Chapter 25

The party was in full swing and the drinks were flowing. Jasmine and Richie had danced, laughed and messed about on the dance floor, enjoying letting their hair down and having some fun. 

They collapsed in the chairs around the table being used by the band, laughing and breathing heavily. Richie slumped in his chair, resting his hands on his stomach and tilted his head to look at Jasmine who was doing the same in her chair,

“Are you trying to kill me?”

“Not able to keep up Sambora? Maybe you should go home and get your slippers on.”

“I can keep up thank you very much. I was more talking about the fact that right now I can see right up your dress and it’s driving me wild knowing what is under the rest of it and how it tastes.”

Jasmine sat up straight and gasped at Richie’s words, looking around her to make sure no one else was around to hear him. She moved her chair closer to him and whispered in his ear, “That was brave, saying something like that, but rest assured you will get to see what’s under here later. Please stay on your best behavior until then.”

Richie smirked and whispered back, “I’ll try but I’m making no promises, you’re far too hot for me to keep my hands off of you, and with everyone else swooning over you tonight the green eyed monster is rearing his ugly head too,”

Jasmine stood, rested her hand on his shoulder and squeezed to reassure him.

“In which case, I’m off to speak to Dot and dance around our handbags for a while. You go and take your mind off what you want to do to me. See you back here in a while,” and she was gone.

Whilst Richie and Jasmine had been huddled in the corner of the room whispering to each other, Jon and David were standing at the bar watching the interaction.

David nudged Jon to bring his attention to Richie and Jasmine. They watched for a few minutes, occasionally looking at each other and grinning, until David couldn’t hold out any longer.

“You know we should stop this don’t you? He’s going to explode if he doesn’t get his hands on her before the night is out. I actually feel sorry for the fucker.”

Jon nodded, “I know. Dot told me to tell him we know and that it’s ok or she’d do it herself.”

“Then you’d better do as she says, I don’t want to be in her bad books.”

Just then Jasmine walked away from Richie and Jon saw his chance. “Well, I might as well do it now, he looks in pain.”

David shrugged and waved over at Richie. Jon walked in his direction but was cut off by his brother Matt, who seemed in a hurry to speak to him. He huffed and growled grumpily at Matt for interrupting him but followed him into a back room where he found a room full of people wanting interviews and pictures. The stink eye was given an outing and Matt made a quick getaway as far away from Jon as possible for fear of being yelled at.

Meanwhile Richie found David and Hugh chatting with some session musicians with whom they had worked with previously. Richie tried hard to concentrate on the conversation but in the corner of his eye he could see Jasmine and Dot dancing, their hands in the air and their hips gyrating to ‘I Love You More Than Rock and Roll’ by Thunder. He clenched his teeth together and forced himself to think of cold showers and lying face down in snow, but it didn’t work and he could feel himself growing.

Before he could embarrass himself in front of his friends he made his excuses and stalked over to where Jasmine and Dot had been joined by some of the women from Island and some journalists that had been allowed in to cover the event. He waited until the song finished and a path appeared between him and his prey. Dot noticed his approach before Jasmine, and could not believe the lust she saw in his eyes. She had known him for all of his adult life and had never once seen so much desire in him. She smiled inwardly, knowing that Richie had it bad and approving of his choice of Jasmine. She looked around for Jon, hoping that he had already put Richie out of his misery but her husband was nowhere to be found. With Richie getting ever closer Dot closed in on Jasmine,

“I’m pooped, I’m going to find my workaholic husband. Looks like someone wants a bit of your attention.” She said, pointing in Richie’s direction. 

Jasmine blushed a little and was glad that she was already hot because it hid the redness that she knew would have appeared. She saw what Dot was referring to and the fire was again ignited in her; Richie, his shirt opened by a fourth button and his shoulder length hair slightly damp with sweat, was marching determinedly towards her with what could only be described as a hungry look about him.

She turned to Dot only to find that she had already left and was just disappearing through the door that led to the lobby. She swung back around only to be caught around her middle by strong arms and kissed by the most soft lips on her neck.

“Hey gorgeous, you look good enough to eat,” Richie said seductively which made Jasmine shiver from head to toe.

“I could say the same about you. You’re showing so much chest right now that it’s hard for me not to lick my way across it.”

Richie winced, he was able to dish it out but unable to accept the comments coming from the other direction. He was now starting to feel real physical pain being so close to Jasmine but not being able to do anything about it.

Jasmine, for her part, was not immune to the invisible force between them, Richie’s scent had engulfed her and was now seeping into her pores. It was the most heavenly aroma she had ever smelled and coupled with being anchored to Richie by his awesome arms, she was sure that she would not be able to control herself much longer.

She turned in his arms so that they were looking at each other, then stood on tiptoes so that she could whisper in his ear,

“How much longer do we have to stay here? I don’t know how much longer I can keep myself in check. You’re too damn tasty.”

“A while yet sweetheart, we’ve not been here long. If it makes you feel any better, I feel exactly the same way. Its getting so bad I may have to go relieve myself.”

“Don’t you dare! I’m sure we could sneak away for a bit like we did the other night. You won’t be relieving yourself whilst I’m still breathing.”

Richie let out a roar of laughter and gathered Jasmine closer to him, gently lifting her up so they were face to face,

“You’re killing me here. No more talk of your lips around me, you hear?”

Jasmine nodded as she was lowered back to her feet. The beat of the music slowed and an old ballad started. 

“Wanna dance?” Richie asked and was rewarded with Jasmine pulling his arms tighter around her and her head resting on his chest.

They began to dance slowly, their feet moving very slightly with Richie’s hand clasped against Jasmine’s which was resting on his chest just about where his heart was beating inside it.

Jasmine breathed in deeply for the umpteenth time that day almost as if she was trying to inhale Richie so he became part of her, and subconsciously she closed in on him further, so far that it would be impossible for a sheet of paper to be passed between them. Richie’s breathing hitched as Jasmine got closer and brushed against his crotch.

“Darlin’ you’re going to have to stand back a little or I’m going to have a little accident,” he whispered, his voice gravelly with need.

“Can’t help it, I want to be so close to you. Hold me tighter,” Jasmine said dreamily.

Against his better judgement Richie did as he was asked and they continued dancing. His hands shifted slowly until one hand was resting on the back of her head, her hair dripping through his fingers, and the other hand was resting comfortably on the perfect roundness of her ass. Jasmine stood on tiptoes and wound her arms around his neck as the song reached it’s peak. They swayed and ground into each other as the chorus rang out for the final time, and, without thinking, Richie dipped his head and kissed Jasmine thoroughly on the lips in front of anyone who may have been watching. Jasmine kissed him back fervently, forgetting where they were for a few seconds, but quickly came to her senses and pulled back.

“Richie,” she hissed, taking a step back.

“What?” he said, knowing what she was going to say but feeling particularly blasé and not really caring about who just saw him lose control.

Jasmine was scanning the room around them for some indication that they had been busted and that the shit was about to hit the fan, but couldn’t see anyone really looking in her direction or even looking remotely shocked. She turned back to Richie, who still had his hands wrapped around her and refused to let go.

“I guess you finally lost control. Doesn’t look like anyone noticed but we’d better disappear before anyone realizes what they just saw.”

“Lost control? I have no idea how I didn’t do that sooner. All I’ve been thinking about tonight is getting you out of that dress and pushing deep inside you. You think that is losing control, you wait til later.”

Jasmine felt the blush darken her cheeks at his words, partly because she couldn’t believe he was saying it in public, and partly because she knew he wasn’t joking and she just wanted to get him to herself as quickly as possible.

Jon, Dot, David, Tico and Hugh witnessed the whole exchange because they had been watching the pair all evening in morbid fascination at how they were managing to control themselves even though it was plainly obvious they would rather be anywhere but where they were.

“Jon! You didn’t tell him did you?” Dot admonished as she saw Jasmine reel backwards and away from Richie.

“How do you know?” he said indignantly.

“If you had, then he’d have told Jasmine and she wouldn’t have reacted like that. She saw Pete Armstrong leave an hour ago so she knew that he wouldn’t be a problem.”

Jon had the grace to look shameful, “No I didn’t tell him, but only because Matty cornered me before I had a chance, he made me go talk to some reporters. I was going to tell him, tell her Joker,” he pleaded with David,

David considered the situation before confirming Jon’s story. He had thought about denying and watching Dot get mad, but then realized he was too close to escape her wrath so went for the peaceful, and truthful, option.

Dot sighed at the incompetence of her husband but didn’t let him off the hook that easily,

“Well, go and do it now. They’re both together so you can tell them both at the same time.”

Jon hesitated,

“Well go on!” Dot almost yelled at Jon, David, Tico and Hugh, before heading towards the sheepish looking couple who were slowly closing in on a secluded table by the door.

Richie led Jasmine to the table by the door, where their drinks were sitting and where the band had been based all evening. Both their pulses were dancing the quick step and their chests heaved with the exertion of breathing. Jasmine was shaking with passion as well as the fear that they had been seen by someone. She wasn’t sure whether she should be angry at Richie for forcing her into that situation or whether she should be happy that he had brought things into the open.

Just as she began to launch into a hysterical rant, she saw Dot approaching, followed closely by the rest of the band, and her stomach jumped into her throat. This was it, she was about to get sacked and Richie was about to be ripped a new one.