Hottest Heat Wave

Heat Wave: Newark by Drew Hunt-3

Aaron’s journey out of Florida had taken him longer than he’d planned. He thought with the heat people would be heading north to escape it. They were, but not many were interested in giving a lonely hitchhiker a lift. It’d taken him two days to get as far as St Marys, Georgia. His last ride had been with Petal Blossom and Eagle Sky, a weird but friendly older hippy couple driving a rusty VW camper van, the interior of which smelled of a mixture of fresh tomatoes and burned tea leaves. Aaron was no fool. He knew it was m*******a, but as the old couple didn’t let on or smoke the stuff in front of him, he stayed dumb.

They dropped him off at a diner just off the interstate where Aaron ate a late breakfast and then slowly walked back toward the interstate.

But the intolerable heat and humidity made him sweat, and the small bottle of water he’d bought at the diner was soon gone. His arm was getting tired, not to mention his feet.

A jeep slowed and Aaron picked up his backpack and began to walk toward the hot Tarmac. The passenger’s window rolled down and Aaron heard a wolf whistle. A whisper of air-conditioned air passed over his face.

“Hey, mate, thanks for stopping,” Aaron panted, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his arm.

“f**k, we thought you were a chick!” a college-age guy from inside the jeep said.

“Uh, no?” Okay, he wasn’t overly tall at five feet seven, slender in build, had long blond hair tied up in a man bun to keep it off his face and neck, and maybe his facial features were a bit on the androgynous side.

The window wound up and the jeep sped away, its tyres squealing.

“f*****g bastards!” Aaron yelled, waving his fist at the rapidly departing vehicle. “Hope your straight d***s drop off from dipping them in some diseased cunt!”

Just then he heard the hiss of air brakes from behind. He turned around, clenched fist morphing into friendly raised thumb. A huge black lorry was stopping. Aaron plastered on a smile, but held his hopes in check, just in case this was another bust.

The huge vehicle stopped and seconds later the passenger door opened. “Get in before the cops pick you up!” a guy wearing a baseball cap said before pulling his head back inside.

Not quite believing his luck, Aaron shrugged and started to clamber up the steps into the cab. “Thanks, mate. I was dying out there.”

The driver was big, like huge, flannel shirt covering wide shoulders and a full belly. And a faded pair of Wranglers did their best to contain a wide waist, fat thighs, and a large crotch bulge. Aaron was in lust!

“Hot!” Aaron whistled before he could stop himself.

“It’s the humidity,” the driver said. “Come on, close that door. I’m not supposed to stop on the on ramp.”

“Oh, uh, yeah, sorry.” Aaron pulled his holdall inside the cab and slammed the door.

“Sorry the A/C is busted,” the driver said, getting them underway. He took a meaty paw off the wheel for a second and pointed to an oscillating dashboard fan. “That ain’t up to much, but it’s better than being deafened by having the windows open.”

“No worries, mate,” Aaron said, unable to believe his luck at being picked up by this…god-like bear of a man.

“You’re a long way from home,” the man said once they’d reached the interstate proper and were cruising at a steady speed.

“Uh, yeah. But I’m going back there, home I mean. From Newark. How far can you take me?”

“All the way.”

Several delicious come-backs to that comment sprang to mind, but Aaron bit them back.

Before he could form a suitable response, the driver said, “Haven’t picked up an Aussie before.”

Aaron let out a groan. “I’m from London.” Just in case the guy didn’t know, he added, “That’s the capital of England.” Aaron realised he might be sounding ungrateful for the lift, so quickly made a joke. “This is, or was St Marys, Georgia and I was born near St Mary-Le-Bow. Didn’t realise St Mary got around so much.” At the man’s lack of comprehension, Aaron explained how a true cockney was born within the sound of Bow bells.

The man grunted, which Aaron took as understanding.

Aaron thought he better move to safer ground. “Sorry, forgive my rudeness. I’m Aaron, Aaron Jones.”

The driver then volunteered his name as Ben Knight.

“Pleased to meet you, Ben Knight.” Aaron would have shaken the man’s hand but they were on the wheel, so contented himself by patting the guy’s upper arm. And so what if he was copping a quick feel? He loved big arms, and in spite of the belly fat, Ben had decent biceps.

* * * *

“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty. We’re here,” Ben said, shaking Aaron’s arm.

Aaron opened one eye and saw Ben leaning over him, within kissing distance. Stretching his arms, he asked, “You think I’m beautiful?”

Ben looked uncomfortable and started to withdraw.

Aaron sat up and put his hands on Ben’s shoulders. “I think you’re pretty bloody hot, too.” He levered himself up and kissed Ben squarely on the lips, disturbing the baseball cap.

Ben pulled back, straightened his hat, and said, “Knock that s**t off!” Ben wiped his mouth and glanced out of the windscreen. “Someone could see.”

Aaron doubted it, they were pretty high up. But when he chanced a peek out of the window he saw another lorry parked to their right. Fortunately the cab appeared empty. “Sorry.” Aaron rubbed at his eyes. He was still exhausted. The heat didn’t help. “Where are we?”

Ben had resumed his seat. “North Carolina. We can get a shower here, then I’ll gas up the rig, see about getting the A/C looked at then we’ll eat.”

Aaron smelled his pits and wrinkled his nose. Then his stomach rumbled. Putting on a fake American accent, he said, “Sounds like a plan, good buddy.”

Ben got up and crawled between the seats, searching for something in what Aaron assumed was the sleeper compartment.

“You have a fine arse, mate.”

“Aaron!” Ben warned.

“Sorry.” He’d have to be more careful, Ben wasn’t used to this level of teasing. But Aaron was serious. Ben’s arse was big and wide and soft and just so strokeable.

Ben shot up and hit his head on something. “Ouch! Aaron, I mean it. Quit messing around. People can see.”

Aaron took Ben’s words to mean they could mess about when no one could see.