“There’s my old high school,” Brian points out the white building on my left and we stop. “Wow, it seems so long ago…”
“It is, honey. You left when you were, what 15?”
“Round about that, yeah. Man, all the things that have happened to me since then… I would never have believed it back then.”
“That’s the cool thing ‘bout life,” I say. “Full of surprises.” He grins and we carry on walking along the dusty road, hand in hand. “I mean,” I continue. “If you’d told me a year ago I’d fall in love with a Backstreet Boy… You’da been laughed outta state.”
He laughs. “I never expected to fall in love either. I was all career guy until you came along and smiled at me.”
“Ya know what? You were never my favourite Boy until I met ya,” I tell him honestly and he pretends to be offended. We stop and look at each other.
“What?! I’m devastated… So, who WAS your favourite Boy?”
“Kevin actually. Believe it or not,” I giggle.
“I don’t believe it…” he laughs. “Why?”
“I always dated dark guys, and he’s dark. And tall,” I giggle at him and reach out to play with his fair curly hair. “But I was always a sucker for curly hair on a man…”
“Is that all that changed your mind?”
“Plus, Kevin’s married,” I say seriously and Brian laughs.
“Oh, that’s ok then,” he pulls me closer by my hips so that our lower bodies touch. “I was worried it was just somethin’ as superficial as curly hair...”
I smile and lean in to kiss him. Our kiss deepens as his tongue enters my mouth and I run my fingers through his hair. His hands move up underneath my shirt and gently stroke the small of my back. It feels like bliss and I arch my back as his tongue becomes more probing. I press my hips against his and feel his hardness pushing through his pants. I gasp as my body is suddenly filled with warmth and need. I lean back, breaking off our kiss and look into his darkened eyes.
“I want you Brian,” I whisper, reaching for his hand and pulling him off the road into a clump of trees.
He smiles and takes the lead, taking me further into the trees and out into a wide area of long grass. He lowers me down onto the ground and kneels over me, unbuttoning my shirt so that he can take each breast in his mouth, one by one, licking around my nipples until I moan. My hands entangle in his hair, pulling his head up so that I can kiss him. I slip my tongue inside his mouth and he moans at the back of his throat as my other hand reaches down to free him from his pants. I run my fingers lightly along the underside of his shaft and then gently over the head. He shudders and leans back from our kiss.
“Jady… I want you now.”
He reaches down to my skirt, pulling it up as I lift my hips and wriggle. My skirt is soon around my waist and he goes down to remove my panties with his mouth and hands. I arch my hips into him as he discards the panties. He smiles at me and runs his fingers along my body and down into my wetness. I moan as his fingers gently touch my opening and he bends down to kiss my breasts. His fingers move deeper inside me until I can take no more and I capture his hardness with my hands. He stops moving his fingers and withdraws them, trailing them along himself before kissing me again. He settles himself over me and with one hard thrust is inside me. His eyes lock with mine as our fingers entwine above our heads and his body stretches out along mine. I grind my hips up to meet his urgent thrusts and bite my lip to keep from moaning too loudly. His fingers tighten around mine as I feel our bodies getting closer and closer to the edge. I wrap my legs around him to draw him deeper into me and moan loudly as I feel my release building up. With one hard thrust, Brian moans loudly and I wriggle my hips around him, feeling my own release building up and crashing over me. I close my eyes and hold onto his hands tightly until the feeling passes. I open my eyes and look at Brian. He’s breathing every bit as heavily as I am and kisses my lips deeply before laying his head down on my breasts. I wrap my fingers up in his hair and close my eyes, feeling my breathing calm down slowly.
“I love being with you like this,” Brian whispers.
“It’s really somethin’,” I agree. “This sounds dumb I guess but I really feel like we were made for each other… Especially when you’re inside of me like this.”
“It’s not dumb,” he lifts his head up to kiss me. “We WERE made for each other.”
We lie in silence for a few minutes, both of us reluctant to break our bond and the intimacy surrounding us. But we have to move eventually, and so we do. Brian zips himself up and buttons his shirt as I stand up and wriggle my skirt back down. Before I can button my shirt, his hands close over mine.
“Let me.”
He buttons my shirt up slowly, covering the skin beneath it with kisses as he goes. When we’re both ready, we walk back to the road, hand in hand. We haven’t gone more than five steps along the road to Brian’s family home when we hear a squeal. We both spin round and find ourselves face to face with a young girl, aged about ten. She’s gazing at Brian with a real awestruck expression on her face and I smile to myself. The Boys do have some real cute fans.
“Hello,” Brian smiles at her, encouraging her to come closer.
“Hi, you REALLY are him aren’t you?!”
“That depends who ya think I am,” Brian teases.
“Brian Littrell! Of course!” she giggles.
“Of course!” Brian laughs.
“I can’t believe you’re really here!” she says excitedly. “I heard you were on tour and so I thought I wouldn’t see you around here for MONTHS!”
“I just came home for a quick visit,” Brian tells her. “I’m back on the road tomorrow.”
“Where are you then?”
“New York for the MTV Awards. Are you comin’ to see us at the Rupp?”
“Oh sure!! I have my tickets already! I’m SO excited! Somebody told me that you guys actually FLY!”
“You’ll find out soon,” Brian grins.
“Oh wow!” she giggles and looks at me. “Hi.”
“Hi, I’m Jade. What’s your name?”
“Clara.”
“That’s a pretty name,” says Brian and she blushes.
“Thanks. Are you guys TOGETHER?” she asks with wide eyes.
“We sure are, Clara,” Brian smiles. “And my mom is expectin’ us home for dinner so can we walk you anywhere?”
“Naw, I live just over there. But… could you wait while I go get my camera? I won’t be long, I promise!”
“No problem. We’ll be here,” Brian says as she runs off.
“Cute kid,” I say with a grin.
“Yeah. And I bet I’m her favourite Boy,” he says with a sly wink at me.
“Aw shaddup!” I tickle him slightly and he yelps. Before he can retaliate, Clara is running towards us.
“Wow, that was fast!” Brian exclaims.
“I only live there,” she points out a house.
“But still… Track team potential,” I tell her and she grins widely.
“Everybody says that! I’m gonna try out next year.”
“Let me take the picture,” I hold my hand out for her camera and she stands next to Brian. He puts his arm around her and I take a couple of shots. “There ya go.”
“Thanks,” she takes the camera back. “Can I get one of you guys?”
“You don’t want ME!” I laugh and Brian pulls me into him.
“Sure she does. You’re gorgeous,” he whispers making me blush.
“And you’re biased,” I tell him before relaxing in his arms and smiling at the camera. Clara takes a couple of pictures and then Brian heads over to give her a quick hug and sign some paper for her.
“Well, Bye now Clara. We’ll be lookin’ out for ya at the Rupp.”
“You will?!” she squeals happily and waves goodbye to us as we start walking.
“Ya think she saw us?” Brian whispers.
“God, I hope not!”
The clock strikes ten as I open my eyes and squint at the sunlight streaming through the curtains. I stretch out and sigh. I have had a good night’s sleep. The bed feels big cos I’m so used to sleeping with Brian but it’s kinda nice to be able to stretch without worrying about smacking Brian. There’s a knock on the door and I sit up, shouting for them to come in. Jackie appears with a mug of coffee which she sets on the cabinet next to my bed.
“Thanks Jackie,” I smile at her.
“No problem. Did you sleep well?”
“Oh yeah! The bed is SO comfortable.”
“I’m not surprised! After all those hotel beds – I find them very hard y’know.”
“Oh me too,” I grin at her and she laughs.
“Well, I’ll let you get dressed and showered. You know where everything is?”
“I do, thanks.”
“Harold is downstairs with Brian. They’re talkin’ about taking you out riding. Can you ride?”
“Hey, I’m from Georgia!” I smile and she laughs again.
“Of course, a fellow hick!” she heads out of the door and I climb out of bed.
I’m ready within half an hour and I go down into the lounge. Brian is sat on a big cushion opposite an older man who stands up when he sees me and holds his hand out with a smile.
“I’m Harold, you must be the famous Jade.”
“Good to meet you Harold,” I smile back.
“Mornin’ baby,” Brian stands up and kisses me. “Sleep well?”
“Really well actually,” I tell him.
“Good. I missed havin’ you there when I woke up though.”
“The mom strikes!” Harold laughs. “I didn’t get to share a room with my wife here until AFTER our third anniversary!”
“My mom’s the same,” I laugh. “What’s this ‘bout riding?”
“Interested?” Harold asks.
“For sure! I haven’t ridden for a while though.”
“No problem. They have some real slow horses at the stables. Bri always ends up with a horse that gets arrested for jay-walking!” Harold teases his younger brother with a big grin.
Brian’s horse stops for what must be the hundredth time to eat the shrubbery. He sighs and sits patiently, waiting for it to eat its fill. Jade and Harold are up ahead, their horses are side by side and they’re laughing together. Brian smiles to himself. Jade was SUCH a hit with his family. His dad thinks she’s gorgeous. His mom adores her and told Brian she is a ‘keeper’. And judging by Harold’s grin, he’s fallen under her spell as well. Brian’s happy. His family’s approval means a lot to him. They’re the people who have stuck by him through everything, the ones he can depend on always. For them to love the woman he loves is vital. And they do. The horse finally starts moving again and Brian chuckles as the two up ahead rein in to wait for him.
“Yee haw!” he yells as the horse trots at a snail’s pace.
“I could spit further than that thing can run,” laughs Harold.
“Ew, good mental image there!” says Jade with a grimace.
“Ok, I’m here,” Brian informs them as his horse reaches them. He reins in and stops. “Where are we goin’?”
“How long til your flight to the Big Apple?”
“It’s at 4pm, so I guess we need to be at the airport for 3pm.”
Everybody checks their watches and Harold nods.
“Just about enough time to make a round trip to the old schoolhouse. In?”
“Yeah! I’d forgotten about that place!” Brian turns to Jade excitedly. “We discovered this old schoolhouse about fifteen years ago. It’s through those trees and over a hill. It’s excellent.”
“Let’s go then,” Jade starts her horse moving and the guys follow.
“Me and Bri used to go there whenever we wanted to be alone. Or whenever our parents yelled us out.”
“Everybody needs a place like that,” Jade says.
“What was yours?” asks Brian from behind her.
“My house is by these trees and right in the middle there’s this old tree house. I used to go there with Jay. Our parents always pretended they didn’t know about it, but I have a feelin’ they did.”
“Parents always do,” grins Harold. “It’s like some form of sixth sense.”
“Yup. Mine certainly always knew when I’d been someplace I shouldn’t. I swear they have spy networks!”
“They do,” Harold says seriously. “The minute a child is born, this shady character creeps into hospitals and hands the mom a book of secret code and surveillance gear. Didn’t ya know that?” Jade and Brian laugh. “All true,” Harold grins.
“Bye mom, it’s been great seeing you!” Brian wraps his mom up in a big hug.
“You too sweetie. Now you look after yourself on tour. I don’t want you overdoing it.”
“I won’t mom. Trust me.”
Jackie smiles at him and lets go to hug Jade, “I trust Jade.”
Brian rolls his eyes. “Thanks mom…”
Jade laughs, “I’ll look after him. Don’t you worry.”
“I know you will honey. You’re good for him,” Jackie stands back and studies the young woman in front of her. “You come back real soon.”
“I’d like that,” Jade smiles. “Thanks for making me so welcome. You ALL did.” She hugs Brian’s dad and brother and they smile at her.
“Let me walk you out,” Jackie takes her son’s arm and they walk outside towards the car.
“Well?”
“What?”
“Mom, I know you… You’re just dyin’ to give me some Jade comments.”
Jackie laughs. “You DO know me. I just wanted to say how happy I am for you. You’ve found yourself somebody very special there. Any fool can see how much she loves you.”
“I love her a lot too.”
“Any fool can see that too!” Jackie laughs. “Don’t you let go of her. No matter what may happen. Life’s never easy and the times I could’ve willingly left Harold… Oooh, too many! But I love him and he loves me right back. And nobody else could ever love me the way he does. And I think you and Jade are like that too.”
“We are. Thanks mom,” Brian gives her a hug as the others reach the car. “Ok, I guess we should be off.”
“Yup,” Jade hugs everyone one last time before climbing into the car with Brian. “Bye y’all!”
“BYE!!” They all wave until the car is out of sight and Harold wraps an arm around his wife. They exchange contented smiles and walk back into the house.
“Your folks are just perfect,” I tell Brian as I turn away from his house and look at the road ahead.
“They think you’re pretty perfect too.”
“Thanks for not giving up on me…” I say quietly. “Y’know, in the early days.”
Brian glances across and quickly squeezes my hand. “As if I could. It’d have been like giving up on me.”
I smile and lean forward to turn the radio on. Lorrie Morgan’s voice fills the car and I sit back happily. Since dating Brian and rifling through his vast music collection, I’ve developed a liking for modern country music and this song is one of my favourites to dance to. My feet start tapping as I sing along with Brian and Lorrie.
"I’ve had one of those days today
I’m in one of those moods and it’s just no good
Nothin’ I wanna talk about I just want for you to take me out
And do the town, turn it upside down
I need one of those nights tonight
Wanna go left where the world goes right
I’ve lost my appetite for this side of midnight
Wanna burn out those neon lights past the point of Fahrenheit
Wanna feel my heart ignite while you hold me tight
I need one of those nights tonight cos I’ve had one of those days today
I’ve got one of those jobs and I’ve had enough
You better walk me through this door before I run to Singapore
Just show me how you love me now
I need one of those nights tonight
Wanna go left where the world goes right
I’ve lost my appetite for this side of midnight
Wanna burn out those neon lights past the point of Fahrenheit
Wanna feel my heart ignite while you hold me tight
I need one of those nights tonight cos I’ve had one of those days today…"
“You’re gonna GET one of those nights,” teases Brian as the song ends.
“Ugh, award ceremony,” I say.