The Dream Begins
Johnny had managed to get Amelia a tentative record deal. Their company was willing to back her, provided the group would let her ride with them on their European tour. All of them agreed, Amelia was worth it. JC realized Europe would fall in love with her. She would have to stay behind and cultivate her fan-base – just as *NSYNC had.
His heart felt like a lead weight in his chest as he headed for the studio to give Amelia her good news.
Amelia worked with Wade to perfect moves for the European tour. When JC entered the studio, she caught his eye in the mirror and winked as she continued to dance.
“You go it,” Wade announced. “I’m no longer needed here.”
“Wade, you’re always needed,” Amelia reassured him with a smile.
“Later.” Even Wade knew what was coming and departed the room.
JC waited until he was alone with Amelia. He gave her a sad smile.
Amelia wondered why he looked so lost. She went to him to hug his middle. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“Nothing,” he whispered against her hair.
“Tell me another one. You look like you lost your best friend.”
“I just may.”
But he had told her, she was his best friend. She looked into his beautiful eyes. My, God, he looks ready to cry! she thought. “What is it, Josh?” she demanded.
“It’s great news for you. Jive is willing to deal after they see you in action on the tour.”
Amelia’s first reaction to his words was elation – she was on her way! But her next thought was of JC. He wasn’t happy for her.
He tried to smile for her. “The performer and producer in me are jumping for joy for you, Ami,” he told her. “You deserve the best shot we can give you. I’ll see that every thing that can happen will happen for you, baby.”
“But Josh, the guy?…”
“He’s bleedin’, Ami. He knows that this is your big break and he’ll lose you.”
“No.”
“Yes. I’ve been there. You’ll stay in Europe for a while. Then you’ll come back to the states and tour until you don’t know where home is. And when you aren’t touring, you’ll be making appearances and working in the studio – and be working on the next tour.” He gazed down at her, those dark-eyes of hers were so earnest. “It’s craziness, Ami. Every day. You won’t have time for anything else.”
Her little chin firmed. “Then I won’t do it.”
“You will do it,” he told her sternly. “If I have to drag you out on the stage every night, you will do it. I’m not letting you pass up your opportunity because of me. I won’t be the ‘what if’ part of your life.”
“The kind of life you’re describing is not one I want.”
He shook his head. “It’s all part of the work, baby.”
Amelia pulled away, putting her back to him for a moment. Whatever decision she made, she would be impacting JC negatively. It wasn’t fair. Why should her dream come true at his expense? He had to be wrong. She would prove him wrong.
She swung back to face him, looking more determined that ever. “You won’t lose me, Josh, because I don’t want to lose you.”
He pulled her close. “We can hold each other as long as we can, Ami. Then I’ll let you go.”
JC watched as Amelia took off her microphone gear and passed it to a stage assistant. Every inch a lady, she thanked the woman with a smile. He pretty much figured Amelia could be in ten worlds of hurt and still be polite. Her Southern Belle grandmother had ingrained it into her grandchild as a very young age. Amelia respected everyone around her, from the janitor to the gaffers to the executives. He appreciated that about her.
Of course, there was a lot to appreciate about the petite singer. The coffee colored hair that reached the middle of her back was an erotic pleasure. Her big, dark brown eyes, he could drown in those. She was small, only five-two. Getting her start in the business as a backup singer and dancer for other acts, she had a dancer’s grace and energy. Her voice could seduce, make you cry or bring a smile to your face, depending on the song.
When Johnny had introduced her to the guys of *NSYNC for a possible video, Amelia had been a raw talent. She had worked hard, as hard as he had in the beginning – as hard as he still worked now. But he was no novice; he had the means to help her dreams come true. After some heavy talking, she was slated as one of opening acts for the European leg of the tour.
Amelia squinted to see beyond the lights of the stage to see JC watching her. It still amazed her out of all the women who pursued him almost daily, he had zeroed in on her. With his chiseled good looks, he could be with a new girl everyday. She’d asked him once what had first attracted him. His first answer was a grinning leer, then she smacked him playfully. “No need to get rough!” he’d laughed. Then in all seriousness, he’d said, “You’re unshakable belief in yourself.”
“Hey, handsome!” she called as she moved to the stairs leading off the stage.
Before she reached the bottom, JC had lifted her so her legs went around his waist and her arms around his neck. “Hey, brown-eyes.”
“What brings you here?”
“Wanted to see my favorite girl singer-slash-dancer rehearse.”
“And?”
“You know you’re fantastic.”
Many things separated Amelia from the current bevy of ‘girl singers’ out there besides her sheer talent. She wasn’t blonde for one thing – bottled or otherwise. She was dark and exotic next to them. Her wardrobe choices were another. No see-through tops or revealing clothes for this girl. “My voice is on showcase, not my body parts,” she had told a wardrobe person that suggested a change. “If they come to see a peep-show, they’re out of luck.”
“It’s nice to get someone’s opinion, Josh.”
“I think you’re perfect.”
“The performance, Chasez.”
“I think your performance is fantastic. They won’t know what hit ‘em.”
“It’s nice to hear you say so. I respect your opinion.” She asked huskily, “Aren’t I getting heavy?”
“Nope. You don’t weigh anything. And I’m thinking this stance has possibilities.”
“If we were alone and naked,” she retorted boldly.
JC had to laugh at that. Amelia was so up-front, nothing phony or coy about her. “So what are your plans for tonight, Miss Parker?”
“Depends. If my boyfriend has the night off, we’ll probably make wild, passionate love.
If not, then I’ll take a nice, long bath and paint my toenails.”
“Your boyfriend has the night off,” he told her, brushing his mouth over her lips.
“Oh, goodie! Guess my toenails will have to wait.”
There was another thing that separated her from much of the pack. Other girl singers liked to talk about living a pure life and semi-preaching. All the while, they were swearing like sailors and dressing in clothes that left their innocence in doubt. Amelia kept herself and her personal life covered. Her religious convictions were her own. She didn’t pretend to be a goodie-two-shoes. Foul language wasn’t lady-like. And she had lost her claim to virginity the first time she said ‘yes’ to JC.
“Well, baby girl, where would you like to go tonight?”
“My place.”
JC eased her legs from around him, leaning forward until her feet touched the floor. His mouth came down on hers in a sweet kiss. “About an hour?”
“Sure. I’ll make dinner.”
Driving out to Amelia’s JC thought back to the first time he’d seen her. Dressed in a red leotard, out of all the other girls in the studio, his eyes went to her immediately. Her talent, beauty, and grace captured and kept his attention. It hadn’t hurt she was totally unimpressed by him or his fame.
When they had done the video shoot, it was the first time he’d seen her hair down. He’d never seen hair that long look so silky and inviting. He hadn’t been able to resist stroking its length. She had turned to see who was behind her. She flashed that killer smile of hers and melted him on the spot. Then bold as brass, she turned and kissed him full on the mouth. “Now, both of us have satisfied our curiosity,” she had said and tried to walk away. He hadn’t let her. “No,” she had said to his attempt to hold her. “You’re seeing someone,” she had reminded him and then walked away.
That relationship died quickly when JC discovered the more he saw Amelia, the more he fell in love with their new protégé. He’d broken off with his girlfriend and pursued Amelia until she was his.
“You’re late, Chasez,” Amelia taunted when he arrived.
“I got carried away at the florist.” He presented her with a large bouquet of mostly wild flowers. He discovered early on she wasn’t a ‘roses’ kind of girl.
“Oh, baby, thank you!” She gave him a hard kiss. “I’ll go put them in water.”
He trailed her to the kitchen. He noticed she’d been a busy girl, getting ready to make his favorite stir-fry. She hadn’t started heating the wok yet – and that gave him ideas.
“Know what I’m really hungry for?” he murmured against her neck as she tried to arrange the flowers in a vase.
“I have a pretty good idea.” She could feel his hardness pressing against her. He knew all the ways to make her weak. In fact, she had to grip the sink edge to prevent her knees from buckling when he nibbled her ear.
“Ami, it’s been weeks since we’ve been together. You’ve been working so hard getting ready for the tour. I’ve been gone all over the place and—“ JC cut off on a groan as one small, sure hand reached back to give him a gentle squeeze.
I don’t recall asking for a schedule run-down.”
Turning her to face him, his mouth came down hungrily on hers, his tongue mating with hers. He drank in her little moans of pleasure as he slid his hands beneath her tank top to stroke the silken flesh over her ribs. “Baby, tell me I can have what I want,” he commanded as he nipped lightly down her throat.
“Oh, yes, Josh!”
That’s all he needed to hear. He swept her up and carried her to her bedroom. He was pleased to note she’d had no delusions on how the evening would end. The bedcovers had been pulled back.
“You were ready for me,” he said, setting her to her feet.
“I think I was born ready for you.” She slid her hands beneath his shirt helping him strip it off.
JC grabbed the hem of her top and pulled it over her head.
Amelia’s hands were at the fastenings of his jeans. The snap popped easily and the zipper hissed, glad to be relieved of the pressure of his arousal. “Somebody missed me,” she teased as she shoved his jeans down.
“I more than miss you, baby,” he murmured as he made quick work of her jeans. “I feel lost without you.”
“You call everyday,” she reminded him. “We’ve even had cyber-sex a couple of times.”
“It’s not the same.”
Amelia sat on the bed to finish the job of removing her jeans, then slid to her knees in front of him. She tugged at the waistband of his sport-shorts until his throbbing manhood was unleashed. “That can’t be comfortable.”
In spite of himself, JC laughed. “It isn’t.”
Noticing her struggle to divest him of the remaining garments, he muttered, “The shoes, Ami. You always forget the shoes.” Assisting her, he raised one foot then the other, allowing her to remove footwear and clothes.
Amelia sat back with a sigh, admiring the sheer male beauty of her lover. He wasn’t a hulking male. JC was all whipcord lean and sculpted muscle from years of athletic dancing – and very, very aroused.
“I wish I could paint," she said wistfully. “You’re beautiful.”
Gazing down at her, sitting there in her silky red bra and panties, he thought she was a vision that needed to be immortalized on canvas. “C’mere, Ami.”
“Uh-uh.” She took his hands, guiding him to sit on the edge of the bed. Kneeling between his feet, she reached up to join him in a long, slow building kiss. When she finally tore her mouth from his, she nibbled kisses down his throat. The pulse beat just above his lion medallion was doing double time. Her sucking on that spot increased the speed.
“Ami, I don’t need to be seduced. I think you’ve noticed I’m beyond that point,” he told her in hopes of ending her sweet torture.
“Sorry,” she announced, not sounding the least bit sincere. Her tongue lapped at his nipples, making him moan. “I haven’t tasted you in weeks as you pointed out earlier.”
“Just remember, paybacks are a bitch.”
“You aren’t enjoying this?”
“I am, baby.”
“Want me to give you a tongue bath?”
What prolonged agony that would be! “No, baby.”
“You sure?”
“Quit teasing.” He brought her head up for another kiss, burying his hands in her glorious hair. “Come here,” he commanded.
“No.”
“Ami…Damn!” he groaned when she bent her head to lick the sensitive underside of his hard member. She knew exactly what he wanted. Her talented little tongue flitted over his sacs. “Sweet, baby,” he purred.
Amelia took him into her mouth, swirling her tongue around the head as she sucked.
“That’s it, baby girl. You do that so good,” JC encouraged her as she pleasured him. He held the head that bobbed up and down. As much as he felt the need to thrust his hips up and make her deep throat him, he didn’t dare. She was still new to love making and gagging her would be the quickest way to end her willingness to do this at all. “Oh, baby, yeah…that’s so good…Ami!” He blasted his essence down her throat and she swallowed it all.
Amelia licked the remaining droplets from the tip, then rested her head against his ridged stomach.
“You are so amazing,” he whispered, nuzzling the top of her head. “Now. Come here.”
This time, she allowed herself to be lifted onto his thighs.
JC laid her back on the bed. “Ami, you give me so much.” He stroked her hair. “All your sweetness. All your enthusiasm. Everything you are.”
“You give that all to me, Josh.” She brushed a stray lock of his slightly wild hair back from his eyes. At first, she hadn’t liked his ‘new look’, the long hair and the strip of chin hair. But this look was growing on her. In fact, he liked to tickle her with his chin hair and make her giggle. That thought brought a smile to her face.
“That's my sweet baby girl.” He loved it when she smiled her big, bright, sunny smile; it was contagious. He started placing damp opened-mouthed kisses down her neck to her shoulder. When he encountered the strap of her bra, he muttered, “This has to go.” Reaching behind her, he unfastened it and tossed it aside.
Amelia’s breasts were not large. In keeping with her small stature, they were small ivory and rose mounds, but he found nothing lacking in her. He teased and suckled each sweet bud until she was squirming and arching into him for something more.
“Josh, please—“
“Nope. Remember, paybacks are a bitch.”
“I gave you what you wanted,” she protested.
“After you made me crazy.” One hand slipped beneath the waistband of her panties and sought her treasure. “Jesus, Ami! You are so wet!”
She lifted her hips to meet his hand. “Josh…”
“Easy, baby. We’ll get there,” he crooned softly.
Moving his mouth lower, he skimmed it over her ribs and belly, stopping to tickle her navel with his chin strip. His reward was a tiny giggle. When her panties interfered, he stripped them away. He knew Amelia usually resisted this part, but she loved the end result. “C’mon, baby girl,” he urged softly, running his tongue between her thighs. “Open up for me. You know you want my mouth there.”
“Josh—“
He gently opened her legs, moving his shoulders between them. He parted her delicate folds with his tongue.
“Josh!”
“Mmm…you must’ve gotten sweeter, Ami.” JC feasted on her until her pleasure button appeared. He flicked his tongue around it.
“Oh, baby, yes!” she cried when he sucked gently on her. “Josh!”
“Come fly for me. You know I love it when you do,” he coaxed.
Amelia reached down and speared her fingers through his hair. “Now, Josh!…Please, now!”
He continued teasing with his tongue until he felt her body tense and her back arch up, reaching for the pleasure that was just seconds away.
“Ah! Oh, Josh!—” Amelia sobbed and shook with the force of the rapture he always gave her.
Lapping up her offering, he sent her up one more time.
“Josh!”
Kissing his way back up her body, he slid his hot length into her still trembling walls. He pumped slowly into her.
She gasped when he drove in harder, the way she liked it. “Ah, Josh!…I’m—“
“We’re going together this time, Ami. C’mon, baby girl, take me with you!” he urged.
“Josh! Ahh!”
Amelia’s rapture triggered his.
“Damn, baby!”
For a moment, he collapsed on her, then he rolled to his back, taking her with him. She rested her head on his chest as he stroked her hair, soothing her.
“Josh, if this gets any better, I’ll die from it,” she whispered breathlessly.
“No, you won’t,” he chuckled. “I’ve never heard of anyone our age dying from fantastic lovemaking.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“You know, Ami, I don’t know how I ever got you into bed. Some times you’re such a little prude — Ow!”
Irritated by being called a ‘prude’, Amelia retaliated by twisting some available chest hair. “You ‘got me into bed’ as you so charmingly put it, because you said you loved me,” she reminded him.
He gave her a bone-melting smile. “I do love you, Ami. It’s just the last thing you need to worry about when we make love is being a lady. I like it when my girl goes wild. It let’s me know I’m doing it right for her.”
“Old habits die hard, Josh. If I didn’t love you so much, you never would have ‘gotten me into bed'.”
The fact she had come to him at all still amazed him. Arrogantly, he hadn’t been used to having to work so hard at it anymore. The fact she had held him off made him realize it was a lasting love, not hormonal interlude.
Lifting her head, she grinned down at him. “We never did get dinner,” she reminded him.
Grinning back, he told her, “We just got our dessert first.”