Chapter Seven

‘He didn’t stumble in, so maybe being drunk is out of the question,’ she thought. ‘Is he mad at me or something?’

“Turkey and swiss if you’re hungry,” Jake said. “Toasted and warm how you like it.”

His voice ripped her from her thoughts, bringing her vision into focus once more.

‘He brought me dinner?’

“I’ll wait for it to cool off and put it in the fridge if you ain’t hungry,” he said.

He still sat in the chair, talking as if he could give a shit less if she was hungry. Her heart pounded in her ears, and she wanted to smack him again.

Jake grabbed the remote for the stereo and clicked it on to his favorite country station before Lisa could answer. This only served to piss her off further, and he knew it. He’d pay along, but she wouldn’t like it the entire time. He wasn’t her prince charming - he was a guy trying to run a business and put his future together.

Lisa rolled her eyes and padded down the stairs, glaring at Jake as she passed. She opened the bag, noticing the familiar ‘Tipsy frog’ logo from the Tavern. Her hands tightened on the plastic, but she bit her cheek to keep from losing her cool.

‘Of course he went there. And he brought me something to eat to -’

“Had a beer with Junior. He says ‘Hey’.”

Lisa pulled the styrofoam carton from the bag and opened it on the counter. Inside was her turkey sandwich and fries, just like Jake said. The food looked great, but she would not eat it. Not from that bar, and not from Jake. He would not win her forgiveness with food, and he wasn’t going to control her eating habits.

“Okay,” she said. “I’ll put this in the fridge for you to have later.”

Jake turned in his chair to watch her. “What do you mean? I got that for you.”

She cocked her hips and glared at him. “I’m not going to eat crap from the bar. I’m not happy about you going there, and -” Lisa wiped an eye and turned away. “You probably made fun of me and kissed other girls, too.”

Jake threw his head back on the chair and groaned. “Are we back in high school? Lisa, I’m getting real fucking tired of this drama shit!”

Lisa whipped around, her eyes full of tears. “You’re causing it! Leaving for the bar to pick up other women!”

Jake kicked the footrest down and shot to his feet. He reached out and pulled her to him before lifting her up under her arms. She gasped and grabbed his biceps with her small hands. Jake looked into her eyes, and spoke with a calm, low tone.

“I had one beer, and there weren’t no women there. Stop with you’re moody shit, and shut the fuck up, Lisa.”

Lisa gasped and pursed her lips, struggling to remove herself from his hold. She kicked her feet, but the floor was too far below her to do any good.

“Let me down,” she squeaked.

Jake shook his head, instead wrapping an arm around her back, and lifting under her knees with the other to hold her like a child. Lisa quickly put an arm over his shoulder to steady herself.

“You wanna throw tantrums, then I’ll treat you like a child. I ought to toss you in bed an tan your hide for puttin’ me through all this crap.”

Lisa gasped again and shook her head, her eyes locking onto his. “No,” she whispered.

Jake looked down, his gaze falling on the two hardening bumps under her shirt. His own excitement was growing with Lisa in his arms, and he wanted to do something about it. She was so damn adamant about them being together, so why not test that?

“You’ve been driving me nuts these couple of days, girl. Now you’re telling me what to do in my home?”

Jake's deep voice rumbled in his chest, sending chills through Lisa’s body. His smell, the damp hair, his forceful grip. Lisa felt like she wanted to melt and explode at the same time. She pulled herself closer, tightening her hold on him.

“I - I’m sorry, Jake,” she said. Her voice was fading, coming out hoarse.

“And now, we’re some kind of couple?” He asked.

Lisa wasn’t sure how to answer, but she nodded anyway. After all, that’s the rule she set hours before. She watched Jake's eyes, but they showed no emotion, at least none that she could read at that moment.

“Interesting,” he said.

He stepped forward to the bedroom stairs, turning sideways to carry Lisa into the bedroom. When he stood at the foot of the bed, he tossed her forward onto the blankets. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and looked at him, wondering why the hell he just did that.

She didn’t have time to say anything before Jake had his hands on her, pulling her shirt off over her head. Lisa wanted to push him away, to scream at him for what he was doing. But at the same time, her body cried out for more. She had to feel his touch on her bare skin.

“You say I’m your man?” Jake asked, removing his own shirt now. “I come back here, and now I’m yours?”

Lisa covered her chest with one arm while scooting back, away from him with the other. She nodded her answer as she did so, watching while the massive man at the foot of the bed pulled his belt from his wranglers so fast, it made a snapping sound when it passed through each loop.

He watched the small woman in her panties scoot backward across the bed, trying to cover her nakedness. He wanted her badly, to show her what she was asking for. She wanted to push him around and make demands, then she could receivince se her pissed off reward.

Lisa admired his physique. He wasn’t any kind of body builder, but his muscle definition was impressive. Everything about this country boy in front of her made her want him even more. Handsome, kind, strong in almost every way..

“What did you say about women in town?” Jake asked. “Or was it Becca you mentioned, fucking my bedbug, was it?”

Lisa’s cheeks warmed. She remembered that, but she said it in a moment of anger. Was he going to fuck her? Would she stop him?

‘I’m ruined down there, he can’t do that!’

“Well?” Jake asked, leaning forward, his hands pressing into the bed. “You want me to go fuck Becca at that truck stop?”

“No!” Lisa screamed.

She dropped her arm that hid her chest and sat on her heels. The thought of Jake being with someone else just pissed her off.

“Then why say it!” Jake boomed. “Maybe I should do that, go plow some other fields?”

Lisa pressed her lips tight, her eyes shooting daggers at Jake. She knew he was screwing with her, but she couldn’t help but get worked up. He was getting her back, and it was working.

Jake took in Lisa’s body, noticing her small perky tits again, and the hard prominent nipples that topped them. He wanted them, to taste them, savor them. He needed her in his arms, to kiss her, feel her body against his. Jake leaned forward to grab her, but she leaned away, falling on her back.

He tried again, this time grabbing a hold of her ankle. He pulled her across the bed kicking and fighting to grab something to hold on to.

“No! Let me go, Jake!” She screamed.

He ignored her and picked her up, holding her to him, one hand under her ass with the other around her back. Her chest pressed into his while she dug her palms into his shoulders, trying to get away. That ended when he leaned in and kissed her neck.

“U-hm,” she moaned.

Her hands went behind his neck, pulling him in closer. She sighed into his ear, turning her head to the side, allowing him better access. He kissed down to her shoulder, then up under her chin. When his lips touched just behind her earlobe, a shiver ran over her sending goosebumps across her skin.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and dug her heels in, pressing herself into him. Jake felt her warmth against his stomach, her desire clear. He turned and sat on the bed, running a hand down her smooth back and under her panties to cup her soft, firm cheeks.

‘Holy fuck,’ he thought.

Lisa grabbed his face and pulled away to look into his eyes. She craved him - it was all she thought about for the past three days. She wanted him on her, around her, and in her. He was her savior, no matter how he would treat her - or her, him. Deep down in her soul, she knew Jake was the one for her, and she wanted to show him just how strongly she felt about this.

His eyes darted between hers, unsure of what to do. Lisa’s trembling fingers caressed the sides of his face, running through the thickening hair on his cheeks. She appeared to be reading him, but for what, he didn’t know. Her teeth took in her bottom lip before she dove in for a kiss, grinding down in his lap as her tongue pressed against his teeth.

Jake lay back and rolled to set her gently on the bed beneath him. He stood on his knees to observe the woman laying before him. Her black hair, strewn out around her, framed her natural beauty. She panted, resting a hand on her stomach, the other grabbing at her breast.

‘How does she do this?’ Jake wondered. ‘The simplest things she does, it drives me crazy.’

He dropped his jeans to the floor and joined them on his knees. Reaching forward on the bed, he grabbed Lisa’s ankles again and pulled her forward until her little ass was in perfect position with her legs draped over his shoulders.

Lisa sat up just enough to see Jake’s face. “What are you doing?” she whispered.

Her heart hammered in her chest, her mouth going dry. She knew exactly what he was doing, but didn’t want him to see her down there. Ever since she had been abused, Lisa considered that part of her permanently dirty. Things happened there that hurt her for a long time, and even though the physical pain had left, her mind still ached from those events.

Jake avoided her gaze and dragged her panties down her legs. His excitement grew with each passing second, but he kept in mind what Lisa had been through. Hurting her was something he didn’t want to do, but so far, she didn’t put the brakes on.

“Jake, please don’t,” she said. “That’s disgusting.”

He stopped and looked up, wondering what exactly was disgusting. Was it that time of the month? She watched him with fear in her eyes, afraid of him leaving again. What if he hated what he saw down there?

“What’s disgusting, Lisa?” he asked.

“My - my privates. They were all bruised and red before - from things.” She looked away as her eyes grew wet. “I told you before, momma said I was ruined.”

‘There it is,’ Jake thought. ‘Everything is fine except for here.’

“Well,” he started. “Is it still hurting?”

Lisa shook her head, laying back on the bed, still avoiding his gaze. “It feels gross all the time,” she said. “I don’t enjoy looking at it.”

“Can I look at it? I won’t touch if that’s what you want,” he offered.

She shrugged, but turned to face him. “Promise you’ll be nice, if it’s bad?”

Jake smiled warmly and nodded. “I promise, honey.” He rubbed her thighs with his large paws to reassure her. “Besides, the rest of you is gorgeous, so why wouldn’t here be the same?”

Lisa smiled and nodded her consent. Jake pulled her panties the rest of the way down her legs, and off over her feet behind his head. The sight that greeted him was breathtaking. He didn’t know what to say, or how to react in those first few seconds.

Lisa watched him and waited with bated breath. Jake’s eyes grew, his mouth falling open slightly. She wanted to cry, and tried to press her knees together to hide her shame, but Jake’s head was in the way.

“Lisa, you’re so beautiful!” he said. “Nothing about you is dirty or disgusting.”

She had shaved, even though she claimed to dislike her privates. Her closed labia was smooth, her large clitoris erect, standing proudly at the top of her sex. There were no scars, bruises, or signs of infection.

“It’s all in her head,’ he thought. ‘She’s perfect.’

Lisa shook her head, she knew the truth. Jake couldn’t see what she saw that day in the doctor’s office.

“Are you done, or can I make you feel good?” Jake asked.

“I - I love you. But it’s dirty there, Jake,” she continued.

“No, It’s not. Anyway, if you think it is, then let me deal with that. Alright?”

With that, Jake bent forward before Lisa could protest any further. He knew she could go on all night on the same train of thought until he put a stop to it. She needed a fresh experience to kill her old one, and he knew just how to do that.

His lips made contact with her clit, bringing it between his lips, sucking lightly. He ran his hands down her legs, resting on her hips with soft caresses before he stretched them up her sides to feel her breasts.

Lisa closed her eyes and shuddered, sucking in a sharp breath between her teeth. She grabbed her tits, squeezing as hard as she could stand it just to stay awake. The sensations Jake gave her between her legs threatened to make her pass out.

“Noo - ahh! J- Jake, that’s - oh.”

He felt her moving above him, gasping and shuddering while he sucked and licked at her clit. When Lisa didn’t protest, he eased a finger in up to the first knuckle, and then the second. Her arousal soon helped the penetration, allowing his finger to slide in with ease.

While he enjoyed the feeling of her firm nipples under his hand, he had to lay an arm over her abdomen to keep her from breaking his nose with her pubic bone. She rolled her hips in rhythm with his finger, moaning her approval of his manipulation.

Bright lights and fireworks; that’s all Lisa could see and feel when Jake went down on her. Feelings like she had never experienced before in her life exploded through her body as the man between her legs did things she once considered foul and disgusting. She had felt many things there before when she became excited, but she always avoided that area aside from grooming and cleaning.

Lisa didn’t want the feelings to end as things in her grew and intensified. It was becoming hard to breathe when she finally peaked and grabbed at the bed, wondering what was happening. She exhaled, the breath coming out as a high-pitched scream as she slid down to press herself harder on Jake's mouth.

She felt his fingers in her pick up speed while his tongue flicked up and down across her bump faster and faster. Her eyes flew open when the massive feeling ended, and a wetness erupted between her legs.

‘I peed! I peed on him, oh my god!’

“Jake!” She screamed, trying to catch her breath. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” She wailed. She sat up and ran a hand through his thick hair. “Jake, look at me, please?”

Jake heard her, but kept his eyes closed while he reached around on the floor for his shirt. Feeling it under his hand, he picked it up and wiped his face, mopping up her orgasm. He laughed to himself, happy with what Lisa had just done.

“I didn’t know you were a squirter, honey,” he said. He tossed the shirt aside and looked up at her. “Was it good?”

Terror was painted all over her face. “I’m so sorry, Jake! Why aren’t you mad at me? I peed on you!”

“No, you didn’t,” he chuckled. He stood and flopped down next to her. “You just squirted, girl!”

Lisa sat up, looking down at him, wondering what the hell he was talking about. He was grinning from ear to ear, happy as ever.

“That - that’s normal?” she asked.

“Yeah, for some women it is,” he said. “Did you have fun?”

Lisa looked between her legs at the huge wet spot she made. “Um, yeah. I did.”

“I told you it’s not disgusting,” he said. “You’re beautiful, Lisa. Everything looks like it’s working fine.”

She nodded, not knowing what to say while she processed everything that had just happened. Her mind was working overtime, but she felt - cleaner. She knew it was weird to think like that, but what her father had done left a darkness there. But now, Jake had wiped some of that away.

Lisa looked him over as he lay there next to her, his eyes closed. She admired his body, and laid a hand on his chest, running it down to -

‘He’s got a bulge in his boxers. Is that because of me?’

She touched the tip of it gingerly through his shorts, lightly exploring. “Can I touch it?” she asked. Her voice trembled, not knowing if he would let her explore him further.

“Uh huh, if you want to,” he mumbled. A smile played on his lips, but he kept his eyes closed, enjoying her gentle touch.

She leaned forward, running her hand along the length of his member, down to his balls before tracing it back, up to the tip. It was slightly larger than the length of her hand through his boxers, but she didn’t really have the experience to compare it to others. To her, it was Jake’s, and that’s all that mattered.

“Can I see it?” she asked.

He answered by lifting his hips and hooking his thumbs under the waistband.

“No!” she exclaimed.

Jake opened his eyes, thumbs still in the waistband. “What?” he asked.

She looked at him and stuttered, trying to find the words she needed. “I wanna do it,” she whispered.

‘Safety in control,’ he thought. He nodded and removed his hands, allowing Lisa to do the honors.

She bent over him and grabbed his boxers, pulling them down to his knees. She gasped when his member sprung free, hitting her stomach. Jake sat back and closed his eyes again, allowing her to explore without being watched. Lisa laid sideways across his stomach, her back to him while she examined him, holding it between her index finger and thumb.

With her other hand, Jake felt her trace the ring just under the head with her finger. She pushed it forward and back, side to side while she examined his manhood. He jumped a little when she felt his scrotum, but relaxed when he realized she wasn’t going to hurt him.

“What’s this here?” she asked. He felt her finger just under the head again before she ran it up and down the underside of his dick.

“Uh, it’s like a scar from when I was circumcised,” he moaned.

“What does that mean?” she asked. “Were you injured?”

His penis felt warm in her hand, hard and soft at the same time. He moved under her when she traced a finger along the underside, and a clear liquid leaked from the tip after a while. She kept it up, realizing it must feel good for him.

“No, I wasn’t hurt. Some parents have it done when a boy is born,” he said. He still moved slightly under her, her single finger feeling great along his length.

“Oh, okay,” she said. “And what’s this clear stuff?” She touched it with a finger, rubbing it into the tip in little circles.

“Oh, shit,” he groaned. “That’s pre-cum, baby. It helps with lubrication.”

“It’s really slippery, she said. I like playing with it,” she giggled. She spread more over the tip and made a fist, sliding down over his dick. “Oh! It moved!”

Her hand slid up and down ever so slowly, and Jake was finding it difficult to hold still. He opened his eyes and looked down at the back of the woman laying across him. She shifted her position, and his eyes fell on her pert little bottom to his left. He reached down and grabbed a cheek, giving it a squeeze.

“Mmm,” she moaned. She pushed back against his hand and gave her butt a little wiggle. “Am I doing good?”

Jake had fucked several women in the past, but those experiences were nothing like this. They had fucked, and fucked hard before simply passing out for the night. This, though, was sensual. Feeling one another, exploring each other’s bodies, enjoying being with one another.

“This is the best, Lisa,” he said.

She reached down and cupped his balls again, letting them rest in her hand. “These are sensitive, right?” she asked.

“Yeah, very,” he said.

“They feel like it,” she purred. “But the skin is so soft. I really like them.”

That dark stain in her mind was still there, refusing to leave and allow her to be clean. That’s when she decided to do something about it, once and for all. If Jake eating her out cleaned some of that stain, then she knew what the cure could be.

Lisa sat up and turned to face him, straddling him with her hands on his chest. She was nervous, but wanted her darkness to leave so fucking bad. She looked into her man’s eyes, waiting for him to protest her actions, but he didn’t.

He stared back, hands at his sides, resting on her knees. “We need protection, Lisa.” he said.

She shook her head and reached behind her, lining him up with her entrance. “No, we don’t, not this time.”

“You could get pregnant! You don’t want that, do you?” he asked.

Lisa sniffed and shook her head. “I can’t, Jake.” She pressed down, feeling his soft tip penetrate her for the first time. “The doctor said it’s impossible,” she said.

Jake was going to reply, but the warm wetness engulfing him stopped his train of thought. She slid down a little, then rose again before sliding the rest of the way down, her pubic bone resting on his.

“Oh, fuck!” she exclaimed. She rested there, feeling him inside her, satisfied.

Jake gripped her knees, trying his best to keep from thrusting up into her. She was tight and warm, perched lightly on top of him framed by her beautiful dark hair. The sight was something he would never forget, nor tire of.

At that moment, he knew Lisa was the one for him. She was right after all, and everything she had said made sense. She knew exactly what she wanted, and why. The tears streaming down her cheeks showed him what she meant. She was using him for her own needs, and it wasn’t lust.

Jake felt guilty for what was happening. He felt guilty for enjoying the sensations Lisa’s body was giving him. She was crying on top of him with his dick buried in her, yet she didn’t pull off. He laid there, waiting for her to say or do something.

“Do it, Jake,” she wailed. “I can’t, you need to do it.”

“Do what, Lisa? I don’t know what you mean.”

“Me,” she sniffed. “Do me, please!”

Jake was surprised that she wanted him to fuck her while she was crying. On one hand, he wanted nothing more than to make love with the gorgeous woman atop him. But was it worth it to do so while she was in tears?

He sat up and took Lisa in his arms, kissing her softly, tasting her tears. She draped her arms around his neck and continued to cry into his shoulder. Jake reached a hand under her, cupping her ass to lift her up and down on his hardness. She gasped between sobs, moving her hips to his rhythm, tightening her hold on him.

Jake picked up the pace, Lisa’s arousal lubricating their union, his lap growing wetter by the minute. Her sobs died down to sniffles, and was soon replaced with grunts and moans of appreciation.

“I love you,” she said into his shoulder. “I need more of you.”

Her vision was blurred with drying tears, but her mind's eye was growing brighter. The dark smudges on her soul were fading, but she needed more. She didn’t want this moment to end; she wanted to reach the peak again.

Jake stood on his knees and held Lisa to him as he turned to lay her on the bed once again. She released her grip and dropped her arms above her, watching as Jake pressed his hands on the bed on either side of her. He pulled away, and right as Lisa sat up to stop him from pulling out, he thrust into her with enough force to knock her back again.

“Oh!” she exclaimed.

Jake continued, burying himself in her as far and as hard as he could until Lisa cried out again. She curled her fingers into the bedding while she rode another wave to climax.

“Do it! Harder, Jake!” she cried.

Jake was panting, feeling his own orgasm building down below. He wanted this moment to last as long as it could, but watching Lisa writhe around under him was more than he could handle. She climaxed again, drenching him once more as he released inside her, burying himself deep as his orgasm peaked and subsided.

Lisa watched his face as she felt him swell and pulse inside her. His face was red, and his forehead sweaty when he grunted and pressed hard into her once more. It was intense, and made her feel so close to him, she wanted to cry again.

When Jake opened his eyes, she lifted her arms up to him. Jake grinned, and still inside her, bent down to wrap an arm around her. He fell to the side, turning so Lisa was laying atop him. He kissed her, holding her tight.

She laid her head on his chest while her breathing returned to normal. Neither one of them said anything for a while as they relaxed in the afterglow of their coupling. Jake thought back to her crying on top of him. Something happened then, but he decided it best not bring it up.

Lisa appeared fine now, smiling and cuddling with him as if they did this every day. His personal guilt about making love to a crying woman faded completely with the realization that it was what she wanted. Maybe it was therapeutic for her? He didn’t know, but he wouldn’t start anything in the future.

“You made me all sticky,” Lisa muttered.

Jake leaned his head up to see if she was watching him. Her head was still laying on his chest, but he felt her fingers between them, feeling where his cock was still penetrating her.

“Yeah?” he asked. “Is that bad?”

She giggled and turned to him. “Nope! I like it, actually.”

He raised a brow and grinned. “You know what I like?”

She cocked her head and smiled. “What?”

“These,” he said. Jake grabbed her sides and pulled her forward, his dick sliding out of her, his mouth taking in a nipple.

“Oh!” she gasped. “Do you really? My boobies are small, though.”

Jake shook his head, still sucking at her breast. Lisa wrapped her arms around his head, and purred, pulling him closer.

“I like this. It feels tingly,” she said.

He released her nipple and looked up at her, Lisa relaxing her grip to smile down at him.

“You’re perfect the way you are. I love you, Lisa.”

—--------------------------------

Jake watched her backside jiggle ever so slightly as she bounced down the steps and down the trailer to the bathroom. He wished he could join her in the shower, but it was small, and she could use the alone time to think. That’s what he was doing as he lay there in bed, drying his sticky lap with his shirt.

The bed was a mess, but that was easy to fix. What wasn’t easy to deal with was his current situation. He loved that woman, that was crystal clear. The problem was his own internal conflict and fucked up emotions. Could he really handle a new relationship with everything going on in his life?

The house project and his business. Lisa’s inheritance and figuring all that shit out. What the hell were they going to do? He had already transferred everything here to Oregon, and now Lisa had a future in California. It would have been so much easier if Lisa had listened to him earlier and agreed to part ways. But then they wouldn’t have each other.

‘Once stupid thing at a time, I guess.’

He tossed the soiled shirt across the room to land on the rim of the hamper. What he really wanted was a cold beer and a dip. All he had was the latter, so he crawled out of bed and stepped down into the living area.

The trailer rocked with the storm outside. Lisa squealed from the bathroom followed by a clattering sound.

“You okay in there?” Jake asked.

“Yeah,” she called out. “Shampoo fell!”

He laughed and flopped down in his chair. ‘Glad I left the truck hitched to this thing.’

Jake knew well that light trailers and wind didn’t cooperate. He’d have to get the trailer tied down unless he wanted to leave his truck hitched to it in the future. He sat there and thought about that, listening to the rain hammering the roof outside.

Lisa emerged from the shower a little while later, her hair wrapped in a towel, and smelled of lavender. She saw him looking and blushed, covering herself with her hands as she walked by to the bedroom.

Jake grinned and held his arms out for a hug, but Lisa dodged and pointed a finger in his direction.

“No way, mister! You’re all sticky and gross!”

Jake feigned offense and stood. “Half this shit is your fault!”

Lisa screamed and ran to the stairs with Jake close behind. She slid the door shut before jake could catch her, squealing with terror. He smacked the door with his hand, calling to her.

“Hey, c’mon, Lisa! I just want a hug, Darlin!”

“No!” she yelled. “Go get a shower first!”

“But you used up the hot water! Come on out an keep me warm,” he said.

Lisa laughed, but didn’t unlock the door. “Nuh-uh, go away!”

—----------------------------------

“Alright, now like I said before, let the clutch out until you feel the truck move,” Jake instructed.

Lisa bit her lip and did like he said, or intended to. She let it up quickly, causing the pickup to lurch forward and die.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she wailed.

Jake laughed and reached for the shifter, wiggling it into neutral. “Ain’t no problem, girl. We all did the same shit before, it’s called learning. Right?”

They had visited the local DMV office for her learners permit four days ago. She took the knowledge test and passed it, to Jake's surprise. She only had the instruction book overnight, but apparently absorbed every detail in its entirety.

“Alright, try it again. This time, ease it up until you feel the clutch grab, alright?”

She nodded, focusing her attention in front of her. The large gravel driveway made for an excellent training area, and all he had to do was sit back and experience whiplash. Lisa did as he asked, and this time the truck’s engine grumbled as they inched forward.

“Hey, hey! Great job, Lisa! Give it a little gas and take us in a big circle.”

Lisa nodded, bumping the throttle a little too hard. The truck lurched, but she eased off before Jake could say anything. He was grinning ear to ear, pleased with her patience and attention.

“You got it right on the money, honey.”

Lisa shot him a smile before returning her focus to the driveway. She straightened out and turned the opposite direction, giving the truck a little more gas.

“This is so cool, Jake! I’m driving for real!” she squealed.

“Hell yes you are!” he boomed, patting her knee. “Better get the practice in if you’re driving us to California.”

Lisa hit the brake and wiggled the stick in neutral before shooting him a horrified look. Jake only smiled, waiting for an earful from her.

“I’m driving there? I can’t do that, Jake. We’ll crash and die!”

“You just stopped properly, and in a hurry,” he said. He nodded to her hand on the shifter. “Didn’t even kill the engine this time.”

Lisa looked at her hand, then back up to the man sitting next to her. “I did!”

Jake nodded and pointed up the driveway. “Take me to the corner store, miss. I need a Coke and a candy bar.”

“What? I can’t shift gears yet!” she wailed.

Jake shrugged and looked out his side window. “So? What better way to learn than on the road?”

Lisa shook her head, but shifted the truck into 1st. She slowly let the clutch out and gave it some gas, rolling the truck forward toward the hill that led to the highway. Jake grinned again, still facing away from her.

“More gas, then clutch and shift to the next.”

“More gas, then clutch and shift to the next.

The truck picked up speed, and Lisa clutched, but took too long. The engine bogged down and lurched, struggling.

“More gas if you’re gonna have it struggle,” Jake said.

“Sorry,” she whined. “I forgot where 2nd was.”

“No apologies, we're learning,” he said. He wasn’t mad, just excited.

“Okay,” she whispered. “I’m so nervous!”

They looked both ways at the highway before Lisa inched the clutch out. She gave it gas, muttering something under her breath. Without instruction, she shifted and gunned it, doing it again a second and third time with ease.

“Ha ha! You got it, girl!” Jake cheered, slapping his knee. “You dun it!”

Lisa smiled, but didn’t tear her eyes from the road. Her hands were white-knuckled at ten and two, her eyes barely able to peer over the top of the dash. Jake turned and looked through the back window to see if they were holding anyone up, but all he could see was a cloud of blue exhaust.

“I’m so damn proud of you!” he said, grabbing her shoulder. “Best fucking student I’ve ever had!”

“I have a question,” she said.

“Yeah, what’s that?”

“How do I stop?”

“Oh, right,” he said. He cleared his throat and pointed to the brake pedal. “You just brake until the RPM’s fall. Then you clutch and shift down to 3rd and so-on.”

“But what if I kill it again?” Lisa asked. She was still glued to the road, but her nerves were easing.

“So what?” Jake said. “I guarantee you’ll kill it again and again. We all do it, honey.”

Lisa nodded and chewed on her lip as they came into town. The speed here was 35mph, and Lisa braked, carefully downshifting with a slight lurch.

“See? You got it easily.” Jake commented.

“But I bumped the gear,” she whined.

“No big deal,” he replied.

Red and blue lights lit up behind them, followed by a siren. Lisa freaked out and looked in the mirror. “What do I do?”

Jake chuckled. “Signal to the right, and pull over when you see a good spot.”

“Am I going to jail?” she asked. She put it in neutral and shut the truck off, applying the parking brake.

Jake smiled at her, amused with how cute she was being right now. Her hands trembled on the wheel, but her eyes were watching the cop car behind them. He turned and saw the officer climb out of the cruiser and adjust his gun belt.

“Ha! No you ain’t goin to jail. You didn’t do nuthin.”

The officer leaned in the open passenger window and removed his sunglasses. “Jake, Miss Lisa.”

“Sheriff John?” Lisa asked. “You just gave me a heart attack, you jerk!”

John laughed and pulled his ticket book from his coat. “That’ll be one ticket for assaulting an officer of the law.”

“What?” Lisa gasped. “No, I didn’t do that!”

“I think she’s been drinkin’, sheriff,” said Jake.

“WHAT?” Lisa screamed. “That’s so not funny, you ass!” She smacked his arm, then his leg.

“And another ticket for domestic violence,” mumbled John.

“Oh my gosh, fine,” Lisa said. “Why did you pull me over?” she asked.

“Well, I saw you rumble by and thought it’d be hilarious,” John said with a straight face. “And I was right.”

Jake thought it was hilarious, but Lisa scowled at him. “It ain’t funny, Sheriff.”

John nodded and removed his hat, brushing his hair back with his fingers before replacing it. “Tell you what. Meet me at the diner at the end of town, an I'll buy breakfast.”

“Nah, we can’t do that,” said Jake. “I was gonna have a candy bar. I’m on a diet, you know?”

John stood back and patted his round belly with a hand. “Me too, Jake. Pancakes and eggs for breakfast. Follow me, I’ll have Janice top yer’s with chocolate chips.”

Lisa giggled behind her hand, watching the exchange between the two men. “You guys are so weird!”