Chapter Three: A Different Light
JC was pleased Christina had been able to come to the studio. He’d missed her. He’d been holed up recording his CD when sane people were eating dinner and sleeping. She had spent several weeks promoting her latest book release. The friends'd had no face-to-face contact in that time. They had emailed almost daily… he with news of his latest recording, she with details of the tour. They’d also played phone tag … and it wasn’t fun. But now she was here, earphones covering her ears as she listened to his creations. He smiled when she started grinding to one of his songs. “Which one?” He mouthed since she couldn’t hear him.
“Huh?” She lifted an earphone from one ear.
“Which track?”
“You have a dirty mind JC Chasez.” She shook a finger at him, her grin belying her stern words. “You’ve been naughty and I’m gonna tell your mama.
He laughed. “What?”
”I can so see this song in role reversal.”
“C, just tell me.”
"I'm gonna take you on a ride. Make you wanna jump and kiss the sky. I'm gonna take you 40,000 high. Just cause you're my world tonight.
Just relax, baby, don't be shy. Cause it's a feelin' that you can't deny. I'm gonna keep you steady satisfied. Just cause you're my world tonight!"
JC was surprised when she sang the chorus of ‘One Night Stand’. She replaced ‘girl’ with ‘world’. He hadn’t known her singing voice
could be so sultry and sexy.
Not for the first time, JC felt a male stirring for his friend. Hell, he realized Christina Chandler was a beautiful woman many men panted after.
But to him, she was a good, supportive friend. Getting a hard-on because she could sound seductive and move like an invitation to sin…
damn! He’d been locked up in the studio too long! Her rendition of ‘A.D.L.I.D.A.S’ did not make him feel any better!
‘Get yourself under control, dawg,’ he chastised himself sternly. ‘Christina is your friend…and a damn good one!’ He firmly reminded himself how much he cherished her friendship. She was too important to lose on a testosterone whim. Luckily, he managed to rein himself in before she whipped off the earphones and straddled his lap.
“I like! It’s fun music,” she declared
“Fun music?”
“Something I’d put on to drive to or maybe exercise to.”
He pretended to be affronted.” Mindless?”
“Yeah!” she taunted. “No I mean…ah, hell, I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I just like it.”
“That’s cool. I’m glad you like it, C.”
“I’d buy it. Your kazillion fans will, too. They’ll see how diverse you are. How dirty-minded you are!”
“Christina!”
“The fact you aren’t getting any is pretty obvious,” she teased.
“I’m nearly twenty-seven. I am thinking like a guy in his prime.”
“Sorry…a guy’s prime is eighteen to twenty-five. You missed it. Meanwhile, I am just entering my sexual peak,” she announced haughtily.
“And you aren’t getting any either,” he pointed out.
She chuckled. “Aren’t we a lovely couple of coconuts?”
He rubbed her back soothingly. As far as he knew there hadn’t been anyone for her since the day he had walked in on her. “We’re okay, C.”
“I know we are.” Her smile was genuine. “Recreational sex is highly over-rated.”
“Amen to that!”
Christina leaned her forehead against his. “Sooo…what does a girl have to do to get dinner around here?”
“Order in.”
“That’s what I love about you, Chasez. Your sense of chivalry...not!” she taunted, knowing JC actually was a gentleman.
It should be illegal for a man to look so damn good, Christina thought as she watched JC chatting across the room. He wore a fitted shirt and a pair of snug jeans. It made her want to grab his ass. Frowning, she took another sip of her drink. Damn. JC was her best friend and confidant. She had no right to drool over him like most the other women in the room. “Get a grip,” she muttered crossly to herself. When had this happened? When had she started having lustful notions about her friend?
Aidan’s words came back to haunt her. “You haven’t been with him yet, luv,” he had said to her when she denied any romantic involvement with JC. Is that when it had begun? She remembered the hurt in her friend’s eyes. Momentarily she believed he had been harboring some amorous feelings for her. JC had dispelled that notion quickly. Everything had been status quo since. His loving, loyal friendship was much too precious to jeopardize for a toss in the sack. Double damn…
JC looked up to spy Christina’s dark look. He wondered what had put it there. He realized that she had agreed to attend for his benefit, but she hadn’t said she wanted to come. She’d breezily said she’d be his date. Granted, she’d been doing a lot of running around of late, what with a book release, fine tuning Lance’s script, and a movie release. Maybe she was just plain tired and he hadn’t been paying enough attention. It wasn’t like him not to pick up on her subtle cues of fatigue; maybe he was becoming too self-absorbed with his recording schedule.
Excusing himself from the conversation, JC approached Christina. “C, do you want to go home?” he asked.
“I’m fine, JC,” she assured him.
“You don’t look fine.”
She chuckled. “Well, thank you, Mr. Chasez. I thought I’d cleaned up nicely.”
He looked at the dangerous little black dress she wore. ‘Fine’ was a lame word for how she looked. Words like ‘hot, ‘sexy’ and ‘let’s fuck’ came to mind. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.” His arm went around her. “Tired, baby?”
At the moment, tired was not what she was. Horny was what she was. And it wasn’t a general horny. Every female hormone in her body wanted the male body currently pressed to her side. “I’m fine,” she repeated, not trusting herself to speak further.
“Then why do you look like a thundercloud?”
‘Because it’s better than looking like a love-sick groupie’, she answered mentally. Plastering a smile on her lips, she looked at him. “Better?”
“Maybe if I didn’t know you.” He gave her waist a squeeze. “Let me take you home.”
They had planned for her to stay with him that night — that was so not a good idea!
“I was thinking I’d just pick up my car and drive home.”
“Absolutely not,” JC informed her firmly. “You’re tired; you’ve had some wine. No way am I going to let you drive all that way.”
She wasn’t tired, but he was right about the wine… “I’ll call a cab—“
“No.”
“Jace—“
“Christina, don’t be stubborn. What’s wrong with you? It’s not like I’m gonna jump you or anything.”
Damn! She’d like that! “I know.” ‘But I may jump you!’, she added in her head. Wine had a way of loosening her lips…
JC pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’ll make our apologies and say good night.”
“JC—“
Dropping a kiss on her nose, he smiled. “I’m cool, C. Let’s go home.”
This was so not a good idea…Christina rummaged through JC’s bureau looking for something loose to wear. Her nipples seemed to be in a permanent state of ‘perkiness’. Her little tee shirt she wore as a pajama top would do nothing to hide the fact. Trouble was, JC wasn’t a big guy and he leaned toward tight tees. They wouldn’t hide her condition either. Ah, success! A basketball jersey, heavy and loose.
JC frowned at the mess she had made of his once neatly folded shirts. “Find what you were looking for? I don’t keep anything in there but clothes.”
She noted he was in pajamas already. Poking her tongue our at him, she said, “Yes, thank you. I tumbled stuff around so you have something to do while I get ready for bed. I can’t help it you’re anal retentive about his crap…and how is it this stuff is always neatly folded, but you can show up looking like an unmade bed?”
He laughed at her cross, bratty tone, not taking her seriously.. “Go put on your jammies, C.”
When Christina returned to the bedroom, JC wondered at the jersey she wore over her regular sleepwear. It was long on him — on her it was to her knees. He decided against comment since she seemed to be rather owly.
“Night, C,” he said as she turned off the light and clambered under the covers.
“Good night, JC.”
He was perplexed. Since when did she sleep on the very edge of the bed – and with her back to him? It had to be more than just stress and fatigue. It was almost like she wanted to be anywhere but with him. “Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked softly.
“Nothing.”
“I’m not buying.”
“Tired.”
“Not that either.”
Christina sighed. “I’m just in a mood. I’ll be fine in the morning.” ‘When I can make a getaway’, she thought.
“Is it me?”
‘Oh, hell, yeah!’ “It’s me. Don’t worry about it.”
“I’d feel better if you didn’t look like you’ll fall out of bed if you turn over.”
She rolled to her back. The minute she fell asleep her traitorous body would move across the mattress and press herself against him. She could either stay awake or hope she didn’t disgrace herself completely.
JC reached across the expanse of the mattress and found her hand. “Whatever it is, Christina, I’m sorry.”
So was she. The man who had been her friend and brother was now the object of her desire. This was something she hadn’t bargained for, didn’t want, and dreaded. There was no changing the rules. “I love you, Jace,” she whispered.
“I love you, too, C.”
A very worried JC woke in the house before dawn to find his bedmate curled up against him, her legs tangled with his. Whatever it was bothering Christina was something of her conscious mind. In sleep, she sought him out as always. Had she picked up on his suddenly ‘male’ thoughts of her? He believed he’d been pretty cool about it, but as his friend, she knew him inside and out…
It had begun in New York. Ever since he’d seen her … His gut still twisted at the memory of her with another man…All of the sudden, this woman he had shared an almost familial bond with was acknowledged as a sexual creature. He’d thought of her in terms of ‘belonging to him’ in a vague, possessive way before that. He’d been forced to admit he wanted her in the very same way the other man had wanted her – sexually.
He’d been thunderstruck.
Then Christina had wanted to forget it ever happened. There was no forgetting his newfound desire for her. At times, it was almost a living entity. No matter how he tried to rationalize it as a fluke, it returned to haunt him.
JC’s lips twisted in a grimace. ‘All Day Long I Dream About Sex’ had been a product of a night he had lost the battle with his testosterone. He’d never tell her that. Sitting in the studio downstairs in his pajamas, he’d let his fantasies have free rein. The song just flowed from him. Closing his eyes, he could almost feel Christina, smell her, and taste her. Later, he’d found a sweater she’d left behind, her scent lingering on the fabric. He’d briefly considered burying his face in the soft fabric and stroking off, even that felt like a betrayal to his newly discovered feelings for her.
JC gazed down at the sleeping woman in his arms. But it wasn’t all about sex. With Christina, it would be more than sex – it would be a merging of souls. He loved her; almost from that first night, he’d loved her. The part of him, he’d given to her had been that of friend and brother/playmate. Now he wanted to be even more. He wanted to give over his entire being to loving her. He was in love with her as well. How could he betray her like that? She’d never given any indication she felt anything more for him beyond their comfortable friendship. Without any sign from her, he was forced to stuff his love for her into that friendship.
Then there was the fear that in expressing the sexual side of his feelings, he would lose her all-important friendship. In the end, it was her precious role as friend, he didn’t dare endanger. JC loved her too much to lose her.
Christina shifted into a half-waking state. Without opening her eyes, she knew JC was fully awake and in emotional turmoil. “Go to sleep, Chasez. Your thinking is waking me up,” she murmured as she buried her face in his shoulder.
“Sorry, baby.”
“Don’t be sorry. Be asleep.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His voice was heavily laced with amusement. Even in sleep she could be bossy!
Like so many times before, JC was waiting for her at the airport when Christina arrived home from her overseas trip. She loved traveling, the actual being in different places – it was the getting to and from she hated. Her body clock was sprung and she’d lost a day. She would be off-kilter for a couple of days. She smiled when she spied her knight in shining armor, armed with a wide smile of greeting – like a lover or husband…
The thought jolted her to her toes. JC? Her friend and sometimes sex object? In romantic terms? Where had that come from?
“Hey, baby.” JC took her laptop and wrapped his arms around her.
Mmm…he smelled so good…felt so good, warm and solid…and he damned well looked good! “Hi, JC.”
“You look whipped.”
“I am whipped.”
“Gimme your claim tickets.”
“I don’t wanna move. I’ll just lean here for a while.” She felt the low rumble of his chuckle against her cheek.
“I’d let you, but I think it would work better if we give Lonnie your claim checks so he can get your luggage while I take you to the car.”
Lonnie? She hadn’t even noticed the big man with JC. Pulling away, Christina dug into her bag and handed over the three tickets.
“That’s it?” JC knew women who would have twice as much luggage for half the time.
“That was enough.”
Handing his bodyguard the checks, JC said, “Red Leather. We’ll be in the car. Thanks, dude.”
Guiding Christina to the exits, JC escorted her to a waiting limousine.
“What’s this about?” she asked, eyeing the long vehicle.
“Comfort.”
The driver opened the door to allow them in. Once they were settled on the seat, he closed it, leaving them cocooned in quiet and shaded light. Christina sank back into the buttery leather seat with a pleasured groan. “Heaven…”
“I figured you’d be exhausted. This time of day it could take a while to get home. This way you can relax, stretch out, and let go.”
“You are a sweetheart, Chasez. I think I’ll keep you.” She gave him a grateful smile. “All I need is a pillow and a blanket.”
JC produced a fur throw. “Blanket.” Patting his thigh, he said, “Pillow.”
“Damn hard pillow. There isn’t an ounce of fat on you.” Despite her words, she shifted to lie down, her cheek resting on his leg. “You’re so good to me, JC,” she sighed when he covered her with the throw.
“Maybe I should just drive home—“
“No. You’re tired, there is no food at your place, and I’ve missed you.”
“I won’t be much company.”
“I’ll watch you sleep.”
“Romantic sap,” she murmured without realizing the implication of the words as she drifted towards sleep.
“I guess I am.”
“You’re wonderful…and you’re mine…” She gave one more sigh and was asleep.
“I am so yours, baby,” JC announced to the air.
JC made a very handsome groom, Christina thought not for the first time as she gazed up at him. She wouldn’t have thought he would have gone for the traditional white wedding, but he’d seen fit to fulfill her girlish dreams right down to her veil and his cummerbund.
“Ready?” he asked as he handed her out of the white limousine in front of their new home.
“Oh, yes,” she promised breathlessly.
Effortlessly he swept her up, voluminous white dress and all, and strode up the stairs to the front door. On the top step, he lowered his head towards hers. “Christina…” he murmured before his mouth found hers.
“Christina?” JC called softly as he carried her through his front door. If she didn’t wake, he would put her directly to bed.
Not shaking off the dream quickly, Christina opened her eyes to find JC’s mouth in close proximity. She smiled sleepily. “Kiss me again.”
“Again?”
The question in his voice brought her fully awake. To cover for her dream-addled command, she frowned. “Hey, you aren’t Prince Charming.”
He chuckled self-consciously. “I’m not exactly the toad either.”
Her lips tipped up in a teasing smile. “Not exactly, but, hey, I’m no Cinderella.”
Setting her to her feet, he asked, “You dreamed you were Cinderella?” He was clearly amused.
Well, that dream had been one big fairy tale! A huge formal wedding with her as the bride and JC as the groom? Definitely a thing of pure fantasy.
“Close enough.”
The very idea his very grounded friend would dream of pumpkin carriages and fairy godmothers was funny. “You must be really out of it.”
“I must.” Spinning dreams of marrying him was about as far from reality as she could go. The man was her friend despite any romantic notions she had. He’d never been attracted to her in that way. “I think I’ll take a shower and maybe wake up a bit.” And maybe find a few sane brain cells while she was at it.
“Sounds good, C.” She had only taken a few steps when he added, “I’m glad you’re home, baby.”