Opposites Attract

by Michelle M. Pillow

  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.

  11

  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.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Alexis said. Voicing her fears out loud only made her more nervous about it. She was sure it was the same man.

  ‘We all know what the car looks like now.’ Ethan’s fingers reached out and he secretly stroked the back of her hand. Alexis shivered at the contact. ‘We’ll all keep an eye out for him. OK?’

  Susan and Alexis both nodded.

  ‘In the meantime, don’t stare at the guy,’ Ted said. ‘If he is following us, we don’t want to alarm him by letting him know we suspect something.’

  ‘Oh, listen to you. All of a sudden you’re like a secret agent.’ Susan laid her head on his shoulder. ‘My big bad spy.’

  Alexis glanced at Ethan and rolled her eyes. He smirked but didn’t say a word. His hand stayed next to hers, his fingers lightly touching her as he stared out the window.

  ‘You guys up to another three hours today? I got us a place to stay if you are,’ Ethan said, walking outside the fast-food restaurant. He’d just gotten off the phone with one of his friends. Adam had been s
urprised to hear from him, but automatically offered him a place to crash for the night.

  Ethan went to sit with the others, next to the busy interstate. The weather was warm, but it was nice to get out of the stuffy car. With the sun shining in the window all afternoon, the air felt stuffy and he was a little jet-lagged.

  ‘Really, where?’ Susan asked.

  ‘With a friend of mine and his family,’ Ethan said. ‘He owns a tattoo shop about three hours west of here in Wichita and offered to let us crash for a couple days if we wanted.’

  ‘We don’t need to impose,’ Alexis said.

  ‘Believe me, we won’t be. Besides, if I know Adam, he’ll have every DVD known to man and he’ll insist on cooking. I don’t know about you guys but I’m getting a little tired of eating out all the time.’ Ethan picked up his half-eaten hamburger and shook it for emphasis. The others readily agreed. ‘In fact, he said he’d make lasagne if we were coming down tonight.’

  ‘Mm,’ Susan moaned. ‘Real food. I think I love your friend.’

  ‘Careful, don’t let his wife hear you say that.’ Ethan laughed.

  ‘Is she mean?’ Alexis asked.

  ‘She’s . . . ah . . . a writer. Basically, she’s cool but a little strange.’ Ethan shook his head, remembering the first time he’d met Adam’s wife, Veronica. He’d been convinced for about a month that she didn’t like him. Ended up, she was just preoccupied with a book she was working on. ‘I’d be talking to her and she’d grab a notepad and start writing ideas down for her next book. Adam says she even keeps a notepad under her pillow at night and writes ideas down in the dark when she can’t sleep.’

  ‘She sounds weird,’ Alexis said.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Susan smiled. ‘I think creative people are allowed to be a little eccentric.’

  ‘Free room. Homemade meal. Eccentric writer.’ Ted stood, stretching his arms over his head. ‘I say let’s do it.’

  Driving along the Kansas highway, they got stuck behind a large green combine going twenty miles per hour for nearly ten minutes before the farmer could pull over to the side and wave them past. Alexis leaned against the window, looking up at him. He smiled and tipped his faded red baseball cap.

  ‘Do you notice how everyone we drive past waves?’ Alexis asked. The sky was starting to get darker with the evening. ‘You grew up here, Ethan. Is it always like this or is today some kind of special wave at the other cars day?’

  ‘Yeah, it’s pretty much always like that,’ Ethan said. ‘People are friendlier and more laid back in the Midwest. It took me a while to get used to New York when I first moved there. I said hi to a guy out of habit once and he screamed like I was about to mug him.’

  ‘OK, smarty pants, I have another question,’ Alexis said. She pointed out the window to where a row of trees stretched between two fields like a border. She wouldn’t have found it odd, except for the fact they passed many such rows. ‘Why are all the trees growing in straight lines?’

  Ethan chuckled. ‘My grandpa told me it was because of the Dust Bowl. They planted them like that to act like wind blockers so it wouldn’t happen again.’

  Alexis looked thoughtful. ‘You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you.’

  ‘I know, let’s play a game,’ Susan said.

  ‘I haven’t played car games since I was a kid.’ Ethan laughed. ‘What do you have in mind?’

  ‘Um, twenty questions. If you get them right, ah –’ Susan looked around the car ‘– Alexis has to give you a foot massage.’

  ‘Ew, what? Why me?’ Alexis instantly answered.

  ‘Deal,’ Ethan said at the same time. ‘But they have to be about something I could possibly know.’

  ‘Deal,’ Susan said. ‘Ted keep count.’

  ‘Aye, aye, captain,’ Ted said.

  ‘Hey, no, no deal,’ Alexis protested out of principle, but the truth was she wanted an excuse to touch Ethan again or to have him touch her. ‘What happens if he doesn’t get it? I want a foot massage.’

  ‘Fine,’ Ethan said. ‘I answered about the waving and the trees. Any other Kansas trivia I can recite for you? Bring it on.’

  ‘State bird?’ Susan asked.

  ‘Um, the meadowlark,’ Ethan answered.

  ‘State motto?’ Ted asked.

  ‘Ah, crap, it’s . . .’ Ethan started humming softly.

  ‘Tick, tock, tick, tock, time’s running out,’ Susan said.

  Alexis clapped her hands. ‘Pressure’s on!’

  ‘Ad Astra Per Aspera,’ Ethan said, nearly shouting.

  ‘Which means?’ Ted asked.

  ‘To the stars through difficulties.’

  ‘Is that right?’ Susan asked Ted. Ted shrugged.

  ‘Ah-ha. Yes, it is right,’ Ethan said, grinning. ‘Next question.’

  ‘Great going, Susan, quit wasting questions,’ Alexis said, pretending to pout, ‘or I’ll make you help me massage his feet.’

  ‘State capital?’ Susan asked.

  ‘Too easy. Topeka.’

  ‘Flower?’ Alexis asked.

  ‘Sunflower.’ Ethan lowered his voice as he looked at her.

  ‘Mother’s maiden name?’ Alexis continued.

  ‘Smith.’

  ‘Social security, bank account and pin numbers?’ Ted said.

  ‘Nice try, buddy.’ Ethan laughed.

  ‘First girl you ever slept with?’ Susan asked, nodding slowly as if she’d stump him.

  Ethan nearly choked. He looked guiltily at Alexis. ‘Um, Mary Jo Smith.’

  ‘Ew, a cousin?’ Alexis recoiled from him.

  Ethan quirked a brow. ‘No. No relation whatsoever.’

  ‘Did you love her?’ Alexis didn’t meet his eyes. She held her breath. Was that jealousy burning in her chest?

  ‘Ooh, good one, Lexy,’ Susan said. ‘Put him on the spot.’

  ‘No,’ Ethan answered. His voice dipped slightly. Alexis stomach knotted.

  ‘Have you ever been in love?’ Alexis studied his face for the truth.

  ‘No. Not that I know of.’

  ‘Don’t you think you would know?’ Alexis asked.

  ‘Not if I was blind to it,’ he answered. ‘Or if I didn’t want to admit it to myself.’

  ‘Oh, good try, Lexy. He’s a hard nut to crack,’ Susan said. Alexis nodded. She hadn’t been trying to crack him. She wanted to know how he felt about her.

  ‘That’s fourteen,’ Ted said. ‘I’m counting the ones about the trees and the waving.’

  ‘Thanks, buddy,’ Ethan said, patting Ted’s shoulder.

  ‘Yeah, no problem. Lexy wore that T-shirt and made me lose ten bucks,’ Ted said.

  ‘Hey,’ Alexis protested. ‘Not fair.’

  ‘Paybacks are hell.’ Ted chuckled as Susan slugged his arm. ‘Man, honey, you’ve gotten violent.’

  ‘Oh, did I hurt my baby?’ Susan said, talking baby talk. She instantly leaned over to sprinkle kisses on his arm.

  ‘No, Ted’s fine,’ Ethan said quickly. ‘That’s fifteen.’

  ‘Hey, now that one really doesn’t count.’ Alexis pushed his thigh. She’d moved closer to him in the course of the game. It took all her willpower not to touch him again.

  ‘Ugh. What is that smell?’ Susan asked, covering her mouth. ‘Ted, did you fart? Gross.’

  Ted laughed. ‘No. It wasn’t me.’

  Ethan chuckled and pointed ahead as Ted sped the car to pass a large semi. ‘Cattle truck.’

  ‘Oh, if that’s what beef smells like, I’m never eating a cheeseburger again,’ Alexis said.

  ‘You’re such a diva,’ Susan said, plugging her nose. ‘Ugh, but this time I agree.’

  ‘Hey, is that Mr Grey behind us again?’ Ted asked, frowning. ‘I thought we lost him.’

  Alexis turned around to look out the back window. Indeed a grey car was following them. She stiffened. The car came closer and moved to pass. She relaxed, seeing it was a family of five and not the possible stalker.

  ‘No. That’s not Mr G
rey.’ Ethan laughed. ‘And you should’ve seen the look on your face, Alexis.’

  Alexis frowned. ‘It’s not funny.’

  His gaze dipped to her mouth and he looked like he wanted to kiss her. She shivered, instantly forgetting the grey car.

  ‘Seventeen,’ Ted said, unintentionally breaking the spell. ‘Ladies, you better stump him. You only have three questions left.’

  ‘Oh, I know. How many names does Alexis have?’ Susan asked.

  ‘Four,’ Ethan answered, smiling at Alexis. ‘Alexis Samantha Wellington Grant.’

  ‘Susan,’ Alexis scolded.

  ‘Well, how was I supposed to know you told him?’ Susan demanded. ‘I thought that would stump him for sure.’

  ‘You weren’t,’ Ethan said, chuckling. ‘And I believe I’m about to win this game. Two questions left. Bring it on.’

  ‘When’s the last time you had sex? And with who?’ Susan said.

  Ethan hesitated. Alexis held her breath. Oh, no, this was bad.

  ‘Ah, if you don’t answer, we win,’ Susan said. She looked triumphantly at Alexis. Alexis gave her a weak smile.

  ‘So, Lexy, how do you like your foot massages?’ Ethan asked. Alexis let loose a long breath. ‘Hard or soft?’

  ‘We won,’ Susan cried before going into her victory song. ‘Oh, yeah, I got him. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.’

  Ethan stared deep into her eyes. Alexis let the corner of her mouth pull up as she mouthed, ‘Thank you.’

  Ethan nodded once, but he didn’t smile. ‘Are we almost there yet, Ted? I’m starving for lasagne.’

  Ethan’s friend lived right outside of Wichita, Kansas in a small suburb. The town looked like many of the other small towns they’d driven through, except that it seemed to have a lot of trees. Ted let Ethan borrow his cell phone to call Adam for directions. Alexis was a little nervous to meet Ethan’s friends, wondering what they would be like.

  ‘Right on Broadway. Left on Staton Street,’ Ethan said when he hung up. ‘It’ll be the tattoo shop on the right.’

  ‘We’re going to an actual tattoo shop?’ Alexis bit her lip.

  ‘Yeah, he got busy at work today. Looks like lasagne’s cancelled until tomorrow,’ Ethan said.