In Wilde Country Read Free Book Online Page B

her arm, watching the goose bumps rise on her skin.
    “Too bad. That nothing ever happened between you, I mean.”
    “We were good friends,” she said. “Don’t do that.”
    “What? I’m just touching you. You feel nice.”
    “John…”
    “Johnny.”
    “Johnny. What’s the matter with you tonight?”
    “Nothing’s the matter with me. I’m turning over a new leaf. I’m going to be me and
     Alden, all rolled into one.”
    “That’s crazy.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    He reached for her, drew her towards him.
    “Don’t.”
    “Don’t what?”
    “John. Take me home.”
    “Not yet.”
    “Please…”
    She sounded scared, but something in her eyes said she wasn’t scared, she was excited.
    She was wearing a sleeveless blouse. He started to unbutton it.
    “No!” She pushed his hands away. “What are you doing?”
    “I’m doing what Alden would have done, if he’d had more time.”
    He leaned forward. She turned her face away. He wrapped her hair around his hand,
     brought her face to his and kissed her.
    “Oh,” she gasped, “don’t…”
    He kissed her again. Cupped her breast. She squealed into his mouth…and then she sighed
     and leaned into him.
    He fumbled in his pocket for the rubber he’d thought to bring with him.
    And as he unzipped his jeans, drew her onto his lap, pushed her skirt up and her panties
     down, he thought, This is for you, big brother .
    He didn’t think again until he’d almost fucked her blind and she was sobbing his name,
     and then what he thought was that Miss Cleary was wrong.
    He didn’t deserve anything good.
    Not in this lifetime, or in any other.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    H e flew to Washington with Amos. Two of Senator Duncan’s staffers took them to lunch; the next
     morning, having evidently passed the staffers’ scrutiny, Johnny met alone with the
     senator.
    A couple of weeks later, he and his father flew to Stewart International Airport in
     Newburgh, New York. They rented a car, drove to the Point and had breakfast with guys
     in uniforms that bristled with medals. After, Amos settled in for more coffee; Johnny
     toured the campus with a cadet.
    Driving back to the airport, Amos flashed him a big grin.
    “You’re as good as in in,” he said. “How’s that sound?”
    Johnny said it sounded fine.
    It didn’t, not really.
    Everything he’d seen indicated rigidity, discipline and obedience. Those had been
     pillars of Alden’s way of life, not his; he felt as if he were stepping into a pair
     of shoes that wouldn’t fit, but that really wasn’t the right analogy.
    He was stepping into shoes that were too big for him.
    That was what he’d have to remember.
    * * * *
    That last year at Wilde’s Crossing High was tough academically, but he studied his
     ass off and ran a perfect 4.0 average.
    And he was unstoppable on the football field.
    The state and the school awarded him trophies, and the girls flocked to him.
    Amos warned him about the girls.
    “Some of them are bound to be underage. Some will see you as an excellent catch.”
     Smiling, he slapped Johnny on the back. “You’re the prince of El Sue ño , son. You need to remember that.”
    Johnny nodded. He didn’t give a damn about being a prince, but hearing his old man
     address him as son…
    That wouldn’t grow old.
    “When it comes to sex,” Amos said, “learn to make friends with your trusty right hand.”
    He boomed out a laugh and Johnny forced a smile. Actually, it didn’t much matter.
     After that night with Connie, he hadn’t thought much about sex.
    He didn’t think much about Connie, either. When he passed her in the hall, she looked
     at him with big cow eyes.
    He simply ignored her.
    She was out of the picture.
    So was Agnes Cleary.
    He’d thought about calling her after receiving the acceptance letter from the Point,
     but he’d put it off and put it off until, finally, it was his last night at home.
    Amos had thrown a party at the ranch. He made a speech welcoming