Crime of Passion
By James J. Johns
Copyright 2012 by James J. Johns, all rights reserved
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This story contains adult themes and is not suitable for readers under eighteen years of age. All characters in this work of fiction that engage in sexual activity are at least eighteen years old at the time the activity takes place. Nothing in this story is intended to depict any person living or dead or any actual event. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.
Crime of Passion
Charles was surprised when he answered his cell phone and heard the voice of his friend Rachael, one of his fellow students at the University of Maryland back when he was attending graduate school studying architecture and she’d been a freshman in pre-law. Actually she was a special friend. He’d had a major crush on her for years. If he was really honest with himself he would have admitted he’d been in love with her for years. He called it a crush because he’d never said anything to her about how he felt and was pretty sure she didn’t have any idea how he felt. He didn’t know how she felt toward him either; she’d never shown any sexual interest in him. He was surprised to hear from her. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d called him; he usually called her.
“Hi Chuck! You mentioned when we were at Danny’s the other night that you were going to drive to Atlanta on business this weekend. I think you’re crazy as a loon to do that. If you had any sense you’d fly. It would probably be cheaper not to mention the discomfort of a two day drive, but if you really are going to do it I wonder if you’d give me a ride. I’d be willing to share the cost of gas and I’m willing to share the driving too. I have an aunt who lives down there and I’d really like to go down and visit her.
“If we stop along the way, and I can’t imagine driving straight through that far, I have a friend who lives in Greensboro North Carolina. It’s about halfway and it’s right on Interstate 85. It looks like they’ll let us stay with them for the night so you wouldn’t have to pay for a motel room. I can’t really afford one so I’d like to stay with them.
“I’ve already called her and she says unless something comes up we could stay with her. The only problem is she said her husband may have to put up some of his business associates that night and they won’t know for sure until the last minute. I left it that we’d call when we got there. They have plenty of room and it wouldn’t be any problem for them. It’s alright if you don’t feel comfortable with that. I could stay with them and you could get a room at a motel near the Interstate. There are plenty of motels near the Interstate—I’m sure you knew that. I don’t know why I can’t think straight.”
He smiled it was pure Rachael Anderson; never stop talking to take a breath just jump in first then look to see where you’ll land. He said, “Sounds like you’ll be riding shotgun for me and you’ve got it all planned out.” I can afford a motel room and I can spring for two if your friend’s place doesn’t work out. I’d enjoy your companion the road. You’re easy to talk to if I can manage to get a word in now and then and you’re sure easy on the eyes. Sure you’re welcome to ride along. It’ll make the trip much more pleasant. Let me know where to pick you up.”
“Why Chuck, That’s so sweet. So you think I’m good looking? You never told me that before in all the years you’ve known me. Why haven’t you ever told me?”
Charles lied through his teeth, “I never thought of you as a girl I guess; we were always just best buddies. Besides you always had two or three rich guys like Connie’s brother sniffing around you so I didn’t think I’d have a chance with you.”
“I see…. You never thought of me as a girl but it bothered you that I was popular with other guys? Let me tell you something: you always had the inside track Chuck. If you’d ever given me a tumble I’d have taken off my clothes and been down on my back offering it to you in a flash. God Chuck we’ve missed out on an awful lot. I should have just told you how I felt but you treated me like one of the guys. You always acted like you weren’t interested in me. I didn’t want to take a chance on being rejected.”
A thrill followed by a feeling of loss went through him. She was saying she had wanted him to make a play for her and furthermore telling him she would have let him have her if he had asked her. God what a fool he had been. He steeled himself and said, “I know Rach. I was a big fool but that was then. I’ll pick you up wherever you say. I want to leave no later than eight o’clock. That way it won’t be so late when we get to Greensboro. That Ok with you?”
“You can pick me up anytime anywhere Chuck. I’ll be outside my apartment at eight. I’ll be ready. You want me to bring some snacks for the road. I’d bring beer but that’s not a good idea on a long trip.”
He didn’t answer right away finally he said in a lifeless voice, “I usually stop if I get hungry but you can bring whatever you like Rach.”
Her voice came over the phone in a low husky voice and he could hear her sadness, “I’m so sorry Chuck. I didn’t know you were interested in me that way. I know I always had a waiting line but I’d have been happy for you to be in it. In fact I’d have let you in at the front of the line.
“Anyway I’ll be all yours for a couple of days on the trip so I hope we get along with each other. I’ll try to play nice, and Chuck, I’m really sorry I ignored you back in the day…. and recently too I guess. I didn’t know you were interested in me as a girl; I wish I had. I didn’t mean to hurt you Chuck. I’m really sorry. Please forgive me. I’ll try to make it up to you on the trip.”
His heart was racing and he felt himself responding. He was getting hard. She really wanted to be with him. Why the hell hadn’t he had the balls to try for her years ago? He said, “I like the sound of that Rach. I won’t hold you to it, but I really like the sound of that. See you Wednesday morning at eight outside your front door, Ok?”
“I’ll be there and I really will make it up to you on the trip. I wish I had known how
you felt about me when we were in college. We’d have been an item….a hot item and it’s not too late. I’m yours if you want me. I mean it Chuck!”
“God Rach I want to believe you. You’ve got me aroused. I wish you were here with me now.”
She was standing outside the door to her apartment building wearing tight jeans, running shoes and a Purple and black Ravens jersey. She had a backpack slung over one shoulder and a small sports bag in one hand. Her long dark hair was in a pony tail and she wasn’t wearing make up. She looked great; she always did.
He pulled up to the curb in front of her and popped the trunk of his beautifully restored baby blue 1976 Mustang Cobra II coupe. She stepped off the curb, tossed her backpack into the trunk and closed the lid. He reached over and unlatched the passenger door. She opened the door, tossed her sports bag into the back seat and climbed into the right hand bucket seat.
She smiled at him and said, “I’ve always wanted to ride in this thing. Ever since you bought it I’ve wanted to ride in it. I love the car but I hate the damn console between the bucket seats.
“The seats are probably great for a long trip—feels very comfortable—but with the big console between them it’s very hard for me to get as close to you as I want to be. I suppose I’ll have to be good and wait until we get to Greensboro.
“I think it’s all set for us to stay with my friends in Greensboro. The last word was they didn’t think there would be any business associates spending the night but she said they would probably go out overnight and might not be back before we left the next morning if we left by eight like I said we would. He has some kind of big conference or something going on. I think they’re going to spend the night at the convention hotel.”
“Well I hate for you to miss them Rach, but we do need to get on the road early tomorrow.” He looked at her trying to read her mood. He was wondering if she really was interested in sex with him. She certainly was still talking a good game. He hoped she would put out in the end.
“It’s Ok I’ll see them when we stop by on the way back. You will come down and bring me back home won’t you. I’ll make it worth your while if you do. When will you have business in Atlanta next?”
“Actually I’ll need to be in Atlanta again in a couple of weeks. I don’t know exactly when yet. If your schedule is loose enough I could give you a ride home then. I’d love that. If this trip works out half as well as you’re promising I’ll be overjoyed to give you a ride home. Hell I’ll give you a ride anywhere you want to go. Now buckle up and we’ll be off. I’m planning to treat you to breakfast at the Double T diner over on Rt. 40 if that’s Ok.”
“Oh my god! I didn’t expect you to feed me. I had juice toast and coffee before you got here. I could still eat a couple of eggs I guess. I thought you’d be off and running non-stop.”
“Well the traffic is pretty bad this time of day, especially around D.C., so I figured we might as well eat something and let the roads clear out a little. Sorry I forgot to tell you about that. I don’t think some eggs and hash browns will hurt your figure. You’ve always been able to eat like a longshoreman and never show it. I guess it’s all the extra exercise you get that keeps you nice and slim.”
I don’t get nearly as much as I used to Chuck and I’d have gotten most of my exercise with you if I’d known how you felt. God I wish you’d told me. I think if you’d told me back then before I got used to sleeping around that you didn’t want me to sleep with other guys I’d have been able to be monogamous with you but I’m so into multiple partners and partner swapping now that I don’t know if I could do it anymore. I’ll try if you really want me to but I can only promise to try.”
“I’d like to be the only one sleeping with you Rach but I’m not even one of the ones sleeping with you so far. I’ve always been too polite to push you. I wish I’d known you wanted me to come on to you. I hope you really mean we’ll get together on this trip.”
“I’m serious Chuck. I’ve always been yours for the taking ever since we met way back in my freshman year when you were RA in our dorm your first year in grad school. I kept hoping you’d make a move on me and I thought I was dropping lots of hints but you never picked up on them. I’m glad you finally told me you think I’m good looking. You don’t know how good that makes me feel Chuck.”
After a good breakfast they were back on the road. Once around the D.C. Beltway it was miles and miles of Interstate 95 and then 85 with a lunch stop and few short pit stops. Around four-thirty they were in Greensboro looking for Rachael’s friend’s apartment.
“I’m sure it’s right around here somewhere. I’ve only been to her apartment once right after she got married. I think it’s in the next block.” She’d told the truth she had only been here once since her friend bought the apartment but actually she had been to the apartment many times when it was John’s apartment. She had lived there for two months and knew exactly where it was but she wanted Chuck to think she was uncertain. She didn’t want him to know she knew the area very well. He didn’t need to know she’d lived there with John besides he might be suspicious later if she seemed to know a lot about the area.
She knew exactly where John’s new apartment was too and that was where she really wanted to go tonight. That visit had been the reason for the whole trip from her point of view. That and some sack time with Chuck now that she knew he wanted her. God what a jerk he’d been all this time, but it was her fault too. She could have come on to him and she didn’t so it wasn’t entirely his fault. How could they have misread each other so badly?
Still if he’d just made a play for her this trip probably wouldn’t have been necessary. If she’d been happily married to him, or at least happily with him, she’d never have gotten involved with John in the first place. Now John was with a new chick after using her and then one of her good friends, Constance Fairington, and throwing them away like trash when he was tired of them.
She snapped out of her revelry and said, “Slow down I think this is the building. Yes twenty-one ten Second Street. Her apartment is on the eighth floor number 806. Drop me off and I’ll see if they’re home. I think we can stay here either way the only problem will be if her husband has some people staying here.” She knew her friend was away and there would be no problem. Actually the friend didn’t know she was coming but she had a key because she had stayed in this apartment lots of times when she was with John and her friend hadn’t changed the locks when she bought it from him….at least Rachael hoped she hadn’t.