Champagne and Truth

Jennifer got out of the cab when it stopped in front of the hotel, and Jonathan followed.

"Seven pound exactly, sir," the driver said.

"Thank you very much," Jonathan replied, leaning over to the window and paying the man. Jennifer stood off to the side, holding onto the railing for the staircase leading to the entrance of The Ritz. She was feeling a little off-balance. They'd had a lot of wine. And champagne. And martinis. And scotch. If the slight dizziness weren't enough to let her know she was drunk, the fact that the pins holding up her hair no longer hurt her scalp was a clear sign that she was feeling no pain.

Jonathan turned to her as the cab drove away. "Did you give him a good tip?" she asked. Was she slurring? She might have been slurring. Oh dear.

"Sister Kate, first race tomorrow, Epsom," Jonathan quipped. Jennifer laughed and lightly hit him with her purse.

"Who's riding?" she asked, playing along.

"He is. We're walking." With that, Jonathan tossed his coat over his shoulder and trudged up the stairs and into the hotel. Only Jennifer was still unsteady on her feet and when he tossed his coat, he hit her in the head and caused her to fall right on her arse, as the English would say. It took her a minute to pull herself up.

"Ah…wait a minute!" she called, stumbling slightly up the stone steps in her high heels and following him through the revolving door.

He was waiting for her, looking a little confused. "Alright?" he asked with concern, holding his hand out to her.

She took his hand and smiled at him. He was really so handsome and so charming and so kind. All Jennifer wanted to do was spend more time with him. And just about now, when the world was a little fuzzy and she felt warm and a little drowsy, Jennifer felt like she'd follow wherever he led. "Never better," she replied.

Jonathan smirked proudly as he led her to the elevators. When he pressed the button for the penthouse, Jennifer hummed, impressed. Though she really wasn't too surprised. Jonathan Hart was obviously booked in the penthouse suite of The Ritz.

A part of her wanted him to start kissing her in the elevator, but another part of her was glad he didn't. It showed that he was the classy, upstanding guy she'd expected. He was respectful and took his time. Jennifer had been out with men of all sorts. Her favorites were the ones who made her feel special and cared for. Jonathan made her feel very special. Well, he made Louise feel special, at least.

He unlocked the door and let her in. "Oh! This is so nice," she complimented, walking through the entryway and into the main sitting room. "Look at the pretty flowers!"

Before she got carried away with the décor, Jonathan grabbed her arm and turned her around. "Look at this."

"Huh?" She had no qualms about letting him lead her around like a docile doll.

Jonathan turned the corner with her and stopped at the open door.

"Ah," Louise said with a little chuckle. "The bedroom."

And there, all laid out, were flowers and a bottle of champagne and two glasses and some dishes of candy and fruit on a trolly by the bed. The bed itself was turned down and ready for two people to get into it.

"Somebody thought of everything," she noted.

Jonathan leaned over her shoulder to murmur softly to her, "That's the British for you."

She turned her head toward him. "Ah. With a little help from you?" she asked flirtatiously. His nose faintly brushed against hers. Their lips were mere inches apart. He could have leaned in to kiss her. She could have leaned in to kiss him. But for some reason, neither of them did.

He turned away for a moment before turning back, smiling. "Champagne?" he offered.

"I'd love it," she answered. Jennifer giggled and walked into the bedroom.

Jonathan followed her and dropped his coat and key "That nonstop flight from Los Angeles to London really is too much," he noted, dragging himself through the room. "The jetlag is…" He pointed to his head as he mercifully made it to the bed to sit down.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Louise placated.

He sat down on the edge of the bed by the table covered in goodies. He picked up the champagne bottle from the ice bucket. "Well, can you help me open this?"

"Of course," Jennifer replied, taking the bottle from him. "It would be my pleasure. Allow me." She was fine taking over with this task if it meant they could have a few sips of champagne after a toast where he'd hopefully take the opportunity to seduce her. Jennifer knew she really shouldn't have any more to drink, and she didn't really want the champagne. But she did want Jonathan.

While Jennifer was busy with the champagne bottle, Jonathan started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"Well, you wouldn't know about this, but the reason those reporters are hounding me is because me, I'm helping the British," he explained.

Louise was focused on opening the champagne bottle, which she did rather well, and started pouring. "You?"

"Mhmm. Kingsford Motors and me. But don't say a word," he added, taking the champagne glass from her as she sat down beside him.

"My lips are sealed," she assured him. And it was a testament to her state of inebriation and, frankly, her desire for Jonathan Hart that it took a moment for her mind to catch up with her in that moment. Kingsford Motors! He had just confirmed his dealings with Kingsford Motors to her, entirely unprompted. "To the British," Jennifer said as they clinked their glasses. She was gonna get the story and the man tonight!

She took a sip of her champagne and pushed through the fogginess in her head to plan her next move.

"Kingsford Motors…don't they make cars?" she asked, trying to remain casual. She had to pay attention and focus and get what she could from him. Work first, then play.

"They won't be much longer if their cash flow doesn't change immediately," he answered.

"Oh I get it!" she said cheerfully. "Hands across the see." She patted him on the shoulder to congratulate him. He was going to bail out Kingsford Motors and expand Jonathan Hart Industries across the pond. This was going to be big news when it came out. And she was going to be the one to break the story!

"Dollars across the sea," he corrected.

"Dollars," she agreed.

Jonathan looked at her with a drowsy sort of smile. He was awfully cute. "But we don't have to talk about that anymore, Louise."

And then he kissed her. It was exactly what she'd been expecting and yet it took her by surprise. She had her champagne in one hand when his lips pressed against hers. He seemed to wait for her to get used to the idea. And Jennifer did, rather quickly. She hummed happily, and then his lips started to move on hers. Softly but with purpose and insistence. Jonathan Hart was a man in charge in everything he did, it seemed, and Jennifer found it incredibly seductive. Because he didn't just take from her. That showed from everything he'd done tonight and the way he'd treated her and talked to her. And it showed in the way he kissed her, too. He seemed to be testing her, seeing what she liked, seeing how she reacted and adjusting accordingly.

Jennifer pulled away before they got too carried away. His eyes opened and he looked concerned. Confused. But she just wanted to put her glass down. She wanted to have both hands free for this.

Jonathan put his own glass down on the table beside hers, and when he finished that, Jennifer leaned in and took his face in her hands to kiss him again. Jonathan wasted no time pulling her into his arms and onto the bed. He certainly wasn't too jetlagged anymore. They lay side by side somewhat oddly, their legs handing off the edge as their kiss deepened and their hands began to explore. She tried to push his jacket off his shoulders and he started undoing the knot of silk at her neck. But they were getting nowhere fast like this.

Rather abruptly, Jennifer pulled away from him again. She stood up and toed off her shoes. Jonathan leaned on his elbows as she took off her suit jacket and dropped it on the floor and untied her blouse to pull it up over her head.

He sat up properly now and pulled her towards him. Jennifer stood between his legs. His large hands were splayed on her hips. Having lost the height from her shoes, her chest was about eyelevel with him now. Her slip still covered most of her, the there was a swath of skin on her chest above the lace neckline where he started pressing open-mouthed kisses. Jennifer shuddered under his touch. Her eyes started to flutter closed. She was feeling dizzy again, which was wonderful and terrible all at once. She felt so good, but she wanted to be present and fully participatory through all of this. It was a little harder to focus than it should have been for her.

She was so distracted by his mouth that she hardly noticed that his hands had found the zip on her skirt and pulled it down until the garment was a puddle at her ankles. And then his hands, his big, strong hands, were up under her slip to find the top of her stockings. She sometimes liked to wear pantyhose so there wasn't any risk of the tops slipping down her thigh, but she'd opted for the thigh-highs today, which turned out to be quite a blessing. The feeling of Jonathan peeling the fabric down her legs one at a time was highly erotic.

But she was not the only one still dressed. When Jonathan finished with her stockings, Jennifer stepped away from his hands so she could take his jacket and tie and vest off him. Jonathan helped her out with the buttons, thankfully, and smiled up at her the whole time. It took her a second to realize she was trying so hard to concentrate that her tongue was sticking out of the side of her mouth.

At last, Jonathan's shirt came off. And Jennifer felt the air leave her lungs. He was without a doubt the most gorgeous, virile man she'd ever seen. That strong chest and that masculine hair and that flawless skin, good lord!

Jennifer grabbed the hem of her slip and pulled it over her head to toss aside before giving his shoulders a little shove. He lay back on the bed, and Jennifer crawled over to join him. She straddled his hips, leaning over his chest to cover him in the same open-mouthed kisses he'd given her. She couldn't resist. She had to touch him. And the feeling of his hands on her thighs and up her hips just spurred her on. He groaned in arousal. Her heart started beating faster.

"Louise," he growled, pulled her face up to his so he could kiss her properly. Their tongues surged together as they swallowed each other's moans of arousal. Jennifer could feel him growing beneath her, and she rocked herself on his burgeoning erection. His hands wandered to her breasts, still encased in her simple white bra, squeezing and massaging her in a way that made her desperate for more even as she continued to grind her hips against him.

"Oh Jonathan," she gasped against his lips.

He repeated again, "Louise!"

And even in the midst of some of the most magical, erotic sensations of her life, Jennifer stopped. She pulled away from his touch and scrambled off his body. She sat beside him on the bed, curled up into herself and wiped the corners of her mouth as she tried to catch her breath.

"What is it?" he asked, sitting up. "What's wrong?"

"I…" God, how was she going to explain this?!

Thoughts raced through Jennifer's mind. Jennifer. Not Louise. Telling him the wrong name had been necessary in the moment. She wanted his story and he was avoiding Jennifer Edwards. But then…well, to put it bluntly, she'd been taken in by him. Jennifer Edwards was after a story, not a man. But in her experience, it was always best if she could have both. She'd been with plenty of men who may or may not have known her name. She wouldn't have cared one way or the other. This was different. Jonathan was different. God in heaven, she wanted him so much she could hardly breathe, but she couldn't do it like this. She wanted him. She, Jennifer, wanted him. And each time he called her Louise since they entered this penthouse had been slowly gnawing away at those binds that protected her heart until here and now when she felt raw and exposed and there was nothing left to keep her away from him.

"Jonathan, if we're going to go any further, we need to talk."

A flash of panic appeared on his face. "What about?" he asked warily. To his eternal credit, he was calm and concerned. She could only hope that he stayed that way.

"I hope you'll let me explain." Jennifer was stalling. She knew she had to blurt it out, but the words felt caught in her throat.

"Explain what, darling?" he asked, putting a gentle hand over where hers rested beside her legs on top of the bed.

Oh the way he spoke to her, the way he touched her! She could love this man, she was sure. If he could accept this awful truth, she wanted so much to love him. And so she couldn't continue on without the truth. He deserved it. They both did. Which led Jennifer to say, "My name is not Louise Tobin. It's Jennifer Edwards."

Jonathan snatched his hand back as though he'd been burned. "What!?" he exclaimed.

The panic rose up from her chest and started spilling out. "I'd been trying all day to get ahold of you at the hotel. I'm sure you know that. And I was defeated and went to drown my sorrows at the hotel bar. I was shocked to see you there. I didn't even notice you until I'd already sat down an ordered. And then you mentioned avoiding the reporters and you were so agitated, but that was my moment, so I…well, you know the rest. You were there."

His face turned dark. Jonathan stood up, still wearing his shoes and socks and trousers. Jennifer suddenly felt very exposed in only her bra and panties. She kept herself curled up and protected as best she could as she turned her head to watch him. And then the anger spewed out. "So this whole night was a ploy to get your damned story!?" he shouted.

"No!" she protested. "Well, yes, at first, but then…"

"Then what?" he snarled. He looked very much to Jennifer like a wounded lion, lashing out to hide his vulnerability.

"It stopped being about the story. I am not going to print a word of anything you said about Kingsford Motors or anything else until you say I can. But not only that, I am not sitting on your bed half-naked because of a story. I didn't tell you the truth because I thought it would get me a story. I think rather the opposite is true."

"So why bother to tell me your name? Did you grow a conscience in the last twenty minutes?"

That stung. His anger up to this point had been expected and unsurprising. And maybe this comment was as fair as the ones before, but this one hurt. And Jennifer was still a little drunk. That was her only explanation for why her eyes filled with tears.

Jennifer tried to turn away and wipe her eyes before any of those tears could escape. She felt the weight shift on the bed as Jonathan sat back down. He put a gentle hand on her shoulder and asked softly, "Why are you here?"

She tried to swallow back the lump of emotion in her throat as she turned her head toward him. His blue eyes were back to being kind. Maybe even hopeful. And Jennifer told him her last truth. "I'm here because I wanted you. We had such a wonderful night and I didn't want it to end. I wanted you, and I wanted you to want me. Not Louise, but me. Jennifer. And I didn't want to go any further with you thinking I was someone else."

Jonathan didn't say anything. Jennifer searched his face and waited for him to respond. Her heart thundered in her chest and her eyes stung as tears threatened to return. Then hand that Jonathan had put on her shoulder moved slowly up her neck to cup her cheek. And he leaned in. He did it slow enough that she could stop him if she wanted to. She didn't want to. He kissed her.

This kiss was like the very first, tentative and searching. Passionate but measured. Neither of them had let go yet. But Jennifer felt the tip of his tongue on the seam of her lips, and she opened her mouth to him.

It was Jonathan who pulled away this time. He rested his forehead against hers and whispered, "Come to bed."

Jennifer had no intention of refusing. He wanted her. He knew the truth and he still wanted her. She nodded.

They both got off the bed so Jonathan could pull down the bedsheets. He sat on his side and removed his shoes and socks. Jennifer unhooked her bra and pushed her panties off onto the floor before getting in on her side.

The sheets were cold but soft, though there were warm patches where they'd been sitting. Jonathan removed the rest of his clothes and quickly got into bed with her. He settled himself on top of her, propped up on his elbows, kissing her deeply. Jennifer wrapped her arms around him. She tangled her fingers in his hair and could not resist moving beneath him, wanting more of his touch.

Jonathan progressed down her body, his tongue tracing lines down her neck to her chest and down to her breasts. He took one in the palm of his hand, squeezing and rubbing it as he'd done before, this time without any barrier between them. His tongue and lips teased the other. Jennifer was panting and moaning softly with pleasure as he tried different things to arouse her. His mouth moved to the other side and he let his hand skim over the curve of her waist and stomach. Jennifer parted her legs to let his hand explore further.

When Jonathan first touched her and discovered how very wet she was already, he groaned in desire and sucked perhaps a bit too hard on her breast. Jennifer had a feeling he'd leave a mark but she certainly didn't mind. Her fingernails dug deep into his scalp to keep him anchored right where he was. His fingers traced her slick folds, and she canted her hips to make him touch her right where she wanted.

Before she knew it, Jennifer was panting and gyrating, grinding herself against his hand. Her whole body felt like it was throbbing, right on the edge and desperate for release. She came quicker than even she was prepared for, her body shuddering beneath him as she moaned, "Oh god, Jonathan, yes!"

And then suddenly he was gone. Jennifer was still feeling the aftershocks of her orgasm as she blinked her eyes open. She found Jonathan sitting back on his heels, watching her.

"Hello," she murmured, not entirely sure what else to do.

Jonathan smiled. "Hello, Jennifer."

It was the first time he'd called her by her name, and Jennifer's heart soared. She reached her arms out to him. "Come back to me. I hardly think we're finished." She spread her legs, too, to make sure he got the message.

He leaned in to kiss her again, but he had one hand bracing himself on the bed beside her waist and the other stroking his impressive erection. Jennifer bent her knees and felt him line himself up at her entrance. He gave a few shallow thrusts, allowing her body to adjust to him.

Jennifer felt herself flutter around him already, but it wasn't nearly enough. "Please, Jonathan," she begged.

He pushed in hard till he was fully sheathed inside her. Jennifer wrapped her thighs around his hips, urging him in as deep as possible.

Jonathan set a steady pace, and Jennifer met his every thrust. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, holding on as he pounded into her. He breathed her name over and over against her neck. It was almost more than she could take. He surrounded her in every way, and he said her name and all that controlled charm of his had melted away into pure needful lust, all inspired by Jennifer. Her whole body arched as she came again, gasping for air. Jonathan tumbled over the edge right with her after a few more quick thrusts.

Jonathan collapsed on top of her. Jennifer's hands stroked through his sweaty hair and slick back. His face was still buried in her neck and her legs were still wrapped around his body as they both tried to catch their breath. And though she would not say it out loud anytime soon, Jennifer felt rather sure now that she could definitely love this man.

Eventually he did roll of her. She turned to snuggle in his arms and peppered his gorgeous chest with kisses. "That was incredible," she said.

"It was," he agreed, holding her close.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Jonathan responded. His fingers lazily stroked up and down her spine.

"What made you…? I mean, you were pretty mad at me, for good reason, and then you kissed me," she said. Her words were all a little jumbled, but she also knew the thought wasn't going to leave her until she got the answer. She was still an intrepid reporter, even if she wasn't going to write a story.

His hand stilled. He considered his words carefully. "I guess it was the same reason you told me the truth. You were going to write a story, sure, but you wanted me outside of that. I wanted you from the moment I saw you. We had a wonderful evening together, and yes, I was pretty mad to find out you're the annoying reporter who's been hounding me. But that doesn't change what we shared, does it?"

"Not at all," she assured him.

"So that's it, I guess. I wanted Louise, but I think—well, I hope—that Louise and Jennifer are one in the same."

"We are."

"I wanted Jennifer as much as I wanted Louise. Maybe more."

Jennifer pushed herself up to look at him. "More?"

He looked at her with the softest expression she'd ever seen. "Well, I was attracted to Louise and I enjoyed her company and we had some good laughs. And I had all that with Jennifer, too. But Jennifer told me the truth. She cared enough to tell me the truth. And that kind of thing goes a long way with me," he explained.

"With me too," she agreed.

"Well, there you have it," Jonathan concluded. "We both wanted each other, and I think we made an extremely good first showing of it."

She chuckled. "We certainly did. I'm looking forward to the double feature."

He grinned and rolled her onto her back to kiss her soundly before pulling back to look at her. "Jennifer?"

"Yes, Jonathan?"

"I think you're wonderful."

He started kissing her again before she could respond. But oh, forget what she'd thought before. She wasn't going to fall in love with Jonathan Hart. She was in love with him already.