Chapter 15

Howie glanced over at the door as Nick and AJ entered the room.  It was the day after Luke’s return, and the Backstreet Boys, minus Brian, were meeting to discuss their future plans.

“You’re twenty minutes late, guys,” he scolded them.  “What happened?”

Nick shrugged.  “It was hard to get out of there without letting Brian in on where we were going.”

Kevin sighed.  “He’s just worried about everyone.  I’m glad Luke is home, though.”  The other three nodded.  “So, let’s just get started. I’m going to put Johnny and Kenneth on speakerphone and we’ll figure out what the hell is going on with our tour.”

After fiddling around with the telephone, Johnny Wright and Kenneth Crear ended up on the line with the four members of Backstreet, who were sitting in Kevin’s office.

“So, I guess the question we have to answer is: What are we going to do about our tour? The one that’s supposed to start in three weeks?” Kevin began.

“Postpone it,” Nick said automatically.  “We are not going on tour without Brian.  He’s not going to come unless his family is back.  And, honestly, I don’t want to start up a tour while people we love are missing.”

AJ nodded.  “I agree with him.  I can’t see how we can do this when we’ll be worrying about Sienna and the twins the entire time. Besides, we can’t do a tour without Brian.”

“AJ and Nick are right,” Johnny’s voice filled the room.  “I don’t have the heart to get out on the road while Brian and his family are in so much turmoil.  We can’t do it guys.  Kenneth and I talked this over, and it would just be bad morale the whole way through the tour.”

Kevin blew out a breath.  “Okay.  Okay, good.  I wasn’t sure what management or you guys were going to say about this, but I don’t think I could do this tour either.  Not to mention the fact that we haven’t exactly rehearsed for it either.  We cannot be mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for this tour in three weeks.”

“Great!” Howie smiled.  “Then we’re agreed that the tour will be postponed.  Until when, though?”

“End of May,” Kenneth spoke up over the phone.  “Since the FBI has tagged the kidnapper, it’s only a matter of time before Brian’s family is home and safe.  Let’s say they come home in a week or so.  That gives Brian a month and a half with his family.  All the tour dates would simply be pushed back to begin at the end of May.  If a venue doesn’t work out, we can reschedule it to work at the end of the tour.  What do you think?”

“Is a month going to be enough for Bri?” Nick wondered.

AJ sighed.  “I don’t know, but I think if his family comes home safely, Brian would consider it.  He might just do it, too.”

Kevin nodded.  “You’re right.  He’d make sure that his family was safe, then he’d join us up again.  I think the end of May would be fine in that case.  Howie?”

Howie looked around at the other three men.  “I don’t know if it’ll be enough time for him, but I think we should give it a go.  If he doesn’t agree, then we’ll postpone it again.”

“You can’t keep postponing, though,” Johnny spoke up.  “Remember Black and Blue?”

“How could we forget?” AJ spat out.  “Sorry,” he spoke gently.  “I don’t want that to happen again, either, but we might not have a choice.  This is Brian and his family we’re talking about.  If one of us is hurting, we can’t work properly because all of us feel the pain. So, let’s just reschedule for the end of May and pray that Sienna and the twins come home soon.  Besides, our fans have been so supportive this whole time about the kidnapping, I have a feeling they’d be more than willing to reschedule because they know what’s going on,” he added.

“Are we agreed on that?” Howie looked around at everyone.  “Johnny? Kenneth?”

At everyone’s nods and Johnny and Kenneth’s agreement, it was decided that WrightCrear would go ahead and make the announcement that the tour was postponed.  Brian would be informed of the change in plans when it was necessary to let him know.  When he could reasonably handle the change in plans.  In the state of mind he was currently in, he would just up and quit the group completely if they even talked about the tour.  And that was something no one wanted.

***

Nick and AJ pushed open the door to Brian’s home and stepped in.

“I’m starving,” Nick muttered.  “I wonder if someone went grocery shopping.”

“If by someone, you mean Kelly, then I think the answer is yes,” AJ told him.  “You had dinner, Nick.  What the hell is wrong with that stomach of yours?  And, I think she’s getting sick.”

Nick frowned at AJ.  “I’m always hungry!  You should know this by now.  And, sick? Who? Kelly? I just noticed that she’s been losing weight.”

“Yeah, but she’s been really pale, too,” AJ told him.  “Should we ask her what’s going on?”

Nick shook his head.  “She might get all weird defensive on us.  Let’s just leave her alone for now.  She might just be tired.”

“Yeah,” AJ agreed.  “Probably.  So,” he changed the subject, “I’m gonna head into the study.  See what Regan’s found so far.”

“Besides you?” Nick wondered, shaking his head.  “AJ and the FBI agent.  I never thought I’d see the day,” he trailed off as AJ swatted him.

“Get your own woman, Nicky,” AJ called over his shoulder as he headed down the hallway.

“I can do that whenever I want,” Nick called back.  Shaking his head at the way AJ grinned like a lunatic whenever Regan’s name was mentioned, he wondered if something good might finally come out of this relationship.  He hoped so because it was about time AJ got something good.  Something he deserved.

AJ stepped into the study and watched as Regan slammed the phone down.

“Everything okay?” he asked and watched her jump, then whirl around to face him.

“Jesus Christ, Alex! You scared the living daylights out of me!” she nearly shouted.

AJ would’ve been annoyed at her yelling if it weren’t for the tears he saw drying on her cheeks.

“Baby,” he stepped forward and cupped her face in his hands.  “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head and pulled out of his hold.  “Nothing.  Everything.  I don’t know,” she sighed, frustrated, and dropped into a chair.  “I thought everything might be easier now that we know who the kidnapper is, but there’s nothing!  Scott just left his apartment one day without a cell phone, with five grand in cash, kidnapped four people, and has been moving south for the last month.  Where the hell has he been staying that no one’s found him yet?  He has no known properties other than that damned New York apartment!  I just don’t get it!”

AJ rubbed her shoulders, trying to comfort.  “Something’ll pop up, Regan.  Don’t beat yourself up over the lack of information.  It’s not your fault that there’s nothing solid showing up.”

“There should be,” she whispered and tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to overflow again.

AJ let go of her shoulders and came to kneel in front of her chair.  “Life’s messy, Regan.  I hate that there is no information on this guy, too, but you can’t let this stress you out.  Luke came home safe, so we have to assume the others are safe, too.  He hasn’t hurt them.”

“Not yet,” Regan muttered.

AJ shook his head.  “Bad attitude, darling.  It’s only compounding the stress.”

“I’m not stressed.  I’m just pissed that this guy left no information that we could track him by.  I have never come across someone this difficult to pin down, and, believe me, I’ve caught some really tricky ones.  This one…this one just sucks!” She emphasized her words by throwing a piece of crumpled paper at the window.

AJ sighed.  “You have a lot of aggression in you, don’t you?  Why don’t you take a shot at me?  Maybe that’ll make you feel better.”

Regan looked at him, into his sincere, deep, dark eyes.  What good deed had she done to deserve such a man?  Here she was, a mess, screaming unprofessionally about something that she couldn’t seem to figure out.  And he was calmly offering her ways to deal with the chaos she was.  It was no wonder she was more than halfway in love with him.  The realization scared her, but she didn’t think she’d ever find someone this amazing anywhere.

Regan leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.  “Thank you,” she murmured.

AJ ran his hands through her hair, tossing out the band that tied it back.  “Thanks for what?  For kissing you?  Because, honestly, I could do that whenever you want.”

Regan shook her head.  “No, for just caring.”

“Okay,” AJ nodded.  “I do care about you, which is why I think you need to eat because I doubt you’ve eaten dinner.”

“Or lunch,” Regan muttered.

AJ frowned.  “Regan!! Woman, you’re going to work yourself to pieces! What’s wrong with you?!”

“Don’t yell,” she told him.  “I was busy.  When I’m involved in something, I don’t usually notice what my body needs.  I’m still alive, though,” she reminded him.

“Just barely,” AJ frowned.  Standing up, he hauled her up out of the chair.  “We’re turning off the computer for tonight, okay?” He shook his head at her protest.  “Nope.  You’re done.  I think God’ll keep Sienna and her girls safe for at least the next eight hours while you eat, sleep, and recharge your batteries.”

“AJ,” Regan began then gaped as he shut off her workstation and the lights.  “You can’t do that!”

“I just did,” he reminded her.  He dragged her out the door.  “Now, I want you to go change into pajamas, and I’ll bring dinner up to you. Less energy is used that way.  So go,” he added, pointing her towards the stairs.

“I hate you,” she stuck out her tongue.

“Everything will be fine,” AJ reassured her.

Regan rolled her eyes.  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” At his stern look, she kissed him, then, sighing, headed towards the stairs.

AJ watched her go and smiled.  He was pretty sure he was in love with her.  It was such a big emotion, one he realized he’d never really felt before.  Not even with Sarah, his ex-fiancée.  What he felt for Regan was huge, and he didn’t think he could live his life without her in it.  Preferably by his side, AJ mused as he got out a covered plate from the refrigerator and sniffed it.  Deciding the casserole was okay, he set about to warm it up.

Everyday, AJ realized, thinking of Regan again, everyday he learned something new about her, and he loved it all.  She was so strong, but she somehow found a way to let her guard down enough to lean on him.  He knew that was a big admission for her, and he loved that she had been able to do it with him.  Of course, he had yet to lean on her because he liked the idea of someone depending on him for comfort.  He’d spent too much of his life depending on someone else for his happiness, and he just wanted to spend time enjoying the sheer pleasure that filled him when he was able to comfort her.

Setting Regan’s dinner on a tray, AJ carried it up the stairs to her room and pushed open the door to find her curled up on the bed, daydreaming while she stared up at the ceiling.  Seeing Regan in a bed kicked his system into hyperdrive.  He hadn’t consciously thought of making love with her in at least a week, AJ mused.  But, suddenly, seeing her in a bed like this was enough to remind him that he was incredibly attracted to her.  She was gorgeous from her red locks to smoky eyes to that body.  Standing in the doorway, AJ drank in the sight of her. 

Finally, he managed to suppress the desire, reminding himself that she was exhausted and now was not the time for his sex drive to go crazy.  He was just going to feed her, make sure she slept, then leave.  That was all.  That was it.  But damn him, AJ thought, it was going to be near impossible to keep himself in control.

“AJ?”

Caught, AJ thought and walked into the room.  “Got your dinner, babe,” he said, holding out the tray.

Sitting up, Regan smiled and patted the space beside her.  “Thanks, really.  I know I’m terrible at taking care of myself, but it’s hard to think past this investigation right now.  I mean, Luke’s home, and that’s a really big deal.  I just hope I can find where Scott’s got his hiding place, so everyone else can be brought home safely, too.”

Handing her the plate, AJ shook his head.  “Turn it off, Regan.  You know you’ll find them, and we all know you’ll find them, too.  But, for tonight, just turn it off.”

Regan swallowed and shook her head.  “Can’t.  I have so many things I could be looking into, right now.”

“But, you’re not,” AJ reminded her.  “So, tell me, what’s your favorite music?”

Startled by the abrupt change in topic, Regan stared at him before she remembered the question.

“Uh, well,” she began.  “I don’t know.  I listen to a lot.  Right now, if I’m listening to music, it’ll be something more rock-edged.”

“Yeah?” AJ was secretly thrilled that their music tastes might be the same.

“I mean, I haven’t really listened to anything newer that’s on the radio these days, but, ten years ago, I loved Incubus and Matchbox Twenty,” she explained, taking another bite of the casserole.

AJ grinned.  “So, I guess you haven’t heard any new music on the radio, huh?”

She shook her head.  “Nope.  Why?”

He shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I guess I was just wondering if you’d heard the song that I put out on the radio a couple months ago.  I decided to do an album on my own, and, well, I don’t know,” he trailed off.

Regan watched him for a moment.  He’s nervous about his music, she realized.  This man, who’d sold millions of albums and had a very unique voice, was scared that the consumers wouldn’t like his sounds.  She could feel another part of her closed off heart open for him, and she reached out a hand to place on his arm.

“AJ, I’m sure it was a great song.  I can’t imagine you with your sense of style doing anything that wouldn’t be successful,” she reassured him.  “Maybe I could hear it sometime.”

“Yeah?”

She smiled at the hopeful tone of his voice.  “Yeah.  So,” she traced the design etched on his arm, “how many tattoos do you have?”

AJ gave her a sly smile.  “Wanna count them, baby? We’d have to get real close to do that.”

Ignoring the sudden pounding of her heart, she shook her head and let go of his arm.  “Maybe some other time.”

“Aww, you got me all excited for nothing.  Tease,” he joked.

Regan smiled back, but the smile vanished when her phone rang.

Frowning, she reached for it and flipped it open.  “Hello?…Oh, Clark, what’s happened?…What?! But they can’t do that! We’re so close! Another case could not be as important as this one!  When do you go?…Tomorrow?! So, I’m on my own in this?…Yeah,” she sighed.  “I guess I can’t do much once headquarters has made up its mind, right?  Well, thanks for everything.  Tell the rest of the team I appreciated everything…Yeah, see you back in D.C.  Goodbye.”

As she snapped the cell phone shut, Regan buried her face in her hands, and AJ automatically reached out and took her into his arms.  He could feel her trembling and knew that she was desperately trying to stave off the tears.  If there was one thing he knew she hated, it was crying.  She was mortified that she’d broken down a number of times during this investigation, but he was glad she had.  It meant that Regan Daniels was as human as everyone else.

“Go ahead and cry, Regan,” he murmured.  “Get it out.”

She shook her head and looked up at him, her eyes clear.  “I can’t cry.  Not in this.  I’m going to be absolutely professional with this.  That means no crying, screaming, or cursing the gods.”

AJ couldn’t help but smile a little.  “I’m glad you’re taking this well, but what happened?”

Regan sighed.  “The rest of my team was reassigned to some case in Tennessee—another kidnapping, but the person kidnapped is the nephew of the governor.  He’s putting a lot of pressure on the Bureau.”

“So a governor’s nephew takes precedence over a singer’s family, huh?” AJ couldn’t help but be annoyed at the way politics worked.

“Yeah, and it’s so stupid!! The governor’s nephew is twenty years old, whereas Brian’s daughters aren’t even two years old!  Sometimes, I absolutely hate working for the government, but I know I help people.  That’s the only reason I do it,” she added.

AJ leaned forward and kissed her.  “I’m glad you do.  I don’t think anyone else would’ve done as much to solve this.  Promise me something,” he added.

“What?”

“Promise me that you’re going to keep doing your job, even though your team has been taken from you.  That you won’t stress yourself out because everything will work out.  You have no idea how much you’ve restored Brian’s spirits.  Just having Luke back, being able to hold him, and knowing that he’s safe is lifting his spirits,” AJ explained.

Regan shook her head.  “It’s not enough.  Lifting his spirits is great, but, AJ, Sienna and her daughters are still stuck with a psychotic ex-boyfriend who may or may not be in his right mind.  Now, I don’t even have a team that’ll help me work through all this.  What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to think?” she managed, choking back a sob on the words.

And I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love suicide
And I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life

AJ moved the tray of food from the bed onto the bedside table and, putting his arms around her, leaned back against the pillows.

“Let me tell you a story about a young man,” he began.

Regan shook her head.  “AJ, I can’t handle stories right now.  Not when life is far more complicated than a story.”

AJ sighed, mocking exasperation.  “Babe, will you let me finish the story?!” At her raised brows and hesitant nod, he continued.  “So, there once was a young man, who had everything he ever wanted.  He was part of a singing group and loved his fellow bandmates like they were his brothers.  He loved doing everything with them and enjoyed the lifestyle that came from being famous.” He took her hand in his and fiddled with her fingers as he spoke.

“Unfortunately, on and before his twenty first birthday, he learned the uses of alcohol.  He enjoyed it and loved the feeling of getting drunk.  The group was getting so much exposure, and pressure to be the best was hitting them from all corners of the world.  They started getting into legal fights with their management because of improper handling of funds and blah blah blah,” AJ continued.  “And Jack Daniels soon became this young man’s best friend.  He couldn’t live without it and couldn’t make it through the day without getting drunk.  It was starting to worry his friends, especially when they found him passed out in his home when he should have been at a rehearsal for their tour.”

Regan’s fingers tightened on his, and AJ could see the worry etched in her features.

“The story does get worse before it gets better, darling,” he told her lightly.  Then he picked it back up again.  “One night, he experienced the wonders of cocaine, and, pretty soon, cocaine and Jack were his two best friends.  His behavior, though, was getting out of control. He never wanted to do anything with the group and started breaking contractual rules.  Which is a big no-no,” AJ added.  “The final straw for this young man, the event that sent him reeling into depression, was the death of his grandmother, a woman who had been one of his closest confidantes.  Unable to handle it, he dove right back into the Jack and did some more lines of coke, both of whom were, of course, always there for him.”

He had to stop then because the ball of sickness that always rose in his throat whenever he thought of how carelessly destructive his behavior had been.  How badly he’d disrespected his grandmother’s memory and love.  Swallowing hard and acknowledging the squeeze that Regan gave his hand, he managed to continue.

“Finally, one day, sick to death of his constant flakiness, partying, and overall out-of-control behavior, the group’s oldest member, the father of the group, knocked his hotel room door down and yelled at the young man, telling him he was worthless and dead to him.  That he never wanted to see him again.”

“Kevin shouldn’t have done that,” Regan murmured.

AJ shook his head.  “It wouldn’t have gotten through to me that I needed help unless he had done that, Rey.  So, I am really glad he did. After that, I sat down and realized that I didn’t want to lose my life, family, friends, and the career that I really did love.  The Jack and coke were making me think that I didn’t want it.  I went to the guys and begged for help, and I got it.  They postponed the tour and helped me check into rehab.  It worked, for a while.  Then, I did something stupid.” He sighed and was silent as he tried to piece together how best to explain his true character to the woman he loved.

And I've dropped out
Burned up
I've fought my way back from the dead
Tuned in
Turned on
Remembered the things that you said

“AJ, whatever it is, I’ll understand.  I couldn’t possibly see you as anything other than the generous, talented, humorous, and courageous man I’ve come to know,” Regan reassured him when she felt the uncomfortable stiffness of his body.

He sighed and looked into her eyes.  “I’m terrified that you’re going to hear me out and bolt, Regan.  That you’ll realize that I really am a weak man who could not handle stress and pressure.  I mean, I started to tell you this so you would see that everyone’s allowed to be stressed.  That I know you will be, but that you can’t let the stress rule your life.” He looked down at their intertwined fingers.  “I don’t want to lose you this early on, but, the truth is, I’m not a good guy.  I’m not all you think I am, and I can’t promise that I won’t make mistakes.”

“Well, who asked you to promise not to screw up?” she wondered.  “I mess up all the time, and you’ve seen me do it.  We’ve been together less than a month, but, I don’t know, I feel something real, AJ.  I’m not sure what it is, but I’m not going to run because it turns out you have some deep, dark secret.  So, go ahead.  Try me.”

AJ considered her for a few moments, then shrugged.  “Okay, well, about a year and a half after I first went sober, I went to an AA meeting.  Afterwards, I ended up getting drunk with a fellow member.  I couldn’t stay off the bottle.  It was this constant need in my blood, and my fingers itched to grab a drink, so I did.  I also grabbed onto the woman I got drunk with.  If all that isn’t bad enough,” he looked back up at Regan again for her reaction, “I was engaged at the time.  Obviously, my ex was smart enough to get out at that point. I haven’t been a saint, but I can promise that I’ll give whatever relationship we have the best that I’ve got.  You mean more to me than I thought you would, and I don’t want to lose that.”

Regan watched him for, what felt like the longest moments of his life.  Then, smiling, she hooked her arms around his neck and brought his lips to hers.  She poured all the growing love and greater respect she felt for him into it, and he felt as though his soul were being rocked back with the power of it all.  He wasn’t sure of her feelings, but he knew they had to be close to as strong as his were.  Never in his life had he believed you could fall in love so quickly, but he was in love with her, and, no matter how much the need for her was flaming through him, he didn’t know if they were ready for the next step yet.

Leaning back, AJ stroked a finger down her cheek.  “I was supposed to be comforting you, remember?”

“Yeah, well, this was better anyway,” Regan grinned.  “And, surprisingly, I do feel better.”

“Great,” he replied.  Kissing the tip of her nose, he slid out of the bed.  “Then, I guess you should probably get some sleep.  Tomorrow, the work continues.”

As she watched him walk to the door, Regan knew that she had to make a decision—one that filled her stomach with flapping butterflies. She was terrified that she would ruin everything, but she wanted him.  No, Regan realized suddenly.  She didn’t want him, she neededhim.  She was in love with him.  It was something she had believed she’d never be capable of feeling, and it scared her that it would hit her now during such a stressful time in her life.  It didn’t matter, she told herself suddenly.  She loved AJ, and silly old fears were not going to hold her back.

“AJ, wait,” she called out before he could shut the door.

The door opened again.

“Yeah?” his head popped into the room.

Swallowing nervously, she held out a hand.  “Stay with me.  Please.”

His brows shot up.  “What are you asking, Regan?”

Taking a deep breath, she spoke.  “You are more than what I thought I’d want, but I don’t want you.  I need you, AJ.  So, please, stay with me tonight.  Be with me.”

“Are you sure?”  AJ tried to slow the erratic beating of his heart.  Everything he’d yearned for since laying eyes on her was now within his reach.  Somehow, it was too good to be true.

She smiled.  “More sure than I’ve ever been about anything.”

The strands in your eyes
That color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
And emeralds from mountains
Thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth

AJ nodded, then, to give them both time, he shut the door behind him and walked slowly towards the bed, keeping his eyes locked on hers.  Sliding his shoes off his feet, he climbed onto the bed and sat next to her.  They stared at each other for long moments, neither knowing what to do, yet both understanding the gravity of the moment.

Finally, AJ cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently.  As her shaky response turned stronger, his fingers traced the outline of her face and threaded through her hair.  Soon, his lips followed the path of his fingers over her face, and Regan couldn’t hold back the quiet moan of pleasure she felt at his touch.

She wrapped her arms around him as his lips moved back to hers, and they took, hungry for more.  His hands slid from her face, to her shoulders, and down to the hem of the shirt she wore.  Tugging gently, he slipped the top over head.  When he went to lean her back into the pillows, she pulled on his shirt until it was off.

Pressed skin to skin, both reveled in the feeling of being together for the first time.  She was more than AJ could have imagined, and he was beyond any dreams she had ever conjured.  Though the tattoos were a nice change to it, she managed to think as she pressed her lips to one on his neck.

AJ touched his lips to hers again as his hands traveled over her.  When he cupped her breasts, Regan moaned.  She was incredible, AJ thought, then lowered his mouth to her.  He had given his heart to a woman gorgeous both inside and out. 

Raising himself up on his elbows, he looked down at her flushed face.  “Regan,” he murmured.  “You’re so beautiful.  More than I ever imagined.”

She opened her eyes and looked into his.  “So are you,” she told him and brought his lips back to hers.

“I can’t get enough of you,” he whispered.

Smiling a little, she held his face in her hands tenderly.  “This is the first time.  I should hope you haven’t gotten enough of me yet.”

Grinning, he pressed his lips to a tiny birthmark over her heart.  He could feel it fluttering rapidly beneath his lips, and it thrilled him.  He could make a strong woman tremble for him the way he was for her.

And rain falls angry on the tin roof
As we lie awake in my bed
And you're my survival
You're my living proof
My love is alive and not dead

On a burst of energy, Regan twisted until she was straddling him and wriggled out of the shorts she wore.  Pressing her lips over his heart in return, she smiled up into his eyes.  “I need you, AJ.  Only you,” she murmured and helped him drag off the last pieces of clothing he wore.

“Absolutely, anytime,” he promised as he twisted so she was pressed back underneath him.  As he positioned himself, his lips returned to hers.

Regan had been floating off his kisses and the way his mouth felt on her.  She’d never quite felt this way before, but she was terrified of what came next.  She didn’t want old memories to assail her.  Tonight was only for her and AJ, and the past did not belong in the equation, she reminded herself.

AJ felt her tense and traced her lips with a finger until she couldn’t help but smile.  Her eyes were still closed, and he desperately needed to see her, to make sure they were both together in this first time.

“Regan,” he murmured.  “Open your eyes.  Look at me.  I need you to look at me,” he nearly begged.

Unable to stop herself, her eyes opened and locked onto his deep, dark ones.  All fear fled as she realized that she trusted him with all her heart—as much as she loved him.  She knew, somehow, that she didn’t have to be afraid of this most intimate of acts with AJ.  And, knowing this, she offered herself.

“I’m with you, AJ,” she murmured, bringing his lips back to hers.

“Thank the stars,” he whispered hoarsely, and, kissing her again, he slid into her.

It was like coming home, they both thought.  Though it was the first time, they quickly fell into a rhythm both comfortable and exciting, as though they’d been together all their lives.  The beauty of the moment hit Regan and filled her eyes with tears.  AJ kissed them away, and, as she wrapped her arms around him, they fell over the edge.  Together.

And tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated
I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows
Of heartache that hang from above

(AN: Good lord, I suck at writing love scenes…but, hopefully, it wasn’t too painful!)

Lyrics “I’ll Be” Edwin McCain

***

Next

Back to index