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  “Yes. Wait until we’re in the city.”

  Opal sighed. “Alright. I guess you’d know.” Opal pulled bottles of water out of the backpack and handed one to Pholus. In spite of the gradually increasing rain falling on the roof, the interior of the bus was getting hot, and Opal could feel the sweat running down her neck.

  Pholus chugged his down and handed the bottle back. “Thanks.”

  Opal took a sip and leaned down to put the backpack on the floor between her feet. The movement brought the slit in her pants into contact with the rough surface of the seat. She took a sharp breath.

  Pholus turned. “What?”

  “Nothing.” Opal shook her head and readjusted her hips, rolling back to put the weight closer to her tailbone.

  Pholus smiled crookedly. “Right.” He resumed his careful scan of the windows, and gently laid his hand on her knee.

  Opal snickered. “Pholus, you’re not going to do what I think you’re going to do, are you?”

  “Hm?” His hand moved up her thigh.

  “You’re not even being subtle about it.”

  “I’m not big on subtle.” He pushed past the stretchy fabric and rubbed the outer lips of her pussy.

  Opal grabbed his wrist and tried to push him away but his hand wouldn’t budge. “Pholus! Not here! Not now!” she hissed. She clamped her legs together but it only served to hold his hand in place.

  “Why not?” He wiggled his fingers deeper, slowly finding the tender tissues inside.

  “People may not be able to see what you’re... ah... doing, but when I cum they’re going to damn... damn well fig... figure it out. Dammit... oh, God...”

  Pholus strummed her like a guitar, two fingers dancing within her dampening folds. “So what? What are the chances we’ll ever see these people again?”

  “I’m going to... I’m going to come...”

  “Yes, that’s the idea...” The pressure on his hand eased a bit as Opal’s resolve started to melt.

  “Dammit! Oh... I’m… coming... back here... when this all... oh, God... blows over...”

  “Do you really want me to stop?”

  Opal tried to screw up the willpower, but the word wouldn’t come to her lips. “Pholus... please… don’t...” Her hands stroked the thick hair on his upper arm.

  “Please don’t what?” He pushed, and two thick fingers slid inside.

  Opal moaned softly, and she squeezed her thighs together again, driving the knuckle of his thumb into her clit. Words entirely failed her. She spread her legs and slid down the seat, giving Pholus complete license, complete access to her throbbing, soaking pussy. Her mind flashed with the memory of being handcuffed to the float’s stanchions, breasts and pussy poking out of her clothes, as Pholus mercilessly manipulated her.

  What happened to the savvy financier? The skilled surgeon? How could she possibly be getting so turned on by this situation? She felt the blood rushing to her face and chest, and knew that it was as much from arousal as humiliation. Thunder rolled in the distance and the intensity of the rain suddenly increased. The sound of the downpour battering the bus’s steel roof served to conceal Opal’s moans. Her consciousness barely registered the squeal of air brakes as the driver brought the bus to a stop to wait out the storm.

  As thick and strong as it was, Pholus’s hand caressed her as gently as petting a sleeping cat. A rolling wave passed through her body, the first hints of a building orgasm. Opal pulled Pholus’s face closer. “Kiss me,” she hissed. “Or… or I’m going to scream.”

  Pholus bent down and placed his mouth over hers, letting her fill him with the sounds of feminine ecstasy. Writhing, she searched for sensations yet more intense. Another wave shuddered through her. She would have pulled his whole hand, his whole arm inside her if she had had the ability. She wanted to engulf him, devour him with her pussy.

  The thought unlocked passions that had been confined to her most secret dreams. She rolled the fabric down from her breasts and kneaded her bare flesh. Her shame melted away in a flood of hormones. She wanted to be seen, to be on display. Lightning crashed, throwing quick, bright flashes she could see even with her eyes closed. She pulled away from Pholus’s mouth to groan openly as her body finally reached its climactic crescendo. Great shuddering gasps racked her body, and her pussy spasmed around his fingers.

  When it passed and her mind returned to something closer to normal, she curled up and quickly repositioned her clothes. “Oh, God, Pholus, I can’t believe you just did that to me.” Looking up, she caught the leering eye of the driver.

  He smiled broadly, and gave her an “OK” sign.

  She moaned, feeling the blood heat her face, and turned away towards the window. Outside, the rain was slacking off to a desultory drizzle.

  Pholus chuckled low in his throat and she heard his mouth making wet sounds as he licked his fingers clean of her juices. “It serves you right, you know.”

  “What?”

  “Well, not only are you constantly tempting me with your beautiful body, but you’re bringing me to America to make a spectacle of me… the least I could do is make a spectacle of you before we go.”

  Through the trails of water dripping down the window, Opal caught a glimpse of movement. She watched carefully, and saw it again.

  “Pholus, wait...” She waved him closer, and pointed. “I think someone’s out there.”

  Pholus peered over her shoulder. Without a word, he sprang to his feet and pulled the protesting driver out of his seat. “Hang on, everyone,” he shouted, starting the engine, “It’s going to be a rough ride!”

  Pholus ground the bus into gear and slammed the accelerator. The behemoth lurched and gravel spat from the wheels but the machine started moving.

  Shouts called out from the rain. Someone leapt in front of the bus and raised a weapon, but Pholus didn’t flinch, and the trooper was forced to throw himself out of the bus’s way at the last second.

  Gunfire slashed the air. Passengers screamed and threw themselves down behind the seats. Pholus accelerated. More shouting.

  Opal looked out her window and her heart leapt into her throat. An old jeep was rapidly pulling up alongside. The gunner, sitting behind a massive machine gun, shouted and waved his arms, motioning them to pull over.

  Opal glanced back at the dozens of panicking Papuans cowering between the seats, and then at Pholus. The big mercenary was spending all his attention keeping the massive machine upright and on the road.

  She scooped up the discarded submachine gun and flipped off the safety. “I’m getting real tired of you assholes,” she growled. A kick to the lever on the dashboard opened the passenger door. Bracing herself against a pole, she spun into the doorway and pulled the trigger. The weapon bucked in her hands, jerking more than she had expected, but she got it under control and aimed the stream of lead downwards.

  The jeep’s tire shredded and the driver violently wrenched the wheel, trying to keep the vehicle under control. Pholus whooped and swerved, driving the bus’s massive bulk sideways, into the jeep’s path. It careened off the road.

  Pholus checked his mirrors. “Any more of them?”

  Opal scanned the windows. “I don’t see anyone, but keep going.”

  * * * *

  Directed by the driver, Opal and Pholus found a police station a mile or so down the road, and reported that they were being pursued. They didn’t tell the whole story, that would have raised too many questions, but with some careful diplomacy and the application of some carefully directed money, Opal arranged for police protection the rest of the way to the airport.

  Chapter Seven

  Pholus looked around the interior of the luxuriously appointed corporate jet as he boarded.

  Opal gave him a gentle shove and he moved down the little aisle and took one of the wide, comfortable seats. Opal sat facing him, and put her hand on his. “Don’t worry. I know it’s unfamiliar, but you’re smart. You’ll adapt.”

  Pholus smiled and looked out the wind
ow.

  “Doctor Schild, do you need any help with your seat belt? We will be taking off in a few minutes.”

  It seemed a bit silly to have a flight attendant on just for the two of them, but Opal believed in enjoying life’s pleasures. Between the fuel, the flight crew, the charter fee, and the carbon offsets, this flight was costing a hefty sum, even for her. A flight attendant didn’t add that much to the bottom line from that perspective. She nodded to the handsome, dark-skinned man and took the straps in her hands. “No, we’ll be fine.”

  As soon as the plane reached cruising altitude, Opal took out her computer and set it on her lap. She touched the startpad, but nothing happened.

  “Oh, no...” She touched the startpad again. Still nothing.

  “Turn it over.”

  Opal glanced at Pholus. He was looking out the window at an impressive bank of clouds, orange and purple in the slanting evening sun. She turned it over.

  A bullet hole graced the center of the black metal case. Inside, shreds of wrecked plastic and severed wiring could be seen around the remains of a rifle bullet. Opal let out a deep groan of disappointment.

  “Doesn’t look like they got your hard drive,” he said. “You should be able to get back all your data.”

  “Pholus, I have investments to track, email to answer. I haven’t been connected for days!”

  Pholus took the ruined machine from her lap and threw it onto the seat behind him. “There’s nothing to do about it now. Forget it. Get some sleep.”

  Opal sighed. “You’re right. Of course.” She waved to the flight attendant, sitting in a seat near the front of the plane. “Could you darken the cabin, please?”

  “Of course, ma’am.” He spoke a few soft words to the ship’s computer, and the lighting dimmed to a soft glow. Another command turned the plane’s windows opaque. “Would you like a blanket, ma’am?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Snuggled down under the blanket, enfolded by the seat, and finally free of hounding threats, Opal found sleep coming easily.

  * * * *

  When she awoke, Pholus was watching her, leaning forward in his seat. “Good morning.” His voice was low and calm, almost a whisper.

  “Someday I’m going to wake up, and you’ll still be asleep.” Opal yawned and stretched. “What time is it?”

  “We’re about four hours from landing.”

  “You spent that whole time just watching me sleep?”

  “I dozed a bit.”

  Opal raised her seat. “You’re not wearing the same clothes.”

  Pholus fingered the black cotton t-shirt stretched over his broad chest and shrugged. “Better to get changed now. We’ll have enough trouble getting through customs.”

  “Yes, yes, all very logical... but that means I missed it.” Opal winked.

  Pholus raised an eyebrow. “Well, in that case…” A few words with the flight attendant sent him up into the cockpit. In smooth, efficient motions, he pulled off his tee shirt, doffed his boots, and shucked his tan trousers, leaving himself completely naked in the seat. He crossed his arms and gave her a challenging look.

  “You call that a strip?”

  Pholus shrugged.

  “Let me show you how it’s done.” This performance was for Pholus alone. The attendant’s computer controls were simple enough. In a few seconds she turned up the lights a bit at the front of the cabin, as if it were a private stage. The soft, rhythmic strains of a solo jazz saxophone drifted from the cabin speakers.

  There, in the little space near the hatch, she danced. Turning her back to Pholus, she twisted her spine in sinuous, snaking movements, raising her arms above her head and letting them carry the motions out to the ends of her fingers. Opal let the music guide her as it flowed over and around her.

  Opal glanced over her shoulder, and caught Pholus craning his neck for a better view. She smiled a crooked smile to herself.

  Her hands drifted downwards again, reaching the buttons of her blouse. It dropped from her shoulders, revealing a plain white sports bra underneath. In another smooth movement, she pulled the stretchy undergarment up over her head and twirled it around.

  Pholus chuckled low in his throat. She could almost feel the pressure of his attention on her back. She felt naughty. She felt rude. She felt playful and fun in a way that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Covering her nipples with the palms of her hands, she turned around and looked Pholus in the eye. Amusement and lust played over his face, and his hand was drifting downwards towards his cock.

  Slowly, in time with the music, Opal pushed her breasts around on her chest. Under his hand, Pholus’s cock twitched as the first stirrings of arousal appeared. She slid her hands upwards, slowly, letting her breasts spill out from underneath the bra, one inch at a time, until they swayed freely with her undulating body.

  “You like this?” she asked, swinging her hips slowly side to side.

  “Mmm.”

  Opal hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her skirt and inched it down slowly over her generous posterior. Pholus’s gaze was glued to the widening expanse of skin appearing above the fabric. She stopped, teasing, just at her hips, allowing only the barest wisps of pubic hair to appear. She wondered if he knew, before this, that she wasn’t wearing underwear. He stroked his cock generously now, the thick organ full in his hand, still twitching with his heartbeat as it swelled. Small murmurs of appreciation welled up from his chest.

  “Tell me how much.”

  “You’re gorgeous.”

  Opal tilted her head back with a broad smile. “Such eloquence.” She dropped the skirt and danced closer, just out of arm’s reach, letting his hungry gaze devour her but denying him touch.

  “If you’ll excuse my interruption,” came the pilot’s voice over the loudspeakers. “We’re about to encounter some...”

  A violent shudder ran through the ship, pitching Opal towards the floor. Pholus caught her and pulled her into his lap.

  “...turbulence. If you’ll please take your seats and put on your seat belts, we should be through it in a few minutes.”

  Opal tried to get up, but Pholus’s arms pulled her tighter. He shifted her behind to get her sitting on his lap. “I’ve got you.”

  “I don’t think this meets FAA regulations,” Opal whispered. The plane trembled again, and she felt an echo of the vibration lodge in the pit of her stomach.

  A thick, hard cock pressed against her tailbone. Pholus wrapped a powerful arm around her body, binding her elbows in a pythonic grip. “Don’t worry. You won’t go anywhere.” The chaotic motions of the plane rubbed his cock against her.

  His assurances did little to calm her down. She felt her pulse start to rise. Turbulence always made her a little nervous, and the unsteadiness of her position made it even worse.

  “When we get back to the ‘States, you’re going to be in charge a lot of the time,” said Pholus. His free hand stroked her thigh, then moved, gently, to her arm, up past her elbow. “That’s fine. I’m used to doing what I’m told, especially when I respect the person in command.”

  “That’s...”

  “Shh.” Pholus squeezed her arm for emphasis. “When we’re having sex, though... I’m in charge.” His hand found her breast; held it, fondled it, caressed it. “I’ve watched you. I’ve listened to you. You like it when I take charge.” He dipped his head and gently bit the fleshy part of her neck.

  “Yes,” she breathed, unable to deny the thrill running through her. She flexed her hands, shifted her weight, but Pholus held her tightly. The jet pitched violently.

  Opal’s anticipation blazed. Her heart raced, and the air suddenly seemed to lose all its oxygen, leaving her gasping. “Please... I’m... let me go...”

  “No.” His mouth felt a slight inch from her ear. His voice was low and soft. “It’s not safe.” He drew her thighs apart with the gentle guidance of his hand and knees. “You need to stay right here.” A finger drew lazy spirals in the thick forest of her pubic hair, ed
ging ever closer to her slit. How could he have learned so quickly how to make her so hot?

  “You still have a lot to teach me.” His fingers invaded her slit and sank into the sodden terrain. “But I’m going to learn it on my own terms.” She twisted her head, desperately seeking to bring her lips to his, but instead he drew her earlobe between her lips and held it briefly between his teeth. “You are my jewel,” he whispered. “And I will never let you get away.”

  His finger churned her flesh, up and around and down and in, coaxing a long groan of pleasure from her throat. She let her head loll back against his shoulder. “Please,” she moaned, “please…” The turbulence faded and died, but Opal was too far gone to notice. She rolled her hips forward, trying to get just a little more stimulation from his fingers. “Please… oohhhhh... put it in…” Her hunger was almost unbearable. She tried to push up off his lap, lean forward, anything to get his cock inside her.

  “Tell me. Tell me what you want,” he insisted.

  “Dammit… Pholus... ohhhh...”

  “Ask nicely.” He shifted his hand and plunged deeper, with his thumb stroking her clit directly.

  “Fuck me,” she whispered. “Please. Give me your cock.”

  With effortless grace, Pholus nudged Opal forward, lifting her off his lap just long enough to guide his cock to her hungry slit.

  He pulled her back down on top of him, and she cried out in ecstasy. With her upper arms firmly in his grasp, his massive arms lifted her up and slowly brought her back down. She tried to speed the process but her body was a doll in his hands, totally under his control. With each slow-motion cycle, she let out a deep moan. Again and again his cock spread her, his girth a welcome pressure within her.

  Over her shoulder she heard his breath starting to come deeper and sharper. Opal gasped with relief as he finally stepped up the rhythm, driving her on what she knew would be a final assault on orgasm.