Living on the Edge

By Mavis Applewater

February 2003

A special thank you goes out to my beta reader Brunnhilda.

As always this is for Heather.

I looked out the window of the bar and scratched my head in wonderment. For once the weather gurus got it right. It looked as if we were in for a good old fashioned New England blizzard. I was thankful for two things at that moment, first that I had already booked my motel room before the snow got bad and second, that I was ahead of schedule and despite the freak storm, I would still make my delivery on time. Life was simple and uncomplicated, just the way I like it. I have a PH.D in literature so of course I drive cars for a living. Despite all of my hard work in academia, I found that the only thing I was qualified to do was teach. Which I did for a number years before I found the politics and daily grind of the academic world stifling. So much to my parents disappointment I left the small college I was teaching at before reaching tenure, and became a driver.

My life was simple. I drove expensive and not so expensive cars from one location to another. People moved or bought classics cars and needed them delivered. When they wanted to avoid paying expensive rail or trucking fees they hired people like my boss to have them driven to them. I liked my time on the road. It's just me, the open road, and my boom box blaring out my favorite tunes as I drive across the country and deliver the cars. This certainly wasn't the way I wanted to spend the rest of my life but at that moment in time, I was enjoying the solitude and freedom my profession provided. What I didn't know was things were about to change.

I had stepped into the bar not far from the motel I was staying in for a quick drink and a chance to relax. It was a small neighborhood place full of atmosphere and men. The one notable exception was the small blonde woman in the corner. She was a small thing with shoulder length hair and amazing green eyes. The gentlemen in the bar tried to talk to both of us. I was a pro at turning them away. It was probably my height or the icy stare I would cast over at them that kept them at bay. I didn't care, whatever worked. The smaller woman wasn't as fortunate. But the men were polite and friendly, no one made any overt suggestions so I didn't feel a need to step in.

The easy atmosphere changed when the bartender announced it was closing time. I had stopped drinking sometime before that and had every intention of leaving. Still, I didn't feel comfortable leaving the other woman behind. The other patrons had drunk more than they should have and with the weather changing, the bartender decided it was time to call it a night since there was only a handful of customers left. Most of the guys grumbled but complied with the request. There were two exceptions, both looked like trouble as they persisted that they should see the smaller woman home. I could tell by her demeanor during the night that, like me, she was a stranger here who only stumbled into this particular watering hole by chance. She was bundled up and despite the liquor she had consumed, she still clutched a large black travel bag tightly.

The taller of the two men grew more and more insistent that she join him and his obnoxious friend. I could tell by the frightened look in her eyes that she wasn't interested in his offer. That's when I made the decision that changed my life. At the time I didn't realize that my simple gesture would become a life altering experience. Yet even if I had known then what I know now, I would still have intervened. "Hey Sally," I called out from my side of the bar. "You ready to get going?" It wasn't a bold or brave move. I had seen her looking my way more than once that evening, as the men took bets and made snide comments about who was going to get the small woman to go home with them.

"Sure thing," she quickly squeaked out and darted away from her disappointed companions.

I noticed the hostile glares the two men were giving us as she took her place by my side. Thankfully, the bartender moved between us and my new friend's would-be suitors. He gave me a nod that told me he would keep them there until we both got safely away. I nodded in thanks as I led her out to the snowy parking lot. We moved quickly to the '57 Chevy pick-up I was driving. I almost laughed as her eyes widened in surprise when I opened the door of the beat-up old truck and helped her inside.

We both locked the doors and I started the engine. "It takes a moment to heat up," I casually informed my companion. She nodded in response, shivered, and clutched her bag tightly to her body. I glanced quickly and not for the first time that night I noticed that despite the heavy winter clothing, the smaller woman had a really nice body. "So, what's your name?" I asked, rubbing my hands together, hoping to warm them up.

"Sally works," she responded playfully and placed her bag on the floor of the truck. Then she slid across the front seat and snuggled up against me.

At first I thought it was my lucky day, then I began to worry and wonder about this woman. Little things bothered me, like she was out in the middle of nowhere and using a fake name. And I was more than a little interested as to what was in that bag of hers. "Where to?" I offered, in hopes of getting rid of my odd passenger as quickly as possible. I found the smaller woman very attractive but the entire situation didn't feel right. Her body on the one hand, did feel right as she snuggled up against my long neglected body. But I had to remind myself whatever mess she was running from was none of my business.

"I don't know," she confessed with a thoughtful expression.

"Do you live around here?" I tried to encourage her.

"No," she sighed. "I was trying to get a flight out of Boston when the weather shut things down. I caught the train down here in hopes of catching a flight out of Providence. Now the trains have shut down as well."

It made sense, except that if Logan were closed chances were the smaller airport wasn't open either. Her explanation further confirmed my suspicions that she wasn't simply traveling for the holiday weekend. To begin with, the holiday was that day and since she raced down to Rhode Island to catch a flight without checking the status at the airport screamed that she was running from something or someone. It didn't matter, she needed help and I was in a position to help her. "I have a room at the motel just down the road. You are welcome to stay with me until the morning. I'm driving to Barnstable after that. I can drop you at the airport or wherever you want in the morning. The room has two beds," I added quickly letting her know that my intentions were to simply get her out of the storm for the night.

"Thanks," she sighed with relief. "I'll see if I can get my own room first."

I relaxed at her suggestion since I had feared that she didn't have any money. "Good luck. With it being school vacation a lot of families are trapped because of the storm. The desk clerk told me I was lucky to get my room when I did." I took off my glove to feel the heat slowly seeping through the vent. "Like I said there are two beds."

"I don't want to impose," she explained in a soft voice that sent a shiver down my spine. "But if it is the sleeping arrangements you are worried about, I'll leave that up to you."

I was surprised as I felt her trembling hand creeping up along my thigh. I turned to my passenger eager to find out what was going on when her soft lips brushed against my own. I knew that she was frightened as I felt her body trembling against me. I was helpless to stop what was happening between us as I cupped her face in my hands and traced her lips with my tongue. Her soft whimper encouraged me to take things just a little further. I parted her quivering lips with my tongue and felt a rush of excitement fill me as she parted her lips in response. I eagerly explored the warmth of her mouth and felt her hands clasping my hips.

She undid the zipper of my heavy winter coat. Her small hands began to roam as her tongue greeted my own. We were lost in the fiery kiss until I felt the button on my jeans being freed. I captured her small hand in mine. "Not here," I panted, my eyes focused only on the steady rise and fall of her chest. "Those two idiots should be stumbling out of the bar anytime now," I explained as I put the truck in gear.

I drove slowly down the snow covered road. The old truck slipped along and I was more than thankful that the streets were deserted. "Home sweet home," I said with relief once we were safely parked in the motel parking lot. Her emerald eyes twinkled up at me in the darkness and I could feel my heart beating just a little faster. I couldn't deny my attraction towards the small blonde, still the entire situation was more than a little strange.

We were both shivering by the time we had dragged ourselves through the snow covered parking lot and up to my room. "Oh warmth. I've been on the go since yesterday," she sighed with relief as she tucked her bag under one of the beds while I began to remove my jacket. I curiously peered over to the bed and wondered just what was in her bag. 'Doesn't matter since tomorrow we will go our separate ways.' I reasoned then turned up the thermostat. "Why don't you take a shower? It should help with the cold," I suggested, suddenly feeling very nervous.

The throaty chuckle my new roommate released made me tremble. Strange, since I most certainly was not a virgin and the girl, despite her bravado in the truck, seemed in many ways naïve. "Why don't we take a shower?" she suggested, her voice cracking slightly.

"Is that what you want, Betty?" I threw out the new name to see what her reaction would be.

She chuckled for a moment as she crinkled her nose. I thought she looked positively adorable. "I want . . . whatever you want," she offered with a twinkle in her emerald orbs. "Speaking of which, what should I call you?"

"Kylie," I offered and began to unlace my boots. "So, Vivian, are you always this forward?"

"No. But I decided that my life needs adventure," she asserted.

"So you skip town and go to a motel with some strange woman?" I asked with amazement. "Where are you going after here?"

"I don't know," she laughed. "I just retired."

"Uh huh," I muttered as I cast a questioning gaze over at my companion. "Wilma, are you going to tell me your name or are you just going to me keep guessing?"

"I'll stop you when you come up with one I like," she played with me. "I'm going to take a shower." She began to strip off her wet clothing. When she was clad in nothing but her underwear she grabbed the bag out from under the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.

"Whatever you say, Heather," I called after her.

'Okay she's been traveling for two days and has no idea where she is going and her name is going to remain a mystery.' I thought as my mind conjured up the image of her standing in the middle of the room in nothing but her underwear. Instead of worrying that I might have an ax-murderer in my room, my focus was on the sight of her erect nipples straining against her bra. "What the hell, maybe she'll put a smile on my face before she hacks my body to bits?" I reasoned out loud before I tore off my clothing and stepped into the steam filled bathroom.

She squeaked when the cold air hit her as I pulled back the ugly shower curtain and joined her. "Freda, shall I wash your back?" I whispered in her ear as I wrapped my long arms around her waist. Her contented sigh encouraged me to continue. I lathered the soap in my hands and began to cover her body with a rich, thick lather. My hands were gliding along the soft curves of her body while my mind kept questioning why it was I didn't see anything, fresh clothing or personal items laid out? 'What is in that bag if it isn't travel supplies?' My questions vanished as my hands drifted up to the swell of her breasts.

Her body arched against mine as I cupped her firm, full breasts. Her nipples were pressing against the palm of my hands and I pressed the length of my body into her backside. She moaned as I began to nibble on her neck, my hips pressed harder against her. I could feel her body grinding against me as I feasted upon her neck and teased her nipples. "Kylie," she gasped, thrusting her ass harder against my body.

I was humming with desire as the hot water cascaded down upon us. I pressed her against the tiled surface of the shower wall and parted her thighs with my knees. I pressed my thigh against her throbbing clit while my hands began to roam across her back. The sounds she was releasing were like a symphony. She rocked her body urgently against my thigh. I could feel her passion painting my flesh as I matched her urgent rhythm.

Her head fell back and I captured her face with one of my hands and drew her closer. Once again we were captured in a kiss that threatened to undo me. I slipped my free hand around her waist and she continued to thrust wildly. My hand drifted lower and lower until I brushed her golden curls. I was light headed as I dipped into her wetness while her body wriggled against mine. "Do you want this?" I panted as I tore my lips from hers and clasped her hip firmly.

"Yes," she gasped in response.

I captured her clit between my fingers and teased it while my hips swayed against her firm body. "Yes," she repeated, her body matching my fevered pitch. She whimpered in protest as my fingers moved away from her aching need. I parted her legs and reached between us and began stroking her clit as I pressed my fingers deep inside of her. She was trying to clutch the slick, wet surface of the wall as my fingers pressed against the opening of her center. "God, yes," she pleaded and pressed her body against my hand.

I could feel the walls of her center gripping my fingers as I entered her. The blonde's body moved urgently against my hand as I kissed her shoulders. "You feel so good," I whispered against her skin as my fingers wiggled deep inside of her. She continued to plead for more and I began to plunge in and out of her wetness while I rode against her trembling body. I added another digit deep inside of her, while my thumb began to tease her clit. The water kept pounding against our bodies as we became lost in the wild frenzy of desire. I could feel my body trembling with an aching need as I drove her closer and closer to the edge. "Tell me what you want?"

"I want," she panted, "God, I want to taste you."

"Cum for me first," I demanded, my heart hammering against my chest.

I felt her body exploding against my touch. I couldn't understand how my night had taken such a delightful turn. I was helpless to fight against the raw aching need that seemed to be possessing us. Her body tightened around my fingers, capturing them inside of her as she collapsed against the wall. I held her until I felt her body still. Then I slipped my touch from her warmth. My partner didn't waste a moment before she turned the tables on me. Soon I was the one with my back pressed against the wall moaning in pleasure. She captured one of my nipples in the warmth of her mouth as her tiny fingers teased the other.

She teased my nipple with her teeth and her tongue. I was grinding myself against her in an effort to find the release my body was crying out for. "Dear God!" I cried out as I felt my breasts being pressed together and her tongue teasing both of my nipples at once. My head made contact with the wall more than once as her mouth feasted upon my breasts. I whimpered as I felt my aching nipples being released from the warmth of her mouth. My whimpers soon turned to needy moans as she began to kiss her way down my body.

Every fiber of my being was begging her to take me as she licked and tasted my skin. I was ready to collapse when I felt her tongue dipping into my navel. I felt her hot breath caressing the damp curls of my mound and was certain that I was going to fall over. My fingers slipped and fumbled as I tried in vain to grip onto the wall my body was pressing against. She nestled herself between my legs and parted my nether lips. I almost fell over as I draped one of my legs over her shoulders and she tenderly kissed the insides of my thighs. I balanced myself by gripping her shoulders as I felt her tongue running along my sex. I had been stunned when I touched her and felt how much she desired me. Now I was amazed as I felt my own desire pouring from me. She went slowly as her tongue glided along my swollen lips. My eyes fluttered shut as I felt the first flicker across my throbbing clit.

I could feel my hips moving in rhythm with her mouth as she feasted upon me. I clutched her shoulder tightly with one hand as I placed the other on the back of her head pulling her deeper inside of me. I fought to remain standing as she suckled my clit into the warmth of her mouth while her fingers entered me. My hips thrust harder and harder against her. All I could think about at that moment was how much I wanted to cover her entire body with my wetness.

My body was banging against the wall as I felt her tongue and her teeth teasing me while her small fingers plunged in and out of me. I could feel my body opening up even further as she used her free hand to gather my wetness. "Yes," I hissed, and felt her fingers caressing my backside. I was groaning with an urgent need as she painted the puckered opening with my passion. My entire body quivered as I felt the light pressure of her finger entering me.

Her hand stilled as my body accepted her touch. My need to release was smothering me as I felt the light caressing of her tongue teasing me closer to the edge. Once again my hips were swaying, urging her to take me deeper. "Please, baby," I begged. I felt her filling me completely. I rocked my body wildly against her touch as her mouth and hands pleasured me. "God yes, harder," I pleaded and tried to impale my body on her hands. I tried to fight against the waves of ecstasy as our bodies bucked wildly against one another.

I couldn't stop it from happening, I screamed out and my body exploded against her. I pressed her face deeper inside of me and rubbed my desire over her. She continued to drink in my wetness as her hands stilled inside of me. She released murmurs of delight as she continued to bury herself inside of me while I climaxed against her. I could feel the air leaving my lungs as my body arched in the convulsion.

I was almost collapsing when I felt her wrapping her arms around my still trembling body. I kissed her and savored the taste of my passion on her lips before we rinsed off our spent bodies. We were both still weak in the knees as we dried off. We finally left the tiny bathroom wrapped only in a thin towel. Neither of us spoke and then she pulled me down onto one of the beds and we began to kiss with a renewed passion.

Our legs wrapped around each other and I rolled onto my back and pulled her up on top of me. I could feel her desire once again painting my skin as I tugged on the thin towel she was wearing. I ripped the towel from her firm body and tossed it off into the darkness. She straddled me and began to rock against my stomach as I cupped her breast. She released words of passion, her hips swaying and her clit grinding against my body. I drew her down until I could capture her nipple in my mouth. I suckled her greedily while she continued to wriggle against me. "Cum for me," I pleaded against her skin as my hands darted out and clasped her hips.

I massaged her backside as she continued to rock against me. Her emerald eyes were dark with desire as I guided her to ride harder against my body. Soon I need to feel more as I dipped my fingers into her wetness. We became lost in a kiss as I felt her riding against my fingers. I felt her tiny digits filling me. Our bodies were covered in a sheen of sweat as we plunged in and out of each other until we were both crying out with pleasure.

Now that should have been it with the mysterious blonde but when morning came around we still craved the others touch. "So how far is Barnstable?" she asked. She pulled the sheet down to reveal her naked body.

"It is on the Cape," I explained as my eyes scanned her body.

I was about to say more but I wasn't unable to as I watched her hands cup her own breasts. She pinched and teased her nipples slowly. I crawled across the bed as her hand drifted down her body until she was dipping her fingers in her own wetness. "Care for some company on your trip?" she asked as her nimble fingers began to tease herself. I couldn't respond with words. Instead I lowered my mouth until I was suckling upon her nipple. I could feel her still pleasuring herself as I teased her. It felt glorious to have her body exploding against mine.

So in my infinite wisdom I asked her to join me. We chatted idly while I drove us slowly and carefully to Barnstable. At first I thought I was going to find it difficult sharing my open road and solitude with another person. Instead, I found the blonde's company delightful. More than once I doubted my sanity by inviting a complete stranger to join me on my journey. I quickly dismissed my worries each time she reached across the seat and touched me. It is amazing how a little hot sex can cloud someone's judgment.

Her subtle touches and our light conversation instantly put me at ease. When we stopped for lunch at a small restaurant my companion picked up the check without batting an eye. I still hadn't informed her why I was driving to Barnstable in the first place. "Well Debbie, aren't you a little young to be retired?" I asked, not having shared my profession with her just yet. I reasoned she would find out once we dropped off the truck. She still hadn't revealed her name to me yet, so I wasn't in a hurry to reveal any details of my private life to her.

"No, I think that I'm at just the right age," she answered me with a gleeful smile and patted her precious bag once again.

"What is you did for a living that you can afford an early retirement?" I pressed.

"This and that," she answered with a shrug. "Are we staying in Barnstable?"

"No," I responded in a clipped tone that made her pull away. "I have to deliver something and then I'm going back to Boston."

"Oh?" she mumbled in a worried tone.

"Problem Bertha?" I asked.

"No." She stared out the window. "It isn't drugs or anything like that is it?"

"No," I laughed, "it is perfectly legal, Velma."

I found it strange that she was worried about my activities since I was still unaware of her real name. Frankly, I was running out things to call her and still hadn't discovered her true identity or what was in that bag she clung to like it was a life preserver. "We're here," I announced as we pulled into the long snow covered driveway. "Grab your bag," I informed her as I grabbed up my own belongings.

She gave me a strange look as I climbed out of the beat-up old truck and walked up to the front door. "I can't believe you're early," the gray-haired gentleman exclaimed. He rushed out the front door. I saw my blonde companion trailing along behind me and handed the man the keys to the truck. "I thought with the storm you'd be late."

"No sir," I responded proudly.

"She's a beauty," he continued to babble as he looked over his new truck. "I'm going to restore her." Then he led us into his elegant home.

"This is my friend, Mildred," I introduced the blonde who was hiding behind me.

He really didn't give either of us a second glance as he ran to get his checkbook. "What exactly are you delivering?" the blonde asked me in a hushed tone.

"The truck," I responded casually. "That's what I do. I drive cars from one location to another so the owners don't have to ship them by rail."

"Wow, that must be great, just traveling all over."

"Thinking of a new profession, Anne?"

"No thanks. So how do we get back to Boston?"

"Bus," I grumbled, not looking forward to long trek back to the city in a stale smelling bus.

Mr. Connor thanked us repeatedly for delivering his truck early. I took his check and accepted his offer to drop us off at the bus station. Once we were on the bus I noticed my traveling companion had grown strangely quiet. "You spent a lot of traveling time just to get back to where you started," I said in an effort to break the growing silence.

"I know," she sighed. "I tried getting out of town on Saturday but all the flights to fun places were booked. I got a ticket for a Sunday flight but then the storm grounded everything."

"So where are you off to?" I casually inquired.

"Don't know," she yawned, "anywhere warm. I just need to get away."

"Something wrong with Boston?"

"No. I just need a change."

"And a little adventure?" I teased as I gave her a playful nudge.

"And a little adventure," she agreed with a bright smile. "So far I'm enjoying my new life."

She drifted off to sleep snuggled up against me. During the long journey I kept wondering what would happen if I convinced her to stay? Finally the exhaustion from lack of sleep caught up with me and I drifted off as well. I didn't wake up until the bus pulled into South Station. I nudged my sleeping companion and helped her off of the bus. Once we were inside the warm station I stretched out my tired body as my new friend raced over to a news-stand. I laughed when I caught up with her and found her sporting a New England Patriots baseball cap that was far too large. "Don't you like it?" she giggled from beneath the large brim.

"It's a look," I chuckled.

My heart felt heavy as I realized that our time together was coming to an end. "Well, where to now?"

"Back to airport I guess," she sighed.

"Oh well it was nice meeting you . . ." I hesitated since I was still unaware of her name, "Tracy."

"Nice meeting you as well, Kylie," she responded in a sad voice and we shook hands.

At the time, I thought walking away from her was the hardest thing I had ever done. A few short hours later I would discover that there was something even harder awaiting me. I dropped Mr. Connor's check off with my boss and headed straight to my apartment in the South End. I flipped through my mail then turned on the television and received the shock of my life. Most of the news was about the big storm that had rocked the East coast. There was another story that rocked my world. I paced around my apartment before I made the telephone call. Then for some unknown reason I raced to the airport.

I searched for her frantically. I knew the police wouldn't spot her right away. She looked quite different from the dowdy picture of her with drab brown hair and thick glasses that had been splashed across my television screen. But I knew her the moment I saw the picture. I found her calmly sitting at the Dunkin Donuts stand. She was still holding her bag tightly as she sipped her coffee. Now I understood why. "Fancy meeting you here," I greeted her as I took a seat at her table.

"Hey! I was hoping that our paths might cross again."

"Yeah," I muttered as I felt a pang of guilt stabbing at my heart, "so Eunice, rob any banks lately?"

Her face fell as she tried to bolt out of her chair. I reached out and grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back down. "Why?" I asked her.

"Long story," she responded in a heavy tone. "So much money and by the way, it wasn't robbery. It's embezzlement." I laughed at her attempt to debate the issue. "You called the cops didn't you?"

"I'm sorry," I responded with sincerity as I spied the police carefully approaching us.

"Don't be," she said with a sly smile. She placed the bag on the table as she stood. Eunice gave up without a struggle. "Wait for me?" she teased me as they led her away.

"I'll try," I answered with a hearty laugh, unable to believe her bravado.

Eunice Evans pled guilty and received a stiff sentence for walking out of the bank she worked in with a little over eight million dollars stuffed in travel bag. She locked the doors and set the alarm as she had done for years. The one exception was the money she took from the vault. She received a very stiff sentence but could be out on parole in seven years if she behaved. The only thing that added to her sentence was, despite the fact that she was carrying most of the money, there was still a couple of million missing and Eunice wasn't volunteering the whereabouts.

As for me, oddly enough, I am stilled charmed by the little criminal. I visit her every chance I get. She doesn't seem to resent me for turning her in. We talk and we flirt. I look forward to yet dread the day she gets out. I have a feeling I know where the rest of the money is. Eunice still isn't willing to disclose that information. She is biding her time. I'm certain that when she gets out she will simply disappear with the money. I know that when that day comes, I'll miss her.

The End

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