Chapter Nine: Solo Trouble
JC pressed his hand over his stomach to calm the butterflies. He wasn’t used to being the entire focus of the crowd. He couldn’t remember a time he was this nervous, so nervous he thought he might hurl.
“You will be wonderful.” Christina wrapped her arms around him from behind. “You’ll own the stage.”
“Thanks honey.” He linked his fingers with hers.
”Close your eyes.”
“What?”
“Close your eyes.”
JC obeyed.
“Now, take a deep breath and hold it for the count of five – then exhale out your nose.”
He did it.
“Do it again.”
He repeated the breathing exercise.
“Now, this time expel the breath out your mouth slowly.”
Doing as instructed, immediately, he realized he felt calmer. “Your coming on tour with me, C.”
“Of course, I am. I cleared my agenda for when you need me.” She lifted on her toes to nip his ear. “I get to be JC’s first solo groupie.”
“Mmm…not groupie. I don’t make a habit of making love to my groupies. You’ll be my breathing coach.” For a moment, he pulled her arms tighter around him for a hug, and then released her. Turning he whispered, “Kiss for luck.”
“You don’t need it for luck, but far be it from me to refuse a kiss.” Instead of a quick peck, she gave him a soft kiss of adoration. “Knock ‘em dead, baby.”
JC’s high-energy, nothing-held-back performance wowed the crowd. His all too brief set had them calling for more when he ran off the stage. He was dripping in sweat and totally jazzed. He grabbed Christina’s hand and dragged her to his little dressing room trailer. Once behind closed door, he crushed her to him.
“Bravo, Chasez!” she cheered as his perspiration soaked through her cotton sundress.
He looked like a happy little boy. “ I did it, C! They liked me!”
“They loved you!” she corrected, throwing her arms around his neck.
“Yeah!” The kiss that followed was pure power and sex. Straightening, he pulled her feet from the floor. Grasping her thighs, he wrapped her legs around him.
“Ooh!” She felt the hard, demanding heat of him.
Walking a few feet, JC sat down on a loveseat and arched up, rubbing himself against her. With eager, not quite steady fingers he unbuttoned the little sundress all the way and parted the fabric. He grinned wickedly at the little bikini panties – all she wore beneath the dress. Bending his head, he bit at the sweet spot on her neck. “I’m so hot for you…” he growled.
Christina wasn’t so sure it was her – he was a sexual animal in the heat of the moment. She wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity to see this animalistic side of her sweet lover! “Show me what you have for me, lover,” she demanded, lifting to her knees.
Hurriedly, he unfastened his pants, shoving them down with his shorts. He was huge and throbbing, droplets already escaping the swollen purple head.
Her eyes went wide. Usually it took some serious play to get him to that state of arousal. “Damn, baby, I want you to perform all the time if it does that!” she declared in awe.
JC chuckled and jerked her close. His lips tugged at her nipples, suckling hungrily. He was even more turned on be her helpless mewling. One hand tugged the center panel of her underwear to one side so he could rub the head of his shaft along her wet petals.
“Oh, yes!” With one hard thrust upward, he was buried to the hilt. “Oh, Jace!”
“Ride hard, Christina.” he commanded as his hands closed over her rump to set the rhythm. “It is all your, every hard inch,” he purred silkily.
Both of them were in such a high state of arousal it didn’t take long, with their bodies crashing together, for them to explode in each other’s arms. Christina pressed her mouth to his shoulder in order to smother her scream. JC shouted as he pushed up one more time before sinking bonelessly into the cushions.
“Woo-hoo!” Christina exclaimed breathlessly. That had not been love making! That had been 100% pure fucking. She hadn’t known JC capable of such mindless encounter. “Mr. Chasez, I am your number one and only tour groupie,” she announced.
He gave her a weak, satisfied smile. “Cool.”
“Are you always like this?”
He shook his head. “The adrenaline, yeah. Every thing is so sharp and immediate. Horny, yeah, but it is pretty rare I get to do anything about it.” Reaching up a hand, he stroked her flushed cheek tenderly, “All the extra…being out there alone…the crowd reacting only for me…I was pretty jacked up – then my sexy baby being here for me…”
She grinned. “Hey, no complaints here, JC. That was a mighty fine ride.”
“C’mere.” This time his kisses and caresses were tender and loving.
“It’s coming to life again,” she whispered against his lips.
”Now it is JC wanting to make love to Christina, mind?”
“Mmm…never, Jace.”
Laying her back on the cushions, he made slow, sweet love to her – much more familiar though no less exciting.
Christina made herself available to travel wherever JC had solo gigs. He repeatedly told her how much he appreciated her being with him, that he needed her unblinking support. Somehow with her with him, he didn’t feel as pressured as he’d imagined. Some of it was part of the old entourage traveling with him, but mostly it was his loyal Christina.
Another thing Christina discovered about JC was rather unexpected. At home, he was mostly a very gentle, teasing lover. On the road, he was wilder, bolder, and nastier. Once he saw she was not only not appalled but in fact turned on, he gave free rein to his freakier side.
“I’m not into whips and pain,” she assured him, “but I’m not prudish.”
Now JC would whisper naughty things to her, using more vulgar terms. He would suggest things she didn’t even realize he knew about – things she had never tried. They took turns being each other’s sex slaves with safeguards firmly in place before the games began. They painted each other with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Cristal was lapped up from flesh rather than being sipped from a glass – and Christina’s silk scarves had other uses than being fashion accessories.
Through it all, his love for Christina deepened. He had loved the warm friend and protective mate. Now he had more to love about her. She relished his inner bad boy as much as the gentle man she loved. It didn’t matter – his wonderful Christina loved all he was. He hadn’t known such a woman existed. And to embody all he needed in a mate in one astounding female…he was utterly and totally in love with her.
After the show, as he had after nearly every one of his club shows, JC grabbed Christina’s hand and tugged her along in his wake as he made for the waiting limousine.
“I fucking hate cold weather…” he grumbled once they were cocooned in the dark of the car as it whisked them back to their hotel. His hands parted the front of her coat and slid beneath the hem of her sweater. “You wear too many clothes.” Damn, she had a bra on!
“Chasez, you are sweaty and hot and horny,” she complained mildly as she pushed at his chest.
JC ginned wickedly. “And your point is?…”
She grabbed a towel from the other seat and began blotting his hair and neck. “I’m afraid you’ll catch a chill.” He’d said he was too hot for a coat.
With a sigh he relaxed against the seat. “Okay, play the mother hen now, Christina, but when we get back to the hotel—”
“You have time for a shower before Tony arrives,” she reminded him.
He shot her an irritated glance.
Christina straddled his legs. “Guess what, fella?”
“What?”
She licked at the salty skin of his neck. “I’ll want you just as much a couple hours from now as I do right now,” she told him huskily. “And I promise I’ll be wearing something less challenging.”
He smiled tenderly as he lovingly stroked her hair. “What did I ever do to deserve someone like you in my life?”
“Ate your veggies?” she teased.
“I adore you, my Christina. Will you marry me?”
“You already asked that – my answer hasn’t change.”
“Just checking.” Because he had picked out her ring that afternoon.
“Did you want me to change my mind?”
“After you being such a trooper on this club tour? Hell no!” He’d fallen for her all over again.
“They loved you tonight! You are such a naughty tease. They were eating out of your hand.”
”It felt good, great. They’re feeling my music – and, hell, they haven’t even been able to buy the record.”
“You do quality work, Chasez.” Christina nuzzled his throat. “They all want my baby.”
“Your baby is all yours.”
“I know,” she sighed happily.
The car stopped and a moment later, Lonnie appeared at an opened door. “Why do we need such a damn big car? He chuckled. “She’s always on your lap.”
“Dude, one of these times you’re gonna open that door and really see something.” JC quipped as he set Christina on the seat.
Something less challenging, she had promised. Damn! JC loved Tony like a brother, but tonight he didn’t want to share Christina with anyone. Oh, she was fully and properly covered in her deep green silk lounging pajamas. The wide belt cinched at her waist saw that the top stayed closed. But for his eyes only, she would bend over and the billowy jacket fell open so he could see all the way to her navel and she was naked! He’d lick his lips and his eyes would darken; she would just smile knowingly.
Straightening after giving JC a good long look, Christina gave a little stretch and yawn.
“Lovely to see you again, Tony, but my body clock is sprung from all this traveling. I hate to be rude…”
Tony rose to kiss her cheek. “Go on to bed,” he told her. JC and I can mange a few minutes without you.”
“You’re a dear.” Christina hugged him. “Good night, Tony.”
“Night, Christina.”
She waggled her fingers at the frowning JC. “Night, Jace.”
“Night, honey.” His voice sounded normal enough even though he was mentally gnashing his teeth. The little tease was escaping him…
After seeing Tony out, JC went into the bedroom. Christina appeared to be asleep – and as a courtesy left a dim light on his side of the bed. How dare the little bitch fall asleep? She knew after a show he had a load of sexual energy he had to expend before he could sleep.
Stripping out of his clothes, he slid between the sheets and moved against her backside, only to find her naked as well. He rubbed against her as his mouth played along her neck and shoulders.
“Umm…Tony gone?” she asked drowsily.
“Yes.” He found her sweet spot below her ear and attacked it until she was whimpering helplessly.
“Say, sweet thang…I couldn’t help noticing’ you lookin’ all good over here and I was wonderin’…Do you wanna fuck?” he purred.
Christina smiled, “I’m a one night stand?”
“My permanent one night stand.”
She moved to her back and smoothed back his hair.
“Mmm…and you do keep me steady satisfied,”
“You do more than satisfy, baby. You take me to a whole new realm of existence.”
“Is that good?”
“Beyond fantastic.”
”C’mere, lover.” She held her arms out to him and he readily fit himself against her. There were no teasing kisses; they went directly into hungry devouring kisses.
“You knew you were making me crazy, looking at your tits all night,” he growled against her breast.
“Uh-huh.”
Raising his head, he met her eyes. She didn’t want to freak that night. He could read it in her eyes. Oh, she’d go along – and even enjoy it. But it wasn’t what she was wanting or needing. “I’ve done it again haven’t I, C?” he grumbled. ”And dammit, you let me!”
“What, JC?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know.” He rolled over on his back, covering his eyes with his forearm. Once again she had let him do all the taking and none of the giving. Her capacity for understanding his needs was amazing. But what about what she needed? He wasn’t anywhere near as perceptive as she was. He’d blindly and selfishly gone along his merry way, making his desires top priority, dragging her along with him. Just because she went along without protest or prejudice didn’t mean she necessarily matched his desires. “Christina, you’ve got to stop it. I’m not used to a woman who let’s me get away with this shit. I get to thinking it’s all about me – and dammit it isn’t.”
Christina tugged his arm down and saw actual tears in his eyes. “Baby, don’t,” she crooned.
“I don’t want to lose you…”
“We’re getting married. Does that sound like I’m on the verge of walking away?”
“How long will you stay, honey. Not long if everything is for me.”
“This is your time right now, Jace. I’ll have my time. I count on you to be there for me the way I am for you now.”
“I am not talking about the traveling and you damn well know it.”
“You’re talking about the sex,” she stated bluntly. “I have to admit I was surprised. You managed to teach me a few things.” She smiled as she wiped the tears from his cheeks with her fingers. “Okay, I like me some old fashioned, sweet love making, so sue me. I promise you, not once have you left me unsatisfied.”
“I can do that. I can make love to you.”
“I know you can. I figured you had to get some of that stuff out of your system. I am more than willing to let you. It’s been a fun education for me, too. There is room for it all in our love, isn’t there, JC?”
“There sure is.” He gave her a tentative smile. “Christina Chandler, you are one helluva woman.”
“You’re a pretty great guy, Joshua Chasez.”
He opened his arms to her. “C’mere and let me hold my baby girl.”
Readily, she went to him, her head on his shoulder. “Mmm…this is wonderful…”
“It sure is.” He brushed his mouth over her temple. “Don’t let me forget it, okay?”
“Okay.”
Cupping her chin in his hand, he tipped her face up for slow, delicious kisses. Eagerly, she answered with sweetness of her own.
Once again, JC had found himself standing at the brink, abusing Christina’s love for him. Before he could destroy it, he’d come to his senses. What happened when one day it would be too late and he’d toppled into the abyss? How much giving would be too much on Christina’s part? When was it going to be his turn to be the strong one? And could he? Did he even have that sort of strength in him?
“I love you so much,” Christina whispered in his ear.
But how much?
Christmas Eve day, JC and Christina arrived at his parent’s house. She headed into the kitchen with his mother while he caught upon news with his father. Later after everyone had gone to bed, in was the wee hours of Christmas Day, JC proposed to her by the light of the Christmas tree and presented her with a perfect diamond engagement ring. They made sweet love on the carpet before having to sleep in separate bedrooms for a few hours.
Everything was wonderful – until the day after Christmas. JC received a call on his cell phone. He answered in monosyllables, clearly not happy. After ringing off, he muttered he had to go to Florida. As he left, Christina asked him when he’d be back since they had made plans to spend New Year’s Eve with Roy and Karen. He mumbled, “I don’t know,” and left for the airport.
JC didn’t call when he arrived at his destination. The next thing anyone knew was JC Chasez was showing up in pictures from Miami, not Orlando – and looking like quite the happy party boy.
His fiancée was anything but…