Chapter 17

"Hey guys!” He lifted his arm into a fist and smiled. “How you all doing tonight?!” The screams from the crowd showed exactly how good they were. He smiled. “Alright! That’s awesome! Mind if we test a new song on you guys tonight?” When the crowd yelled back their approval he turned to Jon and gave him a quick shrug of why not? “The single's coming out in a few weeks, so you’ll hear it on the radio and hopefully at a show if you guys come to see us!"

Elena watched the stage avidly. God he was so damned sexy standing there. Was Kate right? The guitar seemed to sit against him naturally. And when his long fingers wrapped around the neck thing she felt the same flush of arousal as she did on the dance floor. Those hands were amazing.

Jon gripped the mic, his voice low and teasing. "This is for anyone who ever felt like Tommy and Gina," he breathed into the mic.

A make-shift tube against a mic let out a hollow, oddly catchy melody as Richie placed his lips around it and closed his eyes as the opening riffs of the song poured into the bar.

"Jesus," Elena breathed out, her eyes glued to his face and the motion of his lips. All broad shouldered and powerful, his thighs were spread open as the guitar settled against him and a slow sway started as he kept time with the drums. Fingers like lightning scaled up and down as sounds like nothing she’d heard before echoed from guitar and the odd tube. Her insides seemed to buzz with the music. "He's fuckin’ lethal Kate," she breathed out.

Kate couldn't answer. She was too drawn into the lyrics.

Once upon a time, not so long ago…


Jon’s voice was smoky smooth with a whisper of sex as his personality changed before her eyes. Oh he was still cocky. And still arrogant but the sex appeal that flowed out of him was ten times worse then the man that had nearly kissed her. That had been lethal. Jon had made her think of dark sweaty things for the first time in a long time…but this Jon? Kate was slightly ashamed to admit that her panties needed a changing. “Holy shit.”


Tommy used to work on the docks,
Union's been on strike
He's down on his luck - it's tough, so tough



His voice was like liquid sex and the tube Richie kept chewing on made the song different from the rest of the stuff she heard on the radio. Kate glanced at Elena as it seemed to hum with just a flick of Richie’s tongue or brush of lips. Watching her friend’s slack jawed reaction was almost as entertaining as the band on the stage.


Gina works the diner all day
Workin' for her man she brings home her pay- for love, mmm for love



Elena whimpered, her eyes caught up in every move Richie’s lips made. Without thought she reached over to Kate and snatched her beer lifting it to her suddenly hot cheek. She had to cool down, and fast or she’d do something stupid.

Like hop on the stage and rape him.

Jon drew out the words. Fascinated, Kate watched him play the crowd, draw everyone into the song and make them his. Her heart hammered in her chest as the song started to build.



She says we've gotta hold on,
To what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not,
We got each other and that’s a lot
For Love…we'll give it a shot


Richie moved up to the front of the stage and his head fell back. His long throat was on display as he lost himself in the song. The riffs seemed to bleed out of the guitar. Jon stepped back, letting him shine. The moment was his, there was no doubt about it.

Kate’s gaze drifted back to Jon in his tight jeans and leather jacket pushed up at the cuffs to his elbows. He leaned forward, smiling down to the women in the front, the natural charisma like Richie’s talent seemed to float around him like a scent. The women ate it up and the men pumped their fists in time to the song.



Whooooaaa-We’re halfway there
Whooooaaa-Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it I swear
Whooooaaa-Livin on a prayer


The crowd went ape shit. Women crushed forward, pushing them aside without a thought to safety. Kate hooked her arm through Elena’s and dragged her off to the side. The poor thing wasn’t paying attention in the least. Her eyes were focused on the stage and Richie with glazed eyes. The reaction of the crowd was almost as impressive as the guys on the stage.

"God,” Elena gasped. Her skin felt hot and tight, like she was overheating. She knocked back a slug of Kate’s beer to try and cool something inside of her. His hands…those fingers just flew over the strings. Dear mother in heaven, sex on legs, that’s what he was. Pulling her gaze from the stage she looked at Kate and saw that they were both irreparably lost in what was going on stage.

Kate could feel the crowd feeding off Jon’s sex appeal and Richie’s dark magic as the room pulsed with the song. Anthemic, powerful and drawing were only a few words that described the song.


Tommy's got his six string in hock,
Now he's holdin' in, what he used to make it talk
So tough…it's tough

Gina dreams of running away
When she cries in the night
Tommy whispers…baby its okay, someday


The ache and the reality of the song suddenly hit Kate. As much as Jon enjoyed posturing and toying with the fans, the words were deeper than you'd think on the first listen. It was about making it even when times were tough. The optimism screamed from the heart of the song…love could conquer all in the end.

Kate suddenly wanted out of the bar. She was alright with the posturing, even okay with the cocksure Jon. Not this Jon. She turned and started for the front doors.

Pure instinct drove Elena as she reached out and grabbed Kate by the arm, her eyes never leaving the stage. She knew Kate. Knew that she was getting squirrelly for some reason that only Kate could ever figure out. Her Katydid always thought too much.

Kate nearly vibrated as her friend held her there. Stronger than she looked, Elena dragged her back next to her. As Jon leaned down to slap a fan's hand, he lifted his face and found her in the crowd. The stupid jolt was back and it careened down her spine like a runaway train. Why on earth did she feel nothing but disaster was coming?

Elena's fingers dug into Kate's arm. She needed to anchor herself and Kate had always been the one to keep her on an even keel. This man just might be more than she could handle.

Like it or not, Jon made her feel something. She cringed against Elena's talon-like grip as the crowd went haywire and the song transcended once again. Even just on one turn, the words were caught in her brain. And the crowd before them seemed to be similarly afflicted.


We've gotta hold on
To what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We got each other
And that’s a lot for love…
We'll give it a shot



Jon knew how to pull the crowd in, to make them part of the song. It was uncanny and glorious all at the same time. And as Richie and Jon shared the mic, the song soared. And the look on their faces was perfect as the crowd shouted the chorus back at Jon and Richie.



Whoooaaa-We’re halfway there
Whoooaaa-Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it i swear
Whoooaaa-Livin' on a prayer
Livin' on a prayer


The small stage suddenly felt stadium sized as Richie drew up to his full height and his solo blasted the room with riffs, and the wails of something akin to the sublime.

Kate glanced at her slack jawed friend. She couldn't blame her. Richie playing was pretty friggin' hot.

Elena's eyes flew from the mesmerizing fingers that kept bringing sounds out of a guitar that made her think of her skin, her heat and the sounds she would make if he touched her like that. And if that wasn’t enough to kill her, that gorgeously dark face with the sinful brown eyes kept looking at her like he was going to eat her alive. The throbbing in her body radiated from her center and rippled out as Richie's solo began to soar. She was toast. Well and truly done. "Fuck me blind, sister friend. What have I got us into?"

Kate met her haunted eyes and figured she probably looked very much the same. "I don't know, but I have a feeling I'm going to have to kill you," she said simply.

The song seemed to gather even more energy as the small bar shouted back the chorus. Jon took it all in, and seemed to give it back ten fold as his voice carried, higher than she'd ever heard a man sing and still have a pair of balls. "Holy shit," Kate whispered.

"You may not have too," Elena grinned ruefully. These were no mere wannabes, nor were they boys she could flirt with and brush off. This was the real deal and their nature was in their music, and it was calling to her in deeper ways than she could have ever before imagined. "Holy shit is right." Elena's eyes moved back to Richie. "You ever seen fingers move that fast?"

"Nope, and if I did, I was already passed out from the orgasm."

Elena managed to laugh, "I think I need something stronger than a beer.” She blinked as his back arched and Richie pressed himself against the back of the guitar. “Jesus."

Kate looked at Elena.

Elena looked at Kate.

"Tequila," the both said in unison.

Chapter 16

Kate looked around the club, amazed to see Elena and Richie still steeped in one another. Even with the entire room now jamming to Southside they’d ignored the change in atmosphere. Watching her friend wind herself around a guy was a new occurrence. Elena was usually the one that would tease and tantalize, leaving him hanging. This was a whole new Elena.

Jon followed her gaze. Surprised that Richie hadn’t even noticed their song being played, he just shook his head. The fact that Richie ignored the call of the stage in favor of a girl spoke volumes. He just hoped he wasn’t getting in over his head. Now wasn’t the time to get stupid over a woman. They’d worked so hard to get themselves to where they were.

His eyes drifted down to the packed curves of the woman beside him. He supposed he could see how a woman could get under his skin. The one in front of him was a contradiction. She had this way of keeping him off balance that he found he liked. Even just a few years into his career and he was quickly growing tired of the groupie set. He’d never been the type to fuck just for fucking’s sake. It was rare for him to get naked with a woman unless she interested him. Kinda like the one next to him he thought and reached out a hand. "Wanna get a drink or bust up the gruesome twosome over there?"

"Let them suck face a little longer," she said and hesitantly took his hand. Unwilling to own up to the flash that still zipped through her system at his touch she followed him to the bar. "A beer is definitely in order," she said with a laugh.

Jon walked with her to the bar and nodded the bartender over. Ordering a couple of beers he handed her one as they slid across the bar. Leaving a ten on the bar top he leaned into her so she could hear him. "So what got you into medicine?"

Swallowing against the shiver of attraction she forced herself to settle. "It was my mom's fault. She made it look so glamorous and easy." She sipped at the longneck. "By the time I was halfway through school I was enamored with the science and the problem solving aspect to it that I fell in love with it too. The only thing I learned too late was that medicine’s more of a commitment than even marriage. I used to blame my dad for their breakup--” As soon as the words left her mouth, she wanted to snatch them back as she didn't usually give out so much detail. She picked at the label on her beer before taking a fortifying sip.

The surprise on her face was telling. He had a feeling that Kate kept a lot of things close to the vest. He understood the need to control everything, including emotions. He was learning, the hard way, that emotions didn’t have anyplace in the business end of music. He left that for the writing. "I know you'll call me stupid, but in some ways we're a lot alike. You heal people…” he trailed off when her eyebrow quirked. “I make them feel good. Both of us spend long hours away from home, usually alone."

She sipped at her beer contemplatively. There was an element of truth in that statement. Even her background in music could justify what he said. Music healed as much as it was enjoyed. It also held a lot of pain. "I suppose you're right," she said slowly. "But there's a world of difference to your brand of medicine and mine, Sugar. At least you can get off the stage in a few hours. My day usually ends around hour thirty-six."

He chuckled softly. "You've never been on stage or on tour for that matter."

She hid a smile behind her bottle. Maybe not the tour part, she thought. "All my grace is handling the body just right," she said with a quirk of a brow and a slow grin.

An overzealous pair of men crowded into the bar, shoving him into her space. Her breasts brushed his chest leaving his mouth suddenly dry as she grinned up at him. Even in the dim light of the bar, her green eyes sparkled with a bit of the buzz of alcohol. "I just bet you do,” he murmured breathing in her spicy cinnamon scent.

With the boldness of the beer swimming in her veins she leaned forward until there wasn’t much more than a breath between them. "I've been known to give a very," she changed the angle, riding on the attraction she hadn’t felt in too many months to count. "Thorough exam," she said a whisper away from his mouth.

His body tightened, angling toward her, his mouth opening to catch a taste of the lips that had been driving him mad all night. "I'll have to remember that."

Richie clapped a hand on Jon's shoulder, laughing at his quick and guilty jolt of surprise. "So, you guys are going to seal the bet without help?"

Elena couldn’t hide the surprise at seeing Katy and Moptop a second away from a clinch. "Enquiring minds wanna know." She couldn’t remember the last time her roommate had even shown an interest in a guy.

Kate drew back quickly, cursing inwardly. Mercy, that had been way too close. What the hell are you thinking, Kate? "Of course not,” she laughed and lifted the bottle back to her lips. “We're just playing with you guys.” She turned and leaned against the bar elbowing for a space that was a few inches away from Jon. She threw Elena and Richie a sly grin, “Figured it was the only way to get your attention considering you and Richie have been sharing the same oxygen source for a good forty minutes.”

Elena cleared her throat and slid her arm through Richie’s, grinning up at him. “He’s got a lot of hot air.”

Jon snorted and signaled for another beer. “You ain’t kiddin’, babe.”

“Well, since you're so perfectly on time, I think it's time to hit the ladies room." She waggled the beer bottle. "You left me alone with way too many of these."

Elena had the good grace to blush slightly, "Sure thing, Katydid."

Richie watched the girls head to the back of the bar where a flash of neon blazed, “Restroom.” He held up a hand to the bartender for a beer and nosed his way into Kate’s spot next to Jon. "Soo,” he grinned down at Jon. “Making time with the Redhead finally? I knew you had it in you." Turning for his beer, he saluted the bartender when he waved away his money. “Thanks, man.”

Jon frowned. How come he hadn’t gotten a free beer? He gave him a sidelong look. "Well, she quit blasting me with that pretty fucking amazing mouth long enough for me to get a word in or two."

"Since when did you need words to shut up a woman?”

“You two had my mouth otherwise occupied, asshole. If I have to kiss one more ditz tonight, I'll beat you.” Jon took a long pull trying to get rid of the dryness in his mouth though he was pretty sure only a taste of Kate was going to cure that.

“True that,” he grinned. Draining half of his own bottle he tried to cool off. Having near sex on the dance floor wasn’t any good for his piece of mind. He was so hot for that woman, he couldn’t even focus. His gaze drifted back to the bathrooms before he forced his gaze back to Jon. “And don't think I didn't catch you sneaking up on stage without me, bro."

Jon choked on his beer, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You were a little busy, man." He nodded toward the dance floor. “I didn’t even see you come up for air when I started to sing.”

"Because I’m learning to ignore you finally.” At Jon’s snort of response he eased back against the bar again. “For once, a pair of lips was even more interesting than the stage. Didn't think I'd ever say that in my life," he said ruefully.

Jon's eyes widened. "Who are you and what have you done with Richie?"

“It’s true.” He finished his beer and waved for another, flipping a five at the bartender. Richie didn’t take advantage of a kindness. The free beer probably had come out of his tips. "She makes me itch to get outta here and get her under me.” He swallowed against the need to high tail it to the back of the bar and drag her out of there. “Just not sure she's ready for that."

Enjoying his friend’s obvious discomfort Jon asked, "want me to ask her for ya, Bro?"

Richie laughed against the rim of his beer. "Hell no, you just got in their good graces you shit.” He elbowed Jon. “Besides…the day I need your help is the day I hang up my axe."

Jon drained another beer and set it on the bar. Waving a no at the eager bartender, he resumed his watch on the bar. He just got Kate to talk to him, no need to get wasted and catch her wrath again. Enjoying a pleasant buzz he watched Southside jam.
He never thought he'd see the day Sambora would be spinning in the wind over a chick. Though he never thought the curvy Miss Kate could twist him up like she did. Life was looking interesting indeed. "Well I sure hope you don’t have to hang up the axe, we kinda need it."

"I won't if you keep your mouth shut for once." Richie spotted the two of them heading back their way. Elena’s easy grace looked dainty next to the lush curves of Kate’s black and denim outfit. The lights made Elena’s skin shimmer nearly as much as her pale silver shirt each time she stepped beneath one. He couldn’t remember wanting anything as much as he wanted her.

~

"What?" Kate huffed. "Stop looking at me like that." The entire time they’d been in the overcrowded restroom, Elena had been giving her weird looks.

Elena laughed softly. "Something’s goin’ on with you. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were ready to burst, sister friend.” Ignoring Kate’s snort she pressed on. “Wanna let me in on the joke?"

Choosing to ignore the obvious, she changed her tone. Elena was a bit of a terrier when it came to getting what she wanted, so she’d have to distract her. "He really is famous,” she said conversationally. “You know that song you keep singing...You give love a bad name ....I play my part and you play your game ....blah, blah.”

Trying not to laugh at her flat rendition Elena nodded, “Yeah, what about it?”

"Your Lip-lock Boy and Jon are part of that band.”

"Naah,” she bumped her hip, “you’re shitting me. Richie’s just a cute guy." Images of Richie’s rather nice car swam into her head. It was impossible.

"Yeah, a cute guy that makes a living playing a guitar if I don't miss my guess. Jon sings.” Kate bumped her back. “You were just a little too busy to notice him up there on the stage.” When Elena just shrugged, she rolled her eyes. “If that wasn't enough to clue me in, girls have fawned all over Jon everywhere we turned around."

Elena giggled. "He probably paid them to do it.” Moptop was pretty adamant about getting in Kate’s pants so she wouldn’t put it past him. “Seems like he's the type to go all the way to get what he wants." She studied Richie a moment, swallowing against the burn in her belly as his long fingers set his bottle on the bar and headed to the dance floor. Where the heck was he going? "Gotta admit that his hands are gorgeous enough to play a guitar, though.” She caught Kate’s serious eyes, “But eh, you know me…seein's believin’."

Kate pointed to the stage as Richie slid a guitar strap over his head. "Looks like you won't have long to wait for a bit of that proof."

Elena turned to the stage, her brow arching as she watched. "Good lord, I hope he doesn’t embarrass himself."

Chapter 15

Kate curled her fingers into her palm for a second before she took his hand. And just as before, the flash of heat and fizz of awareness jerked through her. Mercy.

The zing of skin on skin connection drilled up his arm. Goddamn what was it about this girl? He could feel her already twisting her fingers from his grasp. He gripped her fingers tighter, unwilling to let her pull away as he wound his way between bodies down to the main floor. Passing the front of the stage the singer called out, "HEY JON!! Come join us!"

Jon stopped, having the DJ flash a record at her was one thing, but getting on stage? That would probably shut her up. He waved at him, unsure if he wanted to get up there and have the entire room know who he was.

“Who’s that?”

He glanced down at her pleased that she’d stopped trying to squirm away. "That's John Lyon, the singer of Southside Johnny." Jon grinned over at her. "Johnny was one of the first people to really influence me. He’s king of the bar band sound."

She glanced at the brass and the guitars, the two different types of drums and shook her head. It reminded her of once upon a time as her eyes rested on the sax before settling on the singer. The sandy haired man kept right on singing but seemed to taunt Jon at the same time. "He looks like he wants you to get up there.”

“Yeah, I know.” He looked at the stage; he could feel his blood starting to simmer. There was something about just getting up there to actually play for the joy of it. He’d been making setlists and decisions, always looking ahead for so long he didn’t even know if he knew how to just enjoy singing anymore.

“You don't want to sing?" Kate looked over her shoulder catching him staring at the mic stand.

Jon flashed a grin, "Baby, I always wanna sing."

"Well then show me, wannabe," she said with pure honey to her voice.

Challenge lit her eyes leaving his cock hard and aching. She liked to push his buttons; he could see it in her bottle green gaze. He leaned in close to her and let his lips brush against her ear, pleased when she shivered a little. Friggin’ wannabe. Man alive he was going to love to see the change on her face when she figured it out. "You stay right there and watch."

Finding a spot next to the stage, she leaned back against the railing. She shouldn’t be finding him attractive. The cocky nature was something she’d thought she’d grown out of for God’s sake. Hadn’t that caused her enough heartache? She sighed. He did look natural up there, huddling with the band, conferring with sheet music and she laughed when his fingers instantly fluffed his hair before he turned around.

The opening riffs of a song began to play as Jon took center stage and palmed the mic in front of him. His blue gaze honed in on Kate as he began to sing.

"An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison, you can't break free…"

Kate's eyes skimmed along the stage, interest and curiosity took hold, but then the words started to sink in. She frowned, trying to figure out why there was a sense of familiarity to them. "Must be a cover song," she muttered.

He continued to sing. The words took on new meaning as he watched the words sink in. He could have written it with her in mind.

"You're a loaded gun
There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name "

"Oh my GOD!" came a screech from beside her. "That's Jon BON JOVI!"

She rushed by and pushed Kate aside until she was crushed into the rail. Kate's brow lifted as the chorus snagged on a memory. What the hell? She looked over her shoulder at Elena, but she was still oblivious. Her mouth was too busy on Richie’s to pay attention to a switch in song.

He kept singing, his hips swiveling against the mic stand as his gaze burned into hers.

"Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boy's dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye

Kate’s mouth dropped open as the entire crowd yelled with him. It couldn’t be…

You're a loaded gun
There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name”

As the band revved up and the brass section put a new spin on the end of the song he turned around and clapped at the band, then flashed a smile at the crowd. Lyon put his hand up in a fist and Heart of Stone filled the bar. He’d sung the song with him a million times so the words came easily.

"Oh hell," Kate put her face in her hands. She'd just totally dressed down the man who had a number one album on the top forty charts. He was part of that band? The friggin’ song was on the radio every hour on the hour.

As the crooning rose and Jon and John melted into one, her embarrassment level rose exponentially. How could she have been so stupid? His name just hadn’t clicked. Mercy.

Jon was in his element. Just living for the music and letting the old words trip free felt amazing. Singing along with Southside would never get old, but his gaze drifted to hers. He watched her realize just who he was and the I-told-you-so’s faded away. The song moved into the next and John took the mic to cup his hands around his harmonica. Taking advantage of the quick lull in singing, he nodded at the band and hopped offstage to stand in front of Kate.

"I suck at eating crow," she said with a proud tilt to her chin. "I seriously didn't know who you were.” She twirled a lock of red hair around her finger then stuffed her hand in her pocket when she realized she was twirling. “I hope you know I wasn't just blowing smoke up your ass."

He shrugged, "The fact that you actually knew the song and NOT my face is a compliment. It’s a rarity, that’s for sure.” He gave her a rueful smile, “Honestly, after I got over the initial shock, it actually felt good. Not to mention your reactions were way too genuine.” He tucked a sweat lock of hair behind his ear. “Just make me one promise?"

"I'll try."

He leaned forward with a smile, "Never change."

Not knowing quite what to say, she let her first real smile out to play. "You can count on that, Sugar."

Chapter 14

Richie spotted another girl, this time taking pity on his friend and shuffling her close to Jon. She was a pretty little thing. A bit mousy with her drab hair, but she was filled with nerves and wine spritzer so she wouldn’t be too much of a trial.

He caught sight of a pair of hands high in the air swaying to the music. The innate sensuality and loose limbed grace was enough to intrigue him, but when she turned around... “Oh man,” Richie whispered and made a bee line for her. He was jostled and bumped, but he still kept her in sight.

Elena danced, her arms lifting as she let the music take her. Her hands slid along her sides, lifting the hem of her halter slightly showing the smooth flat belly that begged to be touched. Every sensual swerve seemed to have a direct line to his dick.

Her eyes were closed and her hips were one with the music. Each pulse and crashing beat from the guitar and the drums seemed to come alive under her skin. Her silver shirt rose as her arms went up again and he couldn't stop himself. He slid his fingers along the smooth expanse of skin, grinning when her eyes flashed open in surprise, then pleasure.

Drunk on the music and the man, Elena shimmied into his space. She didn’t question the rightness of the moment or the fact that their bodies came together like they’d been dancing for years. Writhing against the long line of his thigh and hip, she slowly slid her hands along up his sides and around his broad back. "Fancy meeting you here," she said against his neck. Even in her heels she couldn’t reach that sweet little hoop in his ear.

He crowded in on her, the scent of spring breezes swirled between them. She was so tiny, he felt like he was going to break her. Going with instinct he lowered himself to her level and when her arms coiled around him, he lifted her. At her quick gasp of surprise he grinned, meeting her eyes. She held onto him, the air ripe with too many bodies and smoke, but here in this moment all he could focus on was softness and that wicked girl hair smell that haunted men for ages. He wanted to drag her closer. He wanted to be alone, but most of all he wanted to take her home.

He groaned as her legs wrapped around him. The lean line of her thighs gripped his hips as her head dipped closer to his neck. The quick flick of her tongue was whisper soft making him wonder if it really happened until she nuzzled in closer and her lips buzzed his jaw.

"Jesus, Elena," he breathed and gripped her ass. The sweet, soft curve left him hard and aching all over again. "What you do to me should be classified illegal," he muttered into her ear just before he nipped.

"Aren’t you glad its not?” Her giggle was dark and knowing. “At least in this state," she finished.

His hands moved up to her waist as he held her closer against him. "We'll try the illegal stuff on the second date," he muttered against her cheek. "Enough talking,” he said against her lips just before he dragged her into the kiss he'd been thinking about since the Ferris wheel.

He was slow and thorough as he got to know each and every inch of her mouth. The intimacy seemed as natural as breathing as their tongues touched, their mouths seemed to know just what to do, just what to give and to take. Teasing flicks turned into echoes of sex as his tongue slid in and out along hers.

~~


Jon wrapped the pretty, if plain, little thing in his arms. She was barely a handful of anything. Kinda like the washed out version of Richie’s little bit of a thing. Taking a deep breath he prayed for good hygiene as whispered to her, "I’m giving out free kisses tonight, but only to the pretty girls."

The mousey girl squeaked, rose onto her tiptoes and plastered her lips to him, leaving behind that clay nothingness of lipstick that made all men hate the stuff. Too bad women couldn’t stain their lips without taste, he thought vaguely as he stepped back. He grinned down at her, forgetting her in the next moment as he whirled her back into the masses.

Where the hell had Richie vanished to?

"Are you kidding me?"

Jon turned at the husky voice. Well I’ll be damned. "Kidding bout what?”

Kate glanced up realizing that it was Jon next to her. "Sorry, I was just bitching aloud, but look at them out there,” she sneered. “We're suffering," Kate looked at the girl that was currently hyperventilating in the corner then quirked a brow at Jon as he wiped the back of his hand against the bright pink lipstick smeared across his lips. Stifling a snort she handed him her napkin. "And they are out there on the dance floor making out like teenagers."

Jon's eyes followed her hand as she pointed. Well fuck him. "They'll never know we didn’t do all 10,” his grin was quick and sly. “Whadya say we just go hide in the upper level and get a drink?"

With less than a moment’s hesitation she nodded. "Deal!" she shouted over the music and led the way up to the upper tier of the bar where cocktail tables were set along the perimeter. Glancing over her shoulder at the dance floor she shook her head one last time and scooted into an empty seat.

Jon continued to scrub at the way to pink shit on his lips. Seeing her duck into a chair near the railing he followed and slouched into a seat. “Goddamn I hate that brand of pink."

"Well versed in pink, Sugar?"

"Unfortunately it comes with the territory. It’s not nice to feel like a piece of meat sometimes, let me tell ya." Clearing his throat when he realized he was bitching, he nodded toward the dance floor. "I can’t believe him. He’s not usually so public about that shit."

She frowned; wariness seemed to be bleeding through the cocky façade for a moment and then in a flash, he was back to that crooked, plastic smile. She glanced out to the dance floor. "Well my girl isn't usually so...um," she blushed as she noticed Elena's legs locked around the Richie. "Obvious," she finished lamely.

Jon leaned back into his seat and laced his fingers over his belly. "She’s not like that normally, huh?"

"No, she's sweet and likes to party that’s for sure.” She focused on Jon and felt the nerves in her belly start to ease. His eyes were clear now, the earlier drunk was gone leaving a semi-attentive man. He did seem to be aware of his surroundings a bit more than most. “She's usually a little more...well, we'll call it discreet for lack of a better word."

"That’s good to know, I'd hate to see him hurt; he’s got a softer heart than you'd think."

"I'd worry more about her spoiling him to death than hurting him."

A grin kicked the smirk into a smile as his light eyes twinkled. "Oh he'll eat that up for sure, and turn right around and treat her like a queen. Richie’s a good guy."

"What happened to you then? Shouldn't some of it rub off?"

He barely heard the snarky teasing as he slid lower in his chair. "Shit, can’t hide anywhere," he grumbled as a group of giggling girls spotted him.

"What?" She craned her neck as four girls headed straight for them. Kate watched as his face went from sullen to a smooth plastic smile that didn't quite reach those startling blue eyes.

"Hello girls."

Confused she looked from him to the girls pushing their way around their table. "What is the deal? I mean you're decent enough to look at but Jeeeze," she muttered.

The mousey blonde from dowstairs squealed, "See! I told you he was here! HE kissed me, didn’t you Jon?" She turned to Jon and thrust a napkin and pen his way, "Can I get an autograph?"

Kate laughed, "You're kidding right?"

Jon obediently took the pen and signed his name with a flourish. "There ya go, darlin’. You go have fun." He wondered why the hell a kiss wasn’t enough and why she had to have an autograph too. He signed the rest of the crowd’s items, from a purse to a flash of skin on her tipsier friend. Christ, she’d probably have it tattooed there by the weekend.

Kate frowned slightly. The girls hadn't even noticed her or heard her for God's sake. A little taken aback when one of them flashed the scalloped edge of a bra and leaned into him.

The mousey girl turned to Kate and sighed wistfully. "Damn you’re so lucky,” she motioned to her chair. “You know getting to sit with him and all. Jon freaking Bon Jovi!"

Kate didn’t bother answering her. She didn’t really want to hear from her anyway. She was too busy comparing signatures with her gaggle of friends. "Does that happen a lot?"

"It happens way too much sometimes.” He winced, “Don't get me wrong it comes with the job. Most days it’s even fun, but sometimes it’s like a damn concrete block hanging around my neck."

She frowned, the name Bon Jovi niggling somewhere in the back of her mind. "Well, fame is what you wanted right? I mean I guess you’re famous based on that little display,” she wiggled her fingers at the girls still staring at them. “Isn't that what you worked for?" She asked, honestly puzzled by the girl’s reaction and his palpable sadness. He grinned at her suddenly, but it seemed like it was one of those smiles that he was so used to giving. All it did was bend that rather intriguing mouth.

"I worked my ass off for it, but damn you can get tired ya know?"

"You don't have to explain to me about tired, I'm a doctor.”

His eyes widened as she spoke. "Really? What type of medicine?"

"General so far. I just got my internship to St. Mary's up in White Plains. I haven’t figured out my specialty yet."

His eyes flashed with respect. "So you've worked as hard as me, just in your respective field."

"Well, Sugar, I still don't know who the hell you are, so I can't respond on that one for sure."

He stood a moment and held out his hand. "Come on, I figure its time to show ya just who I really am."

Chapter 13

Richie cut through the mob and waved to the bouncer. "Hey Dave," he pushed Jon in ahead of him. "Jesus, who's playing tonight, buddy?" Dave nodded to the marquis. "Southside." "Well no shit," Richie grinned down at Jon. "Looks like it's our lucky night." Jon glanced up at Richie, "Lucky for who, you traitor?" Richie snickered, "Lucky for me of course." He scanned the bar and caught Kate's red curls and zeroed in on Elena. She already had her hand on a guy at the bar. Something deep in his gut growled until he saw her smile and drag her friend over the jock-looking blonde guy. Jon stalked to the bar, noting just how many non-lovely girls were floating in the bar. Damn, it wasn't his night. How the hell had it gone from fun to none within an hour? Nodding his head at the bartender he ordered up his usual, and took a long hard pull of its icy coldness. Richie shifted through the crush of people and dragged Jon along by his jacket. "That one will do," he said to Jon and pointed at the cotton candy blonde that had started shrieking when she realized it was Jon. Jon winced at the noise coming from the blondes mouth. Jesus, she was butt fuck ugly. Squaring his shoulders and plastering on the smile that made him famous he sauntered up to the blonde and leaned in to whisper a greeting before just pulling her into a quick kiss. "You give love a bad name, lovely kiss baby." As the girl walked off a little unsteady he muttered, "That’s ONE, asshole." He lifted the beer to his lips trying desperately to remove the smell of the God awful breath the girl had. Richie waited until the girl turned away to squeal with her friends before he laughed. He took a swig from his own beer and scanned the crowd. He'd have to give him a few cute girls, but that didn't mean they had to be sane. "Next victim," he pointed to a woman that had to be heading for a hard fifty. Jon groaned but walked the walk. As he neared the hag he gave her his grin and swooped in for the kiss. His eyes widened as the old lady pinched his ass during the kiss. Damn he was gonna have nightmares before it was all over. ~ She couldn't help swaying to the music. There was a good, rowdy bar band on stage with tons of guitar and a surprising amount of…Was that harmonica? She sipped her beer and moved to the music as her eyes scanned the crowd. Her gaze buzzed by a few faces, none of them really that bad, but the guy next to her…she grinned. He was cute and standing alone. Reaching up on tip toe she whispered to the guy that she needed help, when he shrugged and nodded she turned around. "Katydid!" Kate winced when the big blonde guy’s eyes lit up. "Well I hope you brought your breath mints," she sighed and lifted her mouth to the eager football jock. The kiss was okay if a little slobbery. She smiled at him and patted his cheek. "Thank you, Number One." The guy looked at her quizzically, "Huh?" Kate just lifted her beer to him. "You are my hero tonight," she said and walked to the dance floor. Elena patted the guy’s arm and mouthed, “Thanks,” following Kate to the dance floor. Her eyes were closed as she lifted her arms and lost herself in the crowd. Taking her cue, she let her own body sway and undulate to the music, her eyes on the look out for number two. Where the heck had Richie gotten off to? She shrugged and continued to dance, taking an occasional swig of her beer. Watching as a stiff, achingly young kid made his way into the center of the dance floor, she grabbed the skinny nerd. They didn’t all have to be cute, she thought as she pulled him close, dancing up against him as she pushed him towards Kate. "Here Katy, a special prize." Elena whirled away, her eyes dead on Kate, her body melding to the music. Kate gave the poor, quaking boy a soft smile. "Pucker up Sugar, I have a quota tonight." "I don't understand," the kid stumbled against her. She lifted his chin and planted a kiss square on his lips trying to avoid the bit of acne that riddled his chin. He was unsure of himself which actually worked in her favor, since she ended up with a dry, chaste kiss. “You have a great night, Sugar.” Kate turned him around and sent him back to his friends. The cheers and back slaps the poor kid got was worth the trouble as she marked number two off the list.