TEST DRIVE: A Night of Forbidden Desire

“Yes… Your mom already told me about the origin of your name.”

“Huh? Seriously?”

“Hahaha. She said it means maximum effort.”

“I know you like to talk. I just didn’t expect she to say something like that.”

“Hahaha! I think you’ll probably tell me everything. Just waiting for the time.”

“Tsk! Yeah, but I think you’re right.”

“Speaking of names, aren’t you afraid to ask me to stay here?”

“What do you mean?”

“What if your mom catches us? I’m sure she’ll be shocked.”

“Hahaha! That’s what I’ve been working on since day one.”

“What do you mean?”

“I changed the door password.”

“Hahaha! You’re bad, Max.”

“Again, Mom likes to show up out of the blue. You can imagine me coming out of the bathroom wearing only my underwear. I was about to fill my stomach, which I had just emptied, and she was already standing in the kitchen. I was in shock, Von.”

“Hahaha! I’m sure you’re even more shocked.”

“The thing is, we were both shocked. I got hit in the head by a cucumber that time. But it was Mom’s fault, wasn’t it?”

“Hahaha! That’s why you don’t like to do the same thing.”

“Again, this is my house, right? I live alone. It’s only natural that I go everywhere in my underwear. Um… or do you mean it’s better not to wear them at all?”

“You bastard!”

“Hahaha! Are you saying you don’t like it?”

Vonda was determined not to answer this question. So, it was no surprise that Vonda decided to change her position. She turned and faced Max, who was giggling.

The boy, however, decided the opposite. Determined to get the answer. As a result, Max reached under the curve of Vonda’s neck. He approached her from behind and whispered.

“Or very?”

Vonda felt Max’s voice and warm breath instantly tense her body. Max noticed.

With his other hand, Max gently tugged at Vonda’s shoulder. There was no resistance from Max until Vonda lay back in her original position.

Max lifted his face slightly. He looked down and saw Vonda’s eyelids fluttering gently. Her hands were clutching the edge of the bedspread that covered her chest.

Without warning, Max lifted Vonda’s chin. He lowered her face completely and crushed her lips.

Vonda’s eyes closed suddenly. She felt both of her lips being gently touched by Max. A touch that made her let go of the blanket and wrap her arms around Max’s neck. Pulling him to deepen their kiss. When Max broke the kiss, their eyes slowly met.

Vonda held her breath. Max’s hand slipped under the covers. It brushed lightly over her nipples, then moved to her stomach, stroking her thighs very gently. And then Vonda had a natural urge to glance at the clock on the wall. Half past four in the morning.

Max knew what Vonda was looking at. Because that’s what he’d seen a few minutes ago, when Vonda had turned her back on him. Then Max’s hand moved again. This time to a place that immediately made Vonda choke.

Max grinned. He planted a quick kiss on Vonda’s lips and then asked.

“Would you like a thirty-minute meal? Before we get ready to go to your unit?”

It was not an answer that Vonda gave Max, but a tug on his neck that led to a long kiss. The next second Max was already on his way. Taking his place between Vonda’s wet slits. Pressing his body against hers, he reached as far as he could for the bedside table. Picking up a pack of condoms, which… er, turns out to be ready for him at any time.

*

Sarah had known Vonda for a few years, well… maybe eleven years. When they were in college to be exact. While friendships usually fade when school or college is over, the opposite was true for these two.

Perhaps it was the similarity of their craziness that made their relationship flourish. So, it’s not surprising that they already know each other well. Even better when compared to remembering previous college material.

As a result, it was not difficult for Sarah to spot the differences in Vonda. In the office cafeteria that afternoon, Sarah shook her head.

“Something has happened to you.”

Words that made Vonda frown. She put down her spoon and asked.

“Pardon?”

Sarah looked at Vonda. “I said… something wrong happened to you.” The girl leaned in, whispering a little this time. “Let me guess. Something to do with your friend with benefits?”

“Oh my, Robbers!” interrupted Vonda. “Don’t you look around when you talk?”

Sarah replied with a scowl, “Oh my God, Vonda! Did you even look around before you smiled like that? You make me sick.”Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Oops!

“Did I?”

Sarah still scowled. “Yes.”

Vonda chuckled nervously. “Sorry. I didn’t realize I was smiling like that and making you sick all the time.” Something crossed her mind. “But let’s make sure. Are you sure you’re feeling nauseous because-”

“Stop!” Sarah cut her off. “I just got my period. Sorry, Von. We’ll try again after this.”

“Hahaha!”

Seeing Vonda’s laughter, Sarah could only take a long breath. She remained silent. She decided not to say anything more. After all, Vonda seemed to have forgotten Sarah’s question.

Sarah took a sip of her tripe soup. Trying to stay calm.

Well … I hope Mr. Hernandez is a real Oceanan too. If only Vonda is a real Oceanan, things could get messy.

*

“Can you pick me up tomorrow? What time?”

Vonda asked casually. Still with a potato chip in her mouth, her eyes looked up briefly. At Max, who occasionally looked seriously at the news on the TV screen.

Max looked down when the newscast was interrupted by a commercial. His eyes went to Vonda, who lay relaxed on her thighs.

Seeing that, Max could not resist the urge in his chest. He reached out, grabbed a lock of hair that had fallen on Vonda’s cheek, and gently stroked her head. When Vonda’s eyes closed from his caress, Max immediately remembered Kitty, who had become more and more pampered with such stroking.

Um… it doesn’t seem to matter what species it is; girls seem to like being petted, don’t they?

What a coincidence. It seemed that Max had also been petting Vonda lately.

“The event is tomorrow night at seven, but let’s try Sunday night, Von. Let’s leave at five. Instead of getting stuck in traffic and all that.”

Vonda nodded. She grabbed another chip from the bowl and put it on her own stomach.

“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow at five.”

“Um.”

Max cleared his throat. He was still playing with Vonda’s hair while his brain was thinking. Seeing Vonda relaxing with him that afternoon gave him mixed feelings.

“Why don’t you stay here tonight?”

Vonda, still munching on chips, got up from her comfortable position. She looked at Max, who had changed into casual clothes while she was still in her office attire.

“Yes?”

Max exhaled. He took the bowl of chips and quickly ate four pieces at a time. He replied casually.

“Stay here again. Let’s go to your unit tomorrow and leave together. How about that?”

Vonda swallowed and didn’t answer Max’s question for a while. Instead, she tried to control her mind, which was beginning to act out of control. Vonda’s heart was pounding.

“Do you want to?”

Max asked again. This time after putting the bowl of chips on the table. He wiped his hands with a napkin. He took a sip of water and turned back to Vonda, who looked frozen. As if she needed time to digest Max’s invitation.

In the next second, Max moved. Approaching Vonda. Catching her gaze.

Being stared at like that made Vonda’s heart beat even faster. She held her breath and answered with a nod of her head. Slowly, but enough to make Max smile. A smile that strangely managed to stop Vonda’s heartbeat.

Later that night, Vonda awoke from her sleep. Her eyes opened to the familiar dimness of Max’s room. Even more familiar was the touch that greeted her skin. It was Max’s hand cupping her innocent body under the covers.

Slowly, Vonda tried to pull away. Not to get away, but to get closer to the boy. She landed a light kiss on Max’s jaw before finally falling back into his arms. Sinking into the boy’s chest.

Max stirred in his sleep. He pulled Vonda tighter and tighter into his embrace. Vonda’s face lifted slightly, looking up at Max, who was still asleep, as his hand moved to stroke her back.

“Shhh. Shhh.”

Max’s hiss made Vonda smile. She felt like a child being lulled back to sleep. But that did not mean Vonda did not like it.

On the contrary, Vonda liked it very much. It made her fall back asleep in Max’s arms. She was sleepy and tired from their lovemaking.

*

On a Saturday night, Max and Vonda arrived promptly at the ballroom of the Riviera Royale Hotel. Several invited guests had already filled the magnificent room. With its golden tones and shimmering luxury lights, the decorations seemed to indicate that the couple entering into a serious relationship that night was no ordinary couple.

As they walked together, Vonda let her hand rest on Max’s left as she gracefully led their steps.

“Where are Mom and Dad?” Vonda asked.

Max looked around. “I’m sure Mom said they got here earlier.”

Vonda scanned the room, smiling as her eyes met those of other guests, including a girl across the room.

“So where do you think they are now?” Vonda inquired again.

Max’s hand gently patted Vonda’s, still trying to find his parents. Just as a girl approached them in a panic.

“Via.”

Max’s brow furrowed as Olivia approached them, out of breath. She looked at Vonda with regret in her eyes.

“Glad to see you two are still going strong.”

The greeting made both Vonda and Max nervous. They could not answer the words because Olivia spoke again.

“I’m just… I’m sorry, Von. It seems I need to borrow Max for a moment.”

“Eh?” Max’s eyes widened. “Borrow me? Am I some kind of mannequin or…”

“Edeline escaped!” Olivia cut him off.

“Escaped?”

Vonda remained silent, confused by the conversation between Max and Olivia. She did not even know who they were talking about.

“Yes. Escaped! When we checked her room earlier, all that was there was her dress. It looks like she… she…”

“What is it, Via?” Max asked impatiently. “Please speak clearly.”

Olivia clenched her fists in frustration. “It looks like she took chloroform from my room to drug the hotel staff.”

Max was shocked. “Huh? Why do you have chloroform in your room?”

“That is my Ph. D. research material, Max.”

“That is a room, not a lab!”

The conversation became even more confusing for Vonda. She worked up the courage to interrupt.

“Excuse me, but what’s going on?”

Max and Olivia both looked at Vonda, perhaps just realizing that she was there and seemed to have no idea what they were talking about.

Max pointed at Olivia. “She has a sister who has a habit of running away. This time she even ran away from her own engagement party.”

“Ran away?” Vonda asked incredulously.

Olivia nodded. “Not just ran away. She even openly blamed you and me, Max. Because if we hadn’t broken off our engagement, right now, at this party, it wouldn’t be Edeline as the main character. It would be us.”

“So?”

Vonda asked in a worried tone. For some reason, her heart suddenly started to race.

“So, I was supposed to help Olivia find her sister,” Max concluded. “Instead of getting dragged into this party.”

Olivia’s face turned horrified. “I’d rather drown in the Atlantic Ocean than marry you, Max.”

“Same. I’d rather be struck by lightning than marry you, Via.”

Max sighed deeply and looked at Vonda, who blinked as if she knew she would be left alone at the big party.

“Could you call Mom? Tell her I’m going to help Via for a while. Is it okay if I go?”

Vonda was clearly not the type to enjoy parties alone, but she understood the situation.

Max cupped one of Vonda’s cheeks, his thumb gently caressing it.

“Hopefully this won’t take long.”

Olivia rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Oh, please. Are you two really going to get all cuddly when lives are at stake?”

Vonda smiled, taking Max’s wrist, and lowering it. She nodded. “Take care.”

Max exhaled deeply, and as Olivia pulled his hand away, she said, “I’m going to borrow your boyfriend for a while, Von.”

Vonda blushed and Max reminded her before they left, “Call Mom right away.”

Vonda could only nod briefly. She watched Max and Olivia walk away from her. Briefly, she heard Olivia ask Max something.

“What? You forgot to give Vonda a goodbye kiss?”

“Are you kidding me? You’re so dramatic. That’s why it’s time to get married at thirty.”

“Just like you, who’s already married.”

Then Vonda could not hear their voices anymore, drowned out by the ambient noise.

Vonda took out her cell phone, intending to call Riley, but a voice made her change her mind.

“Are you… Max’s girlfriend?”

Vonda turned to see a girl she remembered making eye contact with earlier. They exchanged a brief smile, but Vonda felt that a smile was not a strong enough reason for strangers to greet each other and asked something like that.

Wait a minute. Something caused Vonda to furrow her brow.

Max’s girlfriend?

“Oh… that,” Vonda cleared her throat, but answered anyway, “Yes. My name is Vonda.”

Vonda held out her hand and offered an introduction that the girl accepted.

“Giselle,” she replied. “Giselle Thompson.”

“Ah,” Vonda nodded quietly. “A friend of Max and Via’s, right?”

Then the girl in the black ankle-length dress shook her head. Her eyes blinked once before she answered.

“I’m Max’s ex-fiancee.”

*