Life's A Beach

JC groaned happily as he woke to the feel of damp kisses on his chest. “Clare, baby, the feels so good…”

“You just lay back and let me do all the work,” she told him.

“Gladly.”

In an amazingly short time, he was completely naked. Clare led him in long, lingering, hot kisses. He had to force himself not to grab the reins of control when she began giving him a slow tongue bath, sucking on his toes and fingers as well. He squirmed and moaned under the tortuous lash of her tongue. Then her mouth finally zeroed in on his straining manhood. He released a pleasured sigh of relief, “Oh, honey girl…” He buried his fingers in her silky hair as her mouth worked magic on him. “Baby, I’m almost there!...” Her mouth moved faster and sucked harder. “Clare!” His back arched as he exploded forcefully. He shuddered as he came down from the high she’d sent him on. After a long moment, JC urged her back to his side. “Damn, that’s a mighty fine way to start the day!” He grinned as he rumpled her hair affectionately.

“Good morning, JC.”

“Morning, Clare. To what do I owe that wonderful treat?”

“Tonto.”

“Tonto?” He looked about the room. The dog wasn’t anywhere in sight.

“She wanted to go out and woke me. I came back to bed and you were tenting the sheet.”

“So you took it upon yourself to take down the Big Top?” he teased.

Clare snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Aww, c’mon, baby, leave a guy his ego.”

“I believe you have enough ego concerning your tent pole.”

Their eyes met, twinkling with mirth, and they both laughed. JC hugged her close. “So where is Tonto now?”

“I gave her one of her new toys. She decided to kill it this morning.”

“So, you’re getting used to the idea of a pet?”

“No, but I’m getting there.” Clare laid her head on his chest. “JC, are you still moving in?”

“Still want me to?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m moving in. Probably a little at a time, but I’ll spend my nights here.”

“More like your mornings.”

“The recording is winding down. I’ll be done soon.”

She propped her chin up on his chest. “Then what?”

“I’ll have some promotional appearances…Do some benefits I’d planned.” He smoothed a hand over her sleep-mused hair. “But first I’m gonna spend some quality time with my honey girl.”

“I believe she’ll like that.”

“I know I will.” With his hands wrapped around her skull, he urged her up into a lingering kiss. “Will she have some extra time to spend with me?”

“Just give me some warning and I’ll make sure I do.” She gave him a quick kiss. “You stay here and get some rest.”

“Where’re you going?” he demanded when she left the bed.

“Downstairs.”

“Then I’ll get up.”

“Nonsense. You didn’t get in until this morning. You need more sleep.”

“But, Clare…” he protested.

“What?”

“I didn’t make love to you.”

She gave him a brilliant smile. “There’s always tonight.”

When JC woke for the day, he found Clare and Tonto in her office. The dog lifted her head and wagged her tail in greeting. The woman, however, wasn’t as attentive. He bent to kiss her ear and whisper, “Good afternoon, honey.”

Clare turned and smiled. “Give me five minutes and I can break for lunch.”

“Sure thing. Does it bother you if I watch?”

“Nope.”

Standing over one shoulder, JC was amazed that she could make heads or tails out of all the letters, numbers and symbols on the screen. He wanted to ask what she was working on, but he wasn’t liable to understand anyway. Only moments later, she hit ‘save’ and turned back to him. “Computers are fascinating,” he told her as she stood up and stretched.

“Yes they are and rather taken for granted.” Looping her arm through his, she led him to the kitchen. “What would you like for lunch?”

He shrugged. “Breakfast?”

“An omelet? Western?”

“Sounds great.” He wondered if Clare realized how domesticated she was, almost wifely – and that had been since morning one. As she stood at the stove, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. “How does the rest of your day look?”

“I have a couple more hours to put in on this project, then I’m finished for the week actually.”

“Cool. Don’t suppose you’d come to the studio later.”

Remembering the first time she visited him, she grinned. “Want me to bring Chinese?”

He chuckled. “Uh…no, just your sweet self and maybe Tonto. I want you to see what I do.”

“I saw the Celebrity Tour last year. I saw No Strings Attached, too.”

“An NSYNC fan?”

“Guilty as charged. But I have to admit my favorite was always the blue-eyed guy with brown hair,” she teased.

“Is he ever glad.”

Clare turned his omelet out on a plate. Much to her surprise, JC turned her around and kissed her soundly. “What was that for?”

“For being you. For being so honest.”

She shrugged. “Better eat before it gets cold.”

“JC, this time it’s the blonde and a red-head,” the guard said to worn JC of the impending invasion.

“Red-head?…Tonto!” he chuckled.

He was waiting at the door when Clare and Tonto arrived. “Hey, babe.” He kissed Clare and scruffed the dog affectionately.

“Hey, yourself, handsome. We’re ready to immerse ourselves in the knowledge of recording.”

“C’mon in.”

JC explained what they were doing that evening and Clare listened intently. Once he went into the soundproof booth, the sound engineer answered any questions she had. She was impressed at the amount of work it took to ‘lay down a track’. JC was always the perfectionist, wanting to get just the right sound he was looking for.

“Hey, JC,” the engineer called softly into the booth.

“Yeah?” JC looked up to see the man nod towards the chair where Clare had fallen asleep. “Dude, why didn’t you say something before?” Setting aside his earphones, he left the booth. “We’re calling it a night,” he informed the other man.

“She’s a smart little cookie, knows how to ask intelligent questions.”

JC smiled down at Clare. “Dawg, her IQ is probably higher than both of ours put together.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” The man departed.

JC knelt beside Clare’s chair. He touched her cheek lightly. “Honey, time to go home.”

Clare blinked then focused. “What time is it?”

“Past your bedtime.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep—“

“You aren’t used to these hours. It’s cool.”

She yawned. “Guess I should get Tonto and drive home…”

“I’ll drive. We’ll leave your car here and get it tomorrow.”

“Are you sure? I can drive.”

“Wouldn’t want you falling asleep on the way.”

She was too sleepy to argue. “Okay.”

Putting Tonto in the backseat and strapping Clare in next to him, JC headed towards the beach. Clare snuggled against him when his arm went around her shoulders. He had to smile; it just felt so right.

“JC?”

“Hmm?”

“What you do is very interesting.”

He was about to tease her about her falling asleep but decided against it. “I’m glad you think so, honey.”

“I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

“Like I said, it’s cool. It’s late for you, especially during the week.”

“Guess I’m not much of a party animal.”

“I don’t know. You caused quite a stir at the club that night.”

“I was only trying to stir one man,” she reminded him.

He grinned. “I have never been chased when I wanted to be caught so badly.”

Clare raised her mouth against the sensitive cord on the side of his neck and sucked lightly.

“Mmm…babe, you don’t seem like you’re sleepy anymore.”

She tugged his ear gently with her teeth. “My nap revived me. Do you mind?” she whispered.

A shiver ran through him at her warm breath in his ear. He dropped one hand to her knees. Sliding his fingers between her legs, he took her skirt along. She was already hot and humid between her thighs. Brazenly, she parted her legs even farther to allow him free rein. Flicking his long fingers against the center panel of her panties, he drew a soft purr of pleasure from her. “I wish that was my tongue,” he murmured as she arched into his hand.

“Me too.”

“Just a few minutes, honey.”

Clare reached down to pull the center of her underpants to one side to give him full access. Taking his hand, she used his fingers to stroke her feminine core. That was all the encouragement JC needed. His index finger found her and teased.

“Ahh!…Oh, JC…”

“Not quite my tongue, but it’ll do for now.” At a stoplight, he was able to concentrate more fully on her pleasure. With a knuckle, he rubbed her pleasure button as she bore down. “Yeah, that’s it, honey. Take what you need.”

“Jace!…”

He felt her walls grip his finger as love cream spilled over his hand. “And when we get home, I’ll clean you up.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

JC discovered he truly enjoyed beachside life. He could enjoy surfing once more since it was a private beach. Tonto loved fetching Frisbees and playing in the surf. And he could spend time with Clare when they weren’t working.

Their relationship had blossomed. She never said the L word. He realized it would be difficult for her to vocalize; still it was in everything she did, from the way they made love to making time to do the things he wanted to do. In bed, she was no less exciting, but no longer made it a competition. If he had a premiere or other event to attend, he could count on Clare to be at his side. They were becoming known as a couple and even though curious, the press for the largest part, left them alone.

Clare laughed as JC wiped out on his surfboard one more time and Tonto swam out to ‘rescue’ him. A moment later, JC was carrying the board to the beach with the dog by his side.

“Wipeout Chasez!” Clare taunted.

He gave her a sheepish grin. “Guess I’m a little rusty after hanging out in the studio for months.”

“I guess.” She looped a towel around his neck.

“Did you watch MMC?”

“Uh-huh.”

JC wrapped one arm around her waist as the made their way back towards the house. His surfboard was under the other arm and Tonto trotted just ahead of them. “And?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Sure I do.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Clare!”

She made a face at him. “I thought you were a dork and I had a major crush on Tony Lucca.”

He laughed. “I was a dork, but you crushin’ on Tony? So not cool.”

“Sorry, Moondoggie, surfers didn’t do it for me.”

“Moondoggie? Baby, you are so not Gidget!” Gidget never filled out a swimsuit the way Clare did. Gidget couldn’t make her surfer boyfriend hot with one look.

“No, I was more like the bad girl who had more fun.”

“You weren’t a bad girl.” JC leaned his board against a deck post and brought Clare into the circle of his arms. “You were just looking for some affection,” he reminded her gently.

“I found it,” she whispered as she twined her arms about his neck. “In a surfer dude of all people.”

“He’s crazy about you.”

“Crazy for sure.”

Their lips melted together in an unhurried kiss of genuine affection.

“You taste salty,” she remarked.

“Why don’t we hose off Tonto, then you can help me get the salty taste off.”

‘Hosing off Tonto’ ended up being a water fight. Once convinced that the salt water and sand had been rinsed from the dog’s fur, Clare turned the hose on JC. Swearing revenge, he gave chase. Being agile and swift of foot, she avoided capture and continued to spray him.

“Dammit, Clare!” He laughed. “Just you wait.”

“I’m just trying to get the salt off of you,” she announced as she dodged him one more time.

Tonto joined in by barking merrily at the two crazy people, clearly not caring who was winning.

Taking a different approach, JC grabbed the hose and began reeling it in – along with Clare.

“Hey! No fair!” she protested.

“All’s fair, baby,” he taunted. Just before she was within his reach, she blasted him full in the face, making him drop the hose. “Why you little—“ he growled.

“Ah-ah-ah. No name calling.”

Once more, he got a hold of the hose. This time, instead of pulling it in a little at a time, he jerked hard, surprising Clare. The nozzle went flying from her hands. She held her hands out in appeasement. “You wouldn’t do that to me, would you?” she asked sweetly when the sprayer was in his hands.

“Would I do that to my baby girl?” He smiled indulgently. “Damn straight I would!” He turned to hose on her. Clare squealed and darted away. JC wielded the hose as relentlessly as she had. “Give up?” he demanded.

“Never!” Well, never didn’t last too long. Breathless from running and laughing, she finally called, “Uncle!”

Eyeing her suspiciously, he asked, “For real?”

She nodded. “I surrender.”

“How come I don’t trust you?”

Fluttering her eyelashes innocently, she shrugged. “I don’t know.”

With the nozzle in his hand, JC walked over to the spigot and turned the water off. “That settles that.”

In a surprise move, Clare moved behind him, putting her arms around his waist. Her mouth ran between his shoulder blades. “You don’t taste salty anymore.”

“Does that mean we can’t take a shower together?”

“We can if you still want to.”

Lifting her hands to his lips, he kissed her palms. “Let me put Tonto in the front yard so she can dry off and I’ll meet you in the shower.”

When JC rounded the back of the house, he heard water running in the under-deck shower. “Start without me?” he called as he stepped into the part of the enclosure were the bench and towels were. He shed his trunks.

“Just my hair!” Clare called back.

Stepping into the wooden shower stall, he took in the sight of his honey girl. Her glorious hair was slicked back from the water. Her eyelashes were dark and spiky around her big brown eyes. Lower her sweet breasts, the pink nipples were puckered and beaded from the less that hot water. Religious with sunscreen, she had only the faintest tan where her swimsuits didn’t cover her body. The water had flattened her downy curls below…

“JC?” Clare noted as he gazed at her, he was becoming more aroused.

“You’re so beautiful…” He stepped closer, cupping her face in her hands. “Some days I can’t believe I’m with you, that I have the pleasure of waking next to you in the morning.”

The old Clare would’ve had a smart remark or a blatantly sexual retort. The new Clare who knew affection and fidelity from this man couldn’t respond so blithely. “The feeling goes both ways.” Her eyelashes fluttered shut as his head lowered. His kiss was tender and reverent as a prayer.

“I love you, Clare,” he murmured when he raised his head. He was pleased to see no panic or disbelief in her eyes. She accepted his truth though she couldn’t say the words yet. He smiled and dropped a kiss on her nose. “Let’s get this shower started, shall we?”

She’d never had to share shower space with anyone, let alone a male someone. The stall wasn’t large and every time she bumped into him, his manhood brushed against her. It made her incredibly hot and horny. “Are you doing that on purpose?”

“Doing what?” he asked, unaware of doing anything.

“Poking me.”

“Poking?…” He grinned when it dawned on him what she meant. “I’m sorry, honey. It’s saluting your naked beauty. No, I am not doing it deliberately.”

Despite the grin, he sounded sincere enough. “Okay…”

“Babe, do you want me to wash your back?” he offered.

“Please.” She gave him the sponge with a smile. “And scrub.” He used firm strokes. “Mmm…maybe you should wash my back more often.”

“It’d be my pleasure.”

“Now. Let me do yours.” She took the sponge and plied it to his back.

“Definitely we need to share hygiene more often.”

“I never thought of it. I have that monster bathroom…I guess I always thought of it as private space.”

“It’s up to you, Clare.”

“JC, turn around.”

He turned to see the heat in her eyes. She took a step backwards, her back against the wooden side of the stall. “Clare?”

“Make love to me.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?” She looked down at his raging arousal. “You look able enough.”

“You accuse me of ‘poking’ you and now you’re the one who wants to do the nasty?”

“Uh-huh.”

Taking her hand, he drew her away from the wall and into his arms. “As long as it’s what you want.”

“It is.”

His mouth came down on hers, hungry and hot. Her arms went around his neck, opening herself to his caresses. His hands went to cup her breasts, teasing her nipples with his thumbs. He traced the contours of her body lightly with his fingertips, causing her to tremble.

“JC, please…”

“You’re so beautiful, Clare,” he whispered against her neck. “That you’re mine…It just blows my mind.”

She was his…the thought startled Clare. She did more than care for him – she’d given him her heart! When had that happened?

“Babe, you still want this?” JC felt compelled to ask when she grew pensive.

At her new realization, she smiled up at him. “More than ever.”

With that, he lifted her against the wall and eased into her hot core.

“Mmm…I love this part,” she purred. “When you feel so big and wonderful.”

He could have sworn it was the first time she had ever used ‘love’ since he had know her! Instead of a fast, rough ride, JC slowly and tenderly drove them to peak, prolonging the time they were joined. Clare’s soft cries of completion echoed in his ears as he took his own pleasure. Releasing her, he made certain to protect her from the rough wood at her back.

After a long moment to recover, she declared, “This definitely has possibilities.” She turned off the taps. Stepping out of the shower, she wrapped herself in a towel. “Race you to the bedroom!”

JC lost the race but didn’t much care. They tumbled onto the bed and made love the rest of the afternoon.