Crossroads

by Blake Haugen

  "Well, anyway," Andrew continued, "every time his dad visited after that was like a reminder that Vanya wasn't going to stick with basketball. He was comin' home to the fold as soon as he graduated. Everybody hated that guy."

  Persephone swirled her ice around in her glass. This window into Vanya's past was enlightening, but she felt wrong discussing it without him. She had no idea how Vanya would react to her discussing his father with one of his old friends. Frankly, she didn't care to, but she was glad the divulgence had shed some light on the man she’d come to care for.

  "I can see you don't like talkin' about this much and that's okay. I can understand why. The only reason I'm sayin' all this is because of two things. One: I'm drunk. Two: I'm genuinely happy that V8 Flash can have something – someone – that he loves not taken away from him. He needs a strong woman, and you look it by the looks of ya."

  "Well, I'd like to think so."

  "Hmm, well, it's been a pleasure meeting you Persephone, really, and I hope I get to talk with you again soon," Andrew gave her a handshake and then rose. "Now there's a certain young woman over there I'd like to finish a conversation with."

  "A conversation, I'm sure," Persephone replied, grinning as he sauntered over to the tall Latina a couple of sectionals over. His gait was nothing less than a sashay and his mission was clear.

  □

  The night rolled on with everyone in the group eventually coming out to the dance floor. They danced together and celebrated in one another and the music. Each of them pranced and gyrated to songs they did or didn't like, or to which they wouldn't be caught dead singing to aloud. They switched partners without jealousy, taking turns and showing off their best moves. Andrew even took a break from his conquest to join them.

  Vanya allowed the fun of togetherness to wash over him and couldn't help but think of their little group in a familial manner. The night had given him a reason to change his mind about Texas. It was wonderful. Persephone was at ease. He hadn't thought of the pressures of his own family even once. He caught himself wishing things could be this way all the time. Texas had become more than a vacation; it was dreamland. The only thing that could consummate the mystical joy of evening would be losing himself in Persephone's flesh.

  That would be impossible if they returned to the Benson home. When last call came around, he nearly gave up hope. That is, until he saw Andrew making out with the woman he had been flirting with all night. He was struck with an idea and minutes later he was outside with Andrew's keys waiting for the cab he called.

  Persephone was more than willing to go to Andrew's condo since he wasn't going to be there. She seemed just as desperate for Vanya as he was for her, although she did have the decency to ask what Andrew was going to do.

  "He made friends with some chick, Esme Garcia, Gomez, something like that."

  "Esme Gomez! Shut up! Was it Gomez?"

  "Yeah," Vanya replied, confused at Persephone's sudden interest in Andrew's bedfellows, "I'm pretty sure that's what he said."

  Persephone let out an unladylike snort, pulled out her cell phone, and began texting. "Oh, my gosh, Emma is not going to believe this."

  "Believe what?"

  "That one, Esmeralda Gomez, is going home with a guy. I can't believe I didn't recognize her! I should have said hi. Oh, well."

  "I guess this really is a small town."

  "Man, I tried to tell you. You can't go out without running into someone you know."

  "Tell me about it," Vanya smiled. He appreciated the irony of the evening, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He was focused on having Persephone under him as soon as possible. The cab's arrival calmed his anxiousness for her; he'd finally be able to get some relief.

  □

  Vanya opened the cab door allowing Persephone to settle in before sidling up next to her. Persephone had been in cabs a thousand times over, but never in her own hometown. The service was usually only for the airport as most people in these parts preferred to drive drunk or get a ride from someone they knew. Almost everyone out here had cars.

  Vanya buckled her up, stated the address to the cabby, and promptly put his hand between her legs. Persephone’s eyes immediately widened in surprise. She turned her alarmed gaze to Vanya who only smiled down at her, planted a kiss on her nose, and began to discreetly rub her pussy.

  Her nipples were instantly hard. After acknowledging that her pussy was beginning to swell and soak, her first thought was the cab driver. He interrupted her thoughts before she could assess whether he was aware of her pleasure or not.

  "So, are y'all from out of town?" the middle aged man asked. He and Persephone made eye contact through his rearview mirror. His head tilted up to reveal his eyes from under the brim of his dingy baseball cap; they gave away nothing.

  "Um, I'm not, but he is. We live up North and we're just visiting some family friends."

  The driver went on to get the facts of their school and their relationship, showing no signs of mischief. Apparently, Vanya thought she was playing it too cool and decided to turn it up a notch. While he feigned interest in what was going on outside his window, he jutted a finger up inside her when she began discussing the weather up North.

  "Oh, very, mmm, very cold. In fact, just talking about it just gives me chills," she replied, taking a deep breath. She successfully suppressed her moan and prayed that their destination was close. She was definitely getting closer to her final destination as Vanya's digit rapidly pushed in and out of her pussy. How could the cabbie not know? She supposed her handbag and gloved hands were enough of a disguise.

  "Well, you should give me a call when you guys are going to the airport. I'll give you my card."

  "Yes, yes, of course."

  They finally stopped in front of a brick townhouse in the university village. Vanya slipped from her and stuck his middle finger in his mouth for one quick slurp. Persephone was relieved and bereft all at once.

  Her entire body was awake with need and she was dripping for him. She was almost sure Vic (she now knew the cabbie’s name from the card) was aware of her state of being when he helped her out of the car. The essence of own her arousal reached her nose.

  She waited patiently on the curb while Vanya paid and thanked Vic. The man waived and drove away, hopefully none the wiser. She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

  "You're insane!" she exclaimed as Vanya turned on her with a satisfied look on his face. Instead of replying to her immediately, he grabbed her hand and swept up the steps. He drew her closer to him, bent down, and placed his lips against her ear.

  "Do you want to punished for being such a bad girl in the car, sweetpea?"

  Her shudder was unmistakable. She was sure he felt it, too. Lately, Vanya had made a point of giving her exactly what she wanted in bed. Once inside he strode to the kitchen and divested himself of his coat.

  "Come here," he called in a low, commanding tone.

  Persephone walked up to the kitchen entrance. She glared up at him, arms crossed. He looked so sexy just standing there leaning against the counter, but she was resolved to put up some resistance.

  "Don't act mad, sweetpea. You know you want me to finish you off and I will… if you're an obedient girl from here on out."

  "I've been very good!"

  "Hush. Get up on that table and face away from me."

  "What?"

  "Don't make me ask you again," he responded with more steel this time.

  Persephone was beyond excited. She was in a virtual stranger's home, and Vanya was about to fuck her out of her mind on the kitchen table. She slowly climbed up and sat on her knees facing away from Vanya.

  "Bend over. I want your ass in the air."

  She did as she was told.

  "Higher!"

  Persephone was sure her lace-clad pussy was on display and certain the purple boy shorts were soaked through. Her heels were still on and she felt a little more exposed after he pushed her dress farther up her back. She felt his
fingertips brush over each of her ass cheeks and shuddered when he massaged them with his magnificently large hands. She moaned and wiggled her ass, begging for more in her own wordless way. Her eagerness was met with a resounding smack to her buttocks.

  "Don't try to tease me. That's what I'm talking about. I haven't had any of my pussy in days and I'm overdue for a tasting, don't you think?"

  "Shit, yeah."

  Vanya chuckled and smacked her ass again, harder, on the alternate cheek. "That's for making me wait so long for my sweet pussy. And that's for being a naughty girl back in that cab. You liked getting off while you were talking to someone else didn't you?" He slapped her ass again; she presumed it was for good measure.

  "Yes, sir, it was so fucking hot," she gasped out, gripping the table.

  "Mmm, hmm," Vanya murmured, sliding his fingers up and down her slit, "now you're getting the hang of it. Will you be good if I pull down these panties and finger this sweet, little cunt?"

  "Oh, my god, yes."

  Vanya did not deny or tease her for very long. He turned her over quickly and pulled her panties aside, squeezed two fingers into her tight channel, and went to his knees to begin sucking her clit. She moaned aloud when his lips made contact with her button.

  “You always taste so fucking good,” he mumbled against her sex. Persephone gasped suddenly and shut her eyes as she felt his tongue dip in and out of her pussy. The tips of his pointer and index fingers rapidly brushed back and forth over her clit; he was trying to make her come quickly.

  Persephone gave in gladly, knowing he was only getting started. She fell apart and clamped her thighs together, pushing his head away. Vanya kept a firm hold on her mound and pressed her clit. He didn’t let her escape from any pleasure he could give her.

  He watched Persephone writhe as he massaged her pussy. She ran her hands over her body, eyes shut, grinning and biting her plump bottom lip. Her roaming hands finally settled on her breasts and she slowly cracked her eyes open and gave him big smile. Vanya returned it with a cocky grin, happy to see her so obviously satisfied.

  “You liked that, hmm? I think I can feel your heartbeat against my thumb. That’s so fucking hot.”

  “Mmm, I aim to please.”

  “You aim to please, eh? You want to please me?”

  Persephone only nodded in the affirmative, squeezing her thighs tighter together around his hand. Vanya wrenched it free and pulled her into his arms quickly. She wrapped her arms and legs around him automatically, and he proceeded up the stairs to find the first room he could identify as not being Andrew’s bedroom. He made short work of their clothes upon entering the guest room, popping one of his shirt buttons. When they were both nude he landed on top of Persephone in the neat full bed, not bothering to do anything but push into her quickly and forcefully. She let out a pleading moan, arching up to him.

  “Give me this pussy, baby. Tell me how bad you want it, Percy. Tell me how much you need it.”

  “I need you; I have since we got here. Fuck, I always want you. You know how much.”

  “Mmm, sweetpea,” he began rocking against her as he entwined their hands above her head. “You’re so fucking beautiful. I love you so much. I’m gonna show you.”

  Vanya bent low and devoured her lips, breathing in her breath before he released her mouth and stared down at her longingly. Persephone just closed her eyes and took every rough thrust he laid into her. He was faster and edgier than he had ever been before. He could tell her arousal was building by the increasing number of mewls she made. He sucked and bit into her neck.

  “Tell me you’re mine, sweetpea.”

  ☐

  Vanya drove into Persephone as if he were being chased. She held on tighter as he sawed in and out of her. Tonight actions wouldn’t be enough for him. He wanted to hear her say it.

  “Say it, Persephone,” he rose up again, still holding her hands above her head. “Look at me and say it. You’re mine and no one else’s.”

  She opened her eyes and stared up at him. She was obviously aroused, but apprehension laced her features as well. When he thought she wouldn’t answer, she finally bit her lip and nodded.

  “I’m yours, Vanya. Let me touch you,” she breathed out and strained against his hold.

  When Vanya released Persephone she took his face in her hands, kissing him and relieving some of his hunger. He rose and took her with him. She straddled his lap and they grinded and bounced against each other, their movements growing more erratic as they reached their climax. Persephone fell first, throwing her head back with a silent cry as she creamed all over his cock.

  Vanya felt her increased slickness and swore aloud. That, combined with her tightness, was really too much; he felt the familiar ache in his balls and knew he would come soon. Persephone must have realized it, too. She gyrated against him with a renewed determination. She had recovered from her haze and looked down at him while holding his face somewhat tenderly.

  “I’m yours, Vanya, all yours.”

  “You’re so perfect, Percy. So… ugh… fucking perfect. God, I love you. Fuck!” his panted words dissolved into ardent groans. He banded his arms around her body, binding her to him as his semen shot up into her. As he came down, they could only manage to hold onto and breathe against one another. He caught the delicious salt of her skin on his tongue as he buried his face into her neck.

  Usually Persephone was languid when they finished, but this time she held on tightly. Vanya just took pleasure in it until he understood what was happening. He’d laid his cards on the table, declaring his love twice. He sensed her nervousness through her rigidity and knew she was running an analysis on what the words meant and how to proceed.

  He ran his hands over her slick body and kissed the bites he had left on her neck. He didn’t regret what he’d said, and he wanted her to know it. Pulling away slightly, he ran his fingers through her hair and took in her gaze. Her wide, expectant brown eyes nearly made him melt all over again. He simply kissed her until she visibly relaxed.

  “Let’s go to sleep, sweetpea. Andrew will probably be back no later than ten and I want you again before we leave,” he whispered against her lips. Persephone nodded in agreement and pulled away, letting him arrange the sheets and then arrange her in them before he took his place behind her. Vanya resolved to sooth her worries in the morning; right now he wanted to focus on recharging before he woke her to make love again.

  Chapter Two

  Saturday, November 24, 2012

  The next morning Persephone rose early to wash the sheets. A firm believer in leaving something borrowed in better condition than she found it, she exiled Vanya to the couch at five in the morning and began setting the guest bedroom and bathroom straight. When they left shortly after seven o’clock, the bedroom and kitchen table were immaculate. Vanya groggily mumbled something about her being too nice when they walked out the door. Persephone couldn’t be brought to care. She planned on facing Andrew again. She wouldn’t be able to do so if the first thought in her head when she saw him was ‘He had to deal with my dirty sheets.’

  Their last day in Texas was spent in a leisurely fashion with a big dinner and a game night. Poker was the game of choice and John Mark busted out his giant change jar to serve as tender. A straight man, Peter wore his confidence or displeasure on his face. He was no good at the game. Peter bowed out with Margie and Ariana, who were also too expressive to get anything by anyone. John Mark and Emma followed suit. Vanya, Persephone, and Zenovia were the ones to hold out to the highly anticipated final set.

  Not one to back down, Vanya was the first to reveal his hand, displaying a straight with perfect calm. He turned to Persephone expectantly. She smiled gleefully and laid a flush down. She quickly turned to Zenovia and arched a brow, believing herself to be the winner of four dollars in coins.

  The old woman simply laid down her full house and methodically began to pick up her pennies, nickels, and dimes. Persephone sat agape and ran her fingers through her ha
ir in disbelief. All of her winnings were gone!

  “What the crap? I don’t believe this! How is that even possible? I just got cleaned out!” she exclaimed.

  “Believe it, baby,” Zenovia replied, placing her neat stacks of change into her coin purse.

  “You’re seriously taking all that change, γιαγιά?!” John Mark asked incredulously.

  “Oh, yeah, I always keep what’s mine, sweetcheeks.”

  “Well, amen,” Vanya concurred, raising his beer. He smiled faintly and took a swig. His eyes fell on Persephone who was now helping Margie and Emma put away snack foods. The intensity of his gaze wasn’t lost on Peter.

  ☐

  Monday, December 31, 2012

  “You never did tell me how the trip went. The Thanksgiving one, I mean to say. I guess that was a while ago, hmm? I feel like we haven’t met up too much since then,” Finn commented. Her leather-gloved hands gripped the wheel of her navy Boxster.

  She drove with mastery down a scenic route to the city. When Finn asked Persephone to help her decorate for a New Year’s Eve party she was throwing at her uncle’s ritzy bar that evening, Persephone made sure to dress up just for the drive. The small sports car made one feel a little hotter. Having Finn at the wheel was an added ego boost. Ever the fashionista, she donned a white and royal blue color-blocked coat that perfectly complemented her League approved red hair. Persephone suspected that the ‘decorating’ Finn had in mind would entail delegating tasks to hostesses and catering staff.

  “Yeah, I guess not,” Persephone replied as she gazed ahead. “We weren’t hanging out much at the time and when I got back we dove right into finals. It was pretty good – good enough that I went back for Christmas. That was fun, too.”

  “Fantastic. Did Emma chill out?”

  “Yeah, it was weird actually. The whole time we were totally fine. She apologized pretty quickly as soon as I got there. You know, for the stuff she said the time I went before Thanksgiving. We had a good time. I wasn’t expecting that.”