Chapter 25

Tommy woke up the next morning to an empty bed. He rolled over and saw Jude rummaging through his closet. He laughed to himself at the site of her. She was standing there in nothing but her black boy shorts. "Jude, what are you doing?" Sleep still evident in his sleep.

"I'm looking for my favorite hoodie. Did you know you had clothes missing?"

"What are you talking about? And why do you need a hoodie? Just come back to bed."

"I want coffee."

"Why? You're never up this early."

"I have a song idea that I want to start on."

"Fine only on one condition."

"And what may that be?" She asked finally turning around.

He was amazed at the site in front of him. "We work from here today." He said throwing his tee shirt at her. "And just wear that."

"Okay." She said smiling and skipped out of the room.

"Bring me a cup, too." He yelled before grabbing a pillow and putting it over his face. Of course he knew there were clothes missing out of his closet, but he wasn't going to tell her why yet. He reached for his phone

"Good morning, G Major."

"Sadie, hey. Look Jude and I are going to work out side the studio today. So, if D needs us we will be at my place."

"Uh huh. Late night?" She asked suggestively.

"You girls talk entirely too much." He said laughing.

"Whatever like you didn't run to tell Kwest everything."

"Actually I haven't told Kwest anything. Oh and can you tell Karma I'll be back tomorrow."

"Sure. Have fun today."

He was hanging up the phone when Jude was walking back in. "I'm sure I will."

"Will what?"

"Your sister says to have fun today."

"Fun later, song now." Jude said handing him his coffee. She crawled in the bed and sat with her journal.

Tommy propped himself up on his elbow and just watched her. He thought about after he came back from Montana.

He loved being back home sleeping in his own bed. It was where he wanted to stay until Jude decided to forgive him. He knew all along he should have gone against Darius' wished and told her the truth from the beginning, but he didn't. Now he was wallowing in his bed.

He could see how she thought Maya was his, but he never expected her to reject him after finding out she wasn't. He wondered if something else was going on with her. He reached for his phone. He really hoped she would answer, but all he got was her voice mail. "Hey girl. I know you are not ready to talk but I wanted you to know that I love you and I will do what ever to make this up to you."

He didn't want to get up and go to G Major. It was Darius' fault he was in this situation. He knew sitting and moping wasn't going to get Jude to talk to him.

G Major was all a buzz, but it wasn't about the new Instant Star. "What is going on?" He asked a random sound tech. He handed him one of the daily tabloids. There was a whole spread on Jude. She looked drunk. The article said the pictures were posted on her web site.

He didn't know what to think about everything so he went to Darius. "D, what the hell is going on?"

"Don't worry about it, T. I have it under control. Jude is joining Karma's press conference in a few minutes."

"That doesn't answer my question. When were these taken, and why in on earth were they on her web site?"

"She ran off the night of her record release party. She put them on there herself because as usual she doesn't let me take care of everything."

"Okay that doesn't make any sense. What are you not telling me?"

"T, like I said, don't worry about it. It is being handled." Tommy's brain was on over load. How could he not worry? His girlfriend was laid out looking wasted in a tabloid, and apparently she put the pictures on her web site. Where had she run off to? And why did the pictured even exist? What all did he miss. He went to his office because he needed to think. What had him leaving done to her? What else could he blame Darius for?

He watched the press conference from a far. He wanted to see what explanation she was going to give her fans. Maybe if he had told her everything, she wouldn't be going through all of this.

Listening to Karma's speech in the press conference, he realized they were about to have a whole new set of problems. "Thanks, Jude. For the record when I look at these photos, I see a talented musician who isn't afraid to be real, and a tough act to follow. Of course Jude and I are different. She is into heavy riffs and punk influences, where I have a soft spot for power ballads. And I'm a virgin."

"So, Jude, you're not?" A reporter asked.

Jude didn't answer one way or the other. Tommy felt like crawling in a hole. He could just imagine Darius firing him, Sadie kicking his ass, and Stuart killing him, and he hadn't done anything. He slipped in his office before anyone could look at him.

When he finally ventured out of his office, he met Jude walking through. "Hey." He wasn't sure if she would talk to him yet. "That was, um, an interesting press conference. Falsely revealing."

"Yeah speaking of revealing, I thought you promised no more secrets."

"Oh here we go." He wished she could understand that he would have told her if he could.

"You know. Forget it. I'm not going to take the bait from you either."

He just looked at her like she had three heads. "What?"

"I'm not going to get sucked into a fight. I am Zen. I am dignity."

"I am speechless." He wanted to know where his girlfriend was. Usually they would fight, and get it all out so they could go back to normal.

"Yeah, well, that's because you never change, but I have. Tootles."

That sentence scared him more than anything. He didn't know what to think. Was she breaking up with him, or was it over when he left?

He decided he should try and concentrate on work, and stay out of Darius site. "Um, I'm just here to pick up my masters." He said walking into the studio Kwest was working in.

"You look confused man."

"Jude, the girls nuts."

"She's still not talking to you?"

"She's smiling. She's blank eyed. She refuses to engage."

"Well you've been away."

"I guess that's why you're producing the first Karma single?"

This started an argument with Kwest that later Tommy regretted. He knew he'd be working at the Bar Mitzvah. So, he went to apologize. He wasn't surprised to find Sadie with him. "Sorry to interrupt." He said finding them kissing. It made him jealous because it had been far too long since he felt Jude's velvet lips on his.

"What are you doing here?" Kwest asked.

"Aren't you supposed to be working? Who's at the board?"

"Guys." Sadie interrupts then turns to look out the window. "Is that Jude?" She leaves.

"You came all this way to ride me?" Kwest asked in an annoyed tone.

Tommy realized he was still taking his frustration out on Kwest, and that wasn't his intention. "I came to apologize. The things I said at G Major were wrong. I'm just so frustrated."

"T, what did you expect? You were gone two months."

"Man I know that but D didn't want anyone to know. How was I supposed to tell her the truth? D was trusting me."

"Give her some time. You know she'll come around. She loves you."

"Guys, there's some serious on stage drama." Sadie came back in.

"What?" Kwest and Tommy said at the same time.

"Jude crashed. I think there might be a cat fight on stage."

They followed her out, and all they could do was stand there and watch everything play out. Jude said something to Karma then Patsy walked up and said something. She walked away as Karma said something. Patsy walked back and got in Karma's face, pushing her back into the cake. As Karma fell back she grabbed Jude's top and exposed her boob.

Tommy was at the edge of the stage when she ran off. He wrapped his jacket around her, and led her out to his car.

"Oh my god, Tommy." Jude said clearly still in shock.

"Shh." He said trying to comfort her. He was thankful that she was letting him.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She said wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest.

Just then Sadie came out. "Jude, are you okay?"

"Take her to the rehearsal space. I will help Kwest load up and we'll meet you there." Tommy said to Sadie, but Jude seemed reluctant to let Tommy go. "Babe, go with your sister. I'll be there in a bit."

"Promise?" She said weakly.

He cupped her face looking her straight in the eyes. "I promise."

When he and Kwest arrived at the rehearsal space, Jude and Sadie were sitting on the fire escape steps. "Hey." He said approaching her.

"Hey." She no longer seemed frantic. She now seemed embarrassed.

"Can we go somewhere and talk?"

"Sure." They went up and sat on the couch.

"So, it's been an interesting couple of days." Tommy commented turning to face her.

"Yeah. Look about the press conference, I talked to my dad, and he's not coming after you or anything. I told him the truth."

"I'm not worried about that. The only thing I am worried about is loosing you."

"I can understand you not telling me everything. I know Darius was the reason you left. You know the whole time you were gone he acted like he had no clue where you were."

That's D for you. I wanted to tell you, but for Maya's sake, I needed him to continue to trust me."

"What happened to Maya's mom?"

"She's in rehab. D knew I could convince her it was best, since I knew what Maya was going through watching her mom drink."

"That makes sense."

"So what made you crash today? I thought you were Zen."

"I couldn't stand that it seemed like everyone was taking Karma's side. After the press conference it was like I was a whore. I guess crashing the party didn't help my image at all."

"Jude, you are anything but a whore." He said seriously. "I should know." He added with a smirk. He wanted to lighten the mood.

She laughed and hit his shoulder. "I know."

They sat and talked for a long time. She let him in on what all happened while he was gone. He finally had all his questions answered about the pictures. "So what are you going to do about Darius?" He asked.

"Grovel, I guess." She shrugged.

"You are something else." He laughed and got serious again. "You know I missed you like crazy."

"Me too." She whispered before he leaned forward pressing his lips to hers for the first time in way too long."

He couldn't help but smile watching her concentrate. He wondered how hard or easy it would be to disturb that concentration. Quickly he leaned up and kissed her neck lightly.

Jude knew what he was doing, but she was determined to hold him off until she was finished writing. She swatted him away, but he would come right back. She had to admit to herself that it was quite tempting considering he was still completely naked under the covers. But she needed to get this idea out of her head first.

"Jude." He whined into her ear.

"Hmm?" She asked still writing.

"Can't that wait?" He asked pushing her hair behind her ear. He lingered letting her feel his breath on her neck.

"Can't you?" She laughed.

He considered her question, and what would be the best answer to give her. What would make her consider putting her journal down. Then he went a totally different route. He took the book and threw it in the floor. Before she could say a word, he pulled her to him and flipped them so he was hovering over her. "I waited two years." He said with a gleam of lust in his eyes.

She couldn't deny him when he put it that way. She giggled when he started kissing her neck again. "You're like an animal."

He pulled back to look at her. "Is that a good thing?"

"Oh a very good thing." She said pushing his chest so she could roll them over. She straddled his waist and pulled his tee shirt off that she was wearing.

Tommy definitely liked this side of her. He hooked his fingers on either side of her boy shorts pulling them down her hips. She shifted, helping him pull them off completely. She leaned down to kiss him. He pulled her as close as possible as their tongues danced together. They were both driving the other crazy with their slow actions.

Jude reached in to the nightstand before leaving his lips. She places the foil package on his chest before leaning down again. She was still unsure about things, but she was trying to put up a brave front. She knew if she did something wrong, he would stop her. She lowered her head and licked his flat male nipples. They hardened into little points. Then she used her teeth to gently pull. He gave low moan that urged her on as she moved downward.

Tommy groaned at the feeling of her nipples running along his skin. He felt helpless under her. This was no longer his innocent Jude. He'd definitely woken up her sexual side. He felt her nails, teeth, and tongue exploring every inch of his body.

She knelt between his legs settling over his hard length. She gave him a quick glance before lowering her head. She opened her lips to take him in. She teased at first, never taking him in fully. Her tongue swirled around the tip. She could feel him squirm beneath her.

Just as he was about to go mad and make her take him completely, her hand pulled on his balls and she took him to the back of her throat. He cursed as the intense pleasure ran through him. Her mouth held him tighly, moving in and out at a steady pace. Her name slipped from his lips as her suction grew harder, pulling him over the edge.

She could tell what she was doing to him, and it was making her crazy. She felt like she couldn't get enough of him. He exploded and she took all of him. She glanced up at him and his eyes were closed tightly. She kissed up his body again, and felt him respond almost immediately. She kissed him deeply feeling his rough hands rubbing her thighs.

She placed a hand on his chest telling him to stay where he was while bringing the foil package to her mouth. She ripped it open and quickly rolled it into place.

All Tommy could do was watch her. He had to admit he was enjoying Jude being in control. She was opening up and he couldn't wait to see where this would go. Her body was perfect sitting above him.

Finally Jude lowered herself onto him, taking him all the way to the hilt. She took a moment to enjoy the sensations of his body filling hers, stretching her, pressing her in all the right ways. She found herself wishing they could stay in his bed forever.

Tommy was drawing on her back and propped up on his elbow. She was on her stomach staring off into space. His movements stopped and she rolled over to face him.

"What are you thinking, Tommy Q?"

"About how much I love you." He said tucking her hair behind her ear."

"I love you too." She said smiling.

"How about that song you were working on?"

"It can wait."

This chapter was difficult for a couple different reasons. The flash back was hard to turn around to fit my story line, but I think it turned out pretty good. The other reason is I am hoping that the sex is not changing the tone of the story. Maybe I am over thinking it all. Hope you enjoy. As usual, I own nothing.