Chapter Eighty-Seven

She watched the sunlight creep across the floor through the crack in the drapes. She’d been awake for a while now, sleep had not been her friend that night. Easing to the edge of the bed she stood and slipped on her robe. Running her fingers through her hair she crossed to the bathroom. After emptying her bladder she stepped up to the sink and washed her hands. Reaching for her toothbrush, she frowned at her reflection. The wrong side of forty and a near sleepless night did not look good on her. Sighing, she finished up in the bathroom and stepped back into the bedroom. She watched Richie sleep for a minute and thought about crawling back in next to him. He rolled onto his stomach and wrapped an arm around his pillow. Deciding she would only disturb him, she turned and quietly opened the sliding door to the balcony.

Raising her face she caught the light morning breeze as she leaned on the wrought iron railing. The sun dappled the concrete around the pool and sparkled across the water. Gazing down she smiled quietly at the memory of just how wonderful that warm water had felt on her skin as she and Richie had frolicked like seals before their play had turned much more sensual. She should have slept like the dead after their sexy swim and then later, after an even sexier shower.

Turning, she took up a seat on the lounger, curling her legs up under her. The sun caught the ring on her right hand. She looked down at her hand, the purple stone glowing in the daylight. Her heart squeezed. Her life had changed so much in one heart-stopping, breath stealing moment. She glanced around at her surroundings again. It was crazy that she had ended up here of all places. Her grief and a search for solace and healing had driven her across the country. But who would have thought she would have ended up falling for one of the most famous guitarists on the planet? Or, better, him falling for her? The side of her mouth curled up in a small smile at the thought.

Laying her head back, she closed her eyes. Her melancholy weighed heavily some days and today it was going to be a struggle to bear the weight. But she would. She’d lay here and wallow for now but later, Richie would even her out. Just a touch or a soft spoken word from him could do wonders for her soul. She had always thought Mark was her one. But even he hadn’t been able to settle her or read her as well as Richie seemed to. She had loved Mark with all her heart, but this time around, with Richie, not only did he have her heart, he had stolen her soul as well.

 

She started at the sound of the door sliding on the track behind her. She opened her eyes. The sun had moved and the balcony was bathed in its warm light now. She must have drifted off.

“Why are you sleeping out here, Sweetheart?” He had woken to find her side of the bed empty and was surprised to find her asleep in the lounge chair on the balcony.

She yawned and stretched, her robe gaping open with the movement. “I hadn’t intended on sleeping. I couldn’t sleep so I came out here earlier so I didn’t wake you. I must have dozed off. What time it is anyway?”

“It’s going on nine. We need to get a move on. Our flight is at eleven.” He leaned over the back of the chair, his gaze traveling down to where her robe had opened and further, to the bare length of her legs. “Nice view.”

She smirked and swung her legs off the chair, coming to stand in front of him. She got an eyeful of him in all his glory. “You’re naked!” She shouldn’t have been surprised, but they were outside after all.

He just shrugged and smiled. “Other than you, who’s gonna see me?”

She glanced around, between the trees and the wall/fence surrounding his property no one would be able to see them. Even the closest neighbor was too far away to be able to see anything. She looked up at him and her fingers toyed with the tie of her robe. “Maybe I should be naked too.” She had a sudden and overwhelming need to be close to him this morning. The tie slipped through her fingers, leaving the robe gaping open, a wide stripe of golden, tanned skin visible in the middle of the pale pink silk.

Instinctively, Richie’s hands slid inside her robe, wrapping around her waist and pulling her close. He slid his hands slowly up her sides, caressing her silky smooth skin, his palms cradling her breasts before slowly retreating back to settle on the crest of her ass, his fingertips resting in the delectable curve of her lower back. He dipped his head, his lips grazing hers. He could taste the sadness in her kiss and he knew this wasn't what she needed now.

Raising her arms, she wrapped them around his neck and pressed herself against him, his skin warm and tantalizing against hers.  Angling her head, her mouth moved with his, searching, yearning for something more.  Unlinking her fingers she slid a hand down, stroking across his chest and lower, trailing her fingers through the rough patch of hair before gliding over his burgeoning erection. 

Giving her lips a final nip, he sucked in a breath and eased back a half step from her.  “Sweetheart, you know I would never tell you no, but we really don’t have time for this.”

She frowned and stroked him up and down before letting her hand fall away.  “You sure?”

“Unfortunately” he told her.  “But I can promise you this” he waited until she looked at him.  “When we get where we’re going I’ll have you writhing in ecstasy under me and everyone in the hotel is gonna know my name.”

Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed at the brazenness of his statement.  “Not too sure of yourself are you?”

He nudged her toward the door, “you doubt my ability, Sweetheart?”

She paused and turned, tracing a path down his chest and along the length of his cock, “not in the least, but maybe I want everyone in the hotel to know my name.”  She gave him a final squeeze and made a bee-line for the bathroom.

~

To:     The Girls

From: Q
Re:     Traveling Queen

Hey girls, just a quick note.  We’re on our way to Turkey, and I just wanted to check in with all of you.

My injuries are nearly healed, but flying is going to be a little rough with the bruising to my ribs.  The doc said it would be okay to go though, so I’m going.   The guys who did this to me have been dealt with and I’ll tell you more about that later.  We’re just about ready to board our flight. 

You’re never gonna guess where we’re at right now.  We flew from LA to Philadelphia, grabbed a ride to Teterboro and in just a few minutes I will be entering the oft talked about but rarely seen Jovi Jet!  Yep, we’re traveling to Europe on Jovi Air with Jon, David, Tico and the rest of the crew. 

How did this get to be my life?  It’s insane!

A hand landed on her shoulder and she looked up and smiled.  Richie had been nothing but attentive to her the entire day.  “You ready to go, Sweetheart?” 

She nodded, “yeah, just let me finish my message to my friends.”

He kissed the top of her head, “two minutes.”

Richie just gave me the two minute warning.  I guess I need to wrap this up.

Miss you girls.  I’ll send you notes and pics as often as I can.  Wish you could all be here with me.

Love to you all!

Q