Chapter 26

Waking to an empty bed, Jon sighed, shaking his head.  Last night, Dot’s first night back, they’d made love with the slow passion of a long-married couple.  Their enforced separation added spice to their night, as they were both still passionate lovers, and Jon had been on a severely restricted diet of ‘personal relief’ while his wife had been gone from him.

 

After the exhaustion had pushed her into sleep, though, Dorothea had woken early, her body still on European time.  God knew, it was something Jon was familiar enough with, though his decades of globe-trotting had given him a certain resilience against the effects of jetlag and changing time zones.  Dot, though, was dealing with it the only way her body knew how - by getting out of bed and searching out coffee.  Shaking his head again, Jon left the warm comfort of their bed and went to find her.

 

Stumbling through the apartment in his favorite robe - looking about as rockstar as your average garbage man - Jon found his wife out on the terrace, drinking coffee and chatting with an equally wide awake Stephanie.

 

“Hey!”  Jon said by way of greeting.  “Two beautiful ladies on my terrace!  How’d that happen?”

 

Steph rolled her eyes.  “Morning, dad.”

 

 

It was late that afternoon before Jon finally got Dot alone so they could talk.  The kids were out at various sports or, in Steph’s case, at her best girlfriend’s place, sharing tales of her European jaunt.  None of the kids would be home tonight, each sleeping over at a friend’s place, which suited Jon’s plans perfectly.  Not that he had much in the way of a plan, of course.  For the last few days he’d been racking his brain for how to do this, and he’d come up with zip.  Looked like the old-fashioned way - telling the truth - would have to do.  Pouring them each a glass of wine, he asked Dot to come sit with him in the living room, leading the way himself.

 

“That sounded ominous.”  She joked as they sat down, facing each other across the coffee table, concern growing in her when Jon made no smartass comeback, just sighing heavily.

 

“I need to tell you something, Dotty girl.”

 

She liked the sound of that even less.  That special pet name was one he very rarely used.

 

“And from the look on your face, I’m guessing you don’t think I’ll like it.”

 

“No.” 

 

Jon sighed it out, then forced himself to cowboy up.  This was most definitely a time to be a man, to face up and be honest.  A phrase he’d heard over in the UK flicked into his brain, seeming perfectly appropriate.  Time to put his cock on the block.  Yeah, and to pray Dot didn’t reach for an axe.

 

“Remember back after the ‘Jersey’ tour?  When we took off on the bike?”

 

“Of course I do.”  Hell, Dot thought, pretty hard for her to forget that period of their lives, all things considered.

 

“You remember how you sent me off alone?  How I lit out and disappeared for a few weeks?”

 

Dot nodded silently, waiting to see where this was going, and Jon ploughed painfully ahead, wishing with every word that he’d been man enough back then to keep his dick in his jeans, and not in Billie.

 

“I told you I spent a week or so living on a ranch, helping out.  What I didn’t…….what I didn’t say was that the rancher was a woman.”

 

Dot’s eyes narrowed.  Now, she was pretty sure she knew where this was going.  What she couldn’t figure out was why he was telling her now.

 

“Okay.”  She said slowly.  “And……?”

 

“And……..baby, I’m sorry.  I cheated on you with her.”

 

“I did wonder, at the time.”  Dot said.  “I mean, when I sent you off, you were……….you couldn’t……then you showed up at home and, uhh…….well, you were back to the man I fell in love with.  Kind of figured someone may have helped you over it.  Was a long time ago, babe.”

 

“Yeah.”  Jon grimaced.  She’d taken that pretty well.  Next part wasn’t likely to go over anything like so easily.  “Thing is, Dot……..okay, you remember the young kid who joined the Soul a few months back?”

 

“The one Stephy likes?”

 

“Shit.  Yeah.  Thing is, Dot…..”  Jon searched for a better way to say it, to perhaps reduce the impact of his betrayal, but he was coming up blank.

 

Slowly, he got off his couch and went around the low table to sit beside her, taking her two hands in his, looking earnestly into her eyes to try to help convince her of his sincerity.  Sincerity and abject apology.

 

“You know I love you, Dot, don’t you?  I’ve loved you since the day we met.  Loved you even when you were still with Gary, and each and every day since we got together I’ve loved you more.”

 

She was frowning now, sure that something bad was coming, and hoping desperately he wasn’t about to tell her he had some terminal illness or something.  Little did she know that, in a few short moments, she’d almost be wishing that was what he was telling her.

 

“Jon?”  Was all she said, and he looked down at their linked hands for a moment before steeling himself, his grip tightening as he looked at her again.

 

“Dot……the thing is……….that young player?  Jay?”  He swallowed hard.  “He’s……..aw, fuck….he’s my son, Dot.”

 

“Your……..he’s……….he’s your son?”  Her voice was incredulous as she snatched her hands away from his.  “Your son?!”

 

“I’m sorry, Dot.”  Jon said helplessly as she sprang to her feet, staring down at him like he was a stranger.

 

“Your son.”  She said again, her voice flat and angry.

 

“I didn’t know.  I never even knew Billie was pregnant.”

 

“And that makes it okay?  Damn you, Jon!  How long have you known?”  Another thought hit her, too many of them right now, slamming into each other in her brain.  “He’s the one who got hurt, right?”

 

“Yes.”  Jon answered her questions out of sequence, the anger on her face flustering him.  “I found out when he came to try out for the team.”

 

“Which was months ago!  You’ve kept it secret all this time?  You bastard!”  She frowned, her own childrens’ birthright threatened by this new-found eldest son.  “What does he want?”

 

“Nothing!  Dot, he doesn’t know.  Billie never told him.  Hell, she never knew who I was back then.  She never even knew my last name.” 

 

“So, let me get this straight.  A woman you barely knew - who didn’t even know your name, for God’s sake - and you thought it was a good plan to have unprotected sex with her?”  That shocked Dot almost more than anything else.  Sure, she knew full well that he wasn’t a saint when he was on the road, but he’d always been damned careful to protect himself.

 

“I wasn’t thinking straight.”  Jon tried to defend his stupidity.

 

“Not with the head on your shoulders at any rate!”  Dot snapped, her anger getting the better of her, pushing common sense out of her mind.  “I mean - for Christ’s sake, Jon!   I can’t believe you’d be so stupid!  Even back then.  For fuck’s sake, at least I’ve always had the damned sense to use…..”  Cutting herself off, Dot clenched her eyes shut, but she’d already seen the look in Jon’s eyes, and she knew she’d said too much as he stared at her in shock.

Chapter 25

Fortunately - or unfortunately - for Billie, Nick’s workload at the Soul increased over the next few days, as a couple of the players sustained minor injuries during training and his expertise was required.  Fortunately for obvious reasons, but unfortunately as she had nothing but time to dwell on what he’d done, and his clear intentions to return.  Also unfortunately as it gave Nick time to think and imagine what other delights he could bring to their next encounter.  Delights for him at least.

 

Somehow, Billie held herself silent on the whole issue on the couple of occasions Jon called her, just to check up on Jay.  She was making the short trip to see him each day, and though she never made mention of it, she was pretty sure that young Kadie had ‘made a man’ of her son.  And it was about time, in Billie’s opinion.

 

Leaving the apartment after one of her visits, Billie had bumped into one of the other players, even managing to remember his name, and she and Mike had exchanged friendly hellos as he headed up to see Jay.  Preoccupied with thoughts of home, Billie didn’t notice his strange expression as they spoke, and Mike kept his mouth shut, wanting to speak to Jay first, since he knew Nick’s marital status, and it seemed likely that Billie didn’t.

 

Sitting in the back of a cab, heading back to the hotel, Billie’s cellphone rang, and when she read the Philadelphia number she answered hesitantly.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Billie?”  The voice certainly wasn’t Nick’s, and Billie breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“Yep, it’s Billie.”  She paused.  “Richie?”

 

“You got me, darlin’.”  He chuckled.  “Whatchya doin’?”

 

“Sitting in a cab.  I was over to see Jay, and now I’m heading back to the hotel.”

 

“Perfect timing, then.  You got plans tonight?”

 

“Uh - no.”  Unless Nick decided to stop by.

 

“Cool.  Listen, I have another interview to do, and we’re doing it at your hotel again.  D’you fancy having dinner with me after?  Say around seven-ish?”

 

“Kinda early for a rockstar.”  Billie teased, and that low chuckle purred against her ear again.

 

“What can I say, darlin’?  I’m not so young as I used to be.  So whaddya say?”

 

“Sounds good.”  She said, meaning it.  She’d like to see him, to perhaps get a little more insight into Jon’s life these days.  To maybe find out what the likelihood was of him surviving the day he told Dorothea about Jay.  In fact, if memory served, Dorothea and Stephanie should have returned from their trip last night, so it just might be that Jon was going to break the news today.

 

“Well, okay!  I’ll see ya later, Billie.”

 

“Uh-huh.  Bye, Richie.”

 

She’d barely put her phone away when it rang again, but this time the display showed ‘Jay’, and she flipped it open quickly.

 

“Mom?  Mom, what the fuck’s going on?”

 

“Uh, excuse me?”  Her voice snapped with anger at his tone.  Jesus, but he sounded like his father when he was pissed.  “Would you like to start that again, Jay?”

 

A harsh sigh hit the phone as he forced away the anger.

 

“Sorry mom.  Sorry.”  Another sigh.  “What I meant to say was……..what’s going on with you and Nick?”

 

“What do you……..oh, hold on.”  Billie leaned forward to pay the cab driver as he halted at the hotel, then she raised the phone to her ear again as she walked into the hotel, heading for the elevators.  “What do you mean, what’s going on?” 

 

“He…….Mike came over to see me, and he said…….”

 

“I saw Mike, when I was leaving.”  Billie let herself into her room, frowning as she pushed the door shut.  “What did he say?”

 

“He said you’re………seeing……Nick.  Said he’s been bragging about it, about how you’ve…..you’ll…….shit.”  This really wasn’t something a son could say to his mother.  “He’s been telling the guys how, how ummm…….how ‘uninhibited’ you are with him.”

 

“Sonofabitch.”  Billie muttered, holding the phone away.  So much for being ‘their secret’.  Or just maybe……  “And what else has Nick been saying?”

 

“Isn’t that enough?”  Jay blurted.  “Mom, the stuff Mike said he’s been telling them…..”

 

“Sweetheart, whatever’s happening between me and Nick is nobody’s business but ours.”  Billie said, fighting to keep her voice level.  “It’s not like anybody’s getting hurt.”  Nobody but her, anyway, and she could live with that, to protect her son.  And his father.

 

“Nobody’s………mom, he’s married!”

 

“He’s what?”  Billie was stunned, her opinion of Nick as an asshole being instantly doubled.  “He never told me that!  Shit!”

 

What kind of woman would marry a guy like Nick?  Billie wondered, then answered herself just as fast.  The same kind she’d been at first.  The kind who believed his act as a nice, friendly, attentive guy.  But obviously his wife hadn’t been party to any of his darker fantasies.  Or maybe she had.  Either way, if Billie had known beforehand that he was married, none of this would be happening, because the one and only time she’d gotten ‘involved’ with a married man had been when she was with Jon.

 

“I didn’t know.”  She said softly.  But maybe this would help.  Maybe - just maybe - this would give her a way out from this, now that she knew he also had something to lose.  “I’ll fix it, Jay.  Promise.”

 

“Okay, mom.”  There was a muted sound in the background, the sound of his doorbell.  “Oh, I gotta go!  That’s……..”

 

“Yeah, yeah.”  Billie joked.  “Abandon your old mom for your pretty little nurse!”

 

“How did you…….?”

 

“Baby, you can’t hide anything from me.  I like Kadie.  So go!  Don’t keep her waiting.”

 

“Okay, mom.”  He said again, then hesitated, but said it anyway.  “I love you, mom.”

 

“Love you too, Jay.”

 

Closing her phone, Billie threw it onto the bed, throwing herself down beside it, her mind churning over the revelation about Nick.  She was still trying to figure out if it helped her or not when she fell asleep.

 

Later, the sound of her phone woke her, and when she opened her eyes the room was almost dark.  Luckily, her phone was flashing as it rang, so she grabbed it and answered without looking at the display.

 

“ ‘lo?”

 

“You standing me up?”  Richie’s voice.

 

“Huh?  No, I………”  Billie sat up, actually paying attention to her surroundings now.  “I think I fell asleep.  What time’s it?”

 

“Seven thirty.” 

 

He was pouting, she could hear it in his voice, and it made her giggle.

 

“I’m sorry!  Give me………”  She looked down at her clothes.  “Ten minutes?”

 

“Oohh-kaaay.  I’ll be the lonely one at the bar.”  He said theatrically, and Billie giggled again, closing and dropping her phone.

 

Nine minutes and forty seconds later she walked into the bar, showered and dressed in fresh clothes.  Her hair had been washed that morning, as usual, so she’d just pulled it into a ponytail as it was quicker than trying to wash and dry it.  Sitting at the bar, Richie grinned broadly, looking at his watch and getting to his feet.

 

“Damn!”  He laughed.  “I’d have never believed it - a woman who can be ready when she says she will!”

 

He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then they went through into the restaurant, Billie very glad when they were guided to a table far from the one where she’d sat with Nick.  She just didn’t need that reminder right now.

 

They chatted through dinner, feeling a growing bond between them.  Not exactly a feeling of attraction, though it was certainly there, but more a friendship taking root, and it was doubtless their shared ‘love’ of Jon that helped.  Over the years, both of them had protected him, to varying degrees, and while Billie shared with Richie some stories of Jay’s childhood, he reciprocated with tales of Jon through the years, never giving away any of those ‘secrets to the grave’ that they sang about, but stories that he knew no fan would have heard.  Seemed right that she know more about him, since they had a child together.  When he said so, Billie fidgeted nervously with her wineglass before slanting a glance at Richie.

 

“Do you know………has Jon spoken with Dorothea yet?”

 

Richie sighed, nodding slowly.  “I spoke with him this morning, and he was going to tell her today.  Haven’t heard from him since, though.  I didn’t like to call, in case I interrupted…….”

 

Billie nodded, understanding that sentiment.  Who in their right mind would want to get in the middle of that kind of husband-wife discussion?  Opening her mouth to speak, she was interrupted by her phone ringing.

 

“Sorry, Richie.”

 

“No problem.”  He sat back, sipping water as she pulled the phone from her purse.

 

“Hello?” 

 

“Well, if it isn’t Mr Bon Jovi’s son’s mother.”  Came an all-too-familiar voice, a slightly drunken sound to his tone, then Nick’s voice hardened.  “Where are you?”

 

“Uh…….I’m in the restaurant, having dinner.”  She said quietly, seeing Richie’s frown and knowing she’d turned pale at the sound of Nick’s voice.

 

“Well I suggest you get into your fucking room, because I’m on my way over.  Be there in five minutes.”  He chuckled evilly.  “And I missed you soooo bad, baby.”

 

Billie shuddered.  She couldn’t help it.  There was something frightening in Nick’s voice.  Hopefully her own ammunition of his wife would save her this time, though.

 

“Okay.”  She murmured, closing the phone and looking over at Richie, searching for an excuse.  “Richie, I’m sorry - I need to go.  I……..uh…..I have to go.”

 

“Everything okay?”  He frowned again, his eyes searching her face.

 

“Uh-huh.  Just……just stuff at home I need to make some calls about.”  She said quickly.  “Thanks for dinner.”

 

“Any time.”  Richie replied.  Her answer was too fast, and pretty implausible.  Her reactions hadn’t been like someone hearing news of home.  More like someone being told the time for their own execution.

 

Dropping her phone carelessly into her purse, Billie got to her feet, hesitating before kissing Richie’s cheek.

 

“Bye.”  She whispered, and he caught her hand, studying her face again.

 

“Billie?  What’s wrong?”

 

“Nothing.”  A bright, forced smile.  “Honestly, Richie.  It’s nothing for you to worry about.  I’ll see you later, maybe?”

 

“Count on it.”  He let her go.  “If I hear from Jonny, I’ll let you know.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Billie left the restaurant, leaving Richie sitting there with just his coffee for company, and she headed up to her room, trembling with nerves.  Her goodbye to Richie had obviously taken longer than she’d intended, because Nick was leaning against her door, smirking as she walked up.

 

“There you are.”  He said, forcing a mock-friendly smile as other hotel guests walked past.  “I thought you’d gotten lost, baby.”

 

“No.  I had to pay the restaurant bill.”  Billie said, opening the door, feeling his hands grab her waist as she stepped in, his fingers hooking cruelly into her sides.

 

“What the fuck ever.”  Nick sneered, pushing her further into the room.  “Just get your fucking clothes off.  I don’t have all night.”

 

“Why?”  Billie spun to face him.  “Is your wife expecting you?”

 

Nick blinked in surprise, then rattled Billie’s composure badly when he laughed.

 

“Her?  Oh, lemme guess!  You thought because you somehow found out about her that you had some kinda leverage back on me?”  He laughed again, grabbing Billie’s arm brutally hard and dragging her to the bedroom.  “Dream on, you stupid bitch.  Coral does what she’s told when she’s told.”  He threw her toward the bed, unbuttoning his shirt as he closed in on her.  “Just like you.”

Chapter 24

The next morning found Billie and Jay in a strange combination of similar yet wildly different moods.  The previous night - for them both - had been filled with sexual adventure, but while Jay lay contentedly asleep in his bed, Billie stood under yet another scalding hot shower, the taste of blood in her mouth from the violence with which she’d scoured her teeth, desperately trying to rid herself of the taste of Nick.

 

While Jay had been introduced - thoroughly and repeatedly - to the delights of love-making by the pretty Kadie, Billie’s own night had been far from so romantic.

 

Following her capitulation, the only way Billie could see to prevent Nick spilling her - and Jon’s - secret across the tabloids, an evil grin had spread across his face as he’d ordered her onto the bed.  He’d mounted her without even a moment of foreplay, just spreading her legs and wedging his hips between her thighs, his dick already hardening at the feeling of control.  Watching her face, Nick had brought his hands onto her breasts, squeezing hard, then he’d lowered his mouth to one nipple, sucking for a moment before closing his teeth roughly on the sensitive flesh, enjoying the sound of the pained gasp above him.  Moving to the other breast, he’d bitten her again, this time on the soft curve of her breast, leaving a clearly visible imprint of his teeth on the pale skin.

 

Billie had whimpered at that bite, and then a sobbing moan of pain had torn from her throat as Nick rammed his swollen dick into her.  Almost worse than the pain, though, had been the pleasure in his face, a smile flickering as she gasped in pain again, tears breaking from her eyes to dampen her hair.  Above her, Nick had grunted in pleasure at each hard, rough stroke, amazed by how much it was turning him on to not even consider his partner’s pleasure, but to just fuck her as he pleased.  Now, for the first time, he could see the attraction of rape.

 

With the added arousal of his cruelty, Nick came quickly, pumping his hips harder as the orgasm washed over him, his cum surging into Billie without the hated barrier of a condom.

 

He’d let himself slump down onto her as the shudders of pleasure racked him, then he’d withdrawn carelessly from Billie, sneering cruelly down at her.

 

“Go clean yourself up.”  He’d said callously, getting off her.  “And bring me a fuckin’ washcloth while you’re at it.”

 

Right at that moment, Billie hadn’t even been able to summon anger, just rising from the bed and walking carefully to the bathroom.  Wishing her body felt as numb as her mind, Billie had cleaned away the residue of what Nick had done, traces of her blood mingled with his semen, then she’d wrapped herself in a hotel robe before taking him the cloth he’d demanded.

 

“I never said you could cover up.”  Nick had snapped as he’d snatched the warm, wet cloth from her, and Billie had slowly removed the robe, standing naked and uncertain in her own hotel suite.

 

Nick had finished wiping himself off, but the sight of Billie, naked and afraid, was already stirring his cock’s interest, and he’d told her to make him coffee, his eyes never leaving her as she’d moved across to the coffee machine, filling the pot and waiting until the brew was ready before pouring a cup and bringing it to him.  His eyes had focused on the bite mark on her breast, the memory of her pain enough to get him fully erect, and he’d smirked when her hand trembled as she handed over the coffee.

 

He’d sipped coffee, then got to his feet, reaching to catch a handful of her long hair, pulling her closer.  After staring into her eyes, Nick had chuckled nastily, pushing on the top of her head with both hands.

 

“Blow me.”  He’d grunted, forcing Billie to her knees.

 

While she’d have loved to bite down on him, to hurt him the easiest way she could, Billie couldn’t do it, fear of his retribution holding her captive.  Instead, she’d done as ordered, sucking and teasing, until she was snuffling and choking for breath as Nick grabbed two handfuls of her hair, pinning her as he fucked her mouth brutally, cumming in her mouth so she was forced to swallow or choke on it.  He’d thrust into her mouth until every drop had left him, then Nick had finally pulled back, looking down disdainfully.

 

“I’ve had better.”  He’d said off-handedly, reaching for his clothes.

 

Billie hadn’t moved while he’d dressed, and he’d gone as far as the door before turning with that evil smile, loving the sight of her naked on the floor.

 

“Now don’t go making too many plans, darlin’.”  He’d told her.  “ ‘cause I’ll be back for more.  Consider tonight a……down payment.  Just to seal our little deal.  So long as you’re a good girl, I don’t think anybody needs to know who Jay’s daddy really is.  All down to how happy you make me, though.”

 

 

Standing in the shower, Billie felt a surge of nausea as she remembered the night, every second of it playing back through her mind, right up to those final words.  She remembered how he’d smiled at her, remembered the fear she’d felt, and the certainty that the night had been only a tiny taster of what was coming her way.

 

 

Across town, around the time Billie was stepping out of the shower, scrubbing her bright red skin with a towel, Jay was slowly coming awake, a huge contentment filling him.

 

He sat up slowly, looking a little sadly at the emptiness beside him.  After they’d made love for the third time, Kadie’s gentle tutelage guiding his touch until she was moaning beneath him, they’d shared his shower, kissing deliciously as they cleansed themselves of sweat.  Kadie had left soon afterward, telling him truthfully that she wanted nothing more than to stay, but she had to work early in the morning, and had no clean clothes with her.  Reluctant but understanding, Jay had let her go, and his sleep that night had been the most restful he could ever recall.

 

Before he even got out of bed, he grabbed for his cellphone and fired off a quick text message to Kadie, and she must have been on her way to work, as she replied almost instantly, echoing his joy from the night before and signing off with a kiss.  Jay was grinning as he got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, and his grin just got broader when he filled the sink with hot water and the steam revealed ‘Last night was awesome, KD x’ on the mirror.  He stopped grinning for a few moments while he shaved, but the grin was firmly welded back to his face as he stepped into the shower, thoughts of Kadie - and their night - crowding into his brain.

 

 

In yet another part of the city, Nick’s wife Coral sat up in bed, looking down at her sleeping husband.  She couldn’t be sure, of course, but she was fairly convinced that he’d spent the previous evening with another of his conquests.  Mainly because, when he’d returned home, he’d made no effort to try to wake her as she pretended sleep, which doubtless meant he’d managed to work his wiles on some other poor bitch.  Not that Coral minded too much, because it kept him from inflicting himself on her.  And it also made it less likely that he’d realise she’d already been ‘serviced’ that night, and by a far better lover than he could hope to be.  The man she was fast falling from lust into love with.

Chapter 23

Nick smirked evilly, sitting on the edge of the bed as he looked at Billie’s stricken expression.

 

“Well, this is an interesting turn of events.”  He said quietly, almost gently, but Billie wasn’t fooled.

 

“It’s none of your business.”  She snapped, shuffling backward in the bed until she hit the far edge then sliding out, pulling the sheet with her.

 

“Oh, I dunno.”  Nick grinned, a nasty grin that Billie didn’t like at all.  “Seems to me that it’s something should be public knowledge.  I mean, I’m sure his wife will be very interested to know he has a grown-up son with another woman.  Sure his kids will be interested to meet their big brother, too.”

 

“You sonofabitch!”  Billie wrapped herself in the sheet.  “This has nothing to do with you, or anyone else, Nick!  You have no right to ruin Jon’s life!”

 

“Hey, I’m not the one who fucked him.”  He protested, mock innocent.  “I’m not the one that had his brat.”

 

“Fuck you.”  She spat, continuing flatly.  “And the horse you rode in on.”

 

Nick looked at her calmly, speculatively.  Something told him that, despite her blustering defiance, Billie would walk barefoot on hot coals to protect her son and his father, and the possibilities intrigued him.

 

He was honest enough - with himself at least - to acknowledge that part of his sudden interest was to do with Billie putting him down so effectively.  And the desire burning through him now had less to do with sexual attraction than with a darker desire.  The desire to take this beautiful, wilful woman and break her.  To debase her purely for his own pleasure.  To take advantage of the power he had over her to exploit and explore every dark, dirty little fantasy he’d ever had.

 

Billie suppressed a shudder of fear at the expression on Nick’s face.  She wasn’t sure what, or how, but every instinct she had in her was screaming that she had some serious trouble coming her way.

 

“So let me get this straight.”  Nick said, his tone soothing, but his face and words anything but.  “Jon Bon Jovi is Jay’s father - now, don’t try to deny it - and he never even knew?”

 

“That’s right.”  Billie said reluctantly, but with a sudden flash of hope that her fears were groundless.  Sadly, she was wrong.

 

“And nobody but the two of you knows now?”

 

“Nobody.”  Billie whispered.  Not strictly true, of course, but there was no need to drag Richie into this, too.

 

“And you’re trying to keep it quiet?”

 

Billie just nodded, and Nick smirked in delight.  Perfect.

 

“Okay, so just how bad do you want to keep it quiet?” 

 

The frown on Billie’s face betrayed her confusion, so Nick was a bit more direct.

 

“What are you willing to do to keep this quiet?”

 

“Whatever I have to.”  Billie said honestly, then regretted the words the instant she saw the wolfish grin.

 

“God, I hoped you’d say that.”  Nick grinned, beginning to unbutton his shirt again.

 

“What the hell are you doing?”  Billie yelped as Nick dropped his shirt and went for the button of his jeans.

 

“More what you’re gonna be doing.”  He smirked evilly.  “You did say you’d do whatever you had to.  So you have a very simple choice to make, Billie.  Either you do exactly - exactly - what I want, or I call a very close friend of mine at the Philly Inquirer.”

 

For long minutes, Billie just stood, the sheet clutched protectively around her body as she tried to think.  Tried to think of a way out of this.  If Nick went to the media, even if Jon and she both denied it, the seed would have been sown.  Once the words were spoken - or printed - they couldn’t ever be taken back, and she could clearly imagine the pain which would be caused to so many innocent parties if Nick went ahead with his threat.

 

Nick waited for a few minutes, then sighed as though he was being forced to act against his will, reaching down to pull his cellphone from his jeans pocket, punching a speed dial and raising the phone to his ear.

 

“Hello?  Mikey?”  His eyes were fixed on Billie as his friend answered that of course it was him, who the hell else would it be?  “Hey, buddy.  I just thought I’d give you a heads-up.  You know that young kid on the team?  One that got hurt?  Yeah, that’s right, Kelsall.  Jay.”

 

“Okay.”  Billie whispered, looking like she was about to throw up, her hands white-knuckled on the sheet.  “Okay.  Whatever you want, Nick.”

 

He grinned, speaking into the phone again.  “Yeah, that’s right.  Just thought I’d let you know he got out of the hospital.  Looks like he’s gonna be just fine.”  A pause.  “Yeah, that’s all.  Why?  Oh, you’d heard already?  Ah, well, I been busy and forgot to call ya.  Yeah, okay.  I’ll see ya.”

 

Closing the phone, he was still gazing at Billie as he laid it down, trying to decide where he wanted to start with this exciting prospect of exploring his darker side.

 

“Lose the sheet.”  He muttered in a low, harsh voice.  “And come over here.  Now.”

 

 

Across town, in his apartment, Jay was enjoying Kadie’s company.  Neither of them was in the mood to go out on the town, so they’d ordered pizza and sat on the living room floor to eat it, washing it down with cold beer.  Now they were sitting close together on the floor, leaning against one of the couches as they kissed, learning each other’s taste for the first time.  After kissing each other breathless, it was Jay who drew back, looking at Kadie with longing.  And uncertainty.

 

“What’s wrong?”  She asked softly, reaching to touch his cheekbone with a fingertip.  “Jay?”

 

“I……….”  He flushed slightly.  How the hell was a guy supposed to say this?  “I just didn’t know if you wanted……..I mean, if we were going too fast or……umm……”

 

Kadie frowned.  She liked him.  A lot.  And she thought he liked her equally.  Something wasn’t making sense here.

 

“Not going too fast for me.”  She assured him.  “Or do you mean you don’t want to……don’t want me?”

 

“Oh, hell no!”  Jay blurted.  Shit.  Seemed like he’d just have to bite the bullet and say it.  “It’s just…….I……well……”  He lowered his gaze, picking up his beer bottle from the floor and fidgeting with it nervously, picking at the label then smoothing it down.  If he only knew it, yet another habit he’d inherited from his father.

 

“Talk to me.”  Kadie said, rubbing her palm on his knee.  It almost seemed like he was trying to tell her……but he couldn’t be!  Not possible.  Was it?

 

Jay screwed up his courage, raising his eyes to hers again. 

 

“Kadie, I haven’t…….I mean I’ve never……well, I……….umm………..ah, shit.”  He grinned crookedly.  “What I’m trying to say is I’ve never…..been with a girl before…..I’m still…..”

 

“Really?”  Kadie was shocked.  And turned on.  She’d never been with a virgin before.  “You’re…..you’re a virgin?”

 

“Yeah.”  He blushed brighter.  “Sorry.”

 

“What in the hell are you sorry for?”  Kadie asked, twisting onto her knees to face him fully. 

 

“For never having…….for not knowing……”

 

“Oh, Jay!”  She smiled tenderly, reaching to stroke his face.  “Do you want to?”  She didn’t let him answer.  “Because I want you.”

 

“You do?”

 

“Oh, yeah.”  Kadie moved across to straddle his knees, one hand sliding up his thigh to his crotch, gently caressing what she found there.  “I want you, Jay.  Do you want me?”

 

“Jesus, yes!”  He groaned at the feel of her hand on his crotch, the warmth of her palm through the denim a tantalising hint of the delights he could expect.  “I wanted you the minute I opened my eyes in the hospital and saw you, Karenza Desiree.”

 

Kadie gave a tiny shiver.  Normally she pretty much hated her full name, but in his voice…….

 

“Where’s your bedroom?”  She asked softly, rising to her feet and holding out a hand.

 

Nerves warring with growing arousal, Jay stood and took her hand, leading her through the apartment and into his bedroom.

Chapter 22

They headed back to the hotel with Nick again holding Billie’s hand in the crook of his arm, their conversation continuing to flow comfortably as they walked.

 

In the hotel lobby, they headed for the elevators, Billie punching the button for the fourth floor as they stepped into the mirrored enclosure.  Once the doors were closed, Nick raised a hand to gently sweep her hair back, then after a pause he leaned in, kissing her tenderly. 

 

Unlike the night before, Billie let herself relax into the kiss, letting her instincts rule, opening her mouth under the sweeping caress of Nick’s tongue over her lips.  A slow, deep kiss took them to the fourth floor, and they drew apart slowly as the doors pinged open.  Billie smiled at Nick as he let her ease off the wall of the elevator, walking down the hallway to her room, and he just followed her, a pleasant tension at his groin already.

 

Billie slid the card key into the door, wondering how good an idea this really was.  Sure, Nick was attractive and interested, but his kiss, while enjoyable enough, didn’t light the fire in her blood that Jon had been able to with just a simple brush of his lips.  And, dammit, why did she have to keep comparing every man to him?  She thought she was over that, but since she’d been around him again, it all seemed to have come flooding back, confusing her thoughts with images of him as he’d been back then.  Pushing the thoughts away as she pushed the door, Billie turned to Nick with a smile.  Damn it all, but he was here and he wanted her and, well, dammit but she was a little drunk and a lot horny, and it had been a while since she’d had a man make love to her.  No matter how independent she tried to be, no battery powered toy could give the same satisfaction as the real thing.

 

Nick recognised the quality of her smile, the definite acceptance of what they were doing - or about to do - and he grinned back at her, pushing the door shut behind him and following her into the suite.

 

They kissed again in the small living room area, Nick now allowing himself to run his hands around onto her ass, squeezing the tight globes in his palms, feeling Billie’s hands in his hair.  His dick was rising fast, hardening to full, aching erection as Billie brought her hands around to his shirt front, unbuttoning so she could get her hands inside, stroking across to caress his nipples.

 

He pulled at the straps of the cami she wore - black this time - until he bared a breast, leaning to kiss the already taut nipple, delighted to find that the fullness he’d seen in her chest the previous night was nothing to do with padding and all to do with a delightfully mature woman.

 

“You’re beautiful.”  He whispered, well versed in knowing the right things to say, cupping her breast in his hand as he suckled lightly on her nipple.  “So beautiful.”

 

Despite herself, Billie had closed her eyes, picturing a different head buried against her chest, feeling a different mouth teasing her nipple, and the resultant arousal had her wet so fast that she pulled Nick’s head up.

 

“Through here.”  She murmured, leading him to the bedroom, her top still hanging down to expose one breast.

 

In the bedroom, Nick took off his shirt as Billie drew the cami up and over her head, then by a mutual consent they both stripped completely before getting into the bed, Nick pulling her close to kiss again. 

 

Already, he was so hard he just wanted to lose himself in her hot, wet body, and he edged a hand down between her thighs, touching and testing, finding her soaked and congratulating himself silently on how badly she wanted him.  Billie gasped as he stroked around her clit, a brief caress only before his fingers moved further, sliding his middle finger into her with little other preliminary.  Nick gave a soft groan at how tight she was around his finger, knowing how delicious it was going to feel when she was wrapped around his dick, and he drew his hand back, nudging a second finger into Billie on his next stroke.

 

Feeling traitorous, Billie closed her eyes again, conjuring images of Jon in her bed, not Nick, arousing herself in a way that Nick just didn’t seem able to do.  She knew he felt it, and believed it was for him, when he kissed her again, hungrier now, the heat of his erection pressing against her thighs as he moved against her.

 

“Nick……”  She pulled away.  “Do you have……?”

 

“Uh, yeah, hold on……”

 

He moved away from her, reaching over the edge of the bed to his jeans, pulling out his wallet and extracting a condom from the back.  Ripping open the foil, he covered himself, the pressure of the latex on his skin raising his arousal even higher as he moved back to Billie, laying himself between her thighs now.  Billie felt him reach between them, grasping his dick and pressing the head into her, and she spread her thighs wider, letting him move into her.

 

Sliding slowly into her, Nick groaned in pleasure.  She was just as tight as he’d hoped, her body clenching around him, then relaxing slowly to accept his penetration.

 

“Jesus, Billie…….”  He groaned, thrusting slowly again, feeling her hands on his face as she pulled him down to kiss, her thighs closing around his hips.

 

Under Nick on the bed, Billie kissed him, her arousal growing slowly as he thrust rhythmically into her, bringing her gradually toward orgasm, his hand on her breast.  She was still on that slow climb, though, as his motion above her - in her - changed, his thrusts becoming shorter and faster, his hips driving hard now as he reached his own climax, pumping against her with a hoarse cry of pleasure before slowly slumping down onto her, panting in the aftermath of orgasm.  Slowly, she stroked the back of his head soothingly, her own body still hungry for completion which it didn’t seem would be forthcoming.  At least not from Nick.

 

After a few minutes, he withdrew from her, rolling to the side of the bed and looking around.

 

“Bathroom?”  He said with a tender smile, clearly unaware of how one-sided the pleasure had been.

 

“Through there.”  Billie said, smiling back at him when she felt like yelling in frustration. 

 

She should’ve known better.  As usual, a handsome guy was thinking that he didn’t need to work to get a girl off - that his looks and toned body would be enough to make her climax.  She’d known one beautiful man, though, who had taken pains to make sure she came as often as possible, driving her into screaming abandon in so many different locations - the haybarn, the kitchen table, the bathroom - that she couldn’t remember them all. 

 

When Nick returned from the bathroom, though, none of her thoughts showed in her face as Billie smiled at him, and he came across to the bed with a satisfied grin, leaning down to kiss her before glancing at his watch.

 

“I should probably go.”  He said, and Billie looked up at him in surprise at his sudden coldness.  She knew damned well that he’d found the satisfaction that had been denied her, and it was suddenly clear that this had been all he wanted.  A quick roll in the hay - probably more desirable because of her brief refusal - and he was moving on.  Irritation - and a little bit of hurt - made her smile at him.

 

“Okay, then.”  She said with a poisonously sweet smile, watching as he reached for his jeans, then speaking again.  “I guess I have to finish things off alone, huh?”

 

“You…….what?”  He blinked in shock.  This was a first.  Okay, perhaps he was peripherally aware that his bed partners didn’t always get the same satisfaction he did, but this was the first time one of them had called him out on it.

 

“S’okay.”  Billie said, keeping the sweet smile in place.  “I’ll maybe see you around…….”

 

“Yeah, whatever.”  Nick spat, angry now at her attitude.  Dammit, he was good in bed!  His wife never complained at any rate.

 

As Billie sat under the covers, silently watching him, Nick dressed and pulled on his shoes, searching for his wallet and finding it next to the bedside table, leaning down to snatch it up.  Straightening, his eyes lit on the framed picture of Billie and Jay, then his attention was caught by another photograph underneath it and he frowned, glancing from the obviously old photograph to the framed one above.

 

“What the……?”  He picked up both photographs, looking from one to the other again, and Billie paled.

 

“I thought you had to leave?”  She said, reaching quickly for the photographs, but Nick moved back, studying the two pictures again before looking at her in shock.

 

“Jesus!  They’re…….Jay is the boss’s son?”

 

“No!  He……..I…….”  Billie stuttered to a halt, worried by the smirk that spread across Nick’s face.

 

“So much for the perfect fucking rockstar.”  He sneered, and Billie had to wonder if he’d had some kind of run-in with Jon in the past, with the venom in his tone.  “A secret bastard son that he’s kept hidden all this time.”

 

“Don’t you dare call my son a bastard!”  Billie snapped, rising to her knees and snatching the photographs back from Nick, anger making her careless.  “And Jon never knew….”

 

She squeezed her eyes shut as Nick’s grin just got broader.

 

“So Jay is his son.  Well, well, well……..”