Forty-Seven

**Sorry this chapter has been so slow in posting!  My mind has been a little preoccupied..lol.  For those of you who don't know, I'm going to be leaving in the morning to see the Bon Jovi concerts Friday and Saturday night.  While I'm sure this is going to provide some amazing inspiration for the storyline, it's also going to slow posting down next   week.  I promise I'll try and have a chapter up by Wednesday though!  Just rest assured I haven't abandoned Richie and Allegra!  They're always on my mind, but sometimes it's just hard to find the time to write.  Thanks SO much, as always, for reading and taking the journey with us!!

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Richie led her into the suite and pushed the door closed.  Wrapping her up in his arms, he nuzzled the curve of her shoulder.  "Alone at last."

After the chapel, they’d come back to the hotel with the rest of the group and changed clothes before Richie took Allegra and Ava to Top of the World for dinner.  The revolving restaurant sat atop the Stratosphere hotel and rotated at a pace that would give a three hundred sixty degree view of Las Vegas within an hour.  He had timed their dinner so that they were able to enjoy the brilliant orange, red and pink sunset over the desert mountains.

“It’s not a tropical sunrise, but it’s still pretty awesome, don’t you think?” he’d asked Allegra, and she agreed wholeheartedly with a sparkle in her eyes.  By the time dinner had ended, dusk had blanketed the strip, and the thousands of neon lights that symbolized Las Vegas were blazing in all their glory.  Allegra had been enthralled while Ava had laughed at her wide-eyed fascination.  She had been to Las Vegas with her father a couple of times, so it was nothing new to her.

Later, they’d met the others at the Mirage for the Cirque de Soleil Beatles’ Love show.  It was unlike anything Allegra had seen before, and again, she was entranced.  This time, though, Ava was right there with her.  She and Allegra wore matching looks of awe at the performers that soared through the air.  Richie had enjoyed watching his girls more than the show. 

His girls seemed to be getting along well, too, and that was a weight off his mind.  No matter how much he liked a woman, if she didn’t get along with his daughter – well, it just wouldn’t work.  The two of them even spoke in tones that he couldn’t hear, often pointing at one tourist or another, probably laughing about the outrageous fashion statements some of them made. 

Jon had noticed, and commented to Richie, “Allegra and Ava seem to be clicking.  Were you worried about it?”

“Not too much.  Ava’s pretty laid back, so I thought she’d be okay.  It’s still a relief to see that I was right, though.”

They had just escorted Ava to the two bedroom suite she was sharing with the rest of the Jovi kids, where Richie had left her with a bone-crushing hug.  With four girls and four boys, the math worked out well for an even division in the two bedrooms.  Casey, who had been given the day to enjoy Las Vegas at her leisure, had an adjoining room in case there was any problem. 

Allegra smiled and ran her fingers through his hair, bringing him back to the present.  “It’s not like you haven’t had your hands on me all night.”

It was true.  If they were walking, he held her hand.  If they were seated, his arm was either wrapped around her, or he found some other way to keep them in constant contact.  

“I told you I was affectionate,” he reminded her with a soft kiss on the column of her neck.  “But that was not how I wanted to be touching you.”  His hands glided up her ribcage, savoring the feel of her under his palms.

She sighed with pleasure, and his thumb moved to stroke to the underside of her breast through the silky fabric of her dress.  The short, figure-hugging black cocktail dress had driven him crazy all evening.  Every luscious curve was on display, and he wanted nothing more than to explore them – well, him and every other man she came in contact with.  He’d seen more than a handful of envious men checking her out tonight. 

“Richie?”  She slipped her hands into his and laced their fingers as she eased away from him.

“What’s the matter, baby?”

“Can we talk for a minute before we…  continue this?”  She worried her bottom lip between her teeth and studied him.

In his experience, talking before sex usually ended in no sex.  He placed a soft kiss on her mouth.  “Are you sure it can't wait just a little while?  Because I want you so bad right now, that I don't know if I can concentrate on anything else."  A gentle tug bumped her pelvis against the proof of his words.

The look of surprise on her face made him laugh.  "Don't look so shocked.  I've been fighting a hard-on since I saw you in that wedding dress."

"But...  we've barely kissed since then."

"Easily remedied," he murmured.  His lips claimed hers with the pent up arousal that he'd been pushing back all day.  Urging her to accept his exploring tongue, he eagerly plundered her mouth when her lips parted on a sigh.  Roaming hands caressed her back and cupped her bottom, pressing her close to ease the ache in his groin.

Their lips separated and Allegra gasped for air.  "We can talk later," she agreed breathlessly.

He swept her up and strode to his bedroom, where the lamplight gave the room a soft glow.  The covers had been turned back and he stood her next to the bed, reaching for the zipper of her dress.  The excitement and lust sparkling in her eyes made him that much more anxious to feel her skin against his.

Slow down there, stud...

Richie eased the fabric down her body until she stood in front of him wearing only a lacy black lingerie set and peep toe pumps.  She stepped out of the silky pool of fabric, reminding him of a dark, sultry angel.  He unbuttoned his shirt and drank her in with hooded eyes.

His skin sizzled when she pushed the shirt from his body and her hands stroked across the bare skin of his pectoral muscles, feathering out to glide down his shoulders and rest on his biceps.  "I love your arms,"  she confessed with a squeeze. "They're so... masculine and sexy."

"Sexy is you in those little scraps of lace," he growled and pulled her close.  His hands wrapped themselves in the long dark waves of her hair, tugging lightly to expose her neck.  The erratic pulse there told of her excitement and he traced it with the tip of his tongue, smirking in satisfaction as it beat more fervently.

She clutched at his shoulders with a soft whimper, his name a sigh on her lips.  "Richie..."

It was almost his undoing, but he couldn't go at this like some randy teenager, no matter how badly he wanted to.  Maintaining his mouth's focus on her neck and shoulders, he sought out the clasp between her shoulder blades and released it, edging away so her bra could drop to the carpet between them.  He couldn't withhold his own whimper when the softness of her breasts came in contact with the hard planes of his chest, and he pressed her close, feeling her nipples stiffen.

Allegra arched against him to seek the relief more pressure would bring, but he stepped away, slipping his fingers into the black lace panties and pushing them from her hips.  When she would have shed her heels along with the panties, he stopped her.  "Leave them on for me."

She kicked the panties away and stood before him, seeking out his gaze and approval.  "You're fucking gorgeous," he told her, reaching out to cradle her breasts in his hands.  "And I want to please you.  Tell me what you want."

The height of the heels placed her mouth just below his ear, her breath causing him to shudder when she whispered, "Fuck me.  Now."

"Who taught you to talk like that, little girl?" His fingers avidly sought the heat between her legs.  She was so wet and ready for him that there was moisture dripping down the inside of her thighs.

"My lover."

With a growl, he pushed her backward onto the mattress and watched her scoot back against the pillows.  "Spread your legs so I can see you," he implored while stripping off his remaining clothes.  After pulling a condom from his pocket, he pushed them aside and unconsciously stroked his cock, spreading the bead of clear fluid from the tip all along the shaft.

Allegra's eyes were riveted to the fingers he had wrapped around himself, and her tongue snaked out to wet her lips as she watched him fondle his erection.  She moaned faintly, obeying his request and planting her heels far enough apart on the bed so that he could see her most intimate place.

A wave of possessiveness overwhelmed him at the sight.  She's mine.  No other man has ever seen her this way.  

Knowing that, Richie couldn't resist a taste of her sweetness.  Crawling onto the mattress, he dipped his tongue into the warm, wet pool of her desire.  With the taste of her flooding his mouth, he grew even harder and hummed in appreciation of her flavor.  Allegra’s writhing had him grasping her thighs to still the motion.  He had meant to only stop for a taste – really, he had – but once his lips touched her, he couldn’t help but revel in the smooth texture of her folds as she heated with his breath.  The slickness of her arousal begged his attention and he lapped at her juices like she was an oasis in the middle of a desert.

“Ohhhh, I’m so close…” she gasped as he dipped his tongue into her core.  “Please…”

The words served as a reminder of his original intentions, and he reluctantly lifted his mouth from her with one last long, slow lick.  “Not yet, baby.”   He rose to his knees and reached for the condom, swiftly rolling it onto his aching cock.  “Wait and come with me the first time,” he entreated. 

Her eyes locked on his and he temporarily got lost in the questions and answers floating in their deep blue depths.  “I don’t know why.  It just matters,” he whispered, sinking himself into her welcoming warmth with a low grunt of pleasure.  “Jesus, you feel so good.”

“Richie…”  Allegra’s hand came up to cup his cheek and she sought his eyes again.  The tenderness there spoke volumes, but his mouth covered hers in a passionate kiss before she could verbalize anything more. 

Not yet, Sunshine.  I can’t. 

His tongue danced seductively with hers as her velvet walls closed in, inviting him to drown a little deeper, and he flexed his hips, inching forward and repositioning until there was no possible way to get any closer.  He swiveled to rub against her clitoris and she arched her back, allowing him that impossible one more fraction of an inch.  She wrapped around him like a satin sheath, rippling with him and growing warmer with every movement.

He withdrew, savoring the sweet friction and feeling the heaviness build in his testicles.  Sliding in again he felt it spread to the base of his shaft.  He repeated the motion, anxiously seeking to climb the pinnacle before him.  Hands gripped her luscious curves beneath him, encouraging her to join him in the rhythm his body needed. 

Allegra mewled her appreciation of his efforts.  “Oh God… Rich… Yes, baby… Please…”

Her words spurred him on and the rhythm grew more intense, as did the pressure building inside him.  He wanted to lose himself, but she had to go with him.   

His hand snaked between them and his thumb sought to stimulate and lift her a little higher.  “Are you close, darlin’?  Will you come with me?  Hmmm?”

Her head thrashed on the pillow and she bit down on her lip, anxious to find the pot of gold at the end of her rainbow.  “Mmm…  Talk to me…”

His thumb stroked through her wet folds and worked her sensitive nerve endings.  “What?  You want me to tell you how sweet your pussy tasted?  Or how horny you make me?   How often I’ve thought of this since the last time we were together? “

She gasped and bucked her hips to meet his thrusts. 

“How…  hot… and tight… you hold me.  So perfect.  Godddd Allegra.  Now.  Oh God, now.”  He increased the tempo as his release surged toward escape.  Sweat dripped from his face and he felt her stiffen beneath him just as an electric jolt shot through him.  Her lips parted on a silent scream and he clutched her hips, pumping frantically until there was no more to give. 

Gasping for air, he slumped against her and rested his forehead against hers, putting his weight on his elbows so as not to crush her.  He tried to control his breathing, eventually evening it out to match hers.  “Sunshine?”

“Mmm?”  Allegra rolled her hips slightly and he felt the muscles there caress him one last time.

“You okay?”

With a soft, content smile, she lifted her face to capture his lips in a clinging kiss.  “I’m fantastic.”

His dimples flashed.  “Yeah, actually, you are.”  He dropped another quick kiss on her lips.  “Be right back.” 

A quick trip to the bathroom and he was back, pulling her close.  “Hi.”

“Hi.”  She couldn’t keep the grin from her face.  “I missed you.”

“I just went to the bathroom,” he laughed.

“No, you goofball,” she chastised with a light poke to the ribs. “I meant the last couple weeks.”

Hugging her tight, he dropped a kiss on the top of her head and said, “I know, baby.  Me too.”

They simply enjoyed the silence and one another for long minutes until Richie recalled that she had wanted to talk.  Nudging her gently, he asked, “Hey, did you still want to talk about whatever it was from earlier?”

“Um.  Yeah.”

“Okay, so what’s up?”  Richie scooted up to lean against the headboard, bringing her with him.

“Well… It’s about Ava…” 

His stomach clenched.  Why could she possibly want to talk about Ava?  Had he breathed his sigh of relief too soon?  Was Allegra just pretending to get along with her tonight?

“O-kayyy…  What about her?”

He waited expectantly as she waged some type of internal decision.  Finally, she broke the stillness with, “She told me tonight that she’s going to be modeling for you.  Soon.  Like, in a couple of weeks.”

“That’s right.  LA Fashion Week.”

“But Richie, didn’t you tell me that White Trash Beautiful is a sexy clothing line?  Do you think it’s really a good idea for her to be exposing herself in sexy clothes?”

He reigned in his initial spark of anger.  “Are you saying that I’m whoring her out?”

“No!”  Shock and sincerity were both evident on her face. “That’s not what I was thinking at all!” 

She sighed, tracing the contours of his chest with her index finger, trying to find the best way to explain.    “Tessa is always on the edges of my thoughts.  No matter how I think I’ve moved past, she’s always there, and I can’t help but think of what her revealing clothing caused.”  Her fingers absently moved lower and stroked the light furring on his belly, as she admitted, “It scares me for Ava.  I’d die if something happened to your beautiful little girl.”

His chest filled with incredible tenderness at the distress he saw on her face.  She’d barely spent a day with Ava and she was willing to risk his anger to make sure his daughter was safe.  In his eyes, it just went to show the depth of her compassion and caring.  Richie didn’t know what the future held for them, but he knew that he couldn’t let this woman go anytime soon.  She was too special.

Because of that, he hugged her close and explained his reasoning.   “Ava was probably about ten years old when she told me she wanted to model, and I immediately said no.  There was no way I wanted her involved in something like that.  She’s my baby, and I couldn’t even imagine her being part of that craziness.  But she refused to let it go, and kept asking and asking.  So…when Nikki and I got together to create White Trash Beautiful, I figured it was the safest environment I could let Ava spread her wings in.  The premise of the line is to make a woman feel sexy, but that doesn’t mean the clothes are all revealing.  There are actually some pretty conservative pieces in there, and that’s the biggest part of what she’ll be modeling.”

He tipped her chin up to look at him.  “Sunshine, I’m adamant about preserving the innocence of children as long as possible.  They’re pushed into growing up too fast and I don’t want that for her.”   He stroked the hair from her face and kissed her softly.  “But I love that you care enough to want to protect her.  Thank you.”

Whether she knew it or not, Allegra now had him wrapped around her little finger – and, strangely enough, he was okay with it.