Chapter 4

The car jolted to a sudden halt bringing Alex out of her reverie.

“Sorry Ma’am” the driver said over his shoulder “That dog just ran out from nowhere.”

“Not a problem.” Alex looked across the landscape then turned and leaned forward slightly “How much further please?”

“I would say at least another hour and half, perhaps two, depends on how much traffic we hit at the other end.” He replied then asked “Is everything ok? Can I get you anything or do anything for you?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

“Ok then, if you require anything at all, please, just ask?” Charles had been driving for more than twenty years now. He had driven for dignitaries, politicians, movie stars and musicians and even royalty. Some were very casual and liked to chat, while others preferred a strictly professional relationship. As a result he had become accomplished at reading people, and every thing about this client told him that she was preoccupied and wanted to be left alone with her thoughts, so he had kept conversation to a minimum only answering her enquiries.

Alex nodded her assent then once again turned her attention to the scenery. They were on a bridge travelling over an unfamiliar harbour. Nothing compares to home, she thought browsing the variety of boats on the water, and for the second time that day was propelled into the memories of her past.

Jon had finally finished making his furtive calls. She had waited patiently while he did, unwilling to give him a reason to dismiss her. Little did she know, that was the farthest thing from his mind!

Jon stood from his perch on the desk, and turned to Alex with a self satisfied grin. “Right, let’s blow this joint.”

He grabbed Alex by the hand and led her towards the parking valet in front of the hotel. “Where are we going?” she questioned.

“You’ll see!” was his only reply.

They emerged into the balmy spring evening to find the car already waiting for them. Thankfully the majority of fans had given up on their evening stakeout and gone home. Only a few of the more zealous variety remained but their attentions were focused on the rooms far above. Jon moved quickly and handed Alex down into the car, ever the gentleman, and slid in beside her as she moved across the seat to allow him access. It was a short drive to their destination and they travelled in companionable silence. Jon was soon helping Alex out of the car and she found herself at the marina at Rushcutters Bay.

He led her to the end of one of the docks and stopped before a sleek motor yacht where gently lifted her into his arms and placed her on deck. Jon climbed up himself and before he could say a word the captain appeared discretely from the lower deck to release the thick ropes that tethered it to the dock. He then climbed the stairs to the upper deck and the control room, the yachts engines roared to life as he manoeuvred the luxurious boat out into Sydney Harbour.
“Oh my God Jon” Alex exclaimed with alarm “What about Lanie and Mel? I totally forgot that they were going to the party too.”

Jon placed his arm around Alex’s waist and led her over to the plush leather lounge that dominated the lower timber lined deck and they both sat down. “Don’t worry Alex one of the phone calls I made earlier was to Reg. I had him hand the phone to your friend, umm...Mel, is it? She was fine with it once I made my intentions clear. She and her sister were being entertained by Dave and Rich and were just about ready to leave for home. I let her know that I would have you delivered safely to her house later.”

Alex was very quiet for a moment, she sat looking down as she fiddled with one of her rings, then, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks, she spoke almost inaudibly “And what are your intentions exactly?”

It was a question he was unprepared for and one he hadn’t been asked since he was a teen by concerned parents. “Alex, I won’t lie to you. I had all kinds of intentions for you tonight, and I have to say nearly all of them involved you naked and in my bed.” Jesus, did he just say that to a sixteen year old. The sudden blush and stunned expression she tried to conceal confirmed he did.

Alex didn’t know what to say. She turned away from him and focused on the harbour in an attempt to disguise the heat she felt radiating up her face. She was forcefully attracted to him and what teenager didn’t dream of bedding a rock star, but she wasn’t ready to take that step yet. Not even for Jon Bon Jovi.

“Alex, please look at me” God how she loved it when he said her name but she just couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes.

Jon moved off the lounge and kneeled before her. He placed a hand on each of her knees and spread her legs wide enough so that he could move between them, she didn’t resist. At his touch a searing heat raced up her thighs, through her core and settled as a knot in her stomach.
Her breath hitched and he knew he was affecting her as much as she affected him. The connection he had felt that first moment he held her on stage was real, not imagined, and he couldn’t do a fucking thing about it. It was sweet torture. Here sat this beautiful young woman, with what many considered a body built for sin, mature both physically and mentally beyond her years, yet she was off limits not only now but for quite some time into the future.

Alex shifted uncomfortably in her seat but Jon stayed put. Again he said “Alex, baby, please look at me.” He reached up and took her face between his hands and turned it till he was looking directly into her eyes. What he saw there initially delighted him, he saw passion and longing and fire, but on looking a little deeper he also saw trepidation and..... oh fuck, fear! He let go of her face and knelt back on his haunches.

“I would never do anything to hurt you Alex” Looking up at her Jon said softly “You do know that don’t you? There’s an attraction here, and its something I’d like to explore further but I don’t want to do anything that will make you feel uncomfortable. ”

“I...I’m” She hesitated, trying to find the right words.

“Ali...” he interrupted, but she shook her head to silence him and turned away before continuing, unable to look at him any longer. “I’m just not ready to take this where you want it to go Jon. I’m sure NO is not a word that you hear very often and believe me I can’t say I haven’t dreamed of this a million times but I just can’t do it.”

She continued “It’s not even that I don’t want to, because lets face it, who wouldn’t. Hell, I even know guys who say they’d turn gay for you. But I just can’t do it Jon. That’s not how I was raised. I don’t want my first time to be a one night stand. It has to be special with someone I love, and while I do love you, it’s your stage persona that I love, not you as a person, not that I couldn’t.........” She was rambling now so she bit her bottom lip to quiet herself as a single tear slid silently down her check.

Alex felt like the biggest fool alive. She was sitting here with the most desirable man in the world telling him NO. And if that wasn’t bad enough, now she was going to sit here and cry like a baby. Jon sat knelt silently on the floor, his heart aching for her. He could only imagine how hard that had been for her. Most of the people surrounding him never denied him, they were in essence yes men, and it showed a great strength of character for her to do so.

He couldn’t help himself; he rose up between her knees once more, threaded his hand into the silky hair at the nape of her neck, and then, while gazing deep into her amber eyes, leaned forward and traced the trail of her tear gently with the tip of his tongue. She did not pull away at his touch, so encouraged by this, he continued with feather light kisses all over her face. Jon and Alex surrendered to the moment. Both knowing it was wrong, but powerless stop it.

Alex was lost in a myriad of sensations as Jon laid a trail of kisses across her face to her mouth, first softly grazing her luscious lips then deepening the kiss to feel and taste her more intimately. His tongue skimmed across her teeth then plunged deeper to wrestle with hers. His hand remained settled at her nape, tenderly cradling her head, while the other came to rest on her lower back. Alex responded moving one hand up and down his spine while the other found itself entwined in his gorgeous long hair. She felt familiar, like home, after too long on the road, he was finally home, but then he remembered.

Jon drew back from the kiss first. He stood to put some distance between them. “Alex I’m so sorry. That shouldn’t have happened. It was wrong of me to take advantage of you. Can you forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive Jon. I wanted it as much as you but I think perhaps you should take me home.”

“Ali, I can’t, please not like this, not yet” Jon could not, would not lose her so soon “I have other plans for us this evening, well morning. Please say you’ll stay with me just a little longer. When I said I wanted to spend time with you and get to know you better I didn’t mean like that. I want to know everything about you Alex, about your life, your family, your friends...anything you want to tell me. This chemistry we have is real. I know you feel it too. I can’t give up on this that easily”

“What do you want to know?” She conceded.

“Really...anything you want to tell me.” A contented grin settled on Jon’s perfect face.
The couple talked as the yacht sailed the harbour. They spoke about anything and everything, their conversation punctuated with brief caresses and intimate gestures. They talked about their families and friends, about her school and his work, of fame, fortune and public life. She discussed her ambitions to be a photographer and he recognised in her the driving passion that had led to his own success. He knew if that didn’t change, she would one day be very successful. They explored relationships and their idea of the perfect partner. Jon even disclosed his loss of innocence at the age of twelve, his regret of the circumstances around it and his understanding of her need for it to be meaningful. They discussed music and film, art and literature and found some common ground there.

The couple were oblivious when the yacht docked at Luna Park and had to be informed they had arrived at their destination. Jon had arranged for the amusement park to open exclusively for them, but on arrival they decided that they much preferred each others company and conversation to the thrill of carnival rides. They, instead, continued to cruise the harbour passing stunning landscapes and historical sites but paying no attention to either, they were so enthralled in each others company.

Soft music played in the background setting a perfect scene. Jon rose from his position on the lounge beside Alex and held out a hand to her, inviting her to dance. Alex stood and moved silently into his arms to share their second dance that night. They held each other close and swayed in time with the feint strains of Move Closer by Phyliss Nelson.

[spoken]Hey, baby.
You go your way, and I'll go mine.
But in the meantime...
[sung]When we're together,
Touching each other,
And our bodies,Do what we feel.
When we're dancing,
Smooching and swaying,
Tender love songs,
Softly playing,
Move closer.
Move your body real close until we,
Feel like we're really making love.
Ooh, move closer.
Move your body real close until we,
Feel like we're really making love.

So when I say, "Sugar,"
And I whisper, "I love you."
Well, I know you're gonna answer,
In the sweetest words, saying,
"My pretty lady, I love you too.
"Well, there's much room for passion,
Ooh, no no, there's no room for fear.
When the love flows smoothly between us, baby,
My dear, move...Move closer.

Move your body real close until we,
Feel like we're really making love.
Oh, oh, move closer.
Move your body real close until we,
Feel like we're really making love

Alex buried her face in his neck and hair, breathing deeply of his scent occasionally laying a soft kiss on his collarbone. She could feel the strength of his passion against her thigh, though he did not pursue it, an act that took more control than he believed he possessed. Jon pulled her in even closer; he couldn’t get enough, her softness, that silky skin and the smell of green apples coming from her hair. He pulled apart from her slightly and lowered his face to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. She responded in kind but her aim was true and she found his mouth ready to accommodate her. It was their last goodbye, and even as the darkness ebbed and the sun rose slowly over the horizon, casting a golden glow on all it touched, the yacht pulled into its moorings, and they embraced passionately both willing time to stand still and the night be eternal.

The pair reluctantly drew apart. Jon helped Alex disembark the yacht, then turned and thanked the captain for his discretion with an outrageously generous tip before disembarking himself. The night was over, a new day had dawned, but for the couple it held little promise, for they both knew that for them, there could be no future.