Chapter Ninety-Two

To:     The Girls

From: Q

Re:     Queenie’s World Tour - The End

Yes, sadly, the tour is at its end.  We have landed in Portugal and the guys are preparing for the last show of the tour. 

For as much fun as I have had, I can honestly say I won’t miss living out of my suitcase, uncomfortable airplane seats or hotel/restaurant food.  I would kill for a decent home-cooked meal.  I totally get why the guys hate this part of their jobs.  When they say the 3 hours they spend on stage is the best part of all this, they aren’t lying. 

I hope you have enjoyed my notes, anecdotes and pictures.  It’s been fun sharing this experience with all of you, even if it was only virtually. 

We’ll be heading home after the show tomorrow night with a short stop in New York to see my family.  We should be back in LA by the end of the week.  I don’t start my next Habitat project until the beginning of September.  Hopefully I’ll be recovered from the jet lag/travel hangover by then.

Girls, this has been, by far, one of the best experiences of my life.  How many people get an opportunity like this in their lifetime?  I got to travel, to see the world (well, some of it anyway) in a way I never thought I would.  I know we didn’t get to see a lot of any one place, but the snippets I did get to see were amazing.

The guys have been so nice too.  I can’t believe I can actually call Jon, Dave, Tico and Hugh my friends.  But they have become just that. 

And, of course, there’s Richie.  He has been unbelievably wonderful.  I can’t begin to tell you all the things he’s done for (and to) me.  ;)

I used to think Mark was the best man I had ever met.  I think Richie equals him in every way.   We talk, about anything and everything.  He always seems to know what to say to make me feel better or when I need a shoulder to cry on or just an ear to listen.  It’s like he has some sort of weird sixth sense about what’s going on in my head or something.  And, he makes me laugh.  I think that’s the thing I like best about him.  Other than that damn dimple of his. 

 

I am so glad I said yes to Richie when he asked me to come along with him.  I considered (for about half a second) saying no.  I’m glad the yes came out of my mouth first.  J

Girls, I didn’t think I could ever be this happy again.  When I sold the house and left New York, I wasn’t entirely sure I was doing the right thing.  All I knew was I needed to get out, get away and try to deal with all that had happened.  Turns out, it was the best decision I could have made.

Anyway…

Today, we get to play, the show is tomorrow night and then we’re headed back to the US of A.  While I don’t know yet what the rest of the summer will bring, I do know that I will have a few weeks to rest and recuperate. 

I hope you are all well and enjoying your summer.  Miss you all.

Love to all of you.

Q

~

Pushing open the door, Richie wiped his face with the towel he had carried up from the gym.  Stephanie was facing away from him, looking out the window and talking on her phone.  She was wearing that little, silky pink robe that left her tanned, toned legs bare.  He looked her up and down.  It had been a week since they had done more than fool around and he had gotten more than a blow job.  Not that he minded, but as much as he loved her mouth on him, he loved being buried in her warm, wet pussy so much more. 

Damn Mother Nature. 

His eyes traveled her up and down once more.  Hoping all was well in that department he let the door close quietly behind him and he followed the tent in his shorts across the room.

Two more nights before they returned to the States.  Two more nights of sleeping next to her.  Two more days and nights of having her by his side every day before they returned to their real lives.  How was he going to go back to living alone?  He stopped behind her.

How was she?

His thoughts were interrupted by the rising of Stephanie’s voice.

“No, Jane. That wasn’t the deal we made.”

Stephanie shook her head and paced along the length of the windows. “I was supposed to have more than a month’s notice before having to be out of the house.”  She rolled her eyes to the ceiling.  “How could this happen?  This was supposed to be a rent-to-own deal.  And how am I supposed to find somewhere else to live when I’m not even in the damn country?”

She stopped and pushed at the sheer curtains so she could look out the window.  What the hell was she going to do now?  The owners of her house wanted the house back.  Apparently the guy’s new job wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. 

Catching Richie’s reflection behind her, she wrapped up the call.  “Jane, I’ll have to call you back.”  She ended the call and dropped her phone into the pocket of her robe.

Before she could speak, his hands were at her hips, his fingers crushing the silk as he dragged the hem of her robe up in search of her skin.  He moved in close and pressed his front against her back.  His hands slid around to her front, his long fingers working the sash free from its knot.  Her skin was warm and as soft as her robe.  Those long fingers traveled down, slowly skimming over her belly, resting lightly in the tiny bit of hair that covered her mound.  His other hand slid up, cupping her breast, testing its weight in his palm, his thumb circling the rapidly hardening nipple. 

“Rich” she dropped her head back and a soft moan escaped her lips.

He leaned in, snaking his tongue around the shell of her ear.  “Shh…” his fingers slid lower, hovering, barely touching her clit.  “Are we good?”

Stephanie widened her stance and nodded.  “God yes.”

He smiled against her, nipping along her neck even as his fingers moved lower.  She shuddered and pushed back against him when his fingers dipped inside her.  She was already wet and ready for him.   He pressed his fingers deeper.  She was always wet and ready for him.   That thought had him harder and he ground himself against her ass. 

With his fingers still knuckle deep inside her, he nudged her forward, “lean on the window, baby” he whispered.  With the sheer curtains pulled closed, no one on the outside would be able to see them. 

She moved, gripping the curtains in her fists, her forehead resting against the window. 

He raised the hem of her robe up and over her ass, stroking her cheeks lightly.  “You have the prettiest ass, sweetheart.” 

Stephanie closed her eyes, “thanks.”  His fingers slid around her hip and found her clit again, stroking her, pushing her toward the threshold of her control.  She pressed her hips back against him.  “Rich, please, I’m gonna-”

He pulled his hand away, “not yet you’re not.”  He lowered his shorts and was buried balls deep in her in less than a heartbeat.  The relief of finally being inside of her again combined with the pleasure of her tightening like a fist around him had him nearly losing control.  Taking a deep breath he moved, driving into her with an almost reckless abandon.  He reached around to find her clit to keep her with him and his fingers encountered hers.  He drew his hand away, gripping her hip tightly.  “That’s right, darlin’, come on, play with that pretty clit and come with me.” 

As the words left his mouth she cried out, her orgasm erupted, flowing through her, stealing her breath and taking Richie with her.

Panting, Stephanie rolled her head against the window.   Richie was draped over her, one hand still on her hip, the other bracing himself against the window.  “Damn” she whispered.

Sucking in a huge breath, Richie blew it out and eased himself from her.  He drew up his shorts and pulled her hair away from her face.  “Stay right here, Sweetheart.  I’ll be right back.”

Relaxing her grip, the curtains fell back into place and she slowly stood and as she turned she found Richie walking back toward her.  She smiled at him and let her eyes fall closed.  “I think you wrecked me more than a little that time.”

He chuckled and gently cleaned her thighs with the cloth he had brought with him.  “I was aiming for total destruction.  I guess I need to try harder next time.”

She dropped her head forward to rest it on his shoulder.  “Any harder and I won’t be able to walk normal for a week.”

“I’ll push you around in a wheelchair” he replied with a smile as he lifted her from her feet.  “Come on, I need a shower and you need to tell me what’s going on with your house.”

~

They were still arguing about her situation hours later while they were getting ready to go to dinner.  He thought she should just move in with him.  She wasn’t so sure that was the best idea.

“It’s too much of an imposition, Rich.  I just couldn’t do that” she repeated herself for the umpteenth time.  She was finding out that Richie could be as stubborn as a mule about some things.

Richie blew out a breath and instead of going around and around this subject and getting nowhere, again.  He took her hands and led her to the couch.  “Sweetheart, how long have we been seeing each other?”

Her slim shoulder lifted in a shrug.  “Eight months or so.”  She stared at him, wondering just where this conversation was going.

“And in that time, did you see us moving this relationship along to something more-” he paused searching for the right word, “permanent I guess would be the word I want.”

She nibbled her lower lip before frowning slightly.  She could honestly say she hadn’t even considered it.  “No, Rich, I hadn’t.”

He dipped his head to find her eyes with his.  He wanted to know just what she thought about where they were headed.  “Where did you see this going, Sweetheart?”

She sat and stared at him for a long moment before pulling her hands from his and standing.  She paced back and forth.  She hadn’t even thought about where things with them were going.  She had no idea how this was supposed to work.  They had professed their love for each other but did that mean moving in together, maybe getting married at some point?  Was there another happily ever after out there for her?  Was she ready to go down that road again?

From the look on her face he could tell she was having a hard time coming up with an answer for him.  “It is so terrible?” he asked.

Her gaze shot to his.  “What?”

He reached out and took her hand, “is it so terrible, the thought of living with me?”  He pushed ahead before she could answer.  “I mean, we’ve been living in each other’s pocket for the last month.  Would it be so awful to make it a permanent situation?”

Her eyes softened and she squeezed his hand.  “No” she said quietly.  “No it’s not awful, not at all.”  She sat back down next to him.  “I’m just not sure-”

“About what” he interrupted.

She turned to face him, “I’m not sure I’m ready for that type of commitment yet.”

It was his turn to stand and pace away from her.  How could she not be ready yet?  “I don’t see how you can’t be.  You want to be with me, right?”

She nodded.  “Yes.”

“Then what is the issue here?  I already told you you’re not imposing.”  He sat back down next to her.  “I want you there, in my home, in my life, sweetheart.  I don’t know how to make it any clearer.”  His phone rang, a glance at the screen had him frowning.  “Yeah, man, we’ll meet you there.”  He ended the call, never letting his gaze leave her face.

She made to rise from the sofa and he grasped her wrist.  “We’re not done here.”

She swallowed and the tip of her tongue snuck out to wet her lips.  “We need to go” she managed.

“We have a few minutes.”  He wanted an answer from her.

She dropped her gaze, trying to gather her thoughts.  “Do you know how many guys I have dated in my life?”  She didn’t wait for him to answer.  “Three.  One before Mark, Mark and you.  And I was married to Mark for nearly half my life.  I’ve never lived on my own before.  And I’ve never been in a situation like this.  I don’t know what to do.  I want to be with you, I enjoy being with you, but I just don’t know if moving in with you is the right thing to do yet.”  Her eyes started to sting with unshed tears.  Pulling her wrist from his grasp she got up and crossed to the bathroom.

He watched her go, feeling like a bit of a heel.  He blew out a breath.  He shouldn’t have pushed her like that.  Standing, he crossed the room to stand outside the bathroom.  At least she knew what he wanted.  He knocked lightly on the bathroom door.  “Come on out Sweetheart, we have to go.”

She opened the door a crack, “you go, I’m not really in the mood right now.”

Her eyes were red-rimmed and watery.  That made him feel even smaller.  “I didn’t mean to make you cry, Sweetheart.  You don’t have to make a decision now.  I won’t push you on it anymore either.”

She didn’t say anything. 

“You need to eat.” 

“I’m not really hungry right now.  You go, Rich.  I’ll be fine.”  She wanted to be alone for a bit.  Try to figure things out.

He sighed and pushed the door wider.  “You’re okay?”

She nodded.  “I just need to be alone for a bit.”

He tugged her into him, pressing his lips to her forehead.  “I’m sorry.”

Turning her head, she rested her cheek against his chest.  “It’s okay.  I’m fine.  I just need to figure some things out.  You go on to dinner.  I’m not going anywhere.”

With his hands on her shoulders, he pressed her back.  “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.  Call room service if you want anything.”

She leaned up and pressed her lips to his.  “I’ll be fine, Rich.”  She pushed at him, “go.  You’re already late.”

He kissed her lightly and then he was gone.

Chapter Ninety-One

Standing in front of the mirror, Richie dipped his fingers into the pot of hair mud and rubbed his hands together.   Leaning in close to the mirror, he ran the product through his hair and finger-combed his hair across his forehead.  Turning his head this way and that he gave it one last comb through and wiped his hands on the towel he had dropped on the dresser.  Picking up his shirt from the end of the bed, he slid his arms into the sleeves and buttoned the last few buttons.  At the sound of the door behind him opening, he drew his gaze up, watching her reflection in the mirror. 

She had gone to the hotel spa/salon and had her hair done that day.  She reached up and pulled the clip from her hair.  She had a side part today and soft waves framing her face and flowing down her back.  Her sundress was pink and the halter left her shoulder bare.  Between the beaches in Greece and Barcelona the sun had given her a golden tan and teased out the freckles across the bridge of her nose and across the tops of her smooth shoulders. 

He was glad he had asked her to come with him for the month.  He liked having someone to share the mundane, day-to-day touring nonsense with.  But more, he was glad not to be alone anymore.  He was having fun again, without the aid if booze or pills.  He liked showing her the different cities, different countries, what little they had time to see, and seeing her reactions to the places she had never been.  It was a far cry from when he had had Denise with him for a week or Ava for a short time. They had been so used to seeing and doing everything that they found little joy in the experience.

He gaze slid back to her face.  He hoped Stephanie didn’t end up as jaded as some of the women in his life.

Moving away from the mirror he sat down on the bed and pulled on his socks.  Reaching for his shoes, his eyes landed on the pair of long, tanned legs coming his way.  Her toes, painted a shimmery, coppery red, stopped just in front of him.  He dragged his gaze up from her pretty painted toes, along the length of her legs, taking in the flare of her dress around her hips, the swell of her breasts over the sweetheart neckline, stopping at the sweet smile that graced her shiny pink lips.

He raised his gaze higher before retreating.  Her smile was there in the pretty green and brown kaleidoscope that was her eyes.  They had both been more than a little broken when they had met, but slowly, they were becoming whole again.  He felt better than he had in years and he knew it was because of this woman standing before him.  Reaching for her arm, he gave a gentle tug and pulled her to stand between his knees.  “You look beautiful.”

She dropped the shoes that dangled from her fingers and cupped his face, lowering her mouth to his for a quick, light peck of a kiss.  “Thanks.  Lupe is a miracle worker.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, rubbing his lips lightly across the soft skin there.  “She only enhanced what you already had, Sweetheart.”

She felt her cheeks heat with the compliment.  “Thank you.”  She fingered the ends of his hair.  “Where are we going again?”

After wandering the Ramblas and making their way through the Mercat de San Josep La Boqueria and then the Gothic Quarter of Barri Gotic, he would have liked to have stayed in for dinner, but he been out-voted by the band and his girl.  “Just down to Enoteca for dinner and then maybe to the Club Lounge or Arola, depending on the crowds.”

Stephanie shifted and sat down on the bed next to him.  “Thanks for going.  I know you would have preferred to stay in after the full day we had today.”

“I don’t really mind, Sweetheart.”  He really didn’t he thought as he pulled on his shoes.  He was just happy that she was enjoying herself.  He was doing his best to keep that sad, haunted look out of her eyes and if that meant being a little extra tired in the morning, so be it.  He wanted nothing more than to see her happy.

Stephanie slipped her sandals on and stood, holding out her hand to him.  “Are you ready to go?”

He took her hand and stood, “not quite yet.”  He dug in his pocket, not letting go of her hand.  “I got you something today.”

“What?”  She shook her head.  “No.  Why?” 

He smiled.  It was cute the way she got so flustered.  “I know you heard me.  Yes.  And as for the why, I owed you.”  Before she could say anything he slipped the bangle over her hand and onto her wrist.  The pink gold bracelet had a row of channel set diamonds in the center and was a perfect match to the pink gold links of her watchband.

She looked down at her wrist and back up to his face.  “You owed me?  I don’t understa-” her voice trailed off as she remembered the flight to Turkey.  She smiled at him.  “You won at poker, didn’t you?”

He chuckled and nodded his head.  “That I did, Sweetheart.  And you told me to buy you something nice if I did.”  He picked up her wrist, “nice enough?”

She leaned up and pressed her lips to his.  “More than, Rich.  It’s beautiful.  Thank you.”

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders he handed her her wrap and her small clutch purse.  “You are more than welcome, baby.  Let’s go before Davy starts blowing up my phone wondering where we are.”

~

Tico was the first to spot them as they made their way to the terrace.  He stood and took Stephanie’s hand, kissing the back of it.  “We were beginning to think you two were going to stand us up again.”  He raised his head and winked at her, “you look lovely, absolutely worth the wait.”

Stephanie felt her cheeks heat at the compliment.  “Thank you, Tico.  As much as I’ve enjoyed being ‘just one of the guys,’ I was beginning to miss my girly side.”  She sat in the chair that he pulled out for her.  “Though I have to admit, it certainly is easier and less time consuming to be a guy.”

The guys all laughed and Richie picked up her hand, linking their fingers together.  “Well, Sweetheart, I for one will forever be grateful that you are indeed a woman.”

She pressed a smiling kiss to his cheek and picked up her menu.  “So, gentlemen, what’s good here?”

When they had eaten their fill of the fresh Mediterranean fare, they sat in the balmy evening watching the boats and finishing off a bottle of wine.  “Did you know” Stephanie said to no one in particular, “that all the sailing events in the 1992 Olympics were held here in this port?”  The hotel restaurant overlooked Port Olympic and they could see the boats coming and going while they ate.

David looked surprised, “really?”

She smiled and finished the last sip of her wine.  “I wondered about it, so I looked it up. They built it specifically for those Olympics.”  She looked out over the water, “it really is beautiful.”  She dug into her small purse and pulled out her cellphone and snapped a picture.

Richie slid his arm around her, snagged her phone from her fingertips and handed it to David.  “Here man, take our picture.”  He pulled Stephanie close “the view can’t hold a candle to you, Sweetheart.”

David made a face, “you two make my teeth hurt.  I think you gave me a cavity.”

Stephanie threw her napkin at him.  “Just take the picture already, we can find you a dentist later.”

David handed her back the phone after taking their picture.  “Beautiful, smart and witty, and yet you ended up with him.”  He shook his head, “I don’t get it.”

They all stood and made their way out of the restaurant.  “It was the dimple” Stephanie said to him, “couldn’t resist it.”

Richie nudged him from behind, “you’re married, again, what’s your problem?”

David smiled at his friend, “nothing man, just trying to figure out how you always end up with the best looking woman in the room.”

“That’s easy” Richie said as he took Stephanie’s hand, “I’m the best looking guy in our group.”

Their laughter rang through the hall as they made their way to the Club Lounge.

Chapter 90

To:     The Girls

From: Q

Re:     Where in the World is Queenie?

At this point, I’m not even sure anymore.  We’ve been traveling so much I’m not sure I even remember my own name.  :P

I kid. 

We’re back in Germany again, Mannheim to be exact.  It’s been beyond crazy.  Eat, sleep and shows.  That’s all it’s been it seems.  I’ve seen maybe half of second of each country we’ve been in but hopefully that will change soon.  Italy is coming up and they’ve built in a couple of days off after that show and before the one in Greece.

I shouldn’t complain, I’m living out a dream, but all this traveling is harder than I thought it would be.  And I’ve only been doing it for a week.  A rock star I shall never be.  J

I’ve attached a few pictures.  I’ll try to send more soon.

Love to you all!

Q

Stephanie sighed and stood, moving toward the windows.  She should be curled up in the big bed in the other room next to her man.  But sleep wasn’t being a very good friend lately.  Her cycle had been all messed up since they left California.  She’d get used to it eventually.  She hoped. 

Crossing her arms in front of her self she rubbed her hands up and down her arms, over the silk of her robe and sighed once again.  The view of the city was just as breathtaking as the others had been.   Leaning on the windowsill, she pressed her forehead to the cool pane of glass and stared out at the city below.  She may not have seen much of any of the cities they had been in so far, but the views from every hotel managed to steal her breath. 

The hotels did too.

Never had she stayed in such luxury. She couldn’t fault the guys for indulging themselves with their lodging considering how much time they spent in a cramped plane and sitting on little more than folding chairs and warehouse grade furniture at the venues.  When they slept, it was nothing less than four or five star accommodations for these men.  Going home was going to be like roughing it after this.  She smiled amusedly at the thought and pushed away from the window.  She needed to shut down her computer and try to get some sleep.

Sitting back down, she pulled the computer onto her lap and let out a surprised gasp.  Her screensaver had engaged and the picture she was looking at was of her, Mark and Ben at one of Mark’s family get-togethers.  The screensaver cycled to the next random picture and she swiped her finger over the mouse, ending the slideshow and quickly she clicked through her folders to the one with that picture.

She hadn’t seen Mark’s family in more than a year.  She had let his mother know she had sold the house and was moving, but she’d had no contact with any of her brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law since before that.  She had sent the kids Christmas presents, but again hadn’t heard from anyone.  She wasn’t sure any of them would want to see her.  With the two people who had connected her to that family gone, would they still consider her a part of the family?  She traced the faces of the little ones in the picture with her fingertip.  She’d have to go back there and visit.  Find out if she was still welcome there. 

With a last, longing look at the photograph, she shut down the computer and set it off to the side.  She raked her fingers through her hair and dropped her head against the back of the couch.  So much had changed in her life.  It was nearly incomprehensible.

“Hey.”

And there was the biggest, most surprising change of all.  She rolled her head toward the husky, sleepy voice and opened her eyes.  “Hey.”  Her voice was quiet with a hint of the melancholy she was feeling tainting the edges.

Richie crossed to the couch and moved her laptop out of his way before sitting down next to her.  “Why are you out here?  You should be sleeping.”  He ran a hand through his hair before finding hers and twining their fingers together.  “What’s wrong?”

“I know I should be, but I couldn’t so I came out here.”  She rolled her head back and huffed out a breath, “I can’t seem to find my rhythm.”

Laying his fingers on the side of her face, he gently turned her head toward him so he could see her eyes.  “You didn’t answer the other question.  What’s wrong, Sweetheart?”   Her sleep cycle may be out of whack, but something was definitely bothering her.  He hadn’t seen such sadness in her eyes in a long time.

She looked at him for a long moment before getting up and pacing to the window and back.  “A picture on my screensaver caught me off guard.”  She went on to explain about the photograph and her relationship with Mark’s family.  “It makes me sad to realize we haven’t really had any contact since they died.”

“No contact at all?”  Surprise colored his voice.

She shook her head sadly.  “Not since I left.”  She sat back down next to him.  “Do you think that maybe after the tour, we can make a pit stop on our way back to California?  I think I’d like to pay Mark’s family a visit.”  She paused, “at least his parents anyway.”

Richie wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, pressing his lips to her temple.  “I think that can be arranged, Sweetheart.”  He’d do anything to keep her happy and to keep that sad, haunted look out of her eyes.  He yawned hugely.  “Come on, let’s go back to bed.”

She followed him back into the other room and crawled into the big bed next to him.  She yawned, suddenly exhausted.

~

To:     The Girls

From: Q

Re:     Where in the World is Queenie?

Well, we made it to Greece.  Italy was amazing and the show was incredible.   (I have to say we Americans NEVER get shows like the Euro fans are getting.  It’s not right!)  We even managed to see a few sights in Udine before we got on the plane again.  I told Richie I’d love to come back when he’s not touring so we can take our time and see everything we’re missing. 

 

 

Actually, I’d love to come and re-tour all the countries we’ve been in and out of in the last ten days.  It’s so hard to do anything other than check into the hotel, go to the concert venue, listen to them sound check, eat, watch the show and leave again.  But, I’m trying. 

We now have a couple of days off and Richie and I are going to get out and see a bit of Athens today.  I can’t even begin to describe just how beautiful it is here.  The sky and water are nearly the same shade of sapphire and the white of the buildings is so brilliant you need your sunglasses to look at anything. 

I promise to send more pictures.  I think you’ll get a charge out of the ones I’m sending with this email.  The guys were absolute goofballs backstage the other night.  You can probably guess who instigated.  You’d think grown men of 50+ would know better than to start a food fight that close to show time.  I thought Jon was going to blow a gasket, until he grabbed a soda can, shook it and joined in the battle.  You can see who caught the brunt of his enthusiasm.  I’m still not sure how I didn’t end up covered in cola. I did manage to get a few crackers stuck in my hair though.  Damn him.  But, I’ll take crackers being flung at me like Frisbees over being sprayed with cola any day, thank you very much.  J

Food fight and lack of sleep aside, it’s been a lot of fun.  Even if I am traveling with five boys stuck in man-sized bodies.  Sometimes I find myself opening my mouth and my mom-voice coming out.  It’s hard not to treat them like kids some days.  *eye roll*

I wish you girls could be here living this opportunity with me.  I hope you’re enjoying the snippets I’m sending. 

Miss you all.

Q

 

 

Richie came up behind her as she pressed send.  “You ready to go?”

She shut down the machine, tucked it back in its bag, grabbed her purse and his outstretched hand.  The Acropolis was waiting for them.  “Let’s go explore.”

Chapter Eighty-Nine

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, dancing along the plush carpet. Their suitcases sat in the middle of the floor surrounded by shoes and a trail of clothes that led to the bedroom.  Stephanie lay across the wide bed, tendrils of hair highlighted in Sharon Osborn red clung to her cheek and her fingers tangled loosely in Richie’s hair.  He hadn’t wasted any time getting her naked after they checked in to the hotel.  He was making good on his word.  The whole damn hotel was going to know this man’s name by the time he was through with her.  At the very least, she would be embarrassed to run into any of the guys any time soon.

Her legs trembled as he tasted his way up the length of her leg. He was just too damned good at this. She shuddered when he paused to draw tiny circles on the delectable skin at the back of her knee. She hissed out a breath when he bit down gently and sucked not so lightly at the tender flesh of her upper thigh. She wasn’t sure she had the energy to come again. The stubble burn on her breasts was testament to the first two orgasms he had given her. She was sure his fingers were still sticky with her juices from the last go round. His too talented fingers had tormented her in the best possible way. Now he was angling for a fourth with his mouth and that tortuous tongue of his.

Her fingers clenched in his hair, bracing herself for the onslaught of sensation she knew was coming.  She wasn’t sure she would be able to stand it, she was still reeling from the last time.  The rasp of his tongue over her most sensitive flesh had her trembling.  She raised her head to look down at him.

“Rich, I don’t think...I’m not sure I can-”

He paused and lifted his head, “Yes you can. And I don’t want you to think, Sweetheart.”

There was nothing but desire and an overwhelming need to give her as much pleasure as she could handle shining in his dark eyes. Her head dropped back the bed, “I’d like to see a little of Europe before I die if you don’t mind.”

He chuckled against her thigh. “I’m not going to kill you, Sweetheart.”

“I don’t know, babe” she mumbled, “that last one nearly did me in.”

Abandoning his task, he slowly made his way up her body, sipping along the dip of her belly, his stubble scraping lightly over her ribs.  His tongue snuck out to lave over her breasts, lapping lightly at the pebbled tips. When his hips were cradled between hers, he found her hands and eased them up over her head, his fingers stroking down the velvety softness of her forearms. Looking down at her, he smiled gently at her slumberous expression. “You still with me?”

She shuddered at his touches to her over-sensitized skin, “yeah” she replied softly and puckered her lips in invitation.

He dropped his mouth over hers and kissed her lightly, moving his hips in time with the easy caress of their lips. The broad head of his erection brushed along the warmth and wetness of her delicate flesh. He shifted slightly and pressed forward, burying himself inside her. He closed his eyes, dropped his forehead to her shoulder and he breathed deeply, trying not to lose control. He had been ready for her two orgasms ago and if he wasn’t careful, he’d be all done in half a second and it would be a while before he would be able to have her again. The curse of getting older, recovery time was nowhere near what it used to be.  Damn it.

Raising his head he left a trail of kisses across her shoulder.  He cursed when her muscles contracted around him.  She was right there, ready and waiting.  Hooking her knee over his forearm he slid in a little deeper.  He swore again.  “Darlin’” he waited until she opened her eyes and looked at him.  “Stay with me, this might get a little rough.”

Her eyes widened as he pulled out and drove into her. Hard. She shuddered violently. “YES!”

He pounded into her, once, twice, three times and she gripped him like a vice, their cries of release mingling together as they got lost with each other.

~

Turning her head, she blinked and slowly opened her eyes.  The sun had moved and evening was starting to settle outside.  How long had they been asleep?  She shifted, holding the blankets over her as she searched for the clock. Only a couple of hours, not that long. Before she could curl back into him, she felt Richie move behind her and purred appreciatively when he wrapped himself around her.

“Hey you,” she smiled at him over her shoulder.

He dotted kisses across her upper back. “Hey yourself, Sweetheart.”  He glanced at the clock over her shoulder.  “We should shower.”  He pressed an open mouth kiss to the ball of her shoulder.  “We’re going to dinner soon.”  They were supposed to have dinner with the others, sort of a pre-show pow wow.

His voice was husky with sleep and his stubble chafed across her skin deliciously. “Mmmmm, do we have to?”  She didn’t want to move from this spot, not yet.  Maybe not ever.

He nudged her hair out of his way and continued up her neck, “we don’t have to do anything we don’t want to do.”  His hand slid down under the blankets, his fingers dancing along the alluring curve of her lower back. His mouth moved across the nape of her neck and his fingers slid around and traced the crease where her hip and thigh came together. “We can stay in if you want.”

She pressed herself tighter against him, his growing erection prodding her ass.  She rolled her hips against him. “I like the idea of staying right here.”

He grinned against her skin.  He didn’t really want to go either.  “Whatever you want, Sweetheart.”  His fingers moved lower, tracing along her slit.  She was wet already. Or maybe it was still.  It didn’t matter.  Moving from behind her, he helped her to her knees, fingers tracing each tic of her spine when she lowered the front half of her body.  She was so soft.  And he loved that her skin was unmarred by anything other than the occasional freckle and one small, necessary scar.  His fingers slid lower, dipping inside her.  She was damn near perfect.  God he loved her.

Climbing to his knees he moved behind her and, gripping her hips, slid inside her in one barely controlled thrust.  He had been with a lot of women in his life, but none had ever gotten to him like this one.  Even after having been with her just a few hours before, he wanted her again.  She was better for his libido than any pill could hope to be.

She moved her hips and he responded in kind, drilling into her over and over again, driving them both closer to the edge of insanity.  He was nearly ready to blow but he could feel that she wasn’t quite with him.  Reaching around, his fingers sought her clit and found hers instead.  He pulled his hand back, “come on Sweetheart, now, now, now.”  He couldn’t hold back any longer. He wanted to feel her coming with him, around him.

With a sharp cry, her orgasm overtook her.  She pressed back on him and took them both over the edge.  Panting, they collapsed in a sweaty, sated heap in the middle of the bed. “Mercy” she whimpered. “Mercy.”

Richie rolled over and pulled her into the curve of his body. “I didn’t hurt you did I?”

She slid her hand along his forearm, letting it rest on the back of his, “God no, this afternoon has been amaz-” she was interrupted by the ringing of his phone.

Richie moved to the edge of the bed and reached over to pick up his pants. He fished his phone from the pocket. “Lo.”

“Yo, you guys coming to dinner?”

He looked over at Stephanie, she had rolled over onto her back and stretched like a cat. “No, man, we’re gonna order up room service and stay here.”

“Okay” Jon said. “Maybe you wanna meet up with us later?”

Stephanie listened to the conversation for a minute before getting up and rummaging through her suitcase.  Seeing what she had dug out of her suitcase and turned his attention back to the phone and his conversation.

“I think we’re just gonna stay here tonight, man.  We’ll see you tomorrow.”

When she stepped out of the bathroom her stomach rumbled.  Loudly.   She followed her nose to the window where Richie had wheeled the room service cart.  She stopped and just stared out the window.  The view of the Bosphorous Strait, the crossroad where Asia and Europe come together was breathtaking, glowing with the lights of the city that were just dotting on and the change from sunlight to moonlight. 

“Wow” she whispered, not wanting to ruin the quiet moment.

Richie watched her cross the room, he could say the same about her.  She hadn’t bothered with real clothes, choosing instead to pull on her pink, Victoria’s Secret nightshirt.  Her hair was a wild riot of curls around her shoulders and down her back and her skin looked dewy fresh from her shower.  The tent in his shorts announced his appreciation for him.  He moved around her and pulled out her chair, “have a seat Sweetheart.”

She pressed her lips to his cheek as she settled in her chair.  “Thank you for bringing me here, Rich.” 

He sat across from her and reached for her hand.  “I’m glad you said yes.  But, you may want to hold off on the thanks.  You’ll probably be sick of airplanes and hotels by the end of the week.”

She smiled sweetly at him.  “For views like this” she motioned out the window, “I’ll deal with airplanes and hotels and the five of you.”  She paused, taking a sip of her water.  “Just tell me we’ll actually get to see some of the sights.”  She really hoped she’d get to see some of the places they were traveling to, not just the hotels and concert venues.

Richie lifted the lids off their plates.  “We have days off scheduled, especially when we’re going to be in Italy and Greece.”  He squeezed her hand gently, “we’ll see as much as we can, Sweetheart.”  It was the best he could offer her.

After they finished eating, Richie wheeled the cart out of the room and left it by the door.  He detoured to the bathroom and took a quick shower, coming out to find Stephanie curled up in the bed.  He rounded the wide bed to the far side and crawled in, pulling her close.  They surfed the channels, finding a movie that played in English.  They watched for a while before finally succumbing to jet lag and their amorous afternoon activities.