It's All Coming Back To Me Now
By: Shellie - shelliemg at gmail.com
Chapter 8
He’d stopped. The realization hit Shannon like a ton of bricks as she left the "back lounge" of the bus to try and steal a quick nap in Joey’s bunk before anyone could find her. She frowned as she stared into it. "Joey! What is all this shit in your bunk?"
"Just my stuff, why?" he yelled back from where they were all watching JC and Justin play a video game. All of them were on the same bus now and the back was packed and loud.
"I was just gonna take a nap in it but I wont fit!" she yelled back.
"You can use mine!" Lance yelled.
"Or mine. Mine is actually made with clean sheets and shit." JC countered and she laughed.
She looked first at Lance’s – nothankyou – and then at JC’s sighing, knowing she probably shouldn’t but doing it anyway. She climbed in and immediately knew she’d made a mistake. It smelled exactly like him. Like her bed had after he’d left it. She heard his laugh echo up from the back and closed her eyes the thought coming again.
He’d stopped.
Josh had stopped pursuing her. He was nice, treated her the same as Lance or Chris did. Like a friend. Justin’s friend. Joey’s friend. He was polite, he joked. He was….JC. And she missed Josh.
Nono! You don’t. Don’t even go there, honey. You wanted this. You asked for this. Josh and you were horrible together. Don’t you forget that. She heard him laugh again. But who he’d been and who he was now was not the same person. It had been 4 weeks since their exchange in her hotel room. He hadn’t spoken to her at all for the first two and them more recently he’d been fine. Normal. Like any other guy. But he wasn’t…. He was Josh.
She cursed herself and began to hum concentrating on anything but him. Eventually she drifted to sleep. And she dreamed…
**
She stood before him, her fingers locked in his silky hair as his tongue traced her belly button. His strong hands circled her below her waist, his thumbs tickling her as they moved slightly against her skin. He grasp the black lace at her hips and slowly slid her panties down her thighs as his tongue dipped lower to find the swollen bud of desire hidden within her folds. Her breath whooshed out and her fingers tightened as he flicked her slightly causing her body to jerk.
"Mmmmm, come here." He removed her hands from his hair and pulled her with him back onto the bed beckoning her to crawl above him so he could taste her again. She obliged, straddling his face and waiting, breath held, for his touch to come again.
His tongue was amazing, bringing her to orgasm again and again as it dipped and swirled at her center. Unable to hold herself above him any longer she crawled forward dropping to the bed. She heard him as he removed his pants and joined her at the head of the bed, turning her onto her back and smiling down at her, lowering his lips to hers. He slid into her slowly as he kissed her drawing a moan from her core. He didn’t have to take his time, knowing she was barely clinging to consciousness and within moments he was relaxed, body spent above her. She sighed relaxing into a deep sleep.
She woke to his fingers trailing lightly over her face. They touched her brow, her lashes, her nose before coming to rest against her lips. She smiled against them, brushing them lightly with her lips as she opened her eyes to look up at him. He seemed further away….
Realization came slowly as she watched him standing above her. He smiled softly, his fingers brushing again before he reached for the blanket she’d pushed aside earlier and then walked away clenching his fingers into his palm in a tight fist.
The bus was dark and silent, rocking slightly. She’d obviously been asleep for hours. She could hear whispers from above and knew that Justin and Taylor were there. JC was letting her have his bunk and taking her usual place in the back.
She sighed softly rolling to face the wall, pulling the covers that caressed his body nightly to her nose. She could still feel his fingers and unconsciously her tongue slid out to run along her lips, searching for a taste of him. His touch, his gaze…both had held a tenderness that she hadn’t seen in him for weeks.
No…Shannon. Please, just…no.
**
Shannon fought to contain her giggle as she glided slowly in JC’s direction. She looked over her shoulder at Joey who nodded yes and mouthed "do it."
The harness carried her silently to hover just above his head and as she leaned forward she flipped her hair dropping between his face and that of the man he was talking to. His eyes widened for a moment and he looked up at her grinning. Their faces were only inches apart as the person running the contraption lowered her in front of him….upside down.
"What are you doing?"
She giggled, "Playin’."
"You’re a doll, Sha." He turned to yell at the guy. "Lower her." Then he grabbed her by the leg, flipping her over again until she was standing on the ground. "Now, hook your hands under your knees and sit."
"What are you gonna do?"
"Lift her just a little. Now just do it, Sha."
She followed his directions and as she "sat" he pressed on her shoulders pushing her slightly. She began to swing. "Oh my god!" she whispered as he pushed her higher her body swaying forwards out over the floor of the stadium before returning to the safety of his grasp. He pushed harder and harder until she was all but flying and he was forced to step out of her way or be knocked to the ground by her momentum. She squealed with glee and he watched throwing his head back and laughing at her as she kicked her feet and flailed her arms about above him.
Finally, exhausted she motioned for him to stop her. "Ok, Josh. I’m ready to stop now." She slowed and he reached out for her, catching her against his body to stop her motion. She laughed and he held her shoulders as she stumbled dizzily for a moment before getting her equilibrium back. "That was so fun!"
"You always liked to swing. I figured you’d enjoy that one."
The memories hung between them but instead of making her feel uncomfortable she welcomed them and him with a welcome smile. "I did. That was fun. Thank you."
He ruffled her hair chuckling. "Anytime, Sha." He helped her unfasten the harness, his fingers brushing the barely exposed skin of her stomach as he did and they both laughed nervously. She could see his hands shake slightly and couldn’t help but wonder if …maybe even wish that is was because of her. Once freed she escaped as nonchalantly as possible back to the comfort of Joey’s shadow. JC went about his business but Shannon…she watched him covertly for the rest of the day. And for days to come…
A week later she found herself back in a situation that in its day had been one of the hardest moments of her life. She entered the hotel, much as she had nearly 2 months before, knowing that Josh was there. This time she felt no fear. This time she wasn’t nervous, or anxious and she felt no dread. She just felt him. And he her. She knew it because the moment she stepped through the doors his eyes found hers across the crowd. He smiled sweetly and she did the same in return, making her way around the crowd to stand with Taylor behind them to watch. They were the cutest things, smiling, posing, signing, smiling, posing, and signing. "What’s your name, sweetie?" She had to have heard it a hundred times if she’d heard it once. They were so friendly, attentive, patient. She knew it wasn’t always so, they each had their off days. But today…today they were on and they were loving it.
"You’re swooning, Sha. And it makes me want to smack you."
Sha tore her eyes away from JC to stare guiltily at her friend. "What are you talking about?"
"You’ve been looking at JC like you want to eat him alive for days now and it makes me nervous. Have you totally lost your memory?"
"No, I certainly haven’t. Can you honestly tell me that you don’t like him?"
"I have mixed feelings. When I think back…it makes me cringe but…it is hard to believe it’s the same person. I don’t quite know what to think…but I don’t like I like the directions I see you heading in."
Shannon sighed and let her eyes drift back to him. He glanced over his shoulder at her, winked and turned away. This is going downhill fast. What the hell am I gonna do?
**
"Hello?"
"Hey, tonight, after the show we are going out. You wanna go with me?"
Shannon smiled into the phone at Joey’s darling voice. "Yes. Who all is coming?"
"I think everyone. Justin and Taylor, JC, Lance…maybe Chris and Dani."
Her heart pattered. JC was going. "Cool. I think I am gonna skip the show and get ready. See you around what? 11:30?"
"Yeah. We wanna leave by 11:45 or so."
"Alrighty then. Have a good show, babe."
"Bye sweets."
Joey. Joey was an entire dimension of her life all together. Although there were definite sparks between, somehow, one or the other of them had always managed to hold themselves a step back. She knew he did it because he thought she was still in love with JC. He’d told her that more than once. She wasn’t sure why she was holding back though…if not for the same reason. Joey was handsome, funny, sexy…everything she wanted in her man. They got along perfectly, he always made her smile…and yet…he just wasn’t hers. Was that spot still occupied in her heart? Would it always be? What would happen if she pushed him? Would he pull away? Thinking of the night to come, she shoved the thoughts away and headed out to find Taylor. She needed to shop.
"Taylor!" She found her in the lobby.
"What?"
"We need to shop."
"Oh hell yes. Now you are talking."
"Let’s go spend some of Justin’s hard earned cash."
"Whoohoo! I’m right behind you babe."
**
"So, tell me what is going on with you and Joey and JC."
Shannon swirled her straw in her glass and shrugged. "Fuck if I know anything anymore. I like Joey. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to Josh. Josh’s not chasing me, trying to talk to me, he’s not treating me any different than you and it’s pissing me off. Then I think back to what it was like and I wonder if I have lost my god-damned mind. Why would I go back to that?"
"Maybe you wouldn’t. You’ve changed a lot since then. You know what’s out there. I don’t know that if he was the same that you wouldn’t tell him to take a leap. I can’t see you going back that way, Sha. You’ve grown up a lot. I don’t know what to tell you. I’m not sure how I feel about it myself. What about Joey?"
"Shit. I don’t know. He’s so wonderful, T. We just have the best time and god…he’s so sexy. Maybe I’m just horny." She laughed shaking her head. "But when I think about doing anything with Joey…I just feel…guilty. Just shoot me now."
"Has anything happened between the two of you?"
"Not a thing. We are just good friends. I can see it in his eyes…I know he wants to have sex…not sure what if anything else and hell, I want to too but…I just…I don’t know. This Josh thing has really got me fucked up."
"You’ve stared calling him Josh again. That’s a bad sign. I think you’re a goner."
Shannon shook her head. "What a fucking mess. These are the days of my life."
**
"Whoa, honey. How many is this?" JC tapped her glass with his fingernail and she batted her eyelashes innocently.
"Um…it’s three. But I’m just sipping this one I swear to god."
"I’m not gonna baby-sit you why you puke tonight and Taylor’s had enough that she’s not gonna be able to either. You better watch yourself."
"Okay, dad." She pouted and hhe chuckled. "You’re looking mighty fine tonight Miss James. Just thought I’d let you know."
She exaggerated her drawl and batted her lashed dramatically. "Why thank you kindly Mr. Sha-Zay. You’re looking mighty handsome yourself in your leather pants my friend. And this tattoo…" she brushed his bicep with her nails. "…it’s a sexy look for you."
He laughed brushing her hair back over her shoulder and letting his finger trail down the gold chain around her neck to rest lightly on the pendent below her neck. His forehead scrunched slightly and he frowned. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom. I’ll find you in a little while." And he walked away.
"What the hell?" She’d obviously been flirting her ass off and he’d just walked the fuck away. Apparently the reason he wasn’t pursuing her was because he just wasn’t interested anymore. She cursed and finished her drink, the bartender automatically gave her another and she pouted, looking for Joey in the crowd and taking her 4th drink with her, she went to hide with him.
Joey smiled as Shannon approached. Her breasts were bouncing slightly beneath the stretchy silver shirt she was wearing and it was obvious as hell that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her hips were swaying and her lips were moving to the words of the song. She was sexy, she was sassy and from the looks of it, she was drunk as hell.
She reached the table where he stood with Justin and Taylor and after sitting her empty glass on the table, proceeded to slide her arms around Joey’s neck. "Mmmmm, hiya, Joe. Wanna dance?"
"Sure, baby. Come on." He backed a few feet back onto the floor, her body bumping his with every step and he gritted his teeth. This was getting to be too much. Her body rubbed against his and he groaned. "Sha, are you drunk?"
"I’m intoxicated by the sight of you. Have I ever told you that I think you’re sexy?"
His eyes widened slightly as he felt her hands slide down his back to cup his ass, squeezing slightly. He started to laugh. "Oh you do, do ya?’
"Uh huh. And you have a nice ass too." She giggled and backed away her body beginning to sway to the music. Her eyes closed and she sucked her lip into her mouth as she let her body go. Joey felt himself grow hard. He shook his head trying to clear his muddled mind but when she looked at him, slowly running her tongue along her lips, her nipples hardening against the silver cloth, Joey lost his fight.
He pulled her against him, his lips finding her ear. "You wanna go back to the hotel?" He felt her nod and without even a glance back at Justin and Taylor, he took Sha by the hand and headed for the door.
The first kiss came in the car. As soon as the door slammed shut as a matter of fact and it lasted until they pulled to a stop in front of the hotel 9 minutes later. They managed to behave themselves until they cleared the elevator and Joey pulled her roughly against him before the doors even had time to close. Just as the doors came together the bell dinged and they opened again. Joey’s mouth slid over her chin and down her neck as her head rolled limply to the side. Her eyes opened slowly and widened. There, in the doorway stood Joshua Chasez.
She pushed firmly at Joey’s chest as JC stepped in and pressed their floor. He stared stiffly at the doors in front of them. The three of them stood uncomfortably, the tension so thick Shannon found it hard to breathe. Joey held her hand as she turned eleven shades of red and told herself over and over again. He walked away from you. He doesn’t want you. He walked away…
It was the longest elevator ride known to man. When the door finally opened JC didn’t move. Joey did however and he pulled Sha with him. And he walked straight to his hotel room door. Josh breezed past without so much as a sideways glance and Shannon felt like she’s broken all 10 commandments in one swift blow.
Joey fumbled with the door until it moved inward and he pulled her with him inside. "You okay?"
"Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?"
"Well, that was a little awkward. To me at least."
"It was." She smiled moving closer, trying hard to push JC’s expression from her mind. She ran her hands over his chest. "Did you change your mind?" her lips sipped at his neck and his arms slid around her as he smiled.
"No. I most definitely did not." He gripped her ass pulling her body hard against him, his arousal pressing into her abdomen showing her just how interested he still was. She smiled, JC slowly drifting from her mind as one of his hands slid around to find her breast, massaging it through her thin top. "I could see your nipples through your top all night and it was making me hard."
"Mmmm, really?" she rubbed her tummy against his body caressing his arousal through his clothes.
"Uh huh." He said kneading her as he pushed his hips forward. Her hand slid between them cupping his length and he grunted his lips attacking her ear lobe and sliding down her neck. "Do you know how long I have wanted to do this?"
"Tell me."
"Since that night months and months ago when we met you and Taylor at that club. I wanted to get your ass out of those damn jeans."
The memory of that night flashed into her mind. The expression of hatred and rage on JC’s face as he stared at her in the club. The door flying open when he got to her apartment….she shuddered.
Joey pulled back and looked down at her surprised. "That didn’t feel right. You okay?"
"Yes, that wasn’t the best night. Let’s not go that far back."
He kissed her lips gently, "I’m sorry." His fingers tugged at the hem of her top and she backed away allowing him to pull it over her head. He growled as he tossed it to the bed behind her and lowered his mouth to suck her puckered nipple into his warm mouth. She gasped, her fingers threading through his hair as she pulled him closer.
"Oh god…" she panted as he walked her backwards, moving his mouth to torture her other breast as they went. Her legs hit the bed and he lay her down crawling atop her. His lips left a wet trail from her left nipple to her right as he devoured her. His hands lifted her slipping beneath her to find the zipper on her pants and tugged it down. She pushed him back yanking his shirt over his head and sent it sailing across the room before pulling him back down to her mouth, her lips searching for his as she released the first button on his jeans. The rest of their clothes soon joined Joey’s shirt and he scooped her into his arms dragging her with him to the top of the bed. Shoving the covers aside he raised himself above her kissing her from head to toe as she watched him with heavy eyes. He teased her ‘til her body ached, every inch of skin touched except the ones that wanted it most. "Joey…" she whispered and he smiled taking her right knee and pressing it to the side.
"Yes?" he questioned as he repeated the movement with her left knee and then crawled into the newly vacated space between her legs. She reached for his face and he leaned in kissing her palm before pulling back again and listening to her whimper.
"Stop teasing me…" she smiled and his mouth curved into a sexy grin.
"As you wish." He stated simply before bending to place his open mouth against her center. His tongue laved her fluidly from top to bottom and she gasped arching her hips and pressing harder against his lips. His hands moved to her hips, holding her still as he kissed her, tongue fucking her until she cried his name her hands locked in a death grip in his hair.
He crawled above her quivering body, her hands automatically finding his smooth member. He closed his eyes as she stroked and instead of fighting it, let himself concentrate on the feel of her hands on him.
"God that feels so good," he groaned thrusting against her hands until he cried out releasing onto her stomach. He lowered himself beside her and pulled her close kissing away the creases of confusion that marred her brow. His lips found hers again and he kissed her gently, slowly and then held her close to him until he felt her breathing turn slow and steady. Raising up beside her he watched her as she slept peacefully. "JC…man I ought to beat your ass for this one. I really should."
**
Shannon lay in bed, eyes open and stared at the ceiling. Joey’s ceiling. What the hell had she done? Then she thought about it. Not much. She turned to Joey and found him smiling over at her. She couldn’t resist smiling back.
"Hi." He whispered and she giggled.
"Hi."
His hand found hers under the sheet. "You ok?"
"Yes." She nodded as she answered.
"Not hung over?"
"No."
"Gonna puke?"
She groaned. "No."
"Gonna scream and cry and run away?"
"Now why would I do that?"
"Cause you are in my bed."
She smiled and licked her lips nervously. "Is that a bad thing?"
He shrugged. "You tell me. You were drunk when you got here."
"I knew what I was doing."
"Did you?"
"Mmmmmhmmm, besides, from what I remember we didn’t really misbehave that badly. Certainly not like we could have I mean."
He grinned and scooted a little closer. "No we didn’t."
"Can I ask why?"
"Sure." He didn’t continue.
She laughed. "Joey! Why?"
"Because….I’m not sure that you are ready."
She gave him a look. How the fuck would he know when she was or wasn’t ready? "Explain."
"Well…If all I wanted was sex, I have the opportunity to have as much as I want with any number of girls, but …I really like you. I think that you and I get along really well. Your beautiful and sexy and…well, if we are gonna start something then I am all for it. But, Sha, I want to be sure, and I want you to be sure that you are finished with JC. I don’t want to let myself fall for you and then have you decide that you still have feelings for him. Right now I think that you do." She started to shake her head but he stopped her. "No, listen. I’m not saying I don’t want to be with you. I just think that you need to take a few days – or longer if you need it – and think about it. We can either stay good friends…or," he brushed his lips against hers lightly, "we can pick up where we left off." He kissed her again, a little more deeply and she moved closer pressing her naked body against his. He groaned. "One more thing. If you ever, ever come on to me like you did last night again. I will not hesitate to fuck you like you need to be fucked. Now get your naked ass out of my bed."
She smiled mischievously, hooking her leg over his hip pressing harder against him. "Are you sure you want me to leave?"
"Hell no. But I promise you it’s the best thing to do. Now please stop torturing me."
She removed her leg and stared at him, his chocolate eyes squinting as he smiled. "Joey?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know how wonderful you are?"
"Yes."
She laughed. "Ok, just as long as you know."
She crawled over him and wondered the room gathering her clothes as he watched. Once dressed she stood at the edge of his bed staring down at him and smiled. "How long do I have to think about this again?"
"Until you know." His voice was serious. She sighed and leaned down to give him a kiss goodbye, nearly ending up back in the bed. He finally shoved her away. "Get out!"
"Okay! Okay!" Shannon was smiling as she left Joey’s room.