Music is Underneath It All by No Doubt. ENJOY!
Chapter 31-Part 2
The singer was breathtaking, with creamy mocha skin and a wild riot of brown/red hair. In her early twenties, Marise LeBlanc was willowy and graceful up on the stage. She was the new face of reggae and her voice was melodic as she drew the audience in. Tommy had his arms wrapped around Jude as she leaned back against him, both of them swaying to the hypnotizing beat as the woman sang with vibrant energy.
"So where do you know her from?" Tommy shouted towards Kwest, who stood next to them, just as into the beat.
"I vacationed in the Bahamas and she was singing at a tourist club down there." Tommy nodded as they continued to watch the captivating singer.
"Did you guys get together?" Tommy asked curiously, appreciating the woman's exotic beauty even though he had no personal interest in her. Kwest was a gentleman to the core and simply shrugged, but Jude could see the slight hesitation in his dark eyes and wondered if it was an affirmation of his involvement with her. She worried for the briefest moment about Sadie, but the melody drew her in once again and she turned back to the stage. Tommy brushed his lips along Jude's temple when she turned her head to smile at him. They rarely got a chance to go out, spending so much time on her album and she desperately studying for her upcoming final exams, having slacked most of the year.
They stayed until after the show was over, Kwest wanting to catch up and introduce them to Marise. In the meantime Kwest and Tommy discussed whether or not Darius would be interested in Marise and they both came to the conclusion that he would. Her looks alone would have interested the media mogul, since he could sell an image just as well or even better than actual talent. Look how eager he had been to put the talentless Eden Taylor on the cover of Solid instead of Jude, way back when, until Tommy had persuaded him otherwise. They decided to ask if she was interested in cutting a demo with G-Major when they got the chance.
Jude completely missed their conversation. She had her legs propped on a bar stool as she leaned over the counter sideways, scribbling away feverishly on one cocktail napkin after another. The music tonight had been spectacular, earthy and energetic, inspiring her to try something new. Her junior album was a time to explore new sounds and invoke new feelings for her audience and she was not afraid to experiment, now that she had matured enough not to want to be pegged as just a tween idol. She did not hear Kwest yell for her to join them by the stage to meet Marise. Finally the other woman took it upon herself to go over and greet the young blond herself. She was amused because she knew she got exactly the same way when she was making music.
Marise slid on a stool behind her and spoke up.
"I hope it's good." She said in a pleasant lilting Bahamian accent. Jude turned, startled, her feet dropping to the floor. She flushed with embarrassment and Marise simply laughed. She held her hand out.
"I'm Marise LeBlanc." She took Jude's hand and squeezed it warmly instead of going for the traditional handshake.
"Jude Harrison. You were amazing tonight."
"Thank you. Kwest tells me you're a singer." Jude nodded. "So what is it that you're writing?" Jude showed her the lyrics, putting the napkins in order.
"Would you be interested in helping me with this?" Tommy and Kwest stayed by the stage speaking to the band members, letting the two women bond. Jude started to hum the chorus and then explain what she was looking for. Marise nodded, excitement shining in her vivid green eyes.
"I see what you mean." They got so caught up in the song, they ignored Tommy and Kwest who had decided to sit at a nearby table to nurse their drinks.
You're really lovely Underneath it all I want to love you Underneath it all
Jude sang it softly, trying out the tune she had settled on as Marise nodded. It was all starting to come together and Jude had written a part to showcase the other woman's talents.
"So is he really? Lovely?" Marise asked as she turned to the man the song was written about. Jude followed her gaze and grinned, all her feelings for him clear in her eyes, but when she turned back to Marise she flushed at her unabashed lusting for him. She shrugged one shoulder helplessly.
"I think so." She was so ready to take him home. The energy of the night was channeling into other needs besides the juices of creativity.
Tommy noticed them looking, Marise openly leering at him, which did not really faze him since he was used to the groupies, but it did make him wonder.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Kwest asked, glancing over at the attractive women himself.
"Nothing good." Tommy grinned and raised the bottle of beer to his lips. He liked Jude's lascivious grin in his direction; it gave him much hope for later.
**
Tommy had not thought through how Jude's amorous advances would translate in the car on the way to his apartment though, which was twenty minutes away. Her tongue was flicking at his neck, her palm underneath his shirt. Sure the occasional woman had attacked him before while he'd been driving, but this was Jude and his heart was speeding faster than his Viper at this point. If she kept up her caresses, his eyes would eventually lose focus and they would both die in a fiery crash, unfulfilled. It was the thought of being unfulfilled that had him pushing her away; unfortunately his unsteady hand landed on her soft braless breasts. He immediately dropped his arm as if burned, even though all he wanted to do was knead the gentle swells. Oh hell! He gulped as her hand wandered to his leg, one finger sliding back and forth, closer to his inner thigh with every pass. When her nails scratched at him through the denim of his jeans, his eyes crossed and it was only the blare of horns that brought him back as he swerved back into his own lane. He glared at her accusingly.
"You need to stop."
"I can't." She admitted, squeezing her thighs together, trying to ease the ache, biting her lower lip. Tommy let out a strangled groan of defeat, her innocuous words indecently arousing. Jude's head whipped back when Tommy braked a little too hard to take an upcoming turn into a deserted parking lot. He cut the engine and his grabbed her head to press his lips down on hers, feeding on her mouth voraciously, tasting every molecule with his tongue. She was panting when he let go suddenly and left his seat. Her seatbelt was barely off before he had come around to the passenger side and ripped her door open. He pulled her out and shut it quickly, pinning her to the side of the vehicle. He started to suck on her neck as his hands found her breasts over the thin satin of her top. His thumbs brushed against the budding nubs and she moaned into the night air. He slipped one strap down revealing the perfect mound to his gaze and a second later his mouth latched on to suck and bite teasingly. She always tasted of strawberries he mused absentmindedly. She savored the pulling pressure of his hot mouth for a moment, but she wanted so much more. All her nerve endings seemed to be on fire for his body and the grinding of his jean clad lower body against the juncture of her thighs was not nearly enough.
Tommy lifted his head to look around and realized even without lights in this parking area they were too exposed. A stray car could pass by and catch them easily in its headlights. Jude stumbled a little, dizzy with desire as he pulled her towards a shadowed corner of the old brick building. His mouth demanded entrance to hers as he pressed her against the rough stone. His hands went to her waist to unbutton her tight jeans. He pulled the zipper down and was soon tugging on them as she kicked off her boots. Her panties disappeared along with her pants, leaving her naked except for the skimpy camisole that hung by one thin spaghetti strap, exposing her left breast. His mouth clamped down on her pink nipple and his ministrations wrung a cry out of her as his hand slid along her already damp folds. She arched up in pleasure when two fingers entered her. Jude's fingers worked the button of his jeans nimbly and she pulled them down his legs along with his boxers in one fluid motion.
She raised one leg to wrap loosely around his waist, angling her softness forward to meet his body more fully as her tongue licked at his. He reached behind her to grab her ass and lifted her up, pinning her against the wall as her teeth found his lower lip to nibble on. He aligned his hardness to her wet opening and thrust into her in one swift move, stretching her tight muscles to accommodate him. Her cry was even louder this time and he had to use his hand to muffle her moans. Their eyes met as he began to move his hips, pressing even deeper into her.
"Can you be quiet?" He rasped through already ragged breaths. She nodded wordlessly and his hand moved back to her ass to hold her in place while he increased his strokes against her tight sheath. Her mouth latched onto his shirt covered shoulder to stifle the screams building deep within her. At this angle he was rubbing against her G-spot with every swift push of his body. Jude felt herself dangling on that delicious precipice that she wasn't sure she was ready to fall off of, wanting to enjoy his body taking hers higher.
"Harder." She urged but once, before he pounded into her almost delirious with the pleasure of her heat wrapped around him like a wet velvet glove. The tiny spasms began as the friction of their joined bodies continued their mad dance. As she splintered apart her teeth sank into his shoulder, her spasms driving him almost crazy as he pushed even faster, finding his own release seconds later. He held her there, his forehead pressed to hers, for an inordinate amount of time as his body finished its pulsing inside of hers. Sometimes he secretly wished he could stay like that forever. He finally let her drop back down to the ground, admiring her bare ass as she bent to pick up her clothes. He rearranged his own pants as she pulled her jeans back on.
"Where are we?" Her voice broke into his euphoric post-orgasmic state. They both looked around and that's when she saw the brass plaque on the mortar.
Jonus Waverly Children's Library
"Let's get out of here. I hope they don't have any outdoor cameras." Jude said a little uneasy. She couldn't quite pinpoint exactly why she felt slightly guilty, but this was where innocent children came to sign out books of Dr. Seuss and attend story time. Bad Jude! She glared at his retreating sexy behind and gave it a pinch. Bad Tommy! He jumped a step and stared at her before shaking his head. They make a quick beeline back to the Viper and got in. Tommy started the car and they were soon headed towards his apartment on the other side of town.
"Was that enough to get you home?" He asked teasingly as he glanced over at her disheveled state. If the tabloids got a shot of her now he could just see the headlines. She looked like she had just been fucked hard and he gave himself a self-satisfied grin.
"How far away are we?" She answered his question with one of her own in a tone that was a tad too serious for his liking and he had to do a double take to catch the glint of teasing humor in her eyes. "Don't worry cowboy I can wait until the elevator at least."
Jude's arms were twined around his neck and her lips hungrily moving against his when he had to pull back to find the right key in front of his apartment.
"So..." He breathed. "You never told me what brought on all this....eagerness." He managed to get out before her tongue darted to his neck. She bit down as he fumbled to get the metal into the lock.
"I don't know...The atmosphere, the music, writing that song."
"Do I get to hear it now?" Her weight pushed him into the darkened room.
"Not yet." She hedged as her mouth attacked his again and he slammed the door shut behind them.
**
Jude stood in the sound booth talking animatedly to Marise, who had come in today to record her part of the song. They had lain the instrumental down yesterday even though Jude had still not shown Tommy the lyrics. Jude signaled that they were ready as they both put on their headphones. Kwest walked in to help with the engineering as the song drew to an end. He sat down beside Tommy and looked towards the sound booth.
"What's the name of the song?" He asked checking the controls that Tommy had already preset.
"Underneath It All." Tommy frowned and hit the intercom button connecting him to the other room. The song was great and Jude had sung it with a lot of energy, but she wasn't conveying the emotion he thought it deserved. He never got tired of her voice or songs about him and adding Marise to the mix had been a stroke of genius.
"Jude could you come in here a minute?" She shot a puzzled glance his way and took her headphones off, giving Marise an apologetic look before heading to him. Kwest took the opportunity to get up and greet Marise, having been busy with another artist when she had come in.
Jude plopped down on Kwest's recently vacated chair. She was excited about the song and eager to get back to it.
"What's wrong? I thought it sounded pretty good."
"You're not getting the feel of the song across." She wrinkled her brow in confusion, not sure what he meant. It was a lighthearted song meant to make the listener want to dance. He sighed not wanting to be blunt with this. "You remember that night after you wrote it? What was your mood?" Jude's mind flashed back and oh yes she definitely remembered being taken against the wall and then the couch and the bed. The scrapes on her back from the brick wall were just now healing. "You see where I'm going with this?" Her eyes grew dark as she leaned down to him.
"I get it..." She whispered huskily against his ear, letting her hot breath brush against his skin. "You want me to get you hard." He swallowed convulsively as his hands gripped the arms of the chair, to keep them from her body. Her teeth grazed his lobe before she straightened up, an evil little grin plastered to her full lips. "Well let's do it again then..." She said before swaying out of the room. With that the atmosphere in the studio changed. She swaggered into the other room with hips rolling and Tommy wondering if he would survive the day. Kwest sat back down beside him and listened intently as he heard the song for the first time.
There's times when I want something more
Someone more like me
There's times when this dress rehearsal
Seems incomplete
But, you see the colors in me like no one else
And behind your dark glasses you're...
You're something else
Kwest sniggered. Of course the song was about Tommy and so far it fit him to a tee. You're really lovely
Underneath it all
You want to love me
Underneath it all
I'm really lucky
Underneath it all
You're really lovely
Kwest told himself that she was simply saying she saw the core of Tommy, nothing else, but the way she was singing it made him begin to doubt. You know some real bad tricks
And you need some discipline
Bad tricks?! Discipline?! Okay even Kwest couldn't delude himself into believing she was still talking about Tommy's inner character, especially with the eyes she was directing their way. Since when had Jude's voice developed that husky undertone? He glanced over at Tommy quickly, who was fidgeting a little more than usual.
. But, lately you've been trying real hard
And giving me your best
Did she actually sing that out loud?
And, you give me the most gorgeous sleep And when it's really bad
That I've ever had
I guess it's not that bad
Why!? Why did they hate him so much they insisted on showing off their sex life in front of him when he wasn't getting any! He didn't need to hear about Tommy Q's sexual prowess anymore than he needed to hear Jude's appreciation of his attributes.
You're really lovely Underneath it all Do you want to love me Underneath it all I'm really lucky Underneath it all Do you really love me So many moons that we have seen
Stumbling back next to me
I've seen right through and underneath
And you make me better
I've seen right through and underneath
And you make me better
Better... better...
Better?! Better?! Like she was praising his teaching abilities. No!!! Then he caught Tommy staring at Jude, who had just licked her full lips suggestively, like he wanted to take her on the floor right then. For real, 'cause underneath it all
You are my real Prince Charmin'
Like the heat from the fire
You were always burnin'
And anytime you're around
My body keeps stalin'
For your touch
Your kisses and your sweet romancin'
There's another side to you
That so many adore
Aside from your temper
Everything else secure
You're good for me, baby
Of that, I'm sure
'Cuz over and over again
Me want more
Kwest loved Marise's part and guessed rightly Jude had written it as well, leaving no doubt that this song wasn't about Tommy's inner qualities, at least not only that. He banged his head on the edge of the soundboard causing Tommy to give him a strange look.
You've used up all your coupons
And all you've got left is me
And somehow I'm full of forgiveness
I guess it's meant to be
You're really lovely
Underneath it all
Do you want to love me
Underneath it all
I'm really lucky
Underneath it all
And you're really lovely
.
Marise had nailed her part in only three takes, but Jude's verses required more subtlety so she and Kwest watched as Tommy stood in the sound booth explaining what he wanted exactly. Even from the other room, the currents running between them were tangible. Tommy grazed one finger along her cheek and Marise inhaled sharply as if it were she who had been touched. She finally turned to Kwest, breathing deeply.
You're really lovely
Underneath it all
Do you want to love me
Underneath it all
And I'm really lucky
Underneath it all
And you're really lovely
Mmm, mmm, mmm
Underneath it all
Mmm, mmm, mmm
Underneath it all
Mmm, mmm, mmm
Underneath it all
Mmm, mmm, mmm
Underneath it all
.
"Ooh is it hot in here?" She fanned her cheeks. Kwest sighed. "How do you work with them like this?" Indicating the tension permeating the entire area.
"You get used to it. Kind of."
"They're something else aren't they?"
"You said it." Kwest rolled his eyes.
"How do they keep their hands off one another?" Kwest snorted at her naiveté.
"Pretty sure they don't."
"Then why are they so bad?" He shrugged helplessly at her confusion.
"The more they're together the worse it seems to get." He admitted to his friend, glad to finally have someone to offload on. He was sick of being the only one stuck between his two friends and their twisted little games. Addicted could not have been a more appropriate song for the two of them. Instead of lessening the need for one another, their every touch seemed to make it worse. The entire staff of G-Major noticed, possibly with the exception of Sadie and Darius, and almost everyone was affected by all the sexual tension. It was like a never ending prickle along the nape of one's neck.
Ten takes later Tommy was satisfied with the vocals, if not physically satisfied. His eyes burned with repressed need as he gazed at his girlfriend. They would mix the song tomorrow with a fresh set of ears. The beat of the song had them all lighthearted and Kwest put in one of Marise's bootleg CD's.
Darius found them all dancing in the sound booth, Kwest swinging Marise out with laughter on all their faces. Jude and Tommy were pressed close together as they swung their hips to the beat, their lips only a breath from touching. Sadie had followed Darius to hand him a phone message having not found him in his office and she too saw the beautiful woman flirting with her boyfriend. She froze and stared at them in shock as Kwest took the woman's hands to continue their dance. She turned and fled before Darius let out his tirade.
"Is this what I'm paying you to do?!" He roared and they all immediately froze.
"We were just celebrating D." Jude was the first to speak, trading on his soft spot for her. "We've got your next summer hit." She said it in a singsong voice and saw the spark of interest in his eyes.
"Is it done?" He asked, composing his face into a mask once again. Kwest had thankfully gone and turned the music off.
"We'll work on the mixing tomorrow D." Tommy finally spoke up, admiring his girl's gutsy move. Darius grunted and took in Marise for a moment before leaving them alone again.