She turned over in her lounge chair, grinning at her fast asleep, bronzed sex god in the chair beside her. A perma-grin was her favorite accessory lately. Memories of the night before just kept that grin in place even more. Stunning love making and tequila that had them, even now, sated and drowsy could be part of that grin. Or, it could be their little poolside balcony that overlooked a vista that belonged in a postcard.
Man, Kate would love this place. Her eyes widened. "Kate! I forgot to tell her I was leaving for two weeks." Shit.
Standing up she rushed into their little slice of Caribbean heaven, grabbed a pen and some of the hotel paper off the little secretary desk before wandering back out to her lounge chair. Bending as she passed Richie, she pressed a quick kiss between his shoulders and laid back on her belly, propping the paper on the chair before her.
Katydid,
Hiya Girl! How's it going up there in chilly New York? By now I guess you've figured out I've vanished, huh? Sorry ‘bout forgetting to tell you, but when the chance to spend a few days alone with Richie came up—well, I sorta just went for it.
I mean hell, Tall Dark and Beachified or cold blustery New York? Do the math girl!
He rented a private villa, can you believe it? Soleil Brilliant it’s called, ((yeah they name their houses haha)) and it is brilliant with its whitewashed walls and bright drapes. It’s a small—very nice—white stucco beach villa with one bedroom and one bath. It has its own terrace and pool to. That’s where we are right this moment instead of sunning on the beach—which so totally works for me, Katydid, you know how I hate tan lines.
The furnishing is very understated, but you can tell it’s not cheap stuff. It’s that Caribbean dark wicker stuff. The bed is draped in netting which is both functional and romantic.
She chewed on the end of her pen, grinning as she thought about the netting. How to word that without sounding ridiculous?
Well it’s usually romantic unless a very long legged man manages to get his foot twisted in it during a rather excitable moment, then you just end up on the floor in a fit of giggles.
Being here is…well hell, it’s just relaxing. We spend long hot days just catching the sun, sightseeing and talking about everything. That makes the days full and fun, but they almost don’t compare to…well, the long, long nights filled with tall dark yummy goodness. There’s lots of that yummy goodness. All Richie flavored and totally addicting let me tell you.
The best thing is I haven’t had to cook. Not even once! ((you know I hate cooking)) Oh My God! The food, Kate! You'd die and go to heaven, everything just tastes better here. They have these things that look like bananas ((he called them plantains)) that seem to be in a lot of the dishes, along with ackee and jackfruit. The man loves playing with his food ((NO I'm not going write down how he plays with it. I know your dirty mind, you can figure that out.)) The seafood here is just excellent, or maybe it’s just excellent because I'm too busy laughing at his antics to actually taste what I'm eating! We either eat out or Richie cooks something. Between his Polish and Italian heritages it’s amazing I haven’t gained twenty pounds since we’ve been here! But then again, he’s kept me busy and well exercised. ((yeah and I don’t mean jumping jacks girlfriend))
Well, I had to take this time to share all this beauty with my favorite gir,l right? I thought of you and wanted to write you and let you know that it’s just totally wonderful here. The water is so blue, so clear, you could stare at it for days and never see the same blue twice. ((Almost reminds me of Moptop’s eyes when he’s got that smirk thing going on.)) The sun is bright and it’s a nice kind of warm—not humid or sticky, but just right. And there are so many palm trees—not worth a damn shade wise—but they are beautiful.
Elena paused in her writing a few moments, glancing over at Richie sleeping off the effects of the night before. Her perma-grin now a full-fledged grin. He was just too adorable with his ass sticking up to the sun, his face pillowed on his arm. She giggled and wondered how many would pay a small fortune just to see that sight. And from now on only she’d be seeing that particular gorgeous sight. Forcing her concentration back on the letter she started again.
It’s been amazing, these last few days, sister girl. And now that my brain’s sorta back in gear ((He's asleep right now matter of fact, all naked and bronze on the lounge chair beside me))it was the perfect time to grab a few minutes to write you and let you know I'm OK. I would’ve written sooner, but the first two or three days pen and paper was NOT on my mind. ((Oh girl he's just…well he's just that good. Good? Damn he's better than good. He's well—awesome, terrific, and orgasmic come to mind.))
Anyhows…Onto more serious things, I guess. I know you think I'm crazy, but then when haven't I been? I go by my feelings. I’ve always been spontaneous, so even though I know you think I'm nuts for letting him back into my life, and well…back into my bed so quickly, it was something I just had to do you know? It was right—so totally right.
When he got all weird that morning, it threw me for a loop and I acted so stupid for those two weeks. Girl I’m so sorry for what I put you through those days. Thank you so much for sticking by me.
You know Richie had it bad too? He never expected what he got ((No one does when it comes to me, right girl?)) I just know that from all he’s told me, he had a very bad two weeks. He drove Jon as nuts as I drove you. After all he’s been through ((being a rock star might be good work but it lends itself to some major pain too.)) I know you have issues with what happened girlfriend, but just know I’m really happy right now. ((So happy I totally forgot to let you know I was leaving for two weeks.))
He told me he loves me though—and you know—I love him right back. When it's right girlfriend, it’s just right. I wish you could be here enjoying the sun. You really need a break from all that mayhem at the hospital. And one day soon we'll have to do the beach thing for ourselves. Have to admit though…watching his bare ass might be just a tad bit more fun than watching yours. ((haha ok you so know I love you girl, but damn he's just gorgeous!))
He's wonderful down to his bones, Kate. He's deep. We talk about so many things, ((see it’s not just about the sex, although that is mind blowing in of itself)) he blows my mind with all the things he can talk about too. ((Am I waxing poetic? I am, aren't I? You want me to shut up now, I can hear you, "Shut up with the Richie Lain!" haha))
We're here for another week or so. Then I'll be back home and back to semi boring life again. Have to look for a job now that school's out for me. Life won’t be totally boring. I seem to have acquired this guy whose more entertaining than any frat party could be. ((who would have thought that, sister?))
I better let you go. Again I'm sorry for forgetting to let you know about leaving. The only excuse I have is I was so caught up in that moment with Richie I just plumb forgot.
See you soon Katydid, try to have some fun while I'm gone.
Love you.
Elena signed her name as usual, with the small heart as a flourish beside her name, and started to re-read it, making sure she left nothing out.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Chapter 62
"What time do I pick you up?"
She turned around, with a laugh. "You don't even know the band." She pictured Fitzy and Joanie on the rickety stage that had been a second home to her. The rich tones of old school jazz, heavy on the brass, and the blue collar men and women that littered the bar. It didn’t seem his speed in the least. She didn’t even know why she was going in the first place, but to invite Jon? God, what was she doing?
He shrugged. "As long as it’s not Bon Jovi, I’m in." He chuckled. "I actually do like other music you know." Intrigued, even more by the fact that she was trying to talk him out of it, he wrapped his fingers around his mug.
"It's just a bar band I like to go see every once in a while.” She waved a piece of toast and took a bite. “Fitzy, this old guy that can blow circles around any kid out there trying to make a name for himself…he plays a killer alto sax. He could have been famous ten times over, but nope. Just wants to play his songs in this little dive called the Sweet Soul in Green which Village. But, Joanie,” she sighed, popping the last of her crust in her mouth, “man can she make you cry, laugh and sing along with the heaven that comes out of her mouth. It's old school jazz with a punch of blues." She cleared her throat. "Would that be something you'd be interested in?"
He smiled. He tried to equate smooth jazz with his toughie doctor and couldn’t seem to make it add up. "You’d be surprised with what I like.” He stood, drawing her into his arms. When she stiffened, he simply turned her into a quick box step. "I’ve been known to croon a bit here and there sometimes.” He dipped her and at her quick gasping laugh, he pulled her back up. “Just not for the general public."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, unable to resist his easy charm. "What would you know about crooning, Rockstar?"
He brushed his lips against her ear, pressing his cheek to hers.
"If you ever change your mind
About leavin', leavin' me behind
Well, baby, bring it on home.”
His voice was like a hot night and the soul that flowed out made her shiver. Rough and croony, so unlike the pop blend that was the Bon Jovi sound.
”Bring it on home to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I know I laughed
When you left
But now I know
I only hurt myself
But I'll be forgiven if you
Bring it on home
Bring it on home to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah…”
He trailed off, his fingers low on her waist, just at the curve of her ass, their thighs brushing again and again as they kept in time with his acapella offering. "You mean like that right, Katy?"
The lengthened melodies spoke of a love for standards and a deeper connection to the music she loved. "Evidently you do." The familiarity of him, the way they fit together, heightened the already disturbing awareness she had around him.
He cleared his throat, stepping away from her. He saved the croon for the bar and the smoky shadows. Her little kitchen was far too bright and her body far too comfortable for singing like that. "So, what time Friday?"
"Umm...seven I guess. So we can catch the train in, then hit the subway in time to catch their second set. The first one's for the newbies. The second set's for the fans."
He grinned. It had been a long time since he’d hit the subway to listen to a gig. Hell, he was all about joining in. This would be a novelty for him. To actually be able to just sit and soak it in and not sing for his supper. Like a normal person. It sounded like heaven on legs. "Sounds like a plan. I'll be here."
She walked him to the door, a companionable silence between then as he stuffed his feet into his boots. "I-" she paused. Not quite sure how to sound sincere without offending him, she tried again. "You don't have to entertain me Jon. I won't die without Elena around."
He stood up and pinned her with an intense blue gaze. "Dammit, Katy.” He sighed, fisting his hands in his hair. “I happen to like spending time with you. Ever think you’re the one keeping me a little sane?"
Her brow furrowed. What was that supposed to mean?
The honest confusion, diffused his anger. God, the woman made him nuts. How could she not know her appeal? He reached to tug her braid lightly. "Sometimes I just don’t know what to do with you."
Completely confused she opened her mouth only to have him shush her with a well placed finger. A warm finger that lay against her lips so gently. He needed to go. Now. God, he before she did something stupid, like drag him back inside and never let him go.
"I happen to actually like you.” When she shook her head in denial, he cupped her face, cursing when she stiffened. “I’m not gonna kiss you, dammit! Stop freezing up on me.”
She tried not to feel his hands cupping her so carefully. Tried desperately not to see the…what was it in his eyes? What did he want from her? What could he possibly find with her that he couldn’t find with a dozen other women that even just breathed the same air as he did.
“You keep me on my toes. Not many can do that you know." He kept with the safe words that she would understand. No matter what he said, she wouldn’t believe him, but at least this was a shadow of truth. She kept him on his toes all right. He preferred his back, or an exhausted sleep on his stomach after he lost himself in her for the hours it would take to possibly get her out of his system. Though as the days progressed, he was fairly certain that would take at least fifty years or more.
She wrapped her hands around his wrists, the crazy pulse throbbing there could be his or it could be hers. She felt so incredibly out of control around him. "Yeah well when you're off your toes, that's when the problems start.” He closed her eyes, giving her a second to regroup. It was unbearably hard to concentrate when he stared at her like that. She tugged his hands away from her face, missing his warmth already. Instead of letting him go, she held onto his smooth hands.
Another something they didn’t have in common. She was labor and scrubbing of a different kind. The antiseptic soaps that ran her life, ripped apart her skin leaving it raw sometimes. Jon…his skin was soft and warm, pampered even. What did she know of pampering? “I wish I was built for a fling.” His eyes flashed open and she swallowed hard to get it all out. “I even went out looking for one the night we met, but I'm just no good at it."
He shook his head slightly, "What makes you think I'm into flings? That shit got old on the first tour. I'm just your everyday kinda guy Katy. Might have a fucking good job, but I'm just like most guys."
“The day you believe that is the day I start running the hospital.” She slipped away from him, tucking her fisted hands under her arms.
“You are so obstinate!” Jon paced away from her. “I want to spend time with you. I don’t have to get you naked to do it!” He wanted it. Fuck, he wanted her under him right now, but if it meant going without her at all, then he’d take the platonic.
"Most guys aren't looking for anything else than a fling in their mid-twenties Jon.”
“Well I’m not most guys, now am I? Didn’t you just say that?”
She frowned at him, caught in her own words. “I don't have the energy for someone like you and my career at the same time."
“All I hear are excuses,” he said, leaning back against the wall by her door. "We make time for what's important to us, Kate.” He crossed his own arms over his chest. “My schedule is worse than you and your interns combined, but I want to spend time with you. I want someone that makes me laugh. Someone that’s not part of this fucking business. I want you.”
Kate’s heart bottomed out somewhere near her feet. She wanted something like that. She needed something that wasn’t the hospital. Something that wasn’t complicated. She was almost certain those two couldn’t be found in this man. He had her in knots already and she couldn’t even remember getting naked with him. “Shoot.” She jammed her fingertips into the corners of her eyes until the pain stopped. He gave her a headache just by being. "I'm not sure what to say to that," she said unevenly.
He pulled her hands away, shaking them out. “Don’t say anything. Just come out with me Friday. Just friends. A man and a woman can be just friends, I promise you.”
Doubt it. She slid her hands away and into the pockets of her shorts. "I guess we’ll see.” At his quick grin, she simply raised a brow. “Oh and Jon...tame the hair that night. The guys won’t leave you alone if you go in there looking like it's stage time."
He chuckled, the knots in his stomach untwisting. "Got it, flat hair, regular guy night on Friday."
"Well not too much," she smiled. "I do enjoy the tight jeans. You have a prime ass, Mr. Bon Jovi." At his quick and easy laugh, she relaxed a little. I can do this.
Hot damn. “I'll see you then. Don't work too hard."
"I'll try and keep the blood and guts to a minimum," she said and leaned on the door.
He walked to his car, every instinct pushing him to go back and show her how he felt. She was stubborn on the most basic level. It was probably why he liked her so damn much. He turned back, his jeans tightening when she stood inside that door, the ridiculous Snoopy shirt hugging her perfect breasts, but it was the shorts that rode low with her hands fisted in the pockets. That soft curve of belly that led to…Fuck. He was going to drive himself nuts. Hell, he was certifiable right at that moment.
She turned around, with a laugh. "You don't even know the band." She pictured Fitzy and Joanie on the rickety stage that had been a second home to her. The rich tones of old school jazz, heavy on the brass, and the blue collar men and women that littered the bar. It didn’t seem his speed in the least. She didn’t even know why she was going in the first place, but to invite Jon? God, what was she doing?
He shrugged. "As long as it’s not Bon Jovi, I’m in." He chuckled. "I actually do like other music you know." Intrigued, even more by the fact that she was trying to talk him out of it, he wrapped his fingers around his mug.
"It's just a bar band I like to go see every once in a while.” She waved a piece of toast and took a bite. “Fitzy, this old guy that can blow circles around any kid out there trying to make a name for himself…he plays a killer alto sax. He could have been famous ten times over, but nope. Just wants to play his songs in this little dive called the Sweet Soul in Green which Village. But, Joanie,” she sighed, popping the last of her crust in her mouth, “man can she make you cry, laugh and sing along with the heaven that comes out of her mouth. It's old school jazz with a punch of blues." She cleared her throat. "Would that be something you'd be interested in?"
He smiled. He tried to equate smooth jazz with his toughie doctor and couldn’t seem to make it add up. "You’d be surprised with what I like.” He stood, drawing her into his arms. When she stiffened, he simply turned her into a quick box step. "I’ve been known to croon a bit here and there sometimes.” He dipped her and at her quick gasping laugh, he pulled her back up. “Just not for the general public."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, unable to resist his easy charm. "What would you know about crooning, Rockstar?"
He brushed his lips against her ear, pressing his cheek to hers.
"If you ever change your mind
About leavin', leavin' me behind
Well, baby, bring it on home.”
His voice was like a hot night and the soul that flowed out made her shiver. Rough and croony, so unlike the pop blend that was the Bon Jovi sound.
”Bring it on home to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I know I laughed
When you left
But now I know
I only hurt myself
But I'll be forgiven if you
Bring it on home
Bring it on home to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah…”
He trailed off, his fingers low on her waist, just at the curve of her ass, their thighs brushing again and again as they kept in time with his acapella offering. "You mean like that right, Katy?"
The lengthened melodies spoke of a love for standards and a deeper connection to the music she loved. "Evidently you do." The familiarity of him, the way they fit together, heightened the already disturbing awareness she had around him.
He cleared his throat, stepping away from her. He saved the croon for the bar and the smoky shadows. Her little kitchen was far too bright and her body far too comfortable for singing like that. "So, what time Friday?"
"Umm...seven I guess. So we can catch the train in, then hit the subway in time to catch their second set. The first one's for the newbies. The second set's for the fans."
He grinned. It had been a long time since he’d hit the subway to listen to a gig. Hell, he was all about joining in. This would be a novelty for him. To actually be able to just sit and soak it in and not sing for his supper. Like a normal person. It sounded like heaven on legs. "Sounds like a plan. I'll be here."
She walked him to the door, a companionable silence between then as he stuffed his feet into his boots. "I-" she paused. Not quite sure how to sound sincere without offending him, she tried again. "You don't have to entertain me Jon. I won't die without Elena around."
He stood up and pinned her with an intense blue gaze. "Dammit, Katy.” He sighed, fisting his hands in his hair. “I happen to like spending time with you. Ever think you’re the one keeping me a little sane?"
Her brow furrowed. What was that supposed to mean?
The honest confusion, diffused his anger. God, the woman made him nuts. How could she not know her appeal? He reached to tug her braid lightly. "Sometimes I just don’t know what to do with you."
Completely confused she opened her mouth only to have him shush her with a well placed finger. A warm finger that lay against her lips so gently. He needed to go. Now. God, he before she did something stupid, like drag him back inside and never let him go.
"I happen to actually like you.” When she shook her head in denial, he cupped her face, cursing when she stiffened. “I’m not gonna kiss you, dammit! Stop freezing up on me.”
She tried not to feel his hands cupping her so carefully. Tried desperately not to see the…what was it in his eyes? What did he want from her? What could he possibly find with her that he couldn’t find with a dozen other women that even just breathed the same air as he did.
“You keep me on my toes. Not many can do that you know." He kept with the safe words that she would understand. No matter what he said, she wouldn’t believe him, but at least this was a shadow of truth. She kept him on his toes all right. He preferred his back, or an exhausted sleep on his stomach after he lost himself in her for the hours it would take to possibly get her out of his system. Though as the days progressed, he was fairly certain that would take at least fifty years or more.
She wrapped her hands around his wrists, the crazy pulse throbbing there could be his or it could be hers. She felt so incredibly out of control around him. "Yeah well when you're off your toes, that's when the problems start.” He closed her eyes, giving her a second to regroup. It was unbearably hard to concentrate when he stared at her like that. She tugged his hands away from her face, missing his warmth already. Instead of letting him go, she held onto his smooth hands.
Another something they didn’t have in common. She was labor and scrubbing of a different kind. The antiseptic soaps that ran her life, ripped apart her skin leaving it raw sometimes. Jon…his skin was soft and warm, pampered even. What did she know of pampering? “I wish I was built for a fling.” His eyes flashed open and she swallowed hard to get it all out. “I even went out looking for one the night we met, but I'm just no good at it."
He shook his head slightly, "What makes you think I'm into flings? That shit got old on the first tour. I'm just your everyday kinda guy Katy. Might have a fucking good job, but I'm just like most guys."
“The day you believe that is the day I start running the hospital.” She slipped away from him, tucking her fisted hands under her arms.
“You are so obstinate!” Jon paced away from her. “I want to spend time with you. I don’t have to get you naked to do it!” He wanted it. Fuck, he wanted her under him right now, but if it meant going without her at all, then he’d take the platonic.
"Most guys aren't looking for anything else than a fling in their mid-twenties Jon.”
“Well I’m not most guys, now am I? Didn’t you just say that?”
She frowned at him, caught in her own words. “I don't have the energy for someone like you and my career at the same time."
“All I hear are excuses,” he said, leaning back against the wall by her door. "We make time for what's important to us, Kate.” He crossed his own arms over his chest. “My schedule is worse than you and your interns combined, but I want to spend time with you. I want someone that makes me laugh. Someone that’s not part of this fucking business. I want you.”
Kate’s heart bottomed out somewhere near her feet. She wanted something like that. She needed something that wasn’t the hospital. Something that wasn’t complicated. She was almost certain those two couldn’t be found in this man. He had her in knots already and she couldn’t even remember getting naked with him. “Shoot.” She jammed her fingertips into the corners of her eyes until the pain stopped. He gave her a headache just by being. "I'm not sure what to say to that," she said unevenly.
He pulled her hands away, shaking them out. “Don’t say anything. Just come out with me Friday. Just friends. A man and a woman can be just friends, I promise you.”
Doubt it. She slid her hands away and into the pockets of her shorts. "I guess we’ll see.” At his quick grin, she simply raised a brow. “Oh and Jon...tame the hair that night. The guys won’t leave you alone if you go in there looking like it's stage time."
He chuckled, the knots in his stomach untwisting. "Got it, flat hair, regular guy night on Friday."
"Well not too much," she smiled. "I do enjoy the tight jeans. You have a prime ass, Mr. Bon Jovi." At his quick and easy laugh, she relaxed a little. I can do this.
Hot damn. “I'll see you then. Don't work too hard."
"I'll try and keep the blood and guts to a minimum," she said and leaned on the door.
He walked to his car, every instinct pushing him to go back and show her how he felt. She was stubborn on the most basic level. It was probably why he liked her so damn much. He turned back, his jeans tightening when she stood inside that door, the ridiculous Snoopy shirt hugging her perfect breasts, but it was the shorts that rode low with her hands fisted in the pockets. That soft curve of belly that led to…Fuck. He was going to drive himself nuts. Hell, he was certifiable right at that moment.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Chapter 61
Kate woke with her nose crushed into a warm, muscled arm and her thigh draped over a denim clad one. To make matters worse, her fingers were already curled into the soft fur of at the top of an unbuttoned pair of jeans. Oh God, that wasn't good.
She tried to lift her head, but of course her braid had somehow tucked itself under his shoulder sometime in the night. No, Jon I just want to be friends, Jon. I can't have anyone in my life right now, Jon. Wait, let me twine myself around you like a Twizzler, Jon.
Perfect.
The hairs about two inches from the promised land were silky. If she just smoothed her hand up a little bit, she could see if the ones on his chest were just as crinkly as the last time she'd woken on him. Just move. Now. Move…Now! C’mon, Kate, you can do it.
She stilled as the rumbly groan buzzed under her fingers just before one blue eye cracked open.
Shoot. So much for that.
He’d been having the best dream of an auburn haired goddess with hands like silk, roaming his chest. He glanced down to see her elegant, surgeon hands hovering along the path to his open zipper. Hmm…had she done that? Perhaps she’d changed her mind. She did have her hands right where they could wake him up properly. "Morning, Katy."
His husky voice was the worst thing to hear right now. Her body was already high on available morning sex endorphins here. Not to mention that her Snoopy shorts were so old and stretched out she didn’t even have to slip out of them to get herself…Nope! Stop right there, Dr. Horny. When he lifted one calloused finger to brush a lock of hair away from her face, she forgot how to breathe.
Jon’s hips arched up. He wouldn’t ask, but he would sure as shit offer himself up if she was even remotely on the fence. Every part of him wanted to bury himself deep into her long, curving softness. "Sleep well?"
She felt him swell longer…tighter, almost as if it was bumping her to touch him. He shifted, his hips undulating slightly as if to draw her deeper. If she wanted, she could slip her hand right into the jeans, pop the last few teeth of his zipper open, and just roll on top of him.
She watched. Even part of her picked up on the clinical symptoms. His breathing changed, his eyes dilated, the quick swipe of his tongue along that ridiculously full lower lip. He wanted her. Dear God, the need was there and as naked as she wanted him right then.
Panic clawed up her throat as she scrambled back. She yelped when her braid jerked her to a stop.
“You all right?
"Umm, yeah.” She cleared her throat, scrambling back. “I slept great, actually." Even with the embarrassment radiating off her cheeks, she had to admit it was true. She slept amazingly well, as she always seemed to, when he was near her. Don’t go there. She rolled off the bed and twisted her shorts so she didn't flash the world. Hell, who was she kidding? "Do you want some coffee?"
He rolled onto his back, tucking an arm under his head, the other draped over his stomach. He watched the varying degrees of want, need and dismay flicker over her face. He wasn’t exactly sure what kept her from even giving this thing between them a try. Hell, he understood not wanting forever right now. He didn’t even know what city he was in half the time, let alone where he would be in six months. The only thing he was completely sure of, was that now wasn’t the time to press his luck. He’d end up on his ass with a door slapping him on the way out. "Coffee sounds like a plan."
"Right, well...let me go make some." She cleared her throat. "There's an extra toothbrush in the cabinet in the bathroom if you want to um, brush your teeth." She tried not to look at him. That hand not even making a move to zip himself up for God’s sake. It was like he was daring her to change her mind. To crawl on top of that lean, lovely body and see just how soft—and hard—he was, or just how much fur covered him and where. And you need your head checked. Cripes. Doing an about face before she did something stupid like slobber on him, she left the room and went for the Mr. Coffee. It was definitely a full pot kind of day..
With a disgusted huff, he rolled off the bed and zipped his jeans. She gravitated to him in sleep but minute she woke up…Bam! Walls. Every single time. Perversely, it made him want her even more. Six weeks ago, he’d have laughed in the face of everyone he knew if they’d told him he’d react this way to a woman. Yet there he was, dick in withdrawal and no end in sight.
It wasn’t like he needed to wait around. She couldn’t fault him with finding release with another woman. They were just friends after all. But damn if he could even get up the urge for another woman now that he’d tasted her. He’d tried a few times to lose himself in the mindless sea of faces that were more than willing to fill the void, but it was her bright red hair and witchy green eyes that haunted him. He was ashamed to admit, he’d even taken to going for redheads, but none of them were Kate. So, he’d toddled them off with a kiss and a smile, as cold showers became the norm.
The fact that they’d rolled around in his apartment and he couldn’t remember a thing, killed him. He remembered the softness of her breasts on his chest, the easy familiarity of her wrapped around him on the couch, but nothing else. That alone should let him off the hook. Instead, it just made him more curious.
And that much more miserable.
Taking a few minutes to brush away his morning breath and tame some of his overgrown hair, he entered the small kitchenette. "So, any plans today?" He sat down at the table, his eyes falling to the bright red shorts cupping her perfect ass.
"Errands, shopping, that sort of thing. A quick trip to the hospital for some charts I forgot to sign. Very boring," she said, putting bread in the toaster. She turned back to him, elbows on the counter as she leaned back. "I'm sure you need to get back home."
Folding his hands over his suddenly uncomfortable jeans, he swallowed. Don’t look at her tits, man. Eyes up. Eyes…up. God, even without a bra they were mouthwatering. He cleared his throat, meeting her gaze. "Not really.” He reached for the coffee she’d set out for him and took a sip. “Got a few errands in the city, but other than that I'm at loose ends for the next six weeks." The toaster popped and she turned back around, so he could torture himself with another long perusal of her slim back and rounded hips. She’d unleashed her hair so the curls twisted down her back. "Maybe we could take in a show or something?"
He winced as the scraping of her knife stopped. Smooth, Bongiovi, smooth.
She looked over her shoulder, but still didn’t meet his eyes. "Uh, a show?"
"Yeah Katy, you know, a show. New York City is in your back yard." He paused and took a sip of the coffee. "Even interns get to have fun once in awhile.”
"I'm the least fun woman you'll ever meet," she laughed awkwardly. "I'm not much for Broadway, but-" she cut herself off cursing. Dammit, just feed him and get him out of the house, Kate.
"But what? C’mon Katy, I promise it won’t kill you to spend some time with me. Your choice.” He softened his voice as she put the knife down. "All work, and no play will turn you into me,” he let his voice turn cajoling. “You don’t want that now do you?”
"I was going to go into the city on Friday, my next day off and go see this band.” Shut up, Kate. “You could, umm..." Shut up. "You could come with me," she heard herself say.
She tried to lift her head, but of course her braid had somehow tucked itself under his shoulder sometime in the night. No, Jon I just want to be friends, Jon. I can't have anyone in my life right now, Jon. Wait, let me twine myself around you like a Twizzler, Jon.
Perfect.
The hairs about two inches from the promised land were silky. If she just smoothed her hand up a little bit, she could see if the ones on his chest were just as crinkly as the last time she'd woken on him. Just move. Now. Move…Now! C’mon, Kate, you can do it.
She stilled as the rumbly groan buzzed under her fingers just before one blue eye cracked open.
Shoot. So much for that.
He’d been having the best dream of an auburn haired goddess with hands like silk, roaming his chest. He glanced down to see her elegant, surgeon hands hovering along the path to his open zipper. Hmm…had she done that? Perhaps she’d changed her mind. She did have her hands right where they could wake him up properly. "Morning, Katy."
His husky voice was the worst thing to hear right now. Her body was already high on available morning sex endorphins here. Not to mention that her Snoopy shorts were so old and stretched out she didn’t even have to slip out of them to get herself…Nope! Stop right there, Dr. Horny. When he lifted one calloused finger to brush a lock of hair away from her face, she forgot how to breathe.
Jon’s hips arched up. He wouldn’t ask, but he would sure as shit offer himself up if she was even remotely on the fence. Every part of him wanted to bury himself deep into her long, curving softness. "Sleep well?"
She felt him swell longer…tighter, almost as if it was bumping her to touch him. He shifted, his hips undulating slightly as if to draw her deeper. If she wanted, she could slip her hand right into the jeans, pop the last few teeth of his zipper open, and just roll on top of him.
She watched. Even part of her picked up on the clinical symptoms. His breathing changed, his eyes dilated, the quick swipe of his tongue along that ridiculously full lower lip. He wanted her. Dear God, the need was there and as naked as she wanted him right then.
Panic clawed up her throat as she scrambled back. She yelped when her braid jerked her to a stop.
“You all right?
"Umm, yeah.” She cleared her throat, scrambling back. “I slept great, actually." Even with the embarrassment radiating off her cheeks, she had to admit it was true. She slept amazingly well, as she always seemed to, when he was near her. Don’t go there. She rolled off the bed and twisted her shorts so she didn't flash the world. Hell, who was she kidding? "Do you want some coffee?"
He rolled onto his back, tucking an arm under his head, the other draped over his stomach. He watched the varying degrees of want, need and dismay flicker over her face. He wasn’t exactly sure what kept her from even giving this thing between them a try. Hell, he understood not wanting forever right now. He didn’t even know what city he was in half the time, let alone where he would be in six months. The only thing he was completely sure of, was that now wasn’t the time to press his luck. He’d end up on his ass with a door slapping him on the way out. "Coffee sounds like a plan."
"Right, well...let me go make some." She cleared her throat. "There's an extra toothbrush in the cabinet in the bathroom if you want to um, brush your teeth." She tried not to look at him. That hand not even making a move to zip himself up for God’s sake. It was like he was daring her to change her mind. To crawl on top of that lean, lovely body and see just how soft—and hard—he was, or just how much fur covered him and where. And you need your head checked. Cripes. Doing an about face before she did something stupid like slobber on him, she left the room and went for the Mr. Coffee. It was definitely a full pot kind of day..
With a disgusted huff, he rolled off the bed and zipped his jeans. She gravitated to him in sleep but minute she woke up…Bam! Walls. Every single time. Perversely, it made him want her even more. Six weeks ago, he’d have laughed in the face of everyone he knew if they’d told him he’d react this way to a woman. Yet there he was, dick in withdrawal and no end in sight.
It wasn’t like he needed to wait around. She couldn’t fault him with finding release with another woman. They were just friends after all. But damn if he could even get up the urge for another woman now that he’d tasted her. He’d tried a few times to lose himself in the mindless sea of faces that were more than willing to fill the void, but it was her bright red hair and witchy green eyes that haunted him. He was ashamed to admit, he’d even taken to going for redheads, but none of them were Kate. So, he’d toddled them off with a kiss and a smile, as cold showers became the norm.
The fact that they’d rolled around in his apartment and he couldn’t remember a thing, killed him. He remembered the softness of her breasts on his chest, the easy familiarity of her wrapped around him on the couch, but nothing else. That alone should let him off the hook. Instead, it just made him more curious.
And that much more miserable.
Taking a few minutes to brush away his morning breath and tame some of his overgrown hair, he entered the small kitchenette. "So, any plans today?" He sat down at the table, his eyes falling to the bright red shorts cupping her perfect ass.
"Errands, shopping, that sort of thing. A quick trip to the hospital for some charts I forgot to sign. Very boring," she said, putting bread in the toaster. She turned back to him, elbows on the counter as she leaned back. "I'm sure you need to get back home."
Folding his hands over his suddenly uncomfortable jeans, he swallowed. Don’t look at her tits, man. Eyes up. Eyes…up. God, even without a bra they were mouthwatering. He cleared his throat, meeting her gaze. "Not really.” He reached for the coffee she’d set out for him and took a sip. “Got a few errands in the city, but other than that I'm at loose ends for the next six weeks." The toaster popped and she turned back around, so he could torture himself with another long perusal of her slim back and rounded hips. She’d unleashed her hair so the curls twisted down her back. "Maybe we could take in a show or something?"
He winced as the scraping of her knife stopped. Smooth, Bongiovi, smooth.
She looked over her shoulder, but still didn’t meet his eyes. "Uh, a show?"
"Yeah Katy, you know, a show. New York City is in your back yard." He paused and took a sip of the coffee. "Even interns get to have fun once in awhile.”
"I'm the least fun woman you'll ever meet," she laughed awkwardly. "I'm not much for Broadway, but-" she cut herself off cursing. Dammit, just feed him and get him out of the house, Kate.
"But what? C’mon Katy, I promise it won’t kill you to spend some time with me. Your choice.” He softened his voice as she put the knife down. "All work, and no play will turn you into me,” he let his voice turn cajoling. “You don’t want that now do you?”
"I was going to go into the city on Friday, my next day off and go see this band.” Shut up, Kate. “You could, umm..." Shut up. "You could come with me," she heard herself say.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Chapter 60
“Well he'd see me naked too, so I guess we should attempt clothing." She reached for the floor, but came up with nothing. Where the heck--
"I'm the only one who's going to have that honor from now on," he said flatly.
She peered at him through a tangle of hair. “Oh really?” She pushed herself into a seated position, flipping her hair away from her eyes. Her tummy fluttered at the possessive look in his eyes. Every feminist gene inside of her should have been on red alert, but the only thing she could do was grin at him. "Hmm…that sounds like you plan on keeping me around."
“You’re damn right.” And a month ago he’d have bitten his tongue off before he gave a woman a promise like that, or that kind of power over him. With Elena it felt right. He was going to be the only one to touch her, to love her and to hold onto her. Period.
She glanced around only to realize her clothes were all in the next room. Standing, she wandered out into the main part of the plane, shaking her head at the scattered bits of clothing that hadn’t made it past the flights beginning.
He watched her walk away. Her slim hips flaring out slightly into the heart shaped ass that drove him crazy. As she unconsciously slid into the scraps she called clothing, he couldn’t help but stare. He certainly did plan on keeping her around. Forever was starting to sound just about right.
She came back into the bedroom, his pants and hat hanging from her fingers, her smile coy. “Need these?”
He looked down at the fluttering top that just brushed the edges of her belly then to his pants draped over her arm. “You think I can put those on without strangling something?”
“You’ll just have to tuck,” she looked down at his growing problem with a grin, “carefully.” She laughed at his clenched jaw and turned around. "Tie me up, baby?"
Her back was smooth and a few freckles teased him into dropping a kiss along her shoulder then just above where the tie closed. At her answering shiver he grinned and stood back up. Satisfied that she was as tortured as he was, he pushed apart the skimpy ties with a low groan. "You don't get to say that when I'm putting clothes on you, woman." His fingers came around, tracing the water soft skin under the curve of each breast before he let the shirt drop back over their silky perfection.
She whimpered, another shiver had her stepping back against his wall of heat once more. The jets were motoring up as they began their descent. Instead of sitting, she widened her feet, bracing herself against his thighs and chest.
Knowing he was flirting with disaster, he skimmed his fingers up her thighs, dragging her skirt up and over the velvet smooth thighs until his fingers could slide up and along the warm center. A scrap of lace was his only barrier. Instead of removing it, he used it. Two long fingers slowly rubbed over the lace until it was damp.
Elena gripped her fingers into his ass, holding him tightly against her back. She could feel his hot, hard length at her back, pressing against the cleft of her cheeks, but still…all he did was touch. Again and again, he rubbed slow, methodical circles until she was mindless. She rolled her hips against his hand, “more,” she whispered.
“No,” he said nearly tonelessly into her ear. “Just feel me. Just for you. Slowly as we come back to earth again.”
Her brain shut off as his fingers stayed in that slow, recurring feed of pleasure. Her body was still so sensitive from the last few hours of loving and again, he had her on the edge again. “Inside me,” she whispered.
“No,” he said with willpower he wasn’t aware he had. He wanted this. Her pleasure filled the cabin as she pushed up against his hand. Part of him wanted to delve inside her heat. He knew he could ride her into pleasure as they landed, but this…feeling her fall apart in his arms was heady in its own right.
She pushed back on him, the sounds were incoherent as his touch glided her through the sweet orgasm as gravity pulled at her and she crashed back against him as they landed. He held onto her, his wide hand across her belly as they hit the tarmac and his name came out on a breathless pant.
Wrenching her underwear to the side he quickly pushed her against the plush arm of the couch. “I can’t wait,” he said and drove inside. He didn’t mean to. It was just supposed to be about her, but the force of the landing and her there in his arms…his willpower fled with g-force speed.
She screamed out his name now, lifting her foot to get a deeper penetration. “Yes!” He completed her, body and soul. Any time he touched her it was like the first time all over again. And as his body battered against the passion they created she went up and over again with him.
Richie flattened his palm against her back and felt her arch back against him stroke for stroke as he emptied himself. All of her, leaving nothing but the sounds of them in the cabin and the gleam of sweat that came from the furious coupling. He dropped his forehead to the skin between her shoulder blades. “God,” he sucked in a breath. “God, Elena.”
She curled into him as they collapsed on the couch long seat and they caught their breath. His arms wrapped around her, his laughter low in her ear. “What are you laughing about?” She said, turning to nip at his jaw. “That was not exactly funny. Mind blowing and brain melting maybe, but not,” she tried to stop the shudders, but it hiccupped through her again, “funny.”
Richie laughed again, his lips and tongue gathering the sweat at her neck where her silky hair stuck to her. “Now that’s a fucking landing,” he managed to spit out. God, she got under his skin. He’d had plenty of women in his life, but this one…she made it seem fun and new again. Not just a way to get off. Not just a moment in time. Important and fun and overwhelming.
She sat up and elbowed him. “Proud of yourself, Pony?”
He grinned, nipping at her hip just before she shimmied the skirt down. “Exceptionally.”
She couldn’t stop the laugh that time. “How about you tie my shirt this time? I promise I’ll let you untie it again in the car.”
“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” he grinned and quickly tied a double bow in the flimsy strings. No need for anyone else to see what was his. He nipped at her earlobe before he pulled away to hunt around the cabin for his own shirt. “Where the hell is my shirt?”
She crossed her legs as he quickly tugged on his jeans. Laughing, she watched him a moment before another short giggle escaped her. Spotting his shirt under the chair in front of her she snagged it. "Pony," she lifted the shirt, waving it, “this shirt?"
Tugging it from her fingers he quickly put it on. "Smart ass,” he smiled wide. “It’s a pretty ass,” he said as she stood, “but definitely a smart one.”
She smiled as he walked up to her and took her hand. "Well this is definitely one flight I won’t ever forget."
"First of many, darlin', first of many."
"I'm the only one who's going to have that honor from now on," he said flatly.
She peered at him through a tangle of hair. “Oh really?” She pushed herself into a seated position, flipping her hair away from her eyes. Her tummy fluttered at the possessive look in his eyes. Every feminist gene inside of her should have been on red alert, but the only thing she could do was grin at him. "Hmm…that sounds like you plan on keeping me around."
“You’re damn right.” And a month ago he’d have bitten his tongue off before he gave a woman a promise like that, or that kind of power over him. With Elena it felt right. He was going to be the only one to touch her, to love her and to hold onto her. Period.
She glanced around only to realize her clothes were all in the next room. Standing, she wandered out into the main part of the plane, shaking her head at the scattered bits of clothing that hadn’t made it past the flights beginning.
He watched her walk away. Her slim hips flaring out slightly into the heart shaped ass that drove him crazy. As she unconsciously slid into the scraps she called clothing, he couldn’t help but stare. He certainly did plan on keeping her around. Forever was starting to sound just about right.
She came back into the bedroom, his pants and hat hanging from her fingers, her smile coy. “Need these?”
He looked down at the fluttering top that just brushed the edges of her belly then to his pants draped over her arm. “You think I can put those on without strangling something?”
“You’ll just have to tuck,” she looked down at his growing problem with a grin, “carefully.” She laughed at his clenched jaw and turned around. "Tie me up, baby?"
Her back was smooth and a few freckles teased him into dropping a kiss along her shoulder then just above where the tie closed. At her answering shiver he grinned and stood back up. Satisfied that she was as tortured as he was, he pushed apart the skimpy ties with a low groan. "You don't get to say that when I'm putting clothes on you, woman." His fingers came around, tracing the water soft skin under the curve of each breast before he let the shirt drop back over their silky perfection.
She whimpered, another shiver had her stepping back against his wall of heat once more. The jets were motoring up as they began their descent. Instead of sitting, she widened her feet, bracing herself against his thighs and chest.
Knowing he was flirting with disaster, he skimmed his fingers up her thighs, dragging her skirt up and over the velvet smooth thighs until his fingers could slide up and along the warm center. A scrap of lace was his only barrier. Instead of removing it, he used it. Two long fingers slowly rubbed over the lace until it was damp.
Elena gripped her fingers into his ass, holding him tightly against her back. She could feel his hot, hard length at her back, pressing against the cleft of her cheeks, but still…all he did was touch. Again and again, he rubbed slow, methodical circles until she was mindless. She rolled her hips against his hand, “more,” she whispered.
“No,” he said nearly tonelessly into her ear. “Just feel me. Just for you. Slowly as we come back to earth again.”
Her brain shut off as his fingers stayed in that slow, recurring feed of pleasure. Her body was still so sensitive from the last few hours of loving and again, he had her on the edge again. “Inside me,” she whispered.
“No,” he said with willpower he wasn’t aware he had. He wanted this. Her pleasure filled the cabin as she pushed up against his hand. Part of him wanted to delve inside her heat. He knew he could ride her into pleasure as they landed, but this…feeling her fall apart in his arms was heady in its own right.
She pushed back on him, the sounds were incoherent as his touch glided her through the sweet orgasm as gravity pulled at her and she crashed back against him as they landed. He held onto her, his wide hand across her belly as they hit the tarmac and his name came out on a breathless pant.
Wrenching her underwear to the side he quickly pushed her against the plush arm of the couch. “I can’t wait,” he said and drove inside. He didn’t mean to. It was just supposed to be about her, but the force of the landing and her there in his arms…his willpower fled with g-force speed.
She screamed out his name now, lifting her foot to get a deeper penetration. “Yes!” He completed her, body and soul. Any time he touched her it was like the first time all over again. And as his body battered against the passion they created she went up and over again with him.
Richie flattened his palm against her back and felt her arch back against him stroke for stroke as he emptied himself. All of her, leaving nothing but the sounds of them in the cabin and the gleam of sweat that came from the furious coupling. He dropped his forehead to the skin between her shoulder blades. “God,” he sucked in a breath. “God, Elena.”
She curled into him as they collapsed on the couch long seat and they caught their breath. His arms wrapped around her, his laughter low in her ear. “What are you laughing about?” She said, turning to nip at his jaw. “That was not exactly funny. Mind blowing and brain melting maybe, but not,” she tried to stop the shudders, but it hiccupped through her again, “funny.”
Richie laughed again, his lips and tongue gathering the sweat at her neck where her silky hair stuck to her. “Now that’s a fucking landing,” he managed to spit out. God, she got under his skin. He’d had plenty of women in his life, but this one…she made it seem fun and new again. Not just a way to get off. Not just a moment in time. Important and fun and overwhelming.
She sat up and elbowed him. “Proud of yourself, Pony?”
He grinned, nipping at her hip just before she shimmied the skirt down. “Exceptionally.”
She couldn’t stop the laugh that time. “How about you tie my shirt this time? I promise I’ll let you untie it again in the car.”
“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” he grinned and quickly tied a double bow in the flimsy strings. No need for anyone else to see what was his. He nipped at her earlobe before he pulled away to hunt around the cabin for his own shirt. “Where the hell is my shirt?”
She crossed her legs as he quickly tugged on his jeans. Laughing, she watched him a moment before another short giggle escaped her. Spotting his shirt under the chair in front of her she snagged it. "Pony," she lifted the shirt, waving it, “this shirt?"
Tugging it from her fingers he quickly put it on. "Smart ass,” he smiled wide. “It’s a pretty ass,” he said as she stood, “but definitely a smart one.”
She smiled as he walked up to her and took her hand. "Well this is definitely one flight I won’t ever forget."
"First of many, darlin', first of many."
Friday, January 2, 2009
Chapter 59
Richie woke up with a warm body curled under him, facing out. Not just any body, her warm body—his girl. His Elena. He brushed his lips over her shoulder, letting the tip of his nose follow the line of her back and the shallow indent at the base of her spine. Making a return trip he let his tongue dip into each tiny vertebra until he felt her stir beneath him.
"Lains," he said softly, drawing out her name.
She shifted back against him in her sleep. His fingers trailed over her shoulder and down her arm as his lips explored her shoulder blade then moved to her neck. Pushing her hair aside he nibbled his way to her ear. "Elena," he whispered.
"Go way, Katydid,” her voice came out as a cross between a whisper and a vibrating growl, “dreams too good."
"If Kate nibbles on your ear, we've got some things to discuss," he said with a grin against her neck.
Her eyes fluttered open. The dim little room confused her at first. There was something humming loud enough that it seemed to vibrate the crowded mattress. She was nearly nose to nose with—she scrunched up her nose—a carpeted wall? The humming slowly turned into the low drone of the engine that dragged her back to the present. The wall of heat behind her finally pushed away the last of the cobwebs. "Ohhh not a dream,” she wiggled backward until her the back of her thighs found the lightly haired ones about a mile longer than her own. She curled her fingers around his forearm and secured it to her waist. “Pony, you really are here."
Laughing, he tugged her back against him. "Not a dream this time."
She turned her head to give him access to her neck. When he nuzzled in right away she moaned. "The dream can't compete with the reality, I have to admit." Her eyes closed again when he tasted her from shoulder to the soft skin behind her ear. She turned to face him, her nose nuzzling his before she wrapped her arms around his broad chest. "Sleep well?" she asked, brushing her lips over his.
"Best sleep I've ever had, love."
“Mmm...love.” She smiled letting the kiss linger. “I love how you say that."
"I do, you know," he watched her brown eyes go soft, letting the taste of her slide through him. "Couldn't even tell you when. It feels like it's always been there."
She snuggled closer, her mouth brushing against his neck. "I love you too. Since the moment I saw you, I think."
He grinned, dimple flashing. "Which part?"
The giggle that escaped was carefree. She couldn’t remember a time that she’d ever been happier. "You wouldn't believe me."
He rolled her onto her back and pinned her into the mattress. "No way you're moving until those details are spilled, Sweetheart."
"That’s not really a threat you know. I LIKE where I am."
As her grin grew wicked, he let his hand slid down over her belly into her side and tickled. "Oh yeah?"
She squirmed beneath him, her breath hitching. Arching to get away from his digging fingers she slapped at his chest, but it was like shoving a brick wall. Not that she had any room to push him anywhere anyway. The square footage in their little bedroom was more like the top of a bunk bed. "Okay, okay...I give!” He grinned down at her and the dimple just melted the rest of her. She flicked inside of it with the tip of her thumbnail, “It was actually the hat."
"The hat?" He laughed and leaned back, pinning just the heart of her into the mattress. "Really?"
"Mm-hmm, dunno what it is about it exactly, something about a tall dark drink of water in that Stetson with those silvery medallions.” She leaned up and nipped at his bottom lip. “Well, I couldn't help myself." She looped her arms around his neck. "It did me in."
"Well, I guess I'll just have to keep on wearing it then, won't I, Sweetheart?" he said, nestling himself between her thighs as he pressed kisses along her jaw.
Her yes turned into a soft moan as he moved over her, her nails lightly scraping over his spine. "I won't complain."
A quick buzz of the intercom made him growl.
"Mr. Sambora we'll be landing in less than ten minutes."
She giggled full out, "I think we gotta get dressed."
"Don't get used to it. You'll be naked for most of the trip."
A fine eyebrow arched, "Again I don’t see the threat." she grinned up at him. "You really gotta work on the threats, darlin’." She winked, the word no longer seeming to be anything more than an endearment.
Her very relaxed state and smile proved, more than anything, that the word no longer held bad thoughts. He blinked at her, surprise then stunned pleasure drifted through him. "I'm not usually a minute man, but I could make you scream in five minutes, darlin," he practically growled it in her ear.
Her lips roamed over his chest, her breath hot against his nipple just before her tongue darted out to flick over the peak. Richie groaned, his cock hardening instantly.
"Make me scream, Pony."
Shifting higher, he found her warm and open for him. Pressing deep he nearly lost it all as her body welcomed him. Tight, not nearly ready for him, he eased inside feeling all of her close around him like a fist. The involuntary shudder raced through her as she arched beneath him, her neck—God that beautiful neck—he sucked greedily from her, his teeth nipping along her shoulder as he buried his face into her sweet smelling skin.
A breathless cry escaped her as she wound her legs tightly around his waist. With trembling fingers, she gripped his ass, holding him deeper. Speaking wasn’t an option, the mindless pleasure overrode all as she moved against him urgently.
Riding the tide as she enveloped him in every way, he held her tight as the fury rose between them. Skin slapped, bodies arched and where he would normally draw out the pleasure, he pushed her harder, faster. Wanting to prolong the actual release, instead of the ride there he slid his hand between them and watched her brown eyes shoot open with a wild cry. She viced around him and he rode the release hard, emptying himself into her.
Trying to draw breath, she held onto him. It was like her body wasn’t her own. Hoping her smile spoke the words she couldn't form, she simply panted into his neck. With just a simple touch he knew how to play her.
"This vacation is goin’ to officially put me in a grave, darlin'." He lifted himself up. "Maybe I should make out a verbal will."
"If it kills you, I'll be there under you, going the same way."
Laughing he pushed off of her and dragged her down the bed. "As much as I'd like to keep you naked we need to get dressed or the captain is going to come back here and find me bare-assed."
"Lains," he said softly, drawing out her name.
She shifted back against him in her sleep. His fingers trailed over her shoulder and down her arm as his lips explored her shoulder blade then moved to her neck. Pushing her hair aside he nibbled his way to her ear. "Elena," he whispered.
"Go way, Katydid,” her voice came out as a cross between a whisper and a vibrating growl, “dreams too good."
"If Kate nibbles on your ear, we've got some things to discuss," he said with a grin against her neck.
Her eyes fluttered open. The dim little room confused her at first. There was something humming loud enough that it seemed to vibrate the crowded mattress. She was nearly nose to nose with—she scrunched up her nose—a carpeted wall? The humming slowly turned into the low drone of the engine that dragged her back to the present. The wall of heat behind her finally pushed away the last of the cobwebs. "Ohhh not a dream,” she wiggled backward until her the back of her thighs found the lightly haired ones about a mile longer than her own. She curled her fingers around his forearm and secured it to her waist. “Pony, you really are here."
Laughing, he tugged her back against him. "Not a dream this time."
She turned her head to give him access to her neck. When he nuzzled in right away she moaned. "The dream can't compete with the reality, I have to admit." Her eyes closed again when he tasted her from shoulder to the soft skin behind her ear. She turned to face him, her nose nuzzling his before she wrapped her arms around his broad chest. "Sleep well?" she asked, brushing her lips over his.
"Best sleep I've ever had, love."
“Mmm...love.” She smiled letting the kiss linger. “I love how you say that."
"I do, you know," he watched her brown eyes go soft, letting the taste of her slide through him. "Couldn't even tell you when. It feels like it's always been there."
She snuggled closer, her mouth brushing against his neck. "I love you too. Since the moment I saw you, I think."
He grinned, dimple flashing. "Which part?"
The giggle that escaped was carefree. She couldn’t remember a time that she’d ever been happier. "You wouldn't believe me."
He rolled her onto her back and pinned her into the mattress. "No way you're moving until those details are spilled, Sweetheart."
"That’s not really a threat you know. I LIKE where I am."
As her grin grew wicked, he let his hand slid down over her belly into her side and tickled. "Oh yeah?"
She squirmed beneath him, her breath hitching. Arching to get away from his digging fingers she slapped at his chest, but it was like shoving a brick wall. Not that she had any room to push him anywhere anyway. The square footage in their little bedroom was more like the top of a bunk bed. "Okay, okay...I give!” He grinned down at her and the dimple just melted the rest of her. She flicked inside of it with the tip of her thumbnail, “It was actually the hat."
"The hat?" He laughed and leaned back, pinning just the heart of her into the mattress. "Really?"
"Mm-hmm, dunno what it is about it exactly, something about a tall dark drink of water in that Stetson with those silvery medallions.” She leaned up and nipped at his bottom lip. “Well, I couldn't help myself." She looped her arms around his neck. "It did me in."
"Well, I guess I'll just have to keep on wearing it then, won't I, Sweetheart?" he said, nestling himself between her thighs as he pressed kisses along her jaw.
Her yes turned into a soft moan as he moved over her, her nails lightly scraping over his spine. "I won't complain."
A quick buzz of the intercom made him growl.
"Mr. Sambora we'll be landing in less than ten minutes."
She giggled full out, "I think we gotta get dressed."
"Don't get used to it. You'll be naked for most of the trip."
A fine eyebrow arched, "Again I don’t see the threat." she grinned up at him. "You really gotta work on the threats, darlin’." She winked, the word no longer seeming to be anything more than an endearment.
Her very relaxed state and smile proved, more than anything, that the word no longer held bad thoughts. He blinked at her, surprise then stunned pleasure drifted through him. "I'm not usually a minute man, but I could make you scream in five minutes, darlin," he practically growled it in her ear.
Her lips roamed over his chest, her breath hot against his nipple just before her tongue darted out to flick over the peak. Richie groaned, his cock hardening instantly.
"Make me scream, Pony."
Shifting higher, he found her warm and open for him. Pressing deep he nearly lost it all as her body welcomed him. Tight, not nearly ready for him, he eased inside feeling all of her close around him like a fist. The involuntary shudder raced through her as she arched beneath him, her neck—God that beautiful neck—he sucked greedily from her, his teeth nipping along her shoulder as he buried his face into her sweet smelling skin.
A breathless cry escaped her as she wound her legs tightly around his waist. With trembling fingers, she gripped his ass, holding him deeper. Speaking wasn’t an option, the mindless pleasure overrode all as she moved against him urgently.
Riding the tide as she enveloped him in every way, he held her tight as the fury rose between them. Skin slapped, bodies arched and where he would normally draw out the pleasure, he pushed her harder, faster. Wanting to prolong the actual release, instead of the ride there he slid his hand between them and watched her brown eyes shoot open with a wild cry. She viced around him and he rode the release hard, emptying himself into her.
Trying to draw breath, she held onto him. It was like her body wasn’t her own. Hoping her smile spoke the words she couldn't form, she simply panted into his neck. With just a simple touch he knew how to play her.
"This vacation is goin’ to officially put me in a grave, darlin'." He lifted himself up. "Maybe I should make out a verbal will."
"If it kills you, I'll be there under you, going the same way."
Laughing he pushed off of her and dragged her down the bed. "As much as I'd like to keep you naked we need to get dressed or the captain is going to come back here and find me bare-assed."
Chapter 58
The kiss was brief, but there was no mistake. He’d intended to taste her. He opened his eyes, meeting hers without remorse. "Good, because I like doing things for you, Katy."
Her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned in again. She called herself a thousand different kinds of a fool, but couldn’t stop herself. She didn’t remember the last time they’d kissed, so it was like the first time all over again. And with school and her internship, It had been so long since a man had actually kissed her that she couldn't stop herself from tasting again. His lips were cool and soft. They were created for kissing, with the wide lower lip that seemed to know just how to sip from her without deepening the kiss. Not even a trace of tongue, but enough heat to power the damn college.
He dumped her onto his lap, but instead of breaking the moment she slid her hand up the threadbare t-shirt, until his hair curled around her fingers. It snaked over her arm, warm and soft as it coiled around her arm, drawing her in closer.
Somehow he knew better than to push. He wanted to press her, find that heat he remembered from that night, but he kept the kiss tender and sweet. He inhaled that pure Katy scent until it soaked into his brain. Letting her call the shots took every ounce of control he had.
She’d finally forgiven him for his cocky behavior at the amusement park and as hard as it was to not make a move, he knew he had to see what she felt comfortable with. She pressed closer, her chest squishing into his until the two points of her nipples drove him to the edge. He wanted them in his mouth, wanted to taste her. To remind his brain what his body so readily remembered. He wasn’t sure he’d ever wanted a woman like this.
Her fingers twisted into his hair and she touched the tip of her tongue along the seam of his lips, groaning when he slowly opened for her. But when he met her tongue with his, she lost all train of thought. His taste was far more tempting than even the hometown feast he’d offered her. As he sipped from her, deepening the kiss, she dug her fingers into his shoulders. It was wrong to want him like she did, but wrong seemed to fly off like her panties when it came to him.
He knew the kiss was starting to move into the no looking back category, but he couldn’t stop himself from gripping her waist. The lick of skin at his wrist, drove him higher. He tried to pull it back, tried to reconnect with that gentle connection they’d started with, but her mouth was hot and hard against his now. His fingers found the hot silk of her back, as their mouths and tongues tangled.
She wanted to go deeper. She wanted to drag that amazing mouth onto her skin the heaviness in her breasts stopped, until he tasted every inch of her. Wanting that so very badly jerked her out of the moment. She stumbled away from him, her hand slapped over the zinging skin of her lips and chin. "I'm sorry,” she said roughly. Her voice didn’t sound like her own. She heaved in a breath, never so happy to find barbeque in her nostrils instead of him. "I shouldn't have done that."
He stood, pulling her back against him. "Never apologize for that.” She stiffened in his arms, but he didn’t let her go. “You needed—hell I needed to feel that kiss. I’ve done little else but think of that mouth of yours.”
She closed her eyes. God, she was the worst sort of tease. She turned in his arms, stepping back. “I’ve just been alone for so long,” she looked down at the faded lettering of the Asbury Jukes on his shirt. “It’s not an excuse, but—“
“If you apologize, I’m going to have to choke a doctor. I don’t think that’s a good idea do you?"
She stiffened against him, her body burning hotter when she felt the ridge in his jeans. "I'm not going to say I didn't want it," she whispered. "You're a good looking guy and you do the most ridiculously sweet things, even if they are way over the top." She pulled away from his erection, hoping to dampen the temptation. He was everything she wanted and everything she couldn’t have again. She’d been there. She’d loved as hard and completely as a woman could, but she couldn’t. Not again. Not with someone like him. He was so much like—She shut down, pushing memories away that should never come back to the surface.
God knew she would need a cold shower to kill that temptation. "You're a distraction I can't have right now." She pressed a finger over his lips when he tried to say something. "If I could, it would be you."
He took a nibble of her finger, his eyes gentle. "It’s not the best time, I get that, your internship and all of that, but you’re not going get rid of me Katherine Morrison.” At the stubborn tilt of her chin, he only laughed. “I'll take what I can get, even if it’s only friendship, or laughs, or whatever free moment I can monopolize. You can give me that much, right?"
He watched her quietly, his sincerity shining in his eyes. "I can wait Katy, I have all the time in the world to wait for you."
She stood quickly. "Don't put that on me." Panic struck hard, strangling her. "I-" She wasn't a girl that guys waited for. She was the one that old men leered at and young men ogled but never really wanted. She was just shy of full figured with the South bred deep into her bones with hips to match.
She wasn’t rock star material in any way. She’d seen that life and what it could do to a person…a family. She’d known—She swallowed down the panic. Stop freaking out, Kate.
Not to mention that she was a doctor! That was hard enough without having an equally screwed up career in her lover or—she refused to think about what else they could be.
He stood, dragging her back until he could wrap her in his arms. He could feel the tension inside of her like a living thing. "I'm not putting it on you Kate, I'm putting it on me. Whether you like it or not I'm going wait on you. That's my promise, baby. And I ALWAYS keep my promises."
"But you can't," she said against his shoulder. "You're young and friggin' hot as the Georgia clay in August. You can't wait for me. I'm not-" cursing she slipped away from him.
Her blood hummed in as much awareness as shock. She's known he was interested in her, but figured it was just a passing thing. He'd had her…sort of. If you could count a drunken mistake as having her, so the thrill of the chase should have been satisfied. That’s what men liked. Especially men like him. He'd lose interest when touring started, at least there was that.
He followed her, needing to touch her again. "I'm just a guy Kate and yes I can, and yes I WILL wait.” He gripped her arms, shaking her a little when she shook her head. “I was as bad as Richie—I kept looking for red hair and green eyes, hell, Katy, even your scrubs. No one was going to compare because she was here. You were here. Nothing could get you out of my head.”
She shook her head. No. No way. He couldn’t get caught up with an infatuation with her. That’s all it could be. The man had legions of women fighting to get a lock of his hair for God’s sake. She was just a southern transplant in the northeast. She was an intern that didn’t know what sleep was, let alone a style that didn’t include scrubs.
He ignored the panic that was fairly shooting out of her eyes. "I finally had to start calling you just to stay sane, Katy. Your voice kept me sane, and I won’t deny that. Not to you. You’re worth a thousand girls, no matter what you think." He sighed, dragging her stiff, shocked little self into his arms, dropping a soft kiss to her forehead. "You’re worth the wait, Katy."
"It's just fascination," she said against his shoulder. "You'll see," she said with a little more certainty. "A guy like you isn’t cut out for a girl like me. We come from two different worlds. When you're away from me you’ll see that."
He sighed. Nothing he said tonight would get through to her stubborn way of thinking. She’d learn he was just as obstinate when it came to something he wanted. "Give me a bit of credit. Tell you what?” When she finally started to ease against him he stroked the unruly knot of curls that fell from her clip. “You just give me a chance ok? You'll see, in time, how serious I am. If friends is all I can have right now, I’ll take that. Maybe one day you’ll see that I’m not going anywhere. Gimme that chance, hmm?"
"What do you want with a crazy doctor that's moody one minute and a spaz the next? Are you a glutton for punishment or something?" She forced a laugh.
He laughed softly. "Something like that."
With a snort she pushed away from him. She couldn’t touch him anymore or she’d do something stupid. "You're nuts." She started gathering the cartons and food from the table, needing to do something with her hands.
Helping her, he was careful to give her some space. She was a second away from bolting. "Yep, I'm certifiable. I just had my doctor tell me so."
Laughing she shook her head, "Well certifiable is a bit of a stretch, but you could be in a day program after knowing me for a few months."
"Now that’s a risk I’ll be glad to take."
Taking an armful to the kitchen she tried to ignore the heat in his eyes. God, why was he wasting all of that on her? And how on earth was she supposed to withstand that kind of all consuming heat? "Guess we should start playing poker so I can take all that money you're making on the screaming girls."
He chuckled softly, "I'm good at poker, baby. You sure you’re up for it?"
She tucked a curl behind her ear. "You already showed your hand, Sugar. How good could you be?"
A gentle laugh echoed in the room, "Good enough to know exactly what I want, and patient enough to wait for it."
"Stubborn is more like it," she muttered as she turned on the tap to wash the dishes they'd used.
He moved beside her to rinse and dry. "You have no idea." He quieted and simply helped, giving her time to let it all soak in and settle as he enjoyed the simplicity of just being around her.
Good breeding stopped her from kicking him out after they cleaned up. Not to mention it was ridiculously late to send him on his way. "Do you, um...want to stay tonight. I hate to send you out this late. It's a drive back to your place. You can stay in my room."
A bright grin lit his face. Well that was too easy. "I’m all about that."
"I'll stay in Elena's room," she said, taking the last plate from him with a half grin.
A brow arched, "I can behave.” He turned to her. “Let me at least hold you. I'll be a good boy." He watched her sharp, intelligent eyes assess him. He honestly just needed to touch her, even if he couldn’t have more than that. He wanted her in his arms. Had it been any other girl he would have never even agreed to such a thing, but it was Kate. It would be enough. It had to be. "Honest."
"Jon..." she closed her eyes. "Do I look like one of those stupid females that's going to fall for, 'we'll just cuddle?'" His voice went soft, as honesty and sincerity burned in his gaze. She could feel herself wavering.
"I just want to hold you."
Feeling small and perturbed she snapped the last plate inside the cabinet and turned to him. "Those pretty eyes probably get you almost anything you want, but I'm not falling for it."
He winced, wondering who’d hurt her so very deeply. "It's ok Katy. I understand. But I won’t force you out of your bed. I can bunk down on the couch." He offered a gentle smile as he leaned against the sink. "You'll learn to trust me one day."
"You're not sleeping on that couch. Not after what Richie and Elena did on every square inch of it." The aches and the tired crankies were starting to snap at her. "Fine, if you can manage to keep yourself in check, you can sleep with me. I'm too tired to have sex anyway," she said with resignation.
He shook his head. She needed someone to take care of, whether she wanted to admit it or not. "Come on baby, lets tuck you in."
She walked ahead of him and quickly twisted her hair into a braided tail so she wouldn't wake to a massive nest of tangles. She crawled into the center of the bed and started to shift to one side.
He shrugged out of his jacket and laid it carefully over the chair in the room then toed off his boots and moved to the bed. Sliding into the free slot he laid down and turned to face her as he pulled the covers up. "Good night Katy."
"Goodnight Jon," she muttered and snapped off the light, only to stare at the ceiling.
"Dream sweet, Katy." He tucked his arms under his head and closed his eyes, intent on being good, no matter how his body screamed to turn and take her in his arms.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned in again. She called herself a thousand different kinds of a fool, but couldn’t stop herself. She didn’t remember the last time they’d kissed, so it was like the first time all over again. And with school and her internship, It had been so long since a man had actually kissed her that she couldn't stop herself from tasting again. His lips were cool and soft. They were created for kissing, with the wide lower lip that seemed to know just how to sip from her without deepening the kiss. Not even a trace of tongue, but enough heat to power the damn college.
He dumped her onto his lap, but instead of breaking the moment she slid her hand up the threadbare t-shirt, until his hair curled around her fingers. It snaked over her arm, warm and soft as it coiled around her arm, drawing her in closer.
Somehow he knew better than to push. He wanted to press her, find that heat he remembered from that night, but he kept the kiss tender and sweet. He inhaled that pure Katy scent until it soaked into his brain. Letting her call the shots took every ounce of control he had.
She’d finally forgiven him for his cocky behavior at the amusement park and as hard as it was to not make a move, he knew he had to see what she felt comfortable with. She pressed closer, her chest squishing into his until the two points of her nipples drove him to the edge. He wanted them in his mouth, wanted to taste her. To remind his brain what his body so readily remembered. He wasn’t sure he’d ever wanted a woman like this.
Her fingers twisted into his hair and she touched the tip of her tongue along the seam of his lips, groaning when he slowly opened for her. But when he met her tongue with his, she lost all train of thought. His taste was far more tempting than even the hometown feast he’d offered her. As he sipped from her, deepening the kiss, she dug her fingers into his shoulders. It was wrong to want him like she did, but wrong seemed to fly off like her panties when it came to him.
He knew the kiss was starting to move into the no looking back category, but he couldn’t stop himself from gripping her waist. The lick of skin at his wrist, drove him higher. He tried to pull it back, tried to reconnect with that gentle connection they’d started with, but her mouth was hot and hard against his now. His fingers found the hot silk of her back, as their mouths and tongues tangled.
She wanted to go deeper. She wanted to drag that amazing mouth onto her skin the heaviness in her breasts stopped, until he tasted every inch of her. Wanting that so very badly jerked her out of the moment. She stumbled away from him, her hand slapped over the zinging skin of her lips and chin. "I'm sorry,” she said roughly. Her voice didn’t sound like her own. She heaved in a breath, never so happy to find barbeque in her nostrils instead of him. "I shouldn't have done that."
He stood, pulling her back against him. "Never apologize for that.” She stiffened in his arms, but he didn’t let her go. “You needed—hell I needed to feel that kiss. I’ve done little else but think of that mouth of yours.”
She closed her eyes. God, she was the worst sort of tease. She turned in his arms, stepping back. “I’ve just been alone for so long,” she looked down at the faded lettering of the Asbury Jukes on his shirt. “It’s not an excuse, but—“
“If you apologize, I’m going to have to choke a doctor. I don’t think that’s a good idea do you?"
She stiffened against him, her body burning hotter when she felt the ridge in his jeans. "I'm not going to say I didn't want it," she whispered. "You're a good looking guy and you do the most ridiculously sweet things, even if they are way over the top." She pulled away from his erection, hoping to dampen the temptation. He was everything she wanted and everything she couldn’t have again. She’d been there. She’d loved as hard and completely as a woman could, but she couldn’t. Not again. Not with someone like him. He was so much like—She shut down, pushing memories away that should never come back to the surface.
God knew she would need a cold shower to kill that temptation. "You're a distraction I can't have right now." She pressed a finger over his lips when he tried to say something. "If I could, it would be you."
He took a nibble of her finger, his eyes gentle. "It’s not the best time, I get that, your internship and all of that, but you’re not going get rid of me Katherine Morrison.” At the stubborn tilt of her chin, he only laughed. “I'll take what I can get, even if it’s only friendship, or laughs, or whatever free moment I can monopolize. You can give me that much, right?"
He watched her quietly, his sincerity shining in his eyes. "I can wait Katy, I have all the time in the world to wait for you."
She stood quickly. "Don't put that on me." Panic struck hard, strangling her. "I-" She wasn't a girl that guys waited for. She was the one that old men leered at and young men ogled but never really wanted. She was just shy of full figured with the South bred deep into her bones with hips to match.
She wasn’t rock star material in any way. She’d seen that life and what it could do to a person…a family. She’d known—She swallowed down the panic. Stop freaking out, Kate.
Not to mention that she was a doctor! That was hard enough without having an equally screwed up career in her lover or—she refused to think about what else they could be.
He stood, dragging her back until he could wrap her in his arms. He could feel the tension inside of her like a living thing. "I'm not putting it on you Kate, I'm putting it on me. Whether you like it or not I'm going wait on you. That's my promise, baby. And I ALWAYS keep my promises."
"But you can't," she said against his shoulder. "You're young and friggin' hot as the Georgia clay in August. You can't wait for me. I'm not-" cursing she slipped away from him.
Her blood hummed in as much awareness as shock. She's known he was interested in her, but figured it was just a passing thing. He'd had her…sort of. If you could count a drunken mistake as having her, so the thrill of the chase should have been satisfied. That’s what men liked. Especially men like him. He'd lose interest when touring started, at least there was that.
He followed her, needing to touch her again. "I'm just a guy Kate and yes I can, and yes I WILL wait.” He gripped her arms, shaking her a little when she shook her head. “I was as bad as Richie—I kept looking for red hair and green eyes, hell, Katy, even your scrubs. No one was going to compare because she was here. You were here. Nothing could get you out of my head.”
She shook her head. No. No way. He couldn’t get caught up with an infatuation with her. That’s all it could be. The man had legions of women fighting to get a lock of his hair for God’s sake. She was just a southern transplant in the northeast. She was an intern that didn’t know what sleep was, let alone a style that didn’t include scrubs.
He ignored the panic that was fairly shooting out of her eyes. "I finally had to start calling you just to stay sane, Katy. Your voice kept me sane, and I won’t deny that. Not to you. You’re worth a thousand girls, no matter what you think." He sighed, dragging her stiff, shocked little self into his arms, dropping a soft kiss to her forehead. "You’re worth the wait, Katy."
"It's just fascination," she said against his shoulder. "You'll see," she said with a little more certainty. "A guy like you isn’t cut out for a girl like me. We come from two different worlds. When you're away from me you’ll see that."
He sighed. Nothing he said tonight would get through to her stubborn way of thinking. She’d learn he was just as obstinate when it came to something he wanted. "Give me a bit of credit. Tell you what?” When she finally started to ease against him he stroked the unruly knot of curls that fell from her clip. “You just give me a chance ok? You'll see, in time, how serious I am. If friends is all I can have right now, I’ll take that. Maybe one day you’ll see that I’m not going anywhere. Gimme that chance, hmm?"
"What do you want with a crazy doctor that's moody one minute and a spaz the next? Are you a glutton for punishment or something?" She forced a laugh.
He laughed softly. "Something like that."
With a snort she pushed away from him. She couldn’t touch him anymore or she’d do something stupid. "You're nuts." She started gathering the cartons and food from the table, needing to do something with her hands.
Helping her, he was careful to give her some space. She was a second away from bolting. "Yep, I'm certifiable. I just had my doctor tell me so."
Laughing she shook her head, "Well certifiable is a bit of a stretch, but you could be in a day program after knowing me for a few months."
"Now that’s a risk I’ll be glad to take."
Taking an armful to the kitchen she tried to ignore the heat in his eyes. God, why was he wasting all of that on her? And how on earth was she supposed to withstand that kind of all consuming heat? "Guess we should start playing poker so I can take all that money you're making on the screaming girls."
He chuckled softly, "I'm good at poker, baby. You sure you’re up for it?"
She tucked a curl behind her ear. "You already showed your hand, Sugar. How good could you be?"
A gentle laugh echoed in the room, "Good enough to know exactly what I want, and patient enough to wait for it."
"Stubborn is more like it," she muttered as she turned on the tap to wash the dishes they'd used.
He moved beside her to rinse and dry. "You have no idea." He quieted and simply helped, giving her time to let it all soak in and settle as he enjoyed the simplicity of just being around her.
Good breeding stopped her from kicking him out after they cleaned up. Not to mention it was ridiculously late to send him on his way. "Do you, um...want to stay tonight. I hate to send you out this late. It's a drive back to your place. You can stay in my room."
A bright grin lit his face. Well that was too easy. "I’m all about that."
"I'll stay in Elena's room," she said, taking the last plate from him with a half grin.
A brow arched, "I can behave.” He turned to her. “Let me at least hold you. I'll be a good boy." He watched her sharp, intelligent eyes assess him. He honestly just needed to touch her, even if he couldn’t have more than that. He wanted her in his arms. Had it been any other girl he would have never even agreed to such a thing, but it was Kate. It would be enough. It had to be. "Honest."
"Jon..." she closed her eyes. "Do I look like one of those stupid females that's going to fall for, 'we'll just cuddle?'" His voice went soft, as honesty and sincerity burned in his gaze. She could feel herself wavering.
"I just want to hold you."
Feeling small and perturbed she snapped the last plate inside the cabinet and turned to him. "Those pretty eyes probably get you almost anything you want, but I'm not falling for it."
He winced, wondering who’d hurt her so very deeply. "It's ok Katy. I understand. But I won’t force you out of your bed. I can bunk down on the couch." He offered a gentle smile as he leaned against the sink. "You'll learn to trust me one day."
"You're not sleeping on that couch. Not after what Richie and Elena did on every square inch of it." The aches and the tired crankies were starting to snap at her. "Fine, if you can manage to keep yourself in check, you can sleep with me. I'm too tired to have sex anyway," she said with resignation.
He shook his head. She needed someone to take care of, whether she wanted to admit it or not. "Come on baby, lets tuck you in."
She walked ahead of him and quickly twisted her hair into a braided tail so she wouldn't wake to a massive nest of tangles. She crawled into the center of the bed and started to shift to one side.
He shrugged out of his jacket and laid it carefully over the chair in the room then toed off his boots and moved to the bed. Sliding into the free slot he laid down and turned to face her as he pulled the covers up. "Good night Katy."
"Goodnight Jon," she muttered and snapped off the light, only to stare at the ceiling.
"Dream sweet, Katy." He tucked his arms under his head and closed his eyes, intent on being good, no matter how his body screamed to turn and take her in his arms.
Chapter 57
Jon pulled up to the small dorm apartment, his gut grumbling from the smells overwhelming his small car. Kate was going to be so surprised. Of course he risked being de-balled by his unplanned appearance, but hell—anything worth having, was worth a risk. The more time he spent around Kate, the more he was coming to realize she was definitely worth any risk.
Cutting the engine, he slid from the car and quickly moved to the back door. Barbeque sauce and seasoning unlike anything he’d ever experienced rolled out of the carefully packed boxes by the people of Old Hickory. While stacking the boxes, he chuckled. She just might invite him inside with this sort of bribery. With a bounce to his step he took her stairs two at a time and used his boot instead of knuckles, praying she was home from her shift.
Kate pushed her wet hair out of her face and dragged on her Snoopy boxers. Elena must’ve forgotten her keys again. "You silly, twit. Good thing I hadn't hit the sheets…" her words trailed off as Jon filled her doorway. Hair, curlier than the last time she’d seen him, flowed over his shoulders and around his face. Even just a few weeks had sculpted some of the baby fat off of him, leaving him raw boned and striking. Tired blue eyes sparkled under heavy bangs and even heavier bags under them.
Stepping back to beckon him in, her stomach suddenly pitched, rolled and growled as the definition of barbecue assaulted her nose. "Oh God," she grabbed the box and left him at the door.
He laughed, kicking the door shut. "I guess this means I can come in?"
"Holy crap!" She said and flipped open the box and ripped into the foil. The rich scent of God's elixir nearly knocked her over. "Oh my God," she whispered before turning back to him. Telling herself a portion of the saliva flooding her mouth had nothing to do with the worn jeans that clung to his lean hips, she turned back to the box.
"Go ahead, dig in Katy.” His voice went low and wry. “Even if you did call me a twit." Jon grinned and opened the other box, full of all the fixings that went along with fried chicken.
She leaned over his shoulder. She wasn’t sure what smelled better, him or the food from that angle. "Is that Mac salad, AND potato salad?"
The flush to her cheeks let him know all he needed to. He’d hit the mother load of all temptations when it came to this woman. "Well you never said exactly what all you liked from the Old—“ he cut off as she launched herself at him. The warm, soft bundle of woman made the trip instantly worth it.
She kissed the first thing she came into contact with, her lips buzzing from the stubble on his chin. "You beautiful, wonderful," she punctuated each word with a kiss to his chin, his cheek, "amazing man," she said finally and hit his other cheek. "I can't believe you did all this!"
Smiling down at her, he decided then and there that if food was the way to her heart, he'd keep her supplied in her favorites forever. "I told you Katy, you deserve pampering.” He dropped his hands, until he could circle her hips, holding her close. “I just happened to be in Atlanta, so thought I’d rustle,” he waggled his eyebrows, “you up some grub."
Her hand slid down from his shoulders to his chest, the thin with washing cotton t-shirt heated under her touch. She stepped back, staring at his mouth as he reluctantly let her go. She cleared her throat. "I thought you were Elena at the door," she said and turned back to the haunting smells of her hometown.
He shook his head with a chuckle. "That’d be a trick, considering what went down at the airport."
She turned back to him, licking a bit of sauce off her thumb. "Considering what?"
His jeans tightened as her pink tongue flicked over her skin. Biting back a groan, he forced his eyes back up to hers. "She didn’t tell you?"
"Tell me what?" She licked the side of her hand as the shiny butter wash dripped down the rolls inside the next square of foil. She dashed into the kitchen to get some paper towels and plates.
From finger licking to the sweet curve of her ass in the ridiculous Snoopy shorts, he tried not to bust his zipper with the hard on he was sporting. He couldn’t even tug his shirt down to hide it for God’s sake. She reached high for a plate and the flash of skin along her back came out as a sigh. Freckles there too. Christ. "She’s probably damn near in the Caribbean by now."
She nearly dropped the plates. "What?" She braced them against her chest, realizing then that she totally didn't have a bra on. Shit. She dumped the Corell plates on the table and tucked silverware into salads, mac and cheese containers and used a butter knife to break off a bit of baby back ribs.
He took in her nervous movements, his eyes tracing over her long neck, visible with the uneven knot at the top of her head. "Richie invited her to spend a couple weeks on St. Maarten.” He moved closer, even the scent of the barbeque set up along every surface couldn’t stop the cinnamon scent of her from filling his head. “She didn't tell you huh?" The urge to pull her into his arms was nearly overwhelming. He’d had plenty of opportunity to banish her from his thoughts with women a hellluva lot more emotionally and physically available, but none of them intrigued him like Kate did.
"No, she sort of left that part out when she left for the airport.” Slamming the baked beans on the edge of the table, she growled. “Hell, she even left a note since I wasn't at home yet."
Jon pushed the tray further back onto the little rickety table and hissed as the foil pan was still red hot. Turning her to face him, he smoothed his thumbs over her naked shoulders. “Katy,” he hedged.
She squirmed away. God, she did not need him touching her right now. "You'd think when she signed the note she could've mentioned, hey! I won't be home for two weeks, don't worry,” she flicked open another container needing something to do. “Oh yeah and I'm not dead."
He folded his arms, figuring it was the only way he’d keep his mitts off of her at this point. It felt like years since he’d seen her, instead of only ten days. "I’m sorry she forgot to tell you, Katy.” At her near glare, he swallowed the laugh he’d almost let free. “If it makes you feel any better Richie was nearly bouncing the plane apart before we landed. If she was anywhere near as excited, well I’m amazed she made it to the airport in one piece."
Kate snorted. "Yeah well, let's just hope she doesn't do something crazy over there."
"So tell me," he continued, "how was your day at work?" He changed the subject swiftly, not wanting her upset over her friend’s one track mind.
"No one died tonight, so it was a good night." She shook her head. "Damn I wish I could just up and take a vacation." She shrugged and snagged a bit of breast skin and popped it in her mouth.
Remembering—well, as much as he could remember—his last trip, the heart of the Caribbean was designed for excess and bad behavior on the all around. They couldn’t get into too much trouble between the both of…hell, he couldn’t even lie to himself. It was a feeding ground for hedonistic behavior. He just hoped his guitarist came back. Sounded like a plan to him. He so didn’t want to go back to the tour. "Hey, if you want to vacation, I'm sure it could be arranged."
"Yeah, and lose ground against the other interns that would as soon step on my dead body as stab me in the back with a smile? Suuuuuure." She motioned to the food. "Seriously you need to take some or I'm going to be three hundred pounds by tomorrow."
He took at look at the southern food with an arched brow and chose a rib. Bringing it to his lips he took a bite and began to chew, not even caring if the sauce got all over his lips. "Hmm, this IS good." He wasn’t sure the food could actually live up to the smells.
She nudged a chair out and dropped into the one next to him. "Sugar, this is a box of heaven right here." She laughed and leaned over to wipe a bit of sauce from his chin. "Can't waste it," she said.
He bit back a groan, snagging her hand to make sure he didn’t waste any part of it. He was only following her directions after all. He watched her green eyes go dark as he sucked her thumb into his mouth. She flicked her own tongue along her lips. He had to hold himself back from leaning in for a better taste. "Even tastier," he grinned.
She swallowed, trying desperately not to choke on the once succulent chicken, that now tasted like cardboard. Good God, don't go there, Kate. She wiped her thumb on her towel. Hard.
Not wanting to overplay his hand, he sat back with a roll, tearing it apart. "You should have seen it today, Katy. I swear it was the funniest thing.” He popped in a flaky piece of bread and groaned softly. Soul food indeed. “Never thought I’d see anyone get the best of Joker."
She could still feel the tingle from the swipe of his tongue. She reached for a rib this time, trying to concentrate on his words. "Joker?"
Even with sauce coating her lips and fingers she was unbelievable beautiful. Impossibly young, too. For the first time since he met her, she actually seemed like the student she was. Her face was scrubbed clean—well, save for a little sweet sauce—and the sleep clothes of a teen that hadn’t intended on entertaining. But instead of dashing to her room to change, she didn’t care what she looked like around him. It was refreshing to see the real side of someone for once. They were always looking for some way to turn him around to suit a need, whether it was sex or status, most of the women he ran into these days always had an ulterior motive.
He cleared his throat as he realized he was taking too long to answer. "Um, yeah, Joker.” At her puzzled look he laughed, relaxing even more. “That’s David, our keyboardist, and resident prankster.” He picked at a drumstick from the fried chicken box. “Teensy took some offense to how he was treating Richie.” He laughed, remembering the little hundred pounds of nothing. “She had him twisted like a pretzel, warning him off Richie. I swear David nearly had a stroke that someone had managed to one up him so quickly." He grinned as she left a smear of barbeque sauce at the corner of her lips. He picked up a napkin and gently dabbed the corner of her mouth.
She scraped her teeth over her lip and flicked her tongue out, pulling back. "God, I'm a mess." she pushed a whispy lock of hair back away from her face. "Such a lady, huh?" she laughed. When he didn’t say anything, except grin wider she knew her face was flaming red with a blush. "Well, Elena certainly has a way of letting some of that protective she-lion out when she thinks someone she lo-" she blinked. Well, it was how she acted with someone she loved. Huh. Well damn, her little girl was finally growing up. "Um, someone she cares about is under attack at all. Even if it's only a joke." She stood up, and went to the sink, washing away most of the stickiness.
His brow arched as he watched her stumble over words. "So you think she lo—cares for Richie, huh?"
"Damn, caught that huh?" She sat back down and hoped desperately that her nipples weren't as hard as they felt under the Red Barron Snoopy tanktop she was wearing.
He waggled his brows gently, "Told you, Babe, I’m about more than just hair." At her sneer he laughed. "Tell me something I don't know about Katherine Morrison."
She let herself take a good look at him. His hair was much flatter than usual, even if the curls were still out of control. In fact, they looked soft and welcoming for once instead of like they were going to eat the room alive. "Katherine Morrison used to play saxophone," she blurted out. Well hell, where’d that come from?
His eyes widened. "Used to?"
Deciding that maybe music was some even ground they could talk about and not spark up to sex, she relaxed. "Well, on lonely sad nights I still pull it out, but yeah used to." She took the carton of mac salad and sat back on her chair, picking at the noodles with a fork.
He tilted his head, wondering how anyone with music in them could only pull it out occasionally. "You'll have to play something for me soon."
She nearly choked on a noodle. "Oh no way," she laughed. "I'm not playing in front of a professional." She forked another bit up then pushed the carton onto the table. "Lord, I'm going to hurl if I eat anymore." She eyed the table. "It's all so good." She laced her fingers over her belly. "You totally made my month with this."
"Expect a delivery once a week. It’s already set up."
"Oh honey, you have to change that to once every other month. I'll be a house." She stood, with a bit of work and leaned over to kiss his cheek again. "I'm not crazy enough to say no, even though I should."
He turned his head at the last second, capturing her lips with his.
Cutting the engine, he slid from the car and quickly moved to the back door. Barbeque sauce and seasoning unlike anything he’d ever experienced rolled out of the carefully packed boxes by the people of Old Hickory. While stacking the boxes, he chuckled. She just might invite him inside with this sort of bribery. With a bounce to his step he took her stairs two at a time and used his boot instead of knuckles, praying she was home from her shift.
Kate pushed her wet hair out of her face and dragged on her Snoopy boxers. Elena must’ve forgotten her keys again. "You silly, twit. Good thing I hadn't hit the sheets…" her words trailed off as Jon filled her doorway. Hair, curlier than the last time she’d seen him, flowed over his shoulders and around his face. Even just a few weeks had sculpted some of the baby fat off of him, leaving him raw boned and striking. Tired blue eyes sparkled under heavy bangs and even heavier bags under them.
Stepping back to beckon him in, her stomach suddenly pitched, rolled and growled as the definition of barbecue assaulted her nose. "Oh God," she grabbed the box and left him at the door.
He laughed, kicking the door shut. "I guess this means I can come in?"
"Holy crap!" She said and flipped open the box and ripped into the foil. The rich scent of God's elixir nearly knocked her over. "Oh my God," she whispered before turning back to him. Telling herself a portion of the saliva flooding her mouth had nothing to do with the worn jeans that clung to his lean hips, she turned back to the box.
"Go ahead, dig in Katy.” His voice went low and wry. “Even if you did call me a twit." Jon grinned and opened the other box, full of all the fixings that went along with fried chicken.
She leaned over his shoulder. She wasn’t sure what smelled better, him or the food from that angle. "Is that Mac salad, AND potato salad?"
The flush to her cheeks let him know all he needed to. He’d hit the mother load of all temptations when it came to this woman. "Well you never said exactly what all you liked from the Old—“ he cut off as she launched herself at him. The warm, soft bundle of woman made the trip instantly worth it.
She kissed the first thing she came into contact with, her lips buzzing from the stubble on his chin. "You beautiful, wonderful," she punctuated each word with a kiss to his chin, his cheek, "amazing man," she said finally and hit his other cheek. "I can't believe you did all this!"
Smiling down at her, he decided then and there that if food was the way to her heart, he'd keep her supplied in her favorites forever. "I told you Katy, you deserve pampering.” He dropped his hands, until he could circle her hips, holding her close. “I just happened to be in Atlanta, so thought I’d rustle,” he waggled his eyebrows, “you up some grub."
Her hand slid down from his shoulders to his chest, the thin with washing cotton t-shirt heated under her touch. She stepped back, staring at his mouth as he reluctantly let her go. She cleared her throat. "I thought you were Elena at the door," she said and turned back to the haunting smells of her hometown.
He shook his head with a chuckle. "That’d be a trick, considering what went down at the airport."
She turned back to him, licking a bit of sauce off her thumb. "Considering what?"
His jeans tightened as her pink tongue flicked over her skin. Biting back a groan, he forced his eyes back up to hers. "She didn’t tell you?"
"Tell me what?" She licked the side of her hand as the shiny butter wash dripped down the rolls inside the next square of foil. She dashed into the kitchen to get some paper towels and plates.
From finger licking to the sweet curve of her ass in the ridiculous Snoopy shorts, he tried not to bust his zipper with the hard on he was sporting. He couldn’t even tug his shirt down to hide it for God’s sake. She reached high for a plate and the flash of skin along her back came out as a sigh. Freckles there too. Christ. "She’s probably damn near in the Caribbean by now."
She nearly dropped the plates. "What?" She braced them against her chest, realizing then that she totally didn't have a bra on. Shit. She dumped the Corell plates on the table and tucked silverware into salads, mac and cheese containers and used a butter knife to break off a bit of baby back ribs.
He took in her nervous movements, his eyes tracing over her long neck, visible with the uneven knot at the top of her head. "Richie invited her to spend a couple weeks on St. Maarten.” He moved closer, even the scent of the barbeque set up along every surface couldn’t stop the cinnamon scent of her from filling his head. “She didn't tell you huh?" The urge to pull her into his arms was nearly overwhelming. He’d had plenty of opportunity to banish her from his thoughts with women a hellluva lot more emotionally and physically available, but none of them intrigued him like Kate did.
"No, she sort of left that part out when she left for the airport.” Slamming the baked beans on the edge of the table, she growled. “Hell, she even left a note since I wasn't at home yet."
Jon pushed the tray further back onto the little rickety table and hissed as the foil pan was still red hot. Turning her to face him, he smoothed his thumbs over her naked shoulders. “Katy,” he hedged.
She squirmed away. God, she did not need him touching her right now. "You'd think when she signed the note she could've mentioned, hey! I won't be home for two weeks, don't worry,” she flicked open another container needing something to do. “Oh yeah and I'm not dead."
He folded his arms, figuring it was the only way he’d keep his mitts off of her at this point. It felt like years since he’d seen her, instead of only ten days. "I’m sorry she forgot to tell you, Katy.” At her near glare, he swallowed the laugh he’d almost let free. “If it makes you feel any better Richie was nearly bouncing the plane apart before we landed. If she was anywhere near as excited, well I’m amazed she made it to the airport in one piece."
Kate snorted. "Yeah well, let's just hope she doesn't do something crazy over there."
"So tell me," he continued, "how was your day at work?" He changed the subject swiftly, not wanting her upset over her friend’s one track mind.
"No one died tonight, so it was a good night." She shook her head. "Damn I wish I could just up and take a vacation." She shrugged and snagged a bit of breast skin and popped it in her mouth.
Remembering—well, as much as he could remember—his last trip, the heart of the Caribbean was designed for excess and bad behavior on the all around. They couldn’t get into too much trouble between the both of…hell, he couldn’t even lie to himself. It was a feeding ground for hedonistic behavior. He just hoped his guitarist came back. Sounded like a plan to him. He so didn’t want to go back to the tour. "Hey, if you want to vacation, I'm sure it could be arranged."
"Yeah, and lose ground against the other interns that would as soon step on my dead body as stab me in the back with a smile? Suuuuuure." She motioned to the food. "Seriously you need to take some or I'm going to be three hundred pounds by tomorrow."
He took at look at the southern food with an arched brow and chose a rib. Bringing it to his lips he took a bite and began to chew, not even caring if the sauce got all over his lips. "Hmm, this IS good." He wasn’t sure the food could actually live up to the smells.
She nudged a chair out and dropped into the one next to him. "Sugar, this is a box of heaven right here." She laughed and leaned over to wipe a bit of sauce from his chin. "Can't waste it," she said.
He bit back a groan, snagging her hand to make sure he didn’t waste any part of it. He was only following her directions after all. He watched her green eyes go dark as he sucked her thumb into his mouth. She flicked her own tongue along her lips. He had to hold himself back from leaning in for a better taste. "Even tastier," he grinned.
She swallowed, trying desperately not to choke on the once succulent chicken, that now tasted like cardboard. Good God, don't go there, Kate. She wiped her thumb on her towel. Hard.
Not wanting to overplay his hand, he sat back with a roll, tearing it apart. "You should have seen it today, Katy. I swear it was the funniest thing.” He popped in a flaky piece of bread and groaned softly. Soul food indeed. “Never thought I’d see anyone get the best of Joker."
She could still feel the tingle from the swipe of his tongue. She reached for a rib this time, trying to concentrate on his words. "Joker?"
Even with sauce coating her lips and fingers she was unbelievable beautiful. Impossibly young, too. For the first time since he met her, she actually seemed like the student she was. Her face was scrubbed clean—well, save for a little sweet sauce—and the sleep clothes of a teen that hadn’t intended on entertaining. But instead of dashing to her room to change, she didn’t care what she looked like around him. It was refreshing to see the real side of someone for once. They were always looking for some way to turn him around to suit a need, whether it was sex or status, most of the women he ran into these days always had an ulterior motive.
He cleared his throat as he realized he was taking too long to answer. "Um, yeah, Joker.” At her puzzled look he laughed, relaxing even more. “That’s David, our keyboardist, and resident prankster.” He picked at a drumstick from the fried chicken box. “Teensy took some offense to how he was treating Richie.” He laughed, remembering the little hundred pounds of nothing. “She had him twisted like a pretzel, warning him off Richie. I swear David nearly had a stroke that someone had managed to one up him so quickly." He grinned as she left a smear of barbeque sauce at the corner of her lips. He picked up a napkin and gently dabbed the corner of her mouth.
She scraped her teeth over her lip and flicked her tongue out, pulling back. "God, I'm a mess." she pushed a whispy lock of hair back away from her face. "Such a lady, huh?" she laughed. When he didn’t say anything, except grin wider she knew her face was flaming red with a blush. "Well, Elena certainly has a way of letting some of that protective she-lion out when she thinks someone she lo-" she blinked. Well, it was how she acted with someone she loved. Huh. Well damn, her little girl was finally growing up. "Um, someone she cares about is under attack at all. Even if it's only a joke." She stood up, and went to the sink, washing away most of the stickiness.
His brow arched as he watched her stumble over words. "So you think she lo—cares for Richie, huh?"
"Damn, caught that huh?" She sat back down and hoped desperately that her nipples weren't as hard as they felt under the Red Barron Snoopy tanktop she was wearing.
He waggled his brows gently, "Told you, Babe, I’m about more than just hair." At her sneer he laughed. "Tell me something I don't know about Katherine Morrison."
She let herself take a good look at him. His hair was much flatter than usual, even if the curls were still out of control. In fact, they looked soft and welcoming for once instead of like they were going to eat the room alive. "Katherine Morrison used to play saxophone," she blurted out. Well hell, where’d that come from?
His eyes widened. "Used to?"
Deciding that maybe music was some even ground they could talk about and not spark up to sex, she relaxed. "Well, on lonely sad nights I still pull it out, but yeah used to." She took the carton of mac salad and sat back on her chair, picking at the noodles with a fork.
He tilted his head, wondering how anyone with music in them could only pull it out occasionally. "You'll have to play something for me soon."
She nearly choked on a noodle. "Oh no way," she laughed. "I'm not playing in front of a professional." She forked another bit up then pushed the carton onto the table. "Lord, I'm going to hurl if I eat anymore." She eyed the table. "It's all so good." She laced her fingers over her belly. "You totally made my month with this."
"Expect a delivery once a week. It’s already set up."
"Oh honey, you have to change that to once every other month. I'll be a house." She stood, with a bit of work and leaned over to kiss his cheek again. "I'm not crazy enough to say no, even though I should."
He turned his head at the last second, capturing her lips with his.
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