Chapter 138

Kate blew a sweaty lock of hair out of her face and laughed as Elena tried unsuccessfully to keep her eyes from falling out of her head. For the eleventh time that night Richie had surprised them with a visit to Al’s side.



A few times he sidled up to Alec in that groove thing she was beginning to learn so well. A few others had his guitar tech, Lumpy hopping up to chase him with a length of cord for his guitars. But each time he ended up in front of Elena with a whole lotta black clad thighs bulging.



Hell, she’d had to avert her eyes a few times, herself. The man wasn’t shy, that was for sure. Her poor friend was about ready to jump out of her skin with all the obvious teasing he’d been doing. And if she didn’t miss her guess, there were a handful of seriously pissed off chicks on the right hand side of the stage that had been expecting a night of Richie only to watch empty stage instead.



As he headed back to his mic to use that little talk-box thingie, Kate took the time to look around at the crowd. The atmosphere was almost identical to the night before. The crowd was juiced and the wave of screams heightened as she turned back around.


He was crouched in front of her, his hair sweaty and curling around his perfect face. His smile was wide and the ultimate in that whole distraction quotient.



“Nothing else can get you through the night.
No nothing else feels right. ‘
Without love
Whooahoo….”



It only lasted a beat or two, but his blue eyes had been locked on hers as he leaned low into the crowd. She could see each bead of sweat roll, each rip in his tank, each pore in his face. He reached for her, the tips of their fingers meeting before the girl next to her tried to reach out and grab him.



And just like that he rocked back on his heels and made another three dozen girls feel part of the moment, but the touch had been solely for her at that moment.


She only lost a few years of her life when he came swirling out from the skies during the encore. A big step from the decade she’d lost the night before. He poured everything he had into the show, even when Richie carried him for more than half the show, because she’d been right. Talking for that hour before the show had put a strain on his already weak chords.



But even without the shatter worthy screeches, the crowd ate every inch of him up. The show was phenomenal and played to Jon’s strengths. The way Jon and Richie harmonized even as Jon dug for each note was inspiring. And that night, Jon made a new fan for life.



No matter what the future held, she knew one thing was for sure. This band and their heart had a tiny slice of hers. Jon had the rest. God help her.



~



Elena tugged her hand as they hurried backstage. There was no leisurely walk back to the merch tables, no schmoozing with fans, no waiting. She wanted back to Richie in a very bad way. “Hold up there, crazy girl. He’s not even back there yet, he’s in the showers.” Kate said and clomped behind her. Shit my feet hurt.



Her gaze skittered over to Kate as she flicked a lock of hair over her shoulder, her hands adjusting the peasant blouse just so on her shoulders. "Wanna bet?"



"I don't take sucker bets," Kate laughed and followed.



Elena laughed and reached out to tug Kate along. "Doubt Mop Top is either for that matter. Did you SEE the look in his eyes?"



Kate swallowed. Her panties certainly saw. Shoot. She was ready to combust. "I don't know what you're talkin' about," she said in her best drawl.



Elena hit the doorway to the band’s main room and snorted, "Sure right, keep saying that you might convince someone one day." She stopped suddenly her eyes raking in the people already in the room, a slow heated grin beginning to simmer in her eyes at the tall one to the side. "Told ya so."



Kate's eyes followed hers and grinned at the pair of them sitting forward on the lopsided couch she'd held her ass on earlier. Jon's head was covered with a white towel as wet as the shirt and jeans he wore. Richie was sprawled out his head tipped back, leather and cotton like a second skin. "Well hell, I might have to drag one of them into the shower with me."



She tapped a finger to her lips. "Wonder which one?"



Elena's brow flicked up as that scary grin coasted onto her lips. A wicked gleam 
centered in her eyes, "Might be an interesting swap."



"I don't know, if I lure away Richie to my secret cabin, you might not get him back."



Her head tilted, an easy smirk on her lips. "Guess that means I get to keep Jon." She twisted and threw a wink Kate's way. "Wanna ask them?"



"Let's live dangerously."



Elena nodded and took Kate's arm pulling her towards the lopsided couch. Stopping before the guys she cleared her throat. With a voice that was husky and full of teasing want she chirped, "Hi there Handsomes."



Richie peered down his nose at his wife, slowly lifting his head. "Hello wife." His voice deepened as the flowy material slid down her shoulder leaving lace and curves behind.



Her eyes sparkled as she took him in, all six foot plus in clothes like a second skin on his sweaty body. "Katydid has a question."



Jon' pushed the towel back as the first breath of Kate hit his senses and the first true smile since the concert floated onto his lips. "Well hello there beautiful. What's up?"



"I'm trading up," she dropped on Richie's lap. "Mind if I use you and abuse you tonight, Rich?" She said sweetly, oozing the South like she was still on the plantation, straight off the boat.



Elena grinned and settled herself on Jon's lap, her eyes moving over to watch Richie's reaction. "So whatcha think Mop Top?"



Richie took the teasing in stride, happy to see Katy finally lightening up some. He glanced at Jon and sucked back a laugh, laying it on thick. "Not like we haven't shared before," he slung his arm around Kate's shoulder's letting his fingers dangle. Watching Jon's eyes flash was particularly entertaining.



Elena's brow arched as she leaned into Jon, her hand splaying over his chest to play with the sweat dampened fur peaking from the rips in his tee-shirt. "Might be fun."



Jon snorted and wrapped his arm around the slender bit of nothing Richie called a wife. "True nuff dat King. I can handle no curves for a few." He winked at Kate and nearly laughed as Richie's eyes fired when his hand slipped a little lower on Elena's waist. "All in good fun my man right?"



"Right," he said to Kate's throat his eyes lifting to find Elena’s. Her eyes were teasing, but in the heart of it there was a steely stance. He'd tortured the holy hell out of her from the stage. He could practically smell the lust she was giving off. Deciding he liked that she was eager for him, he dropped a hand on Kate's thigh. "All in good fun."



Kate crossed her legs, letting the flirty skirt she’d stopped to change into on the way to the venue show off a little more thigh Jon's way. "No harm, right?"



Elena rolled her shoulders and smiled as the blouse slipped a little lower. Moving in on Jon she nuzzled his neck teasingly. So this is what got Kate going? Well the scent of musk and guy was nice, but it sure wasn't her Pony. Her gaze slid to Richie as she went to brush lips against Jon's. "Nothing like Jersey sweat right Katy?"



"Right," Kate said and laughed when she got dumped onto the couch and Elena ended up on Richie's shoulder. "What'd I say?" Kate called out as Richie strode out, his large hand across the backs of Elena's thighs.



"Mine!" Richie called out and headed for the showers. "Showers are mine! You come back here, you die!"



Elena threw up a hand and waggled a goodbye as she laughed out. "He means it too!"



Jon shook his head as his arm snaked out and pulled Kate onto his lap. "Now that’s more fuckin' like it." Lips slid in for a taste of neck, a sigh of pure pleasure washing through his soul. "God is it more fuckin' like it."



"What, you don't like to share?" she said with a grin and tugged down her skirt. "It's Richie.." she laughed as he bit her shoulder, then shrieked when his fingers bit into her sides and he pinned her to the couch. "God, you stink!" She shouted between giggles.