Chapter Fifteen: A Leap of Faith

Devon took one last look at her office checking that the draw was locked and turned off the light. The day had been appalling by any standards. The one good thing was that the salon had been busy all afternoon and she barely had time to think about how badly she acted at lunchtime. Or worse yet, remember how the feel of his hot mouth was all over her skin. She'd successfully been able to avoid Jonathan even though his raised eyebrows and questionable looks all day nearly undid the front she had put on. The salon was now closed and she was free to escape up to her apartment but was afraid she wouldn’t be able to escape something else she’d failed to all day.

 Her thoughts.

She dropped her keys and phone in the bowl by the door, sank into one of the armchairs and kicked her shoes off. Her apartment was oddly quiet as even the hum of five o'clock Manhattan traffic had melted away. All she was left with was the roar of thoughts in her head. Had she done the right thing? Or worse, had she blown it completely with Jon? If she had maybe it was for the best. Things had been all new and exciting now but in the longer term how sustainable would it really be to date him?

The little pang in her heart at that thought didn't surprise her. She would miss him a lot.

"This is ridiculous." She sighed and forced herself up and to the kitchen where she pulled a bottle of wine out of the fridge. Time to stop thinking about Jon and get on with it.

She had a business proposal to scope and she had financials to prepare for her new lucrative venture. She poured a glass of wine and set up her laptop on her table that faced out over the city. It was nowhere near impressive as Jon's wall of windows but it was enough for her to have the glimpse of the sparkling skyline. She could do this, all she needed to do was to switch off her brain and get on with work. Maybe even have a bath 

when she was done and get a good night's sleep.

Instead of hot mind blowing sex with Jon.

She took another sip of her wine and opened a spread sheet determined to block out any thoughts of being naked with Jon. What would he even be like in bed? He clearly had experience as there was no way with his lifestyle he couldn't have.  Her belly flip flopped. She could count on one thing about Jon and sex and that was it would be intense, as boy that rooftop was intense. Dammit. There she went again. How was this not thinking about damn Jon and his delicious kisses?

And they were delicious.

Ok stop it now.

She shifted in her seat and shook her shoulders before starting to draft the business proposal document. She was mid-way through the opening over-heads when her email beeped and the little envelope flashed in the corner. She clicked on it and wished she hadn't. Crap, it was from Jon.

Dev,

I meant what I said about looking over your figures so please feel free to use me as an extra set of eyes. I hope to see you soon. Call me anytime.

J.

She slammed her laptop lid shut and cursed. Dammit Devon. He was being lovely and she was acting like a stupid girl. She had come from a very different background than Jon and maybe not initially but over the course of her life things had changed and she'd wound up in a situation that she should have never have. She knew that now and she'd moved on but she doubted Jon would ever understand? Or would he? He already was completely different that she'd imagined even off what Google said about him. She'd seen the real Jon that was driven, passionate and had a good heart and it killed her she couldn't be as open with him as for the first time with in forever with anyone, she wanted to.

This was absolutely ridiculous. In another attempt to rescue herself from her thoughts she picked up the remote and turned on the stereo as she headed back into the kitchen. She pulled out the freezer draw and chose a frozen pasta meal to nuke as she hadn’t eaten since lunch. Bruce's Born in the USA blasted through her speakers. She laughed, of course it did. She was surprised it wasn't Living on a Prayer with the way this evening was going or better yet a voice over from Jon speaking to her directly. She blew out her breath and leaned on the kitchen counter.  She was losing it.

Would it really be as bad as she was imagining? Then why did she want it so badly?

"Bugger it." She shoved the meal back into the freezer, kicked the draw closed and downed the rest of her glass. She was going. She needed to at least go and see him and apologize for running out like she did. She collected her purse and keys but paused at the door. What if she ended up staying overnight? She'd be utterly unprepared just taking her purse. Better yet she needed to shower. She stripped off her clothes, showered, shaved and slathered on her favourite sweet-pea body butter. She fixed her face applying a light coat of make-up and then ran the straightening iron through her hair.

She pressed her hand on her belly. Man, she was over-thinking like an idiot but at least this way she'd be prepared. Prepared for anything. She packed a small travel kit of cosmetics and travel toothbrush into her purse. She picked out a nice set of black lingerie but frowned when she looked in the mirror. It wasn’t sexy enough. Fortunately for her Jonathan knew his clothes well and had supplied her over the years with very fine French lingerie probably more so in the hope she'd use it with a man.

"Well Jonathan, looks like you'll get your wish." She picked out a racier red set of lingerie and changed into it. She-bang. This was the one. She slid into some strappy red-stilettos and then wrapped her black-knee length woollen coat tightly around herself. This was gutsy. Maybe stupid but definitely gutsy. The adrenaline pumped through her and she didn't know if she was going to throw up or pass out, maybe both.

When Devon was faced with the doors of Jon's apartment complex she stopped. This was insane. She was about to go and throw herself at Jon but she had to give him something  as he'd been the one doing all the pushing and she was resigned to the fact she didn't want to lose him.  She didn't have much more time to think as the doorman pulled the door open for her.

"Ah, Miss Scott. Please come in."

Well it's now or never.

She smiled gratefully and walked through the lobby. "Do you need to call Jo-uh Mr Bon Jovi?"

Ralph shook his head. "No, you're on Mr Bon Jovi’s list to come and go Miss Scott so you're welcome to go on up. It'll just be a nice surprise for him."

Nice surprise indeed.

"Great, thank you." She closed her eyes as the rose up to Jon's floor. Oh god, what in the world was she doing? It was too late now and hell, she knew she wanted this. She knew she wanted him.

She tapped the door gently and waited. Her gut churned and her heart threatened to explode in her chest. It seemed like minutes but it was just a few seconds before the door opened.

"Devon? Wow-hi."

Wow was right. His smile was easy and relaxed. He’d changed into a different pair of jeans and a blue ribbed thermal that showed off the muscles in his upper body. His hair was a little mussed and hellishly hot.

Instinct rain wild as she took a step forward and her hand cupped his jaw. She leaned in, drawn in by that spicy cologne as her mouth reached his. His eyes widened but his hands wound around her waist and pulled her inside. She pushed him against the wall and fought the urge to rip all his clothes off. The kiss broke but she stayed pressed up against him. "Don't say a word, I've just talked myself into being her so just don't say anything and kiss me." He didn't say a word and she let her purse dropped to the floor with a thud.

He cupped her waist and turned them so she was against the wall and his mouth found hers. Her hands threaded through his hair as the back of her head hit the wall. His lips brushed against hers and his tongue ran under her upper lip. Her breath hitched ass hand tugged at her coat-tie and he stood back as he parted the lapels of her coat revealing her skin. Her heart hammered loud in her chest.

"Oh fuck, Devon." He growled as the pad of his thumb traced along the outline of red-scalloped lace. "Oh Jesus, we can't-" His eyes never left her breasts.

She pressed her finger against his mouth and his gaze lifted to hers. "Touch me."

"Christ woman." He lifted her leg up over his hip and his lips hit hers. Her fingertips rested on his freshly shaved jaw as he deepened the kiss.  She moaned as his tongue ran down the side of hers and his fingers bit into her hip.

"You smell amazing." He murmured into her neck and her toes started to tingle. His hand cupped her breast and she shuddered as his thumb scraped along her nipple. "Fuck." He whispered as it hardened completely under his touch.

She panted and her fingers tangled through at the nape of his neck as his mouth dipped lower. "Oh god." He really was going to touch her.

"Hey is this a private party, or can anyone join in?"

Jon shot up and her eyes widened as Richie Sambora stood behind him with his arm cocked in the doorframe and a wide smirk across his mouth.

"Jesus-Richie." Jon quickly pulled Devon's coat back around her and tied up the belt.

Her face and neck flamed as Richie stood there laughing. "Now I wish I'd bought my phone in here. Hey Dave! Teek, check this out!" He bellowed back into the room behind him.

"Oh god." Devon muttered as Jon tried to straighten them both up. This is not happening.

Jon chuckled. "You're an ass Richie. Devon forgive his manners."

David Bryan and Tico Torres appeared in the doorway behind Richie. "Well hello beautiful." David said with a grin and Tico graciously smiled.

"Guys, don't be mean. This is Devon, Devon meet Richie, David, and Tico. You might happen to know them as the rest of my band.”

She bit her lip and managed to clear her throat. "Hi guys, pleasure to meet you." If there was ever a moment that she wished the ground would open up and swallow her...that was now.

"She was dropping off her business proposal and didn't know you were all here." Jon tried to explain.

David raised his brow and looked down at the small purse on the floor. "And where exactly is this business proposal?"

"Ok that's enough. Can I have a minute and then we'll be right in and we'll order dinner."

Richie snorted. "I'll have what you're having."

"Richie, fuck off." Jon laughed.

Devon covered her face in her hands. "Oh my god. I'm so sorry I should have called. I forgot you were expecting company." Stupid Devon.

Jon grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away from her face. His gaze was warm and his smile eased her. 

"Hey. I was so surprised to see you. But very glad to see you."

She half-smiled. "I'm sorry for running out on you. I just got overwhelmed."

"I was worried I scared you off but when you walked in here and wearing--wow. I don't know how the fuck my cock will behave through the rest of the night knowing what's under that coat. Just wow. You have no idea the things I want to do to you right now."

She giggled feeling herself relax. "Well that was the idea. God, I'm so sorry. You're never going to live it down are you?" She asked as she pushed back his hair gently.

He chuckled and kissed her lightly on the lips. "And neither are you, come on let’s go and have dinner and you can meet my friends."

Her eyes popped. "Dinner? Oh no I can't go in there and eat after what just happened in front of them!"

"Devon." His gaze locked on hers as he pressed her against the wall and their foreheads met. "I'm not letting you leave after the teaser I just had or my balls will turn blue. They're good guys and more importantly a little later they’re going home and if they weren’t I’d be fucking kicking them out so we’ll be alone."

She swallowed and nodded. "Ok. I'll stay."

"Good. We're ordering in Pizza."

"Oh god, I'm in my coat. I mean I'll be fine but they'll know..."

Jon snorted. "Honey, they already know. I can get you some of my sweats but you'll probably swim in them.

"I'll be fine. Can I just freshen up first and meet you in there?"

"Sure use this bathroom." He stood back and opened a door and winked. "Don't be long. See you in there."

She closed the bathroom door behind her and clutched her stomach. Oh god, she'd taken a huge leap of faith and look what had happened. She laughed out loud and then smiled. Things were back to being ok with her Jon and that was the main thing. Well that was if she survived dinner.