The clink of dishes outside and a hushed giggle pushed through the foggy sleep that had her wrapped into her bed. She blinked at the light streaming through the windows and realized it was an arm that had her wrapped, not sleep. For a wiry guy, Jon was surprisingly strong. She peeked through the heap of curls on her pillow, both hers and Jon's. He was facing away from her, but had more than half of his body tangled with hers. An arm firmly pinned her to the bed from the waist down. Freckles dusted every square inch of his shoulders. His thigh was draped over hers and the hair roughened skin left her itchy.
Cripes there was no reason in the world for her to want more. She wiggled a little to dislodge him, but aches and pains left her nearly breathless. God, she didn't think she'd ever had such a rigorous sex partner in all of her life. She was pretty sure if she hadn't finally cried uncle when the birds started chirping, they'd still be at it.
"Christ," she whispered and groaned all at once.
Jon muttered slightly as he felt movement from the body so securely held in his arm. Cracking one eye open he managed a groan. "It's too early babe."
She felt her stomach pitch at his sleepy gaze and sleep roughened voice. "Hey," she said not knowing what else to say. "Umm...Elena and Richie are up I think. I want to make sure she's okay."
His arm tightened and pulled her closer as his lips whispered over hers. "Well at least you have a good excuse."
"I-" she sighed and let him kiss her. Hell, who was she kidding? Wanting to know if the night before had been just a fluke she let herself curl into him and tangled her fingers into his curls. When the heat was still there and the press of his erection at her hip confirmed it she groaned into his mouth. "I had a feeling it was going to take more than one night to get you out of my system," she said with a weary sigh.
His hips ground against her as he pulled her even closer, groaning as her nipples brushed over his chest. "I'm not complaining bout that one baby."
As his lips lingered at her throat, she tugged on his hair to get his attention. "Jon, we can't." Sitting up, she tamped down the urge to flip him onto his back and climb on. Christ, what kind of friend was she? And using Jon to make her feel better after Elena's meltdown wasn't fair. Scowling at the door when she heard another squeal of laughter, she tucked the sheet around her breasts. "Is she fucking laughing?"
"Well it sure ain’t King, unless he’s taking hormones or something." Jon's voice held a hint of wry humor laced with a bit of worry. "Ok babe, I'm up I'm up, lets go see what the newlyweds are twittering about." He slid from the bed and pulled his jeans up, zipping them securely. He shrugged at the thought of a shirt and bent over tossing his tee-shirt towards Kate. "Well?"
She picked it up and gave him a wry look. "Sugar, does it look like these boobs are going to fit in your little shirt?"
His grin was wide as he winked. "Very barely," His brows waggled slightly, "But I was sorta looking forward to that sight."
Not able to stuff down the laughter she pitched it at his head. "Dream on, Romeo." Leaning over she felt his eyes at her naked back and cursed her over-active hormones that were starting to bubble to life. It was her fault really. If she hadn't waited so long to have sex, she could have handled herself last night without her panties and...she peeked under the bed. Well, all the other assorted things that hit the floor. "Where the heck is my sweater?"
Jon shrugged and blushed slightly, "Well if you're determined to wear it.. " He bent over and picked it up from under the bedside table. "I'd still prefer ya in the tee."
Leaning back she held out her hand for the sweater. When he held it too high she sneered at him. "You find a white one and some water, maybe we'll play later."
He leaned forward and gently placed the sweater in her hand then brushed lips over her ears. "I'll hold ya to that sweetie."
Ignoring the shiver of that promise in her head, she dropped it over her head and stood up. The length barely covered the curviest part of her butt, so she crouched onto the floor to find her jeans. "Damn," she picked up what was left of her underwear and tossed it in the small trash as she quickly hiked up her pants.
It wasn't like he didn’t see every single, solitary inch of her skin the night before, but suddenly it felt way too intimate and way too weird in his room. Man, she sucked at the morning after. "Um, why don't we go out there and see what's what?"
He reached out and pulled her into a hug. "No matter what we find out there babe, I'm here for ya." His fingers laced in hers before starting to the door. Stopping with one hand on the knob he smiled. "Ready?"
Unused to having a connection with anyone other than her family, she tried to detangle their hands, only to have Jon hold tight. Sighing, she opened the door and felt her jaw drop.
Elena was leaning on the counter, elbows propping her up as her fingertips drew little circles on Richie's naked back. She was laughing at something Richie'd said with her head angled up for a kiss.
"Are you kidding me?"
Bemused brown eyes flickered over to the now open door as a smile continued to play about her lips. "Morning Katydid, Morning Mop Top." She tilted her head and studied Kate intently from the top of her hair, that was in a wild disarray, to her very obviously kissed lips. Well hmm, how interesting was that? Making a note to quiz her friend later she turned her gaze back to Richie. "I think we woke them up."
"You think? I-you...We-" she stuttered and let go of Jon's hand and stalked into the kitchen. "You need to explain things pronto." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I was ready to admit you last night and you're out here laughing like nothing happened?"
Elena continued to brush fingertips over Richie's back, her eyes dropping to study the oh so interesting floor. Her voice was quiet as she replied."Something like that Katydid."
Rage warred with fear in her belly. Everything she buried the night before in Jon's arms came back with technicolor ruthlessness. "Oh no, there's no way that's going to work this time. It's different if you were just trying to get over a guy. I can let you clam up, but last night? Last night had every textbook tag for post traumatic stress."
Elena slid her fingers to coast over Richie's arms, suddenly intent upon the muscles of his chest. "I'm just coping by being normal Katy. Can't let things make me a victim, too much to live for ya know?"
"Victim?" her hand reached out and found Jon behind her. Her fingers twisted into his as she took a step back and her stomach bottomed out. "What?" she asked on a shaky breath, finally able to speak when Jon laid his free hand on her back.
Elena's gaze moved up to capture Richie's as if to ask for him to put things to words. She closed her eyes and saw that little hall, and could almost smell its smell. "I just.."
"Kate, while we were on our vacation...well vacation slash honeymoon, something happened while we were out at a club." Richie rubbed Elena's shoulders encouragingly.
Elena shivered, took a deep breath and opened her eyes. "He'd been wrangled to jam on stage; it was so much fun watching him. He saved the day though, just like he promised." She knew she wasn't making that much sense, but the words weren't coming.
Kate's grip tightened on Jon's hand as she backed into him. God no. Not her Elena. She was just being...It wasn't anything like she was picturing in her work-weary brain. Nothing like she saw every night. Not the...She shook her head. "Were you mugged?" she heard herself ask.
Elena shook her head no before moving to snuggle into Richie's arms and chest, "Nothing so simple Katy, I wish it were that."
Richie watched as the no-nonsense doctor melted against his best friend. He could practically smell the worry and the fear coming off of her in waves. "Elena, you're going to have to just spit it out. She's thinking of things twenty times worse."
Hope curled into her gut finally as she met Richie's sad brown eyes. "I-Please, Lains."
Elena glanced up at Richie then back to Kate and saw the truth of her guy’s words. "It was a couple days after the wedding," her eyes brightened with the memory. "We decided to go out, and while there Richie's friend Rette was there, damn he’s bigger than Richie even. Any hows, while they chatted I went to get us some drinks, and there was this guy there, piece of garbage, all flash and sizzle to his clothes. High? God he was toasted on coke or alcohol. Wanted me to go to a hotel with him." Elena sighed her eyes shadowing at the memory. "I flicked him off, like I always do and went back to Richie. He got talked into playing, hell he needed too he hadn't really played in days."
She paused a moment and took a deep breath, letting Richie's hands and gentle caresses calm her. "A while into the jam session I needed to hit the ladies room, and when I came out, that skank was there, telling me how he'd knew I'd come for him. Before I knew it he had me against the wall, his hands were.. they were......" She shivered slightly unable to stop the words, "Everywhere. I knew.. I knew what was coming, but he was so high it made him stronger and nothing I did would stop him."
She looked into Kate’s eyes a shimmer of joy beginning to flood her gaze, "Next thing I know someone is beating the living shit outta the piece of trash. Pony had found me, he stopped him Kate; he stopped things from getting worse."
"Oh honey," Kate moved away from Jon and went to her friend. As Elena eased away from Richie she walked into her arms. "Sugar," she whispered. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? You're just determined to give me a heart attack, aren't you?" she said and hugged her tighter. She leaned back. "Are you sure that's all? Did you get checked out?"
Elena shook her head. "I had my Pony, he got me through. Nothing bad happened. Not exactly something you talk about though when you're trying to announce to the world you up and got married."
Elena sighed before continuing, "But that’s what started stuff last night, that guy at the bar came up behind me, and well it brought back that night. I froze. I could almost smell...." Her voice trailed off as she shivered.
Jon's watched quietly, nausea rolling in his belly for Teensy and his friend. For that to happen and then family to be unhappy after they'd made it through was inexcusable. He glanced up at Richie, his brow quirking up, "you actually beat the guy up???"
Richie reached out and smoothed his hand down Elena's hair. "I almost killed him. If Elena hadn't been able to reach out and call me, I would have beaten him to death." He lifted his chin and met his friend's eyes. "Without a doubt."
Jon nodded. "Good for you man. What happened to him? You called the cops right?"
"Yeah, you locked up that animal, right?" Kate leaned back and grasped her shoulders.
Elena winced slightly, "I just wanted to get out of there, get home. Richie wanted to go after him, but..."
Kate looked up at Richie and reached out her hand. "Thank you," she curled her fingers around his long fingers for a second then wrapped her arms back around Elena. "You should have let him kill him," she said roughly.
Elena shook her head, "His hands were made to create not destroy Katydid, not even for me. He wouldn't have survived it, Love him too much to make him try. I thought it though, for all of 10 seconds, but I couldn't let him."
Richie stepped forward. "Oh Lains," he said and turned her into his arms. His arms crossed around her waist as he lowered himself to her height. "I could have. I could have broken him into two, without a thought, and without remorse."
She kissed his nose and smiled. "I know baby, but I still couldn't let ya." She glanced over at Kate. "I'll be ok, as long as skinny, short, dark headed, sparklie skanks stay outta my way."
"Well hell, darlin'. That's going to be tough. It pretty much sums up Alec." Richie said and stood. He glanced over at Jon, who'd been pretty silent through the entire story.
Jon's brow arched as he returned Richie's gaze, giving him that we’ll talk deeper when the girls ain’t around look. "Yeah it does at that."
Richie rested his chin on top of Elena's head. "Lains wants everyone to act as normal as possible. We'll keep this just between the four of us for now, okay?"
Elena's gaze turned to Jon and Kate, "It's the best way to move on. Just gotta act normal, well, " she paused and grinned, "as normal as it gets around this guy anyhows."
"I know a lot of great counselors, Lain. I'm sure we can get you any help you need to get through this."
Elena smiled and shook her head, "I have all I need in this room, a great girlfriend, a sexy gorgeous husband, and this weird mop top with blue eyes that, well I haven’t figured out his good uses yet, but there’s BOUND to be something. “Right Pony?"
She looked up at Richie and winked. "He IS good for something right?"
Richie wrapped his arms around her. "Right," he said genially. But the knife edge of denial on Elena's end nicked at his gut. He hoped she was right.
