Chapter 62

Allegra went stock still from the top of her head to the tip of her toes.  Even her heart stopped beating for a second as she tried to wrap her mind around what he’d just confessed.  She thought she’d known – had certainly hoped – but…  Well, she just hadn’t expected to hear it NOW.

Propping herself up on her elbow, she looked into his face.  “Richie, just because – “

“Stop.”  He put a finger over her lips before anything else could be said.  “Don’t try and blow it off.  I didn’t say it because you agreed to my slightly twisted sexual whim – although I’m very happy you did.  But you could’ve told me no and it wouldn’t change a thing.”

“You’re sure?”  She studied his features carefully, but the only thing she found were soft eyes and a tender smile.

“I’m very sure.”  He trailed long fingers through the silk waves of her hair,  fixing his sights on her lips.  Inching closer, he brushed them lightly with his, still hovering close as he whispered, “I love you, Allegra.”

Sweet peace and joyful euphoria battled for reign in her heart, and she couldn’t think of a better combination.  Eliminating the scant space between them, she stole a soft, lingering kiss before breathing, “I love you, Richie.”

With a playful growl, his arms enfolded her snugly against him, and just held her.  They were both content simply being there together.

That is, until Allegra’s mind started flipping through the unresolved issues that needed dealt with.  There were some things they should talk about.  She hesitated to disrupt the peaceful moment, but feared there might not be a better opportunity anytime soon.  Besides, he was the one who had preached about open communication.

“Richie?”

“Hm?”

“Can we talk?”  Realizing that was one of the most dreaded sentences in the English language, she added, “You know, to catch up?”

“Sunshine, as long as I can just lay here for a while, we can talk about anything you like.”  He rolled over on his side, so that he could see her face, and curled her hip in his grasp.  “Why don’t you tell me what’s been going on with you since Vegas?”

She couldn’t have scripted a better segue to launch into her family mini-drama.  It wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things - she KNEW that.  But it wasn’t wrong to seek some support from your…  partner.  Yeah, that sounded better than boyfriend.

With a sigh, she brought her mind back to the task at hand.  “Well, last week I had dinner with Dot, my parents and Jon’s parents.”

“Oh yeah?  I don’t think you’ve mentioned your parents before.”

“That’s because they haven’t exactly been speaking to me.”  With that, she offered him the abridged version of their disapproval and the highlights of the Monday night dinner party.  All the while, his hand stroked soothingly over her hip and thigh.

“Shit, baby.  I had no idea you were dealing with that.  And, of course, I wasn’t a damn bit of help since my availability was all of five seconds a day.”  Self-disgust permeated his voice.

“Will it always be that way?  I mean, is this something you’re hoping I can get used to?”

“Absolutely not,” he told her adamantly.   “WTB has made things crazier than usual, but we’re going to find a groove.  This first time out is just insane, man.  Every detail requires so much attention, because I have no idea what the hell I’m doing.  But I’m getting the hang of it.  Next time, I’ll know what to expect, and will be able to manage my time better.” 

He clasped her hand tightly in his and looked her in the eye.  “I know I fucked up, and I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, you did.  But I’m not sure we’re talking about the same instance.”  Easing out of his embrace, she scooted upward until she could prop herself against the headboard, dragging the sheet along to keep herself covered.

“I’d like to know if there’s anything between you and Nikki.  Or, rather, if there ever has been.  Because you’ve assured me that’s not a problem when you’re in a relationship,” she qualified, absently fiddling with the sheet.  Creasing the material, and smoothing it again.  “I’m not saying that you’re doing anything wrong.  I just...  I…  I just need to know if you’ve… been intimate with her.  For my own peace of mind.”

I have a right to know.  I may be sick if he says yes, but I have a right to know.

Nerves had her shaking. No.  That wasn’t her shaking.  It was the bed.  Confused, she looked down, only to find him laughing noiselessly.  Hands over his stomach, eyes closed tight, flat out laughing. 

You’ve got to be kidding me!

Allegra reacted purely out of instinct, doing the first thing that came to mind– she smacked him.  Hard. 

“It’s not funny!”

“Oh, yes it is!  VERY funny!” he managed to choke out between giggles.

“I personally fail to see how it’s even remotely humorous.  Why don’t you enlighten me?”  She crossed her arms over her chest, more than a little peeved at his behavior.  If he wasn’t going to take her concerns seriously, they might have a bigger problem than Nikki Lund.

Still snickering, he scooted himself up in the bed and leaned in close to her.  Slipping his arm around her shoulders, he hauled her close and said conspiratorially, “Baby, Nikki bats for the other team.”

Allegra didn’t care what team she bat for, but also didn’t understand why it was relevant.   Just because the woman was in a softball league or something didn’t grant her a free pass on moral behavior.

“What difference does that make?”

Richie tried to school his features into a serious pose, but he was still visibly entertained.  “The difference is, she’s probably more interested in sleeping with you than me.”

That’s when it clicked.

With a sharply indrawn breath, she whipped her head up to meet his amused gaze.  “Do you mean she’s a… a… ” 

Allegra couldn’t finish the question, because her jaw went slack.  It wasn’t even a realistic possibility in her mind.

“I believe the word you’re looking for is lesbian.  And if she’s not, her girlfriend is gonna be awfully damn disappointed.”

Her face glowed with embarrassment.  In a million years, she wouldn’t have entertained the idea of Nikki being a lesbian.  After all, she was in fashion and wore all of the girly makeup, clothes and jewelry with relish.  Weren’t lesbians supposed to be all manly and wear biker boots?  Or something?

“Besides that, she’s just a kid.  My old man ego doesn’t get off on robbing the cradle.  It takes a grown up woman to get my attention.”  Richie bent to nuzzle her neck, clearly done with the topic of Nikki.

“How old is she?” 

“I don’t know.  Like, twenty-eight or so?”  His voice was muffled as he nibbled on the curve of her shoulder.

The jaw he’d just returned to its rightful spot, dropped again.  “No she’s NOT!”

With a resigned sigh, he temporarily surrendered his affectionate assault, slumping against the headboard once again.  “Welcome to Hollywood, Sunshine.  Most women have had at least three plastic surgeries by the time they’re twenty-five.”

“Well, she should sue her surgeon!  The poor girl looks like she’s every bit of forty.”

Why did women do that to themselves?  By the time they’d tucked, pulled, chiseled, stapled and bleached, they were all cookie cutter images of one another.

“’Poor girl’, huh?  You go from wanting to scratch her eyes out, to ‘poor girl’ in the time it takes to say ‘plastic surgery’?”

She grinned at him with a sheepish expression and shrugged.  “It’s easier to be generous when I don’t feel threatened.”

“I totally love your shameless honesty,” he laughed.  “I’ll find out who her doc was and we’ll avoid him at all costs, okay?”

The indirect suggestion for plastic surgery prompted a twinge of self-doubt for Allegra.  As she’d found herself with some downtime lately, Google had become a hobby of sorts.  On any given day, she’d type in half a dozen haphazard things and troll through the results.  She’d learned a variety of things:  yak’s milk is pink, why women over thirty-five really shouldn’t take birth control pills and the best tattoo artists in the country.  Oh, and complete listing of Richie’s exes.  The rest of the free world knew who he’d dated, why shouldn’t she? 

Heather, Denise, Cher, Ally.  All very beautiful, and all very Hollywood.  It was disturbing that he may be mentally comparing her to those women.  And perhaps subtly hinting that she needed work done to meet the standards they’d set?

He’d better not be.

Not wanting to pick a fight, she decided to overlook the comment for now.   After all, it could just be a harmless, offhand remark. 

Besides, she still had to tell him about meeting her parents.  That would be enough unpleasantness to finish out the day.  No need to add anything extra to the mix.

“My parents would like to meet you.”

Richie knitted his brow in concentration.  “Did you signal for that change of topic?  Because if you did, I missed it.”

“No, it was really that random.”

She burrowed under his arm, until he finally wrapped it around her shoulders.  Snuggling in, she recited a minimal amount of details about Friday night’s encounter with her parents.

“I told you Mama and Daddy invited me for dinner after the whole ugly scene on Monday.  Well, I went to see them on Friday.  It was agreeable enough, until they found out I was seeing someone.  They went into overprotective psycho parent mode, asking all sorts of questions and generally being ridiculous.  I told them who you were, and now they want to meet you.”

A slight adjustment to the order of events allowed her to keep his pride intact.  Hopefully, he would never need to know that side of her mother.  It had taken thirty-nine years before SHE had seen that side.

“Of course,” he agreed without hesitation.  “They live in Jersey, right?”

“Yeah, not too far from Uncle John and Aunt Carol.”

“We’re in Philly next week.  Why don’t we do the whole family dinner thing?  I’d like you to meet Ma, too.  Maybe John and Carol, your parents, Ma, Jon and D, you and me?”

Initially, Allegra started to refuse.  Her mother may not behave like Miss Congeniality, and she didn’t want to be embarrassed in front of Richie and his mother.  She’d opened her mouth to decline, when it occurred to her that the others may act as a friendly reminder for Therese to remain… well, friendly.

“I think that sounds like a good idea.  Although I think I’m getting the better end of the deal.  There’s only one sweet Sambora to me meet, while you have two crazy Castanellis.”

There was always the chance that it would be a simple, pleasant family dinner – even with four Bongiovis in attendance. 

It could happen.               

Sixty-One

Because some of you asked so very nicely (and some of you NOT so very nicely), here's another chapter. Yes, that's THREE days in a ROW!! But, the cupboard is bare now. Old Mother Carol has to get some more writing done. Hope you enjoy it!!! 

Allegra’s hands trembled with anticipation as she removed her blouse.  The look in his eyes…  Well, he’d never asked her to do anything with such a look of need before.   Whatever he had in mind, she would gladly succumb to.  That need, and his obvious fatigue, pulled at her heartstrings.

 Quickly removing her slacks and lingerie, she slipped under the covers of the big bed to wait.

She couldn’t help but speculate what submitting to him would entail.  Without a doubt, she was confident he’d never get rough with her.   It just wasn’t his nature.   Having so little experience to draw upon, her naïve mind assumed that he would simply direct her in bringing him pleasure – something that she would be happy to accommodate. 

Without warning, the bedroom door swung open and he strode in wearing a black silk robe.  His presence filled the room, captivating her, and she couldn’t have looked away if the nightstand had burst into flames.   Sexual energy swirled in the air around him and her nerve endings stood at attention with the look of promise in his eyes.  Richie in control was magnetic.

“Stand up and uncover yourself.  Don’t hide from me.”

Her heart leapt at the booming command, and a shiver of trepidation crept along her spine. 

This is Richie.  I’m safe with him. 

With a silent nod, she slid obediently from under the blankets.  Rising smoothly from the mattress, she circled to the foot of the bed, where he waited.

“Turn around so I can see all of you.”

Closing her eyes, she pirouetted slowly under his watchful gaze.

“Good girl,” he said when she had come full circle, brushing her cheek with his knuckles.  “You please me.”

Richie untied the belt of his robe and let is slither into a black pool of silk at his feet, leaving him gloriously naked.  Allegra eyes devoured him hungrily.  The magnificence of his manhood never ceased to awe her, even in its current state of rest. 

How can he not be horny?  I’m about to spontaneously combust and he’s completely soft.

“Make my dick hard.”

Without hesitation she moved forward, preparing to drop to her knees, but he stepped back and shook his head disapprovingly.  

“You should be able to do that WITHOUT touching me.”

Her stomach clenched with apprehension, and she began to panic.  Seduction was not a game she was well versed in, and she was no temptress.  Richie knew that.  Did he really think she could do this?

As quickly as the thought crossed her mind, it was chased by another.

He does know.  He knows that I arouse him, or he wouldn’t do this.

Tucking that knowledge away, she met his scrutiny with a confident smile.  “Yes.”

Allegra remembered all the times Richie’s hands had been buried in her hair with rapt fascination.  It seemed a good place to begin. 

With deliberate care, her fingers crept upward along the column of her neck, until they wrapped around the elastic band that secured her ponytail in place.  She gave it a leisurely tug, allowing the ebony locks to tumble free.  A shake of her head sent the strands skittering across her shoulders and she emitted a blissful sigh at the decadence of it.

Curious as to the effect of her actions on him, she furtively stole a peek.  Lines of tense concentration were evident at his mouth, and coffee eyes had blackened with passion.   

I can do this.

The realization was empowering, allowing her to be more bold and brazen than ever before.  Guiding her open palms to her waist, she delicately caressed her torso, stopping just short of reaching her breasts.  Her fingers trailed lightly around the circumference of the twin globes and dawdled in the valley nestled in their midst. 

Teasing. 

Taunting. 

The temptation grew to be more than she could resist, and she succumbed to the enticement.  Cupping her palms around breasts heavy with desire, she kneaded the supple flesh with a tenuous touch.  The gentle kneading morphed into purposeful manipulation and she arched into her own touch. 

Her nipples immediately stiffened with desire and throbbed, begging for consideration.  Reaching up with her thumb and forefinger, she lazily rolled the rosy tips in their grasp.  She bit her lip, allowing her head to loll back, forgetting who she was supposed to be pleasing.

“Harder.”

His hoarse command penetrated her little world of self-pleasure, and she realized she didn’t know where he was.  Her eyes followed the sound of his voice to the overstuffed armchair by the window.

To accommodate his wish, she firmly tweaked the turgid little peaks, giving them a sharp tug.  Allegra gasped lightly at the sharp jolt that shot through her breasts.  It was difficult to decide whether it was pleasure or pain coursing through her at that moment, but it was addictive.

“Is your pussy wet?”

It was a struggle to focus her eyes and attention on him, and when she did, her eyes immediately dropped to his lap.  His fingers were loosely wrapped around his very prominent erection.

So far, so good.

“Answer me,” he ordered, stroking himself almost absent-mindedly.

“Yes.”

“Prove it.  Slide your fingers in.”

Her breath caught at his dark, sexy voice.  It was enough to tempt a saint, much less a mere mortal woman.  Even so, she wavered.  It was one thing to touch herself for him, but to touch herself THAT way was another story. 

“The rule is ‘immediately and without question’,” he reminded her.  “Do it now.”

Removing her mind from the situation, she eased her fingers ever so slowly downward, hesitating only  for a fleeting moment at the juncture of her thighs.  With resolve, she glided her middle finger into the dewy folds.  The slippery evidence of her desire smoothed the way for her tentative exploration. 

“Is it wet?”

“Yes.”

The silky moisture fascinated her, as it always did, and she slipped another finger into the sultry, damp heat.    She gingerly fondled the fleshy little bump of pleasure that had stiffened at the first brush of her hand.

“Put your fingers inside.”

Eyes closed, she focused on the pleasure her own touch was bringing and did as he asked, edging toward the entrance of her core.  One finger slipped in easily and she couldn’t muffle the hum of desire that escaped.  If one finger was good, two must be better.  The second joined its mate in the snug, warm confines.  In and out she navigated through the intensifying flow of her juices.  In and out, in and out until her breath came in shallow puffs.

Just a little more…

“Stop.”

It’ll only take a couple more strokes to relieve this pressure.

Richie materialized before her as silently as an apparition, but an apparition didn’t possess his strength.  A firm hand clamped down over the hand that was about to grant her release, rendering it immobile. 

“I said stop.  The rule is ‘you don’t cum until I say so’.  Did you hear me say so?’  He loomed over her in what should’ve been a menacing way, but it affected Allegra as an aphrodisiac.

“No.”

Richie gripped her wrist and brought her hand even with his mouth.  Dark eyes swallowed her whole as he purposefully laved each of her glistening fingers with his tongue, suckling away every last drop of her essence.

“Have you ever tasted yourself?”

She openly ogled his lips, which shone with her moisture.

“No.”

“You can’t be trusted to do it yourself.”  With his hand still wrapped around her wrist, he bent to retrieve his robe’s belt from the floor.  “Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

The words should have frightened her.  At the very least, she should have been nervous, but everything he did served only to incite her lust.  Turning slowly, she did as he asked and felt the belt tighten snugly around her wrists.

Spinning her back around to face him, he claimed her mouth in a passionate kiss that she returned with equal ardor.  There was too much space between them.  They couldn’t possibly get close enough.  She sucked on his tongue with abandon, pressing herself into the hard wall of his chest with a fervent cry.

“Spread your legs.” 

At her instant obedience, he wasted no time propelling his middle finger in as deeply as it could reach.  Her walls clamped around him and he stroked at a painstakingly slow pace, drawing a quiet whimper and a fresh flood of desire for his efforts.

He ground his erection into her hipbone as he freed that talented finger and pressed it to her parted lips.  “Now suck it clean.”

Allegra’s lips curled agreeably around the length of his finger, drawing it deep into her mouth and drawing hard.  She wished it was another part of him she was sucking on, but the taste he wanted her to experience wasn’t unpleasant.  Slightly salty, musky.  Unlike any other flavor she’d tasted.

“Do you like it?” he growled in her ear.

She finished cleansing him with a quiet slurp before answering.  “Yes.”

“So do I.”

Richie pushed her unceremoniously to the bed, once again instructing her to spread her legs.  Having bound hands made it awkward, but she managed to scoot back on the bed and find a comfortable position.  She opened her legs to him, quivering with anticipation. 

Her moan of ecstasy filled the room at the first touch of his mouth.  Confident lips moved  sensually against her folds, his tongue snaking out to tease and taste.  Each suckle, each stroke, each caress of his talented mouth brought her that much closer to the edge of rapture.  It was so close now she could touch it.

“Yesss.  Please!”

Without warning, her euphoria was rudely interrupted.   A smack reverberated through the room, and Allegra felt the accompanying sting on her butt cheek.

“Rule three seems to be hard for you to understand.” 

Her need overrode what little pain he’d caused.  She unconsciously rocked her hips, fruitlessly searching for the pleasure that had been there only seconds ago.

“Pleeeease,” she begged.  He’d been right to tie her hands.  If she’d been able, they would be finishing the job he’d abandoned.

“Turn over.”

She flipped herself over as quickly and as gracefully as her bound hands would allow.  His hands moved immediately to her restraint, working at the closure until she was once again free. 

“Put your ass all the way up in the air.  I want to see your pussy begging for me.”

Scrambling to her knees, she leaned forward until her shoulders were resting on the mattress, perching her bottom up as high in the air as it would go.  She had no idea what he expected of her, but her quest for release had her hips undulating, eager for him to fill her and put an end to this sweet torture.

“Getting anxious are we?”  He chuckled darkly and caressed her bottom with both hands.

“Yes,” she gasped.  “Please.”

“You haven’t obeyed very well, but I’m still going to let you get yourself off now.  Rub your clit and make yourself cum.”

Allegra froze and looked over her shoulder at him in disbelief.  She didn’t want to get herself off.  She wanted HIM.

“Do it.”

Desperate times called for desperate measures.  Arousal drowned out modesty and she reached for the ache between her legs without hesitation.  Lightly flicking the sensitive little nub, she could feel her climax building once again. 

She barely noticed when he left the bed, so intent was she on achieving orgasm.

Adding a second finger, she applied more pressure, moving more animatedly.  Unwittingly, her hips joined the crusade and they rotated against her fingers, anxious to help speed the process along.  If she didn’t orgasm soon she was going to melt. 

A bead of perspiration trickled down her cheek, and she felt the mattress dip with his return.  He kissed away the moisture from her face, and whispered, “Tell me when you’re almost there.”

“Yessss,” she moaned, climbing steadily toward the pinnacle.

Almost… there…

And then Richie was there, filling her to capacity with one swift stroke.  Her world instantly shattered into a million glittery, shiny pieces.

“Unnhhhhnnnnhh!”  The bolts of electricity zinged through her body like a pinball machine, eventually exiting from each of her limbs, and she trembled violently with the effort.   Her diligently pleasuring hand fell away, to help maintain her balance as the world rocked around her.

Richie continued with slow, deep thrusts as she floated back down from the stratosphere she’d been projected into.   

“Keep rubbing,” he ordered hoarsely.

“Too… much…”  The pleasure was too intense.  She couldn’t stand the thought of pressuring that little bundle of nerves again.

She felt the slap on her backside, but she found it more enjoyment than punishment, and only whimpered slightly.  Her hand remained firmly on the bed.

He stilled himself inside her and reached over to forcibly pick up her hand from the mattress. 

“Immediately and without question.” 

His strength guided her fingers back to their assignment where he manipulated them into his will.  The pressure of both their fingers on the hypersensitive skin was so intense that it was almost excruciating.

“No.”

“Yes,” he countered, maneuvering her finger lightly along the sensitive lips that were plumped with desire.  In tandem, their fingers skated along her cleft, until – unbelievably – she could feel the wet evidence of desire start to flood her again.

Satisfied that she was going to obey this time, Richie grasped her hips with both hands and resumed pumping himself inside her.  The strokes were slow and concentrated at first, but grew more forceful as her cries of rapture grew louder. 

“Please!”  The sound of their flesh slapping together grew more frenzied, as did her fingers.  A cold sweat broke out across her forehead as Richie drove her over the edge with his powerful thrusts.  Her hips bucked violently as, from deep within, the wave stole over her in ripples of heat.  The shudders wracked her body from a place so deep within that she didn’t know it existed. 

“Yes. Yes. Yessssss…..” 

As the shudders began to subside, breathless and weak, she fell to her face on the bed.  Richie’s deep, lowing cry of satisfaction echoed in her ears and he held himself deep inside her.  The pulsing sensation of his seed emptying sent another shiver through her womb.

He mumbled incoherently and his palms mindlessly caressed her for long minutes – until he had regained the ability to breathe without gasping.  After carefully easing from her, he stole away to dispose of the condom. 

Without his strength supporting her, Allegra’s knees gave way and the mattress swallowed her languid form.  She rolled onto her side and struggled to fight enticing call of sleep.  It had been an early day, and Richie had drained every last bit of her remaining energy. 

She was still conscious enough to feel the mattress dip with his weight when he returned.  He settled the sheet over them and Allegra cuddled up to him with a contented sigh.  Her cheek found the perfect resting spot on the hard plane of his chest, and she allowed his heartbeat to lull her into a sleepy haze. 

“Do you still love me after this?”  The quiet question broke what, she thought, was a contented silence.

It was difficult to explain that, while he may have had the control, she felt as though it had been all about HER pleasure.  The post-orgasmic cloud that fogged her mind wasn’t going to allow her to do it justice at the moment, so she decided to stick with the rules of the game.

“Yes.”

His lips pressed against her temple and he hugged her close. 

“I love you, too.”

Chapter 60

Richie stood, feeling like an idiot, in front his door as he methodically searched his pockets.  They’d just given him the room key a few minutes ago.  Where the hell was it?  Crime in Detroit was bad, but not bad enough to blame his missing room key on.

He checked again, to make sure, but both jacket pockets were empty.

With a sigh, he methodically moved through the pockets of his jeans.  The front right pocket held his iPhone and earbuds.  Back right…wallet.  Front left… lip balm.  Back left… friggin’ empty. 

Still no room key.

Certain this week would never be over, he cursed quietly and moved his search to the outside pocket of the worn, brown leather carryon that was his faithful traveling companion. 

Television interviews, phoners, sound checks,  promos, shows, photos, meet and greets, Nikki, Ava, Heather.  He was no stranger to having a busy schedule, but it verged on unmanageable trying to juggle the band AND the initial rush of the clothing line.  Circumstances forced him to be like a puppet on a string, constantly in motion with no input as to which direction or how fast he was going.   At this pace, he was going to drop dead or lose his mind in about five minutes.  

 Sooner if I can’t find this fuckin’ key!

Richie stuffed his hand in the other side of the bag.  He was beyond tired of having no immediate control over his life.  While he appreciated and understood that everything had been scheduled to maximize exposure in a limited amount of time, he was in desperate need of an oasis in the desert of celebrity hell. 

Preferably in the form of his girlfriend.  The one whom he’d treated like shit for over a week, because he didn’t have five minutes a day to himself.  It would serve him right if she wasn’t speaking to him.  Once again, he resolved to find time for a long, intimate phone call.  She had a way of making the craziness go away, and he really needed that right now.

Finally, his fingers wrapped around the elusive piece of plastic that would grant him access to a hot shower and a comfortable bed.  Grumbling, he snatched it out of the bag and jammed it into that stupid little card reader. 

The blinking red light mocked him and the door remained firmly locked.

I’ll be goddamned!

He flipped the card over and tried again.  This time, the little green light blinked really fast, like it was on speed, but the door was still locked. 

Deep breath. Find your inner Zen. 

Reinserting the card more slowly and removing it, he was grateful beyond reason when the solid green light welcomed him with a quiet beep.

Turning the handle, he stepped over the threshold, only to feel the strap on his bag give way.  There was barely an opportunity for him to register what was happening before the bag struck the floor with a heavy thud.

“FUCK!”  His temper snapped, and the poor bag became victim to his fury, suffering a swift kick that carried it out of reach.   It felt good, but only vented a drop out of the bucket of negativity he’d been accumulating over the past few days.  He moved his attention to the door, which he heaved shut with all the might of his pent up frustration.  The reverberating crash gave him a small sense of satisfaction.

“I’m sure we’ll get there, but how about a kiss first?”

Richie’s head snapped around at the quietly amused voice.

Allegra.

He felt the tension immediately leave his body.  Those few words and her presence magically erased all traces of his anger, exchanging it with a peaceful serenity that he hadn’t known since Las Vegas.

For no reason he could explain, she’d effortlessly soothed his wrath just by being there.

It had taken Heather a couple of years to learn how to soothe him – not that it was often necessary – and she’d had to work hard to figure it out.  The end result wasn’t rocket science.  Any guy could tell you that a blowjob was surefire tension relief. 

Denise…  Well, Denise was a little self-involved.  They hadn’t been together all that long anyway.

“Hello?” Allegra gently reminded him that he had yet to speak.

Their eyes locked, and he couldn’t – didn’t want to – deny it any longer.    The woman standing before him was different than any other.   He could now admit to himself that she was the one he’d been searching for. 

Wordlessly, he eliminated the short distance that separated them, twining his arms so tightly around her that her heart beat against his chest.  He counted three heartbeats before he eased away, and his strong hands cupped her face, lips falling on hers with a stifled sigh of relief.  His tongue softly begged for entry, and when she granted it, he drank from her gratefully. 

Tongues danced in the intimate way that was uniquely theirs.  Starting out as a slow, sensual  ‘I missed you’ that intensified into a more urgent ‘I need you’.  They were both breathless when he slithered his arms back around her waist and rested their foreheads together.  

“Hi,” he murmured.  “Eventually I’m going to wonder why you’re here, but right now I’m just glad to see you.”

“I hoped that you’d like my little surprise.”

He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, thankful for whatever had brought her here today.

“I’d kinda like to see you too, though,”  Leaning back, she slid the sunglasses from his face, and he saw concern flood her features.  “David was right.  You look like hell.”

He pulled away and took his sunglasses from her, tossing them on the table in frustration.  “David should keep his fuckin’ trap closed.   I’m just tired.”

Richie hated that she’d had to rely on reports from David to keep up with him.  He should’ve been the one to tell her he looked like hell, or at least felt like hell.  There was no excuse for the way he’d neglected her and no one to blame but himself. 

 He felt like a piece of shit stuck to the bottom of somebody’s shoe.

Well, it’s not going to happen again.

“Hey.” She reached for his hand, and tugged persistently until he was standing before her again. “I asked because I’m worried about you, and your schedule hasn’t exactly had room for long, chatty conversations lately.”

He tightened his grasp on her hands and met her gaze head on.  “I’m so sorry it got that way, Sunshine.    It won’t happen again.  I’ll make time for you every day.  Even if it’s just five minutes, it will be OUR five minutes with no interruptions or distractions.”

“Sweetie, I understand that you’re busy, and it’s okay.  I just wish there was something I could do.  I feel so helpless.” 

Freeing one hand, she lifted it to softly stroke the shadows under his eyes.  “You know… I’ve been up since really early this morning and was thinking I might take a nap.  Will you come with me and rest for a while?”

A slight notion niggled at the back of his mind, and he wondered how accommodating she would be.  “Darlin’ if you’re in the bed with me, resting is NOT what I’m going to be doing.”

“I can’t say that I’m disappointed to hear that.”  She gave him a seductive smile.  “But why don’t you come lie down and let me take care of you for a change?”

Richie knew she meant well, but the last thing he needed was someone else telling him what to do.  No, what he needed was at the far end of the spectrum.

He bent his head and put his lips beside her ear.  The warmth of his breath caused her to shiver when he murmured, “You wanted to help.  I’ve got a way for you to do that.”

“I’m listening,” she whispered, reaching up to bury her fingers in the hair at his nape.

“Do you trust me?  I mean REALLY trust me?”

She nodded slowly, and he could see a combination of uncertainty and confusion swirling in her Sicilian blue irises.

“I have an overwhelming need to be in control right now.”  He stroked her cheek gently.  “Will you submit to that control?” 

She drew in a surprised breath, and he felt her shiver again.  This was obviously something she hadn’t been expecting, but then again, neither had he.

It had been a long time since he’d wanted to dip his toe into the slightly darker end of the sexual pool.  He prayed it wouldn’t scare her, but the thought of regaining control – even if it was one tiny area of his life – was entirely too heady for him to ignore.   Add in the idea of this strong woman letting down every barrier and wholly trusting him with her body, and the lure became almost intoxicating.

“I would never hurt you,” his low voice rumbled in her ear, after sensing her hesitation.  “It’s all about enhancing the pleasure.  If you’re uncomfortable with what we’re doing at any point, just tell me to stop, and I will.”

He kissed her neck softly, in reassurance.  The sweet berry smell that he’d come to associate with Allegra assuaged his nostrils.  Her sweetness mixed with his darkness.  He growled softly at the thought.

Richie drew back, and watched her tongue dart out, wetting her lips enticingly.   

“Okay.”

“Okay what, baby?”  He anxiously her searched her face for visual confirmation to the words she was saying.  She was agreeing, wasn’t she?  Brown eyes riveted to blue, waiting.

Allegra didn’t look away, just brushed the hair from his forehead and said with quiet confidence, “I’ll submit to you.”

Alpha male testosterone flooded every cell in his body at her acquiescence.   His cock became hard enough to pound nails and he ached to bend her over the couch and take her without another thought. 

No.

He reigned in the idea with a firm hand.  A dominant role may seem selfish, but for him, it was the carte blanche to guide his lover into an intimate self-exploration.  He took the trust she was placing in him very seriously, and gratefully accepted sole responsibility for her satisfaction.

Gently capturing her wrists he brought them together and locked the fingers of one hand around them, holding her in place.  “There are only three rules.”

Staring at her lightly bound wrists in fascination, she nodded.  Instinctively, he knew that she was already aroused by the idea.  He’d bet anything her panties were already wet.

Richie tipped up her chin so that she could see the determination on his face.   “One:  the only words you’re permitted to say are yes, no and please.  Two:  anything I instruct you to do, you will do immediately and without question.  Three:  you will not cum until I say so.” 

Allegra’s face flushed and her eyes dilated.  He’d been right.  She was as excited by this as he was.

“Do you understand?”  He gripped her wrists a little tighter.

“Yes.”

He slipped his free hand up into her hair and his lips hovered close to hers.  “Is this still okay?” he breathed, giving her one more opportunity to back out, now that she’d heard the ground rules. 

“Yes,” was her whispered reply.

“Good. “  His mouth claimed hers, tongue diving inside for one deep drink before separating from her.    “Now go to the bedroom, get naked and wait for me.”

Fifty-Nine

Allegra put her carryon in the overhead compartment and claimed her seat next to the window.  It was six am and she was on her way to Detroit.  Finally.

Richie’s attention span hadn’t gotten much better over the weekend.  He called when he could and tried to be attentive, but he was always getting pulled away for some fashion related crisis or another.  This time it was Ava instead of Nikki, though, according to David.

David had been incredibly sweet to tolerate Allegra’s multitude of daily phone calls.  He’d assured her repeatedly that, while Richie was tired and edgy, it was nothing he hadn’t survived on more than one occasion.  It was above and beyond the call of duty, but he’d even dropped several subtle comments mentioning the lack of Nikki’s presence in the world of Bon Jovi.

Apparently Ava was really excited at the opportunity to be on the catwalk, but there was one special dress she was dying to model.   Nikki had already designated it to another model, and was reluctant to make the last minute change.  David said Ava spent an entire evening aggravating the life out of her father with text messages and phone calls until he’d practically begged Nikki to make it happen.  It was just a damn dress, after all.

Then Heather had started in on him about everything from security to having enough press coverage for Ava, to the celebrity guest list.

So, in his defense, it wasn’t like he was avoiding her on purpose.  The women in his life had just been incredibly difficult and demanding as of late.

Much to her dismay, Allegra was about to join those ranks.  Her parents had insisted on meeting him.

Dinner on Friday night had been less than spectacular.  She’d arrived, as requested, about six o’clock to a dinner of whitefish, steamed vegetables and rice.  It was the same thing her mother had prepared every Friday night of Lent for Allegra’s entire life.  The familiarity of it was comforting – much more so than the company.

Her father had been sociable enough, encouraging her to tell tales of her travels, which she was happy to do.  She insisted that her parents must travel to Hawaii, explaining to them in detail the beauty of a sunrise in the tropics, and the feeling of awe and insignificance it inspired.  Then she had gone on to stories of cool, damp Seattle, and her adventures with the band at the Space Needle and Pike’s Place Market.   Her newly acquired body art was best left for a later date.  MUCH later.

To her mother’s credit, she hadn’t said anything negative, just quietly listened.    Until Allegra mentioned her most recent trip to Las Vegas.

“Why did you go to Las Vegas?  I thought Dottie said you came home after Seattle.”

Allegra silently recited the Serenity Prayer.

“I guess now would be a good time to tell you I’m dating someone.  He had invited me to join him in Las Vegas for the weekend.”

Did she…?  Oh good Heavens, my mother just crossed herself.

“Mama, stop that!  He’s a good man who treats me like royalty.  I feel very blessed to have him in my life.”

“Who is this… boyfriend?” her father asked in his best Italian dad voice.  If he was trying to intimidate her, he was going to have to do better than that.  Or was it intended for the mysterious boyfriend of his baby girl?  They were headed into a whole new territory for their little family, and she sincerely wished somebody would give her a road map.

“His name is Richie Sambora.”

Her mother gasped and crossed herself again.  “You can’t be involved with that man!  Absolutely not!”

Allegra wondered when she had entered the Twilight Zone.  Looking around the room, everything seemed familiar.  Her parents LOOKED like her parents.  There was no mirror hanging nearby, but everything she could see of herself seemed familiar.  So why in the world was her mother being so tragically theatrical? You’d think she’d just declared that Richie was a serial killer.

“Mama, you don’t even know him!  Why are you acting this way?”

Throwing her napkin down on the table, her mother stood and loomed over Allegra, waggling her finger in her daughter’s face.  “I know EXACTLY who he is, young lady!  I watch Entertainment Tonight and read People magazine.  He’s that alcoholic guitar player that almost cost Jonny his band!”

People Magazine.  Really??  Holy Mary, Mother of God, I’m looking for a divine intervention here, but I’d settle for a dose of sanity.  Amen.

Her fingers wrapped around the cross at her neck, trying to channel some of that elusive faith that Richie had intended it to bring.  Right now, she didn’t have a whole lot of faith that dinner was going to end with a sweet hug and a promise to call next week.

Therese turned to address her husband.  “He’s DIVORCED and has a child!”

Logically, she should have realized that was going to present a problem, but in her mind, she’d still had time to work out all the finer details.  Richie was Catholic.  Surely he’d gone to the Church and gotten an annulment.  He should be here with her for this, but who could’ve had any idea that her mother knew who he was?

“Sit down Mother!” 

Her father had been silent, keeping this strictly a mother/daughter disagreement, until her outburst spurred his own.  “You show your mother some respect!” he bellowed.

Whirling on him, she did her best to regulate her volume.  Screaming would serve no purpose besides relieving her urge to throw the remaining whitefish against the wall. 

“Respect is a two-way street, Daddy.  I’m almost forty years old, not fourteen!  Why does everything have to be a battle now that I’ve left the Church?  Time didn’t suspend while I was a Sister.  I didn’t return to you as an eighteen year old in need of guidance.”

“You don’t know anything about real life,” her mother informed her piously, resuming her seat at the table.  “Someone has to protect you!”

I swear, if she points that finger at me ONE more time…

“Why don’t you ask Jon how his attempt at protecting me went over?  Hmm?  He smothered me to death and we argued constantly until he finally had to accept the fact that I’m a GROWN WOMAN, and will do exactly as I please.  That’s probably what I love most about Richie.  He lets me be me.”

Therese snorted scornfully, crossing her arms over her chest.  “Love?  Like you would know what love is.”

Mama, I’ve just about reached the end of my patience…

“Do NOT talk to me like I’m a stupid child!  Just because I didn’t love at an early age, doesn’t mean I don’t recognize it when it comes along.  And, yes, I DO love him Mama.  He has such a good heart and caring soul that you can’t help but love him.”

“Does this man love YOU?” Michael interjected his voice in between the two women.

Any other question would’ve been preferable.  Well, except for one about sex.  Lifting her water glass for a slow sip, she borrowed enough time to organize her thoughts.

“He… cares about me a great deal.  The words don’t come easy for Richie anymore.  He’s been hurt by women he thought he loved, and who claimed to love him.”

“He’s using you,” her mother declared.  “He’s probably waiting to take your innocence so he can put another notch in his bedpost.”

Allegra noisily thumped her glass down on the table, sloshing water all over the linen tablecloth.   Her temper had been held out of respect, despite her father’s belief that she didn’t have any.  But no more.   Her mother was spouting off things that were just malicious, and Allegra wouldn’t tolerate it any longer.

“That’s it!  I’m done!  You’re not the woman who raised me.  The woman who raised ME always preached ‘if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all’.  Yet you’ve done nothing this evening but badmouth a man you’ve never even been in the same ROOM with.” 

The words wouldn’t stop rolling from her tongue.  She was probably going to Hell for breaking the commandment about honoring thy parents.

“I tell you what.  If you’re so worried about Richie’s character, why don’t you get the rundown from Jon?  You know, Jon – your favorite golden-haired nephew who can do no wrong.  After all, they’ve been BEST FRIENDS for more than twenty years.  I have a sneaking suspicion that he MIGHT know a little more about Richie than you and People Magazine do.”

Rising from the table, her napkin slid silently unnoticed to the floor.  Allegra wasn’t going to sit for this any longer.  “I think it’s best if I leave before I say something I may regret.  Don’t’ bother getting up.  I know the way out.  Good night.”

The silence in the room was deafening, but her inner voice was still screaming to be heard.  It was an effort to keep it stifled, but she was successful until she reached the doorway.  There was one last thing that needed to be made clear.

She spun and met her mother’s gaze with unflinching resolve.  “Oh, and if I find out you’ve said anything negative about Richie to anyone without having so much as met him?”  It was her turn to waggle her finger threateningly.  “We will be having words, Mama.  LOTS of words. ”

Allegra could hardly remember how she got home, only that she immediately sought Dot’s counsel.  Everything had turned from calm to chaos so fast that she needed an outside perspective to help her sort through it all.  Dot, as usual, brought her own brand of no-nonsense logic to the situation.

“Honey, you have to remember that your parents have known Frannie for thirty-nine years, but they’re just now meeting Allegra.  They have to get to know you all over again, but it will get better.  You’re just going to have to show some restraint while standing your ground.  Make an extra effort to reign in that ridiculous Italian temper you all love to throw around.”  She pulled her into a reassuring hug.  “I’m a huge Allegra fan, and they will be too.”

“But what about Richie?”

“What about him?  First of all, you’re above the age of consent and who you date is none of their concern.  But, in the interest of family peace, this will be just an unpleasant memory once they meet.  When he puts his mind to it, Richie Sambora can charm the birds from the trees.  Your parents won’t be any more difficult.”

Dot was right, as usual.  She had no reason to be ashamed of Richie.  The things she’d told her parents about him had all been the truth, and they would eventually see that.  There was no reason to stress over it until then.

An impish grin claimed her features and she told Dot,  “Thanks for not saying ‘he can charm the panties off a nun’.”

♥  ♫  ♥

Allegra shifted restlessly in her seat, absently flipping through a magazine.  It wasn’t holding her attention, but it gave her hands something to do as the flight attendants made their final check of the cabin before landing.

Her father had called over the weekend.  She’d answered the call eagerly, hoping to find that they had seen the error of their ways,   but it wasn’t a call of apology.  No, he merely informed her that they wanted to meet ‘this man’ at the earliest opportunity. 

‘This man’.  Allegra snorted softly to herself.  It’s not like you don’t know his name. 

Keeping Dot’s words in mind, she didn’t comment on the terminology, but told him she’d speak with Richie about it and get back to them.  Allegra knew the Philly shows would be the most likely possibility – if Richie was willing. 

At the moment, her primary concern was not smoothing her parents’ ruffled feathers, but seeing Richie for herself.  David, being the only one of the band who knew she was coming to Detroit, had gotten her access to Richie’s room.  She wanted to be there waiting when he arrived, and was grateful for David’s help.

Grinning to herself, she marveled again at the way circumstances knitted themselves together, and how different things might have been.  If David had been single when they first met, his charm and wit could have easily lured her into his clutches, and she had a feeling she would’ve been quite content there.   But, because he’d already found his mate, she’d been privileged enough to forge a special friendship with one curly haired keyboardist.  He was one of a kind.

But so was the man that had ended up claiming her affection.  He’d lured her to the ‘Dark Side’, as the fans called it, where she found herself a heart full of love and hope.  She smiled softly and closed her eyes as the plane began its descent into Detroit.  Silently, she vowed to make these next couple of days relaxing for him.  His health and well-being were number one on her priority list right now.  Everything else would sort itself out sooner or later.