Chapter 44 - Blame it on the Moonlight

Cate stepped out the back door of the bar and looked around. The thick, humid Georgia air settled over her shoulders like a cape, making her skin sticky and slick.

Silvery shards of moonlight scattered across the ground, broken by shadows cast off the branches of the huge, Spanish moss-covered trees. The night buzzed with the songs of the crickets and frogs in the nearby marsh, and pulsed with the muted beat of the music from inside the bar.

Off to her left, Cate caught a glimpse of orange, a glowing ember. She turned and saw Jon standing there, pulling a long drag off his cigarette.

He was leaning back against the side of the building, in the partial shadow of an alcove. His head was tipped back as he looked up toward the night sky. She could see the outline of his face in profile, and she gasped slightly, awed by his beauty. Cate watched, her gaze tracing the line of his throat, as he blew out a long stream of smoke.

Jon’s right leg was bent, the sole of his boot against the side of the building. She saw the glow of the cigarette’s tip drop as he lowered his hand to rest beside his leg. She knew he could sense her presence, though he didn’t turn his face to her.

As if in a trance, Cate felt herself glide slowly over to him. Breathlessly, silently, she approached. She stopped in front of him, so close that her thigh brushed lightly against his raised knee.

Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and in the dim light she could see the line of his jaw, the angle of his cheekbone, and the sensuous curve of his lips. She studied them for a long moment, then her gaze dropped lower. She stared at the slice of firm chest showing in the deep vee of his henley.

She realized his chest was rising and falling rapidly; his breathing heavy, matching her own. She dropped her chin and closed her eyes briefly as she drew in his scent; a heady mix of cologne, smoke, whiskey, and sweat. When she opened her eyes again she saw his hand flick the cigarette to the ground.

Cate watched, mesmerized, as Jon’s booted foot dropped from the wall and ground out the butt against the dirt. She drew her gaze up that denim-clad muscled leg, to Jon’s waist, then up to his chest, then to his neck, then finally again to his mouth. She stared, entranced, as Jon’s mouth opened slightly and the tip of his tongue slid out, moistening his luscious lips so they glistened in the dim light.

She raised her gaze and her eyes locked with Jon’s. She drew in her breath at the sight of deep cobalt pools smoldering with longing. She stood silent and unmoving, transfixed by their intensity.

Jon felt himself falling hard as he stared into Cate’s glowing sapphire eyes. She was silhouetted against the night, the moonlight making her damp skin glow. Her full lips parted slightly as she drew in a ragged breath.

He could feel her yearning. The attraction she had fought so hard to deny all week, the emotion she had suppressed…it was all right there, written in her wanton expression. The auburn waves of her hair glowed in the moonlight, a fiery frame for the passion on her beautiful face.

Suddenly he couldn’t stand it anymore. Jon pushed away from the wall and snaked an arm around Cate’s waist, pulling her body roughly to his. His other hand went to her jaw, tipping her face upward.

His lips pressed down against hers, his tongue parting them and driving into her mouth. Jon groaned at her taste and pushed his hand up into her hair, entwining his fingers in her thick locks. He angled her head to gain deeper entry to her mouth, kissing her ferociously.

Cate whimpered as Jon’s tongue danced with hers. She melted into Jon’s body, wrapping both her arms around his waist as she returned his kiss. She felt like she was floating away as his mouth slid over hers, his teeth gently pulling on her lower lip.

She cried out softly as he broke the contact, gasping for breath. Jon touched his forehead to Cate’s and they stared hungrily at each other as they both panted.

Then Cate felt him spin her around, pressing her back against the wall. She felt dizzy as Jon tipped her head back to expose her throat. He braced both hands against the wall, one on either side of her head as he leaned down to suck at her neck, nipping and kissing his way from her jaw down to the notch at the base of her throat.

Cate arched her back and moved her hands to Jon’s hips, gripping them hard. Jon groaned as he felt her strong fingers dig into his flesh, and he moved his mouth back to hers, kissing her deeply and fiercely. He pressed the weight of his body against her, feeling her quiver under him.

Cate entwined her tongue with Jon’s again, savoring his taste. Her heart pounded like it would leap out of her chest, and every muscle in her body twitched with desire. Her lungs screamed for oxygen, and she reluctantly pulled her lips away from his to breathe. She felt Jon’s chest heaving against her own, his breath hot against her cheek as he gasped in his own air.

Suddenly the back door banged open, and they heard loud giggling and cursing as a group of drunk women stumbled outside. “Fuck!” Jon growled. He grabbed Cate’s shoulders and pushed her further into the alcove. Keeping his back to the chattering women, he prayed he was far enough in the shadow and that they were tipsy enough that they wouldn’t recognize him or Cate.

Jon shielded Cate from their view with his body, lowering his face again to hers. “Shhh,” he whispered. “Or we’re SO busted!” They stood silent, breathing heavily together, listening as the drunk girls stopped to light cigarettes while they chattered obscenely about a couple men inside the bar.

Cate suppressed a giggle. She couldn’t believe she was in this position, hiding in the shadows and making out with Jon. Her usual prudence clouded by lust and alcohol, she didn’t care that they might be discovered. All she wanted was to pick up where they had left off before being so rudely interrupted.

Cate slid her hands from Jon’s hips up to his chest, her fingertips toying with a tuft of soft hair peeking out of the neck of his shirt. Jon purred in response, his eyes meeting Cate’s again. He leaned down and kissed her, more gently this time.

Cate gave a small sigh and trailed her hands back down Jon’s chest to his belt, tucking her fingers under the buckle and tugging lightly. “Fuck it,” Jon growled, wrapping his arms around Cate’s waist.

His hands dipped under the hem of her shirt, touching heated bare skin as he slid them over her lower back. He kissed her more urgently as the drunken intruders continued to smoke and babble in the background.

Cate chuckled against Jon’s mouth. God, I hope I’m not dreaming… she thought.

Jon broke the kiss when they heard the back door open again. “Last Call!” they heard a female voice shout. “Y’all want anything?”

The drunk girls squealed. “Yeah!” one yelled in response. “Hang on, we’re comin’!”

Jon couldn’t help but grin at Cate as they silently listened to the commotion. Cate giggled softly, melting at that irresistible smile. She couldn’t stop herself as she reached up and tangled her hand in his hair, then dragged his mouth back down to hers for another steamy kiss. She felt a little chuckle rumble in Jon’s throat as he kissed her thoroughly, grinding his hips hard against her.

“Oh my God! Look!” Cate heard one of the female voices drawl. She and Jon froze as they heard more giggles. “Y’all get a ROOM!” another one of the voices shrieked, then there was a cacophony of drunken laughter.

Cate buried her face in Jon’s shoulder, muffling her giggles. She could feel his body shaking as he stifled his own amusement. Not daring to respond or turn around, Cate and Jon listened as the pack clattered back up the short sidewalk and through the door, back into the bar for last call.

After the girls had gone, Cate and Jon grinned at each other for a long moment before bursting into laughter. So much for the mood… Cate thought. She laid her cheek against his chest as he hugged her tight, his laughter rumbling musically under her ear.

After their laughter quieted, Jon pulled back and raised Cate’s face to his. Smiling sweetly, he placed a gentle kiss on her swollen lips. “We probably better go back in.” he said softly. “The gang is gonna wonder where we went.”

“Danny knows. He sent me out here with these.” Cate reluctantly disengaged from Jon’s embrace and fished the crushed pack of cigarettes and lighter from her jeans pocket.

Jon chuckled. “Danny’s one helluva guy.” He took the pack from Cate. “And I need another one of these, after that hot little encounter.” He shook out a cigarette from the pack and placed it between his lips, then touched the lighter’s flame to its end.

Cate exhaled and ran her fingers through her hair, sweeping it up off her sweaty neck. “So do I,” she agreed. Jon gave her a surprised look as he took a drag. “I kicked the habit years ago, but sometimes a gal just needs a smoke,” she explained. “Besides, I only smoke when I get drunk or have sex.”

Jon smirked, blowing out the smoke and offering the cigarette to Cate. “And how long has it been since you had a cigarette?” he asked coyly.

“Too damned long.” Cate muttered, taking the cigarette from Jon’s hand. She took a long pull, savoring the taste, then handed it back to him.

Jon watched her silently as she closed her eyes and exhaled toward the sky, the smoke curling out of her mouth in a long, slow stream. God, she’s amazing, he thought, admiring her in the moonlight. I love being with her. His heart jumped as he realized what his mind had just said.

They stood silently for a couple minutes, sharing the cigarette and gazing at the night sky. Finally Jon ground out the butt with his boot and sighed. He shared a look with Cate, then they turned and moved toward the door.

Cate felt Jon’s hand against the small of her back and smiled. They reached the door and Jon grasped Cate’s arm, turning her gently toward him.

“Thanks for an incredible day,” Jon said softly. “One of the best I’ve had in a long time.” He leaned in and gently sipped from Cate’s full lips. He chuckled as he felt Cate dip a little and grip his arms, her knees buckling as she swooned.

Jon caught her waist and held her until she regained her balance. He gave her a sweet smile as she gazed up at him, her eyes glittering. After a moment she returned his smile and nodded. Then they pulled open the door and went back into the bar.