Chapter Fifty-One

Closing the door, she leaned against and closed her eyes.  Richie had given her thirty minutes to freshen up and come down to his room before he came looking for her.

She used one of those thirty to revel in the show she had just come from.  It had been beyond amazing.  One of the best she had ever been to, save the last night of the Have a Nice Day Tour at Giants.  Jon had been in rare form, touting the “kiss cam” and wanting to see some kissing. “It’s Valentine’s Day” he told the crowd.  “I wanna see some smooching going on.”

The playfulness continued when he told the crowd, “Bon Jovi is like Viagra for women!”  She had never heard a crowd get so loud before.  But the best part for her was hearing so many of their ballads live.  When they had toured Crush they hadn’t come close enough to her hometown for her to go so she didn’t get to hear Thank You for Loving Me until just tonight. But it was the acoustic version of Superman Tonight that had brought her to tears for the first time ever at a concert.

When Jon had headed out on the circle, she knew the “busking” portion of the concert was coming.  But neither she, nor the crowd, could have anticipated the version of Superman that they were about to be gifted with. 

Everyone around her turned toward the back of the pit, crowding the ramp.  She was jostled by the women on either side of her and one of them actually grabbed her in an attempt to get her to turn around to watch Jon.  She escaped the woman’s grasp and stayed where she was, facing the stage.  Raising her camera, she kept her eyes on her man as he worked through the intro.  When he raised his head, she knew he saw her.  He winked and his gaze never wavered, even though she had the camera up in front of her face.  When he started singing, it was as if he was singing to her, only her.  

She had always loved his voice, but to hear him sing with Jon and just their guitars like that, it was beautiful.  It was haunting.  It was a performance she would never forget.  It hadn’t been an immediate favorite off The Circle, but the words tonight seemed to mean so much more to her than they had the first time she had heard it.  Even now, just thinking about it brought the tears back to her eyes.

Thinking about the performance reminded her that she still had her camera in her hands. She crossed to her laptop and booted it up.  Connecting the camera she started downloading her video and pictures.   She wanted to share this special performance with her friends.   

Leaving the camera and computer to do their thing, she hurried to take a quick shower. Pulling on black yoga pants and her pink hoodie she scurried back to the computer.  The upload was just about finished.  She glanced down at the corner of the computer screen. She had about two minutes to get her butt down to Richie’s room.  C’mon, c’mon.   She paced around the table, glancing at the computer again.  Hurry up!  She circled the table twice more before the computer and camera were done.

To:    The Girls
From:    Q
Re:    Superman Tonight

OMG girls, best show ever.  Watch the video I attached.  Amazing is all I can say.
Have to go, Richie is waiting.

Love to you all -

Q

~

Stepping out into the hall she had just pulled the door closed behind her when another one opened.  She lifted her head to find Richie watching her from his open doorway.

“I was just about to come looking for you, sweetheart.”

She tilted her head and looked at him for a long moment, the corner of her mouth curling up into a gentle half-smile.

Who's going to save you
When the stars fall from your sky

Her heart thumped hard in her chest at the mix of hope and worry on his face.   Who had saved whom, exactly?

He had made such a difference in her life.  He had literally saved her from too many lonely moments.  He had helped her heal when she never thought she would.  He had been exactly what she needed when she hadn’t even realized she needed him.   

Who's going to hold you
When you turn out the lights

He filled a hole in her life that she thought would be empty for the rest of forever.   She was falling hard for this man and it didn’t scare her quite as much as it had earlier.  Mark was supposed to have been her be all, end all, but he was gone now and as much as that had nearly destroyed her, she was still here.  Still living, still breathing, going on with her life as best she knew how.  And now, there was another man who was making her happy.   A man whom she was dangerously close to being in love with. 

Somewhere, somehow, something had changed.  Whether it was the song that had left such an impression, the fact that her heart was finally understanding that it was okay to have these feelings for another man or if it was just the man himself, she didn’t know.  And tonight was not the night for questions.  There would be time enough for questions tomorrow when she was alone.  Tonight was for him.  For them.

Without even realizing she had moved, she found herself standing right in front of him.  Raising her hand, she trailed a finger down his cheek.  The light growth of beard scraped her skin deliciously.  “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

He covered her hand with his and turned his face to her palm, kissing her lightly.  “S’okay.  He stepped back to let her by him and into the room.  “Come in.”

She stopped as she stepped into the living area.  “Oh!”

He had the lights turned down low and quiet music was playing on the radio.  A silver bucket rested on the end table with a bottle of something chilling in it.  On the glass-topped coffee table were two glasses, a plate of fruit, cheese and crackers and a decadent looking chocolate confection that she just knew was going to taste as delicious as it looked.  In the middle of all the tasty looking treats was a silver bud vase with one single long-stemmed rose.  A lavender rose.  Her favorite.  How did he do that?

Richie came up behind her and slipped his arms around her, his lips grazing along the edge of her ear.  “Happy Valentine’s Day” he murmured quietly. 

She turned her head and pressed her lips to his.  “This looks wonderful, thank you.  But you didn’t have to do this.  You already gave me a gift.”  She held up her wrist.  “That was more than enough.”

He straightened and shrugged as he took her hand and led her to the couch.  “I wanted to.”  He pulled the bottle from the bucket. 

Why wasn’t she surprised that it was her favorite wine?

“I told you once, sweetheart, I like doing this kind of thing.”  And he hadn’t had anyone to do it for in far too long.  He handed her a glass, “just enjoy it.”  He picked up his glass and lightly tapped it against hers “what should we toast to?”

She thought for a minute, “another show down and only” she paused and looked at him, “how many more to go?”

His smile held an edge of sadness.  “Too many without you being there.”  He had liked knowing that she was waiting for him backstage for these shows.  He liked that he had someone to share his downtime with other than the guys, especially tonight.  He knew that Jon, David, Hugh and Tico were in their respective rooms on the phone with their respective wives.  He’d be sitting here alone if it wasn’t for her.  He set his glass down and turned in his seat to face her.  “I’m glad you’re here.”

She scooted closer to him on the couch and set her glass on the table.  “Me too, Rich.”  She leaned up and kissed him lightly.

Cupping her cheek in his hand, he held her there, taking the kiss deeper, pushing for the heat that was just lingering at the edges.  His tongue tangled, wrapped around hers and when he felt her relax into him, giving up to him, he eased her back, laying her against the cushions. 

His fingers toyed with the pull on the zipper of her sweatshirt, lowering it by a few tics before pulling his hand away.  The adrenaline that still swam in his veins had him wanting to get her naked in a hurry.  Tamping down the urge, he leaned back and picked up the plate of fruit and cheese.  Plucking a fat, green grape from the bunch, he held it up.  “Grape?”

Stephanie nodded and reached for it with her fingers.

He shook his head and held it out of her reach.  “Open up.”

Opening her mouth, she stole the grape from his fingers with her teeth, grazing the end of his thumb with her lips.  His eyes darkened and she bit down on the grape.  The sweet juice of the grape mingled with the flavor of Richie that still lingered on her tongue.  She moaned quietly.  “Mmmm.”

He inhaled sharply.  God he loved that sexy little purring sound she made.  He set the cheese and fruit down and picked up the chocolate sin on a plate.   Running his finger through the icing he held it up to her lips. 

Her tongue snaked out for a taste, wrapping around the tip of his finger before retreating back into her mouth.  She purred again.  “God, that’s good.”

His eyes dilated and he sucked in another breath.  He ran his finger through the icing again.  “You want some more?” 

At her nod he brought his finger to her lips, smearing a little there, on her chin, down her neck.  “Oops.” His smile turned wicked.  “I’d better clean up my mess.”

Before she could say anything he dipped his head and she felt his hot tongue on her skin. 

He started at the notch at the base of her throat, swirling his tongue in that delicious dip before moving along the elegant line of her neck.  He nipped lightly at her chin as he lapped the chocolate from her skin.  He caressed the seam of her lips, clearing away the last of the sweet icing before slipping into her mouth.  The dark richness of the chocolate and her sweet flavor exploded on his tongue.  He angled his head, taking the kiss deeper, ravaging her mouth, nipping at her lips, gorging himself on her.

Moving away from her mouth, he retraced his path, grazing back over her chin, down her throat, to kissing his way to the vee of bare skin were the zipper tab rested against her chest.  Plucking at the metal tab with his teeth, he slowly lowered the zipper. 

Nuzzling the soft skin of her belly, he trailed kisses up the center of her body, nosing away the sweatshirt as he went.  Picking his head up, he traced the lacy edge of her bra where it was keeping a tenuous hold on her breast.  He brushed his lips over the swell and looked up at her.  “Pretty” he murmured. 

The creamy pink bra with its burgundy lace was new.  She had bought it and the matching panties especially for tonight.  Lifting her head from the cushion, she met his lips with hers.  “Bought it special, for you, for tonight.”  Laying her hands on his chest, she pushed him back and sat up, straddling his lap.  She brought her mouth to his, kissing him thoroughly.  “The panties match” she breathed as she rocked against him, skimming across his cheek to his ear.

His arms circled her waist, his fingers dipping into the back of her pants.  “Yeah?”  At her nod he slid his hands to her sides and nudged her off his lap.  “Show me.”

Standing in front of him she smiled coyly and hooked her thumbs into the sides of her pants, lowering one side to tease him with a peek of creamy pink silk and burgundy lace. 

He picked up his wine, downing the remains as he tried to ignore his cock as it grew and begged to be inside this sexy, sensual woman.

She couldn’t help but notice the hard ridge in his track pants where it rested off to one side.  She lowered the other side of her pants, sliding them down her thighs, letting them fall to the floor.  Delicately she stepped out of them and spread her arms, “so, you like?”

He nodded, indicating with his fingers for her to turn around.

She did a slow spin, pausing with her back to him.  The panties had a keyhole and tiny bow where they rested at the top of her ass.  Before she could face him again, she felt him at her back, pushing her hair to one side, his lips skating across her shoulder. 

“I expected red tonight” he breathed in her ear. 

She angled her head so he could continue on his trek along the side of her neck.  “You can’t see red” she nearly squeaked as he hit a sensitive spot.

Touched beyond words he eased her around to face him.  Never had anyone been so considerate of him before.  “You humble me, sweetheart.  You’re beautiful. Thank you.”  Bending down, he scooped her up in his arms and crossed to the bedroom.  “Let’s finish our party in here.”

Chapter Fifty

Stretching carefully, Stephanie opened her eyes and rolled to her side.  She wasn’t surprised to find Richie still sleeping.  After leaving the arena they came back here to the hotel and snuck up to his room.  They never made it back down to the bar to join the guys for a post-show drink. They had done their own partying, well into the night.  She ached deliciously all over.

Smiling at the thought, she raised a finger to trace the bruise she had left on his chest.  She had always enjoyed sex before, but it was different now with Richie, more exciting, more intense, more…just more.  She’d had more orgasms last night at his hand-and mouth for that matter-that she lost count somewhere around six.  Or maybe it was seven.  She just didn’t know.

She inched closer to him, brushing her fingers lightly back and forth across his chest.  His skin was still bronze with its southern California tan and he was so warm.  Tugging on the sheet-the blanket was nowhere to be found-she slid even closer to him and sighed contentedly when his arms tightened around her and dragged her in against him.

“Cold, sweetheart?”  He lightly ran his hand up and down her arm, finding goose bumps and chilled skin.

Resting her cheek against his chest she let her fingers wander along his side.  “Yes.  We lost the blanket somewhere last night.”  She tipped her head back so she could see his face.  “I thought you were still asleep.”

He shook his head and fluttered barely there kisses across her forehead.  “I was watching you. What were you thinking about?”  He hoped she was thinking about him, or last night or anything that didn’t have to do with Mark and/or Ben.  He was doing his best to keep those thoughts at bay.  She had enjoyed herself at the show last night, smiling, laughing, singing and dancing.  He didn’t want anything to bring her down, at least for now, while she was here with him.  He just hoped it was working.

“You.”  She pressed her lips to the base of his throat.  “I was thinking about you and how amazing last night was.”

“Yeah?  You thought the show was that good?  I thought it was okay, but I wouldn’t say it was one of our more amazing ones though.”  He kept the laugh to himself, being deliberately obtuse.

Laughing quietly she gave him a playful poke in the belly.  “I wasn’t talking about the show.”

Rolling to his back he reached for the blanket that was on the floor on his side of the bed. Finding it with his fingers, he pulled the blanket up and over them.  ”Come here.”  He maneuvered them so she had her back to him and he curled himself around her, spooning up behind her.  “If it wasn’t the show that was amazing,” he tucked her hair away from her shoulder and traced the freckles there with his tongue.  “I have no idea what you could be talking about.”

She chuckled quietly and dragged her fingers lightly across his forearm.  “You’re not that old that you’re memory should be going.”  She looked over her shoulder with a smirk.  “Yet.”

His hand slid down her side and smacked her lightly on her bottom.  “You’d better be nice or you won’t get your Valentine’s Day present, sweetheart.”

Her eyes widened both at the light smack and at the fact that he had gotten her a gift.   She hadn’t even thought to get him anything.  Even though Valentine’s Day was mostly a Hallmark holiday, she hadn’t even gotten him a card.  She closed her eyes and frowned.  “Rich?”

“Hmmm?”   He continued his course across her shoulder and up along the side of her neck.  “What, sweetheart?” 

She shivered at the caress of his breath across her skin.  “I didn’t get you anything.  It never even crossed my mind.”  She looked over her shoulder at him again.  “I’m sorry.”

Shifting on the bed, Richie eased Stephanie onto her back.  One long finger slid lightly down her cheek and across her jaw.   “You spent your money to come see me.  That’s all the gift I need, sweetheart.”  He leaned in and lightly pressed his lips to hers before she could say anything.  “Now, don’t move.  I’ll be right back.”

Sitting up, she pushed her hair back and clutched the blanket to her all the while watching him move across the room.  Lord, he was a fine looking man.  Strong, muscular back, long lean legs.  And damn, he had a great ass. 

He rifled though his bag and when he found what he was looking for he turned and headed back toward the bed. 

She licked her lips in anticipation.  God his chest, she wanted to curl against it and never leave and, her gaze slid down his body to his groin.  His semi-erect penis bobbed between his legs as he neared the bed.  Her mouth watered and if she had been wearing panties they would have been soaked.

“See something you like, sweetheart?” he snickered as he stopped by the side of the bed. 

She nodded her head blithely as he climbed back into the bed.  She reached for him and he stopped her, putting the flat, square, cream colored box in her hands instead. 

“We’ll get there, but first, open your present.” 

She looked down at the box and fingered the red ribbon that criss-crossed the top of the box.  He had given her a pretty, shiny gift for Christmas.  Her finger found the small rose gold “S” around her neck.  Before that, it had been a long time since someone outside her family had given her a gift.  Her gaze shifted to the ring on the middle finger of her left hand.  That had been the last gift she had ever gotten, sparkly or otherwise, from a man she loved.  She closed her eyes and pushed that thought away.   This was not the time to be thinking about Mark.  He had no place here. 

 Richie watched her intently, wondering what was going on it that pretty head of hers.   “Sweetheart?  You okay?”

She nodded “yeah” and tugged at the ribbon, letting it fall to the blanket. The word Pandora was inscribed in gold across the top of the box.  The hinged lid opened soundlessly and inside she found a slim, black leather braided bracelet with a single charm flanked on either side by a silver spacer bead.  Picking it up, she held it close so she could see it better.  The gold bead had tiny red stones circling it and a silver heart inlaid with tiny pink stones dangling from it.  She turned her gaze to him, “I love it.”  She pressed her lips to his stubbly cheek.  “Thank you.”

She looked entirely too melancholy for the moment.  He needed to get the mood back on track.  Taking the bracelet from her fingers he worked the clasp open and circled her wrist with it.  “Be my Valentine, baby?”

She looked from their hands up to his face and saw the mischievous look in his warm brown eyes.  How could she not smile at the inane question?  “I’d like nothing better today.”

Cupping her face in his hands, his lips found hers in a quiet, passionate kiss.  The box and ribbon forgotten, he drew her in to him, showing her with his mouth, his hands, his body what he couldn’t bring himself to tell her with his words.