Free Zeke by Wodke Hawkinson Page B

she ever
did, she decided it was comforting to know she wouldn’t have to lose Zeke over
it. It actually made a lot of sense, once she got past the initial shock.
    She finally closed her eyes shortly
before dawn, firmly convinced she had a most wonderful and unique relationship.
In her long hours of deliberation over the issue of sharing their love with
others, she somehow inexplicably overlooked his anger problem.
     
    Summer seemed to fly by now that
Sue had Zeke. Her mind was always on him, obsessing over him, missing him when
they were apart, and clinging with desperation to every moment they had
together. She recalled each tender word, each fevered touch, the way he looked
at her. All of it was a private movie she replayed endlessly in her mind. She
was an addict and he was the needle. She forgave his twisted talk, the secrecy,
and his unpredictable moodiness. She had to. She needed him. His love gave her
life meaning, bestowed on her a value and a worth.
    Sometimes he would call in the
middle of the night, aching to see her, and no matter how tired she was, she
would slip quietly out to meet him. Their sexuality raged, and their emotions
swelled and swirled like storm clouds over the mountains. Zeke was ready all
the time. Even when they had just finished making love, he was quickly aroused
a second time. Often when they drove around, he would have his pants open and
erection in hand. Sue found it exciting the way he would look ahead at the road
and pretend nothing was out of the ordinary, while she sat in the seat beside
him and watched him stroke himself. She grew stimulated just watching.
    He was sometimes happy beyond
reason, tender with her, exuberant in their love. He pleasured her as often as
she desired and never seemed to tire of exploring and awakening her sensual
nature.
    But, there was that other side to
him, too. Sometimes he was unreasonable, almost cruel. Those times were hard on
her, but also like storm clouds, they passed quickly and the sunshine would
return to light her world again. Nobody’s perfect, she told herself. Nothing is
perfect.
     
     

Big Ben
     
    “You’re perfect,” Zeke said to Sue,
looking down into her eyes after they had made love. “I need you so much,
bunny. I can’t live without you. I’d die if I ever lost you.”
    Zeke had driven them right into the
middle of a field and stopped near a dead tree. He had barely turned off the
engine before they’d ripped off their clothes and pressed against each other.
    Sue was deeply satisfied as she
felt the warm weight of Zeke, her lover, on top of her, and the swell of emotion
in her heart. “You won’t lose me,” she promised.
    “Swear? Swear you’ll never leave
me.” His smile was soft.
    “I swear.” Sue’s answer was
earnest. “I’ll always be with you. I’ll love you forever. You’re my soul mate,
Zeke.”
    “That’s what I like to hear. I’d do
anything for you, Sue. You know that, right?”
    “Yes.” She sighed happily.
    “By the way, I have to go out of
town for a few days.”
    The news fell lazily from his lips
and Sue’s heart dropped. Sitting up, she pulled her shirt over her naked chest.
She swallowed hard. “Why, Zeke? Where are you going?”
    An ominous silence permeated the
small space. Outside the van, field grass rustled in the light breeze with a
ghostly whisper. Sue held her breath. Zeke snatched his clothes and yanked them
on with quick, concise movements.
    “Zeke?” She stared after him as he
crawled up front and dug around in the glove box.
    He got out of the van but didn’t
close the door. Sue hurriedly dressed and followed him. She found him standing
a few feet away in a bare patch of dirt, throwing something at the dead tree
and then retrieving it before repeating the process.
    “Zeke, honey? What’s wrong?”
    Zeke froze but wouldn’t face her.
In his hand, he held a long knife made entirely of metal. It had a dull finish
and a thick rounded handle with indentations that gave him a