Chapter Thirty Three

Rachel sighed happily as the heat from the sun high above sank deep into her body, the background chatter of families and other beach goers merging with the waves breaking on the shore to blend into the beach soundtrack that was universal. Wriggling further into the hollow her towel had made in the sand beneath her she stretched luxuriously and turned to squint over at Jon lying belly down beside her engrossed in some book that had captured his attention for most of the afternoon.

“What is it about the sun on your body that is soooooo erotic?”

Jon cocked an eye at her over the aviators perched low on his nose and shook his head with a low chuckle. “You have a one track mind Rachel Braden!” Discarding his book, he rolled up onto his side to slide a hand across the warm plane of her abdomen. “You are completely obsessed with sex!”

Squirming away from his tickling fingers, Rachel giggled and propped herself up on an elbow to face him, an indignant grin spread across her face.

“I wasn’t before you came along – it’s all your own fault! And I don’t remember YOU complaining last night!”

“Nope, no complaints from me!” Laughing Jon pushed his sunglasses back up his nose and with a grunt got to his feet to dust the sand off his belly. They had spent the better half of the day on the beach together enjoying the last of the summer sunshine that luckily seemed reluctant to give way to the oncoming fall.

Rachel rolled onto her back with a happy groan, stretching out her calf muscles to dig her toes into the hot sand at the foot of her towel and winked devilishly up at him.

“But seriously Jon - this sun? ….it’s kinda like an erotic massage all overrrr my body!”

Jon chuckled and shook his head, grinning down at the little display she was putting on for him. That black bikini that he loved so much had made another appearance today and damn if he didn’t appreciate it! Bending down he offered her a hand up;

“Alright ‘Miss Erotica’…..you need to cool off before you get too carried away – come take a swim with me.”

In the fleeting moment before she took his outstretched hand, Rachel let her eyes sweep over his muscular arms and lightly bronzed chest that swooped down to the board shorts that were slung neatly off his hips. Topped with a faded baseball cap sitting low over his caramel locks and the dark aviators that masked his eyes - he was a vision of ruffled perfection, the slight line of stubble darkening his jaw completing the look.

Taking his hand she allowed him to help her to her feet and together they walked hand in hand to the water’s edge, weaving their way through the clusters of towels and loungers that were dotted along the beach. Nobody seemed to take a second glance as they joined the other bathers and children shrieking in delight at the small waves breaking on the shore, the chilly water sloshing around their bare ankles before it raced back down to meet the next salty onslaught.

Jon grasped her hand firmly and waded steadily through the foamy surf until the water was more than waist high and the waves no more than gentle swells beneath them. The Atlantic chill was soon forgotten as the bright sun glinted off the ocean’s ripples and warmed the bare skin of their shoulders, its heat seeping into their bones.

Treading the water, Jon grinned and pulled her into his arms, his fingers playfully dipping under the string of her bikini top cleverly concealed by the rolling waters. Rachel giggled and narrowed her eyes at him, all the while enjoying the feel of his strong arms around her.

“I thought we came out here to swim!”

Jon flashed a mischievous grin and nudged one knee buoyed by the light current between her thighs until she was settled around his waist.

 “We are swimming!”

Rachel giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, biting her lower lip to stifle a squeal when one of his fingers found its way under the hem of her bikini bottom, stealthily burrowing to her inner folds.

“JON!”

“What baby?”

Even with his eyes hidden behind the dark shades of the sunglasses that mirrored her own water splashed face, Rachel could feel him laughing at her as she squirmed away from his delicious touch.

“NOW who’s obsessed?”

Leaning in for a kiss, Jon grazed her chin with his stubble before murmuring wickedly into her ear;

“Well if you do insist on wearing this little outfit in public I can’t be held accountable for my actions.”

Returning his kiss, Rachel rolled her eyes and tugged playfully on the damp tufts of hair protruding from the base of his cap. Her protests were being made completely in vain; she knew if he persisted she’d more than willingly participate even though they were only mere metres from a densely packed shoreline - he made logical thinking an impossibility.

“We probably need to head in pretty soon…” With a regretful sigh, Jon let his hand float back up to the safety of her back, gently gliding over the soft bumps of her spine. “…How much time do you need to get ready for tonight?”

Groaning dramatically Rachel smiled wistfully at him. “Urgh! I’ll make it quick – I’m not quite done with beach time yet!”

“But if we leave now – we’ll have time to shower and have a little nap……” Jon smirked and threatened to slide his hand back down to her ass, “…before we have to get ready! So….”

Pursing his lips in the pretence of deep thought, he gazed down at her nestled between his arms.

 “….the real question is would you rather have time on the beach or time with me between your legs?”

“Hmm…..”

Tilting her head, Rachel considered her options with a deliberate pause before gripping her legs tighter around his waist under the water line.

“…I’ll take ‘Rock Star between My Legs’ for five hundred, Alex!”

Chuckling Jon dropped a quick kiss on her lips, “Atta girl! C’mon – let’s head in and dry out for a few minutes before I take you home and have my wicked way with you!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kicking off their sandy flip flops at the back door of Jon’s house, Rachel headed into the laundry room to hang up their damp towel and shake out the beach bag while Jon headed off to call his kids. While she was yet to meet them, from Jon’s vivid descriptions and just the way he spoke of them they sounded like great kids – they were quite obviously and understandably the most important thing in his life. Reaching into the beach bag she frowned when she found her cell blinking innocuously at the bottom signalling a missed call. Please GOD let it not be work!

“Robin……”

She breathed out a sigh of relief when her sister’s name flashed across the screen. Rachel hadn’t checked in with her in nearly a week, in fact truth be told with the whirlwind of activity in the last few weeks she had been pretty bad about keeping in touch with home. Checking the time she hurried upstairs to shower, she didn’t have all that long before they were due to leave for the party but if she made it a quick one that should leave just enough time for a quick call back to her only sister.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Alright honey, love you too – bye.”

Disconnecting the call from his daughter, Jon made his way cheerily to the kitchen to grab some pre party refreshments. This was possibly his favourite time of year, excepting Christmas - when he had some downtime in the good weather and time to properly enjoy socialising without criss-crossing the country every second day to perform here, there and everywhere. Of course it was made all the better when he had a fine woman such as the one currently showering upstairs to enjoy it with. That was something he’d come to appreciate since his marriage break down – life wasn’t much fun on your own.

With a large glass of chilled wine in each hand and humming softly under his breath, Jon padded barefoot up the stairs and along the landing to the master suite, his lips curving into a goofy smile when he spied Rachel perched on the bed wearing the silk robe he’d left for her in the city apartment. 

Blowing out a low whistle between his teeth, he looked her up and down before passing her the wine.

“Hell you’re looking mighty fine there little lady….” Mustering his finest Southern drawl, Jon slid onto the bed beside her and nudged the side of her damp neck playfully with his nose, his free hand running up her thigh under the silky material of the robe. “But damn woman - you done gone and showered all by your fine self…..what am I gonna do in there all on my own?”

Giggling at his horrendous accent, Rachel took a sip of her wine and shrugged carelessly as she leaned back against his bare chest. “Snooze – you lose buddy!”

Jon sighed dramatically and nibbled lightly along her collarbone, the rough stubble on his chin grazing the soft underside of her jaw. “You’re a hard woman Rachel Braden – count yourself lucky we got this party to haul our asses to or you’d be in trouble – BIG trouble!”

Contenting himself for the time being with one final peck, he hauled himself off the bed and stepped into the bathroom to run the shower, leaving Rachel smirking after him. Setting her glass down, she carried on slathering lotion onto her skin, every now and then sneakily casting her eyes through the open ensuite door. With his back to her as he stripped off his beach gear, she stopped mid slather to gaze at his sand dusted body in appreciation, a few lusty thoughts of her own running through her mind.

Just as Jon stepped into the shower, his shorts in a muddled pile on the bathroom floor, he glanced back over his shoulder;

“Just so you know – I can see you in the mirror and you’re staring at me like I’m a piece of meat!”

Caught red-handed, Rachel blushed and shot him an embarrassed little grin.

“Well you can’t walk around here with a body like that and expect me to treat you with respect! Gimme a break!”

Laughing he shook his head in amusement and with a wiggle of his bare ass, aimed specifically for her enjoyment, stepped under the shower to wash away the saltiness of the ocean. Still grinning Rachel snapped the cap shut on the bottle of lotion and reached for her cell, if she didn’t call Robin back now she probably wouldn’t get another chance.

“Hey kiddo!”

Robin answered with her usual bubbly voice and Rachel leaned back against the pillows, genuinely glad to hear her big sister’s voice.

“Hey, girl! What’s going on?”

“Oh, nothing much…..just calling to see if you’re still in the Hamptons…..”

Puzzled, Rachel frowned as she tried to recall telling her where she was. Her mind could only draw a blank, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“How do you know where I am?”

A knowing chuckle travelled down the line to enlighten her.

“I guess you’ve forgotten our dear cousin is a rabid Bon Jovi fan??”

Feeling a little flustered, Rachel fought to stop the cartwheels in her pit of her stomach. She hadn’t intentionally been keeping her activities a secret but it wasn’t exactly something she’d wanted to discuss down the phone with her nearest and dearest.

“Well now that you mention it, I had forgotten that little titbit…….but it doesn’t answer my question as to how you know I’m in the Hamptons?”

Enjoying the power of secretly gained knowledge, Robin teased her unmercifully.

“OH! Well……..Tanya apparently has Google Alerts for all things Jon Bon Jovi…….you obviously haven’t checked your email or you’d have seen the article and accompanying pictures she’s forward to pretty much everyone we know!”

Sweet Jesus!

“Shit! Let me check my email and I’ll call you back.”

Still laughing Robin gloated unashamedly; “Yeah you do that and be sure you DO call me back – RIGHT BACK!”

Hanging up Rachel’s fingers flew over her phone’s screen, hastily bringing up her mailbox and scrolling down until she spotted the attached link that had arrived earlier that morning. Her mouth felt dry as cotton as she stared at the screen, jabbing the link in frustration when it refused to open.

“Damn!”

Flinging the phone onto the light duvet, she scrambled onto her feet to retrieve her laptop, yanking the lid up and hitting the power button as she moved back to the soft bed. Seconds felt like minutes while she waited for the system to power up, the home screen flickering to life painfully slow.

“I believe you were about to disrespect me and my body……..”

Amidst her panicky thoughts, Rachel hadn’t even been aware of Jon stepping out of the shower and sidling up behind her, his hands snaking around her waist to unravel the knot of her robe tie. Shaking her head, she wriggled out of his reach.

“Would you chill for a minute?! There seems to be some article about you and me floating around….my sister has seen it and called to ask me if I was still in the Hamptons – if my damn email ever opens I can find out what my entire family has seen.”

Jon’s brows lifted in amusement at her agitation, this was a different side to the normally cool and confident Rachel he knew.

“Rachel – you can’t expect to be out with me and it be a secret…….” His tone was gentle and reassuring as he lifted his hands to softly knead her tensed shoulders. “…..I’m sure it’s no big deal – it’s not like we’re having some sort of sordid affair.”

Choosing to ignore his infuriating calmness, Rachel sucked in a sharp breath when the article eventually loaded revealing a series of photos with Jon arriving at various functions alone only to be seen leaving with a different woman on his arm each time. There was a large picture of him arriving at a summer charity event alone and then leaving with Elizabeth Williams who Rachel had only met the day before, another of him arriving at a restaurant with Richie and then a shot of them leaving with two tanned and glossed girls draped over them. To the left of the screen a large shot showed him leaving a NYC party with a woman identified as  ’28 yr old cosmetics heiress Andrea London’ and finally a picture of him arriving alone at the Hamptons party the evening before. Scrolling down the page Rachel’s eyes widened in alarm at the final shot, a picture showing her wrapped in Jon’s arms as they waited for their car. While there was nothing crude about the photograph, the obvious lust on both their faces spoke volumes. Aware of Jon’s breath warm on her neck as he read the article from over her shoulder, she swallowed down a lump of dread and quickly scanned the small print on the page. The general consensus of the piece was about Jon’s bi-coastal antics and how he obviously hasn’t been spending his nights alone. It painted him as a bit of a womaniser and posed the question of who his latest mystery conquest was.

“Do I need to explain anything here?”

Jon’s voice was quiet and even from behind her stiff frame, his fingers never ceasing in their steady massage of her tense shoulders.

Pausing for a moment to run her eyes back over the pictures, Rachel pointed to the one dated from the time he had spent back West with Richie. “I assume this one is the girl you told me about in LA?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay…..” Moving across the page she pointed to Elizabeth. “Well I’ve already handled her…so who’s the cosmetics girl? Is that the ‘socialite’ you mentioned a while ago?”

“Yeah, that was taken earlier this summer – you and I had only just met…….”

Rachel nodded slowly, her brain running the printed dates of the photographs through her memory.

“Is this by any chance, the 'friend' that left you too hung over to run that morning?”

“Guilty as charged.”

Rachel caught the slightly sheepish grin on his face as she glanced back at him before she hit a button on the laptop to close the page. Pushing it out of the way, she turned to face him, tucking her legs underneath her.

“Okay then…..you’ve been a bit of a man whore it seems, but then I already knew that – so this is as bad as it gets?” Eyebrows raised, she looked into his eyes to wait for his assurance.

“Well I’m not gonna tell you other pictures might not show up….” A fleeting troubled look clouded his blue eyes before he lifted a hand to gently rub his thumb along her chin. “But if you’re asking me if there’s any chance of being ‘blindsided’ as you put it……well there’s nothing since you and I agreed to a ‘relationship’ that’s gonna bite us in the ass.”

When Rachel nodded, relief and understanding flowing into one, Jon added with a little chuckle, the usual sparkle returning to his eyes lit up by the standard megawatt grin.

“Hey at least it’s a good picture of us right?”

Rachel rolled her eyes and laughed back at him, her earlier panic subsiding. “I think it’s pretty obvious what we’ve got on our minds, don’t you think?”

A wicked grin curled the corners of his lips as his fingers dropped to work on unravelling the knot of her robe. “Let’s send a copy of it to my Mom – she’ll love seeing what you’ve got her baby boy thinking.”

Giggling as his fingers crept inside the folds of the robe to push it away from her sides, Rachel nodded and smirked. “Not a bad idea, considering half of my family has already seen it! But first….” 

Sitting up on her knees, she pulled the towel from around his waist and shucked her own robe in one swift motion. “…….you look like a man in dire need of a blow job.”

A grin as wide as the Grand Canyon split Jon’s face when he let her push him back onto the soft pillows. If this was what those damn articles were going to invoke he had better dig up a few more - it was about time they worked to his advantage!

Chapter Thirty Two

Safely loaded into the dark interior of the car, Jon abandoned all restraint and hooked an arm around a giggling Rachel, his right hand diving into the loose tresses of hair that toppled wildly from her head.

“You’re all mine now little girl…….”

Husky with wanton lust, he snarled softly and lowered his mouth triumphantly to her parted lips, laying claim to their pink fullness for the first proper time in days. Breathless with excitement, Rachel moaned in pleasure when his tongue softly swiped over hers, a heightened sense of desire driving her wild. She was his – completely and willingly.

Sidling onto his lap, she nestled between his open legs and ran her own hand through his tufts of caramel hair, her fingers tugging the roots when their kiss deepened. She was only barely aware of the banging of her heart threatening to explode out of her chest when Jon pulled back, scraping his teeth slowly against her bruised lips.

“We better stop or Phil is gonna get an eyeful….” Muttering into her ear he flicked a glance at their driver and then ran a finger purposefully down the curve of her breast, watching as her nipple puckered under the smooth silk of her blouse.

“Is it wrong that I don’t really care if he does or not?” Wriggling enticingly on his lap, Rachel kissed the length of his jawline and nipped playfully at the soft skin of his neck. Right now she couldn’t have cared less if the whole world was watching in high definition – there was only one thing on her mind and it was hardening underneath her.

Groaning Jon squirmed, his jeans getting noticeably tighter by the second when she rasped her fingernails under the tails of his shirt, goose bumps travelling the length of his spine. He mentally willed Phil to drive faster or things were gonna get messy real fast. He needed a distraction before the little minx in his arms drove him crazy.

“You were incredible tonight…..not too many women I know could’ve worked that crowd like you did without having a panic attack.”

He couldn’t help but pop open just the top two buttons of her blouse, his fingers reaching inside to caress the soft mounds that swayed invitingly within the cups of her bra. The small hand that was tugging at his hair suddenly grasped harder, Rachel’s breath exhaling in short warm bursts against his cheek.

“I think I’ve exhibited an inordinate amount of self-control this entire evening……and compliments will always get you everywhere…..” Gasping for breath as his fingers squeezed a pert nipple inside her blouse, she made a reluctant effort to pull away. “….but if you don’t keep your hands to yourself I’m not going to be able to resist giving Phil here an unexpected viewing bonus…”

Jon chuckled and slowly withdrew his hand, knowing full well his driver, who never once showed any sign of awareness at his passenger’s activities was able to hear every word they uttered. He had to hand it to the guy, he was damn good at discretion which was why Jon willingly paid out the big bucks for him to be his regular driver – after all this wasn’t his first fumble in the back seat after an event.

About to turn his attention back to Rachel and her wriggling hips, he was interrupted by the car jolting slightly as it bumped over the small kerb made by the indentation of electric gates. Breathing out a sigh of relief he grinned down at Rachel and winked.

“Honey we’re home!”

“Thank GOD!” Hastily redoing the buttons on her blouse, Rachel ignored his smirk and slid off his lap.

“Don’t think you’re off the hook rock star – I’ve got plans for you the minute we get inside that house buddy!”

“Ohhh I’m counting on those plans baby!” Laughing Jon opened the car door as soon as they rolled to a stop and clambered out gingerly, the unmistakable bulge in his jeans making movement somewhat awkward.

“Thanks Phil, see you tomorrow.” Ducking his head back in to help Rachel out he nodded his thanks to the driver and shut the door behind them. Turning back to Rachel he found her staring up at the house, its elegant outline silhouetted in the dusky evening light. 

“Welcome to my little slice of heaven baby.”

Taking her by the hand, he led her up to the front door, flicking back the locks until it swung open. After jabbing a few buttons on the control panel just inside the door to disable the alarm he stood back and gestured for her to enter ahead of him. Wordlessly she stepped inside the cool interior of the hall and surveyed the grand space, her eyes travelling appreciatively over the pale shades of cream and blue that made up the décor – just as she imagined a beach house to look like.

Jon tossed his keys in a small bowl on the entry table and encircled her from behind, his nose nuzzling at her neck through the waves of tousled hair.

“Now what about those plans……..”

Suddenly shy, Rachel clasped the hands that met around her waist and looked back at him uncertainly. The earlier playfulness of their flirting was gone, the stillness within the house almost echoing their roused heartbeats.

“Do you have staff here?” She whispered the words over her shoulder, unwilling to relax until she knew they were safe from prying eyes. Tonight was not something she wished to share with anyone other than the man currently holding her tight in his arms.

He shook his head, his clear blue eyes reassuring her. “No, not while I’m here - we’re completely alone.”

Twisting in his arms, Rachel leaned against him and tipped her head back; pressing her lips against his in a sweet and slow kiss. Jon cradled her with his hands resting lightly above the curve of her ass, his voice no more than a hoarse whisper.

“Come with me….”

Quietly he led them upstairs, his fingers interlaced in Rachel’s slight hand guiding her down a long hallway and into the master suite tucked into the far wing of the house. Everything about the room was crisp and airy, from the feather light drapes that swathed the large sea front windows to the smooth white sheets tucked neatly around the wooden four poster bed that was carved with the same simplistic carvings as the bedroom set Rachel had picked out in the store in Soho.

Gasping in disbelief, she turned to him; “Did you……”

Smiling he lifted a hand to tenderly push back a strand of hair from her face. “All new baby…..no ghosts in here either.”

“It’s beautiful….”

When he made to flick on a light switch to illuminate the room, she laid a hand on his arm and shook her head. The dusky light framed the puzzled frown etched in his brows as he looked down at her shadowy face. The sparkle from her desire laden eyes told him all he needed to know.

Dropping his hand from the wall to cup her pale cheeks with his fingertips, Jon tilted her chin up to meet his lips and claimed her soft mouth in a sweet kiss filled with a tenderness that merged their two bodies into one. Time seemed to stand still for one long moment and when finally their lips parted, Rachel drew in a much needed breath, her heart thudding against her chest in anticipation.

Slowly she lifted her hands to curl around the fingers that were still gently cradling her face and tentatively began to step backwards, her gaze firmly locked on the blue pools of his eyes that were filled with a longing for more. Moving as one she guided them to the high sided bed and lowered herself to sit on the edge when the backs of her knees touched the firm mattress. Perched on the bed, she dropped her hands to her lap and whispered a simple statement through the still air;

“I’m done talking Jon…..”

Jon’s breath stalled in his chest as he gazed down at her motionless frame, waiting so innocently for the reunion they’d both longed for so much all afternoon. Their earlier flirtations had been cast aside, tonight would be so much more than a casual tumble between the sheets and the apprehension of what lay ahead was electrifying.

Silently he toed off his shoes and slid onto the bed beside her, hitching his knees up until he was knelt behind her, the slight curves of her hips nestled neatly between his thighs. A tremble jerked Rachel’s spine when he slowly drew back the soft waves of hair that tumbled down her shoulders to expose her neck, leaving the skin bare for his lips to latch onto her pulse that throbbed against his tongue. An involuntary moan escaped Rachel’s lips when she felt him suck lightly against her skin that felt so hot she might burst into flames and her eyes flew open to focus on the large mirror above a dresser on the wall facing them.

Through eyes heavy with desire she watched the top of Jon’s head nuzzle at her neck as his hands crept around her arms to caress her breasts through the sheer silk of her blouse, the material almost luminous in the dusky twilight that filled the room. Seeing his moves mirrored in front of her eyes coupled with the actual feeling of his hands upon her skin after his fingers deftly popped the buttons on the blouse to expose her bosom was intoxicating, as if she was watching herself in a movie – only this was no movie – this was very real.

Sitting up on his knees, Jon reverently slid the silk blouse off her shoulders and let his fingers trace the outline of her bare shoulders, pausing at the ridge of each bra strap to gently push them aside until they draped loosely around her toned biceps. When she made no move, he glanced up to see what she was so ardently staring at and a small smile evened across his face when their reflection greeted him.

“You wanna watch us baby?”

Rachel nodded excitedly, a heady desire dancing in her eyes as she waited for him to make his next move. Keeping his focus locked firmly on the mirror, Jon encircled her with his arms once more and with a soft click undid the front clasp of her bra, his eyes hungrily devouring the sight of her firm breasts bobbing free into his waiting hands. She moaned softly when he cupped one in each hand and softly kneaded, his thumbs simultaneously grazing the tips of her stiff nipples making the fine hairs on the back of her neck instantly stand to attention.

“Mmmm……”

She watched enthralled, her mind disconnected from her body as his fingers scorched a trail down past her navel to slowly undo the button of her capris. An involuntary shudder reeled her stomach muscles into a tight coil when his fingers pushed under the satin fabric of her panties, momentarily hiding them from her view. Seconds later she felt a fingertip slide in between her folds, probing gently and deeper as she arched her hips to meet him. A flushed heat raced up her neck as his touch ignited a fever deep within her belly, burning with such intensity that she gasped for breath.

In one fluid movement as she lifted herself off the bed pushing against his solid frame, Jon slid both her panties and capris down her thighs, leaving her naked to his touch. With no garments of clothing to impede his way, he resumed his torturous scrutiny of her moist folds, his own breathing ragged with excitement as their eyes met transfixed on one another in the mirror.

“Jesus Rachel……you’re beautiful………”

Any threads of embarrassment at staring at her own body being subjected to such a sweet assault were banished when a lazy finger slowly circled her clit, her muscles clenching in an empty vice that begged to be filled. When a finger suddenly thrust deep inside, her world shattered into infinity as a cacophony of fireworks exploded from within her walls, a sharp cry piercing the intimate silence of the room. Her knees flew up to her chest allowing her heels to gain a grasp on the edge of the bed that propelled them both backwards onto the soft mattress; such was the strength of the orgasm that threatened to overcome her. Surprised by her sudden actions, Jon grunted when she landed back on his chest but his hand remained firmly where it was, cupping her sex and thrusting a long finger deep inside her as he mumbled softly into her hair.

“Let go baby, let go for me.”

Lying side by side on the soft bed, it was all Rachel could do to concentrate on breathing as her hips ground automatically against his groin, silently begging for the release that was building in momentum with every stroke of his slick finger. Another slow graze of her clit with his thumb was all it took to send her tumbling down an abyss of unadulterated ecstasy as wave after wave crashed through her body.

“Ohhhh my…..ohhhhhhh……mmmnnn”

An incoherent jumble of words rolled off her tongue as she lay gasping for breath in the semi darkness of the bedroom, her blood pounding furiously in her eardrums. Feeling Jon’s weight shift on the bed beside her, she blinked rapidly in an attempt to focus and found him hovering over her prone body, strong arms buried in the light throw beneath her and a satisfied smirk twitching at his lips.

“I meant it when I said I was gonna do unimaginable things to you…..”

His husky growl sent another delicious aftershock racing through her electrified veins, jolting her back to her senses as a slow grin broke past her trembling lips. With considerable effort, she willed her quivering limbs back to life and propped herself up on her elbows, eyeing him speculatively to simper wickedly between her gulped breaths.

“In case you haven’t guessed I have a pretty vivid imagination and right now……”

Grinning she reached up to run her hands through the feathery trail of hair that disappeared under  the buckle of his belt, her fingertips lightly scraping his skin underneath the drape of his shirt.

“….I’m imagining these jeans on the floor…..”

Chortling Jon straightened above her and pulled his shirt over his head in one fluid motion, tossing it to join Rachel’s discarded capris on the floor. She licked her lips appreciatively, still basking in the afterglow of the orgasmic bliss coursing through her veins. His broad chest, the muscles clearly defined in the shadow of the moonlight filled her view as he gazed down at her, his lips twitching in an amused smirk from his straddled perch upon her thighs.

“And now what?”

Her adept fingers scrambled for the buckle of the belt that twinkled at the base of his torso, a feverish excitement gleaming in her eyes when he hitched a breath as she released his straining erection from its denim confines. His cock sprang proudly into her waiting hands and he groaned softly when she grazed her thumb over the moistened tip, a surge of heat racing to greet her touch.

“My turn to play – off me – now!”

Her determined command caused him to raise an eyebrow at her, a slow grin creasing the lines of him mouth when she squeezed a little firmer on his hardened cock, silently urging him to comply. Bossy Rachel – he liked her. Shifting his weight, Jon gently slid himself off her to lay back on the bed so that she was able to sit up and in turn straddle him, reversing their positions. Bending low over his groin, she ran her fingers up his stomach, around his nipples and back down to the base of his shaft to softly knead his balls, all the while locking her eyes on his in a soft pool of desire. When her lithe little fingers began massaging the length of his erection, Jon groaned again and threw his head back down against the soft throw surrendering himself to her mercy. She dropped just the briefest of kisses on the dewy tip before sitting up with a smug smile and tugged at his jeans and briefs, sliding them off his thighs to let them fall in a soft clunk on the floor. Satisfied they were both finally on a level playing field, she resumed her examination of his groin, her loose hair falling lightly about his thighs when she bent her head once more, her lips slowly encasing his engorged head. Jon shuddered beneath her, his breathing noticeably more laboured as he felt her tongue snake around him, the wet heat of her mouth eliciting a roar of blood through his veins. For several long, gloriously torturous minutes he endured the sweet assault she was inflicting with her lips and tongue, his fists buried in her tousled hair until he could barely restrain himself.

“Fuck – no more Rachel!”

Growling he sat upright and slid from under her, a slight sheen of perspiration beginning to break from his temples with the excitement of what lay ahead. Rachel cocked her head sideways at him, her eyes blinking innocently as she swivelled on the bed to face him.

“What’s wrong baby? Can’t take the heat?”

Jon chuckled and reached up to brush the hair from her face before cupping her chin with his fingers. Lust and desire added huskiness to his voice when he fixed her with a look that scorched right to her belly.

“Oh Rachel baby, it’s about to get a hell of a lot hotter in here.”

Guiding her back onto the bed, he hitched a long slender leg around his hip and nudged his erection between her thighs, grinning when she latched her leg around him. He wanted her so badly and the knowledge that she wanted him just as much was too much to bear. In one swift movement he buried his length deep inside her wet heat, the tight walls enveloping his cock and claiming it as their own. Grunting with the effort and with beads of sweat beginning to trickle down his temples, he pounded into her over and over, the only other sound in the room that of slick skin slapping against one another.

 

The angle of their union threatened to tear Rachel apart as she hovered on the brink of another cataclysmic crescendo, every plunge of Jon deep inside her lighting up the fuses that sparked the beginning of a glorious end. Mirrors, drapes and furniture were all forgotten as she absorbed herself in the here and now, the feeling of the man between her legs who set her world alight – again and again.

“Christ baby…….”

Jon sucked in a long breath when he felt her convulse around him, his steady but urgent rhythm pushing them both higher and higher until with a low groan he finally surrendered to his body’s urge and climaxed with her, their shallow breathes matching the beat of their thundering hearts as they collapsed against one another in an explosive sweaty tangle. 

Chapter Thirty One

“Uhoh……”

Jon groaned inwardly when he spotted a familiar figure making their way toward the bar where he stood with Rachel. When she looked up at his warning, he shot her an apologetic smile before murmuring;

“Incoming. Two o’clock.”

Stiffening Rachel’s fingers involuntarily tightened around her glass as she immediately understood Jon’s quiet warning. There was one of his previous conquests on the radar.

“Your two o’clock or mine?”

“Mine.”

Before she could even respond, an overly enthusiastic female voice trilled from behind her.

“Jon darling! How are you?”

When Rachel turned to face the incoming hurricane of honeysuckle sweet perfume she was met with a familiar looking blonde and tanned woman who honed in on Jon with all the accuracy of a heat seeking missile.

“Honey it’s been ages since I’ve seen you! Where have you been keeping yourself?”

Smiling Jon reached an arm around the woman to kiss her cheek in greeting. “Hey Beth – great to see you!” Extricating himself discretely from the arms she had slipped around his waist he motioned to Rachel standing quietly by his side. 

“Let me introduce you to Rachel Braden.”

At the mention of the woman’s name, Rachel gasped in genuine awe – the familiar face finally identified. Clasping one hand over her chest she extended the other to shake the older woman’s hand.

“Oh my goodness! Elizabeth Williams! No introduction is necessary Jon!” 

Gently swatting away Jon’s hand she glanced at him reproachfully. An amused grin creased the dimples of his cheeks, his sparkling eyes silently laughing at her charade. This should be interesting….

Gushing Rachel kept a hold of the former supermodel’s delicately manicured hand, covering it with her own in warm affection. 

“When I was a little girl I wanted to grow up to be just like you! You were on the cover of every magazine my mother ever subscribed to! Goodness me it really is a thrill to meet you Ms Williams!”

Momentarily taken aback at Rachel’s subtle dig at their age difference, the other woman smiled graciously and arched a subtly botoxed brow while firmly retrieving her hand from Rachel’s fawning clasp.

“Please call me Elizabeth – that’s very kind – thank you.”

Undeterred Rachel carried on with the compliments, her face a picture of complete innocence.

“When I was in 2^nd grade I had pictures of you on my wall – you were the classic beauty that all the girls in my school used to look up to! And then you were in those music videos with Joel Williams and he sang about how perfect you were? And about how he didn’t want to change you at all…..”

Sighing Rachel looked sympathetically at her. “I was heartbroken when the two of you divorced….I just so wanted the fairy tale ending for you guys!”

Elizabeth’s pleasant demeanour threatened to diminish until Rachel smoothly rushed to reassure her.

“But you’re as beautiful now as you were thirty years ago – you’ll have to share your secrets with me!”

“No secret Rachel, I do take care of my skin, eat healthily, drink lots of water….you know all the usual things. But the real secret……” Glancing around to make sure nobody was listening in, she leaned closer to whisper dramatically. “…..is lots of great sex!”

With a superior flick of her glossed blonde mane she tinkled a high pitched giggle and winked knowingly at Jon; “If there’s something better baby, well they haven’t found it yet!”

Jon suppressed a cringe at her unbelievably cheesy play on words all the while silently wondering what had ever possessed him to have once upon a time hooked up regularly with the melodramatic model. She may have aged gracefully with looks that took years off her but she made it all the clearer that Rachel was in a class of her own. And it was a class that he firmly wanted to attend.

Rachel, seemingly oblivious to the woman’s intended dig grinned delightedly at her.

“Then sign me up if great sex is the key to me looking as good as you do when I’m your age!”

That comment was finally too much for Jon and he snorted into his wine glass, quickly taking a sip to disguise the chuckle shaking his shoulders. Elizabeth, clearly disgusted that Rachel was using every chance to use the age advantage against her and that there was nothing she could do about it pursed her lips in a tight smile.

“Well…..thank you again – it was nice meeting you.” Turning to Jon in one last obvious attempt to slight Rachel, she fluttered her long eyelashes coyly at him.

“Jon – we’ll get together soon?”

Doing his best to keep a straight face as he felt Rachel’s fingers creep under his shirt from behind the bar, Jon nodded with a casual inquiry. “Will you be at Perelman’s party tomorrow?”

The model’s eyes lit up, mistakenly taking his question as a coded hook up date. Lips curled in a seductive smile, she leaned in close to brush his cheek with a soft kiss.

“Of course – I’ll see you there.”

“Oooh is that where we’re going tomorrow baby?” Almost childlike Rachel blinked up at Jon, her emerald eyes brimming with innocence.

Nodding he fought to keep the smirk on his face from widening – she was something else!

“Elizabeth, perhaps I could trouble you for a photo at tomorrow’s party? My sister will just flip when I tell her I’ve met you!”

Finally accepting defeat, Elizabeth threw Jon a regretful glance before nodding in agreement.

“Certainly, I’d be happy to……..enjoy the rest of the evening………both of you.”

With one final flick of her blonde tresses, she excused herself and sashayed away into the crowd leaving Jon to gaze down at Rachel in amusement.

“You just took evil to a whole new level! You know she wants to slit her wrists now, right?”

Taking a demure sip from her club soda, Rachel shook her head sweetly;

“I’m sure I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about!”

“You just cut her heart out…” Completely amused, Jon pulled her close, his fingers sliding against the smooth silk of her back. “…and you did it with such an innocent smile on your face! You really are a bad girl!”

Enjoying the feel of his arms around her, Rachel leaned her weight back and winked up at him.

“There’s more than one way to skin a cat Jon – no need to be trashy about it when you can get the same job done the Southern way.”

Smirking Jon arched his brows, “And that was the ‘Southern way’?”

“Mmmhmm……..see Jersey girls will say ‘Fuck you.” Southern girls will say ‘Well, bless your heart!” It means exactly the same thing and every woman knows it. That nice woman is now completely aware that I’ve marked my territory so to speak!”

With a shake of his head, Jon grinned widely. “You are such a bitch! I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t have any liquor!” Ignoring the conversing crowd around them, he dropped his head to nuzzle back the hair behind her ear. “So I’m your territory huh?”

“Yep – all mine! And being that I’m the baby in my family – I don’t share well!”

Unable to resist taking a quick nip at the soft skin of her neck, Jon teased her mercilessly.

“Aw baby that’s a shame……I thought I might take her home with us – you know? Have us a little threesome?”

The wet heat of his breath just below her hairline was enough to make Rachel shiver in anticipation. She silently cursed the fact that they were in a room full of people, the only thing stopping her from wrapping her body around him.

“She’ll be sorely disappointed if you do……there won’t be enough of you left to help with her coat once I get done with you tonight……”

“Promises, promises baby.” Tugging gently on the edge of her earlobe, Jon reluctantly released it from between his teeth and straightened himself up. “Let’s see if I can wrap this up and take you home so you can be more specific about all the things you’re gonna do to me.”

“Good idea…” Slipping her hand into his Rachel prepared to step forward away from the bar and into the throng of people. “Otherwise I might just have to make a scene…..”

After another hour of working their way through the posse of guests, countless introductions and posing for the odd photograph here and there, Jon finally pulled his phone out to send a text to his driver.

“C’mon baby, let’s get outta here.” Guiding her in front of him they wandered past the last few clusters of people, smiling and nodding as they made good their getaway.

“I’m gonna do unthinkable things when I get you behind closed doors…..” Standing in the shadows of the relatively quiet garage area at the side of the mansion, Jon wrapped his arms around Rachel’s waist and pulled her close to his hips, grinding his crotch into the soft curve of her butt. While mingling with the other guests had been a fortunate distraction, he couldn’t wait much longer to get his girl home and slide that slinky blouse off her shoulders. Three days without any action had been too long – far too long.

Twisting her head back to gaze up at him, Rachel groaned lightly and wickedly squeezed her hand in between their bodies to sneakily brush the hardening bulge below his belt only just resisting the urge to let him have his wicked way with her right there on the pavement.

“Bring your ‘A’ game rock star – you’re gonna need it!”

Laughing together they reluctantly pulled apart as their car swung up the driveway and rolled to a stop in front of them. Still smirking Jon held the back door open for her to slide in and with a happy sigh ducked his head to follow her inside, the darkened windows finally allowing them some privacy on the short ride home. Unbeknownst to either of them, a series of shuttered clicks were firing rapidly from the camouflage of the dense shrubbery surrounding the property - each click preserving every single move they had made.  

Chapter Thirty

“Dammit!”

Frustrated Rachel swore softly under her breath as she checked her watch and saw three pm fast approaching. There was no way in hell she was going to make the Hamptons by four o clock when she was supposed to accompany Jon to the first of several events they had planned – today had been nothing but one delay after the other. Sliding her phone out from her briefcase she tapped out a quick message to Jon, warning him of probable disruption to their evening.

14.47 Delayed – I’ll meet you at party as soon as I can – can you rearrange?”

She had one more representative to meet before she could get the paperwork sorted in order to clear her schedule for the remainder of the week and he was already running twenty minutes late for their scheduled appointment. Irritated she crossed her legs under the table and drummed out a beat on the polished surface with her freshly manicured nails – she had popped into a nail bar in between sessions earlier in preparation for her stay in the Hamptons  - a stay which was taking forever to arrive. A discrete beep from her phone signalled Jon’s response;

14.50 I’ll take care of it – we’ve got all weekend so no worries. See you when I see you x

Relaxing a little she blew out a long sigh of relief. She hated keeping anyone waiting and she especially hated being rushed when going into new surroundings. Social events in the Hamptons hadn’t exactly popped up in her events calendar on a regular basis before and she was pretty sure it was an environment that was going to take some getting used to.

An apologetic knock on the boardroom door snapped her out of her musings and back to the present as her last appointment finally showed up. It was game face time again. Any more thoughts of the Hamptons were hastily pushed to the back of her mind as she stood up to welcome the man – the quicker she could get this final piece of business taken care of, the quicker she would be at the beach in Jon’s arms.

It was just shy of two hours later by the time she was eventually being helped into Jon’s helicopter by the pilot for the second time in as many days. Freshly showered and changed, her stuffy office attire swapped for a more elegant look of capris and a silk shirt, her mood had vastly improved. The past couple of day’s frustrations and problems flew out of her head once the chopper nosed skyward and headed East leaving the backed up traffic and honking horns of impatient drivers stuck in rush hour behind her. It was just a short flight out to the Hamptons, another driver waiting diligently to whisk her away to the party on arrival. A small flutter of nerves unfurled in her stomach when the car rolled up on the pavement of a long driveway that lead to an imposing private property – the home of the high society couple that were hosting the evening’s benefit. Applying a quick touch up to her lip gloss, she thanked the driver and stepped gracefully from the car, nodding politely to the attendant who opened the door for her. A warm breeze ruffled the waves of her loose hair that bounced lightly on her shoulders as she glanced upwards and took in the magnificent architecture of the ivy clad brick terraces and alcoves that towered above her head. The sheer size of the mansion could have easily passed it for a small hotel.

“Good evening Ms ?”

A suited man with a clipboard in hand stepped forward to greet her, his eyebrows raised in a polite enquiry as to her identification.

“Good evening – Braden, Rachel Braden.”

The man quickly scanned the list in front of him and then smiled in acceptance as he ticked her name off.

“Welcome Ms Braden, right this way please.”

Swallowing down a nervous lump, Rachel smiled brightly and followed the man around the imposing house on a path framed by intricate herbaceous borders to where it opened out onto a grand lawn. An enormous marquee was erected off an annex of the house, the brilliant white drapes fluttering against the dramatic backdrop of the deep blue Atlantic which shimmered in the distance. The clamour of conversation from the crowd spilling out onto the lawn rose above the soft tones of a string quartet playing on a small bandstand to Rachel’s left as she gratefully accepted a flute of champagne offered by a server who materialised by her side. Lifting the slender crystal to her lips, the bubbles popped and cracked under her nose momentarily distracting her from the more than slightly intimidating sea of beautiful women in front of her. The cream of New York’s rich and famous were here in force; everywhere she looked there were long slender legs in four inch heels and designer dresses – the infamous socialites.

Deciding against sampling the crisp Dom Perignon that was fizzing so invitingly between her fingertips, Rachel wandered into the crowd smiling and nodding politely at the other guests. She needed a clear head to find her feet in this scene. Sideways glances and murmured questions behind tight lips made it plainly obvious that she was the focus of much scrutiny, a cat among the pigeons as it were.

Passing a small group of people in her quest to find Jon, the sound of her name being called out stopped her in her tracks.

“Rachel?”

A guarded smile firmly in place, she turned in the direction of the voice only to blink in surprise at the man making his way towards her.

“Nigel? Hi!”

Relief rolled over her as she beamed in genuine delight at the executive she had held a meeting with only the day before. Leaning in to accept a warm kiss on each cheek, she laughed lightly at him.

“I didn’t expect to see you again quite so soon!”

“Likewise! You’re out here for the weekend?”

Nodding Rachel smiled; “Yes, until Sunday. It’s nice to be out of the city especially with weather like this.”

“I hear you! Let me introduce you to my wife – Miranda.”

Allowing her to be ushered toward a small group of people clustered around one of the many tall drinks tables scattered about the lawn; Rachel politely greeted and exchanged pleasantries with Nigel’s wife and his friends, her manner easy and relaxed until she spied Jon chatting with two men not far from her. Their eyes met at the same time, a beaming smile breaking out on Jon’s face as he excused himself to make his way towards her. Clad in a royal blue shirt only buttoned to just above his chest with the cuffs rolled back and a pair of dark denims, the casual outfit made his summer bronzed skin glow.

“It was lovely to see you again Nigel, enjoy your evening!”

Hastily taking her leave of the executive and his friends, Rachel stepped around the group to meet Jon, a small grin on her face. Raw lust surged through her veins when with sparkling eyes highlighted by the blue of his shirt, Jon drew her close in a light embrace, both conscious of the surreptitious looks of the people standing by checking them out.With an amused smile he murmured quietly in her ear;

“You do realise that almost every woman in this place hated you the minute you walked in right?”

They may have been surrounded by some of the country’s most glamorous women but in his view they couldn’t hold a candle to Rachel, her natural golden waves glinting in the sunshine and the elegant salmon silk blouse she was wearing accentuating her slender figure. He could already feel a surge of hormone fuelled blood beginning to race through his veins.

Biting one lip, Rachel murmured back coyly from under her lightly made up eyelids. 

“If they didn’t then – they sure will when they see me leave with you…..”

Chuckling Jon dropped a gentle kiss on the top of her head and draped an arm comfortably around the middle of her back. “You look amazing. C’mon and let me get you a proper drink.”

Both with relaxed smiles, they moved together through the crowd toward the long linen draped bar in the vast marquee. Rachel, very much aware of the dazzling array of flirtatious winks and smiles aimed at Jon from the various women they passed, quietly began calculating some damage limitations, just in case.

“I’m presuming you’ve slept with a few of these women ……”

Jon glanced down at her with an amused smile as they reached a quiet area of the bar and with a shrug modestly admitted to his previous dalliances.

“Just a few….”

When she looked up at him, only a small hint of insecurity was betrayed in her voice.

“Don’t let me be blindsided okay? Because it seems to me there are a lot of eyes on us right now.”

Gently he turned her to face him and cupped her chin reassuringly with his thumb, his eyes smiling down at her before he kissed her softly on the lips.

“Don’t worry baby – I got your back okay?”

When she nodded Jon turned to lean casually against the bar. “Now what do you fancy? Wine? A margarita maybe?”

“No, just a club soda with lime please.”

“Club soda?” Cocking his head to one side, one eyebrow lifted in disbelief. “That’s not like you – c’mon – I can’t imagine you not in a tequila mood! What about a Long Island Iced Tea?”

Ruefully she shook her head, “No thanks, I better skip the alcohol for the moment.”

Jon shook his head grinning. “What have you done with my Rachel? Why have you suddenly gone ‘on the wagon’ on me?”

A slight heat of embarrassment coloured Rachel’s cheeks when she dropped her head to murmur quietly; “Would you just drop it? I can barely keep my hands off you as it is – any alcohol and I’ll be making a scene with you on top of the centre pieces in front of all these lovely people.”

Eyes wide in surprise, Jon ducked down to get a good look at her face. “You’re serious?”

“Uhhh……yeah!”

Chortling in delight Jon motioned at the bartender. “Club soda with lime please.” 

Replacing his arm across the curve of her lower back he leaned in close to her, his fingers squeezing her side teasingly.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘making a scene’?”

Images of their first night together flew through Rachel’s mind, a tight knot of desire stirring deep within her at the memories. Straight laced, she looked him square in the eyes.

“It would make the ‘up against the wall’ scene in your kitchen look like a freakin Disney production.”

Taking a sip from his wine, Jon nearly choked on the pale liquid at her words. Steadying himself he cleared his throat and turned to lean against the bar, gazing innocently across at the crowd.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – you’re a bad girl Rachel Braden – a very bad girl!”

Giggling Rachel shrugged and offered no defence, choosing to keep her focus on the back wall of the marquee as she took a sip of her club soda that the bartender had just handed her. Her earlier apprehensions were rapidly diminishing and the thoughts of the fun filled weekend ahead were making her delirious with excitement. It was time to taste the Hamptons and all it had to offer.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Sunday passed in a relaxing haze of sunbathing by the pool and dozing in the sunshine, both of them enjoying what was left of the weekend’s good weather. By the time Monday morning rolled around and it was time for Jon to leave for the Hamptons, Rachel found herself missing him before he’d even gone.

“I’ll see you Thursday baby……..”

With one final lingering kiss, he was gone on his way – Rachel feeling despondently empty standing alone in the great hallway of the house she was beginning to think of as home. She was fast coming to the realisation though that when Jon was gone, it was no more than a house – bricks and mortar.

Unbeknownst to Rachel, Jon was feeling the same odd, lingering attachment as he hit the road upstate. While he was excited as hell to be spending some time with his kids that still didn’t stop him wishing that the blonde California woman he had been spending so much time with was sitting in the seat beside him instead of his holdall. Thursday just couldn’t come quick enough – for either of them.

Apart from a text here or there Rachel spent much of Monday and Tuesday incommunicado from Jon, his time spent busy catching up with his kids and hers on getting the finishing touches finalised on the tennis courts new surface. The exterior of the house amazingly enough in the space of a few short weeks had been transformed into a modern and well finished family landscape that she was proud of – it was going to look great when it was finally listed for sale.

When Wednesday morning finally rolled round, Rachel was up early adding the finishing touches to her packing for the few days in the Hamptons, excitement and nervousness mingled together at the prospect of spending a few days away with Jon. She hadn’t spent a weekend away with another man since Nick and throw in the prospect of attending some social functions with one of the most famous men on the planet and well – to say she was feeling a little rattled was putting it mildly.

The helicopter touched down on Jon’s lawn promptly at seven am as promised and Rachel found herself setting up in her office within the hour. She had to admit there was a lot to be said for beating the rush hour rat race.

“Knock Knock!”

The sound of a familiar voice made Rachel glance to the door where she saw James poke his head in. She hadn’t seen him in person since that afternoon at the Country Club and a flash of guilt ran through the broad smile she gave him. He was the reason after all that she was in this part of the country at all, let alone the vast improvement it had brought to her personal life thus far.

“Hey James – good to see you!”

“You too stranger! How are you? All settled in?”

Smartly dressed in an expensive looking suit, James wandered in to the office to give her a warm hug, a waft of over powering cologne stinging the back of her throat as he brushed her cheek with a quick kiss.

“Yes, everything is going great thank you!” Discretely extricating herself from his embrace she moved back to her desk and continued sorting her files out while he perched himself casually on the side of her desk. “The Navesink house is really coming along.”

“Good, I knew you were the right girl for the job!”

Shaking back the cuff of his jacket, James glanced down at the shiny Gold Cartier watch that dangled from his wrist. Grimacing at the time he stood up and flicked an imaginary fleck of dust off his immaculately pressed trousers.

“Listen I’m sorry I haven’t been out to see you, life’s been kinda crazy.”

Rachel busily stacked her files in order for the meetings ahead and shook her head good naturedly.

“Don’t be silly I don’t expect you to be my chaperone James, besides I’ve been pretty busy myself.”

James raised his brows, “You have?”

A wave of heat surged to Rachel’s cheeks, she couldn’t exactly tell him why she’d been so busy – well other than business matters of course. Snapping the lock shut on her briefcase she smiled brightly at him and began to move to the door.

“Well yes, there are quite a few properties in my portfolio at the moment – they’re keeping me plenty busy!”

“Ah of course! Well if you can find the time I’d like to buy you dinner some evening – you know…”

James gestured grandly out the enormous windows to the Manhattan skyline. “Show you the sights and sounds of this wonderful city!”

“Um……sure…….that would be lovely – sometime.” Blushing Rachel agreed to his proposal, more out of politeness than desire. James was a great guy and he’d given her a fantastic opportunity but something about his demeanour ever since she’d arrived unsettled her in a way she couldn’t put her finger on. “I’m really sorry James but I need to get going, I’m meeting with Nigel Hawkins in five minutes……”

“No need to apologise, I’m running late myself – so I’ll give you a call then? About dinner?”

Ushering her out the door in front of him, James flashed a gleaming white smile at her when she nodded.

“Great, have a good day!”

“You too James.”

Blowing out a sigh of relief, Rachel escaped down the hallway to the boardroom where a day full of meetings awaited her – a welcome distraction in her view.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time the clocks around the city were striking six pm, Rachel was gratefully easing herself into the back seat of the car Jon had thoughtfully arranged to ferry her about the city until she left for the Hamptons. After a long day meeting with various representatives of servicing companies she was dealing with and going through the legalities of foreclosure expeditions her brain was just about fried. 

A quiet dinner at Harry Cipriani’s helped banish the hunger pangs from having worked through lunch but she couldn’t quite stop the yawns that stretched her tired body when the driver finally delivered her back to Jon’s apartment. The chopper had dropped her there that morning but with her bags already been taken care of she’d had no more than a mere glance at the building as she’d dashed off to the office.

Now though she was able to appreciate the fine architecture of the property as the polite doorman escorted her up the floors in the smooth glass-sided elevator. After showing her right the way through to the master suite of the penthouse apartment, the doorman bid her a good night and departed with the generous tip Rachel had bestowed upon him. Left alone she took a moment to breathe in the finer details of her surroundings, from the floor to ceiling windows that offered a tantalising view of the city right the way to where her suitcase was laid waiting for her on a mahogany island in the centre of an enormous walk in closet. As with Jon’s house in New Jersey, the sheer magnitude and exquisite finishing of the apartment made her realtor’s nerve ends tingle – this was a very expensive piece of property.

Sinking onto the vast expanse of the king sized bed she smiled at the crisp, obviously freshly pressed lines of the sheets beneath her – Jon was a man of his word if anything. A large box sitting on an ornate blanket chest at the foot of the bed caught her attention, a card folded in two with her name scribbled in Jon’s hand lying on top. Reaching across to open it out she giggled at the message inside.

Make yourself comfortable and get a good night’s sleep – it will be your last for a while.

Tomorrow – you’re all mine! J xx

Grinning at his cheeky words she set the card aside to examine the contents of the wooden box. An assortment of bubble bath, lotion, salts and exfoliates along with a selection of aromatherapy oils all in exquisite silver topped decanters nestled on top of a champagne silk robe from La Perla made her gasp in pleasure. This was luxury at its finest.

Resisting the urge to call Jon straight away instead Rachel took her time unwinding in the colossal sized bath tub, the aromatic infused steam seeping into her tired muscles as she lay soaking in the satin water. Only when she done soothing the lotion into her skin and enjoying the silky comforts of the robe she had slipped on after her bath did she take a picture of herself curled up against the pillows that adorned Jon’s bed. Tapping out a caption for the photo she smirked and sent it on its way.

21.30 Having a great time……wish you were here……

Thirty seconds later her phone began vibrating with the incoming call, Rachel’s lips curving into an amused smile when she lifted it to her ear and answered it with a casual hello.

Jon’s voice growled with a huskiness that made the fine hairs on the back of her neck crackle in anticipation and her toes curl against the smooth cotton of the sheets.

“You’re killin’ me here!”

Innocently she giggled down the phone at him, stretching luxuriously into the bed.

“You liked my picture then I take it?”

“You have no damn idea!”

“Good! I want you as miserable tonight as I am!”

 A soft snicker accompanied his voice down the line, “You’re miserable huh?”

“Extremely miserable!” Lying on her back she gazed up appreciatively at the chic chandelier that adorned the high ceiling of the suite. “Nice place you got here buddy!”

“Glad you like – I see you got my gift?”

Nodding Rachel sighed happily into the phone; “I did thank you – it was thoughtful as it was beautiful…….but completely unnecessary.”

A pause travelled across the line before Jon’s lowered voice reached her ear again.

“I’m glad you’re there – I kinda like knowing you’re sprawled out in my bed…..”

Blushing Rachel bit her bottom lip and dropped her voice to match his lust filled tone;

“I’d prefer if I was sprawled out here under you……..”

He emitted a soft chortle, amusement at her obvious insinuation evident in his almost murmured response. “Careful baby……it almost sounds like you miss me.”

Rachel could feel a wet heat spreading from between her legs, a heightening desire to be close to him almost scaring her in its intensity. She was falling hard, so very hard. Laughing to shake off the sexual tension that was threatening to suffocate her, she joked down the phone.

“Nope! I mean….I kinda like you and all but I’m holding out for somebody a little better looking……you know – a little more successful! In reality I’m really looking for more of a white collar kind of guy….” 

Her voice was light and playful as her fingers traced a crease line in the sheets. 

“…in fact I’m not sure I could settle for a mere guitar player!”

Jon’s voice matched her playful banter, his retort as silky and smooth as the robe that was wrapped around her.

“But I’m good in bed and I’m willing to let you do all sorts of wicked things to my body– that should count for something right?”

“Well there is that I suppose.” Giggling Rachel stifled another incoming yawn, her eyes growing heavy with tiredness. “On that note I guess I better get some sleep – from the sounds of it this might be my last opportunity for a few days.”

“Alright baby – all the arrangements have been made so you shouldn’t have any problems getting out here……”

A sultry tone dropped into Jon’s voice as he breathed into her ear through the phone line; “….and in case I haven’t made it clear already – I can’t wait to see you.”

“Me too…….”

“C’mon baby – you can say it.”

Confused and a little flustered, Rachel’s eyes snapped open; “Say what?”

“That you can’t wait to see me….”

Clearing her throat, she attempted to joke her discomfort away.

“That’s what I just said Einstein!”

Undeterred Jon’s response was soft but firm, he wasn’t going to let her out of this one easily.

“You know it isn’t….tell me baby……”

His murmured command sent another shiver of desire rippling through her senses, her voice this time undeniable shaky and whispered.

“I can’t wait to see you either…….”

Closing her eyes, she could almost imagine the little triumphant smirk that she had come to find always played across Jon’s face when he got his way.

“I like the way that sounded - until tomorrow baby – sweet dreams……”

Almost inaudible, her whispered words were hoarse as the fingers of her free hand drifted to between her legs to seek a release only she could provide tonight.

“Night Jon…….see you tomorrow…….”

When the soft click signalled the line had been disconnected, Rachel let the phone slip from her grasp onto the pillow and with a low groan she let her body’s natural tempo take over, tremors of ecstasy zinging through her nerve endings. The sheer intimacy of his words ran through her brain, the memory of his dulcet voice and what it invoked in her emotions terrifying her just a little.

She hadn’t felt this…….alive……..ever.