Without You I Have Nothing (22 page)

_{Motionless she sat
staring at Peter and didn’t flinch when he put his hand on her shoulder.}

_{“There I go, talking
too much as usual.”  Laughing, Peter tried to break the tension, “Think over
what I’ve said. Then decide whether you want to come.”}

_{Nothing broke her
stare into space.}

_{She was a statue, so
incredibly beautiful Peter wanted to stroke and kiss her. “I'm sorry if I upset
you.”}

_{Peter couldn’t guess
what she was thinking.}

_{Jennifer smiled, her
trance broken. “I'm not upset. It was just a shock that’s all. It’ll take a
while to sink in. I should apologize for being a fool but...”}

_{“No excuses. Would you
still like to come away for the weekend?”  Peter held his breath, hoping.}

_{“If not, we’ll unpack
the car. Any presents are exactly that - presents given from the heart. No
strings attached.”  Again, he waited. There was nothing more he could add.}

_{Jennifer looked up,
smiling as if seeing Peter for the first time, “I’d love to come.”}

_{“Thank God, you
didn’t even add and no funny business,” he whooped into the bedroom and
produced an enormous bunch of blood red roses. “I forgot these.”}

_{“Peter you're a fool,”
she giggled and began burrowing into the roses. “Where’s the card?  Knowing
you, there’s sure to be one.”}

_{“No card with these,
just my heart.”}

_{She must have
expected more than Peter’s light kiss on the cheek, as she seemed so surprised.}

_{“The bathroom’s
through there.”  Peter pointed into the bedroom. “I’ll put these in water and
we're off. Which way?  North?  South or West?”}

_{“Bob was saying you
will be driving trucks to Bathurst so that’s where I want to go. I want to see
the road you will be using as Bob said it is no picnic.”}

_{Peter directed
Jennifer though the traffic until they were climbing the eastern escarpment of
the Blue Mountains. It seemed no time at all when he directed her to pull into
a small, romantic French Restaurant, which seemed to perch high over the lights
of Sydney.}

_{The wine waiter
paused for Peter’s order. Disaster!  He knew nothing of wine but, sensing his
confusion, Jennifer ordered with a smile.}

_{“I see that I’ll have
to teach you. However, do as I say. I don’t want a drunk hanging all over me,”
she winked roguishly and Peter knew everything would go well.}

_{The meal - or maybe
it was only Jennifer’s presence - was delightful in spite of the occasional
warning, “Sip don’t swig.”}

_{Talking was easy and
she was no Ice Maiden. She sparkled and glittered and Peter basked in her
warmth. Those green eyes changed tints and were alive with laughter.}

_{The music - the love
songs, the arias, even the marches - and the climate control all helped pass
the time in luxury as the car dashed onwards, its lights stabbing into the
darkness.}

_{At one stage, the
strains of the Olympic Anthem 'Ode to Joy' were in Peter’s ears and his hand
unconsciously strayed to Jennifer’s knee where it kept a rhythmic beat. Peter
was completely unaware of where it had wandered until her hand left the
steering wheel to pat the errant hand, “You enjoy classical music, don’t you? 
You're not even worried by my driving.”}

_{“This is an extremely
dangerous road and your driving skill is incredibly good. You and the car are a
good pair,” Peter laughed.}

_{“With practice you’ll
be able to take over from Bob. He’s all start and stop. I'm forever fixing his
clutch and brakes.”}

_{Peter didn’t consider
Jennifer would be frightened when he returned from the motel office with only
one key. She said nothing but was white faced when he carried their luggage
into the one room. Blinded by his happiness he didn’t consider it strange she
had not followed.}

_{Still Jennifer sat in
the car, staring ahead, her knuckles white as she clenched the steering wheel.}

_{“Come on, Jennifer.”}

_{She didn’t move.}

_{“What’s wrong?” 
Peter dragged her into the room where she turned her back to stare at the
floor, her hair falling over her face.}

_{“Peter, I believed in
you and now...”  She began to sob.}

_{“What do you mean?” 
Peter looked perplexed. His mind was confused. ‘Am I ever going to understand
this woman?’}

_{“You said... You
promised... Now I find what you had in mind,” slowly she turned her face,
looking miserable with tears streaming down her cheeks. “You're just a man. I
should have known better. I really believed you are different.”}

_{Straightening her
back she threw her head up aggressively and hands on hips challenged Peter
glaring defiantly. “I'm a virgin and I intend remaining that way until I'm
married. The only person I’ll ever willingly give my body to will be my
husband.”}

_{Peter’s arms
encircled her as he sat on the bed with Jennifer sitting on his lap. Holding
her as gently as he could, he tried to explain, “Jennifer, listen carefully.”}

_{She tried to stand
but he wouldn’t allow her to move.}

_{“Please listen. Yes,
I'm a man and proud of it. I'm no boy who would attack you, dragging you off to
batter down your resistance. I'm a man. Hear me,” tenderly he lifted her face
to kiss her eyes - first one eyelid then the other.}

_{“I didn’t lie to you.
I can’t lie to you. You’ve jumped to a conclusion and you're wrong. This was
the only room left and I intend sleeping in the car. My bag is here so I can
have a shower that’s all.”}

_{Desperately Peter
tried to prove she was safe with him as he continued, “You're a virgin ... so
what?”}

_{Jennifer opened her
eyes, the tears ceased.}

_{“You intend giving
your husband a priceless gift.”}

_{Then it was all too
much for Peter and grinning he added, “I can wait.”  He stared into her eyes as
if trying to mesmerize her, “It’ll be me sharing your marriage bed.”}

_{His kiss was
passionate. He had warned her he intended being her husband. For the first time
Peter’s love, the strength of which he had denied himself flowed through his
body with all the urgency he had, all this time, held in check.}

_{Jennifer’s mouth
opened to accept his tongue, which lashed her inner softness into submission.}

_{He bathed in the
sweetness of her mouth and enjoyed the silken dueling with her tongue. Her
breath held the promises of a summer ocean breeze but it only inflamed him even
more and his arms tightened about her holding her tightly against his body.}

_{Then the kissing
changed and Jennifer seemed to sag. Her lips were so soft, her mouth was open
but Peter’s tongue didn’t attempt to explore. He kissed her with lustful words
whispered onto her lips, which he sucked as Jennifer in turn kissed him. When
their tongues finally did touch, it was outside their mouths, licking each
other’s lips.}

_{Peter sucked
Jennifer’s tongue into his mouth holding it there ever so briefly. Again, he
was kissing her, their mouths open, exchanging lustful breaths back and forth.}

_{Their tongues met in
a playful dance, equally penetrating each other’s mouth, not probing as a man’s
tongue intent on seduction always seems to do.}

_{Jennifer’s body hung
against Peter’s and her tongue tried to attack Peter’s mouth as if trying to
suck him deep inside her. Her eyelids fluttered, her eyes widened before
closing and her arms crawled around Peter’s neck. She answered Peter’s feelings
with her body, which returned his passion tenfold.}

_{Peter was the first
to break their embrace, “My God, Jennifer. Do that again and I’ll be a
gibbering idiot. They’ll make me a doormat or something.”}

_{Wrapping his arms
around her waist, he pulled her against his body. Although his renewed
eagerness stunned Jennifer, she reacted quickly when his lips brushed hers in a
sweet kiss that melted her resistance.}

_{She tightened her
arms around his neck and opened her mouth to accept his probing tongue. Peter deepened
the kiss and her toes curled. She couldn’t breathe and didn’t want to. She only
wanted to continue tasting his delicious kiss. Her body ground into his
hardness and she melted completely.}

_{‘Oh, God, I want
you.’  Jennifer couldn’t control her soft whimpers of pleasure.}

_{Both bodies spoke and
the conversation sent Peter’s senses reeling.}

_{Peter broke the
embrace. “Now give me a pillow and I'm off.”}

_{“Off?”  Jennifer
seemed bewildered.}

_{“You didn’t hear what
I said,” he patted her shoulder. “This was the only room they had so I’ll sleep
in the car. Sleep tight.”  Peter kissed her cheek and left.}

_{Hours later, a tap
came at the frosty window. Peter’s body was stiff and he decided that he would
never get comfortable sleeping in this car.}

_{“Come inside,” Jennifer
seemed ill at ease yet demanded that he follow her. Bashfully she closed the
door behind him, “I don’t want you to think the wrong thing but I couldn’t
sleep knowing you were out there in the car. You're so big and the Mini is so
small. No funny business and you can sleep on top of the bed.”}

_{“Oh?”  Peter tried to
look wistful and sad but Jennifer only began to laugh, “I thought...”}

_{“Go into the bathroom
and change.”  Jennifer was in charge.}

_{“I won’t lock the
door if you promise not to peep.”}

_{The only reply was
Jennifer’s giggle as she pushed him towards the door. The sexual tension
between them was broken. She snuggled under the blankets while Peter lay on top
in a sarong, cradling her head in his arms.}

_{Softly she whispered,
“I think I'm insane. I know you're mad and I think that I’ve caught some of
your madness.”}

_{Enjoying the feeling
of being lovingly protected she relaxed. “You're really incredible, Peter, you
say you love me, yet I do believe you’ve never once thought of seducing me.”}

_{Peter murmured into
her hair, “How could I?”  His arms tightened around her. “If I stripped, you
would say 'Good God, what with?'“}

_{“I’ll bet,” a soft
giggle answered. Then she paused adding, “You're so like my brother.”}

_{“Well, unless you
have a magnifying glass and two tooth picks you can’t check.”}

_{Jennifer didn’t
answer. She was asleep.}

_{It grew cold and
Jennifer looked so inviting asleep under the blankets that Peter gave her a
nudge. “Hey, move over,” and he gave her a push as he slipped under the
bedclothes with her.}

_{“What do you
think...?”  Jennifer was instantly awake, “Get out, you big oaf.”}

_{“I'm freezing.” 
Peter pulled her down. “Please, Jennifer, I forgot my Teddy-Bear.”}

_{She groaned, “You
fool,” allowing Peter to cuddle up as close as he could. They slept in each
other’s arms.}

_{A nudge awoke Peter.}

_{Sunlight was
streaming through the window, bathing the room in the eerie softness of a
yellow dawn.}

_{“There are three of
us in this bed and that third person is not ‘The Little One’.”  A muted laugh
came from Peter’s shoulder where Jennifer still lay.}

_{Peter froze. Jennifer
was right. His body had responded to her warm, soft femininity even as he
slept.}

_{“I'm sorry, Jennifer,
I didn’t know.”}

_{“Nothing to be sorry
about.”  She leant on one elbow and looked down on him, “I’ve got a brother… 
I'm not that innocent.”}

_{Then shyly she added,
“You’ve had me worried. I even thought you were gay. You’ve never...”  She
paused to kiss Peter wildly. “Actually I'm flattered. Now get out of here
before I lose my resolve or worse.”}

_{Her push was enough
to send him crashing to the floor.}

_{Realizing Jennifer
was watching Peter raced for the bathroom trying to cover his embarrassment.}

_{A wild laugh followed
him. “They say a cold shower does wonders.”}

_{Soon, hand-in-hand
they were wandering down the main street. They were silent. The touch of each
other’s hands was enough. Even breakfast at a truckers' stop was a quiet affair.
Peter’s thoughts were full of Jennifer, her softness and the passion with which
she had returned his kisses. If he had admitted he loved her before leaving
Sydney, what was he to say now?}

_{In the car,
conversation was easier. They toured Bathurst, visiting Charles Sturt
University and the trucking yard where Peter was to deliver the trucks. Jennifer
even rushed the Mini around the Mount Panorama Racing Circuit.}