Chapter 181

181

Richie stepped into a pair of jeans. The sun was up and Elena had snuck out of bed on him. Following his nose, he heard the snap and pop of frying bacon just before it assaulted his nose, then went on a direct route to his stomach. 

Never in his life, had he figured such a domestic scene would bring him so much pleasure. She was wearing one of his concert shirts, the frayed ends of a pair of cutoffs peeked from the very bottom of the shirt that bagged around her hips. Tanned legs and bare, purple tipped toes tapped as she sang to the radio. 

The phone's shrill ring cut the happy sing-song nature of her voice. And just like that, the carefree body sway stiffened. What the hell was that about?

Her fingertip tapped along the phone twice before she picked it up. 

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and murmured, "Let it be Mop Top, hell let it be anyone God." They came too often these days, those calls that tied her belly into knots and her blood to ice. "anyone god, even mom or dad, ANYONE ok?"

She lifted the receiver slowly and settled it against her shoulder as she turned back to the stove, not wanting to burn the bacon she'd actually managed to cook and not scorch. "Hello?"


What the hell did she mean, anyone? Frowning, Richie slid his arms around her middle. When she jumped and smacked the top of her head into his chin, he arched back. "Damn, babe." 


Her head tilted slightly, and mouthed an "I'm sorry," her fingers curling into the phone tighter, "Hello? anyone there?"


Richie lifted the receiver away from her and listened, but only heard a click and then the dial tone. "Wrong number?"


She exhaled slowly forcing the tension away from her. It hadn't spoken this time. Maybe it was just a wrong number. Had to be. She nodded as she reached forward to plate the bacon, trying to keep the last of the chills from showing in her tone of voice. "Most likely babe. Anyone else woulda said something right?"


Richie frowned down at her, snagging a piece of bacon. Amazed that it was edible, he popped another one in his mouth. "Why don't I believe you?" He smoothed his non-greasy hand down her ponytail. "What's been going on, Lains?"


She winced slightly then turned, a sigh threatening to escape her. "It's nothing. Just a few," she paused a moment, yeah just a few, that's all he needs to know about,.Just a few crank calls. Probably some bored kid in town trying to be funny."


"Baby, kids can't get this number-it's unlisted." He hooked his finger under her chin. "Have you been getting these a lot?"


She sighed fully then. "Well not every day or anything baby." She shrugged and turned back to the stove, busying herself with the eggs. "Mostly when you weren't here, never seems to happen when you are here."


"What do you mean, when I'm not here?" He spun her around, letting the eggs spit and sizzle in the pan. "How many of these things are you getting?"


She couldn't tell him that, she didn't need him worrying when he was on tour. Hell if she told him exactly how often they'd come he'd hog tie her to the bus non-stop. Mentally crossing her fingers she shrugged. "Like I said honey, a few. mostly when you were on tour, not so much when you're home."

Without thought, he flipped the eggs with the spatula resting on the stove. Hell, what crackpot had sold their number from the phone company? Not like it hadn't happened before. He was getting used to changing numbers every few months because his number got out.

But it didn't seem like a simple case of fan-hangups though. She practically cinched off another inch from the frayed ends of her shorts as she tugged at the threads. "What'd this asshole say to you, Lains?"


One shoulder lifted into a shrug as she pushed the unclean feeling the calls gave her down, a slight blush beginning to creep into her cheeks. "Never says anything actually. Heavy breathing, lots of it, sometimes I hear squeaking, like a chair being moved, grunts."

She blushed harder, "The kinda grunts a guy makes when....."


Richie swore, long, low and viciously. "Why didn't you tell me?"


Lifting a hand she brushed his cheek with a knuckle. "For this exact reason. Because I didn't want you upset over something like this. You have enough to worry over. It's just crank calls. People get them all the time."


"Baby, people don't get some creep getting off on the phone with their wife," he growled. The eggs and bacon forgotten, he dragged her into his chest, pressing her cheek against his skin. "You should have told me, hell--you just have to contact the phone company and get our phone changed."


She relaxed into his hug as a soft breath escaped her. "We've changed it three times in the last few months Richie. You just keep forgetting, cuz you never have to call home when on tour."


He rested his chin on top of her head. Then how the sweet fuck was this guy still getting their number? It wasn't like she needed any more drama. She was just getting back to herself after the islands and now this? 

The doorbell blew apart any thoughts about making her feel better. "Were we expecting anyone?"

She glanced towards the door then back to him. "No, Jon and Kate wouldn't come up for air yet, and none of the guys have called to say they were coming."
He dropped a quick kiss on her mouth and grabbed a shirt off the chair in the dining room, buttoning the last two buttons before he opened the door. Hell, he'd be more comfortable wearing a turtleneck sweater. Elena's mother stood on their front stoop with a pearl grey day suit on, with some sort of blouse and a hot poker shoved up her arse. 

"Millicent, Lawrence, how good to see you," Richie said with a wide smile. He'd taken lessons with Jon how not to get pissy with the in-laws


He stepped forward, holding his hand out to his son in law. As much as he hated it, it was time to play nice, the boy was shitting gold these days. Seems his little daughter had fallen into a rather smart marriage. He should have known it when she brought him to meet the family. Fruit never fell far from the tree. His little girl had made a better move up than he could have ever imagine. Rock Stars were the new royalty these days. 

The day he'd actually checked into this Richie Sambora's status he'd nearly had a heart attack. He'd pushed multi-millionaires out of his house over long hair. Ok he still hated the hair, but the boy had potential. Trust his little girl to find a boy with better prospects than the one he'd picked for her so many years ago. "Hello there Richard. Hope we aren't intruding?"

"Uh, no--not at all. Welcome to the new house," Richie said, clearing his throat. He looked over his shoulder at Elena's wide eyes. Obviously this wasn't a call she'd gotten.


He stepped past Richie and bee-lined towards his daughter, pulling her into an awkward hug, not even noticing how stiff she was. "How's my pretty Elena? Any grand children in the works yet?" 

He leaned in closer. "Knew you were smarter than to marry a no good hippie. That's my girl, finding yourself a good husband."


Elena's eyes went wider as she backed out of the hug and moved over to Richie swiftly. "Ah, its um, good to see you too Father."


Richie slid a protective arm around her shoulders, tugging her in against his chest. "Too bad we didn't have a head's up, we would have had dinner or something for you."


"Well no problem there son," he let a smile slide onto his lips as the long haired rock star turned into a dollar sign, "I'm sure there's a restaurant close? Let us take you two out. After all we never celebrated your wedding. And just maybe I can act apologetic enough to get hands on some of that cash to invest for you.


He glanced at Elena a moment, his hand reaching out for her, "I shouldn't have said what I did, I’d like to apologize."


Elena glanced at him, and tried to not show any shock. He never apologized, EVER. He was up to something. Sliding her hand into Richie's she tightened her grasp before attempting a smile. "Ahhuh."


Millicent stepped forward. She wasn't exactly on board with her husband's new found fascination with Elena's ...well, she supposed, she'd need to use the term--husband--though no amount of new money would make him acceptable. She's raised her daughter with more sense, but it seemed to just fade away from her like cheap perfume. 

The fact that Lawrence felt the need to come here and schmooze with him made her ill. "It's abhorrent that we didn't get together sooner, but we'd like to rectify that."


Richie laced his fingers with Elena's and resisted the urge to push her behind him. Just what was up with these two? Did they really want to make up for how they'd treated him and Elena before? Did he even care? "Sure, we can hit a restaurant on the strip. Or, if you'd rather go fancier, we can get dressed up."


Elena studied her parents, noting the tightness of her mother's lips, so in opposition to the gleam in her father's eye. Swallowing back the bile that rose she nodded. "There's a very nice place in town, up to your standard's even Mother."


Millicent lifted a brow. That was highly unlikely. "I'm sure it will be fine, darling." 


She tightened her grip on Richie's hand and turned towards the staircase. "We'll just go get ready."

Stopping she turned, a small tense smile flickering onto her lips. She knew her parents, and it all felt too forced. Maybe it was time to face that, who knows maybe they'd surprise her, not that she counted on it. "But first, tell me this, are you here to really accept our marriage, or did you finally check out his job Father? Hmm?"

Chapter 180

**yes i know its been forever since I've updated, but  for the last while I've been withough computer or net.. Finally got it all back together again so  thanks for "keeping the faith" ((lol couldn't resist))

Onward to the next chapter!!

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Kate zipped the blinds open in her room. Unfortunately Jon was onto her early morning ritual and had the pillow over his face already. She sat on his feet, laughing when he wiggled his toes, finding the rips in her favorite pair of jeans. "I knew you were awake." She crawled up the twisted sheets, nipping at the taught skin of his side. "C'mon. Rise and shine. It's a field trip day."

He slid the pillow slightly to uncover one eye and growled. "Wanna sleep. I travel enough Katy."

"Aww c'mon. If you're good Dr. Kate will even give you a lollipop." She brushed her nose over the soft fur of his belly. "I want you to meet my boss today, babe."

The growl turned into a moan as the touch of her nose over his belly had other ideas waking up. "Kinda like it just like this."

His hands zipped down to burrow into the morning sunshine of her hair as all thoughts of bosses, doctor's and procedures vanished. All he saw and felt was the soft of her lips teasing him. "Ya sure we can't do that later?"

Her lips quirked as the sheet shifted under her jawline, the smooth tip of his cock brushed her cheek. "Hmm...there's a pretty unromantic explanation for this lovely little morning hard on thing--I won't ruin it for you," she laughed as his lower lip jutted out. 

"God, you look about 14 when you do that. How am I supposed to take care of business when you look like a teenager?"

"Keep that up and I'll show you just what this teenager can do babe." 

She looked down at the little tent in the sheet and lightly grazed her teeth over the sheet. He lengthened and firmed as she leaned forward, pressing her breasts into his thighs. "Hmm...doesn't seem like a teenager." 


His eyes slammed shut at the feel of her teeth. "Whatcha tryin' to do Katy? Kill me slow here?"

She looked up at him, her hair falling in her face, spreading across his belly. She'd blown it out straight for the day, so it was longer than normal. She crawled up higher, trailing her tongue over the ripples in his abs, the white hot tip of his nipple and squeaked when his knee popped up to rub against the seam of her jeans. 

She laughed as she curled the tip of her tongue around the tip of his nipple and pressed down on his knee. "That's a new way to get me off, Jonny." 

His hand slipped over to brush over that elusive spot on her jeans. "I'm industrious didn't ya know?" 

He almost growled at the little hitch in her breath, his grin growing as he brushed over the spot again. "We can be late, rockstars are always late."

She groaned, wiggling up and away from his hand. "Yes, but doctors don't get to be late, especially when she's getting a favor from her boss." She cradled his jaw with her hand and stared down at him. His eyes were still tired, but had lost that dangerous edge of exhaustion. 

The purple bruises under his eyes had faded with a good twelve hours of sleep...well, so they were broken into two six hour shots, but beggars couldn't be choosers when it came to sleep and a rockstar. Nor, the horny doctor he'd left home waiting for him. 

Sex and sleep and naked Chinese takeout had been a splendid way to start off his visit, but she wanted Dr. Davis to take a look at the injection site. She'd started a clinical trial workup that would be amazing for her career, but she wouldn't use Jon as a guinea pig. Not unless it was actually doing some good. 

He grunted as her elbow connected with his side as she moved away. "Okay dammit I'll get up, under protest."

He slid from the bed and strode to the bathroom door, grumbling under her breath about bossy girlfriends who were doctors with bosses. Just before slipping into the bathroom for a wake up shower he turned. "You sure this is gonna work right?"

It still worried him. The first shot had done wonders, but he was concerned about the damage to his throat, and he was somewhere deep inside afraid it wouldn't work.

She smiled and followed him into the bathroom, leaning against the door jamb. "Well, it's still in the infancy stage, but you did tell me that you had some improvement with your vocal range."

He stuck his head under the spray of water and groused loudly, "Well I didn't walk around for a few weeks feeling like I had sand paper for vocal chords."

She went back into her bedroom and snagged the notebook with her research in and noted that. Bringing it with her, she decided a few more questions--while he was feeling cooperative--would be a good idea. "I know I'm stupid just asking this question, but have you cut the interviews down at all to save your voice?"

He scrubbed shampoo into his hair and winced. He was supposed to, she'd asked him too, but it had been impossible to do. "I tried Kate. Really."

"Yeah, I know--it was a vain hope. I'm not trying to bust your balls, I just want to try and get you through the rest of the tour. Maybe if you could remind Doc of that sometimes..." she trailed off, knowing she was pretty much asking Jon to spout lottery numbers. The odds were about the friggin' same. 

He stepped from the shower, his hand reaching for a towel. "I work hard, I play hard Kate. Dunno how to change that now."

He towel dried his hair leaving the curls fluffed and wet at the same time. She stepped forward and pushed a lock out of his eyes. "I know. I don't exactly get to play as much as you do, but I understand the exhaustion." She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. "Just try," she lingered on his mouth. It really was her favorite feature on him. She never tired of kissing him. "For me," she sighed into his mouth. "But don't lie--if you can't, you can't. I'll need the info for my data." 

He winced at the tone in her voice and knew he couldn't refuse her. "Okay Katy, I'll try, but you gotta promise me one thing babe."

He just hoped when she asked what he could get the words out without being slapped. Damn if her being a doctor didn't take the candy coating off her kisses every time. "Just one thing."

She pushed his hair out of his face, winding her arms around his neck. "And what might that one thing be?"

He pulled her in closer, his lips brushing over her ear gently to take a bit of the sting from his request. "Can I have a bit of Kate time that's not mama Kate or doctor Kate?? Wanna have fun with you, not spend all my time here being poked and prodded okay?"

She forced herself not to stiffen against him. He was right--she was micro-managing most of his time lately. "Tell you what...after the exam with Michael--Dr. Davis," she corrected when his eyebrow quirked in question. "I won't mention your job, my job or anything but stupid girlfriend-like questions about embarrassing moments from your past. How's that?"

A grin slid onto his lips as what he'd been waiting for, for months, finally happened. He'd been waiting for months for that exchange of info and she'd just handed it too him. "Ya only get to ask me embarrassing questions if i get to do the same Katy." 

His lips brushed over hers, his hands sliding down her back to soothe the sudden tenseness away. "I want more barbecue stories you know."

She wasn't exactly unwilling to talk about her life in Georgia, but...well, she didn't ever really have cause to do it before. In Med school the focus was on getting through school and into an Internship. No one cared who and where she came from. The cared about how she did on labs, if she was fit to deal with a patient and not kill them. 

This whole having a man want to know the nitty gritty details of her--well, it was just downright weird. "I have plenty of bedtime stories...if you want to be put in a coma."

"Nothing bout you is boring Katy. " 

He winked then turned to move into the bedroom and stepped back into the jeans he'd left on the chair the night before. "Remind me to make a pit stop after the hospital? King and his bride may have come up with an ingenious kidnap plan but they forgot things too."

She grabbed her bag, tucking the notebook in her knapsack. "What? That your jeans are going to walk without you if you wear them one more time? I do have a washer you know."

He glanced up, his eyes wide. "You do laundry?"

"I'm not one of those rich doctors yet," she teased. "And you, rockstar, need to learn to throw a load in when you drop your pants." She sighed dramatically. "But considering I'm usually on the receiving end of that focused energy, I'm not going to bitch."

"I know you wouldn't mind me being naked the entire time, but baby if I do the laundry the jeans won't be alive to tell the tale after. Trust me." He glanced up, as he pulled his tee-shirt over his head, "You could be one of those doctors, I'll hire a maid if you like."

"Very funny, Mr. Jon Bon Freaaaakin' Jovi, but I'll do my own." She wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, we'll stop at a small shop I know. Maybe, just maybe you won't be accosted."

He glanced around the room, then grinned as he found the cap and shades he'd had on the night he'd arrived. Standing he moved over to the cap and quickly tucked his hair under the cap as he jammed it on his head. Slipping on the shades, he smirked, "Incognito all the way Dr. Kate."

She laced her fingers in his and dragged him out the door. "I like knowing I'm the only one in the room that knows who you are sometimes. Like I won the Pick 10 and no one even knows it."

He shook his head as she pulled him outside. He was the lucky one, he knew that, he'd won the freaking jackpot the day she'd finally let him in. "Well if you won the pick 10 baby, I won the fuckin’ jackpot."

She just shook her head and got in, reaching over to unlock his door. "You're such a goof," she said when he got into the car. At his slight grunt she actually chuckled. "It will be okay Jon. You'll see."

His head tilted as he studied her for a moment, a smile slowly working its way onto his lips. "I believe you Kate."

And oddly enough he really did.