Part 220

The party was in full swing as Howie and Sarah made their way through the crowd. This party was a stark contrast to the one they’d just left. The music was pumping, there was no set dance floor but EVERYONE was moving to the beat, and everyone greeted them warmly.

At the bar, Sean, aka P Diddy, greeted them. "Yo, Howie D! What took you so long to get here?"

Howie shook hands as the two men hugged, "We stopped at another party. Sorry man! Sean, I want you to meet my wife, Sarah."

Sean took Sarah’s hand kissing the back, "It’s a pleasure to meet you."

"Thanks. This party is jammin’!"

"Thank you! Here, have some champagne," said Sean as he grabbed two glasses off a tray going by.

Howie started to say something but Sarah spoke up, "Not for me! I have a five year old who will be up before dawn and ONE of us needs a clear head."

Sean laughed. "I fully comprehend THAT! You two enjoy yourselves," and he disappeared into the crowd.

Howie kissed Sarah and asked, "What would you like to drink, Angel? I’ll get it for you."

"Water will be fine!"

Howie and Sarah spent the evening dancing and mingling with major recording artists and executives. Never did Howie let her get more than an arms length from him wanting to show her off and brag. He was proud of her and it showed in the way he held her when they danced, the way he looked at her when she was by his side, and the way he touched her as they stood talking to others. Every time her performance was mentioned, his eyes lit up bright enough to light the city.

And Sarah! She was in heaven. The whole evening had been like a dream come true for her. Never had she imagined being able to perform much less on a major awards show and with someone she admired accompanying her. She owed it all to Howie. From the minute he’d met her, he’d done everything in his power to make her dreams come true.

In the car headed back to the hotel, Sarah leaned on Howie and sighed dreamily.

Howie looked down at her and smiled caressing her arm. "Are you happy, Angel?" he asked softly.

"Very! You have been so good to me."

Howie nuzzled her neck letting his beard tickle her. "That’s because I love you with all my heart and soul. I don’t know how I’d go on without you in my life."

Sarah turned to him and slipped her hand under his sweater to caress his stomach. Placing sweet kisses along his neck, she whispered, "You’ll never have to find out, D. This is forever."

Howie closed his eyes as he focused on the warmth of her hand on his stomach and her breath on his neck. She moved slowly, tasting him and smiling when her touch or kiss would elicit a moan from him.

Reaching the hotel, Howie encircled her waist with his arm and led her inside. There were a handful of fans waiting for them but given the late hour, Howie simply waved to them telling them goodnight as the two made their way to the elevator.

On the elevator, Howie asked, "What time is your doctor’s appointment?"

Sarah yawned as she said, "Ten thirty."

"If I leave a wake-up call for nine, will you have enough time?"

"I guess. What about Jesse and Chelsea?"

As the doors opened, the two stepped off and Raoul appeared. "’Mornin’ boss."

"Hey," smiled Sarah. "Where did you disappear to?"

"Came back here with Jesse and Chelsea after you got to the first party. I put your hat in your room."

"Thanks."

"Hat?" asked Howie curiously as Raoul opened the door for them.

Sarah grinned. "Richie got Heather to go get me another one of his hats while we were performing and gave it to me before we left," she said excitedly.

Howie just shook his head laughing at his wife. "So, this is what our fans are like?"

Raoul laughed, "Some of them…but Sarah was a lot calmer meeting Richie than some of your fans are meeting you."

"Oh, yeah…I was really calm…throwing up calm," said Sarah sarcastically.

Howie laughed as he pulled Sarah tighter. "Raoul, Chelsea is gonna take Jesse into the city tomorrow to do some sight-seeing. I’d really appreciate it if you kept up with them tomorrow. Tommy will be with us and he can look out for Sarah. After introducing her last night at the show and on the VMAs…people are gonna start to recognize her and I don’t want some lunatic grabbing her in an attempt to get closer to me."

"Sure, D…no problem. Goodnight you two."

Howie started to lead Sarah into their room but she stopped him, "I want to go check on Jess first…kiss her goodnight."

"I’ll call the desk and leave a message for our wake-up call then. Give her a kiss for me too."

Sarah gave Howie a kiss and headed to Jesse’s room leaving Howie to make the call. She eased into the dark room where the soft glow from the nightlight cast shadows over Jesse as she slept peacefully with the Pooh Bear Howie had given her when Jim and Cindy had returned her to them. Sarah moved quietly to the bed and pulled the covers over her and kissed the sleeping child softly on the forehead.

Jesse woke and asked sleepily, "Mommy? Where’s Daddy?"

"He’s getting ready for bed, baby. Go back to sleep. We’ll see you later in the morning," whispered Sarah.

"Tell..him," a sleepy yawn escaped and Jesse continued, "that I love him."

"I will, baby. And Daddy loves you, very much."

"Mommy….."

"Yeah, baby."

"I’m sorry about being mean to you."

Sarah smiled softly because she’d realized that Howie had set that up. She kissed Jesse on the forehead again and whispered, "It’s okay, baby. I love you."

"You were beautiful tonight, Mommy."

"Thank you, Jesse. Now go to sleep."

Jesse rolled over and whispered sleepily, "I love you, Mommy."

Sarah stood up as she whispered, "I love you too, Jesse."

As she closed the door to their room, Sarah looked around the dimly light room to see Howie standing by the window looking out at the city. He had already changed and was now standing in his boxers. Sarah went to him slipping her arms around his waist and placing a kiss in the middle of his back.

"Was she asleep?"

"She woke up when I pulled the covers over her. She said to tell you that she loves you."

Howie turned in her arms. "I hope you told her that I love her too."

"I did," smiled Sarah as she placed kisses along his collarbone.

Howie reached up to Sarah’s hair taking the pony tail holder out of it and then running his fingers through it to take it out of the braid. As it fell on her shoulders, he pulled away from her to look into her eyes. He smiled softly, "Angel, I’m really proud of you. You’ve come a long way in such a short time with your singing and your stage presence. And tonight, you were so incredible…you had me in tears."

"I love you so much, Howie. AJ helped me write that song because I wanted to give something back to you. You’ve done so much for me in the last three years."

"And I’ll keep right on doing for you, Sarah," said Howie as he kissed her tenderly. Then getting a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he tilted his head to the side and looked at her.

Sarah laughed, "What?"

"I think you had another reason for doing that song."

"Oh you do, do you?"

"I know you…you think I’m easy. Tell me in front of millions of people that you love me and then sing me a song that you wrote claiming that you wrote it just for me so that when you get me alone, you think I’ll just hop into the sack with you."

Sarah laughed, "Well, did it work?"

Scooping her up in this arms, Howie laughed, "HELL YEAH!!"

Dropping her on the bed, Howie ‘fell’ on her covering her body with his. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her, her lips parting eagerly for him and he swept all the sensitive areas.

Howie pulled out of the kiss and looked at Sarah. "You’ve got on way too many clothes."

"Well, you didn’t give me a chance to undress."

Howie rolled off of her and watched as she stood. Slowly, she unzipped her dress and let it fall to the floor. Then she slipped the silk camisole of before sliding her hands down her sides to slip the lacy underwear off.

Slipping back into the bed, Sarah lay beside Howie nestling her head on his shoulder. Her hair fell across his arm softly and she ran her hand across his chest.

"Howie, thank you for everything," whispered Sarah.

Playing with her hair, Howie answered, "Your welcome, Angel…but you know, I’d do it all again."

Sarah traced a line down Howie’s stomach to his belly button, "Me too, D."

Howie rolled onto his side and caressed her face. Moving his hand down to her stomach, "This is what makes it all so perfect," he said as he traced the small swell of her belly. "You are so damn beautiful, so sexy."

Sarah smiled and brushed his hair. "You’re prejudice too."

"Very," whispered Howie as he ran his hand over her body touching her in all the right spots. As he ran his hand over her belly, he leaned in stealing a kiss, a sweet, tender kiss, their tongues timidly tasting each other.

Sarah wove her fingers in his hair holding him close, running her tongue across his lips, teasing his in a dance of passion. She gazed longingly into his eyes, whispering , "Make love to me, Howie."

"I have every intention of doing just that," replied Howie as he lavished her neck with soft kisses moving down to her breasts. Gazing back up into her eyes, pure love flowed from his heart in his look, in his touch, and in his voice as he said, "I want to take my time, enjoy the feel of our bodies together, explore my territory."

He moved deliberately back to her breasts taking first one aroused nipple between his teeth and flicking his tongue across it until It was hard and then the other. At the same time, his hand traveled down to her waist caressing her hip.

Sarah watched Howie as he moved over her body. The feel of his breath on her skin and his touch were intoxicating and she felt like she was on fire. "Howie…I need you," she begged.

Running his fingers through her coarse brown hair to her heated center, he found that magical ‘button’ and pressed firmly as he responded wantonly, "I need you too….I need to feel your lips wrapped around my cock."

Sarah pulled Howie to her, kissing him. "Lay back," she rasped.

Howie rolled over onto his back and watched as Sarah moved on top of him. She began at his neck kissing him lightly below his Adam’s apple and then traveling slowly down his chest. She stopped briefly at his nipples, swirling her tongue around each one.

Running his fingers through her hair, he moaned, "Angel."

Sarah didn’t relent. Slowly she moved her kisses over his stomach stopping at his navel, running her tongue around the rim. Looking up at him, Sarah flicked her tongue across the tip of his cock, watching Howie close his eyes as he inhaled.

"Like?"

"Mmmm…" was all she got in response.

Sarah smiled and gently took his sac in her hand as she engulfed his throbbing cock with her mouth. Expertly, she licked and sucked him eliciting several moans.

After tasting the first sweet drops of his pre-cum, Sarah looked up at Howie and a silent understanding was exchanged. She rolled over, Howie moving with her and she wrapped her legs around his waist pulling him to her. Slowly, Howie entered her, his eyes never leaving hers. They made tender, passionate love, moving as one and climaxing together.

Spent and exhausted, the couple lay entwined in each other. Howie gently caressed Sarah’s breast as he watched her. "Every time we make love, it’s just like the first time."

Sarah smiled and asked, "Is that good or bad?"

Howie laughed, "It’s good, Angel. Making love to you when I’m old and gray…"

"You mean before or after your hip replacement?" teased Sarah.

"Ahahahahaha! Very funny!" sneered Howie.

Sarah kissed him, "It’s okay…I’ll still love you, D."

Taking a serious tone, Howie said, "Sarah, there will never be another lady for me. You told me earlier, this is forever. That’s how I feel too. I don’t want anyone else to be my partner or the mother of my children. I want us to grow old together, raising our children together. Together as long as my parents…."

Sarah saw the tears in Howie’s eyes and she reached to caress his cheek. "Howie, what’s wrong? I thought you were okay with my going to LA. I thought we’d gotten past it."

Howie turned his head to kiss the palm of her hand. "For the most part, I’m fine with it all."

"Then what?"

"I can’t explain it. I’ve just got this bad feeling."

"I can cancel my trip, Howie," said Sarah softly. "I don’t have to go right now."

Howie shook his head. "No, you need to go. Kevin wants to get this done and out before our CD comes out. He doesn’t want us overshadowing you…and I agree. I’ll be okay."

"Are you sure?" asked Sarah doubtfully.

"No…you could do a few things between now and the time you leave though to reassure me," said Howie impishly.

Seeing the playful gleam in his eyes, Sarah knew he was playing with her. "What would you like me to do, D?"

Howie moved closer and whispered in her ear, "More of tonight."

His breath tickled her ear and as she yawned, she said, "I can handle that."

With that, Howie pulled Sarah tight and they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Part 221        The Dance Index(2)