HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING?
©Mirandagk@aol.com
CHAPTER 26
"Well you never sleep as much as you have been lately..."
"Is this wishful thinking?"
"Possibly." he smiled as he lightly nibbled on her earlobe before slowly running his tongue down her neck and across her shoulder.
"JC you need to go and get ready." she said as she looked at him in the mirror and patted the side of his face.
JC twirled her around to face him, "I haven't been inside you in almost 3 days, baby."
He began to lightly suck on her neck. Laura didn't want him to stop, but knew she had to be the responsible one tonight. "JC stop. Go get dressed. The limo will be here to pick us up at 7:30."
"Okay, okay!"
Laura followed his movements as he walked across the yard and disappeared behind the fence. She walked over to her bed and grabbed the birth control pills from the drawer in the nightstand. She starred down at the pill for what seemed like an eternity. After a few moments of reflection she popped the pill into her mouth and took a sip of her water before talking the glass and pouring it onto her head. "Get the dick off your mind, girl!" she yelled as she disappeared into the bathroom to get ready.
At the party JC and Laura kept their distance from one another so as to not arouse suspicions, but every chance they got, they would lock eyes and exchange dirty innuendoes to each other through and gestures and mouthed words. Jerry soon called them both over to talk to a couple top executives. The men were noticeably drunk. Jerry excused himself to schmooze with two lawyers who had just arrived. Not very far into conversation, Laura became uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. "So how does it feel to have to work with that asshole who screwed you over the way he did? And Rachel? How could you give that extraordinary woman up?"
The older man soon began to slur his words when he spoke, "I mean what a nice piece of ass she must have been! And your Co-writer? Lauren? I wonder what it would feel like every night to bang away on her keys!"
JC wanted to ram his fist into both their faces, but decided it be best to just excuse himself and walk away from the conversation. As he was about to make his getaway, he could see Laura a few feet away. She was pretending to be engaged in a different conversation with the server who had brought her over another glass of wine.
"Oh wow! No offense, little lady." the one man said as they noticed her presence.
"Non taken. I am usually only thought of when dicks are sprung and pussy is on the menu." JC's eyes were wide open. So was everyone else's who were in earshot of her remark.
"Well aren't you rather eloquent this evening?"
"Just as eloquent as the two of you were a few moments ago when you were speaking about my best friend as if she were a piece of meat and about one of your top rated executives whose ass you should be kissing for bringing me and Mr. Chasez in on this project. But instead, you downgrade him to make yourselves feel more important, because you couldn't do it yourselves."
Laura proceeded to sip her wine and look around and wave at few people across the room. One of the men began to respond but was soon cut off by Laura continuing with her rant. "Jerry may be a jerk and honestly, an asshole at times, but he gets the job done. That's more than I can say for the two of you. Now if you will excuse me I am a little too drunk and opinionated right now to continue this conversation with you 'supposed' gentlemen. Good evening." she said as she shoved her glass into JC's hand before retreating to the bathroom to cry.
Laura looked into the large mirror that was above the sinks. She didn't focus on her face, makeup or even her hair. She only saw the tears that filled her eyes. In less than a minute she would have to go back to the party. She finally forced her gaze to fix herself. She turned to go and caught a glimpse of back of her dress. From the front it appeared to be a typical black dress that suited so many functions of this type. The bodice of the dress came all way up to the base of her throat. From a distance it looked to be all black. But up close you could see that it was black stretchy lace, and looked as if that is all the wearer had on. But in reality, the lace had a lining of the very thinnest flesh colored fabric, in certain places. The dress fit like skin, from the sleeves to just past the knees, where it flared to allow for easier movement. It was back of the dress that was the center of interest. There was no back until you got to right below her waist. Laura left the protection of the bathroom reluctantly. She knew JC, Jerry and those two men would be waiting for her. She decided to leave and tell them later that she had gotten sick to stomach. Her departure was halted as she walked right into JC who had come to check on her.
"I'm tempted to find the nearest exit and make run for it, JC."
"Why?"
"Because I just made an ass out of myself earlier."
"No you didn't."
"You gained respect. You stood up to them when most would have just stood there and laughed at their jokes and licked plenty of ass. They don't like shit like that. They want to know you have a mind of your own and are not afraid to say how you feel, Laura."
She looked over at the two men who were talking in the corner. Both nodded at her and smiled and went back to their conversation.
JC tried his best to help her relax more. "Well, if ever I've seen a woman meant for dancing, you are it."
She smiled. "Actually, dancing sounds like a great right about now."
Laura laughed. "All right. Let's trip the light fantastic, and hopefully I can avoid letting anything else slip out of my mouth." She curled her arm around JC's and started walking towards the lounge where soft strains of music could be heard. JC turned her into his arms and they started dancing.
She let her muscles relax and let JC pull her close to his chest. His hand pressed against the bare skin of her back, and she felt her full breasts mash against his muscles beneath the suit. She settled her head into the curve of his neck, not questioning the comfortable and relaxed feelings she was experiencing with him in this crowd full of strangers. As the next song blended into the first, she felt JC's hand slide down her back until it rested at the curve of her back, just above the red bow. Laura looked away from JC for a moment to see if all eyes were on them. He had suspected that the moment of her feeling relaxed with him in a crowd wouldn't last for very long.
When she looked back she found JC was still watching her face. She smiled. He took a deep breath and pressed her lower body intimately close. He saw in her eyes the instant she became aware of his arousal, pressed firmly to her soft belly. He expected her to fight and pull away, but she didn't. As he held her gaze, he saw arousal in her eyes. He felt her breath quicken and tongue darted out to nervously lick her lusciously full lower lip. And there was no mistaking the subtle move of her lower body against him in response.
Laura felt a roaring in her brain and had to swallow hard to keep from flinging herself at him in front of all those people. It was impossible to keep images of him rising above her and gazing longingly into her eyes as he thrust his cock into her soft, wet pussy. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe. She surprised herself even more when she gently wiggled her lower body back and forth, feeling his hard cock pressed so eagerly against her. What the hell were they both thinking?
JC groaned and it reverberated deep in his chest, tingling against her taut nipples. He lowered his mouth to lightly kiss the side of her neck. He whispered to her softly. "I'm surprised you're not stopping me by now."
Laura was too aroused to check the room for nosey eyes. She shook her head no, looking up to meet his gaze once again. "I'm surprised you haven't thrown me down and�" She stopped suddenly as she felt him pull her even closer. "...fucked me senseless by now." she whispered.
JC abruptly pulled back from her, and grabbing her wrist in his hand, he led them quickly through the crowd, and into a back bathroom. He locked the door. He spun her around and in the next instant she was pressed flat to the wall behind her and he was kissing her.
CHAPTER 27
Laura had no time to think. She kissed him back, sliding her arms up and around his neck. She gasped when he finally released her mouth and slid his mouth down her neck. One hand was easing her dress off the shoulder and in the next instant, his mouth closed over the exposed, hard nipple. She cried out, feeling her knees buckle beneath her. She didn't fall because JC had pressed one leg between her own. Her dress slid up and suddenly her wet pussy was pressed against his thigh.
Laura tried to tell her body to push him away. They were in public and could be caught at any moment, but her hands didn't listen. Her mouth pressed kisses to the side of his face and down his neck. She didn't care. Especially since she felt his other hand dragging her skirt up, caressing her flesh as he did so. His hand slid around to cup one full, round ass cheek and press her closer to him.
JC paused as his hand caressed her ass. He hadn't realized that she wasn't wearing any panties until that moment, and it made him crazy. He reconsidered stopping, but then Laura rubbed her crotch back and forth over his thigh. He didn't give a damn and slid his hand around to her thigh. As he slid his thigh back, his hand moved between her upper thighs. He wouldn't have thought it possible, but he almost lost his control as he felt a completely smooth pussy, wet with her arousal.
JC lifted his head from her breast and returned to her mouth. His tongue met hers eagerly as he slipped his fingers between her wet lips. Her legs eased further apart and he slid two fingers up inside her hot, wet pussy even as his thumb zeroed in on her clit. His mouth swallowed her cries of passion as he worked her body with precision and skill. He knew just where to touch her, when to touch her and how to touch her sensitive skin. It happened so quickly, his fingers inside her, massaging, and his thumb never releasing her clit. She started to have an orgasm the very next moment. Her body began to spasm and jerk, thrashing in his arms. He felt her pussy contracting and drenching his fingers with her juices. He lifted his head to watch her face as she lost control. He saw her swollen lips, red and free of any lipstick. He glanced down and saw her breast was jiggling from her motions. And most of all, he felt her aftermath as his hand still cupped and caressed her smooth pussy.
JC watched and waited until finally Laura opened her eyelids and saw him staring down at her. She blushed hotly as she realized what had just happened. Before she could react though, JC lightly rubbed his hand over her slick flesh. He withdrew his hand reluctantly, and then licked them clean. He surprised her when he lifted her dress once again, and used his tongue to clean her up.
She looked down and saw that he was still hard and stiff in his trousers. She didn't think as she reached out and cupped her hand over his dick. JC groaned loudly and braced both hands flat against the wall on either side of her. He told himself that he would stop in a few seconds, and then he heard his zipper being lowered. Suddenly, two small soft hands were freeing his cock from the confinement of his trousers, only to confine it once again in her grasp. She curled her hands around him, caressing, pulling and tugging. She stared at his cock filling her hands as it oozed drops of pre-cum. She wanted to caress him and please him.
Laura felt her knees buckle and in the next instant, she was on her knees in front of him. She heard JC groan above her, and his hands moved to her shoulders. But she resisted and lowered her head to complete her journey.
JC was taken completely by surprise when her mouth opened and took his cock inside. He felt her tongue caress the underside of his cock, even as her lips closed and sucked him more deeply. He had to stop her, and he moved one hand from the wall down to her head. His fingers threaded through the brown strands to pull her back. But she slid one hand down and started to fondle and cup and squeeze his balls even as her head started to move. He couldn't pull her head away, so his fingers slid free, dislodging her neatly rolled hair. He knew he couldn't last much longer. He was always so horny with her simplest and most innocent of touches, that now, with her mouth sucking his cock and her hands caressing and stroking him, it wouldn't be long.
JC choked back his shout of arousal and his cock jerked within her mouth. Before he could pull free, he exploded and she swallowed it. She pulled back, looking dazed. JC opened his eyes and looked down. He reached down and pulled Laura to her feet. He watched the flush stain her cheeks as she saw his eyes traveling over her. Hastily, she moved and pulled her dress back up. JC stopped her and pressed a light kiss to her nipple. He covered it once again with the stretchy black lace. He started to lower his head to kiss her mouth when a loud knock was heard at the door.
"We'll be out in a second!" JC yelled. Laura pinched his arm when he yelled that there was more than one person in there.
"Is she okay?" Jerry yelled back.
Laura let out a sigh of relief. JC motioned for her to flush the toilet. "Yeah, Jerry, she's just had a bit too many. I think I am going to take her home early."
"Oh okay. I'll call for the limo to come around." Jerry said as he looked past JC into the bathroom at Laura who was wiping her mouth. They could hear him explaining to others outside that she was sick. JC went to open the door but Laura stopped him and held his face in her hands and she kissed him gently on the lips. "You are the best."
She walked out of the bathroom ahead of him and grabbed her jacket and proceeded to say good-bye to everyone. JC watched her as she went on and pretended that nothing ever happened and that he was no one special to her.
CHAPTER 28
The next morning, Laura went over to JC's to dropped off some music she had been working on for the album.
"JC! You here?" she yelled as she entered the back door. She walked through the kitchen and noticed three bags of luggage sitting in the hallway. He came down the stairs with a piles of clothes wrapped in his arms.
"Going somewhere?" she asked.
JC looked up from counting his garments and then bent down to place them in his suitcase. "I have to fly to Vegas this morning...We're taping a tribute performance for a TV special that is going to air soon and we have to do some promotional things while we're there. I should be back in a week or so. I'm going to stay longer to try and get some writing done."
Laura was hurt and disappointed that JC had never told her about the trip. "Oh."
"I never told you. I know." he said as he continued to pack...He never looked up at her. "I'd forgotten about it until Lance called and reminded me last night after we got back from the party.
"Are you pissed at me about something?" she asked.
Still never looking up at her, JC proceeded to zip up his luggage, "No. Why would you think that?"
"Because you seem rather cold right now."
"I'm not being cold, Laura. I just need to hurry up and pack before my cab gets here." he said as he stood up to face her.
"Well, I guess I will say my good-byes now then." Laura walked over to JC and quickly hugged him, "Have a safe trip, JC" She turned to leave. "I won't waste anymore of you time."
JC ran his hands through his hair and pulled it slightly as if he were going crazy. "Why do you always do that?" he asked.
"Do what?"
"Make me feel like an asshole when I shouldn't?"
"JC, only you can make yourself feel that way. I just didn't want to make you late...If I wouldn't have dropped by just now, I would not have seen you at all." she said, realizing he planned it that way.
"I would have called you later. I didn't know you were up."
"I guess you were trying to leave without telling me, so you wouldn't feel obligated to bring me along."
JC didn't want to admit that he was trying to leave without telling her. When she walked away from him at the party the night before, he had suddenly started to feel used and worthless to her. He felt like she was so loving with him when they were alone together and then treated him almost like a stranger when they were in public. He was growing weary and needed to go and clear his head.
"It wasn't that at all. You're always welcome to come if you want to Laura."
She wanted to tell him to go fuck himself but didn't want to argue with him right before he left to get on a plane.
"That's okay, JC. But thank you for the offer." she struggled to smile.
Laura walked back up to him and gave him a long hug good-bye. JC was still hurt about the night before but found it hard to stay angry with her. He closed his eyes and tried to memorize that moment...The way she felt in his arms...The way she looked...The way she smelled...Everything. He lightly kissed her forehead. "I'll call you when I get there."
"Okay. Just leave me a message on my voicemail or something. I'll probably be out all day."
"Oh...Okay." He was puzzled that she was okay with him leaving her that way. He stood there alone again watching her through the window as she walked away.
Later on that afternoon Laura's phone rang. She didn't want to speak to anyone and knew JC would most likely be calling her around that time. She turned down the volume on the answering machine and went back to playing the piano.
Moments later her cell phone began to ring. She looked at the display window and noticed it was JC's phone and let it go straight to her voicemail. She was tempted to pick up but decided to wait. At about 6pm her curiosity had won the battle and she checked her messages:
"Laura, its me. It's almost 2pm. I was just calling to let you know that I got in OK. I'm staying at the Luxor Hotel. The number here is 702-262-4102. It's suite 4880. They'll ask for a code. Just tell them LAC and they will connect you through to me...Or call the cell and I'll call you back once its charged up. Umm...I guess that's it...(long pause)...I'm sorry about how I was acting earlier. I was just in a weird mood...And now that I am here, I am really wishing you were here with me. I know you've never been here before and I wanted to show you so many things. Well maybe next time right? You are probably out so I won't keep babbling. I will hopefully talk to you later before I go to bed...(long pause)...I love you, Laura."
Laura saved the message and sat back on her couch and wondered if she should call him back or not.
CHAPTER 29
JC awoke to the sound of the phone ringing. He felt around the night stand until he finally reached the phone and placed it to his hear. "hello?" he answered in a muffled tone as he moved the pillow off his head.
"Yo, man, we're going to hit the strip. You wanna come?" Joey asked on the other end of the line.
"What time is it?" he asked as he squinted to find the clock radio.
"Its almost 10pm. Get your ass out of bed and come with us!" he yelled trying to wake up his best friend.
JC had no interest in leaving his hotel room, let alone his bed. "I've been out in public most of the week either partying or schmoozing with people I don't want to be around, Joey. Plus I got a lot of shit I need to work on before tomorrow. But you all have fun. If I change my mind I'll call your cell."
"You're no fun, man. I would have gotten you a few lap dances on me, but suit yourself. Hit me up if you change your mind."
JC hung up the phone and tried to fall back to sleep until the phone rang again. He quickly picked it up. "Hello?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha, JC, its Chris!"
"Yeah?"
"Listen at this man. I am standing in the lobby waiting on Joey and this girl and her friends are talking to me and we're taking pictures, etc...and we all start telling jokes. Well this 12 year old had my ass rollin'. Check it out...There was an Nsync fan with a really crappy seat at a stadium. Looking with her binoculars, she spotted an empty seat where the 50-yard line would be at a football game. Thinking to herself "what a waste" she made her way down to the empty seat.
When she gets to the seat, she asked the girl sitting next to it, "Is this seat taken?" The girl replied, "This was my sisters seat.
She passed away. She was a big Nsync fan."
The girl replied, "I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. May I ask why you didn't give the ticket to a friend or a relative?"
"They're all at the funeral...JC, I almost pissed myself."
JC was un-amused. "That's so funny, Chris."
"Man, forget it. I don't know why I waste these good jokes on you. Go back to sleep!" Chris said before hanging up.
JC nodded as he hung up and buried his head back under his pillow.
Knock, Knock, Knock
By this time JC was infuriated with all the interruptions to his rest. He jumped out of bed and threw the pillow across the room as he walked down the hallway.
"What?!" he asked as he rapidly opened the door. He found himself in a state of shock when he looked at the woman standing in front of him. "And they say there's no heaven on earth..." JC smiled as he opened the door for her to enter.
"I thought I would surprise you and see what Vegas had to offer me. So far, I'm amazed that everything I ever wanted is in this room." Laura smiled as she set her bag down on the floor and turned around to hug him.
"I see you have already made yourself at home." she laughed pointing out all the sheet music that was piled up on the other side of the bed,
"Yeah I know." he chuckled.
JC and Laura sat down and talked for a few minutes about her trip and JC decided to run to the lobby and get some information of places to take her. As Laura was relaxing, she decided to go through some of the music JC had been working on. One piece in particular caught her eye. The deep smile on her face soon began to fade as she continued to read the lyrics.
Love me when nobody else can see
Touch my soul
Then you treat me
Like I am a stranger
This is not the way I want to feel
Should have known
A love this strong
Would bring some danger
But if it's all in my head
I'll find a way to make it end
It's magic
And it's tragic
Slingshots
Whisper
My tear drops
An answer
What am I to you?
Tears continued to fall down Laura's face as she finished reading. She knew the song was about her and knew exactly what she had to do next.
CHAPTER 30
Laura rushed to the elevators and impatiently waited for it to reach the lobby. As she stepped out she looked around to find JC.
She finally spotted him at the front desk. Laura's stomach was full of knots as she slowly walked towards him. She looked around and surveyed the area. She felt like all were on her, even though no one seemed to notice her at all. JC was leaning on the counter talking to a group of girls who had camped out downstairs hoping to get pictures taken with their idols.
As Laura neared the front desk JC spotted her out of the corner of his eye as he continued to speak to the 5 girls who were standing there hanging on his every word. His smile grew a little wider as she came walking towards them, but then Laura walked right past him and the girls over to the information desk, never turning her eyes to look at him once. His smile soon faded and he went back to speaking to the girls. Laura pretended as if she were looking for entertainment brochures as she turned around every 3 seconds trying to give herself the courage to do what she had been planning to do every since she bolted out of the hotel room to find him.
"Just walk your ass over there, Laura." she whispered to herself, before almost jumping out of her skin in fright.
"Hey mamma!" a voice yelled out from behind as two fingers poked her in her side.
"Oh my god, Joey, you scared the shit out of me."
"Why are you so jumpy?"
"Huh? Oh no reason." she quickly stated.
"Did you get them yet, Joe?" Lance called out as he walked up to them.
"Getting them now. I was saying hi to Laura."
"Hey, Laura. How did you get here? I thought you were back home. JC didn't mention you coming with us when we got on the plane earlier this morning."
"It was a last minute thing..." she answered as she looked over at JC. Joey and Lance followed her gaze.
"Come on, let's go ask JC about the show before we go back out." Lance said as he patted Joey on his back.
"I'm coming. Talk to you later, Laura."
"Bye guys. Have fun." she called after them.
As they walked over to talk to JC the group of girls became more excited at their luck in seeing three out of the 5 men they had been searching for.
Laura stood there and continued to watch JC and smiled to herself as she remembered times past. All the times when they were together. Remembering mornings when she would open her eyes and find him staring at her smiling, breakfast in bed, arms wrapped tightly around her, his lips, his eyes, and the way all his emotions exuded show through a simple laugh or glance. Remembering days when she would be cold towards him trying to touch her because other people were around, days when she would act as if he weren't in the room when she were speaking to reporters or walking through a crowded lobby like she had just done earlier. Tears began to fill Laura's eyes again as she realized how hurt JC must have been every time she acted as if he weren't the most important person in her life.
Laura placed the brochures back down on the counter and walked over to JC. The girls, Lance, and Joey were still huddled in a group as they talked. Laura inched her way through the small opening.
"Excuse me for a moment, everyone." She walked up to JC who was in mid sentence, placing her hands on both sides of his face, pulling him down towards her to kiss him deeply.
JC was caught off guard, and could feel her tears touching his face, but as soon as her lips touched his, he couldn't help but grab her face in his hands and kiss her deeper. Everyone in the group dropped their jaws as they watched what was going on right in front of their very eyes. The 5 girls were dumbfounded trying to figure out who this woman could be. Joey and Lance also stood there stunned. Joey finally picked his jaw off the ground and smiled as he nudged Lance with his elbow and whispered, "I guess I can't make anymore cracks about him needing some lovin'."
Lance punched him in the arm as he grabbed Joey to leave. Laura and JC slowly stopped kissing. She smiled up at him and chuckled at the shocked look that was on his face. He looked around and noticed the 5 girls still standing there staring at them in silence and pure dismay. "Excuse us ladies. It was very nice talking to you." he said as he grabbed Laura's hand and headed for the elevators.
Laura stepped into the elevator first and stood against the far right wall. JC stepped in and stood on the far left side and the button for their floor. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited for the doors to close. The group of girls stood there still staring at them. JC waved to them as the doors began to shut. Once they were closed JC let out a long sigh. "Oh my God! What has gotten into you?" he quickly asked as he walked over to Laura and placed his hands on the sides of her waist. "You always keep me guessing." He placed his forehead on hers and looked deep into her eyes.
They were both silent. Laura's heart was beating so fast that she could barely hear the elevator music playing in the background. JC's slowly leaned down and kissed her lightly on lips. There was still something that was bothering him and he needed to clear up the matter right then and there. Every other time he wanted to bring it up, he would just tell himself that they would discuss it later and he would ignore the matter. But right now it was more important than her courageous actions downstairs in the lobby.
He took her hands and brought them up to his chest and he held them over his heart and began to speak, "Laura. I need to ask you something very important."
"What is it JC?"
Just as JC was about to ask her the biggest question of his life the doors opened and a group of college boys stumbled onto the elevator laughing and talking loudly amongst themselves. Laura looked at JC to see what he was going to ask her but he put his finger up and motioned that they wait till they got off the elevator. Laura was nervous the entire ride. She didn't know what JC was going to ask her and was scared it would be something that would change both their lives forever.