Chapter 23

Beth started awake, disoriented and horny. She felt across the bed only to find it empty…The wetness between her legs was the only evidence of a very pleasant dream. She thought of the man sleeping peacefully across the hall and blushed as she slipped her fingers into the soft flesh at the apex of her thighs, efficiently dulling the frustration before sliding out of bed and heading for a cold shower.

All was quiet in the house a short time later as she ventured out of her room and padded down the stairs for coffee. She didn't know much about Jon's morning routine, but she did know he was a fairly early riser. It would be nice to repay his hospitality with a hot breakfast. She immediately set to work.

Not long after she heard the hesitant footfalls of Frankie making her way to the kitchen. She had obviously heard the noise, but Beth surmised she wasn't sure who was making it, hence the wariness, as she poked her head around the corner before entering the room.

"Oh, it's just you," Frankie proclaimed as she walked over to her mother at the stove. "You making breakfast now too?"

"Morning Sweetheart, I thought it was the least I could do to repay Jon's hospitality." Beth explained.

"Well don't make anything for me…my ride will be here in a few." Frankie told her mother as she leaned against the counter and picked at a piece of bacon she had procured fresh from the pan. "Ouch, this is hot." She shook her fingers a sucked her forefinger into her mouth.

"What? What ride?" Beth turned to look at her daughter surprised.

"Jai is coming." Frankie said around a mouth full of flesh, as she soothed her burned finger with her tongue. "I called him last night before I went to bed. I have some work to sort through at the gallery this morning and with Sophie in L.A. and Jon not being forthcoming with the transportation…well, I called Jai," she shrugged. "He should be here any minute actually. I might go out front and wait for him. Do you know what the deal is with the gate?" She asked.

"No honey, I don't. But I did notice a grounds man out there a few minutes ago. I'm sure he can help you out. But sweetie are you sure you can't stay? I'm sure Jon would love to meet Jai…and he'll be upset that he didn't get to say goodbye." Beth pointed out.

"Mom, really, for once this isn't about avoiding Jon. I really do just have to get back for work. Tell him goodbye for me and I will see him tomorrow night. It should be fun." She offered her mother a tight smile. "I'm trying Mom, I really am…but please…be careful around him. Don't fall for his charms."

Beth smiled, and laid a hand on her daughter's cheek. "You have nothing to worry about, baby," she said, "and I know you're trying. But please…don't hold whatever this is between Jon and me against him. It's not his fault."

"So you admit there is something there?" Frankie asked, surprised at her mother's admission.

"No…not necessarily. I still don't see how he would be interested in me…but….I like him, Frankie. He's been a good friend to me. I need that right now. A lot of our old friends stopped coming by after your father died. I think they found it too hard to cope with the pain. And even those that do…well they just remind me of him. Jon is someone new…someone separate from that life. Being around him has been a new lease on life for me. Do you understand?" Beth so badly wanted the answer to be yes. For once she wasn't disappointed.

"When you put it like that…you know, I think I do. If he's that important to you Mom, I'll try a little harder." Frankie paused when she heard a distant horn sound. "Oh shoot, that must be Jai. He can't get in the gates. I have to go, Mom." She laid a kiss on her mother's cheek and headed for the door without a backwards glance. "Love you," she said as she disappeared into the hall.

"Love you too," Beth called after her daughter a few seconds too late.

Beth got back to work preparing breakfast. She hoped Jon would wake soon - it was almost done – and she wondered whether it would be appropriate to take a tray upstairs for him… If he wasn't downstairs by the time the pancakes were done, she decided, that's exactly what she would do.

Jon was fast asleep, enjoying a very pleasant dream when a light tap on his door roused him. He glanced at the clock and cursed himself for oversleeping. "Yeah," he rasped, his voice choked with sleep.

The door cracked open. "Is it ok if I come in?" Beth asked hesitating in the doorway. "I brought you up some breakfast." She held up the tray in confirmation.

He nodded. "Shit! What time is it?"Jon said rubbing his hands across his face, and looking towards the clock on the bedside table. "Damn it," he cursed, "why didn't you wake me, Beth? You didn't have to do all of this. What kind of host am I? Letting the guests do all the cooking? "

"It's nothing…really." Beth told him smiling. "It was my pleasure…a way to say thank you for your hospitality." She said as she walked to his bedside, looking every bit as good as the food she was carrying.

She was wearing the old Soul jersey he had given her the night before. It danced tantalizingly across her thighs with every graceful stride she made towards him. Jon scooted up on the bed, propping himself up on pillows against the headboard and she laid the tray across his lap, crossing her arms self consciously across her body the second they were empty. It was only then Jon realized he had been staring at her. He turned his attention to the tray on his lap.

"And what a thank you it is." Jon looked at the cooked breakfast before him. Scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes with banana and maple syrup were piled high on the plate, and a mug of steaming aromatic black coffee sat off to the side. The morning newspaper was also there along with a glass of orange juice. "I hope you're planning to help me eat this?"

Beth shook her head, "Nope…it's all yours. I had toast and coffee while I cooked. That's more than enough for me. Besides, I have to head back down and clean up." She told him, watching as he began devouring the meal.

"Oh no you don't," Jon reached out and grabbed her hand, "stay….please….talk with me while I eat. I will be the one to do the cleaning up. You've done far too much already."

Beth glanced around the room for somewhere to sit before coming up empty and finally perching tentatively on the edge of the bed. He watched her covertly, even while he appeared to be focused on his food, and was happy to see that he had her full attention. He was used to women looking at him – it came with the job – but when Beth looked at him in that same way, it gave him a certain kind of pleasure that he usually didn't experience. Beneath the downy duvet he was naked, rock hard and straining - a fact that could only be partially attributed to his usual early morning wood - and was grateful for the soft plump folds of fabric and the breakfast tray that hid the evidence of exactly what that certain kind of pleasure was.

"Really Jon…it's nothing," she paused for a moment and he looked up at her. He could see she was choosing her words carefully. "I'm sorry about last night….you know… Frankie and all," she finally settled on.

He smiled at her softly, "Bethie, honey, you have nothing to be sorry for. And I'm not sorry at all. Seeing you looking like that made it all worthwhile." He chuckled to lighten the gravity of his words.

Beth blushed, "Oh, stop you." She slapped his leg beneath the covers. "You weren't supposed to see that."

"Oh, but baby…I'm so glad I did," he said wiggling his eyebrows.

"Jon!" she exclaimed in shock.

"What? Is it wrong to enjoy looking at a beautiful woman?" he asked her.

"Stop it," she blushed.

Jon sobered then, "Bethie…can I ask you something a little personal?" He didn't wait for a response. "I ah…well…" he stammered, "I think it's pretty obvious that I'm attracted to you…and believe me…this isn't something I planned," her pretty blush and small smile gave him the courage to continue, "And I realize this is the worst timing in the world, for both of us. But Bethie, what I'm feeling for you, it's more than just physical, and I guess what I'm wondering is…well, I'm wondering if you feel the same about me?"

"Oh Jon," she sighed, "I can't deny that I've had those feelings too." A huge grin broke across his face. "But we have to look at this realistically. It's just because both of us are hurting, me because I miss Branson and you because you miss what you once had with Dot….then throw this whole mess with Frankie and Gina in there…well you can see what I'm saying can't you?"

But Jon hadn't heard a single word past her admission that she felt the same as him. A warm glow had spread throughout his body, he was having trouble concentrating, and a goofy grin had affixed itself to his face. He lifted the tray from his lap, leaned over and set it on the floor beside the bed.

"You have a little syrup…," Beth pointed to his chin, where he dutifully wiped.

"No, that's not it." She reached forward and swiped at the offending drop with her thumb.

That slight touch sent his pulse racing. He gazed deep into her eyes, captured her hand and drew her syrup covered thumb into his mouth. It was definitely a taste he wanted more of.

"Oh Jesus Beth…" he whispered huskily, and reached up behind her neck, tangling his fingers in her curls and pulling her forward until their lips met in a fiery kiss.

He was encouraged as her body relaxed and melded into his. He deepened the kiss, tasting her slowly…fully. His hands roamed up and down her back in luxurious circles, the right running over her firm behind and forward onto the silky skin of her thigh.

Never losing contact with her lips, Jon moved over on the bed and dragged her down beside him until she was laying full length along his body, her body fitting his perfectly even though she laid on top of the covers. He let his hand drift down to her knee and hooked it over his hip before tracing a path up the back of her thigh and under the loose fabric of the jersey. He sighed contentedly when his fingers found the edge of the risqué panties he had seen the evening before. He grasped the bottom edge of the jersey and looked to her for permission. A slight nod was the only prompting he needed. Beth raised her torso slightly off the bed and he dragged the jersey over her head in one movement.

"Frankie?" he asked, as his attention narrowed to the exposed puckered peaks of her breasts.

"Gone." She said simply.

Jon looked down the length of her body and chucked lightly. Beth raised a questioning eyebrow in his direction.

"These," he said as he run a finger under the elastic in her panties, "very nearly got me in a lot of trouble last night."

"That's only fair," Beth replied breathily as his finger sank a little lower into the lace, "it would seem they are going to get me into a lot of trouble now."

"Oh honey," he growled, "You have no idea." He captured her mouth in another mind-numbing kiss, before dragging the covers out from between them which earned a sharp intake of breath from Beth when she realized he was naked..

"You like what you see baby?" he asked her.

"Oh honey," she said, throwing his words back at him, "you have no idea."

But he thought he did. She practically devoured him with her eyes. He dragged her back to him, loving the feel of her pressed against him, skin to skin, her nipples pressing insistently into his firm chest. His hands roamed over her body as he continued to seduce her with his mouth, until she captured one hand and placed it over her breast. He moaned…she moaned in response to him.

He moved his hand from her breast and she arched up in protest, so he replaced it with his mouth, freeing his hand to travel down to the warmth between her thighs. He slipped under the lace of her panties once again, and into the soft curls that modestly covered her sex. She instantly bucked against his hand. He slipped a finger between her folds and gently worked her sensitive little nub.

Beth purred with pleasure, "Oh…Jon…I need…" her voice trailed off, but she guided his hand deeper into her flesh, showing him exactly what it was that he needed. Her body squirmed under his ministrations.

She was warm and welcoming and so very wet. As he slid a finger further into her silky depths, he marveled at the tightness he found. The fact that she had never borne children, had in this respect served her well. A groan rumbled deep in his chest.

"I want you inside me Jon…now…I can't wait…"

"I want you to come for me Bethie…"

"And I want you to feel me coming….from the inside…" she growled in his ear.

"Oh fuck Beth…" What this woman could do to him with a few well chosen words. He was ready to come all over her.

"Please…" she begged, as she wrapped her hand around his straining cock, pumping slowly up and down its full length.

Jon rose up on his haunches and immediately missed her warmth. In one swift swipe her panties were off her and on the floor on the other side of the room. Her legs parted inviting him in, showing him exactly what was waiting for him. He stalked up her body and hovered just above her, suspended on his knees and elbows. Beth reached between them and took his rigid pulsing length in her hand and guided it to her core, rubbing the tip up and down the length of her folds and over her sensitized clit a few times before placing him at her entrance and arching off the bed to embed him there. As soon as she had him where she wanted him, she pulled his weight down on top of her, and sighed contentedly.

Jon slipped easily into her welcoming heat. "Oh Christ, Bethie," he exclaimed, "you're so wet…so tight." She pulsed around him as she flexed all the right muscles, to show him just how tight she could be. "Fuck!" he growled. He lay still inside her for a long moment, just enjoying the fit of their complimentary bodies. It felt as if they were made for each other…two halves of a whole. Her body welcomed him like a warm silky glove.

He began to move within her slowly, with long steady sure stokes.

"Oh Jon…," she murmured in his ear between sweet kisses, "I've dreamed of this…so many times…" she added on a sigh.

"Me too baby..." he said. "I've also dreamed of this," he said as he swiped a thumb over her nipple, eliciting a purr from her. "And this…" he added, when he took that same nipple in his mouth and sucked, gently nipping and licking at the puckered flesh. Beth's hand threaded into his hair holding him to her breast and her body arched off the bed in pleasure.

Jon was thrumming with sensation. His cock caressed by her silky depths, his mouth around her sweet flesh and her tantalizing fingers trailing all over body. He reveled in them all, together and separately. He breathed deeply of their mingling scents, the heady aroma of their sex. He moved his lips back to hers to taste her fully, and felt her soft contented moans reverberate in his mouth. He opened his eyes to gaze into hers, completing his sensory banquet, they were alight with passion and tenderness.

Beth threaded one hand into his hair and together with the gentle pressure of her hand on his back, drew his full weight down on her, tilting her head to show exactly where she wanted his mouth next. He was happy to oblige, trailing his tongue up the length of her slender neck before latching onto her earlobe and sucking gently.

"So beautiful…." he whispered, his breath a welcome caress to her overheated flesh.

Jon changed the motion of his pelvis to slow circular grinds. Beth groaned and grabbed at his ass, her nails biting into the firm flesh…it only urged him on more, propelling him to higher levels of arousal than he thought possible. Her ankles hooked around his calves, her thighs opening to him even wider. Her hips began to undulate up off the bed, meeting each of his strokes with one of her own. Her breathing became nothing more than shallow pants, every little sound that escaped her was music to his ears…the most erotic symphony.

Before he knew what was happening, Jon was flat on his back and Beth was straddling his hips. Her warm hands were woven into the hair on his chest, her neatly manicured nails flicking at already pert nipples.

"Ohhh Jon," she sighed as her eyes fluttered closed and she lost her self to the sensation.

Her hips undulated above him as she rocked back and forth, leaning forward just enough so that her clit was stimulated with each movement. With her eyes still closed as they were he was free to study her. Her ample breasts, nipples tight and puckered, heaved with breathless gasps, her head was thrown back with abandon causing her silky hair to tickle and caress his thighs, one side of her plump bottom lip, now flushed with color from their kisses, was clasped firmly between her teeth. Her eyelashes fluttered, as if she felt him watching her. She looked at him briefly and offered him a shy smile before averting her eyes. Her head rolled over her shoulder and back, her face looking up to the ceiling once again, as a moan escaped her.

Beth removed one hand from his chest and bought it to her own, caressing her flesh and worrying a nipple, pinching it between her thumb and forefinger. The sight was too much for Jon. He grasped her ass, one hand on each cheek, holding her firmly on him as he lurched up to a sitting position and sucked her free breast into his mouth.

Beth's legs curled around behind him and his splayed out in a lotus position, his feet tucking up to the back of her ass, prompting her closer. Her hands moved to caress his back. Her gentle fingers fluttering over his flesh, soothing his worries, teasing and tantalizing, pulling him ever closer to her.

The couple remained like this for several minutes, reveling in each other's bodies, sharing long languid kisses, never relinquishing their sensual embrace. Jon moved both hands to her breasts, massaging them for a while before slipping one down between them and thumbing her clit. Beth arched and rocked against it, her pace becoming increasingly fevered. He latched onto a nipple with his mouth, flicking mercilessly as he sucked the rippled peak into his mouth. And then she was groaning and crying out his name in ecstasy.

Jon held Beth close until her breathing had steadied, and then rolled her back down onto the mattress, careful not to lose the intimate connection of their bodies. Every now and then he would feel he pussy grip his cock in the aftershocks of her orgasm. It was the most exquisite torture.

He propped himself on his elbows and cradled her face in his hands. "Let me see you baby," he whispered to her softly, brushing her hair back from her face as he started to rock gently back and forth above her. He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips and then proceeded to lavish them all over her face. Soft, gentle, tender kisses intended to show her that this was more than a sex, more than a fling… she was cherished, now and forever.

Her breath hitched and he felt her body begin to convulse around him once again, and to his surprise – his very pleasant surprise – she did not turn away from him as he had expected, but had captured his gaze and held it as she screamed his name in her release. Beth's orgasm triggered his own. His back arched as her silken depths clutched at his steely aching length, milking every last drop of cum from his body.

Jon awoke with a start. His hand was pumping furiously at his cock and cum was splattered all over his stomach and chest. "God Damn it," he grumbled, "I'm way too old for this shit. Wet dreams for Christ sakes...what the fuck…." He complained to the empty room.

He reached for a tissue from the box on the side table, cleaned himself as best he could and then headed for the bathroom, more than a little annoyed with himself. Shit what was he? A fucking teenager? Damn her and her fucking lingerie, he thought.

He emerged from the bathroom twenty minutes later, cleaner but no less annoyed than when he'd entered. He opened his bedroom door and the smell of breakfast immediately assaulted his senses. He checked the length of the hallway. Both doors to the guest rooms were open. He peered into Beth's as he passed. The bed had been made and her things were sitting on the end of it, but she was nowhere in sight.

He stomped down the stairs, grabbed the newspaper off the table in the entry – it was always placed there by the care taker when he was in residence – and marched into the kitchen.

Beth turned from the cooktop when she heard him enter. "Good Morning," she said cheerfully, a slight blush creeping into her cheeks. She couldn't help it.

"What's good about it?" he grumbled.

"Like that is it?" She didn't wait for an answer. "You want some breakfast?"

Jon ignored her question, "Where's Frankie?"

"Gone. She left about an hour ago…" Beth said.

"Damn it," he cursed.

Beth ignored him and continued, "She asked me to say thank you and that she was looking forward to tonight."

"Yeah, I just bet she is." He muttered caustically.

"OK…that's enough!" Beth said, throwing the spatula into the pan and rounding on him. "I don't know what happened to you since I saw you last, and frankly I don't give a damn. Maybe you're this much of an ass every morning…and if that's the case I'm surprised Dot didn't divorce your ass years ago. Regardless…I don't have to put up with it. I have obviously out stayed my welcome here so if you will just call me that car… I will be out of your hair before you know it."

Jon didn't think he had ever seen her look so beautiful as she did in that moment, all full of passion and fire. Granted the passion was misdirected, but that could be fixed. She was wearing the pants she had worn to the press conference, and the shirt he had loaned her the night before. Her nipples protruded proudly beneath the soft fabric. Oh Christ…no bra, he thought, his eyes fixated there.

"I'm sorry Beth," he mumbled without raising his eyes.

"You know it would be polite to look me in the eyes as you apologize… instead of staring at my tits" she said coldly.

"Huh..wha..?" Jon finally lifted his eyes. "Oh shit Beth…I'm sorry. I didn't have a great night, that's all. I didn't mean to take it out on you. You could never outstay your welcome here. My home is your home."

"Hardly," she said dryly and turned back to the cooktop. "Do you want any of this before I toss it all?"

"I'd love some. Thanks. And…sorry…again."

"I'm not one to put up with shit Jon." Beth said sternly, "You'd do best to remember that. I'm not one of your minions."

"I never thought…" he stopped mid sentence and tried for a change of subject, "So where did Frankie go…and how?"

Beth scowled but answered none the less. "She had to get some things sorted at the gallery. I assume she'll be wanting to leave early this afternoon to get ready for the big night out. And as for the how…she had a boyfriend pick her up."

"She had a what…?" Jon exclaimed, bringing his hand up to a suddenly throbbing temple.

Beth took a deep breath and sighed. "Relax Jon. It's nothing serious…though...not through lack of Jai's wanting." She indicated to the table. "Sit…your foods almost ready," she said as she retrieved a plate from the counter and started filling it with food.

Jon dropped into the nearest chair, placed his elbows on the counter and rested his head in his hands. His head was pounding out a steady rhythm, and it was taking all of his energy not to ogle Beth. Within seconds there was a plate placed before him, soon followed by a steaming cup of black coffee and two small white pills. He glanced at Beth questioningly.

"Tylenol," she said simply, placing a glass of water in his hand.

Jon retrieved the tablets and threw them into his mouth, then took a large gulp of the water.

"Thank you," he said and turned his attention to the plate before him.

Beth sat down at the opposite side of the counter and slid a knife and fork in his direction. Jon reached for the cutlery and their fingers met. A jolt of electricity zapped up both of their arms, their eyes locked and their breath quickened. They moved towards each other involuntarily, inching closer and closer across the counter until they could each feel the other's breath on their face….and then the toaster popped and the spell was broken.

Beth jumped backwards and spun towards the offending appliance at an alarming rate, busying herself with the golden bread to avoid looking at Jon. He once again studied his plate…this time a little more carefully and gave a wry chuckle. The plate before him could have been pulled directly from his dream.

"What's so funny?" Beth asked despite herself, placing the plate of toast on the counter.

"Never mind…it was nothing."

"Jon?" she cocked an eyebrow.

"Fine," he said exasperated, she asked for it. "I dreamed this…you making breakfast…you making this breakfast. Only in my dream…."

"What?" she pushed.

"In my dream you delivered it to my bed."

The following silence was deafening. Beth's thoughts immediately returned to her dream – cooking had provided her with somewhat of a distraction until that moment. As for Jon…well his thoughts had never really left his…a fact that was somewhat evident by the uncomfortable fit of his pants.

Beth stole a look at him. He was pushing his food around his plate, a small – and annoyingly cute - grin turning up the corner of his mouth. He looked up at her furtively to see she was blushing profusely, her attention focused very intently on her manicured nails. He immediately looked back down at his food, he didn't know why his statement had her so rattled, but he wasn't going to risk raising her ire a second time within the hour by asking her.

Jon finally broke the silence a few minutes later. "Do I need to apologize again?"

"What for?" Beth asked as she stacked the dishwasher.

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, Bethie," he explained, "I was just teasing."

"Oh, I know that Jon," she brushed him off, "don't even mention it…it was nothing."

Jon rose and took Beth gently by the arm, pulling her upright so that she was looking into his face. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," she squeaked, her flippant reply belied by her traitorous voice. Her heart was pounding with his proximity. Her flesh was alight under his touch and her stomach clutched and released and clutched and released. "I better go get dressed," she said abruptly, putting as much space between them as she could before she did something to embarrass herself – like ohh…pushing him against the counter and taking him where he stood. "I need to get home…could you please call me that car?" she asked from the doorway.

"Don't be silly Beth…I'm driving you in. Get yourself sorted. I'll finish up here…I'm ready to go when you are." He told her and smiled kindly.

"Thank you…I'll be ready in five." She said and rushed from the room, hoping that she would be able to contain her scattered emotions until she was locked behind the safety of her own door.

Jon shook his head as he watched her leave – bolt from, really– the room. Could it be possible her behavior was the result of the attraction Dot had told him she saw? Did he dare to hope that it was? The only thing he knew for sure was that every second he spent with her, he was further enthralled by her charms and there was less chance that he would ever escape them.