It started with a kiss. Actually, it started before the kiss, as they stood staring up at the lighted wheel above them moving on its rotation. Around them, carnies barked invitations to throw darts and balls, and the smell of fried dough was pervasive.
"I don't think I can go up", he said hesitantly. "I don't really do heights."
"If you go for a ride with me", she said, with an angular look and a twinkle in her eye, "I'll make it worth your while. You won't even think about the height."
Still he stood there looking up. He hadn't decided yet. The wheel turned. The lights flashed on the Ferris wheel, and the line grew longer. It was Friday night, and the fair was in full swing. She faced him, and gently taking his hand in hers, raised it to her mouth. She kissed the back of his hand, turned it over to kiss his palm, and slid his forefinger into her mouth. She swirled it around with her tongue, feeling the texture of his fingertip. He caved in. In two minutes, they had tickets and were standing in line.
The line was long, and the crowd crushed forward as the cars were emptied and refilled. He was standing behind her, and she could feel his hips rock against her back as the people behind him moved up. He had his arms around her shoulders and was standing close enough to brush his groin against her. She leaned back into him, and swayed her hips slightly. He chuckled into her ear. She brushed her cheek against his.
When they reached the front of the line, he paused. Smiling, she took his hand and led him into the car. Sitting down facing each other, she took his hand into her own. As the wheel moved and they began to rise, she slowly raised his hand to her lips. One by one, she placed each of his fingers into her mouth, loving it with her tongue. Transfixed, he watched the fingers disappear into her mouth. Her eyes caught his, and he felt a rush of excitement rise up the back of his neck.
The car rose higher. They were nearly at the top, and the lights of the fair were spread below them. The adult rides were in a different section of the fairgrounds, and she could see the whirling machines working at full tilt, and hundreds of people walking around the adjacent midway. Now was the time to act, before he started thinking about the height. Smoothly, she moved over to his side of the car. The weight adjustment caused the car to lean back. His face paled slightly, but she held his eyes with her own. She looked into them, just looked, but he saw a promise behind her eyes.
He stared into them, dark green and deep. There was a lot to discover in those eyes.
"I told you that I would make it worth your while", she said seriously.
"Yes, you did", he noted, as his head moved toward hers.
"Well, I will", she said. She felt herself drawn to him, and made gentle contact with his lips. His lips were warm. The kiss was not forceful, but inviting, and she felt herself pressing forward to open his lips with her tongue. He tasted salty and sweet; of sausage and fried dough. She leaned into him as his arms went around her. They paused as the Ferris wheel came back around the bottom again to repeat its ascent.
As the car rose, their lips met once more in a passionate tangle. The lights and sounds slipped into the background as he weaved his hands into her hair, and she rested her hands upon his chest. The car lurched, and he barely noticed. The car stopped at the top of the circle, and she pulled away, lungs heaving. Her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes glowing in the flashing lights.
"The car stopped", she observed.
"It did", he said, not caring any more about heights or falling or nausea. He just wanted to smell her hair again and feel her lips and body against him.
"I know why the car stopped", she said, with a mischievous glint.