Opposites Attract (23 page)

‘She says she’s too young to be a grandmother,’ Alexis said. ‘And I just had my check-up so we’re fine. I mean, we shouldn’t slip up again, but it’s a little too late to worry about it now.’

They lay in silence for a long time, just holding each other.

Their time in Kansas was almost surreal and went by quickly. Adam took time off from his shop while they were there. Both he and Veronica were gracious hosts. They stayed for two days. Ethan made love to Alexis every chance he got. It had become a game of sorts, finding ways to kiss and touch without getting caught by the others. They made love each night several times and even once in his car when they were out running ‘errands’.

The first day, they drove into downtown Wichita, visiting museums. One was outdoors. It was set up like an actual town from the Old West completely staffed with people in period-style clothing. Ethan secretively bought her a small rose made from iron right there at the museum by the blacksmith. That evening, Adam cooked lasagne for everyone and they spent the evening watching movies on his big screen.

The second day they spent relaxing and talking. That night Adam and Ethan barbecued. Alexis noted that Veronica didn’t lift a finger in the kitchen, unless it was to hug her husband while he was trying to cook. He’d pretend to get annoyed. She’d laugh and do it again. The couple had a nice life together. Alexis was jealous to see it. Veronica was intelligent and didn’t seem at all the type of person to marry a tattoo artist. Every time Veronica and Adam would lovingly fight, she’d think of Ethan and wish that it could’ve been them. Alexis would’ve traded lives with them in a second.

On the third morning, they left for Colorado just before dawn. Alexis was a little amazed to realise that she hadn’t thought of her clothing once. She couldn’t even remember what she’d worn the day before. That had never happened to her. She’d been too wrapped up in Ethan to care about superficial things like that.

Ethan bid Alexis to wear a dress. He joked that he’d be unable to wait until that evening to be with her again and he wanted easy assess up her skirt. As they drove, he’d shoot her a steamy look and she’d instantly melt. Unfortunately, the drive through western Kansas didn’t provide many places for a quick tryst and they were forced to wait.

‘Anticipation might make it all the sweeter,’ he’d whispered when they stopped for gas. ‘But it’s also a living hell.’

Alexis had thought other parts of the country were flat, but western Kansas definitely won the award. Still, there was something majestic about the way the grasses rolled over the plains. The beauty was more subtle compared to the other places they’d been, but it was still there. When they crossed over into Colorado, the land was still flat. She’d been expecting mountains and was a little disappointed.

When they finally reached them, the Rocky Mountains were gorgeous to behold. The foothills almost seemed to pop up out of nowhere. They travelled through the mountains, driving the steep curving roads. Alexis’s ears kept popping and she got a small headache. Ethan stopped, buying chewing gum to help them adjust to the pressure change. Alexis purchased Colorado T-shirts for everyone off a sales rack.

‘I want you,’ Ethan said, nipping her ear as he opened her car door for her. Alexis was amazed. It was the first time he’d opened a door for her. Maybe there was hope of teaching him gentlemanly manners after all.

Now that the trip was almost half over, Alexis didn’t want the adventure to end. What would happen when they got to California? Would Ethan just walk out of her life? They had never talked commitment and she was too scared to broach the subject. She knew whatever they had couldn’t last. Someday, their different worlds would come crumbling down on them, forcing them apart. Her mother would never understand or condone her relationship with a man so socially beneath her.

Alexis told herself that so long as they could stay on the road none of that mattered. No one would find out. She wanted to drive for ever. They made good time and were able to go to the summit of Pikes Peak just outside of Colorado Springs.

‘Did you see that?’ Susan gasped, pointing out the window. ‘Slow down.’

‘What?’ Alexis asked, grabbing her camera and lifting it up.

‘Over there,’ Susan said. ‘It’s like a deer or something.’

Suddenly, a large animal came out to the clearing. It’s huge rack spiked up high on its head.

‘It’s an elk,’ Ted whispered. Alexis shook and lifted her camera to take a picture. ‘Now that might actually charge us.’

‘Yeah, not like your rabid cow mooing alongside the road in Wisconsin,’ Ethan teased.

Alexis couldn’t help but laugh. ‘I’m telling you, that cow had a bloodthirsty look in his eyes.’

A car honked behind them and the elk ran off into the trees. Alexis frowned in disappointment as they continued up. She gave a shy glance at Ethan but he was too busy looking out the window.

‘Hey, look, a bald eagle,’ Ethan said, pointing up. ‘Aren’t they endangered?’

‘Yeah, it’s on the threatened species list. It’s nearly repopulated and they were going to take it off, but no one was sure how they were going to handle all the laws when they did so. It’s illegal to even have one,’ said Susan.

‘Thanks, Teach,’ Alexis teased, her camera ready.

Susan laughed.

‘Where? I can’t see it.’ Alexis looked up to the sky.

‘It’s already gone,’ Ethan said.

Alexis sighed, disappointed to have missed it. They continued up and she wasn’t sure she wanted to go any higher into the mountains. The peak was over fourteen thousand feet above sea level but when they reached the top it was worth it. She took pictures of everything. Low-growing vegetation sprinkled over the sides, becoming thicker and taller the further down the mountain she looked. The late afternoon cast shadows over the red and grey rock of the surrounding area beneath them, which contrasted with the little bit of snow still on the peak and the dark green of the evergreens. She bought another T-shirt at the little store on top of Pikes Peak.

‘Anything you need to tell me?’ Susan asked, when they had a moment alone on the mountain. Being so high up, the air was chilly. Alexis shivered in her dress, but Ethan’s jacket kept her somewhat warm.

‘Not yet,’ Alexis said. It was clear by the look on her friend’s face that she knew something was up with Ethan.

‘OK, I’ll just keep pretending like I don’t notice anything until you’re ready to talk,’ Susan said, patting her shoulder.

Alexis nodded, grateful. ‘Thanks.’

‘But, I’m warning you now. My patience will only last until about Las Vegas.’ Susan chuckled. ‘So you better get ready to talk by then.’

‘I hear you loud and clear,’ Alexis said. ‘I just need some time to sort my head out first.’

That night they stayed in a small hotel in Colorado Springs. The room was like many of the others. The soft pastel walls and insipid artwork was hardly noteworthy and Alexis didn’t even pay attention to it. How could she when Ethan was close at hand, looking incredibly sexy in his loose blue jeans and bare feet.

Ethan managed to do a couple of tattoos for extra cash, but nothing like the rush they did in Iowa City. Alexis thought she’d go mad waiting for him to get done. Finally, she was forced to take a shower while she waited, then pampered her body with lotion before sliding into a slinky La Perla chemise. The burgundy mesh was transparent over her body. Only her breasts were covered with dark satin. It was one of her more risqué nighties and made her feel incredibly sexy. The chemise was short, reaching just to her thighs, with a deep slit along her hip. Only after making sure Ethan’s customers had left, did she come out of the bathroom.

Frowning, she saw the room was empty. The door opened and she spun around. Ethan was carrying a bucket of ice, sodas and candy bars from the machine.

‘Susan’s offered to wash our clothes at the laundry mat across the parking lot. I took them over. She said not to worry. She knows how to take care of your dry-clean stuff. The machine was out of diet, so you’re just going to have to settle for . . .’ He looked up, his eyes instantly roaming over her. Slowly, he set the candy and soda down on the end table. ‘. . . regular. Are you wearing underwear?’

Alexis smiled. She wasn’t.

Ethan sat the ice bucket on the floor next to the bed. ‘So, ah, does this mean . . .?’

Her smile widened and she crawled onto the bed, tossing her damp hair over her shoulder as she posed.

‘Yeah, I’m . . .’ Ethan threw off his shirt and hopped on one foot as he tried to pull off his shoes.

‘You’re?’ Alexis prompted, thinking it adorable how eager he sounded.

‘Oh, I’m ready for bed.’

Alexis flipped over on her back and rubbed her arms and legs restlessly against the mattress. She purposefully let a pout come to her voice. ‘Well, I don’t know that I want to share a bed tonight. There doesn’t seem to be enough room.’

‘I’ll bet I can convince you,’ Ethan said, looking around. He went to his bags and began digging through them. Alexis sat up. What was he up to? When he stood before her, he was holding a cloth belt. A brow quirked up on his face. ‘Want to play?’

Alexis wiggled on the bed. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch. She licked her lips. ‘What did you have in mind?’

Ethan crawled up over her. ‘Put your wrists together.’

Alexis hesitated.

Ethan moved until he was above her. ‘Are you scared?’

She didn’t move.

‘You don’t trust me?’ he asked. He gave her a lopsided grin, sitting back on his legs without putting weight on her body. ‘Still think I’m a drug dealer going to murder you off and bury you in the desert?’

Slowly, she put her wrists together. ‘Did I really say that?’

Alexis knew full well she had. Ethan merely laughed. ‘Yeah, you sure did. I almost left you in New York.’

‘I almost stayed in New York.’

‘I’m glad you didn’t.’ Ethan bound her wrists together and fastened them over her head.

Despite her actions, apprehension coursed through her at the restraints. ‘I’m glad I didn’t, too.’

‘Did I tell you how beautiful you are today?’

Alexis shook her head in denial. ‘No, I don’t think you ever have.’

He grinned, not saying anything as he pulled back. Alexis frowned, struggling slightly as he moved away. Her wrists were secure. Ethan turned off the main lights, leaving only the soft glow from the bathroom on to illuminate the hotel room. She watched the outline of his body come back to the bed. Slowly, he undid his jeans and slid them off his hips, underwear and all. When he stood, he was naked.

Alexis tensed, already very aroused by her helpless position. She was a woman used to being in control of others, ordering them around. It was wild, almost freeing to be the one helplessly at the whim of another. He didn’t even touch her and her nipples were hard. Her sex became moist. She licked her lips, breathing hard.

Ethan leaned over and set the ice bucket on the bed.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked, her voice soft.

‘Mm, I’m going to torture you,’ he answered. Alexis shivered. When he said it, torture didn’t sound all that bad. His hand ran up her ankles to her knees. She gasped in surprise. One hand was wet and cold, the other was warm and dry. He came onto the bed, straddling her calves. He chuckled, tossing an ice cube back in the bucket.

‘Oh, that was a nasty trick,’ she said.

‘That was nothing,’ Ethan said. She could see him smile in the dim light. He drew the tips of his fingers lightly over her skin, pushing up her nightie. ‘When you wear stuff like this it really turns me on.’

His hands became bolder, touching everywhere as he worked his way up her body. Slowly, he pulled the chemise up to expose her hips. He took a deep breath.

‘You smell so good,’ he said.

His fingers danced over her lower half, teasing, brushing, stroking, but never too hard. It was torturous pleasure. By the time he’d touched every inch of her legs and waist, avoiding her pussy, she was writhing against her binds.

‘Untie me,’ she urged him, ready to toss him down onto the floor.

‘No,’ he said simply, chuckling. Then, almost thoughtfully, he added, ‘This is too much fun.’

Alexis was inclined to agree.

Ethan pulled her nightie higher, working it up over her head. He let it lie on her arms. Now that her chest was free, he gave it the same finger-brushing torture as he did her legs. Each time a hand grazed her nipples she nearly arched off the bed.

‘Ethan,’ she cried softly. ‘I’m ready for you.’

‘I know,’ he said. ‘But I want you burning for me.’

‘Ethan,’ she said, but couldn’t form a coherent enough argument to get him to untie her.

Ethan again moved down to her feet. He took an ice cube, lightly gliding it over her heated flesh. She tensed at the shock of cold. Her mind followed the movements, so focused that nothing else penetrated her concentration. After he’d made the first past up her length, he started again on the other leg. This time, he followed the cube with his warm tongue. It was a strange contrast, one that made her mad with lust.

‘Ethan,’ she gasped, wiggling. The whiskers from his goatee tickled. Her skin was alive with sensations – cold ice, warm tongue, soft lips, coarse goatee. ‘Please.’

‘Not yet,’ he answered. ‘You’re not there yet.’

‘Oh, believe me, I’m there,’ Alexis pleaded. He pretended like he couldn’t hear her.

Ethan drew a pattern on her body with the cube. It was chilly torment the way he circled her nipples into hard peaks. He brought his hot mouth to warm her back up, breathing onto her skin until she was warm, but not sucking the nipples like she wanted him to.

‘Ethan, please,’ she begged. He licked her breast lightly. Alexis moaned, half in pleasure, half in frustration. ‘Ethan.’

Ethan moaned softly. He took her nipple into his mouth, finally sucking it. Alexis was sure she felt the kiss all the way through her body. It shot through her like a spark. She arched her back, trying to press closer to him. He stayed up, just out of reach. He worked his way to the other breast, giving it the same wonderful treatment. Just when her nipples were warm, he shocked them with cold, only to heat them in his mouth, over and over. Alexis cried out, so close to orgasming just from his playing with her breasts.