Chapter 49

The song ended, and Matt gallantly kissed Sara’s hand, then led her back to Jon and Richie. He reluctantly let her slide in next to Jon before dropping onto the edge of the seat next to Richie.

“Thanks for letting me borrow your girl.” He told Jon with a grin. “Does anybody need another drink?”

He waved a waiter across and ordered another round of drinks, looking slightly surprised at Sara’s request for diet coke. When the drinks arrived, they chatted a little longer, Matt admitting that a magazine had wanted to use Sara to photograph him a while back, but his agent had said she was too young. Sara smiled wryly.

“That happens quite often, I think. I look younger when I’m dressed for work, too, I guess.”

“The pigtails and cut-offs tend to do that.” Jon agreed and Matt laughed.

“Pigtails and cut-offs? I really need to have a word with my agent, I think. That, I need to see!”

Giggling, Sara stood up with her purse, heading for the bathroom. Jon’s eyes followed her until she disappeared around a corner, then he looked across the table to see Matt and Richie both grinning at him.

“What?”

“You were right, Richie.” Matt said, “The boy’s smitten! Can’t say as I blame you, though, Jon. She’s a sweet girl.”

“That she is.” Jon agreed.

“I still say she’s too good for you, bro.” Richie grinned at him. Matt nodded agreement, and they both laughed when Jon smirked and slowly raised a middle finger at them.

Sara had found the bathroom, and she was brushing her hair, slightly perturbed to find herself sharing a mirror with Sandra Bullock, who smiled and introduced herself with a warm handshake.

“You’re here with Jon, right?”

“Mm-hm. I’m Sara.”

“Good to meet you. I’ll see you out there.” Sandra smiled and left the bathroom.

Once she’d put on a little more perfume - spraying it into her hair, too - Sara followed her out of the bathroom, heading back toward the table. She glanced at her watch, startled to find it was after two am - she hadn’t realised they’d been sitting chatting at their table for so long. The restaurant layout confused her, and she ended up going completely the wrong way, unable to see anybody she recognised.

She stopped, turning to go back the way she’d just come, and walked straight into Jon - literally bumping into him. He caught hold of her as she tottered on the high heels, knocked off balance by the unexpected contact.

“Jon! I didn’t know you were there!”

“Sorry, baby. I saw you wandering over here, and thought you looked kinda lost.”

“I was! Must’ve turned the wrong way - is it just me, or is this place confusing?”

Sara became aware of how closely they were pressed together, and there was a hungry, predatory look in Jon’s eyes as he smiled at her. He buried his face in the mane of hair, inhaling deeply.

“You smell so good. C’mere.” He said, pulling her with him into a shadowy alcove, pressing Sara against the wall.

“Jon! What are you….” She didn’t manage to get out the word ‘doing’ before his mouth came down on hers.

He’d been drinking red wine all night, and Sara was getting lost in the sweet, spicy taste of him when she suddenly remembered where they were. Her eyes flew open again when he touched her bare leg, and she pushed Jon back.

“Baby, not here.”

“No?” Jon moved closer to her, letting her feel his stiffening cock against her thigh.

“No.” Sara said firmly, and Jon exhaled sharply, stepping back.

“Okay, babe. You win. But just remember what I told you earlier!”

He kissed her again, but tenderly, then took her hand and led her back to their table. Richie was sitting alone, and he looked up as they approached.

“You found her, then.” He looked at Sara as she sat down. “He was getting worried about you - he thought you’d abandoned him!”

“Never going to happen.” Sara said, then blushed as she realised the import of her words. “I got lost, if you can believe that - lost in a restaurant! I really shouldn’t be let out alone.”

“I’d agree with that.” Jon grinned, sliding onto the seat beside Sara and putting his arm around her, Sara leaning against his shoulder, looking sleepy.

“I need coffee.” She murmured, and Jon immediately raised a hand to attract the attention of a passing waiter.

“Rich - you want anything?”

“Nah - I’m good.”

“Two double espresso.” Jon ordered, hugging Sara a bit tighter. “You want anything else, babe?”

“No - just coffee - that’s all I want. Right now anyway.”

Jon chuckled and the waiter went off to get the coffees, returning with two tiny cups filled with tarry black coffee, a thin layer of foam on the top. Sara sat up and took one, sipping it black.

“Oh, that’s good!” She exclaimed, and Jon tried his, screwing up his face.

“That’s one way to describe it I guess! Even stronger than the stuff you make!”

“Well, I need this - need something to keep me awake - it’s way past my bedtime!”

She blushed again. That was the problem when she was tired - she just said what she thought, without considering how it might sound. Jon and Richie both grinned at her, then Richie spoke diplomatically.

“Jon - if the lady’s tired, you could take her on back to the hotel.”

Jon grinned at Richie, knowing exactly what he was doing. “Babe? D’you want to head back now?”

“We can’t just abandon Richie, though.” Sara said, the coffee having perked her up a little. “I could get a cab, leave you boys to party.”

“No way. You’re not getting a cab alone. You go with Jon, girl - I’ve got a good few hours in me yet, and that boy’s cramping my style!”

Sara smiled across at Richie - she’d also figured out his intent. “If you’re sure?”

“Yes. Absolutely. You two go - I’ll see you in the morning.”

Jon stood up and helped Sara out of her seat. She came around the table to kiss Richie goodbye, then they headed for the door, Richie winking at Jon as they left. On the way, they saw Matt standing deep in conversation with Sandra, and detoured to say goodbye to them both.

“You’re leaving already?” Matt said, shocked to see Jon leaving before the party was over. “Sorry - Sara, this is Sandra…..”

“We’ve met.” Sandra interrupted with a grin, surprising Sara by stepping forward to give her a hug. “Us brunettes have got to stick together against the blondes of the world, right?”

“Hey!” Jon and Matt said in unison, and the two girls laughed at their reaction.

“I’m sorry.” Sara said. “I feel bad, dragging Jon away, but I’m just so tired - I’m not used to being out so late! I did tell him to stay, but he won’t listen to me.”

“I’d beat the crap out of him if he let you leave alone!” Matt told her. “It was great to meet you, Sara. I’ll maybe see you around, I’ll tell my agent you’re definitely worth getting in touch with.” He gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek.

“Bye guys.” Jon said, steering Sara out of the door.

A few die-hard fans were waiting outside, along with some tired looking paparazzi, and Jon took Sara’s hand tightly in his, to give her confidence, but she was too exhausted for nerves, standing quietly beside Jon while a cab pulled up in front of them. As Jon opened the door for Sara, one of the girls standing near the kerb screamed his name, waving a CD and a pen at him.

“Go on.” Sara said with a smile. “You’ll make her day, or her night anyway.”

Jon helped Sara into the cab and asked the driver to wait, walking over to the girl and taking the pen from her. He signed the CD, then signed autographs for another couple of people before begging off, pointing to Sara in the cab.

“Thanks, but I gotta go now. You be careful out here, girls.”

He jumped into the cab and slammed the door, telling the driver to go to the Four Seasons. Sara sat close to him, and Jon nuzzled her hair, kissing her ear until she almost purred, his tongue lapping against her earlobe.

“D’you think he can go any faster?” She asked Jon quietly, nodding toward the driver while sliding her hand along Jon’s thigh.

“Don’t think so, baby - why, are you still tired?”

“No……but I do want to get to bed….”

Jon chuckled, stroking her cheek with one finger, then tipping her head toward him slightly so he could kiss her. Sara’s tongue felt like fire in his mouth, and he had to stop himself from sliding his hand under her skirt, conscious that the cab driver could see every move they made. The kiss would have to suffice for the moment, even though they both burned for more.

Soon enough, the cab pulled up at the hotel, and Jon handed the driver some bills, not really caring how much extra there was. He got out of the cab and Sara followed him, then they walked arm in arm into the hotel. The elevator was empty, and they rode it up to the penthouse, Jon pinning Sara against one wall as soon as the doors closed, resuming their interrupted kiss. When the doors slid open, they almost missed their chance to exit, they were so engrossed in each other, but Sara suddenly saw the door sliding closed again and managed to hit the button in time.

“Jon…..we’re here…….”

“So we are.” He mumbled against her mouth, backing Sara out of the lift without lifting his lips from hers.

They stumbled together to the suite door, Sara’s back pressed to the door, her hands in Jon’s hair as he searched his pockets for the key. He found it eventually, sliding the card into the lock as Sara nibbled on his lower lip, hands tugging his shirt out of his pants so she could find some skin. She got her hands under the back of his shirt as the door opened, and they half-fell into the hallway, Jon kicking the door closed again and tossing the keycard toward a table.