Travelling Companions
It was fortunate that Michael was sitting by of the window, or he wouldn't have seen the headlights. On the other hand, with no power in the house, there wasn't much to distract him. The thunderstorm was at its height, lightning striking all around. Michael wasn't even sure if the power was supposed to be on, if it was knocked out by the storm, or if the house had its power cut off. He had seen a "For Sale" sign beside the driveway.
The vehicle seemed strangely silent, as the engine noise was drowned out by the howl of the wind. So it didn't register at first that the lights had slipped to the side, until he saw them sink down, out of sight.
Michael held his coat over his head, grabbed his flashlight, and ran down the driveway. The car had left the road, in a flooded ditch. The front end was partially submerged, and the occupant was trying to get the door open.
Holding the handle to stop himself being dragged away by the current, he yanked hard on the door, opening it. "Go!" he yelled, screening the driver from sinking into the flood, then pulled himself back to the muddy creek bank and climbed out.
"Oh, shit, I've lost my shoe," said a feminine voice, as the driver, a woman, supported herself on the car. She held a purse, but had no raingear.
"I think you've seen the last of it," yelled Michael.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks for getting me out of there, though God knows what I'll do now."
"Head to the house back there. You can get dry. You won't be using this car for a while."
"I have all my bags in the trunk," she shouted, "I have to get them out."
"Do you have the key?" he called.
"Oh, shit! It's in the ignition!"
"I think you're gonna have to leave it until the morning. We can probably get the key when the flooding subsides."
"Okay," she replied. "If I could think of anything, I'd do it. I need those cases, but there's no point getting drowned thinking about it."
She leaned on Michael as they walked up the drive.
"Oh, God," she said, "I hope the trunk is watertight."
"What's in there?"
"You'll like this. A wedding dress. Clothes for the honeymoon."
"You're getting married?"
"Yes," she said. "Crap, I can't walk like this." She kicked off her other shoe and picked it up. In her stockinged feet, she made her way without support.
"What's your name?" asked Michael.
"Alicia. Foster. Pleased to meet you."
"About to be Alicia Standish."
"How did you know that?"
"I'm Michael Maretti. I'm the best man."
She paused in the mud and turned to him. "Really?"
"In person. Now let's get you into the house."
Michael opened the door.
"Power failure?" she asked, looking inside.
"I guess. I don't know, really. This isn't my house."
She stopped in the doorway. "What's going on?"
"I broke in. There was a window open. I'm taking shelter from the storm."
"Well, okay." Doubt colored her voice. "At least it should be dry. I'd kill for a coffee, though."
They sat on the floor to preserve the furniture, which looked to be antique.
"I'm cold," she said. "Do you think there are blankets or something I could use to keep warm?"
"There are beds upstairs," replied Michael. "Why don't you go find something? There's plenty of dry wood here, I could build a fire."
He gave her the flashlight and began working on a fire in the dark. When she returned, wrapped in a thick eiderdown and carrying a couple of blankets, he took the flashlight to the kitchen and found matches and paper. The matches were old, and he hoped they would be okay.
Finishing the fire, he tried a match. It lit first time, and the dry wood took light quickly. The light was almost as welcome as the heat. Alicia moved close to the fire, shivering.
"Umm," she began, "I'd be a lot warmer if I were out of these wet clothes. If I, umm ... take some off under here, you won't get any ideas, will you?"
Michael grinned. "I'm sure I'll get them, but you're safe. You're about to marry my best friend. I think I saw a couple of chairs in the kitchen that we could use to drape your clothes to dry. Why don't you strip while I get them. Call me when you're ready, I'll just wait in there."
He took the flashlight into the kitchen. The chairs were old, but didn't look valuable. They probably wouldn't be damaged by damp clothes anyway. He waited a few moments until Alicia called, then took two chairs back to the living room.
She had left her clothes in a pile and was securely wrapped in her blankets. Michael positioned the chairs facing the fire, and started hanging her garments over them. He felt a thrill when he picked up her bra and underwear, knowing that she was completely naked under the blanket.
"Thorough," he grinned, as he hung her bra.
She colored slightly. "I was really wet."
"I can see that. If these clothes weren't so delicate, I'd wring them first."
"I'd still kill for a coffee," Alicia said a few minutes later.
"Yeah, me too," responded Michael. "I guess I could try to put a pan of water on the fire, but I'd probably spill it and put the fire out. Besides, I don't know if I could find coffee."
"I'll be okay. This is just so strange ... and that was some odd coincidence, being rescued by my husband's best man, especially since this isn't your house. Like we've both been drawn here."
"You've been watching too many X-Files episodes," retorted Michael. "It's just a coincidence."
"Perhaps," she said, "but I have this strange feeling. Like there's a reason that I have to be here."
"Well, yeah, you do. If you were in the car, you'd be busy drowning. Or at least up to your knees in ditchwater."
"Not that reason. Don't you have any romance in you?"
More than he cared to admit, he thought. He watched her as she stared into the fire. Her hair was gold in the firelight. Drying, it was unkempt, hanging in rough ringlets under her chin. She turned and caught him looking; he averted his eyes.
"You were driving in to town?" he asked.
"Yes, I thought it would be easier than flying. Shows how wrong I was. How far out are we here?"
"Oh, about fifty miles, I guess. We're right on the edge of the suburbs. I live about halfway between here and downtown. I was actually driving around wondering whether this would be a good place to live. I don't really need to be close to the office, and it's quite beautiful round here. When the weather's better, of course."
"Yeah. Right now I'd settle for concrete and trees that don't fall down around me."
Michael grinned. "You know, I think this house is really old," he said, looking around the room. "Maybe a hundred years or more."
She followed his eyes. "I hadn't noticed. I was only interested in getting dry, but I think you're right."
"This furniture might be as old as the house," he continued. "I wish I could remember if I passed the place earlier. It might be a nice place in the light."
"It seems strange to me. Like it's waiting."
"More romance?" asked Michael.
She smiled at him. Her eyes glinted in the firelight. "I guess. You should probably dry yourself, too."
He shook his head. "No, I'll be okay. I don't want to go look for more blankets."
"Here," said Alicia. She held the eiderdown around her neck with one hand, pulling a blanket from underneath with another. She pushed it out to him. "I'm warming up. I don't really need this."
"Well, okay, it's probably a good idea. I guess I don't want to show Saturday with a cold."
Michael headed back to the kitchen, draped his clothes on another chair, and wrapped himself in the blanket. He removed his damp underwear, but feeling uncomfortable he hid them under his pants.
Getting the chair through to the living room without losing the blanket was awkward, but he succeeded. Sitting in the warmth of the fire with the blanket was far more comfortable.
Alicia was being less careful with her eiderdown. It had slipped open a few inches; Michael found himself trying not to hope that it might slip a little further.
"Can you give me a ride tomorrow?" she asked.
"Sure. I can take care of the car for you too."
"I don't care about the car. The rental company will have to collect it. Just the luggage."
"Oh, I didn't realize it was rented. I guess you won't need it on your honeymoon."
She shook her head. The eiderdown had slipped a little further. Michael was becoming aroused by her closeness.
They talked about John, Alicia's fiancee, and how they knew him. Michael began to wonder whether the slippage of her concealing blanket was perhaps not completely accidental. She seemed a little flushed. Her eyes connected with his often, large pupils giving her face a soft appearance. The covering had drifted sufficiently open to show a hint of the base of her left breast. Michael found his gaze drawn to it, and consciously tried not to look. His own blanket hid his growing erection.
When Alicia grasped her eiderdown tightly around herself again, Michael was both relieved and disappointed. Both emotions were transitory, as she shuffled herself over to where he was sitting. She positioned herself directly in front of him, looking towards the fire, and leaned back against him.
"That's better," she said. "I needed some support."
He freed his left hand to take her arm, and she snuggled against him. As she relaxed, the eiderdown slipped back to its earlier position. From his viewpoint over her shoulder, Michael's gaze was consumed by a deep cleavage, breasts glowing with flickering reflections.
As she rested her head against his shoulder, the covering moved, and for a brief moment he glimpsed her left breast in entirety. Her nipple was in shadow, but not obscured by the blanket, until it settled back into place. He felt a rush of adrenaline, and shivered slightly.
"Am I making you uncomfortable," she asked, concerned.
"No, not at all. Well, not in the way you mean," he amended.
"And what other way could I mean?" she demanded. She turned her face to the right and briefly kissed his neck.
"You know," he said. "Uncomfortable about ... well, about being John's friend, I guess."
"Why would that make you uncomfortable?" she asked. She was playing with him. Her head was again resting on his shoulder, her face turned to him. When he tried to look at her, his eyes were only inches from hers, mouth even closer ... her lips were parted ...
He tried to speak, but his voice cracked and he stopped. His face seemed to be being drawn closer to hers. He saw her tongue moisten her lips, her mouth still slightly open. He paused, his heart beating so hard he could feel it in his neck. He saw her eyes drift closed, her expression expectant. He fought the pull of her lips ... How can I win a battle that I want to lose, he wondered. The musty scent of her still-damp hair, the perfume that hadn't completely washed away, a touch of her sweet breath. He wanted to smell more, to taste more, to touch ... Perhaps just a kiss, he thought, knowing that she would have to push him away for it to end there, knowing somehow that she wanted more than a kiss ...
His lips touched hers, tentatively, ready to pull back, but finding the distance between them continuing to close. Neither of them moving, lips meeting and pressing but not yet a kiss, no more than the kiss of a child, devoid of sexual overtones, is a kiss ... but inverted, in this case. A non-kiss with sexuality so powerful it tightened his chest, sent pain to his groin. Her lips moved under his, and he responded, slowly exploring her mouth with his own. Her scent now distinct, all of the other fragrances, but more, a sweetness all her own, entering through his mouth and his nose.
Then her tongue touched his lips and he drew a sharp breath. He touched her tongue with his own, and their mouths wove patterns of desire. He slid his right hand around her, outside her blanket, and she turned slightly towards him, freeing her left hand to cup the back of his head. As in the brief glimpse earlier, her left breast was completely exposed to him, though in shadow. He sighed, squeezing her waist through the eiderdown.
Without releasing his mouth, she slid her left hand down his face, trailing her fingers over his neck, opening up his blanket to feel his chest. She slipped her fingers under his arm, pressing her palm against his chest, gently massaging. After a moment, he followed suit, seeking her waist inside the eiderdown. Her skin was soft and warm, smooth and sensuous.
Breaking their kiss, she sat upright. He released her waist. Then she swiveled her body to face him, reached for Michael's blanket, and pulled it around her. Now they were both enclosed in a single intimate space. She laid both of her hands on his shoulders, and drew him back to her. They kissed again, slowly, and he ran the fingers of his right hand over her waist and hips.
He traced his fingers over her back, up to her shoulders, then with heart pounding and erection painful, drew them forward to the softness at the base of her breast. Welcoming him, she pushed her tongue against his as he caressed the edge of her breast. As he slowly drew his hand forwards, seeing with his fingers what had been hidden in shadow from his eyes, he brushed a wide, hard nipple. She sighed, pulling her face back slightly, then taking his upper lip between both of hers she sucked and played with her tongue.
He had been supporting himself on his left arm. Now he leaned forwards, freeing his hand to explore both breasts. He pinched and rubbed her firm nipples, then, slipping his hands under her arms, he held her against him.
Her right hand released his shoulder, and he felt it tickle his side as it slipped over his waist to his hip. Her wrist touched his cock, then he felt her fingernails drawn gently over his shaft to the tip, where a drop of fluid had escaped. She lubricated her fingers with it, and rubbed the head with the sticky fluid. He ached with the desire to do more.
He broke the kiss, and held her head to his shoulder. She continued playing with his cock as he spoke into her ear. "I thought you didn't want me to get ... God, I want you," he said.
She wrapped her fingers around his cock. "I want you too."
"You're getting married."
"Then I guess we need to hurry. You wouldn't want to make love to a married woman, would you?"
"Oh, God," he said, crushing her against him.
"I need you now," she said, and bit his ear.
He knelt and crouched on his ankles. She climbed into his lap, sliding forwards, enveloping him. They kissed, then she rested her head on his shoulder, squeezing his back. He slipped his hands under her ass, kneading, squeezing her against him. They took each other urgently. She sobbed against his ear, her need evident as she thrust against him. She was tight around his cock, driving him wild with need. He bit her neck as she overwhelmed his senses. He felt himself coming, lifted her, squeezing her butt against his cock. She groaned, pushing harder as he came. Gasping, she bit his ear, then gave voice to a series of yells, rising in volume, until she cried out in passion. He felt her pulsing around him, exciting him further. She laid her head on his shoulder, gripping his back painfully hard, still trying to consume him. Her breath caught as she moaned, and he realized that she had started crying. Since she didn't seem to want to release him, he kept up the pace, but as she slowed, he whispered in her ear, "What is it?"
"I don't know. I just ... need. I've never felt this before. I don't understand. I love John. I promised him ..."
"God, I'm sorry ..." began Michael, but she interrupted.
"No, no, don't apologize." She pulled her head back, kissed him, burying her tongue behind his lips. Tears streamed down her face. They still moved together, slowly. She pulled away again, looking into his eyes. "Don't stop. I want this. I want this so much ..." She sobbed again, having difficulty getting the words out. "I want this so much it scares me. I think ... I'm crying because I don't want to stop."
She squeezed her legs behind him. He almost overbalanced, but as she pulled herself against him, he thrust into her again. She joined her mouth to his, her face salty with tears, and moaned as he felt her throb again in orgasm.
She continued to draw passion from him, desperately, until he lost his erection completely, slipping out of her. Even then she was not willing to let go, drawing his head under the blanket, guiding him to her breasts.
He sucked her nipples, playing his tongue over them, until she pushed him away and slid off him. She dropped her eiderdown, and crouched on it, looking at him. Michael's gaze was drawn to her full breasts and hard nipples, to the shadow between her thighs, to her lovely small upturned nose. She is absolutely lovely, he thought, momentarily jealous of his friend.
Alicia's tears had subsided, but her face was still moist.
"You must think I'm really terrible," she said.
"No, I think you're really beautiful," he replied.
She smiled uncertainly. "I don't know what has come over me. I've never wanted anyone like I want you now, but I love John. I haven't slept with anyone else since we started dating. Even now, part of me is committed to being faithful to him, and part of me wants to make love to you for the rest of the night."
"Pre-wedding nerves?" I suggested. "Last few hours of freedom?"
"No, it's almost like something's driving me, won't let me go. You didn't hypnotize me, did you?"
"No, I wouldn't know how."
"Good, I'd hate to think that you'd take advantage of me like that. Drop the blanket, I want to see you."
Michael removed his blanket. Alicia stood, drawing him up with her. They looked over one another's bodies, seeing in the firelight what they had shared. She took his hands, placed the on her breasts, then raised her face to kiss. He felt the tingle of his cock trying to respond as their tongues explored.
Michael released her. "If we're going to spend the night doing this, I need to put some more wood on the fire. I brought my suitcase in, too, there is soap, towels and toothpaste in the bathroom, if the water is turned on."
He added more logs, knocking the charred wood to get it hot. The dry logs caught immediately, and the fire was blazing in moments.
Alicia spread Michael's blanket in front of the fireplace. "This is a better use for it now," she said.
They sat side by side on the blanket, touching and kissing, occasionally talking. Michael recovered more quickly than he had expected. When Alicia noticed that his shaft had started to respond, she stroked him, recovering his erection.
She lay on her back, holding out her arms, inviting. Michael lay down along her, kissing her breasts, slowly positioning himself against her. As she parted her legs, he entered her. She kept her knees high, squeezing him between her thighs as he moved. He pushed into her roughly. She gripped his thighs with hers, and his back with her hands.
She gasped as he thrust into her, and soon he felt her thighs tense. Her hands gripped his ribcage, head arched back as she groaned.
When she relaxed, he slid off her. Leading her to lie on her left side, facing the fire, he lay behind her. She hooked her right leg over his. He stroked her pussy, then guided himself inside her.
They lay barely moving for a time. He kept squeezing and stroking her pussy, pressing her against himself. He felt her shudder and come. Then he started moving against her. When he moved his hand to cup her breast, she covered it with her own, encouraging him.
They moved slowly in the flickering glow, warmth from the fire and from her body both relaxing and stimulating Michael. Luxuriating in her presence, in the clean, light scent of her, the slightly salty taste of her neck, the soft but firm touch of her body against his, he kissed her ear. She gripped his hand and smiled, her eyes closed.
They moved slowly for a long time. Michael held himself back, cherishing the closeness. Eventually he whispered in Alicia's ear. "Are you ready?"
She nodded, then opened her eyes and turned her face up to meet his. They kissed as they pushed each other higher, moving not faster but more forcefully. Alicia groaned, then came, shuddering. Michael reached the edge of his own climax, then as he was pushed into orgasm, he thrust hard against her, feeling himself erupt within her.
They both moaned with the power of their intimacy, holding the exquisite moment as long as possible. Then, as it ended, they kissed each other's faces.
When their physical passion had waned, Michael reached for the eiderdown. Pulling it over them he hugged her. She turned back to face him, and they nestled in each other's warmth.
Michael awoke not long after sunrise. The storm had passed, the sky was clear. The logs in the fireplace were still glowing embers. He added more wood, poking and blowing on it until it lit. Then he donned his clothes and left the house.
The driveway was muddy, and the ditch was still several inches deep in water, but it was slow-moving. The flash flooding was over. Michael opened the door of Alicia's car, and gingerly stepped over the water into the driver's compartment. The floor was several inches under water.
He freed the key from the ignition, and looked around, finding a glasses case but no other possessions. He pocketed the case, clambered out of the car, to the bank of the ditch, and unlocked the trunk.
Alicia's cases were dry, and he took them in two trips back to the house.
In the living room the fire was cheerful and warm. Alicia was still asleep. Michael wanted to strip and snuggle up to her, but he wasn't sure how she would be feeling after the previous night's recreation. He wished again that he could brew coffee. He settled for stroking her back, speaking softly until she awoke.
Alicia was slow awakening. She mumbled, a satisfied smile on her lips. When her eyes opened, she looked around, dazed, seeming confused to see Michael. She stood, holding the eiderdown around her, and headed for the bathroom.
When she returned, she lay back down on the blanket, covering herself with the eiderdown. "Well," she said. "What did we get up to last night?"
"You don't remember?"
"I remember very well. I just don't understand."
"What don't you understand?" he asked.
"Why you're not under here with me, for one thing," she retorted.
She lifted the blanket invitingly. Michael viewed the hint of her nakedness eagerly, found himself responding. He undressed and slipped back under the covers, feeling Alicia's hand explore his thighs.
They put their arms around one another. Michael felt her pussy brush the tip of his cock. He rolled onto his back; Alicia willingly following him, lying along his body. She wriggled around him and they started moving together.
Michael ran his hands over her body, stroking the breasts flattened against his chest. She arched back, he cupped her breasts, kneading firmly. She looked down into his eyes, mouth slightly open as she breathed heavily.
He pinched her hardened nipples, then lifted his head, guiding her left breast into his mouth. He squeezed her nipple between his lips, scrubbing with his tongue. Taking in more of her breast, he sucked, flapping his tongue against her.
As his excitement mounted, he felt her stiffen against him. He pressed hard against her. Her breath hissed through her teeth, her head pressing into his shoulder. She groaned and he felt her shudder. He thrust harder into her, excitement flooding him, feeling himself close to his crest. He lay back, savoring the intense feeling, then losing himself in the moment as he came within her.
They parted at last. Dressed in silence. Michael took Alicia's cases to his car, while she did what she could with unwashed hair and a minimum of makeup. Michael straightened up the house, replacing blankets, sweeping the fireplace. He couldn't do much with the hot ashes, but he could bring more wood inside to dry.
Michael locked the deadbolt behind Alicia, and climbed out of the unfastened window that had granted him entry. At the car, he found her staring back at the house.
Michael studied it. It was old, certainly. Wood, three story. He hadn't realized how big it was. Rose pink paint, darkened and flaking in places, but better than adequately preserved. A conical roof topped a turret beside the high porch.
"It looks so peaceful from outside," commented Alicia.
"You still think it's creepy?"
"More than ever. This morning it didn't seem to be waiting. It seemed somehow pleased with itself."
Michael shook his head and opened the car door for her, grinning. "Now I'm sure you're imagining things."
"Believe what you want," she retorted. "I'm glad it didn't demand more of me."
She climbed into the car, leaving Michael puzzled by her statement. Opening the other door, he eased himself into the driver's seat, and carefully backed the car down the long driveway. As he reached the street, he saw the "For Sale" sign and made a mental note of the listing agent.
As they headed towards the town, Alicia broke the silence. "I hope you don't expect any repeat of last night."
Michael didn't speak for a time. Then: "I don't expect it, though I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't welcome it."
Alicia sighed. "Yeah. You know I'll never tell John about this."
"No-one will hear it from me."
"Promise me something?" she continued. "When you kiss the bride, don't let me get carried away."
Her beguiling smile caught his eye. Each on the fringe of the other's private world, they continued the journey in silence.