Passion On Wheels

Eric Jones, who had been driving the Sunset Highway for years, always told me it was a paradise for men.

He never told me why until I quit my job and decided to join him on a road trip.

"Eric, how much did this RV cost? It looks pretty expensive," I asked, looking around the RV.

He laughed as he drove. "Not really, just about 75 grand."

"Isn't that expensive?" I exclaimed.

He gave me a mysterious smile. "That's nothing. I can afford a new one after a few trips on this route."

I was stunned; I knew he made money running that route, but not that much!

Before getting in, I checked out the RV—it was more like a truck in the back, loaded with cargo. I wondered what kind of goods could make that much money.

He smiled at me and asked, "What's up, Kevin? Thinking of joining me? I think you can handle it pretty well. It's way less trouble than your previous company, and sometimes, you'll get women coming on to you."

"What kind?" I was confused.

He grinned mysteriously.

"Remember I told you that Sunset Highway is a man's paradise?"

I nodded.

"That's because there are a lot of girls out here doing budget travel or just looking for company. If you're lucky, you might run into a few of them."

I remembered reading news online about girls who traveled without money, relying on their bodies to pay for their journeys.

I never believed it.

"Are you serious? Isn't that some made-up stuff on the Internet?"

He looked at me like I was naive, and said, "Wait until you see it for yourself."

He grinned knowingly, and I started to feel curious.

Could those girls really be like what he said?

My mind was restless for the rest of the trip, waiting to see if we would meet any of those so-called budget travelers or playmates.

I had been alone for three years, and lately, I had been getting urges.

However, for the next two days, I only experienced the desolate beauty of the Sunset Highway, with not a single woman in sight.

"Are you sure about this, Eric? I haven't seen anyone out here at all," I complained.

He smoked and glanced at me. He said, "What's got you all worked up? How long has it been since you've been with a woman?"

Before I could respond, he grinned. "Speak of the devil. Look over there."

I followed his gaze and saw two girls standing by the side of the road.

When he pulled up, I got a better look at them.

One wore a black leather jacket and shorts—she looked like someone who partied a lot. The other, in a long white dress, looked shy and stood behind the first girl, watching us nervously.

Despite their different styles, both of them were beautiful.

"Hey, ladies, need a ride?" Eric called out.

The girl in the white dress shrank back. On the other hand, the girl in black, chewing gum, responded boldly, "Yeah, handsome, mind giving us a lift?"

To my surprise, Eric turned them down.

"Nope."

I panicked and tugged at his arm. He shot me a warning look.

"Come on, handsome! Look, it's dangerous for two girls out here! Be nice and give us a lift. We'll pay you," the girl in black pleaded.

Eric's eyes roamed over them before he finally spoke.

"What kind of payment?"

"What kind do you want?" The girl in black pushed her shorts down a little further, revealing more of her flat stomach. I could just make out the lace pattern under her shorts.