Roaring Road Trip 2: Surprises Around Every Turn
Next part of the Road Trip... interesting happenings... and other discoveries.
Roaring Road Trip 2: Surprises around every turn
It turned out I had no reason to be worried as the group was around the truck and trailer when I arrived back outside. The weather had gotten a little colder and windier, so Julie was huddled a little up against the truck, and Cleo was already inside.
"Well, ready to press on?" I asked Julie as I arrived back at our conveyance.
"I'm cold, Jim. So, yeah... hopefully it'll get warmer." She was indeed almost shivering as I wrapped my arm around her.
"It'll get colder before it gets warmer, hon, but that'll be alright." I kissed her cheek.
Fred reached out his hand, proffering a card in a hand-off handshake manner. I shook the big man's hand as he pumped my arm heartily. "If ever you need anything and I'm in the area, just give me a call. Either me or one of the boys will give you a hand. You've done me a big favor, mister, and I'm mighty grateful for it."
"Hell, I didn't do anything, Fred. We both know that, but I appreciate the meal and will indeed give you a call if ever I do need it. Here's my card, too. If ever you're up in my area, feel free to stop by and see the zoo. Just ask for me at the main gate and I'll make sure you get a good tour." I handed him my card as well.
He slapped my back and Julie climbed up into the truck. "Y'all take care!" the big man shouted as I went around to the drivers' side. I waved in return as I fired up Chet's truck and we set out again.
"He seemed quite nice." Julie said as she snuggled up against me again, turning the truck's heater on full blast. Cleo belched and then rolled over onto her back to settle in for another catnap, causing us both to laugh.
"Yeah, seems like a good fellow. We'll see if I catch shit for having Cleo out just loose like that, but seems this time it was alright." I commented as we pulled back onto the interstate.
Soon we were out of range of Chet's preset radio station so I turned off the radio and just cuddled Julie close. "Whatcha thinkin about?" I asked.
Julie blushed. "You really want to know?" she asked.
"Sure." I said perkily and smiled.
"I was wondering if those lions... the ones we're going to get?... like to... uh..." Julie couldn't finish her sentence again.
"If they like humans how Cleo likes humans?" I asked. Julie nodded and I chuckled. "We'll see. Cleo's different from any animal I've ever met, and she's just loving and tender to people she likes. I'm not sure if the sex part of things goes along with that or if that's something special for me and her."
"If they do like... humans touching them, would it be alright if I....?" her voice trailed off again.
"We'll just have to see how things are when we get there. It might be that they're not hands-on at all, which would make that sort of thing rather difficult, right?" I chuckled and she just blushed and snuggled up.
"When I watched that video of the lion and then the lady with the lioness, I...." she looked up at me, then down and blushed deeply.
"You what?" I asked.
"I kind of... enjoyed myself to it. And then there was that toy you had sitting on the shelf. I imagined..." she blushed deeper. "I don't know what came over me, but I couldn't help but try it out, to see how it feels. It looked like it was sort of modeled after a lion's.... stuff... and with the videos and everything I just... I just had to try."
I laughed. "That's alright. Pickles likes that one, too."
Julie looked surprised. "Pickles had that... inside her?"
I nodded. "Yeah. She was the last one to use it. Well, I guess you are, now, but that's alright. Grate mimes stink alike, y'know."
Julie blushed deeper and her smile broadened. "Pickles had that inside her and now I had it in me...." she said softly. I gave her a gentle squeeze. "Did you like it?"
She looked shocked at my question, then blushed deeply and barely managed to squeak out, "yes."
"You don't have to be embarrassed about those kinds of things around me, hon. You're just exploring something you'd never thought about before. I guess that'd make me your guide. Guide to the world of perverted animal sex." I winked at her and she giggled.
I smiled as I kept my eyes on the road, one arm wrapped around her once again as I easily nagivated the gentle turns of the interstate highway.
Using the "Scan" function on the radio I managed to find a country station I liked and hummed along with the music for a couple hundred miles as Julie slept cuddled up against me. Soon I was getting quite sleepy and so the next rest area I came to, I pulled in. It was fairly deserted except for a few rigs that had the same idea as me. I pulled to the far end and parked across a couple stalls near the "pet area", and turned off the engine. This apparently woke Julie who rubbed her eyes and looked at me. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing's wrong. I just need to stop driving and rest for awhile. You want to sleep in here or the rack-room of the trailer?" I asked.
"Is there room enough in the trailer for both us and Cleo?" Julie asked. "If so, I'd rather sleep where you are. Alone just sleeping in a truck isn't a good place to be for a girl, you know."
I nodded. "You can have the top bunk." I groaned as I got out of the truck and stretched for the first time in hours. "Gah! I can't do these trips like I used to."
Julie let Cleo out on her side and I pushed the button for the power locks on the truck. I then walked around to their side and unlocked the door to the rack-room of the trailer. Julie peered inside and I reached around the door and flipped the light switch. The room was laden with dust, but I folded the mattresses and took them out the door to shake them off while Julie waited by the truck. "Just dusty, no livestock," I smiled at her.
"Livestock?" Julie asked as Cleo climbed in and flumped in the narrow aisle, then she climbed up, followed by me who shut and locked the door behind me. I stepped over Cleo and unfurled my sleeping bag atop the mattress as an extra layer of crud preventative. I then let down the upper rack and laid out a sleeping bag for Julie, too. Complete with pillow. "You know. Bugs... mice... vermin. That sort of thing."
"You actually lived in here when you were touring?" Julie asked incredulously.
I shook my head. "Nope. Had a homemade camper in place of the bed on one of the old Ford trucks that I stayed in. This was for the help. Mine wasn't too very much better, though, but I had dogs at the time so it was a little bigger is all. Same 8 foot width but if you included the bed it was about 12 foot long. The bed was overtop the cab of the truck, like on most truck campers. Nothing terriffic, but not that bad for temporary living."
Julie sat next to me as I lounged on the lower bunk, I then took out my laptop, set it on the disused cooktop, and put on a video. "I usually fall asleep to some kind of show, hope you don't mind."
Julie laughed and smiled at me. "Is that my cue to get up one level?"
I shrugged and gave her a hug. "The sooner I sleep, the sooner we'll get back on the road."
Julie climbed up and hung over the side a bit. "Jim... if you weren't so tired I'd ask you for a favor."
I was unlacing my boots and peeling off my socks, so I looked up at her. "Well, you can ask anyway, but can't guarantee what the answer will be."
Julie blushed deeply. "I was going to ask if I could watch the next time you and Cleo... uh.... y'know."
I laughed. "Didn't think you'd be so ready to join in, Julie."
She blushed all the deeper. "I don't know about joining in, but... what I saw last night, and how you are with Cleo.... I just... I'd like to see if what my mind's cooked up is how things really are. And then I might try you out myself." She slapped her hands across her mouth the instant she finished and the look of horror on her face told me she was thinking "Did I actually say that OUT LOUD!" while also worrying what my reaction might be to such an admission.
I laughed and shucked off my pants, leaving my briefs on. I unbuttoned my zoo shirt and let it fall onto the pile of other clothing, then laid back onto my bunk. "Well, we'll see about that, Julie. You might have just asked for more than you can deal with, as far as that last part. But we'll see." As the Seconds from Disaster episode played, I shut off the light, closed my eyes and before it got too far into the program I was dead to the world.
* * * * *
It was still dark out when something woke me. I realized what it was - the door clicking shut. "Julie?" I asked of the near-darkness.
"Yes, Jim, it's just me. I had to use the little girl's room. Sorry if I woke you." Julie stepped up to her bunk and laid out.
Cleo was up, too, and I could dimly see her face near mine, looking at me. I chuckled. "Julie?"
"Yes, Jim?"
"I think you're about to get one of your wishes...."
A head popped over the edge of the bunk as she looked at me. Then she saw Cleo was sitting up so she shifted on her bunk. "Are you two about to....?" she asked sheepishly.
"I think that's what she's after." I said to the shadow above me, then turned to my whiskered companion. "Are you wanting to go out, Cleo?" The whiskers moved from side to side. "Are you wanting something to eat?" Again, the whiskers moved from side to side. I was drawing it out just to mess with Julie. "Are you wanting something from me?" The whiskers moved up and down. "Are you wanting to mate?" Again, the whiskers moved up and down. The shadow above me giggled.
"Well, if we're going to do this, we're going to do it right. C'mon down here and get naked," I said to the shadow above.
Suddenly, she became shy again. "Me? Why? I mean... you're going to mate with Cleo, right?" Julie's voice was unsteady and unsure once again.
I chuckled softly. "Yes, and you're going to help. True, you don't have to be naked, but I'm sure you'd find it quite sensuous if you were. Besides, I can't see diddly-squat so even if you're embarrassed about your body for some reason, I'd never know."
Julie climbed down as I wriggled out of my Fruit-of-the-Looms. In the dim light I could see her reach up under the oversized nightshirt and remove her bra, and then the panties dropped too. I guess that was enough, as I was already pushing her a bit. "Ok... where do you want me, Jim?"
I reached out my foot and touched her thigh with it. "We're going to do a sort of X-position. Sit on my bunk and put your legs to either side of my body, and then scoot your rump forward as far as you feel comfortable, with one of my legs over each of yours."
"Ok, but I don't see how this will do anything..." Her voice was really hesitant, but I felt her moving around me. I caressed each of her legs with one of my hands as she worked her way forward until her crotch was near my rump.
"That works, honey." I patted one of her thighs. "Ok, Cleo..." I patted my chest. "Step up from by Julie and stand overtop of me." I could feel Cleo's weight shifting the bedding as she did just as I asked. I let out a loud "OOF" as a forepaw found my chest rather than the space on the other side, but soon she was astraddle me, with her butt towards Julie's face, which was an unavoidable situation.
"Julie, pet along one of Cleo's thighs until it starts to narrow, then come up the inner side. Don't worry, she's fine with it." I felt Julie shift position a little bit and likely was doing as I asked, since Cleo widened her stance a bit. I was manipulating myself underneath Cleo and was fairly hard already. I could smell Julie's arousal as well.
"Cleo, sit down slowly. Julie... When she gets low enough, you should be able to guide me into her," I said and I felt Cleo's rear starting to lose altitude.
"You mean... actually.... aim you?" came the bashful response from the other end of the bunk.
"Yep, exactly that." I said as I shifted about a little. "Cleo should be moist enough inside, so when the first contact happens, just rub my tip between her labia some and then you'll feel it sort of catch a couple times on the deepest part which is nearest her tail. Aim my tip there and Cleo will do the rest."
Cleo's rump lowered and I felt Julie's one hand take ahold of my member. "Jim! You're huge!" she exclaimed as she ran her hand gently up and down my phallus. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Cleo's been taking this monster sausage all this time? Now I AM jealous of her..." Julie's tone was soft so I knew she wasn't terribly jealous even if she wasn't exaggerating. Soon I felt the contact with Cleo's warmer body, and before too long my cockhead was nestled back between those tender folds it had come to know so well over the past few weeks. Soon the slick warmth swallowed more and more of my member as I sank deep into the lioness until finally her rump rested squarely on my pelvis, and I felt her tail lashing about a bit, likely brushing Julie's front.
"Wow, Jim... this is.... amazing." I could feel Julie touching around our connection and I rested my hands on Cleo's hips. "Ok, Cleo... lift up just a bit and sit back down, kind of like what you were doing last night."
I felt Julie's hands brushing all over Cleo's rump as she started to move up and down some on my shaft, soon shifting to a curious side-to-side wobble while arching in sort of a back and forth motion, somewhat like a male lion stepping into position and rocking his hips to enter the lioness. I slid my hands up to her chest, which I could easily do while still leaving my elbows on the bed, and she was panting already. I could feel Julie shifting about a bit as well, but couldn't exactly tell what she was doing. Cleo's rocking grew a bit more frenzied and I could feel her insides rippling and gripping me firmer. I slid my right hand down Julie's left leg, at which she gripped my hand. I guided it to my connection with Cleo and whispered, "Just let your hand rest here. Cup her and you'll feel something interesting." I felt Julie relax her hand and it put gentle pressure on Cleo's vulva, spreading her a bit and with her palm resting against the outer edge of Cleo's pelvic bone, I figured it'd change the sensations for Cleo just enough... and I was right. She arched hard, I felt her muscles contracting hard inside and out as she roared out her orgasm, her insides milking me tightly as I grabbed her hips and jammed myself as deep as possible, erupting inside my leonine lover. My breathing was sporadic - just gasps for breath as I held myself as tightly into her as possible. She was panting heavily and I could tell she was losing stamina. I managed to gasp, "It's ok, Cleo. You can lay down on me." Soon there was a heavy weight atop my chest, but distributed fairly evenly so it wasn't a tremendous impediment to breathing. I was still connected to Cleo as she chest-laid on me, her head still up and she was panting heavily herself. Little drops of her saliva occasionally dripped onto my forehead as I pet her sides.
I could hear more panting and Julie gasped. "That was amazing.... I'd never thought... Oh, Jim!" I managed to wriggle me and my lioness-load over a bit to be up against the wall. "There's a little room... but you'd have to lay... on your side or you'll.... fall off the edge." I panted to Julie, who shakingly extricated herself from how we'd been positioned. I moved my right arm for her to use as a pillow and wrapped it around her back some as she snuggled up to me. Sometime the nightshirt must have disappeared as I could feel her body warmth unimpeded except by my t-shirt. She kissed my cheek and whispered, "Thank you, Jim... that was really amazing. I didn't think Cleo could really have an orgasm until I felt her gripping on you like that. It made me........"
I smiled and chuckled a little. "Didn't think it'd do quite that much for you, Julie, but... glad you had fun, too."
"With my legs spread like that, I could feel her rump rubbing against you and the motions and everything... I barely had to touch myself!" Julie was practically squealing though her voice was set on whisper.
"Just think what rubbing with her would do for you." I chuckled softly.
"Oh, Jim. Could I?" She seemed to bounce again.
"We'll see. But for now...." I yawned. "Time for me to get some more sleep."
While we were chatting I'd shrunk and slipped out of Cleo, so she backed herself up so that her hips and hindfeet were on the bed between my legs, my crotch against her abdomen just ahead of her pelvic brim, and her head and forepaws lay on my chest as I lay on my back, Julie snuggled up to my right side as I sighed happily and closed my eyes, dozing off once more.
* * * * *
I woke up before Julie, and it was just getting light out, as visible through the dusty drapes on the windows of the rack-room. Cleo had made her way onto the floor but Julie was still asleep cuddled to me. I tried to move my right arm to tap her to wake her gently, but I discovered that limb was no longer functional. Faced with few alternatives, I did the next best thing... I kissed her forehead.
She rustled about a bit, and must have re-acquired her undergarments and the nightshirt sometime overnight as she wasn't nude next to me how she was earlier. "Time to wake up, Julie. We've got to get back on the road," I murmured softly. Her eyes fluttered a bit and then shot open as she sprang bolt upright. After a couple seconds she must have realized where she was and her terror subsided. "It's just me, Julie. Something wrong?"
Her breathing was rapid but calming and she looked at me, then looked away and shook her head. "No... no. I'm alright. What time is it?"
I was curious but decided not to ask, so I just answered her question. "I have no idea. My watch is in my pants, and my cellphone is in my shirt. And they're all over there..." I pointed in the direction of my clothes pile, which I scooted towards and began harnessing up for the day.
Julie sat down next to me. "Oh, Jim. That was the best night's sleep I'd gotten in quite some time... well... at least..."
I chuckled softly. "At least with a fun interruption after your bathroom break? Oh... that reminds me... that little door over there is the dumper. Not much privacy, I admit, but it might be more convenient than getting dressed in the middle of the night."
Julie opened the indicated door to reveal a little camp toilet. "How does it work?" she asked.
"There's a knob in front. Pull it out, lift the lid, do your business, shut the lid. Work the pump a couple times, push the knob back in. There's no water in there at the moment, but I can fix that soon enough."
Julie smiled and then looked at her attire. "I wish I could stay in this all day, just snuggled up to you."
I shrugged. "Well... just take your pants in the cab with you to squirm into if need be, and I don't see any reason you can't." I moved the curtain to see if anyone was outside, and except for a couple cars parked way down at the end by the restrooms, there wasn't anyone else on the site, the truckers having left to go on their way, having completed their required rest.
Julie looked behind me. "Really? Safe to go out there?"
I nodded. "I'll unlock the truck and then I'll have to use the restroom myself. Think you can manage Cleo alone?" I asked as I buttoned my shirt, my boots still unlaced but... that could wait.
"I think I can manage alright," Julie said with a smile, and Cleo looked up from where she was laying as Julie pulled on her sneakers and grabbed her clothes from the top bunk.
"You mind Julie, now, and I'll be right back," I told her as I went out and shut the door behind me.
I unlocked the truck doors and tucked my pistol back under the drivers' seat. I then stiffly made my way off to the public washrooms, feet aching as was usual for me in the morning. Fortunately the feeling had returned to my right arm shortly after Julie's head was lifted from it.
Getting inside I selected a throne that wasn't too dirty and that had TP on the roller. Soon I was finished with the call of nature, washed up, washed my face some, and dried both hands and face with some paper towels before stepping back into the brisk morning air. It seemed that no one had noticed a lioness leaving her mark on the grass of the pet area as I returned and Julie helped Cleo up into the truck from the passenger side before scootching up and shutting the door. I climbed in and started the engine as Julie snuggled up close, flipping off her tennis shoes and folding her legs under herself as she cuddled up to my side.
I laughed a little. "Getting real friendly now, huh?"
Julie looked at me for a moment, then smiled. "Yeah... Last night with you and Cleo was.... I'd never thought about those kinds of things, and then to feel it rather than even just see it.... that was... I don't think they have a word for what that was." Julie gave me a squeeze as I pulled forward and headed the truck back onto the interstate highway.
I smiled and kissed her forehead. "So how was your first time making love with a lioness?" I asked her, jokingly.
"Jim, she must really love you..." she smiled up at me, then leaned up to kiss my cheek. "And I do, too."
"I love you too, Julie. But don't think my life is all fun and sex. You've just gotten to see some of the highlights, y'know. Guess you happened into my life just in time for the big action sequence rather than the mundane day-to-day of raking up cat crap from the yard and buying endless packages of chicken at the store..." my expression changed. "Crap..."
"What is it?" Julie asked.
"Well, I've got to get some more chicken... whole ones this time, if I'm going to feed two more lions. Cleo eats dantily but male lions usually eat like hogs. Chuck them a whole chicken and they've got it gone in 20 minutes." I smiled and shrugged. "But, I'll jump off that bridge when we get to it."
Julie giggled and then sighed happily. "You have some of the oddest phrases, Jim."
"Comes from hanging around old farts most of my life. It's just how things go. Glad you find them amusing," I said in return.
* * * * *
The next few hundred miles were passed by Julie and I chatting about this-and-that, some singing along with the radio to either country music or "oldies" rock... well, REAL oldies rock - as in pre-Disco, not "oldies" by modern standards which tends to include music from the 80s and early 90s. I personally don't consider Twisted Sister or Right Said Fred "oldies". Now Beach Boys, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly and the Crickets... yeah, those are oldies rock 'n roll groups.
We both sang along with Three Dog Night - a name which never failed to bring a smile to my face...
Wash away my troubles, wash away my pain with the rain in Shambala Wash away my sorrow, wash away my shame with the rain in Shambala
Ahhooooooooooo yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Ahhooooooooooo yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Everyone is helpful, everyone is kind On the road to Shambala Everyone is lucky, everyone is so kind On the road to Shambala
Ahhooooooooooo yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Ahhooooooooooo yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
How does your light shine in the halls of Shambala How does your light shine in the halls of Shambala
We were both head-bopping as we sang, Julie not knowing of the hidden double-entendre for what we were doing and the song we were singing.
I can tell my sister by the flowers in her eyes On the road to Shambala I can tell my brother by the flowers in his eyes On the road to Shambala
Ahhooooooooooo yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. AhhooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooo yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
How does your light shine in the halls of Shambala How does your light shine in the halls of Shambala
Tell me, How does your light shine in the halls of Shambala Tell me, how does your light shine in the halls of Shambala
Ahhooooooooooo yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. AhhooooooooOOOOOOOOOOooo yeah, on the road to Shambala Ahhooooooooooo yeah, Shammmmmmmbala. Ahhooooooooooo yeah, On the road to Shambala.
I started laughing out loud as the song finished and Julie looked up at me curiously. "Was my singing really that bad?" she asked, somewhat in jest.
I shook my head and turned down the radio. "Wasn't your singing I was laughing at, it was the mixed metaphor of the song and what we're doing."
Julie looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"Ever hear of Tippi Hedren?" I asked. Julie shook her head. "Well... in big cat circles "trippy Tippi" is a loudmouth owner of a big cat sanctuary in California named "Shambala"... yeah, she ripped off the song and the Buddhist-esque concept it represents. She's also against private ownership of big cats, even though that's exactly how she got started, and she's a bit of a hypocrit for how she formed her sanctuary, much like Carole Baskin of "Big Cat Rescue" in Florida."
"How is she a hypocrit?" Julie asked.
"Just like Carole Baskin, she "rescued" her own big cats from herself." I said with a nod of emphasis.
"How do you... do that?" Julie asked.
"Well, in Tippi's case, she couldn't get cats for a movie she wanted to make - called "Roar", which came out in 1981 - and so she bought her own. The movie flopped and so then she was stuck with the cats and no huge income like how she was planning, so she formed the Shambala sanctuary and the sanctuary took in the cats. So she rescued the cats from herself." I shrugged. "I agree, not something stupendous if stated like that. Of course, her press on the matter was a bit more... creative and a bit less forthcoming with those particular details."
"That's.... not right. But what's that got to do with what we're doing?" Julie asked.
"Well, I think about how many cats have headed Tippi's way over the years, with the promise that they'll have a better life, in just this same way, when they... didn't. And the name "Shambala" itself represents the chief city of a mythical race of people of superior enlightenment and knowledge... which is where these cats will be heading, sort of, especially compared to Tippi's place. They won't be sterilized, they will continue to interact with humans if they choose to... and even in special ways. They can even have families if I feel I can manage it. So it's sort of like they're on the road to the real Shambala rather than Tippi's sanctuary by the same name."
Julie smiled up at me. "Well, that still doesn't make too much sense to me in relation to the song, but... I like that it makes you happy that we're doing this."
I laughed. "It better, for what it's costing me. I guess all my hobbies are rather expensive."
Julie giggled. "Well, I won't ask you to take me out for dinner and dacing then."
I chuckled and gave her a squeeze. "I think I've got you pegged more as a McDonald's girl than fancier restaurants."
Julie looked up at me, then smiled and sighed. "Yeah... I've never been out to a formal dinner, and don't know if I really want to with all the pomp and fluff."
I chuckled as this was coming from the girl wearing a nightshirt and her undies while cuddled to me on the front seat of a borrowed pickup truck. Quite a concept in and of itself. If someone had told me a couple months back that I'd be having a lioness, girlfriend, and head off across a good share of the country to get two lions, I'd have suggested they might need to stop doing whatever was giving them those bizarre ideas.
I turned the radio up and sang along with the bass man of the Beach Boys as "Little Deuce Coupe" came on, and Julie giggled a little bit to herself as we started climbing through the foothills of a mountain range, winding along a river valley. Julie shivered.
"You cold, hon?" I asked as she pulled her pants on and fumbled with her socks and shoes.
"Yeah, it's gotten colder, hasn't it?" Julie asked.
"Just the difference in altitude. Thankfully it's not like they're going to be having snow just yet... but... another month and they certainly would around here it seems..." I commented as I looked around out the windows.
"Pretty area.... kinda reminds me of.... I don't know. Sort of those old shows like the Waltons." Julie smiled as she again leaned up against me and I wrapped my arm around her.
"I'm sort of surprised you remember the Waltons." I said.
Julie poked my ribs. "I'm not THAT young and you're not THAT much older than I am, Jim. Quit trying to sound like you're ancient."
"Well, compared to some people, I am. I mean, I'm old enough to be a grandpa, you know," I verbally jabbed back.
"I guess that is true... never really thought of it that way. I guess I'm so used to how my grandpa looked, with his bald head and hair going white. Kinda hard to think of someone your age as being a grandpa." Julie got a wistful look and I gave her a squeeze.
"Yeah, I only got to know my mother's stepfather. My dad's father died long before I was born. He was a fun man, and taught me not to be in too big of a hurry about things, or you'll miss the better things in life. That sometimes it's the trip rather than the destination." I kissed Julie's forhead and smiled at her. "And I think this counts as one of those times, don't you?"
"I do, Jim..." she smiled up at me, and Cleo leaped up from the back to drape her paws over the seat back and nuzzle my ear.
Julie laughed and I kissed Cleo's muzzle. "And I love you too, Cleo."
Julie reached up and scratched under Cleo's chin as I reached the top of the grade and started winding my way back down the hill, setting the brake controller for the trailer a little higher to put a bit more drag on the rear for the descent of the pass we'd just gone through.
In no time we were over the next couple passes and on the downhill side of the mountain and the weather was getting back warmer. It was getting towards time to fill up the tank again so I started looking for a truck stop.
"I think Cleo needs to go out," Julie said.
I nodded and took the next exit, which was in a rather grassy area that seemed to be a ways from anything in particular. I pulled the truck and trailer off to the side of the off-ramp and put it in Park. "You want to or should I?" I asked Julie.
"You can do it this time. I think it's a little colder out there than I'd like," Julie said, and I shrugged.
I grabbed my jacket from where I'd tucked it near the front of the seat, and got out. It was a bit cooler than I'd been used to, but that was alright. Since there were no other vehicles using the ramp, I opened the small door on that side and let Cleo out. "Better hurry, Cleo. Don't want to stay here too long in case someone's watching."
She padded over to the side of the road around the front of the truck and started sniffing. She squatted to pee and was about to come back when I saw a car heading down the ramp. "Cleo, lay down!"
She dropped like a rock, and thankfully the taller grasses hid her fairly well. I made like I was checking the truck tires as the car went past, stopped at the stop sign at the bottom of the ramp, then made a left turn heading to wherever they were going.
"Good girl, Cleo. You can come on back now." Cleo again padded over to where I opened the smaller rear door and helped her hoist herself back into the cab. I shut the door and climbed up myself before shutting the big drivers door.
"That was kind of close, wasn't it?" Julie asked.
I nodded. "I can see the papers now... "Lioness prowls interstate. Unsuspecting motorists saved by hero state trooper." Gah, what garbage, but that's what would likely happen." I frowned some and Julie cuddled up close again.
"Well, that won't happen. Not with you around, I'm sure," she said.
I sighed a bit and gave her a squeeze as I pulled out into the traffic lane and, after stopping, headed straight back up onto the interstate. I wished I had the confidence in myself that she seemed to have in me, but... only time would tell if this trip would be something beneficial, or opening a Pandora's box.
* * * * *
Another tank of gas and a breakfast of chicken nuggets for Cleo and pizza for us from the convenience-mart, we had made our way out of the mountains and back into more flat areas of lightly rolling hills. The sun was rising more and more as it was getting closer to noon, and I grew quiet again as I drove onwards.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Julie asked, a hopeful expression on her face as I noticed her watching me.
I chuckled. "That'd be a tremendous overpayment, I'm sure." Julie made a sour face, then winked.
"I've yet to hear you say something that wasn't well thought out, Jim, so I seriously doubt it would be overpayment. I'm just curious what's on your mind." Her smile was so kind I couldn't really deny her.
"Well... not much of anything, really. Just getting to Herbie's and getting the lions and getting home. Not very much to see on the interstate anyway. Just miles and miles of pavement as you pass by towns and weave through cities. Or bypass them altogether." I shrugged. "There was a time when I considered being an over-the-road driver... mostly because I do like the going and seeing new places. But that dream lost a lot of its lustre after you drive the same stretch of interstate for most of a year to go to your job. You realize that you could do it in your sleep, because you know every bump, every curve, every shift in the wind... and then you come to know that it's the same all over. Just two, three, four... however many lanes of asphalt or concrete and that's that. A bit of scenery here and there, but mostly just highway and nothing more. The streamlined means to the end, rather than the winding path with something new around each curve." I shrugged again and smiled at her. "Guess I'm just babbling. Sorry."
"No, I asked... I just didn't think about it like that, but I can see how you'd be right. It's not like when you drive other highways and it takes you through all sorts of small towns with different character, with main street shops, or past large big-box stores or whatever. Or little middle-of-nowhere crossroads with just a couple businesses to their name, if even that." She looked a bit wistful as she finished that.
"Thinking about someplace you once knew?" I asked.
Julie looked down and nodded. "Another place, another time...."
I looked curious at her, while trying to keep one eye on the road. "Wanna talk about it?"
Julie looked at me for what seemed like a long time, then down again. Then she sighed. "I love you a lot, Jim. At least, I've come to love you a lot these past couple days. I just..." She looked at me again and then forced a smile. "This isn't the right time for that."
I smiled and took her hand in mine. "Ok. You'll tell me in your own time." I gave it a squeeze and she hung onto my hand tightly.
"Oh, Jim..." she started to cry.
I drew her close to my side again. "Something about whatever you were thinking about?" She sniffled and nodded. "Bad memory in your life?" Again a nod came. I gave her another squeeze. "Whatever it is, it's in the past and it can't hurt you. Not in the daylight, and not as long as I'm here."
Julie looked up at me, her eyes full of fear, hope, and the tears from something awry with her past. I smiled at her. She sniffled then smiled. "I bet I make a pretty pathetic sight like this...."
"Well, everyone has their problems, Julie. It's alright if you let them out once in awhile. My head's full of little demonic issues that I stuff away, but they come out to play every so often anyway, like awhile ago just after Cleo's exam when one kind of reared its head while we were walking back from the cathouse towards the office." I patted her side. "Some we can share with others, because they have the right to know. Others... like that one I just mentioned...." I shook my head. "Like I told you then, I've seen stuff and known stuff the thought of which should never be intentionally inflicted on someone. That either they'll come to know it in their own time, or if they're lucky they'll never have to experience it or see it. I can be your rock right now when you're feeling bad, and you can have your demons out to play for a time. That's part of who I am. But once in awhile mine will come out to play, too, and I might not be able to be strong for you, so I'd need you to be strong for me at those times. And to accept that you may never get a good answer to "What's wrong"... It's not because I don't want to tell you. It's because you might be better off not knowing."
Julie looked up at me, wrapped her arms behind and in front of my chest and gave me the biggest hug. I just chuckled and patted her back.
"I was thinking about my grandparents place. It was a farm just off one of those little nowhere towns. Eldonville. Wasn't anything more than a flashing light at the intersection of two highways, a little diner on one corner, a gas station on the other and a couple houses scattered about there...." she swallowed hard. "I really loved going to grandpa and grandma's. Or, I should say I loved BEING there. On the trip to and from it wasn't so much fun. Dad would fight with mom most of the way, and my brothers would beat on me in the back seat of the car. But once we were there... it was like heaven."
I listened, smiling, as she told all about it.
"Well, I went back there a couple years ago. And.... The one highway is four lanes wide, Eldonville is just an overpass, and the farm my grandpa had is nothing more than a parking lot with a Cracker Barrel store with grandpa's windmill as decoration. The rest is parking lots, an outlet mall... just... crapola. Nothing more than pavement and prepackaged plastic crap. No more walking to the barn to pet the horses. No more getting chased by the geese. No sitting on the old back porch listening to the birds in the trees...." she frowned and swallowed hard, then looked up at me with tears in her eyes again. "Gotta love progress, right?"
I rubbed her back and cuddled her close. "Well... there's still little tidbits of that way of life around, Julie. I should know... you've seen my place. There's plenty more like that around for kids to skin their knees, chase frogs, fall out of orchard trees and need some bone set in a cast. Scare their sister with a little garter snake?" I winked and Julie giggled a little. "Trust me. And if gas prices keep going, it may come back a lot sooner than people may think, as those parking lots start growing weeds because there's not that many cars around to park on them."
"You really think that could happen, Jim?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yes. The only reason we've become infatuated with the automobile was because fuel was cheap and readily available. It wouldn't take much more than a hiccup in oil supply to put us in gas lines like during the Carter years. That'd cause a huge boom in public transit that doesn't take oil-based input - which would be railroads. That's how come a lot of those little towns were little is because the railroad passed them by, so they were a way-stop for farmers getting their crap TO the next town that had a station. Of the three big land transport mechanisms - planes, trains, and automobiles, only trains are massively fuel-efficient and multi-fuel... and always have been."
Julie smiled. "You're so weird." I just winked and we drove in silence for awhile, cuddled up and content with each other's company.
* * * * *
The sun was sinking lower in the sky and starting to obscure my vision when I saw we were getting towards a larger town, so I pulled off the interstate and started heading down a highway into the town. Along one side there was a grocery store, so I pulled into the far end of the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly.
"What are we doing here, Jim?" Julie asked, having gotten actually dressed in the intervening time.
"Figured I'd get Cleo some actual chicken rather than just nuggets while we wait for the sun to duck down further before we head on. It was starting to shine in my eyes and that's kind of dangerous while driving. I don't really want to risk denting Chet's truck and could use a break," I said and she shrugged. "Feel like cleaning up the rack-room a little bit while I do the shopping?" I asked.
Julie smiled. "Sure. Could you pick me up something, too?" she asked with a smile.
"Whatcha need? Box of tampons?" I winked.
Julie giggled some. "No... would just like something not fizzy. Lemonade or sweet tea or something. I'm not used to drinking so much soda and it gives me gas."
I laughed some and gave her a squeeze. "Worried that I won't like you if you fart?" I asked in jest.
She just blushed deeply and gave my cheek a kiss. "Where's the broom?"
I handed her the trailer keys. "It's in the back. You can get there from the rack-room or just open the back doors. You can sweep out back there if you feel really enthusiastic, but I don't think I should be gone that long. After this we'll get dinner to go and drive some more, then we'll tie up at a decent hour tonight and get some real sleep before we get to Herbie's in the morning. We're not too far and I wouldn't want to inconvenience him by showing up way too late or way too early."
She nodded and I stepped down out of the cab. "What about Cleo?" she asked.
"She'll have to wait with going out until we get somewhere a bit less.... populated. But don't worry, I've not forgotten about her." I closed the cab door and headed towards the supermarket.
I found her some Arizona sweet tea in the tallboy cans and got some of that, got a single rack of chicken leg quarters for Cleo, and found some nice chocolate chip cookies on sale so I grabbed them as well.
"Do you have a Piggly Wiggly card?" the young female clerk asked.
I shook my head. "Nope, sorry."
"Well, if you had you'd have saved some money. Would you like an application?" she said almost mechanically as she scanned my purchases.
"Just passing through, but thanks for asking." I smiled and handed over the money. She handed me my change and bagged up the items.
"Have a good day." She smiled.
"You too." I nodded as I headed back out the door.
As I crossed part of the parking lot I could see Julie sweeping the heavy dust out of the rack-room, making a bit of mess on the pavement as she did so. As I got closer she saw me coming. "Nearly got it somewhat clean, Jim. Better than it was last night. It was really FILTHY in there!" There was no malice in her voice even though she was clearly pleased with her progress.
"Yeah, it's not like things stay clean if you let them sit for a long time. Especially around a farm." I shrugged.
"I noticed your office could use a going-through as well when I was in there. I mean, it even had dust on the cobwebs!" Julie smiled.
"Hey, if you're volunteering to be my housekeeper, that's something different. The wages are zero dollars an hour, the job is 30 hours a day, 8 days a week. But there are negotiable fringe benefits." I winked at her and she stuck out her tongue to me as she cleaned off the countertop and swept that mess out the door, nearly onto my feet.
"Oops, sorry, Jim." She smiled a bit embarrassedly as I stopped short of the debris flow.
"It's ok, hon... here, got you some Arizona tea." I proffered her one of the cans.
"Oh! Thanks!" She opened it and chugged a bit.
I chuckled, "You must have been thirsty."
Julie just nodded. "What's the rest of that?" she asked as she put the broom away and shut the trailer door, then locked it and handed me the keys back.
"Just Cleo's chicken, another tea for you, and... some chocolate chip cookies." I smiled broadly.
"Jim, you're gonna make me fat with all the food and then sweets too!" She hugged me and kissed my cheek. She then took the bag and climbed back into the truck. I went around the other side and climbed back in, too.
"So, what do you feel like having tonight? CrackDonald's? Booger Fling? Taco Hell? Arfbys? Pizza Slut?" I asked.
Julie poked me in the ribs. "You and your silly names for places. Um..." she thought. "How about Arby's? I haven't eaten there in awhile."
"Arby's it is. I don't think there's one here but I'll stop in the next one we come to." I fired up the truck and toured the parking lot a bit until we got to the exit, then headed it back onto the highway towards the interstate.
A couple stops down from the town was a wayside plaza that included an Arby's, so we swung through the drive-thru. Thankfully the truck was tall enough that the window clerk couldn't see in, and Cleo kept low in the back. I had the fish sandwich meal, and Julie just had the chicken strips. "Gotta watch my figure with all I've been eating these days. It's not like I'm doing stuff to burn off those calories," she commented.
I laughed. "Well, you can run alongside the truck for awhile if you'd like..." I winked and she stuck her tongue out at me again.
I pulled out of the lot and headed back onto the highway as she nibbled her chicken strips and I munched on my fries. Not too long after we came to a middle-of-nowhere off-ramp onto a different highway and I pulled off. "You want to take Cleo out, or should I?" I asked her.
"I'll do it this time," Julie offered and put her food up on the dashboard. She opened her door and then the smaller rear door and Cleo jumped down. Soon she was doing her thing in the roadside grass and I got her tray of chicken out from under the seat and put a couple of the leg quarters in one of her stainless food bowls from home, then set it behind my seat on the floor.
Cleo must have seen what I was doing, and must have been rather hungry because she turned, took a flying leap at the truck, and made it into the cab without any help. "That was a surprise," Julie commented as she shut the rear door then climbed in herself. "I didn't think she could do that anymore with how heavy she's getting."
I shrugged. "Hunger can make for some interesting feats of athleticism, you know." I winked and Julie just shook her head.
I just sat there for a time, eating my fish sandwich and taking occasional slurps of my Mountain Dew as I thought about things. I wondered if maybe Julie and I were taking things a little too fast, with this whirlwind romance kind of thing going on. Only a few weeks ago we'd just been co-workers saying "hi" in passing every so often. Now she was cuddling up to me, we were calling each other honey... talking about the future, sex, families... Julie must have noticed my expression.
"Worried about something, dear?" she asked.
I smiled at her and fibbed. "Naw, just thinking how best to go about things. I don't know how early Herbie gets up, and don't know exactly how long it'll take. We've been on the road at least 18 hours or better, which would leave something like 7 hours left to go. I can't say exactly how much because I didn't count how long we were asleep ... well, this morning. I almost said "last night"." I smiled and shrugged. "Anyway... we'd want to arrive in the daylight, which isn't too much of a problem, but before noon so we could get heading back home fairly quickly with a good amount of driving day left. It's only about..." I checked the time. "Only about 7pm now, so... got another three hours of driving that could be done tonight before heading to bed, get up about dawn, which would be 5-ish. That'd mean we'd arrive at Herbie's around 10 or a bit before, a couple hours of meeting and talking and seeing the cats, and loading them. We could be back on the road heading home by noon. That wouldn't be too bad."
Julie chuckled softly. "Sounds like you've got it all worked out," she said and took another bite of her chicken. I shrugged and chomped some more of my fish as Cleo crunched her chicken merrily behind me.
Soon enough my fish was finished, and I crumpled up the wrapper and tossed it back in the grese-stained bag. I took a couple drags from my drink and tucked it back in the cupholder, and then took a couple more pinches of curly fries and stuffed them in my mouth before I put the truck in gear and we headed onwards. Julie snitched a few of my fries and I chuckled as she snuggled up to me again.
"How come I feel safe with you, Jim?" she asked.
I couldn't help but laugh. "I don't know. I mean, here I am, having big cats run loose, cruising down the highway in a borrowed truck towing a dingy trailer that hasn't been on any big trips like this in years... and we're off far from home. What's to say I didn't arrange all this just to abduct you and sell you as a sex slave to an old wealthy pervert? I wouldn't feel safe with me, if I were you." I winked at her and she laughed out loud at that.
The miles and minutes ticked by as Julie and I chatted about nothing of any real importance. Things we saw as we drove which reminded us of things we'd seen before. The non-stop meandering stream of this-and-that which makes conversations interesting sometimes. Soon I saw it was nearing 10pm and I started peering ahead at exits trying to figure out where I'd want to tie up for the night. Julie saw this and commented. "I'm not sleepy, Jim. How about we just put some more miles behind us before we stop for the night?"
I gave it some thought. I wasn't that tired either. And if I drove for another two hours then I'd be only two hours away from Herbie so I could sleep in, or we could get an earlier start. And I could easily run on 6 hours sleep for the better part of the day, so that wouldn't be so big of a deal, either. "Ok... on we go." Julie smiled and snuggled up to my side. Cleo rolled over and kicked the seat as she did so, cut a rather nasty-smelling fart and just wriggled in to get comfortable somewhat spread-eagled in her little space behind the seat.
* * * * *
I pulled off the interstate at another wayside for the night, this one was completely deserted of big trucks or RVs, just two lone cars parked near the crapper. Julie woke up as the truck came to a stop and I shut off the engine. "Are we there yet?" she asked sleepily.
"There" as in at Herbie's? No. "There" as in where we're stopping for the night, yes." I smiled at her and she yawned and stretched some.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked.
"I didn't really pay attention when you dozed off. Not that I really minded. I kinda like you snuggling up to me. Anyway, I gotta use the crapper. You can see if Cleo wants out, and if not then you two can go into the rack-room and I'll be back shortly." I offered her the keys, which she took with another yawn.
I grabbed the truck keys and dropped down to the ground. I stiffly walked in the direction of the public restrooms as the two other cars pulled out. I guessed they had been traveling together or something, but it really didn't matter to me either way.
The restrooms were fairly clean, and I sat down and did what nature demanded. I took my time and then washed up, looking at myself in the mirror. I wondered just how this all was going to turn out, since we WERE a long ways from home if anything did happen, and I had the feeling there was something more going on than just me taking a road trip to get lions. Now whether that was just something to do with Julie, something to do with my job, or just a pure figment of my sometimes-overactive imagination, I couldn't tell. I rubbed my beard stubble and wondered what Julie would think of me with a beard. Then again, she might stop kissing me because my cheeks were growing fairly prickly. Oh well, I didn't pack my shaver so it was a moot point anyway.
I exited the restroom and headed back towards the truck and trailer. I could see the light was on in the rack-room so I just checked to see the truck doors were locked and then knocked on the door to the trailer. "All decent in there, hon?" I asked, jokingly. "No, but you can come in anyway," came the reply.
I entered and locked the door behind me. Julie had already changed into her nightshirt and I peeled off my boots, socks, pants, and shirt as I sat on the edge of the bunk. "Tired, dear?" Julie asked as she sat next to me.
"Not really, but that's alright. I should fall asleep fairly easily." I smiled at her and kissed her cheek.
I stepped over Cleo and put the laptop so it was on the cooktop and set it to playing another episode of Seconds from Disaster, then turned out the light and laid back. Julie snuggled up beside me.
"Aren't you in the wrong bunk?" I asked with a smile.
"I... kinda..." Julie must have been blushing as she stared intently at my chest. "I want you to.... make me feel like you made Cleo feel last night," she finally spit out, her voice ripe with fear.
"Are you sure, Julie? I mean... groping a lioness while she mates me is one thing, but... that's a big step and we've not known each other very long. Besides, I don't have any condoms with me. I mean, I wouldn't want us to make a mistake that we both may come to regret later." My smaller head was rising to the occasion in my boxers, but my bigger head was wanting to make sure Julie was sure about it all.
"I'm on the pill, Jim. And... well... I know it's a big step and we've not known each other that long, but... in a way... it seems like I've known you forever and that you're the best person I've ever met. And I'd like to... I don't know...." She looked at me and then looked away. "You make me feel so safe, so... loved. Part of me wants to love you back every way I can. Another part says I might regret it later if I do, but I think that's just me worrying you're not how you seem and that you'd not like me for some reason or another."
I gave her a gentle squeeze and smiled tenderly. "We can if you'd like to... and I'll take it slow. If you want things to stop at anytime, just say so."
She looked up at me with both fear and excitement showing in her eyes. "Really, Jim?"
I nodded. "Really." I sat up a bit and she moved about as well.
She took off her nightshirt to reveal herself in front of me in the dim light of the computer's screen. Her breasts were nicely perky and just the right size. She moved to straddle my hips and sat down on my thighs as I cupped her two breasts tenderly and started feeling them all over. "Sit with your back against me, hon... then we can do this all easier," I told her.
"What about you? Won't you need some... attention?" she asked.
I shook my head and smiled lovingly at her. "Tonight's for you, Julie. Don't worry about me and just enjoy it as much as you feel appropriate." She blushed and turned about. I guided her hips and she slid her butt down my front, until my member was poking up between her thighs.
She giggled a little. "Looks like I have a cock, though not quite in the right spot!"
I cupped and caressed her breasts as I kissed her neck and held her back against me, I merely said "uh-huh" in response to her observation and she moaned a little as her nipples became erect. I twiddled them a little bit and then watched her some as I ran one hand down her front. She grabbed it and guided it lower. "I shaved for you the other night," she murmured.
"Your legs did feel quite smooth last night," I replied and she chuckled a little.
"Not just my legs...." she guided me over her pubic mound and it was hairless. I turned my head a bit to look at her and she turned to smile at me. She kissed me on the lips and asked, "I'd heard most men like it that way... I figured it'd be worth trying."
I smiled. "That was very sweet of you, and yes, I do appreciate it. I don't know about other men but I'm used to hairless vulvas when there's hair all over the rest." I head-nodded towards Cleo, who was flopped out on the floor, eliciting a bit of a giggle from Julie before a gasp as I gently spread her labia with her hand atop mine. "Guide me to what you like best, honey. Show me what feels good," I instructed. She merely moaned abit and her breathing was becoming rapid. In running my fingers over and through her labia I could feel her clitoris was erect and out from under its little hood, I rested the joint of my middle finger on that and used my index and ring finger to spread her labia widely now and again. She shifted her legs to spread them more. At the bottom I could feel her slickness starting and used her natural lube to slicken my middle finger. Bending it a bit further, I teased the tip at her vaginal opening, which also moved its position atop her clit. I just ducked the fleshy end of my finger in and out of her opening, tugging at it a little bit now and again as she wriggled against me, my other hand having found its way to her hip.
"Oh, Jim..." she panted. "You're.... this is so.... ugnnnh!" she grunted as she shifted her hips some, thrusting them up a bit. "I can't take much more of this... I have to feel you in me!"
I toned down my stimulation a bit and kissed her neck. "What position would you like?"
"I want to see your face and feel you as deep inside me as possible!" she moaned out. As she lifted herself from me, I scooted forward. I smiled noticing two different wet spots on my briefs as I shucked them off - a small circular one from the top of my tent pole, and a larger more diffuse one closer to the waistband.
Julie had laid back and spread her feet to the edges of the bunk. I smiled and moved over her, then took one of her feet in each hand and folded her closer, putting her knees almost all the way to her chest and her feet up off the bed. She looked at me with both fear and desire as I moved over her. I kissed her forehead and she gripped her ankles to hold herself folded. "You wanted to feel me as deeply as possible... you'll get your wish." I reached between us and guided my cockhead towards her. I rubbed it up and down her labia a few times, then let it center at her opening. She closed her eyes, and her breath was coming in shudders. I pushed gently and my broad mushroom cap spread her, then slipped easily inside.
No sooner had it gone in and her lips closed partially around the base of my glans than her eyes popped open, her tunnel clenched terribly tight and she screamed. "Jim... stop! No!... Take it out! Take it out!"
Cleo's head jerked up from where she had been sleeping and the look of abject terror on Julie's face was something I hadn't expected. I pulled out, which was a bit difficult due to her internal grip on me, then sat back, cock wagging a bit as I did so. She sat bolt upright, folded her legs beneath her, and clutched her hands together tightly. She looked at me, then looked down and started sobbing.
I was confused as I could be at that moment. I didn't really know what to do. Would she want me to hold her? Would she not want to be touched at all? I haltingly reached out and touched her shoulder. Her head shot up and she looked at me with eyes of pure terror, then she grabbed onto me for dear life and started sobbing against my shoulder. "I'm sorry Jim..." she sob-hiccuped. "I thought I could. And I really wanted to... it's just... " Her breathing was rapid, and I pet down her back.
"Someone hurt you in the past, didn't they?" I asked. She continued sobbing but nodded into my shoulder. "Being here in the trailer reminded you of it?" Another nod rubbed her hair along my shoulder. I gave it some thought and then asked, "It was some relative, wasn't it?"
Her tear-streaked face looked up at me with confusion. "How did you know?" she managed to get out between sniffles.
I smiled. "Lucky guess... and I'll guess it happened in a camper or something, right?" She nodded again, still sniffling.
I thought long and hard and canted my jaw. She looked at me in dismay and said, "If you don't want to be with me anymore... I'll understand."
This time my eyebrows shot up and a broad smile broke across my face. "Julie, it's part of you. You come as a pacakge deal, not just the parts I think I want and none of the rest." I reached out and drew her close. "Were you having fun before.... before your mind switched to back then?" I asked.
Julie nodded. "I don't know why it did that. I thought I'd put it all behind me, but sometimes when I.... .... with boyfriends it.... kinda... happens." She looked up at me with disbelief. "It's really alright? You're not... just saying that to make me feel better?" Her question was genuine.
I smiled broadly. "No... not just saying that." I caressed one of her breasts and her nipple perked back up. "What.... are you doing, Jim?" she looked confused.
"Your body likes me. And I'm pretty sure your mind does, too. The bigger question is do you trust me enough to take a very big leap of faith, and if this is the right time for you to do so."
She looked at me wholly confused. "What are you saying, Jim?"
I smiled kindly. "I think I might know a way to... help you through it, if you still want to have a romp tonight. If you don't, I understand. It'd just take a whole lot of trust in me on your part. And I'm sure the forward part of your brain is saying "sure, I can do that", but it'd mean the trust would have to be strong enough to subjugate that memory of whenever and whatever. And that's a question not easily answered."
Julie looked at me confusedly for a moment, and then hopeful. "I'd really appreciate being able to.... mate with you. And I'd love it more than anything. I just.... I don't know what would happen if we try again, and I don't want to let you down again like this."
I laughed and gave her a loving squeeze. "You didn't let me down, Julie. This is just something that's bound to come up from time to time. If we can work through it, or sidestep it, or whatever, then eventually it'll diminish until it's just something that happened long ago and no longer affects you to such an extent. And I know you can't promise it wouldn't happen again. In fact, I'll bet it will happen again, but that's alright. Sooner or later your trust can punch through the fear." I smiled lovingly.
"Can we just... cuddle for awhile?" her voice was ripe with hope but also worry.
I nodded and laid back. "How about..." I pondered for a moment. "Nevvamind."
"What were you thinking?" Julie asked as she cuddled up to my side.
"I was just thinking I could... give you an orgasm with just my hands and such, but that can wait for later. We can just snuggle." I smiled, then rolled onto my side. "Let's cuddle spooned."
"Spooned?" Julie asked, facing me.
"Snuggle up with your back cupped to my front, like a couple of spoons in a drawer." I said.
She smiled, rolled over, and wiggled back against me. "Something's poking my butt, Jim."
I chuckled, and lifted her upper leg and with my lower hand drew her rump to press up against my crotch, I then put her upper leg back down with my erection between her thighs. "Frottage at its best." I winked. "That's sex between someone's thighs."
She giggled. "You really ARE a pervert, knowing all those names."
I drew the top of the sleeping bag over us and we fell asleep cuddled like that, like a pair of spoons.