“Baby, we’re seated in the front. Is it okay if we check your chair and you sit next to me?”
Emily smiled up at his concerned face. “As long as you don’t forget me when it’s over.”
“Not a chance, bright-eyes,” he assured her with an answering smile. Laying a fortifying hand on her shoulder, he was pleased when she reached up to give it a gentle squeeze.
JC guided Emily’s chair through the gauntlet of reporters, cameras and well-wishers. If he was stopped, he held her hand or laid it on her hair. If someone didn’t acknowledge Emily, JC didn’t acknowledge him or her. She was not a nonentity – and he refused to let her be treated as such.
Emily had never seen *NSYNC perform live, so that night was a special treat for her when JC and the others took the stage. They were so energetic and in sync with each other! She could see where they had gotten their name!
“What did you think, baby?” JC asked Emily when he returned to his seat. He nuzzled his hot face against her neck.
“I know why there isn’t an ounce of fat on you,” she mused.
He chuckled. “I thought you might think I was talented.”
“You are talented at lots of things, sugar britches.”
Lifting his head, he grinned at her. “So are you, baby.”
The crowd rose to their feet to applaud an icon of music for lifetime achievement. JC glanced down to see the frustration in Emily’s eyes. Without another thought, he lifted her in his arms. “I’ll do the standing part; you do the ovation part,” he whispered to her. Her happy smile was more than reward enough for this gesture. She clapped as he held her.
Emily got caught up in the excitement when *NSYNC was named ‘Pop Vocal Group of the Year’. She wiggled and squirmed animatedly, wishing she could stand to hug them all. JC bent down for a congratulatory kiss. Lance, Chris, and Joey leaned in to receive a quick hug. Justin walked passed her without so much as a glance in her direction. He was the one person who didn’t acknowledge her presence.
Before the night was over, the group had garnered the ‘Best Pop Album’ and ‘Best Pop Video’ awards as well. And as JC had told her, the victories were that much more sweet when he could share them with her.
“So, you going to an after party?” Lance asked the couple as they waited for Emily’s chair to be brought to them.
“I hadn’t thought about it,” JC answered.
“Josh, you can drop me home—“ Emily began.
“No way. You’re my date.”
“But I—“
“Take her home, C,” Justin agreed.
“No.” JC rose when the usher arrived with Emily’s chair. Setting the brakes, he transferred her into the chair for the walk to the car.
“Josh, do you want to go?” Emily asked.
He shook his head. “Not particularly. I’d rather be sharing a quiet glass of wine with you than go to a noisy party.”
“If you want—“
“I don’t want. What I want is to go home with you.” They hadn’t been together in weeks. He was desperately hungry for her.
The heat in his eyes was not missed by Emily – or their companions. “All right, Josh,” she acquiesced softly.
“Let’s go.” Justin motioned to the others to signal their departure, clearly irritated with the couple.
“Night, Em.” Lance kissed her cheek. “Later, C.”
“Night!” Joey and Chris called over their shoulders.
JC sat down so he was knee to knee with Emily. Taking her hands, he brushed his mouth over her knuckles. “Well, bright-eyes, did I do okay tonight? I thought it went pretty well, don’t you? Did I act like I was ashamed of you?”
“No.” In fact, he had seemed proud and protective.
“Because I’m not. You are a bright, intelligent, loving, sexy, beautiful companion. Who could ask for more?”
“Your friend Justin comes to mind.”
JC realized Justin resisted Emily’s part in JC’s life. He didn’t know how to effect a change, but giving up Emily wasn’t even a remote possibility. He leaned forward for a lingering, sweet kiss. “Let’s go home, bright-eyes.”
“For a glass of wine?”
“Maybe for starters.”
When the limo dropped them at her door, JC only waited until the front door closed before he reclaimed her in his arms. His mouth came down hungrily on hers as he carried her to the bedroom.
“Wine?” Emily asked breathlessly as he laid her on the bed and followed her down.
“It’s not what I’m thirsty for,” he growled against her ear. “You…The taste of you is what I need. Baby, I never want it to be this long again.”
“Actually, I don’t recall agreeing to this.”
He groaned. “Want me to stop?” he demanded. Here he had believed they were okay again. Was she going to continue to punish him?
Emily laughed at his disgusted grimace. Sliding her fingers through his crisp waves of hair, massaging his scalp, she murmured, “Not particularly, sugar britches.”
“Thank God!” JC released his held breath in a whoosh of relief.
“But…”
“But what, Em?”
“This is my best glamour dress, so let’s get it off and on a hanger instead of you crumpling it on the floor. Deal?”
Chuckling, he got off the bed and assisted her in sitting on the edge of the bed. He reached around her to ease the zipper down, letting the dress sag from her body.
She slipped her arms from the holes and wiggled it until it cleared her bottom. She handed it to JC.
“Good God, Em!” The sight of her in a dark blue bra and thong ensemble arrested him. Instead of pantyhose, she legs were encased in lace-topped, thigh high stockings. Placing the dress on a hanger, he hung it in the closet.
“One of us is over-dressed – and it ain’t me,” Emily mused as he came to stand in front of her. Her hands reached out to unfasten his pants. She stroked the bulge at the front of his shorts, making him groan with pleasure.
JC had missed this – not just the sex but also the very open and real intimacy they shared. He pulled off his shirt, not caring where it landed as he tossed it away. “Better?”
Emily tugged his shorts and pants off his lean hips until his eager manhood leapt into sight. “Much.” She caressed and cupped his sacs as her tongue swirled around the purple tip.
He closed his eyes as he enjoyed her ministrations. His baby was so good at pleasuring him, he thought. A moan escaped him when she took him into her mouth. “Baby, that’s so good…Yeah, like that…” As he got closer to release, he unconsciously began to thrust his hips forward. “Em…Oh, God, baby!…Em!” he shouted as he emptied himself down her throat.
For a moment, she rested her head against his flat stomach. She felt his hands come down to stroke her silky hair in a way that made her feel cherished.
“You’re so giving, bright-eyes,” he told her softly. “Any guy would be lucky to be loved by you.”
Lifting her head, she met his gaze. “I don’t love just any guy, Josh,” she stated. “I love you.”
It was the first time she had said the words. JC’s heart thumped mightily in his chest as he smiled down at her. “I love you, Emily.”
She scooted back on the bed. “Help me undress?”
“With pleasure.” Ridding himself of the rest of his clothes, he moved to the bed. “Lay back and I’ll take care of you.” Urging her to the pillows, he arranged her legs so he could lie between them. Reaching around, he released her bra and discarded it. As he caressed her breasts, he kissed her deeply, lingering to taste all of her sweet mouth. “Did you miss me bright-eyes?”
“Yes.”
“Did you miss my kisses…my touch?…”
“Oh, yes…”
He stripped her hose away, running his mouth over her thighs. Finally, he pulled her thong off. He saw she was already dewy and swollen. “Did you miss my tongue where you like it most?” he asked just before he stroked his tongue along her outer petals.
“Yes!” she gasped.
JC continued pleasing her until she went taut.
“Josh!” she cried as she flooded against his mouth.
He moved up her body, entering her in a slow glide. “Baby, I want to love you all night,” he whispered in her ear as he pumped into her repeatedly.
“Don’t you need to be up early tomorrow – for your flight?” she asked weakly.
“Nope.” Lowering his head, he teased first one breast then the other until she was squirming, preparing for her next release into bliss. “Ready to come with me, bright-eyes?” he demanded as her body went tight.
“Oh, yes, please…I – ah!”
Thrusting once more, he followed her into rapture.
Panting, he rested his forehead against her shoulder. “I really missed you, Em.”
“I missed you, too, sugar britches.” Emily smoothed the damp curls from his forehead.
“I don’t want this to happen again, baby – please.”
“I can’t promise anything like that, Josh. I’m only human.”
“Don’t shut me out. Let’s talk about whatever it is. I’m willing to do anything to keep you in my life.”
“Anything?” she asked slyly, teasing him.
“Damn near anything,” he amended.
Rolling to her side, he settled her in his arms.
“Josh, what do you mean you don’t have to get up to catch your flight tomorrow?” Lance had told her it was an early flight.
“I told you I was taking you with me, to see a show. Don’t you have a lot to do?”
“Basically see if Alyssa will take Rory and pick up my mail. I can do most of my work on my laptop.”
“Then we can take a later flight.”
“You really want me to come with you?”
“Hell yeah! And if you want to take Rory, I’ll charter a flight.”
She shook her head. “If you’re around, I can get you to pick up things I drop,” she taunted.
“I’m yours to command.”
“Oh, goodie! My own private slave boy!”
JC laughed. He had missed this, too – her sense of fun. “Your wish is my command, master.”
“Go get my chair, you moron. When will you learn?” she asked impishly.
“As soon as you aren’t so damned sexy,” he answered good-naturedly. He rose to retrieve her chair.
“Looks good to me, Chasez,” Emily muttered as she admired his retreating backside. And he accused her of being sexy? She was a rank amateur next to him!
“Hey, Rory,” JC greeted the dog lying on the sofa. “I know. I take your spot on the bed. We’ll just have to get a bigger bed.”
JC fumbled for his cellphone when it chimed early the next morning. “…’Lo…” he muttered sleepily.
“I take it you aren’t flying out with the rest of us.” Justin’s irritated voice came over the connection.
“No, I’m gonna fly with Emily.”
“Man, you’re gonna drag her across the country? She can’t be that good a f—“
“Shut up,” JC snapped. “What I do or don’t do, who I love is none of your business.”
“You can’t love—“
“Can’t I?”
“You’ll have to take care of her—“
“I’ll see you in Orlando, Justin.” JC punched ‘end’ to close the connection.
“He doesn’t like me,” Emily whispered softly.
JC turned to see Emily’s big blue eyes gazing at him, full of tears and sadness. He kissed the tears away. “He doesn’t have to. You and I love each other – that’s all that matters.
“Are you very sure?”
“That I love you? Uh-huh. Positive.”
“No, that it doesn’t matter.”
“It’s like Alyssa. Eventually she came around.” He kissed her temple. “Bright-eyes, I have you back in my life. That’s what I need.”
“Need?”
“Yeah, like the air I breathe.”
“That’s a little dramatic, don’t you think?”
“No, it’s not.” Cupping her face between both hands, he made certain she could read the truth in his eyes. “Ask Lance. I couldn’t focus. When I’m missing you, all I can think about is you.”
“And when you know I’ll be there?”
“It calms me somehow. It balances me. My world comes together. I can’t explain it, Em. It just is.”
Emily touched his cheek. “I don’t know, Josh…“
Turning his face into her hand, he nuzzled the palm. “What don’t you know?”
She shook her head. “I guess I should call Alyssa. How many days will I be gone?”
“Can I keep you a week?” he asked hopefully.
“What in the world would I do in Orlando for a week?”
Grinning, he wiggled his eyebrows. Her reply was to roll her eyes.
More seriously, he said, “Just be with me, baby. Let’s spend some real quality alone time together.”
“Take me to Disney World?” Her eyes were round like an excited child. “I’ve never been to Disney World.”
“Sure, if that’s what you want. We’ll do it.”
“Josh?” She put her arms around his neck to urge him closer.
“Yeah?”
“I love you,” she whispered just before her lips met his.
Closing his eyes, JC let her words wash over him. It was so great to hear, knowing the feeling was mutual. “I’ll never get tired of hearing that, Emily.”
“I’d better call Lis.”
JC reached for the bedside telephone and handed it to her.
“Is somebody eager?”
“I’m not going to pretend I’m not.”
Punching in her sister’s number, Emily waited for a moment. “Hiya, Lis! Got a favor to ask…I have an eager guy here…That be him! Anyway, he wants to whisk me off to Orlando for a week…That depends on whether you feel like taking Rory while I’m gone.” She giggled. “If I need something, I’ll make him fetch.”
JC panted like an eager puppy, then teasingly started to lick her. The teasing ended when he started nibbling her neck.
“You will?” Emily asked a little breathless. “Sure…Two hours? Okay…Thanks! Bye!”
JC replaced the phone after she rang off. “She’ll do it?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Great, baby!”
“Josh?”
“Yeah?”
“We have two hours before she gets here.”
“Don’t you need to pack?”
“Not a lot.”
“Josh?”
“Mmm?”
“Make love to me,” Emily commanded huskily.
“My pleasure.”
“And mine.”