Growing Closer
“Maybe we should stop for the night,” Amelia suggested when the fury of the storm made itself known inside JC’s home studio.
JC nodded and began to shut the equipment down. When he finished, he took her hand and led her down the hall.
There was a blinding flash of lightning followed directly by a crash of thunder, then the house went dark.
“Just great,” JC muttered.
“Flashlight?”
“In the foyer.” Feeling his way along the wall, he came to the small table in the front hall. In the drawer he found a flashlight. “Not scared of the dark, are you, Ami?”
“No. Are you?”
He chuckled. “Nope.”
With the slender beam of light, he led her to the living room. “Might as well get comfortable.” He settled on the sofa and pulled her down beside him. He switched off the light to save batteries. “Could be a long night.”
Amelia snuggled against him, her head on his shoulder. “I don’t mind.”
“Me neither.” JC put his arms around her. In fact, he rather liked the idea he had nothing more to do than hold her.
Listening to the strong beat of his heart, she was comforted. “Should I go home?”
“I don’t want you driving in this.” He rubbed his face in her silky hair. When they were alone, she had taken to leaving it down. He loved the feel of it. “And you’d probably get home to a dark apartment.”
Noticing the way he was playing in her hair, she teased, “I was thinking about getting a butch.”
He had to swallow his immediate protest. “Your head, baby.”
“Think you’d still love me bald?”
“Yeah, I would.”
“You sure?”
“Uh-huh.”
“But you’d prefer I leave it alone.”
“To be honest, yes, I would, but it’s your head.”
When she had teased Nick about the subject, he’d gotten angry and demanded she leave it long. She had never truly considered a short bob. “I was only teasing.”
“It’s entirely up to you,” he repeated his sentiment.
“Do you mind when I tease?”
“No, Ami.”
“Some guys don’t like it much.”
“I think you must’ve gotten hooked up with some spoiled boys, Ami. If a guy is secure in who he is, then he shouldn’t have issues like that.”
“Are you sure you aren’t just extra special?”
JC chuckled at that. “I’m just a regular guy.” He felt her shift and a moment later her mouth brushed his.
“I think you’re pretty spectacular.”
“You, too, baby.”
“Josh?” Her breath whispered over his lips. She remained within easy kissing distance.
“Yeah?” He moved his head closer.
“Am I going to stay all night?”
“If the power stays out.”
“Got a tee-shirt I can borrow?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“And a spare bedroom?”
Like he wanted her any place but his bed! “The one Tyler uses.”
“Okay.” She closed the distance for a soft, sweet kiss. “And, some day, we won’t need two beds.”
“Some day, brown-eyes.” He realized they weren’t that far yet. But she was a temptation. His desire was tempered by compassion. She’d been through a lot in her young life – making his life seem almost charmed in comparison.
“Josh?”
“Yeah.”
I’m not ready for anything else, but I wouldn’t mind sharing a bed with you.”
What a sweet confession! “I won’t lie to you, Ami. I do want you and I’ll probably get a hard-on the size of the Washington Monument, but that doesn’t mean I can’t control myself. If you want to sleep in my bed, I want you there.”
“According to all your bios, you like to sleep. Want to go to bed now? We could cuddle there.”
“What sweet torture that would be! “You sure, baby?”
“I trust you.”
He bussed her forehead. His little Ami was all the sweetness and innocence in the world – despite everything life had thrown at her. “I even have an unused toothbrush you can have.”
“Keep that around for other girls who stay over?”
“No, Ami. Believe it or not, there hasn’t been that many.” He could feel her smile against his neck.
“I believe you, Josh.”
So, with arm around her waist and the flashlight in the other hand, JC led her to the master bedroom. He located the other flashlight in his bedside stand and handed it to her. In his bureau, he found a plain tee-shirt for her to sleep in, then he walked her to the master bath. He located a toothbrush for her. “I’ll change my clothes while you’re in here.”
Amelia nodded.
He couldn’t resist; she looked so small and sweet and vulnerable. He brushed his lips over hers. She brought every male chromosome in his body to the fore: lust, protectiveness, desire... "Ami..." he whispered as she lifted herself on her toes for more – and he gave more, until they were both panting.
“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” he muttered.
“I trust you. You wouldn’t hurt me.”
“No, I wouldn’t, baby.” Leaving her arms, he quit the room and shut the door between them. For a moment he leaned back against the door, reining himself in. He couldn’t remember wanting anything as badly as he wanted to share a bed with Amelia as lovers.
JC had turned down the bed and dressed himself in a tee-shirt and light cotton pants when Amelia came out. She was swimming in his shirt – and he wasn’t exactly a big man.
He gave her a lopsided grin. “You look cute.”
She held out the extra fabric. “Not my usual.”
“What is your usual?”
“Depends. If I’m on the road, sharing a room – pajamas. If I’m not sharing a room or at home – a gown.”
JC figured she was probably a feminine girl through and through. “Sexy gowns?”
She shook her head. “I don’t really think of myself as sexy.”
“Why not?”
“Why not? Look at me.”
“I am, Ami.” And it was all he could do not to grab her and kiss the life out of her!
“Like you said ‘cute’. I’m thin, flat-chested, short—“
He went up to her, putting his hands on her waist to pull her to him. “You’re soft in all the right places. You’ve got all that gorgeous hair – and that is a major turn on for me.” He dragged his lips along her neck. “You got the sweetest, softest skin. You always smell good. You’ve got all that confidence in yourself – another turn on.”
“Josh?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Are you deliberately trying to seduce me or does it just come naturally?” she asked breathlessly.
He lifted his head to gaze down at her into her dark eyes, now smoky with desire. “I’m not trying to seduce you.”
“But you are.”
He released her reluctantly. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “I’m just not ready. But isn’t it good to know it won’t take much?” She smiled up at him.
Laughing, he said, “Ami, you amaze me.”
“Let’s go to bed!” She threw herself on the mattress like a child ready to play, not sleep.
JC jumped in, tickling her ribs lightly.
“No!” she protested. “Josh, stop!”
He did stop, his mouth coming down on hers. Surprisingly, he felt her tongue caressing his, her arms twining around his neck. Now, he was the one being seduced! Tearing his lips from hers, he gasped for air. “Damn, Ami!”
Amelia shoved at his shoulders, effectively removing him from on top of her. “Serves you right.
I hate being tickled.”
He looked at her in the meager light, she looked like a hissing kitten, tiny and defiant. When he laughed at the adorable picture she made, she punched his shoulder. “Ow!”
He schooled his face into a neutral expression. “I won’t laugh. I’ll have to remember you don’t like being tickled.”
“Tickling is a way people get the upper hand.”
Luckily, it was dim enough she couldn’t read his eyes. He wondered how many people had gotten the ‘upper hand’ with tiny Amelia. Had Carter used such tactics? JC reached for her. “I’m sorry, brown-eyes. Now, that I know, I won’t do it.”
She snuggled against him. “I don’t mean to be a grouch—“
“It’s okay, baby.”
“Turn off the flashlights and we’ll get some sleep,” she suggested.
Once he did that, he tucked her against him once more.” Night, Ami.”
“Night.”
They lie in the dark, listening to the storm rage outside.
“Josh?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you.”
No fancy speeches. No lead-in to an announcement. Just a simple statement.
“Thanks, baby. I love you, too.”
Amelia gave a soft sigh, then a moment later, her even breathing signaled she was asleep.
JC nuzzled his face in her sweet-smelling hair and followed her into slumber.
JC woke to the sound of the ringing telephone. It took him a moment to disengage from his bedmate. “Hello.”
“’C, you know where Amelia is?” came Justin’s worried voice.
JC yawned. “Yeah. I didn’t want her driving in the storm last night, so she stayed here. The electricity went out.” He was half surprised when Justin made no sly comment about Amelia spending the night.
“Yeah, it was wicked. Went out here, too.”
“Why were you looking for Amelia?”
“Wade was having an early rehearsal for the girls. He didn’t care if she showed or not, but Amelia’s been pretty adamant about him not showing favoritism.”
“Guess, I’ll wake her and let her know. Thanks.”
“Later.”
Ringing off, JC leaned over the sleeping Amelia and brushed a soft kiss on her lips. “Time to wake up, baby girl.”
She stretched a little but didn’t open her eyes. “Do I hafta?”
“’Fraid so.” He kissed her lightly again.
“Mmm…You’re nice to wake up to.” She opened her eyes slowly and smiled. “You look all rumpled and sexy, like an unmade bed.”
He chuckled and grinned down at her. “You say the sweetest things.”
Amelia lifted her mouth to his. “I mean them, too.”
JC closed the distances between their lips; it was a tender, lingering kiss to start their day.
Amelia sighed happily when he lifted his head. “What time is it?”
“Time for you to get moving if you want to make the rehearsal with Wade and the girls.”
“Holy moly! Is it that late?” She tossed the covers back, letting him get an enticing glance of her slender thighs.
JC checked his watch. “Nine-thirty-four.”
“Cripes!” She dashed to the bathroom. “I’m only gonna be an hour late!” She came out of the bathroom, still yanking on her shirt and her pants weren’t fastened.
“Whoa, baby,” JC laughed when he caught glimpses of bare skin as she pulled herself together. Too bad he couldn’t bring her back to bed and explore that little body thoroughly.
“I’ll have to grab a change of clothes there.” She hoped from one foot to the to the other, putting on her shoes.
He rose from the bed to stand in front of her. “You know, Wade doesn’t think you need this practice.”
“I don’t want favoritism.” She flashed him a teasing smile. “It’s probably bad enough I sleep with you.”
“Yeah, but sleep is all we got.”
Halting her rush, she went to him. “I like sleeping with you,” she confessed. “It was more comfortable than I thought it would be.” Amelia gave him a soft kiss. “Love you, baby. See you later?”
Her sweet, no frills approach to love was refreshing and endearing.
“I’ll be there in about an hour and a half.”
With one more kiss, she moved away.”
“Breakfast, Ami.”
“I’ll grab something on the way!”
JC let her go, knowing there would so many more mornings like this to come – It was a beautiful day!
“Listen to this.” JC placed a CD in front of Johnny as he sat as his desk.
“I helped Amelia re-do her demo. If any company turns her down, they don’t know talent.”
“JC—“
“She deserves to be heard.”
“I know she’s a fantastic talent. I’m hoping we can groom her while she’s with you guys.”
“Maybe we can bring her out for a song during our sets.”
“And maybe a duet with you?” Johnny suggested. “I am willing to bet your voices would blend perfectly.”
“She’s got a song on there that would make a good duet.” It would spotlight her as a songwriter as well as a singer.
Johnny nodded. He had another concern. “Are you ready for what happens when her career takes off? Because it will, you know.”
JC would never be ready for that, to lose Amelia. “I don’t want to hold her back. I won’t. She’s too good to do back-up the rest of her life.”
“You see how Justin and Britney struggled with it.”
“Amelia and I are older.”
“But Amelia didn’t grow up in the business like you three.”
“Don’t ask me questions I can’t answer, Johnny. Amelia deserves her shot. I intend to see that she gets it. It’s her dream. I want it to come true.”
Johnny lifted the CD. “I’ll give this a listen. Thanks for helping her. I hope your parents realize what kind of man they raised. You do them proud.”
Was it a foregone conclusion he would lose Amelia, if she got a record deal? JC would lose her before he got a chance to love her.
JC waited for Amelia to answer her hotel room door. He hadn’t been able to spend anytime with her in the last two days – with her on one bus and him on another, he was calling her cellphone just to talk to her! He was desperate for just a few minutes with her.
Instead of Amelia, it was Karrie, her roommate and his dance partner who answered the door.
“Hey, JC.”
“Hey, Karrie. Is Amelia here?”
“She’s taking a shower. I’m going out for a while. Come on in and wait for her.”
“Thanks.” A few minutes alone with Amelia was more that he could have hoped for.
Grabbing her bag, Karrie headed out the door. “Later.”
JC nodded. Once alone, he stretched out on Amelia’s bed. He guessed it was hers, because everything was so neat on that side of the room. Karrie tended to leave things scattered about, he had discovered. He imagined his girl would be a neat-nik.
Amelia came out of the bathroom in her baby-doll pajamas. She was combing her hair, preparing to braid it for the night.
“Leave it down this once, baby.”
She swung around to see JC on her bed. “Josh, you scared the wits out of me!” she scolded.
“Interesting prospect.”
“I don’t think you want a stupid girl.”
“Nope. I want you.” He held out his arms to her. “Come here and let’s cuddle.”
She looked down at her little pajamas. She was covered, but the thin cotton material was little barrier between her and JC – since he wore shorts and a tank-top. “Is that wise?”
“I won’t jump you,” he promised.
“That’s not what I’m afraid of.” She had become more likely to jump him!
“Come here, Ami.” His voice was low and hypnotic. “Baby, we go days without each other. We need to grab what time we can.”
Amelia joined him, snuggling against him, her head on his chest. “I like this.”
“What?”
“Just listening to your heart beat. It’s comforting somehow.”
“I know what you mean. It’s like we don’t need words. We just let our hearts do the talking.”
She gave a little sigh and closed her eyes. The soothing feel of JC’s hand rubbing her back lulled her to sleep after a time.
JC smile when he realized she had dozed off. That spoke of her trust of him. If he were any sort of gentleman, he’d slip from beneath her and let her sleep alone. Well, he must not be a gentleman – he’d be damned if he’d miss an opportunity to hold Amelia, whether she was awake or not! He wrapped his arms about her, settling her tightly against him. Resting his chin in her hair, he closed his eyes.
“Aren’t they cute?” Karrie whispered when she opened the hotel room door to find her roommate and JC snuggled together, asleep. Joey had met her in the hallway looking for JC – and both of them knew you found JC wherever Amelia was!
It was obvious sleep had over-taken the couple before any hanky-panky had taken place. They were still clothed and on top of the bedspread.
“Only JC would finally get his girl alone in bed and fall asleep on her,” Joey mused quietly.
“She’s one of those ‘sleep anywhere’ types, too.”
Karrie went to the side of the bed where Amelia slept and gave her shoulder a gentle shake. “Wake up, kid.”
Amelia opened her eyes. “What?” she asked groggily.
“Time to send your boyfriend to his own bed.”
Joey shook JC less gently. “C’mon, Romeo. Rise and shine.”
JC’s eyes blinked open. “Huh?”
“You only have to wake up enough to walk to your bed – unless you want to switch with Karrie.”
JC would be willing, but Amelia wasn’t ready for that yet. “I musta fallen asleep.”
Amelia extracted herself from JC’s hold and stood up. “We’re an exciting couple.” She grinned down at the man on her bed.
“That we are, baby.” JC scooted off the bed, laughing.
Joey headed for the door to let himself out. “My work here is done.”
Karrie headed for the bathroom. “I’m gonna take my makeup off.”
Amelia went to JC, wrapping her arms around his lean waist. “I guess that’s our cue to say good-night.”
JC smoothed his hands down the length of her hair. “Thanks for not being embarrassed.”
“What should I be embarrassed about?”
“Sleeping with me.”
She shrugged. “That’s all we did.”
“Damn,” he swore softly, making her giggle. “Some day, Ami…”
”Not tonight.” Taking his hand, she led him to the door. Opening it, she leaned against it to hold it open. “Good-night, handsome.”
His mouth crashed down on hers. He didn’t wait for the kiss to build slowly. Hungrily, he explored her mouth and mated his tongue to hers, all the while his hands slid under her top, caressing the satiny flesh of her back until she moaned into his mouth.
“Ami…” he whispered against her ear before he sucked the lobe. When she started to sink from weak knees, he hauled her up against his body. He knew she could feel how starved he was for her.
“Let her up for air, JC” Karrie called laughingly from the bathroom.
Gazing down into Amelia’s dark eyes, he saw they were dazed with desire and slightly confused. She wasn’t used to this kind of behavior from him. He offered her a tender smile, then bussed her forehead. “Forgive me, baby. I got carried away, but you taste so sweet…” Some night soon, she would share his bed in love and acting like a sex-starved caveman was not the way to gain her trust! “I love you, Ami.”
Amelia smiled. Pulling from his arms, she backed into the room. “I love you, Josh. Good-night.” The she let the door close between them.
JC groaned. He didn’t know whether he had helped or hindered his campaign by losing his head!