Chapter 52 - The Night is Young


Cate and Jon moved slowly together, swaying to the soft music and the sounds of the Southern night. Finally the song ended and they returned to their table.

They lingered for another half hour over dessert and coffee, talking about Cate’s family and Jon’s children. When their plates were gone and Jon had signed the check, Cate looked at her watch and sighed regretfully.

“Jon, thank you. This has been the most amazing evening,” she said softly. “I can’t even begin to tell you just how much I enjoyed this.”

Jon gave her a questioning little look, tipping his head to one side. “You say that like the evening is coming to an end.” He said gently.

“Well… yes. It’s after ten, and neither of us got much sleep last night…” Cate replied. Her heart skipped a beat as Jon gave her The Smile.

“It’s Saturday night. You don’t have to work tomorrow. And if you think I’m letting you go home now you’re crazy.” Jon chuckled. “The night is far from over.” He stood and again rounded the table to pull out her chair. “C’mon. I have another surprise for you.”

Cate gave him a suspicious look. “Where are we going?” she asked, though she knew the answer. She felt a nervous little flutter in her stomach as she stood.

”We’re going back to my villa.” Jon answered, gently but firmly. He took Cate’s hand, entwining his fingers with hers. Seeing the apprehensive look on her face, he grinned, waggling his eyebrows. “I wanna show you my etchings, Baby!” he teased dirtily.

Cate laughed at that, immediately feeling more at ease. It’s okay…I can handle this…God knows I’d die for another kiss…

“Okay. I’ll follow you over there,” she agreed. Then a thought occurred to her. “Wait, how did you get here? Your rental was still at the office this afternoon when I picked up my car.”

Jon grinned. “Can’t get anything past you, can I?” he teased. “You know, it's only about a half a mile from the hotel to here. I walked."

“Oh.” Cate answered. "Well, I have my car here. I can drive…” she trailed off as Jon gave her a little smirk, his eyes sparkling. “What?” she asked.

“I think we’re gonna take a little stroll down the beach,” he said, his voice slightly husky.

Cate smiled. “That sounds lovely, but really, I need to move my car to the King and Prince parking lot.”

Jon smirked again and pulled his Blackberry from his belt. Cate watched as he pushed a button and looked at the screen, then looked back up at her. “Already taken care of,” he said smugly. “Your baby is sitting safely in the drive of my villa.”

“Danny….” Cate breathed. Of course. Danny had keys to her house and her car. He had obviously moved her Mustang once he knew she was occupied with Jon.

She saw that Jon was still smirking at her and raised an eyebrow at him. “That’s pretty presumptuous of you – and Danny – to think that I would agree to go back to your place.”

“Yeah, probably.” Jon chuckled. “But I’m pretty sure I can convince you. If I can’t do it with this…” He gave Cate a full-on, mega-watt, panty-dampening grin, which caused her heart to stop momentarily. “I can try this…”

He stepped in close, raising his free hand to Cate’s face. He gently slid a finger down her jaw and under her chin, tipping her face slightly upward as he touched his lips to hers. His tongue slipped between her lips and gently teased hers. Cate groaned slightly in response as she kissed him back.

Jon continued the kiss for another long moment, then pulled back and smiled. “I think it worked.”

Cate nodded breathlessly, then gave him a shy grin. “It worked. Let’s go.”

Jon released Cate’s hand before they left the private veranda, and placed his hand gently at the small of her back to guide her through the restaurant. As she passed through the dining room, Jon a slight step behind her, Cate was again acutely aware of many eyes upon her.

But this time it was because of who she was with, not because of how she looked. She heard several gasps and murmurs of Jon’s name. She glanced back at Jon and saw that he had relaxed smile on his lips, and she felt herself smile as well. They moved quickly to the door and exited.

Once they were outside, Jon again took Cate’s hand and led her down the small path toward the beach. When they reached the end of the path, he paused and steadied Cate while she stepped out of her sandals to walk barefoot in the sand.

The breeze was a bit stronger on the water, stirring Cate’s hair and dress so that they rippled gently like the waves. Jon took Cate’s sandals and purse from her and carried them as they walked along the water’s edge, hand in hand.

The moon shone brightly in the clear sky, its bluish-silver rays dancing across the water. Jon looked over at Cate and saw her glowing like an angel in the moonlight. He stopped, gently tugging on her hand. Her hair swirled around her as she turned to face him, her eyes sparkling and her lips glistening.

Jon gathered her gently to him and lowered his lips to hers. He kissed her tenderly, his tongue dancing with hers inside her soft mouth. He felt like he was soaring, the gentle rush of the waves in his ears, the breeze rippling his hair, and Cate’s body warming his.

Cate slid her hands gently up Jon’s chest and encircled his neck with her arms as she returned the kiss, her lips soft and yielding. Please, God, stop time… Jon prayed silently. I don’t want to stop feeling like this…

Cate swore she was dreaming. But she felt the slight spray of the ocean against her skin and the breeze blowing through her hair. She breathed in the salty air and the sweet, musky smell of Jon’s skin. Most of all she felt the warmth of his muscular body, the gentle strength of his hands on her back, and the exquisite softness of his lips as they slid over hers. She was surely trapped in some fairy tale, a character in one of the beautiful, picturesque lyrics of his songs.

Cate kissed Jon sweetly, ignoring the little voice in her head that warned her not to fall for him. It was too late to listen to the little voice now. She had already fallen.

After what seemed like a blissful eternity, Jon broke the kiss. He sighed happily and gazed into Cate’s eyes, seeing his emotion mirrored there. Without speaking a word, Cate slid her arms from around his neck and stepped back, again taking his hand. Together they turned to continue their journey along the beach.

As they strolled along the water’s edge, Cate and Jon passed several hotels and inns that boasted waterside access. Cate had been to this beach many times, and she knew that the King and Prince had exclusive use of the stretch ahead.

When they reached the “Private Beach – No Trespassing” sign, Cate felt another little flutter of nerves. But she and Jon kept walking, past the sign and toward the sprawling hotel complex.

As they approached the first building, Cate saw twinkling lights on a low, spacious deck. When they moved nearer she realized the lights were the flickering flames of a dozen or so candles, arranged on a patio table. She gasped slightly in surprise as Jon turned toward the dancing lights and led her up to the deck. “This is your villa?” she asked breathlessly.

Jon chuckled. “Yep. Home sweet home, at least for the moment,” he said gently. He led her up the two steps from the sand onto the deck, then to the French doors leading inside the house. He turned the knob, and Cate heard a gentle click as he pulled the doors open.

“Welcome.” Jon smiled, gesturing for her to enter ahead of him.

8 comments:

  1. Jonny has it bad if he's willing to carry her purse! ;-)

    And if Cate doesn't jump his bones soon, I'm gonna drive down to the coast and have a chat with her.

    Still lovin' this story. I need more, please!

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  2. Hmmmm I can't see that 'newer post' button ANYWHERE??????????!!!!!!

    'Please, God, stop time… Jon prayed silently. I don’t want to stop feeling like this…'

    Me thinks the rock god has fallen HARD!

    Caaaaaaaaaaatte, can we have some more pllllllleeeeeeease lol.

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  3. finally they're on the right track!!
    But why did you stop again???
    MMMOOORRREEE PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE !!!!!

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  4. Jon's getting a little cocky...in more ways than one I think. ;)

    Of course, I'd never have been able to hold out as long as she has. LOL

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  5. MORE!!!!!! PlEEEEEEEEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE!!!!!

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  6. any minute now I'm gonna wake up....

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