Wow! Not much of a break between posting chapters... think this might be a record for me!

This chapter is a direct continuation of the previous.

Squirming in her seat as they drove down the back roads on the way to Austin, Rayna struggled to reign in her passion for Deacon. Her fingers traced mindlessly on Deacon's leg, where they rested, while her eyes watched the passing scenery rush pass. Taking his hand off the steering wheel, Deacon wrapped his fingers with Rayna's. Giving them a gentle squeeze, he momentarily takes his eyes off the road. Smiling softly at her, his eyes silently ask if she is okay. Nodding at him, she returns the gentle squeeze of his fingers. Returning his eyes to the road, he lifts their tangled fingers to his lips and places a tender kiss on the back on her hand before returning it to his thigh.

Deacon slowing the car down caught Rayna's attention. She had been staring mindlessly at the country that they had been rapidly passing. Frowning at the town's name, she puzzled over why it sounded so familiar. There was nothing spectacular about the township as they made their way through it, it was like the majority of small-town America. Boarded up houses and stores with a lingering feel of a ghost town hanging heavily on the air. Just as quickly as they entered the forgotten town, they were leaving again. In a rebellious show of defiance, a lone roadhouse showed signs of life. A run-down motel was attached to one side, with a dive bar on the other.

"Hey…. Is that?"

Smirking at her reaction, Deacon said

"Yeah. Who would have thought that shithole would still be standing, let alone be the only sign of life in this town!"

"Oh my god, I think that was the worst place we had ever played in, and we have played in a lot of terrible places.'

"Do you remember the silence that greeted us as we walked on stage? I don't think they were expecting someone so young, let alone a female"

Laughing at the memory, Rayna squeezed his leg.

"It really was horrible. Though I seem to remember the night rapidly improved" she said with a wink.

Deacon stared wide eyed at her as a subtle flush washed over his face. He had never shared that the memory of that night had kept him sane through his many visits to rehab. Even now, he could still feel the stillness of the air as they took to the stage. The silence that rolled through the bar was almost instant. They had anticipated that this might not be their usual crowd, but at no stage did they anticipate the deafening silence that they now faced. Rayna had thrown him a worried look, before squaring her shoulders and approaching the microphone. At that moment, Deacon would have welcomed any one of the inappropriate comments that were usually thrown at Rayna on a regular basis. Taking a breath, trying to calm the pit of worry that was burrowing in his stomach, Deacon quickly glanced at Rayna before he commenced playing. Deacon was watching the crowd, anticipating trouble, when he saw the moment that Rayna won over the sceptical audience. Grudgingly, one by one, they began listening to them. They opened themselves up to Rayna's voice and the lyrics that spoke of hope and love.

Buoyed by the growing enthusiasm of the crowd, they both settled into their usual stage personas. They flirted with one another during the songs, with Rayna draping herself over Deacon as she let her lust for him shine bright for everyone to see. Kissing him deeply, she squeezed his butt as the crowd hooted their approval at their display of affection.

Squirming in the driver's seat, Deacon attempted to lessen the pressure on his growing desire. Flicking his gaze over at Rayna, she was absent mindlessly toying with the neckline of her t-shirt. Her breathing had become slightly laboured. Her blue eyes were darkened with desire as she racked her eyes over his body. The look she gave him, caused him to catch his breath while his body reacted to her wanting.

"Do you remember what happened after we got off stage?" Rayna whispered.

"Ray, as if I could ever forget. It has kept me going many lonely nights"

"Deacon" slapping his arm, Rayna gave him smile that was equal parts embarrassment and lust.

"What? Come on Ray, you can't honestly tell me that you have never thought about that night"

Biting down on her bottom lip, she rolled her eyes at his smugness. He knew that he bought out depths of passion that no one else had ever come close to, but damn it, she wasn't going to reward his gloating with any form of acknowledgement.

"No comment"

"HA! Oh babe, I already know that I rocked your world!"

"Hmmm, maybe but its not like you can do anything about it right now!" she retorted with smugness.

She knew they were still about two hours out of Austin, in the middle of god knows where. Most of the towns they had passed through were run down ghost towns. They barely had shops let alone dive motels for them to use.

Deacon tweaked an eyebrow at her comment, before exclaiming,

"Oh, thee of little faith!"

Smiling at him, she reached over and teasingly caressed his thigh. Leaning further into him, she whispered into his ear,

"Babe, I have utmost faith in you"

Her warm breath lustily caressing his ear, sent shivers careening through his body, elevating his lust levels. Licking his lips thirstily, he craved the taste of her on his tongue.

The sudden lurch of the car gave her a moment of panic. Her fingers dug into the flesh of his thigh, only lessening when she caught a glance of a road sign. Slowing the car, he eased it well off the road, towards the furthest corner of the roadside rest area. Turning the ignition off, he turned and lent into Rayna.

"So, what were you saying about me doing nothing about it?"