DISCLAIMER
The events of September 11, 2001 changed our lives forever. No longer will we view our world in quite the same way. As the tragic events unfolded, Sarah and I were in the beginning stages of writing "The Dance". In writing "The Dance" and the books of the story that preceded it, we prided ourselves on using a reality-based timeline and then weaving the stories of our fictional characters within that timeline. But then reality became a little too real, a little too close to home. We spent hours on the telephone talking out our ideas and yes, continuing to write, which has turned out to be one of the best forms of therapy yet.
We ultimately chose to have our characters experience the tragic events of that day and the days that followed, making sure to never use those events to disrespect those lives that were lost. We hope that you, our readers, will choose to read our portrayal and trust us. If you choose not to, then we understand completely, but know that one of the major storylines of the entire saga comes to fruition during those days.
The following chapters are lovingly dedicated to those who lost their lives that day and in the days that followed, their families and friends that remain behind to carry on without them, and most of all to the family of Danny Lee. They will all be missed.
Peace,
Becky
*****************
Part 228
The second show in Boston was over and it was the last night Howie and Sarah would be together before she headed to LA and he to Toronto with the tour. Backstage, everyone was gathering to make plans for their evening. There were several parties that they had been invited to and it had been decided that someone should attend them.
As Howie made his way into the green room where everyone was waiting, he heard Sarah teasing Becca. "God, Bec…No wonder Nick’s muscled up lately…having to help you up all the time."
"Uh…Sarah….BITE ME!"
"Ah, Becca, wha’ sa matta? You KNOW I love ya," laughed Sarah.
"Don’t love me so damn much," grumbled Becca as she stood with Nick’s help.
Seeing Howie, Nick asked, "D, you and Sarah ARE coming with us to the party, aren’t you?"
Howie slipped his arms around Sarah’s waist, as he said, "Not this time, Kaos. We’re gonna head back to the hotel."
"Ah, c’mon, D," said Brian. "You two are ALWAYS up for a party. Even Nick and Bec are going tonight."
Nuzzling Sarah’s neck, Howie said sadly, "Not this time, Rok."
They all saw the look in Howie’s eyes and let it drop. Howie’s ever-increasing dark mood hadn’t been missed by anyone. No matter how hard they all tried, they couldn’t seem to cheer Howie up.
Sarah had tried too to no avail and she quietly surrendered to Howie understanding his feelings. She had been the one who’d held him the past couple nights as he’d cried in his sleep calling out her name in desperation. She hadn’t told anyone but rather had been more attentive, staying close, and rarely leaving his side. She’d even made sure to be in the ‘underworld’ during costume changes and went with him through the tunnel to the second stage where she would sit near him in the crowd and then followed him as he crossed the cat walk.
Kevin stuck his head in, "Howie, there’s a photographer out here who wants to get some promotional shots."
Sarah said, "Damn….I forgot to tell you. It’s for the Foundation."
"You comin’?"
"I’ll be there in a minute, D," said Sarah sweetly giving him a kiss.
When Howie was gone, Becca asked, "Sarah, is Howie gonna be okay? He’s been in a really sour mood since…"
"San Antonio…he’s just been covering. No, he’s less than thrilled that I’m headed to LA to record and that I’ll miss the Toronto shows. Plus, his ex wants to see him."
"Claudia called?" questioned Brian.
"Yeah, while we were in San Antonio but he’s gonna put off seeing her until I can be with him…in Ottawa."
"If he’s so against you going to LA now, why not just wait until we’re out there?" asked Becca.
"Kevin wants the CD ready to be released in Japan just before we go over. Sarah and Krystal are opening for us over there," said Brian.
"Kevin, AJ, and Howie are producing this and have a lot tied up in it," said Sarah softly.
Kevin came in. "Sarah…Howie’s about to have kittens looking for you."
Everyone looked at Sarah and she sighed, "I’m on my way. I’ll see you tomorrow, Bec. Have fun for me."
**********
He woke with a start from the same recurring dream. The sheets were soaked from his sweat and his heart was racing. Looking over, he saw her sleeping peacefully beside him. No need to wake her this time…she needed her sleep. Quietly, he got up and headed out to the main room of the suite they were sharing.
To his surprise, AJ was up watching TV.
"Hey, D…You okay?"
Grumpily, Howie shook his head and headed to the mini bar. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey, poured himself a shot, then reconsidered seeing AJ watching him.
"Don’t stop on my account," said AJ gruffly. "If it’ll make you feel better, drink it."
"You know it won’t."
AJ shook his head. "Are you still stuck on being away from her?"
Howie had dumped the shot out and now sat down across from AJ. "Alex, we haven’t been apart since May and now…god…NOW I feel like something’s gonna happen."
"Then why don’t you talk to Kevin? She doesn’t HAVE to do this CD now. We could put down the vocals in the studio on my bus or Kevin’s, but it’ll take longer."
Howie shook his head. "No, she needs to go to the studio to do this. We have too much invested in this, time and money. I’ll be okay."
AJ smiled, "It’s only four days, right?"
"She’s leaving on the 11th and will rejoin us on the 15th in Ottawa."
"You two have been apart longer than that."
Howie leaned back and ran his hands through his hair. "But it’s been forever! I’ve gotten so use to her being beside me at night."
"Okay…so you’re gonna miss her...her sexy body laying next to you…the feel of her lips on yours. It’s understandable," grinned AJ.
Howie groaned feeling himself harden as AJ painted the visual for him.
"That’s what I thought," laughed AJ noticing his friend’s erection. "Why the hell are you out here wasting time with me when you could be in there still enjoying those things."
"Thanks, bro, for understanding," said Howie as he headed back to his room…and Sarah.
"Hey, D…kiss her for me…like you did the other night on my bus."
Howie laughed and closed the door behind him.
He slid back into bed knowing full well that his wife would be awake. He wrapped his arms around her warm, naked body, kissing her lightly on her neck.
Sarah ran her hands across his arms. "You okay now?"
"Bone put it in perspective for me."
"How?"
"Simply telling me the reason I don’t want you to go."
"And that is?"
Howie ran a hand across her body, "Because I’m gonna miss your body next to mine, the feel of your lips on my body."
"Mmmm…yeah! That sums it up. What about the dreams though?" asked Sarah as she rolled over to face him.
Howie rested his head on her shoulder and ran his hand across her stomach. "I don’t know. I guess that given some of the problems we’ve had when we’ve been apart is why I’m having them."
"You know, it’s been almost a year since the last time you left and I didn’t handle it very well."
"But that’s all behind us, Sarah. We’re stronger and we have two beautiful babies coming," answered Howie as he moved down to her stomach. "This is what we’re about. This is what I’m going to miss."
Sarah smiled watching as he placed kisses on her stomach. She ran her hands through his hair feeling the babies react to Howie’s touch.
"Promise me you’ll be careful and get some rest."
"D, I’ll have Raoul with me and he’s not gonna let anything happen to me. As for getting some rest, I’ll do my best but I’m like you…I’m gonna miss having you next to me."
"One more promise."
"Okay."
"Call me every chance you get. I don’t care if it’s just to say ‘I love you’ or to tell me you’re too busy to talk. I just need to hear your voice," said Howie as tears formed. He looked up at Sarah, "I need to feel your body."
Sarah placed a finger on his lips, "Take your boxers off and roll over."
Howie complied and Sarah moved to hover over him. Leaning down, she lightly kissed his tears away, then his lips. Moving slowly down his tight chest, she zeroed in on one erect nipple then the other before continuing to tongue his chest and waist. His cock was at full length and quivering with anticipation when she reached it. She caught his gaze as she licked and flicked her way from his balls to the head then enveloped him in her wet mouth.
Howie groaned with pleasure as he threaded his fingers in her soft brown hair. He guided her head up and down as her tongue danced hungrily across his cock.
To her surprise, Howie pulled Sarah off his cock and up to his lips, his tongue sweeping her mouth as he rolled her onto her back. Slowly, his tongue worked it’s magic trailing from her ear to the pulse point on her neck that he knew so well. His hand moved gingerly across her breasts causing her nipples to harden with anticipation.
"Beautiful," he whispered. "Absolutely beautiful…and MINE."
"All your, Howard," gasped Sarah as his tongue tasted each nipple.
His mouth became more insistent as he sucked and pulled at them with such a passionate intensity that Sarah thought she’d cum right then. He then trailed wet kisses across her stomach stopping at her belly button. In the next instant, he was between her legs, his tongue dancing happily across her pink fold. With his fingers, he parted her wet lips and covered her pussy with his mouth. He sucked, licked, chewed, and nibbled at her until she moaned in ecstacy.
"Scream, Sarah…the only ones who’ll hear you tonight are AJ and Kevin," and he continued his torture. Lightly licking her clit, he inserted two fingers stroking in and out slowly. With his other hand, Howie reached up to her breast to caress lovingly.
"OH GOD! Howie…." She cried out.
Moaning against her, Howie teased, "What do you want, Sarah?"
Arching for more, she answered, "I want you…deep in me."
By now, Howie was painfully hard and he ached to be inside her. He need her too. Moving up, he covered her body with his kissing her deeply, allowing her to taste herself on him.
Instinctively, Sarah wrapped her legs around Howie’s waist. The head of his cock was slick and throbbing as he teased her lips. "Is this what you want?"
"YES!" she moaned.
His body shivered as he slipped in part way. Whispering against her ear, "God, you’re so wet." Sliding the rest of the way into her, he stopped to allow her to adjust to him.
Sarah ran her hands across his arms feeling the muscles as he held his weight partially off her. She whispered, "Even if we aren’t together like this, Howie…I still have the feeling of being completely safe."
Howie dipped his head to kiss her. "You’ll always be safe, Sarah."
He began to stroke, slowly at first feeling her walls around him. She was tight and wet and so hot. His cock slid in and out of her faster, his own need increasing with each thrust. Her body craved him as much as he did her. His pace was frenzied, striving to be deeper inside her.
Sarah’s eyes rolled back as the waves of ecstasy overtook her. Crying out his name, she arched up to meet him, her juices flowing.
The feel of Sarah’s body tightening around him was all it took for Howie. With one final thrust, he spilled his juices into her as his body shook.
Lying together entwined in each others’ arms, Howie ran his fingers across Sarah’s stomach and watched as she caught her breath. He laughed softly knowing what it was doing to her. "Sensitive?"
"Very," sighed Sarah taking his hand in hers. "It’s always so perfect when we’re together."
"That’s because we’re soul mates…made for each other. I don’t ever want to lose it either."
Snuggling together, the couple drifted into a peaceful sleep.