Chapter 70

Turks and Caicos could quite possibly be his new favorite place, Jon mused as he pretended to read a book while baking himself in the tropical sun.  

After the hectic week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve had given him little time with Rachel for talk, let alone anything else, he had been happy spending the two-hour flight doing nothing but chatting and holding hands.  The only thing better than catching up with her had been watching the water out the window of the aircraft turn more and more blue as they made their way toward paradise.  Luck had been on their side and they were on the ground with plenty of time to spare for an intimate sunset celebration to ring in the new year. 

Eager to get this vacation officially underway, they wasted no time in getting to their accommodations.  ‘Spectacular’ was the only way to describe the house Rachel had rented for them.  The pictures they’d seen couldn't begin to do justice to the place.   

The property was located on a private tip of the island which made the views fantastic from every room in the house.  It was surrounded on three sides by the exquisite turquoise waters the area was famous for and the fourth side was a private, gated road.  It ensured that the open ocean would be their only neighbor for the week-long stay and left them completely isolated from the rest of the world 

That was the best part, in his opinion.

The only difference of opinion they found themselves with was whether to unpack or not.  Jon was used to living out of a suitcase and thereby, felt no compulsion to sort his few clothes and put them away.  Rachel on the other hand, needed neat and tidy order before she could relax.  

Once their things had been put away, travelling clothes were replaced with swimsuits.  There was very little deliberation before the pair chose the most secluded of the three beaches for their inaugural vacation sunning.  The lounge chairs that they were currently ensconced in had been entirely too inviting to resist.

That had been nearly an hour ago and during that time, the surf had provided the perfect beachside soundtrack.  Their relationship had moved beyond a lot of meaningless small talk, the silence was comfortable between them.  

Rachel let out a low moan and Jon couldn't suppress his grin.  He knew how she loved the sun, having once described the feeling as an erotic massage all over her body.  He watched a tiny drop of sweat as it ran down her stomach and disappeared into her bikini. 

Book forgotten, he turned to his side and slid his hand across her abdomen, fingertips tracing the elastic rim of her bathing suit bottoms.  “You look good enough to eat.  Feel like heading inside and foolin’ around a little?”

“You have a ravenous appetite for sex,” she observed lazily.

“I’m a man.  It comes with the territory.”

With a softly exhaled breath, Rachel turned on her side to face him and his hand shifted to her hip in the process.  “I'm curious.  All the time you spend on the road alone… what do you do for sex?  I mean, it’s obvious you turn into a grouchy ass if you go more than a couple days without it.  Your  hotel porn bill must've been outrageous.”

“I'm in a rock band, babe.  Sex on the road isn't hard to come by.  Just the opposite.  It’s hard to escape.”

“Do you just take random women back to your room and spend the night with them?”

“That was pretty rare.”  The tone of the conversation wasn't accusatory, so Jon was perfectly comfortable talking about the subject with her.  It was one of the things that he thought most remarkable about their relationship – the fact that they could discuss his history with women and she was completely unthreatened.  “If I’m gonna be brutally honest, there are plenty of women who will do anything they have to just for the privilege of meeting the guys in the band.  Blowjobs are a dime a dozen in that crowd.”

“And is that enough to tide you over?”

From the tone of her voice, there was a specific question on his girl’s mind.  Jon knew that much, but so far he hadn’t quite figured out what it was.  “Wanna tell me what this is really about?”

“Like I said, you need sex like most people need water.  I guess I'm just wondering what you'll do when you're on tour and I'm at home.”

“Ah-ha!  I knew there was another hidden question in there.”  Jon levered up and leaned over to place a soft kiss on her mouth while patting her hip.  “Look... at the end of the day, if I wanted to screw around on you,  I could.  So could you, for that matter.”  Tracing the outer rim of her belly button with his thumb his voice became quieter and serious. “It comes down to trust.  We've talked about my weakness with women and  you know all about my past.  If I’m having a weak moment, I know I can be honest with you and not worry about some big scene between us.”

“But that’s not the same thing as being together.”    

“No.  But I'm only gone a few weeks at a time and then I’m home for a week or so.  You'll be able to join me some and in between visits,” he chuckled. “I'll let you talk dirty to me on the phone and Skype.  Technology will keep us connected.  ”

Her fingers entwined with those of his resting on her hip.  “I… I just want to know that we're on the same page, ya know?  Building an actual life together.  I don't want to be the dumb girlfriend in the dark back home while orgies are a nightly ritual out on the road.”  Rachel didn’t give him a chance to respond, choosing instead to flop to her back to end the conversation.  “I'm gonna doze for a few more minutes.  I just love the way the sun feels…”

Jon watched as she wiggled into a comfortable position, wondering if he'd been dismissed or she just wasn't in a talking mood.  Was she actually questioning his commitment to her?  He'd given her a key to his house and cleared out half the closet for her.  They shared a bed every night that his kids weren't around.  How could she not know he was serious about her?  He'd told her time and time again. 

Rachel’s words from their previous conversation about commitment scattered through his head. 

“Being committed to somebody is all well and fine….but at the end of the day if you don't have marriage to tie it all up, what keeps you from throwing your hands in the air and walking away when things get tough?  To me, that piece of paper says ‘we started this, we'll finish it… a deal’s a deal.    It’s more than paper…it’s a contract.  You and I deal with contracts all day long….because a verbal agreement doesn’t mean shit when people get mad and decide they want out of a deal.  What keeps a lot of business deals together IS that contract – that piece of paper.”  

Jon realized that she didn’t see his commitment to her the way he did.  To her, without marriage binding them together, there were questions – questions about what to expect from him in the form of fidelity. 

Marriage.  Again? 

He hadn’t been very good at it.  He'd loved Dorothea and their kids and loved their life, but everything that marriage was supposed to be?  He sucked at it.  He wasn't really a partner to Dorothea.  He was gone all the time.  Sometimes he was gone even when he didn’t really have to be.  He liked knowing he had her to come home to – something  normal and stable – but  he couldn't live that way 100% of the time.  He got too restless. 

Fidelity? 

He sucked at that, too.  Getting older hadn’t really lessened his desire for variety, particularly when it was dangled in front of him everywhere he went.  He was plenty discreet about his frequent encounters and had always been – well, mostly – careful about protecting himself and Dorothea. 

Marriage was supposed to be putting the other person first.  He'd always put himself first, without apology.  But the truth was that there was always an underlying sense of guilt and he hated the guilt.  He associated marriage WITH guilt – guilt at being a shitty husband. 

He watched as Rachel lifted one toned arm to arc gracefully over the top of her head. 

She was beyond attractive, with a truly admirable body.  But the reality was that he'd been with women who were much more physically beautiful and with more perfect bodies. 

His lusty attraction to her wasn't what kept him intrigued.  She was smart, witty... Her sense of humor was one of his favorite things about her.  It brought a playfulness into his life he hadn’t really had before Rachel.

Staring up at the startling blue sky, Jon tried to trace back exactly when it was that she got under his skin. 

He thought about the morning after their first night together, when Alice had brought him Rachel’s broken necklace with the wedding rings.  He hadn’t recognized what was going on inside him that morning, but he could see it plainly now.  He'd assumed she was married – that she was another man’s.  It had driven him crazy, even then, to think of her wrapped around another man.  That’s why he'd reacted to her in such a hateful, spiteful way.  He'd been nothing short of mean and cruel. 

He thought of the way she had supported him when he found out about the problems with the Philly Soul.  The  way she showed her love.  Rachel didn’t have to say it.  He had felt it even in the very early days of their relationship. 

She challenged him that much was for sure.  That trait turned him on as much as anything else about her.   She was calm and made him feel calm.  Maybe, most of all, she wasn't distracted by his public persona.  In Rachel’s eyes, he was just the guy next door.  The neighbor who happened to turn her on and make her happy.

God love her, she had spent untold amounts of money to trying to give him something.  Not to impress him, but to indulge him.  What had he given her, really?  Not much.  Expensive lingerie, keys to a couple houses, private air travel.  Material things. 

What had she wanted?  A whole, complete life.  Marriage, kids and to be a family with him – to be family for him.  She'd given up on the idea of more children because he didn’t want more, affirming he was enough.  That was all she'd wanted.  Him.

Watching her breasts rise and fall beneath the silky cups of her bikini with her arm slung lazily over her head, at that moment she ceased to be a woman in the sexual sense to him.  She was just simply his.

The fact that he was enough for her made the idea of marriage somehow less terrifying and claustrophobic.  She had once told him this relationship was the scariest thing she'd ever done and the truth was, it wasn't much different for him. 

He tried to let on like he had all the answers with his displays of bravado but it was Rachel who had shown all the courage in their relationship.  He insisted she needed to have faith and jump off that ledge into his world when the truth of the matter was that he hadn’t even approached the ledge.

“Rach?”

She wiggled her hips into the lounger as she stirred from her little catnap.  “Hmm?”

Jon didn’t remember feeling quite so awkward or nervous since his high school days. 

“If it were us – ya  know, you and me – and  it was important to you… Well…”  Gulp.  “I could do marriage.  With you, I mean.”

If Rachel opened her eyes, he couldn't see it through her sunglasses.  The only that indicated she'd even heard him was a very slight  nod.  He might not have even seen that nod.  Had he imagined it?

“Rach?  Did you hear me?”

The arm that was slung over her head moved.  It lifted slowly, her fingers bridging the scant inches that separated their chairs and coming to rest on his bare thigh.   

It was one of those freakish moments for Jon that had happened more than once since he'd met Rachel.  Sometimes all it took was a touch for them to communicate their thoughts.  It was intense and bordered on spiritual.  Her mere touch was enough to erase the jitters that’d had him stuttering his hypothetical offer and could feel the power of ‘them’ when her fingers squeezed just slightly on his leg, saying very softly,

“I heard you, babe.”

Chapter 69

The Bongiovi Christmas was much like holidays in Rachel’s family.  They were filled with fun, family, food, and wine - and lots of it all.

Jon’s parents, brothers and their families were as warm and welcoming as they had been in previous times spent together.   Dorothea had also been gracious during her short time with the clan. “You always were partial to Cartier” was her only semi-catty comment, offered as a presumed jab at Jon when she noticed Rachel’s watch. 

The children remained with their father for several days after Christmas and as such, Rachel and Jon slept in their own homes.  Work had taken up so much of Rachel’s time, she’d scarcely seen any of them, able to join Jon’s family for only a couple of dinners since the Christmas. 

At a stop sign a several miles out from the Jersey house, Jon sent a brief text to his lady, hoping to catch a few minutes alone with her now that he’d dropped the kids back off with their mother. 

[5:42 P.M.] JON:  Busy?

The lack of response a full five miles later was a good indication that she was, in fact, swamped with year-end business.  It wasn't much of a surprise, since she'd warned him as much weeks ago, but he was anxious.  Anxious to get out of the damn car, which he'd spent entirely too much time in today.  More than that, he was anxious for some alone time with Rachel. 

Naked time. 

Screaming, naked time.

Sexually-deprived Jon was an unusually tense guy and her continued lack of response to his text message was not helping matters.  It certainly wasn't helping the headache that had been building for days while he'd been surrounded by his parents and children.

Having his own key definitely had its advantages and Jon chose to bypass his driveway in favor of Rachel’s.  He'd taken up an odd habit, at least odd for him.  Wherever Rachel was, he kept the key to that house with him at all times.  He wasn't insecure about her or them, but there were so many hours spent away from each other, he found that key in his pocket to be a constant reminder that no matter how miles were between them, he could get to her. 

Her SUV was visible through the windows in the garage door, so he knew she was home.  He wasted no time in pulling the key from his pocket and, after approaching the door at a near-run, he put it to good use.  When he closed the front door behind him, he could just make out the sound of Rachel’s voice coming from upstairs. 

Following the sound that teased his neglected libido, he found her on the phone in the office.  While he could only hear her side of the conversation, it didn’t sound like it was a banner day in the real estate world. 

“Enough of this shit!  If they don't have it funded by the cut off tomorrow in time to release for recording on the 31st, kill the deal.  I'm leaving on vacation come hell or high water as soon as funding cutoff times on the West Coast have hit. You can talk to James if you get in a bind while I'm gone…..Turks and Caicos….yeah….can't wait….okay…will do.  Thanks.”

Her distracted “Hey” in his direction didn’t discourage Jon’s intentions.  There was only one thing on his mind and he leaned down to her desk, taking her hands in his.  Pulling  her into a standing position so he had sufficient access to twist his arms around her waist, he ground himself  up against her in the horny man’s traditional greeting. 

“I have been DYING to do that for five... long... fucking days.”

The ringing phone didn’t dissuade his hands from roaming under her sweater in an attempt to get at her bra clasp.  

“Jon – I gotta get this.” 

Rachel had stepped out of his grasp and turned her back on him to answer the phone.  Rather than get his feelings hurt, Jon gave an appreciative leer to her very firm backside.  Undeterred by her obviously problematic phone call, he pressed up behind her to continue the assault under her sweater.  From all accounts, she appeared oblivious to him and remained completely immersed in her latest work drama.

“Just what we needed.  No, that won't work….investor guidelines won't allow it.  If you put it in as a pre-pay I can make it work there….okay…send me the revised HUD and I'll take a look.  Thanks…I’ll be on the lookout for it.”

Ordinarily, Jon didn’t have any problem putting Rachel in a receptive mood.  She was as into him as he was her.  Today however, he was horny beyond words and she didn’t know he was in the same room. 

“Rachel… baby …. Have I mentioned it’s been FIVE days?”

“Yeah, honey, I know,” she placated him, flipping a file folder open with a hurried flick of her wrist.  “But I don't even have an hour right now – West Coast is still operating and I'm putting out fires left and right.”

She couldn't even be bothered to look at him, let alone return his kisses.  She was too busy shuffling papers to take notice of the vein threatening to burst in his forehead.  

“I’ll soooo make it worth your while, Rach.”

Instead of dropping to her knees like a fantasy girlfriend, she only patted his chest in that dismissive way women did and offered him a token kiss.  “I know you would.  I just can't right now.  There’s chaos on every file.  I told you it would be this way at year-end.  Two more days and we'll be on vacation and I'll make it up – ”

Jon didn’t hear anything other than “two more days” before interrupting her. 

“TWO DAYS?!?!   Uh, No.  My balls will be so high up by then I’ll never find them again.  You don't know what it’s like for a guy.  Really, babe, it’s torture.  I don't need an hour,  just twenty minutes.  Hell, fifteen! Give me fifteen minutes so I can knock the edge off and then I’ll leave you in peace.”

The ding of her email alert was constant and Rachel turned to glance at her computer before stepping back to the desk.  “Jon, I have to review these numbers.”

Frustration was evident as he ran his fingers through his hair with a mighty huff.  “Rachel, I have a headache that has moved all through my head and down my neck.  You could get rid of it in fifteen minutes – or  maybe ten.  Whatever.  Just – honey, are you listening to me???”

He didn’t know if it was his pathetic tone or imploring eyes that had roused her attention when she finally turned to look at him.  She  raised her eyebrows and shook her head at him, muttering, “Oh... my... God!”

Her acknowledgment of him was all he needed to think he had a green light.  He started feverishly unbuckling his belt while simultaneously trying to pull Rachel’s clothes off her. 

“You’re the BEST, baby… No wonder I love you so much.  Christ, I can't wait to get rid of this headache.” 

He'd moved on to the zipper of her jeans and was trying to tug them down her legs, only to be derailed by her boots.  “Jesus, baby you could help me get these boots off ya know!” 

During the frenzied effort to be naked, Jon hadn’t noticed her lack of response, verbal or otherwise, but now he couldn't miss her muttered “Shit!” When he looked up, she had turned her head and was reading something on her computer screen while absently unzipping one of the troublesome boots.

The whine in Jon’s voice couldn't be hidden.  “Baby? I don't think you’re really into this….”

He'd seen that look before.  Not on her face, but he’d seen it hundreds of times on Dorothea’s face – every time he did something obviously ridiculous.  Rachel gave him a hard blink like she couldn't believe what he'd just said. 

“Ya think?  Maybe?  What was your first clue, Jon?”

His ego may have been slightly deflated, but his pecker was as determined as ever.  “Are you giving me a mercy fuck?”

“Judging from the bulge in your jeans, you’re not in a position to complain.”

“No.  But I sorta thought you'd show up at least.  I didn’t expect to have to compete with your emails.”

This was the rock star People magazine named one of sexiest men alive?; Rachel mused.  He looked hilarious and pained.  She would've liked to laugh, but instead, she took the two steps necessary to stand toe-to-toe with him, never taking her eyes off his. 

It was beyond peculiar, but somewhere in those two steps, everything that had held her attention captive disappeared in a haze of lust.  The only thing in the room was Jon. 

Overdressed Jon. 

Her palms slid down the front of his shirt and caught the hem at the bottom, pulling it up and over his head.  As soon as the garment cleared his face, she could see the intent to ravage was written clearly in his eyes.  She didn’t notice which of them pulled her sweater off, but it was Jon who flipped the clasp at the front of her bra, tossing it across her desk.  When her hand slipped into his jeans, he hissed and she thought maybe, just maybe, his eyes rolled back in his head. 

Clothes started flying, mostly hers.  Jon couldn't be bothered to do more than let his jeans drop to his ankles before he picked her up.  With a rumbling growl, he laid her across her desk and roughly pulled her to the edge, impaling her in the process. 

If the phone rang, she never heard it.  She had no trouble ignoring the chiming email alerts.  The only thing Rachel was aware of was the leverage she gained by grabbing the edge of the desk as Jon slammed into her time and again.

The fires on the West Coast could keep on burning because they were nothing in comparison to the inferno currently building on her desk by the Navesink River.

Chapter 68

Buckling his seatbelt in preparation for landing, Jon would be happy to get on the ground.  Beyond that, he was anxious to get into Rachel’s bed.   It had been four long, lonely nights since she’d left for California to spend the pre- Christmas days with her family.  He’d missed her warm body every one of those nights.  

She might be the one who was gone, but she could hardly be at fault for what he considered the extended separation.  He had all but forced her on the plane when she said she didn’t want to miss his fundraiser performance in Red Bank.  Even on the way to the airport, she insisted she would wait to travel with him, but he assured her there would be plenty of other shows she could attend.  In the end, Rachel finally acquiesced and taken off for the west coast by herself.

The holidays were supposed to be a break, but family obligations meant the Christmas holidays would be as hectic for the two of them as Thanksgiving had been.  Bi-coastal celebrations demanded they return to New Jersey right after Rachel’s family gathered for Christmas Eve. The middle-of-the-night travel plans made him feel a bit like Santa Claus, seeing as it would allow them to be back on the east coast for Christmas morning with his kids and the rest of the Bongiovi clan.  

He hopped a plane the minute the show in Red Bank was over, happily bound for the California and his girl. 

Now safely on the ground at the regional airport near her home, Jon fingered the house key in his pocket before retrieving his bag from the overhead compartment.  Thanking the pilot and crew, he bounded down the stairs, determined footsteps taking him to the waiting car.  Bag tossed onto the seat next to him, he looked at the time on his watch and considered whether or not to call Rachel and tell her that he was on his way.  Ultimately, since the local time was after 2 a.m., he decided against calling.  He chose to spend his time plotting creative ways of surprise when he crawled into bed next to her.

Rachel’s favorite breakfast restaurant became visible out the car window and Jon knew he was close now.  An unexplainable sizzle ran through his body – he was actually excited.  When the car turned the corner and her house came into view, that excitement was replaced by the realization that he’d developed some sort of attachment to this place.

Not because of the house, or the location, or even the key to the front door that he always carried with him.  It was because she was in there. 

He felt the warmth of her before the key was even into the front door lock.    The lights in the foyer had been left on and, after stepping inside, he locked the door behind him.  His eyes immediately tracked up the stairs, settling on the door to the master bedroom. 

And her.

Taking the stairs two at a time, Jon rushed past the baby pictures of Lauren and Tyler and quietly opened the bedroom door.  His bag made a soft plop, but other than that, the only sound was Rachel’s breathing.   

He couldn’t actually see her, but the scent of her was enough to have him tearing his clothes off at warp speed.  All the creative ways he had planned to wake her were forgotten.  All that mattered was the way her silky body felt against his when he crawled between the covers and draped an arm around her waist.

She stirred at his touch and twisted her body to face him, her leg instinctively slipping between his.  “You’re here,” was her sleepy greeting before his mouth found hers.  “How was the show?”

The last thing on Jon’s mind was that night’s show.  Hands roughly pulled her closer while his mouth searched for, and found, a stiff nipple begging for attention.  “Show was fine.  Good.   Mmm… missed you.”  Squeezing her against him, Jon rolled to his back, dragging her on top of his body. 

Ordinarily, stamina wasn’t a problem for Jon.  Tonight, however, was a different story.  He didn’t know if it was the anticipation of being back with Rachel, too many days without sex, or just the rabid way she was grinding against him.  He just knew this was not going to be an all-nighter.

“It’s been too long, Rach… I can’t hold off much longer.”

She did nothing to help the matter, settling herself onto his hardness and clenching those female muscles that made him crazy.  Nothing felt like Rachel’s wet heat fisted around his cock.   “Go, baby… Now.”

Freed by her encouragement, Jon gripped her hips and pounded up into the sweetness over and over until he could feel the buzz in the soles of his feet.  He panted her name and softly moaned how good she made him feel right up to the moment where their shouts of release were the only sounds in the room. 

Fast and furious or slow and loving, it didn’t matter.  Sex between them was more satisfying than any drug he’d ever been offered, and he knew she would back him up on that. 

“Christ, I needed that.  Maybe I’ll have enough skin to close my eyelids and actually sleep tonight.”

The late hour didn’t lend itself to a lot of chit-chat in the name of catching up.  Neither of them seemed to need it anyway. 

Rachel scooted into the curve of his arm, resting her head on his shoulder.  With her arm thrown across his waist, they were comfortably in their favorite sleeping position when she kissed his chest and sleepily muttered, “I’m glad you’re home.  Love you, babe.”

Jon was knocked in the head with the realization that what he had felt when pulling up to Rachel’s house earlier was a sense of coming home.   He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tight to him. 

“Love you.  Glad to be home, too.”

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

The few days spent in California with her family had been splendid, Rachel thought.  Jon seemed to fit in easily with the family and had even proven his stellar acting ability when opening the hideous sweater he’d received as a gift from her mother.   The only downside was that they hadn’t had a single bit of time for themselves.

Now airborne and destined for New Jersey, Rachel was grateful for the few hours they would share alone on the plane, even though she was spending a portion of it trying  to turn the Jovi jet into a flying North Pole.

As soon as they’d taken off, Rachel had excused herself to the rear of the plane to put the finishing touches on her plans.   Stashed in the back storage compartment was a miniature Christmas tree adorned with the tiniest of lights and ornaments.  She put it on the floor and surrounded it with the packages that she’d hidden throughout the aircraft.  The last order of business had been to turn the TV monitors into a crackling fire, courtesy of a DVD she’d found at the local drugstore. 

With everything as festive as she knew how to make it, she pulled the curtain open that divided the two sections of the plane.  Tugging Jon by the wrist, she winked and purred, “I’m ready for you.”

“That’s nothing new.”

“Don’t be a smartass, Jon, or you won’t get any of your goodies.”

“The only goodies I’m interested in are yours.” 

It was amazing how he could take any conversation and put just the right tone in his voice to spin it into something… decadently evil, she thought.

 “Don’t start, or we’ll spend the entire flight having wild sex.” 

Rachel pulled him past the now-open curtain to reveal all her holiday preparations.  She was thrilled at his obvious delight.

 “You’ve outdone yourself, Mrs. Claus.  Santa may have a couple things stashed around here for you, too.”  Jon moved beyond her and into the bathroom where he retrieved several hidden packages, all wrapped in classic holiday paper and varying in size. 

“Ooh!!  I must have been a very good girl this year.”

“Exactly!  But in such a bad way”,  he chuckled while tossing his packages around the tree next to hers.  The largest box was presented to her dramatically and with a glimmer in his eye that she hadn’t seen before.  “Here.  I want you to open this first, but I’ll confess right now… this one is more for me than it is for you.”

The box was fairly large with substantial weight, Rachel noted.  “Well, it’s too heavy to be sleazy lingerie.”

“Hey!  I do not buy sleazy lingerie.”

“Honey, the fact that it’s expensive doesn’t negate the sleaze factor.”  Her teasing wink in his direction momentarily took her eyes off the package as she tore the paper away, but the minute she looked back, Rachel squinted like she’d just sucked on a lemon.

“Oh, Lord, no!  I beg of you!”  The expensive barista machine Rachel held in her hands matched the one in Jon’s kitchen.  “Please don’t make me learn how to use this thing!”

“Oh yes!  Not only are you going to learn to use it and make me a decent cup of coffee, you’re not going to be able to live without it.  Trust me!”

Her laughter filled the cabin of the plane.  “I adore you, Jon, but you have no idea how much I hate this gift!  I’m too old to learn a new way to make coffee!”

“Nonsense!  I’m bringing you into the current century with this thing.  You’re gonna love it.  I’ll show you how to use it.  It’s not that hard, I promise.”  He tilted his chin in the direction of the remaining packages, “My turn?”

Rachel turned to retrieve one of the other gifts and mumbled, “I’m not sure you’re worth the effort I put into your Christmas presents.” 

With lightning speed, Jon reached out to grab her at the waist, tucking her into him.  “I’m COMPLETELY worth the effort, baby.”

Shaking her head at his arrogance, she passed the smaller of the boxes to him.  She watched with delight as he tore the paper off to reveal a box containing a can of spray-on sunscreen and a tiny black bikini bathing suit.  The bikini was rock star girlfriend worthy with a skull and crossbones across one cup. 

“You don’t really expect me to wear this, do you?” he playfully snorted.

“Maybe you should open the package that goes with it.”

She retrieved the flat box from under the tree, leaving the other token gifts she’d gotten him.  This was his real gift.  The others were just fun little things that he didn’t need or wouldn’t miss if they went unopened. 

Placing the package on his lap, she graced him with a soft,  lingering kiss.  “I think you’ll like this one better.”

“I know I like getting to open two in a row.”  Again, he ripped the wrapping without hesitation, and opened the box to reveal a small stack of pictures with a brochure clipped to them.    “I see blue water and white sand!  I’m already happy.   Does this mean there’s a vacation in our future?”

“Mmm-hmm…. Turks and Caicos!”  She pulled the pictures from his hand, pointing excitedly to one in particular.  “Look at this house - it has a private beach and gorgeous views of the water.”

While she was as excited as any little girl on Christmas morning, Jon… wasn’t.  He was wearing that nervous look on his face – the  one she’d seen him wear when a fan encounter got a little too close for comfort.   “Honey, it’s beautiful, but… I’m just not sure when I can get away.”

“Ah ha!!!”  She grinned into his face, having already planned for that contingency.  “I’ve taken care of that.  Your assistant has been in on the whole thing!  She’s booked bogus appointments for a solid week to keep your calendar clear.  We’re leaving New Year’s Eve.  Val said you would want your own flight crew so, I’ve chartered Jovi Air for the trip and I had her take a look at everything.  It meets all the security requirements.  I want this to be a trip that you just get on a plane and know YOU didn’t have to work for it. Not one dime is coming out of your pocket.” 

His kiss was as unenthusiastic as he was.   “It sounds great, baby.  I can’t wait, but…”  Jon’s expression was similar to that of a parent trying not to hurt the feelings of their child.  Rachel knew exactly where this was headed, but that was okay.  She had actually expected it.  “It must have cost a small fortune.”

“It did”, she matter-of-factly informed him.  “But you’ll never know how much pleasure it’s brought me.  When was the last time somebody did something for you that didn’t ultimately come out of your own wallet?” 

She could tell by the look on his unwavering face that he wasn’t persuaded by her argument.   He was about to disagree when she shushed his mouth with a finger and softened the blow with a kiss. 

“Just this once, Jon… let me have this.  Let me feel like I’ve done something special FOR YOU.  Please?”

Rachel knew she’d won him over the minute he pursed his lips.  “Well, it has been a long time since somebody picked up the tab for me.   I suppose if you tempted me with sexual favors, I could be inclined to let you have your way.”

Her arms grabbed greedily around his neck, her squeal of delight likely only heard by dogs.   “Oh, Jon… I’m so excited!  I can’t wait to spend some time alone on the beach.  I’ve barely been able to keep it to myself.   I’ve almost slipped and told you half a dozen times!!!!  I really wanted to take you to Hawaii but the flight time was so much longer.  This is only about 2 hours and we’re there!”

She loved the sound of his laughter.  The way his eyes crinkled when he was genuinely happy was sexier than any posed picture of him.   He was absolutely, positively beautiful in those moments of complete relaxation.  That’s what she had with him right now – somewhere about 30,000 feet in the air on a cross-country flight, of all places, there was total happiness in him. 

“I’m excited, too, Rach, but this is a one-time thing… agreed?  Unfortunately my celebrity comes with a high price and sometimes that translates to dollars.  Vacationing with any hope of privacy is expensive and that’s not your responsibility.  So from now on, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, but …”

“Stop.  You’re killing my Christmas spirit.”

Arm outstretched to wrap around her neck, she felt him kiss her temple before giving her a loving squeeze.   “Okay, okay!  You win.  It’s a perfect gift.  Extravagant as hell, but I love you for it.”

“You think you love me for it now?  Just wait until I get you to the Caribbean.  You know what the sun and sand does for my sex drive.  I’ll do things to you that you’ve never imagined – and I’m aware there’s very little you’ve NOT already done let alone imagined!”

“I have a feeling I won’t have to wait until the Caribbean for you to throw a little love around.”  He crossed over her to grab another, smaller package and offered it to her.  “Why don’t you open this and then show me how much you like it.” 

Once unwrapped, the famous logo resulted in Rachel belting out a giggle that Betty Rubble herself would be proud of. 

 “Cartier?  I don’t even need to OPEN it to throw a little love your way.”

“In that case, I’ll return it and you can just get right to the lovin’ part.”

As soon as she opened the box, the diamonds of the heavily-gilded watch sparkled even in the muted light of the plane.   But, then again, there were enough of them to light up the entire cabin of the aircraft. 

There was something about the exquisite, icy glitter of the gift combined with the perfection of the moment that made Rachel oddly emotional.   It wasn’t the obvious expense of the jewelry, it was… Well, it was Christmas. 

Christmas had always been about her kids.  Without them the last couple of years, the holidays had been events to ‘get through’.   She put on her happy face and offered her family a performance Meryl Streep couldn’t match.  Everybody thought she was coping exceptionally well – so strong, so resilient.  They never had an inkling about the depth of despair she had harbored. 

Tonight, though, she felt… whole.  And the tears she didn’t see coming spilled over and ran down her cheeks.

“Honey, don’t cry!” Jon reached across the sofa to hook his arm around her neck.  “C ‘mere.   It’s just a watch for Chrissakes!”

“It’s beautiful.” 

The back of Jon’s hand swept across her face to wipe the messy tears, then cupped her chin to capture a delicate kiss.  “I’m thinking it may just lead to more tears, but there is an inscription.”

Turning the timepiece over, Rachel had to wipe under her eyes to be able to actually read it. 

            

             Us

       Always

   Pinky Swear

           

 “You said you wanted us… this… for always, Rachel.  I’m just going on record – I’m in.  And since I’ve sealed it with the sacred pinky swear, you should know I’m really serious, young lady.”

Sniffles and the smacking of her kiss were the dominant sounds in this little oasis they’d created at 30,000 feet.  

It was Christmas Eve.  She was in the arms of the man she loved. 

There was peace on earth at long last. 

Chapter 67

As she flipped through the new goodies hanging in the master closet, Rachel felt as spoiled as any celebrity debutante.  You would think today was her Sweet Sixteen rather than what should be a non-eventful 42nd birthday for a grown woman.

The day had begun sweetly and simply when Jon woke her this morning with a softly crooned rendition of Happy Birthday.  From there, the dollar signs had begun to mount and, despite all her protests, he  shuffled her off to one of the city’s most posh salons where she was lavished with all the classic spa treatments. 

Once she had been pampered beyond all reason, she was treated to a private presentation of some of the most exquisite designer dresses ever created.  That presentation had become a shopping spree of epic proportions when he insisted she buy his favorites of the lot.  After all, it was only seven.  Who didn’t need seven luxury gowns?  But that wasn't enough.  He then threw out the casual command to add on three more of the exquisite creations that she had tagged as her favorites along with shoes, handbags and sexy underthings to match them all.

The most difficult thing about her day was deciding which of her birthday gifts to wear to Warren Buffett’s party that night.  

In the end, she had chosen a dress in a shade of hunter green so dark that it was almost black.  The reason she selected that particular one was because it not only had a matching bra and panties, but also a garter and stocking set Jon had insisted upon.  The dress itself was classically styled, elegantly simple and while exceedingly modest, managed to hug her body in all the right places without being overtly sexual.  

However, the garter belt and stockings that would be hiding underneath had Jon panting the minute he saw them laid out on the bed. 

“THAT’s gonna be fun to take off of you later on.”

“Well, you'll get to find out unless I go home with Warren Buffett.  You wouldn't mind, would you?  After all, every woman is entitled to a fantasy night with some famous person - you'd give me a pass, right, honey?”

He scoffed while sipping wine from a pretentiously expensive goblet.  “I'm used to being the guy the girl is given a pass FOR, so, no.  Sorry, baby.  No passes for you.”

Doing one final touch up on her hair before slipping her dress on, Rachel found herself temporarily mesmerized by Jon’s reflection in the mirror.  The charcoal gray suit was elegantly sophisticated, in keeping with the dress code of tonight’s gathering, but it didn’t matter if he was attending a White House event or working in the studio – he always retained that slightly unrefined Jersey edge.

“You make the most sinful thoughts race through my head when you're in a suit and tie.”

Jon’s eyes rolled to the ceiling and back again.  “Gawd.  You say that no matter what I'm wearing.”

“Well, yeah.  But… there’s something about a man dressed all conservative and stuff.”

“Don't let the suit fool ya, baby.  I’m not as well-behaved as I might appear.”

One last spritz of hairspray and she spun to face him, helping herself to a sip of his wine before indulging in a lingering kiss.  “Well-behaved you’re not.”

“If you kiss me like that again,” he warned with a soft growl.  “I’m gonna bend you over that counter and then you'll be late to Warren Buffett’s party.  Don't start something you can't finish, Rach.”

She tossed her hair with a smug grin.  “Fine.  Mr. Buffett is my idol, so I guess I'll have to wait and let you bend me over this counter after we get home tonight.”

“That’s a date.”  Jon reached into his jacket pocket to retrieve a small, wrapped box and held it out for Rachel.  “Happy birthday, baby.”

“Jon, you're ridiculous!  How many birthday presents are you going to give me today?  On top of the gifts you gave me yesterday!”

“There’s only one more after this.”  His grin was utterly lecherous.  “But that one requires you to wear your birthday suit, while this is something to wear with your new dress.  Oh, and yesterday’s gifts weren't birthday presents.  They were ‘I'm sorry I was a dick’ presents.  Different thing.”

She snaked her right arm around his neck while accepting the box with her left hand.  “You have to know you’ve been overly extravagant and that it isn't necessary.  It doesn’t matter what’s in the box.  I love it.”

“I dunno, baby,” he drawled uncertainly.  “You better open it up.  You may not like it.”

Grinning up at him, Rachel tore the wrapping off the little box and pressed the used paper into his open palm with a nod of thanks.  The velvet box opened with an easy flick of her thumb and she found herself looking at earrings in a familiar “X” shape  that symbolized their pinky swear to each other so many months ago. 

The day they’d made that pinky swear was the same day she removed the wedding rings from around her neck and replaced them with the necklace that matched these earrings.  

If their relationship had never grown any stronger after that memorable day, Rachel would still have considered them lucky to have each other.  But somehow, what they’d felt then had grown and deepened, forming strong roots that held firm even when things had been difficult between them.  

“They're beautiful,” she admired quietly, stroking her fingertip over the white gold and diamonds.

 “Thank you for a perfect birthday.”

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

At the party Rachel was introduced to any number of recognizable people.  Superstars in a dozen different realms milled socially around the room, yet she was completely nonplussed by the roomful of rich and famous.

Until she saw Warren Buffett approaching them.

She grabbed hold of Jon’s arm and, in a voice that was five octaves higher than normal, quietly screeched, “It’s him!!!!!  It’s Warren Buffett!!!!  Would it totally embarrass you if I asked to take a picture with him?”

Jon was still chuckling as he stepped forward and extended his hand to the famous business mogul and he thought Rachel’s hand might actually have been trembling when she followed suit.  She kept it together while introductions were made and pleasantries exchanged, but Jon had seen more than his share of his fans react in the same way.  Shock and awe were written all over her face while trying desperately to appear calm, cool and collected. 

“I have to tell you, Sir,” Jon confided with a covert wink to Rachel.  “With all the famous people in this room, you're the only one to impress my lady.  I believe she described you as her ‘idol’.  Today is her birthday, and I happen to know she'd love nothing more than to have a picture taken with you.”

“Well, I’d be the lucky one to have such a beautiful young woman on my arm.”  Mr. Buffett’s response was warm and kind.  They posed for a few pictures and chatted several minutes before their host moved on to the next circle of guests. 

Rachel practically floated through the rest of the evening while Jon made lots of politically correct small talk and she wore her own business smile.  It was a memorable birthday on many levels but she would be happiest when the party was over and she and Jon were returning home to finish the night alone.

And naked.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the quiet shaking of the car seat and she turned to Jon, who was seated next to her.  “What are you laughing about?”

“Just thinking how you squealed at meeting Warren.  It’s cute, that’s all.  You sure as hell didn’t get that excited when you met ME!”

Her hand found its way to Jon’s suit-clad thigh and squeezed.  “I got pretty excited on your dock….”

“Yeah, but you got a lot MORE excited up against my kitchen wall!”

Rachel’s hand left Jon’s thigh and flew to her face.  “I'll never know what came over me that night.  That was completely out of character for me.”

“Hmph!  If that’s the case, it was completely out of your character several times that night and again the next morning, if I remember correctly.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.  I was a complete trollop.”

“S’okay, baby.  I kinda like my women a little on the trashy side.”

“So I’ve seen.”

“Ouch!  You're hitting below the belt, sweetheart.  That’s probably gonna get you spanked later.”

“A girl can dream….”

Jon dropped his head back in laughter as he slid his arm behind her, along the back of the seat.  He crooked his elbow around her neck and pulled her in close for a loud, smacking kiss.  “I love you, you little hellion.”

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

Rachel always thought of Jon’s staff as somewhat ghost-like.  She knew they existed because things were always in order and nobody else could have arranged for the bottle of wine to be chilling in the penthouse bedroom, yet she seldom saw them. 

“Nice touch, rock star.”

“Thank you.”  The zipper on the back of her dress was slowly pulled down as Jon nuzzled her neck.  “I figured if my charm hadn’t gotten to you, I'd get you drunk enough to let me have my way with you.”

There was something hyper sexy about him tonight.  Maybe it was the way he spoke to her, almost whispering.  Or maybe it was the way his other hand pushed the hair off her neck, fingertips causing her to shiver.  It could've been the way he pushed up against her, or even the feel of his breath against her ear. 

Rachel wasn't sure what it was exactly, but her heart was beating harder than during any workout.  She could barely breathe the desire was so strong, and could only whisper,  “You've never needed to rely on liquor to have me.  The first time you kissed me, I swear I heard thunder and saw lightning.  But once you put your hands on me… it was primal the way I needed you.”

The low moan from Jon’s throat as he slipped her dress off served as confirmation that he was every bit as turned on as she was.  “The combination of love and lust with you is a high I can't quite describe.  It’s an animalistic instinct to ravage you, but tempered with an affection that keeps me from just throwing you down and fucking you.”

She turned to face him, sliding her fingers along the neck of his suit jacket and pushed it off his shoulders.  It fell to the floor with a soft plop, joining Rachel’s own dress.  “They say what you give is always what you need, don't they?”

As she unbuttoned his shirt, she was rewarded with his raunchy grin, “Do they, now?”

“So I've been told.” 

Undressing each other was nothing new, but tonight his touch seemed to sting with erotic energy which was only intensified when Jon slipped the straps of her bra off her shoulders. 

“Somebody’s been doing their homework”, was his breathy reply as his thumb scraped across her nipple. 

“You've written some pretty sexy lyrics… And I imagine had some pretty wild nights.”

“Very wild.  But sex with a woman you're in love with is an entirely different level of wild.”  He'd removed her clothes from the top but now was moving his hands lower and inside the elastic band that held her stocking to the garter belt.  “A woman you love, fight with… care enough about to make up with - THAT is the wildest sex a guy will ever have.”

“Is it ‘wild’ that you crave?”

Rachel was in the process of unbuttoning and unzipping his suit pants, pushing them to the floor, when Jon hissed, “Lately, all I crave is you.”

“Mm.  What about when you’ve grown bored with me?”

“I’ll never be bored with you.  You’ll always be enough for me… more than enough.  That’s never been the issue.  The real question is will I be enough for you?  Or do you need more?” 

Her skin was on fire from just his touch.  She couldn’t have formed a coherent thought if her life depended on it.  All she knew for sure was that she wanted him, desperately.  By the time he slipped her panties down her legs Rachel was so totally into the sexual zone she didn’t really understand his question. 

“More?  I can barely keep up with this.”

“Look at me, Rach.  They had managed to find the bed, grabbing and clawing at each other all the way, when Jon withdrew his hand from between her legs.  “In a few years – when it’s too late for more kids – are you gonna feel like you settled?  Is a life with just you and me - just us - enough?  Am I gonna be enough?”

At that moment, all she wanted was his hand back in the place he'd taken it from.  She wanted…  No, she needed him to finish taking her over the edge and into that place she thought of as Eden.  “Yes.  This… us… it’s enough, Jon.”

His attack on her senses completely on pause, he traced a thumb across her cheek and stared intently into her heavy lidded eyes, “You're sure?”

“You're all I need, Jon…. you're enough.”