Chapter 14

They drove along in silence, plunging down the freeway with ten thousand other cars storming home after a day's work. Eva nestled contentedly on Martin's shoulder, feeling the weight of his hand on her thigh, liking it. After the kiss he'd remained silent for the most part, apparently wrapped up in his own thinking.

She looked up at him, kissing his cheek gently. "A penny for your thoughts," she said, breaking the quiet of the mood.

Martin shrugged and swung the caddy around a slow moving car. "They aren't worth that much," he admitted. "I was just going over how fast things have changed."

"In what way?"

"Just a week ago I didn't even know you. Then I met you, after Ralph asked me to bring any changes in the audit to him on Saturday."

Eva looked at him. "Did he ask you to come over?" she said, surprised.

Martin nodded.

"That's odd," Eva said. "He knew he was going fishing." She realized that there were a lot of strange things beginning to show up about Ralph lately. At the same time she scolded herself for looking a gift horse in the mouth. Wasn't Ralph going to be surprised when he found out he was responsible for her meeting the man that took her away from him. Eva wished she could be around when he found out. "What else are you thinking about?" she prompted.

"Just that all this has happened in less than a week. If seven days ago someone would have told me that I'd be riding down the Freeway with another woman I'd have called him mad."

"Are you?" Eva smiled.

"About you," he admitted, squeezing her leg.

"Then why didn't you call me?" she said.

Martin's face sobered. "I wanted to, Eva, believe me I did. First there was an extra rush of business. We're expecting a million dollar shipment in towards the end of the month. And then I was afraid of my own feelings."

"Aren't I worth a lot more than an old million dollar shipment?" Eva chided.

"A lot more I'm afraid," he admitted. "But I wanted time to sort out my thinking. I don't believe I could have gotten through the week without seeing you."

"I'm glad," Eva said softly. She looked up as Martin bent the car onto an exit road from the freeway. "Where are we going?"

"I thought I'd drive you up to Malibu for dinner. Then we can take a long drive and talk." He looked across the seat at her. "What time do you have to be home?"

Eva shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. I wrote Ralph a note that I was going to see my sister. He won't expect me until real late." She added, "I suppose I could stay out all night and he wouldn't suspect anything."

A shadow passed across Martin's face. "I think you're still not giving him credit for the intelligence he has."

"Phoo," Eva scoffed. "You only know him in business. At home he's a real soft-head." She cuddled closer to the man beside her. "Do we have to go to a restaurant?"

"Aren't you hungry?"

She laughed gently. "I am, but not for food." Eva pulled her skirt higher until the dark stockings gave way to lighter colored flesh. Then she took his hand and pressed it to her hot lips, feeling a wave of excitement at the touch. "That's what I'm hungry for," she said softly. We've got three days of making up to do. Maybe we can have food sent up."

"You're shameless," Martin laughed.

"I'm in love," Eva said matter-of-factly.

Martin drove onto Wilshire and headed towards the beaches, passing through the heart of Miracle Mile at a crawl in the rush-hour traffic. "All right," he said at last. "We can go to the Monica Towers. They know how to keep their mouths shut."

Eva gave him a happy squeeze. She knew the hotel he'd mentioned, but she'd never dreamed in her wildest moments that she'd ever have a chance to go there. It was the show place of the beaches, built on a high bluff overlooking the Pacific.

Even more important was her conquest of getting Martin to. go there. With a man this was important. Once he accepted the fact that they should be together, a woman usually has things her way. Eva was now confident that it wouldn't be long before Martin would be her property alone.

Eva stood open mouthed with Martin before the register desk, unable to take her eyes off the ornate lobby. Never in her life had she seen anything so magnificent. The luxury took her breath away. If this was what living with Martin would be like, she adored it.

Beside her, Martin was scrawling a name on the registry. The young clerk swung the book around. "Welcome to the Monica Towers, Mr. Smith," he said. "Now if you'll give us the keys to your car I'll have the boy get your luggage."

"Here are the keys," Martin said. "Have him park the car. But there isn't any luggage."

The clerk's expression didn't change a line. "I see," he continued, deadpan. "In that case I'm quite sure that you understand the policy of the hotel."

Martin nodded and reached for his wallet. "I do," he admitted, spilling green onto the counter. "This should buy the suite for two weeks."

"It's more than enough, sir," the clerk said, a broad smile now covering his face.

"In that case supposing you take a short course in memory lapse," Martin suggested.

The clerk nodded and pointed down a long, marble hall leading away from the desk. "Your accomodations are on the tenth floor, Mr. Smith. Why don't you take the self-service elevator. It's more ... shall we say private."

Martin nodded and held his arm for Eva to take. When they were a short distance from the clerk she looked at Martin in awe. "I never heard so much said with so few words," she admitted.

He grinned broadly. "You forget, darling, we live in L.A., home of the sin towns, Hollywood and Beverly Hills. There have to be certain arrangements available for the sinners."

"Are we sinners?"

He chucked her beneath the chin. "We are. Sorry?"

"No," Eva smiled. "I'm just anxious to show you how sinful I can be."

When the elevator door opened they stepped in. As soon as it closed again and Martin had pressed the proper button, Eva threw her arms around him. "I love you," she whispered.

"Me too." he said huskily, holding her close.

Eva pulled away, breathing hard. "Take off my blouse."

"Here?"

"Here."

His fingers fumbled with the buttons until they burst apart from the pressure beneath. "Now the bra," she panted. "It's hooked."

"Rip it off," Eva cried, her emotions beginning to leave her control.

Eva moaned in pleasure at his touch. Three days of frustration burst to the surface. Her head spun wildly with the ecstasy of his mouth.

All of this had happened before they reached the seventh floor. And Eva knew that she couldn't wait until they were in their room. She needed him now, this minute. She reached for the emergency button and pushed it hard.

Martin looked up as he felt motion cease. "Why did you do that?" he grinned.

"It's an emergency isn't it?" Eva smiled. "I want you.

"Can't you wait?"

"No," Eva cried. She kissed him with all stops pulled, whispering, pressing herself to his body.

"This is crazy," Martin protested mildly. "Supposing someone wants to use the elevator."

"Let them find their own," Eva said softly. "Love me, never stop loving me."

He bent down. You're wonderful," he said, breathing hard.

Eva felt weak in his arms, her whole world spinning violently at the caress of his hands. The fingers played her body like a tune, drawing sparks from her flesh, bringing her emotions to new heights.

And her ecstasy turned into a jumble of sounds but they faded as Eva rose to heights never attained before.

And then it was over, just as quickly as it'd begun. Eva opened her eyes regretfully, fighting to gain strength. The first thing she saw was the switch panel. Every floor had a lighted bulb. She smiled.

Martin managed a grin of his own and followed her eyes. "We got company," he said, his own breathing still coming hard. "We're crazy for pulling a stunt like this."

"Sorry?"

"No. But how do we get out of this box and maintain our dignity?"

"We could tell them it broke down and this was the only thing we could think of to pass the time of day."

Martin chuckled at the suggestion. "Nice try. But before we do anything you'd better get dressed."

"Do I have to?"

"What goes on can come off," Martin reminded her. "Is that a promise?"

He took his hand and squeezed her breast. "It is."

They both heard the sound at the roof of the elevator at the same time. Eva swung her eyes in that direction just in time to see a swarthy, mustached face poking through an opening. "What'sa matter down there?" the newcomer said in thick Italian. "Who are you?" Martin asked, somewhat surprised by the intrusion.

"Who you think I am?" the man said. "I'm the hotel maintenance man. This elevator, she stuck, they call me ... right in the middle of spagette dinner." He looked at Eva and smiled broadly, showing a broad row of teeth. "Whooeee, she beaut."

Eva sudden realized that with the exception of the garter belt, stockings and shoes, she was quite naked. She scooped up her blouse.

"You pressa the emergency button?" the swarthy figure asked.

"I did," Eva admitted.

"What'sa matter, couldn't you wait? " He glanced around the small elevator and then at Martin. "How you manage to do it in there? Some trick eh." He winked, adding, "You showa me sometime?" He looked at Eva again. "You better getta dressed. We gotta get this thing going."

Martin handed up a couple of ten dollar bills. "Supposing you report that a fuse blew," he suggested.

The Italian kissed the money and stuffed it in his greasy overall pocket. "You betcha. Giva me a few minutes to get out of here then press the starta button. But the girl better get dressed. She canta get out like that." His face vanished from the opening.

"Nice guy," Martin said as the emergency hatch clattered back into place.

Eva nodded. "He is. But I hate to get dressed."

Martin slapped her playfully on her bare hip. The blow rang loud in the small chamber. 'It won't be for long," he promised.

Eva put on the blouse and skirt but no more. She was well aware that the thin material hid little but figured she could get by in the darkness of the hall. She then picked up her bra and slip and rolled them into a tight ball. "I'm ready," she announced.

"You're going out in public like that?" Martin grinned.

"Why," Eva smiled, looking down. "Is something wrong."

"You're indecent."

"Where?"

He didn't answer, but pressed the start button.

When the door slid open, Eva tried to maintain a straight face as they stepped into the hall. There was only one couple waiting and from the way their arms were wound around each other they couldn't have cared less about transportation.

"Why is it," Eva said as they walked down the dimly lighted hall, "that the more a woman loves a man the less she wants to wear."

"Is this your theory?" Martin grinned.

"It is."

"In that case you can't love me very much."

Eva made a face. At the same time she unhooked the skirt. It slid downwards until the swell of her hips prevented any further motion. "That better?" she laughed, borne.

She removed her blouse with an easy motion."

"You're getting there. You'll have us arrested yet."

Eva ignored his warning, feeling the strong draft flow across her exposed skin. "There's something exciting about being partially undressed in a public place," Eva said. "I remember when I was a little girl I'd sneak out onto the street after my folks thought I was stand there without any clothes. It was wonderful."

"And now?" Martin grinned.

"It's even better," Eva said softly, squeezing his arm. I get the thrill and when I'm hot you're there to cool me off. Life couldn't be more wonderful."

Martin stopped before a door and fitted the key.

He pushed Eva through the opening gently. "You'd make a good strip teaser," he said, slamming the panel behind them.

She laughed lightly and spun away from him, going into a series of happy gyrations, moving her hips sensuously so that the already unhooked skirt slid lower and lower until it dropped to the floor. Warming to the dance, enjoying the eyes of the man before her, Eva kept time to an unheard drum, unhooking the garter belt, then the stockings and rolling them downward. She kicked off one shoe and then the other, all in rhythm.

Her eyes slightly glazed, Eva moved her hips in a seductive circle, designed for only one thing. She emphasized the flow of her body by moving her shoulders until they were almost a . blur of motion.

The finale was her arms, held out the length of her body, the red nails on her fingers brilliant against her light colored flesh. Her breathing heavy, from both the emotion and exercise, she said: "Forever, darling, love me forever."

Tenderly, Martin drew her into his arms.

Minutes, hours later, Eva didn't know or care which, she opened her eyes to stare at Martin looking down at her.

"You're quite a gal," he said slowly. "I've never in my life met anyone like you. I didn't even know such a woman existed."

"You know it now," Eva smiled.

Martin nodded. "I do. And there's something I want to ask you."

There was a tone in his voice that made Eva pay attention, to forget for a moment the happiness of her body. She stroked his cheek gently. "What is it?"

"Will you marry me?"