Chapter 21

His hands trailed along her back teasingly as he deepened the kiss. He wanted more, needed more and had to have it now.

Her mind was reeling. The kisses by the lake were nothing compared to this mind blowing onslaught. He was fire and his kiss was burning her. She couldn't get close enough; she leaned back into the couch pulling him with her, totally lost in the moment.

His hands slid down along her sides before slipping up under her shirt. God her skin was like satin, and so warm fingers slid up to brush against her curve of her breast, even as his lips sealed to hers and the kiss grew deeper.

She sighed deeply at his touch and let her hands glide over his shoulders before snaking down to timidly slide under his shirt. His skin was rock hard and hot to her touch. The crisp hair tickled roughly thru her fingers and she let out a soft moan.

His fingers flicked over the tiny nubs teasing them to attention as his head tilted and nuzzled into the valley. He shifted slightly, pushing himself between her slender legs, his hips arching slightly as he rubbed himself against the seam of her jeans.

What was she doing? She needed to tell him to stop. When he pressed against her, her hips took on a life of their own and shifted up seeking the pressure again and again. He was so fast! So hot! Where did the calm cool man she'd spent the last two days with go? In a move so out of synch with what she was thinking, she lifted his shirt over his head, tugging it off.

He leaned back pulling her up into a seated position as her slight hands pulled at his shirt. Damn if she wasn't the hottest little thing. She hadn't shown any interest, had even said no, but now? Fuck yeah... his hands slid along her sides and pulled at her top, he needed to feel her skin beneath him.

She was in a daze as she felt his hands tugging her shirt. She gave no resistance, she let him. Only once she was bare did she give any indication of her nerves. She moved her arms to cover herself her eyes lowered. She closed her eyes and willed her arms down. This was no time to get shy.

He felt the motion and opened his eyes to see her covering herself, then frown as her arms stiffly moved. Interesting. His head tilted as he ran his nose along the lace of her bra, inhaling deep to catch her scent. His hands moved to thread through her hair as he tipped her head back, his tongue slowly tracing along her neck. God she tasted like innocence and sin wrapped into one package..

She shivered and whimpered, god he was killing her. How long had she dreamed of passion. She’d wished for it wanted to feel it, to lose herself in it. But Mel said..... it was better to not know. You couldn't crave what you didn't understand. Wait for love, wait for Mr. Right. To hell with Mel, Jon was Mr. Right Now.....

Oh god... out here? on the couch?? She couldn't..... She'd die if she were caught. What to do what to do..... "Jon..." She whispered thru the fuzz in her head.

He thrust against her, damn he wanted the pants off, he wanted her naked, His lips slid over the tip of her breast as he sucked in, tasting woman, skin and silk. He was lost in her taste, her voice buzzing somewhere near the back of his mind, and only the pushing of her hands got his attention. "Huh, wha?"

She looked a little scared her voice trembled, "We can't.... here...." She tried to steady her breathing and her thoughts, "my... my room...."

He nuzzled back into her skin, his fingers slipping just under the waist of her jeans. "No one here but us babe."

Oh heavens he had to stop touching her... she couldn't think. "They might... come back.....I," she hushed, unable to really thing as her hands smoothed his hair

"Man when he takes off it could be days before he returns babe." And if he'd convinced the nun to go, the nun wasn't coming back anytime soon either. Dammit quit thinking of them. His hips flexed again as he rubbed, shit he was so fuckin' hard, his dick was gonna come through the zipper without it being unzipped. He needed.. shit.. he needed. His hands slid to her jeans, as he flicked at the button.

It was so out of control, she couldn’t stop him if she tried. He scared her and excited her all at once but she didn't know what he wanted her to do, she wanted to touch him, kiss him all over, just like he was doing to her, but she didn't have the courage. She didn't want him to stop but she needed him to slow down, to let her think a little.

She nibbled at his adam’s apple her tongue flicking out to taste the musky man scent of him "Please Jon...." She whispered "I.. I've never....." she hesitated so afraid he'd go cold again "I've never done this before"

It didn’t mean what he thought it meant, did it? He slowed, as he pulled up, his forehead resting on hers as he almost groaned. "Never what?"

"I've never......" God why couldn't she just say the damn words. "I'm.....a virgin" she whispered then closed her eyes.

Everything inside of him screeched to a halt. She'd never been with a guy? Shit. She ....oh hell. He leaned back again and pulled her up, shifted so that she was on his lap and sighed, God dammit he was ready to plow into her and she waited until then? He couldn't just take her now, shit, fuck, damn.

Pulling her in closer he tightened his arms around her. "Don't do this just cuz of my name babe. Its worth more than that."

She stiffened a bit. Is that what he thought? She pulled away and simply sat on his lap, wearing nothing but her unfastened jeans and bra and watched his face. Was he angry? disappointed? Maybe he wanted someone who knew how the hell to please him.

A million words rushed thru her mind but what fell from her lips surprised even her "yeah uh..... What is your name?"

He watched the emotions filter through those expressive brown eyes and smiled. "if ya only knew how bad I wanted ya, but babe, a first time ain’t for a couch. It's special at least for Girls Ok?” Fuck what was he saying, it was special period. “God if you hadn't told me I coulda ruined it for ya."

He cleared his mind and pulled her back into a hug, needing to comfort, hell still needing to feel her against his skin. "Well hell what do you think my name is?"

"Satan"

He snorted, "Well maybe, but I'm still Jon, ok John with an H Bongiovi with a GI.. Don’t ask me why they wanted to Americanize it.. but it worked for us right?" He watched the emotions filter through those expressive brown eyes and smiled. "if ya only knew how bad I wanted ya, but babe, a first time ain’t for a couch.” Naah just the back seat of a car. He held back a snort as his brain skipped onto the difference in fifteen and twenty-five and was glad that she’d settled on an intelligent man instead of doing it like her sister had. Fuck if it hadn’t ruined her nearly it seemed.

Shannon took a deep breath. How could she make him understand? The last few days had shown her, he was nothing like the image in her mind, the flat glossiness of the poster on her wall. He'd shown her patience, loyalty, compassion, and even understanding. She pulled away from his arms still perched in his lap "I know what your name is Jon Bon Jovi.... but honestly I could care less if you called yourself John Fucking Doe... it wouldn't make me ...... want you any less." She felt her face turn a flaming red. My god had she just said those words to him?

His hand lifted to cup her chin as he pulled her lips closer. "well Good, I want you too." He shifted slightly and turned her around pulling her back to his chest as his hands slid along her sides to her his and over the tops of her thighs, “I’ll teach you so much about pleasure, but at the right pace. Trust me Lil Bit?”

His touch along with his words raised the hairs on her arms and she shivered with pleasure. She nodded "Ok."

His smile grew as his hands moved to undo the zipper, it would be light touches and brushes, a slow easy moment of learning the about heat and need. As the zipper lowered one hand slid in, beyond the waist of a pair of what had to be thongs, his finger delving in lightly against the heat that was her. With the lightest touch ever he brushed against the core of her and groaned.

She bit her lip and felt her hands clench before she let her head fall back against him with a sigh. Gone were the nerves, in it's place was a slow burning coming from her center, coming from his hands

His fingers slid through the heat, through the growing wetness and dipped in lightly teasing her inner walls, his free hand slipping up to tilt her head, allowing his lips access to her throat.

A small moan escaped her lips and her hips moved in rhythm with his hand a few more strokes and she whimpered his name. It slipped from her lips like a caress

He nibbled along her throat as he slipped a second finger inside, his thumb brushing against her hood, only to press and hold down without moving. "That's right precious, relax...."

Shannon purred, his touch was so gentle, his fingers stretching her his thumb tantalizing her in ways she never imagined possible. Her breath quickened as she felt the heat rising. Her body tensed with each caress until her world shattered. She quivered uncontrollably as wave after wave washed over her his name falling from her lips in a whispered cadence.

"That's my girl." His hand slid deeper, his fingers moving just slightly as he helped her ride that first moment of many, his free arm banding tightly around her waist.

Chatper 20

He'd watched her pace through Friday night, kept her occupied enough to keep her from calling the police all through Saturday, but it was Sunday now and he was running out of ideas on how to keep his best friend out of jail for kidnapping.

Obviously Mel had never taken a vacation or even spent a night away from home and suddenly she was a no show for going on three days. Hell it wasn’t even typical Sambora, he’d always love them and move on. For the briefest moment he let the thought of Mel doing him bodily harm free only to reign it back in. Hell, if he'd been brought up by anyone other than John and Carol Bongiovi he'd of probably given up before now, hell for that matter it was going to take all that raising to NOT beat the living shit out of the both of them.

It had taken the better part of the night, and every bit of charm he had, to get her drunk to the point of comatose, just so she'd sleep. He turned to watch her, still passed out on the couch no less, and frowned. She was too sweet to be worrying like this, too sweet to be fretting a suddenly insane older sister. As she grumbled and started to shift he knew she'd be waking. Closing his eyes for a moment he braced himself for what Sunday would bring.

She woke slowly her head pounding, her stomach turning and groaned. God what the hell was wrong with her. She shifted, meaning to turn on her belly and bury her pounding head in her pillow but when her arm snuck under whatever was holding her head it encountered not the softness of feathers she anticipated but rock hard....... was that a thigh???

She snapped her head up and her blurry eyes focused on sexy bright blue ones, staring down at her curiously. It was him... he was still there... all night???

"Oh god..." she groaned

Oh shit she was too pale, she'd had too much. Shifting her to her side he stood quickly and scooped her up and walked to the bathroom. Shit. "Not used to um, drinking alot I take it?"

"Oh lord..." the motion of just his walking was enough to do it...."shit... go away!" She managed to get that one sentence spit out, before she grabbed porcelain and offered the porcelain god the contents of last night’s foray into the bowl.

He bent closer and pulled her hair back nearly turning green himself in the process. He shouldn’t have let her drink so much, dammit all. "Look, It’s a normal thing, ya drink ya hurl, shit happens."

She growled and tried to push his hands away "go'way.. lemme embarrass myself in peace."

He snorted, "I know what it’s like to wash puke outta long curly hair babe." He slid his hand towards the sink and turned the water on, then dumped a rag into the cool water before wringing it out. Leaving the water running, more to cover the heaving sounds than anything he held the rag to her face. "I won't watch ok?" Damn straight he wouldn't, holding hair ok, watching not so ok, he didn’t wanna share the porcelain god with her.

Damn it he was stubborn! Why wouldn't he go away? She gave up she couldn't fight not right then. After a bit, her stomach now empty and her head cleared a bit she leaned back. She reached up and took the damp rag, wiping her face with a sigh. She shut the lid and flushed, her embarrassment shining in her dark eyes. Looking up she gave him a very weak "Thanks."

He bent over, lifted her up and started towards the kitchen. Settling her into a chair he opened the refrigerator and quickly mixed a drink before plunking it down in front of her. "Don’t look just drink."

Never one to listen to an order she looked, "You're fucking insane."

He turned and leaned against the counter, his eyes crinkling into a grin. "Yup."

"Wonderful." She started mumbling as she picked up the offending concoction to drink. "I meet the rock star of my dreams and is he anything like I think?? Helllll no... both him AND his right hand man are certi-fucking-fiable!" She made a face and chugged, trying not to guess what the hell was in the glass.

He straightened and moved to her and leaned in, his lips brushing against her hair. "Welcome to my world, and yeah he might be certifiable, but so is your sis. Me? I'm totally normal."

She sat the glass down and pegged him with a smirk. "Normal my ass," she said as she rose from her seat making her way back to the bathroom. She had to brush the taste out of her mouth.

He watched her sashay to the bathroom and grinned, there was nothing normal about that ass, that ass was munchable, that ass was.. He shook his head and tried to get his mind off of said ass. Moving to the living room he plopped back down on the couch. "So what ya wanna do today?"

"Anything but drink," she called as she tended to her morning rituals. She stripped and started the shower leaving the door open so she could hear him if he asked her anything more. She stepped into the water and let it sluice over her washing away the fatigue and the worry of the night before.

Fuck it she was done worrying.

She quickly finished her shower, brushed her teeth and dressed in clean clothes; then reappeared in the living room still towel drying her hair. She flopped down on the couch and looked him over real good. He still looked hot as hell.. even after a night of gallivanting, partying and dealing with her antics... damn the man to hell anyway.

"You know...." she said as she finger combed her damp curls "You look a lot better in person."

He chuckled slightly, "Camera always adds ten pounds." Damn even after hurling her guts out she could crack a joke? She was something else indeed.

She smirked "depending on where it added it.. it could be a good thing."

He twisted and leaned into her, "Oh it is." he pressed lips to hers, his arms wrapping around her slowly. Shit he'd behaved for two days, he couldn't stand it anymore, he had to have a taste, even if it got him slapped.

Shannon gasped in surprise. HE was so strange. Not in the goofy weird way Richie was but ... still strange... one minute so cool and shielded, the next like someone flipped on a light, or lit a fire. He'd not made one single move since she'd said no in the car. Sure he flirted a bit here and there but other than that nothing, just cool calmness. Now his lips were suddenly on hers again his arms around her. His lips felt so good....but she couldn’t control the gentle laugh that escaped her. "Doesn't take much to get you started does it?" she whispered

He bit down on her ear and smiled. "You've been tormenting me for two days and you say that?"

"Tormenting you?" She gave a sexy little smile. "I've done no such thing....." She slid her arms around his neck, her hands diving gently into his hair. She loved the feel of it. It was so thick, so soft. She placed her head against his chest, it was such a thrill to be this close to him. She could forget worrying, forget her anger.

He tugged her closer, groaning as the diamond hard tips of her breasts teased his chest. "You’re driving me crazy Shannon."

The tone of his voice did something to her. The sound of her name on his lips sent shivers down her spine. Shannon not Lil' Bit , he'd said her name. She raised her head to look at his face. Those burning blue eyes sucked her in. Those lips.. so soft and gentle.... she knew she shouldn't, she was playing with fire but she couldn't resist . She leaned in and brushed her lips against his and without thinking flicked her tongue out.

He yanked her in, that little flick of the tongue told him what he needed, she wanted him. His tongue flashed along the seam of her lips, his groan of happiness vibrating as her mouth opened to his and her taste exploded onto his tongue. She tasted sweet like candy, and almost spicy.

Chapter 19

He felt her slipping, felt her giving in. He wanted to show her what he'd become, in all senses. His hands rose to the buttons on her blouse and deftly undid them all, sliding the cotton down her arms. His lips feathered light kisses down her shoulder then back up.

Her skin, so silky smooth beneath his calloused fingers caused him to shiver. "God Mel, you're so damn beautiful."

She leaned against the door, her eyes heavy lidded as she studied him. She could see the vein in his neck pulsing, as if his blood were racing through him too. The pure maleness of him, the heightened scent of something had her belly tying itself in knots as anticipation warred equally with curiosity. "I... um.. I'm ok I guess."

Her brow flicked upwards, her teeth worrying her lower lip, "I don't get why I’m here though."

"Because I want you here," he whispered against the sensitive skin of her neck.

He picked her up, his hands beneath her knees, bending them to wrap her long legs around his waist, forcing her to hold onto him as he carried her from the door to the bed. He placed her gently on the bed, crawling over her, his full length pressing her body back into the plush pillows, as he started to kiss her again and again.

She whimpered into the kisses, as a strange restlessness built inside of her. She felt like she had to move, but he was holding her down. Her hips bucked up gently as she reached for and held onto his arms.

He groaned softly at the pressure of her hips grinding against him. He rolled to the side, one long leg still holding her pinned. He let his eyes devour her, his hand slid up her bare ribcage and cupped her breast thru the thin lace of her bra.

She trembled slightly as the heat above her moved to the side, her head turning towards him as confused eyes found eyes so dark they were nearly black with need. As his hand cupped the fullness of her breast she arched into the sensation, her brain tumbling over how much it was like, yet not like him.

He watched her face as his thumb circled her nipple, saw her eyes glow that deadly amber color and hastily stripped her of her bra, throwing it behind him before diving head first to the cleft between her breasts. His tongue traced a path from the center to each peak slowly, first one then the other, back and forth, showing each rosy bud his rapt attention.

She squeaked as his tongue drew lazy circles along her skin, a blush creeping into her cheeks at the pure intimacy of the moment. No one had ever seen her this bare; well except for him nearly fourteen years before, but even then her clothes had been more on than off. God what was she doing? She should stop it, she had to stop it.. She..groaned as his tongue flashed along her skin. Ok, she'd stop him in a minute.

As his tongue worked its magic on her breasts his hands found their way to her jeans. He gently rubbed his open palm over the front, first tickling the bare skin of her belly then dragging gentle pressure over her heat and back up again. Every little movement she made, every heavy breath, every little sound drove his want even higher.

She shifted against his hand, her mind faltering at the teasing sensation. God what did she do? Did she touch or stay still? Did she kiss or not? She had no idea, all she knew is each scrape of his lips or tongue, each slight pressure of his palm were driving her into some weird mental zone that allowed no space for what ifs..

She was a sight, his Mel laying there all flushed, blushing like the virgin he knew she wasn't...... She was so damn beautiful, so damn sexy and completely unaware of it. How she'd gone this whole time with no man to show her true passion he would never understand. God men were clueless.... He almost laughed at his own thought but caught his amusement before it bubbled over,

Her only indication to his thoughts was the cheeky grin he flashed her as he made short work of her button and zipper, pushing her jeans down slowly.

She went stock still as his fingers easily made short work of her zipper, and when the denim protecting her begin to slide away she damn near bolted the bed, held still by his hand alone. "I......'

"Hey........ it's ok Mel......" he gently held her down. "I can't fly you to the moon if we don't get rid of these."

Her brow arched, the quip falling from her lips without thought. "I hope you fly better than you drive."

"Baby you have no idea....." he crooned as he felt her relax enough for him to slide her jeans down her legs.

God she was damn near naked, just her panties in between her and this man who had stolen Dork and changed him into some strange mixture of God and nerd. She needed to center and fast, she needed to put him in his place now, but God help her she wasn't sure how. Her eyes slammed closed as she started counting. That always worked, that always helped her calm down. Numbers would do it.. Numbers could help. 1..2...3....her eye cracked open only to encounter a dark visage that was intent upon her very soul. 4....5.....6...

He watched her warring with herself....he’d just about bet she was doing that count to ten thing to gather control. Still the same ole stubborn Mel that's for sure.. All he had to do was get thru that cold exterior.... his leg came back over her and parted her thighs quickly; he rolled himself between them and dipped his head to taste her belly button, his tongue laving the dip.

He hooked his thumbs in the sides of her panties and as his mouth trailed from her stomach down he slowly peeled them down her hips. His breath hovered over the very core of her, the heat of her scent inflaming his senses to the point he had to close his eyes and reign in his urge to dive in.

She mumbled softly, her body running traitor to her thoughts as she continued to count. God that felt good, no.. shit.. can't.. gotta stop .. damn him, what the hell, WHY’S HE down THERE?? 20, 21, 22, .... why wasn't it helping her this time? 23 24 25....

He eyed her from his perch between her thighs She was still fighting him. "Ready to fly Mel?" Not waiting for an answer, he flicked his tongue for a small taste, once... then again.....She was so sweet..... His hands splayed on her thighs and he slowly pressed his tongue against her heat drawing circles as his fingers kneaded her flesh

She couldn't stop the movement of her hips as they moved to meet his lips, couldn't stop the fisting of her hands as they twisted beside her. Hell where'd he learn to do that? That .. Oh God.. count Melanie Jo, count. "Rich....god.. Stop.. I can't.. I don't.. " and when his tongue flicked against the hot hard core of her she stopped breathing for a second, her body refusing to listen to the demands she was making.

He felt her tense, he heard her words and knew she was close. He wouldn't stop, he couldn’t now. He had to show her how it could be, he had to show her how sorry he was.. He had to make her feel him... feel for him....

His hand slid to her heat and his tongue ceased its rhythm only long enough for his mouth to latch onto her bud and suckle gently his finger sliding into her. He plunged it in then back out in perfect time with his mouth naturally sensing the approaching crest.

She couldn't be still, his finger kept moving and teasing her to the point she was nearly sobbing. It felt so familiar, yet so foreign as the memory of his touch blended into a startling moment of clarity. His name fell from her lips as her back arched, and the numbers faded into nothing. All that remained was the feel of those lips and fingers playing over her.

She was in the throes of passion writhing beneath him as he took a moment to quickly rid himself of his clothes.. Coming back to her he towered above her, his face trying to read her thoughts thru her passion glazed eyes. He settled himself between her legs and flexed slightly, rubbing the tip of his cock teasingly over the heart of her. His heart was pounding hard and fast; he wanted to bury himself to the hilt and never come back again.

She sensed the shifting of her body, her eyes opening to him looming over her. Lifting her hand she brushed a knuckle over his cheek, as if to reassure herself he was really there. She knew she needed to do something; it was almost as if he was expecting or looking for something, but she didn't know what.

At her touch he smiled then leaned down to nuzzle her neck before gently kissing her. As his mouth teased her gently he moved himself into position. He pressed into her slowly, savoring every little feeling, her hotness, her wetness, the snug warmth that was her encircling him completely. He'd found heaven again.

Her eyes slammed closed then shot wide open. Jesus that didn't feel like...She squeaked as his gentle motions roared through her system. God help her, Jesus help.. She was going to explode, fly apart, turn to mush, hell she was going to die...

He rolled his hips as he slid all the way home, then set a gentle steady pace. His face was buried in her neck as he nibbled her earlobe and whispered encouraging words to her "Fly with me Mel....thats it...."

She felt her hands move, felt them sliding onto his shoulders, her body beginning to move in some offbeat time with his, and as he nibbled her throat, the first soft moan escaped her, a moan that laid to rest years of doubt and uncertainty, of fear and aloneness, a moan that shouted how Melanie Jo was learning to fly.

"That's it baby," he growled and picked up the pace a notch, one arm going under her knee to raise her leg to his shoulder. He kept time with nature’s pulse over and over bashing any last bit of resistance from her body with each stroke.

She felt it in her toes first, the strangest heat that crept up along her legs and into her very soul. Toes curled and fingers dug in as her brain shattered, her soul melted and the rest of her vanished into some strange heat that had her sobbing his name.

As her body clenched around him he lost control, what little control he still had and grunted with his release. "Oh god... Mel... I," His hands clenched her arms as his orgasm rocked him to the core. He slumped over her, his breathing deep, his mind at a loss for words.

She shivered through the calm, her hands moving to brush his hair back as her head turned into his neck, holding him much like she had fourteen years before, her humor long misplaced rising, "Jesus on a hand-stick, that was no fumble."

His laughter started as a light rumble then gained strength as her words hit him hard. He looked up into her clear amber eyes and smiled. "Welcome back Mellie."

She pressed a kiss to his chin and pulled him closer, her brows waggling, "You’re still a dork, but damn, I think I have to change that definition a bit now."

He laughed and rolled off her pulling her close against him settling her head on his chest "Baby you can call me whatever you want."

Chapter 18

"Don't worry baby I'll protect you, just close your eyes. I'm right here."

She muttered, "Last time you said close your eyes, you dumped ice cream down my shirt."

"I got no ice cream....." He stepped back, downed his drink and sat it on the stage behind her then turned her around to face the musicians playing a hauntingly sad blues riff. He pulled her back against his body put his hands on her hips and whispered again "Close your eyes."

She shuddered once then closed her eyes, her head tilting enough to rest on his chest. "Don't get why you think that will help."

"Just listen Mel." His body started to sway a bit in time with the rhythm. "Let it go...... feel it"

She listened to the slow melody that wound its way into her soul, to the beat of his heart that thudded against her chest, to someone’s husky hum that rose and dipped with the music, and moved to the hands guiding her hips. And as the music faded a single tear slipped down her cheek.

She stilled as the music paused for a moment and tried to will the feeling away. She couldn't start to feel now, she couldn't, yet each brush of the hand, each drawn out chord kept hammering at her, making her remember the things she swore never to remember again.

"That's it." He held her back against him "You feel it? Let it do its job Mel... let it heal you," he said softly

She took a deep breath, lifted the drink and took a huge swallow only to cough as it burned its way down her throat. "Shit that's strong."

"Easy there Darlin'," he winked. "Hey I.." He stopped as he was interrupted by a dark haired man in a suit . He listened to what the man had to say then nodded. "I got a surprise for ya Mel.... you stay right here. Ya hear me?? Don't move...."

She stiffened as he pulled away. He was walking away? He…shit.. He'd forget her again. She knew how music was.. it had taken him away before and this time if it took him away, well she didn't have a way home.

He walked away, towards the stage. After a few minutes he stepped out, dressed from head to toe in black, a borrowed guitar slung over his shoulder. He stepped up to the mic and tapped it once then cleared his throat and said a husky, "Hello."

He strummed a few chords, adjusted a few knobs then said "I didn’t plan on playing tonight but... how can I say no? Music is my mistress...." He searched the crowd for Mel and locked eyes with her. "It sometimes takes ya on a path you're not quite ready for. but uh... anyway, I wanna sing a song I helped Jon write...... and I want you to listen to the words.. Especially you Mel........ they mean a lot to me...."

He counted off "2, 3!" and played a simple intro then opened his mouth to sing in his deep timbre

"I guess this time you're... really leavin'"
"I heard your suitcase say goodbye"

He had written this with his friend? He WROTE music and lyrics? As his fingers teased the strings coaxing sounds so exquisite they hurt, her heart twisted. God. he could PLAY? Her eyes closed as that whiskey rough voice crooned, her heart bottoming out. So much pain, so much hope and all of it mixed.

And as the chorus lengthened and spoke of promises to be there her eyes lifted and her feet took a couple of steps forward. Past and present t-boned in her memory as she watched him on stage. She felt more than saw as the women crowded closer. And for the briefest instant she saw her Dork on stage, heard all the girls tittering and screaming and shrank a little inside. Just as swiftly as the memory rose the next words blew it back into the foggy mists of time.

“I know you know we've had some good times
Now they have their own hiding place
I can promise you tomorrow
But I can't buy back yesterday”

Dear God, he remembered, he remembered and it came out in words written when she wasn't even around. Damn him. Damn Dork for singing a song she instinctively knew was partly her. He hadn't forgotten; he'd hidden in the music like she'd hidden in the boring. God dammit she was gonna kiss him, if she didn’t kill him first.

She lifted her drink and took another huge swallow, thankfully it didn't burn quite so bad going down this time, her feet moving even closer as his words, his song, HIS music whispered into her soul.

Richie never took his eyes off her. Not once. He knew the moment she understood. He saw it in her eyes and he sent a silent thank you heavenward for her finally understanding.

He sang the last chorus his voice full of heart felt emotion

“I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I want to be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
Steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what a love can do
I'll be there for you”

When the song ended, he accepted the applause from the crowd humbly. He handed the guitar back to the man he'd borrowed it from and stepped off the stage. He was immediately surrounded by people praising him, women trying to beguile him and he took it all in stride, thanking everyone as he passed, placing a gentle flirty kiss on first one cheek then another but never once taking his eyes off Mel.

Her heart stopped beating even as she started to smile. He saw her this time. He wouldn't walk past her like he had so many times before. Her heart started up again, its beat hammering against her ribs as he smiled softly.

He reached out and took both her hands in his then leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Whaddya say we get outta here hmmm?"

She stood there her eyes bright, and rambled, "You did learn to.. you.. God you sing?? You never sang, and you write? I mean.. I knew you had stuff inside.. but," She blinked a couple times and tried to calm the racing thoughts. "Get outta here?"

"Yeah outta here," he chuckled a bit and placed one slender finger to her lips. "Shhhhhhh... lets go."

He led her by the hand, stopping once or twice to exchange money for a key and lord knew what else. He punched the key on the elevator pulling her in with him.

She followed behind him, more dazed than anything as the past was washed away by the man here and now. It added up and didn't, he was and he wasn't, God she was so out of her element. "Wha.. where?"

He didn't say another word, simply led her to a room, unlocked the door and motioned her in. He shut it with soft click and flicked on the light.

She stood there nearly afraid to step into the room,. Her eyes skittered around expecting some makeshift motel 6 like room only to be stunned even further. Shit it was nice? It was luxurious, classy, and so not her, hell what if she broke something? "You sure you wanna bring me here? I mean..."

"It's ours for the weekend Mellie."

He removed his Stetson from his head and hung in on the brass coat rack near the door, He was once again in front of her in two strides, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her with years of pent up passion, his tongue merciless, his hold on her tight.

Her head reeled with the force of the kiss, slender hands fisting into his shirt as his lips took and took until she was breathless. What did he want? What the hell was he expecting? Her heart started to hammer as she tried to keep up, tried to figure out what to do or what he wanted, all she knew was that his kiss was destroying her, inch by mental inch.

Chapter 17

They'd been driving nearly thirty minutes when he finally pulled off the highway. He glanced at Mel; she seemed to have fallen asleep. That was good. He could do without her constant ire right then. He slid his eyes to the NY skyline off in the distance. She was going kill him when she realized where they were.

He drove down a dark street and turned off into a side alley. He knew just the place. In Woodbridge there was nothing to do at this hour, but New York never sleeps, especially for someone like him. She didn't know anything about who he was or what he could do. He would show her. He had the world at his feet.

He parked then finally spoke "Hey Mel.... wake up... we’re here."

She muttered softly and shifted in her seat, her eyes slammed shut against the dark. "Go away Shan, if you’re hungry fix it yourself."

"Mel!" he said a bit louder and poked her ribs "Come on girl.. it's time to party!" He opened his door and got out, walking around to pull open her door. He towered over her slumped form and waited for her to move.

Party? She didn't party. Hell he was even invading her sleep now. She should of sold that house and moved to Timbuktu. "Go way Shan, lemme sleep!"

He sighed and reached in to scoop her out. Once in his arms he planted a firm yet gentle kiss on her lips, coaxing her mouth open with his tongue.

She felt the lips on hers and stiffened. Shan didn't kiss her... No one kissed her.. Except.. Her eyes popped open to find herself being carried towards a building. "DORK! what the hell?"

He grinned and sat her down on her own two feet. "There, now your awake.... lemme look at’cha" He first eyed her conservative button up blouse, made a face and reached out to unbutton the top three buttons letting just a slip of white lace bra peek out the top. He then eyed her ever present ponytail. That just wouldn’t do, he wanted his sunburst hair free. He reached around and let it loose tossing the hair tie on the ground and ran his long slender fingers thru the mass till it laid just so. "There... that'll work." He grabbed her hand and took a step toward the door of the massive, if not slightly run down building then stopped. "Shit... just a sec.... don't move..."

He crossed back to his car, unlocking it and reaching into the backseat. He pulled out a well worn black Stetson and with a quick swipe of a hand thru his hair he stuck it on his head then returned to her. "Now I'm ready."

He grabbed up her hand in his and swung open the door to the late night pub.

Her eyes went wide as he readjusted her clothing, her hands inching up to refasten the buttons, stopping when he jammed the hat on his head. That wasn't his little golfer's fishing hat, and damn what it did, made him darker, sleeker, shit it made him dangerous looking. Don’t look Melanie Jo, just fix your shirt. Eyes skittered away as he walked towards her, her fingers valiantly trying to fix what he'd undone. "You threw away my hair clip! Why'd you throw away my... GAAAH!"

He didn’t even answer her just scooted her into the dimly lit place. It was small yet filled with what could only be described as a few of the more hardcore "beautiful people." There were guys jamming on a small stage, the room was filled with strange smelling smoke and the drinks were flowing freely. He waved when he heard more than one person call out, "Hey Sambora!" from across the room. Pushing Mel towards the bar he stepped up behind her, winked at the buxom blonde barkeep and said "The usual Darlin’ one for me.. one for my girl here"

The girl nodded and smiled, her eyes shining as she looked him up and down. She placed two tall glasses filled with vodka on the rocks and a twist of lime in front of him and with a knowing wink in Mel’s direction said "Enjoy."

She looked wide eyed around the room, into the veritable sin pit he'd dragged her into. My god that girl had on scraps for clothes and that guy’s hands were...Was that Judd Nelson? Jesus Christ! There were famous people here! She slammed her eyes closed as the words my girl washed through her and she trembled. She snapped to attention at the barkeeps words and damn near stuttered, "Uhh.. um.. thanks."

She whirled on Richie as his words sank in, the urge to just pop him one shining in her eyes. "YOUR GIRL??? You... God where is this place? IT looks like.. "She lowered her voice, aware suddenly that they were getting a lot of looks. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm showin' you a good time Darlin'." He slipped an arm around her waist and drove her thru the crowd, waving hello to familiar faces as they went. "I have a feelin' it's been a long time since you just cut loose and enjoyed life so... tonight’s the night...." He stopped their journey in front of the stage, closed his eyes and let the sound of the blues wash over him.

She glanced up at him and watched as he got totally lost in the melody. He wanted her to enjoy herself, wanted her to cut loose, but damn if she remembered how. She scanned the small room and stepped closer to his body. Damned if all the women weren't either staring daggers at her or looking at him like they could eat him alive. God they didn't know her, why'd they look like they hated her?

He felt her sidle up to him and smiled. He pulled her close and bent down whispering in her ear "Close your eyes Mel."

She shook her head, her dark blonde locks flying. "Uhh no, someone might stick a knife in my back or something." She did scoot closer to him though; he'd hopefully keep her alive.

Chapter 16

He slid back into the car, two six packs of corona in hand. "Well looks like we have to just sit and drink. Everyplace is closed. Fuck I keep forgetting his hometown rolls up the sidewalks at dark."

She chuckled "Not used to down time huh?"

He shook his head. "Not used to small towns is more like it." He settled the cartons on the floor board, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel. If he stayed alone with her he'd make a play for her, he might be able to sleep at the Sambora’s but he couldn't take her there. "Well there are two choices, the lake or your house."

Shannon thought long and hard, the lake? No way not after earlier, that was just too risky with him. The house? By now they had to be asleep. Right? Sambora had to have gone home and sis in bed like always. She was always early to bed, well except for tonight. She made her decision. "The house."

He nodded. Good call, he didn’t trust himself around this little firecracker. Cranking up her did a quick 180 and headed back to her house. The drive was quick, but not quick enough to stop him from noting how the wind had her hair moving like it was alive, or enjoying the way she just simply leaned back and enjoyed the simple breeze.

Pulling into the driveway he shut off the car and smiled. "Well full circle. Here we are again, wonder what we'll find this time? They're probably fighting again though."

"Hopefully they knocked each other out." She grabbed one of the six packs and got out of the car

Picking up the other carton of beer he slid from the car and moved to her, smiling as they walked up the stairs. "This should be interesting eh?"

"Yeah." She opened the door noted Mel's open bedroom door and called out "Mel?? Richie??"

He looked around curiously noting the silence. "Jesus you don't think they killed each other?"

"It's possible " Shannon crooned wickedly as she grasped a cold bottle fumbling with the top.

"Shit! Don't say that!"

Shannon laughed and walked thru the rooms calling as she went. She ended up back in the living room. The beer bottle still not opened "They ain't here."

His brow arched as he stepped to the door. Poking his head out he looked towards the Sambora's, only to see all lights off and Richie's car missing. "His car is gone."

"Well what the?" she frowned "Where the hell would she go at this time of night? She won’t even run to the store if its dark."

He pulled his head back in and shrugged, "Better question is where the hell did HE go, cuz I bet she's there. Man, he could be anywhere."

"This is not like her, she never does......"Shannon stopped in mid sentence. Nothing Mel did lately made any sense anymore. She felt her anger well up again and had to take it out on something so she shoved the still closed beer bottle into Jon’s hands and snapped "Open the damn thing for me will ya?"

Wow, she was fiesty. He twisted the cap off then muttered, "Fuck I forgot the lemon or lime. You got any?"

"Fresh out," she said cynically as she lifted the bottle to her lips and sucked down half of the bottle in one go. At least it would help calm her a bit. She needed it now that her sister was going crazy.

He sighed, "Look, I dunno what's up, but they probably went somewhere. It’s no big deal she’s a grown lady right? Rich, well he's pretty convincing when he wants to be."

"That was obvious!" She sighed and sat on the couch. After a moments silence she spoke again. "Look I'm sorry... just.... I worry about it... I mean the last few weeks she's been acting so strange.. I worry that maybe ...." She shook her head not wanting to put it into words. Putting it into words would make it real.

He moved to the couch and settled in beside her. "Spit it out, you worry what?"

"She might end up like mom."

"Dead? Naah, Rich will keep her safe babe. He might be a goof, but he treats ladies right." He took a pull of the beer and leaned back. Somehow he didn't think that's what she meant, but he had to reassure her somehow.

"No no.. not dead..... not physically anyway.." She wondered how much she should tell him. Would he even care? She took another long drink, finishing off the beer before he'd even drank half of his first one and motioned to him for another. "See.. after dad died, things were ok, at least that’s what I was told. I was so young I don't really remember a lot of it, but.... things changed. I don’t know how, I don’t know why. Maybe it was when we moved... Mom, she just totally shut off. She tried to keep working, she tried to be there but, she just faded into herself, She died... a long painful death... emotionally painful... I say she died of a broken heart it just took years."

His arm slipped out to wrap around her, pulling her into a comforting hug. "Listen I doubt it’s that. She's just adjusting, like you are right? You said she knew Richie way back when. Seems to me their relationship is kinda complicated, along with his job and such, I wouldn't worry too much, she didn't seem THAT crazy." Hell what was he saying? She seemed crazier. No one ever yelled at the King like that. Jesus, but he had to make her smile, this little frown she had going had to go.

She knew he was trying to make her feel better, but for all his trying it really wasn't working. Relationship? His job? Mel hadn't even known who he was.

Shannon relaxed into the hug for a moment then pulled back to look at him "Fuck it. Enough worryin' bout her, she's grown." She smirked a bit, "I bet ya weren't expecting to get dragged into the twilight zone when ya hopped outta that hot car earlier today hmm?"

He winked, glad to see some semblance of a grin back, even if it was a smirk. "Baby I live in the twilight zone." He leaned forward and grabbed another beer and twisted the cap off before handing it too her. "So why do you think she’s going crazy? I mean yeah she was acting a little left of normal, but most people do."

"Because she's always been just...... normal." She didn’t know how else to explain it.
"I've always been the crazy one." Shannon laughed and took a long pull of her beer again then held it up "See this... she'd never touch the stuff."

He leaned back again his head turning to watch her silently. "Never?"

"Not that I can remember," she grinned. "She don't know what she’s missin'.”

"She hasn't dated, she doesn’t drink, she works all the time, and doesn’t know how to have fun. Sounds to me like she was a walking corpse." Man she sure didn't sound like something Richie would get interested in, he was all about a party, all about having a good time. Hell, no regrets was his motto. Wonder what the hell he ever saw in her?

He pulled her closer, tucking her head into the curve of his chest, It amazed him how well she just fit there. He had to be careful; she was a bit younger than what he normally dated and for all her brashness he sensed a little bit of the innocent there, but fuck if that didn't feel just as nice and totally at odds with all he knew.

She almost purred, the closeness of him invading her senses. His arm around her felt so strong, so comforting. She had to watch it with him. If she let herself get too drawn in she'd forget those little things she coveted called morals. But damn did the feel of solid man chest beneath her cheek feel.... stimulating.

"Who knows.....The way he was teasing her makes me wonder what she would ever see in him." Besides the fact that he's drop dead gorgeous? She unconsciously let her palm flatten against his chest, and shivered as felt his heart beating there.

"Hey no putting down Sambora!" He snorted then started to laugh, "He's pretty damn popular, especially with the.." Ok so not the place to go when he was off with her sister. She didn't need to know his alley cat ways. "I gotta admit, from what little I've witnessed, there has GOT to be some deep seated something those two have, just not sure what. Other than being each other's first, but hell even THAT wouldn't cause that yo-yoing they were doing. He smiled. "I get a feeling we've only seen the top of the mountain Lil Bit."

His words trailed off slowly as the heat of her palm soaked through his shirt, causing reactions he just didn't need to explore right now, at least not until her sister was back in one piece. Shifting slightly, he lifted his hand to capture hers. Pulling it to his lips he kissed the palm and settled their clasped hands beside him. He was here for the duration. She didn't seem to deal well with her sister being gone; he wouldn't leave her alone. Not now.

Chapter 15

She pulled the pillow to her and hugged it hard. How the hell had he gotten her shirt off? Jesus, she never let go like that, not since she was fourteen. And Shannon, she'd seen, God help her she'd seen. Why couldn't she get a handle on all those emotions? Up, Down, Around and around, it was like being on a freaking roller coaster and she didn't do roller coasters. It wasn't who she was anymore.

It still hurt though, how easily he’d moved on. He’d resolved the old feelings and continued on while she'd never resolved it, not really. Thanks to Mom moving and then finally her illness she'd just stuffed it into some deep dark corner of her soul, and all it had taken to open it back up was his stupid silly smile and him calling her metal mouth. Jesus she was insane, there was no doubt about it.

Richie paced in front of her door. Why was he so unsure of himself? Why didn't he just go in there and finish what they'd started? Because it was Mel, that's why. She wasn't just some conquest to add to his collection. She had been his best friend. He'd thought she always would be but he'd screwed that up, somehow... He still didn't know what went so wrong. It had been so perfect! He couldn't have wished for a better first experience. He'd been flyin' high for days afterward, so had she. For the first time in their topsy turvy relationship everything had been perfect.

It didn't last.. not at all...as soon as he'd joined his first band she'd changed, or so he thought. Now he wasn’t so sure. All he knew was that it had went downhill from there, they grew further and further apart and the usually innocent verbal jabs turned icy. Soon after that she'd moved, no explanation, nothing, just gone from his life. It had hurt but he'd never let anyone know how deep. [i]It’s why I never get involved now though, why no one ever fits.[/i] The more he thought the angrier he got... he deserved an explanation damn it!

Finally he quit pacing and banged on the door. "Mellie!! No response. His brow furrowed as his fist lifted to the door again. “Mel let me in!"

She jerked as the sound reverberated into the room, her shoulders tightening as she brushed away the few tears that had gathered. Biting her lip she sat up and yelled, "If you can't figure out how to open a fuckin' door you can just stay out there. I ain’t opening it for you."

With a growl he jiggled the knob. "It's locked damn it!" He kicked lightly at the bottom for emphasis.

She muttered as she sat there, that lock was always shifty, he'd opened it scores of times. He was the only one who had ever managed to get past the lock. Seems he'd forgotten that too. "Looks like you’re stuck out there then, seems like you've forgotten even more than I realized. You DORK! Didn't want ya in here anyhows."

She whimpered as the words left her lips. That was the problem though, wasn't it? She was lying through her teeth, she wanted him in here, but she wanted Dork, the one who knew her, the one who remembered, but he'd been replaced with some music crazed guitar freak who hadn't given her the time of day once the girls started liking him.

"Forgot... what?" Richie felt his chest puff up indignantly as he fumbled with the door knob. His voice rose in frustration "I haven't forgotten ANYTHING Mel! I tried damn it, I did try, but damn you to hell you never really went away!!" His voice was roaring by the time the lock finally slipped. The door rushed open and revealed his hulking form, eyes flashing, chest heaving.

He slammed the door behind him with resounding finality

She folded into herself, and around the pillow, nothing on her moving but her eyes as she took in that body of his. She could feel the anger rolling off of him, that frustrated, dammit Mel stop it anger. Her voice was soft, nearly nonexistent as she sighed. "Yeah you did. You forgot me."

"No I didn't!" he exclaimed as he glowered down at her "How could I?? After what we......." he stopped and let out a sigh "After what we shared..... how could I? You're the one who freaked out Mel! One day we were fine and the next.... You said you hated me..." his shoulders slumped in defeat "I just don't get why..."

Her hands tightened into the pillow as she forced herself to remain cool and unemotional. “I mean.. one day you were all comfort and helpful cuz Dad was gone then suddenly you weren’t. You joined that band, which was great. I was so happy for you! But then the girls happened and then….. Cuz of the music and girls you…” She paused, the tears welling up no matter how she tried to stop them. “I went one night to talk to you and there were all these girls and you were "Darlin this, and Darlin that," they were all over you. You walked right by me as if I weren’t even there."

She glanced up, the band-aid ripping slightly from the wound. "Couldn't let you see how it hurt me, I just couldn't, so I had to make you hurt instead, and all ya did was throw it back at me."

Richie sat hard on the edge of the bed and ran his hands thru his hair trying to remember, trying to make sense of it. He'd been no more than 15 or 16 but still he'd been given a chance. The music, it had been all about the music. He remembered all the girls... in the beginning it had been a such a shock and yeah he'd played it up! Of course he had! It was all part of the scene... but they didn't mean anything to him.... they weren't Mel...

"Mel, I....." He'd hurt her and he hadn't even known. Fuck, it was just one great big misunderstanding. She thought he’d moved on but he hadn't... not until she'd turned Ice Queen. Until that point there had only been her.

He sighed, what could he say? "Mel I'm sorry.."

She managed a smile, "It's why I yelled or teased you more than ever, you seemed to respond to that. You, well you saw me then. If I wasn't yelling you just went off with the crowd. Pushing you away made you pay attention."

"I always saw you Mel."

Her brow flicked upwards, disbelief shining in her eyes. "Always?"

"Yeah..." He sighed again. It was so hard to explain, even now years later. "I just... didn't know what to do.. I mean we were... kids.... You made me feel so....Damn it Mel I was so in love with you back then but what the hell did I know about all that? "

Hell what did either of them know? She had no basis for anything back then, it was all about her friend, the one she could rely on. "Hell I dunno Rich, but one day you were there and I could just be me, you were there I could rely on you, and then you weren't. Dunno bout love, I mean I loved you and hated ya from that first day you pulled my hair, but.. it all changed, I lost my friend. Dammit, I hated you for stealing my friend." She hadn't trusted guys since, and that was stupid she knew, but the one guy she'd trusted had stolen it away and she'd never found it again, the trust that someone would be there for her.

He knew she was right, he'd gotten so caught up in it all. But he'd wanted to share it with her and she'd seemed so disinterested, it was a no end path she'd said but he just knew someday..... He sighed. Well, he'd gotten what he wanted in respect to music but in the process he'd lost a friend, a lover..... She was his one and only regret.

He turned to face her "I don't know what else to say Mel except I am sorry.. I never meant to make you feel that way. I honestly thought, well, I thought we'd always be together."

He'd been the first, hell, he'd been the only, and now after growing up he was saying he was sorry. It didn't take away the pains of the past, but at least he understood. His final words filtered into her over-worked brain, she straightened and muttered; "you what?"

He gave a light emotional laugh, full of regret, "Yeah... I had it all planned out.. I'd be a big rock star, you'd be my girl, and we’d live it up."

Her lip quirked up slightly, "Well in true Dork fashion you got half of it right, at least I think you did if Shannon's right."

He cut his eyes her way. What to do now? The past was the past; they couldn't change it, no matter how hard they wished. He couldn't deny it, even after all these years, she still made his heart pound. He watched her a moment, pondering how to start to fix things when the light bulb went on. A quick smile hit his lips. "Can I have my shirt back?"

Her brow arched as she twisted to look his way. Of all the damn fool things to change the subject to. He wanted his shirt? Her eyes flashed as she jumped from the bed. "All we just .. and you want..." She turned to stomp to the closet to find something to change into, her arms lifting to pull the shirt from her body. Tossing it over her shoulder she muttered, "here have the stupid old thing back, didn't like it any way.”

He hid a smirk and tugged the shirt over his head. "Get dressed Mel."

She pulled a shirt from the closet and slipped it on, buttoning it to the top quickly before turning. "Bossy, domineering…." She whirled around, "You are such a dork! Of course I'd get dressed; I ain’t going to run around naked in front of YOU of all people."

"Shut up Mel," he stated calmly.

Her eyes fired as she stepped closer. "Make me Scarecrow!"

He leaned in and placed a light chaste kiss on the tip of her upturned nose "Richie... my name is Richie."

"Nuhuh, not to me." Her brows waggled as she took a step back., "You’re Scarecrow."

"Ok fine... Scarecrow..Have it your way...." He reached out and took her hand as the plan started to form in his mind. He had to get her out of here, give her a chance to see him in the here and now. She had to see him someplace where the memories didn’t keep painting him in Dorkiness. Hell to be honest he needed to be someplace to escape it too. "Whaddya say we get outta here? Follow the yellow brick road?"

Her hand tightened around his as the first honest laugh of the day escaped her. "You usually brought that with you wherever you went. Never did land in Oz.. just in trouble."

Richie grinned "well whaddya say we go dig up some trouble hmmm? Just like old times?"

That silly sparkle was in those droopy eyes, and she couldn't resist their lure. Hell she was a weakling, those eyes always made her weak, he could talk her into anything now just like he always could. "Where too?"

"It's a secret...... trust me?"

She tilted her head, and watched as his eyes alternately sparkled or shadowed and knew he was waiting on her answer. She tapped her finger against her chin as she considered the question. Did she trust him? She did oddly enough, but she couldn't tell him that. "Not on your life, but I'll go anyway."

The pins and needles he’d felt waiting for her answer vanished in a puff of laughter.With wide grin he pulled her from the room.

Chapter 14

He listened to Richie stumble and fumble over words as he leaned back further in the chair. His brow arched as the King of fucking Swing couldn’t put words together. Damn if Rich didn’t have the oddest look in his eyes when he mentioned making sure of things years ago. It was that same pole-axed look he got when talking about his first *girlfriend*. Ahhh he got it then, actually got it. She was THAT girl, the one he rarely mentioned, the one thing Rich refused to talk about. He always glossed over that, never went into detail. Jon leaned in further a shit eating grin coasting onto his lips. "SHE was the one in that backseat!"

Richie nodded as brushes of memory rose, the soft tears, the need to comfort that led into his hands soothing then eagerly touching, the little hiccupped sighs that had turned to whimpers. His first time, his Mellie, How'd it have gone so wrong? Shaking his head he glanced up at his friend, the faintest blush rising under his tan. "Yeah, that would be her."

Jon leaned back, started to laugh and couldn’t resist ribbing his best friend over his discomfort, "and it was so bad she turned into a nun. Man it’s a good thing you learned a thing or two since then."

"Fuck you man," Richie scowled.

"No thanks, I don’t wanna be a priest!" Jon shook his head, "All this time you made it all romantic, and it was a girl that acts like she can't even stand you, a NUN at heart if anything.” His hands fluttered to his heart, his eyes widening dramatically. “My illusions about the King are shattered." He stood and moved to Shannon's door and knocked. "Hey Lil Bit."

Richie scowled even more. It had been romantic, hadn’t it?? He thought it had been, at least as romantic as two bumbling virgins could be. He didn’t know why it went bad afterwards. As far as he knew, the act itself had been heavenly. His head lowered as he sat and grumbled in Jon's direction.

“What?" a sharp bark came from behind the closed door. Shannon was sitting on her bed looking at her poster and trying to keep herself from beating her own ass in regret.

"Wanna at least open the door?" He kept his voice even, he knew she was in shock, hell sister nun wasn't so nun like. It would throw a shock into anyone. "Come on ya know you wanna."

Shannon heaved a sigh and crossed to the door flinging it open without even saying hello, leaving him to enter or not. She flopped down stomach first on her bed, her head plopping into her hands. It was all too confusing, this new sister she’d suddenly been forced to deal with.

He walked in, noted the poster and shook his head before sitting next to her on the bed. "Hey, don't let it get to ya, ok?"

She just shook her head. "What the hell is going on???" she exclaimed. "I don't get it. Yesterday everything was fine, normal even, but now? My sister is a stranger! I mean yeah I wished she'd loosen up and live a little but I didn’t mean get loose literally!!"

He chuckled, “You said they knew each other as kids right? I got a feeling they've sparked shit off each other before, and just sorta picked up where they left off. After all those years, they are just starting where they stopped. Maybe it will be a good thing right? Maybe she'll loosen up on you."

Shannon groaned and sat up next to him with a sigh then rubbed her temples slowly. "It's all him..... isn’t it... he's why she forgot her manners all day and acted like a ... a nutcase!"

His arm slipped out as he pulled her close, "I dunno babe, really, he ain’t acting too normal around her either ya know."

"Really? I thought he was the strange one in the band."

Jon shook his head, "Nahh, Richie's goofy, but the real strange one is David. You'll see that when ya meet him I'm sure." Woah, I’m wanting her to meet the guys? I never want a chick to meet the guys. Pushing the thought away, his brows waggled and a spark of pure devil rose. "Hey wanna go riding again? I feel the need to have a drink or two."

"Wha?" Shannon gaped at him, "at 2 am??"

He shrugged and grinned, "Early part of the evening for me babe, we're usually just coming off stage and still wired. What can't keep up?"

She sat quietly for a few moments her good angel warring with the bad one. Why was she worried so much? After all she was an adult and Mel said adults can do whatever they want. Finally with one quick look at the poster hanging on her wall then back at him she replied. "Oh I can keep up...." She rose from the bed and rummaged in her closet for a light jacket before turning to him "Alright... let's ride"

He stood and offered his arm, "besides, If I know King and trust me I know King, you're ears will be safer out getting a bit drunk. "

She took his arm her eyes rolling, "spare me the details."

He started for the front door laughing, "Ok, that’s a deal." As he entered the living room Rich was still sitting on the couch bare-chested and grumbling to himself. "Hey I'm taking Lil Bit here for another ride. See ya when I see ya man."

Richie hmphed and raised a hand to them as they left, then rose from the couch and headed for Mel's room.

Chatper 13

Shannon didn't wait to see if Jon was following her. All she heard was 2 am and she freaked. She'd never stayed out this late and especially without calling. Mel was gonna have a shit fit. She fumbled in her purse for her house key and quickly unlocked the door; As the door opened and she stepped through, she called out "I’m so sorry Mel I'm......." and stopped dead in her tracks. On the floor between the TV and the couch was her sister, at least she thought it was her sister, and Richie. Her shirt was off, bra pushed up with Richie leaning over her, bare to the waist, his head covering one breast, her hands twisting into his hair as if she was holding him there.

Shannon’s mouth dropped to the floor as the scene registered. She temporarily lost her cool. "Melanie Jo Daniels!! What the hell are you doing?" she shouted in a voice that sounded so scarily close to her mother’s; it was as if Vivian had been suddenly reincarnated.

He slipped from the car and moved towards the flash heading into the house. Damn if she wasn't something else. He knew she expected him to just go off and forget her, but shit it was too nice to have someone tell him no and mean it. At her yell his head jerked up and he rushed to the door unable to restrain the laugh as he looked inside. Shannon looked like she’d been electrocuted and the pair on the floor were either dazed or in shock. Typical King, full action so quick, with the nun no less. He leaned into Shannon and snorted, "Thought you said she was a nun." He shook his head as Mel’s hands slid along Richie’s back to his hips.

The voice washed over her like acid, and she froze, hands on Richie's ass, lips on his, her eyes twisting to see her sister standing there in shock. Her sister? Oh shit. She pushed at Richie and tried to slither out from under him, her hand reaching for anything to cover herself. She hissed as she tried to escape the hold he had. "MOVE dammit!"

"Wha..." Richie heard the commotion but it took a moment to register. He peeked back over his shoulder, eyes going wide. "Shit!" He rolled off Mel and quickly grabbed his shirt tossing it to her. His hand slid to his zipper and breathed a sigh of relief that it was still fastened. Mel had been toying with that area just seconds before.

She pulled the shirt over her head, reveling for just that instant in the smell of him on the cloth as it brushed her nose. Standing she turned to her sister and growled. "What the hell are you doing home so early?"

Shannon stood, hands on hips, foot tapping. God it sounded so eerily familiar, only backwards. Her reply too, felt the same. "Early?? Its 2 am Mel! What's HE still doing here?"

Mel blushed to the roots of her hair, instinctively backing up from the seeming anger of her sister, and backed right into Richie's chest. She fought for composure and stumbled out, "Me and Dork ? Watching TV."

"With your clothes off," she snorted, then glared at Richie. It was his fault dammit, he’d done something to Mel. He’d made her all weird or hell she didn’t know but it had to be him, Mellie just didn’t entertain guys, she never ever had.

Richie cleared his throat, his arms instinctively protectively going around Mel’s waist."We were just uh... watching TV and waiting for you and uh... talking about old times..." He paused, "Hey wait a minute, where were YOU until 2 am? huh Squirt?"

"Don't call me squirt!"

Jon stepped forward and placed a calming hand on her shoulder. It didn't surprise him overly much, Rich was always screwing some woman. His brow arched as the two in front of him stammered and flushed. Him being all out of sorts over it was new though."Must have been interesting old times King?"

"Uh .. yeah, ya know... high school and all... " He eyed Jon and Shannon closely noticing how Shannon instinctively leaned back towards Jon when he touched her shoulder. Well that was interesting, he just hoped Jon had behaved himself. Richie turned towards the couch and sat, taking Mel by the hand pulling her down next to him. No way would he apologize for the scene they'd witnessed, no way. He was a grown man and Mel was an adult too. Shannon would get over it. "So where'd you two run off to hmm?"

Mel watched Shannon's lips flap soundlessly; the confusion in her eyes was so bright it could have lit a city. "I... " Her shoulders went square as Richie pulled her down onto the couch. "I'm an adult Shan, I can do what I want dammit.” That didn’t explain anything, but hell she couldn’t explain it. Fuck he’d done it again, gotten her going, made her forget good sense. He could always talk her into anything, but he hadn’t been talking this time, he had only…. She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts, tried to pull herself into the moment as she heard Richie ask Jon what they’d been doing.

Jon shrugged, "Just out and around, went to eat dinner man."

Shannon huffed before stepping to the love seat. Flouncing down she turned to Mel, glaring at how out of sorts she seemed. "Right, adults can do what they want... I'll remember that."

She turned her eyes on Shannon, the deep amber flashing dangerously, "Remember that when your twenty-seven ok?" She frowned as Shannon glared at her harder. "What?"

"I get it now... do as I say not as I do Shannon... right?"

She tensed at the censure in her voice, "That's not fair sis." She pulled away from Richie and stood, her slender body shaking, "not fair at all, when have I ever ...." Her lips snapped shut before she let everyone know how little she ever did anything and beat a hasty retreat to her bedroom, the door slamming behind her.

Shannon stood up, her head shaking and turned to Richie "What the HELL did you do to her??" She almost yelled before she too turned and made for her bedroom. One more door slammed soundly leaving both men standing in bewildered silence.

Jon roared, the look on Richie's face was a cross between confusion and frustration. "Man when you pick 'em, you really really pick 'em." He strolled in and plopped down in an easy chair, his legs going up to prop on the end table. "So you never told me about this Melanie girl."

"I forgot," he offered lamely. He was torn between going to Mel and just leaving it for now. He had a feeling if he so much as knocked on that door once in her current state she'd most likely be back to berating him again. And just when I’d almost broken through to her.

Jon's head tilted, "Yeah, you forgot that just about like you forget how to play that axe. Man, don’t lie to me." He sat forward his feet hitting the floor. "I gotta admit, she didn't seem like a nun to me though."

"A nun? Where'd ya get that idea??"

Jon jerked his head towards Shannon's door. "Her sister, man she don’t date, or do anything, not even movies. Total boredom city. Work, eat sleep and drive Shannon crazy with her over protective strictness. She’s just a quiet boring home person ya know? Nothing like what you usually go for man."

Richie looked at Jon as if he'd sprouted another head "Boring? Mellie?" Richie laughed. "Maybe Shannon's the one on drugs!" he mumbled "Dude... I'm tellin' ya there ain’t nothing boring about Mel, and I damn sure know she ain’t a nun! I made sure of that myself YEARS ago."

Chapter 12

Richie sat on the couch and watched as Mel paced nervously back and forth, her eyes darting to the clock over and over again. It was only 10 pm but she was acting as if it were 6 am and her only child had pulled a disappearing act.

"Mel?" A soft huff of exasperation whistled over his lips as she ignored him and kept pacing. Putting two fingers to his lips he whistled sharply."Will you PLEASE sit down and watch the movie??"

She whirled, her eyes narrowing, "She's out past ten with a guy she just met today, someone she damn near idolizes." She inhaled sharply and wished the ants would quit crawling under her skin. She couldn't tell him she didn’t trust herself to sit down on that couch, no it wasn’t that at all, it was just worry over Shan. Right? Riiiiight. "She never stays out late."

Richie reached out and grasped her wrist as she paced past once more then yanked her down beside him " Jeesh Mel you act like she never dates... the girls what?? 20 now? Quit worryin' so much or are you like this with every guy she goes out with?”

She went as still as a mouse and winced, "Sorta. Hell I'm the only parent she has, someone has to worry."

With a sigh he stretched his arm across her shoulders," look, Jon's not gonna devour her whole ok?" he paused momentarily looking for words. At least I hope he doesn’t devour her. “She’ll be ok, I promise.”

She bit back a sigh and leaned back, and tried to not watch the damn clock. "She's just so trusting, so innocent really." She closed her eyes and tried to push away the worry, she'd done a halfway decent job taking care of her, Shannon would be ok. At least he wasn't asking stuff that was personal. "She's a good kid though; I'll just have to trust she can hold her own."

"We were all 'good kids' at one time Darlin'," he smirked recalling just how "good" the two of them had been. Most of the times he had gotten in trouble, she'd been right there along side him.

She leaned into him, hell she'd done it every time they'd watched TV when they were kids, it just felt right to prop her head on his shoulder. "Yeah, we stood up against quite a few things too. Remember that one guy, kept picking on you cuz of the accordion?"

"Aw man... yeah... I'd rather forget that," he chuckled "what was I thinkin' anyway?? Accordion?"

She shifted slightly and growled, "Hey you were good, just cuz you went all rock star doesn’t mean you gotta forget that, you can still use it in your music you know. It’s not all about noise."

"But the noise is fun!" he exclaimed and gave her ribs a little tickle.

She kicked and bucked before falling over in a yelping heap. "Stop it! Not fair your fingers were always too long."

A deep belly laugh escaped him as he leaned closer in his eyebrows waggling furiously as he continued with the teasing. "All the better to pleasure you with my dear."

She tried to squirm away from the fingers, her breath failing her as she laughed harder, her eyes going wide with innocence as she slid her hand down to that one spot on his side she remembered. Digging in she gave back as good as she got.

"Shit!!" He almost squealed and twisted his long frame away from her, dumping her unceremoniously off the couch and onto the floor. Her ass thudded as she hit which only made him laugh harder.

He watched as she rolled, then slowly pushed to her knees, amber eyes beginning to gleam. Damn if she wasn’t sexy as hell with her hair all in a disarray and those eyes shooting him the *I’m so gonna get you stare.* Hell he wanted her to get him, he wanted to get her, he just wasn’t sure how yet.

"Oh you so didn't!"

"I did!"

She saw the gleam in his brown eyes. Even now they sparkled and twinkled when he was planning mayhem. She couldn’t let him get the upper hand, she just couldn’t. She sprang towards him, pushing him into the couch as her fingers slid back to his one tickle spot. "I'm not smaller than you now," she leaned back, straddling his waist and stopped, "Ok I am, but I’m stronger now."

A half smile played on his lips as he gazed up at her, straddling him, her face flushed, silky light hair flowing around her shoulders all messed yet alluring. What a vision she was. Her open thighs were pressed against the zipper of his jeans and he used all his control not to buck upward into her heat. He could feel it even thru her clothes. She was strong, yes she was, but he was even stronger.

His hands moved slowly, up her back, into her hair, that mass of spun sunlight, as he fisted a handful of hair and pulled, not hard enough to hurt but hard enough that she had no choice but to bend towards him and without thinking he once again captured her lips with his.

She gasped softly as she leaned in even closer, her lips opening to the teasing flicks of his tongue. Her hands slid from his waist up to his chest and beyond, to lock in his hair. As her heart started to thunder in her chest she moved, her nose burrowing into his neck.

It was nice, almost like home, like she was fourteen all over again and sitting in the Sambora's house watching his TV. But that usually led to him pulling her hair or doing something equally dumb to make her fighting mad, he always seemed to love making her mad. "Rich?"

"Hmmm?" he mumbled into her ear as his tongue flicked out to caress it gently

She shivered and nearly had her thoughts derail. Forcing the shivers away she reached up to twist a lock of brown hair on her finger. "Why'd you always try to make me mad?"

"I dunno," he answered honestly. He placed light kisses on her neck as his fingers kneaded the delicate skin at the nape of her hair line "Why'd ya always pick on me?"

She huffed softly, her head shaking, "Not real sure, you were so gangly and well uncoordinated, like me and I couldn't make fun of me so….” Her voice trailed off a moment letting the pause finish the sentence. “But ya know, that was my thing, anyone else did it I stomped 'em."

"I know.. my body guard," he chuckled deeply. She was amusing. Most women would have been putty by now, but not her, nope not his Mellie. His usual seduction techniques seemed to have no effect on her. She was driving him crazy, and as much as he loved getting to know her again, right now he just wanted to kiss her again. "Mel?"

She snuggled closer, her head turning back to the TV as she tried to concentrate on whatever was on the screen and not the huskiness of his voice. "Hmmmm?"

"Kiss me," he ordered.

"Already did. Shhhh this is the good part." She had no idea if it was the good part. God alive she didn't know what she was watching, but the beat of his heart, heat of his skin and his sudden deep and gravelly growl was doing stupid things to her. She couldn't, hell she wouldn't risk another kiss. He had to stay The Dork, for her own sanity.

He gave another growl. Damn her obstinacy. He moved his hips ever so slightly, trying to move her attention back to him. "So... do it again... I liked it."

"You made fun of it the last time you know." She closed her eyes and held her breath as his hips flexed. God in heaven the muscles...It’s just Dork, its just Dork.....its just.....God help me.

" I ain't making fun now....."

His soft sexy words hung in the air between them. He nudged her up and grasped her chin his eyes darkening to near black as he felt the plea that he knew had to be obvious in his gaze. He almost wanted to beg aloud, but knowing Mel she’d take that and run with it just to tease him.

She felt her head turn, his hand firm on her chin, his eyes, those beautiful, droopy brown eyes burning into her soul. It was just a kiss, they'd practiced kissing well out of their parents eye sight to be sure, but it was nothing new. She'd felt those lips before, she could do this.. Dipping down she tentatively brushed her lips over his, and promptly forgot her very name.

He sighed into her mouth and held her flush against him. She felt so right, tasted so right and in that instant he realized exactly what had been so wrong with all the scores of women he’d had. They just weren’t Mellie. He deepened the kiss, his tongue battling hers, seeking dominance, seeking home in a simple kiss.

She lost herself in the kiss, the small inner quakes turning into full on body shivers. Tanned legs twisted with denim clad as tremulous fingers slid into near black hair, so soft and satiny she could get lost in it. As the kiss ended, she dropped her head to his shoulder and tried to breathe, or think, and figured out doing both at the same time might be impossible.

Her breathing was as ragged as his was. Damn the woman knew how to kiss! He wiggled his hips, trying to adjust himself more comfortably without her knowing exactly what he was doing. Any other time, he would have run with it, pushed it, gone for the score, but something told him not to push her that far, not yet. He slid his hands up and down her back instead, willing his control to stay intact as he simply enjoyed the silent contentment that flowed between them.

It'd been so long since he'd shared anything like this with a woman. Sure he'd had sex, lots of it. But this calm, comfortable sense of just being.... he couldn’t find that on the road.

She tried to settle the racing of her pulse, tried to jump start her brain, until she felt him shifting beneath her, Damn she was smothering him, had to be. She wiggled over and slipped to his side, turning to face the TV once again. "Sorry."

He moved enough to settle her perfectly in the crook of his arm. "S'ok Darlin,'" he said softly before turning his attention to the television as well. He sighed in contentment. This is what he missed on the road. Home.... maybe everything would be alright after all.

She scooted back and wiggled to get comfortable, not sure if it was him or the lumpiness of the old couch that had her moving, and as Vinton made one more mistake only to have Mama blast him she started to laugh. "God I love Mama's Family."

He laughed along with her. "Yeah me too."

She finally relaxed as he started to laugh, it hadn't changed in all these years, that laugh that just went full tilt into silly. You knew he was happy by that laugh, he couldn’t fake it, not like most people. "Is it hard?"

He froze and looked at her strangely and almost moved away from her, then swallowed hard before playing dumb with all he was worth. "Is ... it... huh?"

She glanced back and saw that near strangled look on his face. The question wasn’t that hard was it? "You know, traveling so much. You were such a mama's boy, is it hard leaving her so much?"

"Ohhh!" He swallowed hard and relaxed, now that he realized she hadn't been talking about his guilty as charged cock. " It ain’t easy but... it's what I wanted so I can’t complain.... much..." He shrugged and hugged her back against him gently

She reached behind her and pulled his arm out to pillow her head with and sighed. "I guess most girls like you better now that you grew out that hair huh? No more army do?"

"No more crew cut!" he mocked his father’s stern voice.

She rolled over, her head tilting as she studied him. "You've changed so much, I would have never known it was you."

"We all change Mel, we grow up, we learn from our shenanigans ya know?" He touched her cheek gently with his finger

She couldn't restrain the shiver. "Sometimes you get forced to, grow up that is."

He sighed. He knew now her life couldn't have been easy. Nowhere near the fast ride he'd had. But it wasn't too late, she was still young, hell she was younger than him she still had so much time ahead of her. " Yeah... life is like that sometimes but, ya know it doesn’t have to stay that way. So you had to be grown up and responsible but now, look you’ve done your job right? So... maybe coming back here is a good thing. You can have a new start... maybe it’s time for Melanie now?"

She pressed closer, and shook her head, "Wouldn't know how too, been the way I am for a long time. Can't even figure out how you made me so mad, I never have the energy to even feel that usually."

He looked at her then and with an amused grin quipped, "that's because you been away from your dork for too long Darlin’."

She punched his arm lightly, her laugh escaping her again. "That might have been a blessing. They may have put me in a padded cell otherwise."

"Jon threatens to lock me up at least twice a night," he laughed while wincing at her punch.

"Still the whimp?" She laughed at the wince, her hand rubbing where she'd hit, "I didn’t even hit that hard."

He pouted dramatically, "it still hurt Mellie."

She leaned in and pasted a big sloppy fake kiss to his shoulder. "There, boo-boo all better."

"Awww man!!" He faked anger and wiped her slobber off him then grabbed her face in both of his hands and leaned over to lick a path from the corner of her lip to her cheek bone in retaliation.

She bucked against him, screeching, "Ewwwwwwwwww boy slobber!" She wiped her face then placed her hand on his cheek and rubbed, "Take it back!"

"No!" He held her tightly and tried to lick her a few more times, laughing at her feeble attempts to stop him.

She kept wiggling, trying her best to get free, "Darn it Dork!" She kept wiping where he licked and rubbing it back in his face. "Keep that slobber to yourself!"

"Maybe I don't wanna," his tone went all husky again. The bucking of her body was driving him insane.

It went through her like a bolt of static electricity, that husky voice. Hell his voice always cracked and squeaked, she always laughed when his voice broke, but it wasn't breaking now. Now his voice was simply lighting fires, the very tone of it whispering of hot dark nights filled with desire. A desire she couldn’t help but respond too. She stilled, her hands on his cheeks, her eyes widening just slightly as her tongue flicked out to wet suddenly nerveless dry lips. "Oh."

He raised an eyebrow, a little confused by her actions. What was her deal? She ran so hot and cold... but when she was hot.. she was so damn hot. He threw caution to the wind and tried one more time. He wasn’t usually so forceful but she had him on a rollercoaster ride of feelings. His hands snaked once again to her hair, that glorious hair he was finding himself obsessed with and dragging her closer he crushed her lips to his, sucking the breath from her lungs. Leaving one hand entangled in her hair his other drifted sneakily down to the hem of her tank, his finger tips grazing the skin beneath the cotton.

She froze at the feel of calluses against her skin, eyes closing as his lips pressed commandingly against hers, and as he pulled her in tighter she nearly whimpered. She knew she should fight what he was doing, push him away like he'd pushed so many years before, but she couldn't, she wasn't even sure how.

Chapter 11

Shannon sipped her tea and gave it some thought. The way her sister had been acting today he had a point. She nodded "Right... your right... maybe you should worry."

He winced and took a long pull of beer. "I so didn't need to hear that."

Shannon tried to hide a grin. "Sorry man.. guess honesty's one of my faults."

He forked into his chicken and laughed. "Man he's a big guy; he can take care of himself." I hope. He watched as she dove into her chicken and grinned. "So tell me more about Lil bit."

Shannon swallowed a bite of chicken and took a sip of her tea "Well.. first of all... lil' bit has a name..."

Her eyes were sparkling, the tone of her voice is jovial. She was teasing him? Well he could tease right back. Oh yeah that's right, what was it she called you? Squirt."

Shannon groaned " Oh please........can we just forget the nicknames Captain Kidd?"

His brow quirked upwards as he leaned forward; his lips brushing over the pretty shell of her ear easily. "Nope, I live to tease."


Shannon shivered in delight then exhaled deeply, temporarily forgetting her own name. " um.. uh.. I uh," she stammered. Good lord he smelled good. She gathered her racing thoughts, cleared her throat and finally answered his initial question. Filling him in on her plans, her schooling, her tentative job. If she kept talking maybe she would make it thru this dinner without embarrassing herself by spontaneously combusting.

" So... 100 more hours and I can take my state board, then I get the official status as "employee" instead of simply gopher." She ended her long winded recitation.

"Seems like you have it all planned out." He grinned and watched her natter on about her schooling. He liked that, she had plans, knew where she was going. Way too many girls her age had no idea of what life was about.

"Well I'd like to think so, but hell I can’t see the future" She shrugged and pushed away her plate, her stomach content for the moment. "All I can do is try my best ya know"

he stood and tossed enough bills on the table to cover the meal and tip. "Well come on, lets go find some trouble to get into."

She smiled and hopped up " trouble!! Now your talking my language!"

He laced his fingers through hers and pulled her towards the door. he was ready to rock roll and have a bit of fun and damn if she didn’t seem willing. The night was looking up.

____

He parked next to the lake and turned the car to just battery, leaving the music playing quietly. Laying his head back he sighed, "So whatcha wanna do lil bit?"

Shannon looked at the man beside her. What did she wanna do? Here she was, alone with him, able to ask anything she wanted; say whatever was on her mind. The sun was setting over the remote lake, the wind blowing warm. The scent of late summer surrounded her. She'd dreamed of this, never even daring hope it would come true. Things like this just didn't happen to her. But here she was and he was expecting an answer.

"What do you like to do?" she asked as she shifted herself to face his profile. She resisted the urge to reach out and touch him just to be sure he was real. "I mean... besides music.... I mean....I know all about you," she stopped short and shook her head " What I mean is.. I know what they print about you but..... half of that’s probably made up..... so... What do YOU like to do... the real you?"

He grinned as he listened to her babble; she was trying so hard to not talk about what he did. At least he thought she was trying to see beyond the flash and sizzle. He considered her question then shrugged, "Fuck if I know, I'm usually on stage or in a bus, not much downtime for anything else." He turned to her and smiled, "Even off stage I'm usually somewhere singing or jamming, it’s just what I do. How bout you though? Bet the guys line up to date ya right?"

She gave a slightly unlady like snort " Oh yeah .. they line up by the dozen! I think you’ve forgotten I'm guarded by Melanie the chaste..."

He twisted in his seat and watched her, "Your kidding? Melanie the chaste?"

"Yeah.... " Shannon chuckled, " I swear once I'm out and on my own she'll probably join the nunnery."

"Join a nunnery? Fuck she’s a hot ..." He shook his head, "I mean.. hell she’s what Rich's age?"

"Twenty-seven yeah,... but sometimes I think she's like 58 or something...." Shannon sighed "I just wish..... I wish for once she'd try to live a little. I feel so bad sometimes... I mean I know she had to worry about me but.."

"What do ya mean lil bit?" He smiled invitingly and watched her, hell he liked watching her talk, she got so wound up in whatever she was saying.

"Well..." She paused to blow a wayward curl out of her face before launching into another long winded tirade. "Like... like this... ya know.. what were doin.. just .. get in the car and drive and wherever ya end up ya end up... ya don't plan it ya don't think about it ya just go with it. You start out working in the back yard then you end up at a beautiful lake at sunset with nature all around ya... the world is at your feet....." she slouched a bit in defeat. " Mellie just can't.. or wont do that...."

Shannon stopped suddenly and looked up into his startling blue eyes and saw interest there. He was interested? He couldn’t be. "I'm sorry.. I must be boring you with tales of my repressed nutty sister," she joked feebly.

His brow flicked up, "You make it sound like she never does anything." He chuckled, but the warmth building inside of him as he studied her told him one thing. She wasn’t that boring; she just didn’t understand how unboring she really was.

"She doesn't."

His brow flicked up, that didn’t sound right, to be sure Melanie wasn’t that bad. Was she? "Come on is that little sister jealousy? She’s bound to date or go for drinks or something."

She looked him directly in the eye. "There is no jealousy towards her at all. I owe Melanie everything I am today. That's what I'm saying She's never been able to, or never allowed herself to even go out; to something as simple as a movie cause she's always been worried about me. That's why it's so important to me to finish my classes, pass my state board and give her a little room to live. Not that I think she’d do anything more than shes doing now, which is nothing."

His brain spun out on the idea of the virginal old maid with a 1980's twist. She sure didn't look like a fuckin' old maid. "You seem pretty determined to succeed."

Shannon nodded "I am. It's what I want. One day I want my own shop, I wanna be the boss. I know it won’t be easy but that's ok. I want it that bad." Shannon smiled a bit, "kinda like YOU," she steered the conversation back to him "I'm almost positive your success didn't fall in your lap"

"Naah I worked my ass off for it, still am really." He leaned in, her sparkling eyes calling to him as she fluttered on and on about the shop she'd own one day, her lips teasing him. He reached out suddenly and pulled her in his lips teasing over hers. "I bet you'll make it with all the drive you have."

He caught her by surprise; he'd given no indication of any physical attraction to her, not really until now. His quick teasing kiss made her heart jump up into her throat. She must have been holding her breath because she suddenly let it out in a whoosh of surprise. She felt her face flush and she licked her lips as her eyes darted anywhere but at him.

Lips slid to caress her chin then ears, "Tell me you’re not a nun Lil Bit." Please tell me you’re not like the big sister.

She heard him speaking but the words were just not making sense. Her skin tingled where his lips trailed. She closed her eyes and leaned a bit closer, the hairs poking out of the top of his shirt tickling her nose. His cologne invaded her senses. She vaguely noted her hands had fisted his shirt. She let one hand relax and felt his long hair tangle in her fingers.

She was at a loss. She didn't know what to do or what to say. She felt herself slipping away and tried to regain herself. " I... I'm not....."

What was she? She couldn't remember.

He bit down on her lobe gently, "Not what precious?"

She sucked in her breath and leaned away for a moment to look at him. Damn it all to hell how sexy was he??? Her eyes settled on his lips. One kiss.. just one real kiss.... what would it hurt? When would she have this chance again?

Feigning more confidence than she felt, she leaned in and touched her lips to his slowly, gently, hoping to god she wasn’t coming off as a totally clueless kid.

The butterfly touch of her lips had his jeans tight in mere seconds, his hands sliding around her to pull her closer into his chest as his tongue flashed along the crease of her lips. God damn she was a sweet little kisser, he'd bet she was a wildcat in bed too.

For a moment she let herself go, reveling in the taste of him, the feel of him. He held her so gently yet his lips were strong and a bit demanding. Her mind was cycling thru so many thoughts so fast she couldn’t quite catch them. She let her arms snake around his neck and her fingers tangle in his hair.

His hand slid up under the back of her shirt, his fingers caressing her spine slowly as he continued the kiss. She was so tiny, so fragile, her skin so soft, nothing like the hardened pure sex appeal of most groupies, and it just made him want a little bit more.

She had to get out of this car, had to get her bearings back. she didn’t even KNOW him, had just met him today.....

Thru ragged breath she finally spoke " You uh.. you wanna get out?...go for a walk??" it was the only thing that she could think of to give her time to think.

He nipped her ear again and chuckled, "Nuhuh, don’t feel like walking," his hand wandered up along her spine slowly, "I like it right where I am."

She leaned her forehead on his shoulder and shivered. "Mmmmm... ok."

His lips pressed tighter to hers, as he pulled her in closer, his hands skating over her back and lower, teasingly brushing over the waist band of her pants. "You feel so nice Lil Bit."

She gasped when his hands moved lower and without thinking her hand flew to his wrist, stilling his hand. "No."

He pulled back and studied her quietly. "Did you just say no?"

She felt strangely empty as soon as he pulled away. Her mind still half mush she tried to justify her actions " I just met you.. I…"

He bit back the retort that rose and nodded. Maybe she wasn't a little wild cat, seems little Shannon was cast in the same mold as her sister. Yeah Right, she just didn’t want the fast and easy like most. This was a girl worth knowing. He chuckled low and soft, "Right, just met." Shifting on the seat he cranked the car, and smiled. "We'll just have to get to know each other then."

Shannon tugged on her shirt a bit and quietly focused vision on the now dark windows. He had smiled when he spoke but it seemed forced. She wondered if she'd just blown any chance of anything. He was probably used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it. In his life she was sure girls did things at the drop of a hat just because of his name.

She had to admit, the thought was there with her too when he'd first kissed her but she just couldn't do that. It wasn’t fair to him or her.

"I.. I'm sorry" she said softly.

He rolled his eyes slightly,. "Sorry for what? Being honest? I respect that Lil Bit. Not many have the guts to say no ya know."

" I....." how could she save face here? There had to be a way. She really did like him. A lot. She just wanted to know HIM, the man behind the image. "I'm not saying... never.. I'm just saying... not yet......"

"I'll keep that in mind precious." He glanced over and winked. "Don't mean I won’t try again though."

His words and the cheeky wink made her face redden again but she fought thru it and gave him a shy little smile. She still felt warm and shaky and maybe even a bit overwhelmed so she let the miles pass by in silence.

The drive was over too soon. he pulled into the driveway, his eyes going wide. Every light in the house was on. "Fuck me does she sit up and wait for you?""

"What time is it?"

He flicked a glance at his watch, "It's after 2 am."

"Oh god......" Shannon groaned. "SHIT!" She hurriedly undid her seatbelt and flung open the car door " Mel's gonna KILL me..."