Chapter 39

Finally He Hears

"Andrews!" Jamie heard a girl's voice call from behind him and he turned to see his old friend standing there in his radio station parking lot. Why did people seem to like meeting him here?

"Katherine Benton. I didn't know you were in town." She reached him quickly and they hugged. As they stepped back from each other, he finally noticed the white eyelet dress she had on.

"So what are you doing in town? And why are you all dressed up?" Kat rolled her eyes.

"Geez Andrews you could at least tell me I look nice before interrogating me."

"Sorry. You do look nice. Very nice. Benton original?" She nodded.

"Don't you know what tonight is?" Jamie shrugged. "The engagement party?"

"Oh....That..."

"You're not going?!"

"Nah...Nana's making pot roast and I got some CD's to go through..." Kat stared at him in open mouthed amazement before she started her rant.

"Get over yourself Andrews! Jude is your oldest friend! How can you blow this off?!"

"I can't support this Kat." He said intensely, causing her to pause for a moment.

"You aren't still in love with her are you?" She asked suspiciously.

"It's got nothing to do with that."

"Then give me one good reason why you would want to hurt Jude like that?"

"Me? Hurt Jude?" He scoffed. "You didn't see how she was when she came back from that first tour. She acted like she was destroyed! He did that to her Kat!" He shook his head. "I can't watch her go through that again."

"Jamie...Didn't she tell you? She left him." Jamie looked up at her in shock. "Jude's not a victim. She walked away Jamie. He came back to her on her terms." Kat touched his arm and he looked at her, her expression held compassion, his confusion. "I need a date." She said cajolingly and smiled at him.

"I'm not dressed for a party." He said looking down at his army jacket and jeans.

"Then we better get to your house quick." She grinned hearing his surrender and put her arm through his, dragging his much taller form along with her tiny one.

THE Party

Sadie found Kwest at the start of the evening. He had come into town the week before and started to unpack in his new apartment. They exchanged greetings and he eyed her with appreciation. She had on a silver halter dress that stopped mid-thigh showing off her long curvy legs.

"Kwest as best man you have one duty tonight. You're babysitting Tommy and Jude."

"Huh?" He said looking at the blond like she had grown two heads.

"If you see them trying to sneak off, stop them."

"Why?"

"They er...have self control issues." Kwest gave a bark of laughter.

"Tell me about it. Who do you think had to drag them out of a dressing room more than once?" Sadie giggled. "I even found them coming out of a men's room once." Sadie started to explain her theory about them and bathrooms after she heard that. They flirted some more until Tommy and Jude arrived.

The Parents

Victoria Masters walked up to her ex-husband with a glass of champagne in her hand and a grim expression on her face. She and her husband Don had flown in from France yesterday to attend the party.

"Hi Vick. We haven't had a chance to talk tonight. How are you?"

"Great parenting skills Stuart. I leave you with the girls and this is what happens." She said gesturing with her glass, sloshing a little of the golden liquid onto her own hand, at the couple laughing with their friends. "First she's living with him. Now our 19 year old daughter is getting married to that boy!"

"Come on Vicky. Neither of us are exactly in a position to say what will make a marriage work." Stuart said soothingly, his unruffled tone further enraging her.

"You're the one who..."

"I know....What I did was completely wrong. But we were fighting long before I cheated on you. That wasn't exactly healthy for the girls to watch either." Victoria was a bit thrown at how easily he admitted to being in the wrong and changed subjects instead.

"She's too young and naïve. That boy will just use her and hurt her in the end!"

"I don't think..."

"I've read the tabloids Stuart. The kind of life he leads....And he's dragged her right into it!"

"Jude is an adult now. And what is so bad about their life Vick? Jude is living her dream and found someone who loves her. Sure I had reservations about him, but look at them." They both turned their heads back to the couple, he holding her at the waist so naturally, she leaning against his shoulder as they interacted with their friends. They moved together without conscious thought. Stuart had taught both of his girls to be independent and self sufficient. He had seen how well Jude had handled her life before Tommy had come back into it and was satisfied that she could make it on her own if she so chose. But Tommy made her happy. Even Stuart could see that with his protective father's eyes. He turned back to his ex-wife. "A little advice Vicky. Don't take your worries to her. You'll only lose what little relationship you have left with her."

"She has no other skills to fall back on. What happens when the singing stops?" Stuart had to chuckle at that, bringing fire to her eyes. Victoria had never fully supported Jude's career in music, even though she had never openly admitted it.

"Jude's life has always been about music and now she has someone to share it with. They could retire today and live the rest of their lives in comfort. Do you have any idea how much they're both worth now?" Jude had given Stuart her royalties and signing bonus to invest, so he had a fair idea how much money she had. Her first album had sold over a million copies and her second had gone double platinum. "Vicky isn't that what we always wanted for them? Success, happiness and someone to share it with? So what if she's found it all a little earlier than we figured?"

"But does he really love her?"

"When she came back from her second tour he followed her home." Stuart said with some amusement. "You think he would have willingly met me if he wasn't serious about her? I really believe he loves her. Go talk to them. Maybe it will put your mind at ease." She nodded and finished her champagne off, handing Stuart the empty glass, before walking towards Jude and Tommy. Stuart shook his head as he watched her go. If she was smart she would take his advice, because he knew Jude would fight anyone who dared badmouth Tommy or their relationship. She had always been the stubborn one in the family and loyal to a fault.

The Predictable

Tommy and Jude had finally managed to find a corner to themselves, after being bombarded by family and friends. Jamie had shown up with Kat surprising Jude and the old friends had spoken for a little while leaving Jude with a lighter heart. Then he had met Jude's mother who had been rather standoffish until he had used his famous Quincy charm on her and she had relaxed as they spoke about Paris. They had not spent any time alone together all day, Jude having had her final fitting for her dress at G-Major and Tommy getting ready at their apartment. When they had met in the lobby of the hotel he had stared at the beautiful vision in front of him stunned. She wore a rose colored silk gown that was skin tight, until mid-thigh where it flared out to her ankles in a sexy little flounce. It had a sweetheart neckline, held up by two spaghetti straps. Her long curls were swept back by two vintage rhinestone combs showing off the graceful curve of her neck. Chandelier earrings brushed against her cheeks seductively. Before he could properly greet her, they were both swept up by Sadie and forced to join the party.

Tommy kissed the spot behind her ear that he had wanted to since he had seen her tonight, his hand skimmed from her hip down her thigh where it stopped mid motion and moved up again, feeling something marring her smooth flesh.

"You're wearing a garter belt?" He said in a low rasp.

"Yeah so?" She said playfully.

"I've never seen you in a garter belt before. What color is it?" Her eyes met his, which had darkened with a familiar heat.

"You'll have to find out on your own." He took her hand and scanned for the nearest exit. Jude laughed not cooperating as he tried to pull her along.

"Tommy! We can't leave our own engagement party!" He turned and pulled her close, his lips going to the sensitive skin of her neck.

"I'll make it worth your while." He whispered against her ear, causing little ripples of desire to run through her as his teeth nipped at her ear lobe, above her earring. She did not protest again as he tried to surreptitiously walk them towards the nearest door. Before they could slip out unnoticed a sexy blond barred their path. She pointed at Tommy.

"You get away from her until you cool down." She said authoritatively.

"Sadie... He was just walking me to the restroom." Jude whined. Sadie looked at her with disbelieving eyes and then swung them back at Tommy until he reluctantly let go of Jude's hand.

"Dinner is in 15 minutes. Stay away from each other until then." Tommy walked away from them to find Kwest.

"Did you really have to do that?" Jude hissed at her sister.

"Oh please. I've heard enough of your stories to know what you were running off to do. E.J. and I worked hard to pull this party off so quickly. " Jude turned a shade of pink to match her dress. " I thought so. Come on." Sadie linked her arm through Jude's and walked them towards the guests.

They sat next to each other, closer than the seating required at one of the round tables that dotted the ball room. Jude leaned over and whisper in Tommy's ear.

"I took off the garter belt." He looked at her like a little boy who had lost his favorite toy, almost pouting. She leaned in again and whispered straight into his ear, hot breath tickling the fine hairs of his skin. "And everything else..." He gulped visibly and felt blood flowing south. He scooted his chair further underneath the table, causing her to laugh lightly.

"You are evil..." He said just as softly into her ear as his hand caressed her upper thigh, causing her breath to catch.

"What bad things did you do to deserve me?" They barely noticed the other couples sitting with them so engrossed in their own little world.

"I will do anything to deserve you." He tested her earlier statement with his fingers, feeling for any telltale seams or ripples through her silky dress. Feeling none he grinned as his hand traveled further into forbidden territory. Her hand finally stopped him as she gazed at him with equal parts lust and admonishment. They were interrupted by the serving of the first course. Tommy sighed. This was going to be a long night.

So what if the apartment was only 15 minutes away. They couldn't wait that long. As Tommy fumbled the hotel door open, Jude pushed him inside her hands. already undoing his tie. He shrugged off his jacket and she kicked off her heels as the door shut behind them. He pressed her against the wall, their mouths meeting in a bruising kiss full of hunger and need. His hands slid under dress as her hands went to the button of his slacks She unzipped him and pushed his boxers down, freeing his arousal. He teased her wet cleft with his fingers, causing her to moan as she threw her head back against the wall. He thrust two fingers in causing her to raise her hips to meet his digits.

"I need you inside...me..." She gasped. He took his fingers out of her heat and licked them drawing her eyes to the erotic movement. He lifted her up and pressed her against the wall as he positioned his hardness at her entrance. With one stroke he buried himself inside her, taking her cries into his mouth as he started to thrust inside her. Her legs wrapped around him and he placed one hand against the wall bracing himself as he rammed into her.

"Tommy...Fuck me!" She cried out, when his mouth left hers to take in much needed air. He pushed in and put of her relentlessly until he felt her inner muscles start to quiver, signaling her impending release. He slid down the strap of her gown and took her nipple into his mouth, biting down as he thrust that much harder. She screamed his name as she slid over the edge, pain and pleasure rolling into one throbbing ball of need. He shoved against her contracting flesh, the pressure building, needing release. Her mouth found his throat as she bit down, causing his rhythm to falter. Her wicked tongue soothed the pain, bringing the orgasm rushing through him. He thrust into her a few more times before collapsing with her in his arms to the floor. His head pillowed against her chest.

"I think my dress is ruined..." She said a little sadly.

"I'll buy you as many as you want if you let me ruin them the same way." She laughed then.

"We could just try it naked you know? Or with the garter and hose you never saw." his cock stiffened to attention, brushing against her leg and she looked at him in surprise. "Already?" He grinned.

"I will do anything you want to you if you put those on."

"Deal." She reached for her purse on the floor and wiggled away from him, going to the bathroom before he could catch her, not that he tried. He got up slowly and undressed, making his way to the king sized bed to wait for his fiancée.

Publicity and Diamonds

Jude sat down in E.J.'s office, having been summoned by the other woman. She waited expectantly as she could tell E.J. was bursting with news.

"Movado wants both of you to represent their new collection, Timeless. They want to base it around your engagement ring. They're willing to pay for part of your wedding too if they can have a presence there."

"What's the big deal? I know it's beautiful, but lots of people have diamonds."

"Do you know how rare blue diamonds are? Especially one that size?!" E.J. looked at Jude, like she was clueless. Jude stared down at her finger. She loved the ring, not because of how it looked, although he had known her tastes exactly, it was because he had given it to her.

"How...How much do you think it cost him?" E.J. raised her eyebrow at Jude.

"Probably more than I make in 10 years." Jude looked at the stone in shock. Why would he?!

"So what do you think about Movado? It's big Jude. They don't usually bother with spokespersons."

"Let me talk to Tommy..." Jude was already overwhelmed and they had barely started the wedding plans. A half a million dollar ring and representing a luxury watch line? Where had the sanity in her world gone?!