“Okay so why did you take another room?” she asked, trying the tactic of ignorance.
John looked back at her for a moment. “I figured it was time,” he said calmly.
“Time for what?” she asked.
“To go back to business,” he told her.
“Business?” she repeated.
“Yeah, being your bodyguard,” he replied.
“You’ve been doing that all along, John,” she said. She knew what he meant, but she wanted him to spell it out.
He took a long drag off his cigarette, nodding slowly. “But now that’s all I’m going to be doing,” he said.
“So, you’re leaving me?” she asked, her voice breaking on the last word.
“No,” he said, “I’ll still make sure you’re safe, Cassandra.”
“You know what I mean,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.
Again, he looked at her for a long moment. “And you know what I mean,” he said, his voice so even she couldn’t believe this was happening.
“John, no …” Cassie said, looking defeated suddenly as all the fight went out of her.
He nodded calmly, his dark eyes staring right back into hers.
“Because of what happened with BJ?” she asked.
He took a long drink of his beer and set it aside. “It’s apparent your desires lie in another direction,” he said, his tone so businesslike it flabbergasted Cassie.
“John, nothing happened,” she said stridently.
“That doesn’t mean you didn’t want it to, Cassandra,” John said, his tone controlled.
“I don’t want him, John, I’ve never wanted him like that. You have to believe that.”
“Do I?” he asked.
“Damn it!” she cried. “Don’t do this to me, John, please?”
“I’m not doing anything, Cassandra,” he replied mildly.
“Don’t fucking call me that!” she yelled. “When you call me that I know you’re putting me in my place.”
He didn’t reply, he merely looked back at her calmly.
“Damn it, John, please,” she said, her eyes pleading with him. “Please believe me, nothing happened with BJ. He even said that if you wanted to go kick his ass to make things right you were welcome to.”
That garnered a half grin from John. His look said he’d like to do just that.
“Please, John,” Cassie said, seeing the slightest opening and grabbing for it.
She climbed onto the bed, crawling on all fours to his side, her eyes on his.
“I need you,” she said softly, putting her forehead down on his shoulder, not wanting to see the look in his eyes. “I love you,” she said then, sounding so defeated by the idea.
She felt his muscles flex under her head, then his index finger under her chin raised her face to his.
“It’s about damned time you admitted it,” he said, his tone still even, but his eyes sparkling.
“Admitted it?” she asked, “You knew?”
“That you love me?” John asked.
She nodded.
“Yeah, Cass, I knew, probably before you did,” he told her.
“But when? How?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Somewhere between the hospital and Santa Barbara,” he said.
“Then why were you ready to leave me?” she asked, sitting back on her haunches but staying close to him.
“Because I don’t share, babe,” he replied simply.
“Nothing happened, John,” she said.
“See that nothing does, or I’ll deck him, and we’ll be done,” John replied, the look in his eyes backing up what he said.
Cassie grinned as she leaned in and kissed him, then wrapped her arms around his neck as she moved to his lap, deepening the kiss. His arms went around her, as he turned things around, kissing her deeply and sliding his hands over her, his lips moving over hers with a hunger he hadn’t exhibited before. It had Cassie panting in moments. He moved her off his lap and laid her on her back as he kissed her, moving down to her neck, nipping at it with his teeth making her cry out loud. It was totally different than he’d ever been with her.
His hands deftly removed the shorts and top she wore, tossing them aside carelessly. His lips moved over her skin, kissing, sucking, licking, and every so often biting. He put his hands on her hips and moved her up the bed.
She cried out when his hands smoothed over the inside of her bare thighs, pressing them apart as his mouth moved over her. Within moments she was gasping with her hands in his hair, holding his head right where it was. She cried out as she felt waves of pleasure wash over her. She felt him grin against her as her orgasm subsided. She was still shaking from the strength of it when his mouth closed over her again, sucking at her, his hands touching her in ways he never had, and making her beg him for anything. She felt the strength in his hands as he pressed her thighs apart, but it only excited her more. She had come two more times before me moved back up her body, his hands grasping and caressing her as he did.
When their lips met, she showed him the hunger he’d ignited, and it served to excite him more. She pulled at his clothes, dragging his shirt off, and touching his chest, wanting to excite him like he’d done her. Her body was aching to feel him inside her, but she wanted to revel in this new side of him. Finally she was seeing what she was sure was the real John Machiavelli sexually. She pulled at his belt then opened the button on his black jeans. He obliged by rolling to her side to shed his clothes. As he moved closer to her again, she reached down to grasp him, making him groan out loud.
He kissed her neck and then sucked at it greedily as she continued to touch him. The sensations she caused pushed her to the very edge, and she needed him desperately. She pulled at him to get him over her and moaned as he bit her neck just hard enough to excite her more.
He lifted his head to look down at her. She felt the trickle of blood from where he’d been sucking her skin. She took his head and it back to her neck.
“Take my blood, John …” she whispered huskily, knowing she was probably going to freak him out, but she was desperate to feel that close to him right then.
She screamed when he did exactly as she asked, sliding his tongue over her skin, then kissing her deeply as he moved over and into her. It was the most incredible orgasm she’d ever experienced, and it was timed perfectly with his, doubling the sensations.
Afterwards, she was sure she was going to pass out from the ecstasy she was in. She held on to him tight, not wanting him to move. She enjoyed the feel of him over her and inside her still. She could feel his pulse inside her, and it felt so good.
“I love you,” she whispered to him, her voice awed.
He kissed her neck, where his head rested as he breathed heavily trying to recover his own composure.
“I love you too, Cassie,” he said, his lips right next to her ear.
“You do?” she asked, shocked.
He lifted his head and looked down at her. “Why do you think I’m still here?”
She looked at him, clearly mystified.
“I didn’t have to stay with you as closely once the tour started. I could have taken my own room, like I was about to, but I wanted to be in here with you,” he told her.
“Oh my God,” she said, stunned beyond words. “John!” she exclaimed as she really realized what he’d been doing.
He laughed, his chest rumbling pleasantly as he did. His lips silenced any more of her protests, kissing her into breathlessness again.
“I love you, little one,” he told her, his eyes looking down into hers. “There’s nothing I won’t do for you.”
Cassie stared back at him. She had never been one to believe in love, or romantic notions, but hearing what he had just said had just given her the most incredible feeling. She had no idea how to express how she felt, but she knew that there was never going to be a man like this again in her life. He was it.
The look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. He rolled onto his side and pulled her i
nto his arms. She snuggled against him, feeling like she was going to explode with the happiness he’d just bestowed on her. She was sure she’d never be the same again.
♫ Five ♫
Shannon was sitting in her living room when her phone rang. She picked it up, expecting it to be just another telemarketer. She was stunned when Tommy said, “Hi!”
“Tommy?” she queried not sure what else to say.
“Hey there, how are you?” he asked.
“I’m good, um,” she stammered, “how’s the tour going?”
“It’s going,” he replied simply. “Just watched BJ and Devlin try to kill each other a couple of hours ago …”
“Oh, God, why?” Shannon asked.
“My guess? The stress of the road. It sure isn’t like they tell ya, you know?”
Shannon detected a strange note to his voice. “Tommy, are you okay?”
“Slightly inebriated at this point,” Tommy said, grinning, “but yeah, I’m okay.”
“Well, that’s good to hear,” she said, still surprised that he was calling her out of the blue.
“So how are you doing?” he asked then.
“Oh, I’m okay,” she said, smiling. “My best friend from Wisconsin is coming here in a few days.”
“Really? Cool,” Tommy said, happy to be talking to someone in the outside world for a while. “You two going to do anything special while she’s there?”
“Well, shopping like it’s going out of style,” Shannon said, laughing softly, “and we’re going to Vegas for my birthday, I think.”
“When’s your birthday?” Tommy asked.
“Next Wednesday,” she said, grinning.
“Finally going to be legal, huh?” he asked.
“Oh yeah, that’s it,” she said, laughing.
“Very cool,” Tommy said. “So what else have you been up to?”
“Well, finishing voice overs for the movie,” she said.
“Any chance you’ll be in New York in a month or so?” Tommy asked, sitting forward, leaning on the table.
“Uh, not that I know of, why?”
“Well, we’ll be in New York for the tour on August tenth,” Tommy said mildly.
“Okay …” Shannon said, unsure of why he was telling her this.
“I was hoping you might come to the show.”
“I, wow … um …” Shannon stammered.
“I mean, unless it’s not your thing,” Tommy said, starting to backtrack.
“No, I do, I mean, I’ve listed to the CD Cassie slipped me, you sound like a really great guitarist. I’ve listened to it a lot. You guys are really great. I love every song,” Shannon told him.
“You’re just saying that,” Tommy said, grinning.
“Why would I say that?” Shannon asked him.
“I don’t know, to make me feel good?” he offered.
“Nah, I don’t have to resort to cheap tactics to make you feel good,” she said, laughing.
“Just good expensive ones?” he asked, laughing too.
“You got it, buddy!” she said then.
“So, will you come to the New York show?” he asked then.
Shannon was surprised by the change in subject.
“Yeah, if I can get a ticket,” she said. “I hear they’re selling like hot cakes right now.”
“You’re not serious,” Tommy said.
“Yeah, Tommy, they’re selling out everywhere,” she told him.
“No, I meant about needing a ticket, Shan. You aren’t going to sit in the audience, you’re gonna be back stage with us,” he told her as if she was crazy to think anything else.
“Oh,” she said, truly surprised. “Well, when you put that way,” she said, smiling shyly now, “how could I say no?”
“I’m hoping you can’t,” he said, smiling at his end.
“Then I’ll be there,” she said, trying to tamp down on the excitement she was feeling.
He really sounded like he wanted her there, but she didn’t want to read too much into it, he was a rock star after all. Part of her figured that Cassie had told him to invite her. Her ego agreed with that.
“Great,” Tommy said, “I’ll make sure to leave your name with security. Then again, you’d probably just flirt your way backstage,” he said, grinning.
“Oh yeah,” she said, rolling her eyes, “with all my feminine wiles.”
“No, just your pretty green eyes,” he said, smiling.
“Look who’s the flirt now,” Shannon said, blushing at her end.
“Me?” Tommy said, sounding shocked. “I would never presume to flirt with a movie star.”
“Oh, so you won’t flirt with, like, Julia Roberts or Reese Witherspoon?” she said.
“Or you,” he said.
“I’m not a movie star,” she said.
“You were in a movie, right?” he said.
“Well, yeah,” she said.
“And you co-starred in that movie, right?” he asked.
“Um, yeah,” she said, grinning now.
“So that would make you a movie star,” he said.
“No,” she said, “that would make me a movie co-star.”
“So literal,” he said, smiling.
“That’s me,” she said.
He laughed then, feeling better than he had before he’d called. They talked for a few more minutes, then she could sense that he was getting tired.
“So, you going to bed soon?” she asked.
“Yeah, soon,” he said.
“Well, try to get some sleep,” she said, “you sound really beat.”
“I’ll head upstairs soon,” he told her.
“Good,” she said, smiling. “And, uh …” she said then, hesitating.
“Uh, what?” he asked, canting his head to the side on his end of the phone.
“You can call me anytime, you know,” she said, grimacing at how stupid that sounded.
“And you can call me anytime too, you know,” he replied.
“I know …” she said, feeling shy suddenly.
“So, the next call is up to you,” he said, a smile in his voice
“Kind of like ‘tag you’re it’?” she said giggling.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said.
“Okay, well, I’ll wait till it’s appropriate for me to call you, you know that cooling off period,” she said melodramatically.
“No you won’t, you’re busy shopping and cavorting around LA,” he said.
“In my new convertible, no less,” she said.
“New convertible?” he asked.
“Yes, I bought a Mustang GT.”
“Very cool,” he said.
“I love it,” she said. “I just had to have a sports car.”
“Well, you picked a good one.”
“Thanks.”
They hung up a few minutes later. Shannon proceeded to tell her friend Tammy about the entire conversation. Tammy was thrilled for her. It turned out to be a good night after all.
A few days later Shannon stared in wonder at the flowers. The delivery guy stood waiting for her to come out of her trance.
“Ma’am?” he queried. “I need your signature here, please?”
“What? Oh! I’m sorry!” Shannon said, laughing at herself.
She signed the paper on the clipboard, and then he handed her the huge vase.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling warmly at the man.
“Who are they from?” Tammy asked, staring in awe.
The flowers were incredible. There were two dozen long stemmed sterling silver roses. They were the most vibrant silver-purple she’d ever seen. With shaking hands, she opened the card. The writing on the card was neat, and the words grabbed her heart and wouldn’t let go.
“Happy Birthday, Shanni. Waiting for New York impatiently. I’ll owe you a birthday dinner. Can’t wait to see you, Tommy.”
“Oh my God,” Shannon said, putting her hand to her mouth as she looked at the flowers again.
“Give me that
!” Tammy said, grabbing the card. “Oh, they’re from him …” she said, smiling.
Shannon looked at her friend, her eyes widening excitedly. They both screamed in unison and grabbed each other up in a hug, jumping up and down.
“We have got to find you the most killer outfit for New York, Shan,” Tammy said. “I want you to totally blow this guy away.”
“Yeah,” Shannon said, smiling, “but the coolest thing of all, is he still thinks I’m dowdy little Shannon, and he wants to see me anyway.”
“And you’re going to knock his socks off,” Tammy said, grinning.
Shannon sighed. “I’d sure like to,” she said.
Later that morning, Shannon went to her bedroom and called Tommy. He answered his cell phone on the third ring.
“Yello,” he said.
“Actually, I prefer purple,” Shannon said, laying back on her bed and smiling.
“Good guess on my part then, huh?” he said, grinning on his end.
“They’re beautiful, Tommy, thank you so much,” she said, her voice reflecting the huge smile on her face.
“Happy birthday, Shanni,” he said.
“It is now,” she said, laughing softly.
“All because you got flowers?” he asked.
“Because I got flowers from a very sweet man,” she qualified.
“Damn, someone else sent you flowers too?”
“Shut up, you brat, you know I was talking about you,” she said, laughing.
Tommy laughed too, sitting back on the bus and glancing out the window.
“So, what are you going to do for your birthday tonight?” he asked her.
“I don’t know,” she said, shrugging. “I have costume fittings later today. I always feel fat after that, so I’ll probably go to the gym and work my ass off for like ten hours.”
“Hey, I’d like you to still have an ass when I get to New York, okay?” he said.
“Oh yeah?” she said, smiling.
“Yeah,” he replied, “besides, there’s nothing wrong with your ass, or anything else on you for that matter. Just tell those costume people to get into the twenty-first century where women have curves instead of right angles.”
Shannon laughed outright at that. “You are the sweetest man,” she said, wanting to say so much more.
“No, I’m a man who can’t stand stick women,” he told her.
In the Fast Lane Page 13
