I got a message the next morning from Abby. But sadly, there would be no stealthy meet-up. She just didn't have a feasible way to escape for any length of time.

And I really understood. It's not as easy to slip away, like many stories say. 

I did, however, catch a brief glimpse of her from a distance. 

When she texted me about where they were going, I rushed into town, getting an iced coffee at one of those trendy coffee spots across the road from the mini-golf course. 

I scanned, then saw her, looking annoyed at her husband as he was trying to explain how the course worked.

I don't think she saw me... but she did pull off her sunglasses while looking in my general direction.

Over a month passed before I saw Abby again.

I'd long since finished my work in the new store at the mall, but every day I worked there, I kept envisioning us lying in front of the paper-covered windows, our bodies entwined just feet from unsuspecting shoppers.

Now, silver plastic mannequins wearing overpriced summer fashions stood on that exact spot.

Their expressionless faces teased the crowds with secrets that would never be told.

I've walked by there with my family, watching them look through the window while guilt nipped at me.

"Is that the store you worked on, Dad?"

"It is..."

So I buried it and took them for ice cream a few shops down.

It's not grief or regret. I don't want to sound that way. It was beautiful and so dangerous. And if you know me, danger has always been a draw. 

Abby is my firework.

We shared a moment that words can't explain. There's no logic to it, and I think that's why it stays with me. My mind keeps turning it over, searching for an answer that I don't think can be answered.

It wasn't just the amazing sex. It was the understanding without words, the need to be near her to feel complete. 

For a while, messages came much more frequently after that Saturday.

We shared late-night chats, sexy selfies, and sing-along videos of whatever song was playing in our cars.

It was really nice. 

And the praise she gave me... that put an extra beat in my day.

I knew she was feeling it too.

"You fucked me with people right there!" 

Her message had me really turned on again. But sadly, I was in a drive-thru ordering some lunch during a hectic workday.

"OMG, Anthony. That was incredible." 

She really enjoyed it, I thought. Was it the thrill of doing it in such a public space, or was it the sneaking around with family so near?

It was a thrill on both accounts for me.

"You liked my secret hideaway?" I quickly typed out before my food was handed to me. 

"I want to see you," she replied.

I took a selfie and sent it, but she replied that it wasn't enough.

I sent another one of my crotch, making sure the bulge was visible.

"Not enough," was her next message.

I knew she was working, so the image she sent had to have been living in her camera roll, waiting for the right moment.

A nude, showing everything she had in one breathtaking image.

I had a nearly impossible time getting any work done the rest of that day.

We carried on like that for a few days, more chats than we'd had for a long time. 

Summer was in full swing. Work was busy, the kids were busy with their summer activities, but my vacation was coming up quickly.

My great-uncle passed away a while ago, and there were a lot of old family treasures offered to me.

So I planned a week off work, but my wife decided it was best to stay behind so the kids wouldn't miss out on all the stuff they had going on.

Of course, I knew. She just didn't want to spend a week trapped in a truck with me. 

Road trips are not her thing. I, on the other hand, was built for the road. Seeing the sights and tasting the food along the way. 

I live for it.

My mind went straight to Abby. Heck, it was already there before the discussion with my wife even came up. I had thought about asking Abby the moment I put in my vacation request.

A day later, ding.

I checked my phone, and Abby was typing a message.

I waited and waited, then it finally came. 

"What are you doing next weekend?"

Damn it, I thought. She wants to get together, but I'll be heading out on a three-thousand-mile journey.

She knew I was taking a week off, but I didn't tell her I was heading out to California.

"Well..." I started to type, but her next message came before I could finish. 

"I took the week off so we could try to hang out... If you can get away for a day or two." 

And there it was. Somehow, Abby opened the door before I could.

I was trying to figure out what to say.

I had teased her many times during my cross-country drives. Always asking if she wanted to ride with me, or "I wish you were here" pictures from hotel rooms in some sleepy little town off the interstate.

"I could drive down to you."

Even though I couldn't hear her voice, I could feel the longing in her message.

"Well, Abby... You think you could get away for the whole week?" I replied. 

"A week?" 

"I'm heading to California, all by myself." 

The dots bounced and bounced. 

"Let me see."

A couple of days passed before I heard from her again. But when her message came, I was genuinely shocked.

"I can go."

"What!?" I didn't know what else to say.

I think my mouth was hanging open with a half-eaten sandwich in my hand while I stared at the screen.

"I told him I had to cancel my vacation because of a work trip."

"Really? You're coming with me?"

"Yes! LOL."

"And he bought your story?" I questioned.

"Don't worry. It's all worked out," she offered.

"Freaking awesome!"

Her dots bounced, then she asked the logistical questions.

Over the next hour, we hashed out a perfect plan.

I was to meet her at a major airport about four hours from me, along the route I was taking.

Her car would be safe in the long-term parking, plus she would have a receipt.

We actually had nine days together. Saturday through the following Sunday.

The rest of my week, I was constantly on the edge of panic and excitement. Afraid of being found out, feeling guilty, being with her for a whole week... but also, being with her for a full week. 

I was getting ready to drive over three thousand miles with Abby. Staying in hotels, sharing meals, and undoubtedly finding ourselves tangled up together every night.

This trip could destroy us or push us too close. But I couldn't wait for it.

I played it cool, though. Dinners, TV, and kids' practice.

Friday evening before the trip, everything had been added to our family calendar. Everyone could see all the details of their week without me there to get them through it.

Dad was going to be checking out of reality for a few days. At least that's what I thought while I changed the oil on my truck.

That evening, just before heading to bed, I sent Abby a message confirming with her that everything was a go.

She actually replied right away, "All good. See you tomorrow. Can't wait!"

My heart was pounding. 

I'd taken care of everything I could think of. My truck was cleaned, road snacks loaded, and my clothes packed. I also spent some time creating an extensive playlist of perfect road-trip songs.

I even loaded up some camping gear and chairs, inflated an air mattress, and laid out our soft, padded blanket in the bed with a few fresh pillows.

The shell on my truck had nearly black-tinted windows. Perfect if the moment required it.

Before the sun rose, I was on the road. My family said their goodbyes the night before, knowing I like to head out early on every trip.

I sent Abby a message as my wheels hit the highway, letting her know I was on my way. 

She replied a short time later, "Me too." 

We sent several status updates as we began to converge on our meeting point. 

With each new message, my anticipation built, my nervousness grew, but my excitement was drowning them out. 

"3 hours out."

"2 hours." 

"So am I."

"Stopping for gas."

"I'm grabbing breakfast."

"1 hour."

"15 minutes out."

"I'm here."

"Me too!"

Abby gave me the row she was parked in just as I turned into the long-term parking.

Then I saw her, leaning against the back of her vehicle, bag in hand.

She was wearing a frumpy blue T-shirt and black yoga shorts. 

She was stunning.

I pulled up close and hopped out, giving her the tightest hug, nearly picking her up off the ground.

"Hi." 

I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

She giggled shyly, "What?" 

"You look amazing," I offered and watched her blush.

We kissed, but it was quick, then we just simply... stared.

"You ready?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes!" she proclaimed as I took her bag. 

She grabbed a few small things from her vehicle as I carefully placed her bag in the bed.

I ogled her rear end as she climbed into my truck, but she quickly sat down and pulled the door closed. I let out a sigh and locked the rear hatch.

We were finally off on our first real road adventure together.

Abby and Anthony, doing America.

We had been on much shorter trips in the past, four-hour drives across the desert to Vegas, but those were with other people in the car. Her boyfriend, my girlfriend, and other friends... It was never just us, and definitely never this far.

My foot tapped nervously as I navigated the heavy airport traffic, getting us back to the interstate.

I listened to her explain her expertly woven work-trip plan. But I honestly didn't catch all the details. It was her movements, her tone, her eyes that I remembered.

I was amazed at the lengths Abby went through to have me to herself for a few days.

Abby snapped me back to the conversation, "Should I bring up the map?" as she tapped on my entertainment center in the dash.

I shook my head. "No, I know the way."

Starting back when I was a little kid riding in the back of my dad's Gran Torino, right up to my last drive a year ago, I've been on every route from east to west. 

"Music?"

I reached over and started the playlist to set the mood.

"Two Lane Blacktop," the perfect road song. 

Once we were out of the city and the cruise control was set, our conversation really took off.

We bounced all over the place. Her asking about why I was going to California, me asking about her job...

I kept tossing innuendos in every part of her stories, but soon, she took it to a new level. Maybe because I couldn't stop gazing at her.

I studied her smooth legs, noticed how her yoga shorts did nothing to hide the shape of her pussy, her breasts pressed against her shirt, the movement of her lips and jaw as she spoke, her gray eyes traveling my body.

Abby reached over, taking my hand that was resting on the center console.

Her hand was soft and warm compared to mine. She slowly rubbed her thumb over my rough, callused hand.

The busy city gave way to suburban neighborhoods, which gave way to farmland and much lighter traffic, but the conversation didn't stay light.

It shifted to that morning in the empty store.

Abby revealed how exciting it was, how turned on it made her. How turned on she was just thinking about it.

Her hand was becoming warmer. Maybe it was mine?

I felt the sexual tension. It was thick. I started scanning the highway, wondering if there was a place to pull over, maybe use that makeshift bed in the back.

Abby's eyes moved from me to the farm fields beyond the windshield. She released my hand and let hers drift onto my thigh. 

I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter and held my breath for a moment as her hand made contact with me.

In my peripheral vision, I saw her turn back toward me. Then she looked down at her hand as she began tracing my growing erection through my suddenly too restrictive cargo shorts.

"My, Anthony... Are you really that excited to see me?" she softly teased.

I raised my eyebrow and gave her a devilish smirk. 

Her hand pressed against me, and my pulse immediately quickened.

"Abby..." I started to say, but when I realized there was no one around us except for a few distant semi trucks, I decided not to say anything more.

She began undoing my shorts, tugging at them, trying to free me. 

I did what I could to help while still focusing on the road.

Once successful, she wrapped her fingers around me and began lightly stroking, teasing the swollen head as she moved her hand over me.

Satisfied with her work, she unbuckled her seatbelt, then leaned over the center console.

I lifted my free hand over her as her lips touched me.

I could only see the back of her head, but I felt her mouth open. Her warm breath, her tongue sliding over me, then her soft lips encircling me.

My hand came to rest on the back of her neck, under her hair. As she moved her mouth up and down, I softly rubbed her neck while trying to keep my concentration on the road.

Abby had pulled her knees up onto the seat. She was completely bent over the center console, her butt perfectly framed by the passenger side window.

I peered into the passenger side mirror and leaned my head back as far as I could, splitting my focus between the road and the view of her from behind.

Her panty lines showed through her tightly stretched shorts, disappearing between her legs.

The truck bounced hard over a pothole, forcing my eyes back to the road and my cock deeper into her mouth. She pulled back for a moment, coughing lightly.

In the rearview, I saw the pothole receding behind us, and a semi truck closing the distance. But with my fingers rubbing her neck, encouraging her, Abby went back to it, sucking, licking, teasing.

I fought to keep a straight line while the cruise control carried us down the highway.

A moment later, the semi eased into the passing lane.

He pulled alongside, then must have hit his brakes, slowing until he matched my speed.

Gripping the wheel with one hand and the other resting against the back of Abby's neck, I looked over and saw an overweight, bearded man giving me a thumbs-up.

I gave him an awkward grin and sped ahead as he sounded his horn a couple of times.

Abby must have sensed what happened from the slight giggle she gave. 

She kept at it, though, increasing her tempo.

Soon, my stomach tightened, and my toes curled in my shoes. I held my breath, gripping her neck tighter.

Abby made a sound that vibrated through me, and that was it. I couldn't hold back anymore.

It tore through me as I exploded into her mouth.

She stayed there until my spasms subsided, making sure not to leave anything behind before returning to her seat with a satisfied expression.

"Now there should be less tension," Abby confidently exclaimed as she took a sip from her tumbler.

I was at a loss for words for a mile or so. Probably looking like an idiot with my shorts pulled down, fully exposed.

"What was with the slowing down and speeding up, and that truck horn?"

I chuckled, "I think you have a new fan."

She looked out the back of the truck through the tinted windows, seeing the semi truck about half a mile behind us. 

Abby kind of half-shrugged her shoulders. 

I'm not sure if it was embarrassment or her version of "Oh well," but her cheeks definitely changed a shade or two.

For a mile or so, I kept glancing at her as she studied me.

"I wish I could return the favor," I offered. 

"You will."

Many miles had passed, and our conversation drifted from past to present, never ending for a moment. It was amazing to just talk with her like that. We rarely got those moments.

She was telling me about some new software they're running at work and how their IT guy won't help them when I glanced down and realized it was time to fuel up.

Luckily, we were coming up on a larger town. 

I pulled up to the pumps at a brightly colored truck stop, and as soon as I put it in park, Abby took off for the restroom. After filling the tank, I followed her into the shop. 

After my own restroom break, we met at the coolers and found what we each wanted. 

I took our drinks to the register as Abby browsed over some cheap souvenirs. 

A large bearded guy walked up behind me and tapped my shoulder. Turning, I realized he was the trucker from a couple of hours before. He smelled of burnt wires and Cheetos.

Abby had just come back to join me when he looked her up and down, then offered me a high-five. 

I was more than a bit annoyed, but Abby actually returned his high-five.

After we walked out, she asked who that was.

"That's the guy who honked at us."

She turned beet-red, though her beautiful smile never faded.

We held hands back to my truck, laughing about it.

"He's probably told every trucker on the CB by now," I joked.

She covered her face for a second, laughing harder.

Soon, the flat farmland gave way to rolling hills, and the Rockies were in sight.

The sun was getting low, and our hunger was growing. Abby started looking for a place to eat, naming off several before she landed on one we both liked. 

It wasn't very far ahead. 

She brought up a time from the distant past. I looked over at her in the passenger seat. Her legs were curled up underneath her as she leaned against the center console, looking at me. She was telling me the story of when we first met.

She was going out with one of my friends, and he didn't want me to meet her because he was worried I would steal her away. 

I do remember being with a few of the girls he had dated. I don't remember stealing any of them from him, though. It was usually after they had broken up.

I have some faint memories of that time. I did remember being drawn to Abby instantly. 

I seem to remember meeting her through an open car window. I had forgotten that until she brought it up.

And she reaffirmed that by saying that was how she felt. That she was instantly attracted to me on more than just a physical level. 

Listening to her talk, it's obvious we've been dancing around this thing for decades.

I was amazed at how much she remembered. The more she talked about it, the more those fragmented memories returned.

I don't know how I forgot all the little details. Was it because of all the traumatic events I've been through? Love, loss, a couple of near-death experiences for myself...

I don't know, maybe the Mistress of Time kept them hidden from me until Abby showed me where to look.

After our cheap roadside diner meal, we decided to keep driving for a couple more hours before I asked her to start looking for hotels.

We were finally climbing up into the mountains, and there weren't as many places to stay, but I knew of a few ski towns for her to check.

The sun had long since disappeared, and the day had taken its toll on both of us. She looked tired, and I felt it.

Abby found a good deal and called to reserve a room, saying she was my wife as she gave them my card information.

Hearing that, a silly smile stuck with me for a few miles.

I suddenly wondered if we were living out a long-held fantasy.

We'd shared a heart-stirring night in a hotel room not too long ago, and it truly was something we'd never had before... but this was going to be eight nights together.

Would we be able to recover?

I believed we'd both grown a lot, and I knew that no matter how wild my imagination ran, we'd survive the trip. We've been through worse and came out better for it.

Finally, in our room, I suddenly felt... energized. Especially after watching Abby get ready for bed. Brushing her teeth, cleaning her face. 

When she came to the bed, I couldn't keep my hands off her.

We kissed, we touched, we obsessed over each other. All before we even hit the mattress.

I was going to return that road favor and didn't give her any options.

As soon as she sat on the bed, I was between her legs. Kissing, exploring, sliding my tongue and fingers into her. 

Abby wrapped her legs over my shoulders as I teased her clit. I ran my fingers around her vulva before sliding them into her, curling them in slow, deliberate motions.

I wanted her to cry out, and she did.

Abby quivered and moaned out. I moved up her body, touching every part of her with my lips and fingers, until she begged me to fuck her.

I pushed into her, slowly. Feeling her open around me, squeezing me, releasing me. 

I don't think either of us closed our eyes. We were locked in. Her soft gray eyes told me everything.

With each thrust, she breathed out, and I breathed her in.

Her body kept shivering, like little orgasms were firing through her over and over.

Her hands squeezed my arms, hips, and my butt. 

The familiar fireworks began lighting off within me, forcing me to thrust into her hard. 

Abby arched into me as her own body gave in, releasing her own explosion. 

We held each other for a while, not talking, just being. We eventually drifted off to sleep with some movie playing on the tiny hotel room TV.

I was up early, which is pretty standard for me when sleeping in a strange bed.

I made some in-room coffee in the cheap little coffee pot, then made my way to the shower. 

Abby eventually joined me, and before long, our kissing turned into slow morning shower sex. Her body pressed against the shower wall, me behind her, pushing up. 

I honestly wondered if I could keep up with her for the whole trip.

Before long, we were back on the road for day two of our journey. 

After another quick fill-up of fuel and a fast-food breakfast for the road, we continued our climb into the mountains.

The Rockies are always so beautiful. Especially when you have someone as beautiful riding along with you.

We made a few random stops at secluded rest areas along flowing streams of crystal clear water, surrounded by tall trees. 

We walked along one trail, taking in nature and each other. Holding hands and stopping for passionate kisses along the path. 

She had a way of bringing out the... horny side of me. I scanned for a secluded area, but we had many miles to cover.

And... I didn't want her to think this was just about sex.

Heading down the western side of the mountains, the scenery shifted dramatically. Tall evergreens slowly gave way to red and brown desert.

But our conversation stayed constant. I don't think we ran out of anything to talk about. 

After so many years apart, the stories felt endless.

We held hands during most of the drive. It was familiar, yet strange. We've never been a couple. We never had the chance to be one. But it felt as if we were one, rediscovering ourselves and each other.

At one point, Abby asked about my extra phone charger after she got a text asking how work was going. 

I told her it was in the center console, and as I opened it, she saw her pink hair tie that I've been dragging around since our meeting on the overlook trail.

I kept meaning to give it to her, but each time, she worked me up so much, I forgot. 

She laughed, but it was an awkward kind of laugh. Not embarrassed or amused... somewhere in between.

"You kept this?" she asked while picking up the symbol of several meaningful encounters.

"I brought it to your house, but I had to escape," I explained. "I had it sitting by the romantic lantern at the mall, but I simply forgot."

Abby just stared at me as I told her the story. 

"So it's been in my tool bag, safe from being discovered." 

"How did it get here?"

"I figured I'd get it to you at some point during the drive."

She put it back in the console and pulled out the extra charging cable. "You keep it there for now," she said.

I knew.

She understood it as a symbol of sorts, which is what I've thought about it since I discovered it in my pocket on laundry day.

We made great time on the second day. A short lunch stop at some random desert restaurant, a few more fill-ups at desolate gas stations.

Then, as the sun started to get low, Las Vegas.

We could see the distant orange glow of neon reflecting off the hazy dust and smog that hovered over Sin City.

Abby had long since started looking for deals on rooms, which weren't too hard to find on a Sunday night. Most people head back to Los Angeles on Sunday morning, so rooms were cheap.

We pulled into the parking garage, and it was hot, like over 120 degrees hot. But it wasn't too crowded, so we were able to park kind of close.

As soon as the doors opened into the casino, we felt that welcoming blast of cold air and heard the familiar sounds of slot machines dinging and paying out.

I got us checked into the room and carried the bags while we wandered through the casino, stopping at random slot machines here and there before finally reaching the elevator.

It was early enough in the evening that we decided to get dressed up a little bit and go out for some fun.

I do have family and friends in the area, but I did not let anybody know I was in town, and I highly doubted any of them would be on the strip with all the tourists. So I definitely wasn't worried about an awkward situation happening.

Once in our room, we freshened up together, sharing the mirror and sink.

I hadn't packed anything fancy, so I threw on my nicest black cargo shorts and a Hawaiian shirt covered in little Star Trek ships.

Abby, however, pulled out a beautiful soft flowy dress that I hadn't seen in quite a while.

It was her blue summer dress from when she came to visit me on that beautiful Tuesday back in early spring.

As she slipped it on, I was thinking I wanted to pull it back off of her.

My eyes grew wide as she reached under the dress and pulled off her panties, then pulled the cream-colored satin panties out of her bag and slipped them on.

She looked at me with the most evil smile while she did that.

She sauntered over to me and sat on the edge of the king-sized bed, leaning toward me. She gazed deep into my eyes, and I swore I heard her, even without words.

Placing a hand on my cheek, she kissed me, softly. Her lips slowly opened, and her tongue dipped into my mouth. I knew her desire.

I knew that night would be special.

When the elevator doors pulled back, the sounds of excitement smacked into us. 

Someone singing country songs at the bar could be heard, old women smoking and sipping free alcohol, and poker players cheering... It was the same Vegas I remembered.

We wandered through the shiny slot machines, dropping a couple of dollars here and there, but we'd both been here enough to know not to stay and play.

Once on the street, the heat hit us, but the sun was long gone, almost making it tolerable.

I took hold of her hand as we strolled the strip, casually walking and taking in the sights. We dipped into a couple of shops, but didn't buy anything. 

"There's a good steakhouse in there," I said, pointing to a casino across the road.

We made our way over the pedestrian bridge, into the casino, and finally to the restaurant.

Abby and I ordered steaks and spent the next hour talking over one of the best meals we'd had in a long time.

We walked around a while, enjoying the freedom to just be ourselves, out in the real world.

We watched the fountains, street magicians, and even a couple having an argument about bad gambling decisions.

But I couldn't keep my eyes off her. Her beautiful legs, bare shoulders, the sway of her hips in that flowing dress.

She twirled around at one point, dancing to some song playing over outdoor speakers. Abby nearly showed her panties off to anyone who might have been paying attention.

I was.

We had more than a couple of drinks back in our casino, playing random games before heading back to our room.

I know the drinks are typically watered down, but since I hardly ever drink, I still felt a bit of a buzz. Enough to embolden me.

Once the doors closed, we groped and kissed the whole elevator ride back to our floor. I pushed her against the wall and ran my hand up her thigh, feeling the heat through her satin panties.

She bit my lower lip as her fingers ran through my beard.

I had slipped my fingers into the leg of her panties and began sliding into her as the door opened.

I don't know how we made it to the room. 

I fumbled for the key card, trying to get the stubborn door to open, all while her hand was in my front pocket, squeezing me.

We nearly stumbled into the room.

I locked the door and followed Abby into the cool, quiet room. She had already kicked off her sandals. I never turned on the light, but plenty of light was coming through the window.

The curtains were open, but we were high enough up that no one could see us.

I watched with bated breath as she reached under the dress, slipping off her panties.

I don't think she was drunk, but her expression almost told me otherwise. There was a certain playfulness in her eyes.

She tossed them at me, hitting me in the face, then giggled.

I caught the cream-colored panties before they fell and held them for a moment, studying her.

The orange light from outside let me see her nude, silhouetted legs through the blue dress.

I glanced back at the panties in my hand. I could smell her.

I let them drop to the floor, awkwardly kicked off my shoes, and moved toward her, pulling her into my arms.

We kissed and swayed to the music in our heads. I don't know if our songs matched, but our rhythm sure did.

We moved toward the bed in a slow, clumsy waltz, her arms wrapped around me, my hands holding her hips. 

Time slowed, and I found myself hyper-focused on every little detail. Her breathing, her scent, the taste of her lips.

But as if in a movie, someone let go of the pause button. That someone was Abby. 

She placed her hands on my chest and gave a gentle shove. 

I fell back onto the bed. She quickly undid my shorts, sliding them and my boxers down my legs before dropping them to the floor.

Before I could pull her to me, Abby climbed over me. She ran her tongue up the underside of my length, a maddening little tease, then lifted the hem of her flowing dress.

In a near repeat of that Tuesday on my couch, she pressed herself down onto me, rubbing and sliding along my length. Her hands moved over my chest, teasing my nipples through my silky shirt.

Her dress settled over us, hiding what she was doing to me.

Abby kept her eyes locked on mine. She studied my every expression while I studied hers.

Her soft, fluttering blinks. The slight curl of her lips. The tiniest flare of her nostrils as she breathed in.

Beneath the dress, she was on fire, her thighs resting against my sides, her pussy slipping against my hardness.

The contrast was tearing at me.

She continued tilting her pelvis, changing the angle and pressure against me, against herself.

Her soft moans carried through the otherwise still room.

I felt her heat flowing over me as she tried to guide me into her without the use of hands. 

Tilting, sliding...

Abby opened her eyes a bit wider. "It worked before," she breathlessly teased.

I couldn't help myself and chuckled at her callback.

I slid my hands under her dress to help her. 

This time... she didn't stop me.

Abby tightened her thighs and lifted as my fingers grazed her wet folds before lining my cock up with her opening.

She didn't wait for any attempted teasing from me. She sank down, fully encasing me in one deliberately slow push.

I held my breath as she settled, not breathing in again until Abby gave me a soft, lip-parted smile.

Her eyes told me so much. Even with the room lit only by the orange glow of the Strip several stories below, I saw the light inside her.

Abby and I never got the chance to be a couple, but that night in Vegas felt like our honeymoon. I can't fully describe it, but that's how it felt when I stared into her soft eyes.

Abby lowered her head, pressing her lips against mine. She rolled her hips in a slow, deliberate motion.

My hands softly rubbed and held her thighs as deep, low groans vibrated up from my chest.

Abby took her time, lifting only slightly before settling back against me.

This wasn't the same as that Tuesday.

There was no challenge in her eyes this time. No mischievous little victory. No silent command telling me to stay still and take whatever she decided to give me.

This was softer.

Abby touched my face as if she were trying to memorize me under the orange Vegas light. Her thumb moved along my cheek, then into my beard, and her expression changed in a way that made my chest tighten.

The world beyond the windows disappeared. The noise in my head, the neon lights, even the lies we told to get there. It all fell away until there was only her above me, moving slowly, breathing my name as if it belonged to her.

God, I loved the way she said my name.

Our lips opened, and we breathed each other in.

Abby sat up and pulled her dress over her head, tossing it to the floor.

Reaching behind her, I unclasped her bra, freeing her breasts, while she unbuttoned my shirt.

I drew my knees up and wrapped my arms around her as our tongues swirled.

Her nipples pressed into my chest, her beating heart echoing mine.

With our racing pulses, the stillness didn't hold. Abby dipped to the side, taking me with her. She ended up on her back, her legs hooked behind me.

My knees were still bent, now tucked underneath her. Her butt rested on my thighs.

I ended up with the most tantalizing view. Her smooth, swollen pussy glistened, wrapped tightly around half of my cock.

Abby's arms bent over her head, her dark hair partially obscuring her face. The pulse in her neck pounded while her chest rose and fell with each breath.

Goosebumps covered her skin from the cold blast of the AC flowing over our bed.

I wrapped my fingers around her upper thighs. My thumbs pulled her open, exposing every bit of her to my stare. I tilted my pelvis, pushing into her further.

My eyes widened when I moved inside her. I could actually see a small bulge traveling along her tummy, mirroring me deep inside her.

Her soft moans overpowered the hum of the air conditioner, encouraging me.

My thoughts drifted through all the times we'd found ourselves here, trapped by the invisible force that always pulled us together. My mind searched for the perfect moment, the perfect thing to say, but Abby answered before I could.

"God, I love you so much!"

And there it was.

Her soft, warm expression backed up her words. She reached for me.

I straightened my legs, letting her rest flat on the bed, and settled over her, staring into her eyes.

"I've always loved you, Abby."

It didn't slow the moment. If anything, my words made it grow in intensity. Her heat, her lips on mine, our exploring hands.

We wrapped around each other.

I pushed fully into her, and the slick, wet sounds between us pushed me to a new level. I let loose, driving into Abby as each thrust pulled a new sound from her. Groans, moans, breathless cries of "Oh God."

Her skin was hot to the touch, and beads of sweat formed along her forehead and breasts.

Abby clawed at my back and called out my name as her eyes rolled back. Her body tensed, then shook beneath me.

I swear she nearly threw me off with the force of it.

I stopped, letting her catch her breath. Her expression shifted through so many emotions as I waited for her to come back to me.

Her focus finally returned, and she pulled my head down to hers, kissing me and softly biting my lip.

"You can do that again... anytime," she whispered breathlessly.

I chuckled and smiled, feeling proud of myself.

"I'll make sure to remember that."

Abby playfully thumped my shoulder. "You better!"

My mind started wandering toward what came next, but she answered the question before I even knew how to ask it.

"If you're gentle..." she started, pushing me off her.

Without her even finishing the sentence, I knew where this was going.

She scooted off the bed and grabbed a little bottle from her purse.

Her expression had turned serious. She knew how much I teased about her ass, how powerful it felt to be trusted with something she didn't usually offer.

I knew it wasn't her favorite thing, so the fact that she was choosing it now told me exactly how deeply she was feeling at that moment.

Abby shyly showed me the little bottle of lubricant as she dropped back onto the bed.

"I'm serious, Anthony. Slow."

She didn't need to tell me twice.

"I promise." 

She gave me a playful look of doubt, but still popped the cap of the little bottle.

Before there could be any more words, she drizzled it over my straining erection and wrapped her hand around me, coating the entire length. 

Leaning back on my elbows, I watched intently. It felt almost like an out-of-body experience.

The lube was so cold at first that I nearly cringed, but it quickly heated as she rubbed it in, even with the air conditioner blowing across the room.

Before she had a chance to rub any on herself, I took the bottle from her and gave her a slight push, making her lie on her back.

Her legs dangled off the edge of the bed as I moved between them, lifting them until her heels pressed into the mattress.

Leaning in, I kissed and licked up her soft thighs, moving closer to her waiting pussy. 

I slipped my tongue into her, tasting her, savoring her.

Abby softly sighed when my tongue touched her lower lips.

Lifting her hips, she allowed me better access. My tongue slid down her folds and finally encircled her crinkled, tight entrance.

She actually giggled, which I wasn't expecting. Maybe it was tickling her, but that just enticed me to go further, trying to wiggle my tongue into her tight opening. 

I began rubbing her clit with my fingers as my tongue gained entry. 

Her hips kept wanting to fall back down to the mattress as she was writhing, but she fought the urge and tilted up and pressed herself into my mouth. 

From the corner of my eye, I could see her toes curling tightly. The muscles in her thighs kept tightening and relaxing. 

I felt her resistance slip; her apprehension seemed to fade.

I moved my tongue back up her pussy and began swirling around her clit. 

Without looking, I popped the cap on the bottle and drizzled some onto my fingers. Slowly, I brought them up to her ass and began circling, spreading the lubricant.

Her legs squirmed, wiggling back and forth as I pushed one finger into her, but as the warming sensation kicked in, softer sounds escaped her. 

I kept my mouth on her clit, listening to every change in her breathing as my finger worked slowly inside her ass.

There was no rushing, not with something she was giving me out of trust... love.

Her body resisted me at first, tightening around my finger, but I stayed patient, circling her clit with my tongue while easing a second finger only when she softened.

"Slow," she reminded me, her voice shaky.

"I've got you," I whispered against her wet skin.

Her hand found my hair, not pulling me away, just holding on. The little sounds she made changed from nervous to needy, and when her hips lifted toward my mouth, I knew she was starting to feel it.

Her stomach and thighs tightened and released in rhythmic cycles. She clenched around my fingers. Squeezing and releasing, each time, her muscles relaxed more.

I applied another generous amount of the warming lube to my fingers, then worked it into her.

She was tilting and twisting so much.

"Is that okay?" I asked softly.

"Give me a second... Oh... right there..." Her responses were all over the place, but they told me what I needed to know. She wanted me to keep going.

Abby's breath came quicker; she gripped my hair, almost painfully. Her back arched, and she squeezed my head between her thighs.

Then stillness.

She relaxed. Really relaxed. My fingers had pushed into her completely with no resistance. I held there until she grabbed the sides of my head, pulling me up along her body.

My mind was spinning. Abby had just come from that. But I kept the thought locked away.

As I settled over her, I looked into her eyes and saw confusion, passion, wanting...

"Slow, Anthony."

I pressed my lips into a crooked smile.

"As you wish," I offered, stealing a line from one of my favorite movies.

She rolled her eyes, but her focus returned to me as I took hold of myself. Making sure I was fully coated with lube, I placed the head at her now-relaxed opening.

Her fingers gripped my shoulders before I even tried to enter.

The last time we did this, Abby had been in full control. Now she was surrendering that control to me. It was erotic, taboo, thrilling.

She gave me an approving nod, so I edged forward.

I pressed, just a fraction, keeping the pressure constant, and felt her open. My lips met hers, kissing her through each deep breath.

Abby adjusted her tilt, and I slipped in farther.

"Slow."

Slow, I remained. I only advanced when she shifted in approval. Her kisses weren't open-mouthed, just pressed lips, but her fingers relaxed on my shoulders.

The sensation was incredible. Her tight ring opening, the silky-smooth inner walls hugging me.

I resisted the need to push in fully. Instead, I pulled back, then inched forward again and again.

Abby relaxed and fully kissed me, her tongue circling mine, her back arching into me.

I picked up the pace, just a bit, still not fully entering.

"Easy."

We stayed at that pace for some time, moving in fractions, trading soft sighs and the occasional tight grip on my shoulders.

Then it happened. I had fully entered her.

Abby's eyes widened when the realization struck. I held there, savoring the feeling as she kissed me deeply, passionately.

I pulled my head back and brushed her hair from her face. We stared at each other for several moments, feeling each other.

"Are you okay?"

She smiled up at me. "I am."

Her answer almost sounded surprised. We'd done this before, but this felt different. Tender, but still forbidden.

She breathed out an affirming sigh, giving me the signal I needed.

Straightening, my knees pressed into the edge of the mattress. I gripped her hips and looked down at where we were joined. Abby's hands traveled down her stomach and came to rest over mine.

I was fully buried, her body gripping me while her pussy glistened.

I pulled out most of the way and felt her tighten, but she released when I pushed forward again.

Abby gave herself over to the sensations, and my pace quickened. Over and over. In, out. Her fingers traveled to her slit and began rubbing, spreading, entering.

I felt myself losing control and fought to maintain it. She was driving me crazy, breathing out my name, encouraging moans, gripping my cock with her ass. 

"Cum for me." 

That's what I did. Her words pushed me over the edge. 

I pressed in hard, deep, and really gripped her hips. 

A groan escaped from me as I exploded into her. Shivering spasms ripped through my body. I actually heard a ringing in my ears. 

Abby had her own moment. Shaking, sweating, moaning. Her fingers and toes curled, her thighs gripping my hips. 

As I came down, I studied her. Her expression softened, her breath slowed. 

I finally pulled out and lay beside her on my side, the AC blowing across my ass. 

Abby kissed me again. 

"Okay... It wasn't... bad."

I smirked at her comment and kissed her back.

"Oh, that's high praise," I teased.

She gave a breathless little laugh and tucked herself closer to me, her skin warm against mine despite the cold air pouring through the room. For a while, neither of us moved. The city kept glowing beyond the window, restless and loud, but inside that room, everything had gone quiet.

The blue dress lay in a soft heap near the foot of the bed. Her cream-colored panties were somewhere on the floor. My ridiculous Star Trek shirt hung half off the nightstand.

Abby traced lazy circles across my chest, her breathing slowly matching mine.

California was still waiting beyond the desert. The rest of the week was waiting beyond that. But lying there with her in the orange light of Las Vegas, I knew the truth before we ever reached the coast.

Wherever the road takes us, the drive was worth it.