TWENTY-SIX

“So far nothing new, huh?”

Cate glanced sideways to see Jon mimicking her, his pinky and thumb extended from his closed fist next to his ear.  His nose wrinkled and his lip curled as he mimed with silent sarcasm her end of the telephone conversation.

Holding her iPhone against her ear as she listened to Santo’s continued narrative, Cate turned her face toward her smartass husband.   She stuck out her tongue before giving him a little scowl.

Jon mirrored her action, shooting her a displeased pout of his own before his lips relaxed into a smirk.  He was positive from Cate’s reaction that he had successfully telegraphed his impatience.  He turned his face forward and closed his eyes, settling back against the plush cushion of his poolside chaise.  Jon let out an exaggerated sigh, reminding his wife she was supposed to be relaxing with him.

“Hmm.  He’s not staying at the usual place?  Well that’s interesting.  Something worth exploring.” 

Cate reached absent-mindedly for her drink, which she had earlier set on the low table that sat between her lounge chair and Jon’s.  Her fingers closed around the plastic tumbler, then lifted it to her lips.  She grimaced at the taste of the tepid, watered-down remains of her limeade.  Disregarding her thirst, Cate dropped the tumbler to the concrete beside her chair.

“Who’s the on-call agent?  Silvio?”  Cate nodded at her partner’s affirmative answer.  “Good.  He’s wired in better than anybody down there.  See what he can get from his contacts.  The second Cupid steps out the front door Silvio should be able to tell you where he’s headed.”

Jon chortled softly at Cate’s directive.  She sounded like a she was spouting off dialogue in some spy movie, though Jon knew better.  This was definitely real; his wife had checked in on her case at least twice a day since they arrived in Saint Barthelemy three days ago. 

Still, Cate’s use of the target’s code name made Jon smirk.  He knew his wife was being cautious with her words, not just for his sake but because she was on an easily-intercepted personal phone.  Operational and communications security were second nature for Cate, even with regard to her personal life.  It was a behavior that Jon both understood and appreciated, but it also drove him a little crazy.

“Depends.  The price of sugar cane has gone through the roof lately.  Supply and demand.”

With a little snort and another impatient sigh Jon heaved himself up from his recline and swung his legs over the side of the chaise.  He leaned forward to pick up Cate’s discarded beverage from the ground before standing and retrieving his own empty glass from the table.  Jon paused to let his gaze wander over Cate’s sunkissed body, delightfully displayed by her skimpy turquoise bikini.

Jon chuckled again as he turned to shuffle toward the wet bar at the back of the villa’s spacious lanai.  “Like living with a fucking Bond Girl,” he mumbled amusedly to himself.  

Reaching the bar, he set the plastic tumblers on the teak counter before rounding it to open the cooler.  His train of thought still rolling, Jon grinned as he continued to talk to himself.  “Pussy Galore.  No…. Holly Goodhead.”  Jon snickered dirtily as he pulled a pitcher from the refrigerator.  “Oh yeah…”

Lost in his silly reverie, Jon refilled Cate’s glass with fresh limeade before pouring himself a generous mojito.  He was still grinning when he returned to his and Cate’s poolside repose, just in time to hear her wrapping up her conversation.

“Good work, Gus.  Keep me posted.  And if Cupid does something crazy, goes off the grid or something, call me immediately.”  Cate paused for a moment, nodding as her young partner offered his reply.  “Sure.  If you can’t talk, just text me the code, then call when you can.”

She looked up at Jon as he paused beside her chair, leaning to set her fresh drink on the table.  Cate gave her husband a smile of thanks as she nodded in response to the voice in her ear. 

“Yep.  Uh huh… Yeah.  You got it covered.”  Cate nodded again at Jon’s lowered chin, wordlessly acknowledging his demand for her attention.  She held up a hand, one finger extended in a “just a second” gesture.  “Great.  Just keep doing what you’re doing.”  Cate’s smile broadened with satisfaction.  “Seriously, Gus.  You’re doing great work there.  Just remember your training, follow your gut.  Good job.”

Jon couldn’t stop the curve of his lips when he heard Cate praise her young partner.   He waved his hand impatiently at his wife, circling his wrist in the “wrap it up” signal.  She nodded again in response to his prod.

“Alright.  Talk to you soon.  Be safe.”  Cate lowered the phone from her ear and tapped the screen, then peered up at her husband.  “Sheesh, Mister Impatient.  Surprised you still have your pants on.”  Cate rolled her eyes with her sarcastic taunt.

“Brought you a refill.”  Jon ignored Cate’s snark and gestured toward the tumbler on the table.  He took a step back and lowered himself onto the edge of his chaise, at the same time taking a sip from his drink.

Cate smiled gratefully.  “Thank you, Baby.  I’m parched.”  She reached for the beverage, first dropping her phone onto the low table.  With a little sigh of relief she raised the tumbler and took a long drink.  “Mmmm…” she hummed as she savored the sweet-tart chill in her throat.

Jon grinned, seeing his chance.  With a swift lean he snatched Cate’s phone from the table and pulled it back to his chest.  “AHA!  No more calls for you today, SpyGirl.  You’re off the clock.”

Cate squeaked at his bold declaration, swallowing her limeade with an audible gulp before being able to protest.  “Hey! Gimme back my phone!”  She quickly set her limeade on the deck before holding out her hand to punctuate her demand. 

“Jon… Give it here.”

Jon grinned and swung his feet up onto his lounge chair.  “Nuh uh.  You’re on vacation.  No more work.”  He dropped Cate’s phone beside his thigh, making his body a barrier between his wife and her enabling device.

“Jon…”  Cate’s tone was a warning.  “Give me back my phone.”

“Nope.”

“JON…”

Jon shook his head vigorously, his sandy shag flying with the movement.  “No fucking way.  You’re on vacation, Cate.  Let Santo handle whatever-the-fuck is going on.  You said it yourself, he’s doing fine.  If he gets in a jam he can call the Duty Agent.”

Cate swung her legs over the edge of her chair and sat up, facing Jon.  She gave him a serious look.  “He’s doing great, but it’s still my case.  My responsibility.  Vacation or no.”  She held out her hand again, palm up.  “Give it.”

“No.”  Jon smirked at her serious tone.  To underscore his disobedience he extended his arm, holding Cate’s phone further away from his body and from her.

“John Francis Bongiovi…”

Jon snorted a laugh at Cate’s stern invocation of his given name.  He waved her iPhone in his extended hand, taunting her.  “You want it?  Come and get it.”  He gave his wife a cheeky grin.

“Okay, now you’re asking for it,” Cate growled a warning as she stood, though she couldn’t stop a smirk from curving her lips.  She knew she was reacting exactly as Jon hoped, in response to his gleeful bait.  He wanted her full attention, and he was about to get it. 

"Oh yeah?  What're you gonna do about it?" Jon taunted.

"Don't make me brachial-stun your ass," Cate snarled playfully.  She stepped close to Jon's chair and braced a knee on its edge, next to his hip.  She leaned over his midsection, reaching toward his outstretched hand.

Jon grinned and dropped his hand lower, making Cate stretch further.  "You can't. I'm not in the right position."

"I know a hundred other ways to hurt you," she countered.  Cate planted a hand against Jon's bare chest and swung a leg across his hips.  She settled on her knees, pinning him to the chair with her straddle and her hand.

"So far, so good." Jon grinned lecherously and raised his arm above his head, making Cate lean forward with her stretch of pursuit.  He chortled as her minimally-covered breasts hovered near his face.

“Dammit, Jon!” Cate’s swear was softened by her throaty chortle as she felt his free hand curve over her behind and squeeze.  She purposely dropped her chest onto Jon’s face as she lunged forward toward his outstretched hand. 

Cate smiled at Jon’s muffled groan of content as her fingers closed around her phone, prying it from his grasp.  Immediately he pulled his arm back in close to his body, resting his hand beside its twin on Cate’s derriere. 

“I oughta smother you to death, you Pain in the Ass.” Cate rubbed her chest against Jon’s face with her threat.  A little charge tingled through her when she felt Jon’s soft lips suck at the side of her breast.  His stifled nod of agreement made her chuckle.

“Mmmmfff… Wudda wah tuh guh…”  Jon’s reply was almost unintelligible, murmured against her flesh.  But his playful tone communicated that he was fine with Cate’s suggestion.  He sucked a little harder, then groaned disappointedly when Cate raised her chest from his face and levered herself upright. 

Cate smirked down at her husband from her perch astride his hips before smugly raising her phone.  She swiped and tapped at the screen, making a show out of checking her emails in defiance of his earlier order.

“Thought I told you you’re not working anymore.  You’re supposed to be relaxing, spending time with your wonderful husband.”

Cate arched a brow at Jon’s petulant tone.  “It was just a phone call, Jon.  And it was only like, ten minutes.”  She sighed half-apologetically.  “Gus is a smart guy, but he’s a Rookie.  He needs a little positive reinforcement, that he’s doing the right thing.”

“So ‘reinforce’ him, then tell him you’re busy.”

“But I wasn’t busy.  I was laying here by the pool, reading a book.”

Jon smirked.  “Yeah, so why did you tell him you were just sitting around the ‘hotel room’, waiting for me to come back from a run?”

Cate smiled sheepishly as Jon pointed out her fib.  “Because… I didn’t want him to know you could hear my end of the conversation, okay?  Technically, I shouldn’t be discussing any of this in front of you.”

“And you didn’t want to tell him you were sunning yourself poolside on a Caribbean island, looking out over the ocean and sipping fruity drinks and barely wearing this sexy little number?”  Jon grinned and tugged at the silver ring adorning the side of Cate’s skimpy bikini bottom.

“NO,” she admitted with a chuckle.  “Not exactly an appropriate discussion for a Training Officer to have with her Probie, now is it?”  Cate poked at Jon’s belly with a gentle finger, making him squirm.  “Besides, I didn’t want to make the Kid feel bad, that he’s working while I’m lounging around in Paradise with a Rock Star.”

Jon snorted.  “Ain’t he in Miami, following your Goombah?”

“I can’t tell you that.”  Cate shook her head slowly as she smirked, silently confirming his query.  She knew Jon couldn’t quash his curiosity about her case.  He had obviously listened closely enough to her several conversations with Santo to put the pieces together.

“So he’s probably sitting by a pool right now, himself. Probably wearing some dorky flowery shirt and maybe one of those straw Panama hats, hiding behind his shades while he scopes out the tits and ass instead of keeping an eye on your fuckwad of a target.”  Jon grinned at the idea.  “Rough duty.”

“He was on a break, in his room.  And work is work, Baby.  Doesn’t matter how warm and sunny it is or how exotic the scenery.”  Cate smiled and gave Jon another little tickle, dragging her fingertips along the ridges of his abdomen.  Again he flinched at her gentle touch.

“Yeah, well.  You’re not working any more today.”  Jon reached again to commandeer Cate’s iPhone from her grasp.  She relinquished the device without resistance and watched passively as he set it on the table next to his drink.

Cate’s gaze dropped to the thick sheaf of papers resting on the deck beside the table.  Her lips curved into a defiant smirk as she watched the bent top pages stir in the light tropical breeze. 

“I’m not the only one who spent part of this afternoon working, you know.” She tipped her head toward the manuscript as she returned her glittering blue-eyed gaze to Jon’s face.

“That’s not technically work.  I was reading.”  Jon rested his hand on Cate’s hip, tracing a fingertip idly around the silver ring on her bikini bottom.

“You were reading your script.”

“Yeah, so?  Reading is reading.  Not working.”

“Not when you’re getting paid to read it.  And don’t tell me you weren’t working on memorizing your lines.” 

“I wasn’t running lines.”  Jon smugly avoided her question, parsing the phrase to change its meaning.

Cate noticed.  “But you were memorizing them.”

Jon chortled at Cate’s persistent argument.  “Baby, we haven’t even had a table read yet.  What good would it do me to memorize a script that’s gonna change?”

Cate’s smile gentled as she decided to let her playful challenge drop.  She lowered her gaze to her hand, watching her fingertips trace along the fuzzy stripe below Jon’s navel.  “When do you start shooting?”

“We have read-through and production meetings second week of January.  That’s when we get the shooting schedule.”

“And you have a lot of scenes?”

“Yeah, quite a few.  My character is gonna have a pretty big story arc.  So I guess l’m gonna have quite a few days on set.”

“What about the studio?”

Jon shrugged.  “We’ll just have to hold off on demos and tracks until I have a few days to kill.  And I’ll write in my trailer, like I usually do.  Richie’s busy, anyway.  It ain’t gonna be easy to get in the same room with him for the next few months.”  He smiled and gave Cate’s hip a gentle squeeze.  “But at least I’ll be around home a lot, get to spend more time with my Girl.”

“Well, hopefully.”  Cate sighed wistfully.  “I may not be home much myself.  I’m not real sure what office I’m gonna be working out of, the way this case is going…”

 “You won’t be in Manhattan?”

“Probably not.”

“Okay, so Newark, maybe Trenton?  Trenton would kinda suck, but it ain’t that bad a drive.”  Jon paused, reading his wife’s expression.  “Cate, you’re not gonna have to go…?”  He frowned when he saw her flinch in response to his half-verbalized thought.  “Aw, shit.  Seriously?”

“He’s unpredictable.  Hell, we didn’t know he was heading to…” Cate caught herself before revealing her target’s current location. “… To where he is now, until he booked the ticket the night before.”

“You said this case wouldn’t have a lot of ops.”  Jon’s voice was calm, but held a hint of accusation.

“It’s become something more than we thought it was.  Way bigger.  More crimes in more places.”  Cate’s tone gentled.  “This is what I do, Jon.  You know that.  Besides, trips won’t all be for operations.  There are going to be meetings, attorney briefings in other prosecutive jurisdictions.  Hell, before we’re done we’ll probably have a Task Force.”

“You know I don’t like it, Cate.  You being out there.”  Jon’s lips pressed into a sober line as his hand slid across her belly. “But I guess it won’t be for much longer.”

“Why not?”

“Because.  Pretty soon you’ll be busy, getting ready to be a Mama.”

Cate’s smile faded.  “What does that have to do with my case?  I can still work while I’m pregnant.  Women do it all the time.  It’s not a disability, Jon.”

“Cate, you can’t seriously…”  Jon paused and took a breath, knowing he had better choose his words carefully.  “Baby… with all we’re going through to get pregnant, do you really think you should take any more… risks… than necessary?”

Cate sighed softly as she brushed away a stab of annoyance.  They were back to the same old song, different verse.   She knew her husband understood and respected her dedication to her career, but he also hated the realities of her investigative duties.  Jon’s worry for her safety was simultaneously comforting and frustrating.

Since the day they married he had subtly hinted that she should resign.  When she had been attacked during a field operation while he was on tour, he had vehemently insisted she quit.  Cate had stood resolute against Jon’s pleas and his demands, not willing or able to give up her life’s work.  She knew he understood why, for they were two of a kind in that respect.

But he wasn’t one to give up easily.

“Jon, you know I wouldn’t intentionally put myself in harm’s way.  No good agent ever does, without careful planning and thoughtful precaution.  That won’t change when I’m pregnant.”   Cate covered his hand with hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.   “Besides, Baby… This is a financial crimes case.  It’s not like I’ll be out playing Jack Bauer, chasing down terrorists with dirty bombs and killer germs.” 

She paused until she saw his little smile of amusement at her analogy.  “Baby, you know I’m careful.  Frankly, there’s a better chance of me falling off a curb or some stupid clumsy thing like that than there is of me getting hurt on duty.”

Jon shrugged, his gaze falling to her hand over his.  He watched the diamond on her ring finger sparkle in the soft late-afternoon light.  “I know.  I just… Well, maybe you’ll feel differently in a few months.”

Cate’s heart melted at her husband’s doleful sentiment.  “You mean when I’m waddling around, all fat and sweaty?” she teased gently.

Jon raised his eyes to hers and smiled.  “When you’re beautiful and glowing,” he corrected her.  “And when you feel our little one growing inside you.  Moving around, kicking…”  He tilted his head and gave Cate a long look.  “Just think about it, okay?”

“Jon, I can’t wait to feel like that.  But I have no intention of quitting my job to have a baby.”  Cate smiled half-apologetically.  “I’ll take a lot of maternity leave, but I’ll go back to work.”

Seeing the resolve in Cate’s sapphire gaze, Jon swallowed his argument.  He knew there was no point in trying to convince her now.  He would wait until he had biology on his side, until maternal hormones and instinct were his strong ally.  Eventually he would convince her, once their dream was almost a reality.

He shrugged and gave Cate a resigned smile.  “Okay.  No more work-talk today.   Deal?”

Cate nodded and leaned forward to slide her lips across his in a grateful kiss.  “Agreed.”  She gave her husband an affectionate grin before settling back onto his lap.

“So, I’m thinking tonight we go to The Strand for dinner.  Then maybe hit Nikki Beach for a few drinks, a little dancing?” 

Cate giggled softly at Jon’s suggestion.  “Dancing, huh?  It’s been a long time since we’ve done the club scene.”

“Yeah, well… what the fuck?  It’s not like we gotta get up early tomorrow, right?”  Jon grinned.  “I feel like gettin’ my groove on.” 

“Sounds good to me.”  Cate pushed an errant strand of copper hair back behind her ear.  “Aren’t we supposed to have dinner with Ron and Anna tomorrow night?”

Jon nodded.  “They invited us to stay on the yacht for their New Year’s Eve party, too, if you want to.”

Cate shrugged.  “I guess so.  You’d know more about their yacht parties than I.”  Jon and Dorothea had been frequent guests at the annual festivities during their marriage, but Cate had yet to attend one of the legendarily lavish parties.

“Actually, I was thinking maybe we’d have our own celebration,” Jon replied gently.  “We have something on our calendar already, remember?”

Cate’s smile gentled.  “You mean the pregnancy test.  Baby, that will only take a few minutes.  Hardly an ‘event’.”

“But our celebration afterwards will be an event.”  Jon grinned as he rubbed his palm gently over Cate’s abdomen, her hand riding lightly on his.  “Actually, I wanted to ask you… have you decided?  Do you want to stay here through New Year’s?”  They had purposely left their vacation plans open-ended.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Cate replied with a little shrug.  “I guess so, if you want to.  There are a lot of people down here right now.”

Jon chuckled, understanding the subtext of her comment.  “Yeah, this is the celebrity haven this time of year.  But that works in our favor.  Distracts the paparazzi from us, the boring old Bongiovis.  There are plenty of young studs and starlets here, partying it up and strutting around the beach, to keep ‘em busy.”

“But they know we’re here.”  Cate sighed.  She and Jon had already encountered more than a few photographers in their excursions around the island.  As always, Jon had been aloof but non-confrontational, allowing the paparazzi to get their snaps of him jogging, shopping, and sightseeing.  In return, the paps had maintained a respectful distance and not interfered with their activities. 

Cate was also certain at least a few photos of their afternoon on the beach had hit the celebrity tabloids and websites.  It was practically a tradition for pictures of Jon’s bared torso to hit the internet during the winter holiday.  Mindful of that fact, Cate had been careful to remain modestly covered during their beach outing.  She had little doubt there was a telephoto lens trained on them from some angle.

“I don’t think they’ll bother us.”  Jon turned his hand under Cate’s and twined his fingers between hers.  He gave her a little grin as he pulled her hand to his lips for a light kiss.  “But it’s up to you.  If you wanna stay, we stay.  If you wanna go back home for New Year’s, we can do that too.”

Cate smiled, her eyes gliding over her husband’s sunkissed torso and tousled blonde-tipped shag.  “Well, it is a hell of a lot warmer here than it is in Jersey…”

“And we can pick up a pregnancy test at the pharmacy…” Jon added in a soft, persuasive croon.  “So, whaddya say, Baby?  We kick off the New Year in paradise?”

“Sounds good to me.”

*****

Cate sighed contentedly and dropped her cheek against Jon’s shoulder as they swayed slowly to the music.  She felt his hand rub gently against her lower back, subtly acknowledging her affectionate gesture.

She smiled as she watched through half-meshed lashes the couples surrounding them on the dance floor.  Though Nikki Beach was known for its celebrity clientele, Jon’s appearance there always caused a buzz.  Over the past hour Cate had noticed a number of smart phones pointed discretely in their direction.  Jon had even posed for a few overt photos with clubgoers who were brave enough to approach him.

Cate’s gaze drifted beyond the dance floor to the bar as she and Jon continued their slow shuffle.  She spied a heavily-tanned blonde staring hungrily at Jon from her perch on a barstool.   It was apparent from the woman's expression that she wished Jon was alone.

Cate’s smile curled into a smug smirk as she raised her head from Jon’s shoulder and brushed her lips across his.  He immediately responded, his mouth covering hers more fully in a tender, simmering kiss.

Yep, Sweetheart… and he’s all MINE, Cate thought evilly, sure the blonde was still staring.  She chortled softly as Jon’s lips stroked over hers.

“What’re you giggling about?” Jon’s murmur was low and sexy, his amusement evident.

“Mmmm…. nothing.  Just thinking how lucky I am.”

Jon chuckled throatily, dropping his forehead against Cate’s and giving her a knowing smirk.  “Showing off a little, are you?” 

“Just doing what every woman in this place wishes she could,” Cate answered coyly.  Her hand slipped down from its resting place on his back, to tuck into his back jeans pocket.

“You’re a baaaad Kitty,” Jon growled approvingly.  “Taunting all these poor girls.”

“Sometimes I just can’t help myself.  I can’t ignore their dirty looks all the time, you know.”

“Even though you know the truth?  That I’m no prize?  Just a gray-haired old pain in the ass?”

Cate giggled softly.  “Yeah.   But you’re still a pretty sexy pain in the ass.”

“Well, as long as you love me in spite of it.”  Jon rubbed his nose against Cate’s and gave her a grin.  “Wanna show off some more?”

“Maybe later.  I don’t want to cause a scene.”  Cate shrugged lightly.  “I’d rather not land us in the tabloids.  Besides…”  She shot a sideways glance toward the bar and saw that the blonde was still openly staring, her botoxed lips pursed into a displeased pout.  “Blondie over there got the point.”

Jon laughed, pulling his face back from Cate’s and shaking his head amusedly.  “Baby, she has no idea what she’s up against, fucking with you.”

Cate giggled and shrugged again.  “Nah.  Not like I’m worried.  Even if she tried something, I’d just stand back and let you deal with her.”

“Gee, thanks.”  Jon chortled his answer, then raised a brow as a new, more upbeat song faded in over the last notes of the slow ballad.  Automatically Cate stopped dancing and pulled back from his embrace, sure Jon would want to return to their table.

“Where you goin’, Baby?”  Jon grinned and tugged on her hand.  “I’m not done dancin' yet.”  He gave his hips a little shimmy, accentuating his protest.

Cate laughed at his playfulness.  “I just figured you’d only wanna stick to the slow stuff.  Since you’re an Old Guy, and all…”

“Oh no… I got moves.”  Jon gave his hips another wiggle in time with the beat.  “Not good ones, but who gives a fuck?  And besides… I like this song.  Yeah yeah yeah…”  He grinned through his singalong with the familiar tune.  “C’mon, now.”  Stepping back, he raised their joined hands, guiding Cate into a slow spin.

With another laugh Cate followed his guide, allowing Jon to lead her in a slow swing dance.  As she twirled and swayed her filmy skirt flowed around her legs and her thick auburn mane swung over her halter-bared back.  The sensual brush of the fabric and hair over her skin, the sexy croon and sultry beat of the song, and the affection in Jon’s sparkling blue eyes made her sigh happily.  It had been a long time since she felt so purely feminine.

As if reading her thoughts, Jon pulled Cate in close and circled his free arm around her waist.  He rubbed his soft cheek against hers as he crooned in her ear.

I don’t know what this is

But you got me good

Just like you knew you would

I don’t know what you do

But you do it well

I’m under your spell…

You got me beggin’ you for mercy

Why won’t you release me

You got me beggin’ you for mercy

Why won’t you release me…

“Mmmm… no fuckin’ way,” Cate purred playfully in response to Jon’s musical plea.

“Good,” Jon growled before stepping away from his wife.  He slipped his arm from her waist and twirled her again before giving his own little hip-shimmy.

Cate giggled playfully as Jon let go of her other hand and started to groove in a scaled-down version of his stage moves.  She followed along, swaying her own hips in time to the funky beat.  When Jon’s lips puckered into a Jaggeresque pout she burst into laughter, tossing her hair as she stepped aside to give him room to strut.

Ignoring the excited reaction of the other clubgoers to his moves, Jon turned back to Cate and gave her a saucy grin.  Again he captured her hand and pulled her in close, giving her a little kiss before stepping away to finish their swing-dance.

By the time the last chorus faded both Jon and Cate were grinning and laughing, fully enjoying the moment.  Jon wrapped Cate in an affectionate embrace and planted a playful kiss on her mouth before grimacing at the opening shout of the DJ’s next selection.

Shot through the heart

And you’re to blame

Darlin’, you give love

A Bad Name…

“Ohhhhh NO,” Jon grinned, shaking his head vigorously as the club erupted with the bombastic guitar blast of his first hit song.  “No WAY.”

Cate laughed, giving his waist a little squeeze.  “You mean you’re not gonna dance to your own song?”

“No fucking way.  Besides, I need a drink.”  Jon gave Cate a wink and a grin.  “C’mon.  Let’s go out to the beach.  Get one of those chairs on the sand.”  He tipped his head to the club’s lanai that opened to the white sand beach. 

“Okay.”  Cate nodded and followed Jon as he pushed through the now-crowded dance floor.  When they reached a clear space away from the crowd, Cate paused and tugged on Jon’s hand.  He leaned in close to hear her voice over the music and crowd noise.

“I need to stop at the ladies’ room.  You go ahead, get us a chair.  I’ll meet you out there.” 

Jon pulled back and gave Cate a reluctant look.  “I can wait for you.”

She shook her head.  “No, go on.  You hang around here and you’re gonna get mobbed, now that everybody knows you’re here.”  She gestured toward the beach, where a VIP section was clearly separated from the remaining club area.  “I’ll be there in a minute.”

“But Baby…”

“Jon, go.  I’m right behind you.”  Cate smiled and reached up to stroke his cheek, a gesture she knew always melted him.  “Want me to get you a drink on my way out?”

Jon shook his head.  “Naw, I’ll have the waitress bring something.  Don’t be long, okay?”  He leaned in to brush a kiss across her cheek.

“ ‘Kay.  Now go.”  Cate smiled as Jon gave her another reluctant gaze, then turned and wandered toward the beach.  Watching until he stepped on the sand, Cate turned and strode down the short hall to the women’s restroom.

After completing her business in the small, chicly-decorated lounge, Cate returned to the club.  She slipped through the crowd to the bar and stood for a moment at its end, until a bartender noticed her.  She placed her order, then glanced at the other patrons lining the long counter.  The blonde she had noticed earlier was still there, now craning her neck to see past the crowd on the dance floor. 

Cate rolled her eyes but said nothing; obviously the woman was looking for Jon on the beach.  With a little self-satisfied smirk Cate accepted her glass of seltzer with a lime twist from the bartender, tipped him, and turned away.  She moved slowly through the crowd, pausing to sip from her glass. 

In a minute she had stepped onto the sand and was strolling toward the VIP beach lounge, where a cluster of wide, white-cushioned chaises faced the ocean.  Beyond the sand the aquamarine water shimmered in the moonlight and reflected the winking stars in the cloudless sky.  The flames of dozens of tiki torches flickered like fireflies in the night, unnecessary for illumination under the huge full moon.

It was a vista made even more beautiful by the scenery upon which Cate’s gaze automatically settled.  She hesitated, wanting a solitary moment to appreciate what she was so lucky to call her own. 

As promised, Jon had secured a wide lounge chair for them to share.  While she was busy with her needs, he had made himself more comfortable.  Jon’s orange shirt lay draped across the foot of the chaise, and his suede moccasins lay askew on the sand next to the chair’s leg.

He was reclining on the thick cushion, his bare feet crossed at the ankles, exposed by the calf-high cuff he had rolled into his jeans.  Jon’s hand rested a footed glass on his abdomen as he gazed out at the water.   His blonde hair stirred lightly in the warm ocean breeze.

The silvery-brown down that blanketed Jon’s bronzed chest shone in the moonlight, almost making him look like he sparkled.  Cate giggled softly at that thought, recalling the literary description of the vampire characters in the Twilight books her stepdaughter had insisted she read.  “Vampires aren’t the only ones who sparkle,” she murmured amusedly.

Standing another moment to take in the scene, Cate finally resumed her trek across the sand.  The raucous music and laughter of the club faded behind her, softened by the rush of the waves.

“Hey.”  Cate announced her arrival with a soft greeting.  It was unnecessary; Jon had sensed her approach.  He turned his head to look at her, an affectionate smile curving his lips at the lovely vision. 

Cate’s long mahogany hair rippled in the moonlight, flowing off her bare shoulders with the night breeze.  Ribbons of softly-draped dark teal fabric stretched up over her full breasts, cradling them from the wide band that wrapped her middle several inches above her navel.  A silver stud shone in the little dimple, reflecting the soft glow of the silver tag pendant nestled between her breasts.

Her sheer tropical print sarong-style skirt sat low across Cate’s hips and hugged her thighs, the mid-centered part fluttering in the breeze to reveal a long expanse of smooth, sunkissed flesh.  Just above her skirt a thin silver chain circled her waist.  She was shoeless as well, having traversed the sand barefoot, her sandals dangling from her hand.

“Hello, Gorgeous,” Jon responded softly.  He turned fully toward her, swinging his legs over the side of the chaise and dropping his feet to the sand.  “C’mere.”

Cate smiled and obediently stepped closer, dropping her flip-flops onto the sand near Jon’s moccasins.  “Miss me?”

“Always.”  Jon hooked the stem of his wine glass into the holder dug into the sand next to the chaise, then sat up straight.  He bracketed Cate’s hips with his hands before lowering his lips to her belly.  “Baby, you look so gorgeous in the moonlight.”  His croon against her flesh sent a tingle of pleasure up Cate’s spine.

Cate chuckled softly and tunneled her fingers into Jon’s sandy hair as he sucked lightly at her navel.  “You look pretty handsome yourself, you know.”

“Mmmm….” Jon paused before raising his face to smile up at her.  “Our baby is gonna be beautiful.”  His blue eyes shone brightly in the moonlight.

“All your children are beautiful, Jon.”  Cate’s reply was gentle. 

“Yeah, but our baby…”  He dropped his lips again to Cate’s belly.  “She’s gonna look like her Mama.  Thick red hair, big blue eyes, probably some cute little freckles….”

Cate smiled at the vision he painted in her mind.  “And hopefully her Daddy’s talent.  And cheekbones.”  She chuckled huskily.

Jon grinned.  “Yeah, well… I did get some good genes from my Old Man.”

“Some?  How about all of them?”  Cate snorted softly.

“Well, I didn’t get the ‘tall’ gene.”

“No, you didn’t,”  Cate agreed with a little laugh.  “But that’s okay.”

“Well, thank God,” Jon mumbled playfully as again he pressed a kiss to Cate’s abdomen.  “Glad you’re okay with the package you got.”

“Oh, I’m more than okay with it,” Cate chortled.  She gave Jon’s head a little pat before taking a sip from her seltzer.  “So, you gonna let me sit down there with you?”

“Nah.  Let’s dance some more.”  Jon grinned, then pushed himself up from the chaise.

Cate took a step back, surprised.  “Dance?  Out here?”

Jon reached for Cate’s glass, taking it from her hand and setting it carefully on the chair.  “Sure.  I got my dancin’ shoes on tonight.”

“No you don’t,” Cate pointed out, gesturing to the untidy pile of footwear on the sand.  She giggled at Jon’s eye-roll in reply, then let him turn her with a gentle hand on her hip.

Cate smiled as Jon stepped up close behind her and slid his arms around her waist, slowly rocking his hips from side to side with the beat of the dance music drifting over the sand from the club.   She acquiesced to his lead, leaning back against his chest and swaying her hips in time with his.  Jon dropped his chin onto her shoulder, and Cate raised her arms to circle behind his head.

“Mmmm, I like that,” Jon growled, looking down Cate’s body to spy the sides of her breasts, revealed by her skimpy halter top.  “Very sexy.”

“Well, you bring it out in me,” Cate chuckled huskily, pausing to grind her ass lightly against Jon’s pelvis.  His appreciative groan made her smirk.

Jon chuckled wickedly and turned his lips to Cate’s ear, deploying the honey-whiskey rasp he knew she couldn’t resist as he sang along with the dance track.

Don’tcha wish your boyfriend was hot like me

Don’tcha wish your boyfriend was a freak like me

Don’tcha

Don’tcha

Cate tossed back her head with laughter at Jon’s musical query.  This was the last song on earth she could ever imagine him singing.  But here he was, crooning it sexily in her ear.

Don’tcha wish your boyfriend was raw like me

Don’tcha wish your boyfriend was fun like me

Don’tcha

Don’tcha

Jon grinned at his wife’s response to his silly tease.  His heart squeezed at the beauty of her laugh, the musical tone full of happiness and enjoyment.

Dropping a playful nibble against her bare shoulder, he looked again down her body, past her enticing bosom to where his hands moved to cover her womb.  Jon sighed happily as he envisioned a day when his hands would span her swollen belly, full with their child.

Reading his thoughts, Cate dropped her arms from their circle behind Jon’s neck and slid her hands over top his.  She turned her head to brush her lips against Jon’s cheek.

“Our baby will be beautiful,” she replied gently.  “Because it will be ours.”

“Yeah,” Jon agreed in a whisper.

They stood together in a silent embrace for a moment, then Cate smiled.  “So, you gonna dance with me some more, or what?”

Jon chuckled and tightened his arms again around Cate’s waist, giving her a firm squeeze before beginning to roll his hips to the beat, guiding her with him.  “You got it, Baby.  But we keep this up you’re gonna owe me more than a dance when we get home, if you know what I’m sayin’.”

Cate rolled her eyes, then giggled.  “I always know what you’re sayin’, Baby.  You’re not exactly subtle.”

“Good.”  Jon grinned and tightened his squeeze around Cate’s waist, picking her up and spinning her around.  She squealed with surprise, then laughed merrily.  When Jon dropped her back onto her feet Cate turned in his arms and kissed him soundly, then took his hand and spun away.

In the warm tropical night they danced and drank and laughed on the beach, not caring who was watching.  For the first time in months husband and wife forgot about their struggles and trials and simply enjoyed being together, with no distractions or worries, no pressure or pretense. 

From the distance they were unable to hear the quiet click of the camera’s high-speed shutter.