Chapter 5
Paris, France. Jude could hardly believe that she was really here—she was giddy with excitement, a monstrous smile adorning her face. She had always dreamed of coming here, but never had the chance. To be honest, she had never ventured outside of Canada and the US. The group had just finished in London and flew to the French capital first thing this morning. They were here for four nights, and then were continuing around western Europe for the next six weeks. They then had a small break and were off to Asia.
Focusing her attention on the sights passing across her vision as they drove from the airport to the city center, Jude made a mental list of the things she wanted to do. Sure, they had shows the following two nights, but she was determined to enjoy her time here too. Plans were already made with Tommy for this afternoon—he was taking her to some of his favorite places in the city—places that weren't the usual tourist spots, but equally as amazing, he had assured her. Jude was thankful that they were on good terms again. As much as she knew that she should separate herself from Tommy, she couldn't. He was just too easy to be around, and things always seemed better when he was next to her. He was like the yin to her yang.
On the busy Quai Branly, Jude's eyes were wide in wonder as she gazed at the masterpiece that was the Eiffel Tower. She had only ever seen the massive structure in movies or on postcards, and now she was here. A hand grabbing her own startled Jude out of her reverie. She looked to her left and smiled at Tommy. "Don't worry Babes, that is just one of the many places I am taking you while we're here." She could only smile at his comment, excited to see the city with her favorite person.
Because of their limited time that first day, Tommy only took Jude to a few of the necessary attractions. They visited Esplanade des Invalides and had a late lunch on the lawn, walked through the streets around Boulevard Saint-Michel, saw Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur, and passed by the Moulin Rouge. They crossed the city back and forth, but Tommy had told her he wanted to get some of the tourist attractions out of the way. In a couple of days, he would show her the "real" Paris.
Jude was happy following Tommy though. She knew that he had been in Paris before, which, in her mind, made him the expert. As a side note, Jude knew that she would always follow Tommy—that was one of the effects of being in love with the man. That night they had dinner at a wonderful restaurant across the street from the Jardin des Halles. They walked the four kilometers back to their hotel, the San Regis, and simply basked in each other's company. For Jude, just being with Tommy was perfect. It didn't matter where they were, but as long as he was by her side, things were good. She knew that every second she spent with him, she was falling harder and harder, she just couldn't help it.
The next couple of days flew by for the pair, as well as everyone else on tour. Their second day in Paris was spent getting the arena ready and acquainting themselves with the equipment and the set up. The show was amazing, and SME and the Boyz were loving the feel of performing for a new crowd and a new group of fans. The next day, because some things were already in place, Tommy took Jude to one of his favorite breakfast spots, a small bakery on the way to the concert hall, the Palais Omnisport de Bercy. Much to his obvious dismay, Spied, Wally, and Kyle had joined them and nearly got them kicked out by throwing pastries at each other. Tommy had been furious, and it was only when Jude promised him that she would make them leave him alone the following day that he calmed down slightly. She knew he had big plans for their day together tomorrow, she just had no idea what they were. At this point, the only thing she really wanted to do was go to the Eiffel Tower and walk through the Musee d'Orsay.
The second and last concert in Paris was fantastic as well. Boyz Attack and SME had to stay especially late to interact with the fans and do a couple of interviews, so Jude caught a taxi back to their hotel early. Being the only girl, she always had her own room, but she had given Tommy her key once they checked in. The first thing Jude did when she got back was turn on the the water to fill her tub. After the past couple of days, she needed a bit of relaxing. She wasn't worried about anyone coming in, everyone would be occupied for at least another hour. She was exhausted after the concert—because it was the last one in the city, they had to pack up all of their equipment that night. On the plus side, she was grateful that they had gotten everything done because that meant that her and Tommy were completely free tomorrow.
Nearly an hour later, once she finished her bath, Jude got ready for bed and climbed into her comfortable haven of sheets and pillows. She was just about to drift off when she heard her door open and the shower turn on. She wasn't surprised to hear Tommy come in, and she was glad that he jumped into the shower—all of those guys got pretty gross after the concert. A few minutes later a warm and clean body crawled into the bed and an arm made its way around her waist. Jude sighed in contentment and, in her near-sleep state, told her companion, "Love you babe, sleep well."
…
Still laying in bed, Tommy thought about the previous night—he should not have been so happy to hear Jude's words, but he hadn't been able to stop smiling. After their last concert in Paris, he had gotten back to the hotel with the rest of his band mates and SME and gone to Jude's room. Everyone had to share rooms in Paris, but because Jude was the only girl, she was blessed with her own room. He got cleaned up a bit and crawled into bed and had quickly fallen asleep—exhausted from the whirlwind couple of days. He couldn't shake the sense of perfection he had felt last night, loving how it felt to be next to his favorite girl.
Not wanting to ponder those confusing thoughts anymore, he quietly got out of bed and ready for the day. Thankfully, he had brought his bag to Jude's room a couple of days ago—it just made things so much easier. Looking back at his still-sleeping friend, Tommy knew that Jude would be out for at least another hour. He decided that there was time to grab some breakfast from a baker down the street from their hotel. Their coffee was amazing, and he knew that she would appreciate it before their adventurous day.
As he got breakfast and coffee for his girl, Tommy thought about his plans for the day. He would start by taking Jude to the Jardin de Luxembourg. Then, they would head to the Musee d'Orsay. It was one of his favorite museums in the city and he knew that Jude had really wanted to go there. They would also stop by the Sainte Chapelle, and the Grand Palais. Tommy was going to finish their day by taking Jude to the Eiffel Tower, and they were going to go to dinner at an amazing restaurant where he knew the owner. He literally couldn't wait to get started...there was just so much to do. He thought back to when he was in Boyz Attack all those years ago. The few times he had been to Paris with the group he couldn't help but think about how amazing it would have been to experience it with someone he loved. But as he was in the elevator going up to Jude's room, he knew that there was no one who would appreciate it and love it like she would.
Arriving at the door, Tommy balanced the coffee and pastries in one hand while opening the door with the other. He set the items on the small table by the window and went over to the bed to wake Jude. He was surprised that she wasn't in it, but smiled as he heard her beautiful voice coming from the bathroom. No wonder Darius had given her a contract. Tommy was again struck by the beauty of her voice—rich and elegant, so full of emotion and passion. He was convinced that he could listen to her forever and never grow tired of the sound.
Tommy was startled by the bathroom door opening, but grabbed Jude's coffee to hand it to her as soon as she stepped out. She gratefully took the cup from him and pecked him on the cheek, "You are an angel! Thank you!" Tommy just smiled in response and sat down in one of the chairs the room had to offer.
"Let me just get some makeup on and I am ready for our day of fun!"
The smile on Jude's face was contagious, and Tommy couldn't help but grin. "No problem, hon. You look fantastic, by the way." She was in a pair of dark jeans that hugged her ass perfectly—tight, but not so tight that they didn't fit. Her top half was covered simply, wearing only a long sleeve shirt and a blazer. She was wearing a pair of black boots with a killer heel that made Tommy think about what she would like like in only them. He shook his head at those thoughts, and looked out the window, waiting for her to finish. Today was not about those kind of thoughts, it was about enjoying each other's company and showing Jude the amazing city they were in.
She cleared her throat, signaling that she was ready to go, and Tommy jumped from his spot by the window. "Let's do it!" Tommy handed her the purse by the door and she grabbed a scarf to fight the cold weather. Arm in arm, coffees in hand, the two left the hotel for their adventure. In their wake were three boys in their early twenties who watched the two with fascination.
Spied knew that Jude loved Tommy, and he could see the joy on her face whenever she was with the dark-haired man, but he also knew that she could get heartbroken. He sighed and went with his buddies, knowing that this was Jude's issue—he wouldn't step in until she asked for his help.
Across the city from their hotel, Tommy and Jude were walking through the Jardin de Luxembourg as they finished their coffee. Jude marveled at the plants, which was surprising to Tommy because he knew she had a black thumb. They watched as little kids played with each other and mothers talked, and he saw the smile on Jude's face, wondering at the look of longing. He grabbed her hand and led her to a bench close by, sitting down, he asked her, "What's up sweetheart?"
Not turning her head from the children, she responded, "I just wonder if I'll ever have that, you know?"
And Tommy did know. He often wondered if he would find that. Sure, he was only 27, but he didn't think that there was any woman who he could fall in love with—he wasn't sure that there was a woman who would get him, especially like Jude got him. Turning back to Jude, he put his arm around her and pulled her close. Tommy kissed the top of her head, "Babe, you know that you'll get that. Some man will sweep you off your feet and you'll get to wear a white dress and then you'll be popping out babies left and right. You just have to wait for the right one. And don't laugh at how cheesy that just sounded." As he told her that everything would be okay, his heart clenched at the thought of someone sweeping her off her feet. He knew that Jude was special, and she deserved the best. He could just imagine her getting married, a beautiful white dress and walking down the aisle. He could imagine her pregnant, with a beautiful big belly, full with child. He could imagine her as a mom, teaching their kids to be passionate about something. Wait, their kids? He must just be getting caught up in the moment. The interesting thing was that he couldn't comprehend what her partner would look like, and even trying to made him anxious and worried, and made his chest hurt. Tommy pushed those thoughts aside and focused back on Jude.
She snuggled to him and sighed. "I know. I think it's just hard to believe sometimes." Giving him one last squeeze, she got up and motioned for him to follow. "Come on. I believe we have more places to see."
"Yep. Our next stop is a museum. Guess which one."
"Please tell me you're taking me to the Musee d'Orsay?"
Tommy knew he had done well by agreeing to take her there. He nodded and they were off. They arrived at the museum by metro, wanting to make sure they had time for everything. Tommy had alotted two hours for the museum, and Jude had wanted every moment. He loved seeing her entranced by the art, so focused, enchanted. Her favorite had been the Renoir room—loving the emotion that came forth in his works. She had also loved Weeping Girl by Albert Bartholome, a sculpture that had nearly brought her to tears. Never before had Tommy seen her so moved by anything other than music.
They had grabbed lunch after visiting the museum, needing a break and time to process. Then, the pair headed down the roads bordering the River Seine until they reached the Ile de la Cite.
"What are we doing here?" Jude asked Tommy. "I thought we already went to Notre Dame?"
"We did, but now, we're going somewhere else. There is a little chapel that has the most amazing stained glass you will ever see. It's called La Sainte Chapelle, and its just a block or two from here." Tommy led her around a couple of corners until they reached a building that, from the outside, didn't look like much. But once he got her inside, Jude was in awe. She spent a half an hour not saying a word and just looking around.
As she was close to being finished, Jude walked back towards Tommy and touched his arm, "Thank you." The sincerity was clearly evident in her eyes, and Tommy was glad to have brought her to yet another place she seemed to enjoy. She continued by simply saying, "This is incredible."
"I'm glad you liked it." He smiled at her and led her to the door, his hand on her lower back. Next stop is the Grand Palais." With that, they were off. They walked down Rue de Rivoli and then crossed over to the Champs-Elysees.
Jude sucked in a deep breath as the Grand Palais appeared on their right, and she smacked Tommy's arm, "This is amazing. Look at that building!"
Tommy laughed, "I know, Jude. Right now they're having a Bulgari exhibit that is supposed to be pretty wicked, and they have whole section devoted to fencing."
Eyes went wide at the mention of fencing, Jude's excitement obvious. "Seriously?"
"Seriously?" Tommy responded. "You know, Babes, that is just one of the many reasons I love ya. You are far more excited about the fencing exhibit than you are about jewelry." With that, Tommy put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the front of the impressive building. He always loved how grand the building seemed—so open and airy, but so opulent and extravagant.
Jude was enthralled. Who would have thought that fencing was so entertaining? At once point, she had noticed they were offering a fencing workshop and was prepared to beg Tommy to let them join in. He had just smiled, and led her to the instructor, telling the man who they were. The guide motioned for them to follow, and Jude was giddy with excitement. "No need to beg," he had told her. "I already signed us up for the class. Go get your suit on."
They had spent the next three hours learning the ins and outs of fencing. Tommy had been shocked at how good Jude was, he decided that she had a future in the sport if singing didn't work out. But, as soon as that thought entered his mind, Tommy pushed it aside. There was no way his girl wouldn't be a world-renowned star in a few years. She was incredible, and the world would know her talents.
Right now, Tommy was sitting in the lobby of their hotel waiting for Jude to come down. They had arrived back just over an hour ago, and Tommy had gone to the room he was supposed to be sharing with JP and Sean to get ready. He had come down fifteen minutes prior not having anywhere else to go. Tonight was about treating Jude like a princess—he knew she deserved it. Just then, he caught a glimpse of his beautiful friend. Every thought left his brain and all of the blood rushed to a certain part of him a bit below the belt. He was so overwhelmed that he couldn't stand—both because he couldn't focus enough to do so and because he didn't want to show the rest of the guests his impressive manliness. Never before had a woman gotten him to stand at attention the way Jude had—with only one look.
She finally spotted him and started walking toward him. Tommy's mouth was still open and eyes wide, taking in every aspect of her beauty. He remained seated as she came closer, willing Jr. to go away, and continuing to gaze at her. She was wearing a shift dress in a navy silk. The neck was a low scoop, and the back was a racer-back, simple in detail, but incredible in elegance. She had on a pair of mustard yellow heels, and a shawl that brought both the colors together. Her ears were adorned with a simple pair of hoops, and her neck bare; the star ring she never took off was in its rightful place on her right middle finger. Blinking a few times, Tommy checked to make sure his "problem" was taken care of and stood to greet his date for the evening.
"Wow." That was the only word that would come to mind as he took Jude in his arms. After he gave her a quick hug, he stepped back and made her spin for him. "Damn, Babes. You look absolutely breathtaking. I have no words." He loved the hint of a blush that rushed to her cheeks. He loved how beautiful she looked—so elegant. So many girls didn't know how to look nice and dress up without looking whore-ish, but Jude looked perfect.
Grabbing her elbow with one hand, and placing his other on the small of her back, Tommy led Jude outside. They got into the taxi he had called for and headed to their destination. As they got closer, Tommy remained quiet, waiting to see if she would figure out where they were headed. It wasn't until the taxi stopped that Jude let out an "Oh!" He could see the lights of the Eiffel Tower reflecting in her eyes and her hair moving in the breeze. She was glowing, and he had never seen her so beautiful.
"Our first stop of the night is la tour Eiffel—we have a private car to the top—and then we are off to dinner at this amazing place about three blocks away. My grandmother and the owner/chef knew each other growing up."
"You, Tom Quincy, amaze me. That sounds perfect."
Hand in hand, fingers locked together, Tommy and Jude went to the massive structure. Knowing that Jude had never really loved heights, he held her close as their elevator climbed up the tall tower. She shifted slightly and relaxed in his embrace, and Tommy loved the feeling. After switching lifts, the pair finally made it to the top. Tommy led her to one of the sides and they gazed over the beautiful city. He pointed out different monuments across the city as they walked around the top of their personal haven. Tommy loved seeing her so excited. Her eyes were sparkling and the smile that graced her face was so genuine. He couldn't help but want her close to him. Who wouldn't want this beautiful specimen in their arms and by their side, especially when she fit so perfectly?
Tommy kissed the side of her head, and, wanting to make sure, asked her "Are you happy, sweetheart?"
Jude looked up at him and gave him the sweetest smile he had ever seen. "Babe, I can honestly say that this is probably the happiest I've ever been."
"Good. You deserve the best, I just want to make sure you get it." Again, he was blessed with that smile and his chest constricted. Must be the cold, he thought.
"That's why I have you, Babes. You are the best."
Not knowing how to respond, Tommy turned to face her completely and kissed her. It was sweet and simple, full of sincerity and, dare he say it, love. Choosing not to think to much about that, he kissed her once more on the lips, then on the forehead. Letting his lips linger there, he just held her for a few moments. A brief shiver reminded Tommy of the cold air surrounding him and his girl, "Sweetie, take my jacket." She gratefully accepted, and he led her back over to the elevator. "Now let's get to dinner. You'll love this place."
They headed toward the restaurant, talking, laughing, and enjoying each others company the whole way. As they were walking, they nearly ran into a couple well on their way to having sex on the Champs de Mars—the park in front of the Eiffel Tower. They had tried to be discrete and leave quickly, but then Jude had almost fallen over and they started laughing loudly. After five minutes of continuous cackling on Jude's part, the couple they had tripped over glared at them and left, the mood having been ruined. That caused a whole new round of laughter and giggles, Tommy nearly falling over. The pair finally composed themselves, and continued their journey to the restaurant, now only about two blocks away.
They were seated at a table for two in the middle of the small restaurant, with no other people around. Jude looked at him questioningly, "I may have rented out the whole restaurant." At her amused look, he quickly continued, "I just wanted tonight be about us and having a good time together."
"Thanks," she smiled. Taking his hand, she asked, "So, what's good?"
"I was thinking we could start with some wine." Motioning to the waiter standing discretely at the back of the restaurant, Tommy told him they would like to start with the Cabernet—a glass for each. He also asked for a couple of appetizers, knowing what the specialties of the chef were.
Conversation dominated their time, and eventually they were most of the way through their second bottle of wine and were sharing a beautiful crème brulee, Jude sitting on Tom's lap. As their dinner had continued, they had scooted closer and closer together. At one point, she had leaned across him to grab the wine. Her breast had grazed his chest, and it had him breathing hard instantly. He was, once again, shocked by the immediate reaction of his lower region. As she tried to sit up more straightly, she somehow fell onto his lap and had felt the erection straining his pants.
"Well, its good to know that someone is having a good time."
Tommy was shocked at her comment—he never expected Jude to be so open about something like that, especially without blushing. He chalked it up to the vast amounts of wine they had consumed, and grabbed the hand that was closest to his manliness. "You know we could have an even better time once we get out of here..." While he said it he wiggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively.
Laughter filled the air at his comment, and Jude slapped his shoulder, "I think I'm good where I'm at Tommy. This crème brulee is good enough to make me cum right here, right now." She took another bite and closed her eyes, a sensual moan escaping her lips. That simple action made Tommy impossibly more hard, and was surprised when a hand rested on his still growing erection. "Don't worry Babes, I'll make sure you are taken care of too," and gave him a little squeeze.
Sucking in a short breath, Tommy was again stunned at this side of Jude. He had seen her drunk before, but this was different. She was being so open and so forward—it made her even more sexy. He looked over at her and wasn't sure how to respond. Well that's a first, he thought. Tommy was always so smooth when it came to women, but Jude was completely undoing him. As she sat there, eyes closed, savoring every last bite of their dessert, Tommy handed his credit card to the waiter, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. With the bill settled, he grabbed Jude's hand and nearly dragged her out with him.
Overwhelmed with the need to be as close to her as possible, Tommy pulled Jude into his arms and grabbed her ass. Her response was quick and she jumped into his arms. Startled by her action, he stumbled slightly, but regained his balance and walked toward the wall, her continuously kissing and nibbling at his neck. Once he had her against the wall, Tommy removed one hand from her ass and grabbed her breast. Massaging it in circles, her moans were getting him even more riled up. Hand still affixed to her breast, Tommy leaned in even closer and grabbed her ear with his mouth. He bit down gently, wanting to taste as much of her as he could. At that, Jude started to grind her hips against him and let out a sigh, coupled with a mew that was music to Tommy's ears. Hearing her make these little noises nearly set him off, and he knew that, if he wasn't careful, they would finish things against the wall right then and there. With the miniscule amount of brainpower he had left, Tommy knew that Jude deserved more than that.
"Babes, stop." He let his hand rest on the girl he had been massaging and put his forehead on the wall next to Jude. It took a few minutes to regain his breath, but eventually, Tommy was able to pull back and look his girl in the eye. He knew that he was drunk, but he wasn't so far gone that he could blame their little encounter completely on the alcohol. The strange thing was that he didn't regret it in the slightest. In fact, he thoroughly enjoyed their "bonding" moment. Not wanting Jude to feel like he was disappointed with what had happened, he simply smiled at her and gave her another kiss—this time very brief.
He let her down from the wall and grabbed her hand, "That was a nice way to end the evening." They started walking in the direction of their hotel.
Jude's response was simple, "Who says the night is over?" She let go of Tommy's hand and ran down the street.
Laughing, Tommy chased after her. Clearly, his beautiful friend was quite a bit more tipsy than he was, but that didn't mean he didn't enjoy it. All the way back to the hotel they stopped to share kisses and sweet moments together. As they walked under the Eiffel Tower, Tommy pulled his girl close to take a picture—this night had been so wonderful and he wanted a memory. Snapping the picture, Tommy smiled. At the last second though, Jude turned and kissed his cheek. Without even looking, Tommy knew that the picture would be perfect.
Keeping his arm around her waist, Tommy led Jude in the direction of their hotel once again. He couldn't get over how amazing the night had been. This was the way to see Paris—a stunning woman by your side, the mood sweetened by a bit of good wine, and beautiful lights casting a glow on the city known for love.
…
As he watched the couple walk out of his restaurant and smiled. The grandson of his dear friend grabbed the girl and shoved her against a nearby wall. They had been close all night; but the more alcohol they consumed, the closer they got. He was reminded of when he was young—him and his wife were inseparable.
The chef worked on cleaning his kitchen, drifting back in time to when his wife would have been by his side. He missed her terribly, the pain hadn't decreased over the past ten years, he had just gotten better at dealing with it. He was thankful for his friends; the grandmother of Thomas—the young man from that night in the restaurant—was the best. She too was alone, her husband having died many decades ago. She always took care of him and looked out for him. But she did that for everyone she knew, including her grandson.
She only talked to Thomas about once a year, but she knew that Jude was a special girl. She had told the old chef that this would be the girl her dear grandson would marry—so long as he wasn't too dense to realize that she was perfect for him. He had seen it to, and he knew it wasn't just the alcohol. The two young ones that had been in his restaurant were meant for each other. They had a special connection that only a few were blessed enough to experience in a lifetime.
…
Jude awoke slowly, the light from the clear blue sky shining through the windows, unobstructed by any blinds. The more conscious she became, the more aware she was that she didn't have a top on. That thought startled her enough to check and make sure she wasn't completely unclothed. Thankfully, she found herself in a pair of black lace boyshorts—it wasn't much, but at least it was something. Sighing, Jude started to get out of the bed, but was weighted down by a strong arm around her torso. She looked over at the man beside her and realized that Tommy only had a pair of boxers on. What the hell happened last night? Jude never slept in only a pair of underwear, and Tommy never slept without a shirt when he was in bed with her—well except for the times when he was sick or drunk.
Jude thought back to the night before. Her face fell into a smile as she remembered dressing up and going to the Eiffel Tower, the amazing dinner, and the kisses that were sheer perfection. She sighed thinking of the moment they left the restaurant. When Tommy had grabbed her and pushed her against the side of the building, she had felt so...alive. There was a fire in the pit of her stomach, her heart had been racing, and she had never felt more wanted. Sure, she had dated guys in the past—even slept with a few of them. But not a single one of them, or even all of them combined, made her feel the was Tommy did in mere moments.
Involuntarily, her eyes closed and she replayed the events in her mind: the way he bit at her neck and earlobe, and then soothed it with his tongue; the way he held her close to him and took control; the way his passion shined through and burned everything in its path, including her. The simple act of trailing his finger along her chest had Jude nearly jumping out of her skin last night.
Nearly moaning at the memory, Jude suddenly realized that the moment she was recalling had happened here, in her hotel room. Closing her eyes and pinching her nose, she tried to jog her memory. They had gotten back to the hotel and gone straight to her room. The headache she was sporting now was evidence that Jude had been quite drunk last night, but she remembered laying down on the bed, complaining that her feet were sore from the horrid heels she had worn and all the walking they did. Without saying a word, Tommy had taken off her shoes and started rubbing her feet.
It hadn't stopped there though. Jude remembered him continuing to massage her legs, eventually making his way to her upper thighs. At one point, he slid his hands under her, caressing her ass and then continuing on up her back. He brought her to sit up and looked her in the eyes. She had seen his eyes darken as he had made his way up her legs, and now they were nearly black with what she hoped was desire. Her hopes were confirmed when he leaned in and captured her lips. It started full of passion and so demanding. She gave in instantly, opening her mouth to him, their tongues meeting once again in a fierce dual for control. Somewhere in the back of her mind Jude knew that she shouldn't be doing this. Its just that Tommy's lips were so persuasive and his tongue was simply amazing.
After what seemed like hours, but had really been twenty minutes, Tommy pulled away from her. "You literally set me on fire. Babes, you are smokin'!" He was looking at her with still-dark eyes and an intensity she had never seen before. "I can't seem to get enough of you..." Tommy's voice trailed off as he pulled her closer, scooting them both back on the bed. He laid down semi on top of her, one leg between hers, and caressed her cheek. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone as sexy as you are in this moment—wrinkled dress, messy hair—so hot!" He pulled her in for another mind-blowing kiss, but they separated a minute later when their lungs were burning.
With a half-drunken smile on her face, Jude leaned her forehead against his and asked, "What's gotten into you?" She loved this side of him. It was a window into a part of Tommy that she had never seen, but also one she hoped to see more of.
"I was serious, I just can't get enough of you." After a light kiss against her lips, he continued, "and honestly, you do look damn sexy. I can't help but want you."
He moved to kiss her, but she surprised him by turning her head. "You get everything you want, huh?"
The look on his face was filled with confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Jude sat up slightly, leaning against the back of the bed. "You do! Name one time you didn't get something...or someone...that you wanted."
He sat up next to her with brow furrowed. With a triumphant grin, he told her "there was that Gibson I wanted a few years ago; oh, and the Lotus I wanted—the Elise SC; and there was that model, Gemma, that didn't sleep with me a few months ago." Looking at her pointedly, he stuck his finger in front of her face, "Ha!"
She grabbed his finger and pulled it down, "Nice try buddy!" She now pointed at him and then poked him in the chest, "You didn't get the Gibson because you previewed it and didn't like it. As for the Lotus, you're right, you didn't get the Elise SC, but I know for a fact that you've already put a deposit down on the Elise. And Gemma did sleep with you—over two years ago. She didn't sleep with you a few months ago because you didn't remember her." Jude took her finger of his chest and put her hands in her lap. "So nice try, but yes, you do get whatever you want." A smirk formed on her face, and she looked at him with a cocky expression, "Except for me."
"I don't think I like the sound of this." Tommy laid down on his side and propped himself up by his elbow. "What exactly are you suggesting?"
"Well, I wasn't planning on suggesting anything, just making a point." She followed his prior actions and laid on her side, also propped up by her elbow, and faced him. She was a bit nervous because she knew the look on his face. As soon as those thoughts entered her mind, Tommy's smile god bigger. Now she was really worried. "What's going through your mind?"
"I have a proposition for you." His eyes glinted in anticipation and asked, "Are you up for it?"
"I don't know. Should I be worried?" She didn't know why she even asked him that. The smirk that was spread across his lips along with his barely-restrained glee had her nervous as hell.
"I don't know, Harrison. Should you be worried? It's not like you're chicken, right?" As he said it he wiggled his eyes up and down.
Jude knew that Tommy was just trying to get to her, but she couldn't help it. Not backing down from a dare was like an addiction for her. "Fine," she told him. "Bring it on. What do you propose?" Jude fluffed her hair with one hand, wanting to seem nonchalant. She couldn't let him know that she was even the slightest bit nervous and wondering if she would regret this.
"You say that I get whatever I want, right?" At her nod, he continued. "So let me prove you wrong. You give me a strip-tease. If I last to the very end without laying a hand on you—without touching you in the slightest, then I get to have you."
The smug look on his face wasn't bringing Jude any reassurance. "And what's in it for me, Babes?"
"You get me." He said it as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"But that isn't a prize. I want something good." She pouted her lips out and gave him her best puppy eyes. She had been told that no one could resist her pout, so she used it to the best of her ability. Jude knew exactly what she wanted. She had been eying a sealed vinyl record at the vintage store a few blocks from her childhood home. It was the Strange Days album from The Doors, circa 1967. More than that though, the record was signed by Jim Morrison and Robby Krieger. She had been coveting it for the past year, but she found out that, during their week-long break in Toronto, Tommy had bought it. It would have been fine if he was being sweet and was going to let her listen to it, but he was being an ass and did it just to spite her. The album had set him back nearly a thousand bucks.
"Fine, what do you want?" His slight confusion was not surprising to Jude. This was the man who got anything he wanted, usually just by smiling.
"Strange Days." Recognition dawned on his face as he realized what she wanted.
"Fine."
"And how do I win?" Jude had to make sure she knew what to do to get that record.
"If I touch you before you're down to your birthday suit, you win."
Jude stood up and began pacing. "Just to be clear, I strip for you. If you touch me, I win. If you don't, you win." When Tommy nodded his head, she continued, "And if I win, I get Strange Days. You win, you get me." Again, he nodded. "You have a deal, Babes." She walked over to him and stuck out her hand for him to shake, sealing the deal.
He stuck out his hand to agree, but pulled it back quickly, "Can you keep the shoes on?"
She looked down at the black heels she was wearing and shrugged. Nonetheless, Jude nodded her agreement. Tommy sat up and they shook hands and the deal was sealed. As soon as that happened, she felt a sense of dread take over and she began pacing again. What had she just agreed to?
She looked at Tommy and smiled seductively—at least, what she hooped was seductively. Walking close to him, she swayed her hips; upon reaching him, she bent over and got right in his face. "I think you need to be more comfortable first." Her delicate hands darted out and started undoing the buttons. Finally finishing, Jude pushed the shirt off of his shoulders and let it lay on the bed. Now that she had Tommy shirtless, her hands moved to his slacks. She could hear his breath catch, and smiled to herself, glad that she could make him gasp. Undoing the buckle and clasp, she moved her hand to his zipper. Jude was still a bundle of nerves and wasn't sure how to handle releasing him from the constricting pants. Before thinking about it too much, she smirked at Tommy, deciding to ignore his zipper for now, instead continuing down to his feat. Grabbing one, she put it against her thigh, undid the laces and slid it off. The sock soon followed, as did the other shoe and it's accompanying sock.
Jude sighed to herself. The only thing that was left were the pair of pants that still adorned his perfectly shaped ass and sculpted legs. Taking a deep breath, she pushed Tommy so that he was laying on the bed. As she reached for the zipper again, she purposely brushed against his manhood, knowing he would appreciate the "subtlety" of her actions. She pulled down the metal and then dragged the pair of pants off of him—slowly but surely, inch by agonizing inch. He now lay before her in only his boxers, legs bent at the knees and hanging over the side of the bed. His erection was no longer straining against the pants, just confined by the cotton material. Damn! She thought. No wonder the man can get any woman he wants.
She looked up at him again and rolled her eyes at the grin he was giving her. He was openly leering at her, the look in his eyes lewd. Turning to go back to her purse, Jude considered what was left to do...strip for Tommy. While she wasn't opposed to such an act in other circumstances, she was unsure of doing this for him right now. Shoving those thoughts aside, she tried to forget about her nervousness. But, the only thing she could think of that would calm her nerves was music...the only thing she loved more than Tommy. That though surprised her for a moment, but soon realized that the massive amounts of alcohol she had consumed was wearing off. She got up and went over to her bag, looking for her iPod. Finally digging it out of the bottomless pit that was her bag, Jude stood up. Showing her companion the device, she asked, "Do you mind?"
At his shrug, Jude moved over to the stereo that was in her room. Plugging in her musical library, she scrolled through some of her music and landed on an extended version "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard. Perfect, she thought. The music began to course through the speakers, and Jude closed her eyes. She needed to be taken over by the sounds, let the beat of the song become the beat of her heart. Feeling the drums, Jude began to sway her hips again. She turned and faced Tommy, slowly walking toward him, one foot in front of the other. Jude stopped short of the bed, and shed the shawl she still had on from earlier that night. Tommy's eyes widened at the hint of more skin, and again, Jude smiled.
Before he could notice, she turned her smile into a sexy little smirk. She would love to make him lose their bet without shedding any more clothes, but she knew that was unlikely. Sucumbing to the fact that she would have to shed a few layers, Jude asked in a husky voice, "Are you ready for this?"
Tommy only nodded, entrenched in the anticipation of seeing his best friend shed the layers covering her. He sat up and scooted as close to the end of the bed as he could without falling off. Trying to get comfortable, he clasped his hand in front of him and leaned on his legs. She could tell he was ready for a show.
Jude backed up a step and began to tease him, slowly raising the hem of her shift dress. She let it drop before raising it again, this time stopping when it just covered her lace-covered ass. Winking at Tommy, she then continued to lift the silk material past the curve of her rear. Jude turned in a circle, making sure that he got a good look at her from all angles. Then, in one swift motion, she lifted the dress all the way off and tossed it behind her, not caring where it landed.
Jude stopped all movement except the continuous sway of her hips and placed her hands there. She posed for a moment, looking deep into Tommy's eyes. The heat she found in his eyes surprised her. This was supposed to be a bet, not real. Well, not supposed to be real for him. Jude knew that the feelings she was experiencing were real—things that she had felt for years. Pushing those thoughts aside, Jude brought herself back to Tommy. The intense look he was giving her spurred a longing heat to pool in her lower abdomen. It quickly spread all over, even reaching down to the tip of her toes. To counteract the jelly-like feeling that was quickly making its way through her legs, Jude took a step towards Tommy, closing the distance.
Subconsciously, Tommy leaned closer to the woman in front of him. Jude again smiled to herself, his actions bringing her more confidence. She stood in front of him wearing only her black and navy lace underwear—the strapless bra pushing her breasts up, the panties sheer and showing off half of her slightly rounded ass. With one finger, she pushed him back, forcing him to lay on the bed again. His legs were still resting on the ground, and Jude made her place in between them.
She leaned over him and placed both hands on either side of his face. Leaning over to where she was almost touching him, Jude whispered, "How you doing?"
Shocked to hear a growl as opposed to a verbal response, Jude stifled any hint of a laugh and stood back up. She gave a quick spin and reached her hands behind her back. A quick flick of her fingers unhooked the clasp on the bra, and Jude let the undergarment fall from its place covering her chest. Her face blushed into a deep crimson at the renewed heat radiating from Tommy. She visibly saw him harden even more, his erection poking through the whole in his boxers. Not sure how she should respond, Jude closed her eyes and danced to the music still coming from the speakers. Clad only in her panties and high heels, Jude felt a sense of freedom that was surprising and incredible all at the same time. For a moment she was caught up in the music, but was startled by a pair of arms grabbing her and pulling her to the bed. She was soon pinned underneath the strong form of Tom Quincy.
After recovering from her slight shock, Jude pushed him off her and propped herself up on her elbows. "You lost!" She was truly a bit surprised at his lack of restraint, but the feeling of him so close was making it hard to focus.
"I don't care." Tommy's voice was low and gravely, filled with what she hoped was passion.
"That means I get Strange Days?" Jude had no idea how she was conscious enough to even ask the question. In truth, she didn't even care about the record at that moment, she just wanted to be covered by him again. She wanted to feel his skin against hers, his calloused hands caressing every inch of her body, his lips welded to hers for as long as possible.
"You can have whatever you want, just..." Tommy didn't finish his remark, instead fusing his lips to hers.
They continued kissing, but soon, they were both too needy, and the kissing had turned to touching and groping. Tommy was still on top of Jude, pushing her into the mattress. He was nibbling, sucking, licking, and kissing her neck, moving from the hollow just below her ear to the indentation of her collar bone. The way his tongue would swirl over a spot after he grabbed it with his teeth made her groan in delight—the mix of pain and soothing pleasure being perfect. One of her hands found its way to her hair, the other made its way down his body, resting on the curve of his ass. She loved the feeling of holding him so close to her, and the way her center was rubbing against him was intoxicating.
With some inexplicable amount of strength, Jude rolled them over, straddling him in the process. She placed her hands on his chest, massaging his pecs as she leaned in to kiss him again. Just as her lips were about to connect with his, she moved her face slightly, causing a desperate groan to escape Tommy's lips. A smug look on her face, Jude turned back toward Tommy and leaned in to capture his lips, but again, moved her face. At that, the man beneath her grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her toward him. She shoved her tongue in his mouth while grinding her hips against his. From her place on top of him, Tommy's erection was rubbing against her center, causing friction on her clit, bringing her closer to the edge. Her chest lay against his, and she loved feeling the heat spreading between their bodies.
Their bodies continued grating against each other, tension escalating, heat rising, need spiraling out of control. Tommy's movements increased, his hips thrusting into her, her lace panties the only barrier in between the two. Her breathing got more ragged, little noises coming out of her, her desire becoming urgent. She was so close...she just wanted release! Why wouldn't he do that for her? In her frustration, she cried out, "More!"
The sound of her voice stopped Tommy's movements. He looked up to find Jude's eyes. Once he caught them, he pulled back from her slightly—as much as he could laying down on the bed. He turned slightly, moving both of them so that they were lying on their sides facing each other. "Sweetheart?"
Jude wasn't sure what he meant. Why did he say her name like that? What did this mean? What had she just done? She was just starting to realize that she was still in her high heels and lace boy short panties. She moved one arm to cover her chest, and looked at her best friend, eyes big and full of questions.
Tommy must have sensed her confusion and unease. He scooted closer to her—her chest was once again against his, her arm crushed in between them, his arm around her waist holding her close. He moved his lips to her forehead, lingering there much longer than usual. Jude wasn't sure how, but this small kiss felt more intimate than their dry humping just moments before. When his lips parted from her forehead, they moved to her cheek, then to the corner of her mouth.
Jude was surprised by his actions. Though she didn't want to, she expected him to deny what had just happened or run away. Having him instead wrap his arms around her, she was stunned. She couldn't deny that she loved the feeling...she would be happy staying like this forever. But that wasn't reality. Needing to know what Tommy was thinking, she brought her eyes to his.
A small smile adorned his face, "That was fun."
His smiled turned sheepish, and in that moment, Jude knew that, regardless of how awkward things might be at the moment, they would move past it eventually.
"As, uh, fantastic as this was, can I go...you know..." Without finishing his sentence, Tommy just motioned towards the bathroom.
Jude smiled and nodded, "Oh course. Take care of your...issue." She waved her hand in the general direction of his still raging erection. She hid her grin by rolling over and turning her face into the pillow. She felt the bed move as Tommy got up, and a moment later, the shower turned on. She couldn't believe what had just happened, but she would be lying if she said it wasn't amazing.
A deep sigh escaped her lips as she turned onto her back, suddenly realizing how completely exhausted she was. Quickly ridding herself of her heels, Jude crawled under the covers and snuggled down into the comfortable bed. She would deal with tonight's consequences tomorrow. Seconds later, she was asleep, not even noticing when Tommy crept into bed next to her.
The figure next to her turned, startling Jude out of her memories. Still somewhat unsure as to how awkward things would be this morning, Jude crawled out of bed as quietly as possible. She grabbed some clothes out of her bag and hopped into the shower. Not twenty minutes later, she was ready to go and scrawled a note to Tommy. As much as she was kind of dreading facing him, she didn't want him to think she was running away.
Jude walked to the bakery Tommy had gone to the other day to get their morning coffee and some pastries. On her way back, she nearly dumped everything on the side of the Parisian street when a man bumped into her. Recovering quickly, she looked up to discover that the man who had tried to take her out was none other than the chef from the restaurant last night. Offering a small smile, she apologized and started to walk back to the hotel. When the man grabbed her arm, she turned back to face him.
"I just thought you should know that what you and the young man share is very special. Don't ever stop loving him." After his cryptic statement, the Frenchman walked away.
Jude didn't know how to respond, but shrugged it off, hurrying back to the hotel and back to Tommy. When she got up to the room, he was just putting on his shirt after getting out of the shower. Silently she handed him a coffee and the bag of pastries. The smile he gave her was enough to melt her heart, but she only smiled back at him.
"Ah, thanks Babes! You're the best." He kissed her on the forehead—something Jude was getting entirely too used to—and walked over to the table. They ate in relative silence, until he broke it by saying, "I know that last night was a little strange." At Jude's nod, he continued, "But I don't want things to change. You know you're my favorite and I don't want things to be weird. I still want to have sleepovers and watch Chuck's Day Off and make music and laugh and have fun." Tommy finished his mini ramblings and looked at her, "Is that okay?"
Jude had rarely seen him so concerned, and knew how important this was to him. And she could relate—she felt the same. Tommy may never love her the way she wanted, but their friendship was far too important to be thrown away because of one night. She immediately took his hand and told him, "Of course! I don't want anything to change either."
The smile on his face was one of pure relief. "Good. But just so you know, last night was so fucking hot." With that, he stood up and threw away the bag the pastries had been in. He gathered his bag and Jude's and motioned toward the door with his head. "You ready, Harrison?"
Smiling, she nodded. "Let's do it. Next stop, Spain!" She swung her purse over her shoulder and picked up both coffees, walking in front of Tommy.
…
The past three weeks, things had been relatively normal all around. Chaz and Tommy argued often, Sean and JP were always on the phone with their wives and/or kids, Wally and Kyle were constantly trying to pick up European girls, Spied was having the time of his life, Bruno was moody, and Tommy and Jude were inseparable. After their potentially awkward encounter, things could have gone terribly wrong. But much to Tommy's relief, they were fine. Granted, things for him weren't quite the same—he felt the constant desire to be near her, kiss her, and hold her. Nothing in terms of his respect and love for Jude as a friend had changed, just his compulsion to be close to her. He tried not to think about it too much, just enjoyed spending time with her.
Thinking back, he couldn't believe that he had dared Jude to strip for him. He couldn't believe that he had kissed her. He couldn't believe that he had almost had sex with her—he had literally been ready to explode. He also didn't know how he had managed to stop from having sex with her—never in his life had he ever been so turned on. That night with Jude was an anomaly that his mind had replayed over and over—he had been overwhelmed by a desire to take care of her and truly show her what love could feel like. Tommy rarely cared about how the woman he was with felt...so long as he was taken care of, he knew they would be taken care of.
Nonetheless, here he was, thinking about Jude as they were on the way to Rome. She was on the bus with Spied, Wally, and Kyle—just like she usually was when they traveled. Of course, half the time they were on separate buses they were talking on the phone or texting, but he still missed her. Oh course, he couldn't tell that to anyone—they would make fun of him for acting like an over-emotional girl.
Anyways, they were supposed to arrive in a little over an hour, and Tommy couldn't wait. He had been sleeping since they left after being up all night playing truth or dare with SME, Jude, and Bruno. A text had startled him to consciousness, but when he saw it was from his girl, a smile graced his face. She told him that they had to go to some place JP had told her about that morning. She looked it up online and agreed that it looked perfect for a relaxing lunch—something they both needed.
Finally arriving at the hotel, everyone dropped off bags and headed in different directions. The rest of the afternoon was unscheduled, and the following day would be filled with interviews for the Boyz and SME, sound checks, and the concert; thus, Tommy wanted to embrace the time they had now. He was currently waiting in the lobby of the Internazionale Domas, located in the Piazza di Spagna. He had showered and changed, but was now ready to go and extremely curious about where Jude was taking him.
He sucked in a breath at the sight of a beautiful woman in the mirror on the wall in front of him. He could tell her body was smokin', but because the image in the mirror was slightly blurry, he turned to see who this vision was—he hadn't that been affected by a woman other than Jude in a long time. Starting from the bottom, he took in her black motorcycle-like boots and skinny ripped jeans. Impressed thus far, he continued his perusal of her through his sunglasses and assessed her plain gray tank top and black scarf. Tommy lastly settled on the woman's face, and was thoroughly surprised to see his best friend lurking behind the sunglasses. Trying to shake off some of his shock, he walked up to her and took the sunglasses of her face. "You look refreshed. Ready to go?"
"You bet! Let's get out of here." She grabbed his hand and retrieved her sunglasses from his other hand and led him out of the hotel. They walked at a leisurely pace, window shopping and talking about anything and everything. Twenty minutes later they reached the Pantheon, stopping briefly to take a picture. Moving on, Jude maneuvered them through a few small streets until they came upon an open expanse, the Piazza Navona.
Eyes wide, Jude looked up at him, "Isn't this awesome?"
He could see the excitement radiating off of her, thinking it was pretty hilarious. Feeling a jerk, he followed after her as she pulled his to the middle of the plaza. They walked hand-in-hand amongst the tourists and locals, looking at the caricaturists, vendors, statues, and more. They were amused by the kids who were playing some form of tag, and were enthused by the energy that seemed to fill the space. Deciding that they should grab some food, Tommy suggested they start looking at some menus that were on display outside of the restaurants. They settled on a place just off-center of the large fountain, perfect for continuing their people-watching. Tommy ordered a half carafe of wine for them, and settled into his seat next to his favorite girl.
This is pure perfection, he thought to himself, smiling as he put his arm around Jude. The sky was blue with a few clouds, it wasn't too cool, and he felt completely relaxed. The only thing that would make this better would be some classical guitar.
"Wouldn't it be awesome if there was some music playing?" She closed her eyes as if she was deep in thought, but quickly opened them again. "Classical guitar...that's what would make this perfect."
Tommy was shocked. He was amazed at her ability to be so in sync with him—they were so totally on the same wave-length. He could do nothing but smile at her, and then leaned in to kiss her softly. As soon as he sat back in his seat, Tommy started to question his actions. Instead, he pushed those concerns aside—regardless of what should or should not happen, it felt right. And right now, that was enough.
As they enjoyed their meal, there were a total of three more kisses. Each one was sweet, tender, loving—simple and wonderful. Tommy decided to just go with how he felt, disregarding all second-guesses, and enjoy the afternoon. Anyone looking at the pair would think they were a couple—hell, their waiter had asked twice if they were celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary. Interestingly enough, Tommy had said they had just gotten married, not wanting to have their time interrupted by anyone. When he said it, there wasn't a hint of fear or anxiety either—it was almost...normal?
Eventually they finished their lunch and make their way back to the hotel. Everyone wanted to get a good night's sleep before the following day which would prove to be a whirlwind.
As promised, madness reigned the day of the concert, and, by the time the last autograph was signed, Tommy could barely walk he was so wiped out. He walked through the maze of the back stage area searching for Jude. Tonight they were off to the south of Italy—Crotone to be exact. From there, they would catch a ferry to Athens, where the next concert would take place. They would make it to the coast by morning and be in Athens the following afternoon. Just the thought of all the hours on the road made Tommy want to crawl into his comfortable bed back home with a beer and ignore the reality of his current situation. At moments like this, he wondered why he had agreed to this tour, spending day and night with the people who made his life a living hell for years. Nearly bumping into someone, Tommy stumbled to avoid hitting them and then tripped over a cable. Grabbing onto the closest thing he could find, Tommy finally regained his balance by holding onto a support beam.
Standing up straight again, he tried to figure out how to get out of the stage area, but saw a figure sitting up against an amp. Taking a few steps closer to her, he discovered that the figure was Jude. She was asleep, eyes closed, exhaustion clearly evident on her face. He couldn't help but smile—she looked like a tired little child, worn out from a long day of playing. If only, he thought. Tommy knew that Jude was working more than most people on this tour. She got up early most mornings, and stayed up late often, going over arrangements and equipment lists. She made sure that the schedules were taken care of and interviews set. On top of all that, she did her actual job—taking care of all sound and production needs for the entire tour. They still had about six weeks left in tour, and Tommy wasn't sure how Jude would be able to keep up. He would have to make sure she was getting sleep and eating. It seemed like lately, the only time she ate was when he forced her too. She said that she was just too busy and that she would forget.
Tommy sighed and bent down. He picked up his best friend, putting one arm under her knees and supporting her back with the other. In her sleep, Jude cuddled into Tommy's chest; he smiled at her actions and held her a little more tightly. Kissing her forehead, he then carried her out to the buses. She needed to get some sleep, and with SME in her midst, that would never happen. Before any of the other Boyz were able to get on their bus, Tommy carried his girl onto the bus and gently laid her down on his bunk. Taking off his shoes, he crawled in next to her and pulled the blanket over both of them. Because of the extremely confined quarters, he held his beautiful friend tightly to him, her back to his chest, his arm holding onto her. His laptop was still on the bed and he opened it and put on Friends. It was one of his and Jude's favorites, and it brought him a sense of comfort and familiarity.
…
Not twenty minutes later, the rest of Boyz Attack got on the bus, everyone tired and quiet. JP was first to the bunks, and stopped suddenly upon seeing the two "friends" laying together. He knew that there was more to their relationship than just friendship—anyone could see that. He just hoped that they would realize it before it was too late. Hearing scuffles behind him, JP turned around and put a finger to his lips, silencing the rest of the group. Pointing to Tommy and Jude, he raised his eyebrows, hoping they would take the hint and be a bit more quiet. Sean smiled, knowing, like JP, that the pair shared something special. Bruno shrugged and climbed into his own bunk, and Chaz rolled his eyes. Everyone knew that Chaz was still bitter about the fame Tommy had over the years, and JP knew that he was jealous about the friendship Tommy and Jude shared.
Shaking his head at Chaz's actions, JP just motioned everyone to their respective bunks. They were all tired and needed some sleep. Hopefully they could let Tommy and Jude sleep—enjoying each others presence.
…
Six weeks later, the group was on their way back to Toronto. They had already been flying for ten hours, and there were still over three to go. Jude was asleep sandwiched between Tommy and the window. She had fallen asleep ten minutes into the flight, an earbud still in her ear from the iPod she had been listening to with Tommy. He had quickly followed, drifting off not fifteen minutes after her. Though they had an amazing time on the tour, they were worn down, weary from being overworked.
After Athens, the group had a five-day break that they had spent in Bali. At one point, Chaz had tried to get Tommy to sleep with a random woman (later he found out she was a hooker). But, before she could even kiss him, he had paid for her cab back to her place and gone in search of his best friend. He had felt so guilty about even the idea of being with another woman, especially when all he wanted was to relax on the beach with the beautiful woman that was Jude. Going back to the hotel, he had told her what Chaz had tried to do. Being completely amazing, Jude had brushed off his concerns that she wouldn't know how important she was and they spent the rest of their break together, enjoying each others company. After that, they had become even more inseparable. Jude had tried to protect herself from getting too close to Tommy, knowing that only he had the power to completely break her, but it was useless. She wanted to spend every free moment with him—making music, laughing, and basking in all that was Tom Quincy.
They were both a bit nervous about heading back to Toronto. Tommy and Jude had constantly thought about the kisses they had shared, the burning passion that came through during their almost-sex, and the extreme need they both had for the other. Anxiety was setting in. What would it be like to go home? Would their friendship change?
Nonetheless, they couldn't wait to get back to Toronto. Jude had completely filled the journal she had started at the beginning of the tour and was already a quarter of the way through her next—she was completely stoked to get in the studio as an artist. Tommy was excited to produce for Jude because, after years of hearing her incredible music and haunting voice, he would help deliver her music to the rest of the world. They were thrilled to be going home.
Tommy awoke with a start due to some turbulence, and looked at the sleeping girl next to him. A smile lit his face as he realized that he had been doing that often—watching her sleep. He didn't mean for it to be weird and creepy, but he loved seeing her so peaceful. She was usually a bundle of energy, moving around constantly and in the midst of a hundred different things. Lyrics, chords, melodies, and progressions were always on her mind, along with the duties her job entailed. When she was sleeping was one of the only times Tommy ever got to see her relaxed—the only other times were when they were working on or listening to music together or laying down and watching something on the television.
He had noticed that Jude's insecurities were coming through more and more the closer they had gotten to the end of tour. He knew that, as excited as she was about recording her own music, she was scared as hell. She was nervous about what people would think and if she would become successful. For the majority of her life in music, Jude had never let on that she wrote her own music. It was only recently that she began sharing her talents with those around her, aside from Tommy, at least. On top of that, he knew that her sister's impending wedding was overwhelming. Sadie had been making constant comments about "when Jude gets married," and Tommy knew that it affected her. For some reason, she was truly scared that she would end up alone.
Knowing that Jude thought that broke his heart. He knew she was amazing, how could she even think that there was a possibility she would end up alone? And even if she was scared that no one else would be there, didn't she know that he would always be there? How could he give up the one person who he could always talk to? How could he give up the only person who was like sunshine on a dark and dreary day? She was his best friend, and he would always love her and be there for her. Didn't she know that?
Ideas were racing through his mind, but the only clear and coherent thought Tommy focused on was making Jude understand that someone would always be there for her and love her. He would take care of her and keep her sane—through her sister's wedding craziness, making her album, joy and heartbreak—she was his girl: best friend and confident. Grabbing his notebook and a pen, Tommy began jotting down the ideas and phrases that continued to take over his mind. Just under an hour later, a song had been born. Looking over it one last time, Tommy smiled. This would be perfect—the day they got back to Toronto there was going to be "Welcome Home" concert, where Tommy decided that he would play his song. He would make sure that Jude knew that she was his best friend and he would always be there for her. He made a mental note to talk to Darius as soon as they landed so that he wouldn't be completely caught of guard and pissed off—he couldn't afford to have this transfer be taken away. Adjusting slightly in his seat, he scooted closer to Jude wrapped one arm around her, slowly drifting off to sleep, content and happy in his decision.