Chapter Thirty-Three

Callie took two steps out, and then her legs stopped working. The sea of blue, purple, yellow, red and every other color of the rainbow spilled out in front of her as far as the eye could see.

What the hell is he doing? What the hell am I doing?

Jon wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close, the alluring scent of oak and spice hit her as he began to sing. He nodded over to David, which prompted the soft piano melody to float across the stage.

I know it’s late, I know you’re weary
I know your plans don’t include me
Still here we are, both of us lonely

Her knees trembled as his voice, smoky and low sucker punched her right in the gut. His eyes, blue like the ocean after the storm, locked on hers and at that moment she forgot about the ten thousand people that spanned behind her. How did he always have that ability to make her feel like she was special? Like in that one second, she was the only one that mattered? He swayed her slowly as he poured out the Seger song.

Longing for shelter from all that we see
Why should we worry, no one will care girl
Look at the stars so far away

Her hand clutched her chest, she wasn’t sure if it was to stop her heart leaping out of it or not. The inky sky glittered with stars, as he sang to her and only her. Was there honestly anything better than this moment?

They had tonight.

We’ve got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
We’ve got tonight babe
Why don t we stay?

Callie’s fingers curled around his arms and he chuckled. The roar of blood in her ears was making it hard to concentrate on anything but the man’s embrace she was in. The corners of her eyes stung, as she blinked away the tears that threatened. He didn’t laugh this time, he lifted his hand and scraped his thumb across her cheek.

She loved him.

She god damn had gone and fallen in love with him. She smiled as he continued the song, her heart melting right in his hands. He may have been a jerk, but he was so infectious that once you had him. You needed him all over again. The music and the sound of the crowd faded, until all she could feel was his heart, and his warm breath heavy on her cheek.

This all felt like a dream, from the minute she married him right until now. A crazy dream, and she still wasn’t sure what this meant. How one man had come into her life and turned it all upside down, for the better. She was going to med school, she was going to become a doctor all because he pushed her. No one had ever pushed her, for what she wanted. Ever.

Her hand lifted, and she smiled back up at him. Should she tell him? Right here? Right now? How much he’d changed her life? No, she’d wait, until they were alone again. She let her arms slide around and up, so her fingers teased the hairs at the nape of his neck.

The last line of the song left his lips, and the crowd erupted as he pressed his mouth to hers. Dark heat filled her, as she rose off her tip toes. His tongue tasted each corner of her, and she let him. She moaned his name, desperate not to melt right into him and let him have every single part of her.

He broke apart and kissed her cheek. “Enjoy the rest of the show Cal.”

She didn’t remember the walk back to the chair, maybe she floated there? She sat and clutched her knees, as they quivered under her hands. She watched him sing, dance and mesmerise the crowd beyond anything they could ever imagine.

He was amazing.

A pang niggled in her chest at the thought of going home tomorrow and leaving him behind.

~

He was on fire.

God, the stage would never get old, for as long as he was ever allowed to perform on it. It may as well have been dusted in cocaine, as it gave him an instant high everytime.

Callie’s sheer excitement and the fact he could share this with her was adding to that high. Doc was going to skin him alive after this concert for bringing her out on stage. But he didn’t fucking care. He wanted to show her what he was doing, let her experience the dream since she came out here all this way, to take care of him.

It was the least he could do.

The sex, well hell. Who says no to sex with a pretty girl? He was a man after all. Jon rounded the stage throwing two fingers up at the band, to signal the last two songs.

The lights blared as the band took their final bows, and dispersed into the wings of the stage.

“Fuckin’ awesome man!” David jammed him on the shoulder, his jewelery jingling as he jogged.

He grinned at her, she had that look he craved from the crowd in one of his concerts. That look said, fuck me – you guys rocked. Her hair was all tossled, her cheeks flushed and her eyes were wide. She had that look.

He snaked his arm around her waist and dragged her in. The sweet smell of woman successfully outclassed the cigarette smoke that had started to drift out from backstage.

“Well?” He crushed his lips against hers and felt her sink into him.

The kiss broke apart and his eyes met hers, before dipping down to her lips and back up again. She had great fucking lips.

“That was amazing Jon.”

“I thought so too,” he smirked before going in for one more kiss.

“Not the kiss, the show silly...” Her hands slid up his pecs and her nails teased his chest hair.

“And the dance?”

He took pure enjoyment watching her cheeks flush. “Jon, no one in my life has...”

His head snapped up when a hand cradled his shoulder. “Jonny I need you to go out and see these ladies, they’re waiting.” Doc went to stride off but stopped and turned back towards them. “And you’re damn lucky they’re all still there after the little stunt you just pulled. Both of you.” And he left.

“He really doesn’t like me does he?” Callie asked with a grin.

“He doesn’t like what you represent, that’s all darlin. He is right though, I do need to go and see these girls. Sign some autographs and then I’ll be all yours.” He cupped her elbows and squeezed gently. “Ok?”

She nodded, “Maybe I should go to the hotel and wait for you?”

“Don’t be stupid – you can hang with us woman.” Richie bounded out from behind the curtains. “You know until the boss is done doing his smoozing. Then we’re partying and your coming with us.”

Jon watched his best friend anchor his arm around her shoulders, “right Jonny?”

He nodded, “alright but lay a hand on her...” Jon wiggled his finger and pointed.

“Yeah yeah, come on Cal – come and have some real fun.”

Jon rolled his eyes and went and found the swarm of girls that were indeed waiting for him. Swatched out in golds, purples, pinks and yellows they flocked to him wanting his autograph, a kiss and an occasional ass grab.

He was gonna get that baby insured at this rate. The chicks loved it. He inherited his ass from his father, not that any son should ever agree that their father had a good ass, but a fact was a fact.

Two hours later he finally finished, satisfied his customers were happy. He’d heard the band leave back for the hotel they were staying at and assumed Callie had gone with them.

“All ready to go Jonny?” Doc asked flicking his cigarette ash off the stage.

“Yeah, all done. Signed every single one of their cds and t-shirts, you name it.”

“Good, I know you think I’m harsh on you Jon. But I do want the best for you.” Jon wrapped his jacket around him and took one of the cigarettes Doc tapped out for him.

Jon leaned in and Doc flicked the flame into life. “I do know that. But I’m not a puppet.” Jon stood back and took a slow puff feeling the glass hit his lungs.

“Tell me, what is it with her? Is it just to piss me off?”

Jon rolled his eyes. In the beginning, it might have been. But in all honesty Jon wasn’t sure anymore the real reason they were still together. He’d just accepted they were.

“Not anymore. Callie’s a good woman.” She had been the only one who’d thought about his welfare and dragged his ass off for a night’s break.

“If you were honest with yourself Jon, she doesn’t fit in here does she? This is not her world you’re making her live in.”

Jon looked up, for once in his life. Doc’s eyes looked sincere with no sarcasm and no hidden agenda. He’d never really thought about it like that. She wasn’t used to this world, he’d heard the girls all after the show when they thought he was out of earshot. Bitching and moaning how fat she was, and how Jon and her couldn’t just be married because they loved each other, she was blackmailing him. He’d heard the all the rumors, and they were nasty.

He didn’t give a shit about what people said about him, but for someone as innocent as Callie was. It was different.

“Just think on that Jonny.” Doc put out his cigarette and patted his back. “Come on, better get you back.”

Jon arrived back on the floor of the hotel they were at, all he could hear was rambunctious laughter and clinking of glass floating down the hall. Crew were scattered around like bowling pins. “Seen Callie?” he asked a couple of the roadies.
They shook their heads.

Jon continued down until the heady smell of tobacco hit his lungs.

“Hey lil Mama, you need to sit here.” Alec had dragged a woman onto his lap, who was fitting with laughter. He rolled his eyes but stopped, He knew that laugh and those eyes anywhere.

“Callie?”

Everyone turned and looked at him.

“Jonnny!” She launched herself off Alec’s knee and flung her arms around his neck, with a hiccup.

“Richie, what have you done to her?” He cupped her hips to keep her keep her steady. Her blue eyes were bright blue and glassy as fuck. He chuckled as she practically vibrated in his arms. Her lips bumped his cheek, before finding his.

Well fuck.

She tasted suspiciously like...

Jon’s eyes flicked down to the table.

“Tequila? You guys have been drinking tequila?”

She clutched at the lapels of his jacket and kissed him again.

“I’ve been a very bad girl Jonny.”

His eyes narrowed to hers, and he forced a smile. Doc’s words, as much as he hated to admit it, rang through his head.

Is it really fair to her to inflict your lifestyle on her?

Ultimately they’d stayed married to meet his needs, to piss Doc off to piss her father off. She needed to stand up for herself and do what she wanted, but so far Jon had orchestrated it all for her.

Her hair fell around his hands as he leaned further into the kiss, fuck. He felt all out of sorts, he wanted her. His dick was already waking in his pants, and all he could think about was dragging her down the hall to his own room. Here she was drunk and loose, in his arms.

Callie wasn’t loose. The girl he met weeks ago was as straight as an arrow, she could relax and he’d seen that but she still didn’t belong in this world. Fuck, Doc had been right on some level. The longer he let Callie dangle, it was cruel.
A selfish part of him didn’t want to let her go, because he had no one like her. No one that was willing to support him like she had, and be his touchstone. And she hadn’t ever been asked to do it.

That was also the part of him that growled when she pressed her breasts into his chest. He could feel her nipples dig into him through the light cotton she wore.

Fuck, he may have realized this but he was no saint.

“Come on rock-star, come and play.”

Thinking could wait for the fucking morning, it was time to play and damned if he hadn’t earned it. He had the girl, he had the booze and he had the time. What more could he possibly need?