Chapter 17

Richie sucked in an audible breath at Annabelle's soft words.  His eyes widened in disbelief.  Had he just heard her right?  She wanted him to.... WHAT?

Annie saw the shock in Richie's expression.  She paused for a moment, watching him, then repeated her words.  "Kiss me, Richie."  Her gentle smile curved into a playful smirk.  "I dare you."

"Uh..."  Richie couldn't move.  Annabelle had just asked him... no, dared him... to do the one thing he had been trying to avoid thinking about all night.  Oh, how he had yearned to touch his lips to hers, to discover how soft they were, how sweet they tasted... but he knew he wouldn't want to stop there.  He would want so, so much more than just a kiss.

He let out a frustrated little sigh.  "Annie..."

Annie raised an eyebrow at Richie's gentle protest.  She knew he wanted to kiss her.  She was positive of it.  The way he looked at her, the way he held her when they danced, the way his heartbeat accelerated in his chest when he smelled her hair when he thought she wasn't paying attention... so why the Hell was he hesitating?

"C'mon, Richie." Annie's voice was more firm than pleading, though inside she was silently begging him to comply.  "You took a Dare.  If you don't do it, I win."

And I definitely lose...  Richie swallowed hard, his gaze fixing on Annie's plump lower lip.  His heart skipped when he realized it was trembling just a tiny bit.  Is she nervous?

Richie felt himself drift forward.  His own lips parted in anticipation as his gaze locked with Annie's, just for a brief moment.  In that split-second Richie saw his desire reflected back at him in sparkling blue pools.  Then his eyes slipped closed as his mouth brushed over hers.

Her lips were perfect, soft and satiny-slick.  They tasted faintly of strawberries, sweet despite a tinge of smoke and beer.  A little breath caught in Richie's throat as he froze, savoring the sensation.  Then he felt Annie's lips slide against his, parting to invite him inside her warm mouth.  A flush of heat swept over Richie's body as he couldn't help but respond.

Gently his tongue nudged forth, tracing the bow of Annie's upper lip before dipping inside to touch hers.  Annie responded with a happy sigh, smiling against the kiss.  She gave Richie's lower lip a little nibble before drawing her head back.

Richie's lids fluttered open and he saw Annabelle looking at him.  She was radiant, her smile brighter than the full moon's golden light.  Her hair stirred in the gentle ocean breeze, little wisps floating in front of her pretty lips, shiny from their kiss.

As he gazed at her Richie became aware of the soft music floating from the little radio.   The song could not have been more perfect for the moment had he picked it himself.

And then she asks me
Do I feel alright?
And I say yes... I feel wonderful tonight

Annie watched Richie's reaction, her heart warming at his expression of wonderment.  After a long moment she spoke, her voice soft and husky.  "See, now?  That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Richie stared back at Annie for a minute, then his face relaxed into a shy smile.  "Uh... no.  I mean... it was... Nice."  Though he could feel his pulse racing Richie felt oddly serene.  He chuckled softly.

"Yeah... nice."  Annabelle continued to smile at Richie as she drifted forward, leaning in a little closer to him.  She paused, her eyes glowing a darker shade of azure.  "Your turn."

Richie swallowed hard, then cleared his throat.  He could feel the warmth radiating from Annie's body despite the light breeze, and her delicate perfume filled his senses.  He couldn't stop a goofy grin from spreading across his face as he gazed back at her.

"Okay.  Truth.... or Dare?"  His brow lifted with the question.

Annie didn't hesitate.  "Dare."

Richie's dick throbbed at the playful tease in her voice as she uttered that single word.  He knew what he wanted to dare Annie to do:  rip open his jeans and grab his cock and relieve the swollen ache that had plagued him for hours.  No, for a full day.

But he couldn't say that.  He couldn't treat her so crassly.

But Jesus, he did want to feel her lips on his again.

"I dare you..."  Richie reached up to brush away a breeze-stirred strand of honey-gold hair from Annie's cheek.  "To kiss me."

Annie smirked coyly as the butterflies in her tummy fluttered madly with delight.  Richie had figured out her little game, and he was willing to play.  But she couldn't resist teasing him a bit more.

"Mmmm.  You sure about that?"

Richie's grin gentled and he gave her an serious look.  "Abso-fucking-lutely."

Annie gazed into Richie's wide brown eyes and melted.  Without a word she leaned forward, raising her face to his.  She sighed blissfully as her lips stroked over Richie's, the contact gentle and electric at the same time.  Reveling in the feel of his warm mouth against hers, Annie scooted closer to Richie as she tilted her head to deepen the kiss.

Richie groaned at the contact between Annie's body and his own.  Her breasts pressed lightly against his chest and she rested a hand on his side as her tongue probed forward into his mouth.  Annie responded to Richie's growl with a happy little purr of her own as she tangled her tongue with his.

Richie felt like he was soaring, floating away on a magic carpet-ride of pleasure.  He couldn't believe this was happening, that Annabelle was sharing this wonderful intimacy with him.  That she let him kiss her.  And she was kissing him back.  Again his hand raised to her cheek, cupping his palm against her soft skin as he reacted to her kiss with his own heightened urgency.

He felt her fingers curl against his side a second before Annie pulled away, parting their lips with a soft gasp and a moist smack.  Richie drew in a shuddering breath, trying to remain calm though his blood was rushing through his veins and his heart was thundering in his chest.  His hand dropped to rest on Annie's bare shoulder as he stared longingly at her.

Annie could see in Richie's eyes what he wanted.  It was what she wanted too.  So Dammit, why wouldn't he make the first move?

Her lips pursed slightly with frustration.  Maybe she was moving too fast, making him uncomfortable.  After all, he was kind of shy.  Richie had seemed a little off-balance during the whole of his stay, a little unsure of himself around her.  It was sweet, but now it was just getting frustrating.

Annie sighed.  Maybe she should back off a little, let Richie mellow out even more.  After all, they had just finished their joint; the drug had hardly had time to take effect.  Maybe if they both relaxed things would happen naturally.

She pulled in a deep breath.  "Okay...."  Annie breathed out before continuing hoarsely.  "Truth or Dare?"

"Uh..."  Richie tried to read Annie's expression, confused by the mixed signals he was now getting.  That kiss... it was clearly a message that she wanted to fool around.  Wasn't it?  But now Annabelle looked like she was a little bit... not mad, exactly, but...

"Richie... what's it gonna be?"

Shit.  "Ummm... Truth."  Richie wasn't sure he was up to whatever Annie's next dare might be.  It was getting harder and harder to control himself.  And if he went too far he would really be up shit creek.  For all he knew Annabelle might leave him out here in the middle of the woods with the snakes if she thought he was trying to take advantage of her.

Annie's gaze dropped to Richie's chest as she silently cursed.  She watched it rise and fall with his deep breaths, evidence of his excitement.  Dammit, maybe she had gone a little too fast, and now he was afraid to make a move.  Jesus, when was she gonna learn to stop pushing and act at least a little bit like a Lady?

Annabelle raised her eyes back to Richie's.  She smiled amusedly when she saw the confusion in his wide-pupiled stare.  Yeah, she obviously needed to back off a little bit.  The poor guy didn't know what to think.

"Okay... Truth.  Hmmm...."  Annie pursed her lips thoughtfully and shifted a little bit, opening a bit of space between her body and Richie's.  She pulled her hand from his side and rested it on her thigh, her fingertips curling against her bare skin in a subtle sign of self-restraint.  Annie knew what she wanted to ask Richie, but she needed to think before she just blurted something out that made him even more uncomfortable.  That seemed to be her special talent, after all.

Richie tried to calm his breathing as he waited for Annie to formulate a question.  God, how he wanted to pull her body against his and mash his mouth down onto hers and continue that fantastic, electric kiss.  But he just couldn't.  He had to stop, to smother this slow burn that was consuming his whole body and threatening to flame into an inferno.

And he had to cool it not just because he was close to losing control, but because obviously Annie's inhibitions were lowered as well.  After all, they were both at least a little bit high.  He didn't want her to do something she would regret.

Richie flashed back to Eddie's earlier comment, when they had shared an honest talk in the garage office.  He could almost hear the mechanic's warm rumbly drawl in his head.  "But I'm just askin' you... whatever happens tonight, or tomorrow, or before you roll outa town here come Monday... just think twice before you break her heart, okay?"  

Richie took another deep breath as he considered Eddie's words.  Think twice before you break her heart... He and Annie had only known each other for a little more than a day, but he felt closer to her than he had ever felt to a girl.  Tonight he wanted her more than he had ever wanted a woman.  And if he wasn't somehow dreaming or imagining or hallucinating what was happening now, she wanted him too.

If he were to give in to desire, to let Annie act on her romantic impulse, they would undoubtedly have quite a night to remember.  Just the way she had kissed him told Richie she would be a confident and capable lover.  Richie felt another urgent twitch in his groin at the thought.

But the problem was, it wouldn't be just about enjoying the moment and the moonlight, about giving over to their mutual attraction and having fantastic sex.  No, Richie couldn't just fuck Annabelle, even if she begged him to.  He cared too much about her to do that.

Richie had always thought he could stick his dick in just about any willing pussy and walk away with no regrets.  He had put more than a few notches on his bedpost back in Jersey practicing that philosophy.  And Lord knows he had done it a couple times in Memphis, gladly accepting the attention of Beale Street Club Girls who were happy to exchange their carnal talents for free drinks and smokes.  And he hadn't felt the least bit guilty about his lothario ways.

But this was so very different.  This was Annabelle.  The sweetest, kindest, most beautiful soul he had ever known.  With her, it wouldn't be sex.  It would be making love.  And that was a risk Richie didn't know if he could take.

"Hey... Richie?  You still here?"  Annie's musical drawl brought him back. Richie shook his head slightly then looked at her, squinting a little as he waited for his gaze to focus on her smile.

"Huh?  Oh, sorry.  Guess I drifted off there a minute."

Annie chuckled softly.  "Gettin' a little more mellow, huh?"

Richie grinned sheepishly.  "Yeah.  Somethin' like that."

"You ready to tell me your Truth?"

Richie took a deep breath, then nodded.  "I guess so.  Go ahead."

"Okay."  Annie looked at Richie for a moment, then gave him a sly smile.  "So, this morning when I woke you up, when you were sleepin' on the sofa...."  She dropped her gaze obviously to Richie's fly, chuckling inwardly at the bulge there before pulling her eyes back up to meet Richie's.  "Were you dreamin' about me?"

Richie's eyes widened as he recalled the state of arousal in which he had awakened, the result of his slumbering fantasy.  And Annie had been right there, telling him it was time to "rise and shine."  Oh fuck... she saw it.  Richie cringed with embarrassment at the realization.  But he had to tell the truth... those were the rules of the game.

"Yeah.  I was."

Annie's pulse jumped at Richie's hoarse confession.  He didn't look away from her, his soulful brown eyes locked with hers.  She gazed back at him, certain her excitement was dancing in her own baby blues.

"I was hopin' you'd say that."  Annie's smile faded and she gave him an earnest look.  "'Cause I didn't get hardly a wink of sleep last night, thinkin' about you out there on my sofa."

Richie's lips parted with an involuntary little gasp.  "Annie... I..."  He didn't know what else to say.  The idea of Annabelle in her bed, tossing and turning and fantasizing about him, was almost too much for him to comprehend.

Annie giggled softly.  "Your turn."  She wanted to keep this little game going, to continue to share these intimate moments and secret confessions with Richie.

Richie took another deep breath, reaching up to drag a hand through his hair as he blew it out.  Jesus, she wasn't letting up.  Annabelle was determined to get all his secrets out tonight... at least about his feelings for her.  Maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.  He snorted softly with his little grin.

"Okay.  Truth or Dare?"

Annie considered the question for a moment, then smiled demurely.  "Dare."

"Hmm.  Thought so. Shit, now I gotta come up with somethin'."  Richie shook his head as he fake-grumbled.  "Damn, Annie.  This game is gettin' too hard."

Annie giggled at his reaction, happy to see the return of his humor.  "Okay, just this one last round then we'll do somethin' else.  Promise."

"Oh, alright."  Richie thought for a moment, trying to come up with a task for Annie that didn't cross his self-imposed line of restraint yet didn't sound totally stupid.  As much as he would love to say "show me your tits" or something equally naughty in keeping with the tone of their flirty little game, Richie knew that would be the end of his self-control.

He frowned as he considered and discarded a couple lame ideas, shaking his head with frustration.  His buzz and the Bob Seger song playing on the radio weren't helping his concentration.

"Christ, Annie... I don't know..."

"Come on, Richie.  It doesn't have to be anything big."  Annie prodded him gently with her words.  She reached out to trace a finger lightly over his forearm as he picked at a fraying patch of fabric on the old quilt.  "Just go with whatever's on your mind."

Richie snorted softly.  "You sure you want me to do that?"

"Yes."  Annie held her breath, wondering if he would really act on the lusty thoughts she was certain were swirling around his head.  The quiet rush of the waves and the gentle patter of the DJ on the radio filled the silence as she watched Richie consider the idea.  She could tell by the little smirk that curved his mouth that his train of thought was right in line with hers.

But he was too much of a gentleman to act on his thoughts.  "Annie... I don't know."  Richie sighed with exasperation.  "I got nothin'.  Can't we just quit this stupid game, just hang out and look at the stars or something?"

Annie chuckled softly.  "Nuh uh.  I'm not letting you off the hook that easy."  She grinned at Richie and pushed herself up more comfortably on her elbow.  "How about we do a little Radio Roulette dare?"

"What the fuck is that?"

Annie laughed.  "It's pretty easy.  Next song that comes on tells you what my dare is."

Richie gave her a confused look.  "Huh?  How's that gonna work?"

Annie rolled her eyes and swept a hand through her hair, tucking it back behind her ear.  "Whatever the song is, it will give you an idea.  Maybe the title or a line or something.  Then that's what my dare is.  To do whatever that song makes you think of."  She giggled.  "See, totally gets you off the hook.  It's all up to Fate."

Richie considered the idea for a second, half-listening to the ad now playing on the radio.  It was a corny idea, but at least he wouldn't have to admit to Annie the dare he really wanted to give her.  "So if it's something like... fuck, I don't know... Boogie Shoes?  Then you gotta get up and dance around?"

Annie giggled again at Richie's simplistic explanation.  "Yeah, that's the general idea.  If that's what the song makes you think of.  But I don't think you're gonna hear that song on this station."

Richie sighed.  "Alright.  Fine by me."  He smirked.  Not that it would necessarily be a bad thing to watch Annie dance for him....   "But this is the last dare, right?  You're not gonna make me do one or anything?"

Annie nodded.  "Promise.  No more games.  We'll just pop open a beer and lay here and listen to music and look at the stars, if that's what you wanna do.   But maybe you'll hold me while we do it...

Richie's smile gentled as he gazed into Annie's glowing blue eyes.  She looked so pretty, so sweet.  He almost felt bad for not wanting to play her little game anymore.  But he wasn't in the mood for games after what she had just revealed to him.  He wanted to do something more romantic.

He reached up to trace his thumb gently across Annie's cheek.  "That sounds nice.  Sorry I'm being a party-pooper."

"You're not."  Annie smiled back at Richie as her skin tingled at the brush of his calloused thumb.  " 'Kay, commercials are almost done.  Remember, whatever the next song is, the first thing it reminds you of... that's my dare."

"Got it."  Propping himself up on his elbow, Richie craned his neck to look at the radio, resting on its perch atop the old footlocker.

Annie closed her eyes and listened, silently praying the next tune on the playlist wouldn't be something crazy like I am the Walrus.  She didn't want to prolong this any further.  "It's all in the hands of Fate now, Richie," she teased gently.

Richie's heart stopped when he heard the first familiar note.  He had strummed that D-G-C chord progression more times than he could count, had belted out that blatantly sexual chorus from many a smoky barroom stage.  Holy Christ, how many times had he queued up this very song in the tape deck when he was hoping to get lucky with some chick in the Impala's back seat?

And now... with Annabelle...

Annie gasped softly when the melody floated through the air.  She didn't even need to hear the lyrics... this was a song she knew well.  She loved Bad Company, and this was one of her favorites.  It was if the Gods of the Radio had heard her silent plea and sent her the perfect song for the moment, a clear answer to the dilemma of Richie's dare.

Fate had chosen well.

She opened her eyes and found Richie staring at her, his lips parted with anticipation and his liquid brown eyes smoldering with desire.  Her gaze locked with his, her bright blue eyes gleaming with excitement.

Baby, when I think about you
I think about Love...