Chapter 151

Richie walked down the steps leading to the beneath the stage to backstage and frowned. He had thought that maybe during the show the music the girls shared a love of would bring them together again. Even though had Bri agreed to come to the show she'd absolutely refused to stand anywhere near Geena. How in hell was he gonna get her to go to the party? She still wouldn't budge on that but maybe if she saw her friends -- the ones she shared with Geena maybe that might change her mind.


He found her sitting near his "own space" down below flipping thru a magazine. Leaning down he kissed her. "Hey baby enjoying yourself down in the dungeon, " he teased.

She glanced up, placed the one of many guitar magazines that littered his area on the table and smiled. "No place better than a Rich-centric zone full of mist, guitars, “ She nodded to the eclectic blend of music and guitar magazines, “and erotic reading material."

"Damn straight gotta have my eroticism, " he winked. He nipped at her ear and murmured, "but you missed it in the pit didn't you? Don't lie I know better," Richie persisted as he hugged her tighter. She's just gotta admit she misses Geena dammit. I'll keep at it until she does.


She loved him to distraction, even when he wouldn't let something go. "The only thing I missed was seeing you sweat, but here you are, and.." She inhaled deeply and snorted, "Ok so you stink closer up, but I'd still..." she paused in the description of licking him dry when a roadie walked past with a wicked smirk on their lips. "Well you know. But if you're asking did I miss being out there with G, well...." She buried her face into the musky sweaty shirt and stopped talking. I won't admit to missing someone who thinks so terribly of you dammit.

Richie smirked. "Yea you did . deny it all you want. I may not have known you that long but I do know how you feel about that girl and --" he paused then added for effect, "she was miserable without you too."

She glanced down at the floor muttering, "doubt that."

Richie groaned inwardly " Would I lie about that? She didn't dance or nothin'. All she did was just stand there."

She wrapped her arms around him tightly and wised for the briefest moment that she had the nerve to change the subject. Then she pushed backwards a slight frown followed by a huffed sigh escaping her. "She's not supposed to be miserable today. It's her birthday."

"You don't mean that -- She is miserable you're not around and knows she screwed up . I talked to Jon and she is really sorry. I guess her parents showed up in NY all of a sudden wanting to be part of her life now." Richie recalled what Jon had told him at rehearsal.

She took a step back and studied him intently, "You're kidding me? they haven’t spoken to her since she was like sixteen. They just up and vanished on her!"

"Well from what Jon was saying her mom was way too friendly and chatty with her." Richie rolled his eyes, "They knew about her marriage and the baby and she was and is so freaked out about it all because they hadn't even told his kids yet."

"There's no way anyone could know Rich! Hell we didn’t even explain to the girls WHY they were coming here. We passed it off as a web contest they'd managed to win for being a part of the official board."

"Well that is what has G so freaked out. I guess her mom mentioned the baby and how happy she was to be a grandma and how she wanted to meet Jon. I don't get how they found out either. Jon and Geena are more tight lipped than you and I are. "

The urge to vomit settled in her throat as she racked her mind to figure out how. Geena didn't talk, she knew that and no one knew... Her skin blanched as it came to her. "Fuck."

"What? " Richie asked immediately concerned and a sinking sick feeling hit his stomach

"There is one person that knows we are with you guys, ONE damned person, and we can't control it. Favorite of her parents even."

"Fuck you don't mean Jared ! How the fuck could they like him? Are they insane too?" Richie started rambling as the ramifications of Jared knowing Geena's parents circled his ever active brain. He could feel his blood pressure rising just from the mention of his name, the thoughts accompanying it were making it even worse.

She closed her eyes, the sick feeling persisting. "Yeah, they always liked him, always. He probably called them asking for help once he was in jail and he told them everything." She shivered slightly, "even when they vanished from Geena's life for good, he'd often tell me how they were in contact with him. The son they never had."

Richie raised his eyebrow as his mouth dropped open. "You gotta be fuckin' kidding me they rather have a psycho for a 'son' than a beautiful sweet daughter, " he asked incredulously.

"Never said they had taste Rich. Extremely stupid if you ask me, but then they were ladder climbers and Jared's family was a bit more prominent."

Richie nodded "That's why they want to be part of her life now then."

She nodded, "Probably."

She sighed, "No wonder she was so angry. They always rattle her nerves." she looked up her head shaking, "and she could have taken it all out on me, IF she would have talked, but no she went beyond the line."

Damn she wanted to go to her, make sure she was okay, but she'd insulted Rich, and even if he was understanding, she wasn't. Dammit.

“Beyond angry is how Jon put it. She even pulled an early days Jovi at the hotel. She tore up some pillows in their room and generally let the stuffing fly." Richie chuckled, "reminded Jon of our not so wonderful days."

She blinked as she internally reeled. Geena never got physical, EVER. "You gotta be kidding me."

Richie shook his head "Nope poor pillows didn't stand a chance "

She wanted to cry, hell for all that matter she wanted to go to Geena and make sure she was handling things better, but she knew that if her friend was still in a snit, she'd say things. If she said something else bad about Richie, well, Geena wouldn't know what hit her. It was safer if she just stayed away, no matter how badly she wanted to be there. "Well I hate that, and I guess I wish I could do something to help, but its just better if I stay here with your fave ladies,” She tilted her head, “Or headed to the hotel and made your return home interesting.”



"No you're not staying here, and you're damned sure not heading to the hotel alone. You can go even if you don’t talk to her. If you don't you'll regret not seeing your friends, " Richie argued his point even when her shoulders stiffened and a bullheaded glare sparkled in her eyes.

She counted to ten then smiled lightly. "Why don't you go get your shower honey. We'll discuss that when you get back." and I'll have you so hot and bothered, you'll forget to bring it up. You'll be wanting the hotel not that party before you know it.

Richie growled " I don't think so darlin' ain't gonna happen you are going. So be prepared to see your friends cuz when I get back that's where we'll be heading -- if you're wanting fun later you'll go," he added before traipsing off to shower.

She settled herself back in the chair, her hands moving up to undo a couple of buttons on her blouse as a slick grin slid onto her lips. He'd see, oh yes he would. No one was gonna boss her now. She'd fought too hard and too long to gain her independence and no one was going to make her do shit anymore.


A few moments later Richie arrived back in a fresh buttoned down shirt and black jeans. "You ready to join the party?" He held out his hand for her to take it.

She glanced up at him with a smile on her lips, one hand trailing up to play with her buttons before sliding further up along her neck. "Well, ready to have some fun." Her brows waggled slightly as she uncrossed then crossed her legs again, "I feel a need to be naughty."

"Not unless you go to the party," Richie replied adamantly shifting his stance to loosen the tightening of his jeans.

She leaned forward, allowing her blouse to gape open as one hand lifted to brush his zipper. "Not even a little fun?"

"No not unless you say you'll go to the party," he repeated even as his eyes drifted to her opened blouse.

She leaned back, her hands undoing the remaining buttons as she uttered the challenge, "Make me."

'Make you? Alright if that is what you want." Richie reached down and buttoned her blouse and in one fell swoop hefted her over his shoulder and with a stinging swat to her ass he replied, "You dare to wiggle to get down and there will be more of that later.” He muttered under his breath as he started to the door, “even if you do like it more than hate it.”

She started to laugh low and soft and flexed slightly."When he talked all dark and dangerous, that slight lilt to his voice that always told her he wanted to play, then she played. With the next stinging swat she bit back a groan and wiggled a little harder.

His grip on her tightened as he shook his head. " Naughty girls get punished." He swatted her again a bit harder then made his way down the hallway to the backstage door. He carried her right out to the waiting car. Holding onto her with one hand he opened the limo door before plopping her down on the seat. At her surprised gasp he slid in beside her and shut the door.

She slid into the corner, a pout forming. "You're no fun."

"Oh I am loads of fun darlin'. It's just that I know you if you don't go you'll regret it later, and what fun will we have then because you be all upset. Am I right? "

She huffed out an exasperated "No," before looking up at him, "It's just, there's some Darksiders gonna be there, and I wanted one last bit of fun before I ended up in jail for murder."

"I doubt that. They are you're friends right ? They are gonna know you're with me as of tonight anyway. Nothing to be worried about or to kill over, " Richie chuckled

Her brow arched as she started to smile, "You remember those really hot stories you caught me reading that night? The ones written by a certain Goddess?"

Richie smirked, "Yea."

"Gonna be there."

"What you afraid of darlin'? I am yours baby." He pulled her into his lap, his lips brushing over hers once. " I have eyes for just you."

She wiggled back, laughing as he groaned slightly. "Not your eyes I'm worried about."

"What are you worried 'bout then? Come on tell your husband."

She laughed slightly, "When you meet her, you'll understand. She can lure the most loyal, she's that awesome."

"I doubt that baby I am all yours."

She leaned against him and sighed comfortably. "Good thing to know, but that few minutes before they find out whose married to who, its gonna be dicey babe. Nothing gets between a gutter angel and their Jovi fixation."

"Oh I think you being attached to me at the hip will give the message, " Richie teased.

She chuckled, "Possibly, but thickheaditis seems to rear its amusing self around all of you men."

"Just remember whatever they try to do, who do I come home to? Fans are great, but they can't take the place of that one heart string waiting at home." He smiled. Lacing his fingers with hers he lifted her palm to his lips, kissing the back of her hand.

She slid quickly and turned, one knee on each side of his legs, lifting her hands to each side of his face as she leaned in and kissed him intently. "Never can forget that."

'Good cuz if you do? I will just have to remind you, in many tantalizing ways," Richie smirked.

"mmmm Promise?"

"Promise." Richie glanced up. "We're here."

She felt the dread rising, a small shiver escaping her. "I still ain't talking to her."

"No one said you had too," Richie replied as the car pulled up to the door , he slid her beside him and stepped out holding his hand for her to place hers in his

She placed her hand in his, instantly feeling the calm of having him near. Straightening as she exited the car, she glanced at the hotel curiously, "then again, depending on how she acts, I might."

Richie bit back a smirk. "Okay. Its up to you what ever you wanna do." As they walked into the hotel to join her friends he knew she couldn't stay away no matter how hard she was determined to.