"Jerrica, wake up." Rio shook her gently as the credits to the movie rolled up the TV screen. "If we don't leave now you're going to miss your curfew." Rio picked up his jacket and scanned the room for his keys. Cursing himself for falling asleep, Emmett's earlier warning echoed in his head. Stuffing his feet into his shoes he mentally assessed which traffic route would get them back to Starlight House quickest. He heard Jerrica rouse herself off the couch.
"Ok Rio. I'm ready." She said quietly.
"Good." he replied. "I'll go start the car. You get your jacket and shoes."
"No." She countered boldly. "I mean I'm ready."
She stood in the middle of the living room bathed in the moonlight that shone through the tiny window. Her sleep-tussled hair glistened silver. All uncertainty and nervousness were gone from her features.
Rio stared at her unmoving and wide-eyed. Jerrica reached up between her shoulder blades and unzipped the back of her dress. It fell to the floor with a muffled swish. Comprehension slowly washed over Rio as he drank in the beauty of her standing before him with powder-blue lace covering up only her most intimate parts.
His jacket was shed in seconds, as were his shoes. Forgotten keys dropped to the floor. He had never seen a more beautiful creature in all his life and she was offering herself to him.
He remembered how she cried out when he first entered her, how she clung to him as he gently coaxed her through the pain and then brought them both to climax with limbs entwined and breathless kisses.
It was clumsy and awkward and beautiful and embarrassingly quick, he chuckled out loud at the memory.
He drove her home in the darkness in silence again, but this time without the nervous tension. It had given way to a radiating love and mutual understanding that punctuated every touch. And, impossibly, an even more comfortable ease in each other's presence.
They pulled into the driveway two hours past curfew. Every light in the house was on. The glow from the windows loomed into the yard ominously. Jerrica gasped. "I am in so much trouble!"
Rio shuddered. Hadn't he just had a conversation with Emmett about this? Praying the proof of their illicit activities weren't written all over their faces, they emerged from the car. Hand in hand they made their way towards the house.
The front door burst open and Kimber ran down the steps two at a time. "Jerrica!" She screamed. Aja and Shana appeared behind her but stayed huddled within the safety of the verandah. "Jerrica!" Kimber ran barefoot towards them. As she ran closer, Jerrica could see pain etched on her sister's face. Jerrica froze at the desperation in Kimber's voice. She took a step backwards and collided with Rio's solid body. She had only heard that specific tone of desperation in her sister's voice one other time. Tear-streaked and wild-eyed, Kimber launched herself into Jerrica's arms knocking her off her feet.
"Jerrica! It's Daddy!" She cried. Sobs wracked her tiny frame. "It's Daddy! He's gone! He's dead!" The two girls crumpled into Rio's embrace as their world shattered around them.
∞
Jerrica stirred and stretched beside him. "What are you doing awake?" She mumbled, sleepily.
"I was just thinking." Rio pulled her closer to him possessively. "About our first time."
"Our first time!" She laughed, pushed herself up on her elbows and thought for a moment. "Luckily we've gotten better since then."
"Luckily?" Rio grinned and slid his hands up her thighs to tickle her waist. She giggled and twisted away.
"Well I have." She boasted playfully. Rio's teeth shone in the moonlight as he broke into a wide smile.
"Modesty, Jerrica. It's a virtue."
"I wouldn't say my virtue was exactly what was on your mind that night."
"Nor yours." He countered. "Care to demonstrate your new found talents, Ms. Benton?" He growled and nipped and her mouth.
"Mmmm, with pleasure, Mr. Pacheco." She purred as she captured his mouth with hers.
The next time Rio awoke in the sunshine, he was alone and more conflicted than ever.
∞
Rio watched Jerrica from the doorway of the room. She was sitting with her back to him in a makeshift office made of a metal chair and folding table in a back room of the concert venue. Jerrica had been poring over paperwork for hours. "It just doesn't make sense." she muttered to herself and shuffled some more papers.
He has missed her that morning. He wanted the warmth of her body against his as they greeted the sun with more love-making. Instead he found himself alone and confused. He couldn't quell the feeling that she was hiding something from him. And in the very next thought he admonished himself for thinking it. After all, wasn't he hiding things
from her as well?
Her brow creased in frustration. He wanted to cross the room and take her in his arms again, to go to her and make love to her right there on the table, not caring if anyone saw. He checked his watch – nine-oh-three am. He had somewhere to be. He crept away from the room and down the corridor without her even knowing he had been there.
A masculine hand set a cup of tea on a saucer down in front of her. She smiled and leaned back into his chest. "Good morning, my lover." she purred and tilted her head, expecting a kiss on her neck. Instead she felt his knuckles graze the three small, fingerprint bruises on
the back of her arm. His breath tickled her skin as he inhaled and finally spoke.
"Tsk, tsk, Jerrica. I never pegged for the rough type."
Jerrica spun around in her chair and stood up. She narrowed her eyes as she felt the colour rise from her throat to her cheeks. "That's hardly any of your business, Riot. I'd appreciate it if you kept your hands to yourself."
"Of course. Ms. Benton. I apologize. I wouldn't want my actions to be misconstrued as anything but friendship."
Jerrica scoffed as she pulled a cardigan over her arms. "Mr. Llewelyn, I see how women fall at your feet. It must be easy to get used to. I however am not one of those women. We do not have a friendship. What is between us is strictly business." She retorted hotly.
Riot smirked behind his hand. A woman immune to his charms! He admired that and wanted to kiss her fully on the mouth for putting him in his place.
Jerrica recovered herself quickly to continue, "Business is the reason I asked to meet with you this morning". She turned and picked up a few papers
"Certainly my love. Why have you asked for this meeting at such an ungodly hour?"
Jerrica glared at his term of endearment and waved to another chair for him to use. She watched as he ran his hands through his thick blonde mane and carried the chair over to the table.
Ungodly hour? She thought. Of course, the club last night. He and Rapture and Minx had probably been awake all night. Oh, let them have their sex-play. What did she care? She certainly wasn't jealous. Last night she and Rio had managed to reconnect on a level deeper than they had in ages. Besides what is he worried about? He looks perfect. He is perfect. She mused. Which is why, she reminded herself, he pursues Jem with such tenacity. She is perfect too. Jerrica wondered at Riot's reaction if he learned that Jem's perfection was merely an electronically produced illusion.
She shook all frivolous thoughts from her head. Time to get down to business.
"Riot, Starlight financials are not balancing and I have discovered it is your fault."
"My fault!" Riot exclaimed. "How is that possible?"
Jerrica pushed a paper across the table towards him.
"Since the beginning if the tour my assistant Joanie has been cutting cheques every month to you, Rapture and Minx. Not one of them has been deposited! In fact, the last three that were sent, were returned by the post office. Now tell me, Riot, why aren't you collecting your due?"
Jerrica thought that she saw a crack in his perfect demeanor but he recovered quickly.
"Jerrica, darling. What is money when it comes to music? Music is not only my
art but my passion and I play for the adulation of my fans." He pushed the paper back at Jerrica with a flourish.
Jerrica scoffed. "I'm not sure Rapture and Minx would appreciate that answer. They would probably like to get paid for their efforts and I'm sure Stinger Sound has expenses to cover."
Riot nodded. He was embarrassed. One more thing had slipped through the cracks of his complicated existence.
"How do we solve this, Riot? Jerrica asked. "Do I need to take your pay out as cash and hand you a stack of bills in a suitcase? I can't have my talent going unpaid. That's ludicrous!"
Riot massaged his temples. He could already feel a headache forming at the base of his neck and it wasn't from the drink lastnight. "Of course, I understand Jerrica." His eyes avoided hers and searched the room. "Can you hold all payments until the break in the tour? I will see to them personally."
Jerrica pressed her lips together and nodded. "Yes, I suppose I can do that. I won't pretend to understand how you run your company Riot and it's none of my business but perhaps you should consider hiring some management help so you can concentrate on your music. A record company doesn't run itself you know. I have Joanie overseeing things
at home, Aja for technical support, Shana for styling."
"And Rio." Riot added.
Jerrica's features softened at his name. "Especially Rio. She replied with a slight smile. She reached across the table to touch his hand gently. "Riot, if you need help, get some help."
Riot pulled his hand away and stood abruptly. "Yes, Jerrica. Thank you." He said tersely and turned towards the door. "The next time you are" he paused, "intimate, I do hope your lover will be gentle."
Jerrica gasped and gaped at the empty door where Riot had so recently stood. Just when she was beginning to see a real personality breaking through his perfection, Riot returns to his audacious ways with an inappropriate comment. Jerrica shook her head and sighed. It was probably time to start thinking about signing a different opening act for the next part of the tour.