Message from Venus

Hi Everyone,

Due to some unforeseen circumstances in my personal life I’m afraid my blogs won’t updated with the regularity they have been up until this point.  Please be assured that Frankie and Alex haven’t been forgotten, I will continue to plot and plan for both of them and I hope to see some regularity return in the next few months.  In the mean time, anything you can send me for inspiration would be greatly appreciated.  Sorry to keep you all waiting and thank you for your patience.  Please keep checking back...I’ll post as I can.

Sincerely
Venus

Chapter 42

Alex moaned involuntarily and surrendered to his kiss, her arms wrapped around his neck, her warm soft body rubbed against his. He bent down and grabbed the back of her thighs spreading them wide and hoisting her up so that her robe fell open and her legs wrapped around his waist, her ankles locked holding her tight. He spun around and slammed her up against the door they had been standing before. Wedged there as she was, with no chance of falling, she used her now free hands to open his shirt. Her hands found the buttons, but in her haste her fingers fumbled and she was too impatient to wait so she ripped it open. Little plastic projectiles scattered to every corner of the room.

Jon held her tight bracing her with one hand under her ass as he used the other to fumble with his zipper.

"Bedroom." she ordered.

"Where?" He asked impatiently between kisses, unwilling to rip his mouth from hers.

Her only response was to indicate loosely in the right direction with a flick of her wrist, her mouth busy on his. He carried her in to the room and dropped her on to the bed and collapsed on top of her.

He pulled back from her long enough to position himself at her entrance.

"Are you sure Ali?"

"I need you," was her only response.

And then in one swift movement he plunged deep inside. A scream of ecstasy tore from her throat as he seated himself within her. He felt so good... he felt like home. He lay still within her as they both settled into the position. Their bodies fit together like two pieces of a puzzle.

He propped himself up on his elbows - his hands threaded into her hair - so that he could look into her eyes and then he began to move, ...slowly, sensually....rocking up and down along her body, then alternately moving his hips in a circular motion. Her clit was being stimulated with every movement by his pubic bone and before long she was on the brink of orgasm. He stopped moving then and rolled off her.

Her breath was coming in short pants. "Wha....Jon....What's wrong?...why did you stop?"

"Oh baby, I'm not stopping...I've only just begun" he said with smirk, propped up now on one elbow beside her.

Alex watched through hooded eyes as his eyes devoured her, taking in every delicious inch of her flesh. "I need to look at you baby," he said softly.

With a feather light touch Jon traced the outline of her lips with his forefinger. She opened her mouth slightly and he traced the line of her lower teeth as her tongue caressed the tip of her finger. He dragged her lower lip down and let it spring back up as he moved down over her chin and down the elegant line of her throat.

Alex tilted her head back to allow him better access and he leant in to follow the line with his tongue, pausing to kiss her in the hollow at the base of her throat before pulling back. Jon's hand now rested flat between her breasts. Her nipples strained for his touch but he did not indulge them. With his middle finger he traced lazy patterns along her sternum and under each breast. Her nipples were painfully hard now. Alex arched up towards him and his self control faltered, he swiped his tongue briefly over one erect little pebble and then blew across it, his warm breath feeling cool against her over heated flesh.

A soft moan escaped Alex's lips. She threaded a hand in his hair and tried to bring his mouth back to her breast but he resisted.

"Uh, Uh baby...not yet" He moved back up to her mouth and claimed it passionately with his, as his hand began to move lower.

Jon ran his hand across Alex's flat stomach, over her hip and down the back her thigh. Her breath was coming in shallow pants as her body anticipated what was to come next but Jon was not giving it to her that easily. He adjusted his position and rolled her so that they were face to face on their sides and hitched her leg over his hip.

He ran his fingers lightly up and down the back of her thigh causing goose bumps which soon spread all over her body. He nuzzled into her neck, and inhaled deeply the sweet scent of her hair, the scent that drove him wild, the scent that he had missed every day they were apart. He kissed his way to her lips and lost himself in the sweet taste of her mouth. If he could stay attached to her lips for the rest of his life he would never be able to get enough of them, the soft pliable flesh that grew plump and deepened in colour the more attention he lavished on them.

Tonight was a gift. He knew that. He also knew it was most likely the last they would ever have together, in just a few short days she would belong to another. He pulled her closer to him and hugged her fiercely. How would he ever go on knowing that she would never be his? As long as she had been single there was a chance that she would come around to his way of thinking...that chance was now all but extinct. He pulled back from her slightly to gaze upon her dazzling face. One arm laid under his head, bent at the elbow and curled back on itself, in the other he took her hand and entwined their fingers, gently stroking, playing as his eyes found hers and he searched their depths for some sign of the emotion she was feeling.

Alex had always had the most expressive eyes. They would always tell him what her words could not. Right now they spoke of love, a fiery inferno of passion and deep in their depths the sorrow that ultimately the flames of that passion would soon be extinguished forever. He wondered if that was even possible. He knew that from his own experience he hadn't even come close. Hell he hadn't been able to lessen that fire to anything less than a dull roar – a slow burn that consumed him wholly at the mere thought of her. He hoped, for the sake of her future happiness, she had more luck.

The urgency overtook him them. They no longer had years, months, weeks or days to define exactly what they were to each other. They had only hours to enjoy whatever it was.

His lips sought hers again with a fierce desperation. He pulled her tight against his body and rolled so that she was on top of him. He needed her to control what was to come next. He needed to feel her need. He needed to know that she wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her. And she did.

Alex smothered him with kisses. He marvelled that her mouth seemed to be in so many places at once, for every kiss left an indelible impression on his skin, a scorching path of pleasure. She kissed from the corner of his mouth across his strong jaw and down his neck. Her soft body still lay along his, a contradiction to the hard sculptured length of him; she didn't want to surrender that privilege just yet. She shimmed down a fraction so that she could access the taught little pebbles that were so well hidden in the masses of dark fur that covered his chest.

One tiny flick of her tongue elicited a deep rumbling groan from deep within him and a very persistent poking in the soft flesh of her stomach as his cock, impossible as it seemed, became even harder. She swirled her tongue several times around his nipple before nipping on it gently with her teeth and sucking it into the wet warmth of her mouth.

Jon's hand threaded into her hair, holding her to his chest as she teased him mercilessly, moving from one nipple to the other, while taking the neglected nipple between her fingers and manipulating it gently. Her other hand, still unoccupied, found its way between their tight pressed bodies to slowly stroke his throbbing member. It was rock hard but silky smooth as she moved her hand up and down its length, pausing to smear the pre cum across the head with her thumb.

Ever so slowly she began to rock up and down the length of his body, her hand now flat wedging his cock tighter against her body so that every minute movement was the most excruciating pleasure.

Alex looked into Jon's eyes as she rubbed against him. She watched the passion further ignite and grow in intensity until her mind likened his eyes to the very hottest blue core of a flame.

"Tell me what you want, baby" Her voice was husky, thick with sex.

He grabbed her head gently between his hands and pulled her to him until their lips touched and then spoke against them, his warm delicious breath invading her mouth. "I want this night to last forever."

It was not what she had expected. She tried again "What do you need.

"I need to be inside you, to feel your warmth wrapped around me. I need to feel you cum with me in you. I need to hear you scream my name as you do."

Alex placed her hands on his chest and pushed herself up to a kneeling position, then in one graceful movement impaled herself on his rock hard cock. At an even, measured pace she began to move up and down, arching her body so that each stroke of his cock stimulated that special spot within her, the one that would lead to a mind shattering orgasm if manipulated just right. A low moan escaped her.

"Fuck Jon, you feel so good!"

He tried to arch up to meet her, holding him down she threw his words back at him. "Uh, Uh baby...not yet"

She began to slowly pick up the pace.

Watching her fuck him was the most erotic thing Jon had ever seen, just watching his cock disappear, with each down stroke, into her warm tight pussy. He watched as her control slipped and instinct took over, her pace quickened and her breathing accelerated. Her hands found her breasts, caressing, manipulating, his found her clit, teasing, stimulating. She threw her head back and her silky mane brushed over his thighs and across his balls. The feeling was divine.

Jon felt when her climax was near and knew that he would be with her. He watched as her jaw tensed in an effort to retain control.

"Let it go baby," he urged, "I'm right there with you. Cum for me. Let me hear you scream."

And she did. Her legs began to quiver and then it exploded out in waves from her core, touching every fibre of her being. The magnitude of her release was like nothing she had experienced before.

"Fuck Jon yes, yes, yes!"

As promised he was with her. Alex felt his seed spill deep within her convulsing walls as he came in almost violent bursts, a strangled cry on his lips. Only when the last drops of his release had been spilled did she stop her motions and collapse on top of him. She nuzzled into his neck and his arms encircled her, holding her tight, their joint form finally silent and still.

Chapter 41

Alex emerged from the steaming hot bath, her skin now flushed pink from the almost scalding water. Her hair was swept up into a loose knot at the top of her head but loose damp tendrils escaped at the nape of her neck and along her hairline framing her face. Her cheeks like her body held a rosy glow.

She picked up the plush white robe from the hook and wrapped it around her body before moving into the bedroom of the hotel suite. It was just one of several that had been booked for the wedding which would take place in just a few days... her wedding. It seemed an impossibility, the day had come so very quickly.

As she walked into the bedroom, a garment bag hanging over the door caught her attention. Funny...she hadn't even heard anyone knock; obviously the valet had placed it there while she had been in the bath. She plonked herself down onto the bench seat at the end of the bed and stared long and hard at the bag then wondered, in amusement, what she expected it to do. It was almost as if she feared its contents. Perhaps because she knew what the bag contained ...her wedding gown.

It was as if the bag was beckoning her. She strolled to it dutifully and unzipped the long zipper that ran along its length then gently shrugged the bag over the shoulders of her gown delicately pulling the lacy creation from its sheath. It still took her breath away. Antique off-white lace, dotted sparsely with Swarovski crystals, fell from just under a ruched silk bust. When on, it clung to her curves enticingly to mid thigh then fell in flowing lines to the floor, a three foot train trailed behind. Inch wide gathered straps grew wider and flattened as they reached the top of her shoulders forming almost a sweetheart neckline. It was very different from the designs of the time, but very much Alex... feminine but with clean lines and no frills. A fine tulle fingertip veil, her only concession to current trends hung behind the gown.

Alex could not believe that time had rushed by so very fast. It seemed like only days before that she was standing in the Library at the Springsteen house with him. She took a sharp intake of breath as the memory hit her like a blow to the stomach. These days Alex did the best she could to keep him from her mind. It was proving to be a difficult task, one made all the more difficult by his insistent desire to contact her. Her staff, Lanie in effect, had fended off his daily attempts to contact her since their confrontation. She had to give it to him....he was nothing if not persistent, but Alex had no desire to see him after the horrible nasty things he had said to her. Unfortunately for her...if she was honest with herself.... the desire she felt where he was concerned was far worse.

A sharp rap on the door startled Alex and she moved over to the peep hole to see who it could be. She wasn't expecting anyone. Her parents and future in-laws would be arriving late the next day and Rick and his mates had flown to Las Vegas that morning for a couple of final celebratory nights of bachelorhood. On glancing through the peep hole all Alex could see were masses of Red roses. Rick, you sweet man, she thought to herself as she swung the door open.

"Hi," she said already turning to the table in search of her wallet, "I'll just get you a tip." She pulled a ten from her purse and was instructing the delivery man as she turned towards him. "Just put them on the...." she broke off mid sentence. "What are you doing here?" Her voice turned cold immediately.

Jon stood just inside the door to her hotel suite looking sheepish. "There was no other way I could get you to listen to my apology." He shrugged.

"Now isn't the time Jon" There was a hardness to her voice that he hadn't heard before and he cringed.

"Please Ali I didn't come here to fight with you." His pet name for her, regretfully, still set her heart to flutter "I've been beating myself up for the past two months over the things I said to you at Bruce's. I'm not here to do anything but apologize and wish you and Rick every happiness."

"Fine you've apologized now go," she said arms crossed defensively against her chest.

"I need you to know that I didn't mean any of those horrible things that I said." He moved a step closer and closed the door behind him.

Her tone was cool and even but she couldn't keep eye contact. "But you see I think you did...things said in anger often have some truth to them...so thanks for clearing it all up. It made my decision much easier. Believe it or not I was actually swaying for a while there while you were speaking."

Jon flashed a killer smile and chuckled lightly shaking his head. "You know one of the things I will always love most about you..." He moved another step closer to her "you are absolutely one of the most stubborn women I have ever met."

Much to her chagrin a smile crept into Alex's features.

He continued encouraged, "And you are wrong you know. I didn't mean those things. I was hurting and when I'm hurting I become an asshole."

"Yes you do" She agreed enthusiastically.

"Will you please accept my apology?" Jon moved to the desk, placed the large arrangement of flowers down gingerly and took her hand in his. "I will never forgive myself if we can't be friends again Alex. Please...please at least allow me that."

"Were we ever friends Jon," She asked pulling back from him and taking a step away. His close proximity was making her uncomfortable "I kind of think that we skipped that. Maybe that's where we went wrong."

"Well maybe we should start over." He held out a hand "Hi, I'm Jon."

Alex paused and eyed him suspiciously but reluctantly held out her hand but instead of a hand shake as she expected he raised her hand to his lips and placed a lingering kiss on her knuckles. The touch of his lips burned her skin...a heat that raced straight to her cheeks.

"Alex... pleased to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine Alex," he said with a wiggle of his eyebrows. He had not yet released her hand. "Lovely suite you have here."

Alex's knees buckled and he caught her and steadied her.

"Are you ok?"

"Fine" She said "I think perhaps the bathwater was a little hot that's all." She said loosely indicating the direction of the bathroom, forgetting that her wedding dress was hanging over the adjacent door.

"So this is the dress?" He said trying hard to disguise the pain in his voice.

"It is. You like?" She glanced over her shoulder again, at the delicate off white lacy creation, following his gaze.

Jon was having a hard time finding his voice. For a man that made a living with his words, he seemed to be at a loss for them now. When he did manage to speak the sound that came from his mouth was strangely foreign... strangled with pain "You'll be the most beautiful bride who ever walked down the aisle."

"Thank you Jon. That means a lot. I'm glad you've come to your senses about this." She said quietly, she could see what it was costing him to express the sentiment.

The hint of a smile touched Jon's lips "Yeah, I have come to my senses about all this. And now that I have done what I came for, I should go." He agreed almost inaudibly as he once again reached for Alex's hands and pulled her close for a hug.

"Yes you should," Alex held on to him, not quite ready for it to be over.

"I hope you know that I only wish happiness for you." He whispered softly in her ear "He's a very lucky guy."

Jon stroked his fingers softly into the curls at the nape of her neck and pulled back to kiss her forehead.

"Thank you Jon...I just wish...." she paused.

"... things could have been different," he finished for her. "So do I honey, so do I."

Alex looked into Jon's eyes and saw the underlying sadness there. She delicately kissed the corner of his mouth but let her lips linger just a few seconds longer than she should.

"You shouldn't have done that Ali," he said, his voice husky as he turned his head slightly and roughly devoured her mouth.

Chapter 40

Alex moved over to a single armchair detached from all others in the room and sat on the edge stiffly. Jon picked up a low leather ottoman from the other side of the room and placed it before her. He sat down, their knees touching and grasped her left hand in both of his.

"I'm going to tell you some things that I've never told you or anyone else. And some of these things are really hard for me to say...hell they're hard enough for me to hear for that matter, or even think about."

Alex sat quietly before him but would not meet his eyes.

Jon continued, "But there are things that need to be said and believe me when I tell you I'm baring my soul here." Now Jon turned away...he did not want her to see the emotion in his eyes "So if you're gonna walk away afterwards... then please don't look back because I just don't think I could take it."

"But first" he said "I need to know just one thing from you. Can you answer just one question for me, honestly?"

Alex glanced at Jon and could plainly see the anguish that distorted his beautiful face. "I'll try." She said almost inaudibly.

Jon took one hand and titled her chin so that she was looking directly at him, her eyes would tell him all he needed to know "Do you love him Ali? Really, really love him? Is he the last person you're thinking of when you fall asleep, and the first person you're thinking of when you wake? When you're apart it feels like you're missing part of yourself, and when you're together, the happiness is indescribable?"

"He's a good man." She replied evasively.

"That's not what I asked Alex." Jon said sternly.

"Yes! I love Rick."

It was like a knife had been plunged into Jon's heart but he persisted "Yes but do you love him like that...like I described... because I love a lot of people Ali, but we both know there is a difference."

"I'm trying to," She whispered looking down at her hands as she twisted Ricks ring that felt heavy on her finger, "But I'm damaged goods."

Jon reached forward and placed the palm of his hand on her face gently caressing her cheek. When he spoke it was a gentle coo. "Oh baby... there is nothing, you hear me nothing about you that is damaged."

A single tear slipped down her cheek and she brushed it away frustrated "Yes there is Jon... you saw to that a very long time ago.....the first time I looked into your eyes, in that second you ruined me for anyone else, irrespective of anything that came after."

It took all the strength he had and every ounce of acting ability for Jon no to look triumphant in that moment. He raised the hand he still held to his lips and kissed her palm gently and held it to his cheek.

"See, so you do know how I feel, how I have always felt, about you Alex because it was the same for me."

She interrupted "It doesn't change anything though."

He looked at her sharply "Please let me finish" Alex sat quietly again "For whatever reason we were born ten years apart and half a world away from each other, but from the first moment I touched you I knew we were meant to be together."

"You know, after you made me leave you four years ago, I've had a lot of time to think and I've tried - God Alex I've tried so hard - to put myself in your shoes and I don't blame you for anything you did. Hell I didn't give you very many choices, did I?

"Not that I could see...." This earned her another stern glance.

"But now I'm asking you to put yourself in my shoes for a moment because if nothing else I've got to know that you understand why I did the things I did. Why they seemed like the right things to do at the time." He paused momentarily waiting for a protestation that didn't come. Surely that was a good sign. "Hell Alex, in so many ways I was trying to protect you. You remember when we first met?"

A wistful smile touched her lips "How could I forget?"

"You know for a middle class boy from jersey you were the most beautiful, the most exotic woman I could ever have dreamed of..."

"That's silly" She blushed profusely.

His eyed twinkled as he caught her gaze "Don't call my feelings silly. It's how I felt...how I feel...I still haven't found anyone that compares to you."

"My mind was racing a hundred miles an hour...all the things I wanted to do for you, to show you.... But God... then I found out you were just sixteen. Part of me wanted to be selfish Alex, part of me wanted to be really selfish and just not let that even matter. It wouldn't have been the first time I'd taken something I wanted, consequences be damned."

He stroked his knuckles along the delicate line of her jaw. "But you were so young, so very precious...how could I tear you away from everything that you knew. I mean...Australia is so far away...if I had brought you back here or on tour or where ever..."Jon struggled to find the words to adequately convey his thoughts, "I mean, I knew my own mind, even then I knew how I felt but I didn't know if you felt the same way, not really. How could I take you so far from home, away from everything that was familiar, only to find you had a change of heart and that everyone that loved you – everyone except me - was hundreds of miles away."

"I didn't want to just be some rock star crush. So I left but I did send letters Alex. God I used to sit in my hotel room in whatever godforsaken city we were in and pour my heart and soul into those letters. I know now you never got them, but at the time I was devastated. When I hadn't heard from you I presumed my Rock Star crush theory was correct and decided it was time to move on. But I didn't forget you... I never forgot you."

"What happened to the letters Jon?...You mentioned them at the resort too" Alex asked quietly...it had been a mystery to her for far too long now.

"Doc destroyed them. He didn't want any of us being involved with anyone. Apparently that fucked with our marketability, harder to market a heartthrob with a girlfriend. When I got home after the Jersey tour I confronted him about it and he confessed what he had done....needless to say the dumb fuck no longer works for us." He said, clearly still agitated by the topic.

"Hmm... I had wondered why he wasn't on this last tour." So she had followed the tour...good sign.

"I tried so hard to shield you from all the bullshit back then...it wasn't anything you needed to know. There was no need to get you involved in my problems besides you made it pretty clear at your mom's that you didn't want me around."

"See Jon here is the problem...on one hand you are begging me to be a part of your life but on the other you are shielding me from it."

"Well yes I HAVE been shielding you from it because I wanted to protect you. I didn't want to burden you with all the drama in my life. I didn't want to tell you all these things but what choice are you giving me now. I can't fight Rick for you. You are absolutely right about one thing... he doesn't have all the issues that I have. But hell Alex if I didn't tell you everything now while I have the chance, I'd always wonder if I could have said something to make you see my point of view, and why I did some of the things I did"

"I understand why you left that first time Jon...I always have. What I have never understood – and we have had this conversation before - is why, considering you profess that I am the love of your life, why did you marry her."

"I have explained this to you Ali," he said as he leaned back and looked away, thinking of how best to explain it now so that she truly understood, "You know now what it is to tour Alex. And you know that one was particularly bad for me. I was.... desperate, for lack of a better word, for something to hold onto, something to give me some stability. Shit my head wasn't screwed on right. My voice was failing, it was a constant source of distress, it had become so bad that I was getting steroid injections." He laughed a bitter little laugh "But the machine had to keep going. There was no insurance if I couldn't work and the pace was brutal."

Alex wondered if he was referring to himself as the machine or the tour as a whole.

Jon continued "We were all getting on each other's nerves and that just got worse over time. I was exhausted, beyond exhausted. I know this sounds like a copout but if there is such a thing as temporary insanity I had it. Dorothea has always been..." he paused as he searched for the right word to use "...she's always been..." another pause, briefer this time "...comfortable. I had all these unknowns being thrown at me on a daily basis, not the least of which was if my band would make it through til the end of the tour. We had all the success we could hope for and I should have been on top of the world but I felt like I was on the bottom."

"I'm sure you've heard the saying 'It's lonely at the top'. Well that was me. And well Dot and I...I guess we have known each other for so long, I was just reaching for something familiar. I know I've said this to you before.... that you've heard the story, but it was completely spur of the moment. And looking back I think maybe I was trying to piss some people off too, Doc for sure, maybe even the label, all the people who were trying to tell me how to run my own fucking life. That was the one thing I could do that they had no fucking control over. But believe me when I tell you... almost the instant that it was over I realized I had made a mistake, but then I felt trapped. Doc and the label was trying to figure out the right way to spin it, and fuck if I admitted I had made a mistake then I just would have heard a bunch of I told you so's. And to be honest, I couldn't hurt her either; she was innocent in all of it. I mean, she thought I was crazy but she just went along with it."

"Because she loves you Jon" Alex said quietly as he paused.

"Well of course she does, and I love her too" now it was Alex's turn to feel the sharp pang of the knife "but not the way I love you Alex. There is a big difference. I love her more like a like a sister or a best friend. Kind of how you love Rick."

"But she doesn't Jon...she does love you that way...the way you described."

"No Ali, she doesn't. I mean hell, you remember when we were together in Queensland... she basically told me to fuck whoever I wanted to. If she loved me that way would she have said that?"

"Well how do you explain Stephanie?"

"Alex, babies are made every day and not necessarily between two people who even love each other, much less are married."

"Why would you bring a child into a loveless marriage?"

"Please don't bring my child into this." His words stung her and he saw the hurt in her eyes. He tried to explain. "I didn't say I don't love Dot, I do. It's just not like what I have with you. And fuck... I mean...it's not like we had this timed or anything. Shit happens!"

"Maybe from your perspective... but I'm sure she sees things differently."

"Why do you think you have this big insight into what she thinks and feels?"

"Regardless this is getting us nowhere..." Alex interrupted.

"Trust me, she's gotten what she wants. Look at how she lives"

"I saw the way she looked at you Jon..still looks at you...believe me she doesn't see you as a brother or best friend. Maybe if she did it would make it easier for me to do what you asking of me. Maybe if I didn't see her in the back of my mind every time we are together"

"Trust me on this, I know her better than you do. You're reading too much into her. She's not all that complicated. She knows how my life is and she doesn't object. She lives in a nice place and will never have to work a day in her life...and now she's got a baby to concentrate on. So if it's really just Dorothea that is standing between you and I, well we just have to figure out a way to push her aside"

"And that will excuse you to fuck around behind her back" Alex spat.

Jon was taken aback by her words...he had thought she was starting to come around. "Alex... I'm hurt"

"Why it's true isn't it?"

"Not for a long time truth be known...about four years now." It was Alex's turn to be taken aback. "Listen you know better than anyone that I'm no saint but I have never been this honest with another woman in my entire life... including Dorothea."

"So, why me? Why now?" She couldn't help but ask the burning question.

"I have never felt the need to explain myself to any woman, except you. You make me want to be worth your love, worth your trust. I know I'm not perfect Alex...far from it.... but you make me want to be a better man for you." He paused and watched the internal struggle as she chose her words.

"I think your fighting a losing battle Jon. You could never be the man I need."

Her words were unexpected, and though she has spoken them quietly, calmly...to him they contained more venom than the deadliest snake.

"So what I've said doesn't even make a difference to you, does it?" She could see that he barely held onto his temper now and waited for the explosion.

"Didn't I say from the start that it couldn't...as long as you have a wife nothing can make a difference."

"You know what Alex? I don't think you don't even know what kind of fucking man you need." He said out of spite. It was the temper she had heard about. He stood abruptly sending the ottoman skittering across the floor behind him.

"I know I don't need YOU" She jumped to her feet, just inches from him, her voice raised now.

"Really baby? You don't need me?" He pulled her aggressively into his arms and held her there as he kissed her forcefully, but before she could even respond he was pushing her away." She raised a hand to her tender bruised lips.

"I pity Rick. You only think you don't need me, but just wait Alex, just wait til you're trapped in a loveless marriage and he doesn't satisfy you the way that I do. I know he can't, so don't even fucking try to lie to me."

"Oh so last week you didn't hear me screaming his name in the early hours of the morning...I'm so glad....I wouldn't want to give you a complex. You see, Rick... well he even puts Richie to shame." It wasn't too far from the truth, he had all the equipment...but Jon was right...he didn't have the same effect on her...no one ever would. But there was no way in hell she was letting him know that.

"You fucking bitch don't even try that shit with me," The steely contempt of his tone caused a shiver in her, "You think I'm jealous of him? I think perhaps you've forgotten who you're talking to."

"Ooh I know very well who I'm talking to and I know you are insanely jealous! There's no doubt in my mind!" Her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched.

"Honey you wanna know what I know..." he paused for effect, "I know he doesn't put a smile on your face like I can. I'm not jealous of him... I fucking feel sorry for him Alex." A sadistic smile crossed his lips. "Don't you think maybe you should cut him loose and let him find a wife who will really love him?"

"Oh baby, don't feel sorry for him. He gets the prize and unlike your wife, he has a partner who is faithful" She smiled sweetly.

He stood there his whole body rigid with anger. He ground out between clenched teeth "For the last time, leave...my...FUCKING....WIFE...out of this."

"Oh and you think you're a PRIZE now princess?"

"You know I am!" she responded smugly.

"What happened to the sweet little Aussie girl I remember? You've changed Alex."

"Yes Jon. You changed me. On that beach in Queensland you changed me forever." She retorted.

"Oh no don't you blame this shit on me. You go take a long look in the mirror. You know what I think?... I think you're right, I'm fucking better off without you. I can't fucking believe waited for you in that fucking hotel in Sydney hoping you would change your mind. What kind of idiot?!..." He stood shaking his head in disbelief...this wasn't how it was supposed to go down.

"I told you at my parents I had what I wanted from you," she said coldly, no trace of emotion was evident to him despite the torrent that raged within her.

He needed to hit something and he had never hit a lady in his life. The next best thing was the wood panel wall behind him. He turned and slammed his fist into it so hard that he heard his knuckles crunch, and wondered if they were broken. But he could feel no pain...the anger raging through him numbed all other sensations.

He turned to her and glared "Yeah well you know what babe?"

"What rock star?" She knew, to him, it was the worst kind of insult.

"If I were a fucking whore like you, I'd prove to you that I could have you right now" Fuck how did that come out of my mouth, "hell I could have fucked you in the pantry the other day." Smooth Jonny...

A loud crack rang throughout the room as her open palm connected with his cheek in the most brutal way. Jon rubbed his cheek in disbelief as he glowered at her, though he knew he deserved it...and far worse.

Alex was shaking furiously "GET OUT" were the only words she could manage through clenched teeth.

"Gladly bitch!" he said already at the door. He swung it open with a ferocity that even alarmed him and slammed it shut behind him.

He paused on the other side of the door. There was no way he could re-enter the party like this. He took several deep cleansing breaths and that's when he heard it, choking, heart-wrenching sobs coming from the other side of the door.

"Fuck" he cursed. "Does it ever end?" Deep pangs of regret gnawed at him until he felt they would consume him.

Jon had his hand on the door knob and was turning it when he felt a light tap on the shoulder.

"There you are. I've been looking for you. Is everything ok?" Dot asked her husband.

"Fine," he snapped, "get the baby! We're leaving!"

"But Jon," Dot looked at her husband confused, with one eyebrow raised, "It's not even midnight?" Her tone was questioning.

"Now Dorothea" He snapped sharply.

Dot knew better than to argue with her husband when he was in one of his moods. Without another word she turned around and stalked away.

Jon stood for a moment more gathering his emotions and thoughts, rubbing his closed eyes as if to erase the pained expression on her face that keep replaying in his mind. How could I be such an ass? How could this ever have been her fault?

From her place of concealment just outside the French doors, Alex heard the door open just as she had minutes before causing her to flee. The door remained open a crack and she could hear movement within the room but she was not ready to face anyone yet. As soon as the visitor was gone she would escape back through the library to the anonymity and safety of the guest house. And then she heard his voice.

"Fuck, FUCK! What have I done?"

Chapter 39

It was New Year's Eve and once again there was a party at the Springsteen house. The home had been lavishly decorated in black and silver. Thousands of balloons floated along the ceiling, their long ribbon tails dangling low into the crowd. The lighting was dim, and large banks of speakers occupied each corner thumping out a continuous stream of modern music and older hits, and a stage complete with instruments (in case any guests wanted to play) graced one wall making the space look more like a night club than a living room. The furniture had been cleared out of the main living areas on the lower floor, in its place clusters of comfortable seating were scattered around the walls of each room. Strategically placed bars were also a feature, each staffed by a bar tender that would put those in the movie "Cocktail" to shame.

This time Alex had been very careful to determine the guest list. She found that, as expected, Jon and his family had been invited but had, fortunately for her, declined the invitation. So here she stood, calm and relaxed, peering out the window toward the guest house, a glass of her favourite wine in her hand.

Rick was working, as was usual, but was expected home at any moment so when she felt a presence behind her and a warm arm wrap around her waist she did not move or startle at all, at least not until he spoke.

"What's a beautiful girl like you doing alone on New Year's Eve?" His breath was warm on her neck as he spoke and she could smell the feint aroma of alcohol on it. Startled, she turned rapidly to disengage herself and look at him, she saw he was holding a glass of a warm amber liquid and ice - she assumed Jack on the rocks. From the slight haze in his expression it appeared it was not his first.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, more than a little shocked, her tone icy.

He smiled at her wryly, "I'm an invited guest. Aren't you happy to see me baby?"

"Honestly, NO...I was told you had other commitments...or I wouldn't be here." She said suddenly uncomfortable.

Jon looked momentarily stunned but he made a conscious effort to smooth out his features before leaning in closer "What's wrong baby? Surely you're not afraid of how you react to me? There's nothing to be afraid of darlin'"

Alex's fist clenched at her side. How does he manage to be so irritating? "Oh I'm not afraid... I'd just rather not have to disappoint you again."

"As I recall, you weren't disappointing at all, Alex. In fact, you surpassed my wildest expectations." His eyes bored deep into hers, intense, searching, "Admit it baby, we're perfect for each other."

"No...we are not...but we could have been."

"We still can be."

Alex felt her pulse quicken involuntarily at his words...that wasn't what she wanted.... was it?

"No... we can't" She answered resolutely.

"Yes we could." He insisted "Why won't you let me show you?"

"Um...let me think. What was that reason again? Oh that's right... your married! And in a just couple of short months, I will be too!"

Jon staggered back a step at her words and shook his head trying to comprehend what it was she had just said.

His jaw tightened visibly before he spoke "So the rumours are true?" It was one of the reasons he was here...to hear it from her. He had expected the wedding to be years away...not months "You're really going through with it?" He said an edge of anger to his voice. "Even with what we have together!"

The nerve she thought "Why wouldn't I? We don't have anything together Jon. Anything we HAD is past tense. Long past."

"Damn it! Come with me!" Jon grabbed Alex's hand and started to make for the nearest hallway.

She wrenched her hand from his and stayed rooted firmly to the spot. His touch was far too much for her to bear. "What do you think you're doing?"

He moved in so close that once again she felt his breath disturb the fine hairs on her neck as he spoke through gritted teeth "I'm trying to get through to this stubborn brain of yours and I'd rather not do that with a hundred people watching and trying to hear what we're saying."

"I can't leave...Rick will be here any minute"

"Well he was stupid to leave you alone in the first place, his loss is my gain." He said and reached for her hand again.

It was at that precise moment that a waiter handed Alex an envelope. She removed the note from inside, read it and groaned. Jon snatched the small piece of paper from her hand and read it with interest.

So sorry honey! Been held up here!
Trying desperately to get to you before midnight
...but it's not looking good. I promise I will make
it up to you several times over when I get home.

Love you

Rick

His trademark smirk crossed his lips as he read and muttered under his breath "Stupid move, Rick, stupid move"

"What was that?"

"Problem solved" He said simply as he grabbed her hand more forcefully this time and dragged her along behind him.

She was sure that's not what he had said. She was being dragged down a hallway now, and was offering little resistance for fear of causing a scene.

"You know I have nothing left to say to you Jon." She said resignedly. "I don't know what you are hoping to accomplish here."

Jon found the door he was looking for, opened it and dragged her inside the library before closing the door again and backing her up against it. He leaned into her; the intensity of his gaze had her looking away uncomfortably.

"You know that's not true Alex." The tenor of his voice was as intense as his stare. "You know what we have together, you may not want to admit it, but it's been there since the first minute we were together. And you can fight it all you like but you know as well as I do, it is not just in the past." Passion burned bright in his eyes. "Or have you forgotten what happened the other morning?"

A bright blush rose to Alex's cheeks and her breathing became shallow, much to her chagrin, "I'm trying to!" She said quietly.

This is it, he thought...careful now and I will have her. "Baby, you know we can't fight this. We're meant to be together" he said in his most seductive voice.

"NO you're meant to be with your wife...remember her...where is she anyway?"

"Not sure. Upstairs I think. Can't we forget about her?"

"Doing?" Alex watched as Jon's fist clenched at his sides as he fought to control his frustration.

He spoke through gritted teeth "I have no fucking idea and to be honest, I don't really give a fuck at the moment."

Alex was taken aback by the raw aggression in his tone. "That's a lovely way to speak about the mother of your child."

Jon let out a deep sigh and paused, there was still a slight edge to his voice when he spoke again. "Look Alex do you think I like feeling like this?"

"So don't feel like it then."

"Don't you see? I like how I feel when I'm with you" He gently picked up her hand and waited for her to recoil from him again but she stood motionless. He continued. "My marriage, it's not what I thought it would be, and part of that - and you may not want to hear this - but it's how I feel about you. I've never been able to put you completely out of my mind. Fuck Alex, you have no idea how hard I've tried to make things work with her but at the end of the day it's you on my mind." He paused to gauge her expression. "But now you're here."

Alex's heart was already pounding in her chest, when he flashed the most dazzling smile, "Can't we please figure out a way to make this work?" He finished.

She was captivated. Damn him. If only I can look away, I can find the strength needed to do what I have too. She lowered her eyes to the floor and considered her words carefully.

When she looked back up her expression was blank, "Not as long as you have a wife. I have moved on Jon... As hard as it was to do... and I won't lie to you...you are not an easy thing to get over...but I did it." She glanced at the floor as she said this, unable to meet his gaze "And now I am ready to start the next phase of my life with a very kind loving available man, who treats me like a princess and has tolerated all the baggage you left me with."

"Hmph" Jon sneered "If he treats you like a princess why isn't he here right now? New Year's Eve and he hopes to be here by midnight? Don't fool yourself Alex. He'll never love you the way I do."

Her hackles rose, "Why haven't you been with your wife and child for the better part of the last year. He's working Jon, just as you have missed countless birthdays, Christmases and celebrations, just as I have. At least he isn't off shacked up with another woman. And you know what, you're right about one thing... he'll never love me the way you do, because he loves me better...he would never, never do to me what you are doing right now!

Her words stung him worse than a slap in the face, "Don't Alex!"

Was that a threat? "Don't what Jon? Speak the truth?"

Alex watched as Jon looked away clearly fighting to control his temper – his jaw was tightly clenched, his hand were balled fists once again at his sides - she had heard about it but had never experienced it yet. Did she dare push further? Yes... he deserved it after all. Didn't he?

"Rick would never try to compromise my integrity the way you are right now. He has never asked me to hang on by a thread while he lives another life with a wife and child." Alex could see the internal struggle.

"Alex I am not..." he gritted his teeth fiercely "I am not the type of man who begs damn it!"

"Don't you understand? I'm not asking you to Jon.....I am asking you to walk away"

"NO!" the vehemence with which he said this startled her "Maybe you can walk away from this but I can't. And I don't think you really can either."

"What choice do you have? What choice do I have?" She asked "You made that decision for me long ago...when you walked away that first night."

"God damn it Alex, you were 16. What the fuck was I supposed to do? Go to your parents and tell them that in the space of a few hours I had fallen passionately in love with you and would they please allow you to drop out of school and go on the road with me, the long haired rock star? Be reasonable, I may be selfish but I'm not that selfish."

She stared at him incredulous. "Are you saying what you are asking of me now isn't that selfish. Have you really thought about what you're asking of me?" She paused for a moment "Hang on maybe it's me, maybe I have misunderstood something. Clear it up for me. What are you asking of me Jon?"

He was contemplative for a moment "That we try to figure out a way to work this out. It can't be impossible."

"Do you intend to stay married to your wife?"

Jon exhaled heavily, she could still smell the traces of alcohol on his breath. "Why does this have to be about her? In my mind this is all about you and me."

"Well as long as you remain married to her, in my mind it's about the three of us. And very soon that number will become four. Now, I know from experience that you don't take your vows very seriously... but I do intend to keep mine" she retorted.

Jon walked away from her momentarily to gather his thoughts. This was not going at all well. Maybe...

When he turned back to her there was a contrived vulnerability in his eyes "Alex, look I'm sorry. I know I have hurt you but can we please just sit and talk for a minute?"

It was her turn to sigh deeply "I thought we already were.....talking that is"

"Please?" It was almost a whimper.

"I don't see how the position will change anything." He raised his eyebrows at her comment.

"Look I need to tell you some things that I'm not sure I've ever shared with you."

Another sigh "I don't know that I want to hear anymore Jon."

"Please Ali. I know in your eyes I'm not the best person but I need to know that you understand where I'm coming from, where I've been coming from. And if you still choose to walk away... well at least I didn't hold anything back."

Chapter 38

Alex woke early the next morning despite the late night, to find Rick almost comatose beside her. He had indeed lived up to his promise of a good night, making love to her tenderly for hours before falling asleep just before dawn, exhausted. Alex's confrontation with Jon had invaded her dreams and affected her sleep, so it wasn't long after falling asleep that she was awake again. But Rick was dealing with jetlag on top of the late night, and the nights exhausting activities, so she figured he would sleep for a good few hours yet. She gently rolled out of bed and slipped on her usual early morning attire over her naked form, a now thread bare Bon Jovi T-Shirt. It was one habit she had never been able to break. She padded bare foot to the small kitchen in the guest house only to find she was out of coffee. Damn it, I'll have to get some up at the main house.

Slipping her feet into her UGG boots, Alex was glad to have brought the warm sheepskin slippers from home. She opened the door as delicately as she could, cursing as it creaked. She stepped out into the frigid morning air and a chill tore up and down her spine, her flimsy T shirt doing nothing to protect her from the cold. Will I ever get used to this level of cold? She wondered. A couple of inches of snow had fallen over night, so she carefully navigated her way across the slippery yard to the kitchen door and slipped inside.

Bessy wouldn't be there until lunch time today, she had worked late the day before so Patti had given her the morning off. The house was deathly quiet, neither Bruce nor Patti was an early riser and the children would be exhausted from their late night. She walked into the large pantry that was in fact larger and better equipped than her own kitchen, and explored the shelves until she found what she wanted. The coffee was on a high shelf, she stretched up on tippy toes, her hand reaching high over her head pulling up her T-shirt and exposing the lower curve of her perfectly rounded ass, but still the coffee was just out of reach. "Damn it" she cursed as she tried to extend further.

Jon stood in the doorway admiring the sight before him. Her long tresses hung lose down her back, mussed from sleep and, he would be correct to assume, sex. He recognised the garment she wore, it was the old tour T-shirt she had had when they were together, now threadbare from use so that the thinness of the fabric exposed her naked silhouette beneath. Her form was long and lean as it reached high for the coffee on the top shelf. He glanced at the floor and slowly drew his eyes up the length of her body, drinking in every delicious inch.

He watched the muscles in her calves flex with the strain of stretching. His eyes moved up to her slender tapered thighs, the same thighs that had spent many a glorious hour wrapped around his waist. At the top of her thighs his eyes rested on the lower curve of her buttocks, peachlike in shape, tight and perfect. It had been a long time since he had seen that much of her, and he was semi erect just at the sight. And then she leaned forward slightly and he got a view of those gorgeous amber curls, the ones that had tickled his nose as he drank from her, sending her over the edge time and time again. He wondered if she was satisfied with Rick, if he could make her cum over and over and over again, if he could make her lose control, if he could make her scream...the way she had for him.

Alex was still reaching for the coffee when she felt, a hard male body press against her, reaching over her for the package she sought.

"Was this what you wanted?" His breath was warm against her ear. She spun quickly at the voice, but he did not move. She looked briefly into Jon's eyes, before looking down and averting her own. His were a deep blue, his pupils dilated as if trying to devour the sight of her. She knew that blue, she knew it meant she was in trouble, she knew that she wouldn't be able to resist him a second time. She could feel his arousal pressed against her centre, how she longed to feel that in her again. He had once filled her so completely that no other man could ever fit her so well, know her so well.

His hands gently rested on her hips, he leaned in and his tongue grazed over her lips, urging them to part, she obliged deepening the kiss, exploring the familiar places she had so missed. He wrapped her in his arms and her knees buckled, but he held her firm. He moved a hand to give the taut peaks of her breasts the attention they were longing for, flicking the tight little nubs with his thumb. His other hand moved down to her thigh and began to creep up the hem of her T-shirt until his fingers came in contact with her soft auburn curls. He ran single knuckle up and down the crease between her thigh and her ever wetter pussy and was just getting ready to slip into those silky depths when a familiar voice called.

"Jon...Jon are you in here?" Dot called.

"Fuck...." He cursed softly, before calling. "Yeah I'm here" he said taking the few steps to the door of the pantry taking the coffee with him as he spoke. Alex hid in the pantry unable to control her body's reaction to this other woman's husband. She was so turned on from the brief interaction, that she could feel her own wetness on her thighs. Go! Please just Go, she begged silently. She listened to the exchange from her hiding place.

"Where have you been?"

"Getting this.... I was gonna make a cup but since you're up we may as well just go home" He said as he placed the container of coffee on the bench.

"Don't you think we should say thank you and goodbye first?" Dot asked. "I mean they were kind enough to let us stay after you tied one on last night. What was that all about? Your mood shifted so suddenly, right about the time Rick arrived. Have you had some kind of run in with him?"

"Nope! I guess it was just seeing him and her together...been a long time since things were that good for us...in fact I'm not sure they ever were." Jon was sending Alex a message and she caught it immediately.

"Yeah well you know what Jon, it takes two to make a marriage and you have been absent from this one for far too long. And I don't mean physically either, though that takes its toll, it's not as bad as the emotional absence even when your home." Alex could hear the resentment in Dots voice.

"We've been through this Dot. I don't think now is the time or the place to get into another all out argument, do you? I thanked Bruce last night and told him we'd be gone early. I have to get mom home so she can start getting ready for Christmas day." Alex could hear the exhaustion in his voice.

"Fine...let's go. Let me just get the bags. I'll meet you at the car." She said and Alex heard the click of her heals slowly fade to nothing.

Jon waked back into the pantry, a lopsided grin on his face, "I'm so sorry baby. I didn't mean for that to happen. When can we finish what we started?" He moved in close as he spoke and run his hand up her thigh, stopping on the curve of her ass.

"You are joking right?" Alex said stunned disentangling herself from his grasp. "If not for her yelling out she would have walked in on us, you with your hand in my pussy." She groaned inwardly at the sensation the thought aroused. "And you want me to go there again...your insane Jon"

"Well... if we are more discrete it won't be a problem." He moved to take her in his arms, but she side stepped out of his way.

"Listen Jon.... what just happened here is wrong. I shouldn't have allowed it. Now I know there is a history here that may lead you to believe that I am ok with cheating but that's not the case. The fact that you have so little regard for your wife and the mother of your child astounds me. Now what shared in Queensland is in the past. I know you don't take your vows of celibacy very seriously, but Jon I do. I am with Rick now and I would never do anything to hurt him, the least of all cheat on him. So this ends here! Do you understand me Jon? I will be courteous and polite, one day I may even manage friendly but please don't expect more from me than that." Jon stood silent before her as she spoke, damn but she's a fiery one.

"Believe what you will baby. But know this one thing...I always get what I want. AND... I... WANT... YOU!" He punctuated each of those last four words. He then placed a chaste kiss on her lips and was gone before she could even reconcile his words in her sensory overloaded brain.

Alex scooped the coffee from the bench where he had left it and made a quick escape from the main house running to the warmth and comfort of her own lodgings. Rick was still fast asleep, so instead of joining him at the risk of disturbing his sleep, she curled her feet beneath her on the comfy leather couch in the den. She sat in silence and tried to reconcile her feelings about what had just happened. She was still deeply in shock that it had happened at all. She wondered what kind of person did that, cheated on the one they loved, then she realised....for him it was habitual. She wondered how many women there had been since her.

Alex would have been stunned at the answer...none. Since their week in Australia all those years before, there had been no-one but his wife. Even on tour with a bevy of models, actresses, fans offering themselves to him each night, even then he had no interest. He had only wanted one woman, only Alex. Of course the temptation had been there, and it had come close...on more than one occasion but ultimately all he could see when he closed his eyes was Alex's face and he just couldn't do it.

Her thoughts shifted and Alex wondered exactly how it would be possible to cope with her attraction to him. It was hard enough living on the other side of the world...but now...well now Rick wanted to move here. To New York to be precise. How could she deal with it being so unbearably close to him. His words echoed in her thoughts "I always get what I want". Not this time. NO! Definitely not this time.

To distract her from her thoughts of him, Alex went and retrieved her camera bag from the closet. She still had films that needed to go to the lab for developing, and proofs to check. She couldn't wait until she was in a house of her own where she would be able to set up a darkroom, and once again take full control over the images she produced. She pulled a stack of paperwork from the bag, the proof sheets from the photo shoot the week before and began to sift through the sheets of tiny images with the magnifying glass, marking the ones with potential. She was doing good, it was working, she was sufficiently distracted. And then she got to the last sheet. I was a series of photos taken of Bruce in and around his home town of Red Bank New Jersey a couple of weeks before. In one, just one photo he stood before the Count Bassie Theatre, and there in the background was a sign "Bon Jovi Christmas Concert here 20^th December 1993." It was relatively small and unobtrusive and she didn't even remember seeing it on the day, but now it had fresh tears coursing down her cheeks.

Alex felt a gentle hand on her shoulder; she hadn't even heard him wake.

"Hey baby..." Rick said gently "What's all this?"

Jon's familiar term of endearment had her crying harder. She spun and buried her face in Rick's rock hard chest and let the sobs overtake her.

Rick cradled her in his arms until the sobs subsided a little and then tried to push her back but she held on to him fiercely.

"Did you miss me that much?" He asked jokingly. "Well, just give it a month and you'll be chasing me out the door, because there is no where I have to be for at least the next couple of months. I'll be here so much you'll be sick of me"

"Never! You're my best friend, I'll never get sick of you." she whispered croakily "But it's not that." She said unable to meet his eyes. "I guess I'm just tired...tired and homesick."

"Do you want to go home?" He asked.

A glimmer of hope entered her heart...if only she could get away.

"Will they let you do that,...work from home?" She asked encouraged.

Rick shook his head. "No sweetie, they won't. But you are more important than any job. Say the word and we are on the first plane out of here."

Alex sighed "No. It really doesn't make much difference where we are based to me. I travel so much anyway." she said only a hint of the massive disappointment showing in her voice. And now I'll be travelling even more. Just to stay away from here.

"Are you sure sweetie? It's not too late...it will only take one phone call..." he prompted.

"I'm sure" she said resigned. How could she drag him away from the best opportunity of his life? How could she tell him the reason she should? How could she tell this beautiful man that she was in love with someone else?

Chapter 37

She had known there was a possibility of it happening – running into him here - but it hadn't made it any easier. It had however given Alex the one up on Jon, she had not been nearly as affected as he had been. She watched him walk away in the same direction as his wife then split off and head for the yard. She took a deep breath and sat down to continue reading the story to the children, who were now impatiently tugging at her pants leg. She cast the occasional furtive glance towards the door but he was out of sight.

Jon had moved to the deep shadows at the far end of the house and was looking in through one of the many picture windows that opened on to the yard. She was sitting surrounded by small children, her face alive with expression as she read to them from a picture book, often flipping it around to show the children on the floor the illustrations. As he watched she would occasionally glance towards the door he had exited through. Was she looking for him?

To look at her was like going back in time; she had not changed at all. He had followed her career as much as he could but hadn't seen any photos of her; she was always behind the lens. Nothing about her had changed. It was almost as though Father Time had frozen it for her. She rose – having finished the book but leaving the children begging for more - then and headed towards the door. From his position in the shadows he watched her emerge from the house and shiver in the frigid air, she folded her arms against the cold and ran across the yard to the guest house and disappear inside. He glanced back into the house to see if anyone was watching, then followed.

Alex escaped the main house as soon as she could without looking suspicious. She felt bad about leaving the children wanting more, but her grip on control was tenuous. She ran to the sanctuary of the guest house, poured herself a shot from the first bottle she laid her hands on and downed it in one swallow, wincing at the taste. GOD damn him. How can he still affect me like this. One look, one touch and I turn to jelly. She stood at the bar and poured a second shot, resting her hands either side of the glass. Behind her Jon silently slipped through the door. At first he was only going to ask to talk to her, but having her there in the same room with him proved impossible to resist. He crossed the room in three steps and slipped his arms around her waist from behind.

Momentarily Alex melted into him – his warm hard body, that irresistible scent - before coming to her senses and untangling herself from his arms. It had been so natural to be there that she felt bereft when he backed away from her.

"God baby, please...I just need to hold you again. I've missed you so much...I think about you everyday" Jon pleaded, taking a baby step forward.

"Get out Jon. GO!" She stalked towards the door to see him out but he caught her by the hand on the way and swung her around. She hesitated for a fraction of a second and he jumped on the pause and began to pull her towards him.

"Fuck Jon, can't you please just let me be. I've moved on, so have you. In fact I believe congratulations are in order DADDY" she spat.

He flinched at the tone in her voice but didn't let her go.

"Why can't you just leave me to live my life?" She asked exasperated.

"Maybe because I haven't lived mine. I've existed sure, but I haven't lived, not since we were together. I want to live again Ali. But to live I need you, and you need me."

"I don't need you Jon, I may have wanted you but I certainly don't need you." She pulled her hand from his and moved away from him. She needed clarity and for that she needed distance from him.

"Please don't say that Ali" He closed the gap once again, taking a step forward.

"We've been through this Jon, more times than I care to remember. It won't work. We had a beautiful week together...please don't ruin it with this pointless pursuit. Nothing can come of it." Was it getting warmer? It must be getting warmer, she thought.

"I can't believe that Ali. I won't...you belong with me"

"You'll just have to believe it, it's your wife that belongs with you. I belong as far away as I can get." Alex looked him in the eyes "Now listen to me, I gave in last time only because I wanted something from you. I got it, and now it's over"

"And what was that?"

"I got to have my first time with the world's hottest Rock Star, my Idol. How many teenagers can say that? It was a fantasy come true, and believe me you lived up to it, but it's done and finished now. Let it go. Let me go." Her intention now was to hurt him. Her motive....if he was hurt enough by her words he just might stay away for good...but then, did she really want him too?

His expression was pained. "I can't believe you just said that. You know that's not true, that's not what it was about."

"Wasn't it? Are you sure Jon? You don't know me, not really. You never did. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get back to the party before I am missed by our hosts." Alex picked up her camera gear on the way to the door, she needed a plausible reason for her absence and she was sure 'I was arguing with my lover' wouldn't cut it.

She managed to get out of the guest house without further event, leaving a stunned Jon in her wake. She was half way across the yard when she heard the shatter of glass as it crashed against what she assumed was the stone fireplace. She opened the door to find Dot on the other side.

"Oh Alex I was just on my way out. You haven't seen Jon have you?" The party was remarkably smaller now, only a few people were lingering. "He went out for a smoke almost an hour ago and no one has seen him since."

"Umm ....the last time I saw him was in the yard a little earlier. I'm sure he can't be far. Sorry I can't help you more, I've been out in the guest house sorting through some of this gear" Alex indicated the bulky camera bag slung over her shoulder.

"That's fine. Thanks anyway, I'm sure he'll show up...eventually. He's seems to enjoy his own company more than mine these days...humph, listen to me whinge! The joys of marriage honey, don't go there if you can help it....sometimes it's just not worth the grief." Dot sighed.

At that moment two things happened. Alex watched Jon enter and move towards them from across the room, and a pair of strong arms wrapped around her accompanied by familiar voice "Too late, isn't it sweetie," and then to Dot, "she's already spoken for!"

Alex spun around so fast she almost knocked Rick over. "Oh my God, you're here!" She threw her arms around her his neck and kissed him deeply.

Jon who had made it as far as Dot's side looked on in horror as his lover surrendered to another. His body tensed as he watched the kiss deepen, Alex's hands tenderly cradling her lovers head, her fingers entwined in his hair as they had once been in his. He watched her pull away, then deliver another chaste kiss to his lips before stepping back, at which point Jon averted his eyes.

Dot looked on with an amused grin. "Ain't love grand. What I wouldn't give to feel that kind of passion again." It was the second time that Dot had hinted at trouble in her marriage. "I'm telling you sweetie, let him put a ring on that finger and it will be all over. Now who may I ask is this gorgeous hunk of a man."

"Oh my goodness, where are my manners. Dot, Jon this is my boyfriend Rick"

"Fiancé" Rick interjected.

Alex smiled at him apologetically. "This is my fiancé Rick," she. "Sorry sweetie, it's still so new... I just can't get used to it. Rick proposed the night before I left home for the here." Alex explaind as she snuggled into Rick's side.

"Show them the ring baby." Rick picked up Alex's left hand but it was unadorned. A scowl crossed his face. "You're not wearing my ring?"

"Of course I am silly." Alex reached into the neck of her sweater and pulled out the most magnificent two carat, platinum banded square cut solitaire Jon had ever seen. It was secured around Alex's neck by a platinum chain, he recognised it as one that used to hold a different adornment, his. "I haven't had it altered yet so I have been wearing it here... close to my heart." Alex said as she patted just above her left breast smiling, drawing Jon's attention to an area he really didn't want to be thinking about.

"We'll have to fix that quick smart. I want the whole world to know your all mine. Wouldn't you Jon?" Rick flashed a brilliant smile in Jon's direction and Jon wanted to knock his perfect white teeth out of his head.

"Sure would" He answered, his fake media smile plastered to his face, as his gaze bored directly into Alex's soul.

"I think congratulations are in order" Bruce said as he walked up to them. "Why didn't you tell me you were engaged?" he said taking Rick's hand and shaking it firmly.

"I can't thank you enough for your hospitality Mr Springsteen. I've spoken to Al almost daily and she's been entertaining me with stories of life in your wonderful home. Thank you so much for taking care of my girl." The handsome reporter said.

Rick was just as pleasant as Jon remembered. He understood how people would find it hard not to like him, but he was managing to resist the urge. His entire body felt like a highly tensioned spring ready to unravel. His fists were clenched so tightly at his sides that his nails were digging into the flesh of his palm. C'mon Jonny, get it under control. Your wife is standing beside you, you dumb fuck! But the action was harder to realise than the thought behind it.

"Our pleasure, though I'd be hard pressed to say who's been taking care of whom. She is quite the young woman, your Alex." Bruce laid an arm across Alex's shoulder and pulled her to him in a half hug "Well, why are we all standing here by the door? Come in let's sit...can I get anyone a brandy? Anything?" Bruce asked as he led the way to the lounge. "Oh and Rick... please call me Bruce. I consider Alex part of the family, so you are too. And please make yourself at home, we don't stand on formality here."

"Thanks Bruce...would you have a cold beer mate? I'm parched. It was a rough flight." Rick asked.

The Aussie accent that Jon so adored in Alex was suddenly grating on his nerves.

"Sure...." Bruce got the attention of one of the wait staff, who was busy tidying up. "Anyone else...Brandy's all round?" At the chorus of affirmations, Bruce turned to the waitress and ordered a round of Brandy's and one cold beer.

The party watched as Alex drew away from Rick and went and had a quiet word with the waiter then returned.

"What was that about?" Rick asked her.

"Oh, nothing really... I had a little accident in the guest house earlier. I just asked Barry to send a cleanup crew out. It will be all fixed before we head out to bed." Alex smiled at him gently.

Now seated on the couch nearby Jon flushed a bright shade of scarlet. She had obviously heard his temper get the better of him.

 

The small group settled themselves on the lounges around the fireplace; they were all that was left of the party now that Patti, who had just joined them, had said her goodbyes to the last of the guests. Alex took up residence on Ricks lap and snuggled in. She had missed him more than she anticipated this last month and was enjoying the closeness once more. Jon's disapproval was not however lost on her. She often caught the stolen glances in her direction and the scowling expressions when he thought no one was looking.

Alex stifled a yawn and it was the opening Rick needed. "I think my woman here needs her bed....and I need my woman so if you'll excuse us..."

"Rick...honestly!" Alex swatted Rick on the arm, blushing prettily.

She used to blush like that for me, Jon thought.

"Honey, we are all adults here. I am sure everyone understands...I mean look at our present company...Bruce and Jon spend most of the year away from their wives...believe me they are no strangers to home comings." Rick stood lifting Alex into his arms in one fluid movement.

"It's been a long time since we've had one like that" Dot said barely audibly.

Alex ignored the comment. "I am aware of that, thanks," she said smiling. "I just didn't see the need to spell it out for them. I'm sure everyone was quite aware of our intentions." She turned to the group as a whole, "I guess this is goodnight everyone. Jon, Dot lovely to see you again. Bruce, Patti, we'll see you in the morning. Please excuse my Fiancé's manners...I'm in the process of training him."

"G'night all. I hope your night will be as good as ours," Rick said winking over his shoulder on the way out the door.

Just before the door closed the group heard the sound of a slap and Rick's response, "Ouch..."He said on a chuckle, "what was that for?"

On the lounges, three people sat with an amused grin gracing their features. The other had a deep scowl.