Chapter 27

"Jude, are you here?" Tommy gave his apartment door a gentle nudge and it fell shut behind him. As he tried spotting her between stacks of packed moving boxes and dozens of discarded shirts and socks — Jude really lived like a teenager! — he made his way towards his bedroom. "Babe, I hear music. Where are you?"

"In here," a muffled voice called from behind the closed bedroom door. "Are you alone?"

He grinned. "Yes. Why, are you naked?"

"Not entirely."

With a sly smile Tommy opened the door to his bedroom and peeked inside. A few candles were lit, and a large Champagne cooler stood on a big box full of packed CDs. He chuckled. While she had certainly set a mood, he wouldn't have minded if she had unpacked as well. But there was time for that later. "What does 'not entirely' mean?" She was still nowhere to be found.

"Take a seat on the bed, I'll be right out." Sounds came from the adjoined bathroom. Then the door creaked open. "Sitting yet?"

"Yep. Naked yet?"

"Be patient, Quincy! Close your eyes."

He closed his eyes. With anticipation he waited for whatever would happen next. The door made noises again, and he felt a presence in the room that was closing in on him. Jude placed her hands on his shoulders and he wrapped his arms around her midriff, effectively pulling her on top of him. Her warm skin was directly underneath his palms and she shivered in his hold. "Can I look now?" Tommy all but pleaded.

"Not yet," she whispered into his ear before biting gently into his earlobe. He growled low in his throat. Jude nudged him backwards. "Stretch your arms out."

When he did, a soft material was wrapped around his wrists. It took him a few seconds to catch on. "Are you tying me up?" His voice was hoarse and he was undeniably aroused. "Cause I'd love to strip first."

Her soft laughter filled the room. A blindfold was wrapped around his head. "All in due time." She went to work on his belt buckle. "You've been an incredibly great boyfriend lately while I've been nothing but moody and depressed and I think it's time I thank you for still sticking with me." She pushed his shirt up and licked his belly button. Then her tongue dipped down. "So, thank you!" She kissed his lower abdomen. Her hand slipped into his boxers. "Mhmm," she moaned, "hard and big…all for me." Her hand wrapped around his erection and gripped him gently, getting a good feeling of him before slowly stroking up and down. "You like this?"

Tommy did like it. Immensely. He liked it so much he couldn't even say so. All he managed were some garbled sounds of pleasure that Jude took as encouragement to go faster. "Oh God…" He began to squirm beneath her. "Let me go," he pleaded, "I want to come inside you." With desperation he tried to control himself, to push out the inevitable.

But Jude was relentless. "Just enjoy."

When he did, she suddenly let go of him. Still blindfolded, he couldn't see what she was doing, but he became abruptly aware of that when a pair of soft, lush lips engulfed the head of his engorged penis. Then her mouth glided down on him, swallowing all of him. He wanted to tell her how much he appreciated this, how much he loved it, but all he got out was a strangled "Ugghh!"

She let go of him with a 'plop'. "Want more?"

Tommy nodded jerkily.

With a smile she licked the entirely length of him from the base to the tip before sucking him into her mouth again. She picked up her pace as she teased his balls by cupping them and fondling them.

"Jude, I'm com…oh don't stop," he begged breathlessly.

Her tongue swirled around his head, tasting the first drops. Then she took him deeply into her mouth again, swallowing all when he came. After he had calmed down again she let go of him and wiped her mouth with her thumb. Tommy's hands were still tied up above his head when she rested her cheek against his shirt-clad chest to hear him catch his breath. As her fingertips drew idle circles on his naked hips, she felt him tug on his restraints. "Oops, forgot about these!" She quickly undid them. And then she loosened the blindfold to find his dazed eyes staring up at her.

In a split second he spun them around and switched positions. From her hand he took what he thought were ribbons only to find it were his two favorite silk ties. "Let me return the favor," said Tommy and knotted her to his bed in just the same position. Sex with her was definitely worth loosing some ties over. "Finally I can enjoy the sight!" And his eyes did feast on her.

Wearing nothing but flimsy lingerie that consisted of so little fabric it barely deserved the name, Jude blushed under his intense gaze.

"So coy all of sudden?" His hands stroked up and down her arms leaving a trail of Goose-bumps in its wake, while he kissed and suckled that very ticklish spot right beneath her earlobe. She shuddered beneath him and he took it as his reward. He bit gently into her neck, soothing the spot with his tongue.

Her legs wiggled beneath his, struggling to make room for him. Finally, she managed to wrap them around his body, bringing him deeper against her yearning core. If only he'd get to the point, Jude thought, but Tommy took his time playing with her. She could feel his hard cock against her mound, separated only by the thinnest layer of fabric imaginable, and yet that frilly piece of clothing made all the damned difference as it kept him from entering her. "I need you," she told him but he only smiled.

"Need me how badly?"

She all but rolled her eyes. "Please, Tommy. I'm begging you, fuck me!"

"Suck a strong word," he chuckled, amused and turned on at the same time. His mouth took hers in a searing kiss. "Tell me exactly what you want me to do," he whispered then, trailing soft kisses down her throat and further, until his lips wrapped around one stiffened nipple that was still covered by her bra. He took the fabric between his teeth and tugged it down, licking and sucking then.

Jude squirmed even more. "I want you inside me, Tommy."

"Tell me more," he encouraged her.

"Deep inside me. I want you to push into me, really deep and…OH" She gasped for air when he did exactly what she wanted him to do. Her panties were pushed out of the way, half-ripped, but she didn't care. With every stroke she came closer to her orgasm. "More, don't stop!"

He didn't stop. His hands gripped her thighs as he thrust into her, again and again, deeper into her warm cave. She came first, thanks to his ministrations but her convulsing core took him right with her.

Tommy's hand was resting on Jude's naked back as his fingertips tapped on her skin in a unique pattern. She had slumbered but his touch awoke her. "Are you playing piano on my skin," she asked him sleepily.

"Sorry," he smiled. "I didn't want to wake you but the piano is all the way down the hall, in the living room. And it's cold and lonely there." He leaned down to kiss her lips. "While in here, it's warm and comfortable." Another kiss. "And there's a naked woman in my arms!".

She smiled as she snuggled deeper into his arms.

"Harrison, I love you. You know that, right?"

She frowned. "I sense a 'but' coming."

"I'd love you much, much more if you unpacked already. I know that these are my boxes. But you offered to do all the unpacking and it's been two weeks since you're back. I don't know if you noticed, but I do like my apartment clean. Or, at least, habitable. Can you please do that tomorrow?"

With a sigh Jude buried her face deeply into the crook of his shoulder. "Icantunpack," she mumbled.

"Why not?"

"Chaz."

Tommy crooked a brow. "What's he got to do with this?"

"Hecalledthismornin'."

"Girl, look at me, I can barely hear you."

She scooted away from him and sat up, covering herself with his bed sheet. This was one of these moments when being covered somewhat decently made things easier. "Chaz called this morning. He told me that we — me and Chaz and Rick — need to finish my album, plus we need to release a single soon and do some concerts. Or else, Chaz will be in financial problems. And

since he's in New York, I have to go back to New York. That's why I can't unpack."

"You have to go back?" He had always known in the back of his head that she officially worked and lived in New York. She wanted to be here with him, but she had signed with Chaz and he was counting on her. "When do you have to go?"

"He booked me a flight for tomorrow morning."

Tommy was stunned. "When were you going to tell me?"

"Tomorrow morning," she admitted timidly. "I don't want to go. For the first time since we're together, I feel like we're actually really happy. Since the Rolling Stone interview, everyone's attention is on Portia and Darius and nobody is bothering us." She fidgeted with a loose thread of his sheet, determinedly not meeting his eyes. "I don't want to go and at the same time, I don't want to disappoint Chaz. He's put so much trust in me. His label is his dream. If I don't go back, he's going to lose it." Tears dwelled up in her eyes. "I don't know what to do, Tommy."

He didn't know either. But whatever happened, he didn't want to be without her again. He sat up next to her and wrapped one arm around her.

She immediately curled up against him. "Suddenly those boxes aren't that bad anymore, huh?"

He smiled sadly. "I'd rather live in a dumpster than let you leave."

"I love you, too."

"We need a solution," Tommy stated. "Producing your album could take months."

"I know." She clung to him.

"Let me come with you then."

"Huh?"

"Me and you, in New York. I'll talk to Darius. I'll take some time off. Or I produce there, for him. I'm sure there's a way. You can do your album. We'd still be together. But that might bring some of the attention with us to New York. Your life wouldn't be so private anymore. And I know you went there to live in private."

"I don't want to go without you. You'd rather live in a dumpster without me? Well, I'd rather live in a tabloid than be without you. Plus, I'm only this tiny on the celebrity scale in New York." She held the tip of her thumb and index finger really close together. "There are much bigger stars than me." With a huge smile she flung herself into Tommy's arms. "You would really come to New York with me?"

"Yep. Just don't expect me to live with you and your band."

"I can't move out," Jude immediately let him know. "Without me, they can't afford the place. We all share a big chunk of the rent."

"Then let's go step-by-step. Same city, different places. We're not living together right now either. You're just crashing here every night."

Jude huffed. "I don't hear you complaining!"

"I wasn't. I'm just saying that after everything we've already been through, let alone how it all began, maybe we should do this like normal people. Date for a while, then move in together and then get married. One thing after the other."

With a nod she snuggled back into Tommy's arms. While she agreed that a slow pace might be good for them she couldn't help but smile at the idea of one day marrying Tom Quincy. And, even more, she liked that after two failed marriages he still hadn't given up on the idea altogether and was open for a third — and hopefully last — try. With her, of course. "So, New York it is."

"Yup, New York it is. You and me."

...

"New York, huh?" Sadie sat in Tommy's packed-up living room and let her eyes wander around. "You and Tommy. Together. That's a huge thing."

Jude rolled her eyes. "We agreed to take things slow. We're not moving in together. We'll just be living in the same city."

"As if," Sadie murmured. "You guys can't even stay away from each other for half a day! But fine, whatever. I'm just a little disappointed I will no longer work for Tommy. It was a nice job! But Darius already offered me a job as his assistant. He liked my work for Tommy and my stern policy on inter-office relationships."

Jude gaped. "You're such a hypocrite! Tommy told me all about your inter-office relationship warfare. You're only against it because Kelly from the reception asked Kwest out on a date. I saw you looking at Kwest, Sadie! You stare at him like he is a Louis Vuitton bag on sale!"

"A big Louis Vuitton bag," Sadie grinned. "We met up last night…"

"Sadie!" Jude giggled as she tossed a pillow at her sister. But then she spotted Sadie's wrist watch. "Oh fritter, my plane! Hurry, or I will be late!"

"What about Tommy? Where is he?"

"We said goodbye this morning. He's talking to Darius. He'll follow me next week when everything is taken care off. He told me I should look out for apartments for him."

"Ah. And will you?"

"Well, he's staying with me until he finds one, so…no." The sisters shared a laugh. Sadie grabbed one of Jude's duffle bags and Jude the other one, plus her acoustic guitar — the one she once got from Tommy. She looked around the apartment one last time. "To be honest, I won't miss it that much. I still see Laura in here. I thought it would be different, but there's a lot of memories in here."

"I imagine."

Jude checked the time again. "Crap, we seriously need to go." The door fell shut behind them.

...

"My very first concert," Jude beamed as Tommy twirled her around the dance floor, "can you believe it? And they all clapped and yelled my name and they even wanted encores!" She wrapped her arms around Tommy and smacked her lips against his. "This was the best night ever!"

Jude and her band had just finished playing their first small concert in a packed New York City club. It had been a month since Tommy had come to New York and things had worked out extraordinarily well since then. He had begun working at a big fancy label with some big names. Darius had rented him out, so to say. Meanwhile Jude enjoyed the intimacy of working with Rick and Chaz at their small label, a place that had become a second home to her.

"The night isn't over yet," Tommy whispered as his lips trailed a line of erotic kisses down her neck. His index finger curled into the fabric of her dress and he tugged it down her shoulder. "My new bed got delivered this afternoon. We need to christen it properly."

"The new bed? You mean the new extra large, super comfortable, perfect sleep guaranteed bed with the magic mattress and the massage function?"

"The very bed," said Tommy.

"We can't have sex on it," Jude objected with a sly smile. "What if it takes offense and breaks?"

"I'll take that chance!" He kissed her again, deep and full of passion, not the least bit caring that they were in public and that a picture of them might show up in the tabloids. Jude had grown a thicker skin and no longer worried what was written about her. She knew she could sing. She deserved the record deal. And if someone still thought of her as a fame-whore then they would stick to their believes no matter what any tabloid or magazine wrote. Tommy was proud of her attitude. And grateful for the many kisses she showered him with.

"Have you, um,..." Jude fought for the right words to say this. "The new Talk National is out and..."

"Do they have us on the cover? You want me to talk to Chaz about this?"

"No! They have Laura on the cover. In Saint Tropez. With another man. And she is kissing him." She wrapped her arms tightly around him. "I could understand if that hurts you." He buried his face into the crook of her neck, but Jude was surprised to find him laughing. "You're amused?"

"Yes." He leaned back. "And slightly offended. Would you really be okay with me being jealous or hurt over my ex-wife's dating life?"

Jude shrugged coolly. "Not okay with it. But I'm trying to be mature and understanding."

"I prefer you jealous and emotional."

She grinned as they kissed yet again. "Thank God! I totally would have kicked your ass for being jealous!"

"I'm happy for Laura. We met, before I boarded the plane to New York. We ran into each other at the airport. She's staying in France for a while. I told her I'd move to New York to be with you. I think she's happy for us, too. We were never meant to be - that we agree on!" His eyes darkened as he took in her dress. "You didn't wear that on stage. I'd have noticed."

"Nope. Listen to this, I went shopping today. To a designer store. But this time, I decided which dress I would buy. The woman tried telling me I didn't have the curves for a Herve Leger dress, but I liked it and so I bought it. Well, technically you bought it - I did use your credit card. But I also bought something for you. To make up for it."

"Oh!" He smiled. "How generous of me!"

"You said I could use the card for emergencies. It was a fashion emergency."

"I'm glad you used it. And don't let that woman fool you - you look smokin' hot!" His hands traveled down her hips, towards her butt. He gave it a firm squeeze. "What's the something you bought for me?"

"Edible underwear."

"Let's go home."

With a laugh she followed him out.

...

"The master tapes from yesterday are in your bag, the track list and the revised lyrics are in your office and your phone has been sync'd with our label's client list, so you should have every number you need at your disposal." Gwen, a young twenty-something brunette, checked her to-do list and smiled. "All done for the day. Have a nice afternoon off."

Tommy smiled in return. "Thanks. Any word from Jude? She wanted to call me but I never heard from her."

"Jude?" Gwen frowned.

"Jude Harrison. Blond hair, messy clothes, always carrying a guitar around. Did she drop by?"

"Oh, that girl. She's sitting in the lobby waiting for you. Told me not to disturb you."

He rolled his eyes. He'd been working for the last two hours only because Jude hadn't phoned to let him know she was here. If he had known, he'd have called it a day hours ago. Grabbing his jacket and bag, Tommy made his way into the lobby. Gwen followed behind. "Harrison! I've been waiting for you!"

"Sorry!" She leaned up, quickly pecked his lips and then sat down again. "Five more minutes, okay?" Her journal rested in her lap. And she held a pen in her hand.

He sighed. "Inspiration, huh?" Dropping his bag and jacket on the couch, he sat down next to her and leaned back. "You can go home if you want, Gwen. I'll just sit here and wait until my girlfriend is done writing." He saw Jude biting back a smile and chuckled. "Thanks for your help all day."

"You're welcome."

"Oh, next time," Jude looked up from her journal, glancing at Gwen, "you don't have to talk behind my back. I overheard you and that red-haired lady chatting about me earlier. To clear up some of the facts you had wrong, I am eighteen years old, not twenty-one. Tommy knows and he doesn't care that I'm not allowed to go into bars. I do know how to wear a dress, I prefer not to. And in case you don't take my word for it, Tommy will gladly assure you that our sex life is very fulfilling." She winked. "Any more questions?"

Gwen blushed deeply. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Jude assured. "Have a nice day."

As soon as Gwen was gone, Tommy covered his face with his hands and began laughing. "I actually feel sorry for her! You totally showed her up."

"That's the new, old me. I face life straight-forwardly."

"In that case," said Tommy as he took the journal from her hands, "so will I. I'm horny. Let's go and have sex."

"Five more minutes," she repeated her earlier wish. "I'm in the middle of this really great ballad!"

"Jude." Tommy held her journal firmly as she tugged on it. "Let me express myself a little better." He leaned into her, whispering into her hear, "I have been thinking all day about you. For the last two hours the only thing I could think of was you, naked, sprawled out on the bed, begging me to fuck you. Right now, my lips itch to kiss you in places I can't possibly kiss you in public. My cock is hard and my balls are beginning to hurt. I'm asking you nicely: can we please go home and have dirty, sweaty, intense sex before I ravage you in the middle of this lobby?"

She swallowed hard. "Absolutely."

"Thanks, honey!" With a grin he got up and held out his hand for her. "By the way, how was your day?"

"Boring. Damn you, Tom Quincy. You've got me flustered!"

"I love you, too!"