan laughed. ‘I think he was at least ten.’

The terrain became rich with colours along the roadside. The plains seemed to go on for ever with only tumbleweeds and cactuses to break up the landscape. It was a vast contrast to the mountains. Alexis took pictures from the car window, letting the desert heat into the car.

‘Let’s just keep driving,’ Alexis said when Ethan offered to pull over. ‘I don’t want to get stuck in the desert like we did in the mountains.’

Ethan stroked her cheek and nodded in agreement.

By the time they made it to Flagstaff for the night, it was dark. Alexis was tired of being in the car. They’d driven a long way, touching three states. She watched Ethan shift uncomfortably in his seat. She too felt stiff and longed for a shower. They hadn’t been able to bathe the night before as they camped outside.

They found a hotel along the road. The air smelled of pine trees as they stepped outside. Ethan booked the hotel rooms while everyone waited in the car.

After her shower, Alexis loaded some of her photographs into Ethan’s computer, freeing up a memory stick. It only took a few minutes once the software was installed. Yawning, she collapsed on the bed. She wore her navy-blue silk chemise. It felt good to be in pretty clothes again. Flipping through the channels, she waited for Ethan to get out of the shower.

When the water shut off, Alexis smiled, turned off the television and went to the bathroom door. Knocking softly, she said, ‘Don’t bother getting dressed. I’m going to give you a massage. Let me work those kinks out of your back.’

Ethan pulled the door open to look at her, grinning. Water dripped down his face from his hair. ‘Really?’

‘Mm.’ Alexis looked him over. ‘Dry off first. I’ll get the lotion.’

His grin widened. Alexis went to her bags and pulled out her lotion. It was the expensive kind and she didn’t have much left. Seeing Ethan crawling on the bed to lie naked on his stomach, she knew she didn’t care.

Alexis started at his feet, taking her time as she massaged up one leg and then the other. The scent of cucumber and green tea wafted between them. She kneaded his butt until he groaned. The muscles tensed slightly under her palms and she felt his hips thrust subtly forwards, as if involuntarily. Next, she worked her hands up over his back and arms. He made soft groaning noises of appreciation, grunting a few times as she worked knots out of his back. She straddled his hips, becoming very aroused by the sensual feel of his body beneath hers.

‘Turn over,’ she said, her words sounding husky and low. She stood up on the bed. Ethan flipped over. He gave her a lopsided grin as he glanced down at his erection. He was at full mast. Alexis sat beside him this time, rubbing his chest. His hand lazily wandered along the back of her thigh as she bent over him, gliding up to her butt to play with her lacy thong.

‘When we get to California, I’m going to buy you a bunch of lacy, silky, girly underwear,’ he said. ‘You look too damned hot in them.’

Alexis smiled, liking the sound of still being with him in California. She moved to sit between his thighs, forcing him to spread his legs. His body was open to her and he looked almost vulnerable on the bed. She massaged down his hips to his thighs, ignoring his centre.

He chuckled softly. ‘Mm, you missed a spot.’

‘Shh, who’s giving this massage?’ Alexis pretended to scold.

‘But –’

She pulled her hands off him and he groaned, not saying another word. Slowly, she squirted lotion into her hands, rubbing them together, warming it between her palms. Ethan watched her from under heavy lids. She made a great show of working the lotion through her fingers. He bit his lip.

‘Is this the spot?’ she asked, her voice a sultry murmur. She cupped his balls, rolling them in her palm, reaching to the sensitive piece of flesh buried just beneath them.

‘Ah, yes.’ His hips jerked.

With her other hand, she grabbed his shaft lightly and ran her fingers up the length of him. His feet dug into the mattress as he thrust himself into her palms.

‘Tighter,’ he begged.

Alexis squeezed his cock harder. He groaned in approval. She began to wiggle, completely aroused by the sight of his pleasure and feeling very dominant by the way his legs were spread to her. She wanted to conquer him, show him how much he desired her, needed her in his bed. Her lotioned index finger slipped between the cheeks of his firm butt. His eyes opened in surprise, but she kept working her hands.

‘Alexis,’ he tried to speak. His cheeks clenched over her finger but didn’t stop her progress. The lotion helped the digit to slide to the tight rosette. She didn’t penetrate, merely rimmed the outside.

‘Ah, shit!’ he swore softly, suddenly jerking and thrusting around like a madman against her hands. ‘Ah, shit. Shit.’

He exploded, spilling himself on his stomach. Alexis drew her hands away, watching him, suddenly shy as she awaited approval. Ethan looked at her, eyes wide. Alexis stood and went to wash her hands. Then, grabbing a warm towel, she handed it to him for his stomach.

‘You’re absolutely amazing, you know that?’ he said, cleaning himself and tossing the towel on the floor.

She smiled, relaxing with his words of approval. ‘I know.’

Laughing, he pulled her into his arms, and proceeded to make love to her until they both fell asleep, thoroughly exhausted.

The Arizona town was nothing like they’d expected. It had been too dark to see much of the landscape, but instead of desert, there were thick tree-covered hills backdropped by mountains.