Househusband
Kristin was amazed how painless JC’s moving in truly was. Building his studio took several weeks. The workers used the garage entrance, so they weren’t tracking through the house. Occasionally she had to leave her car in the driveway – that was a minor inconvenience, considering she had JC to come home to at night!
JC was so good to come home to, Kristin decided as she arrived home one more night to his hot kisses and warm hugs. As househusbands went, he didn’t manage to cook dinner. They shared the chore – which made it that more enjoyable. He did run the vacuum and saw to the dishwasher. And he made certain the house laundry did get to the laundry room. Kristin quickly learned it was easier to wash the loads herself than to deal with the wrinkled mess when he forgot a load was in the drier. He was good about folding towel and putting them way.
As for JC, he learned to enjoy Kristin’s habit of shedding her clothes at the door. How many times had this particular foible of hers ended with them making love – on the stairs, with her little butt up on the credenza as her briefcase hit the floor or even with her up against the door? Passion before dinner was a marvelous thing, made for a healthy appetite.
His creativity flowed with his contentment. Words came easy. Melodies magically came from his fingers. Nothing was a struggle. Nothing blocked him. It all came together. It was amazing what daily doses of love could do!
And Kristin did do her veil dance for him. One night when he had been so wrapped up in his studio, he had forgotten to come to bed. She appeared in her diaphanous, bejeweled harem girl
outfit complete with face veil, kohl-rimmed eyes and navel jewel. He had been totally enthralled by her sensuous, sinuous movement and the suppleness of her body. He didn’t know if that one soundboard would ever be the same after he swiftly took his little harem girl on it! He never forgot to join Kristin in bed after that!
Being with Kristin everyday was something he could certainly get used to, JC mused as he watched her sleep one night. The sense of urgency had dissipated. He didn’t need to grasp every moment quite so tightly. Lovemaking grew mellow and sweeter without the fear it would be weeks before he could touch her again. Married, if this was what it felt like, suited him just fine.
And his relationship with Chelsea deepened. The girl wanted a father in her life. ‘Dad’ had started as a joke almost, now she said it with a certain amount of pride. He’d taken to picking her up on Friday afternoons – it was their special bonding time. Chelsea was her mother’s daughter – intelligent, bold, determined – and occasionally bossy. And he adored his new daughter.
His little family unit was so precious to him – something he’d longed for without ever knowing it.
“Mom, can I ask something without you freaking out?” Chelsea asked one day as they prepared dinner.
“I suppose that depends on what it is,” Kristin answered.
“It’s about Dad.”
“I guess it still depends on what you ask.”
“When you and he get married, will you change your name?”
“For business reasons, I can’t really do that.”
“But I mean personal.”
“I hadn’t really thought about it. Maybe de Carlo-Chasez for awhile.”
“Can I?”
“Can you what?”
“I want to be Chelsea de Carlo-Chasez.”
For some reason this surprised the mother. “Why?”
Chelsea shrugged. “I just think it’s three of us getting married.”
“Do they have daughter’s ring?” JC had heard the last of the conversation. He was touched deeply by Chelsea’s words. “Hell, if they don’t I’ll have one made.”
“Hey, Dad.”
“I’ll adopt you out right, Chels,” JC offered.
“I’m a little old for that.”
“I don’t care. If you want my name, I’ll gladly make it legal.”
“I hadn’t even thought...” The teenager broke off and dropped her eyes, attempting to hide her tears.
Kristin noticed. “You’re excused.”
“Thanks.” Chelsea whispered and she quickly walked past JC.
“Damn, did I make her cry again?”
“Yes, you did, darling.” Kristin was a bit misty herself. He didn’t even realize how much his offer meant to the girl. “You are a very nice man, Mister Chasez. No wonder I fell in love with you.”
JC still didn’t understand. “It sure as hell wasn’t at first sight.” He moved to stand next to her.
“No, second maybe – definitely third.”
“The jazz club,” he remembered. “Then why did you make me wait to kiss you?”
“Because all I knew of you was your ‘party boy’ image. I wasn’t interested in a party boy.”
“I was partying because I was waiting for you to come into my life,” he murmured against her cheek. “I was so lonely for you, Kris – and Chelsea. I just didn’t know it yet.”
Kristin did cry then, tears trickled down her cheeks. She pressed her face into his neck.
He’d get used to happy tears one day, he figured. Both de Carlo women were prone to them. Tenderly, he put his arms around her to hold her to his heart. “I love you, baby. I love our daughter – and when we have kids...”
“We’ll need a bigger house.” She managed a watery giggle.
“Should we start looking?”
She hadn’t gone off the pill yet. “No. Not yet.”
“When?”
“After we’re married would be good.”
“Let’s do it.”
“Josh...”
“C’mon, Kris. Let’s go to Vegas and get married. Chels can be your maid of honor...”
Kristin shook her head. She was tempted. She truly was – but something stopped her. “I don’t want to do it that way. Our families would be terribly hurt if we did that.”
“We could have a big reception when we got back.”
“Joshua, it’s a lovely sentiment but think of how your mother would feel.”
He knew his mother would be not be happy...
“Let’s stick with our plans.”
She pulled away to finish preparing dinner.
Tenderly with the back of his fingers, he stroked her cheek. “Baby, these last months, being with you full-time...It’s been like paradise. When something is this good I’m afraid of losing it.”
“You’ll only lose it if you choose to.”
“Who chooses to lose heaven?”
“Someone who decides it isn’t right for him.”
“That’s not happening, Krissie. I don’t remember being this damn content in my entire life.” And he meant it. Young adulthood had been spent pursuing his career – to the detriment of everything else. He had established himself in the music industry – now he had time for a settled personal life. “There’ll be times I have to be away. I mean that’s the industry. Hopefully, you and Chelsea can be with me. If not, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Kristin kept her eyes on the salad she had been making. She’d heard the aching loneliness in his voice and it made her sad. She was glad her life offered his normalcy – but something deep inside told her normalcy wasn’t quite what JC needed. “When you tour...”
“That’s more than a year away with NSYNC.”
“With your solo career.”
“I don’t know how that shakes out. I’m working on stuff... I can do most of it here in my de Carlo studio.” He smiled. “De Carlo-Chasez productions.”
JC took her chin in hand to make her meet his eyes. “We’re a family now, Kris. We were before I moved in. I’ll fuck up – I can almost guarantee that – but I’ll always love you the best I can.”
Somehow, his words did not wipe away the shadow she sensed in their future.
“Kris, what does Chelsea want for her birthday?” JC asked as he climbed into bed one night.
Old married couple, he mused silently. They weren’t married yet, but they had both taken to wearing clothes to bed. Her attire signaled what the night was likely to bring. If she wore one of the gowns he bought – they weren’t going to sleep much. If, like tonight, she wore pajamas, chances of sleep were much greater. A tee shirt and pajama pants had become his nighttime attire.
Kristin looked up from the magazine in her hands. “You mean she hasn’t dropped a barrage of hints?”
“Well, yeah, but I need to clear everything with you, so you don’t bust me later.”
“What hints?”
“Car.”
“Mmm...I was planning that.”
He looked surprised. “You were?”
“I wouldn’t let her take it to school...”
“Let me.”
“Let you what?”
“Baby, let me get her the car. I can afford it and it won’t make a dent.”
She bit her bottom lip. That much was true...
“You really want to?”
“Hell, yeah!” He grinned. He’d expected to fight.
“It can’t be something horribly expensive... no Beemers or anything like that.”
“I promise.” He crossed his heart. “Actually, her hints have been pretty modest.”
Kristin laughed. “Chelsea? Will wonders never cease?”
“Speaking of wonder...” He plucked the magazine from her hands and tossed it to the nightstand. “I wonder if I can get Krissie to come out and play with me.” His voice was a low, sexy growl.
The heat in his gaze scorched her cheeks. “I suppose that depends on what you have in mind.”
Pulling the sheet down, he moved over her. He was already hardening as he made room for himself between her thighs. “I thought I’d start by kissing you until we forget to breathe...then I’d let my mouth worship you for a long time...then I’d go down on you and lap up all that sweet love cream you give when I’m a very good boy...”
“What about you?” she asked breathlessly. He was making her hot with mere words!
“Then I’d enter you slowly, letting you feel every inch of me, the way you like it.”
She whimpered; he smiled.
“I’d thrust slowly in and out real slow... until you claw at my back, begging me to hurry.”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Krissie wants to play with Joshy.
He grinned wickedly.
Kristin disarmed his smugness by reaching up to bury her hands in his riotous dark waves. “Have I told you how much I like you being here all the time?” she asked softly. “How much I appreciate the little things you do for me and how wonderful you’ve been with Chelsea?”
The gentle awe in her voice made his heart swell. “I think you just did, baby. This is where I want to be.”
Lifting her head, she kissed him, lingering to appreciate the flavor and texture of his lips. “I love you, Josh. I want you here – with me, with us.”
He gazed deeply into her eyes, finding a home for his soul. “I’m here, Kris...I love you too, baby.”
Any wicked plans fell by the wayside – tenderness ruled the night.
“Uh…Dad, you’re going the wrong way,” Chelsea told JC as he was bringing her from San Francisco one Friday afternoon.
“I am?” he asked.
“Well, yeah. You were supposed to turn left back there.”
“I need to get something from town. Mind riding a long?”
“No...no problem.”
He flicked her a grin. “I’ll be damned if you don’t sound like Kristin – baby boss,” he teased.
Chelsea laughed.
“I guess it’s good I’m not a control freak – since I live with two of them.”
“Hey! I am not!”
“Oh, you and your mother are subtle most of the time, but you do like to be in control.”
The girl shrugged. “Safety mechanism.”
“Probably.”
“So why do you put up with it, Chasez?”
“Because I love you both – and I may be a perfectionist, but I don’t care who leads.”
“Good thing!”
Chelsea hardly noticed when JC pulled into a car lot. When he parked the jeep, she looked around. “Why are you here?”
“Because someone is turning seventeen.” JC climbed out the driver’s side.
Chelsea scrambled out the passenger side, hurrying to catch up with him as he strode towards some parked compact cars. “You didn’t buy me a car! Mom will so bust your butt—“
“Chill, Chels. I cleared it with the boss lady.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly.” He led her to the car he had chosen for her – the one she had been hinting about over and over. A dark blue Toyota Echo with the works. He had even ordered a moon roof.
“Mine?” she squeaked disbelievingly. This was her dream car!
He tossed her the keys. “Yup.”
“Really?”
He chuckled. “Really.”
Chelsea flung herself at him, hugging him tightly. “Thanks, Dad.”
JC hugged her back with equal enthusiasm, then placed a tender kiss on her forehead as he released her. “You’re welcome, Chels.”
“I like having a dad,” she announced huskily.
Tugging on a strand of hair, he said, “I like being your dad, baby boss.”
She grinned up at him.
“Now, Mom says the car stays in Santa Clara…”
“I know. I understand why she doesn’t want me taking it to SF.”
“Good, because any argument with Kristin about it and this car stays in the garage,” he told her sternly.
Chelsea burst out laughing.
“What?” he demanded.
“You really are getting the hang of this ‘dad’ thing.”
“Ya think? “ It was something he worried about…
“Yeah, I think. But I’ve never had a dad and you’ve never been one, so we gotta play it by ear…”