TWENTY-THREE

“Oh, Cate, everything is lovely.  Just lovely.”

Cate paused at the gentle hand on her arm and the kind compliment in her ear.  She turned her head toward the voice, then gave a grateful smile as she recognized the chairwoman of the Red Bank Youth Arts Council.

“Aww, thank you so much, Wendy.  I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

“I certainly am!  The house is beautiful, and this food is just divine, my Dear.   You’ve done a wonderful job putting all this together.”  The platinum-haired older woman gave Cate’s elbow a reassuring squeeze.  “And it’s so nice to be back here.  We missed you last year.”

“I know.  We had so much going on last December, with Jon on tour and with my work… We just ran out of time for a holiday party.”  Cate’s smile turned apologetic.  “But we wanted to make sure we did it this year.  It’s one of Jon’s favorite traditions.  He loves Christmas.”

“Well, we’re happy you’re back in town for this holiday season.”

“So are we.”  Cate leaned forward to accept a light buss on the cheek from the kind woman, then gasped softly as the movement caused her a brief wave of dizziness.  Automatically she clutched at Wendy’s arm to steady herself as her vision blurred.

“Oh dear!  Are you alright, Cate?”  Wendy’s anxious voice cut through the fuzziness as Cate stood still, waiting for her head to clear.

Cate shook her head slightly as the fog crept away, then relaxed her hold on the woman’s arm.  “Whoops.  Sorry, Wendy…”  She blinked for a moment before smiling sheepishly.  “I just got a little light-headed there for a moment…”

“You are a bit flushed, Dear…”

Cate tossed her head one more time, then took a breath.  Her smile brightened.  “I’m okay,” she reassured her companion.  “I just haven’t eaten much today.  And it’s a little warm in here, with all these people.”

Wendy nodded understandingly.  “Well of course you’re a little dizzy if you haven’t eaten!  My goodness!”  She gave a motherly cluck.  “Go get yourself some water and a plate, right now.  We can’t have you fainting before the party really gets wild!”

Cate laughed quietly at the woman’s command.  “Yes, ma’am.  Actually, I was just on my way to the kitchen.”

“Well you scoot on along and sit down for a moment.  I’ll keep the party going.”  Wendy gave Cate a little wink, then an urging pat on her shoulder.  “Now go on!”

“Okay,” Cate chuckled.  “I’ll be back around in a bit.”  With another grateful smile and nod at her guest, Cate turned and headed for the back of the room and the hallway leading to the kitchen.  As she slipped through the crowd she briefly responded to good-natured greetings and compliments, but didn’t stop for conversation.

When at last Cate reached the heart of the big house she blew out a relieved breath.  She paused for a moment in the doorway to enjoy the space, happy to be in a room not clogged with bodies.  Even though Jon’s house was enormous, the two hundred-plus guests attending the party filled the better part of the front rooms.

“Excuse me, Ma’am.”

Cate stepped quickly aside as a young man bearing a silver tray of canapés moved carefully past her and through the doorway.  Looking around the cavernous kitchen, she realized this room was also far from empty.

Three cooks worked busily at the long countertop on the far wall, while several white-coated women arranged trays of sumptuous hors d’ouvres for delivery to the partygoers in the adjoining rooms.  Black-vested waiters and waitresses bustled in and out of the arched doorway, exchanging empty trays for full ones.  At the far end of the long central island a thin, silver-haired woman peered calmly through black-rimmed glasses, monitoring the kitchen operations.

Cate smiled tiredly as she strolled slowly along the kitchen’s perimeter, careful to stay out of the way of the busy caterers.  When she reached the refrigerator she pulled open the wide door and extracted a green bottle, then continued her path.

“How’s it going, Pamela?  Need anything?”  Cate already knew the answer to her query, but she asked anyway.

The Catering Manager gave her client a warm smile.  “Nope.  We’re doing just fine.”  She tipped her head toward the kitchen’s wide arched doorway.  “How’s things in there?”

“Crowded.”  Cate sighed softly and set her bottle on the countertop before reaching for an empty water glass from a nearby cabinet.

Pamela chuckled.  “Well, this is one of the biggest parties of the season.  And your husband has lots of friends.”

“That he does,” Cate nodded in agreement.  She set the glass on the island countertop and picked up the Pellegrino bottle.  With a little wince of effort she cracked the seal, then tossed the top onto the counter.  Cate stared at the sparkling water as it poured from the green bottle into her glass.  The soft crackle of the bubbles made her mouth water.   She hadn’t realized just how thirsty she was until this moment.

Cate took a long drink of the water, then sighed softly before continuing her conversation.  “Everything looks delicious, Pam.  I’ve had scores of compliments on the food.  Apparently you’ve outdone your fabulous self tonight.”  She smiled gratefully.

Pamela gave Cate a long look.  “Thank you.  Looks delicious?  Does that mean you haven’t eaten yet?”  Her lips pursed in a disapproving frown.  “You promised me you would have something before the guests arrived, before you got busy.”

Cate shrugged sheepishly at the older woman’s scold.  “I know, I know.  But I had to check in with work, then Stephanie called, and then I had to get dressed…”

“And now it’s nine o’clock and you haven’t eaten a thing.”  Pamela arched an accusing brow at her client.  “That’s going to change right now.”  She pointed to an empty high-backed stool on the corner of the island.   “Sit.”

Cate chuckled throatily and did as she was told, hiking up her slim black pencil skirt before carefully climbing onto the stool.  She had now been scolded twice in the span of five minutes by women her senior, for not taking care of herself.  She figured it was time to listen.

Pamela threw a glance her way to ensure Cate had done her bidding, then moved around to the opposite side of the island.  She quickly filled a plate with an array of hearty appetizers, being sure to give Cate a sample of each item on the menu.  After leaning to retrieve a fork and napkin from a pile on the counter Pamela set the plate in front of her grateful client.

“There.  Now don’t you get off that stool until you’ve cleaned your plate.”  Pamela’s stern countenance cracked as she gave Cate the edict.

Cate laughed softly.  “Yes, Mom.  And thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Hon.”  The Catering Manager exchanged a smile with her client before tipping her head toward the door.  “Now, I’m gonna wander out there and spy on my waitstaff.  I have a couple first-timers.”

Cate chuckled as she laid the napkin across her lap.  “Okay.  Thanks, Pam.  Let me know if you need anything.”

“I know where you are.”  With that parting shot Pamela turned and strolled toward the other end of the kitchen.

Cate sighed softly and took another sip of her sparkling water as she regarded her plate.  Her stomach gave a little rumble, chastising her for ignoring her appetite all day.

Daintily Cate picked up a crust of baguette topped with finely-diced tomatoes, basil, cheese, and olives, then took a careful bite.  She groaned appreciatively as she slowly chewed the savory bruschetta.  Cate closed her eyes and willed herself to relax for just a few moments, to focus on the delightful cuisine.  She needed this respite from the party after the long day she had already endured.

As promised, Jon had awakened Cate early for their trek from SoHo to Red Bank.  Their day had begun delightfully enough, with a brief but satisfying bedroom romp as part of their “fertility therapy.”  After a shower and breakfast the Bongiovis packed up the SUV and made the drive to the mansion without incident.  Cate was relieved to arrive in plenty of time to prepare for the “Invasion of the Party People,” as Jon laughingly referred to the scheduled march of caterers, florists, bartenders, and musicians.

Cate hadn’t had much time to laugh once the first white box truck rolled down the drive.  She spent the full day dividing her attention between party preparation and her phone, fielding calls from her Newark colleagues and her young partner, Agent Santo.

When she had dashed out of the Magistrate’s office on Friday afternoon Cate had known there was a good chance there would be activity on her case today.  Apparently her Target didn’t have the same plans for holiday celebrations as did almost everyone else.  Thankfully Santo was more than capable of handling the action, and willing to sacrifice his Saturday plans for duty.  Nonetheless, Cate was relieved when the operation wrapped up just an hour before the arrival of the first guest at the Bongiovi home.

After a mad dash to finish her hair and makeup, Cate had slipped into her simple but elegant party clothes and taken a quick turn in front of the mirror.  She smiled at what she saw, choosing to ignore the weariness in her gaze.  Tonight she was determined to enjoy herself, no matter what.  She could be tired tomorrow.

Now that the party was underway she could relax a little.  Somehow she had pulled it off, at least so far.  Cate smiled to herself as she took another sip of her Pellegrino, then picked up a stuffed mushroom and popped it in her mouth.  She had earned this moment of quiet celebration.  She was going to sit here and enjoy it.  The party could go on in the other room without her.

*****

Jon raised the glass to his lips, then tossed his head back.  He frowned as only a trickle of pale wine slid across his tongue.  Pulling the glass away, he regarded it suspiciously.  Just a few moments ago it had been full.

He grinned despite his tragic predicament.  He knew where he could find a remedy to his troubles; the bar in the front room was well-supplied with his favorite Pinot Grigio.  He had ensured the stock himself; the one task Cate had trusted him with today was oversight of the beer, wine, and liquor inventory.

Cate.  Jon’s brow furrowed as he realized he hadn’t seen his wife in at least the past half-hour.  Once the guests started to arrive they had quickly been separated, performing their host and hostess duties.  Now that the party was in full swing Jon had no idea where she was.

Realizing he wanted one thing more than a refill of his wine glass, Jon smiled.  His gaze swept the room, searching for a glimpse of mahogany hair or midnight-blue satin.  But Cate was nowhere to be seen.  His lips curving into a disappointed pout, Jon started to push his way through the crowd.

“Hey, Man…”   Jon reached up to tug on the black scarf trailing down between the broad shoulders.  “You seen my Wife?”

The stout body turned to reveal a swarthy, ruddy face dominated by dark eyes and a hawkish nose.  The signature black bandana cut across his forehead, contrasting with his white toothy grin.  “Hey-hey! There’s Johnny B!”  Little Steven announced gleefully. “Oh, Yeah Man!  I seen your Girl.  She’s lookin’ gorgeous tonight.”

Jon grinned proudly at his buddy’s compliment.  “Yeah, but have you seen her, Man?  Do you know where she is?”

Stevie laughed at Jon’s goofy grin and light slur.  It was obvious the Host was fully enjoying his party.  “Uh oh!” he observed playfully.  “The Kid’s done gone and lost his Woman again!”

“Damn, Boy!”  A boozy growl immediately replied.  “Di’nt I tell you to keep an eye on that Girl?  You’re way too ugly to have a fine woman like that one.  She gonna run off with some Handsome Devil.  Like me.”  Southside Johnny grinned proudly and reached out to give Jon’s cheek a playful slap.

“Yeah, yeah…” Jon answered good-naturedly, playing along with Johnny’s tease.  “I know, you’re gonna take her away from all this…” He swept his hand distractedly through the air, gesturing toward their ornate surroundings.

The petite blonde at Steven’s side giggled quietly as she rolled her eyes.  “I think Cate’s in the kitchen, Jonny.  I saw her talking to Wendy about ten minutes ago, then she headed that way.”

Jon slipped an arm around Maureen, giving her a little hug.  “Thanks, Darlin’.”  He pressed a kiss against her cheek and grinned.  “Keep an eye on this guy, will ya?”  He tipped his head at Little Steven.  “You remember the last time we were all together here.”

Maureen giggled again. “That was certainly…. memorable.  Let’s hope tonight’s a little more… tame.”

“I’m sure it won’t be.”  Jon grinned at the two men and gave Maureen a peck on the cheek.  “Now if you’ll excuse me… I’m gonna go find my Wife.”

“Tell her I’m waitin’ for her!”

Jon grinned good-naturedly as he threw up a middle finger over his shoulder in response to Johnny’s bellowed request.  He quickly pushed through the throng of bodies, nodding and smiling as he went but not really paying attention to the comments tossed his way.  His mind was elsewhere.

His eyes found her the second he reached the doorway.  She was sitting alone at the far end of the room, on the corner of the long, cluttered island.  Servers and cooks bustled all around her, but Cate may as well have been alone for the heed Jon paid to her company.  He leaned against one side of the wide door frame, a tender smile curving his mouth.  He loved to catch her unawares, to just watch her.

Jon’s eyes gleamed with affection as they drifted slowly over her figure.  She was perched primly on the high-backed barstool at the island’s overhang.  Her glorious copper-and-caramel hair was swept up into a soft twist, exposing her delicate neck.  A simple strand of black pearls adorned her throat, elegantly topping the modest vee neckline of her curve-hugging blouse.  The midnight-blue satin shimmered softly in the kitchen’s warm light as Cate lifted a morsel from the plate in front of her to her burgundy lips.

Jon watched Cate chew and swallow the dainty bite before taking a sip from her glass.  Her long lashes glittered as they fluttered lightly, then revealed a flash of sapphire as she glanced up at the caterers working on the other side of the kitchen.  She returned her attention to her plate, picking up a strawberry and raising it for a bite.

Jon’s gaze dropped lower, following the blue satin’s sheen to where it ceased at her waist.  A cloth napkin lay across Cate’s lap, the gold fabric slashing across the jet black wool crepe hugging her thighs.  The napkin’s edge dangled toward the floor, drawing Jon’s eye to another of Cate’s most attractive features.  Her black patent, crimson-soled high heels were hooked onto the footrest bar of the stool, flexing her toned, nylon-sheathed calves.

Jon involuntarily licked his lips as his gaze followed Cate’s leg from ankle to the bend in her knee, then further upward.  His pulse jumped when he spied the lacy band of her smoky stocking, revealed by the thigh-baring slit on the side of her pencil skirt.  The slim garment had obviously shifted upward when Cate climbed onto her perch; her attire had seemed much more modest earlier in the evening when she was circulating among their guests.

The sight of that band of dark lace against her creamy thigh elicited a primal reaction from Jon, a surge of arousal pulsing through his core at Cate’s unwitting sexy tease.  He immediately moved toward her, evading cooks and servers in his path.

His movement caught her eye.  Cate smiled gently as she watched Jon slip through the clutch of culinary workers, then approach her with an eager smirk.  She could see from the sparkle in his clear blue eyes and the ruddy flush on his smooth cheeks that her husband was thoroughly enjoying his party and its free-flowing libations.

When he reached Cate’s side, Jon set an empty, lightly-smudged wine glass on the countertop next to her hand before leaning forward to brush a kiss over her mouth.  “There you are,” he observed in a husky drawl.  He stepped behind Cate, dropping his hands lightly onto her satin-covered shoulders.  “I was wondering where you ran off to.”

She sighed quietly.  “I had to get out of that room for awhile.  Too crowded.  I was getting a little light-headed, so I came in here to get some water and a bite to eat.”  Her sigh turned to a contented purr as Jon’s hands closed over her shoulders, gently kneading her tight muscles.  “Mmmm… that feels wonderful.”

“You look beautiful, sitting here,” Jon murmured as he lowered his lips to her neck.  “Sexy.”

Cate responded with another quiet purr, tipping her head to the side.  Jon’s warm breath on her flesh sent a little charge through her body.  Cate chuckled throatily, though she didn’t know why.  There was nothing funny about the way her husband made her feel.

“You want a bite?”  Cate’s hand waved at her half-empty plate.  “It’s delicious, but I’m not going to finish.”

“I already had some.  Everything’s good.”  Jon’s smirk widened as he felt Cate lean back, relaxing against the low leather back of her barstool perch.  He continued his massage, moving his hands up to the base of her neck.  “Did you try the dessert?”

“No.”  Cate shook her head slightly as she glanced at the small plate one of Pamela’s assistants had placed next to her now-empty Pellegrino bottle.  The luscious chocolate-and-berry confection looked almost too perfect to eat.

“Taste it,” Jon’s voice was now a soft rumble near her ear.  “Dark chocolate and raspberries.  Sinful.”  He breathed the last word against Cate’s neck as again his lips brushed again over her soft skin.

Cate’s hand trembled slightly as she reached for the little plate.  Not bothering with the dessert fork, she swiped a finger slowly across the dark pink, chocolate-drizzled mousse that filled the delicate curved chocolate shell.  She raised the taste to her mouth, sliding her finger between her lips.  Cate groaned softly as the rich flavors melted against her tongue.

“Oh my God…” she groaned in agreement with Jon’s assessment.  “It’s delicious.”

“Mmm Hmm.”  Jon’s hum against her neck made Cate shiver.  She smiled and reached again for the sweet, this time dipping her fingertip in the raspberry puree puddled under the tart before dragging it through the mousse.

“Here.”  Cate’s offer was a gentle murmur as she raised her hand to her shoulder, the tuft of pink cream clinging to her manicured fingertip.  With a soft chuckle Jon dipped his head forward to circle his lips around her offering.  He growled sexily as he swirled his tongue slowly around Cate’s finger, sucking away the tangy-sweet mousse.

“Fucking amazing.”  Jon chortled sexily.  “We’ll have to be sure to hide some of those from the rest of the party.  Keep ‘em for later.”

Cate giggled and dropped her hands to the napkin on her lap.  “You wanna hijack the dessert tray?”

“Hell yeah.  Then I’ll lick that mousse off somethin’ other than your finger.”  Jon grinned devilishly as he felt his groin tighten in agreement with that idea.

He let his hands slide down Cate’s arms, his palms gliding easily over the slick satin sleeves of her blouse.  When he reached her wrists his left hand slipped sideways, to the side slit of her skirt.  His fingers curled under the fabric’s edge, gently caressing Cate’s exposed thigh.  “Christ, Baby.  You look good enough to eat right now.”

Cate chortled quietly at Jon’s randy growl.  He always became a little handsy and extra-affectionate after a glass or two of wine.  He had clearly hit that point already this evening.

“We have a houseful of people, all here to see you.  And the night is young.  Sorry, Baby. You’re gonna have to keep it in your pants tonight.”

Jon let out a melodramatic sigh, slumping forward so that his firm chest purposely pressed against Cate’s back.  “Awww… C’mon, Baby…” he wheedled seductively.  “We could slip upstairs and nobody’d even notice.  Half the people out there are musicians and braggarts.  They’ll entertain each other.”

Cate snorted softly at his half-playful, half-serious suggestion.  “You wanted to have this party, Jon.  You can’t shirk your Host duties.”  She dropped her hand over his on her thigh, stilling the caress of his fingers.

“Fine.”  Jon pulled a pout as he reluctantly withdrew his hand from Cate’s lap and backed away from her chair.  “Guess I’ll get a refill.”  He stepped around to Cate’s side and reached for the wine glass he had carried in from the party.  “Do we have a bottle open in here somewhere?”  Jon swiveled his head as he scanned the counters.

Cate shook her head as her gaze swept over the array of bottles and glassware on the island.  “I don’t think so.  Sorry.”

“Never mind,” Jon answered with a half-hearted grumble.  “I’ll just go get a bottle from the pantry.”  He leaned to give Cate a quick smooch before turning and wandering toward the back corner of the huge kitchen, where a short hallway led to the room that held Jon’s large collection of fine, exotic, and favorite wines.

Jon had personally designed the custom-built wine pantry that substituted for a proper wine cellar.  His mansion’s location on the bank of the Navesink River had made underground storage of his wine collection impossible, one of the few downsides to his waterfront lot.  Not one to be deterred, Jon had converted a room originally meant as a second office, filling it with custom wine racks, warm wood shelves and ceiling beams, recessed lighting, and a tiled tasting bar.

Filled from ceiling to floor with colorful bottles arranged artfully on library-style shelves and in low-to-the-floor bins, the wine pantry was one of the most impressive features of Jon’s magnificent house.  It was also one of his favorite rooms, an intimate space where he could enjoy a solitary glass of wine or share a tasting with friends.

Wanting the space to be more than merely a big storage closet, Jon had found a small round antique farmhouse table at a flea market, which was now bracketed by two chairs in the center of the wine room’s limestone-tiled floor.  A reproduction antique iron and crystal chandelier hovered over the table, creating a romantic glow in the dark, cozy room.  Jon had even had the walls lined with fieldstone to replicate the appearance of a rustic cellar.  An ornate iron-scrollwork gate just inside the pantry’s wide double doors completed the illusion, making visitors feel like they were stepping into an underground cave.

Jon sighed ruefully as he tugged open one of the heavy oak doors, then pushed back the decorative iron gate.  For the first time this evening he regretted going forward with the annual ritual of his holiday party.  Given the hectic rush their lives had become, tonight Jon would rather have spent a quiet few hours in this room with Cate, sipping wine and sharing conversation before retiring to their suite for an uninterrupted evening of romantic passion.  But now that his house was filled with guests, there was little chance of that happening.

Or was there?

Jon paused just inside the wine pantry as the idea occurred to him.  His lips curved into a mischievous smirk.

Leaving his glass sitting empty on a tiled ledge and the door standing open, Jon departed the wine room.  His stride was quick and purposeful as he traversed the short hall back to the kitchen.  Cate looked up in surprise at his hasty return.

“You’re not out, are you?  I swear I put two more cases of Santa Margherita P.G. in there last week…”

Jon shook his head, then gave Cate a charming smile.  “Naw, I was just thinking… I was telling Stevie earlier about that wine I sent back from Argentina.  You know, that red with the weird name?”  He tried to control his threatening smirk, not wanting to reveal his true intention.   “Thought I’d open a bottle, give him a taste.  But I’ll be damned if I can remember which one it was.”

Cate’s lips pursed thoughtfully.  “I don’t remember the name either, but it had two horses on the label.  Remember?”

“No.  I have no clue what the hell it looked like.”  Jon reached to tug lightly at Cate’s hand.  “Come help me find it.”

“Jon, I have no idea where it might be in there…”

“But you’ll find it before I will.”  Jon gave Cate one of his best persuasive smiles.  “C’mon, Baby.  It’ll only take a few minutes.  We’ll open it up and have a little taste, then go back to the party.”

Cate sighed.  “Well, okay… I’ve already been gone this long.  What’s a few more minutes?”

“Exactly,” Jon’s agreement betrayed a hint of eagerness as he helped Cate step carefully down from her perch.  He stood impatiently while she dabbed at her lips, dropped her napkin beside her plate, then smoothed down her skirt.  When she was ready he slipped his hand back into hers and led her down the hall.

The soft click of Cate’s high heels on the tile made Jon’s pulse race.  The sound itself was sexy, as much as her attire and her scent and her quiet confidence.  He smirked to himself, knowing he had the upper hand now that he had gotten his wife away from curious eyes.

“It should be on the back wall, shouldn’t it?”  Jon’s question was a decoy, intended to convince Cate of his innocent motive.  He stood aside and guided her with a gentle hand at the small of her back through the pantry door.

“Good grief, Jon.  I have no idea how you've organized things in here.  This is your Baby.”  Cate stepped into the softly-lit room and looked around.  She squinted at the columns of bottles arranged on the wall opposite the door, trying to remember what color the Argentinian red’s bottle was.

At the soft click of the closing door she turned to face him, one brow arched.

Jon smiled sexily and moved over to his wife.  His hands slipped around her waist as he stepped close. “You’re my Baby.”

Cate’s eyes sparkled in the dim light as she read her husband’s expression.  A little sigh escaped her as Jon’s mouth covered hers in a thorough, simmering kiss.  She slid her hands around Jon’s sides and up his muscular back as she melted into the embrace.

“You’re not looking for that wine, are you?”  Cate’s question was breathy, a soft growl of accusation.

“No.”  Jon grinned and again dropped his lips to hers, resuming the kiss as he guided her slowly toward the back of the pantry.  He cracked open one eye to check the location of his intended target, then resumed their shuffle.  He chuckled huskily at Cate’s little squeak of surprise when her buttocks bumped against the sleek cherry wood ladder attached on a sliding rail to the top of the tall library-style shelves.

“Then why did you need me to come in here with you?”  Her coy tone betrayed her innocent query.

“Because.”  Jon murmured against her mouth as with his body he levered her back against the ladder.  His kiss gained heat as a hand slipped from her waist to her front, then upward to curve over Cate’s breast.  “I can’t do this alone, either.”

Cate chortled huskily, trying to swallow a soft moan of arousal as her nipples tightened inside the satin cups of her bra.  She felt her ass slip into the space between the ladder’s rungs, giving her a fortuitous seat against which to brace herself as Jon leaned closer.

 “But we have a houseful of people out there…” she protested feebly, not caring any more than Jon did about that fact.  Her fingers curled against the black brushed cotton dress shirt that cloaked his tight back muscles.

“Fuck ‘em,” Jon growled.  His face lit with a mischievous smirk.  “I’ve got a more pressing matter to take care of.”

Cate giggled.  “What? ‘Pressing’ that against me?”  She clenched her buttocks, making her hips tip slightly forward.  The hard bulge in Jon’s jeans rubbed against her mound.  It felt deliciously naughty, even through their layers of clothing.

Jon gasped lightly and nodded, delighted by her playful acquiescence.  “Uh huh.  And you know, by my watch it’s been…”  Jon tilted his head to look at the heavy Rolex on his right wrist, while his hand remained curved over Cate’s breast.  “… twenty-eight hours since your trigger shot.  That means I’ve got a job to do.”

“You’ve done your ‘job’ twice already since we left Dr. Klein’s office,” Cate pointed out, a devilish smirk curving her full lips.  “Last night and this morning.”

“Uh uh uh…” Jon shook his head and tsked at Cate’s statement.  “He told us to have sex twelve hours later, then twenty-four hours later, then as often as we want.”  His grin returned.  “And we’re about four hours behind.  So… the party’s just gonna have to wait.  Doctor’s orders.”

Cate giggled again, unable to argue with his convenient logic.  She submitted to another heated kiss, this time failing to stifle a soft moan as Jon’s tongue stroked over hers.  Cate’s fingertips drilled against Jon’s hard back muscles and she arched as much toward him as her position against the ladder would allow.  She gasped when he pulled his mouth away, her pulse racing with awakened lust.

“So… so how are we gonna get up to the bedroom?”  Cate panted lightly as she stared at Jon, her blue eyes swirling three shades darker as her desire heightened.  “We either have to go through the kitchen to the back stairs, or through your office and the foyer, then up the front stairs.”  She chortled huskily.  “I don’t think you’re in any shape for that.”

Jon smirked wickedly.  “I’m game.  If you wanna go up to the bedroom, I’m right behind you, Baby.  Boner and all.   Who gives a fuck what people think?  It's my Goddamned party.”  He chuckled hoarsely.  “But…”

Jon leaned in a little closer until his pecs impacted Cate’s chest.  His fingers moved from her breast to the closure of her satin blouse, toying with a button.  Jon felt Cate’s shudder of anticipation in response to the close contact, and lowered his mouth to her ear.

“Nobody knows we’re in here.”