Chapter 149

Kate laughed as the phone clunked to the floor. "Get off me!"

His brow flicked down to the legs over his lap then up to her face, "Now Kate babe, seriously whose on who?"

Rolling her eyes, she flicked his crunchy, sea salted hair away from his pretty blue eyes. "Elena and I were just discussing shears and this hair of yours."

His head jerked back slightly as his eyes went wide. "No fuckin' way baby. "

She tucked her own bangs that were growing out around her ear. "I thought you didn't want to be known for your--" she broke off as his chin dug into her neck. The scruff buzzing as he growled. She yelped and laughed. "Your hair."

"Don't wanna be bald either babe, and I’ve seen how Elena welds scissors, she’s fuckin' dangerous." He reached up and pushed a hand through his hair, pushing it back, besides facts is facts, I look good with it."

"Well la-di-da, Mr. Poster Boy." She slid her foot behind his back and levered herself up and onto his lap. "What would Teen Beat say if they saw you right now." She brushed at the salty sand on his bare chest. At his smug smile, she sighed. "Probably sell a million posters."

He winked as he leaned forward to press a kiss to the tip of her nose, "Ehh maybe three quarters of a million babe."

Amused and disgusted at the same time, she climbed off of him. "So, Elena and Richie bought a house. They're having a shin-dig and want to see if we can come home early."

His brow arched as she moved, "hey now, I was just agreeing with ya!" He leaned his head back and thought for a few minutes, "I guess since it’s them we have to go back huh?"

"Real life was going to intrude sooner or later," she agreed. "There will be booze," she said trying to sweeten the deal.

Even that didn't sweeten the lure, he was liking here just fine. "I want booze I can go buy it babe." He growled softly, "Just a day early right?"

She leaned over the back of the couch, brushing her cheek next to his rougher one. "Two," she said sadly. She had to admit, the whole domestic scene had been far easier than she'd thought with him.

His eye twitched for a moment, then opened, their crystal depths pinning her to her spot. "If you say Doc's gonna be there I'm not going."

"She didn't mention him. I was thinking it was pretty much just the family, so to speak. The band and their respective," her mouth twitched at the thought of Alec, "or dis-respective...is that a word?" She shrugged. "Well whatever boys and girlfriends." She wound her arms around his neck, letting her fingers slide through the rough curls of his chest. He so hadn't rinsed the sand off, but she couldn't bring herself to yell at him about it. She was just too content.

"I think the parents would be doing the next day in the afternoon by the sounds of her plan."

He nodded. "That's doable. Now pray tell, what kind of place? I mean its Sambo, God there's no telling what we're gonna find, prepare me baby."

She pushed his thick hair over with her chin and rested it on his tanned shoulder. "Elena said its all windows along the back with the beach right off the back of it." She pressed a kiss to his skin. "Seems like it's more modern than the cottage feel of this place though." She smiled against his skin. "Richie's already making noise about a recording studio off the side of the house."

He sat up quickly his eyes brightening. "No shit?"

She leaned on the couch, laughing as his eyes went right to the acoustic guitar. "That song so isn't leaving you alone, huh?"

He muttered as he watched the guitar, "its right there fuck it all," He sighed a moment before rolling his eyes, "King will know what’s wrong with it though."

"Elena will kick your ass if you drag Richie away to write a song at her party so

try to contain yourself until the parental part of the party on day two, huh?"

He groaned, "Baby sometimes it just .. ya can't make it stop."

She rounded the couch and sat next to him. "I know my logical, science brain isn't always going to get you, Jon." She picked at the strings of his cut off jeans before meeting his eyes. "But I do understand drive. Just try not to ruin Elena's big day. She didn't get to do the wedding thing so this is sort of a replacement."

He managed a smile and nodded, "yeah, yeah I know but she married someone worse than me when it comes to stuff like this.. I betcha he starts the jam session, and if she’s anything like she was on tour she’s gonna be dancing to it. But I won’t start it Katybabe, I promise."

"Well hell," she stood up and crossed her arms. "I mean don't change or anything for me." She looked over her shoulder at him. "I just can tell by her voice that it's important to her. She understands the whole," she waggled her fingers, "music thing more than I do, of course."

He stood and moved to her, wrapping his arms around her, "And I trust your knowledge of your best friend. Like I said, its been itching at my brain for days, another day or two wont kill me. But if HE starts it baby all bets are off."

Feeling stupid, she sighed and leaned back on him. "Deal." He tucked his chin into her neck and she sighed. She hadn't had one of these scenes since they'd landed in the Hamptons. She didn't even know why she worried about saying the wrong thing around him anymore. "What do you say we go into town and find something sufficiently ugly to give them for a housewarming?"

He slapped her ass and bolted for the bathroom, "I get the shower first!"

"Dammit!" she chased him to the door, only to have him lock it in her face. 'If you use all the hot water, you're a dead man!" she said and pounded against the thick oak.

He turned the shower on as he turned and cracked the door open, his eyes all pouty, "really?"

She pushed her way in. "Sucker," and dropped her cover up onto the floor.

~~~

Kate pulled into the fourth plaza of the sea-side area. They'd visited two of the main shopping districts and one of the smaller galleries that she remembered as a girl. Nothing had quite screamed Elena and Richie at any of them. She dropped her hands to her lap. "See anything you like?"

Jon shook his head, "Hell buy them some wine or something babe, Sambora you just get him strings and he's happy, but not used to this wedding/house warming shit, not sure what to get the gruesome twosome."

She patted his cheek lightly. "Welcome to adult-hood. It's a scary place."

He shivered dramatically, "I so ain’t growing up yet." He winked over at Kate as they wandered into a store, his eyes scanning the obvious bric-a-brac around him. "Fuck what do you buy for an asshole and his.." he cleared his throat, "Wife type person."

"And he does listen," she slid her hand into his, tugging him toward the back of the store. "It's just one of those things that you just know it when you see--" She let his hand slip away from hers. "Like that."

She stood in front of a four three by five foot painting of a stormy sea. The lighthouse was standing tall against the gale force winds and waves. It screamed strength and beauty.

He tilted his head and started to grin, "Lemme guess, he’s the lighthouse to her stormy sea?"

She looked back at Jon. "Something like that. Not to mention the beachy reference." She bumped his hip lightly. "What’dya think?"

"I think its perfect babe, seriously." He motioned to the clerk and grinned, "We'll take that one."

She snagged his hand. "You didn't even look at the price," she whispered. "This is the Hamptons, Jon. They like to overcharge."

His brow flicked up as he pulled out his lil card, "gosh no I didn’t did I?" He handed the card over and grinned. "It’s for Teensy and King, Id spend a million if I needed to."

"Well, it's a good thing they've got a friend like you. Wanna pay off my medical school bills?" She teased.

His eyes narrowed as a contemplative look crossed his features. "I'd say yes in a heart beat babe, then you'd kick my ass from here to Jersey and back. But anytime you say the word it's done."

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh my God, he's learning." She hugged him tight. "I know you would. One of the reasons I love you so much. Even if I'm far too proud to let you do it."

He nuzzled her neck, 'its one of those things you shouldn't have to worry about Katy, but I do understand, I think."

"You earn it, then it's yours. Simple as that." The discreet clerk waited patiently at the classy desk at the back of the store. "Let's go give them the new castle's address and get out of here, huh? I think you deserve some steak and sweaty sex for that sort of payout."

He pulled her in close and walked to the desk. "Now that Kate is what I call a plan."

Chapter 148

Elena offered that devious little laugh that always signified silliness. "Well yeah something sort of died," she paused a moment and snorted, "Fuck no I'm not telling you to behave, if you do I'll spank you."

"Man, I so don't need to hear your sex play in my ear, sweets. The only thing dying should be me, for having to listen to it."

"Not talking about Sex sister girl." Elena rubbed her head against her shoulders trying to squeeze Richie from the nibble fest he had started along her neck. "It’s something good, hated to call ya, but it was important."

She reached for a grape off the small table between them. "Well, Jon's finally human again so I'll forgive you this time." Popping it into her mouth she munched. Her eyebrow quirking as Richie's laugh came through the phone. "What's the news, Lains?"

She took a deep breath and bit back the moan bubbling in her throat, silly man was trying to make her lose her train of thought dammit, "Well you know how Pony and I were talking about finding a house?"

"Well with marriage comes playing house," she said with a grin as Jon's blue eye peeked from his bushy hair. He was flopped on his belly. She mouthed, Elena. He just rolled his eyes...well, eye from what she could see and closed it again. "Find something already, Mrs. Sambora?"

She grinned over at Richie and started rambling, "Found, bought and moved into, well sorta moved into, I mean not much furniture yet, big ass bed though, and we wanna throw a house warming the night before they head back to tour. It means you cutting your vacation short a day but its sorta important for you and Mop Top to be here. You wanna be here right? I mean it’s on the beach and it has a pool and a tennis court and I haven’t beaten you at tennis in forever and..." She took a deep breath, "you just gotta be here Katy."

"Jesus, it's okay that you called woman. I'm not going to hang up on you." She laughed and stood up, gathering their breakfast plates. Tucking the phone into her shoulder and chin she climbed the steps to the beach house. "I'm sure Jon wouldn't mind coming back a day or two early to join the festivities."

Elena grinned, "You're gonna love it Katy, really, and Jon too, shit there’s this big addition that ..." She glanced at Richie a moment, "that some big lug thinks might be good enough to record in.. but I swear if they get all technical at the party he’s going without for a month!"

Kate laughed as she heard a, "Hey now!" come through the line. "Well Jon finally is allowed to talk, so I make no promises. I have limited his alcohol consumption this week though, so you'll probably have to worry more about him raiding your bar."

Elena started to laugh, "It’s the one thing that’s gotten stocked best can you imagine? So how's he doing Kate really? I got this really nutty person who’s been worrying even though he pretends he's not."

"Don't throw me under the bus, wife."

Kate grinned. "Tell Richie that he's doing much better." She turned to look through the window of the kitchen. Jon was gathering their loungers, stashing them under the deck. She smiled as he headed into the ocean for his mid-morning swim. His lean, nearly skeletal body was filling out a little. Muscles were starting to build in his shoulders and arms. And thankfully, his appetite had returned with all the exercise. She'd had to hit the grocery store every other day to keep him fed. "I've even got him exercising."

Elena bit her lip and attempted to stay serious, but the thoughts of Jon and exercise was too good. "Exercising?? I hope you mean mattress hop scotch." She glanced over at Richie and smiled. "I'm glad he's doing better though, so is this husband of mine, actually put a few pounds back on."

"Good, I figured I could leave the whipping into shape on your capable shoulders." She dumped the dishes into the washer and dropped onto the couch. "Jon's voice is even ready for that crazy screeching he does." She laughed, "I mean singing."

She slapped Richie's hands away as she laughed. "Well he does hit a few notes between here and the roof, but then with the King of Loud here, he has to do the screechy thing to be heard. Maybe we should have him turn down the guitars ya think?" She risked a glance at her husband and damn near died at the look on his face. "I mean there are such things as acoustic guitars."

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about." Kate sighed, staring at the acoustic in the corner. She'd even caught Jon strumming on it a few times since they'd been there. He'd been very good about resting his voice, but there seemed to be a song locked in his head that he wouldn't let go of.

"I was worried a bit the first few days. I've never seen him sleep like that before, but between the dehydration, strain and stress he was pretty run down. Richie's been sleeping I hope?" She snorted, "after you're done with him at least?"

She chuckled a moment, "Hell he slept all day and then the first few days he house shopped. Kate I swear to God, he looked at thirty places before finding the perfect house, THIRTY!" She laughed and rolled to her side to get away from the roaming hands, "But it’s beautiful, he's a better shopper than we are, seriously."

Her voice went quiet a moment, "But yeah, He's slept and ate right, I, well, I TRIED to make sure of that, once he started cooking that is."

"Gads, you didn't try to cook did you?" She laughed as Elena explained her various breakfast disasters. "Man, are you trying to kill him off already?"

She muttered, "I warned him, I swear to God I told him I hated cooking, and he kept eating it. If I had to eat another burned meal I was gonna have his head examined, seriously. But he got the point finally." She flopped back onto her back and laughed as his fingers dug into her sides. "He didn’t wanna hurt my feelings by making fun of my umm.. cooking expertise."

She heard the sliding door open. "Don't you track wet sand in this house, Jon Bongiovi!" She heard a grumble as he shut the door again.

"Smart husband." She stretched out on the couch, crossing one leg over the other. "So, thirty houses huh? Would Liberace be proud of any of the choices?"

"Actually, for a moment there girl I thought he was gonna put us in a version of mom and dad's place, then there were the cookie cutter track houses." She shivered slightly at the memory, "but after all was said and done he found the most perfect place, all windows and space and beach.. and NO he’s not tin-foiling a one, I refuse to let him."

Kate laughed long and loud. "Oh hell, that's just priceless." She heard Jon come in again. "Richie and Elena bought a house, Sugar."

"No shit. ya kidding me?"

She waggled her brows and mouthed tell you in a second. "Jon's surprised," Kate supplied in answer to Jon's obvious shock. "So we'll definitely have to come to this little shin-dig to see it."

Elena grinned, "Awesome Katy." She rattled off the address and date quickly. "Come prepared to party hard, he’s inviting all the guys, and I heard rumblings of parental units, but that might be a secondary day, just in case."

"Old school partying it up and next day noontime picnic for the rents...hmm." She paused. "More like 2 o'clock."

Elena's grin widened, "Yeah cuz getting up early is a sin, did you know that?"

"Considering I can't even move him until at least 10AM, I'm getting that." She laughed as he lifted her feet, plopped himself on the couch and smoothed his thumb over her calf, dragging her feet into his lap. He flicked his knuckle along the arch of her foot and she jumped, kicking at him. "All right we'll come in the day before and find the house. Do you need me to bring anything?"

"Just the two of you Katy, God I've missed ya. Things to tell ya girlfriend, stuffs ya just don’t wanna say in front of well.. animals of the opposite species ya know?" Elena winked at the pouty look on Richie's face. "I think I have the plans in action, you know me and parties girl."

"Yeah I do. Don't kill him or break the bank, spend-o-matrix." She poked Jon's thigh with her toes. "I missed you too, sweets. We'll see you in a few days."

"See ya then, oh and tell Mop Top, I've warmed up the barber shears just for him."

She sat up and played with the ends of his overgrown hair. "I might just hold him down for you." At his raised brow, she squealed as he dove at her, pinning her to the couch. "Bye, Lains!"

She heard the phone click and the dull buzz of the dial tone. "I think he got her."

Richie sat up, hoisting her over his shoulder. "Good, I'm going to do the same."

Chapter 147

She moved along the aisles of the grocery store, her eyes sparkling as she familiarized herself with where everything is. Hell they had a house, A bonafide real home with rooms and .. well rooms. She shook her head, a slight laugh escaping her as she thought over the mostly empty rooms. She glanced down at the list and groaned; God he wanted the store, she should just rent a truck and take it all home with her. Chicken, steak, burgers, hot dogs just as a start on the meats, then there were the array of fresh vegetables, paper plates cups, ice and Jesus was that rock salt? When on earth did her northern rock star husband figure out how to make homemade ice cream? It was April for God sakes, why not just buy it out of a box? She glanced around hopelessly then grinned as she located the first of the many aisles she needed.

She rolled her eyes as she started loading the cart, Mr. Gourmet Griller had to stay home and wait on the phone and furniture truck, but not before reminding her for the tenth time to not forget this or that or the other thing. God you'd think she didn’t have the entire list in hand, written in his neat script. For that matter you’d think they were going to feed an army instead of five or six people

As she rolled the cart along the aisle, she started pulling all the different seasonings requested from the shelf, again biting back a groan. What was wrong with good old fashioned salt and pepper for God sakes? Southern seasoning, thyme, cardamom, rosemary, fuck that was a damn flower heaven sakes, made the trip into the cart as she contentedly thought over ideas of how to decorate the mostly empty house. Stopping for a moment, she felt her nerves twinge in a way she hadn’t felt in a week or two. Straightening she glanced left and right and saw nothing. Jesus Elena, get a fuckin’ grip. You’re nowhere near Bug-boy or anyone that even knows you.

As she reached for the next item she felt that same needle prick along her spine and looked around curiously. Shit, it felt just like someone was looking at her, but there was no one around. Peering over the tops of the shelves she couldn’t even see the top of anyone’s head. Shrugging she pushed the cart on down the aisle and continued collecting the items for her husband’s idea of a house warming party. God I gotta call Kate, maybe my head will escape the scalpel when she figures out why I'm calling, IF the phone is on when I get back.

As she reached for the olive oil she tensed again, her eyes shifting to the left quickly only to catch the barest glimpse of what appeared to be a short and dark haired figure zipping to the right. She made a full stop and took a deep breath. That made the third time in as many days that she'd caught a glimpse of that same type figure in some store she was in. God get a grip Elena, what are you marshmallow? It’s nothing. The island was nothing, your life is perfect. New home, great husband, quit manufacturing shit to be excited about. Life with Rich is exciting enough.

She moved along each aisle, collecting the enumerable items her husband had requested, every so often feeling that twinge that felt like needles or sharp pinches along her spine. She had to get this done, she had too. She’d be done soon enough. As she moved to make a turn into the next aisle the barely there lingering scent of something kinda sweet and oddly sickening accosted her nose. Ok now see what you did? You’re starting to smell it too? Get the fuck off of it girl.

But when a softly murmured grunt whispered over her ears from an aisle away she gave it up. A girl could only take so much, and even in the safety of this store, smells and sounds were too much to add to her burgeoning thoughts that something wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t just her fanciful imagination. There was someone, something out there and it was watching her. Regularly. OK we have enough, and if we didn't well fuck it, Richie can just come back with me, or alone for all that matters.

She hurriedly pushed her cart to the front and swiftly checked out, her skin going clammy as that right between the shoulder blades sensation of being stared daggers at continued. She nodded to the clerk and handed over her card, well ok Richie’s card that she’d managed to confiscate as her own, her eyes scanning the store worriedly. Who the fuck was in there? Who was watching? Shit she’d have to tell Richie, she couldn’t play it off anymore.

She walked from the store quickly, trying to smile and befriend the little stock clerk, more to hurry him along than anything. Slipping into the car, nervous fingers tapped against the steering wheel as the guy loaded the car. As the door slammed she pulled out swiftly and rushed home, her eyes looking in the mirror every few seconds worriedly. What if they follow me? What if they figure out where I live? Jesus what if its someone trying to get to Richie or Jon? The fear and worry started folding in on itself as she drove, her attention wavering from the road as she started to turn to the left instead of right. As the city limits hit and she saw trees and not houses she hit the brakes, the car squealing in protest. Well fuck she’d went the wrong way the first time since marrying Richie. As her nerves warred with her belly and it all became knots she glanced around to see if any cars were close before making a quick U-turn. She had to get home, before whoever was out there found her.

Richie flipped over the booklet for the new phone he'd bought. The telephone guy had come, but they gave you the standard ugly phone with the six foot cord. He stashed that in the closet as his mom had taught him. "At least one phone would work if the power went out." He could hear her voice now.

They didn't care about the sort you bought for yourself, especially if you had to program the damn thing to get it to work. "Star seven seven for setup," he read aloud. "Why?" he asked himself out loud as the phone beeped and a dial tone finally surfaced.

"Yes!"

He turned as bags rustled and clunked against the door. "Is that you babe?"

She pulled the bags in and shut the door leaning against it, her belly flipping and flopping like a fish out of water, her heart pounding nearly out of her rib cage. She'd felt eyes all the way home. Leaning against the door she forced a semi light tone into her voice, only to wince as her voice quavered slightly. "Dunno who that babe person is, just the grocery girl here."

He rushed forward, looping his fingers into the bags. "Why didn't you yell for me?" He curled the cordless into his palm and gathered most of the bags into his long fingered grasp.

Brown eyes rolled as he took all the bags and started for the kitchen. She murmured a soft "just trying to get inside as fast as possible," as she followed him into the kitchen. "Hope I didn't forget anything..."

He leaned in. "Don't you worry, I'll send you out if--" his grin faded. "You okay, darlin'?"

She watched as he dumped bags and phone on the counter then moved to him, her hands going around him. "Got a tiny bit spooked, nothing major, new town and all, but ..."

He smoothed his hand down her hair, kissing the top of her head. "Spooked how?" He pulled back, looking down at her. He kissed the frown line between her eyes. "Hey, tell me."

She rubbed her nose along his chest a moment and sighed, "It's probably really silly ok? Hell babe even I'll admit that, but the other day at the mall, I was talking to Kate and well she said it might not be and I should tell you... But see I thought it was just the past making me all silly and overly imaginative, but now.. I'm not so sure."

She wrapped her arms around him tighter, "It's just sometimes I feel like someone's watching me, I get that weird feeling between my shoulder blades, and sometimes I catch a glimpse of.." she swallowed hard against the bile that wanted to rise, "I see a glimpse of dark hair and funny clothes scurrying away... "

She tilted her head back, a rueful smile on her lips, "Hell I put it down to fanciful thinking, my brain working overtime cuz of the past.. but Katy thought it warranted telling ya.. Truth be told, after that night at the concert in the shower I forgot about it until it happened again at the store just now."

"Jesus, why didn't you tell me?" He cupped her face in his hands. "Even if it's nothing we need to be careful of that sort of thing, Lains. It could be the paparazzi or a crazy fan too." He kissed her lips. "You didn't need to be afraid all this time."

She sighed into the kiss before smiling, "Wasn't really afraid baby, honestly, it's just odd, it won't happen for a long time then boom suddenly for a few days it’s everywhere, but yeah I got worried when Katy made me realize it could be someone after one of you guys."

He shook his head and slid his hands down to her shoulders then her arms and finally to her hands shaking them a little. "Well, thank God for Kate." He leaned down, pressing his forehead to hers. "Love...there's a lot of crazies in this world. Doc's had to put a few dozen restraining orders out since we started the Slippery tour." He stood up again, lacing their fingers. "He doesn't talk to Jon about it too much. He's already afraid to walk into a lobby by himself. We don't want to be unattainable to our fans, but we are careful. That includes the wives, okay?"

Her brow arched as she pulled back a silly twist of a smirk on her lips. "Who’s hiding extra wives behind their back handsome?"

He grinned. "Sorry, Tico was married for a bit there too. But that was back in the early days...geeze, Runaway days, to be honest."

She pressed against him, her hands sliding along his spine. "Well we all can't be as lucky in love as you and Jon are these days."

He rubbed his chin over the top of her head. "No, that's for sure. I wonder how the kidnapping went actually. It's weird not to have talked to him for so long."

Elena tried and failed to hold back the snort, "Honey if Kate had her way I'm sure he'll arrive at the party sun burnt, exhausted and totally rested too."

"Maybe it will improve his attitude as well."

She leaned up and took the lobe of his ear between her teeth before sliding lips along his neck, "does it help yours?" She leaned back and smiled, the first week had been all about sleeping, catching up on all the rest he needed and about eating, she could tell he'd gained a few pounds, not enough yet but at least he didn't look half dead and emaciated like he did in Philly.

"Well, it always improves my attitude, IF I had one." He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm all about a good mood."

She brushed a finger over his lip gently. "Mr. Fix it. You know it’s ok to not be on all the time, especially with me? You don't have to always be the mediator baby, the go to guy. I'm your wife, let me be your go to girl, or you're gonna end up exploding one day. Did I mention I hate doing housework? Cleaning up exploding Richie is not on my list of fun ideas."

He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. "I know that, Lains. I'm just used to doing the fix it stuff. Jon holds so much in his head between Doc and the contracts, deals and what the record company expects. The least I can do is yank him out of his own way, even if he bites my hand sometimes."

She reached down for his hand, lifting it to her lips for a few brushes of her lip before nibbling. "I'll have to have a word with Mop Top, only I can bite the hand that feeds me."

"He might actually put you in the box if you go there, darlin'."

She twisted and bent, laughing as training kicked in and his large body shifted then fell to the floor her grin growing as he went oooph. She quickly straddled his waist and leaned forward to press a kiss to his lips, laughing at the shock in his eyes. "He can try to put me in a box, but I'm not without a few moves Darlin."

"Jesus, Lains!" He flattened himself and peered up at her. "I concede." He lifted his thighs and dumped her down where he could reach her. "Jon's no match for you."

She winked before another laugh escaped her. "Exactly baby." Now hand me that phone.. it does work right?"

He crossed his arms behind his head. "Ha-ha. Yes it works. I'm injured though." Doing a half sit up he spotted the phone hanging off the island in the kitchen. He pointed. "Just above your head, Kung Fu Princess."

She twisted slightly and reached up grabbing the phone. Studying it for a moment she flicked the talk button and dialed the number she'd committed to memory. As the phone rang she sank back to the floor and pillowed herself on Richie's chest grinning. "Good pillow."

His fingers slid under her shirt as the phone rang in her ear. "I prefer your pillows," he said and snapped her bra open.

She shivered as the phone rang, "Behave husband."  Oh yeah that’s gonna work, he don’t know the meaning of the word.

She grinned as the phone clicked on, "Heyyy girl."

"Did someone die?" Kate asked as she stretched in her lounge chair. She and Jon were sitting outside in the sun as they did most mornings. Of course the slug was sleeping, but then again, she did keep him up most of the night. "You wouldn't be calling to tell me to behave on my vacation would you?" Kate heard through the phone.

Chapter 146

She wandered along with him, her head lifting as the salt air brushed away the days of house hunting cobwebs. She couldn’t stop the smiles as the early spring beach bunnies were playing at the edge of water, her eyes stopping on the kids building a sand castle. It was perfect really, so un-rockstar a location that hopefully they'd have a bit of peace when not on the road. "Jon and Katy will be shocked. You a land owner? Kinda figured Mop Top as the homeowner type, but.." She paused a moment then laughed, "Figured you and me would be apartment dwellers forever."



He looked down at her. "Hell no, woman. I need my space and my ocean." He hugged her closer. "One of those crazy things you'll get to know about me."



Her shoulder lifted in a tiny shrug. "Never said it wouldn't be an apartment by the beach love." She glanced up as the boardwalk and town came into view. "Well towns close enough."



He shielded his eyes. A small pier was heavy with foot traffic. "I'd say walk, but hell...that takes too long." He grinned. "C'mon, let's take a drive. Explore a little."



Which of course meant walking back to the house, which was ok by her she needed her shoes to do any walking at all. "Lead the way stud." She laughed as he scooped her up and went willy nilly down the beach, his eyes nearly shining as he memorized what would be home-base for him now. "You know, one day they're gonna figure out you're nuts."



"Nah," he said. "I'm very good at making all doctors laugh. They can't seem to sign the papers for that final padlock on the padded room." He growled and nibbled on her neck. "Mwahhahahha."



Chill bumps raced along her skin at the simple nibble, her eyes closing as she took a sharp breath. Damn if she wouldn't just have at him right here. Blessed man could make her forget everything with the simplest of moves. "So town?"



He climbed the steps of the simple deck. Hmm...there'd need to be work there. He tended to use the deck as a place to relax and there wasn't nearly enough cushy spots or a barbecue that could provide the kind of cooking he did at parties. He set her down. "Yeah, let's just see if I lit enough of a fire under Randy's ass."



She reached up to brush a stray lock of his hair from his face. "You just do that." Leaning her head back she sighed at the feel of the sun against her skin. "I’ll just sit here and relax."



He leaned down and brushed her cheek with a kiss. He wandered the house a bit until he heard Randy's booming voice. Yeah he was probably making all sorts of promises to his boss for this commission.



His hand slid along the aged wood of the banister, the silky feel of it yelling of someone who loved the house prior and kept it up. He couldn't believe he'd finally found the house. All the others had been lovely, but this one was a fit. Sort of like his wife. Unexpected and perfect.



He turned as Randy hung up. "How'd we do?"



"Good, took some wrangling but I think we should be able to seal the deal in about eight days. It's too close to the weekend to get it done this week."



Richie nodded. He'd been willing to give him 10 days, but that was better. He held out his hand. "I knew I could count on you, man."



Randy clasped his other hand over Richie's. "You guys are in a hurry to get planted. Hell, I didn't even know you were married, man."



He smiled. "It's a crazy world, but we fit and this house fits. I'm living a charmed life, my brotha. Keep it charming and find me a decorator to work with Elena and I'll have you so busy you won't know what to do with yourself or your bankroll."



Randy's eyes widened. Hell, Richie could see dollar signs floating where his eyeballs should be. Laughing he slapped his arm. "I knew I could count on you."



"Absolutely!" Randy handed him a few papers. "Here's some paperwork you can start filling out. Let me know what bank you're going to use and fax it over."



"Sounds great." He smiled, shaking his hand again. "Thanks. We really love it. Elena!" He shouted over his shoulder. "Let's head out, babe!"



She jerked straight, blinking against the sun that had lulled her nearly to sleep. Pushing off the chair she wandered in and picked up her shoes and his before moving to Richie. "I'm ready when you are."



He smoothed his hand over her windblown hair. Her eyes had that sleepy, hooded look. "Do you want to just head home?"



She tilted her head into the palm of his hand, rubbing her cheek against his skin there for a moment. "Naah, I’m ok, the sun always makes me drowsy. How'd the paper work go? Do we furniture shop?"



Laughing he leaned down for a kiss. "Randy's going to get you in touch with one of the designers so you don't need to go to a store, just pick it out of a catalogue. You'll finally have something to do while we're touring." He waggled his eyebrows. "Now the bed...that we shop for."



"Naturally." Of course he'd want to bed shop, the bigger the better would be his motto on beds. "You really want to just pick stuff out of a catalogue huh?"



He blinked. "Well, we can shop if you want. I just figured you were getting bored with this stuff."



Her fingers walked up the expanse of chest showing through his shirt. "A home is a place you put together yourself. If someone else does all the choosing then its their place not ours. I was bored with the house shopping, but picking out the things that go into OUR home? Lets do it together ok Pony? Please?"



He hauled her in. God, what'd he done to deserve her? "That sounds like a plan."



She pressed a kiss to his lips, a bright smile whispering onto her lips. "Lots of gauzy curtains and bright colors, well the ones you can see anyhows, lots of pillows and that patio.. " She let go finally and let it fly, "Patio's gotta be bigger, we can't entertain on that small one."



"Just what I was thinking," he said. "Well, about the patio. You can do the pillows and fluffy stuff. Just gotta make sure we have a kick ass grill."



She laced her fingers into his and started to grin. "YOU pick out the stereo, cuz I know, I know, it’s gotta be the biggest loudest thing we own, well except for those stage clothes of yours."



"Stereo we already have. I designed the components with Lumpy." He waggled his eyebrows. "I can let the entire beach hear the Beatles in their entirety."



She muttered as he opened the car door for her, "Better be a bit of Clapton too, or even some OTHER guitarist who might remain nameless."



"What? You think I blare my own shit? Nah, I hear more than enough of it on tour darlin' I don't listen to a note of Jovi on the off hours unless I bump into a song on the radio."



Her eyes widened as a little tidbit of info Dave had fed her worked its way into the moment. "What? No, baby I was talking about Sabo. He offered to record a few instrumentals for me once or so I was told that is." She glanced off as he pulled into a parking slot in town. "He plays a mean guitar ya know."



Richie's eyebrow arched. "Sabo? He couldn't find a G chord if he tied his finger to it."



She opened the car door, the furniture store in front of her calling her name, "Naaah you’re not jealous , not my Pony right?" She laughed quickly a twinkle in her eye. "Just teasing ya babe, seriously if I want instrumental I'll set a cassette recorder in front of you when you're off in composing land."



He followed her in the store, his fingers knotting in her belt loops as he dragged her back into the front of his jeans. "Darlin', I got nuttin' to be jealous about. Snake's only called snake because he slithers." He nuzzled her neck. "Just wait until you see how inspired I get on the all around at the beach."



She snorted as her fingers traced over the nubby fabric of a couch. She could well imagine what kind of inspiration would hit him at a beach, and not all of it would be musical. She pressed back against him slightly, her hips doing a gentle bump, grind and wiggle. "Yeah I just bet its all musical too right?"



"Well I have heard you sing a time or two." He tugged her to the back of the store. "C'mon, let's check out your choir station."



She watched as he strolled through the beds, literally flopping down on each mattress as he went past. Queens were too small, Kings too it seemed, but when he found the California king he sprawled out comfortably. She walked over her palm sliding over the smooth texture of the shiny wood. "Find one you liked there Big boy?"



"I like my bed to be the size of a small lake." He smiled up at her. "More space to chase you around in."



She perched on the side of the bed and laughed. "I'll have to remember to let you chase me a bit then."



He rolled onto his side. "So, are you really happy with the house? Or are you just humoring me?"



She tilted her head as a hand reached out to brush over his hair. "Baby, you could move me into a trailer, or hell a shack and I'd be happy. The house is perfect, its ... well when ya know you know right?"



"Well, if I wanted to live in a trailer I never would have signed up with Jonny." He laughed and rolled off the bed. "It's hard work and I want somewhere nice to come home to. I want someplace nice to build a home with you."



She leaned in and pressed a kiss to that full lower lip that drove her nuts. "I love it Richard ok? Its beautiful. Hell its homey without furnishings, just imagine when we get done with it."



"Each room will have to be carefully," he kissed her, "christened."



She laughed as he pulled her into him and onto the bed. "Richie, its a store!' 
She glanced around laughing, not seeing a soul anywhere near. Sneaky son of a gun, always managed to find a way to make her nuts in the weirdest of places, probably one of the reasons she loved him so much. "You’re incorrigible."



He rolled her under him. "What? Like they haven't seen two teenagers fooling around on the beds." He lifted himself just a few inches. "Of course, I'm far more inventive than a teen."



Her hands slid up into his hair as the place literally vanished from her thoughts, her entire being centering in on the one looming above her. "Oh I know that, not something I'm liable to forget any time soon." One slender leg slid up to brush against his side as she grinned. "Lots more fun than a virgin for sure."



He leaned down, nuzzling her neck then earlobe. "Darlin', I thought you loved me as a virgin."



She shivered at the pure force of his essence, a grin slipping onto her lips. "Adored it really I did,"



He raised his hands so they were over her head, resting on his forearms, covering her completely. "I guess I'll have to go with sex god next time."



She bit her lip to hold back the laugh, "You do sex god all the time darlin." God and he did too, he defined the term really, from the long length of him to his soulful brown eyes and beyond. "I think you’re in Webster’s under that word."



"Now that's what I like to hear." He played with her hair, fanning it out so that it teased his hands and arms. "Of course you're name's under tease." He groaned as she wiggled closer. "Yup, definitely tease."



She winked up at him, her hands moving to slide under his shirt, her eyes heating to a golden brown. "I sorta like teasing you, " Her head moved suddenly as the tip of her tongue flashed along his chest. "I think I like this bed."



"Good, I'm glad. I'll start the paperwork," came a voice beside them.



A blush covered her cheeks as she looked up at the salesman, her lashes fluttering as she winked up at him. "Hard to resist the man, really."



"Good thing the springs have a ten year warranty then." he said with a completely straight face.



She managed a winning smile and slightly pushed at Richie. "Pay the man honey."



Richie shrugged and climbed off. "Newleyweds," he said simply.



"I understand," the salesman said gracefully. "I have an amazing sale going on. Follow me."