Jon's hand found Cate's as he grinned. Home. She was taking him to her home.
She was finally letting him in.
They made the remainder of the short drive in silence, holding hands, quiet in happy thoughts. When Cate guided the Mustang around the corner onto her street she felt her pulse kick up. She was suddenly inexplicably nervous. Oh, stop it, she chastised herself. You've spent the better part of the last three days in his arms and in his bed. Naked. Don't be all stupid about this.
Despite her mental attitude adjustment Cate’s heart pounded in her chest as she pulled the car into the garage. Turning the engine off she sat for a moment, hands on the wheel, staring straight ahead. She could feel Jon's eyes on her, his tender smile warming her soul. She drew in a deep breath.
"Baby, you okay?" Jon asked gently.
After only a second's hesitation Cate nodded, turning her gaze to him. She gave him a soft smile. "Yeah. I am." she decided out loud.
Jon gave Cate’s hand a little squeeze before releasing it and turning to push open the car door. He climbed out and waited for Cate to lead the way. With another little nervous sigh, Cate opened the door from the garage into the house and led him across the threshhold.
Then he was inside.
Cate stood silent, watching him, her pulse racing. Jon was in her home, in her private sanctuary. Since Kevin, Cate hadn’t allowed a man this deep into her life. She had never brought one of her lovers or her conquests home, never let one get this close. Until now.
A curious smile played over Jon's perfect lips as he looked around, taking it all in. Cate's little oceanside cottage was simple but cozy, decorated in muted colors of nature. The soft blues and greens and tans and golds were somehow feminine but bold, like Cate.
The dark brown leather couch and chairs were plain and broken in, worn by years of comfortable use. A rumpled indigo-blue throw was draped over the arm of a chair; a book lay open on a battered coffee table next to a dish containing sand and rocks and shells. An arrangement of black and white photos in mismatched, whitewashed frames hung in eclectic order on a rich caramel wall. Creamy, filmy sheer curtains stirred in the evening breeze over a bank of ocean-facing windows.
Jon saw Cate's touch in every corner, on every wall. This was very much her home.
He knew he belonged here.
Jon turned to Cate and saw her gazing breathlessly at him, her eyes glittering sapphire in the dim light of the sole lamp illuminating the room. Outside the shadows of dusk were long on the beach, the ocean shining in the new light of the risen moon. The same magic of moonlight was reflected in her eyes as she waited for his appraisal.
"It's perfect," Jon smiled, his voice quiet and melodious.
Cate let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding as Jon's simple words touched her soul. Her lips trembled slightly as she gave a little smile in return. "Thank you," she whispered.
Jon took two steps forward and with gentle hands on her waist drew Cate to him. His eyes locked with hers for a long moment before he slowly lowered his head, letting their mouths drift together until finally they were joined. The kiss was simple and unhurried, the embodiment of the ease and contentment they felt.
They eventually parted and stood smiling at each other. Until Cate stifled a sudden yawn.
Jon chuckled, slidng his hands around to Cate’s back and rubbing gently. “Been one helluva day, hasn’t it?”
Cate nodded. “Yeah, it has. One HELL of a day.”
Jon leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on Cate’s forehead. “Tell ya what. You go jump in the shower. I’ll hang out here and wait. When you’re done we’ll just curl up on the couch and watch some TV.” He gave her a little grin. “You’ll be nice and refreshed and relaxed. And if the shower doesn’t help you unwind, well…” He pulled his hands away from Cate’s back, holding them up and wiggling his fingers. “I’ve been told I’m good with my hands.”
Cate let out a throaty chuckle, her gaze lingering on the curve of his sexy little crooked pinkie finger. “That you are,” she agreed, nodding. “Okay. Give me a few minutes, then it’s a date.” She could think of few things more appealing right now than snuggling into Jon’s arms and just letting him hold her.
“There’s beer in the fridge,” she added. “And whatever else you can scavenge.” She smiled at her next sentence, savoring the words. “Make yourself at home, Jon.”
Jon gave her a sweet little-boy grin. “I will, Baby.” He kissed her nose before giving her behind a swat. “Go. I wanna get to that couch with you.”
Cate laughed as she turned to head for the shower.
Jon watched Cate retreat into her bedroom and half-close the door behind her. He was tempted to follow her, but decided to give her some privacy. He instead wandered over to the living room, scanning the tables for the TV remote. He found it tucked neatly in a basket, then picked it up and punched buttons until the big plasma screen glowed to life.
Flipping through the channels, Jon finally settled on SportsCenter. He’d wait until Cate finished her shower, then let her choose a movie. They probably wouldn’t make it much past the opening credits anyway, before their need for each other took over.
Placing the remote back in its spot Jon meandered over to a cabinet he assumed contained Cate’s CD and DVD collection. Pulling open the door, he chuckled as he saw the “complete works of Jon Bon Jovi” on the top shelf. A quick perusal confirmed once again that Cate was his match; the cabinet was filled with discs of live music performances, documentaries, action movies, and cop shows. Only a few romantic comedy titles hinted at Cate’s softer side.
Pushing the cabinet closed with a smile, Jon turned toward the kitchen. Maybe Cate had a bottle of wine somewhere in there. He could definitely do with a glass.
Moving into the tidy kitchen Jon looked around, opening cabinets and scanning their contents. He found wine glasses and a corkscrew, which was a good sign. Jon rounded the island, searching for wine cubbies on its end. He didn’t find any, but his gaze was drawn to the two large dog dishes on a mat near the door to the garage. He did a double-take and broke into a grin as he saw the familiar name lettered on the dishes.
Jon continued his wine quest for another few minutes, until it finally dawned on him to look for a rack in the walk-in pantry at the far corner of the kitchen. Inside he found a small wine rack stocked with a baker’s dozen of bottles, an assortment of reds and whites. Evaluating the contents of Cate’s wine rack, he chuckled again when he found a bottle of his favorite Pinot Grigio. Judging from the dust on the bottle, it wasn’t a recent acquisition. He wondered if Cate had bought it because she knew he liked it, long before either of them had any idea their paths would cross.
Jon held the bottle for a moment, then replaced it in the rack. He instead pulled a bottle of Conundrum from its slot. It was Cate’s favorite.
Jon heard the shower running as he rounded the island to uncork the wine. His body reacted, a stab of lusty acknowledgement of the fact that Cate was naked in the next room. His dick urged him to go join her in the shower, poking at the denim of his jeans. Down Boy, Jon replied silently. We have all night. No hurry. We’re home now.
He smiled at the thought.
Realizing the Conundrum needed to be chilled, Jon thought for a moment before deciding against serving it “on the rocks.” Instead he looked around until he found a metal ice bucket and placed the open bottle inside it with a couple handfuls of ice cubes. Smirking at his domesticity, Jon moved to the fridge. Some cheese might be nice with the wine.
Jon rummaged around in the almost-empty refrigerator, moving aside bottles of beer and cartons of yogurt in search of fromage. Spying a stack of Kraft singles he snorted with laughter. That wasn’t quite what he had in mind. Noticing a half-loaf of bread on the bottom shelf, Jon grinned. He could make it work, though.
*****
Cate stood unmoving under the warm spray, letting the water rain down on her back. She had pinned up her hair; it had been freshly-washed this morning. Besides, she didn’t want to take the time to dry it before returning to Jon in the other room.
She shook her head slowly in amazement at the radical change her life had undergone in the past few hours. She had gone from just barely holding in her devastation at Jon’s impending departure to elation, excitement, and nervousness at the prospect of the new chapter of her life that was about to begin. She had been sure she would spend this night curled miserably on her couch, tears falling into her wine glass as her shattered heart throbbed in her chest. Instead she was going to spend the night nestled in Jon’s embrace.
He was really here. He hadn’t left her, hadn’t left Georgia. And when he did leave, she was going with him. But most incredibly of all, tonight she was going to fall asleep in Jon’s strong arms, in her own bed.
Jon would be the first man to sleep in Cate’s bed. When she was finally free of Kevin she had burned their bed and bought a new one with the vow that she would never again allow herself to be tricked by lust. At the time she had thought she would sleep alone in that big bed forever. She was sure she would never find any man worthy of her attention there.
She was wrong. She had found a man more than worthy, through the most unlikely of circumstances. Somehow the object of her fantasies had become her very real soulmate. Jon had earned her trust and her invitation to her home and her bed. The thought made her smile.
This felt right.
Shaking herself from her contemplation, Cate reached for her shower puff. No more wasting time. Jon was waiting.
Cate quickly washed, toweled off, and brushed out her hair. Pausing for just a moment to smile at her reflection in the mirror, she padded into her bedroom and over to the chair in the corner, the one she always tossed her clothes onto when she shed them. Cate picked up the shiny Number Two Soul jersey and slipped it over her head.
Her nipples puckered as the soft nylon slid over them, both from the stimulation of the fabric’s brush and from Jon’s scent that was still faintly present on the garment.
With another smile Cate turned and headed for the kitchen. She had heard Jon banging around in there while she brushed out her hair. He was probably looking for a glass.
When she stepped into the open, airy kitchen Cate’s eyes widened in surprise. Two wine glasses sat on the counter next to an open bottle of Conundrum, chilling in her stainless steel ice bucket. Beside the glasses sat a plate stacked with grilled cheese sandwiches, cut artfully into small triangles.
Jon looked up from his station by the stove, where another sandwich sizzled in a small frying pan. He gave her a saucy grin. “Thought you might be hungry,” he said, a hint of smugness in his voice.
Cate let out a soft, musical laugh as her brain comprehended what her eyes were actually seeing. Jon Bon Jovi was cooking. In her kitchen. And from the looks of it, the boasts she had heard him make in countless interviews were true. He could make grilled cheese.
“I’m not that hungry,” Cate giggled, tipping her head toward the pile of sandwiches stacked on the plate.
Jon shrugged. “Yeah, maybe not. Guess I got a little overzealous.” He slid the frying pan from the burner and flipped the knob to turn off the gas. With a playful smirk he turned to Cate, picking up a sandwich triangle and offering it to her. “Here. Give it a try.”
Cate pulled back, wrinkling her nose suspiciously. “Am I gonna regret this?” she taunted.
Jon winked. “Maybe,” he teased back, raising the sandwich to Cate’s lips.
Cate took a dainty bite from the corner of the crisp triangle and chewed slowly before nodding. “Mmmm…. Not bad,” she appraised. She reached up to take the remainder of the sandwich portion from Jon’s hand. “Damn, all that hotness, and you cook too?”
Jon grinned. “Yep. Well, stuff with cheese and eggs, anyway.”
Cate laughed at that, leaning forward to give Jon a sweet kiss. “That’s good enough for me,” she murmured against his mouth. Careful to keep the gooey melted cheese of the sandwich in her hand from dripping into his hair, Cate slid her arms around Jon’s neck as he pulled her toward him.
Jon growled appreciatively as his hands slid down Cate’s sides to the hem of the jersey, which hung to her mid-thigh. “Damn... that shirt looks about a thousand times better on you than it ever did on me.” His fingertips traced along the warm skin of her smooth legs, itching to move higher.
“I’m not so sure I agree with that,” Cate chuckled in response.
“Matter of opinion,” Jon replied before ducking his head to nuzzle at her ear. Cate giggled at the tickle of Jon’s warm breath, letting herself melt into his embrace and tipping her head to the side to allow his lips to wander down the side of her neck to the curve of her shoulder.
“Want some wine?” Jon breathed against her skin, his whiskey purr sending her pulse racing.
“Yes,” she half-sighed, nodding slightly.
Jon chuckled and gave her shoulder a little nip before pulling away. Cate reluctantly slipped her arms from around his neck and stepped over to lean against the wall as Jon extracted the wine bottle from the bucket and poured two glasses. She nibbled at the sandwich that was still in her hand as she watched him.
Realizing she actually was hungry, Cate popped the last bite of toasted bread into her mouth and reached for another triangle from the plate on the island. She had hardly eaten today; her appetite had absented itself at the thought of Jon’s impending departure. Jon handed her a glass then touched his glass to hers. “To us,” he said softly.
Cate’s eyes sparkled at his tender smile. “To us,” she echoed, raising the wine to her lips and taking a sip.
Jon picked up the plate of grilled cheese sandwiches and grinned, tilting his head toward the living room. “C’mon. Couch potato time.” Cate laughed and turned to follow as Jon moved past her, headed for the sofa.
Fifteen minutes later three more grilled cheese sandwiches and two glasses of wine were gone. Cate and Jon sat side-by-side on her leather couch, Jon’s feet propped up on the coffee table and Cate’s legs folded under her as she snuggled into the crook of his shoulder. They were still watching SportsCenter at Cate’s insistence. Jon had chortled but not argued when she said she wanted to see the baseball game highlights.
“Want some more wine?” Jon asked when a commercial came on. He leaned forward to pick up his own empty glass off the coffee table.
“Please,” Cate answered, sitting upright to accommodate his movement. She sighed happily as Jon gave her a wink and a grin before heading into the kitchen. He returned minutes later with freshly-filled glasses.
With a little groan Jon lowered himself back onto the couch. Setting her wine glass on the coffee table and his on the end table, he shifted so that he was sitting in the corner of the sofa. “C’mere,” he said invitingly, opening his arms.
Cate moved over to accept his invitation with a smile. Jon shifted his legs, raising one onto the couch behind Cate so she could settle between his thighs as she leaned into his embrace. With a contented sigh Cate snuggled against Jon’s warm, hard chest, feeling the soft brush of his silvery-brown chest hair under her cheek.
Jon hugged Cate gently. “Wanna watch a movie now?” he asked.
“What time is it?” Cate replied. She let her eyes slip closed as she savored the warmth of Jon’s chest against her cheek.
“Almost eleven,” Jon answered. “It’s early.”
Cate chuckled. “Maybe for you. I’m usually in bed by now. Well, at least I was, before you came along.”
Jon smirked. “We could be in bed now. But we wouldn’t necessarily be sleeping.” He let his hand slide down to inch the hem of Cate’s jersey up her thigh, almost to her hip.
Cate chuckled throatily in response to Jon’s words and actions. “You’re determined to keep me awake until the wee hours, aren’t you, Rock Star?”
“Yes, I am,” Jon admitted in a seductive purr. “We can sleep in tomorrow, can’t we?”
“GOD No!!!” Cate exclaimed, pushing up off his chest to give him an incredulous look. “Jon! Do you have any idea how much shit I have to do tomorrow?” I have to pack, I have to go to my office and pack up stuff there so Joe can use it, I have to make arrangements for my dog, I have to book a hotel, I have to…”
“Whoa, whoa, WHOA…” Jon cut Cate off, waving a hand at her protest. “Wait a minute… Cate, breathe.” Jon shook his head. Cate had gone from relaxed to agitated in about three seconds flat. “Baby, take it easy. We’ll get it all taken care of.”
“But Jon, you don’t understand…”
“Yes I do,” he argued gently. “I’ve been living out of a suitcase for the last twenty years. I’m a professional gypsy.” He chuckled. “Listen, this is how it will go. One: You only have to pack enough clothes for a week or so. We’ll fly back in a couple weeks and get whatever else you need. I’m going to have to come back to set up the P.A. stuff anyway.”
Jon gave Cate a stern look as she opened her mouth to protest. She heeded his warning, remaining silent while he continued. “Two: Mandy will take care of your dog for a few weeks. We can take her back to California with us if you want, when we come back later. Three: I’ll help you pack up your office. It can’t take THAT long. And Four…” Jon smiled. “You don’t need a hotel. You’re staying with me, at the Malibu house.”
Jon felt Cate’s shock as she sucked in a breath and her body tensed. Shit… Jon grimaced slightly. Had he just said the wrong thing? He held his breath as he waited for her response.
Cate stood silent, watching him, her pulse racing. Jon was in her home, in her private sanctuary. Since Kevin, Cate hadn’t allowed a man this deep into her life. She had never brought one of her lovers or her conquests home, never let one get this close. Until now.
A curious smile played over Jon's perfect lips as he looked around, taking it all in. Cate's little oceanside cottage was simple but cozy, decorated in muted colors of nature. The soft blues and greens and tans and golds were somehow feminine but bold, like Cate.
The dark brown leather couch and chairs were plain and broken in, worn by years of comfortable use. A rumpled indigo-blue throw was draped over the arm of a chair; a book lay open on a battered coffee table next to a dish containing sand and rocks and shells. An arrangement of black and white photos in mismatched, whitewashed frames hung in eclectic order on a rich caramel wall. Creamy, filmy sheer curtains stirred in the evening breeze over a bank of ocean-facing windows.
Jon saw Cate's touch in every corner, on every wall. This was very much her home.
He knew he belonged here.
Jon turned to Cate and saw her gazing breathlessly at him, her eyes glittering sapphire in the dim light of the sole lamp illuminating the room. Outside the shadows of dusk were long on the beach, the ocean shining in the new light of the risen moon. The same magic of moonlight was reflected in her eyes as she waited for his appraisal.
"It's perfect," Jon smiled, his voice quiet and melodious.
Cate let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding as Jon's simple words touched her soul. Her lips trembled slightly as she gave a little smile in return. "Thank you," she whispered.
Jon took two steps forward and with gentle hands on her waist drew Cate to him. His eyes locked with hers for a long moment before he slowly lowered his head, letting their mouths drift together until finally they were joined. The kiss was simple and unhurried, the embodiment of the ease and contentment they felt.
They eventually parted and stood smiling at each other. Until Cate stifled a sudden yawn.
Jon chuckled, slidng his hands around to Cate’s back and rubbing gently. “Been one helluva day, hasn’t it?”
Cate nodded. “Yeah, it has. One HELL of a day.”
Jon leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on Cate’s forehead. “Tell ya what. You go jump in the shower. I’ll hang out here and wait. When you’re done we’ll just curl up on the couch and watch some TV.” He gave her a little grin. “You’ll be nice and refreshed and relaxed. And if the shower doesn’t help you unwind, well…” He pulled his hands away from Cate’s back, holding them up and wiggling his fingers. “I’ve been told I’m good with my hands.”
Cate let out a throaty chuckle, her gaze lingering on the curve of his sexy little crooked pinkie finger. “That you are,” she agreed, nodding. “Okay. Give me a few minutes, then it’s a date.” She could think of few things more appealing right now than snuggling into Jon’s arms and just letting him hold her.
“There’s beer in the fridge,” she added. “And whatever else you can scavenge.” She smiled at her next sentence, savoring the words. “Make yourself at home, Jon.”
Jon gave her a sweet little-boy grin. “I will, Baby.” He kissed her nose before giving her behind a swat. “Go. I wanna get to that couch with you.”
Cate laughed as she turned to head for the shower.
Jon watched Cate retreat into her bedroom and half-close the door behind her. He was tempted to follow her, but decided to give her some privacy. He instead wandered over to the living room, scanning the tables for the TV remote. He found it tucked neatly in a basket, then picked it up and punched buttons until the big plasma screen glowed to life.
Flipping through the channels, Jon finally settled on SportsCenter. He’d wait until Cate finished her shower, then let her choose a movie. They probably wouldn’t make it much past the opening credits anyway, before their need for each other took over.
Placing the remote back in its spot Jon meandered over to a cabinet he assumed contained Cate’s CD and DVD collection. Pulling open the door, he chuckled as he saw the “complete works of Jon Bon Jovi” on the top shelf. A quick perusal confirmed once again that Cate was his match; the cabinet was filled with discs of live music performances, documentaries, action movies, and cop shows. Only a few romantic comedy titles hinted at Cate’s softer side.
Pushing the cabinet closed with a smile, Jon turned toward the kitchen. Maybe Cate had a bottle of wine somewhere in there. He could definitely do with a glass.
Moving into the tidy kitchen Jon looked around, opening cabinets and scanning their contents. He found wine glasses and a corkscrew, which was a good sign. Jon rounded the island, searching for wine cubbies on its end. He didn’t find any, but his gaze was drawn to the two large dog dishes on a mat near the door to the garage. He did a double-take and broke into a grin as he saw the familiar name lettered on the dishes.
Jon continued his wine quest for another few minutes, until it finally dawned on him to look for a rack in the walk-in pantry at the far corner of the kitchen. Inside he found a small wine rack stocked with a baker’s dozen of bottles, an assortment of reds and whites. Evaluating the contents of Cate’s wine rack, he chuckled again when he found a bottle of his favorite Pinot Grigio. Judging from the dust on the bottle, it wasn’t a recent acquisition. He wondered if Cate had bought it because she knew he liked it, long before either of them had any idea their paths would cross.
Jon held the bottle for a moment, then replaced it in the rack. He instead pulled a bottle of Conundrum from its slot. It was Cate’s favorite.
Jon heard the shower running as he rounded the island to uncork the wine. His body reacted, a stab of lusty acknowledgement of the fact that Cate was naked in the next room. His dick urged him to go join her in the shower, poking at the denim of his jeans. Down Boy, Jon replied silently. We have all night. No hurry. We’re home now.
He smiled at the thought.
Realizing the Conundrum needed to be chilled, Jon thought for a moment before deciding against serving it “on the rocks.” Instead he looked around until he found a metal ice bucket and placed the open bottle inside it with a couple handfuls of ice cubes. Smirking at his domesticity, Jon moved to the fridge. Some cheese might be nice with the wine.
Jon rummaged around in the almost-empty refrigerator, moving aside bottles of beer and cartons of yogurt in search of fromage. Spying a stack of Kraft singles he snorted with laughter. That wasn’t quite what he had in mind. Noticing a half-loaf of bread on the bottom shelf, Jon grinned. He could make it work, though.
*****
Cate stood unmoving under the warm spray, letting the water rain down on her back. She had pinned up her hair; it had been freshly-washed this morning. Besides, she didn’t want to take the time to dry it before returning to Jon in the other room.
She shook her head slowly in amazement at the radical change her life had undergone in the past few hours. She had gone from just barely holding in her devastation at Jon’s impending departure to elation, excitement, and nervousness at the prospect of the new chapter of her life that was about to begin. She had been sure she would spend this night curled miserably on her couch, tears falling into her wine glass as her shattered heart throbbed in her chest. Instead she was going to spend the night nestled in Jon’s embrace.
He was really here. He hadn’t left her, hadn’t left Georgia. And when he did leave, she was going with him. But most incredibly of all, tonight she was going to fall asleep in Jon’s strong arms, in her own bed.
Jon would be the first man to sleep in Cate’s bed. When she was finally free of Kevin she had burned their bed and bought a new one with the vow that she would never again allow herself to be tricked by lust. At the time she had thought she would sleep alone in that big bed forever. She was sure she would never find any man worthy of her attention there.
She was wrong. She had found a man more than worthy, through the most unlikely of circumstances. Somehow the object of her fantasies had become her very real soulmate. Jon had earned her trust and her invitation to her home and her bed. The thought made her smile.
This felt right.
Shaking herself from her contemplation, Cate reached for her shower puff. No more wasting time. Jon was waiting.
Cate quickly washed, toweled off, and brushed out her hair. Pausing for just a moment to smile at her reflection in the mirror, she padded into her bedroom and over to the chair in the corner, the one she always tossed her clothes onto when she shed them. Cate picked up the shiny Number Two Soul jersey and slipped it over her head.
Her nipples puckered as the soft nylon slid over them, both from the stimulation of the fabric’s brush and from Jon’s scent that was still faintly present on the garment.
With another smile Cate turned and headed for the kitchen. She had heard Jon banging around in there while she brushed out her hair. He was probably looking for a glass.
When she stepped into the open, airy kitchen Cate’s eyes widened in surprise. Two wine glasses sat on the counter next to an open bottle of Conundrum, chilling in her stainless steel ice bucket. Beside the glasses sat a plate stacked with grilled cheese sandwiches, cut artfully into small triangles.
Jon looked up from his station by the stove, where another sandwich sizzled in a small frying pan. He gave her a saucy grin. “Thought you might be hungry,” he said, a hint of smugness in his voice.
Cate let out a soft, musical laugh as her brain comprehended what her eyes were actually seeing. Jon Bon Jovi was cooking. In her kitchen. And from the looks of it, the boasts she had heard him make in countless interviews were true. He could make grilled cheese.
“I’m not that hungry,” Cate giggled, tipping her head toward the pile of sandwiches stacked on the plate.
Jon shrugged. “Yeah, maybe not. Guess I got a little overzealous.” He slid the frying pan from the burner and flipped the knob to turn off the gas. With a playful smirk he turned to Cate, picking up a sandwich triangle and offering it to her. “Here. Give it a try.”
Cate pulled back, wrinkling her nose suspiciously. “Am I gonna regret this?” she taunted.
Jon winked. “Maybe,” he teased back, raising the sandwich to Cate’s lips.
Cate took a dainty bite from the corner of the crisp triangle and chewed slowly before nodding. “Mmmm…. Not bad,” she appraised. She reached up to take the remainder of the sandwich portion from Jon’s hand. “Damn, all that hotness, and you cook too?”
Jon grinned. “Yep. Well, stuff with cheese and eggs, anyway.”
Cate laughed at that, leaning forward to give Jon a sweet kiss. “That’s good enough for me,” she murmured against his mouth. Careful to keep the gooey melted cheese of the sandwich in her hand from dripping into his hair, Cate slid her arms around Jon’s neck as he pulled her toward him.
Jon growled appreciatively as his hands slid down Cate’s sides to the hem of the jersey, which hung to her mid-thigh. “Damn... that shirt looks about a thousand times better on you than it ever did on me.” His fingertips traced along the warm skin of her smooth legs, itching to move higher.
“I’m not so sure I agree with that,” Cate chuckled in response.
“Matter of opinion,” Jon replied before ducking his head to nuzzle at her ear. Cate giggled at the tickle of Jon’s warm breath, letting herself melt into his embrace and tipping her head to the side to allow his lips to wander down the side of her neck to the curve of her shoulder.
“Want some wine?” Jon breathed against her skin, his whiskey purr sending her pulse racing.
“Yes,” she half-sighed, nodding slightly.
Jon chuckled and gave her shoulder a little nip before pulling away. Cate reluctantly slipped her arms from around his neck and stepped over to lean against the wall as Jon extracted the wine bottle from the bucket and poured two glasses. She nibbled at the sandwich that was still in her hand as she watched him.
Realizing she actually was hungry, Cate popped the last bite of toasted bread into her mouth and reached for another triangle from the plate on the island. She had hardly eaten today; her appetite had absented itself at the thought of Jon’s impending departure. Jon handed her a glass then touched his glass to hers. “To us,” he said softly.
Cate’s eyes sparkled at his tender smile. “To us,” she echoed, raising the wine to her lips and taking a sip.
Jon picked up the plate of grilled cheese sandwiches and grinned, tilting his head toward the living room. “C’mon. Couch potato time.” Cate laughed and turned to follow as Jon moved past her, headed for the sofa.
Fifteen minutes later three more grilled cheese sandwiches and two glasses of wine were gone. Cate and Jon sat side-by-side on her leather couch, Jon’s feet propped up on the coffee table and Cate’s legs folded under her as she snuggled into the crook of his shoulder. They were still watching SportsCenter at Cate’s insistence. Jon had chortled but not argued when she said she wanted to see the baseball game highlights.
“Want some more wine?” Jon asked when a commercial came on. He leaned forward to pick up his own empty glass off the coffee table.
“Please,” Cate answered, sitting upright to accommodate his movement. She sighed happily as Jon gave her a wink and a grin before heading into the kitchen. He returned minutes later with freshly-filled glasses.
With a little groan Jon lowered himself back onto the couch. Setting her wine glass on the coffee table and his on the end table, he shifted so that he was sitting in the corner of the sofa. “C’mere,” he said invitingly, opening his arms.
Cate moved over to accept his invitation with a smile. Jon shifted his legs, raising one onto the couch behind Cate so she could settle between his thighs as she leaned into his embrace. With a contented sigh Cate snuggled against Jon’s warm, hard chest, feeling the soft brush of his silvery-brown chest hair under her cheek.
Jon hugged Cate gently. “Wanna watch a movie now?” he asked.
“What time is it?” Cate replied. She let her eyes slip closed as she savored the warmth of Jon’s chest against her cheek.
“Almost eleven,” Jon answered. “It’s early.”
Cate chuckled. “Maybe for you. I’m usually in bed by now. Well, at least I was, before you came along.”
Jon smirked. “We could be in bed now. But we wouldn’t necessarily be sleeping.” He let his hand slide down to inch the hem of Cate’s jersey up her thigh, almost to her hip.
Cate chuckled throatily in response to Jon’s words and actions. “You’re determined to keep me awake until the wee hours, aren’t you, Rock Star?”
“Yes, I am,” Jon admitted in a seductive purr. “We can sleep in tomorrow, can’t we?”
“GOD No!!!” Cate exclaimed, pushing up off his chest to give him an incredulous look. “Jon! Do you have any idea how much shit I have to do tomorrow?” I have to pack, I have to go to my office and pack up stuff there so Joe can use it, I have to make arrangements for my dog, I have to book a hotel, I have to…”
“Whoa, whoa, WHOA…” Jon cut Cate off, waving a hand at her protest. “Wait a minute… Cate, breathe.” Jon shook his head. Cate had gone from relaxed to agitated in about three seconds flat. “Baby, take it easy. We’ll get it all taken care of.”
“But Jon, you don’t understand…”
“Yes I do,” he argued gently. “I’ve been living out of a suitcase for the last twenty years. I’m a professional gypsy.” He chuckled. “Listen, this is how it will go. One: You only have to pack enough clothes for a week or so. We’ll fly back in a couple weeks and get whatever else you need. I’m going to have to come back to set up the P.A. stuff anyway.”
Jon gave Cate a stern look as she opened her mouth to protest. She heeded his warning, remaining silent while he continued. “Two: Mandy will take care of your dog for a few weeks. We can take her back to California with us if you want, when we come back later. Three: I’ll help you pack up your office. It can’t take THAT long. And Four…” Jon smiled. “You don’t need a hotel. You’re staying with me, at the Malibu house.”
Jon felt Cate’s shock as she sucked in a breath and her body tensed. Shit… Jon grimaced slightly. Had he just said the wrong thing? He held his breath as he waited for her response.
Oh crap it was going so well until Jon mentioned about staying with her. Come on Cate, you know you want to stay with Jon. You have to realize that's what he was talking about when he suggesteed you come there with im. Please don't let there be another road block for them after he said that.
ReplyDeleteCome on Catte, I want the good stuff.
Beth
I guess his house is big enough. She can get her own room... if she wants to LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking it maybe has more to do with him having figured this all out already...sort of planning her life...but I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteAlso, she's not used to having someone to help her organize stuff and that takes some getting used to.
I'm sure she'll calm down in a few minutes.
Uh oh! I hope she's not going to freak out. So happy to have a new chapter - been sooooo looking forward to it. Please don't make us wait so long for the next one....
ReplyDelete