Chapter 113

Linda couldn’t help but grin at the look on Tara’s face as she kept glancing away from Jon, looking over to where Linda stood in what was clearly a non-public area, seeing the official pass around her neck. After another couple of songs, the security staff began to move the small group out of the fan pit, and as they passed closer to Linda and Sara, Linda caught Tara’s attention and gestured that her friend should call her. She laughed as she could easily read Tara’s reply on her lips ‘damn right I’ll call you!’.

A lot of the show passed in a bit of a blur for Sara - there were so many songs she didn’t know, but Jon’s voice and antics as he moved tirelessly around the stage, leaping and dancing non-stop were enough to keep her grinning. She lost count of how many times Linda said ‘they’ve never played that live!’, and she loved Jon’s rendition of Bob Dylan’s ‘Just like a woman’. After another group had filled the fan pit - this time Linda didn’t know any of them - Jon finally took a break, the gauze shirt now completely soaked and stuck to his body. Finishing a song, he turned to grin at Richie, then faced the audience again.

“Ladies and gentlemen……..what can I say? This man needs no introduction! My friend. My brother. Mr Richie Sambora.” Jon stepped back from the mic, then grinned and leaned forward to speak again. “And, ladies, I’m sorry - he’s off the market already!”

“I’ll be there for you.” Linda murmured, explaining herself when Sara looked at her, not understanding. “That’s the song Richie sings while Jon goes to change.”

Jon and Richie gripped hands briefly, then Jon crossed the stage, disappearing from the audience’s view as he walked over beside Sara. He stopped, though, just before he hugged her.

“Hell, I’m all sweaty, darlin’.”

“So?” Sara took a step forward into his arms, feeling the heat of his body through her tunic as she raised her face to kiss him. “You’re amazing, baby.”

“Enjoying the show?”

“Oh, yeah. But you could’ve warned me you were going to do ‘Don’t want to miss a thing’!”

Out on stage, Richie had moved across to the white mic stand, and he looked over at Jon, Sara and Linda before he spoke.

“Well, hello.” He strummed at his guitar, grinning as the crowd yelled back at him. “I’ve been asked to do this song, for the beautiful girl who’s making my friend a very happy man.”

Sara looked up at Jon, who just grinned, watching her face as Richie started to play, seeing her surprised expression which turned to a broad smile when Richie sang the opening lyrics ‘After all the jacks are in their boxes…..’.

“That’s…..”

“Yeah. I asked Rich to play it for you, baby. Now,” Jon gave her another quick kiss as Richie moved into a guitar solo, “I gotta go change. I’ll come back this way, though.”

He began to walk away, then turned. “Hey, Linda - c’mere. Richie wants you in the pit.”

Jon got Linda over into the fan pit, then left her there, jogging backstage. He had plenty of time, since he knew Richie had another couple of songs to do, but the quicker he was changed, the longer he could spend with Sara.

Standing alone at the side of the stage, Sara marvelled at Richie’s skill as he played the wild solo section of Wind Cries Mary. In the pit, Linda was loving the sound of it for a whole other reason, remembering the skill of those fingers at other things, almost feeling them on - and in - her body as he played.

A veteran of quick changes, Jon was back at the side of the stage before Richie had even finished that first song, slipping quietly up behind Sara and wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. She jumped slightly, but turned her head far enough to see it was Jon, then relaxed back against him, hands rubbing lightly over his arms as they listened to Richie play. When he finished, they both applauded, Sara screaming her appreciation, and Richie grinned as he looked across, giving a salute and a half-bow in her direction. As the cheering faded away, Jon spoke in Sara’s ear with a grin she could hear in his voice.

“He still can’t make you scream like I can.”

Smiling, Sara turned to kiss his cheek. “Nobody can, love.”

Richie moved on to the next song, and Sara happened to glance over at Linda and saw the expression on her face, saw her suddenly grab at the rail in front of her as though her legs couldn’t hold her. Sara pulled away from Jon.

“Baby - I’ll be back. Linda looks upset.”

“It’s the song.” He told her, releasing her anyway.

She went over and dropped into the pit, walking up to Linda and touching her shoulder gently.

“Are you okay?”

Just then, Richie finished the intro and began to sing ‘Every song on the radio’s about us tonight….’, and Linda turned briefly to face Sara, tears in her eyes.

“I’m fine. That song just means an awful lot to me, and I’ve never heard him sing it live before.” She squeezed Sara’s hand reassuringly. “I’m fine - really. Go back to Jon. He’ll be back out on stage soon - make the most of it.”

“Okay, sweetie. If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

Sara returned to Jon’s side, and he wrapped her into his arms again, face to face this time as he backed up, pulling her deeper into the shadows and out of the sight of everybody on stage. She went with him willingly, pressing hard against him until Jon spun them around, pinning Sara against the back of the side panel as he raised his hands to cup her face. Tenderly, he pressed his lips to her forehead, then dropped a gentle kiss onto the corner of each eye before finally taking her mouth with his. Even as his tongue slid between her teeth, caressing against her own, Sara could feel him holding himself back, knowing he couldn’t take this where he wanted, not here on the side of the stage. She kissed him back, enjoying the contact, but not teasing him too much. Not when he had to go back out on stage in a few minutes. There’d be time enough later. All the time in the world.

Linda could feel a tear break free and roll down her cheek as Richie sang One Last Goodbye, the song ending too soon for her liking, but as he played out the end of the song, Richie strolled over to the pit, finishing the final chords standing looking at her. Neither of them was aware that the cameras for the big screen were on them as Richie let the final notes fall from those talented fingers, then stooped to wipe away her tears with one hand as he smiled down at her.

“That was for you, girl.” He said softly, then bent further, tilting her chin up so he could give her a quick but delicious kiss, their tongues meeting for just a second before he straightened away from her with a wink.

“How did you know I love that song?” Linda asked as he moved away.

“Tell you later.”


Out in the audience, Tara had been trying to convince Paula and Rue that Linda was up there, on the side of the stage, with an official pass. They were still expressing disbelief when Paula looked away from the stage and up at the big screen.

“Fuck me runnin’!” She breathed, grabbing at Rue’s arm and pointing to the screen, where they clearly saw Linda looking up at Richie.

“I told you!” Tara said, quickly followed by, “Holy fuuuuck!” when Richie bent to give Linda that brief, ardent kiss.

The three of them lapsed into disbelieving silence as they watched the screen, unable to hear the words, but seeing Linda and Richie exchange a few words before he headed for the mic again.

“She’s got some explaining to do.” Rue eventually said.


At the front of the stage, Richie thanked the crowd again, then moved onto his final solo - River of Love. In the fan pit, Linda couldn’t believe it - he’d hit on two of her absolute favourite songs, and River was even hotter than usual, since during the guitar breaks, he’d swing his head around to grin at her. The grins weren’t the sparkling ones that he’d direct at the audience, but softer, more sensual, making her belly clench with anticipation, especially when he turned to look at her as he sang ‘then your body will quiver and the river will flow’, giving her a wink and slight nod.

As Richie finished the song, Jon reluctantly let go of Sara. They were back at the edge of the stage, since neither of them had been confident of keeping control if they’d remained in the shadows for too long. Jon gave her another kiss, and Sara giggled as she slapped his ass.

“Go to work!” She giggled, and Jon slid a hand behind her, grabbing her ass and squeezing hard as he kissed her one last time.

“Something else for you to pay for.” He warned with a grin. “Another couple of hours, and you’ll be all mine.”

Jon moved away toward the stage, and he only just heard her as she said. “I am all yours, Jon.”

His tech came over, handing him a gold guitar, and he waited as Richie finished and the crowd went wild, then he walked back out on stage, clapping for his friend as he approached. After he’d finished applauding Richie, and the crowd quietened down, Jon stepped over to the white mic and thanked Richie, garnering another round of screaming from the audience. Richie moved back to his own mic as Jon turned to nod to Tico, yelling ‘Tico - gimme the beat!’.

Linda returned to Sara’s side as the band sang, and they watched the rest of the show together, oblivious to the final group who filled the fan pit, even though a number of them watched jealously, wondering who the hell was the blonde woman who obviously had Richie’s eye. They played two encores, finally finishing with One Wild Night, followed by their ‘national anthem’ - Wanted. When they’d all taken their bows, Jon and Richie split off from the rest of the band - while Tico, Hugh and Dave headed for the rear of the stage, the other two went to the side to collect their ladies, both of whom were way beyond excited after watching their men do what they loved.

As Sara hugged Jon, she could feel his heart still pounding, and she pulled back a little to look at him.

“You must be exhausted, baby.” She said, concern evident in her voice. “That was amazing!”

Jon gave a tired but happy grin. “Not that exhausted, darlin’. All I need is a quick shower and I’ll be good as new.”

Sara wasn’t convinced, seeing the sweat dripping from his hair and the pale blue sleeveless shirt soaked through, but she figured he’d been doing this long enough to know what he was talking about. Richie and Linda were oblivious, kissing hard as they leaned against the side panel, and Jon pounded on Richie’s back.

“Jesus! Can’t you wait? What are you, eighteen?”

The four of them headed backstage, and Sara and Linda went straight for the buffet table while the guys disappeared to join the others in the showers, to wash away the exertion of their performance.