SIXTY

"JON!"  Cate choked out his name as her blue eyes widened.  Automatically her gaze shot sideways, toward the bedroom.  Her heart pounded even as gasped with relief when she saw no one there.

But still, there was someone, somewhere.  The adrenaline rush had unblocked her blissfully hazy senses.  She could feel the presence.

Another involuntary spasm from her heated core informed Cate that her husband was unaware of her sudden vigilance.  Cate's thighs tensed and she squeezed them together, closing over Jon's cheeks.  Her hands dropped from their holds on the rail and the trellis to his net-veiled head.

"Mmmmmffff... OW!  What the fuck...?"  Jon let out a muffled curse of surprise when his head was yanked backward, his scalp tingling as Cate's hands fisted his shaggy hair as a means of control.  He was all for a little rough sex-play, but her semi-violence was unexpected.

"Somebody's HERE!" Cate hissed, her head swiveling toward the landscape.  Her blue eyes narrowed as she quickly scanned the horizon.

"What?"  Jon blinked, then winced as Cate's clench tightened, inadvertently tugging again at his hair.  "OW!  Damn, Cate!"

"SHHH!" Cate scolded, though she loosened her grasp.  Her eyes dropped to the deck's floor.  Beneath their perch was a curved patio and a path leading to the hot tub.  An unannounced visitor could be lurking down there, perhaps one of the villa's staff.

Jon frowned.  Shaking his wife's hands off his head, he turned his eyes toward the master suite.  The boys had been asleep just minutes ago, he had confirmed it.  He breathed a quiet sigh of relief when he spied the empty room.

"Baby, there's nobody watching us." Jon chuckled softly.  "You're paranoid.  Relax."

The accusation made Cate's eyes narrow.  She shifted her gaze from the floor to her husband's face, now smirking up at her from beneath her sheer gown.

"I am not paranoid."  I heard something.  Close by."  Her snarl was soft but serious.

Jon knew better than to laugh.  He swallowed his chortle and twisted his amused smirk into a sexy grin, determined to get their encounter back on track.  "So?  Maybe you did.  But, Baby...I don't give a shit if somebody's around.  They're not up here, are they?" 

Jon lowered his chin, blowing a puff of heated breath against the spot his mouth had moments ago covered.  Cate's flesh quivered involuntarily in response.  "And if they can see us... Fuck 'em.  Let 'em watch."  He growled evilly, licking his lips before leaning forward to taste her again.  His hands tightened around her hips, holding her still.

Cate squeaked softly though she felt a pang of annoyance at Jon's dismissal of her caution.  Again her hands rested on his head, though this time she didn't push him away. 

"Jon, maybe we should go inside..." Her whisper was husky and anxious.

"Mmmm Mmmmm......"  Jon shook his head slightly, humming his disagreement against her as his mouth slid side-to-side, eliciting another reluctant gasp from her lips.  He fully intended to carry his wife inside and ravish her in that big, romantic bed, but not just yet.

"But Jon..."

"Shhhhhhhh......"  This time he was the one who shushed, without moving his mouth from its objective.  Jon smirked as he felt her thighs quiver with his breath against her clit.

"Jesus..." Cate growled, half-frustrated with him and half-helpless against his onslaught.  She exhaled slowly, trying to calm her pounding heart.  She leaned back against the half-wall and trellis as her head tipped back and her eyes slipped half-closed.  Maybe she had imagined it; maybe her detection senses were in overdrive due to her hypervigilance for Jake and Romeo.

"Ohhh...."  Cate sighed hoarsely as Jon's tongue flattened against her, lapping her with broad strokes.  "My Godddd...."  Her lashes fluttered as she lost the struggle to keep her eyes open.   Resting against the trellis, her head rolled to the side, turning her face toward the morning sun.

As warmth crept through her body the corners of Cate's mouth turned blissfully upward.  Her hands curved over Jon's skull, lightly riding his head as it moved with his deliberate efforts.  Cate slid her tongue over her plump lower lip, nodding slightly as she savored the sensations he was evoking from her body.  Her every nerve ending was alive and tingling, hyper-receptive thanks to the endorphins flooding her system.  She felt like she was glowing, emitting energy like some celestial body.

Cate purred softly in agreement with her self-realization.  Perhaps that was it, why she had sensed something strange... her nervous system was hopped up on pleasure, oversensitive to stimuli.  Maybe she had imagined a foreign presence.  Maybe it was simply her conscience playing tricks on her, amplifying her week-long worry about the boys catching her and Jon in the act.  Maybe it was guilt, that she had put off her husband's amorous advances for too long.

Another gasp escaped Cate's lips with a shift of Jon's technique.  She shivered blissfully and purred again.  He had to know she would acquiesce to him, let him make love to her on this glorious, idyllic morning.  Maybe even right here on this wide veranda, overlooking this spectacular kingdom.  Like a scene from a movie, the one in which she was fantasizing herself when he had suddenly materialized, like the leading man.

With another happy purr Cate parted her lashes, slowly opening her eyes to take in the romantic African splendor beyond their villa.

But she couldn't see it.  There was something in the way, partially blocking her view.

And it was looking back at her.

Again Cate's heart leapt into her throat as she stared into the dark-lashed watery brown eye.  But she couldn't move, frozen in shock.  Just feet away the knobbly, splotched brown-and-gold head hovered over the deck's railing, the young giraffe curiously regarding the strange activity of her human neighbors. 

And then it moved closer.

Cate let out a shrill, half-hoarse shriek of alarm.  Instinctively she recoiled from the head's advance, attempting to distance herself from the wild animal.  But Jon's hands on her hips prevented her movement, holding her rooted to the spot.  Without thinking, she did what she was trained to do:  Escape.

In a flash Cate's hands left Jon's head.  Her fingers extended into a bladed position before forcefully chopping down on his forearms, breaking his grip on her hips.  The second she felt the release Cate moved, leaping sideways away from the advancing animal. 

Jon yelped with surprise at the assault, both at the impact on his arms and at his sudden loss of balance when his brace against Cate's body was broken.  He pitched forward, his hands splaying in anticipation of bracing his drop to the floor.  His vision was clouded by a wavy film of chiffon as Cate's gown slid across his face with her rapid movement.  Jon's cry was followed by a dull thud and another swear of painful surprise when Cate's knee impacted his jaw during her hasty escape.

"OWW!  SONOFABITCH!"  One of Jon's hands found the floor as his other raised to his throbbing jaw.  He blinked dazedly as he felt the sheer fabric sliding over his back and shoulders, being tugged along by his wife's frantic retreat.  "Cate!  What the FUCK?"

Startled by the humans' sudden movement and loud exclamations the giraffe yanked back its inquisitive head, its huge doe-eyes now wide with alarm.  A low, barking bleat escaped from the young animal's long throat, a distress call to its herd.  Then it stood still and alert, cautiously regarding the strange people that had piqued its curiosity.

The inhuman noise made Jon's eyes widen.  He turned his head toward it, but saw only a hazy veil of filtered light and color.  With an annoyed growl Jon sat back on his calves and raised his free arm to yank the fabric away from his face, clearing his view.  His other hand held against the tender spot on his jaw as it dropped.

Jon stared at the giraffe, its thick, mottled neck just feet away from where he crouched on the deck's floor.  It stared warily back at him, its fuzzy oval ears twitching alertly.

Movement behind him diverted Jon's attention from the completely unexpected scene.  He turned his head slowly, his wide blue eyes remaining on the seemingly docile giraffe until the last second.  Then he focused his incredulous gaze on his similarly wide-eyed wife who now stood staring at the animal, her backside plastered against the glass wall separating the deck from the master suite and her chest heaving with her shallow, rapid pants. 

Suddenly struck by the comedy of the situation, Jon began to laugh.  He winced lightly as his bruised jaw throbbed, but he couldn't help himself.  He shook his head and dragged his hand through his hair, a wide grin spreading his sex-slicked lips.

Just seconds ago he had been happily enjoying a little morning pussy-snack, now here he was half-nude, fully-hard, on his knees in the middle of the fucking floor.  On one side of him stood his half-panicked, practically-naked, sexily-disheveled wife... and on the other side of him stood a fucking peeping-tom giraffe.

Of all the weird shit that had happened to him over the course of his rockstar life, this situation was up there toward the top of the list.

"Ahhhh... Fuck Me!"  Jon half-laughed, half-groaned his lament.  He let his hands fall to his thighs and shook his head again.  The sudden movement spooked the giraffe, who again jerked its head and eyed him suspiciously.  Jon chortled at the animal's reaction, then waved his hands at it in a shooing gesture.  "Get outta here!  Go on!  Nothin' left to see!  SHOO!"    

The animal started at his last, more forceful bark.  It took a few steps backward away from the deck, then paused and continued to stare.  Still grinning, Jon shook his head and let out a long groan before climbing to his feet.  He stepped toward the railing of the deck, again waving his hands at the curious beast.

"GO!  Go on!  Go eat some leaves or somethin', ya fuckin' long-necked pervert..."  Jon chortled as the giraffe backed away from his advance, then turned and lumbered away.  Grunting softly at the twitch of discomfort in his crotch, Jon leaned against the rail and watched the animal cross the grassy pasture to a trio of its herd members who were plucking leaves from a grove of mimosa trees.

With another amused shake of his head Jon turned to look at his wife.  She had apparently recovered from her surprise, for she was no longer backed against the window.  While Jon dispatched their wild visitor Cate had slipped back into the bedroom and now sat on the edge of the bed, watching him.  When she saw him move toward her Cate's lips curved into a wry smile.

Jon stepped through the open slider door and strolled over to the bed.  His blue eyes twinkled merrily as he gazed down at her for a moment before reaching up to rub the tender spot where her knee had impacted his jaw.

"I'm gonna have bruises, ya know."

Cate ducked her head, her smile turning sheepish.  "Sorry, Baby.  I was... it startled me."  She shrugged.  "See, I told you something was watching us."

That made Jon grin.  "Yeah, yeah.  You were right."  He stepped over and lowered himself onto the bed's edge, beside her.  "Guess it's only fair, huh?"

Cate wrinkled her nose and turned her head to look at him.  The confusion in her sapphire eyes made Jon chuckle again.  "What?"

"They always have humans standing around, watching them mate."  Jon grinned, reminding her what they had learned about Disney's exotic animal breeding program during their tour.  "Guess this one just wanted to even the score.  Maybe pick up a few tips..."

Jon's grin gentled as he saw a light blush pinken her cheeks.  His eyes dropped to her sleek shoulders, then to her decolletage.  His groin twitched as he spied her rosy nipples, still tightly pebbled beneath the film of her gown.  Though their unexpected visitor had interrupted their encounter, it hadn't dampened his desire.

He shifted on the bed, turning toward her before raising a hand to her breast.  He tilted his head forward, crooning into her ear.

"So... where were we?"

He felt the hitch in her breath, then heard her murmured reply. 

"Actually, you were under my gown."

"Want me to go down there again?"

She chortled huskily.  "If you wanna.  I certainly won't complain."

Jon grinned.  "How about we just do away with the gown altogether?  We'll just get all tangled up in it, here in bed...."  His hand fisted against her thigh, his fingers wiggling as he gently gathered a handful of gauzy fabric, raising the hem of her gown to expose bare leg.  "And we don't wanna get it wet in the shower, either."

"No, we don't," she agreed in a silky murmur.

Cate cast a wary glance toward the deck, then sighed and turned her head toward him.  She smiled as his mouth closed over hers.  A husky purr rumbled from her throat as Jon guided her back onto the mattress.

"Mmmm... Baby.... it's been too damned long...." Jon whispered against her lips.  "You know how bad I want you?"   

"Mmmmmhmmmmm...." Cate hummed her reply. 

She sighed again as Jon gathered her gown higher, uncovering her abdomen.  She felt her nipples contract as a light breeze swept over her naked skin, floating in through the open door.  Cate reached across her body for his hip, her fingers tracing over the slick, damp fabric of his running shorts until they found the elastic waistband.  She burrowed her fingers beneath the band and tugged downward.  Jon groaned his approval, shifting on the mattress in anticipation of her removal of his meager clothing.  He gasped when the elastic snapped against his sweaty skin and her hand moved to cup his erection.

"Jeeeeeesus, Cate...."  Jon smiled blissfully and let his head fall back, his eyes slipping closed.  He groaned happily as she squeezed his cock, then her fingers curled under his taut balls.  "Baby, you should do that more often...."

"Maybe...."

"DAD!!! DAD!!!"

The excited shout and pounding at the suite's door made them both jump.  With a strangled yelp Cate released Jon's crotch and bolted upright on the bed.  She gave him a panicked glare before sliding off the mattress and sprinting for the bathroom, a swirl of creamy chiffon trailing in her wake like contrails from a jet.

Jon grimaced with displeasure before barking out his exasperated reply.  "WHAT?!?!?!" 

He heard the knob rattle before the door swung open.  With an unhappy grunt Jon sat up on the bed, self-consciously yanking a handful of bedclothes across his lap to conceal his rock-hard erection before Romeo bounded into the room.

"Dad, come quick!  You GOTTA see this!" Romeo leaped onto the bed and grabbed Jon's hand, pulling his father halfway over in his exuberance. "Hurry up!"

Jon couldn't help himself.  He snatched his hand out of Romeo's grasp and snarled.  "What the fuck, Romey?  WHAT?  WHAT is so important at eight o'clock in the morning that you gotta come bustin' down my damned door?"  His eyes sparked as he glared at his son.

Romeo shrank from his father's icy stare, his brown eyes widening.  "But Dad... you gotta see...."

Immediately Jon felt a pang of remorse.  The crestfallen look on his littlest boy's face made his heart clench guiltily.  Some father he was, taking out his sexual frustration on his nine-year-old son.  His expression gentled. 

"Sorry, Buddy.  You surprised me.  What's up?"

Romeo gave his father a suspicious look before answering, a note of urgency still in his voice though his enthusiasm was modulated.  "Dad, you gotta hurry, or they're gonna be gone!"

"What's gonna be gone?"

"Come on!  You gotta see!"  Romeo again grabbed Jon's hand, this time tugging more tentatively.  "Pleeeease come on!"

Jon frowned.  There was no way he could follow Romeo through the villa in his current state of arousal.  Not only would it be physically uncomfortable, his son would be sure to notice his running shorts had turned into a tent.

"Romey, I just got back from a run.  I'm all sweaty."

"So?"

"I need to shower, Buddy.  I'll come to your room after."

"No, Dad!  You can't!  They'll be gone by then!" 

The boy's plaintive tone made Jon's heart clench again. He growled an exasperated sigh and tugged a hand through his damp shag, leaving it sticking up in all directions.  "Romeo, WHAT will be gone?"

Realizing he wasn't going to get his father to do his bidding unless he revealed the subject of his excitement, Romeo sighed.  "The giraffes!  Dad, they're right outside my room!  Come on!"  He bounced off the bed and stood expectantly at its side.  "They're so close I can touch them!  Hurry UP!"

Jon groaned silently.  The last thing he needed to see was more fucking giraffes.  The long-necked bastards were obviously Hell-bent on fucking up his morning.

But he was the one who had chosen this damned villa for his family's vacation residence.  In the middle of Animal Fucking Kingdom.

He sighed.  "Okay, Buddy.  Run back to your room and I'll be there in a minute."

"But DAD!  What if they leave?"

Jon waved his hand toward the door.  "That's why you need to get back there!  They may already be gone!"

"DAD!"

"Romeo, for Christ's sake!  I gotta take a piss, then I'll be there, okay?"  Jon blurted out the fib, desperate to get the boy out of his bedroom.  If he was going to trek to the other side of the villa he would need to find something to camouflage his erection.  Or a way to get rid of it... quickly.  "Now GO!  Feed 'em some leaves or something!"

Romeo's eyes brightened at his father's suggestion.  During their barn tour the keepers had let him feed hay and fruit to several of the giraffes.  He knew exactly what they would like to eat.

"Okay, Dad!  I'm gonna get the bananas from the kitchen!"  With that announcement Romeo dashed through the suite's two doors, not bothering to close either behind him.

"Oh for fuck's sake..." Jon groaned, slumping back onto the bed.  His recline relieved some of the pressure on his crotch, but not much.  But he didn't have a choice... he was going to have to get out of bed and get down to Romeo's room in a matter of minutes, or the boy would return to drag him there.

"Caaaate..." Jon's plaintive call went unanswered for a moment, then she emerged from the bathroom.  Jon noticed she had covered her nightgown with a plush terrycloth bathrobe.

She smirked.  "Giraffes, huh?"

Jon sighed.  "Any chance you can take care of this for me, in two minutes or less?"  He pointed to the mound of sheets covering his crotch.

"Sorry, Babe."  She chuckled sympathetically and crossed the room to stand beside the bed. 

"Aw, come on."  He made a weak attempt at a sexy smile. It came across more as a desperate leer.  "It probably won't even take two minutes."

Cate shook her head firmly.  "Jon, I'm not gonna blow you a minute before you go spend one of those memorable bonding moments with your child." 

"You don't have to blow me.  I'm fine with a hand job."

"Oh, well then.... sure. 'Cause that's more appropriate.  " Cate's nose wrinkled as she shook her head, contradicting her sarcastic agreement.  "Jon, just... Eww.  What kinda twisted Stepmother would that make me, if I jerked you off right before you went to play with your kid?"   

"The BEST kind," Jon grumbled, knowing his cause was lost.  He sighed, then winced again as he pushed himself up to sit. 

Cate chortled at his remark and leaned to kiss his stubbly cheek.  "For what it's worth, Baby... I'm sorry.    I could wring Romey's little neck, too."

Jon gave her a sideways smirk.  "Prove it."

"Nice try."  Cate straightened.  "You better figure something out, and get in there.  You do realize you just told Romeo to go feed wild animals?  Which is strictly against Park policy?"

"He's not gonna get them to come close enough to eat outta his hand."  Jon winced as he pushed the covers off his lap.

"Yeah, sure he won't.  Jon, our giraffe was close enough to lick your ear."

"Well at least then I woulda gotten licked."

Cate smirked at his dirty retort and strolled back toward the bathroom.  "I'm gonna change for my workout.  You got the boys' breakfast covered?"

"Yeah, yeah."  Jon sighed again and stood, tugging out the waistband of his shorts to look ruefully down at his dick.  It was still standing erect, but was starting to relax a bit.  Maybe if he tied a sweatshirt around his waist.... 

"I'll find something to feed 'em.  After I go see the motherfucking giraffes."

Cate snickered and closed the bathroom door behind her, leaving her husband to his fatherly duties.

*****

Cate yawned.  Dropping the tablet to her lap, she looked up. 

Her lips curved in a relaxed smile as she saw she had chosen an opportune moment to pause her reading.  Cate watched Jon emerge from the pool, his arms flexing and pectorals bulging as he pulled himself up onto the concrete deck.  Rivulets of water streamed over his chiseled torso, droplets nesting in the honeycomb of wiry, wet hair blanketing his chest.

Jon raised both hands to cup his face, wiping away the water before slicking back his hair.  As he squinted and pinched his nose Cate giggled softly.  She was sure he didn't realize just how clearly this wet look displayed his receded hairline.  Vanity caused him to keep his longer, fluffy shag, which she didn't mind one bit.  His hairline and the lines around his eyes were the only physical clues of Jon's age.  For a man in his early fifties, Jon still looked damned good.

"Freak," she mumbled affectionately. 

Cate chuckled at herself, then again picked up her iPad.  For the past two hours she had been parked on this plush chaise, enjoying the Florida sunshine, napping, and catching up on her reading while Jon swam and played with his boys.  He had taken several breaks during which he lounged by her side, but he had insisted she not lift a finger.  For the first time this vacation she felt completely and utterly relaxed.  

She sighed as she realized she was bored of reading.  Cate had finally started a novel she had loaded to her tablet prior to leaving Manhattan, but it didn't hold her interest.  Then she tried to covertly peruse a few chapters of a vacation-forbidden fertility and marriage guidebook, but Jon's curious interruptions made it impossible for her to focus.  Finally she had resorted to downloading a few e-magazines and flipping through their pages.  Her current reading material contained commentary on a familiar subject.

Hearing the wet slap of bare feet on pavement, Cate looked up to see Jon approaching her.  She smiled as he stopped beside her chair and reached across her for his towel, purposely dripping tepid pool-water across her bikini-bared belly.

"Hey, careful of the iPad..." Cate scolded mildly, brushing a few droplets from the screen protector.  The swipe made the images move.

"Whatcha readin' now?"  Jon's lips puckered thoughtfully as he peered at the upside-down screen.

Cate sighed, knowing what his response would be, but she confessed anyway.

"New issue of Us Magazine.  Featuring... well... Us."  Cate smirked wryly and turned the tablet on her lap so Jon could clearly see the image and caption.  "Jon Bon Jovi and wife Cate spend a day at Disney's Hollywood Studios with his two youngest sons, Jacob Hurley, 11, and Romeo Jon, 9."  Above the text was a glossy photo of Jon and Cate standing behind the boys while watching a street performance at the theme park.

Jon frowned, then shrugged.  "That's not so bad."

Cate snorted and swiped her finger across the screen, scrolling to the next pair of pages.  It was covered with candid snapshots of their family at various park attractions.  Clearly an incognito paparazzo had followed them for several hours, documenting their day. 

"Fuckers," she growled softly, pointing to an image of her and Jon.  The photograph was of their backs as they stood together in some queue.  A bright-yellow circle highlighted Jon's hand resting on Cate's buttock, over her shorts.  A corresponding neon headline shouted "JBJ Cops a Feel!  Why?  Because He Can!"  

Jon echoed her snort and shook his head.  "Baby, why do you even bother reading that trash?" he asked wearily.  Draping the towel over his damp shoulders, he wandered around her chair and settled on his own.  "It doesn't mean shit.  And it just pisses you off."

She shrugged, knowing he was right.  But it was also her nature.  By trade she was a gatherer of information, a collector of clues.  Together the pieces told a story.  And it was always good to know what stories were being told about you.

"It's what I do, Baby," she confessed with a sigh.  "Intelligence collection."

Jon chortled and pointed at her tablet.  "I'd hardly call that shit 'intelligence'."

She smiled and nodded her agreement.  "Touche'.  And this is one of the decent ones."

Jon settled onto his chair and rubbed the towel over his head, fluffing his rapidly-drying hair.  He gave her an affectionate smile when he peeked out from under the towel.  "Even when you're not working, you're working.  You gotta learn to shut down, Baby."

"I know, I know...." Cate's grumble was gentle.  She waved a hand dismissively at him.  "But reading magazines doesn't count as working."

"I assume all that phone-talking you did awhile ago doesn't either?"  Jon arched a brow at her, his blue eyes twinkling.

Cate grinned.  Busted.  "Okay, yeah.  I was talking to Gus.  But not all about work."

"Oh?"  Jon tossed his towel to the pavement and settled back on his lounger's cushions.  "I suppose you were just swapping recipes?"  He winked at her with his tease.

"No.  He was telling me about his date."

"Ah, dating advice.  Fabulous.  Because you have such vast experience in that realm, having been married for four-plus years."

"Hey, I dated before I met you."  Cate tried to keep a straight face as she challenged him.  She couldn't hold it, and a sheepish smile curved her lips.  "Okay, not often... but I dated."

"What, twice?  Three times?"  Jon continued his tease.  Cate had confessed to him early in their relationship that she had practically no social or romantic life before she met him.  At least not since her previous unhappy marriage.

"Shut up," she grumbled playfully.  "I just preferred to keep things simple.  You know, use a guy for sex and kick him out."

"And is that what Gus wanted?  Your advice on one-night stands?"  Jon grinned.

"No.  Not that it's any of your business... but his date with Emily was quite lovely."  Cate sniffed.  "My suggestion paid off."

"Way to go Gus!"  Jon gave Cate an exaggerated leer before parroting a silly vocalization of porn-film music.  "Bow-chicka-WOW-WOOOOWWWWW!" 

She rolled her eyes.  "See?  This is why I don't talk to you about these things."

Jon chortled.  "Alright, alright... he's good, though?  Gus?"

"Yes.  He's fine.  The case is going well."

"Well, Thank God for that."  Jon couldn't keep a hint of sarcasm from his reply.

Cate's gave him a mild stink-eye.  "You missed a call too, by the way.  Your phone rang while you and Jake were having your water-cannon war."

"Who was it?"

"Jon, don't you think I would have said who it was if I knew?"  Cate started to scold him, but stopped when she saw the mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes.  He was purposely trying to get her riled up.  "Check your phone."

"Yes ma'am."  Jon chuckled again and reached for the tote bag containing their personal effects.  He pulled out his iPhone and squinted at the screen.  His expression sobered.  "Huh.  It was Dad."  A swipe of his thumb revealed his voicemail account contained no new messages.

Cate turned her head to look at her husband, noting the concern in his tone.  "Did he leave a message?"

"Nope.  That's weird."  Jon frowned.

"Baby, he's probably just calling to say hello.  If there was a problem he would have left a message, or one of your brothers would have called."  Cate's expression sobered as well, mirroring Jon's concern.  She knew John Senior was a creature of habit, preferring to chat with his sons and grandchildren on Sunday evenings.  He rarely made purely social calls at other times.

Jon pushed the "call" button and raised the device to his ear.  "Hope everything's okay," he mumbled as he listened to the ring.

Cate watched Jon as he waited for a response, a shadow of worry niggling at the corner of her mind.  It didn't take long to solve the mystery.

"Hey Dad!  What's up?"  Jon gave Cate a relieved look, then swung his feet up onto his chaise.  "Saw you called earlier.  Sorry I missed you.  We're at the pool."

Cate smiled and returned her attention to her iPad, though she continued to listen to Jon's side of the conversation.  After a few comments it appeared all was well.  She could hear relief in her husband's voice as he asked about his mother and brothers, then briefly recounted their vacation activities.  She idly flipped through the remaining pages of the electronic magazine on her tablet, not really paying attention to their contents.

"Oh, you're not at Aunt Barbara's?  When did you come back?"

Cate looked up at Jon, surprised by the comment.  He met her inquisitive gaze and shrugged.  When they had left Jersey Jon's parents had been headed to Pennsylvania to spend time with Carol's extended family.

"Oh.  So now you're at Cousin Therese's?  Where's that?"  The corner of Jon's mouth curved amusedly as he gave Cate another shrug before countering his father's response.  "Pop, how the fuck am I supposed to remember where they all live?"  His free hand waved with the query, his voice picking up a hint of ethnic cadence.  Cate chuckled as she saw Jon's Italian coming out.

"What villages?.... Oh... The Villages?  Is that a place?"  Jon's brow furrowed as he tried to decipher whatever his father was now telling him.  "That's the name of the place?  The Villages?... Where is it?.... In Florida?"

Cate's smile faded just a bit.

"Oh.... just an hour?... Oh, Ma does, huh?"  Jon's blue eyes met Cate's.  She could see it written in his expression.... Shit.

"Uh... yeah.  Sure.  Put her on."  Jon nodded as if his father could see him, then dropped the phone from his cheek.  "They want to come here," he hissed to Cate.

"Here?"  Cate's eyes widened.  "When?"     

"I don't know... they're only an hour away! OH!  Uh... Hi, Ma!"  Jon's half-desperate whisper turned to a cheery greeting as Carol came on the line.  Cate could hear her voice chirping from the little speaker near Jon's ear.  "How's Cousin Therese?.... Good!... Yeah.... give her our love too."  He shrugged at Cate, then rolled his eyes.  She covered her mouth to contain her giggle.

"So, Ma... Dad says you wanna come over and see the Boys?"  Jon's gaze darted back toward the pool, where Jacob and Romeo were still involved in a game of kids' water-volleyball led by Disney "Pool Camp Counselors".  His eyes turned back to Cate.  Her smile had faded and her jaw had tightened at the overheard news.  He shrugged apologetically before answering his mother's query. 

"Um... sure!.... No, no... Today we're just hanging out, taking it easy..... Uh, tonight?  Just dinner, I think.  Lemme ask Cate.  Hold on, Ma..." 

Seizing the opportunity for a pause in the one-sided conversation, Jon lowered the iPhone from his face and covered its speaker with a finger.  He cringed slightly as he spoke, inadvertently telegraphing his opinion of the idea.  "They're about an hour away.  They want to come see the boys."

Cate took a breath, then smiled.  She knew as well as Jon did they couldn't decline his parents' visit.  It wouldn't do any good.  Carol and John Senior would show up anyway.

"Jon, we can't exactly say 'no.'  They're your parents."

He gave her a skeptical look.  "But we're on vacation, Cate."

"Family vacation, Jon.  And they're family."

Jon sighed.  "Look... I know my Mom makes you a little nuts..."

"A little?"  Cate snorted.

"Okay, a lot.  Baby, if you want me to tell her we're busy, I will."  Jon's smile was desperately hopeful.  "I mean, she knows you don't get to spend much time with the boys..."

"Oh no you don't!  John Francis, don't you DARE pin this on me!"  Cate poked a finger at Jon, emphasizing her rare use of his middle name.  It worked.  He cowered.

"Oh... alright."

Cate sighed.  "When do they want to come?"

"Tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yeah!  Why do you think I said I'd ask what we're doing tonight?"

"Well you'd better tell her!"  Cate pointed to the phone.

"Shit!  What are we doing tonight?"

"The luau.  At the Polynesian."  Cate shrugged.   "We can probably get two more tickets..."

"Okay."  Jon nodded, then took a breath before raising the phone to his cheek.  He gave Cate another wide-eyed grimace.

"So, Ma... I checked with Cate.  We're doing some luau dinner thing tonight, but I think we can get more tickets..."  He wrinkled his nose at Cate as Carol cut him off.  Cate couldn't make out the words, but could again hear her chatter.  She gave Jon a sympathetic smile.

"No, no... Ma... It's no trouble.  Seriously, it's fine."  Jon rolled his eyes.  "Jake and Romey will be excited to see you both."  His mouth curved with the sentiment.  He listened for another minute, then again his eyes widened.

"Uh... yeah, I guess so.  Tomorrow?"  Jon looked at Cate, silently asking for her input.  She mouthed the word to him, using her hands to mime the shape of a sphere. 

"Epcot.  We're going to Epcot tomorrow."  Jon stared at Cate as he listened to his mother's proposal.  "Sure, if you and Dad want to tag along... No, I don't think we have plans tomorrow night..."  Again he cringed and gave Cate an apologetic look.  "I think we were just going to have dinner wherever.  Maybe in the park."

"Tomorrow?"  Cate mouthed the question, her brows raised.  Jon understood.

"Are you gonna go back to Therese's tonight, then?..... Oh.... Yeah.   I guess an hour is kinda a long ways late at night..."  He shot Cate a panicked look.  "Um... here?  Yes.  Yeah, Ma... no worries.  I'll take care of it.  You like the Grand Floridian, right?"

Cate's eyes widened as she understood.  This wasn't going to be a brief visit... John and Carol were joining their vacation.

Shit.

"No, Ma.  It's no trouble.  I'll just call the VIP desk and get you a room.  Don't worry about it..... Uh... our place?  We're at the Animal Kingdom.  Yeah... uh, I don't know.... it's kinda small...."

Cate choked back her laugh.  Their villa could be described any number of ways, but "small" was not an adjective that came to mind.  She gave Jon a sympathetic smile, silently thanking him for steering his parents to other accommodations.  It was one thing to share part of their Disney experience with John and Carol, quite another to have to sleep under the same roof as them.

"Ma, I told you.  It's no trouble.  Consider it done."  Jon's tone strengthened, taking on a note of exasperation.  "What time will you and Dad arrive tonight?  I'll call the VIP reservations number as soon as I get off the line with you.  They'll have a room waiting at the Floridian when you get there.  Check in, and we'll come meet you."  He rolled his eyes and shook his head again.

Cate sighed and closed her iPad's cover.  It was obvious their day of relaxation was over.

"Of course Cate won't mind, Ma.  She'll be happy to see you both."  Jon gave his wife another pained smile when she looked up at the mention of her name.  He shook his head slightly as he replied to his mother's query.  "Ma... MA!... Um.... okay.  Hang on."

Again Jon dropped the phone from his cheek and covered the little sound-hole with a finger.  He smiled resignedly.  "I'm sorry, Baby."

Cate sighed.  "It's fine, Jon.  Really.  It will be good for the boys to see their grandparents."  She chuckled ironically.  "But thank you for insisting they stay in their own room."

"If they stay overnight."  Jon grimaced and extended the phone toward his wife.  "Mom thinks you'll be upset about her intruding.  She wants to talk to you."

FIFTY-NINE

Cate's lashes fluttered against the soft, filtered light.  Slowly her eyes opened, their blue irises cloudy against the waning dawn.  She stared unseeing at the gauzy canopy, then sighed a long breath before turning her head.

Instead of her husband she saw a rumpled pillow topped by a folded piece of paper.  Her lips curved as she focused on her name in his handwriting.

With a soft purr Cate stretched, then propped herself up on an elbow.  She reached for the note, plucking it gently from the shallow crater left by Jon's head.  Cate yawned as she unfolded the paper and  focused her still-sleepy gaze on the page. 

Good Morning, My Beautiful Wife.  Out for a run.  Be back after 7 miles... unless I run into a hungry lion.    xoxo - J

Cate chortled softly at the hand-drawn smiley-faced lion accenting Jon's message.  Her finger extended to brush across the pen-kisses beside his initial. 

With another little yawn she slumped back onto her pillow, a gentle smile still warming her lips.  She re-read the message, hearing in her mind Jon's soft, husky voice crooning the words as if they were song.  Even his notes were lyrical.  It was fitting he had written on a page of the music-staff pad from his nightstand. 

Cate chuckled at herself, realizing her unconscious habit had again manifested itself.  She couldn't help but speak or hear certain phrases in a lyrical cadence.  It was a quirk Jon found amusing and endearing, though he teased her about it every time he caught her in the act.

She let her hand drop gently onto her abdomen, the note folded between her fingers.  Cate turned her head toward the master suite's glass wall, from which the sunrise glow filtered through the drawn sheer curtains.  With another soft sigh she realized she should probably get out of bed and exercise, too.  This would likely be her only opportunity of the day.

She blinked at the curtains for another long minute, then sighed one more time before pushing herself up to sit.  She tugged a hand through her thick auburn mop yawning once more.  Reaching to drop Jon's note on her nightstand, Cate groaned softly as a ripple of pops traversed her spine and her back muscles stretched with the extension.  It felt good.

"Okay, get moving," Cate mumbled to herself.  She pushed aside the sheets and swung her feet to the floor, then stood and stretched again, raising her arms over her head and standing on her tiptoes.  Cate grunted softly as she relaxed and let her arms fall to her side before reaching for her behind.  She unceremoniously tugged her bunched boyshort panties from between her cheeks before yawning again.  As she shuffled toward the bedroom door Cate gathered her hair back and twisted it up into a messy knot at the back of her head.

Cate made her way through the quiet villa to the small kitchen off the dining room.  She smiled as she approached the single-serving coffee machine.   Placing a ceramic mug under the spout, she popped a plastic pod into the chamber and pushed the button. 

Cate began to hum along with the quiet whir of the machine as she watched the dark liquid trickle from the machine into her cup.  One of the most wonderful surprises of this vacation was her discovery of a delicious naturally-decaffeinated organic coffee in the Lodge's coffeehouse.  After just one sip of the rich beverage she had bought a box of the coffee pods for her use at the villa, and shipped another twelve dozen boxes to the Manhattan apartment.

God, she had missed coffee.  For over a year and a half she had settled for bitter teas and an occasional bland cup of decaf as she tried to keep her body clean and stable for their fertility pursuits.  Now she had discovered, in a most unexpected place, this wonderful, healthy beverage.  It was like manna from Heaven.

After one short minute Cate pulled the mug from the machine.  She quickly added a pour of organic cream and a sprinkle of raw sugar and mixed, then raised the mug to her lips.  She groaned happily and slumped against the counter as her body filled with rich warmth.

Cate stood in the quiet kitchen for several more minutes, savoring the solitude.  It was something she hadn't enjoyed much over the past six days.  Their vacation had been a wonderful whirlwind of activity, with little time for quiet contemplation.  Though she frequently spent time with Jon's younger sons at home, this was her first lengthy travel with the rambunctious boys. 

Jon had quipped that this trip was her "Mommy Boot Camp;" a challenge to see if she has what it takes to handle Jake and Romeo 24/7.   He hadn't been wrong.  As happy as Cate was to fully engage in her stepmotherly duties, managing a family vacation was exhausting.  She now fully understood why some of her married-Mom friends returned from their family trips looking worse for wear rather than relaxed and happy.

Cate shook her head and smirked ironically before taking another sip from her mug.  And Jon wanted to do this all over again, with another child fully a decade younger than Romeo.  He had told her so, several times over the past few days.  His happy predictions had both warmed her heart and poked at her inadequacies.  But she had smiled and agreed, forcing aside her worries and doubts.  She couldn't dwell on what was yet to come; now she needed to live in the present.

Pushing away from the counter, Cate wandered through the dining room and into the living room.  She paused to gaze out the window at the Florida savanna, watching dark four-legged silhouettes move across the morning-pink horizon.  Her lips curved as she watched the animals stream from their barns out into their pastures; if Romeo weren't still slumbering he would be buzzing with excitement at the majestic sight.

The boy may be asleep, but she wasn't.  She may as well enjoy it.

Cate stepped back, bumping against the circular leather sectional.  She settled onto the couch's rolled back, half-perching as she sipped her coffee.  As she watched the landscape outside the window her mind wandered again, reflecting upon happy memories of the past week.

As planned, the Bongiovis had spent their first full day of their Disney Adventure at the Animal Kingdom park.  Romeo had been a ball of pure energy, and had nearly given his hyper-security-conscious stepmother a heart attack on three separate occasions when he disappeared without warning.  Luckily Jon had stepped in, at one point stopping Cate from demanding a full-on park lockdown from an unfortunate Disney employee.  Romeo had been located just several frantic minutes later, dancing in the middle of an African musical street performance. 

Following that incident Cate had displayed her mother-bear instinct, sitting both boys down and sternly reprimanding them for their carelessness.  Jon had wisely stood back and let her go until she saw tears glistening in Romeo's eyes.  Then guilt consumed her and she backed down.  But her point had been made; Jake and Romeo were careful not to wander astray following their stepmother's lecture, much to her relief.

The Bongiovis spent Day 2 of their vacation at Disney Hollywood Studios, over Romeo's protest that they should return to Animal Kingdom.  Jacob in particular enjoyed the day as the family explored the movie-themed attractions.  Despite his "disguise" of sunglasses and baseball cap a number of fans recognized Jon and pointed cell phones and cameras in his direction.  Bolder fans approached him for photos and autographs, which he either obliged or declined depending on the circumstance. 

Jon was officially "outed" as a park patron when a performer recognized Jon in the audience at a musical revue and called him up onstage.  He reluctantly agreed at his sons' urging but declined to sing, only offering a smile and a wave before returning to his seat.  Following that incident, with Jon's presence officially acknowledged, the family found themselves being followed throughout the park. 

Uncomfortable with the situation, Cate had suggested they ditch their later plans and leave the park early.  Seeing his wife's concern, Jon agreed.  Despite the boys' displeasure with the sudden change of plans the Bongiovis ended up having an impromptu afternoon of family fun at a mini-golf/go-kart park before taking in a Cirque du Soleil show at Downtown Disney.

Romeo's Dream Day was the third vacation day, when the family went on a personal VIP behind-the-scenes tour of the Animal Kingdom park and facilities, culminating in an extended private safari.  Jon was nearly as exuberant as Romeo, but for photographic rather than animal-loving reasons.  Cate had teased him about seeing the entire tour through the viewfinder of his camera, he was so thorough in documenting the day.  They returned to Animal Kingdom for the evening jamboree before retreating to dinner at Romeo's selected restaurant -- Rainforest Cafe.  There the Bongiovis encountered more eager fans who unceremoniously interrupted their dinner to approach Jon, prompting him to request the Manager to move them to a private table.

By the third day of their vacation word had gotten out beyond the Disney Parks about Jon's family vacation.  Thanks to photos and comments posted on social networks by well-meaning fans, entertainment media had picked up the trail and websites, blogs, and television shared details of the Bongiovis' Florida activities.  Jon was displeased but resigned, reminding his unhappy wife that theirs was a celebrity life and the only solution was a change of scenery. 

In an effort to avoid further media attention the family had rearranged their itinerary to avoid the Disney parks for the following few days.  They had had a wonderful time at Universal Studios and Sea World, where Jon had managed to remain relatively unnoticed.  Yesterday they had fulfilled Jake's activity choice by visiting the Kennedy Space Center for a private tour.  Cate's contact had also arranged for Jake and Romeo to meet several astronauts and try on their space suits and gear, which made the boys' day. 

Again Jon had been a happy shutterbug, shooting thousands of images of technological marvels, monuments to space-race history, and his awed and excited boys.  Last night he had spent nearly two hours working on his laptop, reviewing and editing the photos while Cate and the boys watched "Armageddon" in the villa's living room. 

Once the  movie and photo-editing was done, the exhausted but happy family had agreed to slow the frenetic pace of their vacation, to sleep in and have a "lazy day" today.  They would finish making the rounds of the Disney parks tomorrow and the following day, before heading back home to Jersey.

Cate smirked wryly.  So much for her or Jon sleeping in today.  But at least the boys seemed to be getting some much-needed extra rest.

She scanned the horizon again, taking another drink of her now-tepid decaf.  Noting that the animals were dispersing across the plain and the sky's pinkish tint was lightening, Cate sighed.  Well, now that she was fully awake she should get that workout in.  It would be lovely to watch the wildlife on the savanna as she enjoyed an elliptical workout on the deck outside their suite.

Swallowing one more mouthful of coffee, Cate rose from her perch on the back of the sofa.  She wandered back into the villa's atrium, then hesitated.  Instead of turning right toward the dining room and kitchen she turned left, down the hall leading to the boys' bedrooms.  She smiled at her motherly instinct to check on them as they slept.

Cate pushed open the door to Jake's bedroom and poked her head around it.  She chuckled softly as she saw the boy sprawled crosswise across the double bed, a light snore emitting from his open mouth.  Quietly she backed out of the bedroom and closed the door behind her, then stepped over to the second doorway. 

Cate eased into Romeo's bedroom, expecting a sight similar to what she had encountered in Jacob's room.  Instead she found the boy curled under a blanket on the rug in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.  Romeo had clearly put some thought into this accommodation; his head was on a pillow and he was surrounded by stuffed animals.  A pair of binoculars lay next to his pillow.  Cate chuckled quietly; it was obvious the boy had intended to watch the animals leave their barn at sunrise.  But he was clearly too tuckered-out to wake with the dawn.

She quietly departed Romeo's room, standing for a moment outside the door to ponder her next move.  She would really like another cup of coffee, but perhaps she should wait until after her workout.  Cate nodded to reaffirm her decision, then padded down the hall, across the foyer, and down the little hall into the dining room and kitchen.  There she set her cup next to the coffee machine and retrieved a bottle of cold water from the refrigerator.  Then she retraced her steps to the master suite.

Once inside the bedchamber Cate moved to the window-wall and pulled aside the sheer curtains to reveal the morning view.  Then she rounded the bed and opened the closet doors to retrieve her workout gear.  She was about to reach for a drawer when her gaze settled on a garment hanging in the closet's corner.  She hesitated, a smile turning her lips.

Instead of reaching for the drawer, Cate put her hand out to touch the wispy, creamy fabric of the elegant nightgown.  A small sigh escaped her lips and her blue eyes glittered as she recalled the smile on Jon's face when she discovered his surprise gift. 

Upon returning from their day at Universal Studios on Saturday Jon had urged her to enjoy a shower while he got the boys ready to go out for dinner.  When she retired to the master suite Cate found a long, beautifully-wrapped gift box resting on the bed.  A note in familiar handwriting said simply "For You, Because." 

Touched by his thoughtfulness, Cate had waited until her husband could watch her open his gift.  She had been stunned to find the exquisite gown inside, the same one she had admired their first night at the resort.  Jon's happy smirk told her he had bought it for her on the spot.  He confessed quickly.

Cate's mouth curved into a gentle smile as she idly caressed the silky fabric.  Jon's gesture had been the most grand of his romantic overtures the past few days.  After their rocky half-argument the evening of their arrival Cate had tried to be more accepting of her husband's affection in the presence of his sons, but it hadn't been easy.  She was still self-conscious around them, though as the vacation progressed she had relaxed a little. 

While neither of the boys seemed to notice when she and Jon had held hands or walked arm-in-arm, Cate sensed some discomfort on Jake's part when she and Jon embraced or kissed.  She had expressed her perception to Jon, who brushed it off as "pre-teen boy stuff."  While his answer puzzled her a bit, it was a topic she wasn't eager to pursue.  Such matters were better left to the boy's mother.

In private moments Jon was more overtly affectionate.  On several occasions he had made her swoon, turning on his seductive charms.  However, aside from a few interrupted makeout sessions she and Jon had not been physically intimate.  By the time they wound down from their busy, active days they had just been too damned tired to make love.  They opted instead for blissful sleep, drifting off in each others' arms.

Cate sighed, her fingers still sliding over the soft fabric.  She hadn't even tried this beautiful gown on yet, let alone worn it for him.

But since she was changing her clothes anyway...

Cate lifted the padded hanger from the bar.  She pulled the gown from the closet, careful not to snag the delicate chiffon.  She took a few steps back and held it up, watching the fabric float with the movement.  The boys were asleep, Jon was out running... now was the perfect time for her to see how it looked on her.  Or if it even fit.

The thought made her frown.  Jon would be terribly disappointed if this thing didn't fit her.  It's not like he could exchange it for another size -- it was one-of-a-kind.  Shit.

With a freshly-found sense of urgency Cate carried the gown over to the bed and laid it across the rumpled covers.  Stepping over to swing the bedroom door shut, Cate turned back around, her fingers curving under the hem of her comfy sleep t-shirt as she moved.  Quickly she stripped off the tee and wiggled out of her shorts and panties.   She shivered slightly, though the room was warm.  Cate shook her head at herself, wondering where her flash of modesty came from.

Carefully she removed the nightgown from its satin-padded hanger, then found the hem.  She gathered the silky sheer fabric into her hands before ducking her head under the skirt  With a slight struggle, Cate managed to find the neck and arm holes in the sea of creamy chiffon.  She lifted the gown, mildly surprised by its top-heavy weight due to the ornate beadwork around the low-cut neck.  Cate held her breath as she pushed her head through the opening.

She exhaled with relief when she realized it fit.  Cate tugged the beaded collar surrounding the scoop-neck opening into its proper place across her chest and shoulders, then shook her arms to untangle the gathered chiffon sleeves.  She smoothed her hands down her front and sides, straightening the silky folds and drapes.  The lovely garment reminded her of a choir robe in its construction, with its full, flowing sleeves.  But it certainly wasn't church attire; it was practically transparent. 

Cate giggled softly at her silent appraisal.  She turned toward the oval cheval mirror in the corner to evaluate her appearance.  The soft swish of the fabric around her and its silky caress over her skin made her sigh.  She hadn't even seen how it looked on her yet, but this gown made her feel beautiful, womanly.... purely feminine. 

She approached the mirror, then stopped.  Cate couldn't hold in a soft gasp as she evaluated her appearance.

It was stunning.  She was stunning. 

Cate's lips parted, then curved.  Sparkling sapphire-blue eyes shone back at her from the glass.  Ethereal folds of creamy sheer gauze floated around her body like wisps of smoke.  Beneath the fabric her figure was enticingly visible, her curves evident, her skin a darker shade of cream than the gown.  Spots of color stood out through the elegant filter... a faded shield on her hip, a dark-red patch at the juncture of her thighs, and higher, just below the beaded curve of the neckline, two dusky peaks atop full swells of flesh.

Silently she reached behind her head.  With a gentle tug at the knot her mahogany tresses tumbled down onto her shoulders.  Cate's cheeks flushed a delicate pink as she took a deep breath, hardly able to believe the vision at which she stared was her own.

She hadn't felt this beautiful for a very long time.

Cate stared at herself in the mirror for a long minute before breaking into a sheepish smile.  She had almost forgotten she could move.  Slowly she turned, watching the fabric flow with her body.  Cate evaluated her appearance from every angle she could see, then turned back to face her reflection.

Jon would love this.  Even if he didn't get to see it until they returned home.

Cate giggled softly at the thought, then sighed.  She took one more long look at herself in the mirror before turning away.  She really should get dressed so she could get her workout in before the boys woke up.  Cate took a step toward the closet, then hesitated.

Why not?

When she had spied the gown in the shop, Cate's first thought was that it looked like something from an "Out of Africa," a sweeping epic of wild romance and beauty.  Now she was wearing it, and it made her feel like a movie heroine. 

And "Africa" was right outside the door.

With another self-conscious little giggle Cate moved toward the windows.  She paused with her hand on the latch, then tugged.  The glass door slid aside, opening the portal to the deck.

Cate shivered lightly as the mild morning air braced her.  Her nipples contracted with the light chill, making her aware of her pseudo-nakedness.  It was invigorating.

She stepped through the door and crossed the deck to the rail, the gown flowing around her.  Again she shivered, not from a chill but from exhilaration.  Something inside her sparked, a warm glow spreading through her body.

Cate braced her hands against the rail and took a deep breath, in and out.  Her smile gentled and she felt herself relax.  Her blue eyes went to panorama before her, where the sun was now fully above the horizon.  In the fields beyond the villa hundreds of beasts grazed and drank, wandered and cavorted.  Zebras, antelope, giraffes, impala, ostriches, kudu, wildebeest.... other animals Cate couldn't even name.  It was Africa.    

Maybe she and Jon would go to Africa someday.  Just the two of them.

But in this moment, this was Her Africa.

Cate giggled at herself, at her silly girlish fantasy.  It had been a long time since she had fantasized about anything.  She had nearly forgotten how wonderful it felt.

She took another deep breath and gazed out at her Kingdom.

*****

Jon blew out a deep breath, raising his hands to rake through his sweaty hair.  He turned his head to spit on the ground, clearing his mouth of excess saliva before yanking open the villa's front door. 

He stepped inside and paused, listening.  As expected, he didn't hear anything.  Cate and the boys were probably still sleeping.  That was good.  They needed it.

Quietly closing the heavy door behind him, Jon lowered himself to sit on the step.  He yanked of his running shoes and stripped off his sweaty socks, tossing them in a little pile next to the door.  With a little groan Jon stood and padded barefoot through the atrium, headed for the kitchen and a fresh bottle of water.

When he reached the room he yanked open the refrigerator and extracted a cold bottle.  After unscrewing the cap and taking a long drink, he swiped a hand across his brow and groaned again.  His run had felt good.  Now he needed a shower and a hearty breakfast.

Jon tugged his hand through his hair again and looked around the little kitchen, wondering if it contained any breakfast food other than fruit and cereal.  His eyes narrowed when he spotted the coffee mug on the counter next to the cream and sugar, then they crinkled at the corners with his smile.  So, Cate wasn't asleep after all.  She had already enjoyed a cup of that crazy African decaf coffee she had been raving about for the past week.

His smile turned to a devious smirk.  If they were the only ones awake, he and Cate could enjoy a little private time.  Maybe he could convince her to join him in the shower.

Jon gulped down another slug of water before leaving the bottle on the counter and sauntering out of the kitchen. He crossed the foyer in a few quick strides, his gait picking up urgency as his body started to respond to his idea.  Jon's pace slowed when he reached the hall outside the boys' bedrooms, then he stealthily opened first one door, then the other. 

"YESSSSS!!!!"  Jon hissed to himself, pumping a fist in the air after confirming both his sons were still deep in slumberland.  He hurried back across the villa and down the hall to the master suite.  At the door Jon forced himself to pause, collecting himself for his entry. 

This time he was pulling out all the stops to seduce his wife; he'd use every blatant rockstar flirtation he knew if that's what it came to.  He needed to get laid.

Jon reached behind his head to tug at the neck of his sweat-dampened t-shirt.  He stripped the shirt from his body, then used it to wipe away residual perspiration from his neck, underarms, and torso.  Tossing the shirt onto the tile floor, he dropped beside it into a rigid plank position.  Grinning eagerly, Jon rapidly raised and lowered his body in a set of 30 push-ups, pumping up his chest and arm muscles.

Jumping up, Jon grabbed his dirty shirt and swiped a hand across his whisker-roughened cheeks.  He hadn't shaved yet today, which was fine.  Cate liked him stubbly.

Adjusting his grin to a sexy smirk, Jon turned the knob and pushed open the door to the suite.  He stopped, mildly surprised to find the door to the adjoining bedroom closed.  He closed the suite door behind him, then repeated his entrance move into the bedroom.

Stepping inside, Jon paused and scanned the room.  The bed was empty, its covers still a rumpled white nest.  The closet doors were open, as was the door to the adjoining bathroom.  Cate's sleepwear lay in a pile between the bed and the closet, her panties tangled into the knit shorts.  Jon's brow furrowed as he tried to put the clues together.

A light breeze made it click.  Jon turned his gaze to the deck.  Despite his preparation, his seductive smirk faltered and his jaw dropped.  He hadn't expected this. 

She was standing at the railing, looking out at the sunrise.  A misty white cloud flowed around her, stirring lightly in the breeze.  Golden sun rays glinted through her glorious auburn mane.  And her body... she may as well have been nude.  The only thing covering her figure was the translucent fabric of that elegant African gown.  Every curve, every dimple, every cut... her silhouette against the morning sun was beautiful and erotic.

She was exquisite. 

Jon stood transfixed for what felt like an hour before he gathered his composure.  Dropping the sweaty t-shirt, he moved to the doorway.  He stood watching her for another moment before speaking.  Then his voice was a reverent, hoarse whisper, not the sexy growl he had planned.

"My God, Baby..."

Her head turned toward the sound of his voice, but she didn't move from her spot.  The curve of her mouth made his heart leap.

"You're back already?"  It was more a musing than a question.

"Uh huh..." Jon licked his suddenly-dry lips and took a breath, regaining his composure.  "Turn around.  Let me see."

Cate didn't move for a moment, just turned her face back to the savanna.  Then she slowly stepped back from the rail before revolving to face him.

Jon's lips parted in a soft gasp as his eyes slid over her body.  "Beautiful,"  he breathed.  When his gaze raised to meet hers, his groin tightened. In her shining sapphire stare was something he hadn't seen in a long while. 

"It is, isn't it?"  Her answer was quiet.  As Cate took a step toward Jon she raised her arms, making the gown's long sleeves billow behind her.  "Baby, thank you.  So much.  It's one of the most beautiful things you've ever given me."

Jon blinked, not fully comprehending her statement.  He was talking about her, not the garment swathing her glorious body.  Then he smiled as realization dawned. 

"Oh.  Yeah.  You're welcome."  Semi-recovered from his surprise, he stepped closer.  Jon reached for her, needing to touch her.   "I meant you're beautiful." He reached up to stroke his finger along her jaw.

Cate giggled softly, blushing at his compliment and shyly dropping her gaze.  Jon found her reaction adorable. 

He lowered his hand and swallowed hard against the lump rising in his throat.  But he was unable to do anything immediate about the lump rising in his shorts.

"Did you put that on for me?"  His voice was now a low purr, his seduction plan remembered.

Cate slowly shook her head, then looked up at Jon, smiling sheepishly.  "Actually, no.  I was changing for a workout and I thought I'd try it on to see if it fit.  I didn't think you'd be back so soon."

"Well then, I'm glad I came back when I did."  Jon stepped closer and reached for her hips.  The fabric was soft under his palms, between his hands and her flesh. 

Cate's eyes automatically dropped to Jon's chest as he moved in close.  She gasped quietly as she noticed his pectorals and biceps were full and taut, strained by recent exercise.  Cate raised a hand against Jon's sweaty chest.  "Good run?"

"Uh huh."  Jon pulled Cate's hips against his, almost groaning at the soft brush of fabric over his bare abdomen and sweaty thighs.  "I was gonna try to lure you into the shower with me, since the boys are still asleep." 

"Oh."  Cate's reply was gravelly.  "Well, I was gonna work out..."

"How about I give you a workout.... in the shower?"  Jon's growl was close to her ear.  "But before we go inside..."  He leaned into her, with his hands on her hips guiding her to turn away from the railing.  He felt her tense under his grasp as he walked her backwards until she bumped against the half-wall where the railing attached to the villa's structure.

Cate squeaked as her nearly-naked behind impacted the stucco-sided wall and her shoulders braced against the vine-covered privacy trellis above it.  She automatically reached for the deck railing to steady herself as Jon leaned into her, making her shrink backward.  Her pulse kicked up as she looked into his face and saw desperate want gleaming in his indigo eyes.  He looked dangerous.  And sexy as Hell.

"Don't.  Move." 

He breathed the command into her ear before his lips found her neck.  Cate's gasp made him grin against her flesh.  This time he had her.  And fuck, how he wanted her. 

Jon hummed eagerly as his mouth slid down the side of Cate's neck to the curve of her shoulder.  One hand left her hip and curved over her breast, her tightened nipple drilling into his palm through the silky fabric as his fingertips brushed over the ornate swirl of beads adorning the gown's neckline.  Jon growled a chuckle as his wife whimpered softly, her back arching to press her breast more firmly to his touch.  His cock responded too, stiffening unrestrained inside his baggy knit running shorts.

Encouraged by her reaction, Jon raised his other hand to Cate's other breast.  He nipped at her shoulder before drawing back and giving her a hungry leer.  Jon's intense blue gaze dropped to Cate's chest and he slid his hands aside, revealing her pebbled rosy nipples beneath her sheer gown.  Beneath his hands her chest heaved with her shallow gasps for breath.

Jon's mouth curled into a devilish smirk as his gaze dropped lower.  Through the translucent material he could see the diamond stud glittering in Cate's navel, and beneath that a dark stripe lay partially-obscured by draped layers of filmy fabric.   His eyes slid back up her beautiful body, then shifted sideways to Cate's hands.  One was wrapped tightly around the deck's rail; the other had raised to curl her fingers into the trellis near her shoulder.  Cate stared half-dazed at him as she held on against the assault of his seduction.

"You like this, Baby?"  Jon couldn't resist crooning the question.  He could see that she liked it.  He could feel her want, smell her desire.  He also knew she was letting him take control.

"Y... yes..." Cate breathed shakily, her chin dipping in a slight nod.

"Good.  Stay still."  Jon leaned in to whisper against her lips.  "And try to be quiet.  Don't wanna scare the animals." 

He chuckled huskily when he saw Cate's blue eyes dart sideways, toward the savanna.  His tongue parted her lips as Jon let his hands slide down her sides, riding the curves of her figure beneath its silky-sheer wrapper.  When they reached her hips he paused, then slipped his mouth from hers. 

Cate gasped again and tipped her head back as Jon's lips traveled down her throat, toward her chest.  She moaned softly as his teeth scraped across one hardened nipple, then over the other.  His breath was warm against her breasts, making the delicate chiffon flutter against her flesh and ripple down her body, tickling her torso and teasing her heated thighs.  Jon noticed her reaction, and sent puffs of warm breath against the fabric.  He smirked as her flesh quivered beneath the brush of the material.

"Stay still.... Shhhh...." Jon reminded her in a sultry whisper as his mouth moved lower.  Steadying himself with his grasp on her hips, Jon sank smoothly to his knees as his lips slid down her midline and past her navel.  Cate whimpered.

Jon paused his sensual assault to look up at her face.  She was staring down at him, her sapphire-blue eyes half-hooded and dark with arousal.  Long chestnut locks slid over her shoulders and around her breasts, fiery red against her creamy skin and gown.

Jon gave her a sexy grin, then let go of her hips.  His hands dropped to the hem of her gown.  He lowered his chin, purposely breathing against her trembling thighs as he gathered the skirt into his hands and lifted.

"Ohhh...." Cate moaned softly with anticipation. 

"Shhhhhh......" Jon's lips pursed as he chided her in a breathy whisper.  Then they relaxed as he leaned forward and ducked his head beneath her gown.  He released the fabric bunched into his hands and it cascaded down over Jon's bare  back, cloaking him in sheer chiffon.   Again Jon grasped Cate's hips, pinning her gently against the wall as he licked his lips.  Now there was no barrier between him and his objective. 

Cate let out a strangled squeak as Jon's mouth closed over her.  Her thighs quivered and her knees went weak, but Jon's grip kept her from slumping down the wall.  Her head tipped back and her eyes slipped closed as she struggled not to cry out.  When she felt his tongue part her, sliding into her slickness and circling her clit, Cate sucked her lower lip into her mouth and bit down.

The sensation was torturous.  Wonderfully, evilly, exquisitely torturous.  Cate drew in a shuddering breath as she felt heat explode from her center, an electric tingle shooting to her extremities. Wanting to see what he was doing to her, to take in the erotic vision, Cate forced her eyes to open and her chin to lower.  She looked down and saw a matted, tangled shock of silver-blonde hair covered by the filmy net of her gown, dipping forward and back with the strokes of Jon's tongue.

Sensing her observance, Jon paused his delightful torture for a moment, pulling his face back and regarding his work.  Cate groaned softly as his glance turned upward and he gave her an evil smirk before lowering his mouth again to her pussy.

"My God, Jon....."  Cate sighed hoarsely and let her eyes drift closed again.  She sank back against the trellis, her thighs parting further as she surrendered to his mouth.  She had no will to resist him, no ability to tell him to stop.  She had no choice but to let him perform this exquisitely dirty oral act upon her, right here on the deck, outside their hotel room, in plain sight of anyone with binoculars or a telescope or a long-range lens....

The strange noise came from just feet away.

Cate's heart jumped into her throat.  They weren't alone.