Chapter 10

Eva lay quite still, listening to the rain on the roof, feeling contentment spread rapidly through her body. Now that it was over she tried to push back the cobwebs in her brain and think. Was she crazy, thinking that she was in love with the man beside her? That emotion didn't exist, at least that's what she'd told herself ever since she'd made the discovery that Ralph was a conquest from her sister ... and not love as she'd supposed.

As far as Ralph was concerned, he was just a meal ticket to her, no more. As long as he couldn't give her what she wanted she'd get it someplace else.

Eva twisted her head so that she could see her man, Martin. He didn't say anything, just smiling, his hand touching her as if she'd become his personal possession.

Damn him, Eva thought. It was all over and still she felt the way she had before. That wasn't the way it was supposed to work. Once she was satisfied she usually wanted no part of the man who had done it. But this was different, her heart still beat like a trip hammer just looking at him.

Eva twisted onto her side. She felt her breast brush against the hair on his chest. "It was wonderful," she said softly, running her hand through his damp hair.

"It was." His voice was husky. He added, "It's still wrong."

"I know," Eva agreed. "Are you sorry?"

"No," he said soberly. "I'm not."

Eva wiggled closer until she could feel his warmth against her. "Neither am I."

"But I'm a married man, Eva," Martin said. "I've got two children."

She shook her head then kissed him tenderly. Their lips clung briefly together as she drew away. "Make it three, darling," she whispered. "Let's have one."

"We're both fools," he snapped.

Eva laughed lightly, rolling onto her back, pulling him to her. "Give me a son," she panted.

Martin looked up at her, a slight grin on his lips, his chin digging into her stomach, his face framed by her breasts. "Is that what you want? he said huskily.

"Yes ... yes ... yes," Eva cried. "Darlin," she whispered. "I'm yours, all of me."

Eva smiled and then the ecstasy came, and the lovers in the room were only a single shadow. The flickering fire caught flesh and movement and the depths of a woman's unseeing eyes. The rain rattled on the roof, thunder boomed its music but inside all was strangely quiet.

It seemed to remain that way endlessly until a woman's voice shattered the illusion. "Ah," it said, followed by a long sigh.

There was no more. The movement ceased. The couple seemed asleep.

Martin threw a log on the fire and stood for a moment watching a blaze of sparks shoot up the chimney. He then moved a short distance from the hearth and sat on the floor, picking up his cup of coffee and enjoying it's warmth. Eva smiled at him and leaned forward, tilting her mouth to be kissed. He didn't disappoint her, caressing her lips with his.

"Lovely," she sighed softly as they parted.

Martin grinned, looking at the woman sitting cross legged across from him. The flickering fire played on the lovely, naked body, creating light and shadow on the flawless skin. "You are lovely," he said.

"I'm glad you think so."

"I do."

She took a sip of coffee, spilling a drop in the process. It splashed against her breast then trickled down. "I love you," she said softly, teasingly, as she saw Martin's eyes on her.

"You're terrible," he accused.

"I'm," Eva admitted, pulling his face forward to her body. She shivered as part of her figure vanished momentarily from sight. "I wish we could stay here forever," she whispered.

Martin looked up at her. "It would be nice," he admitted.

"We'd never wear clothes."

"I'd have to go out and chop wood."

"I'd let you have shoes then," Eva laughed. She sobered, looking deep into his eyes.

"You know what, darling? I'm yours ... all yours."

"That makes two women I own," Martin said, soberly.

"Which one do you like best?"

"Don't make me answer that."

Eva kissed him tenderly, at the same time covering his hand with hers, holding it tightly against her body. "Which one?" she said down his throat.

Eva wavered in passion as his eyes gave her the answer. "You're a minx," he accused.

She reached out. "This minx knows that you wan her."

"How can you tell?" he grinned.

"Braille," she explained, tightening her grip. "I'm your possession, darling. Use me."

Martin looked briefly around the room. It was dark outside and the rain had stopped. "We really should go."

"Do you want to?"

Martin looked down at the body of the beautiful woman. "No," he admitted. "Not just yet."

Eva lay back, knowing that she wanted him more this time than any other. And, as the pleasure of his body suddenly returned, Eva knew that she could never let this man go.

The drive through the desert was quiet excepting for the hushed purr of the Caddy's engine. Eva lay back against the seat, studying the stars overhead that studded the blackness like diamonds. It had been a wonderful day, she thought happily, unlike any that she'd ever known before.

Eva took a deep breath of the fresh, dry air, completely content with the world. She was glad that Martin had decided to return to L.A. by way of the back door. The highway leading down out of the mountains and then across the Mojave Desert was longer and more deserted as it snaked a curved path towards the city.

She looked down at the outline of his hand beneath her skirt where it'd been practically since leaving the cabin. It felt wonderful. This was the only way to travel.

Eva leaned across the seat and kissed his cheek. "Thanks for a wonderful day," she said. "I've never been so happy."

Martin glanced at her and grinned. "It's been that," he agreed.

"Are you sorry?"

He shook his head slowly. "I don't think so." A car's lights suddenly showed in the distance. When it had drawn close enough to illuminate the couple in the front seat, Eva pulled her unfastened blouse together. "I'm happy to see that you have some modesty," Martin chuckled.

Eva waited until the other car had swept noisily past before she answered him. "I'm just hiding your property," she smiled.

"You belong to your husband."

Eva shook her head emphatically. "No, darling." I "I'm yours. You made me that way."

Martin didn't answer, excepting to squeeze her bare body beneath the skirt.

Eva shivered at the motion and lay her head contentedly on his shoulder. Life was wonderful.

She must have fallen asleep for when she opened her eyes the car was stopped. Eva looked around in momentary confusion.

"We're almost to the main highway," Martin explained.

Eva followed his eyes. A short distance away she saw a string of headlights weaving a bright thread of light through the night. She knew the spot. It was where the desert highway joined 395 and became suddenly very populated with people traveling the length of the state. "So?" she asked.

Martin leaned closer to her. "It's time to get dressed." ; "But I don't want to," Eva pouted. She reached down and pulled the skirt to her waist. "I don't want to hide anything, not from you."

"You want us to get arrested? Martin grinned.

."I don't care," Eva pouted. "As long as I'm in the same cell with you."

"You're hopeless," Martin chuckled.

Eva cuddled closer to him, her hand reaching for his body. "I can get worse," she promised. A zipper sounded in the momentary quiet. "Damn you," he swore.

"Damn me why?" Eva grinned, watching the effect of what she was doing to him play across his face. "Don't you ever get enough?"

"Do you?"

"Not from you," Martin admitted.

"I'll have to get undressed to dress," Eva said. "Take off my blouse."

He did, with no further protest.

"And my skirt," she panted, the strain building in her voice.

He did, almost ripping the material from her slender body.

Naked, Eva moved towards the opposite door for room. She stretched languidly, placing a foot against each side of the car and raised her arms to him. "Love me," she commanded softly.

He did!

After a ten minute pause that refreshed them both, the couple were underway again. This time Eva was fully dressed, although somewhat rumpled.

Martin drove silently until they passed through San Fernando, the northern entrance to the valley. He turned to Eva, his face serious. "Let's stop and have some coffee," he suggested. "We'd better talk this thing out."

"I'd like some coffee," Eva smiled. "But what's to be discussed?" She stroked his chin, adding, "Please, darling, don't spoil today."

Martin brushed her hand away somewhat roughly. "Can't you ever be serious?"

"Not where you're concerned."

He pulled the car off the road at the next drive-in along the busy highway, coming to a stop beneath the brilliantly lighted canopy. Immediately a lightly clad girl with large breasts and bigger hips thrust a small menu through the open window.

Martin shook his head. "We'll just have coffee," he said.

The carhop smiled her understanding and left, returning almost immediately with a tray and two cups. When she'd again vanished, Martin took one of the coffees and handed it to Eva who opened the glove compartment and placed it on the door. But before she drank it she leaned over and kissed Martin on the cheek. "You're sweet," she said.

Martin blushed and looked quickly around at the other cars parked close to them. "Be careful," he warned. "We're in the big city now. People have eyes."

"I don't care," Eva pouted. "I want everybody to know how I feel about you."

Martin looked at her hard. "And how is that?"

"I love you, darling."

He tore the top off the sugar and let it flow into his coffee, his eyes moody. At last Martin looked up at the girl beside him again. "Look, Eva," he began soberly. "Let's face a few facts. We're both married. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"No," she said simply.

"Well it does to me," Martin said.

"You haven't acted that way today," she reminded him.

He sighed and lighted a cigarette. "It's been wonderful," he said slowly, carefully choosing his words. "I won't deny that. I think something like this happens to every married man and woman somewhere in their attached lives. It's just a ... well, it's an...."

"Affair?" Eva finished the sentence for him.

Martin nodded, looking graver by the minute. "That's about it. We've had our fun. But now it's finished. I'll go back to my wife and you go back to your husband."

"Just like that?" Eva said evenly. She knew that she should be mad at his passing her off as a passing fancy. But she knew men that well. They always fought for reasons to excuse what they'd done. But Martin was different. She could tell from the way he looked at her and the ardor he showed that he really didn't mean what he was saying. But why not let him get it out of his system?

And Eva had been doing some thinking while they drove home. Up until today she'd been drifting with Ralph, using him for a meal ticket while getting what she needed on the side. She'd had no particular future in mind, other than continuing on the same hopeless path.

But now things were changed. She could see a direction ahead. It was obvious that Martin liked her body. And she in turn loved him. What better combination could there be?

But beyond that there was still more. Martin was wealthy. He could give her the things that she deserved. With him there'd be luxury instead of a boxy house in a dreary subdivision.

So he was married? What did that matter? It wouldn't be hard to get him away from his wife and a couple of snot-nosed kids. Didn't she have the ammunition for that?

Eva glanced at the man sitting silently beside her. She tried not to smile at the excitement she felt. Before too long she'd make him her husband.