Chapter Fifty

An hour later and the only remnants of the pizza they had shared were the crumbs that Rachel was chasing around the plate with her finger. She had filled Jon in on all the rest of the details of her trip, her visit with her parents, Nick’s family and of course the funeral. Sucking the last of the spicy tomato sauce from her finger, she leaned back happily in the booth seat and smiled contentedly at Jon.

“This feels so good…..to just be able to sit with you and do something normal!”

Grinning, Jon nodded in agreement and took a swallow of his beer. “I gotta tell you, you are nothing like the ‘Ice Queen’ I met that day trespassing on my road. This trip has been good for you – I noticed the difference in you before you even stepped off the plane!”

Blushing, Rachel tipped her head to one side and shrugged. “Yes, well may I just say ‘Jovi Air’ has Southwest beat any day – hands down! And by the way…..I was NOT an ‘Ice Queen’!”

Jon snorted in amusement. “Uh yeah baby – you WERE. It bordered on ‘total bitch’ actually but you were so cute I overlooked the bitch factor in the hopes of getting into your panties and then once I got a hold of what was in those panties……..well I decided I liked a bit of bitch!”

Rachel bit back a retort as the waitress cheerily laid the bill on the table. Reaching for it before Jon could grasp it, she waved it victoriously in the air. “Nope, dinner is on me – you provided transportation for me from California so I’ll buy dinner.” Winking at his surprise, she pulled out her purse. “I wanna keep things even!”

“That’s awfully generous of you baby!” Chortling, Jon smirked as he drained the last of his beer. Now that she’d gotten all her thoughts out, ‘fun’ Rachel was back in town and he was enjoying her immensely.

As she pulled the money from her purse, Rachel smiled sweetly across the table at him. “I know…..I’m just a giving person that way!”

Gathering their things, they walked arm in arm back to the parking lot, Jon’s breath warm against her cheek as he smirked conspiratorially at her. “So you’re in a giving mood huh?”

“Oh yeah! I’m getting into the holiday spirit a little early this year – I believe it’s better to give than receive!”

“Lucky me!” Arriving at the car, he bumped her gently against the passenger door to give her ass a cheeky little squeeze. Not caring whether anybody was watching, he nipped her lips subtly before dipping his tongue in between them for a taste of what he had so badly missed.

Rachel responded with a nibble of her own that left him hungry for more before she smoothly slid from beneath his arms into the passenger seat and gazed up at him coyly. “Oh yeah, you’re gonna feel lucky alright – soooooo lucky! So you wanna do this thing right here or are you gonna take me home?”

Jon grinned down at her as he leaned against the open door. “Is both an option? Can I do you right here in the parking lot and THEN take you home and do you again?”

Cool as a breeze Rachel shrugged and hit the lever to send her seat into a reclined position. “Sure, I’m easy….here……there…….anywhere – or, hell – EVERYWHERE……just c’mon already!!”

Groaning at the sight of her toned thighs that led to the slim line cut of her long boots, Jon sucked in a deep breath and shook his head as he shut the door. The devil incarnate was sitting in the front seat of his car and he fully intended to do wicked things just as soon as he got her home…….very wicked things.

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

“You’re on my side of the bed rockstar!”

Jerking his eyes open from his semi slumbered state, Jon smiled lazily as he drank in the sight before him. Wearing the silk robe he’d bought for her stay in the city apartment, the cinch tied in a loose bow at her waist and with her hair lying softly about her shoulders, Rachel stood with one hand on her hip smirking down at him.

“Uh, no I’m not – I always sleep on this side of the bed!”

When he lifted his hand to hook a finger into the tied cinch, Rachel clasped it firmly with her own hand stopping his advances any further with raised eyebrows. The green depths of her eyes glittered with amusement at the puzzled look on Jon’s face.

“You have never slept on this side of the bed with me.”

Jon hoisted himself up in the bed to bury his other hand under her robe, grinning with delight when as he suspected, he found nothing but soft, creamy skin underneath.

“Well….now that you mention it, I guess we usually just sleep where we fall, don’t we?”

Sucking in a breath from his touch, Rachel giggled softly as she leaned into his touch.

“So…….scoot over then!”

Running one fingertip through the soft nest of curls that were at his eye level, Jon watched as she quivered from his touch. Excitement surged through his blood at the thought of what lay ahead.

“And just exactly why do you get to be the one who wins this side of the bed?”

“Because I’m the girl!”

Chuckling Jon rolled his eyes as he continued to let his finger roll a lazy circle between her thighs, just barely dipping into the warmth that he knew was waiting for him. She was literally putty in his hands and he liked it.

“Why is it that women claim to want equality but they still want us to open the door, take out the trash, carry the heavy boxes……”

“Oh shit!” Interrupting him, Rachel jerked herself away from his touch and shot him a panicked look.

“Did you unload the car? My Mom’s pies need to go in the freezer!”

Undeterred, Jon reached behind to cup her ass firmly, dragging her back to stand before him so he could continue his teasing touch. “Why is it my job to unload your stuff from the car?”

Unable to help herself, Rachel shook her head numbly as fire began to dance in her belly from his slow, torturous movements. “Because you’re the guy……. Seriously……you just left all my stuff in the car?”

She let out a muffled squeak when she was suddenly tumbled onto the bed by a pair of strong hands and found herself staring up at Jon’s victorious face. His breath was warm on her cheeks as he hovered tantalisingly above her, his voice low and smug.

“I unloaded all your crap already.”

“What about my Mom’s pies?”

“In the freezer. I have been married before……I know my job – question is……do you know yours?”

Grinning, Rachel squirmed happily beneath him and let her fingertips dance lightly across his chest.

“Yeah, my job is to complain that I have a headache from travelling all day and that I'm too tired to do anything but go to sleep!” She stopped to screw her eyes shut in concentration and then smirked back up at him. “Oh…….and then I think I'm supposed to ask if you’ll ‘hold’ me while I fall fast asleep safe in your arms!”

“You forgot to mention that you’re supposed to refuse to give me a blow job because it’s ‘gross’.”

The dark crimson blush that coloured Rachel’s cheeks beneath her sparkling eyes made Jon chuckle as he hovered above her. “But then those words would never come out of your mouth would they Rach?” Lowering his head to graze her lips with his stubbled chin, he edged a knee between her quivering legs, his voice raspy with seduction. “You like to give it as much as any man likes to receive it don’t you? If you didn't…….well then you wouldn't be so good at it.”

Unable to resist, Rachel wriggled deeper into the mattress beneath her, willingly inviting him to nestle his groin between her legs. She could feel his hard length beneath his briefs as he brushed against her middle and excitement danced through her belly. Lifting a finger to trace the outline of his parted lips, she dipped one inside for him to suck on.

“Depends on the man……a woman knows if she can really cut loose with a man in bed or if she has to refrain a little…..”

Sitting up slightly Jon gazed down at her. “And which kind am I?”

“Dunno yet!”

“Whaddya MEAN you don’t know yet?” Eyes wide in mock hurt, Jon huffed in pretend indignation. “You’re a closet freak aren’t you? Admit it!”

Grinning, Rachel shrugged. “Like I said – it depends on the man! Any woman can turn into a freak when she has absolute security with a man.”

“Absolute security huh?” Frowning slightly, Jon considered what she had said. As much as he wanted to ravage the woman beneath him, she had a way with words that made him sit up and think for a moment. “So that’s the band of gold and the white picket fence?”

“Depends on the woman.”

Pressing her, Jon stared deep into her eyes. “Is that what absolute security is for you? Marriage?”

“Seriously Jon!” Impatient for more, Rachel let her fingers tug at the waistband of his briefs. “Are you trying to have a serious conversation with me when I'm horny?”

Jon shuddered when he felt her lithe little fingers slide around his girth and tug non too gently. Surrendering to the blood surging around his groin, he let himself glide into her hands. “That depends, are you trying to avoid a serious conversation by distracting me with sex?”

He got his answer when, with an evil smirk Rachel arched her legs up to toe his briefs off the cheeks of his ass and pushed them to his knees, giggling when he kicked himself free into her waiting hands. Gently stroking him, she licked her lips slowly.

“Maybe you should distract me with sex and try get a serious answer out of me just before I come…….that’s the only time I'm vulnerable …… unless I've had a hit or two off a joint and then it’s impossible for me to lie or evade your annoying questions!”

Eyes semi closed in pleasure, Jon snorted in disbelief. “ You've never smoked a joint in your life – you were a ‘good’ girl – I’d bet big money on it!”

“And yet you seem content enough to spend lots of time with me!”

Swollen with need, Jon balanced himself on one strong forearm to let his other hand wander between her legs, the wet heat coating his fingers instantly as he stroked her clit. “And what should that tell me?”

Gasping as she bucked against his touch, Rachel released her hold on his cock and wrapping her legs around his waist, twisted them both to the side effectively tossing Jon to his back and impaling herself on him in one swift motion. Conversation time was over! Writhing in pleasure she tossed her hair over her shoulder and smirked down at his shocked expression.

“Stick to playing the guitar Jon – you’ll go broke as a gambler!”

Groaning as she ground herself against him, her slick walls fully encasing him, Jon grinned up at her as he dug his fingers into her rotating hips. “I’ll let you get by with that move because you do it so well!”

“You’ll let me get by with it because you didn't have a choice!”

Fighting against the building pressure in his balls, Jon screwed his eyes shut and muttered through clenched teeth as Rachel continued her rhythmic, evil assault. He was pretty sure that move had to be illegal in some country somewhere but he loved it, he couldn't remember feeling this horny and satisfied all at the same time ever.

“Bullshit! I will ALWAYS drive the bedroom bus………get used to it baby!”

Fighting for breath as her heart hammered wildly in her chest, Rachel tried her best to ignore the familiar jolts of electricity that were beginning to zing around her core, warning of the orgasm that she knew was gathering strength with every slick slide of Jon’s cock deep within her. Rolling her hips and watching with amusement as Jon bit his lower lip and groaned, she gasped out between thrusts;

“Really baby? You think you’re driving THIS bus? Looks to me like you’re in the passenger seat, trying to hold on for the wild ride.”

“I can hold on for this ride as long as you need……” About to tip over the edge, Jon faltered and grabbed her hips firmly with his fingers. “DON’T MOVE…….” Chest heaving he stared her straight in the eyes, willing the fiery impulses in his balls to recede just a little bit longer. “Just be still for one second while I……..”

Rachel gazed down at him innocently as the tension in his neck subsided a little until she gave her pelvic muscles a wicked squeeze. “You mean don’t move like this? Weren't you just saying you could hold on for as long as you need to?”

“Christ!” Groaning as small beads of perspiration began to form on his brow, Jon stared up at her pleadingly. “You can’t work me like this and expect me to just be able to lay here and take it! It’s been too long….” Deciding this little game had gone on quite long enough, he grasped her firmly by the hips and flipped them both, smirking at the surprised gasp Rachel made as she landed beneath him. “Since you deprived me of any other women – you have to play fair!”

With the ball firmly back in his own court, Jon eased himself inside just a little deeper, he knew she was about two seconds away from becoming totally unhinged from the blush that was becoming increasingly more crimson with every slow thrust. Dropping his head to run the edge of his tongue over a pert nipple, he felt her shudder beneath him when he added a finger to lightly play with her clit, small feathery flicks that he knew drove her wild. Sure enough, her hips began to buck uncontrollably as she arched her back and thrashed her head from side to side on the pillow. Despite panting a little with the exertion, he couldn't suppress the smug satisfaction he felt as he watched her come undone.

“Go for it baby……ride that wave.”

Unable to hold himself back any longer as her walls convulsed repeatedly around him, he slammed into her once more and exhaled loudly as his own release finally came. Collapsing to one side of her, he kissed her softly on the cheek and pushed a few strands of fair hair off her slick forehead.

“I told you I could hold out as long as you needed me to.”

Still fighting for breath, Rachel rolled her eyes. “You cheated. You don’t get to hit every one of my hot buttons at once and claim victory!”

“Don’t be a poor sport just because I played the game better than you did baby!” Chortling he pulled her close to him, moulding their naked bodies together as their heart rates slowly began to decrease. 

“And by the way…..with THAT victory little girl, the King claims THIS side of the bed!”

Chapter Forty Nine

Jon sighed softly as he hit send on his last message to Rachel and then tossed the phone to the sofa beside him. He missed her like crazy and hadn't been lying when he told her he couldn't sleep well without her, she had become a part of his life that he didn't want to change. A glass of wine hovered tantalisingly in front of his face and he lifted a hand to gratefully accept it.

“Thanks bro.”

“So where’s your new neighbour then?”

Richie grinned cheekily as he sank into a chair opposite Jon, his long fingers balancing the delicate stem of the wine glass as the liquid sloshed dangerously from his sudden descent into the deep cushions. He’d gotten into Jersey just over an hour ago and had come straight to Jon’s as was habit, they were due another writing session to pull this album together.

Taking a sip of wine, Jon pouted sullenly. “Rachel? Between her work, my work, my kids and her Goddamn freakin family emergencies we've barely seen each other in a month!”

“Ah” Richie nodded in understanding and waggled his brows cheekily at his friend. “So, who've you been hanging out with then? Andrea or somebody new?” 

Sitting up as an idea formed, he grinned conspiratorially. “Hey I know! Why don’t you give Andi a call, been a while since I've seen her…..you know……have her come out here – with a friend…..or two.”

Cringing, Jon grimaced and shook his head. “NuUH! Rachel and Andi have met and let me tell you, if Andi so much as crossed the bridge I think Rachel would eat her alive.” Chuckling at the memory, Jon cocked his head at Richie. “I swear to you Rich, you've never seen a woman like Rachel. She’s the coolest cucumber I've ever met. She took on Andi AND Elizabeth Williams and never even broke a sweat!”

“Whaddya mean ‘took them on’? Are you talking like ‘naked’ here or what?!”

Jon rolled his eyes at Richie's typically one tracked mind. “No man, the only playground I'm swingin’ on is Rachel’s and I don’t see that changing any time soon. We bumped into both of them in the Hamptons and Rachel held her own – I gotta tell you I was amused as fuck at the whole scene!”

Disappointed as the potentially mind blowing visual images evaporated from his head, Richie leaned back and shrugged. “Hmph, you’ll be playing on another monkey’s bars just as soon as you conquer this one.”

“Nah, that’s where you’re wrong on this one buddy. Aside from the fact that I've given her my word I won’t fool around, I don’t even have the desire to look any further anyway.”

Richie snorted in disbelief and stretched his long limbs in front of him, crossing his boots over at the ankles. He’d known Jon for the whole of his adult life and knew exactly what made him tick. “Mmm hmm, you gave Dorothea your word AND the band of gold and that didn't stop you forever. Trust me man, your new neighbour won’t hold your attention any longer than any of the others have – you may be a romantic old fool at heart but it’s the rest of you that strays!”

Jon smirked and flicked Richie his middle finger. “Nah man, I'm serious. I’d rather cut my balls off than hurt her – you’ll see! She’s not like anybody you've ever met.”

“Then just cut your balls off right now because you WILL hurt her! You always do! I'm not trying to be a prick here Jon but you hurt them all. I've seen plenty of incredible women cross your path and lemme tell you – it isn't how remarkable these women are that has anything to do with it. It’s that you are a driven, selfish asshole that runs them all off. I love ya man, but that’s the way it is!”

Had anyone else spoken to him like that, Jon probably would have knocked their Goddamn head off but Richie had never been afraid to cut the bullshit with him. It still didn't mean his words didn't have an effect though. Suppressing his annoyance, Jon took another drink and glared defiantly over at his friend.

“She knows I'm no angel but I'm working hard to keep the trust she has in me. Look Rich, it’s like I said – you’ll just have to see for yourself. At least gimme the benefit of the doubt this time and reserve judgement!”

Richie stared back at him for a long moment before sighing and nodding his head in tired agreement. Last thing he wanted to do was get in a brawl with Jon and he knew better than to argue with the stubborn sonofabitch. After all, time would tell in the end anyway – it always did.

“Sure man, I hope it’s everything you want it to be – I’ll drink to that.”

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

Richie’s words were still fresh in Jon’s mind the following evening as he stood beside his SUV anxiously scanning the sky for a glimpse of the incoming jet. Any lingering effects of the hangover from the dent Richie and he had made in his wine collection last night had been banished when he’d woken to a message from Rachel saying she was finally taking advantage of his jet and was coming home early. It was the best news he’d heard in a long time and had improved his day no end, resulting in a very successful day in the studio. He was excited about this album, everything on it seemed to be falling into place naturally. A fleck in the distant horizon made his eyes narrow as he strained to make out the pinpoints of the jet’s landing lights and with a smile he pulled out his cell and started to video the landing.  For reasons unknown to him there was something about his girl coming home to him on his plane that made his blood tingle. Leaning against the hood of the car as he watched the plane through the small screen he thought about it for a moment. Ordinarily he was the one ‘coming home’ and he was usually so road weary it mattered very little to him but now being on the ground and waiting with such anticipation....well it was a new experience for him.

Ten minutes later, Jon was still filming as the stairs finally descended and Rachel appeared at the door, smiling as she thanked the crew and then giving him a little wave when she spotted him waiting. Dressed in dark denim jeans, black boots and a tight v-neck tee, her bright smile made Jon’s gut clench in delicious excitement as he finally switched off the phone and began to stride toward the plane. The familiar warm scent of her perfume filled his nostrils when they met at the foot of the steps, her loose hair wafting around his neck as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a deep kiss. 

“You look mighty good coming off that plane little girl.”

Laughing as Jon gently lifted her in a swoop to take her off the steps, Rachel leaned back in his arms to cradle his face between her hands. “I couldn't have looked any better than you did standing there waiting for me.” Running her fingers through his hair, she kissed him again letting herself linger in the sweet taste of his lips. “I missed you.”

“I missed YOU baby, man I'm glad you’re home! C’mon let’s get your stuff and I’ll take you to a little hole in the wall and get you drunk enough that you’ll let me have my way with you!”

Winking down at her, Jon glanced across to where the crew were beginning to unload the cargo bay. Several large boxes were already stacked on the tarmac with an interesting array of smaller cases beginning to join them.

“What’s all this stuff?”

A little sheepishly, Rachel shrugged from within the safe confines of his arms. “All sorts really – winter clothes, a few personal things and some goodies from my Mama’s freezer for starters. I figured it’s not every day I get the use of a rock star’s private jet so I brought it with me instead of shipping it!”

Jon chuckled and squeezed her a little tighter, his girl really had come home it seemed.

A little over thirty minutes later and they were sat across from one another in a corner booth of Sal’s Pizzeria, a large pitcher of beer quenching their thirst before dinner arrived. Smiling across at Rachel, Jon took her hands softly in his own, running his calloused fingers over her smooth ones.

“So? Tell me about your trip……how was it?”

Rachel gazed back at him and sighed softly in contentment. All the tension that had built up over her time spent back in California was vanishing now that she was safely back.

“I'm not even sure where to start…..”

“Was it hard? Being back at your old house and all that?”

She thought for a moment before nodding. “A little, especially at first. Ghosts……..they were everywhere. As soon as I walked in the front door I remembered why I wanted a change of scenery in the first place! But in a strange kind of way, my trip made a lot of things fall into place for me.”

“How so?”

“Well you know…… I've had a few challenges really diving into this relationship with you.”

Jon’s eyes widened with surprise and he leaned a little closer across the table. “You have? You never said anything about that….”

Rachel smiled to banish his concerns and moved quickly to explain. She’d thought it all out on the flight home and it finally all made sense, now she just needed to put it into words.

“I know I haven’t but I've sorta had this vague feeling of ….. I don’t know, maybe a sense of guilt hanging over me. I felt like there was something wrong with me for being so happy with you and wondered how a woman who had lost her husband and both of her children could go on and have a second life, outside of throwing herself into work. Kinda like I was supposed to keep swimming in quicksand forever?”

When Jon nodded silently in understanding, she took a deep breath to gather her thoughts before continuing, her fingers still threaded softly in Jon’s. “As soon as I got back to that house I noticed I immediately went on auto-pilot, taking care of business without really feeling anything and that’s how I used to survive. Do you know I never really truly broke down and cried after the accident?”

“You've never said much about it and well, I didn't want to pry……..”

“Honestly Jon, the despair was so dark and deep that it went beyond tears, almost to a calm. I mean there would be moments when I would tear up but looking back I really was afraid to give in to the crying, because I felt I wouldn't be able to come back from it if I ever lost control. Like I would lose my mind completely. Work was the only solution to keep me sane but the one thing that made the whole horrible thing somewhat bearable was knowing they were together. The kids were with their father and they weren't wandering in some unknown world alone. Nick could never have lived through this; he just couldn't have handled it.”

Her eyes glittered with more than a trace of moisture and she drew in a deep breath as Jon gently squeezed her hand.

“Do you need to talk to someone Rach? A professional maybe? I’ll get you the best anywhere in the world, whatever you need – I’ll make sure you get it.”

Lifting a finger to swipe away a tear that threatened to fall from her lashes, Rachel smiled across at him gratefully. “No, I don’t think so but if the time comes I will, I promise. Thank you though…….I think I've turned a corner but I need you know that I’d give up everything – my own life – to bring them back, I’d walk away from you, from us….without a second thought……”

Jon’s voice was soft with sincerity as he gazed across at her. “I can understand that baby; I know I’d be the same if our roles were reversed.” He brought her hand up to his lips to gently kiss the side of it. “You don’t need to feel like you have to minimize the life you had before us, the love you had for your husband and kids. I wouldn't want you to ever feel like that.”

“I know...but since I have no power to change the past I need you to know that I am so glad I didn't miss this……….us.  Because I believe now that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.”

Jon spied the waitress approaching over Rachel’s shoulder bearing a steaming hot pizza and before she reached their booth, he leaned across to brush his lips against Rachel’s and murmur in her ear.

“You are where you’re supposed to be…….. you’re supposed to be with me.”