by Bella King
“That was hot,” Devin says, but I don’t know whether he’s talking about the sex, or referring to the sun that is now beating down on both of us.
I smile at him and agree, trying to find my footing in the dry earth so that I can walk to the river again without falling over. My body is recovering from the orgasm, but it was too strong for me to instantly spring to my feet and dash to the river. Devin, however, seems fine.
“Let’s get cleaned up. I think our clothes are dry by now,” he says.
I cup a hand over my eyes to block the glaring midday sun, and I see our clothes, stiff as can be on the rock. They’re definitely dry. They’re probably roasted into brittle cakes at this point.
Devin goes to the water, and I watch him walk before coming to join him. He has tattoos all the way down to his ass, but his actual cheeks are bare. To me, it’s the cutest thing in the world. I steady myself and watch him enter the water. Then, I follow him in.
I can feel his cum running down my inner thigh as I reach the water, and I’m glad that we have the river right next to our love-making spot. The water cools me off, and it feels perfect against my sweaty skin. I don’t even want to leave when I’m finished rinsing off, but I know that if we don’t, the cartel will catch up and end us both. That’s not how I want things to end between Devin and me.
Our clothes are crispy and hot when we retrieve them from the rock, but we’re no longer dirty and gross. I feel a lot better, as though I just bathed after a long day at the beach. All I want to do now is kick my feet up and relax in Devin’s car as he heads down the lonely highway across the country.
“I’m starving,” Devin says, pulling his sleeveless shirt over his head and rubbing his stomach.
I hadn’t thought about food at all, but I did have that apple for breakfast. Devin hasn’t eaten anything yet today. “Are we going to get food from the gas station?” I ask.
“Probably,” he replies. “I just want to make sure we don’t stop for too long. I’m nervous that we haven’t been going as fast as we should. It’s possible that the cartel might catch up to us if we’re not quicker.”
“Hey,” I say, leaning against the shady side of the car. “You’re the one who made this a long ordeal.”
He laughs. “And you let me.”
I shrug. “I had a good time.”
“Me too,” he says, the corners of his eyes crinkling in delight. His irises are the most vibrant blue that I’ve ever seen them. He looks so alive, so passionate, and so damn sexy. It’s no wonder I’m unable to resist him, even if he is nothing but trouble. He’s sexy trouble, at least.
Devin pulls his yes from me and gets into the car, starting it up before I even have my door closed. He’s in a hurry to get out of here, and I can’t blame him. He’s still in a hell of a lot of trouble, and we’re only on the border of Texas now. We still have a few states to run through before we reach our destination and part ways.
Speaking of parting ways, the thought of doing so bothers me now. I know that it shouldn’t and that I will still be going to the police when all of this is over, but it does. It’s not fair that the one man who managed to get me to open up to him is going to have to leave me when this trip is over. I wish it could be some other way, but I know that our lifestyles are just too vastly different for us to stay together. Besides, he’s still an asshole for kidnapping me.
I adjust the cold air blowing from the vent as Devin hits the road, and I lean back in my seat, placing my bare feet on the dashboard. Devin stays quiet as he drives, and I let my eyelids droop. This is peaceful, and I want to stay this way for as long as I can. I just don’t know how long that will be.
Chapter Sixteen
“Stay in the car,” Devin says as we pull up to a gas station in Kansas.
We breezed through the thin strip of Oklahoma, and we are now halfway through Kansas before Devin needs to stop for gas. The station we’re at is a small place and doesn’t look like it has many options for food.
“Could you get me a soda and some chips?” I ask.
“Is that all?” he asks, giving me a funny look.
“A big bag of chips,” I clarify.
He smiles. “Okay. I’ll get some peanuts or something, too, unless you’re allergic.”
“Oh, I like nuts,” I say with a wink.
He chuckles and steps out of the car. “Stay inside. I don’t want to have to chase you down in front of everyone.” There is a hint of humor in his voice, as though he’s only joking, but I know that he will chase me if I decide to run.
I wait in the car as he leaves to pay for gas and get food for us. I watch him as he walks into the store, his shoulders moving in an exaggerated swagger. It’s difficult to hate him now, but he’s still as arrogant as he always was. I can see that in the way he strides into the gas station like he owns the place.
The AC is off because Devin didn’t want to leave his keys in the car with me, but there isn’t any sun now that we’re out of Texas. I look through the windshield at the sky and see that the sun is covered by a dark cloud, with more rolling in from the west. Rain is probably in the forecast.
Some people are afraid to drive in the rain because the decreased visibility causes more accidents, but I always enjoy it. I remember when my father would drive me to my Spanish class in the evenings, and it would be raining. I would tilt my head against the window and watch the drops as they rolled down.
My father always did a good job of looking after me. He would take me to that class because I nearly failed Spanish when I was in high school, and he made me take private lessons outside of class so that I would pass. I hated it. But looking back, he only wanted to make sure I was successful.
God, and what now? Am I successful, working at a drive-in, struggling to make rent? I hope that things change after this adventure with Devin, but I can’t see how they would. I’m not going to be any closer to becoming a pilot or getting my life together. I still have to pay rent, even if Devin insists that I can just run from the lease. That stuff catches up to you.
I lean back in my seat and my stomach rumbles. I hope that Devin comes back out with the food soon. I should have asked for something other than chips, but it’s all I’m in the mood for. I used to eat entire bags of chips instead of lunch, and somehow, I’m not a thousand pounds. I can thank my genetics for that because it certainly has nothing to do with my diet.
I look toward the store, but I see that there are many people inside. It’s going to take Devin a while to get back out. This could be my chance to run. I think that I can get away this time, but I also don’t really feel like leaving Devin so soon. Why not ride this one out?
I look at the store again through the glass doors, but I don’t see Devin amongst all the people. That probably means that he doesn’t see me either. I can sneak out of the car without a hitch, and be on my way.
I hesitate, but then I remind myself that going along with Devin is dangerous and will make me equally guilty if we get caught. I can’t risk ruining my life over some guy I just met. I need to do what is right for me and if that means leaving Devin behind, then so be it.
I clasp my hand around the handle of the door, looking once more for a sign that Devin can see me. It’s as though I want him to be looking at me through the window of the shop, shaking his head in disapproval of me trying to get away.
Alas, he’s nowhere to be found. I can get away, and he’ll be none the wiser.
I take a deep breath and push the car door open. My foot hits the gasoline and oil-stained pavement, and I feel a rush of warm southern air. It feels nicer than it did by the river, and it’s not as hot since the sun is covered by clouds. I won’t risk my safety by running here. I’ll be safe.
I close the door as gently as I can, pushing it into place until the small click runs through my fingertips, signaling that it’s shut all the way. This will buy me more time when Devin comes out to the car because he won’t know right away that I have left him.
I sigh and
glance once more that the gas station building before turning around and walking away from the car. I only make it two steps before I stop dead in my tracks. Three trucks, all identical to the ones that were chasing us earlier, are coming toward the intersection beside the gas station, slowing down at the red light ahead.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath. I can run now, and they won’t come after me because they don’t know that I’m with Devin.
He is still in danger, though, and the red Mustang sticks out like a glowing sign that says, “We’re right here. Come and kill us!”
The trucks all stop at the light, and I can hear the sound of their mufflers rattling out thick exhaust. If they’re willing to come this far, who is to say that they will ever stop looking for Devin? He’s in terrible trouble.
I hold my breath as the light turns green, moving back to the car to watch the trucks without being exposed. They roll down the road, away from the gas station with the rest of the traffic. Somehow, they didn’t see us.
I let out my breath, holding a hand over my heart. It’s racing faster than it was when Devin first kissed me. I know how deadly the cartel can be, and it terrifies me to think of what they will do to Devin if they catch him. I can’t bear to imagine that.
“Marybeth,” Devin’s voice calls from a few yards away.
I turn to see him walking toward me, a scowl on his face, and a large bag of junk food in one hand. I instantly feel bad about trying to run away, but this time, I have an excuse. The cartel was just here, and I need to tell him about it.
“I told you to stay in the car,” Devin says, shaking his head. “What are you doing?”
“The cartel,” I say weakly, pointing toward the traffic light. There aren’t any trucks sitting at the intersection anymore, and I can’t even see them down the road. I wonder if Devin will believe me.
“What?” he asks, his face growing serious as he scans the road. “What are you talking about?”
“They passed by just a minute ago,” I say, lowering my hand. “I swear.”
“You’re not fucking with me, are you?”
“No,” I say, my voice pleading for him to believe me. I don’t want him to know that I was thinking of escaping.
Devin rubs his chin, his eyebrows low over his eyes. “We need to get back on the road. How many of them were there?”
“Three,” I say.
“Three. That’s three too many. We need to go. I’m going to fill up the tank. Get in the car and take this with you,” Devin instructs, handing me the heavy bag full of snacks and drinks.
I hop back into the car, instantly feeling safer as Devin hovers around the vehicle while the tank fills with fuel. I feel guilty that I was thinking about running away, even though I shouldn’t. It’s not fair that Devin has such a hold on me. I’ve never had that happen with a man before.
I look in the bag as Devin finishes and hops into the driver’s side, immediately shoving his keys into the ignition and starting the car. He has bought BBQ chips, which are my favorite. It’s just a lucky guess, but I feel closer to Devin, as though he already knows all of my favorite things.
“Damn, family size?” I ask, pulling out the bag of chips as Devin hits the road.
“What?” Devin asks, his face still contorted in a scowl as he looks out over the road ahead, checking for the cartel.
“Did you put babies in me already, or what?” I joke, trying to lighten up his mood.
“What are you talking about?” he asks, a hint of irritation to his voice.
I hold up the bag. “Family size, Devin. It’s a joke.”
“This isn’t the time for jokes, Marybeth. The cartel will have our heads if we don’t get the fuck out of here.”
I shake my head and open the bag. I know that he’s upset about the cartel being so close by, but I don’t like to see him this way. I want to lift the mood a bit, but my jokes are falling on deaf ears. That’s a shame because I think I’m pretty funny.
Devin glances at me and cracks a smile. “Okay, it was a little funny,” he says, “But we need to get out of here as quickly as possible. I didn’t think the cartel would be this close already. Are you sure it was them?”
“They had the same trucks, and they were driving in a group. You don’t see that every day,” I reply.
“Right,” he says, taking a turn down a smaller road. “So, I’m going to have to take an alternate route for a while.”
“Fine by me,” I say, pulling a large orange chip form the bag. The dusting of flavoring powder on it is heavy, and I can smell it before I bring it to my mouth.
“Give me one of those,” Devin says, reaching a hand toward the gigantic bag on my lap.
I yank it away. “Say please.”
“I bought them,” he reminds me.
“You still have to say please. I’m helping you learn your manners,” I reply, crunching down on the chip in my hand.
Devin mumbles something under his breath, holding his head down, but smiles and raises it up to try again. “Can I have a chip, please.”
I thrust the bag out to him, and he digs his hand inside, pulling out a large handful of chips and placing them straight into his lap as he drives. He’s probably afraid that I’ll make him use his manners again if he has to go for more, so he takes all that he needs at once.
“Do you think we’re going to make it to the border?” I ask, looking at his serious face as he drives down a forgotten Kansas road.
He frowns. “We will make it, and then I will let you go.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Why will we make it? Because I know how to evade the cartel. I just have to drive parallel to the route I was going to take.”
“No,” I say, my voice getting quiet. “Why will you let me go?”
“Because I told you that I would. I’m a man of my word,” he replies.
I’m hungry, but suddenly my stomach is telling me that it doesn’t want food. It feels like there is a stone weighing down at the bottom of my stomach. My skin feels hot, and I fall silent.
Devin notices. “Hey, I said I was going to let you go. That’s good, right?”
I shrug. “Yeah.”
“Uh, hello? I kidnapped you, remember?”
“But you also fucked me,” I say.
He chuckles. “Which was nice.”
I scoff. “Are you serious? I thought that you were actually interested in me.”
“I mean, yes, but you know we have to go our own ways. You said you were going to go to the police. You can’t live the life that I live. That’s not safe for you,” he says.
My cheeks are pink as I fold the top of the chip bag over and place it at my feet with the other snacks. I know that he’s right, but I’m upset that I even let it get this far. It feels wrong to leave the whole situation after what we did.
“You came inside me,” I say, looking at him.
“And?” he asks.
“And I’m not on birth control, dummy. What if I get pregnant?”
“You definitely should have told me that,” he replies, frowning.
“I wasn’t expecting you to do that to me. I was overwhelmed,” I say, trying to think up any excuse to make it sound like it isn’t my fault, but I know it is.
“You wanted to have sex with me. You were tempting me since the first time I saw you,” he says, his brown hair shaking on his head as he talks. “Don’t act like it’s my fault.”
“It’s not,” I admit, “But I still wonder if it’s not better for me to cross the border with you.”
“Why?” he asks.
“What about the cartel? Maybe they saw me, and they’re going to hunt me down instead of you since I’ll still be in the US. You dragged me into this, so you’re responsible for keeping me safe,” I say, grasping for any excuse to stay with him. I wonder if he realizes what I’m doing. I wonder if he even cares.
“I won’t let them hurt you,” he says, taking one hand off the wheel and laying it on my thigh. He squeezes, leav
ing imprints in my skin. “I’m going to keep you safe.”
“You’re going to ditch me at the border and run away with your stupid money,” I say, swatting his hand away. “Why don’t you just leave me right now and be done with it?”
“I’m not going to do that,” he replies, putting his hand back on my leg.
“Stop it,” I say, pushing him away, but I want him to reach out again. I want him to care enough to show me that this isn’t just some wild trip that will end the second he reaches Canada. It’s stupid, and I’m probably a complete fool, but I’m really starting to like him. I don’t want to let it go.
Devin sighs. “Marybeth, I didn’t mean to bring you into this. I didn’t realize that it would turn into such a crazy situation. I’m not going to let the cartel get you, and if I have to bring you over the border, then I will, but you have to go willingly.”
“I will go. I choose to do so by my own free will,” I say, straightening my back and raising my chin.
Devin’s eyebrows raise high on his forehead, and he turns to me again as the car slows to a stop. We’re at a crossroads, a fork in the road with nobody else around.
“Do you actually want to go with me?”
I nod. “I have nothing. I don’t have family that I talk to, I don’t have any pets, and I probably don’t have a job now either, thanks to you.”
He smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling the way they had before. It’s a genuine smile, and it only seems to show up when Devin is genuinely happy about something. It fades as he takes a breath. “Okay, Marybeth, but we need to lay out some rules if we’re going to do this.”
“Sure,” I say.
“No going to the police.”
I roll my eyes. “Devin, I’m your accomplice at this point. They’d probably put me behind bars and call it a day if I showed up to the police with my story.”
“True,” he says, “But that’s not all. There are other things.”
“Such as?”