Opposites Attract (16 page)

Alexis made her way down to the water, only feeling mildly guilty for talking about Ethan behind his back. She didn’t know what got into her. It was just the idea of him getting laid when she wasn’t made her mad. She took a deep breath. OK. That wasn’t the whole truth. But she didn’t want to delve into the whole truth.

Alexis toyed with her camera, playing with the telephoto lens. Sitting on the wooden-bench swing, she watched the moonlight rippling on water. It was peaceful here, beautiful. She glanced down at her T-shirt, tracing the letters printed on it with her fingernail.

A car started and Alexis watched as Tressa and her friends left. She had no idea how long she’d been sitting by the water. The door opened and she watched Ethan carry his stuff to the car. He did look kind of cute in the moonlight. She snapped his picture, careful not to use the flash. She was almost sad to be leaving Wisconsin.

Susan lay on her stomach, surfing the internet. ‘What do you think about North Dakota?’

‘I don’t know.’ Ted lay next to her on the bed, his feet by her elbows. Lightly, he traced his fingers over her calves. ‘I think Ethan mentioned going down to Iowa City. There’s a zine shop down there.’

‘That could be cool,’ Susan said. She looked up Iowa on the internet. ‘What’s a zine?’

‘Um, magazine without the financial backing of large corporations,’ Ted answered. ‘Small press stuff. I guess Iowa City’s known for it.’

‘Ah, I see.’ Susan nodded. ‘We should be able to make Iowa City tomorrow. Can you believe it’s already been a week since leaving New York?’

‘Mm, it’s gone fast,’ Ted agreed.

‘I wish we could travel for ever.’ Susan sighed wistfully. ‘I love it.’

‘I’d imagine you’d get tired of it after a while. You know, start wanting your own home.’

‘Maybe.’ Susan clicked the mouse, cruising an Iowa website.

Ted laughed. ‘What was with Alexis tonight? Was she jealous or what?’

‘I know.’ Susan sat up. Leaving the computer on, she turned to lay by Ted. ‘Do you think it’s possible she’s got a crush on Ethan?’

‘Man, I don’t know. For everyone in the car’s sake I hope not.’ Ted shivered dramatically. ‘Those two are already at each other’s throat half the time. Just imagine if you added sex and romance to the mix.’

‘Oh, you’re right.’ Susan kissed his cheek and moved back to the computer. ‘I’ll talk to her tomorrow and see what’s up.’

‘Good idea.’ Ted moved to run his hand up her calf to her inner thigh. ‘Um, but could you maybe turn that computer off and see what’s up with me tonight?’

‘Oh.’ Susan giggled. ‘Has something come up?’

She shut down the computer and closed the top. Turning, she crawled over his body. ‘I love you.’

‘Mm, what you wearing under there?’ Ted asked, trying to see down her shirt.

‘Granny panties and a sports bra,’ Susan teased.

‘Sexy.’ Ted flipped Susan on her back and began kissing her neck. ‘Very sexy.’

‘Oh, you think so?’ she asked, nearly squealing with pleasure as he discovered her pink lacy bra and matching panties.

Ted worshipped her body with his kisses, licking and nibbling a hot trail over her skin as he stripped her of her clothing. He swirled his tongue over a nipple, sucking it lightly between his teeth before moving to smother the same attention on the other one.

‘Mm, you always get to play, I want my turn.’ Susan forcefully pushed him on to his back. Ted groaned as she stripped him of his clothes. Then, taking his socks, she tied his arms to the headboard. ‘Ah, much better.’

Susan sat astride his thighs as she teased his body. First, she ran a silk shirt over his skin, sweeping it over his flesh in light feathery caresses. Ted bucked as she brushed it up his inner thigh and over his erection.

‘More,’ he demanded.

‘What do you say?’ Susan asked, her tone scolding. She ran the silk up over her naked breasts, letting him watch as her nipples hardened.

‘More, please, Mistress Susan,’ Ted instantly amended.

‘Ah, that’s better.’ Susan giggled, unable to help herself. She was never very good at staying in character. Ted never seemed to mind.

Dropping the silk over his face, she began the slow process of licking and kissing his body from his neck to his stomach. As she neared his arousal, his back arched off the bed.

‘Susan, please,’ he begged.

‘What do you want?’ Flicking her tongue over the tip of his cock, she asked, ‘This?’

‘Yes.’

‘How about this?’ she asked, moving her fingers to lightly caress his balls.

‘Mm, yes, harder, please.’

‘Ah, and how about this?’ Susan sucked the end of his shaft between her lips, toying with the head.

‘Ah, yes!’ Ted bucked, trying to delve his shaft deeper into her mouth.

Susan teased him a while longer before giving him what they both wanted. She rolled her tongue down his shaft, sucking gently. Her hands kneaded his balls, massaging them in her palm. Ted’s body strained beautifully against the ties as he worked his hips back and forth. She liked watching his muscles stretch and contract beneath his skin.

Susan sucked harder, knowing from experience that he was close. His body jerked. Then, right as he was about to come, she pulled down on his balls, stopping his ejaculation. Ted grunted in satisfaction as he felt the tremors of an orgasm but stayed hard and ready for more.

Susan was ready, but knew anticipation only made things that much sweeter. Leaving him tied to the bed, she stood and went to her bag. Kneeling where he couldn’t see her, she pulled out a leather corset that zipped up the front and left her breasts bare.

‘Susan?’ Ted called.

She didn’t answer as she slipped thigh-high pantyhose over her legs. She was so aroused, each brush of material against her skin made her jolt with anticipation. Last, she slipped on a pair of black crotchless panties. Slowly, she stood. Ted’s breath caught.

‘Mm, damn, honey, where’d you get that?’ he asked.

‘Bought it before we left, along with a few other special items.’ She pursed her lips as she let him look his fill. ‘You like?’

He nodded eagerly. ‘What else you buy?’

‘Mm, if you’re a good boy on this trip, you might just get to see,’ Susan assured him. It was erotic and empowering at the same time to see the look of complete lust on his face.

‘I’ll be good,’ he promised.

‘I know you will.’ Susan crawled over his body. He stared at her breasts, licking his lips. His legs moved restlessly on the bed as she kneeled before him, slowly rubbing her body as he watched. She cupped her breasts, pinched the nipples, before moving lower to stroke between her thighs. Cream made her fingers glide over her sex. She leaned her head back and sighed with pleasure.

‘Honey, please, you’re making me crazy,’ he said.

Susan eagerly crawled over him. She stroked his shaft a few times before lowering her body onto his. He filled her up completely. Rocking her hips, she gave him a great show as she touched herself. Ted groaned in approval. Staying upright, she rolled her hips in slow circles as she reached down to stroke the sensitive pearl hidden within her folds. Her body clenched his.

‘Ah, yeah, honey, that’s it. Oh, you’re so beautiful,’ Ted said, his words soft and breathless.

Susan climaxed moments before she felt his body release. Her heart beat fast in her chest, pounding in her ears. Falling limply on his body, she tried to catch her breath.

‘Mm, you can have your way with me anytime,’ Ted said.

Susan giggled. ‘I know.’

‘I’m easy, I know,’ he agreed. ‘Now, untie me so I can get a better look at this outfit.’

‘Oh God, pull over,’ Susan said, grabbing her stomach. She was in the back seat, her head on Ted’s lap. Alexis noticed that Ethan didn’t slow down this time. Susan had been moaning the same thing for the last several hours. ‘I think I’m dying!’

Alexis turned around in the front seat. Susan looked miserable. ‘Susan? Sweetie? Can I get you something?’

‘I’m never eating cheese again,’ Susan swore, clutching her stomach.

‘How much did you have?’ Alexis asked.

‘All three bags,’ Ted said. ‘She ate the last of the mozzarella this morning.’

‘No, I had four,’ Susan said. ‘I ate the last of the cheese curds last night.’

‘When?’ Ted asked, surprised.

‘You were sleeping. I was hungry.’ Susan moaned louder, her eyes watering in her misery.

‘Oh, no, sweetie,’ Alexis said, ‘you can’t eat like that with fresh cheese. It’s not like what we get in the stores. I had the same thing happen in France.’

‘I have cheese poisoning,’ Susan said dramatically.

‘No, you’re just . . . bound up,’ Alexis assured her.

Susan turned her back on Alexis and moaned pitifully. Alexis sat back down. There was nothing she could do for Susan. Seeing a road sign, she said, ‘Hey, we’re entering Illinois.’

Ethan snorted, not saying a word. Alexis watched him from the corner of her eye. He’d been in a horrific mood all morning. Turning her attention to the countryside, Alexis stared out the window. Ethan had turned the music off at Susan’s request and they rode in silence.

‘What about Chicago?’ Alexis asked after several miles passed, hoping to cheer everyone back into the adventurous spirit. ‘They have some great museums.’

‘Too late. Already passed the turn-off,’ Ethan said, his words hard.

‘What? So we can go six hours out of our way to see upper Wisconsin, but not twenty minutes to see Chicago?’ Alexis mumbled, more to herself than to anyone in the car.

‘It’s more than twenty minutes,’ Ethan ground out. Alexis glanced at him. He was tightly gripping the steering wheel. That man was brewing for a fight.

‘I just want to be in California already,’ Susan said, her voice pitiful. ‘Or any place with a hotel that I can curl up and die in.’

‘Do you want me to stop before Iowa City?’ Ethan asked.

Alexis grimaced. Sure, when he talked to Susan he could sound nice and concerned.

‘No,’ Susan said. ‘Just keep going.’

The car again fell to silence. Illinois passed by rather quickly. Alexis was too preoccupied with Ethan’s moodiness and Susan’s misery to see much more than the blurring miles of green and brown countryside contrasted with the bright blue of the sky. White puffy clouds dotted the heavens, but their beauty was lost on them.

Ethan stopped for gas. Susan refused to get out of the car. Alexis bought her friend a bottle of water and some stomach medicine.

‘Huh,’ Alexis said, looking across the parking lot to where a man fuelled his car several stalls away. ‘There’s that grey car again. I think he’s going the same way we are. Weird.’

‘You going to get in?’ Ethan asked, ignoring her observation.

Alexis watched the man by the grey car as he lit up a cigarette and paid with a credit card right at the pump. Across from him, a middle-aged woman pulled up in a minivan full of kids. Her slicky jogging suit swished as she got out and then all at once the other doors opened and children in soccer uniforms practically poured out. The man with the cigarette frowned at them as they screamed and ran towards the convenience store without stopping to look for traffic.

The woman saw him smoking and said, ‘Hey, you can’t smoke that here.’

‘Yeah!’ a snot-nosed kid at her side piped up, putting his hands on his hips. ‘Cancer sticks are bad for you and will make the gas station blow up.’

The man’s eyes flickered up to Alexis briefly but he didn’t act like he recognised her. Then it hit her where she’d seen him. It was the overweight man with the sweaty armpit stains who had offered to carry her luggage that first night.

‘Buzz off, lady,’ the man grumbled. ‘This is a free country and I’ll do whatever the hell I want to.’

The woman gasped, grabbing her child as she ran without bothering to fill up her van. Ethan made a rude grunting noise and Alexis climbed in next to him. He started the car.

‘You should’ve seen the way the clerk was looking at Ethan,’ Ted told Susan.

‘Yeah, I think she actually started praying when she saw my tattoos,’ Ethan added. Susan groaned, obviously not in the mood to laugh and Ted reached over from the back to turn on the radio for her.

As they drove into Iowa, the landscape again flattened out. The hills weren’t as steep as before.

‘What are they growing?’ Alexis asked, curious as she nodded at the bright-green fields stretching out beyond the interstate. ‘Corn?’

Ethan just grunted.

‘Probably,’ Ted said politely. ‘Kinda hard to say.’

By the time they reached Iowa City everyone was just ready to get out of the car. Ethan turned in near the downtown area and pulled over at one of the first hotels they saw from the road. He didn’t even try to charm his way into a free room. Alexis stood beside him during check-in. The man was obviously checking Ethan out. She bet if he wanted, he could’ve gotten the free room. Ethan didn’t seem to notice and, if he did, he didn’t care.

‘How much for a double?’ Ethan asked the clerk, looking through him more than at him. His hands gripped so tight around his wallet that his knuckles were white.

Alexis frowned. Ethan had never asked for a double before. In fact, he’d just taken whatever free room the clerk gave him for trade. It was usually the single hidden in the back of the hotel.

‘The only doubles we have are in smoking,’ the clerk answered, clicking away on his computer.

‘Ew,’ Alexis said, her voice soft. ‘Those always smell horrible, even when you don’t smoke in them.’

Ethan looked at her as if contemplating taking the double just to annoy her. Alexis was actually surprised, when he said, ‘Two singles by each other if you have it and on the first floor, near an outside door.’

‘A man who knows what he wants,’ the clerk joked. Ethan glanced at her, but didn’t answer. The man clicked away on his computer. ‘Hmm, looks like I have something by the pool.’