Other Skills Needed

At the Skills Challenge, JC did his best to protect his sunburn with long sleeves and jeans. He felt like crap and spent as much as possible out of the sun, drinking water. He was only too aware of Clare’s watchful eyes and Tiny’s concerned glances. How could he have been so stupid as to fall asleep and get so badly sunburned? He lamented not for the first time. He was disappointing his fans with a poor performance. But more importantly to his personal life, he was disappointing and worrying Clare.

“Tiny,” Clare murmured to the big man who was very protective of JC. From what she had seen, Tiny would look after JC without being paid to do so; there was a genuine affection between the men. “He looks so pale. I think he may be truly sick…”

“Yeah, I see that, Clare.”

“How do we get him to stop?”

Tiny grinned. “If nothing else, I can get a hold of his bony, white ass and force him to.”

They shared a laugh. It quickly turned into concern when JC stumbled into the tent where they had taken refuge from the sun and fell into a chair. “JC!” they cried at the same time and moved to his side.

JC looked up at Lonnie in a panic. “I’m gonna puke, dude,” he mumbled, sending Tiny for an empty ice bucket. JC retched, losing his lunch.

Clare was there was there with a cool damp cloth. She wiped his face and held his head as he continued to be sick. “JC, you need a doctor. This has passed what I can do.”

“My legs feel like water balloons,” he muttered.

“That’s it!” Clare put her hands on her slender hips. “You’re going to see a doctor.”

Karen Chasez came into the tent, concerned when she had seen her sun run from the competition. She heard the young woman’s declaration. “And if she can’t make you, I will.”

JC looked up to see the two blonde females in his life in similar stances looking down at him. His mother was tiny and Clare was delicately built – and they were threatening him? If he weren’t so sick, it would have been laughable. “I am so scared of you two,” he snorted.

“You should be, Chasez,” Clare quipped.

“And just why is that?”

Clare smiled at Tiny and then batted her eyelashes at JC. “He’s on our side – and can haul your ‘bony white ass’ anywhere we tell him to,” she said brightly.

The big black man laughed. “She’s got you there.”

“Mom, meet Clare. Clare, meet my mother.” JC made brief introductions before passing out.

After examining JC, the doctor motioned to the three of his entourage to follow him into the hall. The concierge had summoned him to the hotel. “I’ve given him something for the pain and swelling. Whoever was pumping water into him, insisting on him taking cooling baths, and using the aloe kept it from progressing into full-blown sun-poisoning,” the doctor told them quietly.

“That would’ve been Clare,” Tiny offered. “She nursed JC though the night.”

“Well, young lady, you saved him a trip to the hospital – and since he says he doesn’t like needles, I doubt IV’s would not be his cup of tea either.”

Lonnie laughed and Clare shrugged uncomfortably. “I just wanted to help him.”

“And I would say you did just that. He should rest as much as possible, stay out of the sun, and keep drinking water. Keep that aloe going.”

All three nodded. “He has appearances tonight…” Tiny pointed out.

“No alcohol and don’t let him stay out too late.” Smiling at Clare, the doctor said, “I believe he is in good hands.”

Karen stepped forward. “Thank you for coming, doctor,” she said. “Tiny will see you out.”

Once the two men departed, Karen led Clare back into JC’s room. He was asleep on his stomach, giving his sore back a rest. “He appears to be sleeping comfortably.”

“I’m glad,” Clare said. This was awkward. She’d never met the mother of one of her lovers before. She didn’t know the protocol.

“JC has told me a little about you,” Karen stated. “Not much. A ‘tough little cookie in a girlie-girl package’, I believe he said.”

“I…umm…he only told me he was close to his family.”

The older woman smiled. “I would bet he was saving you for the holidays.”

“Holidays?”

“Family holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

Clare was stunned. “Ohh…”

“I am sure our families can share you two.”

“Share? Mrs. Chasez, I was a foster kid. I had six families; I wasn’t close to any of them.”

Karen frowned. “That’s too bad.”

“I know nothing about your family holidays. We’ve never discussed it.”

“You will.” Karen was certain. She went over to the bed. She stroked back the tumble of curls from JC’s forehead. “Josh, I’m leaving. You’re in good hands.”

He smiled drowsily, his eyes seeking Clare. “The best. Mom, Clare. Clare, Mom.”

“You already introduced us,” Karen reminded him.

“Yeah? Well, that’s my honey girl.” He smiled again. “She’s my angel.”

“Am not!” Clare protested.

“Are too!” JC taunted. “I think she’ll be a great mom – like my mom.”

“JC!” Clare objected.

“I am going to see what mischief your father and brother have gotten into while I was gone. You rest up and follow doctor’s orders.”

“Thanks, Mom. Bye.”

“From what I hear all that thanks goes to Clare.”

“Don’t get me started. Clare doesn’t take that kinda praise graciously,” he snorted.

“If he needs anything, have Tiny call us.” Karen gave Clare a brief hug, startling the young woman. “Thank you, Clare. I hope to see you again.” Then she left.

“Yay, Clare! Mom approves.” He lifted his hand. “C’mere.”

“JC, you need rest.”

“I’ll rest. I just want you next to me.”

“For a little while. I need to go to my room—“

“Please, move in here.” His voice held a little-boy plea.

Clare wasn’t about to argue. “Okay.”

“Come here.”

Cautiously she lay next to him. He laid an arm across her midsection to hold her. “The doc was impressed by my nurse. He said it could have been worse.” He shuddered. “It could have involved needles.”

“Glad I was here to help.”

“Help? You saved me from needles! You made sure I didn’t have to bawl like a baby with pain.”

“JC, if you insist on talking, I’ll leave. You need to rest if you plan to go to put in an appearance at the club tonight.”

He sighed wearily. “At least, I have an excuse to duck out at a decent time.”

Clare pressed a fingertip to his lips. “Sleep.”

Clare faced another night on JC’s arm where fans could access them. It wasn’t something she was comfortable with. She had always been invisible in her work – a voice on the telephone, an email or electronic fax. Now people were curious about her. Who was she? What was she doing with JC? It was different from premiers, where his fans were behind ropes – or a chance encounter at a store with one fan. They were all around here.

JC reached over to smooth the frown line between Clare’s brows. “You’re gonna get your first wrinkle there,” he teased quietly. She smiled helplessly. He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “I love my honey girl.”

“You’re fans are going to think I’m a snob or something.” A number of them had approached the couple. Clare had stepped away, knowing JC was the one they wanted to see.

Clare wouldn’t be the first of his girlfriends to suffer that fate. “You aren’t a snob. This is all new to you. Once you aren’t so overwhelmed, you’ll be fine.”

Leaving the subject behind, she touched his forehead. “Your color is better.”

“You mean I am no longer a greenish-white beneath fire engine red?” He grinned down at her.

“You feel better, too.”

“Yes, I do. Thank you very much, Miss Clare.”

“The doctor is the one who made you feel better.”

“He made sure I’m not in too much pain. My beautiful Clare is the one who took care of me.”

There was a burst of raucous laughter and they look towards that group. “Justin’s having a good time.” JC stared into his glass of ginger ale.

Reading his thoughts, Clare leaned close to whisper, “We don’t need alcohol to have a good time, darling.”

He smiled appreciatively. “But you are a sweet, amorous thing when you’re tipsy.”

“JC!” she protested with a laugh.

“But then you’re pretty damn frisky without being tipsy.”

“Uh-huh.” Her soft, sexy laugh was good to hear.

“You two not mingling?” Lance asked as he stopped beside them.

“Saving my energy for tomorrow,” JC answered.

“And for Clare?” the blonde asked wickedly.

“Uh-uh, Mr. Bass…I’m the good girl you’ve read about but have never met,” Clare quipped. JC was glad he hadn’t taken a swallow from his glass. He would have choked. She had been an invitation to sin almost from their first meeting! “Besides…it’s hard to do the big nasty when your partner resembles a boiled lobster.”

Lance chuckled at the dismay on JC’s face. “Way to go, C!” JC merely growled.

Once Lance strolled away, JC set his glass down. “Honey, this med makes me kinda buzzed. Wanna call it a night?”

“Certainly.” Clare put her glass on the nearest table and signaled Tiny. “Let’s go to the hotel.”

Once at the hotel, the three rode to their floor on the elevator.

“I wonder how many fans hate me for this,” JC mumbled.

“For being human? I should hope none of them,” Clare told him.

“I’ve made a mess out of things this year.”

”Surely, you don’t believe people think you deliberately got a horrible sunburn!”

“You don’t know the half of it, Clare,” Tiny interjected.

“That’s…that’s…that’s…just plain wrong!” she sputtered.

“Nice to know I have a loyal supporter in you, honey.” JC smiled.

“Any real fan would understand,” she assured him. “And those who don’t…well, I hope they get a blistering sunburn that makes them miserable.”

JC looked to Tiny, who was grinning broadly. “She’s kinda cute when she gets all protective, isn’t she?”

The doors sliding open saved Tiny from having to comment. He walked the couple to their room.

“We’re in for the night, dude,” JC told the other man as he opened the room he now shared with Clare.

“Good night, Tiny. Thank you for all your help today,” Clare said.

“Glad to help. Night.” The big man moved away once two stepped into their room.

“How do you feel?” Clare asked JC when the door closed. “Honestly.”

“Better. A lot better. You don’t have to worry, babe. I’ll be fine.”

Clare walked over to the bed, kicking her shoes off as she went. “You want the bathroom first?”

JC moved behind her, his hands on her waist. What I really want—“ He nuzzled her neck.

“Isn’t on the menu tonight, buster.” She moved away from him.

“Come here, Clare.” He snagged her wrist and tugged her to him.

“You do look better.” She peered up at him through her dark lashes. In fact, he looked damn good. “You know we shouldn’t…”

“Kiss?”

“It gets other things started.”

“Good things.” He reached for the back zipper of her dress and lowered it. Her little dress sagged from her breasts.

“Wonderful things.” She slid her hands beneath his tee-shirt. His skin was no longer super-heated.

Lowering his head, JC closed his mouth over hers. Immediately, she opened to the probe of his tongue. As their mouths mated, he pushed the dress from her body, leaving a thong as her only garment. His lips left hers to slash across her cheek to her ear. “Say yes, Clare,” he urged before he nibbled his way down her throat. He took the soft mewling sound she made as an affirmative. His mouth traveled down the slope of one breast to capture the begging nipple. She gasped when he licked and suckled it to pebble hardness.

“Not fair. You’re still dressed…” She complained breathlessly.

“By all means. Let’s be fair.” He released her to toss off his clothes. As he did, he watched her turn down the bedding. He couldn’t recall a sexier, more erotic scene than his beautiful Clare doing something as mundane as preparing the bed dressed in only a pale pink thong. Stripped naked, he climbed onto he mattress. “Now you’re the one who is over dressed.”

She giggled at that comment. “Hardly.”

Hooking an index finger on either side of the thong, he peeled the remaining barrier from her body. Cupping her breasts, he took turns teasing first one, then the other nipple into tight buds. Clare’s legs went weak and he hauled her into bed with him. He laid her back as he kissed her again and again. Her hands fisted into his hair as she pressed up against him. “I love you, Clare,” JC whispered as he bit lightly at her neck. “Being without you these weeks…And I don’t mean the sex…” His tongue danced down her body.

“Uh-uh, lover.” The hands in his hair tugged upward. “That’s not the way the first time is going to be, remember?”

“I love the taste of you…”

Clare gave her head a little shake, so he moved back up her torso. A little moan escaped her lips when his fingers stroked her intimately. “JC…”

“You’re so wet and ready,” he murmured with a wicked smile.

Her hand sought his thick manhood, rubbing the pearl of moisture that escaped from the very tip around the silky head. His pleasured groan was her reward. “You’re hard, hot and ready.”

“So ready, honey.”

“Then come love me, darling.” She urged him over her. Slowly, he pushed into her, letting them enjoy every inch of their joining. Once he was buried to the hilt, he held himself still above her. Their eyes met and they read each other’s souls. She reached up to pull him into a lingering kiss.

“Baby…” JC felt so connected…

Clare nudged her hips up to coax him to move. He began with slow, measured strokes, wringing out every drop of pleasure from each movement. Her fingernails dug into his taut buttocks as the tension built within her. No longer holding back, their hips pounded into the others as she rose to meet his thrusts. “Oh…JC…This…I tried to convince myself it couldn’t be this good…”

“It’s way better than good, Clare.” He felt her walls begin to quiver and clench. “Take us there, Clare. Take me with you!”

Bowstring tight, she didn’t think her body could withstand the pressure without breaking – And break she did. Her consciousness shattered into to tiny shards of ecstasy as she shook beneath him. “Jay-cee!” she cried out.

He watched in awe as she flew apart. A brief moment later he was following her into the white heat of rapture. “Oh, God, Clare!” They held on to each other as they floated back to earth on a downy cloud of bliss. “Hot damn!” JC panted as he dropped his head to her shoulder.

“I concur.” Clare nuzzled his damp hair. When he tried to lift off of her, she murmured, “Please, stay a while longer.”

He was about to remind her he was heavier, but the plea in her eyes forestalled that. “Far be it from me to argue when I like it right here.” Her smile had a new kind of glow to it. He was at a loss to explain it.

“I love you,” she said, quietly, firmly. “Do you know what I’m learning about that?”

“What, honey?”

“You won’t laugh? It sounds sort of silly.”

“If I laugh at you, you can smack me on the back in revenge.”

She protested readily, “I would never do that to you!”

“Tell me, Clare.”

She smoothed and toyed with the damp curls on his forehead as she chose her words. “The more I say ‘I love you’, the easier it gets…and the easier it gets, the more certain I become that it is real.” She bit her bottom lip as she met his serious gaze. “I know. It sounds sort of dorky and mushy.”

“No, that sounded beautiful, Clare.”

“Sounds like a gooshy love song.”

“Hey, I write ‘gooshy’ love songs sometimes.”

She smiled. “Ones like that?”

“Maybe I will. Wanna co-write?”

“I’ll stick with computers, thank you. I’ll leave music making to you.” Clare lifted her mouth to his. They shared a long, leisurely kiss that had him growing and throbbing within her once more. “Ooh! Can you? I mean will it hurt you—”

“Clare, believe me, it’d hurt a lot more if we didn’t,” JC told her truthfully.

“Then, by all means, Chasez, put your back into it!” she ordered teasingly.