Road Trip Ch. 05

"So," he said, dropping her hand and gathering up their supplies. "I know it feels like we've already had a day's worth of adventures, but it's barely ten in the morning," he said, winking roguishly. "And we've got more to see, young lady. So hop on that hog."

She snickered and helped him put everything away before reaching for her helmet.

---

"You guys don't need to do this," Hank protested, not for the first time.

"Shut up already," Eve teased him. "I really appreciate you looking after Maggie yesterday - and the loan of your bike, obviously."

"My pleasure," Hank said, picking up his menu. "So, are you going to limit me on how many steaks I can order?"

Eve giggled before excusing herself to the restroom. Hank glanced at Will over his menu.

"I'm guessing yesterday was mostly your pleasure?" he said casually.

"Dirty old man," Will muttered with a grin.

Hank chuckled and closed the menu. "Where are you guys headed after this?"

Will's face fell and he sighed. "We haven't discussed it."

"What's wrong?" Hank asked.

Will shrugged. It was the second week of August and although he didn't have to worry about the upcoming semester dictating his schedule, the end of summer was barreling down on them, bringing with it some unspoken expiration date.

"It's just - the whole thing's coming to an end," Will said, knowing it wasn't much of an explanation.

"Because of Barb?" Hank said in surprise.

"No - maybe. I don't know." Will run a hand through his hair. "Eve doesn't even know where she'll be living once this trip is over, if she's going to grad school or not...besides, she made it pretty clear that it was just...temporary."

"She did?" Hank exclaimed.

"Well - yeah," Will said, perplexed. "Why does that surprise you? She's still so young, still figuring out what to do with her life."

Hank studiously unfolded his napkin, seeming to choose his words carefully.

"What did she say that made you think that it was temporary?"

"She said -" Will swallowed, remembering the night at the bar in Chicago. "She said she knew I wasn't looking for anything but that didn't mean we couldn't just enjoy each other's company...just have fun."

Will was surprised when Hank burst out laughing.

"Will, you know nothing about women," Hank said, grinning.

"Oh, and you do, do you?" Will shot back.

"She told you she knew you weren't looking for anything. That's a defensive move - like, I'm scared of getting hurt, that you won't want anything serious with me, so I'm going to head it off at the pass."

"What? How the hell do get that out of what she said?" Will asked with incredulity.

"Because I have fucked up with a lot of women," Hank said calmly. "Some of them were nice enough to spell out exactly the ways I fucked up. So when you think about it, I would be a great boyfriend, retroactively."

Will couldn't help laughing with his friend.

"I really doubt that's the case here," he told Hank.

"Will," Hank said in exasperation. "I see the way she looks at you, I see how things are between you two. She's not just in this for fun. Despite all the fun I'm sure you're having."

"God, you are such a perverted jackass," Will said, unable to stop a smile.

He glanced toward the restrooms to make sure Eve wasn't returning then leaned over the table.

"Even if you're right - what can we do about it? We live in two different worlds - I'm still technically married...not to mention she's only a couple of years older than Andrew," he said, his voice sharp with frustration.

Hank waved a hand dismissively. "That's all immaterial. If you want it to work, you make it work. It's that simple."

"Did you switch from chemistry to psychology?" Will asked dryly.

"And now I can tell that you want to drop the subject," Hank said cheerfully. "Which is good timing," he added, tilting his head slightly.

Will looked up and saw Eve approaching, a smile growing on his face despite his inner turmoil.

---

"Where should we go next?" Eve murmured sleepily, curling up against his chest.

He lowered his book and slipped an arm around her.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked, twisting a strand of her hair around his finger.

"I don't care. We can throw a pin at a map," she suggested.

She looked up at him when he didn't respond. He was staring into the distance.

"Everything okay?" She propped herself up on an elbow.

"Hm? Oh, yeah - sorry. I guess I'm tired," he told her.

"Tired, huh?" she teased, taking his book and tossing it on the nightstand.

Letting her fingers dance across his chest, she rolled to her stomach, giving him little bites and kisses. She swirled a tongue around his nipple, meeting his eyes, pleased that he no longer appeared tired or distracted. She smiled, giving his nipple a bite before moving down his body.

"Eve."

He said her name in a breathy gasp, a sigh of pleasure that sent a ping of arousal right through her.

"Wait," he said suddenly.

She sat up, startled. He ran his eyes over her slowly, nodding at the long, loose shirt she was wearing.

"Take that off for me," he said quietly.

She smiled, grasping the hem of the shirt and pulling it over her head slowly. His eyes darkened, his gaze lingering on her breasts before dropping to her panties. He met her eyes and raised his eyebrows. Grinning, she stood up on the bed and hooked her thumbs in the waistband, inching them down her legs until they were at her feet. He made an approving sound and reclined.

Resuming her earlier path, she settled herself next to him, tugging his boxers off. Lightly caressing his legs and belly until his hard member was visibly twitching, she circled the base with her hand and ran a tongue up its length. She repeated this from every angle, occasionally rewarding him with her tongue swirling around his tip. She loved teasing him like this, giving him just the barest of touches, knowing he tried to remain still and silent, knowing that when he finally let go of his steely control that he would be panting her name or gripping her hair.

Tonight he surprised her with a straightforward plea, his voice tight with emotion.

"Eve. Please."

It was as much a relief for her when the teasing ended, when she finally took him fully in her mouth. Feeling the rigid heat under the contrast of the velvety smoothness on her tongue, pulsing and throbbing. Holding the very core of his pleasure between her lips.

This had always seemed to her like it required the most trust, for men or women. The incredible vulnerability of it, of allowing someone free reign on the most intimate part of your body. It was a powerful, overwhelming feeling, but it didn't necessarily make her feel like she had control over Will. He may have appeared to be at her mercy, but the trust it demanded instead made her feel like she was being given a precious gift. For her, the power came in showing him just how special that gift was, how much it meant to her.

She worked his shaft slowly, rhythmically, using her hands as well as her mouth and tongue. Increasing her pace gradually, letting the anticipation build. She could tell he wanted her to stop, wanted to be inside her by the way he tugged on her shoulders. She met his eyes and winked at him, then began bobbing her head quickly, her hand stroking him in time with her mouth. His head fell back, his cheeks hollowing with the force of his inhale. She kept her eyes on him and when he met her gaze again, she sped up her movements, drifting a hand to his scrotum to fondle him. When his hips began jerking, she pressed two fingers just behind his balls and increased her suction.

He exploded in her mouth, the salty flavor warming her and she slowed minimally, coaxing every last drop from him, only pulling her mouth away when he lay limp on the bed. She regressed to light touches and small licks until his body shuddered and he was pulling on her arms. He held her tightly, panting heavily.

"Jesus Christ," he said weakly.

"Now you're tired," she said triumphantly.

He chuckled, pressing his lips to her forehead, still breathing hard. She leaned over him to turn off the lamp and he grabbed her arm.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked.

"Unless you're suddenly scared of sleeping in the dark, I'm turning off the light," she said, puzzled.

"Right. Like I'm letting you go to sleep," he said wickedly, dropping his lips to hers.

He flipped her to her back and she giggled, then sighed as he kissed his way down her body, twisting her fingers in his hair, surrendering to him.

---

Will stepped into the RV to find Eve sitting at the kitchen table, typing furiously on her laptop. He smiled automatically, allowing himself the pleasure of watching her. She got so focused, her brow furrowed in concentration, her shoulders hunched forward, completely unaware of her surroundings. He waited until her hands stilled before closing the door behind him. She looked up and smiled.

"Did you guys have fun?" she asked, leaning back and stretching her arms over her head.

"Yeah. I hope you didn't get bored," he said, sitting next to her and giving her a quick kiss.

"Not any more bored than I would have been listening to you two talk about motorcycles all afternoon," she joked. "I got a lot of writing done."

He rested his cheek on the top of her head, glancing at her laptop. He loved reading her blog, the lyrical way in which she described her adventures. She left out private or identifying details but somehow each entry was still deeply personal.

"Oh - you forgot your phone," she said. "It's been buzzing."

"Thanks," he said, heading to the bedroom to find it.

He opened his voicemail, hitting the speaker button and tossing the phone on the bed so he could listen while he changed clothes. The voice made him freeze.

"Hi, Will...it's me. Barb."

He stared at the phone as if it were a poisonous snake about to attack.

"The kids told me you're on some kind of road trip for the summer, so I thought you might be coming home soon...I wanted to talk."

He couldn't detect the emotions in her voice - she sounded controlled and calm, but he wasn't sure if she was keeping herself in check or if it was the same coldness she'd had when she'd admitted her affair.

"I know we left things - well, you know how it was, you were there," she added quietly, sounding embarrassed. "I don't like how we left it. I know you said you weren't sure, that maybe we could figure things out - see where we went wrong or try to find our way back...I don't know. But I do want to see you. Will you call me when you get home? Please?"

There was a pause as if she were waiting for an answer.

"Well. I hope you do, Will," she said tentatively. "I really am - sorry. Goodbye," she added in a whisper.

He still hadn't moved, was still standing there staring at the phone in shock. A flash of movement at the door brought him out of his stupor and he just caught a glimpse of Eve, her eyes large, her face frozen, before she turned quickly, disappearing from his sight. He sighed, dropping to the bed, pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes.

By the time he gathered himself to get up and find Eve, he saw her bag open on the kitchen table, half-filled with her belongings. The things that she moved so effortlessly into the RV, the physical representation of the way she had joined him, of the way she had so naturally moved into his heart. The sight hit him with the force of a freight train and he had to steady himself against the wall, suddenly struggling to breathe.

"I think it's time for me to go back to Chicago."

The quiet words seemed to come from a distance, and he had to force himself to tear his eyes away from the suitcase to find her. She was flattened against the door to the RV as if trying to keep as much space between them as possible.

"Eve -" he said, at a loss for words.

"It's okay," she said briskly.

"It's not okay," he snapped.

He saw her shoulders tense, saw her eyes flicker to something behind him. Saw that stoic, numb look that he remembered from that night in Savannah. He exhaled slowly.

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "I'm not going to yell."

She shut her eyes for a moment before focusing on him, her eyes softening.

"Look - what Barb said -" he began.

"Why didn't you tell me you were planning to work things out with her?"

The words burst out and she seemed surprised she'd said them.

"What? I -"

"I mean, it's none of my business," she interrupted. "I just thought - it was over. I wouldn't have -" She stopped and shrugged.

"It is over," Will said uncertainly.

"Is it?" she asked sarcastically. "Because it doesn't sound like she's gotten that memo."

"I - she -" He was flailing, drowning in confusion and fear and anger.

"Not that it's my business," she repeated harshly.

"Eve," he said plaintively. "I don't know what's going on with me and her," he said lamely.

She nodded, her chin dropping to her chest. He could see the moisture on her eyelashes, the tears that would undoubtedly soon be spilling down her cheeks. A sharp pain shot through his chest.

"We don't have to leave right now," he said awkwardly. "I mean, this doesn't have to change any -" He stopped when she got him an angry look.

"No, I do," she said fiercely. "You need to figure out what's going on with your...marriage."

He could see her swallowing hard, her voice dropping when she spoke the last word as if it had been difficult for her to say. He strode over to her, circling his hands around her slender arms.

"Please talk to me," he implored. "I hate seeing you upset, making you upset."

She looked up at him, her tears pooling in her eyes.

"I never would have...gotten in the way if I'd known you were going to - to go back," she said in a tight voice.

He felt inexplicably guilty though he hadn't thought he was leading her on, hadn't felt like he'd been dishonest. His last conversation with Barb had been a blur when it happened, and the following weeks with Eve had succeeded in making it disappear completely. He might have told Barb he was willing to work things out after some time apart. He might have even meant it at the time. All he could recall with certainty from that day was just wanting to get out of the conversation, get away from Barb, as quickly as possible.

"You were never - in the way," he said helplessly. "I just - Eve, I thought it was - that you only wanted...something fun..."

He knew it was the wrong thing to say even before her expression changed. She glared at him, her eyes a steely grey and suddenly dry.

"Is that all you think this was for me?" she whispered angrily. "That I do this kind of thing all the time?"

She shrugged off his hands and stalked into the kitchen, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I don't just hop into random guy's RVs and hit the road with them, you know," she snapped. "I've never even had a one-night-stand. I'm only - I only - it has to mean something. To me."

"I didn't mean that," he exclaimed in anguish. "It did mean something," he added quietly. "You know it did. I told you it did," he said meaningfully.

She blinked rapidly, bewilderment and anger flashing through her eyes. Swiping a hand across her eyes, she sniffed and straightened her shoulders.

"Regardless," she said stiffly. "I'd like you to take me to Chicago. If that's okay."

"Of course. If that's what you want, you know I will," he said, trying to keep the hurt from his voice.

Her face fell, all other emotions giving way to sadness. "I think it's for the best," she said in a small voice.

---

Chicago was nearly a 15-hour drive, and Will pushed through, telling her he would only stop for the night once so they could make it in two days. She had nodded her thanks, fighting the urge to ask him to take his time getting there. Wanting to beg him to just keep driving, past Chicago to somewhere else. Anywhere else, as long as they didn't have to stop. Anything to keep this from ending. Knowing that even if she did ask, even if he agreed, it wouldn't help. It wouldn't stop his wife's voice from echoing in her mind. They could circle the globe and still not get far enough for her to forget it.

They stopped somewhere in Minnesota, finding a hotel near the highway. For the first time since South Bend, Eve took Maggie to check in for the night and Will remained in the RV. For the first time, they ate separately; Eve picking at a sandwich from a nearby convenience store while Will probably put together a meal in his kitchen. She could see the RV from her window, could see his silhouette moving through the drawn curtains. He felt a million miles away.

She tossed the remainder of her sandwich in the trash and curled up on the bed, hugging a pillow. Waiting for the tears to emerge, knowing she wouldn't get any sleep. She didn't think to check the time, didn't know how long she'd been lying there. Propelled by an instinct she wasn't aware of, her fingers found her phone, dialing his number of their own volition. She got up and began pacing the small room, her heart in her throat at the first ring.

It was loud. Too loud. She nearly dropped the phone when she realized the ringing was coming from the hallway. Unbolting the door, she opened it a crack to see Will a few feet away, staring at his phone in disbelief. Their eyes met and held in a charged moment. She felt the heat of his stare penetrate her chest. Saw in his eyes every emotion flooding through him. The desire, the regret, the despair. Paralyzed with the hopelessness of their situation. Completely mirroring every emotion roiling around inside her.

She took a step back, swinging the door open, waiting.

---

As if standing outside his body, Will watched himself walk toward her, into her room, saw her close the door behind them. He was still in a daze, having paced the hallway for close to an hour, waiting for either the courage to knock on her door or the police to show up after getting a report of the crazy man roaming the hall.

Their eyes still locked, they simultaneously put their phones down on the hotel desk. Will saw his hand rise, watched his fingers stroke her hair off her shoulder, and instantly returned to his body at the feel of her silky strands between his fingers. He curled his fingers around her arm, drawing her to him. Not even waiting to gauge her reaction, just knowing this was what she wanted. Needed. What they both needed.

They gasped simultaneously when their lips met, instantly trying to get closer. Her hands were pushing his shirt up his torso, taking a step back to lift it over his head. He picked her up, her legs automatically coming around his waist. Lowering her to the bed, he ran a hand down her tank top, pressing his thumb into the curve of her waist, ravaging her mouth with his, pouring all of his emotions into their kiss. He dropped his head to her stomach, kissing, biting, tasting. Pushing her shirt up her body and following with his mouth, not wanting to miss an inch of her.

Tears pricked his eyes when his lips circled her breast, the flavor of her skin piercing his chest like a heartbreakingly beautiful symphony. How could it be that this would be the last time? he thought, trying to commit the taste to memory. Furiously, urgently exploring her flesh, he pushed all other thoughts out of his mind, everything but her, but this. He whipped her panties off, letting his hands roam up and down the smooth skin of her legs. Hooking her knees over his shoulders, he slid his hands up to her breasts and buried his face between her legs.

He lost all track of time, only aware of her hands tugging at his hair and her thighs clenched around his head as he drank her in. His tongue, his lips, his teeth, his fingers, all moving against her, inside her. As if he just kept going, if he didn't stop, tomorrow would never have to arrive. If he just stayed here in this heaven, hearing the soft whimpers and excited cries emerging from her luscious lips, feeling the strength of her deceptively fragile-looking body as she bucked against him. Trying to leave his mark somewhere, somehow, so that it could never be erased. So that when tomorrow arrived, as it always did, she would always know. Always remember.