Chapter 134 - Never Say Goodbye

After five silent minutes of holding each other, the lovers finally gathered the strength to move. Jon pushed himself up off of Cate’s body as she released him from her embrace. He slowly stood, feeling a pang of regret as he separated his body from hers. Jon looked down at Cate on the bed and realized he didn’t want to stop holding her.

Jon stepped to the side, then climbed onto the bed beside Cate. Gently grasping her waist, he helped her shift upward until she was lying beside him, only her feet dangling over the edge of the mattress. Jon chuckled as he saw she was still wearing her black patent pumps, as he had requested. Pushing himself up to sit, Jon slid his hands down Cate’s legs to her ankles and gently removed first one, then the other shoe, dropping them onto the floor.

He sat for a moment, just looking at her. She was sweaty and tousled and flushed, but more beautiful than he had ever seen her. She was glowing as she lay on her back, her thick auburn hair fanned out under her head and shoulders. Jon reached up to brush a finger gently over the line of her jaw, smiling tenderly down at her.

“Thank you,” he said quietly as he stroked her cheek.

Cate returned his gentle smile, her blue eyes glittering. “For what?”

“For this…” Jon moved his hand to Cate’s middle, his fingers tracing the laces of her bustier, then trailing down one garter to the top of her stocking. “This sexy little number. And the uniform.”

Cate chuckled. “I just wanted to give you a fantasy, like you did for me.”

Jon grinned. “This was WAY better than what I did for you.”

Cate shook her head, grinning back at him. “Nuh-uh. Black leather laceups and bandana trumps cop uniform and garters ANY day.”

“I respectfully disagree,” he laughed in response. Jon tugged gently at Cate’s garter. “Ya know, I’ve had strippers dressed like cops show up at my door before, but never a cop dressed as a stripper. This was definitely a first.”

Cate giggled at that, her musical laughter making Jon’s soul smile. He moved his hand back to Cate’s middle, resting it on the white satin corset. “Can I help you out of this, like you helped me out of my pants?” Jon waggled his eyebrows as he grinned.

“Knock yourself out, Baby,” Cate chuckled in reply.

Jon moved his face closer to Cate’s midsection, peering at the garment’s laces, trying to figure out how to open it. Cate giggled at his frown when the solution was not immediately apparent to him.

“I thought you were an expert at this kinda stuff?” Cate teased. “You know, making bras spontaneously spring open, melting panties, that kind of thing.”

“Naw, that’s Sambora,” Jon chortled. “He can part a woman from her panties in about two seconds flat.” His brow furrowed as he drew his finger down the criss-crossed laces, tugging at them but not feeling them give. “Where’s the strings?” he asked.

Cate laughed. “There aren’t any. That’s just decoration.” She raised her hand to the center of the corset and worked her fingers under the black trim adorned with the velvet laces. With a rasp of parting Velcro, Cate revealed the thin zipper under the decorative flap.

“Ah, THAT I know how to work,” Jon grinned playfully. Cate dropped her hand to the bed as he took over, slowly drawing the zipper downward until the two halves of white satin parted and fell away.

“Thank Godddd….” Cate groaned with relief as her flesh was released from its bindings.

Jon chuckled and traced a calloused fingertip over the red impression of one of the corset’s seams, marked against Cate’s skin. “Not the most comfortable thing, it appears.”

“No,” Cate answered readily. She sighed again. “It’s nice to breathe. I’m done sucking in my gut.”

“Yeah, right,” Jon laughed. He dipped his head to plant a wet kiss on Cate’s taut abdomen before taking a playful swipe at her navel ring with his tongue. “Like you have to suck anything in.”

“Thanks, Baby. You’re a good liar.” Cate smiled, raising a hand to pat Jon’s cheek.

Jon shook his head, his eyes glittering back at her. “I’ve never lied to you, Cate,” he said softly.

Cate gazed silently back at Jon, her heart skipping a beat as she heard his words again in her ear. “God, Cate….I love you…”

They looked at each other for a long minute, then Jon lowered himself on the bed beside her. Placing a hand on her hip, Jon tugged gently, silently asking her to turn to him. Cate shifted to her side, then willingly snuggled into Jon’s open arms as he rolled onto his back and pulled her to his chest.

“Let’s just stay here like this forever,” Jon sighed, pressing a kiss into Cate’s hair and hugging her against him.

“Sounds good,” Cate murmured, nestling her cheek against Jon’s shoulder as she slipped an arm across his waist and wrapped her leg around his. “You gonna stop the clock, or am I?”

Jon smiled but didn’t answer, afraid that the sudden surge of sadness he felt would creep into his voice. He squeezed her gently and sent up a silent prayer that if time wouldn’t stop it would at least slow down, if only for tonight.

Cate lay silent, listening to Jon’s heart beating beneath her ear and feeling her own heart breaking just a little bit with every soft thump. It would all be over too soon. She closed her eyes, willing her threatening tears to subside. She still had tonight with Jon, and tomorrow morning. She wanted to enjoy their last hours, not waste them.

Cate drew in a deep breath and pushed the dread out of her mind. Tonight, she reminded herself. Not tomorrow. One hour, one moment at a time.

As they lay together in the big bed, holding each other close, Jon and Cate slowly became aware of something other than the feel of each other’s bodies and the sounds of each other’s breathing. The light streaming in through the windows had turned a softer, more golden hue. Cate heard for the first time the music from the stereo in the other room. She had turned it on as a backdrop for their little fantasy, but she hadn’t heard a single note as she immersed herself in her role. She doubted Jon had, either.

Cate chuckled softly as she realized there was a very familiar song on the radio, sung by an unmistakable voice.

Say goodbye
Never say goodbye
You and me and my old friends
Hoping it would never end…

Jon heard Cate’s chuckle and gave her another little squeeze. “Who turned that shit on?” he teased gently, knowing she was reacting to his music.

“I did,” Cate admitted with a smile. “And it’s not shit. This is a classic.”

“Classic?” Jon groaned. “I’m old enough to be classic now?” He grinned. “Let me guess… this was your Senior Prom theme,” he teased sarcastically.

Cate laughed. “No. I was already in college when this song came out. I’m old too.” She smiled against his chest. “But it brings back some good memories.”

Jon chuckled at her answer, then began to sing softly along, his voice rough and sexy.

Together…
Forever…
Never say goodbye, Never say goodbye
Holding on we gotta try
Holding on to never say goodbye

Jon felt the little hitch in Cate’s breath as she snuggled closer to him, and he knew the lyrics had hit home. She didn’t want to tell him goodbye, for their time together to end. But will she feel that way tomorrow? he wondered as his arms tightened around her.

Again Jon felt a stab of disappointment at not being able to share his news with Cate tonight. He had been so sure he had the answer to their dilemma, that she would see his actions as proof of his willingness to move Heaven and Earth for her. That his news would wash away the sadness in her heart and fill it with optimism, to match his own hopeful heart. That it would show her that they really could have a future together.

Jon unconsciously breathed out a little sigh as he thought of what tomorrow may bring. It would be either happiness or heartbreak, for both of them.

He didn’t know what he would do if it brought heartbreak.

“Jon?” Cate asked softly at his sigh. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Jon lied, dropping another kiss against her hair. “I just don’t want to let you go.” He hugged her again. Ever, he thought.

“Me either,” Cate agreed, then paused before regretfully continuing. “But we have to get up sooner or later.” She smiled sheepishly. “And I… um…. I have to pee.”

Jon chortled at her blunt statement. He gave her one more little squeeze then reached a hand down to pat her ass. “Then I guess we’d better get up,” he grinned. “Life must go on.”

Cate chuckled and raised her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling and a gentle smile on her lips. “Yeah, I guess it has to,” she agreed quietly before giving him a soft kiss.

Together Jon and Cate crawled from the bed. Cate unhooked her garters from her stockings and tossed the white satin corset on the bed before pausing to look around the room. It was a shambles; clothing, uniform items, and cop gear strewn across the floor, the bench, and the rumpled bed.

Jon followed her gaze, then grinned. “Your clothes are still scattered all over our room, this whole place still smells like your cheap perfume…” he sang teasingly, his sky-blue eyes twinkling merrily.

Everything here reminds me of you… Cate thought, continuing the lyric in her mind as she smiled at Jon’s musical observation. That was certainly true of her office, the Center…. Hell, of this whole island. Ghosts of a fantasy… she thought with a twinge of sadness. That was what she would have left after tomorrow.

“Why don’t you go pee, then start the shower?” Jon suggested gently, noticing the flicker of melancholy in Cate’s gaze. “I’ll meet you in there in a couple minutes. Then I wanna take you out for a drink.”

“A drink?” Cate asked, surprised.

Jon nodded. “I noticed a little wine bar down in the Village. I thought maybe we’d take a walk down there, have a glass before dinner.” He smiled. “And I was hoping you’d help me with something. I want to pick up a present for my daughter. I bought the boys cop t-shirts and patches and stuff at the store on the Center, but I didn’t see anything there I thought Steph might like.” He gave her a hopeful look. “Could you help me find something for her?”

Cate’s surprise registered in her expression. “Me?” she asked. “Jon, I’m hardly a girly-girl. I doubt I can be much help. Hell, I had to get Mandy to help me with the lingerie.”

Jon grinned. “Ahh. So I owe Mandy another thank you.” He stepped over to Cate, slipping his arms around her waist. “I’m sure you are more than capable of helping me pick out something for Steph,” he said gently. “Please?”

Cate looked into Jon’s sparkling blue eyes and melted. “Okay,” she agreed softly. “I’ll try.”

“Thank you,” Jon replied, kissing her sweetly. “Now go… I’ll meet you in the shower in a minute.”

Cate chuckled and shook her head with amusement. “We must be the cleanest people on this island,” she observed. “As many showers as we’ve taken the past couple days.”

Jon smirked. “I think it’s quite possible we’re the dirtiest people on this island,” he chortled. “After all, why do we need all those showers?” He waggled his eyebrows teasingly.

Cate laughed out loud at that. “Yeah, I guess you’re right…” she agreed as she pulled away from Jon’s arms and turned toward the bathroom. “See you in a few minutes, Dirty Boy.”

“Right behind you, Baby,” Jon answered. He waited for a moment until Cate entered the water closet, then slid the bathroom’s pocket doors halfway shut.

Reaching for the hotel phone on the nightstand, Jon punched the “8” and waited. “Hi, this is Mister Bongiovi in the Frederica Villa,” he said after he was greeted by a professional female voice. “I’m calling regarding the arrangements for this evening. I’ve had a slight change of schedule…”