Free Eve by Iris Johansen

soon as the thought of him returned.
    But at least she could think. She wasn’t as mindless as she had been when John had been touching her.
    She got up and went to the window. It was going to happen. She was going to have sex with John Gallo. Accept it. No big deal. Most of the girls in her class at school had been screwing around for the last couple of years. Chastity had little value on the streets or in the projects.
    It was a big deal to her. She would not be like her mother. This was her life, her body. She didn’t want to have to trust anyone with either.
    Only herself. She had to be in control.
    And she had almost lost that control tonight. Whenever she was near John, that control shattered. So she had to be prepared.
    She had to be safe.
    She slowly turned away from the window and went to the bathroom. She opened the cabinet under the sink and took out her mother’s pretty pink patent box. There were four discs still in the box. Her mother usually got a six-month prescription for birth-control pills.
    Eve stared down at the discs with the circle of tiny pills. She had never thought of birth control because she had been sure that she would not need it for a long time. When her life was on track, when it was convenient. But she knew that Sandra’s pills worked for her mother and let her be in control of the situation. Control. Nothing was more important than being able to be in control of this insanely volatile emotional roller-coaster ride. Yet it felt strange and a little frightening to realize what she was going to do.
    But she had to be safe.
    She took one of the discs and put the rest back into Sandra’s box.
    Now she was in control. She didn’t have to rely on anyone but herself. She could take what she wanted.
    And the excitement was already starting to build within her.
    *   *   *
    JOHN GALLO’S CHEVY HAD JUST pulled up across the street from the restaurant.
    Her heart was pounding. He was there, soon she’d be with him.
    Eve drew a deep breath and threw her towel on the counter. “I’m out of here, Teresa. Mr. Kimble said I could leave early.”
    Teresa nodded as she saw the tan Chevy. “Maybe you’re not as serious as I thought. If anyone could jar you out of it, it would be him. Have a good time.” She slid a second glance at the car across the street. “And I think you will.”
    Eve was barely hearing her as she headed for the door. John Gallo was getting out of the car. He stopped as he saw her crossing the street toward him.
    His eyes narrowed. “This is … different. You didn’t call the cops on me for harassment. I think that might be a good sign.”
    “Stop thinking.” She got in the passenger seat. “Just get me out of here.”
    He smiled. “Right away.” He got back in the car and started the engine. “Home?”
    “No.” Her hands were clenched tightly together on her lap. “I don’t want it to happen in the apartment. I don’t want to think of you there.”
    “Happen?” His gaze was on her face, and he pursed his lips in a silent whistle. “Oh, yes, this is going to be very unusual. Why?”
    “What difference does it make? Why are you surprised? You’ve been telling me all the reasons that I should let you screw me. Maybe you convinced me.”
    “It makes a difference.”
    “You’re right, I want it. I want you. I don’t know why I do or why it has to be you, but that’s the way it is.” She looked straight ahead. “Last night I … hurt when I thought about you. Why should I feel this way when I can do something about it?”
    “No reason at all.” His hand reached out and rested on her thigh.
    She could feel her muscles tense beneath his touch. His hand felt heavy, warm, through the thin denim of her jeans.
    “You like this?” His hand was rubbing sensuously back and forth. “Yes, I can feel that you do.”
    She couldn’t breathe. She reached out and put her hand above his knee.
    His muscles became rock hard beneath her hand.
    “No, you can’t