by Koko Brown
“There’s a Walmart close by. We can get you some stuff and maybe something to eat. I’m starving. Sorry. No restaurants.” She rubbed her bare stomach under her top. “I don’t want to be a sitting duck waiting to be killed.”
He groaned and quickly covered his mouth with his hand to try and cover the sound.
“You’re hungry, too?” She wiped her hand over the back of her neck.
“Yes, but not for food.” He could no longer keep quiet.
“What are you talking about?” She adjusted her seat back to the upright position. “You want a beer or something? We can pick that up, too, if you want. I know you didn’t get any alcohol in…” She didn’t say the P word.
“There was a lot I didn’t get behind bars.” When Victoria didn’t say anything, he continued. “That day.” He split his attention between the road and her, especially since he got off on an exit. “The day I was arrested.”
Victoria remained quiet.
“You know what you did.” Since she didn’t want to fill in the blanks, Russell finished his tale. “I was on a job for Crush. I was supposed to be a lookout man.” He saw the telltale blue Walmart sign up ahead and headed to it. “You and I had always talked, and I thought you had a crush on me, but you were way too young.”
“I was sixteen when I started noticing you. Of all the guys who worked for him, you were the only one who didn’t treat me like some flunky kid. We had real conversations about heavy topics.” She crossed her long legs. “The night you were arrested, I had turned eighteen.”
Russell pulled into the parking lot and parked in a fairly vacant area of the lot. He turned off the car so that she could hear him clearly, and he faced her. “A little after midnight, I get this message on my phone. I look at the screen and see it’s from you and it’s a picture of what looks like your panties.”
She didn’t blink as he spoke to her.
He moved his hands apart in front of him. “Legs spread apart and a shot of your crotch.”
Victoria kept her gaze down as he spoke. “I didn’t have a crush on you.”
Russell’s heart slowed in its beats. “So you meant to send that dirty picture to someone else.”
Victoria shook her head. “The message was meant for you. What I felt went beyond some schoolgirl crush. I wanted you. I ached for you. For a supposed bad man back then, you were so damned honorable.” She held up her index finger. “One time I gave you a kiss, and you told me that I was too young for you. I remembered being so pissed at you then. I could have gotten you in trouble with Crush and lied to him, saying that you kissed me. But I didn’t. I waited for you. So a little after midnight as soon as I technically turned eighteen, I did snap a picture of my panties and send it to you. It was impulsive and reckless. I would never do something like that again, and I haven’t.”
Hearing that after Victoria’s admission wrenched Russell’s heart from his chest. Hell, what did he expect? He was a convict preparing to double-cross a billionaire. Victoria must have realized the error of her ways.
Fine. He had to keep from getting too close to her again.
He relaxed his set-in jaw to address her. “That picture was very distracting. I kept staring at it until I missed seeing the cops come up and bust me. I was in a car filled with illegal guns and drugs.” He rubbed his thumbs over the worn steering wheel cover. “I took the fall and didn’t take anyone else down with me.” He turned to Victoria. “But every day, I kept thinking about you and those little panties and if I imagined a darker spot in the seat of them or if you were wet.”
After a brief silence and a beat, Victoria responded. “I’m sorry about the arrest.”
“I am, too.” He unhooked his seatbelt.
As he opened his door, Victoria said, “But I’m not sorry I sent you that picture.” Then she got out of the car. “Let’s get you some clothes.”
FIVE
A couple of outfits and several bags of groceries later, Russell drove them to a nearby hotel. Victoria’s words when they first got to the parking lot still echoed in his head. She had sent him the picture of her crotch on purpose. For a long time, he had wondered if maybe she had meant for the picture to be sent to some boy she had been dating.
As he shopped in Walmart, he ran through different scenarios where he received the picture like he did, and didn’t get caught. Just imagining the ways he would have claimed her pussy as his own had his dick throbbing hard enough that he had to keep the shopping cart in front of his body.
Now he wished she hadn’t said anything to him or, better yet, admitted that she found him repulsive now. His only consolation would be when he would be able to get into his own hotel room and jerk off as much as he wanted. This would be a long weekend.
As Victoria went inside to secure their rooms, Russell packed all of their things into a cart. Their frank discussion before shopping had his mind spinning. He needed to get into a cool shower now and away from Victoria.
As soon as he pushed the cart inside, Victoria headed to an elevator bank with a card key in her hand.
“We’re on the top floor.” She pushed the up button.
“I promise to pay you back for my room.” Russell didn’t know how he would do that since his plan to get a windfall of money depended on betraying Victoria.
Then again, Victoria had promised him more if he didn’t turn her over. Briefly, his mind tripped over the idea of getting paid from both. He could have Victoria secure his ten million for him, and then he could get Crush’s five million. These people would never see or hear from him again. He glanced at Victoria. Too bad he wanted to see more of her, as in more of her naked body.
“No need to pay for the room.” Victoria kept her stare on the flashing numbers above the elevator doors.
When they opened at the fifth floor, she stepped out first and headed down a long hallway.
“Are our rooms next door to each other?” Russell pushed the cart behind her.
“No. We’re in the same room.” She stopped at the end of the hall and held the card up to the reader.
He swallowed hard as his heart began its hard pounding. “Then this is a room with two double beds, right?”
She held the door open for him. “A king room. One bed.”
The hotel room looked nicer than his crappy economy hotel, but he couldn’t think about the décor or food with Victoria in the room.
She put the Do Not Disturb sign on the handle outside the door, and made sure to lock it in every way possible.
“This is not a good idea.” Russell stayed near the door in case he needed to make a hasty exit.
“What are you talking about?” She removed her shoes and stretched her arms over her head. “I think my father is going to send people after me, and he’ll do something to the person who helped me. We need to look out for each other now. How can we do that if you’re in another room?”
“Great point, but I think you’re missing the bigger picture here.” He rubbed his hand against his cheek, already full of stubble. “I have not been with a woman in over twelve years. We just had a conversation about our last interaction.”
“And?” She shrugged.
No more sugarcoating this situation. He stepped up to her. He stared at her full lips. Just like with the bank teller a few days before, he imagined Victoria’s mouth on his dick. He pictured her hands all over his body, and her legs wrapped around him.
“I want to fuck you. Hard.” Russell’s breathing accelerated.
To Victoria’s credit, she remained cemented in her spot. Did that mean she wanted him, too, or did she want to show a tough demeanor like she had in the car? Yet she remained silent.
“Deduct my half of the room charge from the money you promised me.” Russell removed the luggage from the cart, then pushed the empty cart back out into the hallway after unlocking the door. “I’m going to take a quick shower here, and then I’ll go sleep in the car.” He pulled the car keys from his pocket. “I’ll hold on to these.” He closed
the door and locked it like Victoria had before.
Finding her voice finally, Victoria spoke. “Why would you sleep in the car? This is crazy.” This time she stood in his path, blocking him from going to the bathroom. “I know you. You would never hurt me.”
“You didn’t feel that way back at the airport or in the car when you said you would scratch out my motherfucking eyes. You did everything you could to stay away from me.” He exhaled. “You’re right, though. I wouldn’t hurt you. Not on purpose. I’m not sure if I’m strong enough or wise enough to do the right thing. It’s obvious from the fact that I’m here on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with you that you are very persuasive.” He took a couple of steps back. “I have to be stronger. If I’m in that bed with you, I can’t guarantee that I won’t touch you. If I touch you, I’ll want more.” He picked up the bags that held his new clothes and shoes, and held them in front of his body to hide his growing erection.
“That’s no reason for you to go.” She moved in closer to him. “Jesus, stop being a Boy Scout. We can—”
“I’ll shower and change and eat something. Then I’ll make myself scarce.” He stopped before heading to the bathroom. “Better yet, you go in the bathroom first to shower, take a bath, whatever. I’ll stay out here and eat, and then I’ll clean up and go.”
Victoria shook her head. “No, you won’t. We’re adults. We’ll talk about what we’re feeling. Get it out in the open.”
“You want to know what I’m feeling?” He put his fists to his hips. “I’m feeling like you’re afraid of me. Your hands haven’t stopped shaking since you’ve seen me. You only see your father as a threat?” He pointed to himself. “Maybe deep down, you consider me a threat, too. Ever think of that?” He scanned her body in an obvious way to make her see that he wanted more than a conversation. “If you can’t learn to make demands of me, then you won’t do it to the ones that matter, like Crush. I’m not the same man you knew from before. I have learned to do for myself. I’m selfish and self-centered and a survivor.” He pointed to the bathroom. “Go in the bathroom. I’ll stay here until you’re done. We’re done talking about this.”
Victoria stood under the streaming water in the shower as she let Russell’s words tumble around in her head. She peered down at her hands that, even under the warm pelting water, still shook slightly.
Everything Russell had said resonated with her. She had run away from her problems, but she needed to regroup, come up with a strategy. She hadn’t expected to have Russell involved, but she couldn’t say that she hated the idea of him being there with her.
Now, when she closed her eyes and thought of him, she saw him as the man he had become now, not the rash young man with all flash and no substance. Russell today told her upfront that he wanted to have sex with her, or rather, he wanted to fuck.
She placed one hand on her breast and let the other hand travel down between her legs. She knew getting one hotel room would push him. She thought, though, that it would push him to take advantage of the situation like the way she saw it.
Victoria slid her hardened clitoris between her fingers and massaged her tit. Until she saw Russell, she hadn’t thought about herself as a sexual being. Now she couldn’t stop thinking of him with his large hands and his piercing blue eyes and his thick thighs.
Then his harsh words invaded her thoughts. He basically called her a coward. He said she couldn’t do anything for herself. She hadn’t been afraid of him when she threatened to burn his ass with the cigarette lighter.
Victoria let her body go and held her hands in front of her face. Russell had seen the shaking.
He probably pictured her as vulnerable or terminally frightened. Far from it. If Russell saw her that way, did he find her childish? She should have been relieved, yet in her mind and deep down in her soul, she still ached for the man she had tried to seduce years ago.
No more. Russell wouldn’t be the only one to define his life. Victoria finished her shower and wrapped her body in one of the hotel’s white towels. She gathered her discarded clothing and opened the door to find Russell sitting at a small, round table with two clear, empty clamshell containers opened and three empty bags of chips around him. He had been hungry.
“I left the salads and another sandwich.” He nodded to the corner of the room. “I put them in the fridge with the water.”
“Did you like the beer?” She sauntered to the bed where her suitcase sat open.
“Didn’t have any. Maybe tonight when I go to the car. I’ll have something cool to drink when I’m out there.” He stood and picked up a bag of his new clothes.
“You’re not going out to the car.” She shook her head while keeping her hand fisted on the towel around her body.
Like he hadn’t heard her, Russell said, “Thanks for the food and clothes.” He nodded to her. He held up her purse. “I don’t need you leaving me, so I’ll hold onto this in the bathroom along with the car keys. As soon as I close the door, I promise not to come out again until after my shower. You can get dressed.”
“Stop talking to me like I’m a child. I’m a woman. Right now, we don’t need to be at each other’s throats. We need to work together.” Victoria’s grip loosened on the towel but she didn’t let it go. “We’re not done talking about this.”
“Yes, we are.” Russell disappeared into the bathroom.
When the door clicked closed, Victoria stomped her bare feet on the carpeted floor. People had to stop treating her like she couldn’t make her own decisions.
It didn’t take long for the shower to start. At that moment, Victoria turned to her suitcase to put her previously worn clothes in it, and then pulled out another outfit. She dropped her towel, but stopped before slipping into her underwear. She had to stop doing what people expected her to do. She had a voice. She planned on using it now. Victoria also had needs.
Standing nude in the room, Victoria closed her suitcase and placed it on a luggage rack in the corner. Then she closed the curtain, cloaking the room in darkness despite it being two in the afternoon. To give the room some illumination, she turned on the TV but adjusted the volume down low, and she flicked the switch by the door to illuminate the part of the room. She needed to be heard more than anything.
She also wanted Russell to be on her side. She hadn’t planned on seducing the man, but he made it obvious that he could be easily swayed with a taste of her flesh. She didn’t mind this new change in her plans. Victoria had wanted Russell back then. Now, dealing with the man he had become, she wanted him even more.
Victoria needed one more thing, an item she had purchased while Russell rifled through the clothes. She pulled out a box of condoms from one of the shopping bags. Unaware of what size to get the gruff man, she had gotten a variety pack. She placed it on the nightstand furthest away from the bathroom; that way Russell wouldn’t be able to see it when he emerged. At least, not right away.
By the time she finished getting the room set up, she heard the shower stop.
“Shit.” Victoria returned to her original spot and picked up the towel she had discarded.
She wrapped it around her body and stood stock still in her spot. Then she thought of something. Russell had taken clothes in with him when he took his shower. He would be getting dressed there. Not if Victoria had any say in the matter.
She stomped to the door and pounded on it so forcefully, she felt the stinging pains shooting through the back of her hand.
“Yeah!” Russell screamed back. “I’m almost finished.”
“I need you out here now.” She took a couple of steps back, anticipating Russell bursting through the door.
“I’ll come out as soon as I get dressed.”
She heard him knocking around in the bathroom more.
“Now!”
At her last forceful directive, the doorknob jiggled before it swung open. Russell, looking like a charging bull, complete with red eyes and flared nostrils, stomped out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist.
Although Victoria wanted to take stock of his body, she didn’t dare stop looking at him in his eyes. She took a couple of steps back, convinced she wanted him closer to the bed than being afraid of what he would do to her.
“What the hell?” Russell ran his hand down his face, still damp from the shower or steam from the bathroom. “You couldn’t wait until I got dressed? You have to go or something?”
Victoria took a deep breath. “Or something is right.” She moved in closer to him. “Drop your towel.”
Russell blinked before his eyebrows furrowed. “What?”
“You heard me. Drop your towel.” She kept her stare on him, determined not to blink.
“Did you get into the beer or something?” He leaned forward, close to her face, and took a sniff. “I don’t smell anything on you.” He glared at her. “Stop messing around and let me get dressed.” His gaze dropped briefly. “You need to get some clothes on, too.”
Russell started to turn but stopped when Victoria snagged his towel and tugged on it.
“I’m not going to repeat myself.” She released him. “Drop your fucking towel and stand right here.”
Like an opponent in a duel, he squared off in front of her. “This is a dangerous game you’re playing here. I’m not like these little eggheads you’re probably used to dating.”
“You have no idea what I’m used to or what I want.” Victoria sauntered to him. “I know what I want.” She stood directly in front of him. “It’s funny how little my needs have changed since I was a teenager.” She placed her hand on his smooth chest covered in tattoos.
He didn’t flinch when she touched him. If anything, it sounded like he exhaled. He finally released his towel, letting it fall on top of her feet. Even then, she kept her stare directly on Russell’s eyes.
His breathing increased, raising and lowering his massive chest. When she dared to look down and finally spy his thick, impressive cock, Russell took that as an invitation and grabbed her hand and wrapped it around his shaft.