When the song ended, Tammy pulled Max toward the pool tables. Riley steered me to our table. He ordered another glass of wine and refilled his mug as the band continued. We couldn't see Max and Tammy; they were lost in the crush of bodies and haze of smoke. I could only think about Max's comment. Riley tried to engage me in conversation between songs, but I wasn't in the mood for trite flattery or bovine growth hormone statistics.
A couple of Riley's friends sat down, and he introduced me.
"This is Jamie, boys. She's all mine, so don't try to ask her to dance."
"Hell, I don't feel like getting beat up tonight," laughed Mike, the taller of the two. "Even though she is pretty enough to take a whoopin' for."
"Did we take somebody's seats?" asked Paul.
"Max and Tammy are shootin' a game of pool. They won't mind."
"Is she chasin' Max again?"
"I reckon so." Riley chugged his beer and smiled.
"Somebody ought to tell her that there's some horses you just can't ride."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"Max is a loner," explained Paul. "He's as apt to get married as to grow another head."
"Tammy wants a husband," confirmed Riley.
"Bad!" laughed Mike.
"Didn't she get divorced?" I asked.
"Even a better reason," explained Riley. "She's living back home with her folks."
Riley and his friends had interesting theories about Max... and Tammy. I wondered if Max never married because he was a loner or if he was too sensitive to put his heart on the line. I wondered about Max's inability to commit and his words on the dance floor. The three amigos chattered endlessly about ranches. I was relieved when I spotted Max and Tammy heading for the table.
"Hey Tammy," Paul said, vacating her chair. Mike held the chair out for Max.
"That's okay." Tammy waved them down. "We're leaving."
Riley and Paul grinned at each other, and Mike chuckled.
I looked at Max, who shifted his weight anxiously behind her. "She came with Sheila who's in no shape to drive," explained Max. "Are you ready to go, or should I pick you up on my way home?"
"Oh... I'm... ah..." I stuttered. I couldn't tell if he wanted me to come or not.
"Don't worry about her," insisted Riley. "I'll take her home."
Max waited for confirmation, and I felt trapped. I didn't want to spend the rest of the evening with Riley. I wanted to go with Max. But everything was rapidly spinning out of control. Maybe he needed to spend some time alone with Tammy.
"I'll see you back at the ranch." I smiled my most reassuring smile.
I watched them slip into the crowd. Riley scooted his chair closer, pleased with the developments. Mike and Paul stayed, but left periodically to ask the available women to dance. When a slow song played, Riley asked very politely if I would honor him with a dance. Resigned to try and enjoy myself, I slipped into the knot of couples on the floor..
He held me closer than I would have preferred, but it was easy to lose myself in the music. I was attracted to him physically. He was good looking, big and strong, with a powerful appearance. But mentally and emotionally our connection was weak, insipid. If I never saw him again, it would be OK.
The second slow song kept us on the dance floor. When I didn't think it was possible for him to hold me any tighter, he did. I felt a stirring in his cock, and he rubbed against me in a way that left no doubt that he was excited. I didn't want to encourage him, but it was impossible to move away. And that hardness seemed impossible to ignore. I attributed my heightened sexual sensitivity to Margarite's stories. Despite my brain telling me to go slow, my body enjoyed being rubbed, making contact with him. I was beginning to understand why some psychologists considered sex to be the most powerful force in the universe. By the time the song ended, we were both breathing heavy.
"I'm getting kind of tired," I said, wanting to leave.
Riley grinned like used car salesman taking stock of a first time buyer. "I wouldn't mind leaving myself."
I didn't like where his mind was heading, but Max would be home by the time we arrived. Riley seemed capable of driving. We waved good-bye to his friends and left. He drove a big, white pick-up, and opened the door. Like a gentleman, he closed the door after I climbed in. I wondered if he had some redeeming qualities after all.
The streets were empty. Anyone who wasn't at the Buffalo Bar was asleep. I had forgotten what small towns were like late at night. Big cities never slept. Big cities were insomniacs that remained ungoverned by any natural clock. Small towns were different. Small towns slept and awakened, taking cues from sun and birds. The natural rhythm soothed me. Empty sidewalks weren't a waste of resources. I settled in the seat. I felt at home. I was surprised when Riley pulled into the parking lot of a convenience store on the edge of town.
"I'll be right back." He jumped out of the truck and ran inside. I closed my eyes and rested my head against the door. The wine had added a warm tint to the evening. Mellow, I was ready for sleep. When Riley returned, he handed me a sack. Inside was a six-pack of beer.
"What's that for?" I asked.
"Well, we ain't done partying, are we?"
"I'm really tired."
"It's only 11:30, Jamie. The night is a pup."
He pulled out and headed down the road. We were quiet for awhile, and then he started talking about his ranch, his plans for expansion. After a few minutes, I realized I didn't recognize anything.
"Is this a different way to Margarite's house?"
"No, I wanted to show you one of my favorite spots."
"What kind of spot?"
"You'll see..."
Anxiety awakened me and erased that warm haze. I didn't feel comfortable being alone with Riley. Maybe it was the experience back at the house, maybe it was the dancing, maybe it was my own sexual bugaboo that flashed red every time I was alone with a sexy man. I didn't know, but the feeling was real and uncomfortable. What kind of spot?
The truck bounced along the highway as Riley told me about his horse, Bullet, a black stallion that had won awards. Not only did Riley enter the horse in every state contest, he bragged about what a stud Bullet was. He laughed saying that his horse got laid more than he did...and was paid for it to boot. I laughed too. Before long, he turned by a sign that read Castle Rock.
"What's Castle Rock?"
"Our lover's lane." Riley winked. I gave him a cold stare and shook my head.
"Why are we going there, Riley?"
"It's a pretty spot to look at the stars and relax."
"We can do that on my front porch."
"No with this view...just wait."
The road climbed up and up until it leveled at the entrance to a large parking area. With no other cars were in sight, he cut the lights and crawled to the barrier at the edge of the cliff. The lot overlooked the valley, and with the moon nearly full, miles of ranches and farms stretched before us.
"Wow," I gasped. "That's incredible."
"Pretty neat, huh?" Riley grabbed a beer from the bag and took a long pull. "Want one?"
"No thanks."
"I'm surprised this place isn't packed."
"Is it usually busy?"
"Probably will be in another hour. Sometimes though, there's just too many people around to have any fun...know what I mean?"
I wasn't sure Riley's idea of fun was the same as mine. "What's fun for some people isn't fun for others."
He placed the sack on the floor and scooted next to me. "Some folks make out up here."
Alarms went off inside me as he wrapped his arms around me. Before I could react, his lips were planted on mine, and his tongue was searching my mouth. I pressed against his chest in hopes of pushing him away, but his kisses were persistent. My emotional reactions confused me as I felt both repulsed and excited at the same time.
His hand slid down my side and down my dress until it discovered my bare leg. He squeezed as he bit my lip and moaned.
"Riley..." I panted.
"Oh God, you kiss great." He brought his mouth on top of mine. I was protesting, but only mildly as his hand inched up my bare leg. His body pressed against mine as I leaned back against the seat and door. When his hand started groping between my legs, I squealed and pulled away.
"Riley, slow down..."
"I can't." He kissed my neck. He lowered his mouth over my chest until he was biting my nipple through the fabric. Shock couldn't begin to describe my response. He was moving so quickly that I was lost in a revolving door of feelings. My body betrayed me. When his hand slipped higher, it found wet panties.
"Oh yeah..." He pressed against my clit while he bit at my breasts.
"Riley!" I grabbed his head and pushed it away. "Stop..."
"God baby," he panted, kissing my neck and cheek as I turned away. "You're so hot." His hand rubbed my clit as I shoved him back.
"Stop, Riley!" I grabbed his arm but couldn't move it. "I don't want to..." It was like a deja vu of my college date rape. I started to panic.
"You're panties are soaked, Jamie." He moved the elastic aside and slipped a finger inside my pussy. I gasped as he pressed deeper and massaged the vaginal wall. "You love every minute."
"Riley, stop!" I swung my free hand and slapped his face. He stopped, stunned at my reaction. His fingers were moving out of my panties as he studied me. I didn't have much experience with men. I didn't know what to expect. I was afraid he would get mad, but he grinned instead.
"Check this out." He unbuckled his belt, unzipped his pants, and pulled out his cock, which was big and hard with its dark head shinning with pre cum. "Look how hard." He stroked his cock and grabbed my hand to put it on his cock
"Stop it," I said, pulling away. "Take me home."
"I can't drive like this." He pulled his beer out of the drink holder and took a few swallows. His cock throbbed all on its own.
"You could at least kiss it for me." He stroked it and looked at me. "Like to suck cock?"
"No!" I tried not to look, but whenever he took his hand off, it jerked up and down.
"I bet you do...look how bad old Pete wants you...." He squeezed it and groaned. "God I'm so hard it aches....come and suck it for me."
"Riley, take me home," I pleaded. "I'm not interested in how hard your cock or your brain is."
He chugged beer until the can was empty. "I told you, I can't drive like this."
"Forget it!" I opened the door. "I'll walk home."
I got out and headed down he dark road. Leaving was probably a stupid thing to do. Not only couldn't I see, I didn't know where I was or in which direction lay home.
"Goddammit, Jamie!" yelled Riley. "Come back here."
I started running when I realized he was out of his truck and coming after me. Either the hard on or the beer slowed him. I had run for a couple minutes when I heard his truck. I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't want to be abandoned in the woods, but I didn't want to get back in the truck either. I slipped into the woods and hid behind a tree. My heart was racing as he passed. I waited behind the tree until he was out of sight.
The moon cast enough light to see the road, but I felt creepy in the woods alone. I tried not to think about mountain lions or wild animals and held my arms tightly. Ten minutes later, I heard a vehicle coming up the hill. It was probably Riley looking for me. I found a tree and hid.
As the lights drew closer, the sound of my heart beat in my ears. The engine was different from Riley's truck. When the vehicle turned the corner, it turned out to be a car, not Riley's truck. I jumped out and waved. The headlights were so bright that I couldn't see who drove. Luckily, the car stopped, and the driver emerged--a highway patrol officer.
"What on earth are you doing out here?" he asked.
I started to cry. My whole world crashed in on me, and I couldn't answer his question.
"It's okay." He put his arms on my shoulder as I sobbed into my hands.
"Please take me home..." I sobbed. "Please."
"Come on." He leading me to his cruiser. "Get in and you can tell me what this is all about."
He drove to the top, turned around, and headed back down.
"So what happened?" He glanced at me while maneuvering down the hill.
"I was with this guy," I explained, wiping the tears away from my cheeks. "He got carried away."
"Did he rape you?" It was almost a whisper.
"Well... no...."
"Did he hurt you in any way?"
"No..." I realized I didn't have a case against Riley unless I had actually been raped despite my protests.
"Were you afraid that he might?"
I started to cry again, and he stopped his questions. We drove in silence . As we reached the main highway, Riley's truck turned into the road. Riley spotted me as he passed.
I wondered if he was scared now. Scared like I was scared when I was alone with him. I knew he would worry all night, waiting for that knock on the door, rehearsing his story over and over. Every sound would spook him, every passing vehicle cause his heart to race a little faster. I hoped he didn't sleep a minute. As far as I was concerned, he was a prick. I wished he had left some mark on me so I could have him arrested.
The ride seemed to take forever. I had revealed my name but didn't rat on Riley. I didn't want to make a small town even smaller. I didn't know what story I would tell Max. The officer would demand some sort of explanation. When we pulled up into the driveway, the headlights illuminated dark house. Max's car waited.
"Is anybody home?" the trooper asked.
I pointed to the cottage. "My friend lives there."
"Do you want me to go inside and make sure everything's safe?"
I wanted Max to go inside with me, but I wasn't sure he was alone. What if he had brought Tammy back? Everything was too confusing.
"I guess so..."
We could hear the police radio half way across the lawn. The headlights lit our path. As we reached the porch, Max came running out of the cottage.
"Jamie! Are you okay?"
"Max..." I fell into his arms. Once again I was reduced to tears and couldn't speak.
"She's had a rough night," the officer said. "She didn't tell me much about it."
"What happened Jamie?" Max lifted my face. I shook my head and buried my face in his chest.
"Will you be here all night?" the officer asked.
"Yes," replied Max, holding me tight.
"I don't think she should be left alone."
"I'll be here. Thanks for your help."
"No problem. Here's my card. If she wants to talk or press charges, have her call me."
Max seemed confused but took the card. We went into the house as he drove away.
©Copyright 1996 - 1998 Angela Preston. These stories may not be reprinted in any form without written permission.