Happy Hour (Racing on the Edge)

by Shey Stahl

  “That’s right...” he nodded haughtily. “Now, is that a blueberry pop tart over there?” his eyes motioned toward my nightstand.

  “No...it’s strawberry.” I lied knowing blueberry was his favorite.

  “You’re lying.”

  “No, I’m not...I only have strawberry.”

  “Why does your breath smell like blueberries then?”

  “I have blueberry tooth paste.”

  Jameson scrunched his nose. “That’s...disgusting.”

  “No it’s not.” I smiled showing my sparkly white teeth, praying there wasn’t any blueberry pop tart in them. “It’s delicious.”

  “If I find out it’s a blueberry pop tart, you’re in trouble.” He warned.

  Once his grip on my arms was free, I ran. I ran for all I was worth. I heard his laughter behind me with the pop tart in his hands but I kept running until I collided with Lucas in the living room.

  “Oh...sorry,” I mumbled helping him up.

  He scowled, grumbling something along the lines of “Watch where you going,” and plopped down on the couch with Mr. Jangles.

  How rude.

  “There you are,” Jameson grabbed me from behind wrapping his arms around me—I could smell the blueberries on his breath. “You’re in trouble.”

  “Ugghhh...” Lucas grumbled. “Didn’t you two get enough yesterday!” He draped his blanket over his face.

  “What was that Lucas?” Jameson still hadn’t forgiven them.

  Lucas didn’t say anymore but pulled Mr. Jangles on his lap, for protection I assumed. It’s not like Mr. Jangles offered all that much protection these days. He may sit on you but as far as defense mechanisms go; Mr. Jangles had none, other than his thirty-five pounds. Now if you were let’s say a mouse, you were shit out of luck, he’d crush you.

  It took a really long time to get ready to go camping.

  For one, Jameson did in fact cut the tree down but when it landed on the red dragon, I cried.

  I got that truck when I turned sixteen and she’d treated me well. Yes, she would sometimes stop running on the freeway, and occasionally leave me stranded but she loved me. We had some good times together. These “good times” not including the time I lost my virginity in it to Dylan Grady. Dylan was not my best decision and one of those times I could really look back and say, “That’s where you went wrong.”

  After destroying the red dragon, Jameson looked as though he was going to cry himself when he realized his lumberjack skills were seriously lacking.

  “I’m so sorry, honey.” Jameson whispered in my ear sitting on the tailgate with me. “So sorry,” His arm draped loosely over my shoulders.

  The red dragon was junk now. The tree landed right across the cab of my primer red 1979 Ford F-150. Poor ole girl.

  “S’okay,” I hiccupped, another cry broke through.

  Jameson lifted me onto his lap. “How many more times am I going to make you cry?” Shaking his head in disappointment, his gaze was fixated on the broken branches surrounding us.

  “Really Jameson—it’s fine. I needed to get another car anyways.”

  “It’s not okay, Sway.” His head bowed. “I’m buying you another one.”

  “You’re not buying me a car, Jameson.”

  “You don’t have a say in this, it’s already done.” He pointed to the road towards a silver car parked at the end of the driveway. “It’s yours.”

  “Where’d you get that?” Squinting into the bright sun, I could faintly see a Subaru. “That wasn’t there earlier.”

  “I rented it when I got here.” He told me. “When I killed red dragon, I called Subaru and bought it.”

  “Why?” I looked up at his sad eyes.

  He shrugged. “I can be an asshole, but I refuse to be an asshole all the time.”

  “What is it?”

  His eyes lit up, he loved talking car. “It’s a Subaru Impreza STI. Awesome on the dirt,”

  “Are we taking it camping?”

  “Precisely why I rented it, well, bought it now.”

  “Neato,”

  I still hadn’t forgotten about the red dragon but this was a nice distraction. And let’s face it; I was easily distracted just like my heathen.

  We walked down the gravel driveway to the car that was parked under the birch trees. It was pretty, shiny silver, and had a turbo.

  Running my hand over the hood, I thought of my pit lizard days on the hood of Jameson’s race car.

  My eyes shot up to his when he chuckled.

  Winking, he bit down on his lower lip and was by my side in a second. “As much as I want to try out this hood...we need to get up to Dayton Peak soon.”

  Damn him.

  Loaded with tents, sleeping bags, more junk food than any one person could possibly need, and more beer than any one person could possibly need, we made our way through Shelton towards Dayton Peak.

  Once we hit the dirt roads Jameson stopped the car, letting the engine rev a few times. His eyes darted over to me when he changed the song playing on his iPod to The White Strips, Icky Thump.

  “Hold tight guys,” he warned revving the engine twice before slamming it into first gear, his head bouncing to the beat.

  The back tires spun spraying gravel and dirt over the surrounding pine trees.

  Emma screamed, Aiden laughed, and I was in carnal lust naturally. Watching everything he did; it was hard not to be turned on.

  Just like in his race car, the way his agile hands maneuvered the steering wheel, the quick movements his feet made shifting gears, the muscles in his forearms that flexed with each shift, all a turn on. As we went sideways drifting around the corner, he belted out a verse from the song.

  I laughed out-loud, Emma screamed again, and Aiden laughed.

  Driving the way he did a sprint car, he pushed the car to the very edge of each corner before throwing the wheel the opposite direction.

  I could tell by the smirk plastered across his face; he missed this. He loved racing in NASCAR but Jameson would always be a dirt track racer, it was in his blood. His grandpa raced, his dad raced. It was all he has ever known.

  It didn’t take long to reach Dayton Peak with Jameson’s driving.

  Unloading the car, Emma was trying to carry the beer over to the fire when she dropped a few.

  Aiden had his arms full so she looked towards Jameson, who was peeing on the side of a tree.

  “Jameson, I need help!” Emma yelled from behind the car balancing boxes. “Please.”

  “No,” he answered. “Leave me alone. You stabbed me.”

  “He holds grudges doesn’t he?” Emma looked at me.

  “Not really, but you did stab him.”

  Though it took some time, we eventually got everything unloaded, the night fell into our usual blitheness we found within beside the fire. Aside from a few instances of sibling spats regarding a recent stabbing.

  The storm from the other night was lingered making for a rainy and windy night but that didn’t stop us from having fun.

  From our campsite, there was a spectacular view of the Puget Sound area. It was the best place to watch fireworks on the Fourth. From Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and Olympia, you could see it all.

  Jameson and I sat on the other side of the campsite from Emma and Aiden. Jameson wanted no part of being next to Emma or hearing them make out, which they were doing frequently.

  “Do you remember the last time we were up here?” Jameson whispered in my ear. Nuzzled behind me his warm arms wrapped around my chest waiting for my reply.

  Snuggling in, I clutched the blanket around us as a breeze blew through, the crisp Northwest encircling. “Yeah, we were sixteen.”

  Jameson chuckled lightly in my ear, his two-day scruff tickling my cheek. “You were so beautiful that night.” His arms squeezed me once. “The way your hair shined against the fire, the way your green eyes looked almost black with the night.”

  “Did you get that from a Hallmark card?”

  �
��No, I was trying to tell you that I loved you longer that I’ve realized.” He exhaled kissing my ear, his warm breath scorching my cool skin.

  “You had feelings back then?”

  “I didn’t know it, but I remember wondering what it would like to be with you.” He cleared his throat. “That sounded bad...I uh...I’ve always been...very attracted to you. For the moment I saw you, I may have been eleven but I’ve always thought you were the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.”

  I laughed. “Really, you have?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “I guess I just didn’t realize the attraction went beyond physical attraction. I’m slow.”

  We watched the fireworks die down but one thing led to another and we were no longer watching fireworks but creating our own.

  The passionate, gentle Jameson was out tonight. He was affectionate and tender with touch and words. His actions were dawdling, ardent and attentive.

  Once inside the tent, everything turned erotic.

  There was something about being in the dark. I couldn’t see him but hear his movement, his sexy whispering, his steady strained breathing and soft grunts as we continued where we left off outside.

  Slowly, he began slide my panties down my hips. Moments later, his tongue was against my inner thigh and then my crankcase, though I still couldn’t see him.

  “What the fuck?” Jameson yelled jumping back. “My...lip...is bleeding.”

  I wasn’t even thinking, clearly, or else I would have recalled my trip to the mall before I let Jameson go down on me in the dark, bad idea. I guess I should have thought about the sharpness before I went and ripped out my beaver pelt to add bling.

  “I got...vajazzled.” I replied softly, relieved it was dark so he couldn’t see how completely embarrassed I was about this whole situation. Just in case he had night vision, I flopped my arms over my very flushed face.

  To make matters worse, Jameson turned on the lantern beside the air mattress. “You vaj...what?” he looked at me with confusion wiping blood from his upper lip. With his eyes dropping to the bling, he positioned the light to observe my masterpiece.

  Slowly, a smirk appeared.

  “You...I...uh...” the smirk grew wider leaning down between my legs for a closer look. His fingertips softly grazed over the vajazzled crankcase bling. “Is that a number nine?”

  Nodding was all I could do. I was too embarrassed to speak, didn’t stop the giggles though.

  “When did you do this?” His voice was a soft whisper in my ear again hovering over me. “And I love it, by the way. It’s sexy as hell.”

  Oh god, there’s that whispering again.

  “Tuesday...when Emma and I were at the mall,”

  “How did I not see this yesterday?” he wondered.

  “You were a little preoccupied.”

  Grinning, Jameson recalled the amount of align boring that took place yesterday. “Well, looks I need to show this...” his fingers brushed over the flag. “some attention. After all, you did go to the trouble to...um...get my number.”

  Turning the lantern off, he went back to work.

  I couldn’t take much more of it, within a few minutes I was frantically yanking him up my body. Willingly with a growl, he was exactly where I wanted him to be.

  It must have been the illusion of privacy from the darkness providing obscurity, everything seemed heightened. I didn’t last long at all but just as I reached my release, Emma screamed.

  “Jameson...” Just speaking was difficult at that point let alone getting him to focus. His hips continued to meet mine with erratic movements. “We should see...what that was.”

  Jameson grunted in response, his hands moved from around my shoulders to my ass letting me know he had no interest in stopping. “Oh god Sway...so close...” his gravelly voice confirmed my theory.

  Emma screamed again. “What the fuck is that, Aiden?”

  Did Jameson stop then? No, but he did increase his pace again.

  “Jameson...we should...stop.” I pushed again on his chest only to have him shake his head. “Emma might need help.”

  Apparently, he didn’t like that answer because I felt him rise from my upper body but he didn’t pull out. “I do not fucking care.” He snapped and then leaned back down to continue his movements.

  I could tell by his gritty voice, he was beyond annoyed that she was interrupting us and also very close.

  “Hey Jameson, you might want to come out here.” Aiden warned.

  There was just something unusual about Aiden’s voice that drew Jameson from of his determination.

  “Son of a bitch,” He pulled away reaching for the lantern. “Why does this always happen? I can’t even fuck my girlfriend anymore without someone wanting something from me.”

  I snuck a glance at his face throwing my clothes on. Flushed with anger, he was breathing heavy and he still had a big...problem.

  I giggled.

  “Nothing about this is amusing, Sway.” he snapped unzipping the tent. “Stop laughing.”

  Yes, it was funny.

  Once outside the tent...you couldn’t help but laugh. Aiden and Emma were standing on the roof of the Subaru while a skunk hovered around their tent.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Jameson shouted at them throwing his arms up. “You called me out here for a goddamn skunk...unbelievable!” He turned to go back inside the tent. Only problem was Pepe Le Pew’s girlfriend was now making her way inside our tent.

  Before I even realized what was happening, Jameson was dragging me through the woods, away from the campsite. We didn’t go far, partly because it was so dark you couldn’t see and the other, well, Jameson needed something and he needed it now.

  He wasted no time at all in removing my jeans, picking me up with one arm and wrapping my legs around his waist. Carrying me forward until my back pressed against a tree. Frantically, his other hand fumbled with the button of his jeans.

  I shivered in anticipation. This was so incredibly sexy.

  His face was set in a scowl, the light from the full moon defined his flushed cheeks.

  His movements were nothing as they were watching the fireworks, or in the tent. They were rough and aggressive, it actually almost hurt but I wasn’t complaining. Not that I was into the S & M shit as discussed, but I could get down with the aggressive press forging.

  Wrapping his arm securely around my waist, he pressed me rather hard against the tree trunk. His hands were everywhere, all at once, as was his mouth. Desperately kissing, sucking, and biting every inch he could reach.

  My bare ass was rubbing against the tree, causing a not so friendly chafing and splinters but I didn’t care, this was hot. The only noises that were coming from Jameson were a stream of grunts and heavy panting. Within minutes of this starting, it was apparent it was ending soon.

  “Oh god, Jameson...that’s so hot...” I whore-moaned at some point.

  “Are you? I...need...please...” Jameson grunted in my ear. Before he even finished his incoherent words, I could feel every muscle in his body go rigid.

  He held me in place for a moment and then slowly let me down.

  “Ouch.” I whined when the splinters made themselves known.

  “I’m sorry.” Jameson reached out running his fingers lightly over my cheek, his eyes searching mine. “I wasn’t very gentle, was I?”

  “I liked it.” I admitted with a giggle but stopped when I heard leaves crunching and branches breaking. “What was that?” I asked in a whispered voice, reaching for Jameson.

  He must have heard it to, his grip around my waist tightened and he pulled me hard to his side frantically looking for the source of the noises.

  When we spotted it, I nearly pissed myself.

  Jameson’s head titled to one side, his eyes on mine. “Great.” He muttered turning back to the animal.

  “Jameson...” I frantically breathed in his ear.

  “Sway,” he whispered back. “Do not move.”

  Standing in front o
f us, not more than a hundred feet away was a cougar. Not just any cougar. This was a hungry cougar...looking for food. Crouched down in the hunting position, I was sure he was currently looking for Jameson and Sway food.

  You know that predatory look an animal gets when it’s getting ready to attack?

  We were getting that look right then, fierce glowing eyes and that intimidating crouch.

  “Sway, stay still,” Jameson warned again.

  I didn’t think I was moving but apparently, I was.

  I was shaking. But can you honestly fucking blame me?

  “I’m trying!”

  “Now is not the time to argue.”

  “I was just trying to point out that I am in fact, trying to remain still but there is a cougar looking directly at us as though we’re his next meal.”

  “Stop talking,” Jameson turned to glare at me. “you’ll attract him.”

  “Don’t tell me to stop talking. I was explaining myself. And if you haven’t noticed.” I gestured to the animal. “He’s already attracted to us. He’s getting ready to eat us.”

  Jameson opened his mouth to say something more than likely just as irritating but stopped, turning his attention to the cougar. Leaning his head contemplatively to the side, his eyes remained on the cougar. “You attracted him with your moaning. He wants you.” He accused with a cocky smirk I didn’t appreciate.

  “Me?” this time I shouted, “Maybe it’s a female, ever think about that? I wasn’t the only one moaning.” I snapped. “By the way,”

  “Really? He challenged raising his eyebrows in question. “You’re going to argue with me when there’s a two-hundred pound predator looking to make a meal of us?”

  “I will when you don’t make any sense. I’m not to blame for it hunting us.” I remained glued to his side through the entire argument. “You were the caveman dragging us out here. This is your fault.”

  “I could have finished in the tent, but no, Emma and Aiden were scared of a fucking skunk and now look.” he waved toward the cougar who was now sitting, no longer in a crouched position.

  I giggled. It was clearly not the time to be giggling but our arguing has caused a deadly animal to stop, mid hunt, to watch. That’s funny to me.