Twenty-Seven

“Jess, get the door!”  Jon called as he pulled on a suit jacket over his black t-shirt and flipped his fingers through his hair one more time.  Dorothea was sitting at the vanity in front of him, putting on her earrings, and he dropped a kiss on her bare shoulder.  “You look beautiful, babe.”

She smiled softly and was about to return then compliment, when Jesse’s excited voice echoed through the suite.

“Mom!  Dad!  You’ve gotta come here!”

Jon’s eyes met his wife’s in the mirror, sighing.  “What now?” 

Dorothea had a guess as to ‘what now’ was, and she nudged him through the bedroom door ahead of her, anxious to see the final results.

“Jesse stop screaming al… ready.“  His voice drifted off, mouth slightly gaping.  Jesus Christ.

Allegra spun around lightly, hair and skirt flowing, eyes sparkling.  “Do I look okay?  Not an embarrassment to the family?” she teased.

Dorothea watched in amusement as Jon tried to reconcile this stunning creature with the unadorned Frannie, and Jesse just stood there staring.  “Steph!   Allegra’s here.  Come and see how pretty she looks.”  Giving her a light hug, she murmured so no one else could hear, “He won’t know what hit him.”  Turning back to her husband, she poked his arm to draw him out of whatever place his mind was in.  “Jon!  Answer her.”

He visibly gathered himself and snorted.  “The only embarrassment will be for the men who hit the floor when they see you.”  He came forward and lightly kissed her cheek.  “You’ll be the most stunning woman there tonight.”  Jon cut his eyes to his wife.  “Well, one of the three most stunning, anyway.”

“Oh my God!  You look HOT Allegra!”  Stephanie squealed, finally arriving in the room.

Laughing, she said, “Thanks Steph.  You look amazing, too.”  The short, flouncy black dress with open toe, high heeled ankle boots suited the teen perfectly.

Amid a flurry of last minute gathering of handbags and jackets, the group finally exited the suite.  As they waited for the elevator to take them downstairs, Allegra could hear Jon humming the old Crystals’ song “He’s a Rebel”.  He met her amused look with a wink.

♫   ♫    ♥    ♫    ♫

Richie didn’t usually mind these parties, but he was restless tonight.  A drink would be nice to settle him down – too bad he didn’t do that anymore.  He ordered a club soda from the bartender and was just sipping it when Dave joined him.

“What’s up old man?”  Dave greeted him with a slap on the back, leaning against the bar to study the room.  “Ready to schmooze and play kissy face with all the suits?”  He signaled the bartender for a beer.

“Think I’ll leave that to our fearless leader tonight.  I’ll be right here, minding my own business.”

“Holy fuck,” Dave murmured, his eyes fixed on a point across the room.

Richie followed his gaze, trying to see what had caught friend’s interest.  “What?”

“She’s someone I wouldn’t mind playing kissy face with.”  He nodded at the entrance to the ball room, indicating the scarlet-clad woman in the doorway.  Her face was turned, speaking to someone behind her, and a mahogany curtain of hair slithered across her bare shoulders.

Richie was enticed by the spark of desire that went through him.  His dark slacks grew a little tighter, and his half open button down shirt was suddenly too warm.  It had been a while since he’d had that instant reaction to a woman – other than Allegra.  “No shit man.”  The fascination built as she moved into the room, skirt fluttering in wide ribbons around her legs.  Every step revealed a tantalizing peek of flesh.    

Her face became visible at the same time they both saw Jon enter behind her.  He edged close and spoke in her ear before offering an arm to each Stephanie and Dorothea.

“Holy fuck! “  Dave repeated with more feeling this time.  “It’s Legs.  And daaaay-um is she showing them.”

Richie went silent as the Bongiovis made their way toward the bar.  Dammit, I should’ve known.  Why does SHE have to be the one my body reacts to?  He adjusted his stance, leaning into the bar. This is not an option, Sambora.

Greetings, hugs and handshakes were made all around, but Richie somehow managed to avoid touching her.

Dorothea nudged David.  “Doesn’t Allegra look beautiful?”

He took Allegra’s hand, touching his lips to the back of it and quoting Shakespeare, “She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd.   She is a woman, therefore to be won.”

“Yeah, well you’d better not let Lexi hear you talk about wooing to another woman,” Jon warned him.  “She’s been hanging out with Dot too much, and she’ll karate chop your ass.”

Everyone laughed, or at least pretended to smile, at Jon’s comments. 

Stephanie’s eyes were scouring the room, when she grabbed Jon’s arm and froze, “Oh my God, there’s Pete Wentz!  Can I go over and say hi, Dad?”

“Don’t make a pest of yourself and take Jesse to keep you out of trouble.”

“Do I have to, Dad?”  Jesse rolled his eyes.  “I don’t give a crap about Pete Wentz.”

“Isn’t he married to Ashlee Simpson?  I think I saw her over that way, too.”  Dot said casually.

Jess huffed, but gave his mom the answer she knew he would.  “Fine.  I’ll go.  But she’d better not embarrass me.”

Jon wasn’t worried.  His kids had been raised in this kind of life, and they would behave with as much grace and dignity as anyone in this room.  He watched them go and turned to the women.  “Ladies, it’s time for us to get to work.  Can we get you a drink before we start making the rounds?”

By the time that both women had a glass of champagne in their hands, Tico had joined them.  With a grin, he kissed Allegra on the cheek.   “Your loveliness is wasted on these clowns.  We need to find someone worthy of being seen with you.”

Lightly laughing, she shared a private look with Richie, saying, “Tico, I’d say you fit the bill, but I don’t want to have to pull Alejandra’s claws from my eyes.”

She was pleased to see Richie’s features finally soften a little, smiling at the reference.

“All right, men.  Let’s go forth and mingle with the suits,”  Jon ordered.  “Ladies, we’ll catch up with you in a bit.”  He dropped a quick kiss on Dorothea’s mouth and wandered away to work the room, the other men branching out in different directions.

When they were out of earshot, Allegra said to Dot, “He didn’t even flinch.  A whole freakin’ day of feminine torture and he didn’t speak to me – he barely even looked at me.”

Dot was thoughtful for a moment before assuring her, “His non-reaction is more telling than anything.  The man is every inch the flirt, and if it didn’t affect him, he would’ve been competing with Dave for best corny pickup line.”  She took a sip of her drink and proclaimed,   “I think you’re under his skin.” 

Allegra was skeptical, and was about to say so, when Dot wrinkled her nose in distaste.  She had spotted a couple of the wives she recognized, that Jon had asked her to speak to.  “Honey, I’m sorry but I see some schmoozing of my own to be done.  Have another glass of champagne and enjoy yourself.  I’ll be back in just a minute.”

Nodding, she did as suggested and ordered another glass of champagne, enjoying the way the bubbles tickled her nose.  A couple more of these and she could relax enough for Richie’s reaction not to matter.

Dot was tied up for a while, so Allegra milled quietly on the edges of the event, occasionally smiling and speaking with whoever was nearby.  Over the next hour or so, the blatant looks of admiration from the men that filtered in and out of her perimeter rebuilt her confidence.  After a particularly handsome man winked at her, she was back to feeling invincible.  Just in time to spot Richie alone at the bar.

Straightening her spine, and putting a little sway in her hips, she slipped quietly up behind him.  Stroking her hand along the center of his back, she felt the heat blazing from under his thin shirt.  “Having fun?”

“Always, baby!”  Press smile in place, he spoke before turning to find the source of the question.

The smile faltered, and any pretense of humor left his eyes, making his facial expression completely artificial.

“Don’t look so happy to see me,” she told him with a touch of sarcasm.

Richie schooled his features into what would pass for casual interest, telling her, “Who wouldn’t be happy to see you?  You’re a knockout tonight, Sunshine.”

She searched his eyes, trying to find any sign that would indicate the sincerity of the words, but he had her blocked out.  Instead of focusing on it, she took in his appearance:  black slacks, half opened white dress shirt, with a crystal pendant and a cross nestled in the opening.  “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

Allegra signaled to the bartender for another drink, figuring a little more liquid courage couldn’t hurt for what she was about to do.  “Richie, can we talk for a minute?”

He was uneasy, but did his best to hide it.  “Sure darlin’, what’s up?”

“Not here.  Over there.”  She indicated an empty table in the corner of the room, and moved toward it, giving herself a mental kick in the pants as she went. 

Time to get your game face on.  He’s been propositioned by hundreds – probably thousands – of women.  You’ve got to get it together if you’re going to make this work.

Ingrained manners had him holding her chair, and she smiled her thanks as she placed her drink on the table.   Perching on the edge of the chair, she modestly rearranged the bits of her skirt.

The creamy skin she was trying to cover drew his attention like a magnet, and he could just imagine how soft it would feel under his callused fingers.  Forcing his eyes away, and looking everywhere but at her, he sat across the small table and waited.

He won’t even look at me, she thought with annoyance.  That annoyance temporarily overrode her need to seduce, and Allegra asked peevishly, “What the hell is wrong with you?  You act like I’ve got the plague.”

Richie was taken aback by the anger in her voice.  Snapping his eyes to her face he saw her baby blues flashing with irritation, and her cheeks flushing in temper.    He smiled bemusedly.   She may look like a siren tonight, but she’s still the same Sunshine.  Too bad it only makes me want her more…   “Sorry, my mind was elsewhere.”  Like how to keep my hard-on under control.  “How may I be of service?”

Angry that she’d let her temper interfere with her plans, she refocused herself. 

Invincible.  Invincible.

She scooted her chair closer, and rested her hand atop his on the table. “I know Jon told you guys that tomorrow is my birthday.”  He nodded and she rubbed her thumb across his knuckles.  “And there’s supposed to be a family dinner, with goofy little gifts or something.  I’m sure it will be nice, but there’s only one thing I really want.”  She stopped the motion of her thumb and looked into his face.  “I want you.  All night.”

Before he could even register that his dick had stiffened again, she went on.  “There have been some unpleasant rumors about me going around, I know.  Groupie whore, yadda, yadda…  But I’m not a slut, Richie.  I’m not sleeping with everyone out here, like Jon thinks I am.  You and I have had some type of chemistry going on ever since we met.” 

She slowly dragged a scarlet tipped nail down the center of his chest, and was rewarded with a slight hitch in his breath. 

Good.  At least he isn’t totally unaffected. 

“I want to explore that chemistry.  In depth.” 

She couldn’t decipher his expression, but thought it was something akin to fear.

“Don’t look like that.   I’m only asking for one night, not the rest of your life.  Surely you can trade your blonde beauties in on a brunette for just one night.” 

He stayed silent, eyes unreadable.  Not knowing what else to do, she pushed harder. 

“Or is it that you think I won’t satisfy you?  Because, baby,” Her voice dropped to a purr.  “I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen.” 

Allegra reached into the neckline of her dress, pulling out her room key.   Standing, she locked gazes with him and dropped the card in his shirt pocket.  The heat of his body scorched her hand when she rested it on his shoulder, and she leaned far enough forward for her lips to meet his ear, whispering, “You know my room number.  Use it.”

Richie could do nothing but ache, watching the seductive wiggle of her ass as she sashayed away, her skirt swirling provocatively around her legs. 

Motherfucker.