April 26, 2013
"Do you really think this is a good idea," my brother growls, pacing the length of my hotel room.
I roll my eyes at him through the mirror, piling my shoulder length black hair into a sloppy bun. "It's dinner, Randy. What exactly do you think I'm going to do?"
"Judging by what you're wearing a whole lot of something a brother shouldn't know his sister does," he snarls motioning to my low cut shirt and my favorite pair of skin tight jeans. "Must I remind you why you're here with me instead of at home doing whatever you it was you were doing?"
"I am here because you wanted a personal assistant. Which I have done an exemplary job at for the past four months. You have no obligation for the next twelve hours so I thought I would let myself relax for a couple hours with friends."
"You're here because I had to bail you out of jail after you tried to kill some guy. You needed someone to straighten you out."
"That was thrown out as self defense. As for straightening me out, maybe it should be from someone who doesn't also have jail time. Now excuse me, I got friends waiting on me," I growl snatching up my room key.
"JJ," he calls.
"What," I snap yanking the door open. "Did you think of something else to throw in my face? I'm going to dinner. If you want to finish this, we can do it in the morning. Goodnight boss."
XXX
"Hey," I sigh sliding into the booth across from the closest thing I have to a friend in the company Celeste. "Sorry I'm late. Where is everyone? I'm actually looking forward to April's unique brand of goofiness tonight."
"Ummm," Celeste answers sheepishly. "I kinda stretched the truth about tonight."
"How so," I asked cautiously.
"I set us up for a double date," she rushes.
"No."
"Come on now JJ. You need to put yourself out there. They're not all as bad as your ex."
"I know this Celeste," I state calmer than I felt. "I've put myself out there. I have a," I search for a word to accurately describe my current situation, "relationship. A good relationship at that."
"A man sneaking into your room late at night for sex a couple times a week does not qualify as a relationship. It's a booty call."
"He's a very private man and I thoroughly enjoy sex. It's a good thing to me," I smile standing.
"I really like this guy," she pleads.
"What does that have to do with me?"
"It took me weeks to get up the nerve to ask him out and he insisted that I find someone for his friend."
"Sounds like a loser."
"JJ, please."
"Isn't this a job for your best friend? Why don't you get April down here?"
"She had an early morning interview in the next town. She went ahead. You're next in line. Plus you won't sugar coat anything if this guy is truly not right for me."
"Now who's the loser," I smirk. "I'm your only other friend. Listen I would love to help you but," I start before being distracted by a flash of familiar red hair, pale skin combo in the opposite corner booth. Snuggled quiet cozily next to a long legged blonde was my "good relationship" Stephen. He nuzzles his nose up her jaw line before whispering something into her ear causing her to dissolve into a fit of giggles. He turns his head to take a sip of wine and locks eyes with me across the room, shock and terror filling his features.
"JJ, is everything ok," the mostly blonde diva murmurs beside me.
"Fine," I smirk lowering myself back into the booth.
"What's wrong?"
"My booty call is preoccupied tonight."
"He's here,' she gasps, twisting in her seat.
"Yes. Just leave it be," I sigh pulling her back to face the table. "This date better be cute."
XXX
"Colby," Celeste calls standing.
"Hey," the shorter of the two men smiles wrapping Celeste in a loose hug before turning to me in the booth. "Hello."
"Hi," I paste on what I hoped passed as a friendly smile as I extend my hand out. "Janet Orton."
"Colby Lopez," he returns my smile giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "This sullen gentleman is Jonathan."
I turn to the other man beside the table taking in the simple v-neck t-shirt and worn jeans.
"Call me Jon," he grunts starting to slide into the booth. I slide back against the wall to accommodate the larger man.
"JJ."
His eyes slide down my body once before he turns his attention to the menu in front of him.
"So Janet," Colby smiles stiffly as he helps Celeste slide back into the booth opposite me before joining her.
"JJ," I interrupt.
"So JJ," he corrects, "I've seen you around backstage. What do you do?"
"I'm a personal assistant for my brother."
"With an arrest record," Jon murmurs, flipping the page of the menu.
"A misunderstanding with an ex," my voice drips with false sweetness. "I voiced my opposition to a plan of his and he thought the next logical conclusion was to punch me in the face a few times. I returned the favor with a kitchen knife to the thigh."
Jon turns his head slightly to study me out of the corner of his eye.
"Well that was quite a misunderstanding," Colby smiles nervously.
"Why the thigh," Jon asks.
"Jon," Colby snaps.
"He moved and I missed my intended target," I snap.
He turns to face me fully and I meet his stare with one of my own. Suddenly a grin splits his face as he leans over to speak directly into my ear. "I think I like you better like this than that fake shit you tried to pull when we arrived."
"If it was anyone other than Celeste that asked me to be here I wouldn't have bothered with the fake shit," I reply directly into his ear. "Now my night was shit before you even showed up; you can either add to it or help me forget about it."
"Yes, Ma'am," he smirks pulling away.
"So what's good here," I smile turning back to the couple across the table from me.
"Told you," Celeste smirks at Colby.
"Yes you did."
XXX
My phone vibrates for what seems like the twentieth time in the last five minutes.
"You're either an incredibly popular girl," Jon murmurs speaking directly into my ear again, "or you are wearing vibrating panties."
"Maybe it's both," I smile as the checks arrive.
My phone vibrates once again.
"Just answer it," he sighs as he takes my check out of my hands surprising both me and Colby by the look on his face.
"What? I do have some manners. It is still expected for the guy to pick up the check for his date isn't it," he smirks sliding both checks and his credit card to the waiter.
"It's only a date if you get a kiss goodnight," I smirk back.
"Pucker up."
"Excuse me guys," Colby grins sheepishly holding up his phone.
"I have to freshen up," Celeste announces shortly after.
"Make sure you get all the lipstick off his face this time," I smile knowingly.
I watch her face turning pink before she rushes off. I turn to find Jon staring at me questioning.
"She's not a fan of PDA. She convinced him to run off to some dark corner to make out in. He'll be back in ten to fifteen minutes and she'll be back in what she deems an appropriate time afterward. She's done this to me before."
Another vibration shoots through my hip.
"For Christ sake. Just answer the damn phone. They are obviously not taking the hint you're ignoring them," he sighs, reaching between us to dig my phone out of my pocket.
"Personal boundaries," I laugh slapping his hand away. "Have you ever heard of them?"
"Nope," he grins reaching for my pocket again. I try to ignore the goose bumps raising along my side where his thumb skims across as he works the phone out.
"Seventeen text messages," he reads handing the phone over.
"I was close with twenty then" "Told you. I'm popular."
Unlocking the screen I get to work on the texts, acutely aware of Jon's hand resting on my thigh. I open Randy's first: Jaybird, I'm an ass but you knew this. Have a good night. See you in the morning. Love you.
Yes you are and yes I did. Trying to. Sounds like a plan. Unfortunately genetics makes it impossible for me not to love you too. Mmmwah!
The next couple are from friends wanting to get together next time I'm home. I send them all the same quick response about letting them know when I knew. The next fourteen were all Stephen.
Can we talk?
It's not what it looks like.
Please talk to me.
You're just going to ignore me all night?
"Loser," I growl scrolling to the end of the line of texts.
"Anyone I know."
"A very recent ex. Can you call them an ex if all you were to him was a good screw? I mean I thought we were in a relationship but I have very recent become aware that I was delusional. That is way too much information for a stranger," I giggle nervously as I catch myself rambling.
"The cause of your shitty night," he guesses.
"Yep."
"When?'
"About five minutes before you showed up."
"That sucks. I'm assuming he's here."
"Unfortunately."
"He the idiot Irishman staring holes in my head from across the room?"
I glace briefly to the corner booth and find Stephen doing just that. "Yep," I smile.
"Good. I thought he suddenly switched teams on us. I do have a pretty mouth after all," he smirks.
I sputter as I try to swallow my drink around my laughter. "You trying to kill me," I rasp resting my head against his arm. He just chuckles as I try to catch my breath. My phone buzzes in my hands drawing my attention back down.
Why don't you just crawl in his lap?
Why don't you worry about your own date and not mine. We were obviously nothing to you so you are no longer anything to me. We're done. Lose my number.
"He is persistent," Jon sneers taking a long pull of his beer.
"He seems to have an issue with our closeness," I inform Jon.
"Is that right," he grins taking my right hand in his left, his thumb running lightly across the back of my hand.
"Seems so," I smile.
"You want to give him something to really have an issue with?"
"I really, really, really, do."
"What's your stance on PDA," he smirks leaning closer.
"It has its merits," I return his smirk.
He very slowly reaches up and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear before pressing his lips gently to mine. I lean forward to deepening the kiss. His arms wrap around my waist as his tongue probes my mouth.
"Excuse me sir," a timid voice squeaks from behind Jon.
"Yes," he growls turning on a timid girl. The poor girl freezes under his glare. "Well, speak," he snaps.
"The dining room is closing in five minutes," she stammers. "We are asking anyone wishing to stay to please move their parties to the bar.
"Thank you," I smile nudging Jon.
"Yes," he adds sharply, "thank you."
"Shall we move this to the bar," I ask smiling up at the man beside me.
"Let's," he grins taking my hand as he slides out pulling me along with him. "You call Celeste and I'll get Colby. After all we shouldn't be the only ones interrupted," he murmurs pushing me gently in front of him. I bite back a yelp of surprise as a hand smacks my ass as I scroll through my list of contacts on my phone. I turn with the intent of slugging someone. I find Jon looking smug as he glares across the room. I look over to see the infuriated Stephen. Finding Celeste's number in my contacts list I hit the call button.
"Yes," she answers, slightly out of breath.
"If you kids are going to be rejoining us anytime soon then you need to know we're moving to the bar."
"See you soon," she giggles.
"Jon," I call. "You, me, and the bar remember?"
"Of course, babe," he smirks wrapping an arm around my waist. "How could I forget." His hand drifts down to rub across the area still stinging from the slap.
"You do that again and you better be ready to bend me over something," I sigh, smiling up at him.
He pauses for just a half a second, his face registering shock before recovering. "I'll be sure to remember that," he murmurs, his hand kneading my ass.
A plate crashes somewhere behind us.
"I think his issues are growing."
"Good."
XXX
I throw my head back laughing as Celeste belts out karaoke so out of key I can't even recognize the song.
"Oh you know you love it," Celeste calls in the middle of the song.
"I love you," I call back.
"No, I love you."
"You're drunk."
"You're drunk," she counters.
"Get off the stage. You're not even trying anymore."
"Am too," she pouts as the song ends.
"Aww, come on gorgeous," I smile holding my arms open to her.
She launches herself into my arms knocking me back against Jon and causing us girls to dissolve into a fit of giggles.
"You are having too good a time tonight," I whisper.
"I'm not the only one," she smirks looking pointedly at the arm around my waist.
"Means to an end."
"Meaning?"
"It's driving my ex-booty call insane. And yes he's still watching us."
She sits up abruptly. "He's here," she mouths.
"Who, he," Colby asks. I feel Jon wave off the question.
"Yep, he came stomping in a few minutes before you two," I answer, motioning in the general direction of the Irishman.
"Stephen?"
"Yep."
"Want me to kick his ass?"
"I think he's gonna give himself an aneurysm before the night is over," I smile, enjoying the prospect a little too much.
"Plus, Jon is extraordinary good with his hands," my brain reminds me as I try to suppress a shiver as his hand skims lightly across my stomach. "How does he know exactly where to do that?"
"I'm enjoying this a little too much though."
"Good," Jon whispers, his breath warming my neck.
"Good," Celeste echoes.
"Thank you for lying to me," I smile.
"You're welcome," she smiles resting her head on my shoulder.
"So how's your date going? I mean the parts where you're actually talking. I don't want to know about the pawing and sucking of the face."
"There was no sucking face."
I look over at her date as he chats with Jon. "He still has lipstick in his beard, Celeste."
"He does not," she sputters moving around the table to resume her position next to her date.
Reaching over with a napkin I wipe at the corner of Colby's mouth and showing the resulting splash of color to my friend. "Liar."
"Another round anyone," Colby asks, not waiting for an answer.
"I'm going to leave you hens to your clucking," Jon smirks. "Be right back," he breathes into my ear before pressing a light kiss to my jaw. "Don't miss me too much."
"Yes, sir," I smirk letting my nails skim down his arms. It was his turn to suppress a shiver.
"I've never seen you act like this," Celeste smiles softly.
"Like what?"
"Happy."
"Maybe it's a really good act."
"I think you really like him."
"It's too soon, Celeste. I just found out the man I thought loved me was just using me. I just want to have some fun at his expense and move on with my life. Jon is willing to help me with that so I'm going to let him. We actually had a good conversation while we were waiting on you two lovebirds," I smile. "We actually have a lot of things in common. We could be really good friends. I like Colby by the way."
"You are not acting like two friends," she smirks. "Wait…Really," she sighs relaxing slightly.
"Really," I smile. "He's funny from the little I've talked to him. You're crazy bout him and I think he feels the same for you. I think you did good sister," I smile as Colby approaches with his hands full of drinks.
"Thank you," she mouths as he takes his place next to her.
"Janet," an Irish brogue is suddenly next to me.
"Stephen," I respond stiffly taking the tumbler Colby passes me.
"Would you honor me with a dance?"
"I don't believe I will."
"Why not?"
"I've already told you I'm done with you."
"Maybe I'm not done with you," he growls a hand wrapping around my wrist.
"I believe the lady said no," Colby states calmly but I can see the tension radiating from him. "Move on."
"I believe this is none of your business."
"But it is mine," I snarl yanking against his grip. "Now go be somewhere else before my date gets back. You've made your choice. I've made mine. My choice doesn't include you."
"There a problem?"
Stephen turns to find Jon. "What's it to you," Stephen snaps.
"Seeing as you're manhandling my date, it's everything to me. Kindly take your hands off of her," Jon growls yanking the redhead man away. I grimace slightly as Stephen's grip finally breaks from around my wrist "Stay away from her," he growls.
"She's just using you," Stephen snaps.
"And I'm enjoying every minute of it," Jon sneers.
"You enjoy the slut then," Stephen shoots turning to leave.
I grab Jon's arm as he lunges for the Irishman pulling him closer to me. "Don't bother." Glancing in the opposite direction of the cause of our shared ire. "Can you play pool?"
"Yeah."
Grabbing our drinks from the table I nod to the back of the room. "Teach me."
XXX
I line up my next shot as a hand wraps around my left hip. "You are very distracting."
"That's what I'm going for," he murmurs.
"Must be getting better if you've resorted to cheating."
"Says the girl who leans on the table flashing her cleavage every time I have my shots lined up. I'm just getting even."
"Darn," I pout turning in his arms, "you caught me. However did you see through such a brilliant plan?"
"Patronizing. I like that in my woman," he smirks pressing a rough kiss against my lips. My hands slide up his chest to wrap in his hair holding his face to mine. He slides his hands around to rest in my back pockets. I let out a small sigh of pleasure as he kneads the flesh beneath his hands.
"Oh you like that do you," he asks increasing his grip.
"Yes," I groan.
"What about this," he asks against my throat as he tightens his grip more.
"Mmmhmmm," I breathe.
Suddenly I am sitting on the pool table, my legs wrapped around his waist, his lips crushing mine, my nails digging into his shoulder.
"Hey, hey, hey," a voice calls, "other people use this table you know. No screwing on it."
I turn to find Celeste and Colby grinning at us as Jon muffles a frustrated groan against my shoulder.
"If you two are done here, can we get a game in?"
"Really Colby," Jon growls softly.
Leaning back I grasp the billiard ball, "Eight ball, corner pocket," I sigh tossing the ball into the corresponding hole. "I win. I'm done. I'm gone."
Sliding down, I grab Jon's hand tightly. "Celeste," I smile wrapping her in a one arm hug, "thank you for dragging me out tonight. It was very eye opening. Have a good night. Call me in the morning. You," I grin turning to Colby, "need to make sure my girl stays happy. You don't and I will find you."
"Will do," he smiles.
"You," I grin seductively to Jon, pulling him along, "come with me."
"Planned on it."
XXX
"So," Jon breathes pressing me against my hotel door, his index finger stroking down my right arm, "was all that in the bar for the Irishman's benefit?"
"Not on my end. What about you?"
"Nope."
"You want to come inside?"
"I thought you'd never ask," he smirks taking the keycard from me before sliding it into the lock. "After you," he smirks slapping my ass.
"Tease," I growl.
"You love it."
"So?"
"Just making conversation until I could do this," he laughs shoving me to the bed. Instantly he is above me pressing me deeper into the bed. My hands find their way under his shirt, nails skimming down the muscles of his chest and stomach before removing the shirt entirely. My mouth roaming across the exposed skin wanting to savor the taste. My face is yanked back up, his eyes bore into mine as he brings his mouth to mine. I bury my fists into his hair.
"Jaybird," Randy calls knocking on the door, "open up."
"Not now," I call back, frustration evident in my voice. "I said we were talking in the morning."
"Don't make me go get a key to your room."
"I'm half naked in here with a man," I call back. "You really want to walk in on that?"
"Liar," Jon breathes. "Only one of us is half naked."
Reaching between us I yank my shirt over my head. "Better?"
There is a growl of frustration from the hallway before the neighboring hotel room door slams. Music floats through the wall.
"He knows nothing of frustration," Jon smirks against my throat.
"Then why," I start rolling him off of me to the opposite side of the bed before straddling his waist, "are you wasting time talking."
XXX
"Still frustrated," I pant resting my head against his bicep as he wraps an arm around my shoulders. It is three-thirty in the morning and we just finished our fourth round together.
"Not in the least," he smiles, his free hand brushing back his hair.
"Good because I don't know if I got another one in me. Not that I'm complaining."
"Maybe another night."
"Listen Jon, I like you and tonight was great but as much as I try to pretend I don't care my heart was broken. A relationship isn't really in my immediate plans."
"Who said anything about a relationship," he smiles up at the ceiling before glancing over at me. "Listen I can barely maintain friendships. I don't do relationships. I just thought tonight was too good not to attempt again."
"Meaning once again I'm bounced back into the booty call category," I snap sitting up pulling the blanket with me.
"I wouldn't say that. Most guys don't feel anything for their booty calls. I like you, JJ."
"Gee thanks."
"You realize you're getting offended because I'm saying I don't want a relationship after you just finished saying the same thing."
I open my mouth and snap it shut again. Jon cocks an eyebrow at me.
"I just don't want to feel used again," I finally admit.
"The main reason you had sex with me was to get revenge on your ex. If anyone should feel used it is me," he smiles. "Not that I'm complaining."
"That was one of the reasons," I grin. "The main reason though was you turned me on. Then the sex was great."
He throws his head back laughing. "Still friends then?"
"Still friends," I sigh.
"Sex?"
"Not tonight. Some jackass kept me up all night. I gotta start work in an hour and I'm exhausted."
"Come on then," he smiles patting the pillow behind me. "You need your rest."
