Chapter 19

Annie's lips parted in a silent gasp.  Her heart melted at Richie's whispered declaration, even as her mind rejected it.

Of course he couldn't be serious.  Richie didn't really love her, how could he?  He hardly knew her.  He was just caught up in the moment, in the afterglow of great sex and good weed and this magical, romantic night of music and moonlight.

But still Annie's eyes moistened at the earnestness in Richie's gaze.  It was like he somehow knew that she needed to hear those words, for him to fill the emptiness in her heart that had been there too long.  Even if it was only make-believe.

And Annie could see in his beautiful, soulful eyes what Richie needed from her.

"I love you too, Richie," she lied.

They gazed silently at each other for a long minute before Richie slowly lowered his head.  His lips stroked gently over Annabelle's as he moved his body downward, withdrawing from her.  She whimpered softly as he broke the kiss.

Shifting onto his hip beside Annie, Richie propped himself up on an elbow.  With a tender smile he reached up to caress Annie's cheek as she turned her head to look at him.  "God, Annie... that was great.  Thank you."

"Yeah, it was," she breathed, a little smile curling the corners of her pretty mouth.  "I was beginnin' to wonder if we were ever gonna get there, though."

"What?" Richie's brow arched with surprise.  "Why?'

"Well..."  Annie reached up to finger the silver cross that lay askew against Richie's pec.  "You just seemed like you didn't wanna kiss me at first, then you didn't wanna go any further than that.  Like you were afraid or somethin'."  She smiled coyly, raising her eyes to his.

Richie felt his blush as he smiled sheepishly.  "I... well, I wasn't afraid, exactly... I just..."  He paused, searching for the right words.

Annie waited patiently, watching him.  Again her heart swelled as she saw Richie's vulnerability. In that moment he looked like an uncertain kid of nineteen, struggling to understand his emotions.

Richie swallowed hard and took a deep breath before looking Annie in the eye.  "Annie, you're not just some girl.  Not to me.  You're beautiful and kind and generous..."  Again he stroked her cheek, brushing away a strand of honeyed hair from her face.  "I just didn't want you to think I don't respect you.  'Cause I do.     I didn't want to take advantage of you, make you hate me."

Annie's smile gentled.  "My goodness, that scoldin' I gave you yesterday about your manners really made an impression, huh?"  She chuckled softly.  "Richie, you didn't need to worry about takin' advantage of me.  I can take care of myself just fine, and I woulda let you know if I wasn't happy about the way you were treatin' me.  Besides..."  She raised her hand to tap his nose playfully with her index finger.  "You can't take advantage of somebody who's ready and willin'."

Richie grinned at her confession, a little wave of relief washing over him. So he hadn't read her signals wrong. "I thought maybe... well, I was hoping you felt the same way I did.  I do.  I was just...."  He shrugged as he let his thought trail off.

"You were shy."  Annie grinned back at him.  "And it was sweet.  Really, Richie, it was.  But now...."  She turned onto her side, sliding her arm around Richie's waist as she pressed her bare body to his.  "There's nothin' left to be shy about, is there?"

"No, I guess not."  Richie's lips again found Annie's as he pulled her closer, savoring the feel of her naked body against his.  He felt a stirring in his groin as they shared a long, deep kiss.

"Mmmm...."  Annie purred happily when their lips parted.  "So... what now? A little star-gazin'?"  She dropped her lips to Richie's shoulder and nibbled lightly at his warm skin.

Richie chortled softly.  "If that's what you wanna do."

"As long as you hold me."

"Deal."

Annie pulled back from Richie and gave him a sweet smile.  "You thirsty?  I could use a drink."

"Yeah, that sounds good."  Richie loosened his embrace as Annie pushed herself up onto her hip beside him.  He couldn't stop his grin as he found her firm breasts at his eye-level.  He felt another little surge in his groin as he watched Annie pull a hand through her tousled blonde hair, her beautiful nude body bathed in silvery moonlight.  Now that the sexual tension between them had been broken he wasn't embarrassed to stare.

Annie felt Richie's eyes on her and smiled down at him.  "Like what you see?"

"Yeah.  Very much."

Annie chuckled softly and let her eyes wander down Richie's chest to his groin.  She smirked slightly as she evaluated his manhood, noticing the little twitch it made in response to her gaze.  Yes, he was definitely all she imagined; his snug-fitting jeans hadn't created an illusion.  Nothin' boyish about him there, she thought with a silent snicker.

And Richie certainly knew how to use his endowment.  Though their intimate encounter hadn't lasted long, he had left Annabelle with no doubt about his experience.  When it came to lovemaking Richie was no shy kid of nineteen.  He was definitely all Man.

Next time she'd appreciate his prowess more, when she had better control over her own body.  Annie shivered slightly at that delightful idea, feeling her nipples contract in response.  Next time.

With a little toss of her head Annie chuckled again and pushed herself up onto her knees.  She leaned over Richie's legs, reaching for the remains of the six-pack that sat on the edge of the pickup truck's tailgate.  Annie's breasts brushed against his feet as she stretched, making her giggle.  She heard him laugh, too.

Richie grinned broadly as he watched Annie pull a can of beer from its plastic ring, then settle back into her kneel to pop it open.  He chuckled as he noticed she aimed the can away from her face before pulling the ring, in anticipation of a minor carbonated explosion.

Rolling onto his back, Richie sighed happily.  He let his hands rest on his damp chest as he looked up at the clear night sky.  Millions of stars sparkled across the velvety darkness, winking at him in turn.  Richie smiled gratefully as he realized for the first time in months he felt at peace.

"Wanna drink?"

Richie raised his head to see Annie holding out the can of Budweiser in offering.  He nodded and pushed himself up on an elbow before taking the beverage from her.  He groaned softly as a large swallow of barely-chilly beer slid down his throat.  It tasted good.

Annie giggled softly at Richie's little slurp from the beer can.  She smiled, watching him take several more gulps before handing the half-empty can back to her.  "Thirsty, huh?"

"Parched.  Guess your little game wore me out."  Richie's tease was gentle.  He regarded Annabelle for a moment, his mocha eyes widening in appreciation of her moonlit beauty.  Her womanly curves were shadowed by the night, sliver light glinting off the perspiration that dotted her lovely neck and chest.

Annie sat still, smiling as she felt Richie's loving gaze on her body.  It warmed her soul even as the ocean breeze cooled her skin.  Again she shivered slightly.

"C'mere."  Richie opened his arms, beckoning her to him.

Annie crawled carefully forward, reaching to set the beer can beside the radio on the footlocker before settling beside Richie on the blanket.  With a happy purr she snuggled against his side, sliding an arm across his waist as Richie enfolded her in his embrace.  She nestled her cheek against his chest and sighed.

"This is nice."

"Mmmm hmmm...."  Richie gave Annie a little squeeze, allowing his eyes to drift closed.  He smiled gently as he felt her leg slide forward, twining around his.  He breathed deeply, in and out, relaxing.  His heartbeat evened out as he felt Annie's warm breath on his chest and the quiet rush of the waves filled his ears.  "It's perfect," he whispered.

They lay quietly together, listening to the sounds of the night mingled with the music drifting from the little radio and savoring their post-coital bliss.  Annie chortled softly as she realized now that her arousal had been sated she could feel the effects of her organically-induced buzz.  She reveled in her contentment.  It had been a long time since she had felt this way, so safe and warm and beloved.

As if reading her mind Annie felt Richie's arm's tighten around her. His chest expanded under her cheek as he pulled in, then blew out a deep breath.  "You okay?" he murmured.

"Uh huh."  Annie giggled softly.  "Just mellow."

Richie grinned.  "Me too."  He chortled softly and dropped a kiss against Annie's hair.  "You weren't kidding about Mischief tonight, were you?"

"Nope."  Annie curled her fingertips against Richie's side, tickling him gently.  She giggled at his squirm.  "And if you're gonna do Mischief, you may as well do it up right."

Richie snorted out a laugh at that, then squirmed again at her second tickle.  "Hey! Cut it out!"  His hand moved to his side, stilling her offending fingers.

Richie enfolded Annie's hand in his and pulled it up to rest on his chest.  "Well, I'd say we did it up right.  Honky-tonkin', whiskey-drinkin', grass-smokin'...." He grinned.  "Then a little love-makin' under a big ol' Southern moon."

Annie's musical laugh of agreement warmed Richie's heart.  He squeezed her hand against his chest and kissed the top of her head again.  "Ain't much else left to do, Mischief-wise."

"Oh, I'm sure we can come up with somethin' else," Annie chided playfully.  She sighed happily and turned her face to place a kiss against his chest.  "But not right now.  This feels too good."

"Yeah."  Richie gazed again up at the stars, smiling at the Heavens and silently thanking God for this miraculous night.  After all the shit the Good Lord had put him through the last few months, finally He had given Richie a gift -- an Angel of Mercy to soothe his battered soul.

Richie chuckled quietly to himself.  Or maybe Annie was actually the Devil in Disguise.  Either way, he didn't care.  He was already knee-deep in Sin and he was gonna enjoy every damned minute of it.  He would gladly suffer purgatory in exchange for this perfect night with Annabelle.

"Mmmm...." Annie's purr against his chest drew Richie's attention back from the stars.

"What?"

"I love this song."

Richie hadn't really been paying attention to the radio, lost in his musings.  But now he focused on the melody wafting on the breeze.

On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night


There she stood in the doorway
I heard the Mission bell
And I was thinking to myself
This could be Heaven or this could be Hell...

Richie chortled softly; how apt those lyrics were for his train of thought of just a moment ago.  "Yeah, this is a fuckin' amazing tune, Man."  He sighed heavily.  "I always thought just maybe someday.... Someday I'd be able to write a song that good."

"Someday you will," Annie murmured, again pressing her lips against his warm chest.

"No.  I won't."

The pang of regret in Richie's husky reply made Annie raise her head.  She gazed at his handsome face, now masked with sadness.  Dammit, not now, she swore silently.

"Sure you will."  Annie gave Richie a tender smile.  "I saw you up on that stage tonight, I heard you play and sing.  And I saw how the people reacted to you.  Lemme tell ya, Richie -- they're harsh critics, especially to outsiders.  And you won 'em over with your first note."

Annie paused, watching Richie's expression.  His lips curved for a moment into an ironic smile, then it faded as he gave his dark head a little shake.  As she saw hurt flicker in his wide pupils Annie's mind flashed back to that moment back at Ruby Mae's, when Richie had snapped at her.

I'm just not that good!  Okay, Annie?  Get it?

Jesus... was that it?  Had somebody told him he wasn't good enough to be a professional musician?  Was that why he was so reluctant to open up to her about music?

Annie took a breath before she continued.  She so wanted to soothe him, to restore the happy mellow Richie had going just a minute ago.  Until she had opened up her big mouth about that damned Eagles song.

"Richie, you're so talented.  I just know when you get back up to New Jersey and play some more you'll get your break.  Somebody in one of those New York record companies is gonna hear you and..."

"No."  Richie's quiet dissent cut her off.  "That's never gonna happen, Annie."

"Oh Richie, I'm sure it will..."

"No.  It won't."  Richie's voice held a hard edge.

Annie's eyes widened at his tone.  She tensed as a wave of frustration washed over her.

Dammit, ever since she picked Richie up on the side of the road yesterday he had been closed off to her on this topic, evasive of her well-intentioned questions.  She was getting tired of it.  How the Hell was she supposed to help him if he wouldn't talk to her?  Surely after the intimacy they had just shared Richie wasn't afraid to reveal himself to her.

"Oh really?"  Annie tried to keep her voice level, to mask her frustration.  But she could hear a hint of annoyance creep into her question.  "And just what makes you so sure 'bout that?"

'Cause I quit."