God Must Have Spent (A Little More Time On You)

Last Fight

“Josh, it was wonderful!” Emily gushed when JC came off stage, wiping his face on a towel.

He grinned down at her. “Glad you enjoyed it, bright-eyes.”

“Now, I know why there isn’t an ounce of fat on you,” she giggled.

Chuckling, he leaned down. His smile grew tender as she reached up for him. When she smoothed his damp hair, the sweet look she gave him made him want to sweep her into his arms and kiss the breath out of her. Instead, he kissed her softly.

“I gotta shower, Em.” Straightening, he moved behind her chair to guide her through the chaos that was backstage. “Then a limo will take us home.”

“You could shower at home – or take a bath,” she suggested naughtily.

He could learn to love baths with Emily in the tub with him. “Not this time, Em.”

“You going to the after party?” Lance asked as he fell in step with them.

“Hadn’t planned on it, “ JC answered quietly.

“It’s the last of the tour…” Lance trailed off his words when JC shifted his eyes to Emily. “Hey, it’s cool.”

Emily tilted her head back to look at JC. “Why aren’t you going?”

“Emily…”

“Because of me? Joshua Chasez—“

“Emily Westerfield, don’t nag!” JC teased, hoping to forestall an argument.

Taking a different approach, she looked to a shame-faced Lance. “Until I came along, did he go to these parties?”

“Emily…” Lance shifted uncomfortably, wishing he hadn’t spoke at all.

“The truth. Yes or no. Very simple.”

“Yes,” Lance answered just above a whisper.

“I thought as much.” Emily looked away.

JC wheeled her into his dressing room and closed the door.

Emily moved away, keeping her back to him. “I’ll catch a flight home tomorrow morning,” she announced dully.

“What? No!”

“Not your decision to make.”

“Baby, please, I—“

“Dammit, Josh! I can’t be part of your life if you do this crap. If you stop doing what you’ve always done before, then I don’t fit.” She spun the chair to face him. “You are ashamed of me.”

“No! That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?”

He went to kneel in front of her. “I have several reasons. The first and most important one is the fact I’d rather be alone with you than anywhere else. I enjoy your company.”

“And?…”

“I didn’t think you’d enjoy the crowd and the smoke.”

“I’d do it for you.”

“You don’t have to. I’m willing to forgo it.”

“And if I want to go?”

“You don’t.” He rose to his feet. “I’ll go take a quick shower, then we’ll go home.”

When JC stepped out of the shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist. He still was in turmoil. He truly hadn’t settled the issue with Emily and he needed to. The stubborn, little minx.

“Emily…” Leaving the bathroom, he found her gone. “Emily!”

Looking out the door, he saw no trace of her. Spotting Lonnie, he asked, “Have you seen Emily?”

“She asked Justin to help her get a car.”

“Did she say where she was headed?”

“Home. I figured she was going to your place, because she didn’t want to go to the party.”

She had said home – JC feared she meant Los Angeles.

Emily was grateful she had left most of her belongings downstairs. While she waited on a taxi, she grabbed her bag. Thank goodness, she hadn’t brought Rory! She was leaving behind her toiletry bag and her heart. With a final sad sigh, put the key on the foyer table and left JC’s house.

“Emily!” JC called frantically when he entered the house. When he heard nothing, he knew she was gone. Spotting the key on the hall table, he realized she was truly gone. “Dammit, Em, not again…”

Emily purchased a magazine for the wait. How dare a plane leave on time for once? She’d missed it by mere minutes!

JC spotted Emily in the near empty waiting area. With her back to him, she didn’t see him coming. “Miss your flight?” he asked quietly.

Emily gasped, dropping her magazine as she twisted to see him.

He sat in one of the molded plastic chairs and pulled her over so they were knee to knee. “I don’t understand why this is such a big deal, baby.”

“It’s simple enough.”

“Explain it to me.”

“How can I know I fit in your lifestyle if you alter it to convenience me? The whole idea was to prove I could be in your life. If you suddenly change the way you do things, everyone will say it’s because of ‘his crippled girlfriend’. I don’t want that.” She sighed tiredly. “I will always be the girl in a chair’.”

”I never treat you that way.”

“Don’t you? Have other girls gone to these parties with you?”

“Well…yeah…”

“See?”

“I wasn’t crazy in love with any of them.”

“The perception is still the same. ‘Poor JC, his girlfriend is a cripple so he can’t party’.”

“We’ll go to the damn party then.”

“No. You go. I’m going home.”

“No.”

“My baggage is checked and ready to be loaded. I have my ticket. I’m heading home.”

“You’re staying here with me.”

“And I’d do that exactly why?”

“Because I love you and you love me.”

“I’m not sure that’s enough.”

“It is. Baby, I’m bound to make mistakes. I’m human. But nobody’ll love you like I do.”

Emily’s flight was called.

“My clothes—“

“I’ll get you anything you need. Just stay. Please.”

“Josh…”

”Bright-eyes, please. Don’t we deserve a chance?”

”I just don’t know anymore.”

She was still talking. JC saw that as a good sign. He leaned forward to lead her in a bone-melting kiss. At her whimper of surrender, he pulled her out of her chair, on to his lap. “I’m sorry if I messed up.” Each word was punctuated with a kiss. “But I love you and I want to make you happy. I want us to work.”

“Then don’t treat me like I’m delicate. If I was, I never would have survived those accidents.”

“I know you’re tough, but you’re my sweet baby, too.” He buried his face in her soft hair, nuzzling her neck.

Emily’s flight was called again; his arms tightened around her.

With a sigh of surrender, she said, “I’ll have to call Alyssa tomorrow morning and ask her to pick up my bag at the airport.”

“Thanks, Em.”

“Am I dressed for the party?” She was in her tee-shit and jeans.

“Am I?” He had thrown on jeans and a wife beater when he had found her gone. “There is no dress code.” He set her in her chair and rose to his feet. “We can put in an appearance, but I don’t want to stay to long.”

“Why not?”

“The simple truth, Em? I’m not exactly party animal material. I’d rather go to bed a little earlier than stay up all night and feel like shit in the morning.”

Emily grabbed her large tote that housed her purse and laptop.

“Ready?” JC moved behind her chair. At her nod, he wheeled her towards the exit.

This had been too close a call!

“Emily!” Lance called in greeting when he spotted the couple at the party.

“Hi, Lance.”

“I see JC changed his mind about coming after all.”

JC smiled at Emily. “My baby can be very persuasive when she wants to be.”

“I just bet.”

“So, what you like to drink, bright-eyes?” JC asked.

“What are you having?”

He shrugged. “A glass of wine?”

“Sounds lovely.”

“Lance, can you entertain Emily while I get her drink?”

“Sure.” Lance smiled broadly. “May be I can steal her away.”

“You can try.” JC moved away through the crush of people.

“So, he caught you,” Lance remarked.

“Just.”

“He really is wild about you, Em. And he’s gonna make mistakes. You aren’t the regular girl he goes for.”

She tapped the arms of her chair. “Obviously.”

“No, I mean, JC has the bad habit of picking girls that want something from him.”

“I do, too.”

Lance shook his head. “You want his time – you want him. Not the notoriety of dating ‘someone’ or any of the things he could afford to buy you. That’s a huge difference.”

A glass of wine appeared over her shoulder before lips touched her ear. “For my baby.”

Emily shivered a little at JC’s warm breath against her skin. “Thank you.”

“Later.” Lance saluted them with his glass as he strolled into the crowd.

“What were you discussing?” JC asked.

“You. What else?”

“What about me?”

“He was pleading your case.”

“Was he successful?”

“He gave me something to think about.” Emily took a sip of wine as she looked about the room. Most of the people, she didn’t recognize – and had no idea who they were or what connection they had to JC and the tour. “Don’t you want to mingle?”

“Not particularly.”

“Why not?”

“Because I told you I’m not really into noisy, smoky parties. I leave that for the other guys.” He guided her chair to an empty loveseat. “Hold this.” Handing her his wine, he waited until each glass was secure, then he set the brakes on her chair. He lifted her carefully, then proceeded to sit down with her on his lap. He kept one arm along her back for support; the other hand he used to smooth her hair and caress her face as he gazed lovingly into her eyes.

“Uh…Josh…the wine…” she murmured, entranced by the hot look in his eyes.

Laying an arm across her waist, he told her, “Give me a sip.”

Emily lifted a glass to his lips, trying not to spill. When a dropped escaped the corner of his mouth, she leaned forward to lick it away.

JC groaned at the blatantly sensual gesture. He’d have a raging hard-on by the time all the wine was gone. “I’d better do that myself,” he mumbled, taking his glass.

“Chicken,” she taunted.

“Keep that up and they’ll wonder why you’re bouncing up and down on my lap,” he muttered.

Emily giggled. It was a sweet. Carefree sound. He grinned at her, enjoying her girlishness.

They continued to drink their wine. Eventually, she relaxed enough to rest her head on his shoulder. It had been a long, roller coaster day.

“Bright-eyes, I think it’s about time to go home,” JC suggested.

“But you haven’t seen much of anyone.”

“I don’t really need to.” He drained his glass, noticing she’d barely touched hers. “Want to finish your wine?”

“Not really.”

Taking the glass from her hand, he set it on a side table with his. “Let’s go.”

It was their misfortune to run into Justin on the way out.

“I thought I got rid of you,” he said to Emily.

“So, did I,” she responded.

“Next time, don’t ask my help unless you’re gonna follow through.”

“There isn’t going to be a next time,” JC told him.

“She’s playing you, man. Can’t you see that? She pulls away and that makes you hold on all the tighter.”

Emily supposed it did look that way, so she said nothing in retaliation.

“See? She doesn’t deny it!” Justin smirked in triumph.

“You’re wrong, Timberlake,” Emily stated quietly. “But I can see where you’d get that impression.”

Resting a hand on her shoulder, JC murmured, “Even if he was right, it wouldn’t change the way I feel.”

“Man, you are so—“

“Watch it!” Emily warned in a growl. “My threat still stands.”

With a disgusted grunt, Justin walked away.

JC was helping her into his car when Emily asked, “Josh, do you think I’m playing games?”

“You can be frustrating as hell, but, no, I never thought I was being played.” He slid beneath the steering wheel and started the car. They had been driving for some time when he said, “I wish I knew how to make you feel more secure.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible,” she sighed unhappily. “It isn’t until you do something because of my chair that I get that way.”

JC steered the car to the curb and set it in park. He unfastened his seatbelt, then hers, so they could meet in the middle. Putting an arm about her shoulder, he tilted her chin up, making her meet his gaze. “That’s the part we need to work on. It makes you feel insecure and pisses you off – but for me, I’m saying I love you enough to make the small changes in my life.” He offered a sad smile. “Here I am making this gesture to say ‘I love you’ and you reject it. You’re not the only one being hurt by this, Emily.”

Emily had never thought of it from his point of view. She was being self-centered, thinking her feelings were all that mattered! “I’m sorry, Josh. I never thought of it that way before.”

“I think we need to work more on communication and compromise.”

“I guess we do. I’ve been selfish.”

“It’s probably a reflex action. You are so independent…you’re probably one of the most high-spirited people I’ve ever know. I can imagine before the accident, you were unstoppable. Your sense of self and pride take hits when people make assumptions because of your chair. But that’s not me, bright-eyes.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” She kissed him softly. “I’ll try to do better.”

“We’ll both try.”

“I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but I got hot-headed.” She laughed at whatever the other person said. “My bag is in LA and I’m in Orlando.” She laughed again. “Because it was homesick. Why else?…I got my back up and decided to come home. Josh got there in time to stop me.”

JC was surprised she hadn’t added his part in the dispute.

“Can you, please, get my bag?…Thanks. I appreciate it…No, I’m staying…Naked?…Mmm…I don’t think so – or I won’t be allowed out.”

“Damn straight,” JC muttered.

Emily smiled at him. “Prince Charming woke up. I’ll talk to you later. Bye!” Emily rang off and set her cellphone on the nightstand. “Morning,” she said as she crossed her arms on JC’s chest.

He rearranged her legs, so they were aligned on top of his. “Morning, bright-eyes.”

“I thought you might sleep all day.”

“Not a chance.”

“Why not?”

“You in bed with me.”

Leaning in, she dropped kisses all over his face until his hands took her head, guiding her lips to his. The kiss deepened and grew hungry. Rolling, he put her on her back. She moaned as he released her head to grasp her hips, grinding sensuously into her.

Finally, she tore her mouth away. “Sometimes, I wake up horny – and sometimes, I let him sleep!” she teased.

JC laughed at that. “Guess you were going to let him sleep, huh?”

“And I guess he had other ideas.” Emily stroked the tumble of curls from his forehead. “Good morning, horny,” she said softly.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m not gonna jump your bones. I just love the feel of our bodies together like this.”

She places delicate kisses on each eyelid. “I know.”

He was glad she seemed to understand. He could have a hard-on twenty-four/seven and it didn’t mean he had to do anything about it but enjoy the feel of her.

“So…what are today’s plans? Disney World?” she asked.

“Today is ‘just us’ day.”

“Just us?”

“Once we get you some clothes, we’re gonna shut out the rest of the world and it’ll be ‘just us’.”

“I think I’ll like that.”

“I know I will.”

“Baby?”

“Yeah, Em?”

“How am I gonna shop?”

“I’ll have a couple of places bring some clothes over.”

“I just need some jeans, tee-shirts and under things – and I don’t need fancy labels.”

“Let me worry about that.”

“Hopefully, they’ll take travelers checks—“

“No way. I’m getting them for you.”

“But it was my hot temper that cause my clothes to be a continent away.”

“Just let me do this, okay?”

Gazing into his earnest, blue eyes, she nodded. “Okay, I guess so.”

”Thanks, baby.”

Three pairs of jeans, one pair of shorts, three tee-shirts, one tank-top and assorted under garments comprised Emily’s new wardrobe.

“You sure that’s enough, Em?” JC asked when he prepared to pay the bill.

She nodded. “I even have an extra set.”

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” JC told the salesperson.

“Thank you for calling us,” Mr. Chasez.”

As soon as the woman left, Emily giggled, “Mr. Chasez.”

He grinned down at her. “It’s my name.”

“I know, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone call you that before.”

JC sat on the sofa and pulled her chair close. “Can we talk about your becoming Mrs. Chasez?”

“I’m in no rush.”

“Why not?”

“Because what we have is so wonderful the way it is right now.” Her voice had a husky, seductive quality to it.

Hooking his hands under her arms, he lifted her astride his thighs. His thorough kiss left her breathless and squirming against his crotch. “Baby?…”

“Oh, yes, Josh!”

Sliding his hands beneath her shirt, he caressed the silky flesh of her back and ribs. Emily wasn’t one for wearing a bra most of the time – and he was glad of it! He groaned when her mouth trailed along his neck, taking nips as she went. When she found the throbbing pulse above his lion medallion, she sucked at it, making him slump back in pleasure.

“Sugar britches,” she whispered against his ear, “I want you inside me so much…”

Galvanized into action, JC tugged her shirt over her head and dropped it to the floor. Cupping each breast, he teased and sucked each one as she held his head.

“You’re so good to me…No woman has ever had a more fantastic lover…”

Lifting his head, he met her eyes. “Because I’m crazy in love with you, Em,” he told her, his voice rough with desire. “I’ll never get enough of loving you.”

“Take off your shirt. I want to feel you.”

Doing as she commanded, JC felt slim fingers work the button fly of his jeans open.

“I love how big you are,” she purred as she stroked the hardening bulge at the front of his shorts. “I feel totally possessed by you.”

“And with you being so small and tight, I feel claimed by you.”

“Josh, please, now!’

“You wanna ride?”

She shook her head. “I just want you in me.”

JC laid her back on the cushions, then swept away her remaining clothes. Shoving his jeans and underwear down, he kicked them away before moving between her slender thighs. Teasing her, he ran the purple head of his manhood along her wet petals.

“Josh!” she whimpered.

“Want this, baby?” he taunted.

“Yes!”

“Then take it.”

Emily reached down to guide him into her. Arching her back, she urged him deep. “Ah!” she cried out softly.

“Damn, you feel so good!” Not being able to hold back any longer, he began thrusting hungrily into her slick, tight heat.

“Oh, yes!…Yes, Josh!…”

“Em, you make me lose it.”

She reached up to stroke his hair back from his temples. “Then lose it. I love it when you go wild.”

Putting his hands beneath her hips, he lifted her into his piston-like thrusts. “Feel it, baby? Feel every inch?”

“Oh, yes!”

“Gonna come with me? We’ll take that wild ride together.”

“Yes…oh, yes, Josh!…”

He felt her tighten around him, ready to fly. “A little more…And…Damn!” He went over the edge into rapture.

“Josh!” she cried out as she helplessly followed where he led.

The breath was snatched from their lungs as they tumbled together into white-hot bliss.

“Wow!” JC grinned down at her.

“Really wow,” she giggled.

“Miss Westerfield, I do believe you are the best lover in the world,” he panted.

“I thought you were. Mr. Chasez,” she teased.

His soft, lingering kiss removed all the humor. “Because we belong together.” He nuzzled her neck, placing soft kisses on her flesh.

“Sugar britches, round two is either the bathtub or the bed.”

“Have a preference?”

“Mmm…not particularly…” She whimpered when his fingers found her. “Josh!”

“I’m still hard.”

“I know.” How could she not when he was still part of her?

JC bent his head to tease her taut little breasts until her hips were pushing restlessly up at him. “Round two. Right here.”

“Okay…” she agreed breathlessly.

“Yep. And lucky you get to ride instead of walk,” he teased with a grin.

“If you get too tired, you can sit in my lap,” she taunted back.

“You’re on!” he said, knowing he’d never do it. “What do you want to see first?”

“All of it!”

JC chuckled at her girlish enthusiasm. “I don’t think that’s quite possible.”

“I love water rides and roller coasters and—“

“Whoa!” He shook his head. He could only hope their children would have their mother’s gusto for life. “We should save the water rides for last – or we’ll have to go around wet and steamy the rest of the day.”

“Okay!” she pronounced happily. “Everything!”

Emily’s total, youthful enjoyment of everything the park had to offer surprised JC. He hadn’t realized how much energy she had. A couple of times, he had looked down to find her gone – something had caught her eye and she had taken off in another direction. When he scolded her, she giggled and poked her tongue out at him impishly. He tried to frown and stay serious, finding it impossible in the face of her bright smile.

The water ride was the last stop of the day. JC seated Emily in front of him. He sat with his arms around her waist and his legs securing hers.

“You realize being in the front, you’ll be drenched.”

“Uh-huh.”

”You want to get soaking wet?”

“That’s the fun part, silly!”

“You asked for it,” he warned.

She squealed and giggled as the water crashed over them repeatedly.

Soaking wet, JC stepped out of the ride at the end. He turned to reach for Emily. She looked like a drowned ragamuffin, but she had a huge smile on her face.

“Again?” she asked hopefully.

“Again?”

“Please, Josh. Please?”

He shook his head in wonderment.

“No?” She pouted prettily.

Smiling down patiently, he lifted her from the ride. When the park attendant brought her chair forward, JC shook his head. “She wants to go again.”

Thankfully the line was short and they didn’t have too long to wait.

“Thank you, sugar britches.” Emily beamed.

“You know, Em, I didn’t expect you to be this way.”

“What way?”

“Like a bright-eyed five year old.”

“Is that bad?”

“No, it’s pretty fantastic. I guess I take this place for granted. You make it new again.”

“I was kind of a daredevil.”

“I just bet you were.” And it had to be hard for her to be confined to a wheelchair most of the time.

“I surfed, went rock-climbing, bungee-jumping, sky-diving—“

“Whoa! I’m amazed you didn’t land in a chair earlier.”

“I was always careful – and I knew what I was doing.”

“You amaze me, bright-eyes.”

Tightening her arms around his neck, Emily nuzzled his jaw. “You’re the amazing one, Josh. When you look at me you see a whole woman.”

“You are a whole woman.”

“But most people see a woman in a chair.”

“Practically since the moment I saw you, you were a woman I wanted to know, chair or not.”

“I wonder what it would have been like if you hadn’t made that first move.”

“I wouldn’t be as happy as I am.”

“Are you sure?”

“You bring a whole new dimension to my life, Emily.”

She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder.

“This is the last ride. You’re getting tired.” He could scarcely believe she was finally winding down!

“Okay. Thank you for a wonderful day.”

“We’ll have lots of wonderful days, baby.”

“I know we will.”

“I have to get back to my computer – and Rory needs to be worked.”

“I love having you here. When can you come to stay forever?”

“Josh, you live on both coasts…”

“Guess, I’ll be spending more time in LA.” He stroked her hair, enjoying the silky feel of it. “I don’t want to be without you for too long.”

“I like you being around,” she admitted quietly.

“My sweet baby girl…” His arms tightened around her. “I’ll only be a day, two at the most.”

“I’ll be there when you get back. I’m not going anywhere else.” She reached up to give him a soft kiss. “Good-night, Josh.”

“Night, Em.”