The Barter System, page 17
They took Jessica’s big truck because they could all fit across the front seat. They made Joshua sit in the middle. When his friends saw them pull up in front of the club, all of them getting out on the same side and walking up with their arms around each other, most of their jaws dropped. The dance floor was hot, with both women brick housing him all night.
When they got home that night, Jessica showered while Riya went over the second survey with Joshua, trying to keep him on task.
SURVEY TWO
Subject Name: Joshua
What is the most common phrase you use for intercourse?
Fucking. As gentle as I try to start, it always ends up intense.
What is the primary trait that attracts you to a member of the opposite sex?
Acceptance of me for who I am, no matter what.
When was your first sexual encounter?
I was sixteen. My first date with a girl who moved in down the block.
Do you remember details of that encounter?
I was driving her home after the movie and she went down on me from the passenger seat. Told me to pull over because she couldn’t wait anymore.
Have you ever had contact with your first sexual partner after the first time?
Dated her for a few months until her dad was transferred to another base. I wasn’t in love with her, but she had a pretty little body. I missed her for a long time.
How often do you masturbate?
There used to be days I’d spank it several times in a few hours. Now, I see something that turns me on, I let it build. Maybe even check out some Internet porn…eventually when I let go, I come hard.
Do you have a scenario to facilitate masturbation?
Oh fuck yes, one woman riding my cock, the other sitting on my face so I can eat her pussy. That will be the image from now on if I have to jerk off.
Have you ever engaged in sex with a person you did not know?
With girls I didn’t know well, but I always made the effort to get to know them if I had sex with them, figured they gave me something important, I owed them my attention.
Where is the most unusual place you've had sex?
The batting cage with a team groupie. Unusual because I never messed with them, but I was amped up after a game and she took me by surprise. I bent her over the machine and took her hard.
How many casual sexual encounters have you had in the last year?
None. I don’t do casual. Serious fucking takes knowing someone and learning their body while they learn yours. The most casual was you and I never really thought of you that way. Especially not now.
He came for her so fast she was barely able to put her laptop down. When Jess joined them a few minutes later, they focused on her with such intensity she collapsed from exhaustion, unsure when they joined her.
Riya realized the next morning why she’d enjoyed being with Joshua, and then Jessica, so much. Her college years hadn’t been fun. She’d had Tawny who’d always been fun. Tawny had dated and socialized while Riya had isolated herself and focused on work.
Her one boyfriend stood her up more than they actually dated. She kept him around to keep everyone else away so she could concentrate on her studies. Pathetic really. This experience was her new college memory and that felt good. It felt right.
She left Joshua and Jessica to sleep and caught up on her work. She had emails from her dad telling her she was in big trouble when she got back. Though she knew he didn’t know what she was up to, she felt a twinge of guilt anyway.
She replied and told him how much she missed him and loved him. A couple of emails from Tawny.
She was creating new data files for upload when the email from her next subject came in.
Hello, Riya:
Thank you for accepting my application. I’m not 100% sure why I’m doing this, but the company will be nice. I’ve got the guest room all made up. I don’t expect anything from you, you know? Not at all. I guess I’m just looking forward to having someone to talk to that isn’t male and working here. Seeing a pretty face around will be a good change for a few days. I’ll pick you up at the Saddlebag Diner, if that’s alright. I’ve told friends the reason you’re coming, I hope that wasn’t the wrong thing to do. I have a real hard time with lying.
Looking forward to meeting you,
Lucas
SURVEY ONE
Subject Name: Lucas
Subject Age: 42
Subject Career: Rancher
Marital Status: Widowed
Children (Y/N): Y
Annual Income: Around 140K
Location: Billings, MT
What was your primary motivation for applying to this study?
At first, I was curious. Then I wondered if having someone of the opposite sex around wouldn’t be good for me. I’m not going to use a sweet young woman though.
What do you hope to gain by your participation?
I hope maybe to find some sort of peace.
What is one thing you wish the investigator to know about you?
I’m in pain and I doubt it can be fixed.
Do you have any negative assumptions regarding this study?
I don’t want to hope that things can change in my life then be disappointed.
What is your most secret sexual fantasy?
Camping under the stars and making love. My late wife never liked camping but I always wanted to take her.
Have you ever told anyone else about this fantasy?
Never.
Have you attempted to realize this fantasy in your daily life?
I don’t have a desire to date, I have no desire for anything it seems.
How have you utilized the Internet in your sexual life?
The closest I got to sex on the Internet was when I searched for Internet Therapy and suddenly found myself on one site after another and ended up on yours. Maybe it’s’ kismet.
Riya could not wait to get to this subject. He was in a deep state of depression. Did no one around him notice? She called the airport and made arrangements, then arranged a car service to take her to the small town outside of Billings on arrival.
She emailed him back with details, finished working, and started packing her stuff. She called a cab to take her to the airport in Austin. When she had everything together, she went to wake Jessica and Joshua. They were spooned around one another. Adorable and sexual all at once. She crawled up on the bed, fully dressed, and gently brought them awake.
“Hey, babies. Time for me to go.”
She leaned in and kissed them both. “You better take care of each other. I left all my contact info on the kitchen counter.” She ran her hand over Jessica’s face, smoothing her hair back. “I wish I’d had more time to spend with you. I’ll likely never have a chance like this again, so you were my first and last.” She leaned over and kissed her again softly.
“Joshua, five years ago, if I’d have met you like Jessica here, I’d have fallen madly in love with you. You are that good. I’m not kidding. You’re a man anyone can be proud to call theirs. I miss you already. Take care of Jessica and remember to stay focused.” She kissed him deeply, running her fingers through his hair.
She crawled off the bed and made it to the front door when a naked Joshua caught her and pushed her against the wall. He kissed her hard and well for a long time, his strong arms holding her in place.
“Thank you, Riya. For everything, every single thing, you did for me. My life is what I make of it, but you’ve changed other people’s impressions of me in just a few short days. I’m in love with Jessica but I came real close to falling completely in love with you too.”
He laughed and shook his head, “I don’t even know if that’s possible, to love two people at the same time. But you’re amazing. Beautiful and smart and kind and devious in the best possible way. I’ll miss you. If you need me, if you ever need me, you call me.”
He kissed her until she couldn’t breathe, “For changing my life, I owe you a debt. Anything, ever…name it and its yours.”
He stepped back from her and she stroked her hand down his face. “God, you’re just so beautiful, Joshua. Inside and out.”
One last chaste kiss then she ducked out in the sunshine and headed for the cab. As the driver took her stuff, she paused in the door and waved at Joshua, standing naked in the open doorway with his arms braced on either side of the frame.
She ducked into the cab and didn’t look back. She didn’t want him to see her cry.
Chapter Twelve – The Rancher
Third week of September…
Billings was cooler than anywhere she’d been so far. She pulled a light jacket out of her duffle. The sun was setting and the temperature dropping rapidly.
The car service took her to a small motel across from the diner where she’d meet Lucas the next morning. The scenery was so pretty and different from anyplace else she’d been. Such vast open space with no civilization marring the landscape.
The minute she opened the door of her room, she crashed. A few hours later she found herself staring at the ceiling as she attempted to collect her thoughts. She called Tawny and described Joshua…and Jessica. Her best friend listened without judgment but there was a lot of “no you didn’t” and “shut up” throughout the conversation.
“Girl, you’ve been repressed too long. Certainly coming out of your shell now, huh?” Riya couldn’t help but laugh at Tawny’s shock and utter amusement.
Later, she took a long soak and read a magazine she’d gotten in the airport. Crawling under the covers again she thought she would be happy when the goodbyes were finished. She was leaving a tiny piece of herself with each subject. Three little pieces so far.
Questions were crashing into her mind, and her heart, but she knew she couldn’t examine them now. There would be time enough later. She finally found sleep and was thankful it was dreamless.
The next morning was a little gray and dreary. She dressed in jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt, and her boots. Leaving her hair down, pulled back from her face with a clip, she took a long look in the mirror and figured she passed muster.
After checking out of the motel, Riya walked across the street to the diner, dropping her bags behind the table.
A sweet older woman came to take her order, returning quickly with a steaming cup of coffee and the local paper. Riya thanked her and read through the local happenings here in Montana. She was sipping her coffee and reading a whole article on cattle when she sensed someone standing at her side.
Glancing up, she found the spitting image of Sam Elliot, one of her all-time favorite actors, standing in front of her. She didn’t remember Lucas looking like this in his picture. He’d looked softer somehow. Her astonishment must have shown.
“It was a church picture. Clean-shaven, in a suit, hair cut and maybe even brushed.” He said before gesturing to the chair across from her, she nodded. “Sorry, probably should have sent you a work day picture. I’m Lucas.” He slid into the chair with the fluid grace of a tall man comfortable with his body.
Breathing deeply and swallowing the giddy laugh rising in her throat, she said carefully, “You don’t understand. I’ve had a thing for Sam Elliot since I was twelve and saw him in Roadhouse. And you…you talk like him, too. Okay, let me acclimate. Whew. Another deep breath.” She fanned herself a minute and he watched her with such intensity it was hard to settle her nerves.
She returned his appraisal openly, “I was expecting someone softer. You’re far from soft, Lucas. Interesting how not-soft you actually are. I’m Riya, obviously.”
Amusement glinted in his eyes, “You’re much prettier in person, Riya.” His low, husky Sam Elliot voice washed over her and she feared creaming her panties in the middle of this little small-town diner.
“So are you, my goodness,” she murmured and he quirked his eyebrows at her.
He turned to the waitress, “Hi, Ann, can you bring me a coffee? And a couple of those fresh cinnamon rolls?” Turning back to her, he said frankly, “You’ll like them. You’re too thin. Haven’t these guys been feeding you?”
Riya was taken aback at his reference to the other subjects. “They have.”
“Maybe you don’t eat much,” he said with a smirk. She got the distinct impression she was being tested in some way.
Leaning forward, she crossed her arms on the table. “Maybe I’ve been burning it off,” she sassed back with a quirked eyebrow and he burst out laughing.
“You have spark, Riya. I like that.” He thanked the waitress for their coffee and rolls, pushing one at her and waiting until she picked up a fork obediently.
Lucas said bluntly, “I’m happy to answer any and all questions you have. I’ll participate in your research without asking anything from you. I find you interesting and lord knows I could use some company. Maybe learn how to speak around a woman again. But I’m not taking anything I haven’t earned.” He sipped his coffee.
She leaned in close, and told him quietly, “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t we see how it plays out? Before I started this project, I was celibate for years. To be honest, other than the deed being done, I guess I was still pretty much a virgin until this project started. And one thing I’ve learned, there is something about each of you that made you stand out to me, from the other thousands of men who applied. Something that made each of you apply, that made me choose you. And here I am. My main focus is research, but the study is for my dissertation in Human Sexuality and Psychology. I’m already attracted to you and you might end up being attracted to me too. It could happen. I’m thinking we don’t lay down the ground rules so early.”
Then she leaned back, took a sip of her coffee, and waited.
Lucas looked at her for a long time before he answered, “Fine. Let’s get you out to the house.” He dropped bills down on the table and picked up her bag. “Have a good day, Ann.”
Holding the door for her, he waited as Riya went past then followed, throwing her stuff in the back of a black Excursion two spaces from the door. Opening the passenger side door, she hopped up and smiled at him. He shut the door, not seeming to know what to make of her.
She noticed a lot of people were staring at the truck, particularly at her in the truck, as it drove by, starting with half the people who’d been in the diner. “People aren’t used to you having a woman in your truck, I take it?”
“That would be putting it mildly. I don’t remember the last time I was around women in general, and the fact that you have a bag and I came into town specifically to pick you up will have tongues wagging for a long while,” he told her.
“There are better things to do with their tongues, I could write them a book on it if they’d like,” she came back, annoyed that people were so nosy about his life. He laughed and shook his head.
“Lord, woman, you are a breath of fresh air.” He glanced over at her, “Now I’m more worried about getting attached to you or some damn thing. Half my age and pretty as a picture with a spitfire attitude. I’m not used to that at all. I have no idea what I’m going to do with you.”
“Lucas, can I ask you to play a little game with me…don’t give me that look. I didn’t mean it that way, goodness! In six months, if someone were to ask how many men I’d been with over my entire lifetime, the grand total will be ten. Not so awful. It’s because I haven’t had a life in forever and now I’m cramming it all into two months. Makes me look bad, I can see that, but I’m usually very shy and conservative. I’m quite the wallflower.”
“I can’t imagine any man with a visual of you allowing you to be a wallflower. I wouldn’t. Before we go another mile, let me assure you I have absolutely no negative view of your or your project. I think more women should stand up and say what they want then go get it. Most don’t, so you’re going to stand out. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing either. Just so we’re clear, I do find you attractive and that scares the hell out of me on a lot of different levels. Now, what game would you like to play with me, Riya?”
His voice was low and rough. He talked slowly, as if he wasn’t used to talking, or in no hurry to rush the conversation.
“Thank you. For the multiple compliments you just gave me.” She felt a blush creep up her face, knowing this man didn’t throw remarks like that around lightly. She took a peek at him and he was smiling.
She cleared her throat. “I think you need to create an alternate universe. Imagine things the way you’d like them to be right now, current circumstances included, and let me help you create it. I’m not saying things will magically get better. When your wife died, you told me you lost your will to live, and yet you continue on. The time has come for you to get the control you lost back. I can help get you on the right track. I think you want to live and be happy…satisfied with who you are again, but you may have forgotten how. If you’ll keep an open mind, you might be surprised.”
He pulled off on his road and parked. “How old are you, Riya?” He was looking through the windshield.
“Twenty-five, Lucas.”
