Laura's eyelids were growing heavy as she drove down the long, abandoned highway. She shifted in the seat of her dark green Jeep and took a long sip of her coffee. She sighed with relief while stretching her petite feet in her high heels, lifting her foot off the accelerator for just a minute as that stretch felt so good on her weary body. She took a look in the rearview mirror; there was not a headlight in sight. She glanced at her face; most of the makeup had worn off during the day but her natural beauty, full lips, deep set hazel eyes and high cheekbones shined through no matter what time of day it was. She had grown to love her face and body even though she was considered gangly and dorky in high school. She cracked the window of her Jeep only to put it right back up. The air felt good but her delicate white silk blouse was no match for the frigid October wind. She thought over the day at work, all of her clients at the firm and the cases she left rather apprehensively for the night. Work was her life, leaving no time for anything but sleeping and eating, including men. She thought about the last date she had, three years ago with a colleague. It was a disaster. The sex was quick and emotional (at least for him); in a word it was horrible. She didn't want a relationship because she didn't have the time. She just wanted a good fuck and there was nowhere she could get that without being thought of as a slut. She checked her gauges; she was about 40 miles from home.
She wearily refocused on the road, turning her eyes in attention to something glistening on the highway but by the time it registered it was too late. A loud bang made her lose control of the car. Something blew her tire, effectively ruining her night. She pulled over to the side and examined her car. The front left tire was torn open and four feet away laid a random sharp metal scrap. She returned to the Jeep to fish for her cell phone. The night air suddenly got colder. No phone? She groaned, it must be at the office. What could she do? Home was nearly 40 miles; the nearest gas station was 10 miles back at least. The only thing she could do was walk. She had no coat, no walking shoes and no cell phone. She thought about sleeping in her car for the night and facing the situation in the morning but it was just too cold. She got out of her car and began the long trek to the gas station 10 miles back.
After a mile or so, her feet began to ache in the high heels. She took them off and carried them in her hands while walking barefoot on the cold asphalt. Her body was becoming tense and frozen. The creatures in the woods surrounding both sides of the road began to terrify her. She continued to walk for several miles, her body growing weary with each step. Just when she thought she might turn back and choose the Jeep for the night, she saw faint headlights coming up the road. Her sense of hope quickly turned to distress. Her she was, a 30-year-old single female all alone walking down a deserted road. She had no choice but to flag the car down. The car quickly flew past as she stood on the side jumping, yelling, and flailing her arms about, her breasts bobbing with enthusiasm. A few hundred yards past, the car slowed, reversed and pulled up to her. It was a black Ford Explorer and the driver was a young man, mid-twenties and fatally attractive. He looked like he had a lanky but muscular build, like a professional soccer player. His hair matched the car but was wavy and extended right below his ears. She couldn't make out his eyes but they were deep-set. He looked Spanish maybe; he had full lips and cracked a huge smile revealing dimples on both sides. Whether it was the cold night or his perfect face she didn't know but stood there dumb-founded when he asked,
"Do you need help?!" She stared at him, his forearm sticking out of the window, tanned and carved. "Where did you come from?" he asked looking more concerned.
"My- car, um flat tire." she pointed down the road. He broke a smile again,
"Where are you headed to then?" She snapped out of her delirium for a second to answer,
"The gas station about 6 miles from where you came." He thought for a second and asked,
"Would you like a ride to the gas station?" Before leaping with joy into his Explorer she held back before answering. For all she knew, this guy could be another Ted Bundy, a psychopath or rapist. Her body tensed again and the cold air whirled around her through her blouse and up her skirt searing the now frozen flesh in-between her little thighs. She couldn't stand freezing any longer. If she had to die, it would be in the warm truck. Wearily nodding to the young man, she began to approach the passenger's side.
She peeked into the backseat of the truck. There was a black bag and a few crumpled pieces of white clothing. Nothing too suspicious. As she climbed in, she took notice of the young man gazing at her body, her legs and breasts. He turned on the overhead light and she met his dark brown eyes. He held out his hand, "My name is Fabian" She shook it and tried to crack a smile.
"Laura. Um, thank you for picking me up." She felt his eyes burning a hole into her. The cold flesh between her thighs began to warm and moisten. She felt her lips tingling and her breasts swell. Fabian smiled and sharply turned back to the road, made a k-turn and began to trek back towards the gas station.
"So Laura, what do you do?" She gulped and tried to speak calm and collectively,
"I work at a law firm."
"So you are a lawyer?"
"Yes. And what do you do?" He looked at her and said,
"I am doing my residency at the hospital right now." That quickly explained the black medical bag and why he was on the road so late at night. Fabian told her about his job there but she wasn't really listening because her body was on fire, she may have even been sweating. She never had this reaction before about anyone. She was suddenly aware of the way she must look and quickly tried to smooth out her hair and clothing. "You look gorgeous, don't worry" Fabian gave a short laugh and she stopped and felt her face flush red. It was too dark for him to notice but Laura wanted him, she wanted Fabian more badly and she wanted him now. She began to think of what to say to let him know she was interested without coming off slutty. It had been so long since she flirted with anyone. Just as she was coming up with a plan, the gas station came into sight. She was half relieved but also disappointed that this was the end of Fabian and Laura.
He pulled up to the pumps and they both peered into the service window. There was no gas attendant. It was closed for the night. Laura glanced at the radio clock, 1:45am. No wonder.